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Appendix Z: Red Tape Triumphant
by Michele Armellini
They say only death and taxes are certain. But bureaucracy is at least highly likely, unless an adventurer lives in a primitive tribe. As soon as he moves to a kingdom or a city-state, he'll meet those who count coins and heads, write reports and returns, ask bothersome questions and demand compliance with obscure rules.
Infuriating Subplot Seeds
The following ideas are not really suitable as adventure seeds. Rather, they are useful annoying diversions, little subplots and recurring problems the heroes have to solve (or face, or get away from) between killing the monster and having dinner. They may offer some wider scope, provide opportunities for roleplay, situations where to use those social skills. In certain light-hearted campaigns, of course, they might also develop into full-blown red-tape menaces!
The heroes may have to face these mix-ups in several different roles. In a low-powered game, they may be common citizens dealing with the DMV or IRS or any of a thousand minor agencies with overlapping responsibilities, which is a very common experience. Note that even supers who hide under a secret identity, and even vigilantes who don't comply with the laws, will have an ordinary identity; they may escape bureaucracy when wearing their masks, but not when wearing their ties!
The characters might be cops, federal agents, or even Men in Black. They will still need to spend lots of time doing their . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: December 13, 2002
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