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One of my characters now serves a villain, and I'd like some suggestions
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<blockquote data-quote="bargle0" data-source="post: 5364502" data-attributes="member: 76212"><p>Oh boy. What an awesome opportunity to jerk the PCs around and make this a powerful role-play experience. I suppose they feel bound to honor their new oaths of fealty to the bandit king. Otherwise, I imagine they'll run off and do whatever they like at the first opportunity.</p><p></p><p>You should start them off slowly. Fuzzlewump has the right idea -- get the PCs fighting a rival gang on behalf of the bandit king. Maybe even involve some NPCs who can earn the PCs respect and vice versa. Initially, make it easier to honor their commitment to the bandit king then to rebel or flee. Don't send them to burn down the orphanage right off the bat.</p><p></p><p>Watch some <a href="http://www.filmsite.org/crimefilms.html" target="_blank">gangster/crime movies</a> to find things for them to do and inspiration for character, plot, setting, and theme elements.</p><p></p><p>Give them status and NPCs to care about in the bandit king's organization. If the characters are interested in money, have the bandit king offer them magic and treasure. When your bandit king has his claws in them good, then start asking them to do things like shake down local merchants and so forth. Basically, slowly escalate the depravity of the things they're asked to do within the organization until the characters break in a violent and heartbreaking way.</p><p></p><p>If they all break good, then hit them with the consequences. The ones with status are now mere wandering ronin. The ones with personal ties now have to betray their gangster girlfriend, the young thug they took under their wing, or their criminal mentor. The ones who want gold are now stuck robbing tombs again, instead of living high on the criminal life.</p><p></p><p>If some break good and some break bad, then maybe the game ends like Reservoir Dogs: everybody dies screaming at each other's hand. Awesome.</p><p></p><p>If they all break bad, then send the good guys after them.</p><p></p><p>I don't think you necessarily need to focus on the dwarf who dealt with the devil. I think the PCs will make their own drama out of that.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="bargle0, post: 5364502, member: 76212"] Oh boy. What an awesome opportunity to jerk the PCs around and make this a powerful role-play experience. I suppose they feel bound to honor their new oaths of fealty to the bandit king. Otherwise, I imagine they'll run off and do whatever they like at the first opportunity. You should start them off slowly. Fuzzlewump has the right idea -- get the PCs fighting a rival gang on behalf of the bandit king. Maybe even involve some NPCs who can earn the PCs respect and vice versa. Initially, make it easier to honor their commitment to the bandit king then to rebel or flee. Don't send them to burn down the orphanage right off the bat. Watch some [URL="http://www.filmsite.org/crimefilms.html"]gangster/crime movies[/URL] to find things for them to do and inspiration for character, plot, setting, and theme elements. Give them status and NPCs to care about in the bandit king's organization. If the characters are interested in money, have the bandit king offer them magic and treasure. When your bandit king has his claws in them good, then start asking them to do things like shake down local merchants and so forth. Basically, slowly escalate the depravity of the things they're asked to do within the organization until the characters break in a violent and heartbreaking way. If they all break good, then hit them with the consequences. The ones with status are now mere wandering ronin. The ones with personal ties now have to betray their gangster girlfriend, the young thug they took under their wing, or their criminal mentor. The ones who want gold are now stuck robbing tombs again, instead of living high on the criminal life. If some break good and some break bad, then maybe the game ends like Reservoir Dogs: everybody dies screaming at each other's hand. Awesome. If they all break bad, then send the good guys after them. I don't think you necessarily need to focus on the dwarf who dealt with the devil. I think the PCs will make their own drama out of that. [/QUOTE]
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Community
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One of my characters now serves a villain, and I'd like some suggestions
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