That actually brings something to mind: Wild West Shows were at their peak during the time Fallen London is set. One of them traveling down to go on tour in the Neath could actually be the basis for a fun story.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
Failbetter, give us the Rubbery ES we all deserve and desire!
[quote=Barse]I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
Failbetter, give us the Rubbery ES we all deserve and desire![/quote]
Or a continuation to Rubbery Murders at least! Why not even something new for our daughter? I feel there’s a delicious potential in these two old and not-so-great stories!
Great idea.
J-
I don’t think it’s been said so far, but I’ve just finished the Plaster Face storyline and I’d love more Rattus Faber tales! Those hardworking murines just don’t enough love. Something that nods to cavies and Pigmote Isle in Sunless Sea would be sweet too.
I would kinda like to explore the medical side of London. It had to have gone through a major change now that death isn’t really permanent. The story in Watchmaker’s Hill about allowing medical students look at and cut you up is one interesting look at it. I would imagine surgeons and doctors would travel from the Surface to experience vivisection on a hopefully willing Human who wont be killed by it. This would also be around the time the Mayo brothers would’ve been traveling to bring back medical knowledge to their somewhat newly founded clinic. I could imagine one of them traveling to the Neath to gain what thy could to help Surface patients.
Help a disgraced researcher test their invention: the correspondence-engine. Unfortunately the researcher does not have much in the way of common sense and even less in the way of funds. But if the engine works it will usher in a new age of travel for the neath! Or at the very least for you.
The early times of this fallen metropolis, when it was beginning to cope with the Neath, would be quite intriguing.
Long-Lasting Consequences: What truly makes a story memorable to me is the long-lasting consequences that can be seen even in regular gameplay. Now, this is clearly infeasible for every story (and part of what makes it special is its rareness), but for stories where it fits, I believe it’s reasonable.
"HOJOTOHO!" is the definitive example of long-lasting consequences being utilized effectively, in my opinion. The Ringbreakers ending is heartwarming and beautiful, but it gives a permanent new option on the Urchins card that allows you to revisit the old characters and see where they are now. I no longer take the time to read the text every time, but just seeing the Valkyrie art is enough to remind me of the story, and it takes an otherwise generic faction card and makes it a meaningful reminder of a great story. Likewise, the small change it makes to Literary Ambitions in Veilgarden allows low-level players to further see the impact of the story. The Foreign Office ending opens up a new heartwarming option at the end of that carousel, as well, and it gives character to an otherwise dull place.
The winter Fate stories are consistently good with long-lasting consequences. I want to particularly focus on "The Empress’ Shadow" as an effective model for more sustainable long-lasting consequences. The Finishing School is always available as a potential source of Favours and card refreshes (though it’s not the most effective, mechanically speaking). Within the Finishing School, though, options are unlocked through other Exceptional Stories. "Lost in Reflections" and "The Gift" both unlock new features, and "The Frequently Deceased" unlocks a new student and a new potential ending.
The balance concerns may be too much for an ES, especially for guest writers, but it would go a long way to making a story truly memorable, in my opinion.
Seconded. Long-lasting consequences might be as small as an option in a card, or an addition to a storylet. OR A LETTER FROM A CERTAIN SOMEONE, I am still in love dammit.
[quote=Azothi]Long-Lasting Consequences[/quote]This sounds like more bonuses with extra steps! :D
I know there was an old discussion on this matter and the conclusion was that it’s a delicate balance between Fate, Fate/Exceptional Stories and permanent bonuses; all in all to avoid the impression/feeling of pay-to-win model.
What about the London Zoological Society?
In this case, it would more likely be the Fallen London Cryptozoological Society. But where’s the great auditorium filled with lively debates on the fauna of the neath? Where are the expeditions to find complete skeletons for display within the Grand Rotunda of the museum?
Perhaps there’s also a “Bring ‘Em Back Alive” component that in terribly predictable fashion, the beast runs amok in the city and eventually escapes back out into the Unterzee and/or Islands?
The Lost World, King King, etc. There are plenty of weird creatures awaiting discovery.
I know we are currently in the Season of Animals; since I haven’t played these ESs yet, this may be included. Although I doubt it.
J-
That sounds a wonderful idea – I have loved the ES’s that take us out of London proper. Prickfinger Wastes, anyone? The Lock?
I second both the idea for an american tourist story and a season of islands. It was a common trope in Victorian (or Victorian adjacent) stories for there to be a cowboy character. Just some poor cowboy/outlaw character that ended up in the Neath and is confused by both the neathy and english aspects of it all. For the season of islands, for people to play Sunless Seas, it would be a lot of fun to meet characters and visit locations in different contexts in some story or another. A similar idea would be something tieing into Sunless Skies, where the player is contracted to do something like gather information on the Dawn Machine or help get things ready for going to the High Wilderness (I’m assuming it’s Throne of Hours shenanigans that keeps the “London moved to space 10 years ago” thing making problems with the ingame year).
Weasels.
More weasels.
All the weasels.
I’d like to see some possible futures that aren’t SSkies get a bit of time in the (lack of) sun.
I’d love to read a story about the people keeping London’s gaslights going. There must be a lot of them.
We know that gaslighting London is Mr Fires’ domain (no double-meaning intended - though, who knows…), but that’s it basically. What’s the daily grind of the workers like? Does Mr Fires treat them as badly as the workers in its factories? Are they recognized for their invaluable efforts by their fellow citizens? How dangerous is their job? Where do the pipes run? How often do explosions occur? What kind of gas is used and where are the gasfields? Does Fallen London sit right on top of one?
I’m pretty sure I wrote about this before, but I would love to have an ES that deals with London’s Jewish population after the fall. Victorian London was known and celebrated for the breadth and prosperity of its Jewish community in a time where elsewhere in Europe pogroms and persecution were driving Jewish refugees into exile. Trying to explore what became of this community in the Fallen London universe would be really interesting.
(and this is just me wishful thinking here but since Failbetter are so good at representation and getting the most informed people to write on a topic concerning specific communities, God what I wouldn’t give for them to get Ben Aaronovitch to write that ES for them)
edited by IHNIWTR on 10/11/2020
I asked about this during one of the Discord Q&As! Chris said:
[quote=ChrisFBG]I think this would make an amazing story, and be a fascinating aspect of Fallen London to dig into more.
I would want us to find an appropriately-qualified writer to undertake it, though.[/quote]
So maybe we’ll get such a story one day…
edited by Optimatum on 10/11/2020