Why Watched?

[Supreme]

I brought this up once before, but I didn't get much of a response. How disadvantageous is being 'Watched' as opposed to a full-blown hunted? I mean, really, since they don't do anything but watch you, what's the danger or problem. The only time I ever saw a watched character have a problem with his watchers was when he took "IRS" as a watched and they showed up one day to audit him and search the house. He had to go through some hoops to keep the IRS from discovering his hidden base, and he had to miss a significant encounter to handle this.

[MisterVimes]

Originally posted by Supreme
I brought this up once before, but I didn't get much of a response. How disadvantageous is being 'Watched' as opposed to a full-blown hunted? I mean, really, since they don't do anything but watch you, what's the danger or problem. The only time I ever saw a watched character have a problem with his watchers was when he took "IRS" as a watched and they showed up one day to audit him and search the house. He had to go through some hoops to keep the IRS from discovering his hidden base, and he had to miss a significant encounter to handle this.

My impression was that watched sort of morphed into a hunted when what they were watching for occured... or at least that's how I always ran it. Also, watched by agency x allowed them to interfere and call in favors, more of a duty really.

[Klytus]

Almost every hero in my games is Watched by PATRIOT (my version of PRIMUS). The theory being that any metahuman using their powers publicly is a potential threat. They need to be monitored closely so that if there is a need to take them down, they have as complete a picture of theri powers and abilities as possible.

Secret Magical Societies might be watching anybody with latent or visible magical powers to see if they will become a threat.

In any event, the reason Watched is a disad is because should a time ever come when the Watchers decide to come after you, they are likely to have comprehensive info, which will definately put you at a disadvantage.

[DrSavant]

Don't take the word "Watched" too literally is my first suggestion. But consider the following examples;

Watched by Police/Parole officer
[person on parole]
(They check up on you, more then likely know
your secret ID, you can't leave the city
without permission)

Watched by Trainer
[you are a ' new mutant' who has someone
MORE powerful disciplining them]
(They control your entire day- when you train,
when you go out on a mission, when you study etc)

Watched by Parents
[ a minor- with curfew,chores,etc]
(otherwise see above; "trainer")

Watched by News Reporter(s)/ Media
[They can make your life heck
(especially if it's a Jimmy Dugan clone).
For instance; they can print things about you
in the newspaper/on radio/t.v. etc.
This can affect the public's view of you]

Watched by (Insert diety's/demon's name)
[ for those who have Godlike powers or are
gods themselves etc]
They have MORE power then YOU and
100% know everything about you. 'Nuf said?

[nblade]

Hey lets not forget Watched by the Press (or should that be Hounded by the press)

[Cybernaut]

Originally posted by DrSavant
Don't take the word "Watched" too literally is my first suggestion. But consider the following examples;

Watched by Police/Parole officer
[person on parole]
(They check up on you, more then likely know
your secret ID, you can't leave the city
without permission)

Watched by Trainer
[you are a ' new mutant' who has someone
MORE powerful disciplining them]
(They control your entire day- when you train,
when you go out on a mission, when you study etc)

Watched by Parents
[ a minor- with curfew,chores,etc]
(otherwise see above; "trainer")

Watched by News Reporter(s)/ Media
[They can make your life heck
(especially if it's a Jimmy Dugan clone).
For instance; they can print things about you
in the newspaper/on radio/t.v. etc.
This can affect the public's view of you]

Watched by (Insert diety's/demon's name)
[ for those who have Godlike powers or are
gods themselves etc]
They have MORE power then YOU and
100% know everything about you. 'Nuf said?

Most of those would more appropriately be Social Limitations. The last one will work though...

[tmutant]

I think you hit on it with the IRS thing. A watcher does things that aren't attacks , per se, that can screw up your life none the less. PRIMUS or the equivalent can show up at your work place, flash the badge, ask alot of questions, and get your boss and co-workers looking at you funny. Or a reporter with a telephoto lens gets a fuzzy picture of you doing you're Superman in the phone booth impression. Essentially a watched is a social threat, rather than a physical one. That's my take on it anyway.

[Mavnn]

I thought about this a bit when doing my write up of Lei Wulong (a maverick cop from Tekkan). I considered giving him a Social Lim must obey orders, but in the end gave him a 'Watched by UNTIL' instead - the reason? He's not forced to follow orders, and frequently doesn't, but he does have to make sure UNTIL doesn't know - or else they will begin to act against him (take away his license, start disciplinary procedures, be forced to overturn convictions of criminals he captures).

On the other hand, they're not going to jump him in a back alley and try and beat him to death (hunted).

Thats my take, anyway.

Michael

[shadowmage87]

1) Mavnn, what you're trying to avoid is a Psychological Limitation, not a Social one. You can disregard a SL, there will just be ramifications. PLs are the ones that are more innate...compulsive. Hard to ignore.

I tend to ignore Hunteds and DNPCs because of the rolls. They're a pain to keep track of, GMs don't remember to do the rolls, and if the rolls are remembered and followed they get more tiresome, intrusive, and annoying than useful as hooks or for fleshing out characters. Anything you can build using a Hunted or a DNPC you can do just as easily with a Psychological or Social Limitation.

For example, Mavnn's UNTIL agent could take Social Limitation: Subject to Orders. Functions exactly the same as the Hunted, but doesn't require a roll. If he chooses to ignore orders, he has to keep it from UNTIL, no change. But the GM doesn't have to roll dice to see whether or not UNTILs internal regulative service has him under investigation...AGAIN. It becomes relevant at the GMs leisure, but is something that still has to be on the PCs mind (and thus makes a more interesting plot hook).

[Greywind]

hmmmm just shy of 7 years dead when he was resurrected...

[bigbywolfe]

Necromancy! I'll get the holy water, someone grab some torches and pitchforks!

[Lord Liaden]

That was a long time for this thread to be Watched.

[shadowmage87]

I am just THAT good a necromancer...if a little rusty on my Disads rules. Soc Lim does have a roll attached to determine how often it comes up....

Yeah...didn't even notice the date on the thread. Just saw it in my related threads thing on the bottom and...commented.

[Nolgroth]

This whole thread is the reason why I reduce the Disadvantage/Complication pool of points and limit the D/C to something inherent in the character (physical). Psych lims, social lims (including Hunted/Watched) are temporary situations at best. I do grant bonus XP if the player plays a Psych Lim to the hilt. I grant a small bonus if the character defeats the Hunted, particularly if it is in a clever or supremely heroic way. With 5E I also tended to up the base points a little to compensate. Since Complications in 6E are already counted against the base points, I just reduce the total points needed.

And that reminds me, whatever happened to Supreme?

[steamteck]

I'm just the opposite, anything that helps deepen the characters involvement with the game world is good with me. watched is particularly good for characters whose organization/sponsor might not approve of their actions. Even better for suspected criminals who have to dodge the police. The press already mentioned are always fun. watched by veteran hero mentor is good for lots of character also.