So I was looking at the sidebar on p. 30 of the GM kit regarding giving nemesis NPCs XP and the means for leveling them. My first idea for this especially since the ability to level the nemesis can get pretty high skilled by the RAW there was to chargen the nemesis as if I was creating a PC. They wouldn't be very highly leveled to begin with when the pcs first encounter them, but I imagined that they would be more and more of a challenge with each recurring appearance.

I like that aspect but was wondering when buying into the Adversary talent (at a cost of 40 XP per rank as it is not found in any Specialization) should be timed. I'm thinking that having one rank early on would help show their special status as a villain to the party, but then I was wondering when re-buying into that talent would work best. I want to be careful not to repurchase that talent too much as havering an NPC with too high of a rank in Adversary would unbalance the game too much against the party.

What would be the max end of Adversary ranking then?

Also, some skills (from the perspective of an NPC nemesis) seem like they might not be useful to buy into. Has anyone looked at this or am I just not thinking of scenarios where I would need to have an NPC make Knowledge checks? I know that there are some NPCs listed in the Core and other books with some skills that are not social/combat skills and I'm wracking my brain to come up with situations when I would have to perform that sort of check for an NPC, so any help here would be greatly appreciated.

There were some rules for levelling Nemeses in (I believe) the GM screen. The general idea was that you gave the Nemesis the same amount of XP as the player who earned the most from any given session/adventure, plus 5. Then he can freely buy any talent(s) from any trees the PCs have. Only when he has filled a talent tree completely can he move on to the next. He could also buy any talent from any talent tree (except Dedication) for 30(?) XP, without having to access the specialization.

The bookkeeping around this gets out of hand fast, let me tell you.

The bookkeeping around this gets out of hand fast, let me tell you.

yeah, especially when I'm creating a specific Nemesis for each of my PCs to sort of pop in and out due to their obligation getting triggered or for big story points. I plan to use some form fillable character sheets for each of them and update those at the end of each session as part of a cleanup routine. that way, whenever I have to utilize one, I just print out the up to date character sheet and am ready to go. I just have to be sure to keep on top of them.

I guess I'm mainly worried though about how to skill them and how far and quickly to have them buy into the Adversary talent at 40xp per rank.

Good luck! I have attempted bookkeeping on that, but I usually end up picking a few things until it "feels" right, but I've been running with this group for a year and I haven't quite gotten it right yet! I usually err on the side of too weak. Well, that changes tomorrow.

what happens tomorrow? i'm suddenly hearing Vader's March in my head...

what happens tomorrow? i'm suddenly hearing Vader's March in my head...

It's a big finale where (hopefully) 2 of the party will resolve long-standing Obligations...or die trying. There's definitely going to be some nasty beasties and perhaps another surprise, all for the entertainment of some old enemies.

[edit] and a new one!

what happens tomorrow? i'm suddenly hearing Vader's March in my head...

It's a big finale where (hopefully) 2 of the party will resolve long-standing Obligations...or die trying. There's definitely going to be some nasty beasties and perhaps another surprise, all for the entertainment of some old enemies.

[edit] and a new one!

Pray tell us what happens after your session is over.

Pray tell us what happens after your session is over.

Can do!

Pray tell us what happens after your session is over.

Can do!

Well, of course now we're thinking about postponing, oh the humanity.

Sadly, we did not end up playing tonight. Family obligations etc.

I'll happily reveal my plans in a PM to interested parties!

Sadly, we did not end up playing tonight. Family obligations etc.

I'll happily reveal my plans in a PM to interested parties!

I'm very interested.

Sadly, we did not end up playing tonight. Family obligations etc.

I'll happily reveal my plans in a PM to interested parties!

Would love to hear about this!

I like that aspect but was wondering when buying into the Adversary talent (at a cost of 40 XP per rank as it is not found in any Specialization) should be timed. I'm thinking that having one rank early on would help show their special status as a villain to the party, but then I was wondering when re-buying into that talent would work best. I want to be careful not to repurchase that talent too much as havering an NPC with too high of a rank in Adversary would unbalance the game too much against the party.

I would keep an eye on the party's dice pools and rank appropriately. Really depends on their skills and characteristics.

What would be the max end of Adversary ranking then?

Adversary 3 is like, end of adventure villain. Adversary 4 or 5 would be "end of campaign" villain, IMO. But again, depends on your party.

Also, some skills (from the perspective of an NPC nemesis) seem like they might not be useful to buy into. Has anyone looked at this or am I just not thinking of scenarios where I would need to have an NPC make Knowledge checks? I know that there are some NPCs listed in the Core and other books with some skills that are not social/combat skills and I'm wracking my brain to come up with situations when I would have to perform that sort of check for an NPC, so any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Knowledge could be used as an opposed skill when dealing with an Evil Mastermind Nemesis. For example, sometimes if a PC is trying to deceive the NPC, you could oppose the roll with knowledge if they are trying to lie about something which the NPC would be likely to know. Or, say if the PCs are trying to run away. They make Athletics/Stealth/Astrogation/whatever checks to hide from the Mastermind, but the Mastermind *knows* where they're going and sends his mooks to head them off.