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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 7391342" data-attributes="member: 82106">OK, first I wouldn't consider "wants to meet the Steward" to be an agenda or element of characterization that would drive story in Story Now. It might be indicative of a certain type of personality. Imagine for instance in the real-world a guy that wants to meet President Trump. I'd still need to know his reasons to draw any conclusions about him. Now, when you say its still 'random', I agree that there is an element of chance (at least in the sorts of mechanics we've discussed in this thread). The point is that, even with failures, the player is addressing something dramatic, whatever it is, and its what he decided to address. Truthfully he MIGHT never meet Denethor, but he WILL be placed in a situation which addresses the issue at hand WRT character development. That is Pippin will find himself in some situation which tests his belief. I would say his belief here is likely something to do with his admiration of the Gondorians and a desire to serve/follow them (this seems a consistent motive in both his allegiance to Denethor and to Faramir). His desire to repay a debt to them for the service Boromir rendered may be at the root of it too. In any case there are myriad ways that could play out. I'd note that the GM is framing things, so it IS possible that certain story elements could come to pass regardless of checks. I would hypothesize that perhaps the whole question of what happened to Faramir is partly a result of Pippin, and maybe also Gandalf and Aragorn, failing some checks at some point. Gandalf in particular could have understood Denethor better and IIRC he even takes some of the blame for the situation himself. Had things gone somewhat differently then the same loyalty/duty question would likely have arisen in a slightly different context. Perhaps a power struggle between Denethor and Aragorn, with the added dimension of Faramir's loyalty (which would be a complex question for him too). One way or another this question WOULD be addressed, and the very nature of Denethor plus Pippin's debt to Boromir's family makes it practically inevitable that it will come to a head. The point is, it isn't 'random' in Story Now. The EXACT details are contingent on mechanics, but the trajectory is quite easily within reach, and we would consider the GM to have been well-served in his drawing of Denethor's personality, which drives the whole thing (and obviously this was a good piece of work by Tolkien as well to drive his story).</blockquote>

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