qblog entry 06:06:31 Saturday September 18 2004

06:06:31 Saturday September 18 2004

• Note: This entry is in response to a Game Dream •

One of my favorite plot complications that I like to introduce as a GM is to create an environment where the players are forced to deal with unsavory characters that they would otherwise destroy. From either a player or GM/ST point of view, what is your most vivid recollection of this occurring in your games?

I am certain that this has happened more than a few times, but I can only recall two instances that made an impression on me. The first instance makes an impression due to the shear desperation involved. The PCs were subjects of a kingdom that was about to be over run by BadGuys^TM. So the nobility of the kingdom sent the party out to negotiate with a hidden group of Necromancers concerning the possibility of reinstating their Tower (which had been disbanded when necromantic magic was outlawed hundreds of years ago) in exchange for military aid. The party did surprisingly well at the negotiating table due in part to the fact that they genuinely did not like the people they were bargaining with. The second instance is notable mostly for its humor. A bard claiming to be a scholar studying lost civilization X hires us to take him to the subterranean ruins of X-opilis. Great, no problem. He sings traveling songs along the way, because we all know that only bards sing. Once we arrive he asks if he can go study AncientTemple^TM. Sure, no problem. We will keep the monsters at bay while you look around. As soon as we make it to the temple he makes a B-line for a gem sitting on some alter. It turns out that wasn't just some gem, but in point of fact it was AncientArtifact^TM. He promptly picks it up and begins a villainesque rant. "The power is overwhelming... blah... blah... blah... Use it to destroy everyone... You fools... etc" After the interminable speech it is clear that we have been duped by EvilWizard^TM who promptly teleports away leaving us to fight TempleGaurdians^TM. It is at this point that one of the slower players turns to the DM and says: "Wait a minute! Bards can't teleport." Eh? I guess you had to be there. It was all in the delivery.