Post by Tout-Perd on Jan 31, 2016 9:35:26 GMT -5
So, our discussion about fixing up Shouta got me fixing we should have a thread where RPers can ask for ideas and opinions to help spark them into adapting old cruddy ideas into something a bit more workable.
In my case, I'm struggling with Abatis... I mean, c'mon, he's pretty clearly a huge mover and shaker (he created the evil Zebedee clone that was used to make Basilisk, he pushed Helen towards her school of magic, he's got ties to Parmigianino, the Fascere Order, AND Psymendjes, and so forth). But my problem is I'd planned on him dithering around as Prime's nemesis for a few years while doing his scheming, using Prime's ridiculous rate of power growth to calibrate and design his own improvements.
You can see this in quite a few RPs, actually, considering that he actually was the one who pushed Helen to raid the Parmigianino Institute in Chords (directly leading to one of Prime's deaths/resurrections, which if the RP had finished, he would have been revealed as the bald magus who cast the cloning spell that mortally wounded Prime), and in Triannual, he's right on hand to make sure yet another cycle of Prime's death-power up resurrections happened properly. I don't know if he had a greater goal besides curiosity, like say, creating an army of super-powerful perpetually resurrecting Primes, or if he actually was just toying with an interesting soul like a kid with a bug.
I do know what Abatis' grand goal is, and what his ethos leading into is. After all, he designed a system that
Negates one's karmic actions by isolating his hands, letting him use both holy and dark magics without backlash.
Sooo it's pretty clear that he has no ethical qualms, but instead views creeds and values as just a means to an end.
Therefore, it seems pretty clear he has an inverted view of faith/philosophy- He believes that humanity's
Religions and deities are a feedback loop from their faith and belief, so we "create' our own gods and miracles.
Unfortunately, though I know his goals and philosophy and powerset, I'm having real trouble figuring out how he's relatable.
Maybe some people think he could do without, but I feel like I've got too many unrelatable villains in my cast,
Especially with a new Summoner character debuting soon. I mean, I've got Nachoset, the Summoner, Cevahir Kutjime... I
Need to give my villains more reasons for the audience to be invested in them, instead of just making them all austere,
Terrifying badasses.
A possibility that's occurred to me is retconning (or revealing) his actual personality to be some sort of faith-healer/cult
Leader/televangelist/inspirational speaker type who realized that all his "you have the power within you" B.S.
Is actually very applicable in a setting where magic and miracles are actual regular things that happen, and
Then decides to exploit it. However, I'm not really sure how to turn that into an intimidating villain, since
You know that sort tends to elicit more eye rolls than tension and terror.
(Of course, it also begs the question what would turn a sleazy double-talker into a supervillain, but I think we could come up with something)
So, anybody else having character issues they want to talk through?
In my case, I'm struggling with Abatis... I mean, c'mon, he's pretty clearly a huge mover and shaker (he created the evil Zebedee clone that was used to make Basilisk, he pushed Helen towards her school of magic, he's got ties to Parmigianino, the Fascere Order, AND Psymendjes, and so forth). But my problem is I'd planned on him dithering around as Prime's nemesis for a few years while doing his scheming, using Prime's ridiculous rate of power growth to calibrate and design his own improvements.
You can see this in quite a few RPs, actually, considering that he actually was the one who pushed Helen to raid the Parmigianino Institute in Chords (directly leading to one of Prime's deaths/resurrections, which if the RP had finished, he would have been revealed as the bald magus who cast the cloning spell that mortally wounded Prime), and in Triannual, he's right on hand to make sure yet another cycle of Prime's death-power up resurrections happened properly. I don't know if he had a greater goal besides curiosity, like say, creating an army of super-powerful perpetually resurrecting Primes, or if he actually was just toying with an interesting soul like a kid with a bug.
I do know what Abatis' grand goal is, and what his ethos leading into is. After all, he designed a system that
Negates one's karmic actions by isolating his hands, letting him use both holy and dark magics without backlash.
Sooo it's pretty clear that he has no ethical qualms, but instead views creeds and values as just a means to an end.
Therefore, it seems pretty clear he has an inverted view of faith/philosophy- He believes that humanity's
Religions and deities are a feedback loop from their faith and belief, so we "create' our own gods and miracles.
Unfortunately, though I know his goals and philosophy and powerset, I'm having real trouble figuring out how he's relatable.
Maybe some people think he could do without, but I feel like I've got too many unrelatable villains in my cast,
Especially with a new Summoner character debuting soon. I mean, I've got Nachoset, the Summoner, Cevahir Kutjime... I
Need to give my villains more reasons for the audience to be invested in them, instead of just making them all austere,
Terrifying badasses.
A possibility that's occurred to me is retconning (or revealing) his actual personality to be some sort of faith-healer/cult
Leader/televangelist/inspirational speaker type who realized that all his "you have the power within you" B.S.
Is actually very applicable in a setting where magic and miracles are actual regular things that happen, and
Then decides to exploit it. However, I'm not really sure how to turn that into an intimidating villain, since
You know that sort tends to elicit more eye rolls than tension and terror.
(Of course, it also begs the question what would turn a sleazy double-talker into a supervillain, but I think we could come up with something)
So, anybody else having character issues they want to talk through?