Okay, that last thread got too filled up with emotion, so I want a fresh start on it. This thread is for:

1) planning where the plot has to go
2) discussing problems we're currently having that need to be resolved with the plot and anything involved
3) Making sure that when we move forward, we're all doing it right.

Basically, this thread is an attempt to get everyone to touch base with each other.

I'll make a new post so things don't get confusing.

1) Right now, we need some way to get the mansion and the labs integrated and working together, either from the same base of operations, or at a common location. As of right now, Cassiel has no clue that the resistance exists. There are a few ways for this to happen now. First of all, as was discussed over IMs (and I think in another thread), Sapphire can come calling, offering to bring them there if they'll help rescue her sisters first. This kills two birds with one stone. Second, the whole point of the recent posts in the labs as Sarah was for her to make sure to say the right things in the right place to get someone high up at the labs alerted that there were mutants at the mansion getting ready to bust into the camps.

2) Cass and Daria wouldn't like abandoning the mansion (and hence, Cerebro) unless they were sure that they weren't going to need to astral project into the camp again. My humble proposal is some minor raid, colaborated between the two groups (possibly after Sapphire comes making the offer proposed above). After the group bugs out, the Stalkers could come at the mansion, forcing an evacuation to the labs. Again, it gets the job done, and it keeps everyone in character.

3) As stated above, I think we need some way for some people to get broken out of the camps if they wish. Even of all the PCs get to escape, there's still a lot of NPCs there to hold our interest and to give us a reason to go back. Captivity RP sucks, I'll say that from experience, when it lasts indefinitely.

4) I think a big problem right now is that there is too much people doing plot in small groups, without touching base with the other small groups. For instance, I know what the X-characters are up to, and what they want. I have absolutely no clue what's going on with the resistance, even ooc, and thus I don't know what they need to get done or what they want their characters to be able to do. Even if we need one person to be a go-between to make sure that all the bases get covered, let's PLEASE find a way to get some more transparency in what's going on. I know that personally, small groups plotting away on their own makes me feel paranoid, and I'm sure that others feel the same when I do it with my little RP buddy group. So please, people, let's communicate. PM. use this thread. Use IM. Anything. I'll go on record right now, if anyone wants to chat with me to go over plot or go over possibilities to RP together or WHATEVER, I'm always up for it. I like talking. I have just about every chat program known to man, so just PM me and let me know. Can't promise I'll have the time right then, but SOMETIME I will.

Still 4) CLIQUEY RP DOES NOT WORK. I'll state that as openly as possible. I've seen it on other sites, and I want to stress that the only thing that happens with that is that tension mounts, and people get angry, and things get UGLY. A well-communicated fight between adversaries can be fun. One where the people are just posting and hoping to win is BAD. BAD BAD BAD. BAD FEELINGS MAKE FOR BAD RP. If you need to get on AIM to coordinate a fight, DO IT. If you need a third party (mod or otherwise) to moderate the fight, DO IT. We're all playing to have fun here, so we should all *knock on wood* be friends. TALK TO EACH OTHER. SETTLE YOUR DIFFERENCES. MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

5) On that note, this might not be related, but if I do something that you have a problem with, PLEASE let me know. Hell, if it's an open-posting place, throw an ooc comment in there right away to stop the action so I *can* fix it. I'm playing this to have fun, but I can't have fun if I'm pissing people off or hurting people's feelings. Again, we should all be friends here. I want to be friends with everyone here. Talk to me. I'm usually available, and I'm a freaking chataholic, so don't be nervous. hell, if someone comes on and says they want to AIM me or bring me into a chat, I'll probably be flattered.

ok, i've rambled enough. next?

My brain's not working much at the moment so I'm only going to say a little bit here.

I don't think it would be hard to get people from the mansion involved. I personally don't know what's going on over there, but over in Mondragon labs, it wouldn't be hard to say the Mansion and Sanctuary were being monitored for activity (since Hunter already had that set up and such for the raids if I remember correctly). So if we could work out something there.

I think Rupert is the Warden/Overseer of the Camps, and he's in touch with someone (I really apologize I can't think of your name ATM, just your power) who can shift to different people by taking on their DNA (if I'm remembering it correctly). And again, if memory serves, that person is in touch with Calley? Calley is part of the Kabal. So if we could get that all working out we could touch base there and start working on a coordinated attack and rescue on the Camps.

We seem to have quite a few 'freelance' people around who can do the 'in between groups' thing easily and well. If we get on the same page and such with them, things could move faster and smoothly.

It seems to me that a lot of people are lacking information about exactly what is happening and what is suposed to happen in this plot. It is good that we are talking about this. I also suggest that people who haven't read all of the threads about what else is going on, should do so. If you are bored, read the other threads that are going on.

We created a thread at the very beginning of this plot in order to keep track of what was happening in all the different locations. It is called One Bill to Rule Them All. I suggest that every single person post all of the threads they have been involved in during this plot along with a short description of what happened in the thread. Everyone should keep it updated. That way, even the people who don't have the time, patience, or will to read other people's posts can still be caught up on the plot.

Since it seems like the plans of the resistance are the ones that need the most explanation, let me see if I can lay it out to the best of my knowledge, along with what has happened and what is planned. If you want more details of the plans, click the links.
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Gathering the resistance: Took place after the raids, continues to take place as more and more mutants join and are recruited. ( mansion) ( mansion-2) ( mansion-3) ( sanctuary) ( Kami) ( Mett) ( Chilla, Shrapnel, Gore)

The resistance meeting: After the raids, all the mutants who had joined so far were debriefed on what was happening in the camps with bracelets and Stalkers, the plan to break everyone out was established, the plan to infiltrate certain organizations was established. ( meeting)

Gathering information: At the resistance meeting it was decided that the resistance needed more information about the Stalkers before they could attack the camps. The Stalkers are tough, as evidenced by their ability to completely take out both the Xmen and the Order when each group tried to take them on alone. It will require planning and teamwork to beat them, and right now we have no way of knowing their what their weaknesses are. One faction alone cannot beat them. That is the whole point of the working together thing. Cassiel's group has never faced them, and the most likely outcome of facing them without knowing what they are up against is failure. ( Stalkers vs. Xmen) ( Stalkers vs. the Order) ( Stalkers vs. Iris) (See also the resistance meeting for what they know about Stalkers already.) ( Catching a Stalker: plans) ( CAS thread)

Making contacts outside of the resistance and coordinating all the different pieces: Syn has made contact with Sonya. Sonya has made contact with Rupert. He is the camp supervisor and is planning to coordinate things with the resistance to help when they try to release everyone, but so far the actual resistance doesn't know about him and Rupert doesn't know when the raid is supposed to take place. Sonya has also made contact with Calley, but hasn't shared her info on Rupert with him. (see here for details on Sonya's involvements)

Right now Shrapnel and Gore have escaped from the camps. Shrapnel was planning on joining up with Cassiel's group (correct me if I'm wrong). He learned about the resistance from one of Hunter's employees, so he would be able to tell the folks currently hiding in the mansion that there is another resistance.

Training: The resistance members need to be able to work together before they can launch any kind of successful attack on the camps. They will get practice when they capture a Stalker, which is in progress, and they will get practice when they do a group training session. ( Catching a Stalker: plans) ( CAS thread) (group training plans) (<<< Iris and I are working on getting this started.)

Breaking everyone out of the camps: Obviously this hasn't happened yet. In order for it to work, we need to coordinate things in and out of character. It needs more time in character in order to work well.

Changing the law: The plan is to destroy support for the law by infiltrating the church of humanity. Hunter and Iris are working on this angle. There has also been mention of taking things to the courts: this would take years in real life to change the law, we can do something with it after the camps are freed. Anyone who wants to play out a Supreme Court case in which a camp victim goes up against the government to show that the law was unconstitutional, be my guest. The final way is to convince congressmen themselves to change their law. Hunter could mesmerize them, or Mettalier was also shoeing interest in working from the legal angle. I'm not sure what his plans are. ( Hunter's plans-1) ( Hunter's plans-2) ( Hunter's plans-3) ( Mett's plans)
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I have one idea that would solve several of our problems, including Cassiel's group being ready to attack, concentration camp inmates being ready to escape, the two groups not knowing about each other, and everyone wanting action:

I propose that the Xmen under Cassiel's direction go ahead and attempt a raid on the camps to free prisoners. This attempt would have to fail to free the whole camps.

Outcomes: Anyone who wants out of the camps could escape, those who are complaining the loudest about having nothing to do would have something to do, the resistance would find out about the other group and the two groups could begin to coordinate. The failure would also go further to emphasize the need for teamwork to defeat the Stalkers.

Stalkers could follow them back to the mansion, and forcing them all to move back to the labs. Or the Stalkers could figure out that it was Xmen that attacked the camps and just destroy the remains of the mansion before the Xmen and the escapees even get back there. (There is no need for two Stalker battles in a row that way.)

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In response to Cassiel (to your numbered comments):
1 and 2) I do not think it is a good idea to have Sapphire be the connection between the resistance and the newly returned Xmen. She hates the Xmen and wouldn't go to them for help. She also doesn't know about them. It doesn't make any sense in character to do it that way, and it just seems like a quick fix for the situation.

3) I agree that some characters should be able to break out if they wish. See my proposal above.

4) The whole point of this post is to help with this. Everyone should be caught up on what the other groups are up to. If you don't know what is happening with the resistance, read the links I have provided. Also, update the One Bill to Rule Them All page! Follow the other parts of the story! It should not be possible to get bored on this site. It is like the never ending story, you won't ever run out of new things to read!

5) I'll send this one through PM.

1) planning where the plot has to go

There has been considerable planning OOC for this plot line, both before it began and during it. It has been my impression that most people who have been around for the planning stages have a good idea of where the plot is going. I know I've been paying attention. *may or may not be a spy at heart* The following is where I thought the plotline was going, from talking with and listening to what each group and its members had to say:

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The Camps:
Obviously, they're leading up to a breakout. The collars will be shut off and the power-suppressing drugs will be sabotaged by my character, Rupert, when he gets the go-ahead from Sonya (Resistance member, Order, working on the outside to avoid notice by Hunter but known to Syn, and it's known from her to the rest of the Resistance leadership that the Order has an "inside man".) A key point here: the power-suppressing drugs. Rupert needs that warning a few days ahead of time, or taking the collars off won't actually do anything; the camp muties still won't be able to use their powers. That drug needs time to wear out of their systems.

The Resistance is to transport the escaped muties to Mondragon Labs.

Prior to the breakout, I know Em and WereCat are plotting something dramatic that should give everyone at the camps something to react to. So again, I’m not quite understanding this continued push to accelerate the camp’s timeline.

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The Resistance:
They're currently launching the Catching a Stalker mission. As I understand it, the planning meeting and the mission are both set before the seven week skip, thus giving time for it to have happened, and for the captured Stalker to be studied. Realistically, the Stalkers are the biggest threat to mutants right now: it makes very good sense to catch and dissect one, so that we can develop anti-Stalker technology and strategies. For new people coming in: the Stalkers are real characters, not NPCs. They are run by the same player as Syn. And if you read their profile, they're nearly undefeatable. It seemed to me that Syn was disappointed by how easily the recent breakout by Shrapnel and Gore occurred, and I can’t blame her. The Stalkers are kick-ass. But Syn needs forewarning of plans in order to bring them into play.

In any case, after the Catching a Stalking mission, the Resistance is theoretically good-to-go for the breakout. However, there was quite a lot of talk and thought about having a training thread, where the different factions had to work together. Frankly, it sounded like an excellent idea at the time—character building, and fun!—and it still does, but time constraints and constant poking reminders of those time constraints have sort of pushed it to the side. I still think it’s a good idea, but it’s going to be a sprawling, long, drawn-out thread. I think we should launch it, but have it set as occurring before the seven week skip. That way the rest of the plotline isn’t on hold while we wait for it to finish.

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The Political End:
Hunter and Iris, with Katrina in a supporting role, are currently moving into an apartment with the aim of infiltrating the Church of Humanity and taking out their upper ranks, thus removing the Church of Humanity’s voice of support for the law. After that, Hunter has said he’ll use his resources to put pressure on Congress, to get the law revoked. I still think they could cut out the Church of Humanity middleman from that plan, but I know they’ve put a ton of planning OOC into this plot, and once it gets going, it should go fast. They’re getting in place now. Since the camp breakout has been scheduled to happen before the law is revoked, their pacing shouldn’t be a problem, in any case.

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The “Final Showdown”:
Since the earliest stages of the planning, there’s been talk of a “Final Showdown” at Mondragon Labs, with all the site factions fighting side-by-side against legions of Stalker bots who have discovered the hideout. Basically, there’s a siege as the mutants wait for the law to be revoked. I’m not a fight scene person myself, but I know a lot of you are, so this will be the icing on the cake for you.

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Wild cards (aka, people who have just returned, and brought new ideas with them):

The X-men: (Cassiel, Daria, and new recruits like Taz) They’ve started up their own faction of the Resistance. It was my understanding, and Cass has reiterated it, that Sapph was going to connect the Mansion Faction with the rest of the Resistance at some point. I could also send Calley over to do it, right now. He’s bored, he knows about them, and it certainly wouldn’t be out of character for him to pop into a place randomly.

Mett: has raised the very interesting idea of a public anti-genocide campaign, if I read his post with Katrina’s NPC correctly. That’s cool. If he wants to do it, I’d say go for it. I’d put my character Calley on that front, as well, since he’s bored out of his mind just spying on the Resistance members at the Labs, and wants an excuse as to why he’s not fighting that’s better than “I’m a wuss”.

2) discussing problems we're currently having that need to be resolved with the plot and anything involved

[/b]

- People in the camps are getting twitchy.
Understandable. See next item.

- Getting the Mansion Faction incorporated in with the rest of the plotline.
Basically, I’m just going to modify Cassiel’s ideas, here. Looking at the older plotlines and the X-Men’s roles in those, it wouldn’t be far-fetched for the Mansion Faction to try launching a small raid on their own to free some of the prisoners. We could have this succeed in getting out the people who want to get out, but fail, as well: the Stalkers could follow them back to the Mansion. A mini-showdown could occur there that forces the Mansion Faction to abandon the Mansion itself, and join the rest of the Resistance at the Labs. I’m thinking Sapphire could teleport them out of trouble, but as I don’t run that character and as I haven’t been in on just how Sapphire intends to hook up with the Mansion Faction, I can’t speak for her.

- Cliquey RPing.
I have seen this, yes, but fortunately, it seems limited to a very small percentage of the site. I’ve sent PMs to some of the Mods about my concerns.

- Impatience v. Realistic Pacing
...Realistically speaking, how often do we expect people to post? I get the impression that certain people want to simply pass other players by, with rapid-fire many-posts-a-day threads. This plot line concerns everyone at the site, not just a few characters. Some characters play more key roles, but everyone is involved, somehow. Let’s keep the big picture—that is, all characters—in mind as we plan.

- Clarification on the role of the Plot Moderator
Mostly, on who can be the plot moderator. I had assumed that only Em could, since she’s got the fancy title, and all. Some of the older people coming back make it sound like anyone could run a plot, though, so long as people agreed to let them be in charge. Is that true?

3) Making sure that when we move forward, we're all doing it right.

[/b]
A good philosophy, generally. I like that you’re involved again, Cass, and I like that you’re trying to move things, and trying to do it civically, while giving everyone a voice. Since you just came back, though, you’re definitely not working with the same information that those of us who have been around have. I’m linking you to the original planning threads below, though I’ve basically summarized my understanding of them above.

The planning threads:
Registration and Camps
Planning for the Camps & Resistance
Resistance: Group Training Session
Raina Rupert and Registration
Registration List
Camp Jobs
Guard’s List

I think Rupert is the Warden/Overseer of the Camps, and he's in touch with someone (I really apologize I can't think of your name ATM, just your power) who can shift to different people by taking on their DNA (if I'm remembering it correctly). And again, if memory serves, that person is in touch with Calley? Calley is part of the Kabal. So if we could get that all working out we could touch base there and start working on a coordinated attack and rescue on the Camps.

All of the above is correct (Sonya is the mutant in question). The minute Sonya gets a call from Syn saying "we're on", she can contact Rupert and say "we're on".

For that matter, Syn can contact Rupert directly... Syn and I have established (via PM) that Sonya has been reporting whatever information she collects, and he has a phone. Of course it's more fun for me when my char gets to do Cool Stuff(tm), but it isn't necessary.

Sonya is not aware that Calley is part of the Kabal, but Calley (and therefore, I assume, Hunter) is aware that "Teresa" is part of the Order, if that matters (though I can't see why it would).

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Re: how to move this forward... I haven't been involved in the plotting, and if the existing plot plans make everybody happy that's great, but my $0.02: I don't see why the camp breakout thread has to involve huge numbers of PCs.

As far as I can tell Kaz is capable of single-handedly slaughtering a couple of hundred armed troops... especially with assistance from two or three other super-combat-powerhouse characters. And Rupert can turn off the bracelets.

So there's really only one unsolved tactical issue: how do we neutralize the Stalkers? And really, they are just robots... there are enough technical-genius/cyberpath types in the Resistance and at the Labs that we can simply assert, any time we want, that the Resistance has now found a technological fraziwhatsit that turns them off, or drains their power-sources, or scrambles their sensors, or reprograms them so they attack the Camp guards, or whatever else we want.

Once the Resistance finds a way to turn them off, it's: a) turn off the bracelets, b) neutralize the Stalkers, c) take out the guards, d) collect the prisoners and run away with them. (Even better, herd them all into Abyss's void and have him run away... harder to track.)

Anything else is not driven by plot needs, but by the desire to have more PCs involved. Which is fine, if that's what we want, but it means things go more slowly, and we should accept that.

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Re: small-group RP... I've been doing small-group social RP to keep myself entertained while the plot goes on around me. I imagine that's what most of us are doing.

I'm happy to have Sonya be more tightly tied in to the main plot if people want that (just PM me and let me know), but as above I'm not sure why it's necessary that everybody be. I'm content for Sonya to stay peripheral... not everybody gets to save the world, after all.

Can we set plot things slightly in the future and start working on them now?

I'm all for starting the group training thread that was all planned out, but it makes the most sense for us to set it a bit in the future, so that Katrina can practice/ train a bit before jumping in to start that major thread. I don't mind writing the group training threads and Katrina's practice leading up to it in reverse order, since hers will be solo practice.

Can we start it now, but set it to take place some time in the Spring? If we set it after the mini-breakout of the camps some of the people who are currently in the camps could also participate in the teamwork training. (This could get a bit confusing, so we'll have to either plan out what happened before it actually happens or avoid mentioning it during the training thread.)

Would this work? Let me know.

Look in order to make this perfectly clear and for me not to get frustrated I will need to state something.

For those of you who think that it is me playing as Sapphire that was holding up the resitance, you guys could have contacted me by email or by aim, telling me what to do and what to post. I'm just stating this just to clear the air. I have been busy with school so I don't always check my Pms but I always check my emails because my grades are mailed to it. If you guys really needed Sapphire you could have just emailed me if I didin't respond. But I also need some guidance as to what to do.

Sapphire also does not like taking orders and is a wild card of sorts.

I just thought I would clear that up.

But, I know you guys do not dissagree with the way I am trying to move the plot because of the whole everyone has a voice thing. However, I am the narrator of plots and if I see something is not going well with a plot I created then I am gonna try to fix it. If it means speeding it up with ways people don't like I may have to do this. No one seems to understand how much work the mods and the administators put in to thinking of these plots. Not only that but we have to approve all the extra side plots sent our way as well.

First off, I agree that perhaps small raids take place, like random guards attack mutants because they are sensing the end is near. During this time, Rupert gets visited by Sapphire as the fighting is going on and she tells him to turn off the collars. When the collars are turned off, they will fall off, lifeless onto the ground. If mutants escape with the small group that is saving people and get 30 yards from the collars they are in the clear but if they don't the collar will reattach itself to thier neck by following the small microchip that is left on the neck after it falls off. Once one is 30 yards away from the collar it will deativate then fall off. After the brief raid is done, the collars will reattach and life in the camps will begin as usual.

Next, the resitance leader ((as in Hunter or Abyss)) Gets to pm me the full extent of the plans, if I don't respond in a day, email me or talk to me in the c box.

Now the heat on mutants will be still be on mutants and it is likely that more will go into hiding. So it will not be safe, mutants will be on high alert in public places because stalkers will be patrolling, searching for the escaped mutants. Just to make things more intresting for the resitance.

Does this plan help?

The Librarian and I were brainstorming in the cbox and came up with an idea that might work to make everyone happy. I will summarize it here, and you can all respond with what you think, yea or nay. (If you want to see the full conversation let me know.)

1) The Xmen decide to try to liberate the camps on thier own.
2) The guards at the camps realize they are being attacked and start fighting back against the prisoners.
3) The Xmen have not coordinated with Rupert, because they don't know about him so the power-supressing drugs didn't have time to wear out. (I'm not sure what the Xmen will have planned for the collars/ bracelets.)
4) The Stalkers show up and the Xmen put up a good fight, but are no match for them.
5) The Xmen manage to escape with a few prisoners rescued (any PCs who want out of the camps) but they fail at liberating the camps.
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This leads to what was discussed earlier in this thread:
6) The resistance hears about everythiing slightly too late to help, but soon enough to offer a save haven for those escaping/ The mansion is attacked, forcing the Xmen to evacuate to Mondragon Labs.

Those who want out of the camps will get out, the Xmen will see some action and will learn that they can't defeat Stalkers on thier own, the two groups will come together, and we'll still all get to liberate the camps (even if onyl NPCs are left).

I *would* rather that there be something that triggers the rather rash action by the X-Men, a good reason at least for why they go rushing in blindly rather than plan it out a bit better, but aside fromt hat I'm cool with everything proposed above.

Well, it is already established that people are dying in the camps. Perhaps there was one too many, or one particularly brutal death that sets the Xmen over the edge.

That could work. I just know that on my other sites I've had people force me ahead in plot in a situation like this, and then used the ill-planning IC to make my character look dumb/lose credibility, and I really, really would like to avoid that.

Recruitment for the Resistance Group Training is underway here. Once we have a good list of active people, the actual thread will begin, hopefully within two weeks, preferably less.

Cassiel - re: looking IC-foolish...

I'd recommend you coordinate the overall course of the battle via PM with StalkerDoc (and whoever else will be running the Camp defense) and publish the resulting skeleton. All the PCs involved in that thread can follow along accordingly.

That way you can run it as a brilliant strategy that nevertheless fails because the Stalkers turn out to be tougher than you thought.

Which doesn't leave you looking stupid, merely wrong. (And really, leaves you looking no worse than the Resistance, which has allowed dozens of people to die and hundreds to suffer while sitting on its hands for two months.)

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Quick question: how much longer (real-world) do we anticipate the Resistance preparing before its eventual attack on the Camps?

If we're talking about a few weeks (that is, the attack posts start in February or earlier), running two distinct attack threads seems redundant... we won't be quite finished with the first one by the time we start the second. In that case I'd say we should wait. (This is especially true if we intend to have yet a third grand battle thread at the labs afterward).

If we're talking about a month or longer, then I'm all for a failed attack on the Camps as Katrina suggested.

It will take longer than a month for the second attack. The resistance still needs to go on it's Stalker Catching mission and has just started its big training thread to get everyone to work together. Both of those threads will take awhile.