Re: GM Dilemma

From: Christian Conkle <conkle@my-deja.com>

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:31:22 +0000

In article <91o2oc$2bh$1@nnrp1.deja.com>,
  i_am_superdude@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I'm currently running a role-playing/story-engine campaign using the
> HERO System, but I've kind of placed myself in a jam and am wondering
> how to maintain plausibility with a certain plotline.
>
> The plotline I'm referring to revolves around a string of jewelers and
> diamond depots that have been heisted of their uncut diamonds.  The
> robbers were some ex-military types wearing power-armor, and it seems
> the armor they're wearing might have been inspired by a prototype of a
> Warder, a suit of power-armor used by guards at a metahuman prison.
> This assumption is even more probable due to the fact that the Warder
> prototype blueprints were recently stolen from a Smithsonian.
>
> Now, this is only one aspect to this plot.  Another point that has
been
> rising is that the uncut diamonds might be related to the "blood
> diamond" trading that apparently was going on between jewelers and the
> Unita militia in Africa.  Such trading has been embargoed by the U.N.,
> but there's still specualtion that it still occurs.
>
> The "blood diamond" theory is coming from a player-character, but as a
> GM, I must say that I especially liked it.  The only problem with this
> theory is that the diamonds weren't being traded by the armored men,
as
> these armored men were clearly stealing the diamonds.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might piece this all
together
> to make a plausible connection out of it?  Any and all suggestions
would
> muchly be appreciated.
>
> Paul

One idea that immediately comes to my mind is to make the Diamond
traders whose diamonds were stolen not quite the innocent victims.

The thieves were once mercenaries who served in Africa. They saw first-
hand the exploitation of the villagers at the hands of the Unitas
militia. How they were worked to death to extract the diamonds to fund
the Unitas military operations.

Now they're trying to undo some of that. The ex-mercenaries are
stealing said diamonds from the unscrupulous diamond dealers who
purchased the diamonds (and funded the Unitas), and using the proceeds
of the theft to fund a counter-operation AGAINST Unitas on the
exploited villagers' behalf.

On top of the PC's investigating, the evil Diamond Dealers are hiring
their own operatives to retrieve the diamonds and punish the thieves.
Possibly ex-Unitas soldiers.

The PC's are then presented with an ethical conundrum (my favorite
types of games): Stop the thieves even though their cause is just? Help
the thieves even though their actions are illegal, no matter how just?
Are the diamond dealers really the victims, especially when they hire
assassins to do their dirty work?

There are lots of opportunity for mayhem!

--
-----------------------------------------------------
Christian Conkle
Web Developer - National Committee for Quality Assurance
conkle@mecha.com - conkle@early.com - conkle@ncqa.org

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References

GM Dilemma
i_am_superdude@yahoo.com
Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:35:24 +0000