- Joined
- May 3, 2010
- Messages
- 12,226
- Reaction score
- 3,559
- Staff
- #1
The Plot System: Main Factions and Levels
Plots, Ranks & Levels
Plots have no direct impact on levels. To elaborate, someone can get to max level without ever doing a plot. Submitting plots will yield extra credits which will allow quicker level gains.
Plots do impact ranks directly. In order to rank up in main factions, the character will have successfully led and completed plots. For the rank of Master or Vigo, for example, a character need only reach level 2 to obtain it. From then on, players will have to submit a plot idea for each successive rank. For example, a member can submit an overarching plot arc to get them from Master rank to Jedi Councilor or Vigo to Lorda. Staff will evaluate the entire plot at its completion and then it will be determined whether that rank is granted or not. This will be entirely case by case basis and dependant entirely on how much effort is put into the plots. Someone that has a strong PC support system and an extensive story will be on the path to becoming a Main Faction Leader much quicker than someone doing the bare minimum.
A PC will have to be a minimum of level 4 before they can be eligible to be a Main Faction Leader. Once they hit level 4, they may petition to staff to step up to the Faction Leader position. If staff looks at the entire plot arc done thus far and deems it sufficient, they will be granted the position. If not, additional plots may be necessary. For Exiles, although a level 3 can challenge an Exile Lord for their rank, for the Faction Leader position, no outright challenge will suffice. There will need to be a plot around it that realistically leads to the ascension.
Anyone that hasn’t been ranking up throughout the faction internally will not be eligible to go for Faction Leader positions. The only exception is for Exiles vying for a Lord position. In this case, any level 3 Exile may challenge a PC Exile Lord to a single combatant duel for their position and title (please note this does not extend to NPC Exile Lords. NPCs will require a submitted plot involving multiple PCs to overthrow.). In order to ascend to Faction Leader, the Exile must not only be a level 4 Exile Lord but also have gained a power base of support before ascending.
Remember - YOU need to petition for rank promotions. No staff member will come to you and tell you you’re ready for a promotion. A PC’s ranking is entirely dependent on the player driving and tracking its progress.
Plot Admins and Moderators
This section is to remind everyone that staff members will be working hard to review your submissions or grant rewards. As a result, please be courteous of their time and don’t badger them if you don’t hear back on things immediately. If you repeatedly harass our staff, your plot will be instantly scrapped and further disciplinary actions might be taken.
This second point is especially important - No staff member will be telling you what to do for your plot. You present the plot to staff, and you get feedback on how it can be done. However, don’t ever go to staff members asking them for ideas on what to do from scratch because it’s not their job. Plots are dependent solely on the players to apply their creative thinking and there will be no handholding for this. If you’re unsure on what plots to do, look to other members that are successfully driving plots.
Main Faction Plots
A main faction plot is a main faction's current story, to be told by the players. These are not drafted step by step by administration beyond the introduction of overarching goals, but rather a plotline that the players will chart and progress. Main Faction plots will be presented as an overall goal or mission statement that the faction has at the time, the completion of which will progress the factions storyline. After a Main Faction plot goal is completed, the story will progress and a new goal will be presented.
Contributing to Main Faction plots is an easy task that anybody who has a character in the faction can do. Grab a fellow faction member and do a thread, or plan and submit a plot that contributes to the overall goal of the main faction. Once a main faction plot thread is completed, it can be submitted for review. Threads may be given more weight in the evaluation process depending on how risky they are, with higher risk threads such as a single OPEN or PvP thread being able to accomplish more than a single ASK. A player could even indirectly contribute by participating in main faction plot threads as an outsider to the faction, or NPCing for the Main Faction plot.
Influencing Main Faction Plots
While the goal of the faction plot is set, the journey to and the actual outcome will be entirely dependent on the actions of player characters. From individual threads to extensive plots, the player base of the faction will build the story to reach these goals. Extensive plots will have the more influence upon the outcome than individual threads, as they present a more sequential and coherent story towards the overall goal. This is not to say that individual threads can’t have an influence.
Through hard work and determination, players can influence and impact faction plots. As with influencing the outcome of the faction plot, player actions will be taken into account for the next faction plot. While it's not guaranteed that your plot will influence the path of the faction, the more compelling, coherent, and challenging of a story that is presented, the greater influence a plot can have on the factions story.
Can a faction “fail” its Main Faction Plot?
We certainly hope not. However if a faction is inactive, or extremely disorganized in its pursuit of the goal, it is possible for the faction plot be deemed a failure. As normal, once the faction plot is completed either successfully or not, new faction plots may begin. However the faction will likely be in less advantageous of a position due to its recent failings, and this could be reflected in the faction plot.
Player Run Independant Factions
Player run indie factions will operate closer to the plot system highlighted in the last announcement. Administrators will not be defining goals or overall purpose of these factions, so it'll be entirely the responsibility of the faction leader to drive the faction goals and stories. In order to become integrated into the main story with the Main Factions, the indie faction should have several plots done that weaves into the overarching story. The faction leader will have to gain a high amount of credibility to warrant the inclusion of the faction into key events.
Battles
Battles will still exist in the The First Sith, though we hope to have a more engaging system than we've seen in the past. Battles will be dropped organically into the story, especially in areas where opposing factions are both engaged in competing plots. Player made plots can even be designed in a way to trigger a battle, such as a plot to attack opposing factions, or two factions.
As a reminder, please keep all questions related to this announcement, such as clarification on anything mentioned here. In some of the other announcements, we're seeing a lot of tangents and derailments occurring and we would like to keep things on topic. Please thoroughly read the responses others have made before asking a question, to see if your question has already been answered. Thanks!
