I mentioned 500 years ago that i was thinking of giving some generic feedback then tragically I had, like, 0 energy to do so. But i'm going ahead and trying! Not sure if this is the best section to do it but I thought it was the closest. If not, please let me know!
The game is plenty fun and I'm loving the setting and current cast to bits, but I think the biggest problem we're currently facing is that when there aren't games around, it can be hard to get your ball rolling. This is something I think a lot of games with the running-games formula struggle with, actually, so I've been trying to think of ways we could try to get more engagement and there are two plans of actions I've come up with - though one of them (specifically Events) I think you've actually already set up.
Proposal A: player-run games.
I know players cannot run games right now for plot reasons, which is entirely valid. However, this also puts a huge strain on mod team to keep coming up with and then running the games, which absolutely takes a lot of planning and work. I think allowing players to run their own games would lessen the strain on mods shoulders. I know we got some really creative players in our midst so I think there are a lot of people who would be willing to put forth effort to make sure there are more things to do in between modly run games to keep interest up.
What I thought specifically, since plot concerns are absolutely legit, was that for now, until you make up a new system, characters themselves could have the chance to organize and run a game for a few extra sparks for themselves and their team (for example, a hosting team could automatically get 300 sparks JUST for organizing, with the character himself getting a guaranteed 500 regardless of if the team wins or not).
Characters would be given temporary powers and items that would allow them to set this up - for example the ability to unlock/lock specific team rooms, or like, say, tie people up on the spot if that's something designed in the game. This could be like organizing bond events, but with less specifications of it being under a specific umbrella of action so players themselves can have an excuse for running it. The game can either have been entirely planned by the character or maybe the Train Gods had a game proposal and the character agreed to run it. Off the top of my head something that could be fun to try was a game Vyn mentioned in chat the other day with titles swap (characters get a title that describe themselves, can trade that with other characters and get the trait associated with it, etc). I was thinking definitely no trauma games (at least not intentionally so) for this option so those heavy ones can be left to mod team, but like that we can also integrate silly games that would give characters things to do while being ultimately Not That Important.
I think we could also benefit from having more games last over the course of a couple of days (say a weekend) rather than being at a set time, with multiple rounds and turn ins. That way everyone gets a chance to play even if they are not available for turn in time.
Proposal B: Events with a set schedule
This would be events that would alterate the world and setting in a consistent way through the month, so these would be things that could happen alongside game while still being integrated with the actual game and give people things to do during the month. It could be something as small as "the heating is off the train and you can't restore it, it's cold as balls and you gotta keep seven layers of blankets for the rest of the month" or stuff that could be opt-in like "this month you have an emotional bond connection with [whatever characters you want to have it with]", or fake memories from an alternate life that you can make up on the spot, and so on. I think the best way to make it work is with things that can be played in the background while not being the main focus of a post, so it can be ongoing. I haven't thought of a proper full list but if you think this could be a way to spice things up I'll make an effort to try to come up with at least 12 proposals that you can then pick and chose from - and we can also just ask other players inputs on what they'd like to see for events of this type as well.
AND FOR NOW, THAT'S ALL! I hope this is helpful and of course if that's not the direction you want to go for that's absolutely okay, just wanted to throw in some suggestions!
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The game is plenty fun and I'm loving the setting and current cast to bits, but I think the biggest problem we're currently facing is that when there aren't games around, it can be hard to get your ball rolling. This is something I think a lot of games with the running-games formula struggle with, actually, so I've been trying to think of ways we could try to get more engagement and there are two plans of actions I've come up with - though one of them (specifically Events) I think you've actually already set up.
Proposal A: player-run games.
I know players cannot run games right now for plot reasons, which is entirely valid. However, this also puts a huge strain on mod team to keep coming up with and then running the games, which absolutely takes a lot of planning and work. I think allowing players to run their own games would lessen the strain on mods shoulders. I know we got some really creative players in our midst so I think there are a lot of people who would be willing to put forth effort to make sure there are more things to do in between modly run games to keep interest up.
What I thought specifically, since plot concerns are absolutely legit, was that for now, until you make up a new system, characters themselves could have the chance to organize and run a game for a few extra sparks for themselves and their team (for example, a hosting team could automatically get 300 sparks JUST for organizing, with the character himself getting a guaranteed 500 regardless of if the team wins or not).
Characters would be given temporary powers and items that would allow them to set this up - for example the ability to unlock/lock specific team rooms, or like, say, tie people up on the spot if that's something designed in the game. This could be like organizing bond events, but with less specifications of it being under a specific umbrella of action so players themselves can have an excuse for running it. The game can either have been entirely planned by the character or maybe the Train Gods had a game proposal and the character agreed to run it. Off the top of my head something that could be fun to try was a game Vyn mentioned in chat the other day with titles swap (characters get a title that describe themselves, can trade that with other characters and get the trait associated with it, etc). I was thinking definitely no trauma games (at least not intentionally so) for this option so those heavy ones can be left to mod team, but like that we can also integrate silly games that would give characters things to do while being ultimately Not That Important.
I think we could also benefit from having more games last over the course of a couple of days (say a weekend) rather than being at a set time, with multiple rounds and turn ins. That way everyone gets a chance to play even if they are not available for turn in time.
Proposal B: Events with a set schedule
This would be events that would alterate the world and setting in a consistent way through the month, so these would be things that could happen alongside game while still being integrated with the actual game and give people things to do during the month. It could be something as small as "the heating is off the train and you can't restore it, it's cold as balls and you gotta keep seven layers of blankets for the rest of the month" or stuff that could be opt-in like "this month you have an emotional bond connection with [whatever characters you want to have it with]", or fake memories from an alternate life that you can make up on the spot, and so on. I think the best way to make it work is with things that can be played in the background while not being the main focus of a post, so it can be ongoing. I haven't thought of a proper full list but if you think this could be a way to spice things up I'll make an effort to try to come up with at least 12 proposals that you can then pick and chose from - and we can also just ask other players inputs on what they'd like to see for events of this type as well.
AND FOR NOW, THAT'S ALL! I hope this is helpful and of course if that's not the direction you want to go for that's absolutely okay, just wanted to throw in some suggestions!