It's early Thursday morning and I'm straight wasted. I was up too late last night bangin out this D&D session. I need some advice from the pros. Now without spoiling too much of my future posts, please consider the following:
We just concluded Episode #16: Feast Of Goblyns Trilogy Part III last night. As my usual M.O, I like to tinker with cannon adventures and customize them for my Game. I kept the basic premise of FoG but added another layer or two of storyline. The main changes revolve around the BBEG Radaga. For those that follow my posts, perhaps the name "[b]Black Sorcerer[/b] rings a bell. Yes, the same evil wizard behind the manufacture of Agony and Orgazm (still to come: check Episode #12) and the wizard who supported Duke Gundar waaay back in our Death of a Darklord days. Well he/she's back.
Sticking to the script, the players realized they were duped by Daclaud Heinfroth and battled him to reclaim the Crown of Souls. From there they knew they had to journey back to the caves from whence they retreived the Crown in order to destroy it (information brought to them by new PC Tenrou Lee AKA LocdOut). So off they go down South to handle their business.
Along the way I did alot of foreshadowing and tension-building. They knew the destruction of the Crown might bring about the next stanza in the Hexad, and they'd also heard rumors (or "prophecies", as it may be) that new lands would form from the mists themselves.
During "Radaga's Flight" (see FoG), she gathered new followers and worshipers like a snowball effect. Gathering all the junkies, fiends (both living and undead) barbarian savages, goblyns and brainwashed minions, Radaga the Black Sorcerer(ess) forged on until the Mistz greeted her with the new domain of Daglan (I will be changing that name). Basically, she created her own dark Nation.
And all throughout their journeys south, I've been telling the players "They're waiting for their King...". Whateva that means. ;)
Now here's where it gets a bit tricky -- Radaga the Black Sorcerer(ess) has big plans for the players and the Crown (Alexus in particular). She wants to seduce them into joining the Darkside. I figured this would add a little heat to the bad guy and make their win all the more enjoyable once they finally figure out a way to lay her down. Well, my plan worked TOO WELL.
Starting with Alexus and going right on down the line to Tenrou at the end, the players AGREED TO JOIN FORCES WITH THE EVIL RADAGA. Essentially, they sold their souls to the devil in exchange for absolute power like TechN9Ne. This is NOT what I expected. I fully antipated them taking the hero's route, rejecting her demonic offer and then slaying her in the end. But they didn't. They threw their hats in with the wicked Black Sorcerer. This makes Alexus the "king" they had all been waiting for. The Game just took an unexpected twist.
So now what? For one thing, that stanza in the Hexad won't come to pass until the "through life, unlife, unliving shall scorn" part comes true. So by letting Radaga live they temporarily postponed the Hexad from coming to pass.
Also, the domain of Daglan won't just up and vanish into the Mistz again. It's now a permanent fixture in the countryside. Logistics-wise this could be a problem.
Each player was forced (some more so than others) to prove their loyalty by sacrificing something near to them. By conciously making this decision to side with Radaga and then sealing the deal with blood, I ruled this would call for a Dark Powerz check on all who agreed (which is EVERYBODY). Was I right to make this ruling? DESTANIAL MAGORIAN was the only one to fail. Yes, the once honorable Count of Solyss Gundarak failed his first DPz check. I need help in customizing a terror track for him. Any suggestions?
Radaga (aka the Black Sorcerer) already had big plans for Alexus -- and now I get a chance to make those plans come true. That's BAD news for Alexus. So he's taken care of, but I don't know about the others. I need a failed DPz check for Destanial. Tenrou has apparently forsaken the Order of the Guardians for Radaga -- so some kind of punishment is needed here, I think. Alena Nurpašhi reluctantly agreed to follow suit so I need to do something wicked to her too.
So what do you do if the "heroes" of your Game choose to run with the bad guys? I don't wanna instantly NPC them all and tell 'em to roll new characters. But how can I get myself out of this mess? How can I get that next stanza in the Hexad to come to pass? Radaga needs to be destroyed, not worshipped!!!!
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
peace,
MSD
And whenever he does something dishonourable it affects him giving him weakness and penalities. Hands shake and knees quiver and such.
Of course, segments of Daglan might not be happy with the new Kings performance, and uprisisngs can become more and more commonplace.
As to Destanial Magorian, perhaps as a dark gift he could Charm Person once per day, but while the charm is in effect, he could start hearing a phantom voice at random intervals whispering things to him like "Betrayer" and "False Hero". As to what creature he may become, perhaps it is not the DP that are responding, but rather a fiend that has taken a shine to him.
Come to think of it, The Gentleman Caller didn't appear until after the Grand Conjunction, did he?
and then I became the Lord of my own province. Not to mention I own land in other domains.
But it don't stop there! Y'all don't even know about Destanial stepping down from the Countship, and giving it to his closest friend, ...me.
So after i became the count I still didn't think it was enough.
So I took it a step further...
just keep on checkin' the posts for more details on my rise to absolute power.
Originally posted by The_Jester
Since he's so honourable you could make him hyper sensitive to honour and dishonour, sensing it in people around him like a paladin detects evil/chaos.
And whenever he does something dishonourable it affects him giving him weakness and penalities. Hands shake and knees quiver and such.
I definitively agree with Jester here. It's the first step and as such should not be overdone with powers. Maybe he should hear the voices (as Deadbreaker said) as he detects honour and dishonour!
Well I think Locd Out wanted to play a turncoat monk, it is his great role in the game. I would show him, what he has lost in this process.
Alena only agreed, because the other PC's agreed?? Well then her look on the things with Ragada should be the most sensitive. She should feel the loss of good in her companions! Make her feel the pain for working with an evil sorceress; even Destinial should get second thoughts about his choice.
Hope you understand my rambling!
and hya to the gang!
G
Originally posted by The MadStepDad
Essentially, they sold their souls to the devil in exchange for absolute power like TechN9Ne.
........
So what do you do if the "heroes" of your Game choose to run with the bad guys? I don't wanna instantly NPC them all and tell 'em to roll new characters. But how can I get myself out of this mess? How can I get that next stanza in the Hexad to come to pass? Radaga needs to be destroyed, not worshipped!!!!
,
MSD
Firstly, mate, this is not Powers Check material. If the PCs willingly made a deal with Ragada and sealed it with blood and sacrifice they automatically fail the powers check. No arguments no debate, give them each an appropriate benefit and a curse.
Regarding NPCing your PCs. There is nothing wrong with an evil game. Remember your players are making choices and the game is for and about them, as well as yourself. if they want to play evil characters then Ravenloft is the ideal place, if they go too crazy they get lifted out of the campaign and turned into DarkLords.
In one 16 week run 2 PCs had aquired 6 power check failures (the evil drow priestess never even had to role a die, they were all acts of ultimate evil), and the others all had between 2 and 4 failures under their belt, a range of insanities, and some life long enemies even amongst PCs. The level of bad luck was absolutely intense with enough 01-03% rolls to completely skew and normal probability graph.
My story called for heros, but villains can do the right thing if motivated properly (money, power, slaves, sex). I decided to go with it and at the end was rewarded by seeing my friends portray the most derranged and decadent bunk of villains I had ever come across.
I felt like a proud father.
It was also hysterical, it has also become something of a legend.
I posted this on three other sites, and only the Fraternity and our beloved WoTC site yeilded any responses. Sweet. Thanx for the support, y'all. Fo real.
Jester, my man. I'm diggin that idea. But I'm having a hard time trying to quantify that into game mechanics. I know that's your speciality, so perhaps a little more advice? So if he acts honorable he's OK, but once he doesn't he gets penalties? How does this benefit him? Isn't the first DPz check kinda like incentive to continue on the dark path? I need to hook him up some kind of ill supernatural power. Maybe Deadbreaker's suggestion of the "Betrayer" and "False Hero" taunts would be most appropriate here as a drawback when Destanial's in the prescense of the truly righteous.
But yeah, Deadbreaker. They're definitely gonna feel the burn. Mwah-ha-ha-ha!. I'm hearing you on the unseen chaperone part -- that's why Radaga made sure to put them on a tight leash. Magical bindings and tattoos for example.
Yo, G! I'm glad to see you back in the building! What up!
Yes, Alena and Tenrou only agreed cuz the others insisted. I think "making her feel the pain" is a great idea. Maybe something like Jander and his "touch a flower/watch it die" bit. Everything she likes or finds beauty in is destroyed by her presence. Or maybe she loses her voice, as she stands by helplessly watching evil swallow the light. Too harsh?
Tenrou has serious issues cuz his lifelong goal revolves around the destruction of the Crown of Souls. Now he has to watch Alexus march around with it on his head and Tenrou's virtually powerless to prevent it. I know that's gnawing away at him. He's just waiting for the opportunity to make things right, but it may be a case of "too little too late".
Hey Grimfondle (hilarious name, by the way). You think it should have been automatic failure for everybody? I think that's kinda harsh and cheapens the DPz effects. I am one very lenient DM and I only call for DPz check in extreme cases. So I passed on the automatic failure. You consider their actions an Act Of Ultimate Darkness? What does everybody else think about that? I'm just curious.
You also said "There is nothing wrong with an evil game. Remember your players are making choices and the game is for and about them, as well as yourself. if they want to play evil characters then Ravenloft is the ideal place, if they go too crazy they get lifted out of the campaign and turned into DarkLords, and I couldn't agree more! That's EXACTLY what I tell the players ALL THE TIME! It's funny, cuz novice RL players always assume Ravenloft is the BEST place to play evil characters. What a surprise they're in for. Congratulations to you for giving birth to an all-evil party of Darklords-in-the-making. :D
Thanx for the help, y'all. Fo real. It's much appreciated. Look for more story posts to drop on Monday. I've got alot I wanna tell you.
peace!
MSD
I failed a dark powers check when I assasinated a mob boss' family.(it was the Mother, the little Daughter, and the sleeping little boy) For failing I gained a +4 unatural bonus to hide and move silently checks.But, when I hide or move silently, my eyes turn to black flames.
I failed a dark powers check, when I agreed to assasinate my wife and her family.(I agreed with Ivana Boritzi)For faling I gained a poison touch, which I like to call the "Touch of Vile darkness"But in return , my hands became similar to a corpes',cold and blue.So now I have to wear gloves all the time.
And finally, I failed another dark powers check, whe I beat the LIFE, out of a man by the name, I can't remember right now,but anyways, I beat him with a wheel-lock belt pistol, until he stopped moving. I don't know what really happened though,I blacked out. And all I know, when I came to. I was holding the pistol(which I still have)and homeboys face was unrecognizable.
This happened during the time I was in Arkandale, some dude was mad that I was stealing his girl so he challenged me to an old-fashioned duel.(you know 3 steps turn around and fire) Well, we both took three steps, turned around, fired, and we both missed. Now, take this into consideration, I was at the duel by myself, and dude had a whole crew helping him reload, I had nobody. So I tackled him to the floor, and I'm preety sure you know what happened then.For failing I gained "unwholesome Ichor" which means my blood is poisonous.
I also have the ghost-site, I got that when I had had a near death experience.(I O D on my on supply, right under the tree in Gunderak where Duke Gunder hung all the original soldiers that tried to run the Duke out of the throne. So you could imagine the visions I was having right under that tree.Dead bodies everywhere.
So, I don't really know how many checks it takes to turn to a Darklord, but, I know that i can jump on the "righteous side" any time I want to, but I'm waiting for a reason. And I don't think one more dark powers check will hurt either.
A little foreshadow for whats about to happen next.
peace y'all, I got to play some Smackdown "Here comes the PAIN"
Mad love to all the Ravenloft fans
Originally posted by KingAlexusDarkangnon
So, I don't really know how many checks it takes to turn to a Darklord, but, I know that i can jump on the "righteous side" any time I want to, but I'm waiting for a reason. And I don't think one more dark powers check will hurt either.
[/b]
*chuckle*
Last words don't come any more famous than that.
Originally posted by The MadStepDad
Jester, my man. I'm diggin that idea. But I'm having a hard time trying to quantify that into game mechanics. I know that's your speciality, so perhaps a little more advice? So if he acts honorable he's OK, but once he doesn't he gets penalties? How does this benefit him? Isn't the first DPz check kinda like incentive to continue on the dark path? I need to hook him up some kind of ill supernatural power. Maybe Deadbreaker's suggestion of the "Betrayer" and "False Hero" taunts would be most appropriate here as a drawback when Destanial's in the prescense of the truly righteous.
Well perhaps he gets bonuses to dealing with dishonourable people (mostly chaotic but the occasional neutral individual) in regards to social skills. Bluff, Sense Motive, Intimidate and the like. He can just 'reads' them better. +2 should be good.
But whenever he is about to perform a dishonourable deed or say something dishonourable his hands shake and he stutters.
Say he's trying to backstab someone, that's a -2. If he's trying to outright lie and decieve people same deal.
If he attacks someone face-to-face, regardless of who they are, the penalties don't apply.
Just off the top of my head.
But I do think that is a P.H.A.T. idea for a failed Dark Powerz check
But it just wouldn't fit Destanial at this time.
keep it coming Jester, you got some "hot"(cool) ideas
P.S. sorry if I spoiled any future posts MSD
Originally posted by The MadStepDad
Hey Grimfondle (hilarious name, by the way). You think it should have been automatic failure for everybody? I think that's kinda harsh and cheapens the DPz effects. I am one very lenient DM and I only call for DPz check in extreme cases. So I passed on the automatic failure. You consider their actions an Act Of Ultimate Darkness? What does everybody else think about that? I'm just curious.MSD
Darlords are creatures of unspeakable evil, to make a deal with one is OK under many circumstances. Such as taking 500gp to get some mithril from a mine over there. Thats'just a job.
But to make a Deal with one, that is to seal it with an evil deed, sacrifice or vow is an absolute no-no. The emotion in such a deal and the Darklords tie to the land would, in my opinion, draw the DarkPowers.
Naturally, I would let the curses develop slowly, so people wouldnt get the clue.