Relationships and Affiliations

[donbaloo]

I need to firm up my understanding of these two aspects of characters. So are relationships the only NPC the character can meet with upon demand? I'm trying to figure out a good example of what I'm getting at...say I'm a village guard and I've purchased a relationship with my sergeant so I can contact whenever I want to. But then at some point in the game I want to contact just a village guard buddy of mine that's not the sergeant. That requires a Circles test? And if I fail it, I couldn't find one? How is that explained away in narration? Or for some reason I want to visit my father that I haven't purchased a relationship with but fail a circle test. Must all individuals that should logically be close to me be purchased?

Same with Affiliations. If I'm a mercenary am I required to purchase an Affiliation with my Mercenary unit and if not, what does that mean? Does any of this make sense? :?

[luke]

The only NPCs of significance that the PLAYERS may call into being are their relationships. Of course, as the GM, you are free to build NPCs into story as you see fit. In fact, it's your job.


And it's important to note that THERE IS NO FRIEND until that Circles test is made. If the player didn't spend rps on a relationship, that character doesn't necessarily exist until created in play by a Circles test.

If the village guard player fails his test to find his buddy, a number of circumstances could arise depending on the player's intent. First, all his friends could have moved on. They all could be dead (from mysterious circumstances). None of them remember him. They, in fact, remember him and hated him because he was the goody goody. Etc, etc.

If your father was important to the story/character, then you would have spent rps on him in character burning.

If you're just going meet with Dad for color, what's the point of rolling? Say yes or roll the dice. Goes for all incidental characters that make up the mise-en-scene.

If dad is important to the story, then HELL YES you have to roll your Circles.

A mercenary who wants to be a part of his company and use their clout when trying to track down info would do well to purchase an affiliation. You don't have to. Just means you're a nominal member with no ties. They probably don't even know your name. They'll probably put you on the front lines during the assaults.

-L

[Thor Olavsrud]

And if I fail it, I couldn't find one?

And just to emphasize: don't forget the Enmity Clause. You can find one all right, but he's working against you. You may even decide that the character doesn't know. But the player knows and the GM knows. Where will that take the game? We'll find out together.

[donbaloo]

Got it. Thanks.

[kaomera]

I'm strongly suggesting all the characters for my Black Company game have an Affiliation with the unit, or else come up with a reason why not. The unit is a bit small for the members not to know each others' names, but I figured Affiliation == "Hey, how you doing?"; no Affiliation == "What do you want???"

[donbaloo]

That's sort of what I'm dealing with kaomera, and trying to figure out the consequences of having no Affiliation with the group you're a member of. Three of the four are gonna be members of the unit, respected members even I'd assume since they've been chosen as the infiltration unit, but I didn't know if they had to purchase that affiliation. The way we have it set up, the unit won't be showing up in its entirety until the end of the scenario...at least we're planning for the group's role to take place prior to the units arrival. So since the unit itself was really gonna be pretty much unavailable for any Circle calls I feel bad making them spend resource points on an affiliation that probably won't be beneficial when they could purchase a juicy relationship with those points instead. Just didn't know how to handle it. If this was gonna be a long running campaign then I'd definately push purchasing the Affiliation.

[luke]

The way we have it set up, the unit won't be showing up in its entirety until the end of the scenario...at least we're planning for the group's role to take place prior to the units arrival. So since the unit itself was really gonna be pretty much unavailable for any Circle calls I feel bad making them spend resource points on an affiliation that probably won't be beneficial when they could purchase a juicy relationship with those points instead. Just didn't know how to handle it.

Whoa there, pardner! Why wouldn't their affiliation to the unit be available for Circles tests while they are in town?

Anytime they could through their Company's weight around, players can call on their Affiliation die. It's not just within the Company, but anyone who the Company would logically be dealing with, too. Suppliers, caravaners, manufacturers, spies, etc.

An example is in order:
"Hey there friend, I'm looking for a blacksmith to do a special job, you know?"
"Piss off, bits!"
::flashes Company livery::
"Well, why didn't you say so in the first place?! Sure, I know a guy down by ze river."

-L

[donbaloo]

Anytime they could through their Company's weight around, players can call on their Affiliation die. It's not just within the Company, but anyone who the Company would logically be dealing with, too. Suppliers, caravaners, manufacturers, spies, etc.

Well that's what I'm struggling with too really, the actual crux of this infiltration. We've all sort of viewed it as them being there and, at all costs, not giving out any clues that the unit was there yet. We're running it like Black Company but I didn't want to use the name because I didn't want to trounce all over the written canon and mislead the guys as to what was in the books. But that's the feel we're going for. Not just a mercenary squad...but the mercenary squad. They're some of the best in the business. But...the characters in our scenario are making an effort to not let the cat out of the bag yet when it comes to two points, 1. that the Empire has even taken interest yet in this little rebellion and 2. the Empire hasn't just sent a rag tag group of hotheads to quell the problem...they've sent the baddest son of a bitches money can buy. So, could they still benefit from this affiliation while incognito?

[luke]

So, could they still benefit from this affiliation while incognito?

I see your problem. But I think your first instinct is a good one: don't make the players pay for something they're not going to use.

That's where your GM-itude comes in. Work in sympathizers or other associates who are available, but underground. Maybe they can't tap them until they make a basic Circles test without benefit of their Affiliation. You know, they go around a drop a few names and see who turns up. If they're successful, they can then use their Affiliation on future rolls. If they fail... well, perhaps some old friends show up with an axe to grind (on their teeth).

-L