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ph_ooc2025-03-02 01:22 am
pumpkinhollow) wrote in ph_ooc2025-03-02 01:22 am
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Monthly Plotting Post | March
Monthly Plotting Post | March
Happy Spring, gang! February was a tough month for a lot of folks in the game, but with warm weather and more sunshine on the horizon, I am so excited for what’s to come! I’m also SO PLEASED to be celebrating the anniversary of our game’s biggest boost in size to date! Even if the circumstances surrounding the Sail Migration weren’t the best, and we had a lot of growing pains in the aftermath of such a large change, we also gained a lot of beloved and engaged community members and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m so glad you guys are here and I’m so excited to celebrate the anniversary of our time as a community.
In more game-related news: I don’t know about you guys, but with a major plot event on the way (i.e. Efrain’s downfall in the March event), I could use a little extra time to wrap up my current threads and gear up for the big moment. Merrymeet is one of my favorite recurring events, and I’m excited to give it the time it deserves before a major plot development. Plus we’ve got a new TDM going up toward the beginning of March and a small mingle! As such, I’m going to have the March event be a little bit on the late side this month. I’m thinking either the 23rd or the 28th. Thoughts one way or the other? Drop a comment on the mod toplevel or let us know on Discord!
I also want to use this month’s metaplot section to talk about the game’s future--- the roadmap for the rest of the game, and what the sequel game will look like! It’s still a good ways off (like probably 8-12 months if we’re really efficient), but I want to give folks plenty of time to think about their post-game plans! Plus I’ve had it on the brain.
For springtime, you’ll be able to find Grass, Fairy, Ground, Bug, and Normal! (Yep, that’s right--- by popular demand, Eevee will be available with this change!) Rather than a special article, available types will now be listed at the top of the Gazette, and the intro article will make a brief note. We are prepared to roll back this change if it doesn’t work out or if it’s undesirable, but the intention is to make it so that everyone will have a chance to get their faves. Catch responsibly! Each character is still limited to 6 Pokemon pals, as we don’t have a PC for you to send them to!
Also on the agenda for spring right now are the player-requested community laundry days, a potluck as an homage to last year’s, as well as the ever-popular speed-dating from last year. (Although this year it’ll be called “Swift Social” to be inclusive of those looking for platonic CR, though it’ll still have opportunities to indicate you’re looking for love.) I’ve also got some plant-themed and fae-themed spookies on the docket for spring that are still in the works, so stay tuned! As always, I’m also open to suggestions!
A while ago, Nimbus had mentioned offhandedly the idea of a “day at the opera” event which has lived in my head rent-free ever since, and so it’s off to the opera we go. In Efrain’s attempt at a grand demonstration of his power, he will be transporting the islanders to a grand amphitheater, where his demonic orchestra will perform musical interpretations of each islander’s deepest source of pain, regret, and sorrow--- with the subject themself and their loved ones compelled to play the roles on stage while everyone else is a captive audience. Play out musical renditions of scenes from your past with your CR cast as your loved ones or enemies, catch a moment to chat in the Green Room before or after your performance, or find moments of solidarity from the auditorium seats between songs.
Not feeling the limelight? Take on a role as a member of the stage crew for the show and succumb instead to the despair of endless toil for the cruel and merciless stage manager! Take a seat in the pit and play with the orchestra, feeling every moment of others’ pain by proxy from the music your hands are forced to create. Or get saddled with a job in the concession stand for a different flavor of suffering--- mindless drudgery for an uncaring public. The choice is yours! But get too feisty and face the wrath of the security guards: a shade of one of your own loved ones like the false Ballister that had been created for Nimona.
However, Aster will be taking the beginning of March to prepare his assassins. Have a bone to pick with Efrain? Let me know and the demon-killing effort might recruit you! But anyone looking to get too close to Efrain will have to fight their way through his strange bodyguards, creatures of living glass whose creation Pyotr Stamatin may have to answer for later.
Due to the narrative function of the event, I am unfortunately unable to offer a full opt-out aside from a handwave for this event. But hopefully I’ve created enough alternative ways to enjoy this pity party that you’ll be able to find one that suits you! If not, let me know!
In more game-related news: I don’t know about you guys, but with a major plot event on the way (i.e. Efrain’s downfall in the March event), I could use a little extra time to wrap up my current threads and gear up for the big moment. Merrymeet is one of my favorite recurring events, and I’m excited to give it the time it deserves before a major plot development. Plus we’ve got a new TDM going up toward the beginning of March and a small mingle! As such, I’m going to have the March event be a little bit on the late side this month. I’m thinking either the 23rd or the 28th. Thoughts one way or the other? Drop a comment on the mod toplevel or let us know on Discord!
I also want to use this month’s metaplot section to talk about the game’s future--- the roadmap for the rest of the game, and what the sequel game will look like! It’s still a good ways off (like probably 8-12 months if we’re really efficient), but I want to give folks plenty of time to think about their post-game plans! Plus I’ve had it on the brain.
SPRING TDM
March through May
Originally, we had Pokemon acquisition sequestered to specific periods of time and only specific types, and the reason for this is because we didn’t want them to overwhelm the game. However, over the past year and a half, the concerns we had about Pumpkin Hollow developing a heavy culture around Pokemon that overtook the game never really came to pass--- people generally don’t even fill all their slots, and they are used more as a fun accent rather than a main feature! When last we discussed the Pokemon situation in the server, we had people express that they might like to check out some other types and we’d planned to have them available for Summer and Winter this year, but with the understanding that the way Pokemon are treated by the player base will most likely continue, we’d like to go ahead and offer them year-round with types determined by season, and have divided up all the types into a thematically appropriate season! For springtime, you’ll be able to find Grass, Fairy, Ground, Bug, and Normal! (Yep, that’s right--- by popular demand, Eevee will be available with this change!) Rather than a special article, available types will now be listed at the top of the Gazette, and the intro article will make a brief note. We are prepared to roll back this change if it doesn’t work out or if it’s undesirable, but the intention is to make it so that everyone will have a chance to get their faves. Catch responsibly! Each character is still limited to 6 Pokemon pals, as we don’t have a PC for you to send them to!
Also on the agenda for spring right now are the player-requested community laundry days, a potluck as an homage to last year’s, as well as the ever-popular speed-dating from last year. (Although this year it’ll be called “Swift Social” to be inclusive of those looking for platonic CR, though it’ll still have opportunities to indicate you’re looking for love.) I’ve also got some plant-themed and fae-themed spookies on the docket for spring that are still in the works, so stay tuned! As always, I’m also open to suggestions!
HARBOR DAY MINGLE
March 5th
To celebrate the anniversary of the Great Sail Migration, we’ll be doing a simple mingle event called Then and Now--- post a toplevel to invite other characters to comment leaving their first impressions of yours and how they compare to their current feelings. How have things changed since your character arrived? Whether you’ve been here for a year, the whole game, or just a week or two, enjoy reminiscing with your Pumpkin Hollow pals!
MARCH SADNESS
Late March
It’s finally time to take down another Demon Prince! Efrain, the Prince of Sorrow’s Song, is the last thing standing between Prince Aster and becoming heir apparent--- leaving only King Eligos himself as Aster’s final obstacle. A while ago, Nimbus had mentioned offhandedly the idea of a “day at the opera” event which has lived in my head rent-free ever since, and so it’s off to the opera we go. In Efrain’s attempt at a grand demonstration of his power, he will be transporting the islanders to a grand amphitheater, where his demonic orchestra will perform musical interpretations of each islander’s deepest source of pain, regret, and sorrow--- with the subject themself and their loved ones compelled to play the roles on stage while everyone else is a captive audience. Play out musical renditions of scenes from your past with your CR cast as your loved ones or enemies, catch a moment to chat in the Green Room before or after your performance, or find moments of solidarity from the auditorium seats between songs.
Not feeling the limelight? Take on a role as a member of the stage crew for the show and succumb instead to the despair of endless toil for the cruel and merciless stage manager! Take a seat in the pit and play with the orchestra, feeling every moment of others’ pain by proxy from the music your hands are forced to create. Or get saddled with a job in the concession stand for a different flavor of suffering--- mindless drudgery for an uncaring public. The choice is yours! But get too feisty and face the wrath of the security guards: a shade of one of your own loved ones like the false Ballister that had been created for Nimona.
However, Aster will be taking the beginning of March to prepare his assassins. Have a bone to pick with Efrain? Let me know and the demon-killing effort might recruit you! But anyone looking to get too close to Efrain will have to fight their way through his strange bodyguards, creatures of living glass whose creation Pyotr Stamatin may have to answer for later.
Due to the narrative function of the event, I am unfortunately unable to offer a full opt-out aside from a handwave for this event. But hopefully I’ve created enough alternative ways to enjoy this pity party that you’ll be able to find one that suits you! If not, let me know!
CURRENT METAPLOT
A lot has been going on recently in plot town! Primarily, the discovery that Dr. Elias Coldwood, lighthouse keeper and biologist, has a nascent Eldritch godling in his basement! There are two separate threads about this ongoing, one between Shen Qingqiu, Valdis, and Elias himself and the other between Gerry, Arthur, and John Doe. What is this creature that Elias has created? What are its ties--- and his--- to Nyarlathotep? And who was it that posted Elias’ anonymous bail just in time for him to attend Merrymeet? More details to come!With all that’s going on in the game’s present day, I wanted to talk briefly about the trajectory for the game’s future as well! Here’s a basic outline of the major plot beats I’m planning to hit, unless something drastic changes:
➼ At the end of March, individuals chosen by Aster will be given the opportunity to kill Efrain. With Mendel dead, Aster will be the last remaining Prince left to succeed Eligos for the Infernal Throne.As we’re building up to the trials that characters will face during these major plot beats, we’re going to be looking at ways to make characters more formidable through items, skills, transformations, canon updates, and more! We’d like to get as many folks in on it as we can and plan as far in advance as possible. We look forward to seeing what cool ideas we can work out with all of you!
➼ Throughout the Spring, fae involvement will become more prevalent. I’m still working out the exact details, but there are plans for Elsie and Olwylder to become more deeply involved in the plot, including a surprise I’m planning with Meghan!
➼ Also during this time, Eligos will be doing more to work on his contingency plan for dealing with Aster, which will involve turning Aster’s Court and Infernal Servants against him, and powering up his own favored and those of his other two sons.
➼ In the late summer, Eligos will make his own last stand, and he will die--- but not without setting things up for Aster’s eventual downfall in the process.
Aster will ascend the Infernal Throne.
➼ Dahlia will officially become a Prince--- and next in line for succession, as Aster has no other children. The Pine Devil’s curse of consumption will cease to be.
➼ With assistance from those that Eligos granted power to, those given boons by goddesses, and her own newly founded Court of Woman Scorned, Dahlia will strike back at Aster and become the new King of Hell.
As the only one left to maintain the contract with Nyarlathotep, Dahlia will break the truce, lowering the barrier!
➼ However, Nyarlathotep will not take kindly to this--- his reaction will remain a surprise for now, but this will launch us into a pre-endgame state where certain tasks must be accomplished to initiate endgame proper. We’re anticipating this taking several months at least.
➼ Once all tasks are accomplished, the final face-off with Nyarlathotep will occur, and the game will end with it finally being possible and safe to leave Marrow Isle. This will initiate our exploration-based sequel game, Emerald Crown! Pumpkin Hollowites will be given the means to leave this world and come back at will.
We’re also anticipating all of this taking quite some time, so there’s no rush to make major plans right this minute. Additionally, we’re planning to have Emerald Crown be more self-guided in an effort to give ourselves a break from heavy plot. We have more plot-heavy projects to share with you all in the future, and we could use some time to kick back and just play it by ear while we plan ahead! It’s also my plan to run a short-term game alongside Emerald Crown. Harvey, Drake, and I, operating under the name “Team Pumpkin,” have plans to bring you all tons of RP fun for years to come!
PHEW that was a long plotting post--- sorry it’s dropping so late at night for most of you! But we hope you’re as excited as we are to keep going on this adventure together!
Dr. Elias Coldwood | Metaplot ft. The Eldritch Godling In The Basement
With this angle of the plot, Elias is guarded (as if he hadn't been before), and defensive; interaction directly with Glory will require some establishing of CR with Elias! Save for tolerating his Town Hall appointed constable (Shen Qingqiu), he is very touchy about the situation.
That being said, I would love to establish some CR with him! He will not respond well to direct offers of assistance with Glory, and worse yet to parenting advice, but he'll be tentatively receptive to solidarity and understanding. Presently, he's operating on an assumption that he will be shunned by the community at large, so outreach will be met with wariness at first, but ultimately acceptance. Once there's a level of trust there, he'll begin to be cautiously open with people about her!
(Additionally, direct interaction can be fast-tracked with the aid of Shen Qingqiu's routine visits, but at a price - Elias has a lot of deep-seated distrust in his control of the situation being bypassed.)
On the other side of this situation, Glory is a character that will be played, and is in a strange point in her existence. Having been born of being "planted" in a host with magical abilities, notions about what she was to be, and continuously sustained in a world with a potent magic in and of itself, her development changed from that of the standard-fare offspring of Shub-Niggurath. Instead of being something that only carries the will of the Black Goat, or a vicious monstrosity alone, she is sapient, and slowly developing an understanding of the world around her! She still carries instincts and biological needs of her nature, but much has been changed by the world around her and her means of existence.
As the person she is presently, Glory is skittish and easily provoked, prone to attacking that which is unfamiliar to her. Part of this is fear, and part of it is the insatiable hunger at the core of her being. In a comfortable environment, however, she's got a childlike curiosity about the world around her, and from some ball-park musing on it, is probably somewhere within the age of 3-4 cognitively - she "plays" with things in her cell (some examples being hand-made toys and other ins and odds), tinkers with stones, and when she starts to understand Emeran, can identify herself and others by names! Currently she's struggling to understand things like rules and concepts of distant future, but can be convinced to agree to things like waiting until tomorrow.
I'd love to work out some plans for CR to explore this further, and get the opportunity to crack this situation open more deeply as time goes on!! For thoughts/general interest/plan arranging, let me know here or on Discord @ summertiide!
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He could still botch it by coming on too strong due to his intense feelings about bad things happening to children and wanting to make sure bad things aren't happening to Glory, but I think that's the play? Let me know how that sounds!!
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I'd be down for him to come on too strong! with him being stuck we Could always handwave that they'd met before to avoid the initial introduction/ease the blow BUT i'm also 100% game for an interaction to start with some offense LMAO just let me know what sounds best to you! i got a top-level up so i can also shoot ya a link rq if you need it! :D
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Radar's also good enough with kids and animals that it might be interesting to explore what he makes of someone like Glory. I have no idea how it might go, but I'd be curious to find out!
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i have no idea how it'd go with Radar, either, but it'd be a good time to find out, so i'm 100% open to opening the door for that too! Dr. Coldwood is already fond of him, so that gives him a good in! (i figure Nimona has every chance of just sneaking her way in with Tiny Animal Shapes or something so i wasn't pressed to find a way to give her a connection that might let her in LOL)
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