Hello!
Snoteye recently mentioned that DMs have no time, or perhaps interest in running preludes in the near future. This saddened me, as the entire prelude concept has always been one of the things that set EfU apart as a server and as a place to spend time in.
So my idea/suggestion is this: Periodic, 'generic' preludes.
What do I mean? Simple! There are many different, but recurring ways characters generally make their way to Sanctuary. Some are rescued in freedom raids. Others simply run away when the caravan they are a part of is attacked, if they are lucky enough to shed their shackles before people come for them!
Others, yet, are sold as slaves in auctions. I'm sure there are many more generic situations that could serve as the starting point for a lot of characters. What's the point in wasting resources and time with this?
A character with a prelude has lots of 'hooks' from creation. If you were saved by the Seekers, your character will be eternally grateful to them. If you were bought by someone in an auction, that'll create some interesting conflict. And so forth. What I mean by this is that preludes are a great way to start your character. Characters that start with a prelude are very lucky!
At the same time, the resources wasted in the whole thing would be greatly cut down. As it stands currently, the prelude system requires that a DM sit down and discuss lots of particulars with the players involved, then find a time, then run the prelude. With a system of 'generic' preludes, DMs could simply jump on the prelude forum when they had the time/desire and post "There will be a prelude for characters who were previously enslaved by XYZ in x hours". Any people planning on making a new character would then join the prelude. No new areas would be necessary. No new NPCs/storylines.
Finally, if this idea goes through, I'd like to see a lot of prelude character/old character interaction in preludes. In a Seeker freedom raid, the Seeker PCs would get to know these characters a lot faster and a lot better than they would if they simply met on the street. These people will be truly inclined to see the Seekers as heroes - after all, their freedom is owed to them.
A slave auction like the ones we've had before offers PCs the chance to play an unwilling master/slave relationship, with simply LOTS of possible conflict/interaction.
I'm sure people can think of other 'templates' for preludes. I just don't want such a great thing that makes EfU better to stop happening because the DMs don't have the time, so this is a suggestion to try and cut down on that time. Essentially, these will be like mini-preludes, the specifics of each case being left for DMs to decide upon.