Just wondering what the situation in regard to meta-plots on the server is. Have there been any? Are there any planned? If not, why? If so, what kind of scope can we expect?

When I mean meta plots, I guess I am takling bout DM plots which affect the entire server in scope. Such as the Zhentarim, Talosian and Lurker plots on another server I've played on.

Also, if meta plots are indeed feasible and applicable to EfU, can they be player engineered?

Feedback from players and DMs alike would be great.

-MadCads.

Oh, there has been and is going on. And players have alot of influence on them, it just takes one to work for it. There are some player plots also that have influence on the server, the same way as Lurker ( where also certain players had great influence on what happens and so )

yeha i had a thought for a meta-plot

thought seeing as sanctuary is so under threat by the other races then why not run with it with the occassional drow infiltration or perhaps a Llithid run they all could be quite a plot especially if parts of lower sanctuary were taken by drow or some other race and charactors had to fight to keep them from taking uper sanctuary and the PC's had to try and force the drow or what ever race out of lower sanctuary could be done as a persistant thing where there is a set number of the invaders and they must be eliminated (if it got too far in the invaders favor perhaps the grey dwarves or the deep gnomes come to help all of which changes the way sanctuary is run) it would also allow for more quests like getting a message to a family holed up some where where the object is to sneek past rather than fight through

dont know just my thoughts

There are plenty metaplots going on, run by both by DM's and players. Just have a look around, follow up on leads and before you know it, you're involved in dozens. It just takes a little effort, not everything should come to you personally.

There have been several invasions, infiltrations, and attacks by illithid, drow, and other threats. Just ask around in-game or read Nightfire's newspaper.

I would call the building and destruction of the house of light a meta-plot and I think that was most completly player driven.

What saddens me often, though, is the fact that people often fail to see a plot, even if it hits them in the face with a sledgehammer. My current character has so many server-wide plots he has a hard time keeping up with most of them.

A tip if you want to get involved into plots: Try to get involved with players who look like they're up to something, whether or not they're in a (DM)-faction.

Alternatively, if you pay my character fivehundred Shimmers, he'll give you a plot. Three for the price of two.

There's plots.

Then there is meta-plots.

Yes but when you come across them, do You know which is which?

There are numerous on-going "metaplots." As our setting revolves to a great extent around mystery and secrets, they are generally a little subtle -- on the other hand, if you were (for example) at the Sanctuary Gate on the day that the drow forces showed up and began catapulting dead slaves over the walls, you were clearly involved in a major event that took place at the turning point of a metaplot.

I hope you'll understand that we can't really provide a comprehensive list of all of the metaplots that are going on, as that would ruin the surprise for people getting involved in them, but rest assured that they are there.

Drow and Illithid agents have been operating in Sanctuary since day one, and their work has proceeded apace.

A huge amount of our setting is player-driven, and the event mentioned above occured because of decisions made by PCs.

I am literally unable to think of consequences that would be of more significance to the nature of the setting and FR universe than some of the possible consequences of some of the on-going plots -- and I'll stop there!

But, I do admit that my own taste as a DM is to favor plots that have a more intimate, mysterious feel. We can't have adventurers saving the world every day.

If you have a meta-plot (or plot), you'd like to propose, you may submit it to the DM e-mail account.

Well, from my own experience so far, I have been involved in plots, both PC and DM driven, but not anything I'd really call a meta-plot. Perhaps my characters were only involved in a very small aspect of a larger, more encompassing meta-plot, and I simply didn't know of the extent of it. Thats entirely possible, from what I've read here.

From the DMs who have chipped in, it seems that there are indeed a number of meta-plots active, though more subtle in nature than the standard one (such as an ongoing, large-scale invasion which lasts for weeks for example). I'm in agreeance with Howland in that plots which are more subtle, complex and mysterious are definetly more fun and rewarding.

Thats awesome news, and I hope I'll stumble across one and see it for what it is.

Cheers.

-MadCads

Lots of metaplots.

I can think of three major ongoing ones with Mandarin. I don't think they'll ever end.

I can think of one with Hectra that ended after awhile. Although, it felt tied up in one of the ones that was ongoing.

Either way, its complex, and they are there. I think the distressing thing as a player, and I know it was true when I use to DM, is the number of metaplots you can create and then never ever get a player interested in.

Usually, one or two people pick up on them and do anything with them. Sometimes its from one player hoarding all the information. Many times, its because players lose interest with anything they can't resolve in a week or less.

Yes there is a lot going on indeed!

I am playing characters that wanted to be left to their own devices and plots and have been swollowed up by much larger plots and are now treading water desperatly just to keep head above water.

They are out there and you are probablya part of one or more without realising it.

Yea Oro, I know what you mean. I can't see why everyone isn't interested in economic policy and city improvements, or in slime/feces cults either! Sucks for us I guess.

Now that we the people are in agreement that they exist and are a good thing...

Honestly, if there are in new players here that are thinking "Man, I wish I was swimming in plots, or was as sexy as Coldburn, or could be in this group." (I was there not but a few months back) talk to someone. In character, out of character, in game, in the forums... whatever. Any of the really active players would be more than willing to help someone get involved in any of those four ways, especially if you're nice about it!

Here's a 'metaplot' for you.

It's called the Council-Election.

Huge massive, many month long overarching plots are really many small plots tied together. Trust me there is more chicanery and nonsense going on it than you can think, and if you only knew it all your head would spin.

Dr. Breens baby for example is quite obviously something larger, almost sounds from the letters like he doesn't want sactuary to exist and he is obvously scared about anyone from the town finding out about his baby...

Vilia- Nods

Tash-looks around blissfully ingorant

me- yeah i can see there are many around and although im not sure if i have played in any i have found quite a bit of fun any ways... im newer to the forum than the server but i cant say i heard anything about drow flinging dead bodies over sanctuary walls dont know prolly just wasnt here for it

I was there, it was effing nuts. It did about a d8 damage, also left "slave head" or "humoid parts" on the ground. It was really unbelievable.

Its actually a pretty good question. I've seen your characters around MadCaddies, and I know you've been playing for some time, so the question does come as a bit of a surprise.

But then again not.

Back in alpha, when the DMs were figuring stuff out and experimenting, it was usually the case that they'd run smaller scale stuff and held that metaplots would follow, once the server went public. Thats not completely true, there were plots that were started in alpha, but generally things were run on a smaller scale. Ever since the server went public, there was the expected flourish of metaplots.

But this is where Oroborous makes a good point. Few of these concluded. Take the "Bowls of the Machine" now I know some characters devoted all their time to solving this mystery, and some got very far. Runt for instance. Not to mention the countless parties that went in their exploring and searching for clues with Runt and similar characters.

Then time ran on, PCs died, PCs didn't share information, PCs and DMs lost some interest. I guess the plot is still going on then, but I don't think as many people care, and few characters have interest.

There have been some successful metaplots, I think the Fingers of Termariel is the best example, but what made it successful was that it had a timeline, more than 1 or 2 characters were interested and it had an obvious conclusion (with perhaps a cliffhanger?) It wasn't perfect, but it was, in my opinion, a well run metaplot.

That in mind, I still had more fun doing a scripted quest with a DM at my back with a party in alpha then most metaplots I've seen/been in since. Things were smaller back then, stuff sorta got done. Loot was customized. You couldn't get to level 6 without DM help. Now, with so many well scripted quests, and metaplots, characters can make it big in no time and DMs are less involved in that process and spend more time on metastuff. Don't get me wrong, the DMs here are the best around, but I'm seeing them burnout a little, and I'm seeing them getaway from the sorta stuff that I just know we both, PCs and DMs, had a blast doing in alpha.

So I guess my tagline is this, yeah, there's metaplots, some are pretty good, most don't seem to conclude in a timely fashion, and lots of them aren't actually as fun as they sound. A DM that runs a small quest for a party that lasts 20-30mins back in the day was alot of fun. It was more personal on that level, and good for advancing characters outside of scripted quests, and not as diluted down as some metaplots can get.

Well thats my 2 cents, thanks for reading and Rock On, as Starry would say. -Cullen

Cullen ....But this is where Oroborous makes a good point. Few of these concluded. Take the "Bowls of the Machine" now I know some characters devoted all their time to solving this mystery, and some got very far. Runt for instance. Not to mention the countless parties that went in their exploring and searching for clues with Runt and similar characters.

Then time ran on, PCs died, PCs didn't share information, PCs and DMs lost some interest. I guess the plot is still going on then, but I don't think as many people care, and few characters have interest. ......

My character Tarnis is very interested in this stuff and tries to RP it well since he was an engineer in his past. He always tries and the others with him go along with whatever he tries to do, but the DM is usually not around for such events which makes finding out anything about them quite difficult.

I think I'll see if I can get this storyline going again.

Cullen But this is where Oroborous makes a good point. Few of these concluded. Take the "Bowls of the Machine" now I know some characters devoted all their time to solving this mystery, and some got very far. Runt for instance. Not to mention the countless parties that went in their exploring and searching for clues with Runt and similar characters.

Then time ran on, PCs died, PCs didn't share information, PCs and DMs lost some interest. I guess the plot is still going on then, but I don't think as many people care, and few characters have interest.

Regardless, from what I have seen, certain PCs are just as active (if not more active) in exploring the Dunwarren ruins as others were during alpha.

If only you could see what I've seen... :shock:

I think you're sorta missing my point. but I'm less interested in defending it! :D

While on the topic of defending points...

I never said I haven't seen or been in plots, even ones big in scale. pointing out plots you've been in and/or seen isn't really doing much for me. But, my definition of a meta-plot is a little different, and as Howland pointed out, meta-plots here are very subtle, so yeh.

[Edit- So many spelling mistakes I had to edit, lest my shame be made public :D ]