Personal Shadows

JongWK · June 11, 2009, 12:14:52 PM

I'm curious. Have you ever had a personal shadow? What's your opinion of them? What did you do with them?

moritheil · June 11, 2009, 12:41:09 PM

I'd say the 2 point option is the best - 1 point to have it and 1 point to have "godlike" control over most of its aspects.

Croaker · June 11, 2009, 01:39:38 PM

I've had PCs using personnal shadows as safe havens, strongholds and traps. Source of armies too: If you've got an entire shadow venerating you as a god, you can easily recruit vast armies to launch against your ennemies (although these'd be human-ranked, of course)

gabriel_ss4u · June 12, 2009, 01:04:52 AM

Protected Shadow.
must have a guardian for it, limited access.

Have a Trump to a safe location in it.

Really think through the specifics of the laws of reality.

Had a player that allowed magic on his Shadow (rune magic) if you knew the runic symbols. Kinda like altering reality in Shadow by rune manipulation.

In my Shadow there are yet lands to be conquered.. or to treaty with.
More adventure around the corner.
populate it with your imagination.
Another favorite is to have a Shadow like a famous existing storyline. (Jedis & predators/aliens, Dune, DragonLance/Krynn, LotR/MiddleEarth, Pern, Melnibone' & the Young Kingdoms (I use those), Cuthulu, Tarzan, Planet of the Apes, whatever!)

RPGPundit · June 16, 2009, 01:37:30 AM

Frankly, I think the only really good reason out there to have a personal shadow with point-investment is for role-playing reasons. Its an investment that's far more rewarding in terms of roleplay and character development than in terms of actual in-system power or anything like that. Certainly, all the things mentioned here are possible and useful from time to time, but I think they're bonus, besides the real point, which is the roleplaying side of it.

RPGPundit

SunBoy · June 16, 2009, 02:59:02 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;308687Frankly, I think the only really good reason out there to have a personal shadow with point-investment is for role-playing reasons. Its an investment that's far more rewarding in terms of roleplay and character development than in terms of actual in-system power or anything like that. Certainly, all the things mentioned here are possible and useful from time to time, but I think they're bonus, besides the real point, which is the roleplaying side of it.

RPGPundit

Ditto.
I've never had one as a player, but a few players of mine have had them, and actually paid points and all just to include them in their backstories. I was pretty proud of that, in a way.

Xenon · June 16, 2009, 03:19:26 PM

a personal shadow is a safe haven. the fortified high ground of shadow where you control the field of battle- great for when someone is bringing an army to kill you. Make it a golden circle shadow and you get an extra whammy- close to Amber, maybe even a member of the circle which means Amber will help defend your realm (and vice versa) which limits how others may attack you there. Nobody cares about a war in shadow, but a war in the golden circle will have the king's attention.

now, a restricted shadow by the golden circle, that would be something valuable. a place close to Amber where your family has difficulty following you, safe from trump contact, yet able to quickly return to the one true city. better still if you need to imprison someone there- beyond the reach of trump, and ignorant of the secret way to exit that shadow. 4 points is such a small cost for safe haven and prison.

but yeah, the RP aspect is teh fun part

jibbajibba · June 16, 2009, 04:20:49 PM

Ah personal shadows are so passe what you need is a maleable trump pocket construct....

gabriel_ss4u · June 17, 2009, 01:14:16 AM

why yes... I think I do need one of those.

RPGPundit · June 18, 2009, 06:44:32 PM

In my game, at least, the GC shadows have advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage being that its an extremely important shadow to own. The disadvantages being that, even mechanically, you can't just whatever you like with it. It has to follow the GC "rules" (no high-tech, shadows for example, and nothing too out there as far as physical laws either). Also, its more visible obviously.
One of my players actually owns Eregnor now (having found out he was the son of Dalt).

RPGPundit

Schattensturm · June 18, 2009, 08:28:50 PM

Quote from: gabriel_ss4u;308914why yes... I think I do need one of those.

They get a lot cheaper when the new model comes out, so wait a few month

Xenon · June 18, 2009, 08:40:31 PM

you mean the new model created by the guy with high compelling? there's a reason a gives them away for free

gabriel_ss4u · June 18, 2009, 11:04:41 PM

Harry Hussain; the Mad Turk, now selling used constructs... come take a gander at these!

Tarondor · August 17, 2009, 09:39:33 PM

I have not allowed my players to have the fancy bells and whistles on their shadows. But as a player I often have a 1-point shadow. It is first of all perfect for creating a good background and as a story element. Second of all, it is a good place to act within. After all, I get to set the stage and define the elements to any degree I like. Story is all. I couldn't care less about the power. Power is ultimately boring.

gabriel_ss4u · August 18, 2009, 10:13:32 AM

Quote from: Tarondor;321592But as a player I often have a 1-point shadow. It is first of all perfect for creating a good background and as a story element. Second of all, it is a good place to act within. After all, I get to set the stage and define the elements to any degree I like.

Yes... but for another meager point, Harry Hussain can sell you the same shadow with control of everything in it, changing it during storytime, control of events, that's where it's at. why spend 1 for a setting when you can spend 2 and cancel out that pesky logrus user trying to reach you there?

Gimme a 2 pointr anyday.