Comments on: Mining Tropes for RPG Nuggets: I, Overlord! http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:30:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Otookee http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47452 Otookee Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:09:05 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47452 Note that the above tactic is one commonly used by empires and dictators in real life. Want to dominate an area? Find a local tribal/ethnic conflict, and provide weapons/advice/mercenaries to the group that's currently on the bottom (call them tribe Omega), to the point where they are able to defeat all the other tribes. They will be grateful enough that you can get some useful concessions out of them, and they now find themselves in a precarious position. The other tribes all hate them and are constantly rebelling, so the Omegas have to rule with an iron hand. Most of the other tribes' warriors/hunters have been killed in the fighting, so you now have a huge mass of women/children/elders to support. Your own warrior/hunters are busy suppressing rebellions, and you couldn't hunt enough food to feed all these people anyway. The only solution (other than "kill them all") is mass agriculture - the conquered will have to grow their own food, build their own houses, etc. They all hate you for having killed their fathers/brothers/husbands, so they'll have to be forced to do the work... congratulations, you've just invented slavery. From the Overlord's point of view, for a much lower cost than raising his own army, the area has been unified and mostly pacified, and the Omegas have done most of the fighting and dying for him. They need his continued help/funding to stay on top, they're in a position where they're dependent on him - in effect, the Omegas have conquered themselves in the process of conquering everyone else. The British used this tactic a lot in Africa (the whole Hutu/Tutsi conflict in Rwanda dates back to the Brits using the Tutsi as their Omegas) and India. Note that the above tactic is one commonly used by empires and dictators in real life. Want to dominate an area? Find a local tribal/ethnic conflict, and provide weapons/advice/mercenaries to the group that’s currently on the bottom (call them tribe Omega), to the point where they are able to defeat all the other tribes. They will be grateful enough that you can get some useful concessions out of them, and they now find themselves in a precarious position. The other tribes all hate them and are constantly rebelling, so the Omegas have to rule with an iron hand. Most of the other tribes’ warriors/hunters have been killed in the fighting, so you now have a huge mass of women/children/elders to support. Your own warrior/hunters are busy suppressing rebellions, and you couldn’t hunt enough food to feed all these people anyway. The only solution (other than “kill them all”) is mass agriculture – the conquered will have to grow their own food, build their own houses, etc. They all hate you for having killed their fathers/brothers/husbands, so they’ll have to be forced to do the work… congratulations, you’ve just invented slavery.
From the Overlord’s point of view, for a much lower cost than raising his own army, the area has been unified and mostly pacified, and the Omegas have done most of the fighting and dying for him. They need his continued help/funding to stay on top, they’re in a position where they’re dependent on him – in effect, the Omegas have conquered themselves in the process of conquering everyone else. The British used this tactic a lot in Africa (the whole Hutu/Tutsi conflict in Rwanda dates back to the Brits using the Tutsi as their Omegas) and India.

]]> By: Otookee http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47451 Otookee Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:32:54 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47451 Yes, I love the bit where the Patrician is imprisoned. As I recall, the jailors, in an effort to make the prison "authentic", went overboard and stocked it with rats, snakes, AND scorpions. The three species didn't get along, resulting in constant floor-level battles. The rats had the worst of it, being the only non-poisonous species. Out of boredom (and in order to be able to get some decent sleep) the Patrician organized the rats and taught them basic tactics. Now victorious, the rats practically worship their savior and bring the Patrician anything he needs, working in teams to drag blankets, bottles of wine, etc. to his cell. They could bring him the keys, too, but A) right now the cell is the safest place in the city, B) the problem that got the Patrician impeached is still out there (no use leaving until the Heroes solve that), and C) he wants to let things fall apart a little more, so when he does return the people will be grateful to have someone competent in charge again... Yes, I love the bit where the Patrician is imprisoned. As I recall, the jailors, in an effort to make the prison “authentic”, went overboard and stocked it with rats, snakes, AND scorpions. The three species didn’t get along, resulting in constant floor-level battles. The rats had the worst of it, being the only non-poisonous species. Out of boredom (and in order to be able to get some decent sleep) the Patrician organized the rats and taught them basic tactics. Now victorious, the rats practically worship their savior and bring the Patrician anything he needs, working in teams to drag blankets, bottles of wine, etc. to his cell. They could bring him the keys, too, but A) right now the cell is the safest place in the city, B) the problem that got the Patrician impeached is still out there (no use leaving until the Heroes solve that), and C) he wants to let things fall apart a little more, so when he does return the people will be grateful to have someone competent in charge again…

]]> By: Jürgen Hubert http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47450 Jürgen Hubert Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:17:07 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47450 I subverted this trope for Urbis by coming up with an <a href="http://eruvian.com/locale.asp?localeID=358" rel="nofollow">Evil Empire</a> that actually <i>lacks</i> an Evil Overlord - which makes stopping it that much harder. After all, if you kill off the guy in charge (and do so in a way that prevents him from getting resurrected), another one will pop up to replace him - and the new guy might be even more ruthless. I subverted this trope for Urbis by coming up with an Evil Empire that actually lacks an Evil Overlord – which makes stopping it that much harder. After all, if you kill off the guy in charge (and do so in a way that prevents him from getting resurrected), another one will pop up to replace him – and the new guy might be even more ruthless.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47449 ChattyDM Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:58:47 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47449 In our own campaign (borrowed from Monte's Banewarrens) some evil non-humanoids wear bone rings that mark them as lords to an evil organization bent on eliminating all humanoids. Some Humanoids also wear those rings that mark them as subjugated slaves too... (Which may or may not be tied to the BBEG behind my current campaign) In our own campaign (borrowed from Monte’s Banewarrens) some evil non-humanoids wear bone rings that mark them as lords to an evil organization bent on eliminating all humanoids.

Some Humanoids also wear those rings that mark them as subjugated slaves too…

(Which may or may not be tied to the BBEG behind my current campaign)

]]> By: John Arcadian http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47448 John Arcadian Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:38:26 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47448 "Overlord’s direct personality so much, but sprinkle his insane fluff and power-crazed plot devices all over the campaign’s countryside." I definitely like that approach to getting the PCs interested in interacting with the Evil Overlord. Letting them find clues, or bust a low level crime ring, and find that it links up to someone higher. I try to be a lot more freeform with how plots in my games develop, so taking the sideways approach like this often helps. The players will start making stuff up on their own if they are given just a few clues that truly engage them. As far as clues go: "Tattooed on low level humanoids" has got to be a great one to drop on people. “Overlord’s direct personality so much, but sprinkle his insane fluff and power-crazed plot devices all over the campaign’s countryside.”

I definitely like that approach to getting the PCs interested in interacting with the Evil Overlord. Letting them find clues, or bust a low level crime ring, and find that it links up to someone higher. I try to be a lot more freeform with how plots in my games develop, so taking the sideways approach like this often helps. The players will start making stuff up on their own if they are given just a few clues that truly engage them.

As far as clues go:

“Tattooed on low level humanoids”

has got to be a great one to drop on people.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47447 ChattyDM Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:09:11 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47447 It's the simple things you need to build an empire of fear and loathing Asmor. :) Andy: Like any loud-mouth enthusiast, I've said my shares of Bone-headed remarks. If I don't make it as a RPG online persona, I might recycle myself in politics... Thanks for the kind words... lol! Tangen128: The Baron rules, his son is getting there also. Thanks for the kudos! It’s the simple things you need to build an empire of fear and loathing Asmor. :)

Andy: Like any loud-mouth enthusiast, I’ve said my shares of Bone-headed remarks. If I don’t make it as a RPG online persona, I might recycle myself in politics… Thanks for the kind words… lol!

Tangen128: The Baron rules, his son is getting there also. Thanks for the kudos!

]]> By: Asmor http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47446 Asmor Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:06:47 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47446 Seems kind of obvious in retrospect, but I love the idea of giving the BBEG a symbol and putting it everywhere. Seems kind of obvious in retrospect, but I love the idea of giving the BBEG a symbol and putting it everywhere.

]]> By: Andy http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47445 Andy Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:27:06 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47445 Lots of links in an article are a classic sign that the author has invested more of him/herself in developing the post, has done his research. Boy, he's really going all out for this Ennie nomination, eh? :) The first time i saw you write 'Ennie' here I interpreted it as Ernie awards. Turns out there is an 'Ernie Award', in Australia. Handed out to celebrities and politicians for bone-headed remarks. Yeah, I think the Ennie is a better award to strive for, good on you. Lots of links in an article are a classic sign that the author has invested more of him/herself in developing the post, has done his research.

Boy, he’s really going all out for this Ennie nomination, eh? :)

The first time i saw you write ‘Ennie’ here I interpreted it as Ernie awards. Turns out there is an ‘Ernie Award’, in Australia. Handed out to celebrities and politicians for bone-headed remarks.

Yeah, I think the Ennie is a better award to strive for, good on you.

]]> By: Tangent128 http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47444 Tangent128 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:38:40 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47444 <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AllBlueEntry" rel="nofollow">Obsessed with links, are we? ;)</a> A good Trope post, as always. One of the better ones even, for tackling such a major Trope. And I agree- Klaus is one of my favorite Overlords. Obsessed with links, are we? ;)

A good Trope post, as always. One of the better ones even, for tackling such a major Trope.

And I agree- Klaus is one of my favorite Overlords.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47443 ChattyDM Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:27:16 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47443 What.....ever! Thanks all the same Yax! Yeah the TV Tropers like to go crazy with the linkys and so do I. :) What…..ever!

Thanks all the same Yax!

Yeah the TV Tropers like to go crazy with the linkys and so do I.
:)

]]> By: Yax http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47442 Yax Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:04:46 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2008/01/02/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-i-overlord/#comment-47442 Geez! That was link-apalooza! I guess the important part about introducing the uber-villain in the campaign is to make his presence felt even if he's never seen. Great work... but you're still going down. Geez! That was link-apalooza!

I guess the important part about introducing the uber-villain in the campaign is to make his presence felt even if he’s never seen.

Great work… but you’re still going down.

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