Looking over the plot events and coming here, I think this is actually the best place to start. Because when I saw that the watering hole event was supposed to be a sign that people's actions had an effect on the flow of the city, it was a bad effect. I know people also (ICly) chose to have Thor save everyone, and I think that was a better turn on it. The biggest concern I see with the tone is that the travellers are basically presented as tools. In nearly every single plot, it's not the travellers who necessarily solve the problems, and there's no headway made by the characters themselves. It becomes more survival horror than war setting, and I don't think that's what you guys are aiming for.
I think with the poll on the direction things are going for in the next arc, things will definitely change on this front, but it does seem like the characters are hopelessly waiting to be caught in yet another thing that they can't actually rectify themselves.
I guess a little more hope would be nice. Moments where the travellers actually do achieve victories, where they come together, and so forth. OOCly, you guys might want to direct people toward what would be a more positive choice, but let people come up with that themselves and come up with a plot, more team work and building exercises and so forth. Giving people opportunities to participate in these victories are nice. Even if victories come with prices, I mean. Occasionally having moments where you have three victories and then a DEVASTATING loss would be awesome.
But my impression (and it may be incorrect) is that there have been a lot of losses, with the exception of getting Freyr's soul back. Or when there's a minor victory (ala the frost giant attack in August), it's followed by a LOT of bad things happening. And the plotting itself is beautiful and wonderful, but it might help to balance. Maybe even one victory to every three losses.
I think this does reflect on the pacing, because while the pacing is actually fine, it starts to feel like doom doom doom doom, at least from my perspective.
I'm not sure if I'm communicating this well, but some semblance of hope would be nice. Even if that comes in events like "we might all die but at least we have each other," it'd be awesome. It doesn't have to be wins, but moments where things aren't as bad. That may also be on us as players to try, but yeah!
Re: TONE / PACING FEEDBACK
I think with the poll on the direction things are going for in the next arc, things will definitely change on this front, but it does seem like the characters are hopelessly waiting to be caught in yet another thing that they can't actually rectify themselves.
I guess a little more hope would be nice. Moments where the travellers actually do achieve victories, where they come together, and so forth. OOCly, you guys might want to direct people toward what would be a more positive choice, but let people come up with that themselves and come up with a plot, more team work and building exercises and so forth. Giving people opportunities to participate in these victories are nice. Even if victories come with prices, I mean. Occasionally having moments where you have three victories and then a DEVASTATING loss would be awesome.
But my impression (and it may be incorrect) is that there have been a lot of losses, with the exception of getting Freyr's soul back. Or when there's a minor victory (ala the frost giant attack in August), it's followed by a LOT of bad things happening. And the plotting itself is beautiful and wonderful, but it might help to balance. Maybe even one victory to every three losses.
I think this does reflect on the pacing, because while the pacing is actually fine, it starts to feel like doom doom doom doom, at least from my perspective.
I'm not sure if I'm communicating this well, but some semblance of hope would be nice. Even if that comes in events like "we might all die but at least we have each other," it'd be awesome. It doesn't have to be wins, but moments where things aren't as bad. That may also be on us as players to try, but yeah!