Re: [HoE] Review of Epitaph #1 Teller

[Matt and Teresa Steflik <grifflik@stny.rr.com>]

David Heth wrote:

> On the death of Teller... well I hate to say it but thats the fate mere
> mortals are in for in the game unless the Marshall makes allowances and
> tries to help them out. (Which I do) The gross imbalance (and it is period)
> of the AB means that .. yep. Poor Teller was doomed.  And dont think I like
> it one bit.
>
Yes, regarding mere mortals in this game, I am unfortunately forced
(read as "dragged kicking and screaming") to agree...and I too don't
like it one bit.  I think the error in killing Teller goes past this
however.  Again, looking specifically at Teller as an example:  he has
been the voice of the fiction and the example for character creation for
the game.  He has been responsible for showing players exactly what
their characters _should_ be doing to fight the Reckoners.  Does
shooting the baddies help?  Of course.  Blowin' 'em up?  Oh yeah.  But
at the end of the day, spreading hope to survivors and attempting to
reduce the fear the Reckoners have caused is really what victory is all
about.  This is what the example of Teller demonstrated.  Every person
has the potential to make a difference, regardless of power.  His
example was soley responsible for three different characters in my
campaign...Claude Journeyman, a tale tellin' Postman, Kit Cobratti (The
Papergirl), and more recently Johnny, a Junker (yes even an AB was
influenced) that makes musical instruments and spreads hope through
performing music on his Junker devices.  I ask you, if this is an
important message to players in this setting, why kill the messenger?
The message now is "I should of put those points from Tale Tellin' into
upping my Dodge or Shootin' instead". Damn shame.

Allan Seyberth wrote:

> Well - for a "storyline" reason - Teller has been hanging around with a
> Grim Servant of Death.
>
> :-)
>
As much as a central figure as Teller has been?  Eh.   Contributing
factor, sure.  Not enough for a sole explanation for my tastes.  Still
doesn't go toward answering what purpose his death serves...

Dan Sulin wrote:

> Hey Guys am I the only one who thinks the story was just an easy way to get
> Teller to come back harrowed.  Some one already said that he is the HOE
> version of Ronan Lynch.  And making him harrowed would definitly make him a
> more powerful character. Equal to any other player type if you ask
> me(psyker, doomie, junker, templar etc...).
>
I would be _very_ suprised if that happened. Nah.  That road was already
traveled with Ronan Lynch in the Weird West. A few others on the list
mentioned the possibility that he'd become a Templar Saint...I doubt
this as well.  Not sure why, exactly.  Just does sit right.


Shane Hensley wrote:

> Or maybe he'll be something else. . ..
>


How about...ALIVE?!  :-)


TBS wrote:

> My understanding, possibly flawed, was that that was to be the last HoE DN
> anyway.
>

Nope.  There's going to be at least one more...the follow up to Story's
End is advertised as being in the next issue of the Epitaph.

> As for teller, well, as someone else said, such is the fate of non-AB
> people in HoE.  HoE is just the sort of place they really have top struggle.
>
Yes, agreed...but again, Teller was set up in a very prominant position
for Players to go by as an example and showed thet norms could be viable
as a character type. His death carries and reinforces the negative
message that being a combat god or AB is the only way to go in the game
if you want to survive in the game.  How does his death improve the
setting or carry the story along?  It doesn't - it becomes part of the
problem.


Darrin Bright wrote:

> That's what I was thinking... I guess we'll know more when Lost Colony
> comes out, Hellstromme shows up, and all that. If not harrowed, then at
> least a saint. Or this something else...
>
> We've seen what the Reckoners have been up to for all these years. We
> know what the manitous are up to. What about the other side? If it's
> possible to be possessed or have your body taken over by an evil
> spirit/demon, then why not an angel/seraphim/etc.? Or is that just a
> little too much Obi Won Kenobi thing... "If you strike me down, I will
> become more powerful than you can ever imagine." I suppose I should
> actually read the story.
>
Hmmm...perhaps posessing Roth, or riding about in his soul like some
sort of spiritual Jimminey Cricket?  That could be cute...not really a
great reason for having him die, but cute.

Thanks for all the thoughts folks.

Matt Steflik
Gimme Shelter - http://www.geocities.com/grifflik/