Oddly shiftless characters making plots (5)
I believe the answer is:
sites
'plots' is the definition.
(both can mean pieces of land)
'oddly shiftless' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in odd-numbered positions).
The alternating letters of 'shiftless' are 'SITES'.
'characters making' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sites that I've seen before include "places" , "Is set among building locations" , "internet locations" , "Locations or positions, as for building" , "Spots" .)