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Message: <blockquote data-quote="gideonpepys" data-source="post: 7344390" data-attributes="member: 79141">The Long AnswerI already answered this question as best I could at the time, but received an email from Korrigan's player a few days ago which answers it in a lot more detail.  The email came in response to a request I made that players articulate their plans for their characters long-term, and consider fresh mechanical developments they would like to pursue, now we have reached 6th tier of Cypher System.  As always, the player in question covers all the bases, and then some: Here are my long overdue thoughts on Korrigan's further development both in terms of game mechanics and personal story.So far Korrigan has had two main characteristics:First, he was physically altered in a way that initially seemed like a handicap, but which he was able over time to develop into a nice range of (mostly) utility powers. As cool as these abilities are they can only take him so far since their scope is very limited, basically to benefit only Korrigan himself.Secondly it is his role as a commander with its roots in his past military career. This has allowed him to lead the team as an effective unit and face challenges perhaps greater than anyone would have expected. He knows he has the talent and charisma for leadership and is fully committed to building on this strength. More importantly he fully recognises the responsibility this lays on him. Responsibility for the team who have put their trust in him, but also far wider responsibility for the nation and perhaps the whole world to be not only its guardian against the Ob, but to be a role model, a guide, a champion for those who need it.And again he feels his current skill is not enough because it is mainly usable only on the battle field. Which has gradually but firmly lead him in the third direction - philosophical study. The true victory is achieved not on the battlefield, but in the people's minds - is his driving conviction. Countless hours he has spent deliberating over Miller's texts, teachings of Triegenes, history and social issues, asking himself what really is the best way for development of an individual or civilization, what is the meaning of faith, where lies the line separating good from evil, is there such a thing as ideal society, is there any merit in Ob's goals and operations... and many more.Korrigan is one of those commanders who submit their own lives to the strictest discipline and focus towards the goal. Who sleep five hours a day, retire last and get up first, who are spending all their time either acting or planning for the action. If somebody sees him seemingly idle it is perhaps when he does the most intense work calculating the moves of his adversaries, analysing the clues, pondering tough decisions. During adventures it mostly remains behind the scenes, but other characters may have noticed that if they walk in on him in the quiet hours of the evening, they always find him reading books or writing notes and letters. In the mornings they find him meditating. He also corresponds more than the adventure at hand requires, keeping in touch with his many contacts.All of this may not represent itself in game mechanics, except for something that may be almost like a side effect. Korrigan believes that any change and any attempt at improvement must begin in oneself and so he has been spending a lot of time examining his own heart and mind. Perhaps as a result of this or of his study of religious and philosophical texts (or both) at some point he felt a vague sensation of his mind extending beyond his physical body. After this strange feeling appeared a few times Korrigan decided to attempt to consciously invoke it and maybe even manipulate it.  (I reminded the player that this would flow nicely from the three years Korrigan spent living with the gith, during our campaign hiatus.  I have edited out further discussion of mechanics as they are not pertinent here.)If that's ok I would also like to discuss some more general thoughts about the personal development of the character outside the scope of the adventuring per se. Please let me know what you think about it, but it also helps me to organise my own thoughts which I previously never wrote down.1. As mentioned before Korrigan wants to build a wider circle of support to somewhat counter the Ob's extensive network of agents and resources. To this end he wants a reliable and potent contact in each nation. In addition he is keen to foster any less prominent contacts as well as contacts that his team mates have established but perhaps neglected since. I am willing to spend XP on such contacts if suitable candidates arise.2. Korrigan also has not completely forgotten his political work (I don't want to call it ambition because it has nothing to do with personal advancement, but rather with the desire to serve the people). Of course being mostly away from Flint makes this quite difficult, but potentially if circumstances arise Korrigan is willing to challenge the governor's position in Flint again. To this end I would like him to keep regular correspondence with Heward Sechim, Deneric Jayce, the leader of Flint's dockers (forgot the name) and other prominent supporters from his active political days.3. In addition to the previous point, Korrigan as a character perhaps has not been considering it, but I just wanted to throw it out there. Back when we were playing out his political campaign in Flint I sort of thought what if we reach epic level what would Korrigan's goals and aspirations be? And one of the things that came to mind was that perhaps at that stage if the Flint political career would go well Korrigan could perhaps take it further and become the successor for the throne. I know it's a long stretch, but I thought it could be a fitting end to an epic character arc. Of course it depends on what your plans for the campaign are, maybe I'm thinking in a completely wrong direction... Much more recently I have been also thinking that maybe Korrigan could take a different route and by campaign's finale become something of a spiritual figure akin to Triegenes or Miller by developing his own philosophical and social teaching aimed to a brighter future for everyone.4. Regardless of how you are planning to use Korrigan in the campaign I want him to work on his own philosophical thought. He would do it even if there is no chance for it to become widely known and accepted. He just needs it to make sure he has a sound foundation for his own moral stance and to know where exactly he sands in opposition to Nicodemus/Miller, so that when it comes to the eventual final confrontation he does not stumble on any doubts. And as he is sorting out his own thoughts he will inevitable develop reflections and ideas that he will want to share with those who think similarly. In the game I think this will show as his continuing relationship with Sentacore - he could use him as a sparring partner of sorts for the Plato-like dialogues. I don't want to reduce Sentacore to a position of a scribe unless you think he would be happy to do that. But at the very least even if Korrigan writes his own essays etc. he would give them to Sentacore to read through and maybe brush them up before sending to his contacts within Panoply, Flint university etc. (maybe he could even publish some articles in Flint or national newspapers... Is his journalist contact Johan Grim still active? Or was he killed? (DM's Note: He was. Blown up by the radical eschatologists.)).5. Korrigan has been feeling increasingly uneasy about letting his son grow up without his dad. Of course taking a young child on crazy and lethal spy adventures his father has would not be responsible... but it doesn't prevent Korrigan from thinking and trying to find ways to be closer to his son. If any opportunity arises he will be happy to grab it. One of the options I was considering would be rehousing him on the Impossible. Korrigan would also be keen to find a person he could trust to look after his son when he himself is not around. Sort of a governess or something... I even had an idea of asking Clockwork Count to perhaps build a construct for this. But of course without someone like Grappa it would be impossible to make a human-like sentience...6. And speaking of Clockwork Count: When he is next in Flint Korrigan will pay him a visit. The name I want to offer is Aldan (or Alden) Wondermaker. My idea was to find a name meaning 'wise man' or 'protector of the weak', and Aldan fits nicely because apparently in anglo-saxon it means 'old friend', 'wise' and 'protector' (dunno how it all fits in one name, but that's what the name dictionary said). So this is what Korrigan will respectfully tell him, adding that it is a human tradition to also bear a family name, however, since he does not have a family name he is in his right to start one, and Korrigan thinks Wondermaker is both truthful and evoking respect.7. Some minor points. I would like Korrigan to have the following magical or mechanical means, if at all possible. If it is possible I am willing to work towards it.a) a loudspeaker (for occasions when he may need to address large crowds)b) a typewriter or something that would allow him to eschew writing all his correspondence by hand. Perhaps an automaton secretary? Or a live one? Or Sentacore can be co-opted?c) regardless of the above Korrigan would like to have an automaton similar to Pemberton's duplicants or whatever Clockwork Count/Wondermaker can come up with. I can imagine several uses - to allow contact with Pemberton if needed; to allow Korrigan or another team member to use it as a vessel in a potentially dangerous circumstances. (Of course I would not want to abuse it, but the potential of this is such that I cannot imagine how Korrigan could ignore this possibility.) Finally perhaps the most crazy idea, but still - what if a way can be found to capture the soul of a fallen comrade (or an NPC) and resettle it in the automaton in the event of death similarly to Xambria (again, Korrigan would explore the idea until he is certain it is definitely not possible).d) Another idea that I threw out there some time ago, but maybe now it could be considered again. Now that Lamprey is lost it wouldn't hurt to look into possibility of capturing one of Danoran/Ob submarines. Not only it could be very useful in circumstances when The Impossible is not practical, but also of course it would weaken the enemy.I am always grateful when players just come right out and say what their characters want. I asked the player if he was happy for me to share his email, as I think it answers RangerWickett's question very comprehensively, and showcases the amount of thought and effort my players put into this campaign.  It's always nice to know you're not the only one!</blockquote>

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