You didn’t mention her occupation at all (which is very distinct from the Detective’s anyway - one is a private investigator, and the other is a chemist).
As for characterization, you’ve only mentioned "delves the secrets of the Neath" which is generic enough. For example, this side of the Detective hardly even came up during this election - you, for one, mostly emphasized her connection to the Constables (despite her being an outside professional consultant).[/quote]
Her characterization has generally been that she’s logical (she’s a scientist after all). Her occupation is delving the secrets of the Neath via chemistry.
And the Detective’s delving hardly came up? She started delving right in the middle of her campaign!
F.F. Gebrandt would almost certainly have a completely different goal than the Implacable Detective, though. Perceived similarity in their personalities doesn’t mean they’d have even remotely similar mayoral agendas.
Since you’ve snipped the most important part of my post, I’ll repeat it:
You obviously don’t have to agree. I was just looking for side-characters who are mentioned here and there in the game and could use fleshing out a bit. Feel free to offer your own candidate(s).
I still think Mr. Slowcake has a lot of potential. The last two elections have shown off Society’s angelic side in its support of the Bishop and the Campaigner. You know, the side of Church picnics, fancy afternoon teas, well kept houses, respectable parties. But Society also has a side that smells very much of brimstone: parties at the Brass Embassy, Abstraction, hiding your Tomb Colony read relatives in the attic, Great Game intrigues, red honey… Of course Mr. Slowcake isn’t actually a real person, but a composite character created by a team of Devils, but in a city of spies and face tailors, is that really an obstacle?
I feel like you underestimate the hellish force with which a lot of players thrists after devils ;) especially the low-level players which don’t have many interactions with Rubbery, but often get in honeypot of Affectionate Devil’s… affections.
I’d like to see Royal Bethlem Manager running for Mayor. A perfect mayor for the underground- he already has quite a lot of experience in running a madhouse, after all.
You know, I was just thinking I’d love to see the Sardonic Singer run for office! I’ve been recently reacquainted with her after moving back into the heart of town. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed the character concept and also how little interaction we get with her at higher levels. St. Fiacre would be interesting as well; I’m not sure whether his inclusion in Flint would count against him in terms of selection, though? It is an Exceptional Story, so not necessarily widely played-through, but…
Mr. Slowcake, the Manager. and Mrs. Plenty are also lovely suggestions, but none of them has my insta-vote the way the SMHS does.
Regretful Soldier: WAR WITH HELL, BABY. Actually no, because he knows that war is hell, whether it’s with Hell or not. I doubt he’d send men to the same fate he met. He would probably be way less friendly to devils than many other characters, though.
Regretful Forger: I can’t even see him running, really. The guy rather avoids any kind of spotlight. He just wants to live a quiet life making art enough to eat every day.
Sardonic Music-Hall Singer: Likely winner, though the Soldier would give her a good run for her money. I can’t really see her running, but if she did, it’d likely be as a rather centrist candidate that seeks to address the worst ills of the city without being particularly ambitious.
Wry Functionary: Actually knows how government works, would probably streamline a bunch of shit and have London working efficiently. And yet, perhaps a little too cautious when it comes to tackling big problems.
I could see the Music-Hall Singer or the Wry Functionary being future candidates for mayor, but the Regretful soldier would have a harder time, particularly in setting the tone of their campaign.
Another problem with having the Soldier be a candidate is that his fate differs between players. For some (the very awful ones), he is a soulless wreck. For others, he’s still mourning the loss of his beloved’s soul. And for those of us who are truly lucky and generous, he’s far happier and in a good place… albeit haunted by the past still.
[quote=Sir Frederick Tanah-Chook]Let’s see… who’s probably alive; recognisable but not too beloved, and has at least some interest in politics?
…wait, no, forget all that. I was looking through a characters list and remembered the Pirate Poet exists PIRATE POET FOR MAYOR.[/quote]
The one problem with this is that she’s a possible companion, imagine the chaos caused be players endlessly kidnapping the mayor by selecting her as their companion and then hoping on a boat to some far flung location. She wouldn’t get a spare second to actually do any mayoring in.
Adding my two cents in now that I have the time and knowledge, I suppose we also need to take into consideration which of the remaining Major Lateral qualities they’ll base next year’s election on.
Last year was Identified with a School: Jenny (Bazaarine), Bishop (Celestial), Contrarian (Nocturnal).
This year it was Identified with a Philosophy: Dauntless (Legacy of Anchoress), Feducci (Unconfined), Detective (Implacable Method)
So next year it will either be: Identified with a Tradition: School of Hard Knocks, Adventuress’ Correspondence Course, Forms of Tomb-Colonies
or
You Pledge Your Support/Make Your Toasts to: Cheery Man, Gracious Widow, Topsy King
Now the second would be rather obvious as to who would be the candidates, though also unlikely given that the criminal lords don’t strike me as the type to get involved in politics at the cost of their empires. Unless the whole election got hijacked as a kind of turf war…
The first though provides some interesting food for thought. Would the Presbyterate Adventuress be an eligible candidate considering her nationality if Feducci was allowed to run? Would the Urchins put forward someone like Slivvy to represent the School of Hard Knocks? Perhaps the Once Dashing Smuggler might appear on behalf of the Tomb-Colonies? And are there other NPCs that would better fit those traditions?
The Presbyterare Adventuress might be an interesting candidate if they can differentiate her from Feducci.
Grace would be great for the Forms of the Tomb-Colonists (much more of a fighter than the Smuggler).
I can’t think of a clear candidate for the School of Hard-Knocks. The only name which comes to mind is the Knuckle-Scarred Inspector, but we’ve already had a campaign about law enforcement issues (even though the Detective wasn’t herself a Constable). Maybe the Woman in Green? (though I doubt she’d like to run for public office).
I can’t think of a clear candidate for the School of Hard-Knocks. The only name which comes to mind is the Knuckle-Scarred Inspector, but we’ve already had a campaign about law enforcement issues (even though the Detective wasn’t herself a Constable). Maybe the Woman in Green? (though I doubt she’d like to run for public office).[/quote]
Colonel Molly maybe? Though I guess that would hardly help with landslide avoidance. (I’d still feel torn not picking Grace in that line-up though)
And although it would very likely make a very dull election I still hold out hope to see the Tentacled Entrepreneur one day (and if FBG were actively trying for a near 100% of the vote candidate, reveal the second week that his name is Jeremy… )