I considered posting this in the DM forum first, but I wanted to hear multiple voices and suggestions.
Here's the background to the issue:
The Delving is a bit unique in that it doesn't really have true faction status, but on the surface it appears as such with dye barrels and what-not. It's not really a group that can IG recruit either since membership is racially based. There is also VERY little NPC direction beyond what can be readily found IG or on the Delve forum and it has been understood that the PCs basically can speak for the group until a higher ranking NPC says otherwise. Ok, fine.
Now, how does one deal with requests like those having popped up recently in letters to be Delve and in earlier requests asking for dwarves to supply metal, stone, workers, or what have you? At my present count we have 3-5 dwarves PCs and none are worker types. I'm not adverse to the emoting of mining and what not, it's just not IC for my present PC outside of a few small scale things within the Delving. I've tried posting some notes to the relevant higher ranking NPCs as have others, but they go unanswered. Similarly, some dwarven group members who are no longer active initiated several projects within the dwarves that initially had DM feedback and support but have since fallen by the wayside after the PCs carried out what was expected of them (bringing Rothe to the Delve and establishing a brewery). IC requests for updates have gone unanswered. Maybe I'm expecting too much but I've never been in this position before. Almost all my previous PCs have been loner types without strong faction affiliation so I'm hazy on how this works. Now, as one of only three regularly active dwarf players, I've been sort of thrust forward.
Alright let the ideas and wisdom flow!
Hey ProfessorDeath!
That is a tough place to be, and I know I'm controlling one of the characters asking a lot of the Delving currently.
I'm not expecting the transition of the dwarven and gnomish refugees to take place immediately, or even what those numbers are. I'm expecting only 5-10 NPCs, and probably the transition will happen at the height of the plot of moving the NPC refugees out of Mistlocke. I'm sorta going along with the flow till DMs say, "Ok, this group of PCs have put in a lot of work to see this done, and now its time to see this through." Once that is done I'll assist in moving on to other things with other players.
The Key is not expect immediate results and also concider that area modification is low priority when it comes to plot movement. Then use that to create memorial RPing moments for Players and DMs. Because Mistlocke will likely recieve changes before I can convince the DMs to make any changes to the Field of Agramant, and that will be after an application likely as well.
Also, I don't expect the Delving to be ready to recieve refugees immediately. As a player I consider where are the refugees going to stay (dwelling with beds), who is clothing them, what their jobs are going to be, and etc.... The dwarves of the Delving might want to consider having like an interview process to transition the refugees there by giving them jobs, tools, and clothing before they even arrive. Perhaps there are certain traditions that need to take place first.
Characters rarely ask for greatest but have greatness thrust upon them! :)
You've definitely given me a few good ideas here. I look forward to some more.