XMen Role Playing Games
David Artsmith - Roleplaying is a practice where you pretend to be a fictional character. When you are roleplaying in the x-men universe there are a number of important social and physical issues that you have to bear in mind. The x-men universe is a rich and complex landscape, with multiple layers of allies and foes interconnecting to create a complex web of alliances and counter alliances.
The first thing you have to understand is that the unique factor in the X-men roleplaying world is the existence of mutants. These mutants are born with a different genetic code than average humans. In most cases this is not like real life where a mutation causes a huge problem for the child. Instead, in the X-men world, mutations are often benign, such as causing you to grow fur, or actually quite functional, such as the ability to shoot lasers.
One of the great things about characters in this universe is the way mutant “powers” are often seen as a double edged sword. Sometimes mutant powers have consequences, you might have super strength, but also be deformed in some way. Take for instance the character of Rogue, as a character she can drain the life force, or essence of other characters, giving her the ability to steal even the most potent power or thoughts, but never allowing her to have a physical relationship with someone.
Even when a mutation is favorable, it is still a liability in this world of hatred and predjudice. That is because non mutated humans fear the mutants, and many of them seek to kill or imprison all of them.
That is the major conflict in the X-men universe; the battle between mutants trying to survive, and the humans that are trying to kill them. The complexity of the different factions is increased by the fact that each has within it sub groups, who have differing ideas about how to handle the situation.
For the humans, there are some people that don’t care about the mutants, some which want equal rights for them, some that fear them and want them tracked, others that want them locked up, and still others that want them killed.
For the mutants, you have some who try to make peace with the humans, while others attempt to kill them all and take over the world.
The interconnected complexities of different groups each with their own agendas is part of the fun of an x-men roleplaying session, and should be the main focus of any game. Some of the best stories will involve complex interactions between the xmen, the mutants that seek peace with the human factions, and their arch rivals the brotherhood, a group of mutants that seeks to start a war between humanity and the mutants.
In these games you can’t just consider the strategies of war, you also have to try to understand social and moral implications for the actions of your characters, bearing in mind that your decisions can effect the outcome of the entire fictional world.
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