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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Asher" data-source="post: 1164255" data-attributes="member: 10601">Hello and a Hard Focus AdventureHi folks, loooong time no post.  To go directly to the point: here's the skeleton of a potential adventure using the Hard Focus rules, which sort of thing you may or may not want to make available with the netbook itself.  But in any case, maybe it'll generate some ideas.  I'll make this three posts, dealing with the story, the NPCs, and some new magic items, in that order.NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS: A Hard Focus AdventureVoyeuristic sex shows have long been a staple of entertainment in the underbelly of society.  In recent years, however, an entrepreneur has begun to expand the market for such enjoyments, making them available to wealthy, discreet citizens who will not venture into establishments of such low repute.  The entrepreneur, gnomish wizard Kelludan Vierizi, has devised a method for capturing the performances of erotic actors in an illusion and then storing that illusion in a small magical cube, to be activated in the privacy of the customer's home.These devices, which Vierizi calls his "Salacious Simulacrums" (but dubbed "jack-on-the-box"es by cruder folk), have become immensely popular among the city's gentlemen and even the more well-to-do middle class.  Vierizi has continued to experiment and improve upon his creations, hiring top-notch actors and using arcane eye to record the image from a variety of angles.  The price of his salacious simulacrums has increased along with their quality and the demand for them, and one or two cheaper copycat products have recently begun to circulate.  But Vierizi's clientele, by and large, continues to prefer his work to the competition's cheap jack-on-the-boxes.The PCs may enter the story in response to an advertisement by Vierizi, who seeks new actors for his simulacrums.  Though his star actors, Randall Biggerstaff and Caela the Cunning, are top sellers with eight productions under their belts, Vierizi senses that to retain his customers he will soon need to offer more variety.  An enterprising (and freewheeling) PC may wish to interview for the job.At the same time, one of Vierizi's competitors has planted a mole among the actors applying to work for Vierizi.  Once this person infiltrates the illusionist's studio, they attempt to sabotage the creation of his simulacrums, covertly employing erotic magic to ensure poor performances that waste Vierizi's money and resources.Vierizi briefly interviews applicants, quickly sizing them up for charm, charisma, sex appeal, and acting ability.  He automatically rejects any actor with Charisma less than 12, and requires each person to make a successful Bluff or Perform (acting) check at DC 15 (player's choice).  Those whom Vierizi selects are invited to an audition in three days.At the audition, each male character must have sex with Caela the Cunning for at least fifteen minutes, including a minimum of two minutes of fellatio, two minutes of cunnilingus, and three minutes of penetrative intercourse in the frontal, rear, and riding positions.  The character must not pause or climax until the fifteen minutes are up, and he must make a successful Bluff or Perform (acting) check at DC 10 sometime during the proceedings (to give the impression that he is giving as good as he gets).  Caela will not use her entire Prowess bonus against the character; she will use only +4 (+1 rank, 3 Cha bonus).A female character at the audition must have sex with Randall Biggerstaff for at least fifteen minutes, during which time she must perform the same sexual acts (for the same minimum durations) as described for the men.  She must pretend to climax at least once during each act (except fellatio, though if she pulls this off convincingly Vierizi will be impressed).  To do this, the character must succeed a Bluff or Perform (acting) check at DC 15 during each act; she can attempt this check once per extended round.  Randall will use only +3 of his Prowess bonus (+1 rank, +2 Cha bonus) on the character, using Improved Endurance to apply the rest to his Fort saves.  (At the DM's discretion, assume that Randall always makes his Fort saves.)* Note on DC modifiers.  If the character succeeds a Concentration check at DC 10 before making the Bluff/Perform check, the DC for the Bluff/Perform check is reduced by 5.  If the character rises to a higher condition of arousal in the same round, the DC for the Bluff/Perform check is reduced by 10.The saboteur will wait to strike until he or she has passed the audition.  Having accomplished that, however, the person may attempt to quietly cast embarassing wilting or a similar spell on any actors who have yet to audition, just to eliminate any potential competitors.  Once production of a new salacious simulacrum begins, the DM should play the saboteur freely to wreak as much havoc as possible while trying to remain undiscovered.When the saboteur is finally exposed (heh) and fingers his or her employer (heh)as Vierizi's competitor, the illusionist will seek a creative retribution, probably using his erotic spells to make the punishment fit the crime (transgender, perhaps).  A new simulacrum then goes into unhindered production, and the "wrap party" should be a night to remember for all.Development: Sometime after the adventure, Vierizi perfects a new kind of improved salacious simulacrum, which projects an *interactive* illusion of the actress and which sells for quite a bit more money.  Some local civic or religious authorities may see this as the last straw, and move to crack down on sale of Vierizi's simulacrums.  Of course, a persuasive character could try to convince an official to relent in the enforcement of whatever decency law applies, perhaps in exchange for a couple of the latest simulacrums and an indecent encounter with their star actor...</blockquote>

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