How to GM An Enemy

[namada]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Daigoro]

Originally Posted by tjbuege

That's just the thing...the town he comes from probably won't play a part in this adventure (I haven't even developed enough of the map to know where that town is or what it's name is!), so I can't really allow him points for disadvantages that won't enter into the story.

If this is the case, then his Enemy doesn't have to be associated with the town for a number of reasons-

- He's also in an "adventuring" group, whatever that might mean in your setting. If not dungeon delvers, this could be a group of US-style marshals, a team of exorcists or inquisitors, or a troupe of performers.

- The Enemy is a (low-level) member of a noble house, that has more regional influence. The Enemy was only temporarily in the PC's town, either being entertained or perhaps doing his own military duties.

- The PC is a member of such a noble house, and the patriarch of the family sends various lackeys and nephews to keep him in line.

- Or it could be another group that has regional influence- a church, a guild, a secret society, an organised crime syndicate, or a merchant house.

[ajardoor]

How about a hostile ghost, instead of a mortal?

At the same power level, the Enemy wouldn't be too contrived or TPK-inducing, but with the powers of the ghost, it would still have an excuse to come back again and again, with a stack of tricks to torment the PC, and still be an unknown Enemy.

Why is the ghost after him? Family curse.

[Otaku]

The ghost angle could be used to explain much... I don't know if there is an established Ghost template for this setting, but if the PC doesn't know why he was expelled from the militia... maybe the ghost possessed him and made him do something worth being kicked out?

Otherwise, part of the fun will be the PCs wondering when something bad happening is the ghost or just part of the session... and you can literally plan things to work out either way (if you still want to roll for the enemy appearance). When just a part of the campaign in general, bad stuff can happen to anyone... and when the player's Enemy roll comes into play, that just means said player is always the specific target.

This doesn't even have to be elaborate; want a bar room brawl? Say you do, so it is planned that even if the PCs mind themselves, someone else will start one. Well, if you roll and the Enemy show's up, the ghost enemy uses some low level ghost tricks to ensure as much of the bar's occupants as possible want to beat the tar out of the player (to whom the enemy belongs)!

That reminds me... I don't have access to a 4th Edition Basic Set Characters book: does Unluckiness still exist as a Disadvantage, and has that been considered as a replacement for this mysterious background enemy? It sort of fits for a "curse" and explains why bad things keep happening to the player in question without needing to have an Enemy all designed and appearing.

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by Otaku

That reminds me... I don't have access to a 4th Edition Basic Set Characters book: does Unluckiness still exist as a Disadvantage, and has that been considered as a replacement for this mysterious background enemy? It sort of fits for a "curse" and explains why bad things keep happening to the player in question without needing to have an Enemy all designed and appearing.

How about Cursed?

[Otaku]

Yeah.

Oh, and I found GURPS Update; Unluckiness [-10] from Third Edition converts to... Unluckiness [-10]. That's kind of embarrassing I didn't catch that. >.>

[ajardoor]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

How about Cursed?

No. Do not do this. Please.

[tjbuege]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

How about Cursed?

... and we've come full circle. I'm going to assume you didn't see my earlier post:

Originally Posted by tjbuege

What he first presented me with was the idea that this unknown enemy had cursed him, changing his personality and making him become compulsively reckless and impulsive. I couldn't accept the whole curse thing, couldn't justify the points he'd gain, etc., so I made him stick with a simple enemy

So no, Cursed is out.

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by tjbuege

... and we've come full circle. I'm going to assume you didn't see my earlier post:



So no, Cursed is out.

No, you misunderstand. The GURPS Cursed disadvantage (-75) is basically Unluckiness squared, it has nothing to do with the personality. It doesn't even have to be an actual curse per se.

I can only think of a few cases where I'd ever let a character have this disadvantage, but it could happen. :)

[tjbuege]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

No, you misunderstand. The GURPS Cursed disadvantage (-75)...

Ah, yes, I did briefly consider that. Very briefly.