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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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 Posted: 18-Apr-2006 09:47 Post subject: Should I? |
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This is an idea that I had to "encourage" the players to interact with the NPCs.
Among the NPCs that the party can encounter are several single members of the opposite gender. Depending upon how each PC deals with them, that particular PC might end up with a good contact or even a love interest.
Thing is, some of the other NPCs are interested in those particular NPCs, which can lead to friction and possibly even a showdown of sorts (just to keep things interesting  ).
Thoughts?
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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ICER
Clan Hell's Horses
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1663
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-Apr-2006 10:40 Post subject: RE: Should I? |
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I say go for it.
In real life, there is friction. So it would make sense that there be some in the game.
and may I commend you on trying to add that extra dimension to your game. Most GMs don't allow that kind interactivity. Just a random NPC or someone we are suppose to get info from. other then that. It's pretty dry. and if you try to introduce such things. you get slamed by the GM for playing outside the norm.
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 18-Apr-2006 11:28 Post subject: RE: Should I? |
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As long as your players can handle it, why not. Even if they don't go for a love interest it's a chance to show how people react to them. MechWarriors have status, but not all people can stand them. Who likes the boastful youngster? Who likes the strong, silent type? Who prefers the grizzled veteran?
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A tree fall in the forest, and no one is around, and it hits a mime. Does anyone care?
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-Apr-2006 13:28 Post subject: RE: Should I? |
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Current NPCs-
1. Female, age 24. She wanted to be a gymnast, but her parents made her become a mechanic in order to keep up the family tradition. The region she's from requires that all citizens do time as a reservist, during which she discovered that she was a far better nurse than a mechanic.
Challenges:
*Is attempting to save up for nursing school.
*Disdains overt attempts to win her affection; PCs who go after her must prove their worth through either technical knowledge, athletic fitness, or combat skill.
Suitor: The unit's finance officer. He's a skilled mech pilot, and has a number of financial endeavours he's pursuing. The two are also of the same religion.
2. Female, age 23. She's a police officer, with six years on the force. She's skilled with her mind and her pistol, but is otherwise unsuited for the task.
Challenge:
*When the players first encounter her, she will be involved in a shoot-out which will result in the death of her partner. Any PC wishing to court her must restore her confidence.
Suitor: The unit's training NCO. He specializes in close-quarters combat, and so understands what it means to work in a city. Again, the two are also the same religion.
3. Female, age 23. She's a special forces soldier who is a part of the team escorting the person who holds the unit's contract. Her parents were farmers, and her decision to enlist was motivated by her parents' financial needs.
Challenges:
*English isn't her primary language, so any PC wishing to court her must either improve her English skills or learn her primary language.
*Due to her upbringing, she has learned to shun anything overly fancy - especially something that is only there to look good. As such, material gifts have to be functional.
Suitor: The unit's sergeant major. He has a past that he'd like to bury, and an isolated farm is a perfect place to do so.
I'm also thinking about doing a civilian diplomat, a freelance artist, and a nurse.
_________________
"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Stinger
The Knights of Chaos
General
Joined: 30-Apr-2002 00:00
Posts: 1833
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-Apr-2006 13:59 Post subject: RE: Should I? |
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I like them, very nice touch to the campaign. Not sure if I like the diplomat that could cause problems, unless your planning on having them stay on the same planet the entire time. The Artist is a great one. Just maybe try to avoid the free spirited hippie stereotype, (I have tried being a freelance artist, its not easy, and not for the faint of heart, and most freelance artists I have met are really on the ball, to the point of being a bit heavy on the business look as it is more professional). The Nurse/doctor would work as well. I would also add a Celebrity (either minor or major), and just a few various npc that are just straight blue collar employees, (I.E. A grocery clerk, espresso girl, bartender, waitress.) What ever, just to give the guys a wide choice, you could even take pictures of different girls or anime characters for the descriptions so if they see one they like they would have to peruse her and figure her out.
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Stinger
If it's "creepy" to use the Internet, military satellites, and robot aircraft to find a house full of gorgeous young models so I can drop in on them unexpected, then FINE, I'm "creepy". Howard Wolowitz. BBT.
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-Apr-2006 14:32 Post subject: RE: Should I? |
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I had the idea after noticing that one of the PCs almost never interacted with anyone else outside of the battlefield.
This way, if the player keeps having his PC ignore everyone else, the PC will eventually suffer for it.
How so?
For starters, every encounter with one of the gals will bring XP. This ranges from 1 XP for having a conversation all the way to 100 XP if they get the NPC to marry them.
Also, if they manage to stay on the good side of a particular NPC, then that NPC will help them out. As an example, if they managed to impress the mechanic girl then she'd agree to do repair work on their equipment for a reduced price. Likewise, the police chick could get them sensitive information and the spec ops gal could get them an audience with the contract holder.
_________________
"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-Apr-2006 14:34 Post subject: RE: Should I? |
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My main problem is that as a balance issue, I could only have one or two unattatched female NPCs.
Otherwise, a smart PC would avoid those girls with suitors and thereby avoid the rivalries (and related side stories) alltogether.
_________________
"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 18-Apr-2006 21:38 Post subject: More NPCs |
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4. Female, age 26. Her wealthy and politically influential parents pushed her into her own political career. She graduated the university with a political science degree, did a little bit of study in regards to how the main cities on her planet function, then settled down as a political worker for a family friend; her duties mean that she occasionally must act as a diplomat between the unit and the government. Although she doesn't want it, her parents are also pushing her to consider a political career of her own.
Although she's a professional by day, by night she pretends that she's a character in her favorite holovids..... a character that is about to get swept off her feet by the Immortal Warrior or another guy of such standing.
Challenges:
*Her ideal suitor is someone who is heroic in nature. As such, those who are not soldiers or civil service (re: fire/EMS or police) will have a hard time winning her over.
*Her parents will not tolerate her dating someone of a lower social class unless this person has some renown.
Suitor: Male, 29. He's an officer with the local militia. Although he has been cross-trained as a mechwarrior, he is first and foremost a commando. He has gained renown (and several powerful enemies) after he was involved in killing operatives from Loki, SAFE, and Maskirova that had infiltrated the planet.
5. Female, aged 16-20. This is actually a generic NPC template. The attributes have been set low and no traits have been purchased; as such, I have some lee-way in customizing the template as the need arises.
Each girl represents an average (although somewhat bright and attractive) young woman. In each instance, they did not wish to enlist yet did not have the money to attend college. As such, each girl is working at a low-level job (such as pizza delivery or sales clerk) to finance her future. Each girl has been given an electric bike, a first aid kit, a leather jacket, and leather shoes.
_________________
"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Wanallo
Federated Suns
Leftenant Colonel
Joined: 02-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 671
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: 19-Apr-2006 09:05 Post subject: RE: Should I? |
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Quote:
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On 2006-04-18 14:34, Kraken wrote:
My main problem is that as a balance issue, I could only have one or two unattatched female NPCs.
Otherwise, a smart PC would avoid those girls with suitors and thereby avoid the rivalries (and related side stories) alltogether.
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Actually in my experience an experienced Pc would persue these targets if given the chance just because it adds a different level to the game. I have done similar things in my time as a GM, mostly for the Advanced Heroquest game (which i have now basically modified so much its a totally different RPG!). And have always found that something which takes the gameplay away from the usual cut and slash (or walk and gauss) style even for a short time.
But a decent PC would definatley try and persue one of the more challenging NPC's for sheer enjoyment of the game it brings. I really try and make the NPC's real people rather than things to talk AT to get information. They get angry, annoyed, frustrated, etc. depending on how the player interacts (this is most useful in team members as the PC is a mercenary unit leader) and once he managed to disintergrate his entire unit through infighting.
He once gave one pilot a bonus for doing particularly well on a mission. The pilot was a real inexperienced green pilot so he thought he'd boost his confidence.
First thing that happened after was other members in the unit complained because they had done things like this before and gotten nothing.... and thus it degenerated.
Despite the fact that this sub plot took up more of the game time than the mech fighting. Its been one of the most fun we have played. It gave something different to think about apart from (Do i take the gauss or the ERPPC?)
So nice work Kraken, if anything expand it further. People love originality.
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Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them-Seneca
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