Mith
2016-03-11, 02:53 PM
Hi,
I have an idea for an NPC character for my character that is basically a story-teller that will tell them stories in exchange for drinks for a night on the town. The hope is that this is a natural way to introduce stories to the players, as well, also allowing myself to do a bit of cultural fleshing out with the stories. The kicker is that these stories are actually watered down versions of events of the Mythic Age between the Gods, with the storyteller being the god of storytelling, bards, based on LudicSavant's take on Olidammara (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?445953-Olidammara-the-Laughing-Rogue), in a mortal form. He's taken interest in the PCs after their last adventure where they saved a holy artifact from destruction, so he thought to take a measure of them.
The reason for my question is because the only hint that I would give that there is something off about the story teller is the fact that if a player starts to take notes on the story being told, they will get a not addressed to them (not the character) about respecting the oral tradition of the stories, signed by whatever name Olidammara is operating under. So the NPC appears to have broken the fourth wall. I would have them do a fairly Knowledge check to recall information (probably a group check), and I would have a copy of the stories for them to read over at the beginning of any session as a refresh for the players, but those notes would not be available during session.
Personally, I find this an amusing twist of events as a DM, but I can see how it would very easily rub players the wrong way as the DM is telling them how to play the game. I would like to get other people's reaction to the idea.
Thanks for the insights,
-Mith
I have an idea for an NPC character for my character that is basically a story-teller that will tell them stories in exchange for drinks for a night on the town. The hope is that this is a natural way to introduce stories to the players, as well, also allowing myself to do a bit of cultural fleshing out with the stories. The kicker is that these stories are actually watered down versions of events of the Mythic Age between the Gods, with the storyteller being the god of storytelling, bards, based on LudicSavant's take on Olidammara (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?445953-Olidammara-the-Laughing-Rogue), in a mortal form. He's taken interest in the PCs after their last adventure where they saved a holy artifact from destruction, so he thought to take a measure of them.
The reason for my question is because the only hint that I would give that there is something off about the story teller is the fact that if a player starts to take notes on the story being told, they will get a not addressed to them (not the character) about respecting the oral tradition of the stories, signed by whatever name Olidammara is operating under. So the NPC appears to have broken the fourth wall. I would have them do a fairly Knowledge check to recall information (probably a group check), and I would have a copy of the stories for them to read over at the beginning of any session as a refresh for the players, but those notes would not be available during session.
Personally, I find this an amusing twist of events as a DM, but I can see how it would very easily rub players the wrong way as the DM is telling them how to play the game. I would like to get other people's reaction to the idea.
Thanks for the insights,
-Mith