Read on Twitter
So, I’ve sold you on the WHY of Metagames as a marketing/community tool for games. So now how about the how...? 
Getting Started with Discord Metagames
A MEGATHREAD
Getting Started with Discord MetagamesA MEGATHREAD
If you missed the first part of me warbling about how great Metagames are, then you can find that thread here: 
https://twitter.com/cptnbeatrush/status/1291060496490258432?s=20
https://twitter.com/cptnbeatrush/status/1291060496490258432?s=20
So where do I start?Bots! This is important because once you know the realistic limitations of the bot(s) you want to use, you can begin to plot out the mechanics and story of your game. I wasted a lot of time planning things that simply weren't possible, so beware!
Have a look at some of the discord bots on http://top.gg . I recommend using Dynobot, UnBelievaboat or a combo of both for your own MG. Read their command pages, learn them and experiment with them before launching a MG.
You must own your sever.
You must own your sever.
Make sure to read the nsfw, gambling, games/fun command list each provide. Make sure to disable them if you want. e.g. !slut is a common one, I would disable this. Some bots are already RPG bots, but they are not very customisable so may not work for your MG. Experiment & test!
Learning to use them if you’re unfamiliar is a fucking PAIN IN THE ARSE. But it’s VERY doable with patience. I managed it after a week of furious cursing. @Ben_Tarrant figured it out in about 5 seconds, so it really depends on you.
So! Read their command pages, Stalk
Other Discords to see how they’re used, get someone to test them with, they will have their own very helpful support discords that you should join too. It might be intimidating at first, but once you get the knack of it, it's really simple.
Other Discords to see how they’re used, get someone to test them with, they will have their own very helpful support discords that you should join too. It might be intimidating at first, but once you get the knack of it, it's really simple.
Unbelievaboat 
comes with an economy feature which I recommend using. It gives "money" rewards for people chatting, using certain commands, etc. We used this feature to add a competitive edge with the richest team getting a big prize at the end.
comes with an economy feature which I recommend using. It gives "money" rewards for people chatting, using certain commands, etc. We used this feature to add a competitive edge with the richest team getting a big prize at the end.
We used Dynobot for teams (Roles). Using its Custom Commands you can enable a whole slew of features. We made factions, guilds, you can use bots with roles to tax, award salaries, punishments, bets. It also encourages competition and belonging. We used this code from Mike Rose.
PlotLike with any writing, coming up with a plot is pretty difficult and also pretty important. (captain obvious to the rescue). Have a basic start and a basic ending (I recommend the end of the MG marking the start of your FG if you're unsure).
Avoid spoilers from your game, and check with your marketing team about the things you raise. You might have HEARD about this new gunpowder cache feature but are you allowed to talk about it yet? Maybe not! Maybe it doesn't even exist & you confirmed it does to 1000 peop...nm.
Let your imagination run free w/ FG elements, you can use FG ideas that won't ever see the light of day due to time or money constraints in an MG. Think about a sense of progression from A (start) to B (end). How much time can you dedicate to it until FG launch? Does it fit?
A good basic format is choices have consequences. Present a short scenario. Give your players multiple choices, let them decide which way to go, add a mini choice, then the result, then another choice, then a third, then a conclusion. Take a break, move onto the next scenario.
In the above examples, the story outcome would have all 3 of our teams arrive at the same destination even if they went different ways. Not even I had time to create full separate maps/worlds for each team.
Don’t waste too much time trying to make it David Cage, or Telltale style by plotting out all and every option. You’ll exhaust yourself, and your community will either always choose the same thing, or blow it apart completely. So don’t be afraid to wing it a little!
IMO there is such a thing as too much planning for an MG. And your community will come at you with their own ideas and theories that are also inspiring. One of the bonuses about an MG is that it isn’t a published game, so you can take whatever ideas you like, it’s just for fun.
Mine started pretty simple, "go A, B or C?" By the end of the last story, we had multiple characters, an assassination, a jail break, a runaway warrior princess, feminist ninjas, an evil lord starving his people, Robin Hood style thievery, rivalries and a proposed marriage! WILD!
And don't forget to use a good old fashioned d20! Not sure what to do next....roll the dice and suddenly your fierce warrior is uh...not doing so great.
You can even do it with a bot in the server with !roll 20 command
so everyone can expect something bad to happen together.
You can even do it with a bot in the server with !roll 20 command
so everyone can expect something bad to happen together.
I know I've already said this but ART is very important. It can help tell the story to everyone in a more accessible way. I also very often let my words run away with me BIGTIME, completely forgetting that a huge number of my community are not native English speakers. BIG OOPS.
Okay, reaching the thread limit again, so I'll end the basics with some quick tips. Next time I'll thread on more advanced things you can utilise.
TIPS
Don’t be afraid to make changes if something ends up being too much work or uninteresting, communities are forgiving.
TIPSDon’t be afraid to make changes if something ends up being too much work or uninteresting, communities are forgiving.
Ask for your community’s opinions, feedback and advice. You may have people from all walks of life and might come up with great ideas to improve the MG. Before you launch it, PIMP IT OUT on SM, Steam, anywhere!
Make a bot channel in your discord for all bot commands, be strict about this. Disable the use of commands in other channels too. This will save on serious cluttering in your channels.Make a mandatory team selection page before accessing the server, save on spam!
I don't know when I'll get round to posting the next info dump, but if anyone has any questions, my DMs are open, and I'm very cool with helping anyone starting out with their Metagame. Don't be shy to ask me please. Especially those from BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ communities.
