Do you have any ideas for a Falkovnian Political Police?

[brilliantlight]

I see secret police as scary and I want the party paranoid. I want a sense that they aren't sure who they can trust. So how do you think I should do that?

At minimum, I would make it clear that the Ministry has intel on the party, and it's increasing all the time. Don't make them roll to notice someone watching them, just have the information show up in the right hands.

If the Ministry is supposed to be an antagonist, an official meeting would be, "You went to see XYZ person on this date. What was the nature of your business?"

If the Ministry is an ally, it might be, "So, how did things pan out with the apothecary? Here's what we found out from our foreign agents."

Either way, leave them wondering how they know so much. If they want to start making rolls, make them in secret and tell them the results. Let them get paranoid.

Better yet, roll the dice and just go "Hmm, interesting" and let them wonder about it.

[Five]

I like the krypteia, alluded to above, as another model.

That might be better for a different domain, though.

I do too. And I agree in that it may be better served elsewhere (like a Darkonian/Kargat version of the agoge), as the Falkovnian soldiers essentially already fit this bill. Also, it may be problematic in having trained soldiers go undercover like that. They'd be about as obvious as a plainclothes cop wearing a brand new Iron Maiden t-shirt trying to bust up a preteen drinking session, what with their healthy/fit looks (in comparison to the "dregs"). Even if an emaciated look was a prereq then that individual's work ethic/performance would or should be suspect by their superiors. Might as well just keep it real and encourage social cannibalism...!

[DustBunny]

I agree has to be a difference between them and the standard Talon/soldier. When the normal troops go around shouting and roughing people up, it becomes an 'everyday event'. People expect the troops to do those things, so when you get an official who _doesn't_ do those things warning flags should go up.

Have them be like the Men in Black (not the movie ones, the original MiB from UFO stories). They don't kick your door down, beat you up and drag you off in a big show. They simply knock on the door and ask to have a few words with someone, speak for a while and then leave. And sometimes the person who they spoke to just disappears. No executions, no slavery, no signs of a struggle - just gone. And the Talons refuse to even acknowledge something has occurred. "No person of that name has ever resided here. Move along"

And the beauty is, you stop trusting all of them, even though it might not have been any of them....

Give them a low level ESP ability. They know your answers before you can voice them, and can use those answers to form more questions to compromise you even more. And they can use this material to have you implicate others and weave a wider web.

[tomokaicho]

Dread Possibility

The Feldgendarmerie are the Falkovnian political and military police. They comprise of Talons who have exceptional intelligence and charisma, better to do their jobs.

The primary role of the Feldgendarmerie is to enforce discipline on the rank and file soldiers of the state. They also root out spies, take counter-measures against subversion, and investigate crimes committed by officers or officials of the state. Woe to the officer or official diverting tax money into his own pocket.

The Obergruppenführer of the Feldgendarmerie is Klaus Hausser, who is a Knight-Commando template (QtR #4, p.83) Lawful Evil Monk 2 Fighter 12. Klaus was subject to a unique Super-Soldier Serum that, because of the rare ingredients (one being andrenalin of an Infernal) is highly unlikely to be replicated. He has all the qualities of the Knight Commando, with the following differences. He has +4 ability adjustment to all ability scores. He has DR 5/good and magic. He has limited immunity to spells, magic, and items. Any magical effect that would affect him for more than 24 hours does not work on him at all. That means that the magical bracers that keep him under control as a Talon has long since ceased to function for Klaus.

Klaus has been diabolically effective as Obergruppenführer of the Feldgendarmerie , and that is due to the Infernal andrenalin coursing through his body. Klaus is still loyal to Drakov at this time, but its only a matter of time before Klaus desires more power - Drakov's power.

[brilliantlight]

Dread Possibility

The Feldgendarmerie are the Falkovnian political and military police. They comprise of Talons who have exceptional intelligence and charisma, better to do their jobs.

The primary role of the Feldgendarmerie is to enforce discipline on the rank and file soldiers of the state. They also root out spies, take counter-measures against subversion, and investigate crimes committed by officers or officials of the state. Woe to the officer or official diverting tax money into his own pocket.

The Obergruppenführer of the Feldgendarmerie is Klaus Hausser, who is a Knight-Commando template (QtR #4, p.83) Lawful Evil Monk 2 Fighter 12. Klaus was subject to a unique Super-Soldier Serum that, because of the rare ingredients (one being andrenalin of an Infernal) is highly unlikely to be replicated. He has all the qualities of the Knight Commando, with the following differences. He has +4 ability adjustment to all ability scores. He has DR 5/good and magic. He has limited immunity to spells, magic, and items. Any magical effect that would affect him for more than 24 hours does not work on him at all. That means that the magical bracers that keep him under control as a Talon has long since ceased to function for Klaus.

Klaus has been diabolically effective as Obergruppenführer of the Feldgendarmerie , and that is due to the Infernal andrenalin coursing through his body. Klaus is still loyal to Drakov at this time, but its only a matter of time before Klaus desires more power - Drakov's power.

Looks good to me.

[Mistmaster]

NeoTiamat take on Falkovnia (QtR 22) give us the Falkpolizei which has exactly that role.

[brilliantlight]

NeoTiamat take on Falkovnia (QtR 22) give us the Falkpolizei which has exactly that role.

I might well use his 3 different types of police idea. The Falkpolizei would definitely be the most powerful and widely feared.

[ewancummins]

NeoTiamat take on Falkovnia (QtR 22) give us the Falkpolizei which has exactly that role.

I might well use his 3 different types of police idea. The Falkpolizei would definitely be the most powerful and widely feared.

I suggest adding rivalries between police groups.

[Mistmaster]

NeoTiamat take on Falkovnia (QtR 22) give us the Falkpolizei which has exactly that role.

I might well use his 3 different types of police idea. The Falkpolizei would definitely be the most powerful and widely feared.

I suggest adding rivalries between police groups.

It's already present in NeoTiamat's version.

[brilliantlight]

It's already present in NeoTiamat's version.

A big reason why I am using it. Another thing I might use is a "cult of personality" around Drakov. Giant statues and murals of him everywhere. The political message is without Drakov the domain would fall to chaos and the undead menace would overrun Falkovnia. Neither is true and Drakov knows it but he knows he can't get support based on military glory when he has none.

[ewancummins]

It's already present in NeoTiamat's version.

Good times.

I'll have to go back and read, or-reread, that issue.

[Mischief]

A griffon or hippogriff riding unit that does double duty as an elite Luftwaffe aerial warfare and scouting unit and political police that literally snatches people up off the streets would be interesting. There are never enough of them to make as big of an impact on battle as Drakov would want; griffons and hippogriffs are rather difficult to breed and train and tend to maim their handlers. The winged riders add a whole different dimension to any conflict they participate in. (Naturally the griffons and hippogriffs are hawk crosses rather than eagle)

[brilliantlight]

A griffon or hippogriff riding unit that does double duty as an elite Luftwaffe aerial warfare and scouting unit and political police that literally snatches people up off the streets would be interesting. There are never enough of them to make as big of an impact on battle as Drakov would want; griffons and hippogriffs are rather difficult to breed and train and tend to maim their handlers. The winged riders add a whole different dimension to any conflict they participate in. (Naturally the griffons and hippogriffs are hawk crosses rather than eagle)

Griffons don't seem to fit in Ravenloft very well, at least IMO. They are a bit too exotic.