Re: [DL] LS & the supernatural (spoilers)(long)

["Ben Rasmussen" <nyddoybdyle@hotmail.com>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Reemull" <reemull@yahoo.co.uk>

> Hucksters:  I can picture a Ranger using a gut instinct to determine
> whether a huckster has the capability to be a TR - and think this fits
> quite well.  However the "if they say no - give them a telling off and
> send them on their way" seems significantly toned down from their
> initial "shoot or recruit".  I guess  it is necessary as otherwise a
> Marshall will have a nightmare as everytime he uses a NPC with an a AB,
> the PC's will enjoy pointing at the "shoot or recruit" motto as he
> blasts the poor sucker.  However I think there is potential for some
> nice roleplaying situations focused around the "shoot or recruit"
> guidelines.

Seeing as I just gained a Ranger in my posse the whole shoot it or recruit
it mentality was a bit I wrangled with as a GM. I loath PC infighting and I
knew I'd have to sort this out to keep from having it cause a bunch of
problems. This is mainly from the PC having that mentality point of view and
I must mention I do not have LS yet.

Even if a Ranger knows the guy in the saloon across from him is satan
himself he can't just whip out his 6-shooters and start shooting. I always
figured the rangers knew enough about the supernatural to know that fear
feeds the problem. Doing something this stupid is going to not only lend
evidence to the nasties running around it might actually scare the locals
more as the target starts using it's supernatural mojo.

Even a tough as nails Ranger needs to back off and approach from a more
subtle angle. They have to pick their fights carefully otherwise they cause
more harm then good and the folks back at the home office should damn well
know this. Why would a ranger who trying to protect the populace from the
dark underbelly of the wierd west knowingly and willingly start a situation
that exposes it?

When it comes to other PC's, they're probaly loath to join the Rangers just
cause another player is demanding it. But like the players themselves, the
actuall people the players are portraying probably have the same view. I'd
expect the Rangers to know this.

Why not lead from the rear? Granted it's not the first image that comes to
mind when thinking of the rough and ready Rangers, but why waste a perfectly
good patsy?

Just because a given person (or thing) won't willingly go down and sign up
for the Rangers doesn't mean they still can't work for them. If the Ranger
is smart he'll get the target to do the Rangers work and really bright ones
might even manage 'Shoot or Recruit' in one blow. Better to have two
supernatural things take each other out then do all the work yourself.

The ranger might just scare the target into doing the right thing, "I'm
leaving this one horse town. But if I catch so much as a whisper on the wind
that things are a might bit funny here I'll be back and I won't be a
pleasent visit. And no, I don't care if it was you causin' the problem or
something else that just rolled into town. I'll put it -ALL-  of ya six feet
under."

Or he might take a more hands on approach and follow the target around,
making sure it stays out of trouble and guiding it to do the best work for
rangers. PC's are prime targets for this sort of treatment as they're often
magnets for the wierd of the west. Now the trouble comes to the Ranger, and
he's got disposible 'deputies' to help out.

And if enough time passes the Ranger might even learn that the guy who deals
with the devil daily isn't all bad, and considering he's saved the Rangers
bacon on occasion, might even lead to the Ranger buckin' the system. Or
atleast being torn over hosing his friend or turning his back on his job.
And that's just good RP.


---
... armchair philosophers? Where are they supposed to do it? "Descarte leapt
across the ditch as the bullets buzzed past his ears like angry wasps - 'If
all I can know is the product of my own perceptions,' he thought as he
punched another Hussar in the throat, 'then all I can say with any
confidence is "I think, therefore I am." ' Turning, he grabbed the Prussian
colonel's cap and wrenched down over his ears, tossing him back into the
trench now filled with twisted corpses."  --Radical Athority (rpg.net)