Plotty question for you all

[gredya]

Heyo, I have the inklings of a plot notion in my head, but before it develops any further and goes to the mods for discussion--how do people feel about bar tabs getting called due? Like it, don't like it, don't mind, violently object? I know it's been a few years, and I know some people have talked about stirring it up again, but are there players and/or mods who dislike the thought?

EDIT: Just to clarify, the idea kind of came up in connection with a kind of silly cartoonish plotlet that will hopefully be fun and funny for people--tabs actually coming due might not even be necessary, I just wanted to know before getting too deep in planning if the idea of it was hugely a problem or was going to cause lots of trouble.

Comments

[sdelmonte]

It used to be a great engine for making people who had good reasons to have large tabs look for money. So it might be worth doing. But I can't recall the last time tabs were even mentioned. I think it's barely on many players' radars.

[bjornwilde]

I'd be for it, though I wonder how much my pups have even been able to rack up since I haven't been able to play much.

[clayforthedevil]

Is there anything for pups to do in-Bar to earn money besides bartend? the Legends of Games Past say there are, but I haven't seen anything yet.

I can't say I'm real enthused about the basic idea of struggling to pay for food--a little Too Real-- but it could be interesting to see what people get up to!

[feminine_menace]

Teja sells things from his forge. Back when I played Zhaan, she sold things made from herbs and flowers in her garden plot.

If a pup is not Bound, selling seeds, plants, animals, or weapons from their world is an option, since Bar does not produce weapons or live things.

Something a little more challenging is to sell stuff that might be plentiful in your world but scarce in someone else's. For example, if you have pre-1996 American currency in good condition, YT would like to make a deal with you because pre-hyperinflation American money is a collector's item in her world.

ETA: Oh yeah, and how could I forget the oldest profession? A person could totally do that. Milliways has (or used to have) a brothel called Delicate Flowers but I haven't seen anything about that for a while.

[gredya]

Welp...yes, I guess "turn to prostitution to pay for basic necessities" is a direction things could go in! I was thinking a little more light-hearted but uhh

Edit: Sorry, that came off way more negative than I meant--it's just that the plot I had in mind is very cartoonish and silly, so "Brothels!" was kind of off my radar, lol.

[varadia]

Yeah, the brothel is gone.

People kept wanting to use it for angst, as I understand, and it got creepy, so. Not around anymore!

[feminine_menace]

Yeah, that's a good reason not to have it anymore.

[varadia]

There's a fund for Bound patrons, as well, as it's difficult for them to pay and they HAVE to stay in Milliways. So.

[mnt_mike]

We've got two funds for the bound, the Joe Manco Fund for adults, and the Phil for Little Wanderers.

[feminine_menace]

From my understanding donations to these funds may be a good way to deal with the Elf on a Shelf infestation we are currently having. XD

[silveraspen]

People used to work in the stable, too; short-term, long-term, and occasional security-related public service.

There were also waitstaff once upon a time, before the narrative convenience of waitrats eclipsed that.

[i_am_your_host]

Washing dishes would also count toward getting your tab reduced.

Also, offering services! Whatever your pups can do. Cook, sew, make stuff, do heavy lifting, etc.

[genarti]

Yeah, as a player from the Legendary Games Past days I tried for a while to find a job for Enjolras, before kind of giving it up (though I'd be happy to resume it if an IC opportunity presented itself) -- there used to be a lot more of an active in-game culture of gardening, using the stables more actively, doing kitchen work, etc.

I'm not deeply opposed, but I do feel like there's not really a lot of work relative to the number of characters who would want it, which is a difficulty for me in getting excited about "yay, let's make everybody pay the bill for the meals and food and all they've consumed!!" I mean, there's the Joe Manco fund and Phil, it's true, so anyone Bound or underage can be covered.

I know tabs have been called in in the past, and that everybody theoretically has one, and so forth. But all the same, I'm wondering (and this is thinking aloud) if it would serve some of the same purposes in a less stressful way to have some kind of reason why Milliways needs to raise funds for... I dunno, operating costs somehow, or something? Like, so that everyone is encouraged to find a way to pitch in, without it being ACCOUNT FOR EVERY MUFFIN YOU'VE EATEN stress that hits the poorer characters a lot harder than the handwavy fantasy billionaires?

[gredya]

Eheh, well, it had to do with the backdrop for a different plotlet? But it's sounding like maybe more trouble than it's worth.

[feminine_menace]

ICly I think it might be some kind of magical principle of equal exchange - like someone has to put in an effort (represented by currency or trade goods or services) equal to the effort Bar expends in conjuring up things.

If that's the case Bar can theoretically (if she is damn near omniscient, which I think she is) charge fees on a sliding scale based on one's relative socioeconomic status. If you're rich and money comes easily to you, you pay more. If you have to scrape for every penny, you pay less. You know, "each according to his ability, each according to his needs" kind of deal.

[lazy_but_loyal]

I tend to think of it this way as well, and putting in the work and effort counts as much as actually having physical money to pay your tab.

[ceitfianna]

William earns extra money by helping out in the stables. Also making things or teaching, both of those are common ways to earn a little more. And I feel like there might be compensation for security and the infirmary staff.

[yinyangwizard]

Security, yes, but I think Infirmary has always been a volunteer gig. Or it was when Zhaan worked there.

[cottoncandypink]

Well, this would be the kick in the ass I'd need to figure out how money would work with Dodger.

[feminine_menace]

Barter is perfectly valid - there are many precedents for it.

What I want to know is how Bar tabs work for pups from post-scarcity societies that don't use money anymore, e.g., the United Federation of Planets.

[cottoncandypink]

Dodger's whole thing is that like, if she's got an extra can of cat food, she's ahead of the game. Poor lady has nothing.

[varadia]

However the people playing those pups want it to work?

[feminine_menace]

Full disclosure, I am hoping they will read this comment and reply to it. (I should probably just message them or something but I am too lazy.)

[varadia]

Hee.

I just wanted to weigh in in case anyone was gonna start stressing about it. Like. IT IS OKAY TO HANDWAVE, SWEAR.

IT is also okay not to handwave if you find it interesting!

[mnt_mike]

I'm always up for a Tabs Recall.

[bjornwilde]

I just had a thought. I remember Sally Reynold's several times now having EPs were she is trying to make sense of the tab accounts. Perhaps she finds several that are severely overdue and so Bar calls them in.

This way the plot is completely voluntary, not that bar wide plots aren't, and folks can opt in as a problem account.

[mnt_mike]

Mike isn't great at paperwork.
It involves lots and lots of shoeboxes....and not much actual accounting.

[bjornwilde]

If there's a system and the paperwork is out of sight, that's good right? /sarcasm

[mightbeagoodone]

...there's a computer genius with a lot of time on his hands around.

Oh dear oh dear.

[vyvyan]

I recall this being overwhelmingly successful.