Forked Thread: Overshadowed by Elminster? Yes! And happy for it!

[jdrakeh]

Forked from: Overshadowed by Elminster?

Having your characters overshadowed by Elminster, or Drizzt, or Mordenkainen, or any other "big name" NPC is a frequent complaint, but how often does it actually happen?

I've often wanted to run a game based loosely on the Nero Wolfe stories, where the PCs are the retainers of a world-reknown hero whom typically lets them do all of his legwork for him (and where that world-reknown hero is constantly getting himself into trouble that the PCs have to extract him from). The PCs basically play Archie to that Nero, or Jeeves to that Wooster. Has anybody else actually run this kind of game? If so, how did it go?

 

[RandomCitizenX]

Never involved with a game of that sort, but as long as it is clear that is the type of game in advance it sounds very fun.

 

[jdrakeh]

Never involved with a game of that sort, but as long as it is clear that is the type of game in advance it sounds very fun.

Oh, yeah, it would have to be clear up front to work — otherwise it would be about the biggest BS bait and switch of all time.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Forked from: Overshadowed by Elminster?



I've often wanted to run a game based loosely on the Nero Wolfe stories, where the PCs are the retainers of a world-reknown hero whom typically lets them do all of his legwork for him (and where that world-reknown hero is constantly getting himself into trouble that the PCs have to extract him from). The PCs basically play Archie to that Nero, or Jeeves to that Wooster. Has anybody else actually run this kind of game? If so, how did it go?

Nero Wolfe can't teleport (and while a phone is useful, it has limitations). I haven't read the books, but in the TV series he's pretty overweight; physical action isn't his forte. And he's agoraphobic. I don't think this has anything to do with "Overshadowed by Elminster" (who can teleport, isn't a fighter but won't get tired going up a few flights of stairs, and doesn't suffer from anxiety attacks when he goes outside.)

And on that note (barring a reasonable Wolfe and not some ridiculously overpowered NPC) it sounds like it'd make a really fun campaign. Although I'm not sure what makes it so special from other campaigns, as plenty of adventuring companies get themselves hired out by clients long-term.

 

[jdrakeh]

Nero Wolfe can't teleport (and while a phone is useful, it has limitations). I haven't read the books, but in the TV series he's pretty overweight; physical action isn't his forte. And he's agoraphobic.

Wolfe is brilliant but, as you note, he doesn't do much at all, which is kind of the point. Despite somebody else (Archie, the man who also narrates all of Wolfe's stories) doing all of Wolfe's busy work, Wolfe gets all of the credit for solving cases. Many critics over the years have argued (correctly, I think) that Archie is the true protagonist of the Nero Wolfe stories.

Now the correlation to the thread that I forked from should be more obvious.

No, Nero Wolfe can't teleport and he doesn't get out much, but what he does do is manage to outshine the real protagonist of the series insofar as the other denizens of that particular world are concerned. Despite never leaving his house, the stories are called "The Nero Wolfe Mysteries" after all. Nero and Archie both know better, of course, and each is satisfied with that arrangement.

 

[Piratecat]

Man, that would be a fun game.

Dibs on Saul.

 

[Stoat]

I've done something similar, but different in tone.

I ran a campaign where the PC's started as retainers for a higher level fighter/noble. Their patron had just reached name level, and he was busy supervising the construction of his castle and managing his new domain. Essentially, the PC's were his henchman.

It worked really well. As trusted retainers, the PC's had a lot of autonomy. They dealt with minor crises and were trusted to undertake a number of long-range diplomatic missions. Eventually, their Patron was called away, and they had to manage the realm for him for a while. The players actually missed the Patron, and were happy when he returned.

It was one of the more successful games I've ever run.

 

[Lurks-no-More]

A game of playing Archie(s) to a NPC Nero Wolfe sounds like a cool idea; like you've said, it needs everyone to know beforehand what's going on, and be happy with it, but that goes with most games anyway.

I vaguely recall someone on the RPG.net forums suggesting a similar game in the vein of the Judge Dee stories, with the PCs being the judge's personal staff - trusted underlings, loyal bodyguards, reformed rogues and so on.