xistentiaooc | Mod Announcement #2

Mod Announcement #2

Posted July 15, 2017

MAJOR BULLETIN: Public Opening And Transition

The July 29 application round is going to be our first where invitations are no longer required! We're officially opening to the public. Our first major modplot will be inaugurating this change, with a prequel in the Test Drive Meme (July 22). Scroll down for more information.

On that note, we are calling Xistentia a game. No longer a musebox. Note, no rules are changing, we're still quite relaxed, but we have received feedback that the terminology is rather confusing. We have made this decision to clarify matters. If you catch any policy files that still mention "musebox," please tell us!

Public Opening and Transition
Played Character Limit
Amenities Requested
Introducing: Prison Worlds
Reminders
Questions?

Many thanks to Kerry for helping develop the prequel and Chris for proofreading.

Played Character Limit

Increasing to a total of 4 characters that a single player may have in the game simultaneously! However, the application limit per player per round remains capped at 1.

Amenities Requested

For those who participated in the Amenities Request over the past few months, your character will receive their requested objects in neat parcels placed on their doorstep. These will ICly arrive today on July 15.

Introducing Prison Worlds

For our first big plot, we will be introducing our first prison world! In the in-game universe, 'prison worlds' are universes created by the enemy agent, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y., to capture characters who are trying to escape the apocalypse. These 'prisoners' are AUed into the world, forgetting their home and their intentions, and distracted from the signs of unreality by indigenous conflicts, and motivated to kill each other. In this way, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. tries to control the prisoners.

If it just sounds like a fun excuse to AU your character, that's also true. Feel free to totally reverse any aspect of your character, from personality traits to politics. Characters will remember their AU experiences when they're home, so this can progress CR in other ways too— from revealing latent romantic feelings to starting a taste for adventure.

Note, existing characters will be tasked to rescue the new applicants. To do this, they must bring daemons to the new characters and initiate the lucidity and escape protocols. However, the rescuers will also get 1-3 days where they are not yet "lucid," allowing players to immerse themselves in their identity before their characters regain their memories and start the mission. After this sleeper period, they will remember their original identity and objectives, in harmony with the new, and be able to proceed with the mission. Prison worlds will always be opt in, but with a strong incentive to participate.

Minimal knowledge of the canons (in this case: Marvel Cinematic Universe) is required, and minimal spoilers will feature. This month's plot was written before the mod saw Spiderman: Homecoming, and all of the information herein can be gleaned from the trailer (or trailers) alone.

Spidermarvel: Major Modplot

Our first prison world will be based loosely on the world of Marvel Cinematic Universe and Spiderman: Homecoming, the movie (no recent spoilers, see below). However, canon has changed slightly— this isn't the Avengers' show, it's yours. The location is New York City. There are 3 character groups and a built-in conflict between them:

The Enhanced who gained powers due to the nuclear fallout after the Battle of New York. Their powers are generally based on whatever activity or substance was nearby at the time when Iron Man opened a sky portal and a bomb went off beween dimensions. Canon examples of enhanced technically include the Hulk, Wanda Maximoff, and Peter Parker. Some potential power examples are:
- If a character was running, they may have developed superspeed;
- If they were lifting something off someone else, they may have developed superstrength or telekinesis.
- Empathy, telepathy, and technopathy may also be available with related experiences.
Note, the Sokovia Accords passed in this world, in light of widespread media coverage of Captain America and his companions causing civilian casualties in Lagos. This means Enhanced are expected to Register and carry special IDs. Unfortunately, many of those who do face hostilities from normal humans, some of whom are...
The vigilantes are using illegal, modified alien (Chitauri) technology to prepare themselves to fend off attacks... or even actively hunt Enahnced. Most of these mobs are non-lethal, but anger can get out of hand. In pragmatic terms, the powers conferred by the equipment are very similar to those of the Enhanced in terms of strength, but are limited to telekinesis/blasting/cutting, flight, or defenses against the powers (including psychic intrusion). Of course, they're also restricted by the fact they're based on carried equipment items, which can be damaged. This equipment is being distributed through the black market.
- Lightsabers are allowed cuz of course
- Special guns
- Tech armor
- Flight boosters!
impartial/undecided humans who have not yet taken a side. Some of these individuals are just out for themselves, using illegal, Chitauri-based tech to rob banks or get ahead in life. Others sympathize with Enhanced or want to be one. Still others suffered bitter loss in the Battle of New York, and merely want to protect their own.

The plot log will offer specific tropes, including Enhanced haven, with a bomb attack allowing for hurt/comfort. We'll also have space for star-crossed friendships/lovers, and reluctant heroes. And of course, retrieval of the characters hinges on Orphean rescue, the mechanics for which will be revealed in the event log, once applications are processed.

Test Drive Meme: Plot Prequel

As a prequel to the plot, the TDM will feature a prompt taking place during the Battle of New York. New characters will have escaped from their dying homeworlds, but instead of reaching Xistentia, they are diverted straight to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's New York City. Around them, they will see the chaos of alien Chitauri fighting the Avengers and attacking NPC humans and they themselves. TDM characters will have the option of defend themselves and try to understand what's going on.

While they run and fight, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.'s the AU brainwash override will begin gradually editing their memories and bodies. Elves will find their ears blunting, aliens will find themselves shrinking or growing to human size. It will become harder and harder to remember the world they came from...

Power Overwrite

All individuals who participate in the plot will be eligible for a a new powerset, as movement may change the coding of their physical reality. If they appear as an Enhanced in the AU, they can bring those abilities back to Xistentia. If they had Chitauri equipment, they can have that instead. Note, any old powers will be completely erased. The new powerset will have no set expiration date, but more opportunities to switch or reset abilities will occur in the next 3-6 months.

Destructive capacity will be limited for game balance.

Reminders

Applications open in 2 weeks, 1 hour earlier than normal, at 7/29/17 @ 3:00PM PST, 6:00PM EST, or 10:00PM GMT. This will be our third wave.
The Spidermarvel Plot Prequel will feature in the Test Drive Meme one week before apps open (June 22), and a gamewide event log will go up once the first application acceptances are processed.
CR Meme and ice breakers will become available after the app round.

Questions? Plotting?

Feel free to use this post for plotting. There is also questions thread below where you can reach the mods.

Mod Announcement #2

no subject

Species Transformation