Just a quick question...

I've been reading over The Gathering Storm, getting everything in line, and there's one thing that doesn't sit right.

How would you suggest I avoid making Schulmann too obvious as the bad guy? I know the book has suggestions, and part of this could be cuz I'm reading it and know everything beforehand, but even his attempts to avoid attention in the game seem to flag him as a dodgy character. I don't know, I'd be interested to see how other GM's coped with this, or if it was even an issue...

Cheers.

I'm struggling with that as well.

My players just met him (see the my gameplay thread). The immediate reaction was to distrust any NPC wizard (much as in fact they would distrust any NPC who showed interest in them). If they weren't recruiting a PC wizard I would have simply "let them come to him" as they made inquiries about "who could tell them more about the magic stone". As it is I will try to have him treat the new wizard as a colleague as much as a rival (the new PC is an Order of Light).

My plan is to have him be a useful source of information, potential aid in various ways in background re visions etc., while other NPC's appear more menacing etc. (Gottshaulk will recognize them from his visions and may scare the beejesus out of them when he does). He may eventually play up that "when I figure out all these stones, there will be a job for you perhaps" so that at the very least they think if he has an "evil endgame" they will think it comes up later than it really will.

I'm also playing up the Madriga murder mystery and he will be assistance on that front (provided a clue already).

My alternate plan is to have him appear the fickle, dangeorus inept wizard type - not a villain per se (play to stereotypes and as a demonstration of one-too-many chaos stars while spellcasting).

Finally, at some point I may let them 'save him' and thus expect gratitude etc. (e.g., if the dead walk).

Rob

The initial reaction indeed IS to distrust any NPC that shows interest in them.

But you have to remember that there are several other NPCs that will do this.

the Sigmar priest will do this, as he has been having visions

the old professor will want to talk to them as well

if there is a dwarf, perhaps the brewer will want to have a word to test a new batch

one of the guards might want to have a talk to make sure the party keeps it down

Only introduce Schulmann after some others have done this, and play up the fact that he is helping local children with reading & education as well.
Maybe make it clear that he's come here to investigate the incredibly bad weather, since he is a celestial wizard after all...

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I might try one or two of those.

I was thinking of the academic (name's slipped my mind) alright. He seems to have a negligible part in the story, as does the murder/suicide sub plot.

I think the main problem is, when you know how the story goes, trying to look at it from an outsider's perspective and see if it's actually a surprise twist or what...