I don't want to start a conversation about another plot or topic entirely, but for those of you saying or thinking this couldn't be done by normal PCs, I very much challenge that point.
Agreed. Seems to be overlooked.
wow
much cynical
very cheat
such lame
So...this is a thread for discussion of the actual log posted, and the majority (posted by a minority) response seems to be:
"I don't buy it. This is a bullshit plot. It wouldn't past muster IC and it should've been nixed IC. Someone obviously fucked up. Wait, no, the players cheated. Staff helped the players out in setting them up so staff cheated. Staff should've caught this by animating the world properly, I don't buy this whole thing. It's all contrived. Mindbenders! They'd know what is going on! Staff didn't animate the virtual world of the Tuluki templarate correctly! I demand you show me more so that I can be convinced that this was a legitimate plot!"
Well, for starters, this is a single log. From one PC involved. A very simple thing, meant as something to go in some sort of chronological order to progress through the overall plotline of the spies prior to the HRPT. I have about a half-dozen to sift through, some which cannot be posted due to existing PCs being mentioned (some which can possibly be edited). I hope to have some more.
Yet somehow, from this single log, a vocal minority of players take major issue with it, clamoring for proof, logs, whatever. Honestly, the way you (the vocal minority in general) are asking for it and how you are acting and how you've presented yourselves regarding this is disappointing. You seem more eager to find fault, to complain, to whinge...than you are to be excited and engaged about the game, that you could do the same thing if you pulled your head out of the sand (or some other cynical orifice). In fact, it makes me wonder--are you even excited and engaged about the game at all? Do you play out of a sense of obligation and duty and just go through the motions hoping to recapture that out-of-reach high of the golden years, back before x or y thing happened that made you jaded to the game? What does it say about you when your first response to the first log posted about special roles involved in an HRPT is "bullshit?" Is there anything that would actually convince you, or would you just try to shoot holes in that, too, until we handed over the raw code of the game and actual staff logs showing what happened, stamped by a notary public, at which point you'd claim they were doctored?
What interest do you have in the story here and the story of the game and these characters? Do you actually want to know what happens next and what they did? No one is even approaching that, no--the vocal minority wants to know about fairness, about how it wasn't bullshit, about how this reeks of this or that, with others responding to that whether in slight agreement (as some of the above cynical posters) or in disagreement.
When/if more is posted, it will be posted because we're sharing the story behind this plot in a way that lines up with the rules of this board. If we reveal more about the background of other stuff going on that might have affected the PCs involved, then we will reveal that because we want to share the story and engage the playerbase. If and when we post more, I'm pretty confident all of the naysayers will
still be naysaying, and more than likely (if it continues in this fashion at least) it will likely get moderated in the future, as it has little to do with the log posted. "Oh, but Nyr, you saying that just means it's a shitty plot and it will get holes shot in it!" Well, fictional hypothetical responder, I already said we took those things into account and had a larger story in mind, some of which may never be revealed openly as it can be more fun to develop IC (or OOC) theories about it. I think there are some things we could have done better and things that we could do differently for future plots (whether large or small) but we
did the plot. What did you do, fictional hypothetical responder? Lob some phat logic bombs at an internet forum about how your fan-fiction plot would've been better because in the first log that
you would post, you'd tell everything the reader wanted to know? If you doubt my word that we took a lot of things into account, why are you even reading this post? Sheesh, go put in a staff complaint, it'll make you happier!

Why do I post this? Because quite frankly, we on staff don't cater to anyone that approaches any game plot (or even just this one, or the game itself) with a Truther or Birther mentality about the things that went into it. We are here for the players that are willing to play the game and make us go "wow, that was a great scene," or "wow, that's just a great roleplayer, there--let's put them in a role!" or "holy cow, this player just did this thing with her PC and we can totally USE that in this other plot!" We're here for the players that, when presented with something that they don't immediately understand...they respond with considering how it COULD work, IC, rather than how it is a failure. We're here for players that see possibilities, intrigue, and mystery.
We came up with a plot. We involved players. We pulled off an HRPT. It had long-term effects on the gameworld, which was the intention. It was fun. We're posting logs here and there and we might put up more, the intent being to share some of the story that many may not have seen. We like the story of the game, we aim to move it forward with plots akin to this one that involve staff assistance and player involvement, and we hope that you would like to get involved in the future.
If not, there are other games out there that I hope will meet your expectations.

For now, though, if you do wish to involve yourself here and in this game, it'd be nice if you kept your responses on topic and about the particular log.