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<blockquote data-quote="Thyrwyn" data-source="post: 7526713" data-attributes="member: 12354"><p>I usually let my players tell me who the BBEG will be - meaning that I don’t start with a specific BBEG or even a specific endpoint in mind. I throw out ideas and encounters with groups and organizations that inhabit the world and pay attention to which ones the players/characters react most strongly. Which ones do they start plotting against? Which ones do they start seeking out? Which ones do they enjoy thwarting? </p><p></p><p>Once they’ve done that, it’s just a matter of narrowing the focus and fleshing out the NPCs they’ve crossed paths with until one really stands out - or until several stand outs get together and form a cabal intent on dealing with “those pesky kids” (the pcs). </p><p></p><p>That said: pirates are historically a response to a distant, but powerful, authority or authorities. They make an excellent source of enemies for pirate campaigns: who’s been sent to deal with the “pirate problem”? Who’s responsibility should it have been to begin with? How unified are the pirates? Are they freedom fighters? Thieves? Opportunists? Some of each? Is someone or something trying to unify them - and to what end? Who’s trying to keep them divided and why?</p><p></p><p>Throw some of these ideas out there and see what sticks. Your BBEG should develop naturally from there.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Thyrwyn, post: 7526713, member: 12354"] I usually let my players tell me who the BBEG will be - meaning that I don’t start with a specific BBEG or even a specific endpoint in mind. I throw out ideas and encounters with groups and organizations that inhabit the world and pay attention to which ones the players/characters react most strongly. Which ones do they start plotting against? Which ones do they start seeking out? Which ones do they enjoy thwarting? Once they’ve done that, it’s just a matter of narrowing the focus and fleshing out the NPCs they’ve crossed paths with until one really stands out - or until several stand outs get together and form a cabal intent on dealing with “those pesky kids” (the pcs). That said: pirates are historically a response to a distant, but powerful, authority or authorities. They make an excellent source of enemies for pirate campaigns: who’s been sent to deal with the “pirate problem”? Who’s responsibility should it have been to begin with? How unified are the pirates? Are they freedom fighters? Thieves? Opportunists? Some of each? Is someone or something trying to unify them - and to what end? Who’s trying to keep them divided and why? Throw some of these ideas out there and see what sticks. Your BBEG should develop naturally from there. [/QUOTE]
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