Prophecies

[tkdguy]

I saw a program about Nostradamus last night. While I've always taken his writings (as with virtually all other prophecies) with a grain of salt, I realize the roleplaying potential for them.

Prophecies can be used as a plot hook for a campaign. The PCs will have to either prevent or bring about a certain event that would change their world. This is nothing new, of course. This has been a staple of fantasy novels for a while.

But what about having a PC or recurring NPC with the gift of prophecy? It's easy to do in HERO terms: Just use Clairsentience, preferably with Limitations like Precognition, Vague and Unclear, and No Conscious Control. Basically, the GM slips the player notes about a certain vision that is to come. This is usually about minor events until the group gets used to the character's visions. Then the GM describes a vision of some earth-shaking event, and it's up to the heroes to do something about it.

Caveat: Don't do this every session; that will only cheapen the effect.

[bblackmoor]

If it's an NPC, I wouldn't even bother writing it up as a power. The NPC is just a plot device. Functionally, it serves the same purpose as the time traveller from the future who, in a superhero game, comes back to warn the heroes about a certain catastophe they need to prevent. There was a really fun thread about that recently.

You are right about using it sparingly, though. Prophecies/time travel warnings can get irritating very, very quickly.

[Killer Shrike]

Rule #1 with Prophecies --- keep them open ended. its well and good to use a prophecy to kick off an adventure, but be very clear that the propecy only applies to the onset of the adventure --- dont commit to an ending ;)

[tkdguy]

I agree that prophecies should be open-ended. The PCs should always have a chance to prevent a certain catastrophe or make way for a beneficial event/era.

If the PCs fail, there are a couple of options you can do:

1. Have someone else succeed. This can make a few players unhappy since they end up playing secod fiddle. Also, not everyone likes a Deus Ex Machina solution.

2. Live with the consequences. If this happens, I recommend scaling down whatever disaster may fall. Otherwise, you may end up having to restructure your entire game world.

Neither solution sounds too satisfying. Any other ideas on this?

[Talon]

In my current *coughdndcough* campaign I've issued two major prophecies, both newly-discovered tomes from an ancient prophet. Both were written after major Nostradamus-immersion programs, and have done a good job of dropping vague hints and proving perfectly accurate in hindsight.

[CrosshairCollie]

I generally don't play up prophecies ... it's very hard to make them vague and accurate at the same time, since players *never* do what you expect them to (well, good players, at least).

Of course, there's always the heavy-handed approach. The 'wise seer' once approached our group and said, in no uncertain terms, PC X will kill Main Evil Guy Y with Weapon Z. Then he handed us Weapon Z. :rolleyes:

[Eosin]

Here is a little something I wrote on prophecy and destiny for use in RPGs -- any comments would be welcome. It is in PDF form.

It is your destiny (http://www.mabinogin.com/PDF/destiny.pdf)

[PhilFleischmann]

Of course, there's always the heavy-handed approach. The 'wise seer' once approached our group and said, in no uncertain terms, PC X will kill Main Evil Guy Y with Weapon Z. Then he handed us Weapon Z. :rolleyes:
I've played that game before. PC X was Colonel Mustard, and Weapon Z was the candlestick. Didn't the "wise seer" say which room it would happen in?