FNRPs and Buildup Threads

[Valiens Nantaris]

One of the big things I want to do is to launch a series of Friday Night Role Plays (FNRP) combined with public threads building up to the main event.
This not only introduces the concepts over time but it allows us to get people and factions involved.

One concept I want to run with is that the results of these threads affect the eventual Incursion event. If the invaders do well in the thread or resistance is lacking, they will get a bonus to their strength come the final battle. On the other hand, if they’re beaten they will have less soldiers and ships in the final event.

Not including this coming weekend there are 9 FNRP potentials, and I’d add in 4-5 possible threads as well for different factions.

I want to involve a variety of factions in the story. I would seek out factions which have allies and make it available to all them to take part. To sweeten these pre threads and the FNRP rewards will be available, but only to exceptional participants.

My thoughts are for the Public threads:

• Nether portal opens above Csilla (Iron Empire & friends)
• Raid on Kamino for cloning tech (Galactic Empire)
• Terrorist attack on Coruscant (Galactic Alliance)
• Facility attack on First Order (First Order)
• Raid on Sith tombs (Sith Empire)

These should use flashpoints in some way.

The FNRPs will be smaller scale but start to escalate as things go on.

 

[Travis Caalgen]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

I, for one, welcome our shard/cosmic horror overlords.

 

[NightSister]

I mentioned this once or twice on Discord, but I like the idea of crashing random public threads to have make a surprise cameo.

My name's also down for help with the FNRPs if you need.

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

I think the spontenaity of this is just appealing as a collaborative writer. Really, really fun and hypes up the event, gets the community interested and involved in the enemy before it REALLY comes to play by attacking something they're already invested in.

I would love to help with these either threads/thread-crashing in any way I can, especially writing characters or judging. I loved Omega with a passion, so if there's NPC writing to be had I'm all about it.

 

[Connor Harrison]

I echo Miss Xiangu's comments really, nothing to add!

I'd like to help where I can crashing any threads with NPCs - after my LOA I'm pretty flexible during the working day.

Inject a little uncertainty here, a bit of fear there, all sounds good.

 

[Rusty]

One idea for an FNRP I brought up to [member="Valiens Nantaris"] is geared towards no one faction in particular, but gives anyone who wants a shot at getting involved.

A research facility formerly belonging to one of the nastier Sith factions (OS, maybe?) is bought out by a private corporation. When a distress beacon is detected from the facility, the corporation puts out a reward for anyone that can get inside and figure out what's going on. I'm not exactly sure what that reward would be, but something substantial enough to attract attention.

To keep things fast paced, they're working against a clock. The building has a self destruct device at its core, and they've either got to deactivate it or get out before it goes off.

However, the deeper they get into the facility (I'm picturing a creepy ass manor in the middle of nowhere, kinda like RE1 minus the stupid puzzles), the more strange things become. The players start seeing and hearing things they shouldn't. Droid guards start appearing, but something about them is subtly off. Eventually, the thread shifts from competitive action to full on survival horror.

The Shards have freed ​something​ from the prison, and it's being studied in the facility. Only, the researchers couldn't contain it, and it's loose.

Now in terms of buildup, we don't release any major plot details. There will be hints that there are Shards involved, and that there's something else, something more sinister lurking in the background. If the players are especially diligent or clever, they might pick up a few scraps of useful information that can be tied into the larger plot, but not the context to put it all together.

 

[NightSister]

I love [member="Rusty"]'s idea and would really enjoy writing a thread like that. The idea of working against a clock is always fun - tense and fast-paced scenarios are always super fun. Also, we could work flashpoints into the idea of a time limit pretty easily.

Also echoing the idea of being subtle about the buildup. The best way - in my opinion, of course - to build up to a reveal is to be subtle enough that you don't know what'll happen but show enough that you're able to try and *guess* instead of having no clue what is going on until the very end.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

I like all the ideas mentioned. We'll have to choose the public threads carefully, but after the first FNRP I am down for people doing this.

 

[Ria Misrani]

I have a couple of cities we could look at for the First Order:

• Jathuun (x)
• Junker City (x)
• Kilaado (x)

I can also submit something more specific to the codex for the event just as well. I'm also all for crashing public threads, I've got a lovely B1 droid we can use, and I can also turn one of my existing accounts into an upgraded droid.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Ria Misrani"]
Might make a good FNRP for sure.

 

[Gray Raxis]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

We should talk to HK about something involving the Metal Lords. They would make the perfect target for our enemy to attempt to create an ally against the organics or to forcibly subjugate to serve their cause. I think that would make more sense early than the opening of the Nether Portal over Csilla if we are trying to hold the horror aspect as much as possible until the end of the event.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Gray Raxis"]
Agreed, I'll talk to HK.

 

[The Major]

Going along with [member="Rusty"] and his idea for a creepy mansion, plus having an under current and hints in FNRP, I was thinking of adding a biological component. Perhaps researchers were using materials taken from these shadow, colorless gods to enhance organic abilities. Maybe the Shards were planning to release this substance into the market as a preliminary attack on organics. It gets marketed, used, and it causes minor breakouts: insanity, ferality, sickness, and death. This is of course after some successful use, say for troops in a dominion or invasion. Players can find snippets of research, and experiments of varying success. This could hint at the sinister beings to come.

Let's also say that those addicted to the chemical would click over on the side of the ancient ones once they actively attacked.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="The Major"]
I like that, a mystery thread.

 

[The Major]

Précis -planned with [member="Rusty"]

For three years, the good ship Troubadour has sailed the stars, flying from planet to planet to delight fans with the ultimate in entertainment. Combining old school theater with the latest in high tech holograms, the crew of the Troubadour prides itself on delivering the finest theater experience the galaxy has ever seen.

But something has gone wrong.

Six months ago, on a routine trip through Imperial Space, the Troubadour went missing. Now, it’s turned up once more, adrift and powerless in deep space. The courtesy droid, a one of a kind entertainment model that calls itself Mercutio, has made contact, and claims that several survivors are onboard. Mercutio claims that there are treasures to be claimed for any adventurers intrepid enough to find them, but can he be trusted?

This call has been broadcast to a number of governments and public media outlets. Mercutio was a tour de force of a mechanical robot/actor -and often was the topic of tabloids due to his ridiculous exploits. It wasn’t beyond the droid programmed for etiquette and flair to undertake something so bold and make it successful. Was this all just a new form of extreme advertising?

Inside the lavish ship equipped with multiple stages and seating to fit thousands of the galaxy’s finest, adventurers would find amenities beyond rival on this plane of existence. Literally. . .

Pitch details/concepts

• 5-7 player limit
• Horror/mystery plot
• Weapons must be procured on site
• Rewards based upon performance and creativity

This plot will link to the Incursion with players trying to survive on a ship while a straight forward survival shtick goes deeper and grows more twisted. Players will have to contend with a maze like layout while dealing with normal style challenges which include skill checks (hacking a locked door, blasting open a passage, repairing an elevator, combat versus driods).

It will begin with the players boarding the ship, and relinquishing all weapons (guards will be GM controlled and cannot be skipped) while allowing characters to perhaps sneak in tech equipment, small knives, prepared alchemy, and close range hold out blasters. Whomever refuses will be turned away right then and there. Once on, all their items will be dumped into a shuttle which will launch off the main ship. The ship when then jump into hyperspace. This is to provide an atmosphere of oppression and to give the impression of being trapped. Once players advance enough, an eldritch being will finally appear on the ship, and then things will get really screwy.

It's imperative that players that volunteer understand that A: we will not, in any case, issue killing blows (Players can choose to die, but their determination and ability to think of solutions will enable them to survive and even thrive in this nightmare.) and B: they are willing in engaging in some robust RPing.

Further points:

• Names can changed
• ideas can be shifted about as needed to fit the site and the fit the site event

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="The Major"]
I understand why you want people to give up weapons but I think we need a better 'in game' reason. Perhaps the old 'people fall unconscious and when they awake the ship has jumped and their weapons are gone'.

Can you do me up a summary for a LFG post? I'm guessing it'll be close to the precis above.

Other than that, looks great. If you give me a public summary I can start recruiting people. Any restrictions such as no force users or no masters you want to impose?

 

[Rusty]

The idea is that the ship won't allow anyone on board with weapons. They'll be kept in the shuttle and brought around to the cargo hold. Only the shuttle never makes it.

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Rusty"]
Feels too artificial. I think the 'black out and find them gone', whilst cliche, might work better.

 

[Rusty]

That can be arranged. Board the shuttle to investigate, black out, wake up on the ship with no weapons and a splitting headache.

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Rusty"]
Yep. Adds more to the paranoia.