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General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Realistic Consequences vs Gameplay
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<blockquote data-quote="Ovinomancer" data-source="post: 8007470" data-attributes="member: 16814"><p>His analysis doesn't rest on intimate knowledge of the material -- it's rooted in the fact that the 5e rules state that important NPCs or NPCs that need to be negotiated with should have BIFTs. The Burgomaster does not, hence, by the rules of the game, is not intended to be an important social encounter to be engaged by the PCs but a minor, trivial encounter or an obstacle to be removed outside of the social pillar.</p><p></p><p>Further, I've both read and played this encounter, so I am not engaging in baseless speculation when I say that the Burgomaster of Vallaki is a shallow NPC written in a way as to be either placated or removed, but not negotiated with.</p><p></p><p>Honestly, as good as CoS is overall, the Burgomaster plotline in Vallaki is terrible because it does set up an immovable NPC that reacts violently to any questions about their actions/leadership. That the rest of the family is interesting does not change this fact -- the write-up doesn't say that unless you help his wife he'll toss you out for questioning his leadership at all (note, not insult, but even question) or if you help repair his relationship with his son. No, it says he will, unchangingly, banish the PC for merely questioning his leadership and goals.</p><p></p><p>That's a bad NPC, especially one that the module creates as a nearly guaranteed interaction point, and the leader of the best base of operations in the game. The Burgomaster is a trap, not for the players, but for the GM. It takes deft skill and experience to realize when and how to toss or modify the Burgomaster.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ovinomancer, post: 8007470, member: 16814"] His analysis doesn't rest on intimate knowledge of the material -- it's rooted in the fact that the 5e rules state that important NPCs or NPCs that need to be negotiated with should have BIFTs. The Burgomaster does not, hence, by the rules of the game, is not intended to be an important social encounter to be engaged by the PCs but a minor, trivial encounter or an obstacle to be removed outside of the social pillar. Further, I've both read and played this encounter, so I am not engaging in baseless speculation when I say that the Burgomaster of Vallaki is a shallow NPC written in a way as to be either placated or removed, but not negotiated with. Honestly, as good as CoS is overall, the Burgomaster plotline in Vallaki is terrible because it does set up an immovable NPC that reacts violently to any questions about their actions/leadership. That the rest of the family is interesting does not change this fact -- the write-up doesn't say that unless you help his wife he'll toss you out for questioning his leadership at all (note, not insult, but even question) or if you help repair his relationship with his son. No, it says he will, unchangingly, banish the PC for merely questioning his leadership and goals. That's a bad NPC, especially one that the module creates as a nearly guaranteed interaction point, and the leader of the best base of operations in the game. The Burgomaster is a trap, not for the players, but for the GM. It takes deft skill and experience to realize when and how to toss or modify the Burgomaster. [/QUOTE]
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