Re: where's the Scenario?

From: Tim Ellis <tim_at_...>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:49:49 -0000

>
> --- In HeroQuest-RPG_at_yahoogroups.com, Jane Williams
> <janewilliams20_at_> wrote:
> >
>
> >
> > Which works fine for one PC, for one scenario: good
> > example, and more or less matches my "fiddle backstory
> > to add a remote cousin" one. But that wasn't the
> > question. We're being advised to do this for ALL PCs,
> > not just one. And not just for the one scenario: for
> > all of them. Wouldn't you hit relationship overload?
> > Every planet you visit, you meet an old gambling
> > acquaintance, or a longlost cousin, or a school
> > friend? What happens, when you're doing a lot of
> > pre-written scenarios? Though this may be the wrong
> > place to ask this, because from the look of it, none
> > of us are...
>
> I think you are reducing this to absurdity.
>
> Why not? Certainly someone will know somebody. As many characters
are
> as interested can be set up.
>
>

In one way, you could say that every scenario should involve at least one NPC to whom at least one PC has some sort of relationship -  Why else would they get involved?

The success or otherwise of this approach will depend on your group and their expectations. Some people will be happy to invent new realtionships in order to fit in to the scenario - "OK, next week, you'll be going to Skullpoint, - who do you know there?"
Others will be happy to have the GM assign them relationships "Well, when you get to Skullpoint, the first person you encounter is your cousin Tuli, who invites you to stay with them" While others will not want to change their backstory just to accommodate your scenario -
"Skullpoint? no, never heard of it, never been to that part of the world. All my cousins who have left our clan moved North to Tarsh..."