Quote from Logan's random notes you might enjoy

[logan9a]

Found this:

"The multiverse is in constant danger of getting butt fucked."

[PotatoJedi]

Of course it is.

[logan9a]

If the universe could stay saved for five minutes at a stretch, the need for the PC's would be lessened!

Can't have that.

[Scott]

Wasn't the premise of the game advertised as an exploration/sand box style of play?

[logan9a]

Apr 12, 2019 17:52:17 GMT Scott said:

Wasn't the premise of the game advertised as an exploration/sand box style of play?

You believe you cannot have both?

[Scott]

Apr 12, 2019 18:44:08 GMT logan9a said:

Apr 12, 2019 17:52:17 GMT Scott said:

Wasn't the premise of the game advertised as an exploration/sand box style of play?

You believe you cannot have both?

By both, I assume you mean constant byzantine plot in addition to sandbox/exploration

No, if you're constantly doing one thing, then you can't do the other thing.

More generally, they are not mutually exclusive though. You could do both. But we end up not being great at either.

What do I mean?

We can't have an optimal complex plot game because there isn't enough continuity between sessions. (except maybe for the 3 people that sign up for 20+ sessions per season) Since everything changes every 5 minutes, nothing from last session is relevant anymore, so by the time you get your bearings and figure out what is going on in game, you only have enough time left to plan/prepare for next session as opposed to actually getting shit done. And then, unless your next session happens to be tomorrow, somebody else does the things (or they escalate out of control) and you go back to nothing from last session is relevant anymore. I.e., you need to be able to pick up where you left off, and the way that we rotate players makes that unfeasible.

We can't have an optimal exploration game because the worlds won't stay explored. Instead they keep exploding, because you want to have an end of the world plot every 5 minutes. Also when people go and explore areas that you've already hashed out for other people/groups you tend to get bored and tend say things like "Eh, you didn't really get anything done. Should've planned better."

TL:DR version:
There's nothing wrong with plot-focused gaming, it's just that that's not what was advertised and we're not really set up for it. But that's fixable. Or if this pivot has been unintended, we could swing back the other way (to open-worldiness) and keep the world world explosions rare.

[logan9a]

I see what you mean.

Well, to be fair, when the PC's don't do certain things in a timely manner, yeah, shit explodes.

When they do take care of stuff (like Zog) then stuff begins to calm back down.

I think that it also depends on what sort of stuff the players do during the game. If they go to Amber, you're going to get complex plot that makes my head hurt just to plan. If you go out exploring, you get something more sandbox. Or if you 'make your own plot' (example, the Dread Spice Trade).

There is a lot of stuff going on in the world. Yes, plan better.

As to advertising I would say that it is an open dynamic world that has stuff going on. As the players have consistently proven, if they try hard enough they can hide from most of the plots. But if they do so, they have little right to bitch if the world explodes from it.

Heck, other things are going on that will cause things to happen in the world that the PC's have zero control over.

The important thing IMO is to find your grove.

Rasslin Rad is a good example. He has one thing that he enjoys doing - making contacts and merchanting. Two - two things he likes doing. Making contacts, merchanting and getting hold of things people want - three! Three things.

Anyway - if you become an actor rather than a reactor you can shape the world more. If you react to things, that's fine but there are tons of different forces acting upon the multiverse to buffet you around.

Shit, I don't even know what I'm trying to say any more. Tired.

OK- there are plots (do, hide from, whatever) and there is some exploration. Everything you usually find is big and scary. If you don't deal with it either someone else will or it will usually fester and get worse.

Not even sure how I'd advertise the world now but it has grown beyond what I thought it would be so let's discount the old advertising.

[Scott]

Have you considered doing more complex plots that don't have exploding worlds hanging in the balance?

[logan9a]

Apr 13, 2019 19:22:23 GMT Scott said:

Have you considered doing more complex plots that don't have exploding worlds hanging in the balance?

I'd love to - but I've been hearing a lot of people clamoring for Amber plots. Lots and lots of people asking for those. And that is ALL major shit.

But yes, I'd like to do some not 'center of the universe' stuff. I've got so much shit to do that I can only say that I can 'stick this on the list'.

[logan9a]

What Logan thought would happen:

"Hey - some Amber stuff. Let us get hold of it and get good at it before going to fuck with the Big Dogs."

What happened:

"A couple basic powers? BAAAAANZI BITCHES!"

[Fantômas]

Apr 13, 2019 19:30:52 GMT logan9a said:

I'd love to - but I've been hearing a lot of people clamoring for Amber plots. Lots and lots of people asking for those. And that is ALL major shit..

I'm curious as to who these lots of people are

[logan9a]

Chris and Matt mostly. Shit - maybe they've been just outstandingly vocal about it. Not sure. But I have heard lots of requests. Now, I'm wondering who all they were from.

[Scott]

I've seen Chris say twice that he is "always up for amber stuff",...but that's it.

[logan9a]

Apr 14, 2019 14:54:17 GMT Scott said:

I've seen Chris say twice that he is "always up for amber stuff",...but that's it.

Well, now I put up a poll so we'll see what the votes say. Right now, I see 'new land' on top.