Fidcal on 26/10/2009 at 12:31
This thread is to get feedback on ideas that FM-makers might use for common player character(s) (PC) & background(s). It's nothing to do with any 'official' Dark Mod Team player character. The team have provided the assets for FM making. Now it's up to *you* to run with it.
Some FM makers might prefer no particular player character; others want something substantial to hang their FM on. This thread might come to nothing. That's OK. That means players generally don't feel strongly about it. Or one or several characters might become popular.
If you have any ideas then keep them short initially. What sort of character is this? What's his (short) story? The Dark Mod universe is already basically defined at (
http://modetwo.net/darkmod/wiki/index.php?title=Universe) and I recommend you read it first. You should avoid Thief copyright material as explained many places elsewhere. Garrett belongs to Thief FMs. There will be a Thief 4 to carry on that story.
There are many thieves' guilds. Is the PC a guild member? An ex-member? Or a loner from the beginning?
What's his name? You are free to use Farrell from Den 1, 2, 3 as he is only vaguely defined therein. It was the most popular with the team by far, from a big list. That suggests it would be popular generally.
There are no keepers in the Dark Mod universe but you might want to devise some other group or even an individual to explain the PC's skills.
If there is sufficient feedback then perhaps a poll could be set up to get a better idea of which character(s) might be popular. FM-makers who then feel the need for a character in their FM can choose one while others are not compelled to do so just as they are in Thief FMs.
Melan on 26/10/2009 at 12:38
I believe, for the time being, I will remain with an allusive approach to the main character - his exploits will follow from the events of Prowler of the Dark, Bad Debts and Disorientation. I envision him going by multiple names - sometimes Talbot, sometimes Messer Johannes, sometimes others. Who knows which is the right one or the original? He isn't telling us. In any event, if you see, or receive news about this dangerous fugitive, contact the appropriate authorities so an inquiry can be maid; his apprehension is said to be most valuable to multiple parties. :D
Fidcal on 26/10/2009 at 14:38
That reminds of one good reason when a player name is useful - if you find a message to the player character addressed "Farrell! I need your help!" then you wouldn't know it meant *you* unless you knew your name was Farrell for instance.
ZylonBane on 26/10/2009 at 16:16
I've been rooting for "Gareth".
ascottk on 26/10/2009 at 16:37
I'll just repost my idea:
Quote Posted by ascottk
Here's my back story behind "Farrell":
Farrell was a former assassin who changed his ways when one contracted killing involved a family (ala Bourne Identity) but his conscience got the better of him when faced with the family's mother and son. At that moment his guilty conscience from his past deeds kicked in and he faltered but his contractor had a backup plan. The contractor hired another assassin just in case and this other assassin fired two arrows and killed the mother and son, and before the other assassin could kill Farrell, Farrell threw a dagger into the other assassin's heart.
From that moment on Farrell went to find out who hired him to teach the contractor a lesson. In the meantime he uses his assassin skills (silent but deadly, but not skilled with combat) for thieving to keep money in his wallet all the while he seeks the contractor.
It turns out the contractor is not merely one person but a whole organization. A very rich organization . . .
scarykitties on 26/10/2009 at 17:45
I'll be honest, I'm not fond of current DM FM's recycling of Thief factions. I would have preferred to see either original factions, or factions who are different enough in structure, form, or purpose to not be absolute-direct renditions of classic Thief factions.
For instance, instead of the Order of the Hammer and the Mechanist Order, there are two warring religions fighting for power.
One is polytheistic, with some factions of the religion being pagan-like in their worship, while others are Greek-like in their belief in various deities for various walks of life, with a number of shrines all throughout the city. Some deities are good, some are evil, some are secretive, some are naturalistic.
One is monotheistic, with some factions being like the Order of the Hammer in their cruelty in enforcing conversions, while other factions are quiet monks, recorders, etc., similar to the Keepers, and yet others are a faction of assassins devoted to removing religious competition.
Not great or finished ideas, but just some examples. In any case, I think that things could (and should) be expanded more now that there's a chance to begin anew.
Springheel on 26/10/2009 at 18:08
Quote:
I'll be honest, I'm not fond of current DM FM's recycling of Thief factions. I would have preferred to see either original factions, or factions who are different enough in structure, form, or purpose to not be absolute-direct renditions of classic Thief factions.
The current factions *aren't* direct renditions of Thief factions (although mappers can use them that way if they wish).
The only one that comes pretty close is the Builder/Hammerite comparison, and that's mainly because both were based heavily on medieval Catholicism.
The pagans of TDM bear little resemblance to Thief Pagans and are actually not a "faction" at all.
The Inventor's Guild has nothing in common with Mechanists other than both building steam and clockwork automatons.
The Hermetic Order of Mages has little in common with Keepers beyond their love of knowledge, magic, and books.
ZylonBane on 26/10/2009 at 18:18
Quote Posted by scarykitties
I'll be honest, I'm not fond of current DM FM's recycling of Thief factions.
Congratulations on entirely missing the point of TDM.
Springheel on 26/10/2009 at 18:30
Back when we were discussing an official campaign we did create a backstory for Farrell.
Quote:
What seems to make the most sense is that he was a lesser son of a noble family who was looking forward to an easy inherentence, without the responsibility of taking care of the family fortune. His elder brother died or was killed, and he wound up with the entire family fortune after his parent's death. Lazy and unmotivated, he spent his money frivolously while family 'friends' handled the day to day business. One day, the character realized that his fortune was gone, and bill collectors were coming to take away his house and goods. His family's friends were nowhere to be found (and were substantially richer). The character was thrown out of his house onto the streets, where he spent many years.
Eventually, he wound up as an informant for a local thieves' guild, where his knowledge of various noble houses was worth a coin or two. After a while, contact with the guild lead him to rise from begging to muggings, and eventually to learning some real skills. Because he worked as an informant for a while he would have contact with several different guilds, possibly rivals. And his knowledge of noble families (and floorplans) could explain why he is willing to take on risky jobs like breaking into mansions. There are plenty of opportunities to suggest he visited some of these places in his youth.
Vivian on 26/10/2009 at 18:36
You are Zylon Bane, one-time champion curmudgeon lured out of obscurity for one last job. You must avoid the clutches of like a zillion inferior reflections of mechanisms and characters from System Shock 2 and Deus Ex to break into your mothers old basement and retrieve the book of correct internet spelling, before the world drowns in incorrectly-ordered 'i's and 'e's and dropped 'h's.
Actually that sounds like it would be kinda fun.
