An agenda is a scheme that a NPC predator acts on in order to fulfill their ambition. A predator may have many ambitions, but they always have at least one. A predator may have ambitions that are simple or lofty. For each ambition, a predator has an agenda, which is a set of goals that are the stepping stones to achieve their aim.
To start with, write one ambition for each NPC predator. An ambition is a simple statement that articulates what the predator wants. Once you know where they are and where they want to be, write an agenda that gets them from Point A to Point B.
As an example, let’s revisit Sam’s meddling with Rick earlier in the book. Something drove Sam to chase after Rick to see if he has a girl on the side. Let’s say Sam’s ambition is to become pack beta, taking that
role away from the current beta, Bones. This means she needs to prove to the alpha that she is not only better than all of the other fuck-ups in the pack, but that she’s clearly a stronger choice than Bones. Great! That’s an ambition and she can probably make happen over the course of this session. That’s what you want, a concrete plan that can come to fruition in the span of nightly play.
Breaking it down: Sam’s agenda is to become pack beta by exposing an ugly truth about her pack mate that, as far as she knows, no one else in the pack suspects. So, first, Sam needs to prove her hunch, that’s why she tailed Rick. Then she needs hard evidence – unfortunately for Rick, that means Sam will likely grab Tara and present her to the pack alpha, putting Rick in a very tight spot. The pack alpha would have no problem tearing open some random prey to get the truth out of Rick. But, that’s not enough, if the beta’s around, they might claim that they knew all along or otherwise undermine Sam’s work, so Sam needs to get the alpha alone with both Rick and Tara to avoid the beta’s meddling.
Sam’s ambition can be written as “become pack beta,” and her agenda can be written as follows: 1) Confirm Rick is seeing a girl on the side
2) Grab the girl
3) Arrange a private meeting with the alpha
4) Present the girl to the pack alpha and force Rick to acknowledge his indiscretion When Sam completes all of these steps, her ambition is realized. This shows how agendas and ambitions are crucial GM tool, as they help organize thoughts about the motives each predator NPC has and how they act when you tell the story. Every predator NPC needs to have an ambition; if an NPC doesn’t or it isn’t clear, why are they a part of the story?
Ambitions should be reasonably achievable during the current bout of nightly play. During nightly play, some NPCs will make good on their ambitions and some won’t. At the end of downtime play, revisit each NPC’s ambition. NPCs are dynamic, their ambitions adapt to the changing winds of the predator community.
The strongest agendas engage PCs by putting them directly or indirectly at risk involving them as part of the NPC’s schemes, or having some intersection between what the PCs want and what the agenda has in store. Though an agenda that only involves NPCs could be interesting in an academic sense, they miss the point of play and won’t draw player interest. A PC may not be the target, but the NPCs should be motivated to engage the PCs in pursuit of their ambition.
That said, it’s fine if a NPC’s agenda comes together off camera now and then. Just make sure that the PCs have opportunities to be involved or cross paths in some way, either through participation or consequence.
Also, be transparent about your NPCs’ ambitions. Tell the players what the NPCs are after, but let their characters discover the details in play. Hold back only to promote suspense or surprise. Sharing your NPCs’ ambitions with the players helps them understand who your NPCs are and gives the players a reason to engage with them.
Grudges
A grudge is a hatred that one predator has for another. A grudge is born from some insult or injury, real or imagined, that ranges from petty to deadly. When a predator holds a grudge, they are another predator’s rival, enemy, or nemesis. Whenever a rival, enemy, or nemesis is created, a grudge is created to describe the nature of this conflict.
Every predator holds grudges. When you create a NPC, create one grudge for them to start with and add more to the list as new grudges come up in play.
Describe a grudge tersely on the relationship map with a short phrase next to the predator who holds the grudge. The grudge identifies the grudge’s target by name, identifies the relationship to the target (rival, enemy, or nemesis), and briefly summarizes the nature of the grudge. Examples:
Rival (Sam): Payback for meddling with Tara Enemy (Bones): Envies pack beta title
Keep the descriptions short and sweet. They’re cues for you to use in play.
Once you create a grudge, find ways to set it in motion. Grudges are often the next ambition a predator hopes to realize. For a nemesis, this grudge is definitely their foremost ambition. For an enemy, their grudge is likely their foremost ambition, unless confronted with a more compelling opportunity. Making good on a rivalry is more often a target of opportunity or a means to an end, rather than an end in and of itself.
Like ambitions, re-evaluate your grudges at the end of downtime play. Cross out the grudges that have been settled, but don’t erase them.