World Plots versus Personal Plots

[Drayab]

I think the plots that spawned from the flood in Tuluk are a good model for how things can work well. There were tasks for the lowliest grebber, House artisans made stuff, there were RPTs with bards, and who knows what else? And from my perspective, it was being run by players in sponsored roles. What the staff did is make the flood happen, and then they made changes to the world that reflected the actions of the players as things progressed. Couldn't ask for better.

[Fredd]

PLayer leaders have the ability to start worldwide plots, for the most part.

Kadius wants to bump off salarr's hunters to get the best stuff? they can authorize that. Probably get some crap though.

Winrothol wants to roam south, knock off a militia partol? Hey, It can be done

There family head MIGHT have bad things to say though.

Yeah, what I'm saying is that even in the "player driven plot" catagory, large plots will require IMM involvement, making it Immortal driven, in a sense.

So personally, I think the point is moot. I think Imm's should introduce some more things.

[Cindy42]

I believe players who aren't leaders should also strive to start plots--- plots that, obviously, don't feck with other plots, since a lot of non-leader PCs are in positions where they have high death rates. Maybe simpler types of plots. I should have clarified that. Plots for the unclanned.

Also: that level of noble and templar politics that seem out of reach of most commoner PCs, maybe the nobles and templars could hire additional aides or house servants, or cooks or concubines, who overhear these plots and hang out at local taverns--- and if templar hardnose already has two messengers and a concubine, he could hire someone on as a gardener, who takes a work stipend and purchases flowers and stuff to strew around the garden and house. some creative, non-coded jobs where the PC acts out their role, and if they slack off on it just fire them, and hire someone else.

other ideas for creative jobs: cook, language teacher, painter (who may have the noble pose and paint their picture, like how only rich nobility in the renaissaince could afford pictures) maybe one of those odd rare-items-collector type of person, who is given all they need to collect certain things for said noble or templar; like a wagon, a 'gicker, some food, water and weapons, to get rare things, like that one purple worm that's supposed to be a good spice on food (its in the docs and its rare) or a hobbit, or a mutant, if said noble is a scientist.

these probably exist in-game... i really want to be one.

[Sam]

The only problem with that is the noble/templar has a limited amount of money to spend. They can't keep up with trends, hire a gardner, hire a cook, hire a language teacher, hire an assassin, hire a pickpocket, and hire a personal aide.

[maxid]

There are a LOT of ways for a clever noble/templar to -make- money, that are entirely IC.

[Spider]

Sometimes just being a templar is enough to get all the employees you need.

[Fredd]

I've done all those side jobs before. they can be fun. And just arranging food and water can be payment enough sometimes

[Cindy42]

The only problem with that is the noble/templar has a limited amount of money to spend. They can't keep up with trends, hire a gardner, hire a cook, hire a language teacher, hire an assassin, hire a pickpocket, and hire a personal aide.

I bet Muk Utep and Tektolnes could, from behind curtains, casting mysterious and powerfully imbued magick shadows, hire as many folks as they wanted... though i guess working for them would impede their mysteriousness a bit.

[number13]

The only problem with that is the noble/templar has a limited amount of money to spend. They can't keep up with trends, hire a gardner, hire a cook, hire a language teacher, hire an assassin, hire a pickpocket, and hire a personal aide.

Money really isn't the limiting factor. It's available, willing players.

[boog]

Estoy disponible y dispuesto. Mas 'soy', really.

[Ami]

I've never had a personal plot, nor have I been involved in a world plot. 

[Synthesis]

I've never had a personal plot, nor have I been involved in a world plot. 

Play a dwarf?

[spicemustflow]

How would that help?

[Synthesis]

How would that help?

I've never had a personal plot...

Dwarves, whose origins are unknown, typically attempt to find one single
    goal (called a Focus) to which they adhere, and they will never abandon
    that goal for as long as they live (or until it is completed, when a
    dwarf feels the need to set himself or herself to a new, more difficult
    task than the last).

[spicemustflow]

Alright, "personal" plots I missed that part.

[maxid]

Money really isn't the limiting factor. It's available, willing players.

[Reiloth]

I can't see Kadius gettings its frilly, obscenely proper hands dirty.

You'd be amazingly surprised.

Sharlo Kadius, anyone? Is this thing on?

[Spice Spice Baby]

I can't see Kadius gettings its frilly, obscenely proper hands dirty.

You'd be amazingly surprised.

Sharlo Kadius, anyone? Is this thing on?

Between Sharlo, Jubaal, and Markua there was so much dirty in Kadius for a while there that I imagine those three players had to wash their hands after playing Arm.

Good times.

[Grey Area]

I can't see Kadius gettings its frilly, obscenely proper hands dirty.

All my characters in Kadius were up to their eyebrows in grit and skullduggery.

To a completely insane degree.

I think you might be confusing House Kadius with some other massively cutthroat purveyor of luxury goods.

[hyzhenhok]

I've never had a personal plot, nor have I been involved in a world plot. 

Play a dwarf?

Seconded. Make sure your focus requires you to deal with peoples, and plots come out of nowhere.

My favorite dwarf so far walked out of character gen into a bar, started a plot around the focus, and then shit started going down. Hopefully I still have the log, it's about that time....

[My 2 sids]

Besides simply starting plots,  I think players (when possible) should assist others with their plots.

Leave some coin in your inventory: let that breed continue on her plot to become a great thief

Buy from PCs whenever possible:  there's nothing wrong with sandcloth or sandstone -- deck your PC out (or, if you've the coin, buy something for a "family member" or "friend"

Pick one log in to "show up" -- start a brawl, start a conversation, start a staring contest... the point is find some way your PC would interact with others (yes, probably in some tavern)
Some fun times happen totally random -- simply because PCs are around and interacting.

[Marshmellow]

For those saying they aren't getting involved in personal plots... yes you are.  You just aren't thinking of them as plots.  A plot is the storyline of a character/story.  Your character has one, however uninterested in it you may be.

[number13]

I've never had a personal plot, nor have I been involved in a world plot.

The easiest mass-scale plot for a single player to conjure up is The Chase.

Step one is dong something rotten enough that nobles, templars, and/or crimelords put a price on your head.  Your character should be something loathsome -- a half-elf, a dirty tribeless elf, rinthi scum, an ungemmed gicker, a messed mutant. This helps enforce the stereotypes in game, so that when Amos is hanging out with his best friend (a half-elven rinth-born gemmer with an extra arm growing out of his head), he might remember that he's supposed to hate this guy.

Step two is running around not getting caught whilst making your presence known.  Hiding out in the deepest hole you can find is easy mode.  You want to saunter down Caravan Road and poke your head into the Gaj from time to time. There's a few complications if you want The Chase to last longer than an hour.  You learn to deal with them after enduring a few failed attempts, but first and foremost, trust no one.  Even the friendly neighborhood criminals are probably in the templar's pocket.  The playerbase is pretty small, so bet on every PC being somehow connected to the powers-that-be.

One of the biggest mistakes I've made (and continue to make) is in trusting other players to not be asshats once they have your character in their clutches. So never surrender, do not accept getting caught, spam flee while in the grasp of the militia -- until you're ready for your PC's life to be over.  [You can make exceptions for long-lived templars.  OCCly, they tend not to be as kill-crazed as a 0-day noble or random warrior-classed bully. Or at least when they do kill you, it's usually a lot more fun.]

Make peace with the fact that the Chase ends.  You want it to end. That's the conclusion of the story.  But you also want to give your pursuers enough trouble that when the Chase does end, there's an epic execution or final duel to the death. One of my prouder moments in Arm was helping a would-be crimelord get his street-cred by jobbing to him in a final duel -- and this guy went on to do some pretty interesting things.

[HavokBlue]

Number13's post is good, and anyone finding themselves bored should try it.

It's fun. I promise.

[maxid]

Number13's post is good, and anyone finding themselves bored should try it.

It's fun. I promise.