Share your favorite Metaplot

[BiggusGeekus]

I think a metaplot is stuff that affects everybody who uses a shared world. Agree? Disagree?

I'll buy this.

 

[der_kluge]

In that case, I'm largely of the "who freaking cares" variety. If I buy a published world, I don't feel like I'm suddenly subscribing to their newsletter at the same time. I had friends who were bitter and angry that they decided to kill Bane in the FR. Odd, but true.

I've never followed any meta-plots. I think the idea is largely dumb.

 

[The_Universe]

This should be interesting, as I think "metaplot" is one of those words that people use differently. Henry's example is, to me, just a plot. It's made up of several sub-plots, but it's still just the story of one group and their actions/adversaries.

I think a metaplot is stuff that affects everybody who uses a shared world. Agree? Disagree?

This is largely what I was thinking when I posted the question, but I think Henry's post fits the definition, as well.

Anyway, what I'm really hoping to see is a description of your favorite metaplots, rather than just a list of them, as I've never really played in a game that used them.

See, here's what I really want:

I don't want to get into an argument about whether metaplots are intrinsically good or bad, I'm just curious what people's favorite experiences with them have been (if they have any), and interested to know what they've been, as my own gaming experience has largely kept me from participating in any RPGs with extensive metaplots.

 

[Talmun]

I must say the Tenebrous/Orcus plot was fun, but my favorite is the Greyhawk Wars.

 

[TerraDave]

Hmm,

metaplot as the planned direction for the campaign: Yes (see Henry's brief example)

metaplot as something happens in the world just because and may or may not affect the campaign: eh, No

 

[TerraDave]

In terms of the original request...see actual in play metaplots can get a little messy...let me trie

In the last big campaign, the PCs had to assemble a key and reactivate an ancient multi planer gate-thing, dealing with some associated ancient evils along the way (just to be clear, this took a real long time over a series of sometimes loosely connected adventures).

In the new campaign, the new PCs (same players) will find out that the reopened gate may allow the worst ancient evil of all to reemerge

 

[DonTadow]

My favorite type of metaplot and my current one is one where the pcs are given a specific epic quest at the beginning of an adventure--- find these things. As they search they are not sure which side they are truly on and whom is really pulling the strings. I like multiple factions of "gray" in which good is not always known until you have a knife to someone's throat.

 

[Shemeska]

I can think of three metaplots that really work for me.

1) Shadowrun's metaplot involving the Horrors, their attempts to break into reality from out in the metaplanes, etc.

2) Planescape's metaplot involving the Labyrinth Stone, which ultimately culminated in 'Faction War'

3) My last campaign/Storyhour #1. Very very dark: Yugoloth civil war, political intrigue on the lower planes, and the schemes of a newly risen Oinoloth. Three years or so in the making and when you can get multiple instances of wide eyes on your players and statements of 'son of a...!' you know that you've done your job right. I cannot, just cannot explain the feeling of having something planned that long, hinted at, and worked out and having it work like a charm. You have to experience it yourself.

 

[DonTadow]

I can think of three metaplots that really work for me.

1) Shadowrun's metaplot involving the Horrors, their attempts to break into reality from out in the metaplanes, etc.

2) Planescape's metaplot involving the Labyrinth Stone, which ultimately culminated in 'Faction War'

3) My last campaign/Storyhour #1. Very very dark: Yugoloth civil war, political intrigue on the lower planes, and the schemes of a newly risen Oinoloth. Three years or so in the making and when you can get multiple instances of wide eyes on your players and statements of 'son of a...!' you know that you've done your job right. I cannot, just cannot explain the feeling of having something planned that long, hinted at, and worked out and having it work like a charm. You have to experience it yourself.

That is the best feeling as a DM. When something comes out and the players go "That son of a ...". It happened at my last session as I revealed that the barkeep in the pirate's cove whom arranged for pcs to receive new identities and even set up a safe house for them in a temple city was really paid to lure the pcs to the place by someone. They swore they could trust this npc and told them their entire plan, mission and details on their previous crimes. For 3 months since entering the city they wondered whom was tipping off their enemies of there whereabouts never realizing it was the npc they had encountered a month earlier. They have been manipulated to attack particular councilmen, to kill witnesses to crimes they had no idea they were apart of and sent on wild goose chases. At my last session they are fighting a drow they had been tracking and while rummaging through her things they find a note signed "Mr. Smith" ... the Npc they trusted. In unisin three PCs shouted... that son of a b... . It was a sweet moment.

Which reminds me of a question. As a DM I obvious went through alot of trouble to set that up. Does anyone have players home just don't get it no matter what you do. ONe of my players has been with me for a long time and during the previously described inncodent he seemed dumb founded and had the nerve to ask "whom is mr. smith". It was quite annoying to me because everyone else, even the new people, had known who he was. How do you guys deal with players whom just don't keep up with the metaplot?

 

[TerraDave]

How do you guys deal with players whom just don't keep up with the metaplot?

with a big stick, or by becoming numb to it...

at least they now know to take notes, and actually look at them...

In any case what players remember and what they don't can seem pretty random from a DMs point of view.