Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 29 Mar 2005 to 30 Mar 2005 (#2005-64)
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Date: 31/03/2005, 19:00
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Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion

There is one message totalling 57 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

 1. Recurring Villains

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Date:    Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:10:50 +0100
From:    Neil Marsden <n.e.marsden@BTINTERNET.COM>
Subject: Re: Recurring Villains

A reoccuring topic, indeed. :)

But always an enjoyable one for DMs though, imho.

I've used fairly few reoccuring villains actually. Bargle the Infamous
and the Black Eagle Barony were the first reoccuring villains I ever
used, back in my first ever campaign, which was entirely set in
Karameikos and the Isle of Dread. (Ah, you'd never tell that I only had
the Basic and Expert Rules and GAZ1.)

They never really made it back into subsequent campaigns though, because
by then we had more Gazetteers and the group was drawn to other areas of
the Known World.

I think Bargle and the Black Eagle do make good reoccuring villains for
a low level campaign, and I always regret not giving them their
comeupance in-play. It would've been a perfect end to a campaign.

Other than that, I've only ever used two other reoccuring villains.
Glantri, and Nithia.

Glantri was in my most recent campaign (we used D&D 3E), which was
probably my favourite because none of the PCs knew _anything_ about the
Known World setting. That's such a joy for a DM.

For a long time the PCs all assumed that Glantri as a power bloc was
their archenemy. There was always that Glantrian connection. When they
finally made it to Glantri, they realised Glantri was completely
divided. It was the Glantrian socio-political system driving wizards to
gain magical power by any means. In fact, the party liked Glantri so
much, they ended up defecting to Glantri.

Nithia was in probably my third ever D&D campaign. (Iirc we actually
used the Advanced Heroquest rules for this one.) I can't remember the
name of the NPC. Basically the PCs released an undead Nithian lord from
a crypt under the sands of Ylaruam and the rest was history.

Ironically, whilst I can't remember his name, this was my favourite
reoccuring villain because it was one the PCs created for themselves. He
was never meant to be reoccuring, but they released him, ran instead of
fighting him, so didn't kill him. It was just meant to be.

All good fun.

Ta,

Neil

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End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 29 Mar 2005 to 30 Mar 2005 (#2005-64)
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