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| ==Overview== | | ==Overview== |
| Plot is the biggest department in Empire, as it incorporates all our NPCs, our plot writers as well as characters like the nation bards, egregores, civil servants and magistrates and back room operations crew who work in costume and make-up. We need lots of people to help us fill out all these roles, so if you're interested in getting involved in the IC side of Empire then we're always keen to talk to you. | | Plot is the biggest department in Empire, as it incorporates all our NPCs, our plot writers as well as characters like the nation bards, egregores, civil servants and magistrates and back room operations crew who work in costume and make-up. We need lots of people to help us fill out all these roles, so if you're interested in getting involved in the IC side of Empire then we're always keen to talk to you. |
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| The plot crew are divided into dozens of different teams. Some crew are members of many teams, some are members of just one. Everyone who is part of the plot crew is expected to have a good familiarity with the campaign setting.
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| ==PD Management== | | ==PD Management== |
| * '''Matt Pennington''' | | * '''Matt Pennington''' |
| Matt is the member of the PD management team with overall responsibility for all the plot crew - if you have a problem then Matt is your next port of call if your team leader can't sort it. | | Matt is the member of the PD management team with overall responsibility for everything that happens in the plot department - if you have a problem then Matt is your next port of call if the people in charge of your area can't sort it. |
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| ==Plot Writers==
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| * '''Write plot for events'''
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| * '''Run plot at events'''
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| * '''Team Leader - Andy Raff'''
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| Everyone who writes plot for Empire is part of our plot writing team. It is the job of the writers to create and run the plot lines that make Empire an exciting game to play. Plot writers are also expected to run their own plot - which includes briefing and debriefing NPCs and helping to get encounters ready by liaising with costume and make-up, however [[#Plot Support|plot support]] exist to help individual writers with every stage of the process.
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| Andy Raff is the team leader for the plot writers team. He is in charge of the Empire Campaign; Andy and Matt aim to go through each plot being created for Empire to ensure that the plot we are producing is consistent and of a high standard.
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| ==Plot Support==
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| * '''Help and support writers running plot'''
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| * '''Keep the plot room running smoothly'''
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| * '''Team Leader - Ben Dixon'''
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| [[Plot support]] exist primarily to help writers get their plot run at events. Plot writing is a creative process but writers may struggle with the organization needed to run plot in a big system. Our plot support team exist to help all the writers make sure that their plot runs on time and to brief. By liaising with members of plot support, any writer can get help with things like briefing, debriefing, wrangling NPCs, sourcing costume, make-up, and prosthetics. The plot support team are also the first point of contact for the referees when they radio in for the response to player questions and actions involving plots we have put out.
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| Plot support manage the monster room and will try to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. Members of the team will set out the room at the start of the weekend and oversee putting it away at the end.
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| An important responsibility for the plot support team is to manage ongoing plot requirements. The Empire campaign has many specific requirements - plot that ''must'' happen - for example battles, the bourse auction, and past life visions. Some of these elements are created by players - such as the ritual [http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Challenge_the_Iron_Duke Challenge the Iron Duke], some may be the natural consequences of previous plot, for example a quest or skirmish that needs to happen. We need to ensure that volunteers writing the plot for these sections of the game are able to deliver it on time, so the plot support team will monitor progress on critical plot elements to ensure there are no problems.
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| The plot support team includes a number of specific areas, costume and props, make-up and prosthetics, and special FX.
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| ===Costume and Props=== | | ==Creative == |
| * '''Sourcing kit for plots before the event'''
| | Because of the size and scope of what goes on in the plot department, we've separated the creative side from the logistical side. |
| * '''Providing costume and props for all our NPCs'''
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| * '''Managing the kit wardrobe at events'''
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| * '''Costume Team Leader - Lizzie Upton'''
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| * '''Props Team Leader - Rachel Durrant'''
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| The costume and props team is essential to dress NPCs and get them ready for encounters. The team use their knowledge of the PD costume and props inventory to dress NPCs for roles they are about to play, including the player volunteers for the battles. They also help them to change after an encounter and ensure used kit is put away. At the end of the event they help oversee packing away the plot room away and separate any kit that needs cleaning or repairing. The costume and props team also work before the events helping to plan and arrange new kit creation and purchase in preparation for upcoming plots.
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| ===Make-up=== | | ==Creative== |
| * '''Applying and removing make-up and prosthetics for all our NPCs'''
| | The creative side of plot is the [[plot team]], a group of writers who work with Andy Rafferty and Matt Pennington to develop the plot that happens at the events. Being part of the plot team is more than just writing, members of the team are responsible for ensuring their plot runs at the event, by liaising with plot logistics to ensure everything their plot needs is sorted and that their NPCs are briefed and debriefed. |
| * '''Team Leader - Agnes Eklund'''
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| The makeup team are essential for any roles that require make-up or prosthetics. These include orcs and characters with lineage, but they also include eternals and their heralds. The makeup team plan complex make-up arrangements in advance so that convincing effects can be created quickly in the field. They also help player volunteers don and remove make-up before and after battles. The make-up team work before the events helping to plan and arrange new make-up and prosthetic purchase in preparation for upcoming plots. | |
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| ==NPCs==
| | If you're interested in joining the plot team, then the starting point is to read our [[plot style guide]] and then sketch out one or more plots that you would be interested in developing. Once you've done that you can [mailto:matt@profounddecisions.co.uk email Matt] to discuss your plot. If we like your plot idea, then we'll help you to develop it and run it at the event. |
| The majority of the people in the plot room are NPCs, volunteers whose main responsibility is to play NPC roles throughout the weekend. The NPCs are divided into three main groups, described below. You don't have to be a member of one of these teams to play a role, we always need more NPCs so crew who want to take a break from their existing duties and play some roles are always welcome.
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| ===Field NPC Team=== | | ==Logistical== |
| * '''Bards Team Leader - Mark Chilvers'''
| | The [[logistical side of the plot department]] is the practical side of plot, costumes, make-up, managing NPC teams - it's everything that happens in the monster room as well as the preparation for that. This side of plot is run by Katie Rogers supported by a team leader for each of the key areas. |
| * '''Civil Service Team Leader - Kate Forster'''
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| * '''Egregores Team Leader - Clare Evans'''
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| * '''Magistrates Team Leader - Jon Creek'''
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| We have a number of NPCs who play a single recurring role based in Anvil throughout the weekend. These roles are highly specialized with a clear focus on providing support and assistance to the game and the players. The civil service support the main political structures of the Empire, providing logistical support to the players to run the Empire. The [[magistrates]] operate the Empire's legal system directing the player militia as they follow up crimes that have taken place. Our [[egregores]] and our [[bards]] are based in the nations themselves with a remit to support the feel of the nation and encourage the roleplaying in the camp. Each group of NPCs has their own team leader.
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| ===Plot NPC Team===
| | If you're interested in joining one of the teams that works in plot logistics, as an NPC or a member of one of the logistical teams like make-up or costume, then the best way to get in touch is to [mailto:crew@profounddecisions.co.uk email Katie] and talk to her about the things you'd like to do. |
| * '''Playing NPCs on the field'''
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| * '''Playing eternals and heralds in off-field encounters'''
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| * '''Team Leader - Katie Rogers'''
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| Our NPC team play the roles that have been created and written by the plot writers that happen on the field and in the Hall of Worlds. Members of the team may portray minor Imperial NPCs, eternals and their heralds and representatives of other foreign or barbarian powers.
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| When you join the Plot NPC team, we'll ask you for some details about the kind of parts you are comfortable playing, as well as the parts you'd like to play and the parts you'd prefer not to play. This helps us build up a picture of our crew so that we can try to give them the parts they will enjoy at events.
| | ==Tents== |
| | At events we'll aim to have a very large monster tent to house plot logistics with a small tent for the plot team next to it. |
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| ===Skirmish===
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| * '''Running the Quests and Battles'''
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| * '''Team Leaders - Richard Loveday, James Crollie, Emma Woods, and Andy Connell'''
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| Our [[The Hundred|skirmish team]] are the dedicated crew whose responsibility is to bring to life the battles, skirmishes and quests that the players choose to fight. There is a great team spirit among those who enjoy being part of what is effectively our monster faction. We aim to run all our fights using IC leadership and commands, so there are a range of roles for people.
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| {{Plot Further Reading}} | | {{Plot Further Reading}} |
Head of campaign: Andy Rafferty
Overview
Plot is the biggest department in Empire, as it incorporates all our NPCs, our plot writers as well as characters like the nation bards, egregores, civil servants and magistrates and back room operations crew who work in costume and make-up. We need lots of people to help us fill out all these roles, so if you're interested in getting involved in the IC side of Empire then we're always keen to talk to you.
PD Management
Matt is the member of the PD management team with overall responsibility for everything that happens in the plot department - if you have a problem then Matt is your next port of call if the people in charge of your area can't sort it.
Creative
Because of the size and scope of what goes on in the plot department, we've separated the creative side from the logistical side.
Creative
The creative side of plot is the plot team, a group of writers who work with Andy Rafferty and Matt Pennington to develop the plot that happens at the events. Being part of the plot team is more than just writing, members of the team are responsible for ensuring their plot runs at the event, by liaising with plot logistics to ensure everything their plot needs is sorted and that their NPCs are briefed and debriefed.
If you're interested in joining the plot team, then the starting point is to read our plot style guide and then sketch out one or more plots that you would be interested in developing. Once you've done that you can email Matt to discuss your plot. If we like your plot idea, then we'll help you to develop it and run it at the event.
Logistical
The logistical side of the plot department is the practical side of plot, costumes, make-up, managing NPC teams - it's everything that happens in the monster room as well as the preparation for that. This side of plot is run by Katie Rogers supported by a team leader for each of the key areas.
If you're interested in joining one of the teams that works in plot logistics, as an NPC or a member of one of the logistical teams like make-up or costume, then the best way to get in touch is to email Katie and talk to her about the things you'd like to do.
Tents
At events we'll aim to have a very large monster tent to house plot logistics with a small tent for the plot team next to it.
Further Reading
