Storytelling
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- Storytelling is not a task that is reserved for staff. We are very committed to empowering players to write stories that become part of the grand picture. Players should feel comfortable telling stories and running events for each other.
- To help better empower and reward players as storytellers, staff has put the following supports for player-run stories in place.
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TP Levels
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- There are four defined levels of plots that take place on the grid.
- Anyone can run levels 1-2.
- The GM faction is here to help with player-run stories. Join them. Use them.
- Levels 1-2 require no prior staff-approval to running.
- Try and keep stories centered on the grid.
- Staff will help you develop your TPs.
- Players may consult staff during any level of TP. The TP will halt until the questions or concerns are addressed.
- If you are in doubt of what type of TP qualifies for what level, do not hesitate to contact a staffer or submit a +ticket.
| TP Level 1:
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Level 1
- Usually one-shot scenes. Can be longer.
- Characters cannot be killed or permanently injured.
- Damage cannot be done to any part of the IC grid. Includes areas that are not built.
- NPCs cannot be killed.
- Uninvolved PCs cannot be directly targeted.
- Antagonists should be easily overcome.
Example
The Purists are having an auction during the Spring Festival. Characters volunteer their Virtues (Generosity, Patience, Service, Mercy, and Forgiveness) for other characters to purchase during the auction. The winner of each character is permitted to call in a favor based on the virtue they purchased. All proceeds are donated to charity.
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| TP Level 2:
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- Can include combat, but combat should not be the focus of the story.
- Participating characters cannot be killed, but can suffer permanent injury, including loss of limb or scarring.
- Character can be incarcerated for a short term.
- Damage can be done to grid areas and property owned directly by the participating characters involved in the story.
- NPC death permitted, no changes to uninvolved PCs.
- Antagonists should be a challenge.
Example
A mage enchants a bunch of toys to make living dolls to sell to the village children. Somehow the toys escape (or are released) from the shop. Many of the toys are harmless and just need to be caught by the participating PCs. However, several of the toys end up being quite dangerous and do damage not only to the toy shop but also to the PCs that attempt to capture them. It may take several scenes over the next few days for the PCs to find and capture all the escaped toys.
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| TP Level 3:
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- These TPs need pre-approval from staff. Use +ticket to submit plot idea for approval.
- Characters can be killed, permanently injured, or incarcerated for long term.
- Moderate damages or changes can be done to the IC grid and property not owned by the participating characters.
- Major changes to uninvolved PCs permitted.
- Antagonists should be difficult to overcome.
Example
There's a creature living underneath the coliseum. No one has seen it yet, but somehow it is making identical twins of characters. A group of characters band together and go down into the undercity to find and kill the creature and the doppelgangers. After a dangerous trek through the undercity, the characters discover a horrific Cthulhu-esque monster that is making eggsacks filled with twins of characters that it has encountered. After a grueling battle where several characters nearly die and others are grievously injured, the monster is killed.
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| TP Level 4:
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- TPs restricted to use by staff.
- Can be any number of scenes.
- Major stories that can have reverberating affects through the entire game and on theme.
- Player can request this level, but staff will have final say in approval.
- Can include character death, debilitating injury, and loss of character.
- Life-threatening changes to uninvolved PCs permitted.
- Severe damages may be done to the IC grid, including annihilating whole communities or epic changes in the setting.
- Antagonists should be nearly impossible to overcome.
Example
Example 1: Your character is a Barca and hates the Conways for overthrowing your familyâs rule of Guardian. Seeing an opportunity for revenge, you decide to organize a rebellion. Eventually, after weeks of work, you mobilize your supporters to start a civil war with the intent of overthrowing the current Conway Duke and Duchess.
Example 2: Magic suddenly stops working properly. It is discovered that an ancient entity called the Huntmaster is somehow involved. The Huntmaster, for reasons not entirely known to the players, rampages across the island killing people and turning others (including characters) temporarily into hounds or stags. Each night the characters are transformed into hunter or prey and forced to play out their roles. The characters are summoned to a meeting between Rosier and the Huntmaster during which they discover the Huntmaster was somehow insulted by the Lord of the Abyss and expects reparations in the form of blood. The Duke of Mists offers the Lordâs consort Lilith as prey, and the Huntmaster accepts. After rampaging through the isles, the showdown takes place in Gateway where the Huntmaster kills Lilith. However, the nature of magic is forever changed.
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