{"id":1639,"date":"2013-05-16T09:16:02","date_gmt":"2013-05-16T16:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/arcdream.com\/home\/?p=1639"},"modified":"2013-05-16T09:55:19","modified_gmt":"2013-05-16T16:55:19","slug":"instant-adventures-for-better-angels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcdream.com\/home\/2013\/05\/instant-adventures-for-better-angels\/","title":{"rendered":"Instant Adventures for \u2018Better Angels\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Greg Stolze and Shane Ivey, \u00a9 2013<\/em><\/p>\n

In the typical comic book, the hero is spurred into action by the villain\u2019s plan: Doc Ock tries to marry Aunt May and it\u2019s up to either Peter Parker or the Spectacular Spider-Man to foil it.\u00a0 Or Bane occupies Gotham.\u00a0 Or Zod shows up to have a chat with Superman.\u00a0 You could almost think these heroes would have pleasant, comfortable lives if it wasn\u2019t for all this stuff <\/i>happening all the time.<\/p>\n

\"Better-Angels-cover-v4-front-612px\"<\/a>Playing Better Angels<\/a>,<\/i> it\u2019s on the characters to be that stuff. They’re<\/em> the supervillains scheming the crazy schemes.<\/p>\n

This may challenge players if they\u2019re used to more pre-planned scenarios where they\u2019re led by a trail of clues to a grand resolution.\u00a0 You can\u00a0<\/i>write those sorts of adventures for Better Angels<\/i>, but here\u2019s what\u2019s more likely to happen: You set the stage, introduce a McGuffin or an NPC superhero or rival supervillain pulling some stunt, and ask how the player characters want to react \u2014 and pretty soon the players-as-Screwtapes step in and start pushing their hosts to all kinds of shenanigans that you didn’t predict.<\/p>\n

Suddenly it\u2019s the players<\/em> making up the crazy plots and you<\/em>, the GM, figuring out how the NPCs might try to thwart them.<\/p>\n

The key is to actively encourage the players, up front, to start stuff too.\u00a0And if they don\u2019t have any ideas, all they need to do is consult their Screwtapes.<\/p>\n

All that said, let\u2019s break down a process for jumpstarting a\u00a0Better Angels<\/em> adventure\u00a0in a few convenient steps.<\/p>\n

We want to make it clear, none of this is official or mandatory or even all that necessary. Trust us, between playing beleaguered villains and beleaguering Screwtapes, your players will bring the crazy<\/em>. But if you want some ingredients to get them going, start here.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Create Characters and Screwtapes<\/h2>\n

This applies if it\u2019s a brand-new game or a pickup game. That\u2019s right, even for a pickup game at a convention or game store we recommend creating characters from scratch. It doesn\u2019t take long, and defining the abilities and priorities of the demons gets the players thinking in the right direction immediately.<\/p>\n

This is all covered in the rulebook in Chapter Two. Review it online here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Step Two: Personal Goals<\/h2>\n

Ask the players to make up one Personal Goal for each human player character.<\/p>\n

The key is to make it crucial for the character. Start by defining one thing that the character genuinely loves. Come up with something that\u2019s a critically important part of the PC’s life\u2014friend, lover, family, career, faith, reputation, whatever. Establish explicitly why it matters<\/em> to the human. Jot down both things\u2014what\u2019s so important, and why?<\/p>\n

Now establish a goal for that beloved thing. Make up something that the character must<\/em> accomplish to obtain it, regain it, advance it, or protect it? Establish explicitly how that beloved thing will suffer if the goal is not fulfilled.<\/p>\n

A character\u2019s beloved thing and personal goal don\u2019t have to relate to those of another character, but it\u2019s fun if they do.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s return to Wanda, Luther and Felix, the sample characters.<\/p>\n

Felix\u2019s beloved thing is his hot-shot reputation in the operating room.\u00a0 He likes being able to lord it over people (\u201cIt\u2019s not exactly brain surgery<\/strong>\u2026\u201d) and he likes the idea that as long as he saves lives from terrifying tumors, any bad things he does are eminently forgivable in comparison. To improve his reputation, Felix wants to prove that there\u2019s a real difference between neurocysticercosis caused by taenia solium<\/strong> and the same symptoms caused by a parasite he\u2019s named taenia barbarossi<\/strong>. Proving that there\u2019s a difference in the causes and that treatments function differently will make him a rockstar <\/strong>neurosurgeon.\u00a0 If he\u2019s demonstrably wrong, of course, that\u2019s his ticket to being a laughingstock.<\/p>\n

Speaking of rock stars, Wanda\u2019s beloved thing is her music.\u00a0 It\u2019s the one thing that\u2019s never let her down, that no one can take away, that\u2019s uniquely hers<\/strong>.\u00a0 Wanda wants to get a contract to get her music out on a professional label.\u00a0 If she doesn\u2019t make it soon, she\u2019s going to lose hope and stop playing within a year, two years tops.<\/p>\n

As for Luther, his player spontaneously strings out this horrific backstory about the older sister who saved him from a disastrous family life, only to vanish in South America once Luther was safely living on his own.\u00a0 Her name\u2019s Lucinda. Luther obviously wants to get down to Peru and find her.\u00a0 If he doesn\u2019t do it soon, the trail is just going to get colder and colder.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Step Three: Devilish Goals<\/h2>\n

Now each Screwtape should come up with one Personal Goal for each demon. If you\u2019re stuck for a goal, think up a grandiose way to force your host\u2019s Primary Sinister Strategy to increase. See Chapter Six of the rulebook.<\/p>\n

There are two guidelines.<\/p>\n