Hi guys,

One of my players has come up with a cracking obligation. He's told me that his character (An EotE Slicer) is in fact a clone of his original self. The player has no memories from before his introduction to the galaxy and that he is being blackmailed by parties unknown who have abducted the original and are holding "his" memories hostage.

Now, I quite like this and I feel like there's a lot to work with. It'll link quite nicely with a couple of my other players' stories too.

1. Who?

My first quandry is: "Who is blackmailing him?". I think it has to be an individual or organisation with a fair few resources (but not Empire sized) and presumably have a long game in mind to be breeding a clone for their purpose. Posibly some sort of shadow organisation like Mass Effect's Cerberus? A Hutt maybe? Some dark cult from the edges of the outer rim?

2. Why?

Why are they blackmailing him? What do they want to achieve and how do they want to use him to achieve it? I suspect it'd be best to have him forced to play himself in some critical situation. Or he has some particular and unique quality that they want to utilise. But I am a bit stuck for exciting ideas on how to use that.

Essentially, I'm after some inspiration and open to any suggestions you guys might have for either question.

Thanks!

It would be fun if the clone was a clone of a Clone. Maybe the original became an advisor to the weapons division of some mega-corp, responsible for testing new products; and the blackmailers are a rival corp wanting the latest tech. Maybe the original is on a first-name basis with key politicians, and either the blackmailers want to get close enough for a kill, or maybe the blackmailers are Rebels looking to push certain politicians in a certain direction. Or maybe the original simply slept with the wrong daughter, and somebody wants a shotgun marriage.

Maybe the Clone is unaware that he is indeed a clone, and is actually a impromptu assassin for the original; he believes all his assets have been seized by a clone of his, yet in truth HE is the clone! The blackmailer is just the guy trying to "recovery" what is "rightfully his"

Human replica droids also work; their capabilities are much more advanced then typical droids, basically pick a species template and replace it's species ability with the droid stuff. Good stuff. I know one player who has opted for this, and was quite surprised when the doctor looked at him, looked blankly up and said "call a mechanic"

neat!

So he's a slicer. I'm thinking maybe the original is just the best in the business, who can do things no-one else can. But then he found the wrong data, to something sinister even a mercenary couldn't ignore. So his employer caught him, threw him into stasis, and cloned him. Because he's just that good? Or there's something still in his brain that the employer needs to unlock the final step of his plan?

I think the who and what should be solved by whether you have any plans for the big bad scenario of the campaign. Character ideas can take your original plan and give it clever tweaks. And they don't have to know just how much influence they had on the plan.

Cheers guys - some great suggestions. Taking a little from here and there I think I've formed a good idea.

Taking advice from The Grand Falloon I'm creating a bit of a big bad who will tie in with the broader campaign. Taking a bit from the ever helpful whafrog there will be an element of personal grudge and from Lordbiscuit a trippy cloney twist.

----

Cen Thorne is an ancient and mysterious figure. Centries past, he was a notorious pirate captaining the vast and frightening starship, Ayumu. When his young protege betrayed him, turned his crew against him, stole his fortune, crippled his ship and left him for dead, Cen went off the reservation. He would spend decades hunting his protege down and the other traitorous scum that used to form his crew. The hunt became an obsession, the imagined retribution his sole driving force. He extended his life with cybernetics and all manner of creepy experimental technology. Lost his sense of self. By the time he found him, the protege was an old and feable man.

The promised retribution hollow and unsatisfying. So Cen Thorne took his one-time protege to Kamino where he created a number of clones. He has been releasing, hunting, toying with and exacting cruel vengeance upon these clones for over a hundred years.

For now, Cen toys with the player - one of those clones. He know the PC well and manipulates him through blackmail and seemingly accidental clues. Making him perform uncomfortable tasks - using him to increase his own influence behind the scenes. Leading him towards retribution, planning to take everything before a violent and painful end.

I envision a show down on delapidated capital ship with a enemy more monster than sentient being, surrounded by clone vats and and trophies of the dead. A touch of sci-fi horror about it.

----

How's that sounding?

Great premise!

I agree. This sounds like a great background for a Big Evil Bad Guy (BEBG?)!

Be careful about monologuing though. And be sure to work on the laugh.

"A lot of guys ignore the laugh and that's about standards. I mean, if you're gonna get into the Evil League of Evil, you have to have a memorable laugh."

Bonus points if you can identify the quote.

Haha thanks guys!

Yeah I'll want to make sure the players are the stars for sure. I'll work on that laugh though. I plan to deliver most background through clues and research. Not a huge fan of exposition heavy monologues!

Quote-wise I want to say... Dr Horrible's singalong?

29 minutes ago, SanguineAngel said:

Quote-wise I want to say... Dr Horrible's singalong?

And we have a winner!

I gotta say, that background is badass.