Character Enemies: A New Background Option for Amber Diceless

Character Enemies

According to the Amber Diceless rules, starting characters can spend additional points to begin the game with "staunch allies, friends, and even doting relatives."  Since players never seem to have enough points when designing new characters anyway, we've expanded this concept to include rivals and enemies, which provide extra points for beginning characters to spend.

In order to avoid min/maxing, we had to set an absolute limit to the number of character points that can be received in this method:

"No starting character may start with more than ten points worth of rivals or enemies, or with more points in enemies than he or she has in Allies or Devotees, whichever is greater."

For instance, if you took a single Devotee, you're pretty much limited to gaining ten extra points through enemies. However, if you've spent tons and tons of points to be a well-connected member of your family, this restriction is eased somewhat, since you've obviously spent a lot of point at home (and therefore had more opportunities to offend your siblings). Since Allies and Devotees and more expensive than Rivals and Enemies, there's no incentive to go this route for any reason other than the roleplaying opportunity that it affords.

Here are the types of relationships and their associated points value:

A Local Detractor. While not of the Royal Blood, a detractor will have a certain amount of influence within your realm (whether this is Amber or the Courts). Examples might be Court Retainers, the royalty of nearby Shadow kingdoms, sea captains, merchants, or military commanders. Regardless of their station, a Detractor will always have the power to make life difficult for the character, and will likely be under the protection of another family member (making it difficult to merely "eliminate" the Detractor).  The Detractor can always be counted on to go out of his or her way to inflict hardship and misery upon the character, and no slight is too small for them to pass up. 2 Detractors (one Major and one Minor) per -1 Point.

Demon Enemy.  Demons can make dreadful enemies, particularly since the Game Master gets to design all of the demons in his or her game. Taking this disadvantage might mean that a single powerful demonic entity is hunting you across Shadow... or it might mean that an entire demon race has spent much of the last three decades plotting your doom. Fire Angel, anyone?  This background is not one to be taken lightly. -1 Point.

Family Rival.  This is a member of the royal family of Amber, or a member of the Courts, who has taken a strong dislike to the player character. While a Rival isn't necessarily out for the character's blood, he or she probably wouldn't mind seeing some of it spilt, either. Things like humiliating the character in public, getting in the way of the character's goals, or even providing good intelligence to the opposition out of spite, are all "fair game" for a Family Rival.  -1 Point.

House Vendetta.  One of the Noble Houses of the Courts of Chaos as declared a blood vendetta upon the character. Nothing will satisfy the family's intense hatred, short of your character's head on a plate. Note that this doesn't necessarily mean that everyone in the House is after you-- there are always cliques within any large group, and a few House members will probably break ranks with their family elders on any given matter of policy. It's up to the Game Master to determine whether the player character knows the identity of the particular House-- secret vendettas have been practiced in the Courts for thousands of years. -2 Points.

Chaos and Amber Court Enemies.  This is in the same category as a "Family Rival," only they don't just dislike you-- they really hate your guts.  This means that your Enemy will be willing to go to elaborate lengths to plot your death/destruction/downfall. Chaos and Amber Court Enemies might risk their own lives, betray others, or even switch sides unexpectedly in a conflict, in order to be the instrument of your doom. -5 Points for a Court Enemy from "your" end of the Pattern-Logrus conflict, or -3 Points for a Court Enemy from the other end of things; characters with mixed blood should split the difference for -4 Points.

Your last family portrait

Enemy of the State. You're an outlaw, banished from one of the only two "real" places in the entire Universe.  Showing your face in the Courts, or around Castle Amber, might be the last mistake you ever make. You might even have a price on your head, meaning that you're destined for a lot of sleepless nights. Obviously, not every member of your family is bound to agree with your banishment, but a surprisingly large number of your relatives might even be counted upon to help enforce it. Taking this disadvantage also includes taking your country's ruler as a "Chaos" or "Amber Court Enemy" (for no extra point gain). The exact details of how this came to pass are up to your Game Master-- as is which principality (Amber or the Courts) that you've been banished from. You must have Game Master permission before taking this disadvantage!  -8 Points.

Entity Hatred.  One of the primary Powers of the Universe, either the Pattern or the Logrus, has a bone to pick with you. Who knows why?  Maybe the Pattern fears that you might be instrumental to the forces of Chaos in some upcoming conflict, or maybe the Logrus suspects that you have secret unicorn friends. Obviously, if one of the Powers hates you for some reason, you're barred from using that Power until this conflict has been resolved. Expect lots of Pattern- and Logrus-ghosts, by the way.  You must have Game Master permission before taking this disadvantage!  -10 Points.

Naming Rivals and Enemies.  Who will it be?  Sadly, the choice isn't up to you. Choosing your Enemies' and Rivals' identities is solely up to your Game Master. The Game Master might not even tell you who your Enemies are!  You'll likely have a clue or two as to their identity, based upon your own character history, but the Game Master is free to disregard your background altogether and assign motives which you are completely unaware of. And if, by some slip of the tongue, your Game Master should happen to mention the name of your Enemy or Rival... well, remember, sometimes the Game Master lies.

I hope that these guidelines are useful to you in your own campaigns!