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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 00:24:21
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I have been DMing a mixed race group. I'm reprising an old character, a runt hobgoblin that was rescued from the "Lostafinger" tribe, who essentially used him as a slave. He was trained as a rogue/scout (and is a damn good one). He is CG in alignment and actively fights for those who are too weak to defend themselves, though he talks very little and few people know him or of him.
Currently he is with 2 other PC's, a half elf druid and a human fighter.
So far we've mostly been in and around Silverymoon so I figured most in the city would be fairly open minded and at least not run off screaming. When he first came to the city, the city watch detained him and a wizard cast truth seeking spells on all of us (though the city mythal obviously won't allow in evil aligned goblinoids).
In other places (Everlund and smaller towns) he keeps his cowl pulled low and most people do not notice his race (I roll perception checks) though a few people have refused us service after noticing his race.
My question is, do you think this is being handled correctly? We are able to be more or less functional. Do you think these reactions should be more extreme and violent, especially in the smaller towns?
How would you handle this in your game.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 01:47:22
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| I'd expect a more hostile reaction, to the point of the hob being attacked or the watch being summoned. |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 02:00:23
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| Well, I tend to agree. At least in locations outside Silverymoon. I'm trying to handle this in a way that doesn't totally disrupt my game and/or force the hob to stay outside town and not role play with the rest of us. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 05:56:16
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You could just slap a mask on him. It could be a magical mask that actually alters his appearance or a traditional mask that simply covers his face. People would be suspicious of a visibly masked person, but unless the mask is removed, they'd not react nearly as bad as they would to a hobgoblin.
You could even go for simple face coverings, like just having a scarf around most of the face, leaving only the eyes uncovered, or the face covering like those worn by people in desert environs (I believe the term is keffiyeh). |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1847 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 15:17:39
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| Smaller towns I think would have the worst reactions (especially if they border areas that see frequent skirmishes with goblinoid species). Cities like Waterdeep and Silverymoon are more cosmopolitan and wouldn't elicit such a reaction methinks. I think some rural areas might also be more tolerant, Longsaddle comes to mind. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 16:30:55
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Big settlements also bring the risk of running into someone who has suffered from a specific race and therefore holds hate against it, leading to conflict no matter if the creature is good aligned or not.
If a hobgoblin walks the streets, not usually common in civilized settlements and which is not commonly a good aligned creature, then i would atleast expect reaction from the populace like namecalling, partens hurring their children away, things thrown at the hobgoblin, mobs gathering calling for itīs death, riots because of it, blatant mistreatment by guards,merchants and innkeepers or framing for events of ill fortune.
The player should not have it easy, he should be forced to earn his trust against greater odds and one misstep should ruin it all and he would need to start it again. |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6361 Posts |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 21:17:50
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| Well right now there is about to be a very ugly confrontation as we just went to a tavern that is mostly occupied with halflings and elves. At some point Alustriel may get wind of a kind hearted goblin who is unjustifiably discriminated against, and give him a hat of disguise. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 21:58:21
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| I myself would go the route of having the character acquire a magic disguise through other means, such as killing some nastybad that has it, or maybe a very shady individual trades it to the gobby for a small fee and a "favor" or two, which they may or may not collect right now... |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1847 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 23:09:50
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I don't think that large settlements are going to have such extreme reactions (as proposed by Lord Bane...that guys opinion is biased, he's a tyrant, afterall  ) to a single representative of the race. Let's not forget, Drizzt wore a disguise for a time and quickly discarded it...and gained acceptance. Your character can too, and I don't think the prejudice against a hob is going to be as bad as that against a drow. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 12 Sep 2013 : 23:13:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I myself would go the route of having the character acquire a magic disguise through other means, such as killing some nastybad that has it, or maybe a very shady individual trades it to the gobby for a small fee and a "favor" or two, which they may or may not collect right now...
I don't think Alustriel would have any issues with providing a means of magical disguise with a few conditions...like the group being available to act on Silverymoon's behest. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2013 : 00:02:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Cards77
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I myself would go the route of having the character acquire a magic disguise through other means, such as killing some nastybad that has it, or maybe a very shady individual trades it to the gobby for a small fee and a "favor" or two, which they may or may not collect right now...
I don't think Alustriel would have any issues with providing a means of magical disguise with a few conditions...like the group being available to act on Silverymoon's behest.
Oh, I agree... But at the same time, I am personally adverse to having leaders of nations and/or powerful NPCs handing stuff to (what I am assuming are) low-level characters, just to make their lives easier.
Unless Alustriel has personally recruited these guys to work for her, she's likely not going to do much more than just watch them, and interactions with them would be thru intermediaries. At least, that's likely to be the case until they are some real movers and shakers in the area.
On the other hand, having the gobby acquire the mask from some shady guy that he'll owe favors to keeps the major named NPC in the background, makes it seem like a lot less of a handout, and gives you more opportunity for adventures and roleplaying.
What if shady NPC asks for a couple of inconsequential things, maybe helps the PCs out more, but then wants something really questionable, and threatens to reveal the identity of (and perhaps frame for some crime) the gobby if the questionable thing isn't done? There's some good roleplaying potential for the characters, and lots more for the DM to work with.
Another evil alternative is that the mask itself has some curse or something that can be triggered from afar, and the shady guy threatens to do that. Maybe it's something as simple as the shady guy being able to turn the mask off at an inopportune time, or maybe he can make the gobby appear to be a known criminal/bad guy...
It's your game and your call, but I'd make the character work for the mask, and have some fun with it. Playing an "outsider" race isn't something that should be just hand-waved aside, I think, and I'm a believer in creating options for the DM. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 13 Sep 2013 00:07:04 |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
745 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2013 : 02:09:04
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All good options for sure.
I don't have any problems with a powerful NPC getting involved with my group. My players love the setting and the PCs are the stars of my story. I don't base my story on what level they are. I believe a hobgoblin going around the Marches doing good deeds WOULD garner interest or at least curiosity, just as a certain goodly drow did.
I do not hand magic items to my players, but I would rather give them a "good" incentive for getting the item (servitude to the Marches, personal loyalty fealty to whoever), than put my PC in a difficult "evil" situation when simply functioning as an adventuring group is challenging enough. These are new players and fairly easily discouraged.
You're right there certainly is no shortage of role playing opportunities. |
Edited by - Cards77 on 13 Sep 2013 02:11:08 |
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 13 Sep 2013 : 09:38:36
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quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
I don't think that large settlements are going to have such extreme reactions (as proposed by Lord Bane...that guys opinion is biased, he's a tyrant, afterall ) to a single representative of the race. Let's not forget, Drizzt wore a disguise for a time and quickly discarded it...and gained acceptance. Your character can too, and I don't think the prejudice against a hob is going to be as bad as that against a drow.
And here i disagree but i take the praise for being a tyrant.
A hobgoblin would cause attention in a city, it would be the talk in taverns and on the street that now some filthy monster is allowed to walk the streets. Mind you, all is prejudice and biasedness of the common folk who are not always "cosmopolitan". Hobgoblins like Orcs are in over 90% of encounters with humans the adversaries and thus a general perception of them being an "evil" race should have a solid foundation within the mindset of the people. The realms are not a place where every race can just walk freely in the streets, be merry and frolick about. If the hobgoblin wants to be "accepted", he has to earn it and work hard with stones put in his way. |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Hobgoblin PC in the Silver Marches racism in FR
