{ dream notes #17.5 - january 20, 2023

[dreamkeepers]

DREAM NOTES #17.5: JANUARY 20, 2023

I COME BEARING LOTS OF PAGE UPDATES. Lots…lots of page updates and overhauls. It's a long list so please glance through! The biggest changes were the Game Info, the World Directory, and the new Bestiary.

GENERAL UPDATES

As I mentioned in the earlier notes, I (Laena) took a hiatus to do a lot of deep work overhauling the big info pages as I was 1) not that happy with the current look; 2) it needed lots of big updates as the game has developed. …The second point is totally the more important reason /cough. So all page headers have been changed to match the Game Info design.

In addition, we have a big update to hiatus and canon updates: For the "return home and come back" option that wasn't randomly done, three (3) regain baubles will now be used for characters to voluntarily leave Songerein with the guarantee that they will return after a few days has passed in game, even if much longer time may pass in their world. To be clear, the option to be randomly sent back is still there, the baubles are just a clear method for guaranteed return trips. There weren't that many (if any who are still in game) who used this option for either a hiatus or a canon update, so this shouldn't change anything. This just better explains how it happens since we were pretty vague about it before.

The rest of the updates are in their own section because it was a lot. But just to note, we still have no IC deaths so time to make some NPCs die and become wisps so characters are no longer left clueless on what happens. (Mart: Or someone can die ICly. We’re not picky.)

GAME INFO UPDATES

IT'S SO MUCH. Most of it was general layout rehaul, but I reorganized and updated information where needed. Cliffnotes of all the changes are included. The Updated Information section explains the biggest changes so be sure to read that part at least. Notable mentions would be: Living in Songerein, Dreamotion Energy, and Events.

Rehauled the entire page layout. To make it easier for people to CTRL+F search through the game info, the windowed format was removed and everything is now out on display at once. We only used detail cuts sparingly. However, because it's still a fair bit of information, we have a stickied side navigation that will scroll with the page. It will also help you jump through the information similar to how the original format worked. There is even a link to jump directly to the bottom to post comments. It's decent on mobile view, but you may want to change to desktop view.

ADDED SECTIONS:

• Backstory: provides information on how the game came to be
  
• Test Drive meme: provides explanation of how our TDMs now double with our events; also includes information in case we do have separate TDM logs
  
• Regain Bauble: designated section for how regains work as well as leaving option for possibility of the baubles getting upgrades in the future
  
• Abilities: information taken from "Dreamotion Abilities" section with clearer explanations how abilities are adjusted in game
  
• World Overview: information taken from "Living in Songerein" for better organization
  
• Events: rehauled original "Dreamshifts" section to better reflect how events are currently run (compared to the original concept). Includes the three "types" of "events" we've been running lately.
  
• Dreamotion Energy: revamped version of the original "Dreamotion Abilities" section with clearer explanation and information
  
• Dreamscapes: general information on dreamscapes large and small; related to dreamwalking and events

CHANGED SECTIONS:

• Renamed "Character Types" to "Character Adjustments" to better label what that section is about
  
• Renamed "Worldbuilding" to "Expanding the World" for a better label
  
• Rehauled "Living in Songerein" section to be a more "FAQ" format with information separated into appropriate categories
  
• Rehauled "Dreamshifts" to "Events"
  
• Split "Hiatus & Drop" into two separate sections (But still linked together since they're fairly short)
  
• Moved the general world locations information in "Living in Songerein" to create the "World Overview" section
  
• Split "Dreams & Dreamwalking" section into two separate ones
  
• Split "Nightmare & Noctaere" into two separate ones
  
• Removed "Fairy Tales" and folded the information there into the new "Backstory" section.

UPDATED INFORMATION:

• About the Game: updated to more accurately reflect the game in its current state
  
• Activity Check: includes information on free passes
  
• Hiatus and Canon Update: includes new use for regain bauble - now used as concrete explanation and means for characters to temporarily return home (voluntary temporary returns to home were always an option but had been vague; this just provides a better reason than vague hand gestures)
  
• Living in Songerein: includes more information and developments from the past year and addresses some questions that have been brought up
  
• World Overview: updated to be more of a summary
  
• Dreamotion Energy (Abilities): major change to remove differentiation between "canon" abilities and "dreamotion" ones. Originally the concept was that original abilities would be stronger outside of dreams and new dreamotion based abilities would be stronger in dreams and outside. Since canon abilities are retained and just use dreamotion energy to function, and because this concept tends to cause confusion, we're just getting rid of that "split" altogether. From now on, all abilities will work the same regardless whether in dream or outside. The change in effectiveness will only rely on use of dreamotion.
  
• Dreamscapes (turned to Events): we have nixed the original concept for the Dreamshift events. Large scale dream events will still occur, but we've been mixing events that occur in the world setting so that needs to be addressed. In addition, how the dream events have worked in the past year has differed from the original concept so we're just simplifying things. Goals and the possibility to affect the world post-event is still in play, we're just going to try and better format events for such things to happen.
  
• Nightmares: include information on how nightmare energy can be used in a "positive" way if in control

If you have any questions or see mistakes, let us know!

WORLD DIRECTORY UPDATES

This page got one of the biggest layout rehauls, and all information has been updated to current submissions. To note, Reverein has the beginnings of electricity and is no longer the run down, shabby town it started as. We'll be incorporating more developments to make it more obvious as well.

Rehauled the entire page layout. The new layout should make it easier to read and access the information for each area. In general there is one box for general information, one box for any special locations that were created either by us or by players, and a box for any map layouts if available. This isn't as mobile friendly, but you can zoom out or switch to desktop view to see the whole thing.

Removed the Bestiary section to create its own page. It got to the point where we just had too much going on in that one entry and this will make it easier for referencing and general organization.

ADDED SECTIONS:

• Drajefell: aka Dragon Island; created separate entry as it has enough unique info and will likely expand
  
• Ocean: created separate entry as it will have future developments soon™
  
• Businesses: compiled list of all businesses both NPC and PC run. Businesses are still included in their respective area page
  
• NPCs: compiled list of all NPCs featured in events/plot and submitted NPCs
  
• Stories & Events: basically our event timeline for ease of reference of what's happened in the game and what stories have been featured. Includes the fun stories made from the Flower Festival
  
• General Note: we'll create separate entries for any unique areas that would have a lot of information that a single paragraph wouldn't suffice

Archived original World Directory. Because we have such a drastic change, we have archived the original World DIrectory and starting with a fresh new entry. This way we can still keep the old submissions and not have new ones get confused with the split with the bestiary.

Player submissions for locations and NPCs will still be made on this page.

If you see any mistakes or have any questions, feel free to ask!

BESTIARY

As mentioned earlier, I split the Bestiary section from the original World Directory to be its own page so there's less clutter. It's also going to be a lot easier to maintain. Designed like a "book," it uses the windowed layout with the side navigation links that will switch to the appropriate sections: Reverein, Wildlands, Wasteland. Currently we don't have subsections for the areas, but if that list continues to grow it can be worked in (really thought about it for the Wildlands but most of it would still be in the Forest lmfao). It uses an automated script with a spreadsheet so updating this will be less of a headache in the future. This isn't as mobile friendly, but you can zoom out or switch to desktop view to see the whole thing.

It has been updated to include every creature that has been submitted from players, or introduced by us via events, dream board, or randomly thrown in. Players will also now post creature submissions on this page.

If there are any mistakes or questions, feel free to ask!

END NOTES

/lies here wheezing on the ground

Comments

[multidisciplinary]

YOU GUYS, good lord! I really underestimated what you meant when you said "overhaul."

I have a question for you (because of course I do)! I used the old concept of the abilities fairly regularly with Zelda as part of her personal narrative involving her magic and dreamotion. She was aware of the differentiation between how canon abilities and dreamotion worked and the way the former was sometimes weaker than the latter depending on situations and vice versa. (I think I might've also made some lore errors with this since I've been here, orz)

My question is: is this change something that is happening in-universe or is it more of a retcon? Like, will characters notice that there has been a change to their canon/dreamotion abilities as the result of this update? Or should players assume that this is always the way things worked?

[dreamkeepers]

So basically what generally happened with canon abilities was they still carried over, but they would need dreamotion energy to properly function. A caster could still cast their spells, but they would notice a slight difference in how it felt or the strength could be weaker or stronger depending on dreamotion. This part is staying the same.

The only thing that's a little different is abilities that were made purely from dreamotion is no longer de facto stronger because we're not putting so much of a distinction on it. They CAN be stronger than a character's abilities! It's just there's no longer the "Have to use canon abilities here" or "Dreamotion works best in this environment" gimmick we originally had. That's the part that ended up being a little too convoluted.

So you can keep your interpretation of Zelda's ability levels without too much problem! Her canon abilities can still be weaker in certain areas, and her dreamotion ones can be stronger. It's just no longer required.

I hope that makes a little more sense!

[multidisciplinary]

OKAY I'm following you now, thank you! I think I may have been kinda mixed up in this past about how all this works rofl....

[chefalier]

So I noticed in the ocean entry that it's pretty dangerous and that Developments will be made soon, but how far could someone go on a ship out there? Sanji's pretty familiar with a dangerous sea life and he might want to try and explore it soon, if he can get a ship in the first place lmao.

[flamekthunder]

And that's why I got rid of that lmao

[dreamkeepers]

The deep water towards the middle and closer towards the outer range boundary are the most dangerous with the potential for strange weather, be it storms or the like, popping up. This is also where you can encounter or catch sight of classic sea monsters. There are more peaceful times out there as well, but the likeliness of disaster occurring is high. You can take most typical fantasy oceans as inspiration for this.

It's possible to go past the outer range into the wastelands, but then you got the wasteland to contend with it and it gets worse and more dangerous. It's likely you can reach about a mile out before giant megalodon sharks jump out at the ship.

[chefalier]

thanks for the info!