The pacing stuff sounds great! I just wanted to add a tiny bit to the participation thing.

I love the idea of more freedom, and in theory it is great, but from my experience both as a player and a mod in various games, I've found that giving people too much freedom can actually be more limiting than it is freeing. If there's any way, or you would consider it, it would even help to have some background information about what's going on during the main event. For example, in this event, if we could have had more information on how the NPCs were acting on board, or what the general "feel" was on the ship, maybe that would have helped, if you're not willing to have separate little events!

I find that when you just say nothing, then it leaves a lot of confusion and most players don't know where to start as far as being creative goes.

But if there are going to be more spaces in future plots/events where everyone has the chance to play in it, then this won't be as much of an issue (even if it would still help)! I hope that makes sense.

Basically, I am all for being creative and coming up with things and I love that it's allowed, but since I am unfamiliar with the setting, more information is probably the key! Which you guys have already addressed that you'll be adjusting, so hopefully the next event will go a lot smoother!

Thanks for listening!