Recurring villain

beejazz · October 17, 2006, 05:19:56 AM

Quote from: Dominus NoxIf you want to hijack the idea of a psycho historian you should read "Foundation" by Isaac Asimov, assuming you haven't already, of course.

Dude, that was SO my favorite book in... has it been since middle school? Jeez, I need to read that one again.

Settembrini · October 17, 2006, 06:02:33 AM

And it`s all already in the Trav background

The Yann Waters · October 17, 2006, 07:28:35 AM

Quote from: RPGPunditBy about page 200 I was in a kind of fugue state, half blacked-out.

Ah, that would explain it: the chapter on the Excrucians begins there, and Hasp is statted out just a little later on page 205. (Attributes: Aspect 3, Spirit 2. Gifts: Eternal, Durant, Glorious, Shapeshifting, The Blind Lie. Virtue: Cruel. Focus: Abhorrent Rifle.)

James McMurray · October 17, 2006, 09:55:44 AM

QuoteVirtue: Cruel

Really?

The Yann Waters · October 17, 2006, 10:12:19 AM

Quote from: James McMurrayReally?

Certainly. Any personality trait at all can be chosen as a Virtue: Vigilance or Apathy, Courage or Cowardice, Chastity or Lust. It's basically a character's defining psychological quality, only transformed into a cosmic power that cannot be denied. Someone with the Virtue of Cruelty could never be convinced to show mercy by any outside force, and he would instinctively find the most cruel course of action in any given situation.

James McMurray · October 17, 2006, 10:40:57 AM

Ah, I get it. I think I would have come up for another name for it though.

The Yann Waters · October 17, 2006, 10:57:23 AM

Quote from: James McMurrayAh, I get it. I think I would have come up for another name for it though.

Well, you could use a term like "Arete" in Mage or divide the whole thing into separate Vices and Virtues, but then again, that might show a bias... The thing to remember is that the setting of Nobilis is largely amoral: Heaven isn't "Good", Hell isn't "Evil", and your character will be rewarded for remaining true to himself and his beliefs no matter what those are. Therefore, becoming an avatar of courage isn't in any way inherently superior to becoming one of cowardice. Whatever the Virtue might be, it is always "absolute, deathless, surpassing the boundaries of the flesh that hold it ... not a condition of their psyche, but rather an elemental force that pervades their being."

James McMurray · October 17, 2006, 10:59:50 AM

Cool. It sounds like an interesting mechanic, I just thought using a word like virtue, which has a very definite meaning, to mean something that not only doesn't fit but also contradicts might not have been the best of ideas. I'm not downplaying the game, just questioning the choice of one particular word.

The Yann Waters · October 17, 2006, 11:16:20 AM

Quote from: James McMurrayIt sounds like an interesting mechanic, I just thought using a word like virtue, which has a very definite meaning, to mean something that not only doesn't fit but also contradicts might not have been the best of ideas.

Yup, I can see how that might seem to be the case. But the point is that anything can made into a virtue (although cultural relativism tends to go unappreciated around here).

By the way, there are two other things to note about them. First of all, the principle of "strength in adversity" applies to Virtues just as it does to Handicaps: you regain miracle points whenever they lead you into trouble. Second, spending an MP is enough to make the Virtue apparent to all around you: if Hasp faces a crowd and lets his Cruelty shine through, everyone there will realize that expecting kindness or mercy from him would be futile, even if they don't know what he is.