Thursday, 21 August 2025

RPGaDAY 2025 21 - Unexpected

#RPGaDAY2025

21 - Unexpected

Roleplaying games have a number of ways to bring in the unexpected. Most have dice or some other randomiser, many have tables for things like random encounters and treasure - and nearly all have multiple players bringing their ideas to the table.

Too much can derail a game - the bait and switch is an unpopular idea for good reason, and I like systems where I can buy off the occasional failure at a dramatic moment - but the detours are fun often enough that we keep making them.

The most unexpected fun way a session went for me is another TWH story. The time one PC got jealous of another starting to date a handsome charming possible villain, cast a spell to have her see him the way he did - while ranting at length about how perfect and dashing he was. So now she saw the NPC as “CAPTAIN RUGGED! The Man With The Face!”, a literal superhero. Among other things this meant I couldn’t reveal him as a villain any more because it would be that much harder to take him seriously.

(Bonus amusing weirdness, the actor I used as a reference for the possible villain was Henry Cavill, after he was shortlisted to star in Superman Returns but years before being cast as Superman the next time.)

21a - 2, 3, 1
What, Proud, Adventure

The PCs are surprised to receive an accolade for one of their adventures. Do they have to give a speech or something?

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