Comments on: Mining Tropes for RPG Nuggets: I, Overlord! http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/ Like Hanging at the Cash Register of your Favorite Game Store Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:59:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jürgen Hubert http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1730 Jürgen Hubert Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:17:07 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1730 I subverted this trope for Urbis by coming up with an <a href="http://eruvian.com/locale.asp?localeID=358" rel="nofollow">Evil Empire</a> that actually <i>lacks</i> an Evil Overlord - which makes stopping it that much harder. After all, if you kill off the guy in charge (and do so in a way that prevents him from getting resurrected), another one will pop up to replace him - and the new guy might be even more ruthless. I subverted this trope for Urbis by coming up with an Evil Empire that actually lacks an Evil Overlord - which makes stopping it that much harder. After all, if you kill off the guy in charge (and do so in a way that prevents him from getting resurrected), another one will pop up to replace him - and the new guy might be even more ruthless.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1192 ChattyDM Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:58:47 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1192 In our own campaign (borrowed from Monte's Banewarrens) some evil non-humanoids wear bone rings that mark them as lords to an evil organization bent on eliminating all humanoids. Some Humanoids also wear those rings that mark them as subjugated slaves too... (Which may or may not be tied to the BBEG behind my current campaign) In our own campaign (borrowed from Monte’s Banewarrens) some evil non-humanoids wear bone rings that mark them as lords to an evil organization bent on eliminating all humanoids.

Some Humanoids also wear those rings that mark them as subjugated slaves too…

(Which may or may not be tied to the BBEG behind my current campaign)

]]> By: John Arcadian http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1191 John Arcadian Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:38:26 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1191 "Overlord’s direct personality so much, but sprinkle his insane fluff and power-crazed plot devices all over the campaign’s countryside." I definitely like that approach to getting the PCs interested in interacting with the Evil Overlord. Letting them find clues, or bust a low level crime ring, and find that it links up to someone higher. I try to be a lot more freeform with how plots in my games develop, so taking the sideways approach like this often helps. The players will start making stuff up on their own if they are given just a few clues that truly engage them. As far as clues go: "Tattooed on low level humanoids" has got to be a great one to drop on people. “Overlord’s direct personality so much, but sprinkle his insane fluff and power-crazed plot devices all over the campaign’s countryside.”

I definitely like that approach to getting the PCs interested in interacting with the Evil Overlord. Letting them find clues, or bust a low level crime ring, and find that it links up to someone higher. I try to be a lot more freeform with how plots in my games develop, so taking the sideways approach like this often helps. The players will start making stuff up on their own if they are given just a few clues that truly engage them.

As far as clues go:

“Tattooed on low level humanoids”

has got to be a great one to drop on people.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1189 ChattyDM Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:09:11 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1189 It's the simple things you need to build an empire of fear and loathing Asmor. :) Andy: Like any loud-mouth enthusiast, I've said my shares of Bone-headed remarks. If I don't make it as a RPG online persona, I might recycle myself in politics... Thanks for the kind words... lol! Tangen128: The Baron rules, his son is getting there also. Thanks for the kudos! It’s the simple things you need to build an empire of fear and loathing Asmor. :)

Andy: Like any loud-mouth enthusiast, I’ve said my shares of Bone-headed remarks. If I don’t make it as a RPG online persona, I might recycle myself in politics… Thanks for the kind words… lol!

Tangen128: The Baron rules, his son is getting there also. Thanks for the kudos!

]]> By: Asmor http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1187 Asmor Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:06:47 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1187 Seems kind of obvious in retrospect, but I love the idea of giving the BBEG a symbol and putting it everywhere. Seems kind of obvious in retrospect, but I love the idea of giving the BBEG a symbol and putting it everywhere.

]]> By: Andy http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1185 Andy Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:27:06 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1185 Lots of links in an article are a classic sign that the author has invested more of him/herself in developing the post, has done his research. Boy, he's really going all out for this Ennie nomination, eh? :) The first time i saw you write 'Ennie' here I interpreted it as Ernie awards. Turns out there is an 'Ernie Award', in Australia. Handed out to celebrities and politicians for bone-headed remarks. Yeah, I think the Ennie is a better award to strive for, good on you. Lots of links in an article are a classic sign that the author has invested more of him/herself in developing the post, has done his research.

Boy, he’s really going all out for this Ennie nomination, eh? :)
The first time i saw you write ‘Ennie’ here I interpreted it as Ernie awards. Turns out there is an ‘Ernie Award’, in Australia. Handed out to celebrities and politicians for bone-headed remarks.

Yeah, I think the Ennie is a better award to strive for, good on you.

]]> By: Tangent128 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1183 Tangent128 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:38:40 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1183 <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AllBlueEntry" rel="nofollow">Obsessed with links, are we? ;)</a> A good Trope post, as always. One of the better ones even, for tackling such a major Trope. And I agree- Klaus is one of my favorite Overlords. Obsessed with links, are we? ;)

A good Trope post, as always. One of the better ones even, for tackling such a major Trope.

And I agree- Klaus is one of my favorite Overlords.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1182 ChattyDM Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:27:16 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1182 What.....ever! Thanks all the same Yax! Yeah the TV Tropers like to go crazy with the linkys and so do I. :) What…..ever!

Thanks all the same Yax!

Yeah the TV Tropers like to go crazy with the linkys and so do I.

:)

]]> By: Yax http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1181 Yax Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:04:46 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-1181 Geez! That was link-apalooza! I guess the important part about introducing the uber-villain in the campaign is to make his presence felt even if he's never seen. Great work... but you're still going down. Geez! That was link-apalooza!

I guess the important part about introducing the uber-villain in the campaign is to make his presence felt even if he’s never seen.

Great work… but you’re still going down.

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