Not-So-Harmless Villain: Difference between revisions
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** In the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'', Cyric, while undeniably an evil [[Complete Monster]], was always considered a minor threat at best due to the fact that he's so freaking [[Axe Crazy|insane]] that most of his plans fall through. Then, in 4th edition, he orchestrates the death of Helm, ''personally'' murders Mystra (possibly for [[Killed Off for Real|good]] this time), ''and'' unleashes the devastating Spell Plague, all without breaking a sweat. ''Wow''. |
** In the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'', Cyric, while undeniably an evil [[Complete Monster]], was always considered a minor threat at best due to the fact that he's so freaking [[Axe Crazy|insane]] that most of his plans fall through. Then, in 4th edition, he orchestrates the death of Helm, ''personally'' murders Mystra (possibly for [[Killed Off for Real|good]] this time), ''and'' unleashes the devastating Spell Plague, all without breaking a sweat. ''Wow''. |
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** In the first ''[[Pathfinder]]'' adventure, ''Burnt Offerings'', the players fend off an attack from goblins that act like pyromaniac 5th-graders who injure themselves as often as their opponents. But weeks after the raid, they discover a goblin who ran and hid under a house, where he slowly went mad from hunger and isolation and ''killed and ate a child''. A definite case of [[Mood Whiplash]]. |
** In the first ''[[Pathfinder]]'' adventure, ''Burnt Offerings'', the players fend off an attack from goblins that act like pyromaniac 5th-graders who injure themselves as often as their opponents. But weeks after the raid, they discover a goblin who ran and hid under a house, where he slowly went mad from hunger and isolation and ''killed and ate a child''. A definite case of [[Mood Whiplash]]. |
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** "The Bandits of Bunglewood" from ''[[Dungeon (magazine)| Dungeon Adventures #51]]'' seems to be inspired by Tucker's Kobolds. The eponymous Bandits are kobolds who have gotten more training than the typical ones, and investigating their misdeeds is difficult because nobody is willing to admit they were beaten up and robbed by mere kobolds. As a result, their actions around the town the module takes place are clouded by stories of orcs, lycanthropes, trolls, and other "respectable" monsters. |
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* ''[[New World of Darkness]]'' games: |
* ''[[New World of Darkness]]'' games: |
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** In general: Humans are slow, feeble, ignorant, nearly powerless, and only an actual danger to supernaturals in significant numbers. Until the supernaturals find themselves facing [[Hunter: The Vigil|the exceptions]], who are ''very'' capable of fighting the supernaturals on their own turf and winning, by means as diverse as Task Force: VALKYRIE's plasma cannons and bullets that phase into the spirit realm and harm incorporeal entities, to the Malleus Maleficarum's habit of calling down the literal wrath of God, to an insanely brave and fiendishly clever group of everyday men and women who have gotten fed up with the things that go bump in the night and broken out whatever weapons or tools that are handy. |
** In general: Humans are slow, feeble, ignorant, nearly powerless, and only an actual danger to supernaturals in significant numbers. Until the supernaturals find themselves facing [[Hunter: The Vigil|the exceptions]], who are ''very'' capable of fighting the supernaturals on their own turf and winning, by means as diverse as Task Force: VALKYRIE's plasma cannons and bullets that phase into the spirit realm and harm incorporeal entities, to the Malleus Maleficarum's habit of calling down the literal wrath of God, to an insanely brave and fiendishly clever group of everyday men and women who have gotten fed up with the things that go bump in the night and broken out whatever weapons or tools that are handy. |
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** ''[[Hunter: The Vigil]]'' also has an example within its own bounds. The Keepers of the Source are a group of feel-good [[New Age Retro Hippy|New Ager neo-hippie]] types based out of San Francisco. They also believe that mages and other practitioners draw upon the life energy of Gaia in order to power their magic, and really, ''really'', '''''really''''' aren't happy with this arrangement. |
** ''[[Hunter: The Vigil]]'' also has an example within its own bounds. The Keepers of the Source are a group of feel-good [[New Age Retro Hippy|New Ager neo-hippie]] types based out of San Francisco. They also believe that mages and other practitioners draw upon the life energy of Gaia in order to power their magic, and really, ''really'', '''''really''''' aren't happy with this arrangement. |
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* In [[Warhammer 40,000]] the Imperial guard are generally portrayed as the Imperium's trillions strong [[Redshirt Army]]. A popular joke in the fandom goes "what do you call a lasgun (the Imperial guard's main weapon) with a laser sight? Double-barreled." Then again, it is possible to have so many in even small games - the saying goes: "One lasgun is a joke. 150 lasguns is not." |
* In [[Warhammer 40,000]] the Imperial guard are generally portrayed as the Imperium's trillions strong [[Redshirt Army]]. A popular joke in the fandom goes "what do you call a lasgun (the Imperial guard's main weapon) with a laser sight? Double-barreled." Then again, it is possible to have so many in even small games - the saying goes: "One lasgun is a joke. 150 lasguns is not." |
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== Theater == |
== Theater == |
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