On the matter of plot, I've seen people find solutions for it in other games. Those people who have accomplished it are, in fact, in Aather. If that's another thing that needs to take place, then that's another thing that can be brought up in discussion as something we should be looking for a solution to. Sixteen additional characters is not going to change that if that's a problem. And realistically, I think it's been a problem since before Carnelian and Iolite. It shouldn't be approached as a game expansion issue but rather a game issue in general. "How do we get plot information out better?" versus "Too many characters makes it hard." I don't think that's the reason why when other DWRP games find the means to get plot to characters that want to participate. (There is also the problem where some players in Aather aren't fond of plot, so how do you disseminate the plot without forcing them to be involved? I know you're speaking on an information based system here, but it does extend to the mod events AJ and Zazzle run.)

I admit on the matter of gamerunning I'm not the best, but I do think there are means to making these work. I personally think the way the game has changed since those teams were introduced shows that Aather can come up with solutions. Two more teams is something that can be factored into solutions if everyone is working to come up with them. Clearly, we're not the majority of the game here, but it's why I think a foregone conclusion approach should take place so that we can better come up with solutions instead of arguing whether that should happen in the first place. One does necessitate the other, but we're not going to come out with the right answer if we get stopped at the first step.