Plot Idea, Opinions Needed!

[Kenren]

Now that we have a pretty solid foundation for a member base, there was something I was knocking around for this reboot, but I need your guys' opinion on this!

I don't want to get heavily into magic, with specific powers and such - I feel like that tends to get more and more specific until creativity starts getting squashed. However, the fantasy lover in me likes some type of magic option, because I think it makes the plots a little richer and more dangerous.

My thought:
In the past, I've had sites that used a 'quest' board. Basically, the idea is that the wolf goes there, meets some deity or other, and is given a set of tasks they must complete in order to gain a power. I might even let this be pretty open - you can ask for any power you want, and the deity (and me) will decide whether it's acceptable/doable for the wolf to have that power. More extreme powers would have a longer list of tasks, etc. The tasks can include meeting specific wolves and threading with them, getting some sort of token even (meaning they have to convince that wolf this is a good plan, reason with a difficult personality, etc), go somewhere dangerous to get an item or herb, or fight against Mother Nature herself - possibly getting the claw of a bear, potentially requiring the wolf to ask other wolves for help.

EDIT: There will probably be levels depending on what the power is - beginner, intermediate, advanced probably, if it suits the power to do so. So perhaps they wouldn't have to go back again to strengthen the power, persay, but when they get the power the first time maybe there will be a list of things that need to be achieved IC before the power can be considered the next level.

It's an idea that gives people new reasons to roleplay with each other, develop their characters in potentially dangerous situations, and allow for a bit of magic use. Keeping in mind, of course, that due to the 'fight/battle' restrictions here, there will be no way for anyone to abuse the magic and potentially bully other members without breaking the rules. It's simply to further character development and plotting.

It would be a new event, so no incorporation into histories would need to be made.

That's all I can think of... but yeah, I really want to do it, but I want everyone's opinions first! The site is here for you, after all.

[Lexx]

I REALLY LIKE THIS!! It's super freeform and relaxed, and it really requires the characters to work for any potential powers/develop as a character accordingly. I'm totally into the idea of all magic being gained IC rather than characters being born with superpowers! My only concern is how can powers be regulated to make sure magical characters don't abuse non-magical characters... since that has been a problem on all the sparkly magic wolf sites I've been on in the past ;__; Should we have an honor system where players promise to do everything with consent IC and if they get too wacky the deity might take their magic away again as punishment?

[Kenren]

YEAH LIKE fights already have to have an agreed upon winner here because I'm just not doing the drama of challenges and stuff when an alpha is doing a good job, etc. So this shouldn't be any different, and there will be explicit rules that if anything IS abused, that'll be it. So everything should be agreed upon as far as how a power will affect another player's characters. Also I forgot to mention that there will probably be levels depending on what the power is - beginner, intermediate, advanced probably, if it suits the power to do so. So perhaps they wouldn't have to go back again to strengthen the power, persay, but when they get the power the first time maybe there will be a list of things that need to be achieved IC before the power can be considered the next level.

ALSO THE GODDESS IS GOING TO BE GRANDMOTHER CHAOS and u know she'll take that shit back.

-adds that to the list-

[Lexx]

ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! I COULD CRY! GRANDMA CHAOS 2k16

[Ray]

This is really cool and I like the idea of using an effort threshold just so people don't go about giving their characters powers willy-nilly off the bat!! I also like that it's an optional thing and up to the player whether they want to have their character approach the quest board or not. (I'm one of those weird players who doesn't SUPER adore managing powers across characters especially when I have favs I prefer using and some of my babies end up just sitting there not even using the powers that I spent too much time coming up with >_> )

(Also going off on a bit of a tangent here but I also kind of enjoy the idea of a general quest board with rewards that might not specifically be powers? Like I have no idea, a boon for the pack or a blessing for a guaranteed successful hunt or stuff like that, instead of just RPing it out of the blue and feeling like you're godmoding lol. It's kinda cute to give the characters purpose. :U)

[Lexx]

Ray I love that! That really integrates this idea of religion into pack life/character lives. It would probably be a gamble to always win the deity's favor for a successful hunt, but it would keep things lively IC for packs, and it means wolves that have no desire for magic can still participate in threads with a deity!

[Ray]

Yeah!! Like it's nice to have something a little unique for the site that also affects the characters, and maybe the choices of those that interact with the deities directly will carry on and affect other related characters like some sort of butterfly effect. I mean I'm sure players can always continue to RP their hunts (and everything else really) separately from any influence by a higher power, but it's a nice way to attach some weight to things that characters might find "important" enough to ask for. :'D

[Kenren]

Oooh, that would work too! (My own tangent: We could probably come up with the option of modded hunts if people want, both for individual players and pack hunts on request. It would be more fun because there could be an element of danger to it with larger prey xP) As for asking favors and blessings, this particular goddess it somewhat off her rocker so it would come at some risk to ask anything of her - like, if she is offended in some way, she might just turn around and give the opposite.

OOOH ALSO perhaps she could ask things in return, if she is to keep a blessing on a pack - things like guaranteed litters for members and stuff like that even on that pack's land if certain requirements are met every season. It'll be on a request-by-request basis, but I think that'd be fun!

[Heika]

I think this idea is super interesting! But, I'm also kind of curious about integrating it because I know some packs have their own lore and with Somerset's geography, it would be kind of strange for all the wolves to worship the same deity. But, still a quest board sounds super fun and it would be really cool to see how it promotes interaction between the role-players! Also, if by finishing the quests the packs can earn rewards for themselves, I think it would give a lot more meaning and bonuses to being in a pack instead of being a loner!

[Kenren]

Basically this goddess, Grandmother Chaos, will make herself known when she descends, so people will know about her. She won't be undermining any lore, just inserting herself in the mortal's lives.

[Heika]

Ohh! Ok that's cool! But, yeah, I agree with the effort system and slowly upgrading your powers instead of having access to everything in one go! Also, having modded hunting threads upon request would also be an interesting addition!

[Deleted]

I think for magic it should be something they are gifted, as you stated in the original post. In which they are granted specific tasks. On a previous site I ran we had what we called "The Grandmother" which was a very very old and oversized character hidden deep in a specific wood, who could bless pups who were brought to her. She would bless adults but only if they performed specific tasks - I'd love to see something like that come into play here. Even if twas the same concept - that old site is dead and no one remembers it anymore I feel like only the quest taker should get the rewards even if friends help them.

I don't think there should be complex magic powers and I think a wolf should be limited to one thing. As an example: the ability to create heate/fire. They can create it and maybe at a higher level they can control it. Another example: the gift of not dehydrating no matter how much they go without water.

As for an overall scope of it: they should have to use the power in-post for several threads in order to achieve the next rank and I feel that posts using it should be deatailed and entail real use. Puffing a little fire out of your nose is hardly skill building, nor is posting a one-liner that she shot sparks at the other wolf's face. So something substantial, that builds the story and explains why they have improved.

Most importantly I want to see the NPC "The Grandmother" who is perhaps played by staff, and who works as a deity or as a confidant. Even if they aren't there seeking powers, maybe they go to her for advice, etc. Make it so that she can bless packs, pups, etc with little blessings, or "curse" them temporarily if they have done something to offend her/her followers.

My personal opinion is that you'll need a list of abilities/powers that you'd allow and what their limits are. Maybe wolves can "petition" for a specific power if the player has something in mind.

[Kenren]

Most of that is pretty similar to what I've outlined above, but I think I'm going to be pretty firm in keeping things freeform as to what powers wolves want. It will keep things unique to each character, and due to the fact I (or someone else playing Chaos) am the one giving out the powers, there's no way for it to be abused. If they ask for something outrageous, I'll redirect it to something simpler and outline the limits at that time. It'll allow the site to be a bit different than others and everything will be addressed by me on a case-by-case basis.