Narrative Control - Episode 58 - Social Antagonists

Narrative Control

Welcome back to Narrative Control in 2011. After a break for the holidays we're back and talking about Social Antagonits. How to make them work and why the are so awesome.

Hosts: Sean Nittner and Eric Fattig

Length: 54:07

Inspired by Ryan Macklin's article on Making Sypathetic Antagonists

Show Notes

[00:22] Intro to the show. Happy New Year![00:38] Topic: Social Antagonists

News of the Episode

[00:59] What just happened? Dead of Winter[02:35] EndGame Minicon[03:19] Pimping Duneville. Check out Smallville[05:17] Big Bad Con Book Rooms here: Hilton Oakland Airport[05:59] Gazebo Deathmatch[06:56] RPG Crosstalk – A shared Podcasting Forum [09:04] Finding Ryan Macklin’s post on sympathetic antagonists via twitter.[11:14] A reading from Macklin’ post. His three reasons for sympathetic antagonists![12:39] Our discussion drifted to Social Antagonists. People you can’t punch in the face.[13:20] The recurring villain you don’t have to sell. Conflicts bind the characters together rather than splitting them apart.

Examples of social antagonists

[14:57] Uther Lightbringer: The moral authority. [15:79] Tsuruchi Nadu. Our lord and commander in L5R. A terrible leader.

Characteristics of good social antagonists

[24:25] The social antagonist is part of the same rigid organization that the players are (your boss, your lord, your co-worker, your schoolmate, your business partner, your family, etc).[27:07] The social antagonist is not secretly EVIL.[33:31] The social antagonists needs a sympathetic drive. A reason to exist that is legitimate.[35:13] Social antagonists can do more interesting damage. Turning you friend against you, steal your money, demote you, attacking your other relationships, etc.[38:09] Social healing is also more interesting. Repairing from a cut is pretty boring. Repairing a relationship is fun and makes for more exciting interactions. One persons’ gain is the others’ loss.[39:44] The conflicts with social antagonists are ones we can relate to. We’ve all been in conflicts like these.[42:59] Sometimes you work together. Social antagonist that are “on the same side” or have the same goal that is really important. [49:56] Social antagonist can escalate conflicts and then de-escalate. [52:24] PCs can fill these roles. The players can be each others’ social antagonists.[53:26] Go discuss it… on RPG Crosstalk

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