**Information gathering - OC v's IC** (cross posted to fb)

[Becca]

This post is quite complex to write, but we have spoken to many players now who have expressed some confusion and frustration over how information such as downtimes and rumours translates into the IC world. I'm going to give it a go, but do ask questions if you're not sure. I'm doing it publicly because it's really impossible to keep writing the same response over and over in PMs and emails without getting cross, and that's unfair to players.

When we return downtimes to players, we are provided exactly the amount of information available to that character at that specific time, using the parameters set by the player (Skills used etc.). We take into account any actions against that character, which may or may not become part of the downtime return, and your character (and you as a player) may or may not be aware of them.

Often, the amount of information you get will seem small, or not exactly what you expected to see. There are always reasons for this. Not all of those reasons will be apparent to the player.

Questions about rules, setting, your character, requests for clarification etc. etc. are all completely fine. However, what is happening is players asking for "top-ups" of information for your downtime.

An example could be an investigation - the player uses police influence and the investigate skill to look into a death. The downtime return provides details of the cause of death, and of any suspects the police already have.

The following session, that player discovers that another character has more information than they do, and in fact seems to have entirely different information.

At this point, players are coming back to us and saying "why wasn't I told this" or "could I also have found out X or Y".

The answer is always the same - read your downtime. You get what you get.

It's not that we don't know what we're giving you. We are juggling a plot spanning half a country, involving nearly 30 players and an entire game world.

It's completely exhausting and frustrating to be constantly questioned about the content of the downtime returns. We spend well over 6 weeks writing these. We give players exactly what we intend to give them.

You get what you're going to get.

Please have faith in us.

<3