Examples
In this section I'll go through each of the components of a successful event and give an example of how I've seen them play out in an event I have personally experienced, either as a host or participant, and then suggest ways they might be incorporated into the various types of events that have been described.
Inspired Premise
I'm going to cheat a little bit for this first anecdote, because it's sadly not a personal experience - but I could see and hear the joy and enthusiasm in Bat Country's retelling, and it left such an impression that I can't help but think of it any time I imagine an inspired premise for an event: Members of the Erudite Arcanum were sick and tired of dry copy-pasted language lesson lectures, and decided to do something completely different by framing the lesson around a hypothetical hostage negotiation, wherein a dozen languages were all being shouted at the same time in an emotionally fraught and strenuous scene that involved live ammunition and lethal use of force. The lack of universal fluency in these languages accentuated the experience, and attendants were still able to gain proficiency while actively participating in the event and contributing in ways they wouldn't have if they had all just been sitting semi-AFK in chairs while being barked at in colorful gibberish about a topic they don't actually care about.
Whatever you do, don't settle for predictable; always aim to be sensational. You might be celebrating a prominent figure in the local community, like throwing them a birthday party - well, what if it's a surprise party instead? Or what if it turns out it's not actually their birthday, and you got the wrong date? On the metatextual level, your premise could be based around crafting an amusing spectacle for participants to enjoy, like maybe your character is putting their best effort into hosting a party that "sucks" by player design (in an exaggerated slapstick comedy kinda way, not the "we've been standing around for hours and done absolutely nothing" kinda way), and then very publicly freaking out about how much of a failure they are. Maybe the fashion show is manufactured to create a dramatic vendetta between two local tailors, who sabotage each other's work and things descend into anarchy with the well-timed throwing of a comedic cream pie. Incorporate a hidden agenda into your premise, and you'll give your participants a night to remember.
- Lecture / Round-Table / Performance
Make sure that whatever you're presenting is something you are actually deeply fascinated about and can incorporate many streams of inspiration and experience into. If you're not passionate about the subject, you won't be as likely to actively search for ways to challenge the audience. You can't make people care about something you don't care much about it yourself. The best inspiration often comes from real life, and these styles of events can very easily bridge the gap between reality and fantasy. Put on a play based loosely on an FR-ified version of your favorite musical, or incorporate real-world myths into your lectures about the Demon Lords of the Abyss, or repackage the thoughts of your favorite German psychologist during a philosophy roundtable about the meaning of life and divinity. Search for inspiration outside of yourself, and bring your audience with you on the journey.
- Raid / Group Combat / Tournament
In the case of raids or group combat events, the inspired premise can come from the reason why your target has been chosen. Maybe the raid organizer has a personal vendetta that causes them to act more and more irrationally as the mission progresses. In the arena, maybe your tournament has a WrestleMania-esque narrative layer for the audience to enjoy. Try to make things personal as much as you can, and communicate that personal grudge to your participants so that they can follow the effects and evolution of that motivation. Alternatively, maybe the unique element of the premise can be in crafting a scenario where your "side" is designed to fail or come upon some seemingly insurmountable odds, and thus the event becomes more about struggling against those odds and adapting to unfavorable circumstances rather than a demonstration of raw might.
This is usually baked into the reason for hosting a ritual, but an interesting premise in this avenue can come from what it requires of its participants. This can easily be tied to what a ritual is attempting to accomplish - if you're trying to gain something, what is an equal or related thing that can be lost? If you're trying to summon something, what is a behavior that the ritualists might embody to coax it forth? If you're trying to cure something, what are the side effects of the intended medicine? The server has a long history wherein "let's do a ritual" has been the solution to most of its problems, so an inspired premise in this avenue means finding a way to make the experience unique and personal.
Shared Goal
I once ran a semi-private event with a group from Myon that was presented as a "housewarming party" for a recently wedded couple. The invitations I gave out to everyone made it clear that this was going to be a celebration of the two characters, and that there was an encouraged dress code, potluck, and talent show to prepare for, which were intended as a surprise for the couple in question. Knowing the expectations and already having a preestablished friendship with the characters that were the event's centerpiece, everyone was equipped with the information and motivation to participate on the same level and work towards the same secret goal: A competition to see who could give those two characters the best possible time.
Whatever the cause for celebration, it needs to be something that participants can relate to. If it's some sort of religious ceremony, center it on some broader tenet of the faith that is universal in its application - such as remembrance of the dead, or gestures of neighborly consideration - so that even those participants who don't adhere to the faith or don't know the lore of the deity can find something to attach themselves to. If it's a campaign fundraiser for an election, make sure everyone knows that they're here to be convinced to vote for whoever it is that the event celebrates, so that they can approach it with the right mindset. If your participants don't understand the point of the party, they're going to feel detached from it, and detachment leads to disinterest.
- Lecture / Round-Table / Performance
Once again, relatability is key. Present something to your participants in a way that makes them understand how this knowledge or information can be practically applied. Have a clear and concise theme or message that can be conveyed to your audience, and reinforce it as often as you can. Don't meander to your conclusion, or else the message will get lost in the sauce. Keep your lecture tight and on target, with as few tangents as possible. If the roundtable discussion ends up following some semantic side argument, guide the conversation back towards the relevant topic. Give the audience of your poetry contest a list of criteria to fairly judge its contestants on, so they all know to look for the same markers of quality. Always mind the message. When the message is lost, your participants end up feeling equally lost.
- Raid / Group Combat / Tournament
Combat and conflict tend to be straightforward in their goals, but there is an additional layer of depth that can be added in the form of a shared motivation. "We're all bored and want to go kill stuff!" is not sufficient shared motivation. The target of your assault should have a reason to be picked over any other potential victim, and that reason should be shared with your participants. If you're getting a group together to sail to Monkey Island so you can kill all the monkeys that live on the island, your group should be given the chance to understand that you organized this expedition because your family was slain in a brutal chimpanzee attack, and ideally they care enough about your character to share in that motivation and invest themselves into that goal. If Andunor decides to attack the Radiant Heart, there should be a reason why it was chosen over Bendir or Westcliff, and the raiding party should understand and be made to appreciate that reason on a personal level. If you've introduced wacky rules into your tournament for the sake of audience entertainment, the tourney contestants should understand how to accomplish this and be encouraged to modify their behavior to maximize the spectacle of the fight. Bring everyone into the fold wherever you can, instead of dragging your participants along for the ride.
The goals of a ritual tend to be well established as part of the storyline it serves, but even so, sometimes the participants can get left out of the details and find themselves stranded in esoterica which leaves them ill-equipped to perform on the same level. Before the ritual begins, make clear to everyone present what the dangers might be, what the intended results are, what means and tools are at your disposal, and why you've chosen these people or this location or these materials to conduct the ritual with. Get everyone on the same page, and make sure they each generally understand why you want them there in the first place.
Consistent Engagement
I know it's got a reputation for boring wiki copy-pasting, but I swear that scholar RP can be good sometimes. Once, I attended a lecture at the Arcane Tower that incorporated its audience so well that I was inspired to write an in-game book about it. Not only did the lecturer draw inspiration from real-world astrology and occult practices, but he also conducted the lecture in such a way that it invited audience input and actively incorporated the thoughts and theories of those present into the framework of the presented subject. He encouraged our participation in a way that shaped the course of the lecture and ultimately made it feel like our being there contributed to the event and made a difference in how things played out. He constantly asked for our thoughts and ideas about the subject he was presenting, challenging us and setting the stage for us to challenge one another, which made it an exceedingly engaging lecture to take part in.
Depending on the nature of the celebration, different avenues of engagement can make themselves available. In a festival setting, you can set up a bunch of different booths or activities for participants to enjoy at their leisure, although I'm tempted to think the best among them might be the kind of activities that leave something tangible and permanent behind. For example, a message board containing the notes and thoughts of everyone who came by, perhaps directing party-goers to answer a question or muse on a topic - which creates more engagement over time, as participants come back to read the new additions. Maybe that board gets compiled into a book, to be treasured later.
- Lecture / Round-Table / Performance
Like in the example I gave, audience participation can really elevate the experience for everyone involved. Ask the students of your lecture questions and prompt their thoughts to keep them tethered to the moment. Direct the conversation towards the quieter members of your round-table discussion to pry them out of their shell. Add some kind of call-and-response to your play to encourage the audience to contribute to the performance, heckling the antagonist or cheering the protagonist. Make people feel like they're part of the action, and they'll look for ways to chime in and add to the experience for everyone.
- Raid / Group Combat / Tournament
Giving your participants specific roles or tasks, especially if these assignments highlight their specific strengths, is a great way to make everyone feel like they're contributing to the event and that their presence makes a difference. They're going to be looking for ways to apply themselves in accordance to this assignment, and if you reinforce and acknowledge their effort, it can really highlight the experience for everyone who chose to follow you.
In the same vein as the point before, delegation of specific tasks or roles can allow for your ritualists to have a clear sense of how to engage with the event, and also give them each a sense of ownership over the end result of the ritual. It introduces a more interactive dynamic, where perhaps one person can choose to handicap the ritual through their own mistakes, while another can play out their best efforts to pick up that slack. Give your people something to do other than type "-ce prays" or "-conjure" every 5 minutes to avoid the AFK timer.
Meaningful Interactions
I don't get a lot of exposure to PvP due to the nature of the characters I play, but there was a tournament in Soulhaven that I participated in mostly on a whim, and a big reason why I found it to be such a delightful experience is because of the team-based nature of the tournament. If I recall correctly, the teams were chosen by a team captain, and my character was placed on a team with one person she'd never really met before, and against one of her closest companions - which was an interesting dynamic for sure! In between rounds of combat, each team was given a riddle to solve amongst themselves to earn a boon for the coming skirmish, and the process of whispering amongst each other to find the answer created some fun character interactions. The other team was largely comprised of people my character was vaguely acquainted with, but never really spoke to, so this violent encounter laid the foundation for our relationships going forward. It led somewhat directly to a new friendship with the teammate that my character had little exposure to, and explored a facet of the relationship she already had with her close friend that ultimately deepened their connection. It was probably the most fun I'd ever had with PvP. Viva la Team Night Hawk.
Think of the space you're hosting your party in, and try to leave room for intimacy between guests. Set up tables with limited seating - maybe assign places, if you're feeling bold - and give people the space to enjoy each other, even if that means they might not really be enjoying you. Or, give them a reason to reach out and engage with each other, especially outside their established circles, like maybe they have to collect favors from strangers. If the event's premise centers around some kind of deeper, personal topic, that's usually enough for people to run with and take as an opportunity to discover meaningful interactions themselves; all you need to do is create the space for it.
- Lecture / Round-Table / Performance
Lectures and performances can be difficult to instigate meaningful interactions out of, because so much of the spotlight necessarily fixes upon the presentation. Even so, a lecturer can take pauses in their class to pair people up for discussion on the subject, which can naturally lead to a deeper examination when thoughts can be freely exchanged back and forth. A performance can incorporate its audience by singling out specific people in the crowd, giving them an opportunity to shine or shrink away, which might leave a lasting impression and help them realize this unexamined aspect of their character. Round-table style events usually feature meaningful interaction as a key feature of their structure, so it's less of a concern for them, so long as individual speakers are given time to talk through their thoughts and be challenged by their peers. All-in-all, the role a host plays when pursuing this principle is merely to give players the opportunity and guidance to find meaning within themselves. This is something players already inherently thirst for, so as long as room is made for it to be explored, they're usually happy to take what you give them and run with it.
- Raid / Group Combat / Tournament
For raiders and giant groups of condensed violence, consider splitting your forces up into smaller parties rather than having everyone move in a big ol' blob of wanton chaos and destruction. Delegating different responsibilities to strike teams lets people assume leadership positions and better organize their actions amongst themselves, which can further lead to new explorations of teamwork and more focused attention to the individuals within their squad and the experience they share. If they ordinarily might not work together, you might be kindling a longer-lasting alliance. If they end up not working well together at all, you've inspired a spark of conflict for them to work out between themselves. There's no downside! And likewise for tournaments, you can randomly pair contestants with the same intention in mind. Every group event can be an opportunity to bridge gaps between strangers and introduce long-lasting relationships. It might not always be efficient in terms of combat strength, but a bland and uninteresting victory is so much less valuable than a friendship that might be forged in the fires of defeat.
Magic is inherently tied to emotional states. Remember that when you engage in a ritual event, and you should find plenty of opportunity to cultivate meaningful interactions from it. Encourage participants to play out the intensity of the moment and what these rites might demand of them, and create the opportunity for them to make themselves vulnerable to each other. Magic of a certain strength should theoretically take its toll, both mentally and physically - or, it could draw out some inner strength or hidden emotional wellspring that participants are not typically connected to. In exploring these ideas, meaningful interactions and examinations of the characters can very easily arise as a natural consequence. Put the idea out there, and see how readily it's going to be received.
The Takeaway
To give Andunor an event that wasn't related to surface raids or language lessons, my character and Basclyne Yande put together something we called the "Dead Dark Festival." Its premise consisted of a skeleton parade, shared stories of glorious slaughter, and a few other elements that I can't fully remember. Sadly, I wasn't able to attend the event that I had put so much effort into planning - but I came back to the game a day later, feeling pretty bummed out about the fact that I had missed my own event, when I noticed that people in the Hub were still talking about it, because they were showing off the items that I had prepared for the festival: Colorful skull masks enchanted in the basin with a glow effect, which were handed out for the parade and kept as souvenirs. The event was intended as just a silly goth festival to break up the daily monotony, not expecting it to have much lasting cultural impact, but the fact that people had something to show for their attendance really seemed as if it made the moment a little more special to them.
I'm a huge fan of souvenirs, which are also usually the easiest and most practical way to give people a takeaway from your event. Fashion show or masquerade? Give participants a new outfit to try in the future. Temple ceremony or religious festival? Leave people with a little symbol of the faith to carry around with them as a good luck charm. Bake sale or campaign fundraiser? Hand out a badge for "Most Money Raised" or "I Went to Ginny Fairlen's 36th Chancellorship Inauguration and All I Got was This Sticker." Things that are fun, cute, unique, or just carry a fond memory of the past will keep the event alive in the hearts of its participants well past the date of its occurrence.
- Lecture / Round-Table / Performance
Ideally in events like these, the take-away is the theme of the subject you are presenting, imparting some sort of valuable lesson that the participants can carry with them beyond the theater or tavern or classroom they heard it from. But that's not easy to accomplish, so if you're wanting to give something a bit more tangible, perhaps distribute a book at the end of your lecture related to the subject matter. For a performance, give your audience pamphlets about the show, or give them little masks to wear during the event that is thematically incorporated into the play as a way to make them feel like they're part of the world on stage. For a storytelling or poetry contest, give out little trophies to contestants that highlight their skill, or put together fixtures to display in the local tavern or social hub that publicly celebrate their accomplishment.
- Raid / Group Combat / Tournament
Probably the coolest thing you can give someone as a takeaway from a combat-based event is a new title to honor their achievement in battle. It's a recognition of prowess and prestige that's unique to their character's accomplishments, and it's the sort of thing that spawns stories and legends that grow beyond the event itself. Did your sorcerer dispel the other team's death wards before throwing out a well-timed Banshee's Wail, dropping 4 enemy combatants and securing your collective victory? "All hail the Banshee Queen, harvester of souls and bringer of death!" Did the underdog rogue employ some clever tricks during the final round of the tournament to take down his opponent in an unfavorable matchup? "Three cheers for the Shadowlord, victor of the arena and champion of the city!" The reputation that comes with an officially recognized title can be so significant, I've seen characters change their names to incorporate it into their very identity. And remember that not every reputation has to be positive!
These events usually carry a lasting significance to the participants within them, simply due to the intimate nature in which they are traditionally conducted, but using them as an opportunity to establish new character quirks or distinguishing features that can even be shared between and unify the participants of the ritual can turn out to be very meaningful. Especially if it's the sort of thing that introduces new problems to be solved down the line, or new points of interest for characters to use as a means of connecting with others. And of course, let's not forget the number one rule of ritual roleplay: All the cool kids change their character description for a ritual gone wrong.