Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 spellwyrm Mar 26, 2009 20:30:16	In the campaign (homebrewed) I'm currently running at the moment, I have a Player who is a very large fan of Mafioso-style novels, movies and the like. Being an avid fan of myself, I've never thought to combine both D&D fantasy with some mafia-hijinks to kick off some adventure until just recently. I think it could provide some nice tension and emotion, not to mention the moral choices the PC's would have to make if they chose to deal with or act against such an organization. At the moment I'm working with the idea of a Dwarven family network ring, specifically Deep Dwarves (yes I know they don't have a write up), who even more specifically hail from Thormourn, which is a remote northern region of the world. From there I worked with the idea that these Dwarves, who call themselves the "Deep Kindred", work similar to a real-world mafia ring. Only true, full-blooded Thormourn Deep Dwarves can be accepted into the Families, though other Dwarves, even Deep Dwarves not of Thormourn, can obtain partial status though they will never be "made". Outsiders not of Dwarven heritage are rare, almost never trusted and never get closer to the Thormourn then semi-associates. I ran this idea across my players, and they expressed interest in dealing with an organization like this. Now, from here I see some problems: Deep Dwarves had a few bonuses over their other Dwarven kin in previous editions, so (aside from Darkvision) do you believe I should add anything else from the base Dwarf template? Also, how would you prefer to run an organization such as this? Would you prefer the more brutal, blood-thirsty, cold and calculating approach? Or would a more laid-back, misunderstood noble aura feel better to throw off suspicion? Would you think some nicknames (as in RL mafia examples), would be suitable for the members of this organization based on personal skills or achievements? How would you feel about an outsider Dwarf (PC) being too close to an organization such as this? What types of mafia-style errands or complications would you think would be appropriate in a European fantasy setting? I'm also thinking, if this idea works, on creating a history and establishing this organization as part of the overall world theme. Thus suggesting that Deep Dwarves, (whom in my world all originated from the Locci Ridge Plain's, where Thormourn was once a brutally colonized country of Dwarves), spread out over centuries and established tight-knit Family communities to support themselves. As a side note, I think the overall idea of Dwarf thugs using handbows or repeating crossbows in shooting matches on the streets, while reserving their axes for Hit Targets comes off as both comical but entertaining in a way that wouldn't detract from the overall experience either. If anyone would like to comment and lend a hand, or just help steer me in the right direction I would appreciate it. I have about a week and a half to smooth out most of the wrinkles, so I only need the basics at the moment. But if you also want to comment on long-term goals, feel free.
#2 gregt_314 Mar 26, 2009 22:51:09	4E specifically goes out of its way to not let players see in the dark. That's not saying you can't do that, just you should be aware that it's deliberate design choice. Just run Dark Dwarves as regular Dwarves in a funny hat for the purposes of this game. If you're doing a novelty game you don't want to also be stuffing around with mechanic balancing; take what works and push forwards. Nicknames will make your game a comedy; doing them in a non-comedy way requires a kind of storytelling I don't think you're going to want to be worrying about while also running a gimmick game. If comedy doesn't worry you, body parts are the key to mafia nicknames. And, I guess, things to do with stone and mining, because theyr'e dwarves. Jimmy "Fingers" Deepgem, Bruno "the Nose" Coalcutter, Franky "Knuckles" Quartzfoot. If you're only doing one session, you must make it a gang war. When you've only got one session, you do your best story. So maybe the Blackiron clan break up a Deegem mining operation, so the Deepgems retaliate by taking out the Blackiron magic potion still, so the Blackiron hit back by whacking Benny "Kneecaps" Leadmelter .... throw in a "car chase" with mining carts and crossbows and lots of "You'll never take me alive, see? Gnarr!" and you have RPG gold.