[UA] Archetype: The Shepherd

[graver]

  Neat idea, however, I think you have it rooted too much in the avatars view of the world as opposed to the worlds view of the avatar.  The big road sign that this is the case is the self check that one would have to make if they lose or abandon their flock.  That should be tossed out.  It doesn't matter what an avatar thinks or how one feels, it only matters what they are perceived to think and feel.  The shepherd could secretly hate his flock with a burning passion and silently wish that they all get raped by time traveling zombie ghost monkeys for all it matters to the universe... just as long as he goes on acting like he cares and doing his shepherding thing.
 
 Heck, I can see a bad shepherd subtly setting event in motion in ways that do not appear to be bad for the flock but slowly and subtlety egg a wolf on to make sure the flock is always in danger and they are always there to shepherd the flock to safety.
  

Simon Moody <dungeonmaestro at gmail.com> wrote: I was struck by this idea just now. Here's what I've written on the subject in the last hour or so.

 The Shepherd
 
 
  The Shepherd keeps watch over her chosen flock, maintaining their safety from a Wolf, a dangerous outside force which may cause harm to them.
   Taboos: The Shepherd may never allow any member comes to harm due to her negligence, absence, or own direct actions. It is the archetype's duty and responsibility to keep the Flock safe, and if the avatar fails in that respect, she breaks taboo. Additionally, if the Shepherd either loses her flock or abandons them, she breaks taboo and suffers a Rank-7 Self check immediately. Without her Flock, the Shepherd is nothing. This reflects the sheer loss of sense of self, since the Shepherd is essentially defined by her followers. Should that connection be severed, the avatar essentially loses all contact with the archetype.
  Symbols: Historically, the shepherd's crook, the cloak, a simple instrument such as pan pipes, and durable footwear like tough sandals or rugged boots. Today, an attendance list, clipboard, signal whistle...
  Masks: Moses and the Hebrews (Judeo-Christian), Clive Owen in Children of Men (Film), Jules Pfieffer and her students in Dangerous Minds (Film), Morgan Freeman and his school in Lean on Me (Film), Gandalf and the Fellowship of the Ring (English), Samuel L. Jackson and the airplane of civilians in Snakes on a Plane (Film).
   Suspected Avatars in History: Christ and his disciples. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X might have been contesting avatars of the Shepherd among African-Americans during their time. Whoever spearheaded the approval of Prohibition in the United States during the '20s was more than likely trying to Shepherd and protect Americans from perceived evils of alcohol.
   The Shepherd's Flock: All Shepherds must be in control of, or responsible for, a group of individuals, ranging in size from several to several hundred. The Flock may not be made up of truly powerful, self-empowering individuals; rather, the Flock must be comprised of those who would suffer if the Shepherd were not watching over them. For example, a hardened mercenary could not designate her teammates as her Flock, as they are trained to be self-sufficient, though they do work well in a team.
   Consider the metaphor of shepherd and sheep to get a better sense of what the relationship must be like. A good example might be a single parent guarding over her children, a concerned teacher and her students, a counselor and her therapy group, or a guide leading inexperienced travelers.
   The Wolf: As with similar situations in reality, the Shepherd's Flock must be threatened by some form of outside force which will cause terrible harm to the Flock if not deterred. This outside force, or Wolf, does not have to have actually harmed the Flock in the past; rather, the danger is perceived and therefore precautions are taken against it. The Wolf does not have to be a person or physical thing; it can be an idea or concept as well. For instance, in the case of the guide, the Wolf might actually be "wild predators." The teacher's Wolf might be "ignorance," the single parent's Wolf their ex-spouse, and the counselor's Wolf "depression."
   So long as you are channeling the Shepherd, you must designate a Wolf which you perceive to be a significant threat to your Flock. It does not have to align perfectly with your Obsession or your Triggers, but it should make some sense. If you cannot articulate why you believe your Wolf is a threat, the GM may gently nudge you in a different direction or suggest you come up with a new idea altogether.
   Channels:
  1%-50%: The Shepherd becomes competent at helping her Flock overcome obstacles that challenge them both. With a successful Avatar: Shepherd roll, you may trade a -10% to -30% penalty on any skill you possess to give a shift to all members of your Flock equal to the penalty taken. Afterwards, you must wait 24 hours before attempting to shift that skill again. The penalty and shift last that entire duration. You may take a Failed notch in a pertinent Madness Meter in order to make the shift last an additional 24 hours. It should be noted that this may be done without taking a penalty if the skill or obstacle to overcome either is, or is related to, the Wolf.
   Example: Ms. Rose teaches 10th grade English. She subconsciously decides that "Failing her class" is the Wolf threatening her students. She worries about their performance on an upcoming test, so she uses the day before on a study session of the material. She rolls her Avatar: Shepherd skill and succeeds, deciding to grant them +30% to Classics of Western Literature, while taking a Failed notch in Self as she wears herself out making sure her students get it. She spends the night sleepless, tossing and turning, terrified that her students will fail because of something she's done wrong. The next day, the students seem far more confident and pass the test with flying colors.
  That afternoon, Ms. Rose has to take her students to an all-school assembly. She's been up all night and doesn't care about what the Principal has to say, but she still thinks her students should listen. She gives them a brief pep-talk about paying attention and smiles knowingly, rolls her Avatar: Shepherd skill, and gives them +30% to Stay Awake During Boring Staff Meetings, taking a -30% hit herself. She takes a nap in the back of the auditorium while her students listen with rapt attention.
 
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