Dworkin

[RPGPundit]

I've been told that in my RPGs I'm particularly talented as a GM when it comes to my portrayal of NPCs (that'd be the repressed actor in me I guess), and that within that, I'm particularly amusing at paying "crazy old dudes" and "giant monsters" (take that as you will).

Dworkin strikes me as a bit of both. One-half crazy old dude, one-half cthonic force of nature.

But how much of one and how much of the other do you use in your game?

RPGPundit

[Malleus Arianorum]

I think the crazy is an act to protect his secrets. All of the Amberites have a gimic to keep from attracting too much attention but Dworkin's is the best.

If you go missing, everyone suspects you of doing something sneaky until you're presumed dead. But it blows up in your face when you resurface 'cause they immediately assume you must have really been up to something. Acting crazy is better -- you can do whatever you want, evade any line of questioning, and pretend that information, unblemished by guile or ulterior motive, just falls out of your head from time to time.

"Oopsy! I accidentaly rescued Corwin and told him secrets!"

[TonyLB]

I like the idea that the universe is importantly crazy ... and you can point to it, there, dribbling buffalo-chicken-sauce on its smock, and say "See?  CRAZY!"

It's anthropomorphism taken to its ultimate extent.

[Trevelyan]

I think the truth lies somewhere between the two. Post patternfall Dworkin seems pretty stable, although his motives are clearly far beyond the understanding of most of his relatives, making it easy for them to dismiss him as insane. Blue Horse, Dancing Mountain suggests that Dworkin and Suhuy are both key figures in the universe, but I still get the impression that their power derives from greater understanding and not from intrinsic greatness. Similarly Fiona and Mandor play a greater role in events (Hall of Mirrors) due to their own advanced understanding of the game.

I'd say that Dworkin is a powerful sorcerer with great insight into events and a clear plan, but he falls short of being a cthonic force of nature, although he may well strive to give that impression to others.

[Otha]

I use Dworkin differently.  When the Pattern is repaired, he's simply got a different, unique point of view.  He's not crazy (that is, disconnected from reality) he's profoundly connected to it on an entirely different level.  He's not a monster, unless your definition of "monster" is an unusual one.

[Croaker]

I soo like playing crazy old wizards, I can't help playing him like one. Of course, this may be just because he's on a different level altogether. Who knows? If I say you I see tiny spirits in the air, am I mad? Or am I gifted with a magical Sight?

[Arref]

The story goes that he fathered Oberon on the Unicorn.

If you've slept with monsters and still can talk with your grandkids, you might seem half-crazy.

[Nihilistic Mind]

In my current ftf campaign, Dworkin has been very involved with the PCs and has proven a very useful ally (not that he views himself as one). Because of his very special... insight, and his opinions about things, not to mention the shapeshifting bit.

He's not a powerful monster and such, nor is he a crazy old wizard, but the players believe him to be. Which means I must be doing something right!

My opinion is that he's just another player in the great game of powers, albeit a more important one, and one with much more history than the PCs and most other NPCs.

[Croaker]

The story goes that he fathered Oberon on the Unicorn.

This strikes me as the kind of things no one seems to spends too much thoughts on. But, as you said, this is far from normal behaviour.

[Otha]

Dworkin's sex life is turning out to be a major plot point in Phases.  He authored a memoir, "My Nights Among the Monsters," which several people have found to be an important book.

[Trevelyan]

This strikes me as the kind of things no one seems to spends too much thoughts on. But, as you said, this is far from normal behaviour.

Of course, being a shape shifter Dworkin could esily have assumed the form of a male unicorn.

OR perhaps the Unicorn, being something of a nebulous creature, came to Dworkin in the form of a beautiful woman, and only assumed her more bestial shape once the deed was done.

[crafty]

I've always portrayed Dworkin as existing as an equal to Pattern and Logrus, so basically a third power which gets along with both of the other primal powers.  Oh sure, Logrus was irritated about that whole pattern thing, however they have since patched things up.  However living as both a primal power and a human grandfather will lead others to believe your mad, simply because they don't see everything you do.

It's kind of like shadows that believe someone is a sorcerer simply because they have a lighter, the don't understand cell phones, and television makes them faint, they can't/haven't imagined it, so it's scary/crazy/magic.

[Trevelyan]

I'm not too keen on the idea of Dworkin being an equal and impartial third party - he clearly has strong ties to the Pattern, and Suhuy is presented in Blue Horse, Dancing Mountain as something of Dworkin's equal and opposite in Chaos.

[Croaker]

What if dworkin wasn't crazy but just... Senile? :lol:

[Nihilistic Mind]

I'm not too keen on the idea of Dworkin being an equal and impartial third party - he clearly has strong ties to the Pattern, and Suhuy is presented in Blue Horse, Dancing Mountain as something of Dworkin's equal and opposite in Chaos.

This might raise another great question... Is Dworkin the Pattern's pet or is it the other way around. (Similar question for Suhuy and the Logrus) pardon me if this has been covered somewhere else.