Plot Quest? Maybe I am wrong on this

[jrizz]

or maybe I am just missing it. But when we had the Blood plot line there was a lot of information out there about it. No one was keeping it secret and the RP about it happened quite a bit out in areas where others could join in and learn about it. Sure we had Ozy and at the time a young halfing bard named Acacea that kept us all up to date. But still it seems to me that this current plot line is being RPed about behind closed doors, so to speak, and is one big secret.

The main plot quest is supposed to be the thing that draws current and new players into the happenings of the world. That cant happen if it is being kept a secret. I hope I am wrong and it is just me who is missing it. But if I am not wrong then I cant see how this will work in the end. Will there be a call to arms? and if so who are the dumdums that will answer it without saying "hey you knew about this for a long time and did not say anything? how can you now be trusted"?

Once again I hope I am off base here but I have been asking around and very few seems to know what is going on. Wren was lucky the other day and got to hear some of it. It sounds like there is a lot going on. But that only a few really know about it. So that sounds more like a GCDQ then a world plot.

I would love to set up a poll:

Do you know much about the plot quest?
Yes
No

Just my two cents.

BTW no dissections please this is just my opinion and I don't want to have to defend it. It is what it is. If you feel I am just missing it then just tell one of my PCs about the plot stuff or hold some open sessions where folks can come a hear about it.

[ShiffDrgnhrt]

I will say that the most recent plot quests, saved Dissolution, have been "Aussie" quests... meaning 7 am for me. Harlas' most recent is one of them. This means that I usually can't join them then, even if I still had Shiff... So really, IC I am totally out of the loop as far as whats going on, save that Tyra knows the Dragons are back... Yahoo...
 
 No love for EDT...

[Chongo]

Well, I can't make any of the plot quests since Harlas runs most of them, though I've caught a few friendly impromptus at late late nights my time. The fact there are impromptus like the one I caught in Miritrix (from... Eor was it?) says that there is an effort to expose the greater population. So guys, it's appreciated. Harlas, I loved reading about your efforts when I had access - I know you're still cranking.
 
 
 
 But yeah, I have no exposure to it save for what I used to read on the GM forums, though as I recall that was a private forum within a private forum. So super secret seems to be a theme - and it's likely for good reason.
 
 I'm just going with the flow. It's all fun. GM timezones are always a reality, and so are workloads with multiple platforms/ efforts. It just so happens that this seems to be one of the rare occasions that PDT is grabbing the short straw.
 
 All's fair. We can make up our own adventures as players no?  I mean heck, with Script Wreck's help on the tricky script-y area, we've got another 40 or so areas popping out soon.  *sneaky wink*

[ystrday]

Well my character was fortunate enough to be in the beginning of the plot quest...err I think.. but it was started by another DM.. and the only reason she has a hint about what is going on is that her character significant other is highly involved. I would have my character more involved but yes the main issue is the time it starts.. I have recently joined a few 3:30am quests but that is hard sometimes... but like you Wren if it wasn't for her significant other my character would have -no- idea what is going on, or how she can help.

[Lynn1020]

I really haven't heard anything about what is going on with any of my characters.  Which I haven't been playing Emie enough to really find out anything.  But I have been out with Amanda and on a few quest and haven't heard anything.

Figured I would just show up with one of them and find out more then.

[Acacea]

Hi, I would not blame the GMs (and I imagine you are not anyway) for the different direction of the plot quest - information sharing and comparing is one of the challenges of the current plot... will people work together, or will they run into one another? Will they hold onto their shreds of information waiting for the rest to come, not realizing that others already have it and are doing the same?

So I agree on the one hand, but on the other, we must also understand that a) it is part of the challenge, and b) there absolutely are IC motivations for secrecy, as well. Not just "to keep it in the club" but because of the complete and total awkwardness of "oh hey we're going to this super secret lair of the one thing that may save the world if only no one finds out about it, open quest no level limit all who show up go ahead and we just drag everyone there without even being introduced 'cause we don't want to be mean" you know... players are constantly pushed to be in character, and there are certainly players that will play their evil or treacherous ones. People have been bitten now by being careless, or being told that their inaction lead to x.... instead of waiting for a big post, I'd talk to your people who know people who know people... along trusted lines instead of waiting for it in mass updates. The old campaign had the whole unity thing going on because everyone was Summoned... everyone now is just a bunch of good and evil, selfish and benevolent mercenaries Who to tell, who to tell, who to tell...

Either way though, I don't have nearly as much time as I did back in the 24/7 Hlint days, but I am trying to log on a few times a week at least to hang out at the Crossroads. I will post here when Acacea will be on for a few hours. If you're around I'd use it to ask about things, though because of the timezones I have only been on a few myself, and she never has any particular insights into anything. All the same, she listens to gossip and often has a big mouth. Sometimes it's nice to share non-plot stories too, though that always begs the question, "why are some so unimportant just because they aren't marked plot?" You or your characters may find it frustrating that she does not prioritize by plot flags.

I have been kind of disappointed when trying to share information though, as most of the time I have to be actually sitting somewhere for hours to find one person who will stop long enough to pretend to care...

I'd also show up to storyteller's events, especially Plen's upcoming one. I imagine there will be fun things dished out from history and present plot.

[Pseudonym]

I will say that the most recent plot quests, saved Dissolution, have been "Aussie" quests... meaning 7 am for me. Harlas' most recent is one of them. This means that I usually can't join them then, even if I still had Shiff... So really, IC I am totally out of the loop as far as whats going on, save that Tyra knows the Dragons are back... Yahoo...
 
No love for EDT...

There are 5 GMs on the specific plot quest team. 3 from US timezones, 1 from GMT and one from AEST.

Not all plot quests are marked "plot quest" on the calendar.

http://forums.layonara.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=8112&day=2008-8-25&c=3

http://forums.layonara.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=8492&day=2008-8-24&c=3

http://forums.layonara.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=8242&day=2008-8-4&c=3

http://forums.layonara.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=8122&day=2008-8-3&c=3

http://forums.layonara.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=8222&day=2008-7-31&c=3

http://forums.layonara.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=8002&day=2008-7-16&c=3

http://forums.layonara.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=7392&day=2008-7-6&c=3

Also, I don't think i'd be speaking out of turn by revealing conscious decisions were made for quests to be driven by player/character request, not for events to have been pre-decided and merely letting characters be spectators to things we've already decided were foregone conclusions. Want to get involved? Tell us how! Here is where.

Already you can see (some of) the ramifications of character's actions (inactions),

http://forums.layonara.com/rumour-has/201382-war-kingdom-kuhl.html

http://forums.layonara.com/rumour-has/201042-when-travelling-into-kuhl-kingdom.html

http://forums.layonara.com/rumour-has/194722-sad-news-kuhl.html

There are characters out there from ALL timezones (and whose play time crosses timezones) who have information to be shared. Many .. indeed most of the quests thus far have been in response to player queries/actions/investment. Maybe instead of OOC forum frustration from his player, Wren has to get (quite justifiably) frustrated at those IC who possess some pieces of the puzzle but aren't sharing!

Edit: PS. Also, what Acacea said.

[jrizz]

Thanks for the advise and the hint Pseud I have done just that. I did not know that these were PC driven. Wren has something to go look into

[Chongo]

Yeah, every single one of those is at a time/ day it is unlikely for me to ever make.
 
 My/ our problem, not yours.
 
 Heh, I used to lift a brow at the "none of the quests are at a time I can play!", or the "I can't make a level with the amount of time I have to play" posts.  
 
 But I suppose we addicts are perishable after all!
 
 It's an uncomfortable pill to swallow realizing that your days living Layo time are done.  I've watched this whole community long enough from both sides to not say "Hey... why can't I be involved in this series... that and I need it to be somewhere between 9 pm and 1 am MDT, because I work from 9-6, my son goes to bed at 7 so I need that time, my wife goes to bed at 9 and I can't really give you full attention until then, and the only real days that are good for me are Monday and Wednesday, although Tuesday I can actually show for GMT evenings" ... and then the day before ... "Aw man, I'm really sorry, it's my one day off and it's the one chance this month to get out with friends, so I'm not going to be able to make it.  I really appreciate you delaying it two weeks so I could show up for that episode though".
 
 So again, my side, not yours.  Just doesn't work out these days, and I know full well what that quote above looks like when it's multiplied by 12 quest-goers.  I think I'll resign myself to player-drivens on my schedule alone, and making sure that if nobody else can hit my schedule, that I'm capable enough to go off awanderin' on my own.  And the big wheels keep on turnin'...
 
 

[Pseudonym]

I am going to post again in this thread ... I maybe came across as a bit defensive ... if there is a deficiency of quests for a certain timezone then everyone/anyone should feel well within their rights to tell us exactly that. There might be a defensible reason why there hasn't been what might be perceived as 'enough' run then ... or maybe there is not and we do indeed need to address this.

Pseudo

[jrizz]

I dont think this is an issue of there not being enough GM coverage. It seems that the GM coverage is more then enough. This is a IG PC issue and Acacea hit the nail on the head. Before we were all summoned for the cause. Now well we have a much more diverse population

[Chongo]

You didn't sound defensive. If you ask me, and I know that everyone is... ... this sort of thing is just so wildly complicated that the only thing anyone can ever ask for is that the folks running it to put their heart into it, and that the folks that are around to show up for it do the same.
 
 Sounds easy, but it ain'.

[Script Wrecked]

From the Rumour Has It forum (common knowledge), most recent first:

War in the Kingdom of Kuhl!
When travelling into the Kuhl Kingdom...
Dragon attack on Leringard!
Arwal Dumoin - Wanted by the the Church of Lucinda
New rumours arrive from Belinara.
Another 'Bastion'?
Massacre on Vanavar
The Destroyer comes!

From The Dragon Storm Campaign forum (maybe not generally common knowledge, easily attainable):

Requesting an Audience....
Leringard and Kuhl
*notice* The Dragon's Whisper ~ Whispers of Dragons
To Save A Dragon
Bastion Of Phal
The Boy And The Beast
The Dragon That Wasn't There
Some time after the rumors on Vanavar appears...
A summons to Spellguard!
The Captured Gold Dragon
The Words Of Kharaz, Voice Of The Eternal Flame
Dragon-called attend!

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Script Wrecked

[osxmallard]

I agree with rizz on this one, it feels like this plot quest is a GCDQ for a select group of people... not saying that anyone is 'selected' or anything, just that there is a core group steering the major plot quest.  Not everyone serverwide is as involved as the bloodstone series.

[LordCove]

I agree with rizz on this one, it feels like this plot quest is a GCDQ for a select group of people... not saying that anyone is 'selected' or anything, just that there is a core group steering the major plot quest.  Not everyone serverwide is as involved as the bloodstone series.

I'm kind of in agreement here. One of my char's is in one of the said groups.

Although, I should point out there is more than one core group.

What I think has caused some of this, is one of the groups caused an "incident" to happen which, they wouldn't really want people to know about.
So although they've learnt a lot.... the question of "how" they learnt it all is something they would shy away from.

But that's not to say its not impossible to get the information.
There was one particular player I brought into the fold and gave all the necessary information to, and still keep giving her the information, specifically because she went out and RP'd, investigated, asked questions of various other Players, all which earned her enough information to be brought into it.

The same can be done of anyone who wants to find out whats been going on.

All it takes is a little time and a few direct questions to a few people.

[osxmallard]

Let me clarify something before the possibility of a lot of people arguing the many ways my opinion is invalid.

Up until this point in the main plot... it has been very secretive and selective.  The first few portions of the new main plot (almost 2 years ago) were widely attended with the meeting with Milara, etc.  The war just publicized by Harlas is a huge thing to get people server wide involved in the major plot and is probably a big turning point to get some of the 'secrets' released to the general server populace.

[Script Wrecked]

"In's" into The Marked story arc:

Leringard And Kuhl
Posted In Taverns, Mercenary Camps, And...

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Script Wrecked

[Dezza]

I've just read all of this and there are valid points on all sides but the one message to all players is this:

You want to participate? You decide what you want to do, follow the procedures for requesting a GM to run it and wait for it to be run...

Its all up to YOU!

A lot of people are happy to sit back and wait for something to fall into your lap. Unfortunately this plot series is not one of those. If you want to do something, if you want to participate, if you want the information then you need to stand up and do something about it.

It took me the entire last plot series to accept I could only ever have very little participatin in it due to timezones. This time I have been fortunate that the plot series is being run how it is being run in that it is almost 100% PLAYER driven, how have I managed to participate in this? I have got in there and requested things and its happened. It may not happen overnight but it does happen! Its not favouratism or whatever word you want to call it its simply taking the initiative into your own hands and having things done.

I am not trying to come across as negative but I think before people start jumping on the 'we're feeling left out' bandwagon you need to consider this plot series for what it is and get in there!

Why does it feel like some people are main eventers?
Because they are participating! Don't expect to join a quest and be prime spot when someone else has gone to the trouble to gather all the information, to organise the people, to come up with the idea of the quest and to submit to the GM's for it to be run. Surely that entitles them to some priviledge? Personally I really don't care who leads the quests as long as they share information with everyone else.

As OSX noted this upcoming quest has been marked plot so I imagine its going to be something big. I also suspect its being done now at the time its being done because its going to directly affect those people who have for the most part been doing the research, organisation and requesting of the quests!  To me that makes sense, why run a quest in a timezone with people who to date have not been driving this particular aspect of whats going on?

So the point of all this rambling!   Its all up to YOU!  You reap what you sow!

[jrizz]

Thanks Script that is a great post to help catch things up.

[Link092]

*raises hand* Some of us aren't used to a player driven world, as everything is normally preplanned in games (permanently).

So If I wanted to start a little search (or acting on a bit of news), and  posted it, that would be a push towards starting a plot quest? and I can honestly say that being below the age of 18, and still living with parents (obviosly) It's hard for me to join into some of those big quests (but Milyy's weekend quest have been a great start!). I'm just curious about that, cause it would give my Character something to do, other than resign to searching for those forlorn POI. =)