Plot creation process
Overview
This page is designed to help the writers - and everyone involved with creating and running plot at Empire understand what the process is and how it works.
Producing plot for a large game is a difficult process. What works well for a small game with two writers and thirty players cannot be scaled to thirty writers and 2000 participants. We need to have a central process for organizing costume, NPCs, props, ribbons for items, debriefs for NPCs. Otherwise - when you come to run your plot requiring 40 NPCs to dress in Brass Coast costume for a quest - you will discover that all the NPCs are out, all the Brass Coast costume is out and all the quest slots are filled.
Please make every effort to work with the process. If you are having problems talk to any of the people involved in managing the process and we will try and help sort out the problems for you. Please do not try and bypass the process.
Stage 1 - Write Some Plot
You can write some plot at any time and chat to other people in PD about elements of it. You should look at your plot and ask yourself sensible questions about who you might want to discuss the plot with:
- Plot Actuation (Kol, Liza) - Is the plot going to need a lot of people, take a long time to run, or need quest slots?
- Campaign (Andy) - Does the plot need new campaign elements adding to support it?
- Costume (Pru) - Does the plot need any specific props or costume?
- Prosthetics (Mim) - Does the plot need any specific prosthetics?
- Plot Writers (All writers) - Does the plot impact or overlap with other plots being written/run?
You don't have to talk to anyone at this stage, but chatting informally to people will help get guidance with the plot and avoid problems later.
Stage 2 - Put it on the Wiki
You need to type it up and put it on the wiki. We need a single central platform for plot - and the plot wiki is it. We realize the plot wiki does not fit everyone - but we can't operate a different process for each writer - that way madness lies. So... the plot wiki is the next stage.
If you're struggling to use the plot wiki then talk to anyone of the IT literate folk - other wiki users, Andy, Aquarion - anyone and we'll help as much as we can. If you really can't use the wiki, see if you can team up with someone who can use the wiki and see if they can help you get it on the wiki.
On the page for your plot you need to add the following text:
Substitute your plot team name, your name and the plot name for the above obviously.
At this stage your plot is still informal - a "stub" effectively. No-one is going to look at it, approve it, run it, or even allow it to be run. It is on the wiki so that you can share it with people, get input if you want it - and critically so you can prepare it for the next stage. If you want feedback on the plot then it is down to you to ask people for that feedback.
Signs and Portents
You might want to add a vision to your plot at this time. Signs and Portents is a commonly cast ritual that draws from a pool of pre-prepared visions. By creating a vision to add to this pool you can foreshadow your plot, and include clues for the players to interpret that might help them interact with it. This is a great way to provide plot exposition or some context or introduction for your plot.
Include Vital Details
If you have specific requirements for the plot - props, costumes, prosthetics, set dressing, manpower - anything specific that the plot needs to run, then make sure it is clearly identified in the page you have written for the plot. Use bullet points if possible - bullet point lists make everything better.
When you are happy that your plot is complete and you are ready for it to run then you need tag the plot.
Deadline
You must submit your plot for approval 10 days before the Friday that the event begins. Plot submitted after this date will not be run at that event.Stage 3 - Add Next Event and Awaiting Approval Tags
You need to add two tags to your wiki page.
The first should have the name of the next event - or the event that you want your plot to run at. The event names are defined by their sequence in the year and the year they are running. e.g. first event in 2013 is "E1 - 2013". The third event in 2014 is "E3 - 2014"
To create a tag you add the following text anywhere to your page:
This tag is used by the Plot Actuation team to find plot that may be running at the next event - so they can prepare a timetable - allocate NPCs, sort costume, etc, etc, etc.
You can set this by changing the "Status" in the PlotThread text you added earlier, and you should change it to "Awaiting Approval", like this:
This tag is used by Matt and Andy so they can find your plot and check it for consistency with the campaign.
Stage 4 - Push for Approval
You need to get your plot approved by Matt Pennington and Andy Raff. This process is driven by you, the writer.
You need to drive this process as both Matt and Andy are scatterbrained and unable to manage time or projects. Basically just prod one of them repeatedly until it happens. An email to Matt is a good place to start, but regular prompting on Facebook is even more potent and difficult to ignore. The plot facebook group is a good place to poke Andy Raff who spends too much time on Facebook. If you don't get a response, wait a day... then poke again. Feel free to cut and paste the link for the wiki page with your plot on it - and post that at Matt until he does the job.
Matt is busy and responds to problems based on how much he is getting harassed to get them done. This description is not efficient or optimal but it is true. You will not annoy Matt by harassing him with "Check my Plot" requests - you will simply get your plot checked and approved faster...
Once Matt or Andy has approved the plot - they will change the tag from "Awaiting Approval" to "Approved".
Plot Approval is a conveyor belt process initiated by you.
- Request Approval - Email or PM Matt and Andy.
- 24 hours later - send a second request if you have not had a response.
- 48 hours after second request - issue Matt and Andy with a final demand.
- 48 hours after the final demand - plot automatically approved.
If you drive this process by prodding Matt and Andy then your plot will be approved within 5 days of being submitted. If Matt and Andy can't get their shit sorted and get you a response after your third message - then your plot gets automatically approved.
Bypassing the Process
If you have a good source for costumes or props or a specific NPC you'd like to use then talk to the relevant member of the plot room about your ideas. Plot actuation is a difficult job and they will appreciate the help.
Please don't bypass the process and do it yourself - that causes major problems for other members of the team when they try and allocate NPCs, quest slots, ref ritual outcomes, etc. Talk to the plot actuation team - they are there to help you run your plot.
Stage 5 - Plot Actuation
The Plot Actuation team will read through your plot and check it for missing elements that they need to run the plot. Potential missing elements are:
- Item Ribbons - If a plot needs a ribbon they need the precise details of what goes on the ribbon.
- NPC Stats - If an NPC needs notable stats they will need specifying.
Once the Plot Actuation team have checked your plot and are ready to run it they will change the "Approved" category tag to "Running".
When you see this tag appear then you know that your plot is timetabled to run - and that plot actuation team are going to ensure that sufficient costumes, props, and NPCs to run the plot. The plot actuation team have to balance the demands of all the plots being run over the weekend. They may discuss the requirements with you - but ultimately they have the final say on what resources can be allocated to a plot. If you are concerned that their estimation is not sufficient then discuss that with them.
The Plot Actuation Team will finalize all the logistical arrangements that are required for your plot to run. If your plot needs resources, coin, cards or ribbons then they will prepare them. If the plot needs props, costumes, prosthetics or set-dressing - then the plot actuation team will sort them.
Stage 6 - Preparing the Timetable
The Plot Actuation Team will prepare a timetable for all the plot that we are running out for an event. This will be a google document spreadsheet.
Creating the spreadsheet is enormously hard work and takes a lot of time. There are a huge number of different variables that have to be juggled as plots are being sanctioned. At present the goal is to deliver the timetable for the 1pm Friday that the event starts. As the system improves, the Plot Actuation Team will endeavour to deliver the timetable earlier.
Stage 7 - Briefing NPCs
You need to be ready to brief your NPCs for your plot. The plot actuation team prepare the things you need for your plot - but they will not brief and run your plot for you. So you will need to be present in the plot room 20 minutes before your plot is due to go out - otherwise it will not go out.
Once you get to the plot room, liaise with a member of the plot actuation team and they will tell you who is monstering your plot. You must then brief the NPCs.
Stage 8 - In The Field
When your plot is in the field, it will be interrogated by the players. They will use the tools at their disposal to find out more information about your plot. There are various rituals they can perform to find things out or to cause things to happen in response to your plot. These requests will come to a field ref - who will process the request and then refer it back to the plot actuation team.
The plot actuation team will attempt to answer the question. If you are available (in the plot room or on a radio) - then they will pass the request to you. If you are not available then they will attempt to respond to the player action using the details provided in your plot brief. The more detail here - the easier it will be for them to respond in the way you want.
Common Rituals that the players will cast to find out more are:
- Swim Leviathan's Depth - Allows them to ask Leviathan why something is happening.
- Bright Lantern of Ophis - Allows them to analyze a magical effect.
- The Eye of the High Places - Allows them to analyze magical effects in a large area.
- Eyes of the Sun and Moon - Tells them about military forces in a territory.
- Shadowed Glass of Sung and Clear Lens of the Eternal River - Analyze an area for clues. These rituals are most useful on a quest but might be used to explore any location or 'scene' where something has happened.
Stage 9 - Debriefing NPCs
When your NPCs return to the plot room they will be asked by plot actuation to put a debrief on their plot on to the plot wiki. The debriefs are added using the debrief button provided by the plot template which appears on your wiki page. If you need specific questions answered by the NPCs then you will need to ensure that you are there when the NPCs get back and debrief the plot.
Debriefing is important because it allows us to track what plots ran and what the outcomes were. It is critically important for game consistency that we get good quality debriefs. Everyone involved in the plot process, writers, plot actuation, and NPCs should be aware of the importance of getting good debriefs.
Stage 10 - Player Follow-up
The Empire campaign specifically prohibits free text downtime - players are prohibited from trying to follow up a plot in downtime. It is worth bearing this in mind when writing a plot.
However there are things the players can do to chase a plot has left the field. The most common are:
- Call Winged Messenger - Send a message to a named NPC.
- Create a missive to an Eternal - Send a message to a named Eternal
These requests will come to a field ref - who will process the request and then refer it back to the plot actuation team.
The plot actuation team will attempt to identify the plot writer best suited to deal with any player follow-up. Messages set to eternals and letters sent by winged messenger will be put in the post-board in plot. There is a box for each plot team where they can collect their post from. Unidentified plot will be added to a single box marked "unknown".
If you find a piece of plot follow-up in your box that is nothing to do with any of your plots, then please move it to the "unknown" box. Plot Actuation team will empty this box after the event and try to chase it up with the whole plot team using the Facebook writers group.
Players may also commission a historical research request through the Imperial Senate. This results in a report collated by NPC civil servants who spend the period between events trawling archives and libraries all over the Empire. Some research requests will find no useful information, but you may be asked to write a research request result related to one of your plots, or to provide enough details that someone else can write one. A research request is a useful tool because it allows you to help players drive your plot forward, and can be used to reveal additional information about the background; point to a quest or unexpected avenue to pursue the quest; or even provide leads to an entirely new plot, depending on the nature of the research.
Summary
The following summarizes the division of responsibilities in the process of creating, approving and running plot at Empire.
- Write plot - the plot writer
- Add plot to wiki - the plot writer
- Make requirements clear - the plot writer
- Request appoval - the plot writer
- Approve plot - Matt and Andy
- Source costumes, props, prosthetics, set dressing - Plot Actuation Team
- Allocate NPCs, quest slots, vision tents - Plot Actuation Team
- Source resources, cards, coins, ribbons - Plot Actuation Team
- Timetable plot - Plot Actuation Team
- Brief NPCs - the plot writer
- Respond to player action - the plot writer if available, otherwise Plot Actuation Team
- Debrief NPCs - Plot Actuation Team
- Allocate player follow-up - Plot Actuation Team