I'll try and answer some of your questions about what the event is about.
I assume you're talking about the actual specifics, and not the background of the protagonists Salome and Raan Corsen and why they're being hunted? As that information has been documented on Galnet and forums threads for the past few months. Tsu Singh is a new character to everyone, one that we'll probably have to read about in the book as we know little about her, and Yuri has been added as to give the XBoX platform a chance to take part.
The original event that Drew wanted was a chase from A to B, across the frontier worlds and into the bubble. I was one of the organizers asked to see if this was feasible and interesting enough given the game limitations and instancing mechanics. Imho it wasn't, at least not in such a simplistic manner. One of three things would occur with that scenario, 1.. all the protagonist would die in the first 5 minutes - not much of event there then, or 2.. all of the protagonists would leave everyone in their wake and be gone in a flash - again not much of a climax for the book.. or 3 the server would melt with having so many people gathered in one location at one specific time (the Distant Worlds Sag-A* gathering taught me thats one scenario FD won't appreciate!).
So the event has effectively evolved into the following -
The protagonists will attempt to reach their destinations in the bubble, and those aligned to them, or opposed to them, have been encouraged to spread out across the frontier and deploy fleets at specific locations that the protagonist will attempt to run through. People who want to help them can fight for superiority in those locations and prevent blockades and camps from forming, while those who are opposed to the protagonists can attempt to chase down and outmaneuver the fugitives, or gain control of the hotspot regions that allies will be deployed at.
This allows several things. Firstly if players follow those guidelines, the event will be spread out over a larger area so the whole thing isn't based on one single focal point and stressing the servers. It allows players on both sides to use some tactics and strategy to out maneuver each other, they can deploy scouts and use intel to spy on each other (which is already happening), they have an opportunity to use tactics, deception, and put some thought into ship loadouts other than simply taking the fastest thing they have.. It basically turns what could have been one big Benny Hill chase (that could have left 90% of the players in their wake out at 46 Eridani) into something much more spread out and inclusive.
Groups and alliances have been forming for the last few weeks, on both sides. Individuals and lonewolf players are taking part and finding roles for themselves, be it scouting for either side, or infiltrating the various discords to gather intel that suits them if they're an opportunist bounty hunter. But like everyone involved, whether they get to directly interact with the flights or the players who are helping and opposing each other, it boils down to instancing. Anything on this scale will always be at the mercy of that.
In saying all that, there's a chance that all the protagonists will die in the first 5 minutes (I know some of you onlookers would love that!), but there's also a chance one or two of them could make it to their destinations too. Whatever happens people need to understand that nothing of this type or scale has been tried before (that we're aware of) so there is no blueprint to work from. We have no idea how it'll pan out - it could be a lag infested nightmare with people filling the forums with gripes that they never got to see the characters, and others will gripe that the protagonists died far too early and what a waste of time that was! Either way, not everyone will be happy. That's the only thing we're 100% sure of! But lets at least give it a go and see what happens.
I can say that CoR are not running the show here despite what some people think - so lets put that one to bed right here and now. They have shared role in helping Salome, but have nothing to do with the other 75% of this event! Other groups and factions are overseeing their parts in this. All in all this is a community effort that goes way beyond a bunch of roleplayers.
If you want to get involved there are discord servers set up on both sides where you can find more information.
PC Allied Server : https://discord.gg/7fnxgex
XBOX Allied Server : https://discord.gg/VhcwSTa
Those who want to see the protagonists fail, please feel free to open your own servers and get organized, there's still time. Or seek out players that have already done that for you. [up]
Thanks Erimus - I'm glad that you've avoided the potential Benny Hill scenario and I hope that the event is successful (regardless of my RP preferences).
Just two comments on your strategy, which I'm sure you've already considered:
1. 46 Eri is your biggest risk. I hope you have sufficient resources assigned there, as well as at the other checkpoints, or it will all end before it's really begun.
2. I hope the anti-Salome factions show up in sufficient numbers to make all your efforts worthwhile. They haven't been as public as the pro-Salome side, so are potentially less organized. It would suck just as much if nobody shows up as it would if it was all over in 5 mins.
From a pure storytelling perspective, I'm hoping that Salome gets where she needs to be and then just as she's about to speak, Alessia slits her throat
Edit: Drew, you can put that ending in if you like
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What is that stick thing people play snooker with?
Steve Davis?
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