Most popular Amberite?

[RPGPundit]

Which of the Elders do your PCs tend to interact with most in your campaigns?  And is this due to your own manipulation, or is it your players' own choices?

RPGPundit

[Artifacts of Amber]

In my current game (and most others) It is the Character's parents first then the Elders that are around amber a lot which by defualt is the king, gerard, julain (though in Arden and not nice / welcoming in most my games), and maybe one other I choose based on who would work best as mentor or protaginiest.

[finarvyn]

I think that my players are partial to Corwin, and I'm sure it's because he was the main protagonist in the early books. Heck, I like him best as well and this probably adds an extra level of bias.

[Tolknor]

In my last game Bleys was by far the most active as a helper and a hindrance to the players.  I used Caine as Spymaster of Amber and he got a lot of play too.   Benedict was probably third most active though that was often to arrange training for PC followers.  Flora ran much of the diplomatic services in Amber.  As Hostess of Amber she over saw social activities and that ended up involving the players in constant duties for the crown, often to their irritation.

[Croaker]

Dworkin and Suhuy.

Probably because they were the greatest keepers of secret lore, and that's what my players were interested in.

Julian, too, because of Arden.

[Tolknor]

Dworkin and Suhuy.

Probably because they were the greatest keepers of secret lore, and that's what my players were interested in.

ya, thats what they want and its why neither of these two were regular presences in my games.  I had them as tenders of discipline. So if things were getting out of hand they showed up and calmed things down.  Only happened a couple times.

[Croaker]

lol

Oh, I'm more of a "give them power!" kind of guy. And since I had them recruiting for their side...

[RPGPundit]

Aside from "whoever is currently king", my players tended to gravitate toward Benedict if he was around, even though he was very rarely interested in helping or interfering except when it comes to his own kids.
I think they were just drawn to the fact that he's the biggest badass around, and so they'd go running to him anytime they hoped he might just do something they wanted.

RPGPundit

[JongWK]

Aside from "whoever is currently king", my players tended to gravitate toward Benedict if he was around, even though he was very rarely interested in helping or interfering except when it comes to his own kids.
I think they were just drawn to the fact that he's the biggest badass around, and so they'd go running to him anytime they hoped he might just do something they wanted.

RPGPundit

From what I remember of the last campaign we played, I'm not sure it was a matter of him being a badass, but the fact that he is often seen as a no-nonsense guy who doesn't engage in bullshit and gets to the point--an oddity among Amberites.

[sir brad]

Fiona has bean popular so far in my new game for those wanting to learn Lore and Practical Magic, as she normally is.

Flora runs mixers for the younger amberites, players tend to suck up to her a bit if they have the time, since she sends out the invites to the Private affairs and notices for the public ones. Lots of Plotting and Networking goes on at "Auntie Floras Do's".

sometimes some PC's will tag along on one of Gerads cross shadow pub crawls but they stay on thew periphery of the pack.

but for the most part they try to keep out of the way of their Grand Parents and Grate Grand Parents generation unless summoned or they really need something as their frightened that they may get caught up in the next round of the Game of Thrones or end up as collateral damage when some unrelated grudge blows up wile their on hand.

[jibbajibba]

Hello to Sir Brad, welcome and all that.

In my games I don't use the elders as I have said before. So I will twist the OP a little and try and say who the Players PCs most try and emulate as a sign of admiration.

In fact I will run through them with comments

Corwin - a popular PC type. Basically good, strong across a range of areas no real weakness. Displays human emotion so yes a popular 'PC type'

Eric - tough no nonsense but most players see him as rather too slick so I have had few emulators

Caine - by far the most popular. The idea of Caine as the spymaster of Amber came from somewhere, it's not in the books, but it is an accepted wisdom. Every game I run there is always a spymaster type PC once I had 3 in the same game. MOST POPULATR AMBERITE

Benedict - Benedict is obviously tough but he is a bit of a nob. He gets tricked by Brand, Corwin, etc etc he is a bit like Ned Stark, predictable and so easy to manipulate. I have had plenty of PCs who want to be the toughest but only a couple who adopt the honorable aspect of Benedict along with it.

Random - old Random is a popular PC type. Devil may care, hard drinking, hard womanising wanderer. New Random is something you only get to through game play.

Fiona - Smart cunning female ruthless and magical. This is a really popular PC type. There is always someone who wants to be the top Psyche type and for those players looking to play a female character Fiona is the most popular modus.

Flora - Beautiful is a prereq of all female PCs, no one has yet to ask to play an ugly one, although I think Brienne of Tarth might change that for future games. Few want to play PCs with Flora's seeming limitations. You get master manipulator versions of Flora but they are usually played more like Fiona.  Not popular.

Gerard - Honest and strong. This is a popular PC type. I think becuase it represents a simpler play style some players are drawn to it. Honest and High warefare isn't as popular I suspect becuase the warfare auction alwys goes much higher so it attracts a more ruthless player. Gerard characters usually have no apparent weakness. Rank 1 Strength, advanced Pattern is the most common I have seen. But the player is often the sort of guy that trusts too much and deals with the wrong sort of devil.

Julian - the Ranger of Arden is always popular. It gives a PC their own area of strength. Few select to be quite as unpleasant as Julian but they often choose to be a loner with a large force of creatures of some type.

Bleys - Another popular PC type. Bleys style PCs are the ones always trying to broker a deal and be friend, strong cross over with Luke types. High stats and a few powers trying to be 3rd rank in most everything.

Brand - there is always one. the PC that takes Band stuff to get advanced powers and max Psyche. Usually rather like Brand they have a fatal flaw because they have paid the price to learn the last of Dworkin's law, a price that usually includes Chaos rank Strength.

Merlin - a little like Brand but less risk. Merlin PCs have all the powers and low stats but they haven't really exposed themselves to get advanced powers. Merlin PCs, much like Merlin himself, tend to try and get along with everyone they want character powers rather than in game POWER. Usually one of these in each game.

Dierdre - not a popular type probably because they are not well known. However, the Amazon warrioress is a character type that appears if you have enough female players. though she is some way behind Fiona types.

Luke - a certain sort of player likes these characters so they are always popular. It's an odd mismatch usually, advanced powers + high warfare and strength. Usually means not enough gun to run the powers off psyche but the player wants to confuse and is very much about poliitcal intrigue. If I use my Political influence stat as a new base stat this guy always wins that auction.

Finndo/Osric - very popular PC type the elder brother lost for centuries returning to Amber. Usually high warfare though powers/psyche versions are not unknown. Always one in every game.

Llewella - very unpopular. Few players want to play a PC that doesn't look full human (at least when they want to) and Remba is usually a place PCs get send or assigned to as opposed to choose even though it's a huge powerbase close to Amber.

Martin - popular PC the cyberpunk type usually with implants that they buy as items so they work in Amber. A shadowrun magic/cyberpunk cross is the most common.

There are other popular tropes. The Minstrel (corwin doesn't realy suit this archetype) , The Nomad, The Drunk/Wastrel, The Teacher, The Artist (less tortured than Brand)  and a few other commone ones.

[sir brad]

ATM none of my players are modeling themselves after any of the Elders. We have a Artist who is the "Ward" of "Aunty Fiona" and a bit of a seer.

one of Brands daughters by Chaos, she is a shape-shifter and has a few very attractive forms both male and female, she prefers to look like a mannish woman who could perhaps be described as handsome.

our "King of Strength" is a "genius bruiser" and our top Warfare is a "Prank Ninja"

[Tolknor]

Hello to Sir Brad, welcome and all that.

Caine - by far the most popular. The idea of Caine as the spymaster of Amber came from somewhere, it's not in the books, but it is an accepted wisdom. Every game I run there is always a spymaster type PC once I had 3 in the same game. MOST POPULATR AMBERITE

The Spymaster thing came from me.  Caine is the logical choice for chief sneaky bastard.  In my most recent game he had a collection of contacts leading deep into shadow.  After Patternfall many new places became av ailable to exploit.  Setting up a Spy network in the Black Zone became a vital interest for the security of Amber.  He relied on his own children for his Secret Cabinet.

Random - old Random is a popular PC type. Devil may care, hard drinking, hard womanising wanderer. New Random is something you only get to through game play.  

Ya, many of my players had a lot in common with Random.  Making their characters act differently is role playing!  

Julian - the Ranger of Arden is always popular. It gives a PC their own area of strength. Few select to be quite as unpleasant as Julian but they often choose to be a loner with a large force of creatures of some type.

As i have commented elsewhere.  My Julian got religion.  The PCs knew they could get him to help settle things but it meant they would have to attend services more regularly!

Dierdre - not a popular type probably because they are not well known. However, the Amazon warrioress is a character type that appears if you have enough female players. though she is some way behind Fiona types.  

I had a pair of Deirdre's over two campaigns.  One, Lyta, died well at the end of a campaign.  In the next game, Doria, was the tough chick of the game who got dragged through the meat grinder.  She was a character out of the Travel Guides.  Lady of Charm from the Black Company series.  Nice to have history.  In my last game poor Deirdre came out of the Abyss deranged, damaged, and healed by a great wolf of the blood of Amber and Chaos.  Complicated and tragic but really amusing.

[jibbajibba]

ATM none of my players are modeling themselves after any of the Elders. We have a Artist who is the "Ward" of "Aunty Fiona" and a bit of a seer.

one of Brands daughters by Chaos, she is a shape-shifter and has a few very attractive forms both male and female, she prefers to look like a mannish woman who could perhaps be described as handsome.

our "King of Strength" is a "genius bruiser" and our top Warfare is a "Prank Ninja"

Based on is too strong a term her is a list of PCs, allies and NPCs from one of my first games c 95 or so. This was a mixed Play by snail mail, face to face and extended trump contacts by phone, run by 2 GMs.
I was on and I also play Hugo in the other DMs half of the game. He is more an NPC antagonist that a PC though.
we had 12 PCs see if you can guess which ones are PCs? This is written from Hugo's perspective and so is deliberately playful.
The archetypes are there you can see them poking out just sometimes with an odd foible.

Luke - The Eternal Champion
I never knew Luke only his legend. I do not doubt that many of us are in the same position. His status as Amber's greatest blade was due in the main to Ernaux's constant tales of prowess. However, he proved his skill at the Battle of Angels and died sacrificing his life for the home he had not seen for 700 years.
His statue stands now as a beacon of all that is noble within us and with it his legend grows still stronger.


Reuben - The King's Right Hand
During Luke's long absence from Amber Reuben was Oberon's heir apparent. In this role as favoured son Reuben has had access to a lot of things banned to the rest of us but a life plagued with misfortune his wife Clarise was killed in Arden protecting their two sones from an assassin or at least that is how Reuben tells the tale.
He has acted as father's steward whenever the old man was away in shadow and the current situation, with Cassandra as Regent and Dane named as hier, must really cut to the quick. I wonder what the unemployed ex-steward will do to pass the time?


Dorian - The Lady Killer
Dark, brooding and mysterious Dorian was seldom seen without a beautiful woman on his arm and the tears flowed when he fell trying, unsucessfully I may add, to prevent the usurper Blackavar walking the pattern of Amber.
There are rumours his death was not all it seemed but I myself viewed the body and can vouchsave for his demise. One thing is certain if he does return from the grave no woman will be save, so lock up your wives and daughters just in case.

Ernaux - The Stalwart Defender
Strong of arm and short of temper. Ernaux was Amber's guardian for as long as most of us can remember. To him the most important single thing was the defense of the realm a facet that served to make him boorish, tactless and monocular on occassion but always honest. Dispite these faults he always remained loyal which one supposes is cause for praise.
In these dark times his blade would be of great use to us so it is a pity that he chose them to get himself turned into a statue.If you feel like it why not pay him a visit. I am sure even he has grown weary of the conversation of pigeons.

Janaya - Tyrant of Rebma
Here is a strange one and no mistake. Imposed as queen on Amber's watery reflection by an Oberon in need of stability in that place she was ititially reluctant but soon grew used to the post.
Janaya was the surviving child from a set of twins. Amber's only known case of such a thing. She supports her full brothers without hesitation and was the first to leap to Dorian's defence following his breach of protocol in allowing the renegade Blackavar to walk the pattern. With Ernaux out of the way, Luke and Dorian dead and Reuben dispossed she must feel somewhat at sea at the moment, if you pardon the pun. Who knows how far her watery arm can still stretch?



Prospero - The Wayward Exile
Always one for an arguement Prospero was the only Amber based child of Oberon not to walk the pattern. This in itself could be put down to childish petulence, but when he confronted father over the issue accusing him of controlling power with some foolish initiation rite Oberon threw him out nevver to return on pain of death. Prospero fled, as well you might expect using some of the Trump skill he learnt under Dworkin.
Ten years ago all trumps of prospero burn up and as far as I am aware no one has been able to recreate one since though why anyone would want to is quite beyond me.

Tyrone - Shadow of Amber
Behind every kingdom there is a  darker power seldom mentioned; the Finder of Lost Things, the one the king sends on the grubbier missions. Amber is no exception for we have Tyrone. These last ten years have been hard work for him and rumours still persist that the information he gave about the Battle of Angels could have been a little more...precise perhaps. Yes rumours abound about brother Tyrone not least of which that he is still in contact with fated brother Prospero, what an alliance that would make!
Still he cuts a dashing figure through Court and spends most of his time playing chess, a game he claims to have invented, which I always felt gave him something of an advantage.

Hector - Admiral of the Fleets
Flamboyant, dashing and gallant to young and old alike, Hector, is more at home on the fo'c'stle of one of Amber's flagships than ashore. His naval tactics and knowledge of the ways of the sea have saved Amber many times but of late he has little to do. He, rather conveniently some have said though not I, missed the Battle of Angels and this perhaps has cost him some respect amongst his kin though he has many allies in Court and the city below.
Even his birth has a strange twist with Dworkin having to help delivery the ailing newborn, Porcia, his mother died in the process. I always thought grandfather could be rather careless.

Hugo - The Court Magician
Greetings, for I am Hugo; magi, conjurer and persifleur. Some would have you believe that I am the Spawn of Chaos, the Harbinger of Doom but that is but idle prattle. I am the only one of Clara's children to have walked the pattern and the blood of Amber burns as fierce in my veins as in those of any of my kin.
I am of course the only Amberite you can truely trust. Come and we will while away a few hours and work out some solution to your gravest worry.

Duncan - The Prodigal Son
Remarkable in many ways, Duncan walked the pattern alone and unassisted at the age of 12 and then disappeared into shadow. I for one was suprised when he returned thirteen years since ... just three years before the fateful death of Dorian and the acts of Blackavar.
With his mother and Fallon gone he must rely on sister Charity to lend him political influence, a sore position for a Prince of Amber.
A magician of some promise he showed signs of ability, if not flair, on the battlements of Amber against the Angelic throng. surely it is time this errant wanderer took on some responsibility as befitts his station.

Sloane - The Chaos Queen
Sister Sloane how I miss you dear companionship. I wish that you troubles in the Courts were less vexing and your welcome here somewhat warmer. Visiting Amber for the first time in centuries for the Sanctum she left soon after following the open hostility of the elder family, not least that of Ernaux.
Returning to the Courts she became embroiled in some complex plot the specifics of which I am unware of suffice it to say she fled to shadow and has not been in contact these 8 years past. Prehaps she dwells in shadow still waiting for a chance of salvation.

Oberon - The Once and Future King
Oberon is an enigma. Founder of Amber, father of us all. He rules with an iron hand. Mercy is not a faculty he displays nor encourages. The son of Dworkin his origins are shrouded in myth and superstition. He never talks of this subject. Perhaps he was born in Chaos and came out here to walk Dworkin's pattern or perhaps he was conceived here, as some believe, in a union between Dworkin and the Unicorn. The details are known only to two of them.
Currently away from Amber once again, he has left Casandra in charge. His reasons for this are unclear.No doubt he will return anon.

Porcia - The Reluctant Bride      
Porcia's marriage to Oberon came about as a direct result of Ernaux's destruction of the Celestial City. Porcia was daughter to the ruler of that doom-laden place and was saved from the ruination and taken to Amber as a prize.
Porcia fell from grace, following the Ubiquitous Triumvirate affair and dad put her aside. He needed to make peace with Chaos and so took himself there returning a year or so later with Clara and a full family in tow.
Oberon was re-united with Porcia for a short time before she died giving birth to the sickly Hector.

Gala - The Harsh Mistress
A noblewoman from the Golden Circle kingdom of Thassa. Her's was initially another political union but she hung in their for 50 years before age got the better of her.
Gala worked her kids real hard. They studied under Dworkin, and developed a range of interesting talents. This is probably why all of them except Garreth are one stick short of a bundle.

Clara - The Wild Temptress
Mother, mother and what then say I say of you. We have had our disagreements in the past, you always sought for us to follow your grand schemes, and we had plans of our own.
Clara, princess of Chaos was web to Oberon to seal a peace that lasts until this day. More than that their joining brought an infusion of Chaos blood back into Oberon's fading line. Yes there were arguments and blood may have been spilt on Amber's royal carpets but in the end if you dance with the devil...


Jude - The Sorrowful Babe
One of twins with Janaya, Jude died at childbirth. She didn't make it past her second hour of life.
The twin pattern carried on through Florimel's line and now Torbjorn and Konrad are the latest addition to the Amber clan.

Cyrus - The Lone Peacemaker
Cyrus is a prime example of what can happen if you don't pay attention to your kids. He spent his youth in deep study with Dworkin and when he returned to Amber was constantly trying to patch up the oldest feuds in Amber. He even tried to get Prospero and Ernaux together. He is of course quite insane which is why I had to lock him away, for his own good you understand.

Ranelagh - The Fractious Connoisseur
Almost the opposite of Cyrus, Ranelagh is urbane, talented and a borderline psychotic. His youth was marked by excessive rages and smashing of furniture, I wouldn't be surprised if he had killed a load of household animals as well.
A skilled artist and architect he spends most of his time in shadow where he keeps extensive vineyards. He hasn't been in Amber for a number of years.  

Gareth - The Tranquil Soul
Gareth alone of Gala's children doesn't exhibit any obvious insanity. That's not to say he isn't insane but if he is he hides it real good. A man at peace with himself, Gareth needs no one only his music and his own thoughts.
Arden is Gareth's realm. It is here he spent his time and he knows all it's secrets. He may have left Amber now but I'll wager he still watches his spiritual home.

Fallon - The Noble Courtier
Fallon was, like Charity, one of Rebecca's main successes. Popular with the people and courtiers alike he was a stalwart of the crown leading an important section of the Defenders in the Battle of the Angels. In addition to these noble traits he was a talented artist, skilled artisan and an accomplished swordsman. It is therefore hardly surprising that we were all soooo upset when he vanished along with his overly manipulative mother from their country retreat in Arden.
Yes Fallon was the sort of guy who would respond to a jibe with a courteous bow, an insult with a bright laugh and an opportunity with a blade in the back.


Charity - The Toast of Amber
Always at the centre of any conversation or any party, Charity seems to revel in the limelight of the Royal House, and whereas the rest of us eventually tire of the platitudes and compliments of nobles and courtiers she is never more at home. She had been running the Royal Household with her mother for years but now with Cassandra in charge well...
When not planning balls and festivities she is off in shadow shopping for clothes on the streets of Milan and Paris. But be warned siblings for I feel there may be more to Sister Charity than a pretty face and an infinite charge account

Rebecca - The Artful Manipulator
Rebecca was Oberon's wife for longer than any other. You don't get that sort of record without knowing how to stuff a ballot box or twist a few arms. She was the master of political intrigue, I guarantee behind every treaty, every noble duel and every royal wedding her influence can be found. If you ask Reuben how he met Clarisa or Felix how he became Duke of Candles, Rebecca was there somewhere.
It all makes you wonder who she pushed so far they had to get rid of her or maybe dad just got bored with her continual wittering...

Eloise - The Gypsy Princess
If ever there was an Amberite ill suited to the rigours of court life it was Eloise. She emerged from shadow by means unknown claiming lineage from Oberon. She walked the Pattern, lived and so proved her point. Preferring her cottage in Arden to the castle somehow she was always in touch with all court gossip a trait that annoyed Charity, who regarded her liaisons as private affairs.
She was wild, individual and free but now she is gone, following an assault on her home, I hope to a calmer place.


Ariel - The Dark Siren
Every family has a black sheep, ours is Ariel. Another graduate of the Gala school of child rearing she, apparently, never took to the study. No instead she decided to get involved in religion. Never one to do things by half, she didn't just join the local choir, oh no not our Ariel, she started her own little cult and started desecrating the Unicorn shrines around Amber. Dad should have killed her but he decided exile was enough. Oh yes don't worry we haven't seen the last of sister Ariel...

Cassandra - The Willing Regent
Cassandra is the latest wife to be bought to Amber by Oberon. She has already displayed a shrewdness and love of power that would benefit one on the noble line and now sits as Regent on the throne of Amber.
There are those of us who find her position untenable and her attitude unbearable. It will be a dark day in Amber before she can relax in her new found role.

Dane - The Rightful Heir
Spoilt, arrogant and precocious, Dane has much to learn about the nature of his position in the court. Oberon may have recognised him as his rightful heir but he really has to learn that you get nothing in life without paying the price and this price may just be too high.

Torbjorn - The Hand of Justice
Torbjorn is a man obsessed since before he could stand his only ambition has
been to bring his mother's killer to justice. He was training with the blade before he could walk and was Ernaux's star pupil. Such obsessive behaviour makes him more akin to his uncle than his father Reuben and there were even a couple of rumours flying around... well they were obviously unfounded. He has finally left for shadow to follow the trail of Rebecca and Fallon hoping it leads him to
his mother's killer. I for one wish him well on his quest.

Konrad - The Wiley Trickster
Konrad has something most Amberites have lost, a sense of humour. He is renown for playing various practical jokes, some funny some not so funny. However beneath this frivolous exterior he is as driven as his brother in the quest for his mother's killer.

A talented student he is skilled at many arcane arts and shows great promise and with me as his teacher he may go far.

Reynardine - The Poetic Dreamer
As a child Reynardine was absent, distracted and distant. As a young adult he expressed his disdain for the squabbles of his older siblings and the wiles of court. Warden of Dreams he kept a keen if slightly stoned eye on the goings on in the ethereal realm and possibly learnt something of its meaning. Now he is gone but apparently he keeps in touch. Charity claims he, like Torbjorn, searches for his mother in shadow.