I would propose that after a certain number of days being accessible only by this method (thus giving people who do it a head start) chatter is then randomly broadcast on PubSIC to help distribute events and plot hooks.
I would propose that after a certain number of days being accessible only by this method (thus giving people who do it a head start) chatter is then randomly broadcast on PubSIC to help distribute events and plot hooks.
I worry that doing this will undermine the characters who have invested UE in being able to gather chatter. As a general game play / thematic rule of thumb, I think it's better to drive characters to RP more widely, than automate something. In this case, push characters towards fixers, bartenders, and anyone who has access to chatter.
I suggest that a middle ground could be staff GMs using SIC puppets to spread chatter for specific situations where they want more player involvement. For example, the situation that FengShui mentioned in the recent town hall where specific factions are treating their specific items more like crates.
Chatter should maybe be an onion. The public stuff would be the broad speculation, the conspiracy theories, the "did you hear" but lack real details (the outer layer of the onion). Could also be completely idle gossip. Characters that have invested in being able to ask around for chatter can then get the really juicy details (inner layers of onion). That way, people have a rough idea of what's happening fairly easily but those in the know have an advantage on getting usable information.