A Suite Proposal

[cherrywood]

see what I did there with the pun

Hello Chelonauts! As part of our game changes, one thing that I'm looking at is a suite realignment: that is, condensing the Foreigners who are spread out across the housing blocks into smaller groupings to help encourage new CR to be built.

There's a couple of options that I'm testing the waters with and they are: keeping everyone in separate suites but filling the housing blocks (so basically the same setup as now, just with more neighbours) or condensing everyone into roommate/flatmate housing, and with OOC versus IC logistics for both options. Either way there will be IC justification (Evandau orders them, etc) for the change, so this post is for discussion and ideas of what players would like to see.

The primary goal for this change up is to open new CR for characters (which translates to more plotting, more character development, and easier ways to make AC!) so while you're welcome to use your characters as examples for or against various options, this is mostly focused on what you as players feel would benefit you the most.

Based on the outcomes of this discussion, there will be a poll put up later for people to actually make their votes on the matter. This is just for people toss out their ideas and the poll choices will be built from these.

Comments

[browbeater]

I wouldn't mind having people live together in a flatmate/housemate situation. Good CR can come from that, as long as the roommate issue is incorporated into daily play. If it's just done to be done, I don't see anything changing with how CR is made.

Honestly, even if it did happen, I'm still of the opinion that it would probably be handwaved in TS, just due to the longstanding nature of the game.

[maipokerface]

This right here. If you want it to help build CR, you're going to have to do more than just stick people together in housing. They'll have to interact somehow in some way that can't be handwaved.

I'm all for it regardless though because if you do want the CR, you can always build it yourself. I wouldn't expect it in everyone's case though.

[browbeater]

Yeah, I'm ambivalent about it. On the one hand, it would probably be an easy way to force Mako to make acquaintances, and Ellie would be fine either way.

On the other, I worry about meaningful interactions, in general. I prefer to have some sort of solid idea for making CR myself, rather than 'hey these two live together, let's have them do things.'

[maipokerface]

I fly by the seat of my pants 24/7 so I'd be cool with CR any way it came. So this wouldn't be as much of a problem for me.

It would definitely be harder to have meaningful interactions at least at first though because they wouldn't really be drawn to one another by traits, just coincidence.

[denyamenti]

What else would you suggest for generating more CR between characters?

[browbeater]

My thought would be having the roommate set-up be for a specific reason.

For instance, we have the missions. But perhaps there are other things that characters could be tasked to do. And therefore, it makes sense to have the people who could be tasked for these things in the same place.

That way, they have a reason to really dig into why they live with each other, beyond day to day living. If there's a reason, such as reinforcement, or danger... Anything that could drive some sort of importance in who you live with.

That is what would get my characters' attention, however, I can't say everyone would feel the same. :|a

[browbeater]

... also wtg me. Replied to the wrong thread, but this works, either way.

[maipokerface]

I wish I had a good idea honestly. Even if you were to try and force people into interacting with each other, that wouldn't guarantee CR either. Ultimately building CR is on the player's shoulders in my opinion and I think putting folks together like this is a good way to do it. Unfortunately you're still likely to end up with folks handwaving and ignoring though.

It's kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't. I really wish I had a better answer for you. :(

[denyamenti]

Well, I don't want to FORCE people to interact even if I could, which you're right that I can't, so what makes the situation with housing prone to be handwaved? If we find the source of the perceived boredom in threading it out, it might give us an idea of what problem to tackle.

[maipokerface]

Yeah force is a little harsh. Encourage is probably the better way of describing it.

:|a Sometimes it's a case of characters just not fitting together or not really having an interest in random CR like that? Particularly if you like to plan it out more.

And too some people just don't like RPing more mundane things so they may handwave it on that account. I think Mako's mun up there has some good ideas about it in that case.

[lostundercover]

Echoing the idea that building CR is on player's shoulders and this is a good way to do it.

Having people be flatmates, in my opinion, won't force CR that people aren't interested in and those who are just fine with their CR/plots/etc are likely to handwave. But I think it's a nice bridge/handicap (in the sports sense)/boost to those who want or need more CR, to have that to fall back on during events and things.

[maipokerface]

It really is. I love these kinds of situations personally, it's a great way to make character have to deal with someone they might not have before.

[lostundercover]

Yes exactly! c:

[akito]

if it's set up like a large dormatory, with shared kitchens and bathrooms and communal areas it would incorporate more character interaction. I know when I was in a dorm each floor had a living room, a private bathroom with signs on them basically saying no sexing in hurr, and a communal bathroom and even though I hung around in my room a majority of the time, I ended up forced to interact and make friends just due to proximity/running into them all the time.

[browbeater]

I'm not saying the chance won't exist, I'm saying that if there isn't a reason, a lot of these interactions can be handwaved. And they probably will, IMHO. Theoretically these chances for "encounters" have existed in the blocks already, and they've been handwaved or ignored.

[akito]

Ahhh yeah, that makes sense. :C Thanks for the clarification!

+1

[lostundercover]

If not going with Froda's above listed option 3, I really like this dorm idea of shared communal spaces. Allows for CR with those that want it, handwaving for those that don't, and still maintains privacy.

[denyamenti]

What sort of things could be set up for having the interactions between suite mates on a daily or at least regular basis?