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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mesh Hong" data-source="post: 5330056" data-attributes="member: 73463">As you asked for any other thoughts I had, here is what I had written out to post but deleted because it was just unnecessary ramblings.As I was writing it I suddenly realised that any fleshing out of plot would depend on the DM and style of play, and that what you had presented in the scenario was obviously enough to peak my interest enough to expand on its plot. This means that it is more than fit for purpose.Anyway...I think I might believe the story more if the villain was producing a small number of automatons that actually helped the farmers, while still obviously being automatons. A self propelled cart, plough or thresher for instance would be a miraculous thing for a small isolated community, it would also buy the villain some credibility and status in the community while still allowing scope for some of the old folk to be suspicious of the new fangled machines. From this the main story conceit could grow when there is a tragic isolated accident with one of the machines. A farmer’s child is terribly injured and the villain is held responsible. Guilt ridden, the villain takes the child into his workshop to try and heal him but there is nothing he can do…. But wait maybe he can put into practice his years of research in making the perfect replicant? Of course he can, and thus the first impostor automaton is created. It is a small step from the production of one replica person to the possibility of a second. What if someone discovers that the child is a cuckoo in the nest? Maybe they want to leave the settlement but their parents will not allow it (as is stated in your plot), this person begs the villain to build an automaton of them so that they can escape to the city. This is successful, but what about the villain? Maybe he realises that with an army of these automatons he could build the perfect society, or even make a lot of money to fund greater and more important work. But those old folks are a thorn in his side…… etc etc But here I come up against another mental barrier. As described the isolated community is self sufficient and staunchly independent. This leads me to think that they are either poor or have little interest in money, they probably barter amongst themselves and possibly co-operate and pool surplus produce to sell at the city to buy the few things they cannot grow or make themselves. They may also use any money to buy small luxuries. If the above is the case then how can they afford the automatons, They surely can’t be cheap? the most likely way I can see it happening is that they are leased and the villain will either gain a percentage of the value of the crop produced (he can encourage the farmers by saying that they will be able to farm a greater area with less work) or he persuades the farmers to sell him stakes in their farms. I cannot really see a proud and independent people selling part of their holdings to him though. Interestingly anyone who was leasing an automaton from the villain would have something to gain from his death or sudden disappearance, and this is an angle you could use as a lead in an investigation element of a plot. In order to allow more space for an investigative plot to grow I think you would need to present the villain outside his shop, he could occasionally come to town to deal with the local blacksmith who produces mundane items for him. I think I might also consider another minor twist here, what about if the villain made an automaton replica of himself? He did this sometime ago and the replicant deals with everything outside the shop while the villain becomes isolated in his shop. This would provide two possible scenarios:1: The villain has been going slightly mad due to his guilt and isolation. This explains his attitude and the theatrics of his shop when the PCs discover it. Or 2: The automaton was a too perfect copy of the villain and, without the burden of a conscience, has started carrying out its own plan which is to replace everyone in the village. The villain tried to stop it but he was too late and the automaton has restrained and imprisoned the villain to stop him interfering. (you could say that the villain had programmed all his creations not to harm him, which is another justification for the villagers being dissuaded from storming the shop and burning it to the ground).....and there it stops.</blockquote>

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