Playtime Changes!

My cold is my father's flu, for a nice real example.

You're sure this isn't just the classic case of "children get colds, men get flu, women get on with it"? Because while symptoms can vary in severity from one person to another, the actual virus can only mutate from one kind of cold to another, not actually change into a completely different disease...

That aside, I am up for this plot. Regarding what Morrigan and I have in mind - I think that should be for the future. It's a little too soon for it atm *maniacal laugh*

If we wanted to combine both of the suggestions for symptoms, maybe we could have two strains? Like a type people who wanted their chars to recover from could contract, and a more deadly form for those being killed off? Idk I'm thinking like using morrigan's timeline of symptoms and then switching the coughing up black stuff for a magical symptom in the less severe cases, and keeping the black ickyness should you want people to die? xDDD

If we wanted to combine both of the suggestions for symptoms, maybe we could have two strains? Like a type people who wanted their chars to recover from could contract, and a more deadly form for those being killed off? Idk I'm thinking like using morrigan's timeline of symptoms and then switching the coughing up black stuff for a magical symptom in the less severe cases, and keeping the black ickyness should you want people to die? xDDD

I like this a lot. The whole idea is awesome, honestly. But having two strains would work out well for people who didn't want to give up their charries just yet. It also lets some people who are on the fence keep that element of "well, idk if I want to kill them YET... but I kinda do" so that they aren't forced into picking one or the other.

That being said, the plague idea is awesome. I also liked the idea of a "victory ball" or something to bring the three areas together again. I know this was brought up, and that it's been considered for the event that coincides with the plague, but if it doesn't get used for that, it should happen at some other time. If not a ball, some sort of program? Cultural outreach program or something? The Ministries could host it. I may be slightly biased since I have a character who would be in the department that a project like that should go to, but it would make sense I think. I feel like the various Ministries would want to promote tolerance, and so would do a sort of outreach program like that.

Also!

You could have the wqhole suspense as chars experienced the symptoms and waited to see what their last one was to see if they'd survive or not! ^.^

I'd just like to say that I love all of these ideas, they're amazing!

The plague one seems to be the most popular/developed, and I think it's my favourite too! I'll happily be involved with whatever plots happen here

don't have much time to comment as i'm due at work.

but yay!

and your talk of runes awakened Orion for the first time in forever!!

Actually, I would imagine that, as soon as the ministry was made aware St Mungos would be enlisted. How about something as simple as the virus taking different times to show up depending on the person. So those who show symptoms quickly would be treated first; those who are treated later can have the long-term effects (personally I like the idea of diminished magical abilities) and if you're not treated at all for whatever reason...well, that's up to folks who want to kill a charrie off!

I like that a lot
The short time frame of the disease is kind of scary for Rping and the longer-lasting possibilities make the virus/plague thing seem more like a longer lasting plot rather than a short term event, if you know what I mean?

I also really like the idea of having someone doing this as a revenge type thing rather than it occurring naturally.

That being said, the plague idea is awesome. I also liked the idea of a "victory ball" or something to bring the three areas together again. I know this was brought up, and that it's been considered for the event that coincides with the plague, but if it doesn't get used for that, it should happen at some other time. If not a ball, some sort of program? Cultural outreach program or something? The Ministries could host it. I may be slightly biased since I have a character who would be in the department that a project like that should go to, but it would make sense I think. I feel like the various Ministries would want to promote tolerance, and so would do a sort of outreach program like that.

Like an exchange student(s)? That be kind of interesting.

Actually, I would imagine that, as soon as the ministry was made aware St Mungos would be enlisted. How about something as simple as the virus taking different times to show up depending on the person. So those who show symptoms quickly would be treated first; those who are treated later can have the long-term effects (personally I like the idea of diminished magical abilities) and if you're not treated at all for whatever reason...well, that's up to folks who want to kill a charrie off!

I definitly like all of this because the end results would be different for everyone. ^_^

ALL THE BETRAYERS MUST DIE!!! KILL KILL KILL!!!

OK so this so exploded while I was not looking....but for the sickness thing, did anyone other then Americans deal with the "Swine Flu" or H1N1 2 years ago?  Basically it was strange because it had simple flu like symptoms, but it was much more deadly then the normal Flu.  Most of those who died were either very young, old, or generally sick to start with.  However I personally know a random middle aged, healthy person who was basically misdiagnosed for a while and then passed away. 

Anyways it started as an animal virus and then mutated into a human one.  Eventually a vaccine was made and we are all good now, but it could be a good model to work off of.

Actually Swine flu and MRSA are both exactly what sprung to my mind when the idea of sickness was first mentioned actually, so I agree that it's a good base to work from.

Sorry to piss on the collective firework here but...if the DE or whoever already has the disease how come he isn't showing any of the symptoms? That only just occurred to me. Also, if he's sick but not showing yet, how does he know he's going to die, and how will the mediwizards know what the sickness is to cure it? Everyone would need to be quarantined for weeks.

Unless he is dying of something else but got infected with a virulent wizard-only virus *as well*. Was that what we had in mind?

On that note, it would also be extremely unrealistic.  There would be no way for the mediwizards to identify the random sickness and produce enough vaccine for everyone who was at the party, and then everyone who possibly had contact with anyone there.  There would be many people dying, and I seriously doubt that so many people want to kill off their student characters. 

What was the most unnerving about the swine flu, or bird flu was the panic it caused because it was not easy to spot at first, or that they didn't really know what they were looking at.  Would it not  be more interesting to play the nervousness over if you have it, or if your friends have it after one suddenly gets sick?  Sure some people would pass away faster then others due to things like them having weaker immune systems and the like, but overall most sicknesses are not instant killers.  Even those who do die suddenly usually have had the sickness for longer, but haven't shown symptoms, or have ignored them for whatever reason. 

All in all, this should be something that takes place over several months with different levels of sickness due to the person's personal immune system, or general stubbornness.  H1N1 here in CA lasted about 8 months of panic before the hysteria died down.  That would give us plenty of play time for both those sick and recovering, and for your characters who maybe don't give in to the hysteria to have interesting plots about this.  It would also be a more realistic for the healers to figure it out and find a vaccine and cure. 

the vaccine actually might already exist.

Just imagine what would happen if someone brought Malaria to a New York socialite party. It doesn't necessarily need to be a NEW illness, just one the mediwizards are not prepared to respond to.