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Flora: Just how smart is she?

Started by RPGPundit, October 09, 2008, 01:19:43 AM

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Corvus

#15
October 17, 2008, 07:24:43 AM
I would suggest that the source of the apparent differences between Corwin's Flora and Merlin's Flora lie in the biases of the narrators.  It's pretty obvious, to me at least, that Corwin considered Flora good for just about nothing.  Merlin did not have such prejudice, and in his tale we see Flora as more competent.  She is in no way the genius that Fiona is, but she's definitely capable of handling herself amid the intrigues of her siblings.  I think Corwin's Flora is an unflattering portrait painted by a man who simply doesn't like her at all.
"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." -- Carl Sagan

SunBoy

#16
October 17, 2008, 06:06:03 PM
That's pretty interesting, but more than "not like her at all" I'd say "despises her for not being power mad", which could be why in the end, when Corwin thinks he has forsaken his prejudices and stuff he sees her (and everybody else) in a little softer way; a quite more contemptuous way, of course, but that's Corwin for you.
"Real randomness, I\'ve discovered, is the result of two or more role-players interacting"

Erick Wujcik, 2007

Corvus

#17
October 18, 2008, 03:11:45 PM
That is indeed Corwin, and I think you're right.
"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." -- Carl Sagan

weilide

#18
October 18, 2008, 10:25:15 PM
Quote from: SunBoy;257991That's pretty interesting, but more than "not like her at all" I'd say "despises her for not being power mad", which could be why in the end, when Corwin thinks he has forsaken his prejudices and stuff he sees her (and everybody else) in a little softer way; a quite more contemptuous way, of course, but that's Corwin for you.

Just out of curiosity, what makes you think "more contemptuous?" I guess I've just always read it slightly differently...

Malleus Arianorum

#19
October 19, 2008, 04:32:37 AM
In game terms I think she's built on far fewer points than the other Amberites. Having been dealt such a hand, she's doing the smart thing by playing dumb and help out one of the real movers and shakers.
 
If the series had gone on I could see her as sort of the female version of Random. He wasn't doing so hot when the series started out either but by earning Corwin's respect he got to be part of the inner circle.
That\'s pretty much how post modernism works. Keep dismissing details until there is nothing left, and then declare that it meant nothing all along. --John Morrow
 
Butt-Kicker 100%, Storyteller 100%, Power Gamer 100%, Method Actor 100%, Specialist 67%, Tactician 67%, Casual Gamer 0%

Nihilistic Mind

#20
October 26, 2008, 12:42:34 PM
If there was a stat that involved being prettier and more diplomatic than others in the game system, she might be taken care of in terms of point balance...

Fortunately, we let the magic of 'roleplaying' decide a lot of that. Besides, we all know her approach to diplomacy: if you can't control it, simply cry and appear defenseless. Being attractive doesn't hurt in diplomacy, obviously.
Running:
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Star Wars with homemade ruleset (Roll&Keep type system).

Malleus Arianorum

#21
November 10, 2008, 02:00:18 AM
Update: I'm running a game with alot of Flora-time. One of the benefits to being a bit simple, is that the convoluted stuff goes over her head. In this way she's harder to fool than some of the others.
 
Player: (after several miniutes of lying)...and so it is he, not I, who is the REAL threat to Amber! :sinister:
Flora: I don't care what you say. He's always been a perfect gentleman to me.
Player: But, but, but...
Flora: And, and, ANNNNNNNND!!! ahem. And he would never, stand up a princess of Amber. :snooty:
That\'s pretty much how post modernism works. Keep dismissing details until there is nothing left, and then declare that it meant nothing all along. --John Morrow
 
Butt-Kicker 100%, Storyteller 100%, Power Gamer 100%, Method Actor 100%, Specialist 67%, Tactician 67%, Casual Gamer 0%

Corvus

#22
November 11, 2008, 02:00:20 AM
Quote from: Malleus Arianorum;264817Player: (after several miniutes of lying)...and so it is he, not I, who is the REAL threat to Amber! :sinister:
Flora: I don't care what you say. He's always been a perfect gentleman to me.
Player: But, but, but...
Flora: And, and, ANNNNNNNND!!! ahem. And he would never, stand up a princess of Amber. :snooty:

I'm strongly reminded of the "Gerard's bad side" thread for some reason...
"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." -- Carl Sagan

Malleus Arianorum

#23
November 11, 2008, 02:15:43 AM
Just wait till we get to Brand.
 
Player: But why won't you listen to reason?!
Brand: La-la-la! I can't hear you! I'm thinking about my rug!
That\'s pretty much how post modernism works. Keep dismissing details until there is nothing left, and then declare that it meant nothing all along. --John Morrow
 
Butt-Kicker 100%, Storyteller 100%, Power Gamer 100%, Method Actor 100%, Specialist 67%, Tactician 67%, Casual Gamer 0%

Corvus

#24
November 11, 2008, 06:20:59 AM
Player: "Your Majesty, please..."
Random: *drumdrumdrumdrumdrum* "...  What was that?  I couldn't hear you."
"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." -- Carl Sagan

Trevelyan

#25
November 12, 2008, 10:02:34 AM
Quote from: Malleus Arianorum;264817Update: I'm running a game with alot of Flora-time. One of the benefits to being a bit simple, is that the convoluted stuff goes over her head. In this way she's harder to fool than some of the others.
 
Player: (after several miniutes of lying)...and so it is he, not I, who is the REAL threat to Amber! :sinister:
Flora: I don't care what you say. He's always been a perfect gentleman to me.
Player: But, but, but...
Flora: And, and, ANNNNNNNND!!! ahem. And he would never, stand up a princess of Amber. :snooty:
The real genius of that is that she could still be playing the part of the dumb blonde while really seeing through the player's deceptions. They can never know.
 

Sargon

#26
November 18, 2008, 12:55:41 AM
I made her a major antagonist one time.  She wasnt' the strognest or the smartest, but she did manage to capture fiona and put her inside a device that harvested her for magical power and fed it to flora, which boosted flora's overall power level to about on par  with the other elders.  when the players freed fiona and blew the device up, flora ( who had already slept with oen of them) went to that character and cried, saying she only did it because so afraid and needed to feel safe from her scarey siblings.  then she begged for said character's protection :>
"Uncle Sargon, how can I traverse shadow the "royal way?"
"It's easy, instead of riding your usual mount you ride Flora.  Just remember that others have been there first, lots of others...."
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