I want to be a information-broker: how to do this without being unbalancing? [Archive] - Wizards Community

I want to be a information-broker: how to do this without being unbalancing? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nicholas the Paladin
10-09-07, 02:41 PM Hi Guys,

Curently I'm playing a Gnome Beguiler in the vast city of Zazesspur (Thetyr, FR). As part of de development of my character I made him use te Shadowweave (fits his shifty-profile) and he wants to be thé information-broker in the city.

Between adventures we spent a lot of time on 'off-time' development of our characters, since it's not always possible to flesh out our characters while adventuring.

Last off-time I told my fellow PC's that I wanted to be a 'information -broker' in the city.
This wil be an organic development, since at first my Beguiler at first only wants to 'know' things out of sheer curiousity. Later on in the game he'll realise that this will give him a lot of possibilities, leverage and ways to make money en make new contacts ..... in other words he start of to be a Good-character that just curious...and develops to be a Neutral-character who is making money from the things he knows (and gaining power in the proces).

He'll get his info mainly from:
a) innkeepers and bartenders (when in one of his many disguises): info about dealings inside the city of Zazesspur;
b) trades/businessmen passing through the city: info about dealings outside the city, that might affect the city.

How to deal with this is en practical way during an adventure, without destroying the gamebalance and playability?

It's a bit too much too say in an adventure that I 'just know' stuff. But I want this too be something that's part of my character during adventures.

You might want to suggest me to max out my 'local knowledge' skill and my 'information gathering' skill, but maybe you have more suggestions.

Thanks !
olpolok
10-09-07, 03:10 PM There probably is already an IB in the city and that may or may not bring you trouble.

Here are some tips:

1) Good Cha Score (Be friendly in general)
2) Good Know Local
3) Good Gather Info
4) Have a Good Amout of Gold to Invest
5) Bribe the Local Bards to Build You a Reputation (you want people to know you and know where to find you)
6) Roleplay the meetings with your contacts
7) Don´t leave town and if you do have someone to carry on the IB net while you are gone.
8) Have subordinates to be your eyes and ears in the city (example: beggers)
9) Be friends with poeple of questionable morale (Most valuable info comes from them or is selled to them)
10) Eventualy move to a new city to start a new information net. (Keep doing this and you´ll eventualy have a "global" net)

And the list goes on and on but this should do for now.
Nicholas the Paladin
10-09-07, 04:12 PM thanks, you gave me a lot of good ideas.

There probably is already an IB in the city and that may or may not bring you trouble.yup, I kind off expect to run into the wrong type of guys withy my curiosity. I'll look into it.

Here are some tips:

1) Good Cha Score (Be friendly in general) My cha is 14, that's okay

2) Good Know Local
3) Good Gather Info that's what I thought. But I think I take 'local knwoledge' first, since we usually roleplay our information gathering. 'info gathering' is considered somewhat of a spoiler ...and it saves me a skill to invest in ;)
4) Have a Good Amout of Gold to Investgood point....coining people could help.
5) Bribe the Local Bards to Build You a Reputation (you want people to know you and know where to find you) I never thought about that. But I want my character to be mysterious...so I better get a good story.
6) Roleplay the meetings with your contactsI usually do.

7) Don´t leave town and if you do have someone to carry on the IB net while you are gone. Good point, that something to organise
8) Have subordinates to be your eyes and ears in the city (example: beggers)again a good point. see 8

9) Be friends with poeple of questionable morale (Most valuable info comes from them or is selled to them) I'm afraihd it will come to that. It's better to be Neutral then to be good .
10) Eventualy move to a new city to start a new information net. (Keep doing this and you´ll eventualy have "golobal" net) whooah, ...one step at a time.

And the list goes on and on but this should do for now. Thanks you were a great help already.

Any more ideas !??

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nicholas the Paladin 10-09-07, 02:41 PM	Hi Guys, Curently I'm playing a Gnome Beguiler in the vast city of Zazesspur (Thetyr, FR). As part of de development of my character I made him use te Shadowweave (fits his shifty-profile) and he wants to be thé information-broker in the city. Between adventures we spent a lot of time on 'off-time' development of our characters, since it's not always possible to flesh out our characters while adventuring. Last off-time I told my fellow PC's that I wanted to be a 'information -broker' in the city. This wil be an organic development, since at first my Beguiler at first only wants to 'know' things out of sheer curiousity. Later on in the game he'll realise that this will give him a lot of possibilities, leverage and ways to make money en make new contacts ..... in other words he start of to be a Good-character that just curious...and develops to be a Neutral-character who is making money from the things he knows (and gaining power in the proces). He'll get his info mainly from: a) innkeepers and bartenders (when in one of his many disguises): info about dealings inside the city of Zazesspur; b) trades/businessmen passing through the city: info about dealings outside the city, that might affect the city. How to deal with this is en practical way during an adventure, without destroying the gamebalance and playability? It's a bit too much too say in an adventure that I 'just know' stuff. But I want this too be something that's part of my character during adventures. You might want to suggest me to max out my 'local knowledge' skill and my 'information gathering' skill, but maybe you have more suggestions. Thanks !
olpolok 10-09-07, 03:10 PM	There probably is already an IB in the city and that may or may not bring you trouble. Here are some tips: 1) Good Cha Score (Be friendly in general) 2) Good Know Local 3) Good Gather Info 4) Have a Good Amout of Gold to Invest 5) Bribe the Local Bards to Build You a Reputation (you want people to know you and know where to find you) 6) Roleplay the meetings with your contacts 7) Don´t leave town and if you do have someone to carry on the IB net while you are gone. 8) Have subordinates to be your eyes and ears in the city (example: beggers) 9) Be friends with poeple of questionable morale (Most valuable info comes from them or is selled to them) 10) Eventualy move to a new city to start a new information net. (Keep doing this and you´ll eventualy have a "global" net) And the list goes on and on but this should do for now.
Nicholas the Paladin 10-09-07, 04:12 PM	thanks, you gave me a lot of good ideas. There probably is already an IB in the city and that may or may not bring you trouble.yup, I kind off expect to run into the wrong type of guys withy my curiosity. I'll look into it. Here are some tips: 1) Good Cha Score (Be friendly in general) My cha is 14, that's okay 2) Good Know Local 3) Good Gather Info that's what I thought. But I think I take 'local knwoledge' first, since we usually roleplay our information gathering. 'info gathering' is considered somewhat of a spoiler ...and it saves me a skill to invest in ;) 4) Have a Good Amout of Gold to Investgood point....coining people could help. 5) Bribe the Local Bards to Build You a Reputation (you want people to know you and know where to find you) I never thought about that. But I want my character to be mysterious...so I better get a good story. 6) Roleplay the meetings with your contactsI usually do. 7) Don´t leave town and if you do have someone to carry on the IB net while you are gone. Good point, that something to organise 8) Have subordinates to be your eyes and ears in the city (example: beggers)again a good point. see 8 9) Be friends with poeple of questionable morale (Most valuable info comes from them or is selled to them) I'm afraihd it will come to that. It's better to be Neutral then to be good . 10) Eventualy move to a new city to start a new information net. (Keep doing this and you´ll eventualy have "golobal" net) whooah, ...one step at a time. And the list goes on and on but this should do for now. Thanks you were a great help already. Any more ideas !??