A Little Bit of Evil

To make a sweeping generalisation - in our hobby crew/monsters are bad-guys and players are heroes. But I bet I am not the only one that gets a kick out of being a real unpredictable/odd or nasty piece of work.

Crewing at events where NPC parts are detailed and can be serialised is a lot of fun, but this can come with some pressure to attend further events and keep up the characterisation over a longer time, you also miss out on chances to play those systems. When you do a one off baddy and given the opportunity to develop a character and perhaps costume choices or make-up, you can really let rip with the melodrama and it's marvelously enjoyable.

all rights Adam Pulman

But what about fests? The baddies may be few and far between and only really meet you on the battle field, which does not give much time for characterisation. Disappointing for crew who want some real meaty roleplay. This can also lead to a lack of plot or politics to keep people occupied outside of the fighting. Is it in these circumstances OK to play a bad-un? To be the foil for those other heroes to rail against? Are you a mug for paying to help entertain others - or in fact is the reciprocal entertainment the point of good roleplay...should we in fact be thinking about payment for events in a new way? Would people come to an event if they paid less but had to crew part of the time? This seems to have worked (in part) at P.D. events where players must crew a battle if they play a battle, but they still offer free places for those that play NPCs only.

What about secreting eeebil NPCs in with players at events? Has this worked for you in the past?

Do you enjoy playing the dark side? Share your megalomaniac moments with us all!

This article comes to you in the evil appropriate colour of purple and illustration via the sinister skills of L.T.

illustration by L.T.