Without light, there is no darkness. In literature, we take this simple idea of contrast a step farther with the idea of a foil. A foil is a character or object used in literature to purposefully contrast another character or object, in the process, emphasizing the contrasting characteristics. The use of a foil character is not just limited to literature. You can use it very effectively in a TTRPG game too.
A good example is the pair of Boromir and Aragorn in Lord of the Rings. Aragorn and Boromir both are fierce fighting men joining a mission. However, the contrast between these two character is what is most emphasized in the telling in the story. Without Boromir's complete failure in resisting the ring, we would not be able to recognize how strong Aragorn really is.
Similarly, in the RPG stories we tell, we often want to highlight certain characteristics of both NPCs and PCs in the story. In these cases, adding a foil character can really bring out the contrast. For example, in a party with a paladin, we may want to make the paladin look better or worse. By bringing in another paladin, either corrupted or upstanding, we can make the point. A stealing rogue can be made to look better after bringing in a murdering thief NPC. A wise PC can be emphasized with a foolish NPC leading the party to folly.
Because the foil changes the perception of an NPC or a PC, it can be very effective in manipulating the story. Do you have a thief that you want to do the right thing? Bring in a morally corrupt NPC to make the thief feel like a hero of good. Need to make a paladin take morally questionable actions? Bring in a high and mighty cleric who messes up a mission with excessive do-gooding. By changing the perception of the PCs, we can essentially rewrite the story, making the hero into the underdog, the hero into a failure, the compromised into the moral protagonist.
The one caution with the use of a foil is to avoid taking away the spotlight. Were Boromir a character in our TTRPG, bring in an Aragorn NPC would upstage the PC, and potentially ruin Boromir's player's experience. In game, it is always important to improve the fun of the players and let them feel in control of the story. Foils should not be used to take away from that.
The next time you need to highlight some aspect of a PC or NPC, consider bringing in a foil character. You might be surprised at the effect it can have on your game.
A good example is the pair of Boromir and Aragorn in Lord of the Rings. Aragorn and Boromir both are fierce fighting men joining a mission. However, the contrast between these two character is what is most emphasized in the telling in the story. Without Boromir's complete failure in resisting the ring, we would not be able to recognize how strong Aragorn really is.
Similarly, in the RPG stories we tell, we often want to highlight certain characteristics of both NPCs and PCs in the story. In these cases, adding a foil character can really bring out the contrast. For example, in a party with a paladin, we may want to make the paladin look better or worse. By bringing in another paladin, either corrupted or upstanding, we can make the point. A stealing rogue can be made to look better after bringing in a murdering thief NPC. A wise PC can be emphasized with a foolish NPC leading the party to folly.
Because the foil changes the perception of an NPC or a PC, it can be very effective in manipulating the story. Do you have a thief that you want to do the right thing? Bring in a morally corrupt NPC to make the thief feel like a hero of good. Need to make a paladin take morally questionable actions? Bring in a high and mighty cleric who messes up a mission with excessive do-gooding. By changing the perception of the PCs, we can essentially rewrite the story, making the hero into the underdog, the hero into a failure, the compromised into the moral protagonist.
The one caution with the use of a foil is to avoid taking away the spotlight. Were Boromir a character in our TTRPG, bring in an Aragorn NPC would upstage the PC, and potentially ruin Boromir's player's experience. In game, it is always important to improve the fun of the players and let them feel in control of the story. Foils should not be used to take away from that.
The next time you need to highlight some aspect of a PC or NPC, consider bringing in a foil character. You might be surprised at the effect it can have on your game.
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