I love the idea of a 'common' area and then 'jobs'.<br/><br/>Would each 'job' have a separate story thread?  I'd think you'd want to segregate jobs to keep things from getting confusing.<br/><br/>Are you thinking that we might have several small groups going at the same time?<br/><br/>So the farmer will pay if his cows are all returned.  Will he reduce the payment if we return his daughter as well?