Dis-organisations (episode 38)

On the Shoulders of Dwarves

Organisations are among the most useful fictional entities you can have in your game. They have reputation, history, motivations, style - all of which can be easily passed to each of the members. ### What’s an organisation (1:30) Actually when we say “organization” we may not mean what you think. What i mean is “support system”. Anyone who seek to go on a great endeavour need a support system and that support system have some sort of a structure. A leader of a magician guild have the resources of the guild behind them but don’t limit yourself to the obvious: a politician may have a party behind him, or a mafia boss that he gets bribes from or a cult or a secret drug cartel that he meneges. Each of these is a different organization with a different structure, history, code of conduct etc. CGP Grey’s [Rules for Rulers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rStL7niR7gs) ### Forming organisations (4:25) Who decides? [Syn, from Crystal Heart](http://www.uptofourplayers.com/comic/1-campaign-pitch/) How are they structured? (hierarchy? Federated? Anarchy? Cells?) [The Harpers](http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Harpers) What generates response from them? What are their motivations? What commands their respect? ### Lieutenants (17:30) Specific people who represent the organisation in various ways. “Right Hand Man”, This is the man who actually does the mundane work of making sure the organization runs smoothly. In [Fate](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/114903/Fate-Core-System?affiliate_id=29668) there is a great concept of “places and faces”. In [City of Mist](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/241823/City-of-Mist-RPG-Core-Book?affiliate_id=29668) there’s the Iceberg model. ### Mismanagement (25:10) They never think of everything, underestimate the PCs. Human error. Upgrading is hard. Annoying bosses, failing upward. Schisms Survival at all costs, even if the original reason for existence is no longer relevant. ### Summary (34:25) [Reign](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/79955/Reign-Enchiridion?affiliate_id=29668) ### Taking the load off Uri: Was in [Draconicon](http://www.dragoncon.co.il/), a great roleplay convention in Israel. Taught a workshop on how to improvise. Eran: Got [that article](https://www.eranaviram.me/introducing-new-people-to-our-hobby/) up finally! ----- Email us at [e-mail] with questions, topic suggestions, and comments on this episode. [We have a Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/dwarfcast), in case you'd like to support us in a monetary fashion. [Our Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwarfpodcast) (Most links to [DriveThruRPG are affiliate](http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=29668), which means we get a bit of money if you buy through them, with no added cost to you)