Scholar troubles... a roleplaying dilemna.

[Bregales]

Hey, thanks bahmbatta. Good idea. I thought of that idea before we started but seem to have forgotten it. Right now our guys are in Zamboula, after having been in Arenjun and somewhere in the middle of Shem. I just placed the story in the year of the dog (one cycle before Conan would usurp the throne, sorry I'm at work so I don't remember specifics).

Now as has already been posted several times, each of the guys is playing their character fantastically, and they've gotten together pretty well until the last time, when character strife (not player strife) set up, and for the most part it set up as they had gone against the adventure I'd prepared and surprised me by their impatience and ability to pull it off as well as they did. The guys get along greatly, but in this game I'm just trying to be cautious that the characters don't end up trying to kill each other because they come from such diverging backgrounds and attitudes.

Don't wanna go into too much specifics, because it's a good thread I think for anyone to compare or post ideas for a scholar in group like you just did, and also I don't wanna reveal too much to my players here. 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Since you have alrady mentioned that the scholar is a good friend ooc (or words to that effect), and that he is not a problem player, I'm sure you can work it out ooc with him, by having a chat around the table so to speak. Just let the player know nicely that it would increase everyone's fun if he toned down the scholars evilness slightly, or at the very least hide what he does IC from the other pc's as much as he can. And maybe remind him of the corruption penalties if the sorcerors sorruption score gets too high. He can kiss npc interaction, and even entry into most towns goodbye if he starts growing horns on his skull. (a corruption side effect; its mentioned ewither in conan the rpg, or scrolls of skelos)

Apart from that, there can be plenty of oppo's where the other pc's can help him out; say if the scholar char sacrifices someone in the middle of the town square, he'll need the help of the others to save his skin from the angry mob of townsfolk that would like to kill him.The next time he is in the forest, the borderer/barbarian could be very useful. etc etc.

 

[Bregales]

Thanks Xex, good suggestions. The player is aware of these points and has mentioned them before. I think I indicated earlier that he hasn't used magic before last game, and hasn't even done anything evil really before. As for him sacrificing 2 slaves and blowing up (and taking out a squad of soldiers), none of the other characters saw him, they just figured he did something terrible based on the surviving npcs' reactions to him. As for corruption, he seems to take delight in the fact that he's a Stygian. All I can say about this is that I've said over and over at the table, "You can try to do anything you want in this game. I'll just have the npcs react to any action you take [based on the action taken]."

Which brings up a question about corruption: it seems to be a game balance feature to keep scholars from getting too devious, but what when a player actually relishes the imminent possibility of having a split head, wings, etc, irregardless of how others will perceive him? Just a thought.

 

[Elfman]

Which brings up a question about corruption: it seems to be a game balance feature to keep scholars from getting too devious, but what when a player actually relishes the imminent possibility of having a split head, wings, etc, irregardless of how others will perceive him? Just a thought.

It's still a balancing feature. While the PC may relish it, virtually all NPCs will not. He'll be virtually unable to interact with NPCs, except to try to scare them into doing what he wants. Make sure the player understands that it could go as far as having a mob grab him while he's sleeping and get rid of the evil one.

Also, think about how many adventurers will start hearing about this new demonic sorceror and will be out gunning for him. He'll have adventurers trying to kill him for the glory or coin, devout followers of Mitra trying to hunt him down and kill him, and who knows how many other "good folk" waiting for an opportunity to purge the evil.

While individually the effects of corruption might be cool, the social impact should be sufficient to discourage it in PCs. Make sure you tell your player that he can expect these sorts of consequences if his character's corruption gets too high.

 

[bahmbatta]

one of the great story telling tools is the reveal. Example: after the scholar has worked his way into the court of a powerful king from diviner eventually to vizear, he eventually gives advice on tactics and has the kings troops ambushed while the king is on the field then while his troops are being run down the scholar pulls back his magical hood hiding his true form blam a split headed and horned demon scholar is ramming a knife into his belly. You could give him something unstable so he has to stay on his toes like an amulet that he has to keep soaked in sacrificed blood if it dries and flakes off then he is revealed.

 

[JamalloKreen]

Hey Guest... you don't happen to be from Sheffield? Sorry to ask... just a hunch.

That's no "Guest," that is I. Or "from I." "From me." (Doh! There goes the bloody writing job....)

I suppose "Sheffield is an "in joke." In any case, no, I'm not from there and have never been there nor near it. Why am I being accused of being English? Did I fail to put the punctuation marks within the quotes again? At least people have stopped asking me if I'm from Basingstoke....

 

[Sutek]

Solution:

"...There's always a bigger fish..." - Qui Gon Jinn