Plot twists, anyone?

[Chørd]

Okey dokes. The site needs major spicing up and things need to get more interesting. Ok, so when it comes to historically-based war-ish sites, plot twists don't tend to slap me in the face much and I pretty much suck at getting all inventive and stuff. :I


So...going back to the User Survey, x number of months ago, general things popped up in the suggestions and positives, and I've been meaning to sort out the site plot for a while. So I've brainstormed some ideas that could work without everything going sci-fi, commando or...whatever else could happen. There's a poll attached to the thread so if you feel like giving feedback on these ideas/suggesting your own - go ahead. c:

So without further rambling on my behalf, I'll just slap the ideas thus far up here. *cough*


Idea 1 - A Spy-ish Plot

So, one of the more military-esque plots was for the Continental Army to select three elite soldiers/men/whomever, and ask them to spy for them. The role isn't compulsory, but they all agree to do it and volunteer anyway. The mission they're on is completely secret; only the highest ranking of the American officers knows about it, and it's been kept silent from the ranks - they've successfully prevented rumours from breaking out too, somehow. The three spies have orders to go to the British and offer their services as Loyalist soldiers, and from there report back with an inside view of any plots and plans the Redcoats are scheming up. To aid them in getting the information they need are a few British soldiers and officers who, having been confronted, threatened, bribed and whatnot, have agreed to help the Colonists in their cause. The extra possible twists that could be added to the plot later on - providing the roleplayers involved agree on it - could include either one of the spies or British aides betraying their 'comrades', or one or more of the American spies being captured during a skirmish/battle by the Continentals who - apart from their senior officers - have no idea they are actually spying for them. The idea could expand depending on who's involved and where they want the plot to go.


Idea 2 - Disease Outbreak

It's so cliché, it hurts! But yes, a disease outbreak. The disease itself will be a random combination of syphilis, cholera and tuberculosis symptoms, and will be spread via the water supplies. Citizens - particularly in built up areas - will be hit the worse, which may or may not cause drama with the troops when they find out their families back home have come down sick.
The disease, thus far, is untreatable, and at the beginning of the plot it's not sure where it's coming from. The symptoms vary from person to person, but the main ones include a fever, rash, ulcers, coughing fits, stomach and chest cramps, as well as poor appetite and light headedness. The death toll starts out low, but reaches a peak within a matter of weeks. Ingesting unclean water, or drinking from a water source where an infected person has bathed, is the main way to contract the disease - as the medical persons involved later discover.

The plot will mean a fair deal more of science-y characters and doctors/surgeons will be needed, as well as some non-medical characters to get involved, be it they catch the disease or a family member does.


Idea 3 - Bad Weather

Again, slightly cliché, but things can be developed over time to make it less un-original. The basic storyline is that in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut areas - mainly the coastline - extremely bad rain and wind storms (borderline hurricanes) are occurring all over the place. Crops and livestock are being drowned, towns flooding, rivers bursting their banks, and the bad weather itself - not just the aftermath - is destructive as well. It succeeds in damaging an American-held fort, and siezing the opportunity to make a breach, the British forces nearby launch an assault. While the American force on land seems battered, the nearby Royal Navy is being hammered and harassed by the terrible weather conditions and rough seas, whilst the Continental Navy is relatively safe in their harbours and ports. It's a lose-lose situation for both sides. Further inland though, where the area is less touched by the storms, the war is still in full force, and the men lost by both sides during the attack on the fortress are struggling to be replaced. And, as the weather calms, the Royal Navy is desperately trying to rebuild and repair its damaged ships before the American Navy and privateers have a chance to pounce on them and fully knock them for six.

Naval personnel and military forces to perform the assault on the fort/play out the aftermath will be needed most, but also nearby citizens who - having had their crops and livestock destroyed, and are starving - may or may not turn to either the British or the American soldiers for help and food in return for them providing services to the military (helping to repair the fort and ships, forage, enlist etc.)




As stated before (I think) the plots can be altered if you like, or new ones can be developed from suggestions. Only one can be put into action, or all three, or a combination of them here and there. That's up to you guys; after all, you'll be getting involved in this, not just moi. c:
Serious apologies for the amount I write, and I hope the block of evil text doesn't deter you...I just figured it may or may not have needed vigorous explaining. So without further adieu, I'll leave you to it, and wait to hear back from y'all.

[John Paul Jones]

I like ideas one and three. When it comes to Jones, he's hungrily eyeing the Hampshire (which will eventually become the Continental sloop-of-war Ranger) and will be sailing for Europe in the next couple of months. Once he gets to France and makes contact with Dr. Franklin, he'll start harassing British ships in their own waters.

I am quite tempted to create a second character, as it seems most of the players are involved in New England. It would be nice if we could populate the southern colonies and Europe as well.

[concretegirl]

I like any one of these. I could use the character I have now (Gabriel) in the second one since he's a doctor, but, then, I'm totally willing to come up with a new character who would fit into any one of these.

[Chørd]

So plots #1 and #3 will most likely be put into action, and the doctors/surgeons of the place will probably have some casualties from the storm to sort out (most likely both military men and citizens).

And for Europe and Southern Colonies, there was a bit of action in the Caribbean and such in 1778 - that could always be brought forwards prematurely because the storms and Continental ships would be keeping the Royal Navy busy, and thus leave France and Spain an ample opportunity to expel British forces out of the islands. That just means more French and Spanish sailors and military peeps could be made to play out 'squabbles' in the West Indies, and perhaps Florida too.

[Bog]

I like Ideas Two and Three, and have a thought regarding them. Perhaps a series of bad storms cut across New England and causes much of the damage described above, then in the aftermath, dysentery breaks out. It would be the result of drinking 'bad' water but, considering the general occurrence of flooding, such a thing is difficult to avoid.

Or, alternatively, there is Idea Three and, instead of a jumble of various diseases, there's an outbreak of smallpox. The Continentals' Quebec campaign was a failure in part because of a smallpox epidemic. It was not the ailment anyone would be happy to see crop up.

[Chørd]

Good idea, Bog. Thinking about it, generally after a storm/natural disaster you do get some form of disease outbreak, so that would definitely make sense.

Hell it'd probably just be easier/better to combine ideas two and three to make one twist, and then have numero one as a separate sub-plot.
*goes off to edit and such*

[Lady B]

I'm taking a fancy to all of them and some other ideas as well since this is the famed year of 1777, lost happened this year, too. So, plenty to get rolling towards. Especially with Brandywine in the fall, then Valley Forge in the winter. Plus this is indeed the year Lafayette and his group arrives, so much more fun there, too.


~Lady B