At th moment we're looking at a "mercenary camp" option.Basically, theres a base camp run by mercenaries where people looking for work, or people looking for someone to do their work for them go.
The players essentially go to the merc camp to find work, pick up jobs, do some trade, get some training etc. Really just a starting place for all games

The OOC logisitics mean that
1) In between games, people will update their characters on-line. Also online will be an IC map of Friston Forest showing where the Merc camp is situated.

2) When you get to the car park, you get changed into kit, and head straight up to the camp following your map. Once you're there you're in character. There will be a ref in the car park but he's really there just to answer any last minute queries and maybe brief some of the monster team. The other ref / NPC's will already be at the camp

3) At the camp, players are IC at all times. Deals about which adventures to do are done IC. i.e. an NPC will come along and ask for help, or there will be a "people wanted" notice up there. At the camp you can make a deal, or speak to the NPC traders that might be there, or get some training (you pay with xp in your next downtime). Alternatively you can set up your own stall and trade if you've got something to sell. 10% goes to the camp or whatever
In the camp you're safe, and no-one goes back on a deal. If you stary outside the camp you're fair game. That doesn't mean to say that there won't be attacks on the camp

4) The first linear will kick off about 12ish, and will last 2-3 hours. Lunch IC back at the camp, then the 2nd Linear about 2 or 3 for about the same amount of time.

5) People who aren't on a linear can either stay at the camp or will asked to come and monster depending on how monster intensive the linear is. If you're off "training" with one of the mercenary trainers then you're automatically on the monster team (though you pay lower xp and gold costs for the skill you learn)

6) If theres low number of people then there might only be 1 linear. The players should be able to sort out who's going on which linear. The mornings linear will be the low powered one, the afternoon for the higher level characters

7) There will be a mercenary captain plus other guards present to make sure that no-one gets out of hand etc, and to resolve any disputes.

All in all, we reckon that it means people will get more out of their day.
All day IC roleplaying (unless monstering), IC lunch, IC character development, trade etc. Chosing your linear is done IC, so you get the negotiations about who's going on it, and prices etc all done IC
2 adventures means that more people get to do one, theres less walking and we can stat the adventures for high and low level parties

What do people think?

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Brighton Below : Organiser

Serenity: Capt Tom Crowson

RL: Simon / Trez

A) Crew intensive, Can you get enough to both crew the camp and monster linears?

B) Boring to sit around camp all day unless there is some sort of camp side plot going on

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"Plan B is we swear fealty to the Dark Lord."

Sounds awfully like getting greater benefit for not being IC.... which is shite.

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Brighton Below : Organiser

Serenity: Capt Tom Crowson

RL: Simon / Trez

Hmmm.... we could try thinking of it as greater benefit for advancing other characters goals and improving the game world for everyone else. 

Can you elaborate? 

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"Plan B is we swear fealty to the Dark Lord."

People who wanted to learn stuff from the camps resident swordsment would have to haggle on price etc from them and do some of the basic sparring etc IC, but as a rule they'd get the skill for a lower xp / gold cost then if they siad "Im learning Sword Level 2 in downtime for 10 xp"

So its a twofold thing

1) People roleplay the whole 'getting the mercenary captain to teach you swordplay" thing plus theres some spectacle for the other people to watch (Morpheus is fighting Neo), so its IC from that respect. 

From an OOC perspective it does mean that we can control the advancement of players to some degree. Theres not saying that just because someone has enough xp to learn conjuring level 10 that theres anyone available that can and is willing to teach it to them

2) If give people an IC  justification as to why they're not around to do the linear / defend the camp against goblin attacks etc, and means that we're giving our players some kind of incepntive to monster

What about the rest of it too. Would the concept of a "1 day teeny-weeny-fest" be do-able?

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Brighton Below : Organiser

Serenity: Capt Tom Crowson

RL: Simon / Trez