Finding the violent muse

[Rel]

First up, Logos7, thanks for testing the profanity filter. We appreciate it and you can stop now.

As to the OP, I think that you rather than immediately trying to push this character's violence into high gear you could let it evolve. What if you present another villain who has some sympathetic qualities and she lets them off easy? What if that villain then goes on to commit even worse crimes than they did before? Could the knowledge that she had it within her power to destroy this monster and lives would have been saved push her to be more hard core in the future?

Could be an interesting journey for the character.

Then again, I know you tend to run a lot of mini-campaigns so I dunno if your setup allows for this sort of thing in terms of time.

And say hi to Shell for me! Hopefully I'll get to see you guys at GenCon this year!

 

[Aus_Snow]

Sit her down in front of some violence porn, and turn it on. This, I hear, does wonders for such. . . delicate issues.

In particular, a bunch of things (whether TV episodes, movies, animated stuff or whatever does it for her) featuring kick-ass - but somewhat sensitive! - chicks blowing away guy after girl, after. . .

Or there are books! Books can work too, um, according to some.


But quite honestly, she sounds far too sane (i.e., a real sweetie; aww ) for what most gamers probably see as 'normal' roleplaying (e.g., violence - and quite possibly theft, burglary, vandalism, arson, slander. . . - being way high on the list of Things To Do.)

 

[Nifft]

1/ Violence against stuff, rather than against NPCs. Perhaps she'd be more happy destroying buildings while leaving people standing.

"That radar array / robot prototype / geomantic menhir ring is a vital strategic asset, but it's fallen into the hands of the enemy! You must terminate the asset with extreme prejudice, and perhaps with a sledgehammer."

Arson is just as fun as murder!


2/ Try conflict without violence. Pick up some social combat rules and see how you can fit them into the game, or adapt the Skill Challenge rules to encompass debate -- as in, opposed rolls rather than just rolls against a static DC, and rolls made by competitive, trash-talking NPCs rather than against an indifferent environment. See if you can get her to enjoy winning, because hat's half the fun of violence anyway. She's been avoiding both conflict and violence, but there is no necessary coupling between the two.

What is best in life? To triumph over your political rivals, see their proposals shredded before you, and hear the lamentation of their constituency!


3/ Non-lethal combat. Duels to the first blood are just as tactically interesting as duels to the death, but nobody has to die. Use the Bloodied condition to represent "first blood" if you wish. Might make her feel better about stabbing people.

It's low-commitment violence: the anti-social equivalent of "let's get coffee some time".


Cheers, -- N

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

1) Read the Marquis de Sade's Justine.

2) Recreate that world in your campaign.

3) Make her regret every act of kindness she ever does, royally, until she's a bitter, angry hollow shell of the human being she once was.

4) Profit?

 

[pawsplay]

Develop a sympathetic antihero character, one of the "good guys" who is on the right side and wants to do the right thing, but pushes things too far... then turn them on the PC and level the NPC's full measure of moral judgment, bigotry, and severity. For instance, let her have a somewhat friendly interaction with the local sheriff, then have him run into her while she's in the bar... he invites her outside for a stern talk and then beats the snot out of her with his backhand for drinking underage and living a "trashy life." Later, let him be implicated as being a dupe of the Big Bads, and when he discovers the pit of evil driving events, let him not repent but instead embrace his doom and try to take everyone down with him.

Sadism tends to frighten. I think judgmentalism and bullying actually make people more angry.

EDIT: Bonus point to consider: Are you setting the bar? How much Wrath are you willing to display in your villains?

 

[Aeolius]

Watch "Sweeney Todd" for a bit of inspiration.

 

[maddman75]

Thanks for all the tips! Here's my thoughts

- I opened the game with some Dread-style questionnaires. I might do a couple more and ask everyone what sets them off, what gets them angry.

- As far as winning, I think that may be part of the problem too. She's got a lot of social skills and a fair amount of research skills. So she likely can and does 'win' by those routes. Need a less ambiguous situation.

- The betrayl of someone that she showed mercy on is great - especially if it hurts one of the other PCs.

- The game is Hunter: The Vigil, and one of the themes is that those who hunt monsters risk becoming monsters themselves. A Hunter that has gone over the edge might make for a great adversary.

- I'll be sure to tell her hello, Rel. And I don't want to hear any excuses about GenCon next year!

 

[Oni]

How much are you rewarding her more sympathetic approach to things?

If you want to reinforce her character concept, then reward (at least in the short term) actions that reinforce the concept and punish (though I would recommend how being careful about overdoing it) actions that are against the concept.

As for what she can do on her end, well this might sound flippant, but if she wants to play a more violent character, then all she needs to do is have her character act more violently. The best you can tell her is not to worry about the consequences, or winning and losing, and just play the character she envisions.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

As for what she can do on her end, well this might sound flippant, but if she wants to play a more violent character, then all she needs to do is have her character act more violently. The best you can tell her is not to worry about the consequences, or winning and losing, and just play the character she envisions.

I had a similar problem a ways back. I tended to think about everything in game a LOT. Actually, I do that in general, but I digress.

Tell her to try NOT to think. Just have the character do the first thing that pops into her head, before she has a think about its consequences.

Alternatively, take a "What would Worf do?" approach. Honorable, but definitely violent. But it allows you to think and ratchet up the butt-kickery.

 

[cmbarona]

Others have suggested movies, so I'm going to recommend Sin City here. Especially "The Hard Goodbye" with Marv. It does a great job of portraying the way a gritty, violent psychopath interacts with those in his way.