MURDER

"Murder's out of tune, and sweet revenge grows harsh."
~ William Shakespeare

The previous post we dealt with accidental death. Dying while in the line of duty. Murder is a different beast altogether. It requires forethought. It may not always be planned, but was always intended.

Batman, the one with Michael Keaton. The first time Batman faces off against the Joker, before the he becomes the Joker. The Joker falls over a rail and Batman grabs him. The Joker is helpless suspended over a vat of toxic chemicals. Batman has a choice, pull Joker up and save his life, or let him fall to his almost certain death. Batman drops him, but for a second he thought about saving him. Saving the man that murdered his parents. But in the end Batman sided with vengeance, sided for murder. Was the Joker evil? Yes. Does he deserve to die? Sure. Was it Murder? Absolutely. Batman's action caused the Joker's death, or near death at any rate. Batman knows it, the Joker knows it and later even says to Batman, "You made me, remember. You dropped me into that vat of chemicals. That wasn't easy to get over, but don't think that I didn't try." (I love that line.) So when your standing over the helpless body of the villain you've just knockout. The question you will have to answer, "Do you kill him? Murder him so he can hurt no else. Or do let him live? Both actions have consequences, consequences your character will have to live with.

Here's how we handle murder. When a character (Heroes & Villains) reaches 2x their Resolve. They fall unconscious, helpless, unable to do anything. They can spend a Drama Dice to get up but are unable to act for the rest of the round. But if they take an injury, even the smallest amount, they fall unconscious again. Any character may murder a unconscious character, provided you have an action. All you have to say is, "I kill them." or something similar. They spend a Drama Dice and their action. Done, that character is dead. Sorry about your luck, I'm sure people will say very nice things about you at your wake. Even if you were a heartless bastard.

What happens after a murder? Well what happens in real life? Life move on, there may be an investigation, people may be brought up on charges (Assuming the murderer has been captured). There's a funeral of some kind. Families grieve the lost of the loved one. Some hot-headed relative my vow to revenge the death. Or nothing happens, the murderer gets away. But if your the Hero that murdered the Villain, don't count on that last one happening.

Now if a Villain Murders a Hero. Then any surviving Heroes (All, 1, or none) may get the Vendetta Background at Rank 1 for free. (Maybe higher if the GM allows it) Remember you get bonus XP when Backgrounds show up in a game session.

I've also considered adding a new rule. A Murder Dice. 1 dice that maybe used by any Hero that has the Vendetta Background (it doesn't matter the rank of the background and only in the event that a Villain Murder a hero or someone close to the Heroes and it happened in game and not a Hero Creation). That dice is different from all other dice. It is Black and it is added to all rolls as a kept dice (the Dice does NOT explode). It can only be used for actions as long as the action helps the Hero(s) apprehend the Villain. Now there is only 1 Murder Dice, someone at any time make take it. Once they have it no one else may use it. The Hero may give it to another Hero (assuming they also have the Vendetta Background). If they do, they can not receive the Murder Dice again for the length of the adventure. If the Hero that has the Murder Dice fall unconscious or becomes helpless, then the dice can be taken by any other Hero (Same rule regarding the Vendetta Background), and the Murder Dice is treated as if the hero gave it away. Once the Vendetta background has been resolved, the Murder Dice goes away.

Any comments or suggestion are welcome.