For what purpose were those years spent, Xanthis? Did I not tutor you well in the ways of mankind, in our sacred duty? Why then would you behave this way? So many lives, my Xanthis... So cruel a tale shall I write of your memory.
-From the addled mutterings of one Ankyra
In August, we announced the upcoming release of Hostile Acquisitions. Many souls live on the fringe of Imperial law, and this supplement for Rogue Trader focuses on those individuals. From pirates to unsanctioned pskyers, the far future is filled with those who prefer to keep the lowest of profiles.
This week we take a closer look at The Nemesis Path, a chapter of the Hostile Acquisitions that gives you the tools for constructing the ultimate Nemesis. While The Nemesis Path is an optional system, it allows you to design a living challenge for Explorers. Imagine having the ability to quickly generate a foil for all your players’ plans, a character who will attempt to stymie your Explorers at every turn and unite them against a common enemy. The Nemesis Path provides exactly that.
A competitor yearns for revenge
This chapter of Hostile Acquisitions guides you through a process similar to the character creation process, yet the end result will be something far more sinister. You choose Origins, Motivations, Devices and Downfalls, Stakes, and Archetypes to build a perfect adversary. Like the Origin Path, the Nemesis Path provides a framework for an adversary that can be fleshed out into a full-fledged antagonist.
Introducing a Nemesis to your campaign works best when Explorers have already developed stories for their characters. When players have spun their own tales, it provides many opportunities for you to work a Nemesis into that background. For example, if one of your player characters is an ex-soldier trying to eke out a new living on the edge of the law, a natural adversary may well be an Enemy in Arms. He could be a former combatant in a long-forgotten conflict motivated by a vendetta and willing to travel untold distances to settle the score.
Old rivalries renewed
Furthermore, The Nemesis Path is complete with additional profiles for you to augment. Perhaps your group has crossed a powerful Eldar Pirate Prince one too many time, and now they find themselves the focus of his attention, or maybe your Explorers have foundthemselves the target of an Inquisitor who would like nothing more than to see them all rot in an Imperial prison. Whatever the case, the example nemeses in Hostile Acquisitions allow you to dive right in and challenge your group for many sessions to come.
Three methods for Nemesis creation are included in the supplement, allowing you maximum flexibility in the the process. If, for instance, you want to create a foe that mirrors the players’ Origin Paths as much as possible, use the Player Centered Method. This option produces a Nemesis tailored to fit the stories of player characters. The GM Centered Method will be more appropriate if you already have an idea you want to flesh out, but don’t want to be distracted by too many options. Last, the Intersection Method combines the previous methods, achieving a balanced Nemesis who reflects choices made by the players and GM.
Are you and your crew ready to face a cunning and ruthless Nemesis? Hostile Acquisitions lands in stores later this quarter. Keep checking this site in the coming weeks for more information on this action-packed Rogue Trader supplement.
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