Clarification on Plot Boards

[Ace Trainer]

Okay guys. I'm going to update the rules to add a lot more clarity, but that has to be written for the rules, vs in an announcement where I can use shorthand and be a little more casual in my explanations. So I'm going to map out how plot boards work, explain a few different scenarios, and try to address some of the concerns and confusion there is currently.

So I'm going to use Kohon, Shiv and Hideki as the three characters for this guide-thing.

Kohon is going on a plot board to find 4 of the lost swords of the original Seven Swordsmen Mist.
Hideki is going on a plot board to search for some unique plant that is said to have legendary healing properties.

They're on two separate plot boards.

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Start off, Kohon goes on his topics, we'll see he does 3 topics (KTopic 1: 4 points, KTopic 2: 3 points, KTopic 3: 5 points), and he finds the first sword, which is guarded by a spirit that guides him to the second sword.

Hideki starts off on two topics, investigating the plants in some village, Shiv gives him a hand with some...forceful interrogation in the second topic (HTopic 1: 4 points, HTopic 2: 4 points)

Running tally

• Kohon
• Topic 1: 4 points
• Topic 2: 3 points
• Topic 3: 5 points
• Current total 12 points
• Hideki
• Topic 1: 4 points
• Topic 2: 4 points (with Shiv)
• Current total: 8 points

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Thus far, a mod has graded the topics individually, given points to the characters as they've graded each topic, and updated the [Progress] field of the plot boards with the links to the individual updates.

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Finding the next 2 swords takes quite a bit of work, and Kohon recruits the assistance of Shiv. For 5 topics, Shiv and Kohon travel about, hunting down information, tackling trials, and collecting the final swords. (KTopic4: 3 points, KTopic5: 4 points, KTopic 6: 4 points, KTopic7:6 points, Ktopic 8: 5 points)

Hideki, meanwhile, catches a lead, and hunts down the location of the plant, only to discover a bandit gang is protecting it. Takes 2 topics (HTopic 3: 5, HTopic4: 4) but he get enough information on them.

Running tally

• Kohon
• Topic 1: 4 points
• Topic 2: 3 points
• Topic 3: 5 points
• Topic 4: 3 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 5: 4 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 6: 4 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 7:6 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 8: 5 points (with Shiv)
• Current total 34 points
• Hideki
• Topic 1: 4 points
• Topic 2: 4 points
• Topic 3: 5 points
• Topic 4: 4 points
• Current total: 17 points

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As previously, the mod should be grading these topics individually as they're turned in for updates and added to their original plot boards. Shiv has participated in 5 topics, which he'll get points for even though its not his plot board

Hideki is the same as before

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Anyways, Kohon, Shiv and Hideki are back in Kiri when Hideki informs Kohon of his situation, where Kohon learns that the location the final sword is at is the same place Hideki was scouting, grabbing Shiv, they go on their final excursion. Its a hell of a thread, and they get 7 points for their brilliant writing (mostly on account of Onu's fantastic story telling ability).

This topic counts towards BOTH plot boards, which they'll turn in and list both in the update

Final tally

• Kohon
• Topic 1: 4 points
• Topic 2: 3 points
• Topic 3: 5 points
• Topic 4: 3 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 5: 4 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 6: 4 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 7:6 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 8: 5 points (with Shiv)
• topic 9: 7 points (with Hideki & Shiv)
• Current total 41 points
• Hideki
• Topic 1: 4 points
• Topic 2: 4 points (with Shiv)
• Topic 3: 5 points
• Topic 4: 4 points
• Topic 5: 7 points (with Kohon & Shiv)
• Current total: 24 points

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So, the final pay out for stats is..
Kohon: 41 stats
Hideki: 24 stats
Shiv: 29

You'll notice Shiv got 29, which is only paying out from Kohon's plot board. This is because you must participate in AT LEAST 50% PERCENT of the topics to redeem stat points from a plotboard. He was in 6 of Kohon's 9 threads, but only 2 of Hideki's 5, so he'll get stats equal to the point reward for the 6 topics he participatd in.

Additionally, Hideki & Kohon don't get double rewards from their shared plot board.

They can then post mods at their leisure to add the stats they've earned.


Can I use a plot board for training?
       -Checkers (2016)

Yes! You can use a plot board to train for jutsu or stats or an ability or anything you want. Topics that individually give rewards do not get a pay out in points for anyone that receives said award, so a training thread would give jutsu and not points. These plot boards will be almost exclusively D-rank, though possibly C-rank on rare occasions, and have relatively low pay outs. In these cases you cannot turn in 13 different lonelies and expect them to earn you 3 stats each. They'll have comparatively low payouts to other threads, but will still have pay outs none-the-less, based on the determination of the mods who checks them.In these cases you should turn in all the updates (each individual training lonely) in one update, rather than 13 different updates.


Questions?

[Checkmate]

Wow, thank you for clarifying the process. This makes a lot more sense to me now. One question about the whole training in plot boards thing. I know it's been said on the box, but could you also go into the rule about someone training in a plot board and how that ties into how many stats they get?

[Ace Trainer]

Updated w/ your answer

[Izanagi]

It may already be in the rules somewhere but how about companions? Specifically in the case of summons, do they have to be present in each of the threads to earn stat points or can a characters earned stat points be instead distributed among companions at the owners leisure?

[Ace Trainer]

Go read the rules

[Sia]

Suggestion: Make a more obvious distinction in the rules for plot boards when talking about stat points and character points. A lot of new people are super confused about it at the moment from what I've seen in the box.

[Ace Trainer]

Okay guys. I'm going to update the rules to add a lot more clarity,

Thank you, though. Its been noted

[Sia]

Right, I was just stating that's been the most common issue I've been seeing.

[Flankingfox]

Thanks for including my character in the announcement, I am honored that the administration picked Shiv. Have a great day everyone! ^_<

[Mino]

This is fantastic. Plot boarding is awesome. I'd love to try it out sometime..

[Servant]

How are story tellers dealt with, as far as rewards go? In the examples above, the roleplayers are all playing their characters, but a storyteller (who possibly is in every single thread of a plotboard) wouldn't necessarily be playing a single character. So I guess, my question is, do story tellers just get points or would they also get stats to give to a character of their choosing?

[Ace Trainer]

Just get points.