Santa In A Game?

[Robbastard]

Was it an evil Santa? Because I've done that, in a FUDGE game where the players had to kill the evil imposter, Santa Claws.

Anyone who enslaves elves & puts them into a labor camp to make toys certainly isn't any kind of good alignment. . . .

 

[Asmor]

Was it an evil Santa? Because I've done that, in a FUDGE game where the players had to kill the evil imposter, Santa Claws.

From his description, I'm pretty sure it was just plain old St. Nick.

 

[Eosin the Red]

I ran a game around Christmas about 10 years ago involving Santa. The players were evil and servants of some demonic like creature. Good was on the run and nearly beaten but as good always does - they rallied. The players investigated the source of the rally suspecting a new leader had rose to replace the ones they had killed.... What they found was the legend of the Sleigher (note they heard Slayer). Supposedly this Sleigher was of near demigod status and could only manifest during one day of every year in the heart of winter when the light of everything that was good was at its dimmest. He bolstered the forces of good - arming them, healing them, etc...

So, they decide that they have to whack the guy.

The first encounter occurs near the gate that would take the party to the place where he dwelt - a place that never knew darkness. Legend held that all sunswords were forged in this land. They fight a young warrior (ax, red leather pants, black boots) and his odd minotaur companions. The young guy is butch but the minotaur like creatures have some wicked grendade like weapons. These fragile multicolored globes gave off special effects (red = explosion, gold = hold person, silver =charm person). The minotaurs were a force to be reckoned with - one was a charging machine, one had some insane movement, one had some thunderclap powers.

That first battle was a stalemate with both side withdrawing. After resting up a bit the party headed to the floating fortress where they faced the elves and the Sliegher himself.

When I spilled the beans everyone groaned a bit but they still talk about the game 10 years later and how I had Santa beat them up and take their toys.

 

[Greylock]

Don't forget Nicolas the Gift Giver.

That's a pale shadow of the first D&D Santa. Dragon #44 casts him as a high level elven/halfling Cleric/Magic User...

...we have direct evidence of Claus’s race. In Clement Moore’s well-known treatise on Santa, he is identified as “a right jolly old elf.” In view of the well-documented age (from various sources) of Claus, I’m inclined to believe this to be at least partly right. However, in view of his famed girth and jollity, I’m inclined to believe he has a bit of halfling blood in him, too... While he’s never been known to use the standard Clerical spells, I think we have strong evidence of Cleric as one of his classes. We have even stronger evidence for Santa being a Magic-User of extremely high level. Besides the incredible strength of his magic, we know he’s high-level because he’s established a stronghold at the North Pole and attracted many elven (or perhaps elven/halfling) followers. He’s put a permanent Night spell on eight reindeer. He’s cast an extremely powerful (and permanent until dispelled) Mirror Image spell on himself, his sleigh, and his reindeer. He and his followers use an extraordinary number of permanent Create Object spells each year to produce the goods they distribute. Through the use of Wizard Eye spells, he sees you when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake. And by casting Know Alignment, he knows if you’ve been bad or good. All of this indicates a very experienced Magic-User.


So. An elven/halfling Cleric/Magic-User. But what’s his alignment? Obviously, it’s some form of Good. Many scholars opt for the immediate thought of Lawful Good, but I lean to Neutral Good. Consider: The regular repetition of the kindly acts he does each year precludes any sort of Chaotic, but a close description of those acts must lead to the conclusion that some of them are not Lawful. He lands on the roof of a house and enters it through the chimney. A clear case of illegal entry. He leaves multitudes of gifts that, if not carefully considered, could ruin the economy of the planet. These are obviously the deeds of someone of Neutral Good alignment, interested only in as much good as he can do, unconcerned about the Lawfulness of it....

 

[Asmor]

I ran a game around Christmas about 10 years ago involving Santa. The players were evil and servants of some demonic like creature. Good was on the run and nearly beaten but as good always does - they rallied. The players investigated the source of the rally suspecting a new leader had rose to replace the ones they had killed.... What they found was the legend of the Sleigher (note they heard Slayer). Supposedly this Sleigher was of near demigod status and could only manifest during one day of every year in the heart of winter when the light of everything that was good was at its dimmest. He bolstered the forces of good - arming them, healing them, etc...

So, they decide that they have to whack the guy.

The first encounter occurs near the gate that would take the party to the place where he dwelt - a place that never knew darkness. Legend held that all sunswords were forged in this land. They fight a young warrior (ax, red leather pants, black boots) and his odd minotaur companions. The young guy is butch but the minotaur like creatures have some wicked grendade like weapons. These fragile multicolored globes gave off special effects (red = explosion, gold = hold person, silver =charm person). The minotaurs were a force to be reckoned with - one was a charging machine, one had some insane movement, one had some thunderclap powers.

That first battle was a stalemate with both side withdrawing. After resting up a bit the party headed to the floating fortress where they faced the elves and the Sliegher himself.

When I spilled the beans everyone groaned a bit but they still talk about the game 10 years later and how I had Santa beat them up and take their toys.

That is seriously awesome. Seriously. Awesome.

 

[Baron Opal]

Supposedly this Sleigher was of near demigod status and could only manifest during one day of every year in the heart of winter when the light of everything that was good was at its dimmest. He bolstered the forces of good - arming them, healing them, etc...

I had a game similar to this, but the PCs were good. Back in the day, when we were around 14-15, I ran an adventure where the forces of evil had captured one of the worlds mythic figures. He, and his team of crafters, were heralds of the new year and brought hope to the oppressed throughout the lands. He was particularly fond of children and was known to manifest to protect them, usually by whisking them off to a safe place. Well, the forces of evil had captured him and planned on using him as a component in a fell ritual.

The PCs adventured to the icy north and push came to shove. Having cornered the EHP, I gave a more thurough description of who the prisoner was. I was ready to deliver my "I've got you now" speech when the players all stood up. One pointed at me and said forcefully "Move away from the Elf!" the players all looked intense. As I dissembled two of them said "STEP AWAY FROM THE KRINGLE!!"

For a moment I thought they were going to jump me. The EHP backed away just far enough so that the PCs could escort Santa away and they gave the EHP a stern talking to.

A stern talking to.

Not killed, maimed, imprisoned, plane shifted or petrified. After being read the riot act they threatened him with Certain Doom if he was ever so foolish to do such a thing again.

After the session was over, I asked what the deal was with letting the EHP go.

"Always show mercy in front of the Claus."

Strangest session I ever ran.

 

[Vegepygmy]

This is about Santa and his possibilities as in an RPG game, and there might be something to that, but honestly I can’t see it.

Robot Santa.

 

[Jason Kain]

Santa Claus is a serial killer. Think about it. He traverses the entire world in one night, visiting everybody. He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. How does he pick his victims? He knows when you've been bad or good.

That rhyme isn't innocent. It's a warning. Better not shout, better not cry, better not pout. Why? He's coming. He's coming and there's nothing we can do to stop him. Every year a man breaks into your house, and leaves his garbage. We all know who he is, we know where he is, but nobody touches him.

It's perfect.

 

[Sound of Azure]

Bah. He's a barbarian!

Power Unwrap all the time, baby!

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

I still like the parts where Santa has a goatheaded friend and is the patron saint of hookers.