I'll begin a new HeroQuest game in a few weeks, integrating two new
players into the group.
I had 3 PCs, part of a very tight heroband of six (so, 3 PCs, 3 NPCs).
The new players are really interested in playing two of the 3 other
NPCs. But, as they were NPCs, we never developed them as much as the
players' characters.
That's to say: they have 10-15 abilities written down, whereas the
Heroes have about 70 (that's 80 sessions for you). I stopped myself
before defining them too much, less they still the spotlight from the PCs.
So, what I intend to do is letting the new players decide what these
characters are, in a way similar to the "list Method" for PCs creation
in the HQ rules. I think that while discussing together and with their
fresh view on the ex-NPCs, we will find 30 abilities, well enough to
define someone. They will expand them, I'm sure.
They will then have about 40 'empty slots', which they will fill as
soon as inspiration or need strike them.
By luck, the three old PCs have all almost the same number of
abilities and the same repartition: 5W3, 3W3, 3 abilities at 18W2,
etc. (almost linear, with numbers between 5W3 and 13, in fact, I was
quite astonished). They are sufficiently equals in all in all
'structure' that I'm confident I'll be able to create a sort of
template for the abilities levels. Note I say 'levels' (numbers, TN),
NOT the kind of abilities.
Even if the others tend to have three affinities between 5W2 and 10W2,
the new ones will not be under any obligation to follow this pattern.
They may have many social abilities and just a few physical, or
whatever. I may just insist on them taking a fair sprinkle of
relations, personality traits, and some flaws, to have some lever on
which to act.
During play, as long as anyone around the table (including me) is
happy with a new ability, it'll be marked and fill an empty slot.
So, I'll give them a long list of numbers, the beginning numbers of their abilities. And they will take what they want and cross them during the game.
What do you think? Do you see any trap or difficulty in this? Did someone go the same road? I never tried the list method, so I'm in new territory there.
Philippe
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