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<blockquote data-quote="Rhenny" data-source="post: 6728716" data-attributes="member: 18333">One more for the thread...Present the party with an opportunity to choose sides in a pre-existing conflict.&nbsp; What happens when the party comes across a fight between two groups of monsters or a monster and an NPC?&nbsp; Do they choose sides or just watch?&nbsp; This type of situation can become a combat encounter, but more importantly, it becomes a foundation for roleplaying and future campaign developments.Add a twist...after the party helps NPC or one group of monsters...slowly over time, they learn that the NPC or monsters may not be as &quot;good&quot; as originally suspected.&nbsp;&nbsp; At the right moment, NPC/monsters will enact a horrible task (kill another NPC or steal something the party needs, etc.)&nbsp; Of course, DM can't use this one too often, but once in a while it adds to the excitement and paranoia.To be perfectly honest, I'm a big fan of ambiguously aligned NPCs, but not all DMs/groups are.&nbsp; One of my favorite set of short stories is the Thieves' World/Sanctuary set of books edited by Robert Asprin.&nbsp; In his world, most of the NPCs are neutral.&nbsp; They are self-serving, survivalists just looking to make a buck or gain some power for their own sake.&nbsp; This type of world is pretty grim and will go against the classical heroic feel, but for some it is just what the doctor ordered.&nbsp; &quot;Ambiguity...ambiguity,&quot; great for mystery and suspense, high tension.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rhenny, post: 6728716, member: 18333"] One more for the thread... Present the party with an opportunity to choose sides in a pre-existing conflict. What happens when the party comes across a fight between two groups of monsters or a monster and an NPC? Do they choose sides or just watch? This type of situation can become a combat encounter, but more importantly, it becomes a foundation for roleplaying and future campaign developments. Add a twist...after the party helps NPC or one group of monsters...slowly over time, they learn that the NPC or monsters may not be as "good" as originally suspected. At the right moment, NPC/monsters will enact a horrible task (kill another NPC or steal something the party needs, etc.) Of course, DM can't use this one too often, but once in a while it adds to the excitement and paranoia. To be perfectly honest, I'm a big fan of ambiguously aligned NPCs, but not all DMs/groups are. One of my favorite set of short stories is the Thieves' World/Sanctuary set of books edited by Robert Asprin. In his world, most of the NPCs are neutral. They are self-serving, survivalists just looking to make a buck or gain some power for their own sake. This type of world is pretty grim and will go against the classical heroic feel, but for some it is just what the doctor ordered. "Ambiguity...ambiguity," great for mystery and suspense, high tension. [/QUOTE]

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