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Author Topic: Allies: Do you use/allow them?  (Read 2071 times)

JongWK

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« on: December 13, 2006, 03:44:09 PM »
For a few points, you can get an ally in Amber or the Courts of Chaos. Pundit didn't allow them in the campaign he ran here, but I'm not sure if it was because everyone was new to the game, or because there's some problem with them.

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James McMurray

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2006, 03:48:34 PM »
Are they Allies or Bosom Buddies?

I allow allies in every game I run that has rules for them (and let people make allies later). Allies are two-edged swords. They're as likely to ask you for a favor as you them.

Bosom Buddies on the other hand tend to be touted by the systems as things like "Friends For Life" (from Shadowrun). People that will never desert you, never ask you for anything, and are basically tools with voices. For those types I allow them if their point cost is commensurate with their benefits.

To use an amber example, I wouldn't allow a bosom buddy with the ability to make you trumps unless his point cost was comparable to the making trumps special power.

RPGPundit

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2006, 04:09:49 PM »
Quote from: JongWK
For a few points, you can get an ally in Amber or the Courts of Chaos. Pundit didn't allow them in the campaign he ran here, but I'm not sure if it was because everyone was new to the game, or because there's some problem with them.

What about you?


I didn't allow them? I had forgotten that...

Usually I do allow them; and yes, if I didn't allow it it was certainly because of the "new to the game" thing.  There's no problem with them IMO, you must know from our campaign that having an "ally" can be as bad as it is good.

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SunBoy

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2006, 04:12:12 PM »
I'd allow them. Oh, boy, now that'll by fun. I can totally picture some poor asshole crying and saying "But, Caine, I thought we were friends..."
But that would be cheating, wouldn't it? NO!!! Because he would still help you, only asking for some dirty shit now and then.
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James McMurray

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2006, 04:15:27 PM »
"Of course we're friends, which is why you're the only one I'll trust with such an important and difficult task."

SunBoy

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2006, 04:28:01 PM »
Quote from: James McMurray
"Of course we're friends, which is why you're the only one I'll trust with such an important and difficult task."


Yup. Just like Caine. :D
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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2006, 10:33:03 PM »
This won't mean much to the others, but Jong; keep in mind that essentially, in the campaign we played, Gerard was effectively a good example of an "Ally" for you throughout the game.  Even if you didn't spend the points to have him as such.

And Gerard was fucking useful to you; but at the same time that relationship came with all kinds of costs for you, and NOT because Gerard was trying to fuck you over, but because of all kinds of other things.

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Otha

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2006, 09:14:20 AM »
Not just allow, but encourage.
 

Arref

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2006, 09:34:01 AM »
I do allow them. However, I think it is extremely difficult to connect the relationships at the game start.

IOW, I might prefer that a Player says, "I'd like to have a couple allies in the Courts."

OK. How much do you want to spend? How sure are you of this ally? How public is the connection? How powerful at court is the ally?

While I will work with the Player to get this stuff hammered out up front, I usually only like to hand out such points if there is a "story" behind it that links the point spend to the PC's personal legend.

So if you've saved the lives of a couple Chaosi nobles, I'd like to hear about it and then I will know what kind of allies you have for your points.
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JohnB

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2006, 05:50:24 PM »
Not only do I allow them, but I take it a step further and let players buy *enemies* for the other players' characters. A few have even taken me up on it :)
 

SunBoy

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Allies: Do you use/allow them?
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2006, 11:17:21 AM »
Now that's an interesting option. Never thought of it, but it could work really well, if it doesn't gets overdone. Brilliant, mate.
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