Engaging with Plot (Part 2 of 2)

Now that you know some ways to find existing plot from Part One, let’s discuss how you can request new plots, and some ways to engage with plot once you find it.

Request the Plot You Want

Certain skills at the Master level (Criminal, Finance, Hunting, Sailing) allow you to request a module. In SoCal, we generally offer each of these every event, even absent a request. If you have those skills and want to influence the direction of those story arcs, submit a request. If your character qualifies for a Professional Focus Achievement (PFA) you must submit an Action Request, and while you can learn from another LC you can also request a plot arc as well, ranging from one to three months.

Finally, players can submit a Personal Plot Request (PPR) with no prerequisites whatsoever. This requires that you have some idea of the plot you want to be involved in, whether that’s a current plot or one that you want to suggest. The story team has discretion on such requests - we aren’t going to accept a request to meet a Casted Character if the sole purpose is a thugging, for example. If you are interested in bringing your approved Character Backstory from the background into the spotlight, this is the way to do it. The more players you can involve in the request, the more likely we are to accept it.

Okay, I Found Plot. Now What?

So you found a plot that intrigues you, and you spot a Casted Character and their entourage walking out of Ops. What now?

You might feel shy or awkward at first, but Mods are written with a hook. The NPCs are actively looking for people to interact with - that’s you! You’ve probably been on the receiving end of this during your casting shift, where you went on a mod and the players just wouldn’t bite. Didn’t you feel relief (and excitement!) when a player engaged with you enthusiastically? The main tool of experienced plot-chasers is simply that they jump at the opportunity. Don’t worry about “doing it wrong” - we’re all just making it up as we go along!

Plot Branches

To return to my point about story vs. plot from Part One of this topic, plot isn’t a static thing. You’re not just along for the ride; you are actively shaping it. Would it be too Church of Darwin for me to make an evolutionary analogy? Plots that have high levels of engagement tend to grow. Plots that have low engagement tend to fade to the background. Sometimes plots mutate and change course unexpectedly - maybe players did something unexpected, a key player was absent or someone else stepped up, a better idea came up in the writers’ room, or two separate plots collided and made sweet, sweet love. LARP is full of opportunities for happy accidents if we embrace them.

Give Feedback

We’re always looking for feedback on how to improve the event experience. What are your thoughts on finding and engaging with plot? Let us know by filling out the Event Feedback form, or by getting in touch with your local gamerunners.

Next Time…

Next time I will tackle the problem of plot gatekeeping: what it is, how to prevent it, and how to deal with it when it happens. Until next time, survivors, see you in Hell (Dorado)!