Big Plot

[Takta]

I'm thinking it's been long enough since the last big plot that we might want to start contemplating another one. I have some ideas, but before I get too attached to anything, I'd like to hear people's thoughts on the kind of big plot they'd like.

Note: By big plot I mean something that has the potential to involve the entire city, something genuinely large that players of all sorts can participate in. So some ideas may be perfectly good for smaller plots, but less so for larger.

I've attached a poll, but feel free to discuss in this thread as well, especially if there are plots you really DON'T want to see.

[Coltaine]

I'm not particularly a fan of the whole 'Natural Disaster' thing. I believe it's been done many times before in and outside the game. I would really like to see a Southside rebellion, or some outside invasion.

[Cellan]

I don't think I'd like two invasions in a row (we just had one with mages). I think another natural disaster would be awesome. The Great Flood was really memorable.

[Lei]

I love stuff where people are forced to choose sides, politically, etc. Really dislike plague/sickness RP.

[Rabek]

I'm personally want to stay as far away from things with large death tolls for Lithmore city as possible. I suspect we're still recovering from the flood, population-wise. So kind of a 'no' on the natural disasters for me. I have no idea how events have gone since last year, but probably avoid stuff with demons or mages. Demons lose their potency if they show up too much, and there are enough PC mages that we don't need NPC ones.

I'd rather have something political or economic.

[Gavin]

Whatever you want to do, Takta, I'm sure that it'll be great.

I still have my Ikihel plot to run - after the storyteller system's got bugs ironed out, and when I can find time that overlaps with other folks.

I'd also like to vote against another invasion and indeed another natural disaster; those just occurred recently, and while I thought the Great Flood was some of the most awesome RP I've had on TI, trying to recapture the same lightning in a similar bottle so soon might be too much.

I'm going to cast my vote for a couple of things:

- I like the Southside rebellion idea. Southside has been an elephant in the room for a while now, and I personally think it's a little stagnant. This might dovetail nicely with some RP that Cellan and I are considering doing, which ultimately amounts to "hey, this is the Year of Southside; every GL needs to do something to help clean it up and improve it so that we can finally effect meaningful change there."

- I like the idea of religious-related RP. Not a crusade against Daravi, though (been done). Once we're fully satisfied with fleshing out theology, I'd like to see the emergence of a real heretical sect, one that's less batty than "worship raccoons and enjoy free love in the forest." Maybe the quest could conclude with either burnings or some religious conclave that updates or interprets theological points!

- I'll second Lei's point where I love the idea of everyone having to pick a side, with consequences for each side.

[Applesauce]

I think a mage attack could be great. Since basically forever, the average citizen has been so blasé about magic... "Oh, just another chill down the spine, those cheeky mages." The mere mention of magic should strike fear into our devout little hearts.

But really there's been no reason to be afraid. When PC mages do attack, it's usually a direct and hugely overpowered strike against a single Orderite. Then the mage gets caught and burned in a blaze of stoic and self-righteous glory, leaving the common folk feeling uncomfortable, sometimes sick or even sad. ICly anyone showing sympathy or remorse at a burning should be highly suspect. Not only is burning the only way to save that mage's soul, but it's also helping eliminate the very serious physical threat magic supposedly is.

That said, I don't want a billion mages to come destroy the city and kill half the PCs. Not necessarily, anyway. I don't know what specifically would make an awesome mage attack, but I'm sure it can be done. Something that can negatively affect everyone, not just the Order, without necessarily killing them. Something that, even when the quest is over, can be remembered as good reason to turn in our neighbor when we suspect witchcraft.

Politics is all good for those who are into it, but I think a mage attack is the one thing on the list that could best support the theme and move the game forward.

[Takta]

Applesauce: Our last two big events involved genuinely wide-spread, large-scale mage havoc. The Flood, in particular, involved a mage murdering literally thousands of people. Sadly, I think this is a lesson we can't teach people through plots.

That said, I'll definitely keep what you said in mind.

...also, I'm pretty amused that every single post so far has said something different.

[wimple]

I like the idea of a Southside plot, but I'd like it to have some sort of meaningful outcomes that impact play afterwards. I'm not sure what those might be - if the Southside cuts itself off, it's more difficult to get into or there is an upperclass backlash against freemen somehow felt by players in game for a while afterwards or if it's 'saved' then it's easier to get into for a while or less aggro or something. Whatever it is, it should have lasting implications for play for a while, at least.

[Geras]

I'd be fine with nothing bad happening to the city for a little while...