History SoYouWantTo / WriteAnRPG

{{Villain Protagonist}}s are underused. Seriously, it's our turn to kidnap the MacGuffinGirl, raise TheDragon, and lead an archeological dig for [[TomeOfEldritchLore How To Make Really Bad Things Happen Fourth-And-A-Half Edition]]. Because "save the world" has been done to death, and [[HumansAreBastards the world doesn't deserve saving]].

ArbitraryHeadcountLimit is something that [=RPGs=] just do now for tradition's sake. Today, there's no real reason, graphically or mechanically, why the entire nine-person party can't go walking around fighting everything together, instead of having four people sit around twiddling their thumbs while the other four get smashed upside the head by some super-boss, resulting in TotalPartyKill and a Game Over. In other words, this trope is ripe for subversion or aversion. The first five FinalFantasy games handled this by only ''giving'' you X amount of characters at a time; you never rotated someone out of the active party because there ''was'' no one else. But starting with ''[[FinalFantasyVI FF6]]'' (4-head limit but ''14'' characters)... Of course, [=FF6=] also took it to its logical extent: the final dungeon of the game required ''three separate parties'' to navigate through successfully, with you switching between them frequently, ''and'' let your entire band dogpile the FinalBoss (in groups of four). Why not do some that for ''every'' dungeon? While it would take longer to design each dungeon (especially if you don't want accusations of [[{{Filler}}Filleritis]] flung at you), The Player would also have to spend twice as much time in each of them. Maybe it'd pay off.

FacelessMooks are cliché. The "bad guys" should have their stories told too. Try not to just use ThoseTwoBadGuys or EnemyChatter, but give the [[NoCampaignForTheWicked Villain(ous side) it's own own campaign]].

The character's starting weapon. These are usually tossed when you get to the next town, in favour of whatever else you get. IRL, a warrior would choose a WeaponOfChoice, and stick with it (probably getting super-attached to it too). Make it an EvolvingWeapon and/ or EmpathicWeapon. or even the SwordOfPlotAdvancement (how's ''that'' for a subversion? the crappy hunk of metal you start with is the Sword that Slays Evil.)

{{Villain Protagonist}}s are underused. Seriously, it's our turn to kidnap the MacGuffinGirl, raise TheDragon , and lead an archeological dig for [[TomeOfEldritchLore How To Make Really Bad Things Happen Fourth-And-A-Half Edition]]. Because "save the world" has been done to death, and [[HumansAreBastards the world doesn't deserve saving]].

If you're considering hard Fantasy or Science Fiction,don't immediately reach for PowerGlows. Can you think of some other way for your battles and attacks to impress? You can turn them UpToEleven if you want,but will it fit in with the setting?

ArbitraryHeadcountLimit is something that [=RPGs=] just do now for tradition's sake.. Today, there's no real reason, graphically or mechanically, why the entire nine-person party can't go walking around fighting everything together, instead of having four people sit around twiddling their thumbs while the other four get smashed upside the head by some super-boss, resulting in TotalPartyKill and a Game Over. In other words, this trope is ripe for subversion or aversion. The first five FinalFantasy games handled this by only ''giving'' you X amount of characters at a time; you never rotated someone out of the active party because there ''was'' no one else. But starting with ''[[FinalFantasyVI FF6]]'' (4-head limit but ''14'' characters)... Of course, [=FF6=] also took it to its logical extent: the final dungeon of the game required ''three separate parties'' to navigate through successfully, with you switching between them frequently, ''and'' let your entire band dogpile the FinalBoss (in groups of four). Why not do some that for ''every'' dungeon? While it would take longer to design each dungeon (especially if you don't want accusations of {{Filleritis}} flung at you), The Player would also have to spend twice as much time in each of them. Maybe it'd pay off.

The character's starting weapon. These are usually tossed when you get to the next town, in favour of whatever else you get. IRL, a warrior would choose a WeaponOfChoice, and stick with it (probably getting super-attached to it too). Make it an EvolvingWeapon and/ or EmpathicWeapon. or even the SwordOfPlotAdvancement (how's ''that'' for a subversion? the crappy hunk of metal you start with is the Sword that Slays Evi.l)

make it SurvivalHorror. Try PlayingThePlayer, SilentHillShatteredMemories style.

The character's starting weapon. These are usually tossed when you get to the next town, in favour of whatever else you get. IRL, a warrior would choose a WeaponOfChoice, and stick with it (probably getting super-attached to it too). Make it an EvolvingWeapon and/ or EmpathicWeapon. or even the SwordOfPlotAdvancement (how's ''that'' for a subversion? the crappy hunk of metal you start with is the Sword that Vanquishes Evil)

WarIsHell. That's common knowledge. That's also very depressing. A [[{{Wangst}} whiny, post-traumatic]] hero is a no-fun cliché. Try making him [[BloodyHilarious gleefully]] [[AxCrazy psychotic]] and/ or a CombatSadomasochist for a change.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to [[TranshumanTreachery let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.]]

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

WarIsHell. That's common knowledge. That's also very depressing. A [[{{Wangst}} whiny, post-traumatic]] hero is a no-fun cliche'. Try making him [[BloodyHilarious gleefully]] [[AxCrazy psychotic]] and/ or a CombatSadomasochist for a change.

FacelessMooks are cliche'. The "bad guys" should have their stories told too. Try not to just use ThoseTwoBadGuys or EnemyChatter, but give the [[NoCampaignForTheWicked Villain(ous side) it's own own campaign]].

If you do decide to dismantle the ArbitraryHeadcountLimit, keep the gameplay balance and controls complexity in mind. On the issue of balance, make sure that combat is equally challenging to a party that includes every recruitable NPC in the game and to a PC who sticks to a handful of plot-relevant companions. The FinalBoss, for instance, should not come over as an AnticlimaxBoss to the former and a HopelessBossFight to the latter. Take a look at ''DiabloII'', for instance, which [[DynamicDifficulty dynamically scales the boss toughness]] to the online players' numbers and levels. On the issue of controls, remember during combat, the player has to keep in mind many, many variable such as health/mana levels, available spells, ability recharge times, etc.. An ArbitraryHeadcountLimit naturally reduces the risk of overwhelming the player with information, so you have to make sure that doesn't happen in your game. You could, for example, implement RealTimeWithPause, let the players configure the [=NPCs=]' combat tactics in advance, or make your NPCs [[ArtificialBrilliance smart enough]] not to hold them back (or all of the above). Alternatively, consider the TurnBasedTactics genre.

''{{Persona 3}}'' and ''{{Persona 4}}'' are unique in the genre in that they take place in a modern-day setting that's LikeRealityUnlessNoted, as well as for incorporating a way to improve your stats and abilities ''outside'' of battle. The [[LevelUpAtIntimacyFive Social Links]] are a pretty innovative way of fleshing out the in-game world by adding a psuedo-DatingSim mechanics to the game. It also helps that the characters for these links are usually incredibly well-written, and delving deeper into their stories rewards the player not only in terms of gameplay, but by making them more emotionally invested in the world that they're supposed to be saving.

''[[MeaningfulName Horrible]]'' ''[[SoBadItsHorrible Demon 2]]''. The backstory is that there was a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin horrible demon]] running around until the hero with the [[InfinityPlusOneSword legendary sword]] ''[[RockBeatsLaser threw a stone]]'' at it and it went away. Now the hero this time round has summoned it (by the way, one reviewer likened it to a buffalo/[[{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]] hybrid - the Game Boy does have graphics limitations but [[SpecialEffectsFailure not to that extent]]) but it's gone out of control and you have to stop it. There's no challenge because, in keeping with the backstory, you can buy a stone that you can throw at anything to effortlessly defeat it. [[AnticlimaxBoss Including all the bosses.]] [[http://winace.courageunfettered.com/hd2/ A full review can be found here.]]

ArbitraryHeadcountLimit is something that [=RPGs=] just do, now. Today, there's no real reason, graphically or mechanically, why the entire nine-person party can't go walking around fighting everything together, instead of having four people sit around twiddling their thumbs while the other four get smashed upside the head by some super-boss, resulting in TotalPartyKill and a Game Over. In other words, this trope is ripe for subversion or aversion. The first five FinalFantasy games handled this by only ''giving'' you X amount of characters at a time; you never rotated someone out of the active party because there ''was'' no one else. But starting with ''[[FinalFantasyVI FF6]]'' (4-head limit but ''14'' characters)... Of course, [=FF6=] also took it to its logical extent: the final dungeon of the game required ''three separate parties'' to navigate through successfully, with you switching between them frequently, ''and'' let your entire band dogpile the FinalBoss (in groups of four). Why not do some that for ''every'' dungeon? While it would take longer to design each dungeon (especially if you don't want accusations of {{Filleritis}} flung at you), The Player would also have to spend twice as much time in each of them. Maybe it'd pay off.

YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters. If you're a servant of TheEmpire, those Rebels you've been gunning down had families. Likewise if you're a rebel. A FatalFamilyPhoto found while prying the boots and jewelery off an enemy can be a good way to induce a HeroicBSOD.

WarIsHell. That's common knowledge. That's also very depressing. A {{Wangst}}y hero is a no-fun cliche'. Try making him [[BloodyHilarious gleefully]] [[CrossesTheLineTwice psychotic]] and/ or a CombatSadomasochist for a change.

Fakhirs, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons, or a fire-and-brimstone religeous nutjob, rather than an InnocenceVirginonStupidity.

FacelessMooks are cliche'. The "bad guys" should have their stories told too. Try not to just use ThoseTwoBadGuys or EnemyChatter, but give the villain(ous side) it's own own campaign.

The "bad guys" should have their stories told too. Try not to just use ThoseTwoBadGuys or EnemyChatter, but give the villain(ous side) it's own own campaign.

Fakhirs, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons, or a fire-and-brimstone maniac, rather than some NaiveVirgin.

Fakhirs, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons, or a fire-and-brimstone maniac, rather than some naive RoseColoredGlasses-wearer.

Fakhirs, fire-walkers, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons, or a fire-and-brimstone maniac, rather than some naive RoseColoredGlasses-wearer.

The ad guys should have their stories told too. Try not to just use ThoseTwoBadGuys or EnemyChatter, but give the villain his own campaighn.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Fakhirs, fire-walkers, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons, or a fire-and-brimstone maniac, rather than some naive RoseColoredGlasses-wearer. ----

OurTerroristsAreYourFreedomFighters. if you're a servant of TheEmpire, those RebelScum you've been gunning down had families. Likewise if you're a rebel. A FatalFamilyPhoto found while prying the boots and jewelery off an enemy can be a good way to induce a HeroicBSOD.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Fakhirs, fire-walkers, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons, or a fire-and-brimstone maniac, rather than some naive RoseColoredGlasses-wearer.
----

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Fakhirs, fire-walkers, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons or a fire-and-brimstone maniac, rather than some naive RoseColoredGlasses-wearer.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Fakhirs, fire-walkers, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister who guzzles the communion wine between sermons, rather than some naive RoseColoredGlasses-wearer.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Fakhirs, fire-walkers, prophets, and faith-healers nonwithstanding, the average Reverend Tom D. Harry gets no special goodies from their deities. Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister, rather than some naive RoseColoredGlasses-wearer.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Real-life clerics get no special favours from their gods (Fakhirs nonwithstanding). Try having them only raise the other party members morale, rather than being a powerhouse of divine gifts. You could also have the party cleric be a jaded SinisterMinister, rather than some naive RoseColouredGlasses-wearer.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottom out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottoms out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "A gift, given to my children," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or WalkingShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottoms out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.

WarIsHell. That's common knowledge. That's also very depressing. A {{Wangst}}y hero is a no-fun cliche'. Try making him [[BloodyHilarious gleefully]] [[CrossesTheLineTwice psychotic]] or a CombatSadomasochist for a change.

Another thing you could try is getting infected by TheCorruption while fighting the enemy, going from a noble {{Paladin}} to a slavering Daemonspawn, [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie the very thing you're fighting do destroy, something the character has been raised from birth to abhor]]. Abilities granted by TheCorruption could be CastFromHitPoints, and tied to a KarmaMeter. Not using it makes the game harder (and the abilities are wicked cool, like AnimateDead or SpawnBroodling or some other sub-set of LovecraftianSuperPower, just to make it extra-difficult to resist using), but using it untill you accidentally kill yourself or hit zero Karma leads to a DownerEnding or NonStandardGameOver because the BigBad considers TheCorruption to be "[[EvilIsOneBigHappyFamily A gift, given to my children]]," and he/ she/ it therefore owns the character, body and soul. Getting a low Karma score brings into play "I-created-you-so-you-can't-touch-me", (which, as far as One knows, has no trope) making the FinalBoss fight very hard. Low Karma score could [[AndYourRewardIsClothes make a character gain]] [[EvilIsSexy a really slikny, revealing version of the Daemonhunter's uniform]], weather with AbsoluteCleavage or Walking ShirtlessScene (manky, pockmarked grey skin optional), and they could get UhOhEyes and SpikesOfVillainy and /or ShouldersOfDoom. You could also have some weapons infected by TheCorruption, and make them steal HP whenever you make a successful CriticalHit, and hurt the character when they miss. One could even go so far as to let the player keep going as a Daemonspawn if they bottoms out their KarmaMeter, or a Zombie if their health hits zero.