MOD ANNOUNCEMENT + DISCUSSION

[singularitymods]

Hey kids, Vic here. As you've probably noticed, the game has slowed significantly and the overall metaplot is sadly lacking in progression. We regret to say this has been from mods simply not having the time or drive to, well, mod. It's not always a fun job, and sometimes people lose steam. Personally I'll be going back to school and working full time in just a couple short weeks and simply won't have time, and the other mods are in similar boats.

What we're asking you, the players, is this: Should we roll out the End Game plot, or is anyone out there willing to take up the reins? We'd need several individuals (around three) willing to dedicate time to run the game and keep things flowing. We'd provide setting and plot information as required to get the ball rolling, and several of us are willing to keep piloting key NPCs, but ultimately you would have the reins of the game.

So. Thoughts?

Comments

[igetboredeasily]

So you were in Ele, right? Redd's omnipotence worked there because the boat itself was a very small, very controlled setting. It was possible for the mods to know what was going on at all times, because there was only so much that could be going on. Sing, on the other hand, has a very large, very freewheeling setting, which is great for players; having a sandbox element extends the longevity of a game. However, it makes omnipotent NPCs hard.

Rule of thumb: as the number of options players' characters have increases, the amount of control NPCs have needs to decrease. Ask yourself what narrative and/or OOC administrative purpose the character serves, and only give them enough power to accomplish that task.

Let's stick with Hypatia as an example. Her OOC administrative function is, basically, to keep the characters in the game. Consequently, her narrative purpose is as the antagonist, at least until such point it's revealed that she's, say, keeping Cthulhu from appearing and eating everybody, and then her role would change. Because of this, her admin and narrative functions are at cross-purposes. In a narrative, the good guys (player characters) need to be able to triumph, but given the setup of Sing, for the game to keep happening, they can't.

This is something any new mods need to keep in mind when laying out the plot--if you want to keep Hypatia, you should reduce her powers, find a way to turn her from antagonist to at least sometime ally, or a combination of the two. How she exists now is unsustainable.

[soldad]

Yep, I was in Elegante.

Just. word rambling after reading all this, out loud. Since I don't know everything for the background plot, I can't say if this is even a feasible idea. But there have been overtures from Tria to let her "fix" Hypatia. with Hiku's plot going on, that could be a chance for her to do so.

Obviously, one would never turn Hypatia into someone benevolent (Redd, for example, was crazy enough that you were never sure) and I'm not sure how effective the "lobotomized" idea that was being tossed around would be. But there could be a chance for change there.

On an unrelated Hypatia level, I see what you're saying with the NPCs. Unless you want to drain yourself or kill the player's fun, you have to figure out what the purpose and the power of them is.