What Are Your Character's Politics?

"People can't just be doing whatever the hell they want," Lounds said, slapping the top of the wooden table before taking a long drink from his mug. "We live in a society, and that society has rules. If we don't follow those rules, then we ain't any different from animals!"

"Animals don't let their own go hungry," a soft voice said from near the fire.

The tavern grew quiet. The only noise in the place was the crackling of the blaze in the fireplace, and the creak of a stool as Lounds stood. The big man set his mug down carefully, put both his large hands on the table, and looked over at the figure seated there. The badge of the green lion was clear on Lounds' chest, but it seemed that the man sitting near the flames either didn't see it, or had no idea what it meant.

"Not sure I heard you, friend," Lounds said, though it was clear he had. "Would you care to repeat that?"

"Animals don't let their own go hungry," the man said, taking the long pipe out from between his teeth and blowing out a breath. He tapped some ashes into the fire, before setting the pipe on a side table. "Animals protect their own. They don't hoard kills that others could live off. They understand that survival means everyone works together. Animals don't kill indiscriminately. Animals don't put each other in chains. Animals don't abandon their own just because they're old, or lame."

The sound of Lounds grinding his teeth was loud in the room, and the big man's face was turning purple. He was storming around the table, mouth open to say something, when the man by the fire shifted his cloak, and revealed a stubby crossbow pointing straight at Lounds' chest. The blue steel of the bolt gleamed in the light, and those close enough to see recognized its unique, horizontal blade pattern; it was a man-killer shaft.

"Animals don't kill out of cruelty or hate," the man said, slowly turning his face to look at Lounds. The light danced in the stranger's gaze, making it glimmer like a cat's eye in the shadows of his hood. "So why don't you sit back down again, and finish your drink. You can be mad all you want, but I'd rather you keep sucking air into your chest than have to kill you because you forgot how to use your words."

Let's be civilized, and agree to disagree.

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Politics Touches Everything

Now, most of the time when people say they, "Don't want politics in their games," they're talking about things like allegories for current events, or issues that people are struggling with in the real world. I've written about that before on this blog, and I even penned an adventure module titled False Valor which is all about kicking fantasy versions of the Proud Boys in the teeth, for those who were curious where I stood on the matter.

However, that's not what I'm talking about this week. What I'm talking about is what are your character's political opinions about the world they live in? And what do those opinions and beliefs say about them as a person?

Also, for those who are curious, I did touch on this a while back for Discussions of Darkness. It was Episode 14: Politics is an Inherent Part of The World of Darkness over on the Azukail Games YouTube channel.

As an example, does your character come from a society with a strict social hierarchy in place? If so, do they believe that the nobles at the top of the order deserve that position, and that they belong there, because they are the ones best trained to guide the populace? Or does your character believe this inherited power and position leads to moral decay and corruption, and abuse of those beneath them?

Perhaps just as importantly, why does your character believe that? Were they a peasant, or part of the warrior class, who was taught to be proud of their place in the greater machine of their society? Or were they a noble who looked around as their friends and family, and saw with their own eyes how callous and cruel they were precisely because there was no one with power over them to hold them to account for their actions?

Take a moment to consider your character's politics, both in the general, as well as the specific. Do they, for example, believe that kindness is a virtue, and that people should feed the hungry, give to the poor, and that everyone should be cared for? Or do they believe that everyone must earn what they have with the sweat of their own brow, and that to give people things is to devalue those very necessities? Do they believe that the crippled, the old, and the sick should be cared for by the powers-that-be, as that is the mark of a functioning society, or do they feel that such things should be left up to charities, monasteries, and other such organizations? Or if you want to get more specific, does your character support an ongoing war, for one side or the other? What are their opinions and beliefs on taxes? Do they feel that laws regarding drugs or weapons one can possess are inherently controlling, and there should be no limits, or do they believe that some control and regulation is necessary to stop the general population from being endangered?

A person's politics are an extension of their morals and beliefs, so it's important to ask what your character believes in, and what they're willing to do in order to get engaged. Are they someone who will vote in public polls and elections, if they're held? Will they come to a protest? Will they bust heads, and if so, will they do so reluctantly, or do they believe that is the best way to enact political change?

Asking those things can really help you come at your character from a different perspective, and get a sense of just who they are, and how they engage with the power structures of the world.

Lastly, if you enjoyed this entry, consider checking out 100 Questions To Ask About Your Characters along with 100 Dark Secrets to help you flesh out your next character!

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Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my hardboiled gangland noir series starring a bruiser of a Maine Coon with Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

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What Lines Will Your Character Cross in Pursuit of Their Goals?

For the past year I've been releasing a new supplement for my Sundara: Dawn of a New Age setting every month. While I've covered locations and species galore, one of the releases that put my brain into a whole different gear was Gods of Sundara, because it was this book where I made it clear that this is a world and setting without alignment... a place where there is no such thing as universal good or universal evil. And while there are spirits and powers, gods and outsiders, there are no angels or devils. What is good and what is evil, what is right and what is wrong, needs to be determined by individuals for themselves.

This isn't a new take on morality in RPGs by any stretch of the imagination. However, thinking about a game in this manner gave me an interesting perspective. Because a lot of us have an idea of our character's morality, but we don't always ask how it's going to act under pressure. Or, in other words, how far will they go in pursuit of their goals?

Rules? Oh, those don't apply to me.

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How Badly Do You Want It?

There was a comic I saw a long time ago where two men were talking. One said to the other, "I really want to be rich." The other said, "Then go rob a bank." The first man was appalled by this, "I can't do that, that would be wrong!" The second shrugged and said, "Then I guess you don't want to be rich that badly, do you?"

Guess not.

The comic went on with the second man listing different immoral (or at least highly questionable) things the first man could do to get rich. He said no every time, but it was never because he disagreed that doing this thing would, in fact, put a lot of money in his bank account. It was always because the act was deplorable, or harmful to other people. It showed that, while the individual would have liked to be wealthy, he was not willing to compromise his morals in order to satisfy that want.

While the first character didn't come out and state his morality, we saw it in what he was willing to do. And this is something we don't always think about when it comes to our characters. We think about their goals and their driving motivations, but we don't always ask what they'd be willing to do in order to achieve them. Or, more specifically, what they wouldn't be willing to do.

For instance, say you have a common sellsword who dreams of one day being knighted, and climbing the ranks of the aristocracy to become a noble. How far are they willing to go in pursuit of this goal? Will they guard caravans against desperate people, using lethal force if necessary? Will they accept the patronage of a corrupt, or even wicked, nobleman if it means they're one step closer to their ultimate end? Who are they willing to oppress or kill as long as they can step over those bodies on their road to the castle? Is the title, the prestige, and the position more important than what they had to do to get there? And if not, then where do they draw the line?

Or, to reach back to the advice I gave in both 5 Tips For Playing Better Paladins and 5 Tips For Playing Better Clerics, it's one thing to have vows and a stated code of morality. But if those things are never tested, or put under any kind of pressure, then how strong can they truly be?

Everyone Has Their Own Lines

Something that's worth pointing out is that every character should have their own lines in the sand, and where they draw those lines should be informed by their culture, their religion, their history, and their experience. And while those reasons may seem arbitrary to other people, it's important that the rules have some internal consistency to the character themselves.

As an example, someone raised by a street gang who had to steal for a living may have no compunctions against theft in general, but they draw a hard line at stealing from friends and family because they're the only ones you've got on the street. Alternatively you might have someone who grew up in a strict warrior culture, with specific rules and codes about managing shame and demanding satisfaction for insults given. How much of that clings to them, and how much they care about once they're not living within that society may vary, though. Someone may feel that violence is wrong, and that there is no worse act than taking another person's life... but do they feel strongly enough to stand by that principle when they're in danger? When a loved one is in danger? What about when someone near and dear to them has been killed?

Lastly, it's important to ask what happens when a person crosses a line. Do they feel bad? Did the ends justify the means? Do they resolve to never do it again... or does it get easier to cross it because the last time you did it achieved the ends you wanted? Does it change their morality in meaningful ways, re-orienting their position as they go forward?

These breaking-point situations are often what creates some of the greatest drama in our stories, because it makes us ask whether a character's morals hold strong, or if they go further than we, their comrades, or even the antagonist expected them to go in order to achieve their goals. So take a moment and ask yourself what your character is going to do when the chips are down, and a decision needs to be made.

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Fluff post!

For more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the YouTube channel Dungeon Keeper Radio. Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my alley cat thriller Marked Territory, it's sequel Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my recent short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!