The Enmity Clause - The Long Game

[Judd]

So, I have played games where the enmity clause meant that the NPC just out and out hated a PC or lead the PC's into an ambush or was just angry and against their goals but tonight I took a different angle.

Tonight he smiled and was reasonable.

Aaron said, "I'm not getting a whole lotta enmity from this guy, Judd."

"Lando was nice at first too, Aaron. 'How're you doing, you old pirate? So good to see you!'"

At the end of the session I reminded them of the baron's enmity and that his betrayal was-a-comin' but how or when was unknown.

The player is attempting to gain the ducal seat that he sees as rightfully his and he needs the Baron and his vassals for the coming war.

Fun.

[John Anderson]

I've found the enmity clause can be a bit forced sometimes and the reasons for their displeasure with the PC at hand a touch contrived. I like the idea of doing a Calrissian on the PCs occasionally as it would really mess with the players' heads even more and give the GM time to really get medieval on their asses.
John

[stormsweeper]

I like oblique results for enmity sometimes. For example, Kublai's character getting bitten by a vampire extended largely from a couple failed circles tests, although neither of those people found were really directly hostile, mainly incompetent.

[Dwight]

Suspense. There is much suspense in delaying the inevitable. You want to do it when a lot is at stake, otherwise it can be a letdown if the end doesn't live up to the suspense buildup.

Excellent move reminding them, to keep the fear fresh.

P.S. I think there is another thread around here from a few months back that talked about this subject too.

[pseudoidiot]

In our current game, towards the beginning there was a pretty good enmity clause result. My character Harkas (Dwarf) really disliked Humans; wanted nothing to do with them; wanted Dwarves to separate themselves from Man. One of my relationships, Danath (brother) really liked humans; thought Dwarves could gain alot by allying more closely with them.

Anyhow, I made a Circles roll to find an NPC that thought like I did.Didn't like humans, etc etc. Failed, of course. Well, I found someone that agreed with me alright. They were just a little extreme. To the point of threatening the life of any Dwarf who seemed like Humans too much, i.e. Danath, whom I had an Oath about protecting.

[Paul B]

Me too -- I also greatly prefer an oblique approach to the Enmity Clause. In fact my most common approach is to play it like they totally nailed the Circles roll, and just file away the fact that this guy they just circled up is destined to totally fuck things up for the character at some point. It also takes some pressure off me to come up with a (probably contrived) reason why and how things turn pear-shaped.

p.