Villain Points (DSP Fractions)

[CRMcNeill]

This came up in a discussion elsewhere about DSPs. There's a lot of debate in the fandom w/r/t how, when and why to give DSPs to characters. My take, based on the reading of the rulebook, is that the DSP should be given to non-FS characters solely in the event of clear use of the Dark Side to commit an evil act (per the rules, by spending a Force Point to commit evil). Narratively, I only see this happening when a character is in the grip of intense negative emotion, like violent rage, uncontrollable terror, etc. However, most falls to evil aren't that spectacular, and consist of a string of petty evils, not just a few spectacular acts.

That got me thinking of possible ways for characters to commit lesser evils and fall to darkness much more gradually. One potential way is for what I've termed a Villain Point. In game terms, a Villain Point would be equal to 1/10th of a Dark Side Point, but would have a much lower threshold to earn one. Non-FS characters would be awarded these for "misdemeanor evils" that don't rise to the official level of a DSP, but would add up to equivalent levels of corruption and darkness over time. And once you get 10 Villain Points, it converts to 1 DSP and the count starts over. Tracking VPs would be as simple as putting them in parenthesis next to the character's DSP entry.

Thoughts?
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

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[Whill]

I've always viewed the primary purpose of the DSP mechanic is to incentivize players (especially players of Jedi PCs) to not have the murder hobo mentality. In 1e, there was no redemption from game mechanically turning to the Dark Side. The PC became an NPC so if the player wanted to keep his PC, he had to stay in the light. My first few campaigns were heroic ones and this worked well. I did have one player (in my second campaign) who found out that playing a Jedi wasn't as fun as he thought it would be, and he got several DSP warnings. The player intentionally turned his PC to the Dark Side so he would be relieved of the character, knowing that I would allow him to create a non-Jedi PC to replace him. He did try to make his PC's turn to the Dark Side good drama in the story, and I knew what he was doing so I wasn't upset about it. Of course, his old PC became an antagonist in the campaign's story.

I think "Villain Points" are a good option for GMs as long as they can be given without the Force being involved for non-Jedi characters (meaning even without FPs and calling on the Dark Side).

As far as the documentation, if 10 VPs = 1 DSP, then I would suggest that instead of parentheses you just simply record DSP values to the tenth place, such as "Dark Side Points 1.3." If so, you wouldn't even really need to call anything "VPs". DSP would just come in whole numbers when warranted by RAW or tenths for these misdemeanor violations.
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[CRMcNeill]

[MrNexx]

If this is the discussion on FB, I liked the suggestion of dark side "Pips"... rather than Villain points which are 1/10th, you have some of the lesser uses of the Dark Side result in a pip, rather than a full DSP. This would still work on the DSP mechanic... if you have +1 DSp, then you get a +1 to Force rolls unless you suppress it, with 3 DSp equalling 1 DSP.

As another house rule, folks deep in the Dark Side still accumulate DSP, but that's because there's a clear method of clearing out DSP... spend a Force point just to do that. If going with DSp, you might have 1 Force Point spent = 1 DSp removed... so it would be possible to clean/redeem yourself with acts that reinforce the Light. Sometimes, when you spend a FP at a dramatically appropriate moment, you would use the bonus FP to clear away some of the Dark.

Hmmm... complete tangent, new system coming to me.

Dark Side Pips and Dark Side Dice.

So, Force Points are gained by Heroic actions. Spend them all and you might get one as a result of a Heroic Action. Real Force Points cannot be gained any other way. This includes the option of getting a Force Point for heroic actions, even if you didn't spend any Force Points in the action (qv "Doing the Right Thing" on p. 85).

As you start to fall to the Dark Side, you accumulate Dark Side Pips, which themselves accumulate into Dark Side Dice. Dark Side Pips and Dice are added to all Force skills, unless suppressed by conscious will (per the rules of "Lure of the Dark Side" on p. 141). More extreme acts of evil might result in multiple pips... killing someone in anger (rather than defense) might get you one pip... blowing up Alderaan is probably worth at least 1D. I wouldn't go too much higher than 1D per evil action... that aligns with the RAW. DSDs max out at 4D.

There are no "Dark Side Points". Sometimes, the Dark Side will offer you a "free" Force Point, or you can Call Upon the Dark Side to gain a Force Point. This is the usual rules in R&E; must be used immediately, etc. Taking a FP from the Dark Side increases your DSD by 1D.

Now, reducing your DSp is pretty simple... spend a Force Point to reduce your DSp by 1. You might require this to spend some time in meditation or good works (things which reinforce the Light), which is part of why the Jedi have a model of service... even if you accumulate a few DSp here and there, you have plenty of opportunity to remove it. You might also allow a mass buy-off at a dramatically appropriate moment (for example, if you throw the Emperor down a reactor shaft to save your son and help win the Battle of Endor for the Rebel Alliance).

For existing templates, I would turn any Dark Side points into 1D Dark Side. Note that, in this system, no one really "Falls to the Dark Side" irrevocably... they just get deep in the Dark Side and can't get out. Even if they pick up Force Points and spend them to reduce their DSD, if they keep doing evil, their DSD will climb back up. Non-force sensitives don't really need to worry about "falling to the Dark Side"... they have 4D to use on Force skills, but they can't do any Force skills, so being extremely Dark Side can be sensed, but it doesn't mean anything for them.

If you take an example like Anakin Skywalker, he has a TON of Force points, because he spent the Clone Wars doing heroic things at Dramatically Appropriate Moments (partially because Anakin Skywalker is a drama queen and extra af). He might have even picked up a few FP during the Empire years by unexpected heroics. However, his corruption by Palpatine and his years with the Empire put him high in the DSDs. With all those DSDs, he didn't really NEED to spend Force Points; with 4D added to all Force actions, he's incredibly powerful. Plus, the Dark Side sometimes gives him free Force Points when it serves its purposes... long-range Force Chokes take some big rolls. When he reaches a dramatically appropriate moment to be a hero, he can spend all those FP to reduce his DSp. He might not have enough to completely eliminate all 12 DSp at once (I think it's safe to say he was at 4D, and 4D = 12 pips), but he brings himself significantly back to the Light, enough that he's able to become One with the Force.
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[CRMcNeill]