I think I finally figured out where you guys get your ideas

[Rebecca Iavelli]

I was reading the new this morning about the incident in Ohio, where a bunch of wild animals had been freed from their cages, and were roaming around the Eastern Columbus area. A lot were being killed off, to keep the neighborhoods safe, which I understand it had to be done, but is such a shame.

Of course then all I could think about is what would happen if this had happened in a 7th Sea storyline. I mean, even back in the Medievel times, exotic animals were caught and transfered around the world to places they were never from, and I would imagine that some might have escaped, but were they ever found, did they survive being in a new location, etc... The brain continues to make more assumptions and guesses, and ideas.....Sure, big cats can be interesting to hunt, but I would imagine it would be quite a different idea trying to catch a band of howlermonkeys!

[salamanca]

And with that post, Laura just creates a new possible plot for the PA at Origins. I never get ideas from the news, it would require me to watch television.

[Rebecca Iavelli]

I don't watch TV either, Dave, I just read about it on the web.

[Black Jack Rackham]

Well I don't know about how Dave comes up with them, but yea, that would work for me. Now just figure out how to get all the players involved and your golden*.

*The "Heroic" characters will, of course, get involved. But what about those who fight for reputation? money? Something has to push them.

Now take this whole exercise a step further. Rather than read about it in a newspaper, just come up with the idea yourself.

[salamanca]

See, I just think like a villain. Somebody says something and I just mentally take it in the direction that would make a group of heroes miserable. Someone mentions a petting zoo and I think "sure, then the animals get loose". Then I recall that bestiary well all ignore in the GM guide that lists gargoyles and whatnot. Then I tie in a badguy with access and a motive to link it all to the major plotline.... Ok, I do that for Mark's campaign. If left on my own, I throw some animals on the loose, then build the events on the actions of the players as they respond. I get there about a minute before the players do and everybody feels cunning for figuring out the plot.

[salamanca]

For the record, the last time I actually created a fully planned out plot, it started with the phrase "divine ratio" and quickly turned into a treasure map mystery that a mathematics major deemed "too hard".