How Did You Handle Bloodline/Encubus Uniting?

[LWPD]

How Did You Handle Bloodline/Encubus Uniting?

One of the most challenging official storylines for me to handle in recent sets was the formation of Divided We Fall. There was just so much bad blood between Bloodline and Encubus that had built up over the years that I thought a healthy functional reconciliation was impossible. In fact their lengthy relationship was never really healthy to begin with. From a younger Encubus being resentful over playing 'second fiddle' to BL while his father played mind games with both...to perceived 'issues of favoritism' offered by the privilege of each man's family lineage...right down the timeless competitive rivalry of one man trying to 'break out of the shadow'...while another tries to preserve pecking order. Getting them to move past that and see eye to eye is no easy task...even if they are now related by blood.

How did you specifically handle this situation and bring about the forming of Divided We Fall? Was it a simple by the book/Mother Superior 'heals all wounds' approach? Or did you go into greater depth with less official 'space opera'?

[joseph]

In my fed their feud was going pretty strong over the New Beginning years. They had traded the IP belt a fe times, and fought a great string of matches when Encubus was GWF Champion. Both were in top contention for the GWF title, when before one of my monthly PPV's, Encubus announced it would be his last match ever vs. Bloodline. Later, Bloodline also confirmed he wouldn't fight Encubus again. I tried to build the buzz for the match all month with Epoch and Sly Drury trying to get the reason out of Encubus, and Tauran constantly being blown off my Bloodline. Encubus won the match via MAFFEI MASTERLOCK, but helped Bloodline to his feet after the match, and both stood with hands raised. They announced it would be both of their last singles match in a long time. They then started teaming up with Mother Superior managing them. I haven't reached the point of any official explanation yet. Both have just said "it's something they have to do". I figure when I get into the 2122 storyline I will "officially" reveal that Mother Superior was the one who united them.

Rahl

[MikeMcKinney]

They still wrestle mainly singles in my fed..cause there always holding some major title.

[LWPD]

Feb 9, 2008 22:24:28 GMT -5 @joseph said:

In my fed their feud was going pretty strong over the New Beginning years. They had traded the IP belt a fe times, and fought a great string of matches when Encubus was GWF Champion. Both were in top contention for the GWF title, when before one of my monthly PPV's, Encubus announced it would be his last match ever vs. Bloodline. Later, Bloodline also confirmed he wouldn't fight Encubus again. I tried to build the buzz for the match all month with Epoch and Sly Drury trying to get the reason out of Encubus, and Tauran constantly being blown off my Bloodline. Encubus won the match via MAFFEI MASTERLOCK, but helped Bloodline to his feet after the match, and both stood with hands raised. They announced it would be both of their last singles match in a long time. They then started teaming up with Mother Superior managing them.

Interesting approach LR.

[aquinas]

I went by the book.....Encubus at the time was my Interstellar Champ and Bloodline was hot on his trail, having worked up to #1....they were scheduled to face for the title and then the new set (at the time) came out, and they were allies.

So I had, abruptly, Bloodline withdraw from his title shot....no explanation for a little while....then I got Encubus in a match with somebody pretty tough (I can't remember who), in hopes he would lose the title, which he did....then I rolled out the Mother Superior angle, and have almost never had them wrestle singles since.

[traviz]

Encubus was the Galaxian champion at the end of 2120 and he mysteriously gave up the title to Commissioner Massif and told him that from that moment on he was completing stictly in tag matches with Bloodline.
Now, while there wasn't a big build-up to why he would suddenly start teaming with Bloodline, Encubus wasn't happy with the way Epoch had promised him the galaxy and then pushed him to the side once Monolith's arrival was announced. So there was some dissatisfaction on Encubus' part with the villain team, so that could explain why he broke ranks. Encubus was scheduled to meet Monolith for the Galaxian belt on the 1st card of 2121, but when he pulled out and vacated the title, Endgame was put in his place.

[jefft]

Feb 9, 2008 20:20:17 GMT -5 LWPD said:

How Did You Handle Bloodline/Encubus Uniting?

One of the most challenging official storylines for me to handle in recent sets was the formation of Divided We Fall. There was just so much bad blood between Bloodline and Encubus that had built up over the years that I thought a healthy functional reconciliation was impossible. In fact their lengthy relationship was never really healthy to begin with. From a younger Encubus being resentful over playing 'second fiddle' to BL while his father played mind games with both...to perceived 'issues of favoritism' offered by the privilege of each man's family lineage...right down the timeless competitive rivalry of one man trying to 'break out of the shadow'...while another tries to preserve pecking order. Getting them to move past that and see eye to eye is no easy task...even if they are now related by blood.

How did you specifically handle this situation and bring about the forming of Divided We Fall? Was it a simple by the book/Mother Superior 'heals all wounds' approach? Or did you go into greater depth with less official 'space opera'?

I looked at it from the perspective of 'why were they fighting'? Seems like these are fairly similar guys stuck with continuing the feud of their father's. Yes, they'd done bad things to each other over the years, but all originally tied back to the pressures of Thantos and Star Warrior.

Almost like being enemies was 'expected' of them.

[antimony]

Though I've got some ways to go before I get there, I've already mapped out where I'll be taking my fed and who my main players will be every year. Consequently, I know how I'll handle this.

I'll ignore it.

I'll keep them as singles stars, possibly at one another's throats, possibly not, and I'll decline to use Mother Superior.

The beauty of the game is that one doesn't have to follow the official storylines; indeed, Tom himself encourages Promoters to let their own feuds develop, so that each person's GWF becomes a living, breathing entity. There's no better way to kill such an entity than by bludgeoning it with force-fed storylines every year.

Kudos to Tom for creating a game where such flexibility is part and parcel of the system, as opposed to other games where a major shift from canon metaplot requires a large amount of reworking.

[Deleted]

Feb 10, 2008 19:53:45 GMT -5 @antimony said:

The beauty of the game is that one doesn't have to follow the official storylines; indeed, Tom himself encourages Promoters to let their own feuds develop, so that each person's GWF becomes a living, breathing entity. There's no better way to kill such an entity than by bludgeoning it with force-fed storylines every year.

Kudos to Tom for creating a game where such flexibility is part and parcel of the system, as opposed to other games where a major shift from canon metaplot requires a large amount of reworking.

Quoted For Truth

[LWPD]

Feb 10, 2008 16:45:27 GMT -5 jefft said:

Feb 9, 2008 20:20:17 GMT -5 LWPD said:

How Did You Handle Bloodline/Encubus Uniting?

One of the most challenging official storylines for me to handle in recent sets was the formation of Divided We Fall. There was just so much bad blood between Bloodline and Encubus that had built up over the years that I thought a healthy functional reconciliation was impossible. In fact their lengthy relationship was never really healthy to begin with. From a younger Encubus being resentful over playing 'second fiddle' to BL while his father played mind games with both...to perceived 'issues of favoritism' offered by the privilege of each man's family lineage...right down the timeless competitive rivalry of one man trying to 'break out of the shadow'...while another tries to preserve pecking order. Getting them to move past that and see eye to eye is no easy task...even if they are now related by blood.

How did you specifically handle this situation and bring about the forming of Divided We Fall? Was it a simple by the book/Mother Superior 'heals all wounds' approach? Or did you go into greater depth with less official 'space opera'?

I looked at it from the perspective of 'why were they fighting'? Seems like these are fairly similar guys stuck with continuing the feud of their father's. Yes, they'd done bad things to each other over the years, but all originally tied back to the pressures of Thantos and Star Warrior.

Almost like being enemies was 'expected' of them.

There's truth to this. Yet in my Fed...Encubus has been a very dark character over the years who's actions aren't defined by his family lineage and can't be excused by it either. That's where the challenge comes into play for me...finding a credible reason (that I can sell myself on) behind 'why' he would change (and for him reconciling with Bloodline for a 'greater good' would be a tremendous change from how I've portrayed him).

Thanks for the feedback everyone.