Supporting Characters

[Kannon]

The rules for supporting characters will be used as per RAW, with the following caveats and clarifications:

• You always need GM permission for a supporting character to enter or be conjured in a scene unless the thread is something technical or casual.
• All impromptu supporting characters, minor or notable, are recruited from the stock currently available on Arrakis. They have their own motivations to lend their support, and that has to be realistic and discussed with the GM. The likely motivation would be a common enemy or favour-seeking. Deus ex machina appearance of your House Swordmaster is not going to happen, but a random Fremen aiding your cause in a sudden fight with the Harkonnen is a viable option.
• The Momentum/Threat costs have to be paid as normal, but the supporting character goes about their own agenda after the scene - the PC doesn't have any firm hold over them just by generating them. As long as they are available, they can be called back in later scenes by paying appropriate costs again - as long as the GM agrees to their inclusion.
• That also means that spontaneously created supporting characters are not a part of the CHOAM mission and can't stay at the frigate. Even earning a clearance to enter it may be a huge problem - the Sardaukar don't share your affection for your creations and may be deaf to the necessity; they wouldn't have the security compromised like that.
• Please be mindful that generating an acceptable character spontaneously takes time and may slow down the scene, so it is sometimes better avoided. The option in general is not meant for any player to have someone in too many scenes across the board. It may make sense in tabletop, but a very limited one in PbP.
• Hence, every player may control only one supporting character at any given timeslot. No separate forum profiles can be registered for supporting characters, they are played from the PC's main account in a way that makes it clear who acts (like via pasting an avatar into their posts).
• The only way to have supporting characters at disposal on a more permanent basis is to purchase them as Assets via Advancement Points. Minor supporting characters are considered Quality 0 Assets, notable ones - Quality 1 Assets. Notable supporting characters can have one more talent beyond the first - at the cost of 2 more Advancement Points.
• The above acquisition can be done before the game or during the game. In the latter case, it can only be done after the supporting character in question have been spontaneously generated with GM approval. Also, you can't be sure of their long-term loyalty (but if they desert or betray you, your Advancement Points are reimbursed).
• The only way for your supporting characters to be with your PC on the CHOAM delegation is to purchase them before the game from your initial batch of Advancement Points, which means coming with them to the audit on the heighliner, or at the very least them arriving in advance and rejoining the PC on Arrakis. They cannot be a part of your starting set of 3 assets, cannot be added via talents that allow you to have more assets, but still count against the limit for Assets. It means you can't have more than 2 pre-purchased supporting characters for this game.
• Unless sent on their tasks or used in a given timeselot by the PC, Asset-grade supporting characters usually hold fort at the frigate or do whatever is logical for them to do, idling or semi-idling. Except for some rare cases when it serves the plot, the GM isn't going to take over role-playing them if you don't need them, or want to interact with them.

[Kannon]

• Supporting Characters are not meant to be used as a second PC in the same thread as the original one for the same player. Situations where it happens cannot be entirely avoided for the sake of continuity, but the baseline is that a Supporting Character is meant to be used where the main character is not present. Whenever this nevertheless happens, they should be treated as Assets of their Quality rather than playable characters whenever possible.
• To facilitate their use a bit, however, once per IC day the costs of using them in a single thread are waived. All other uses need to be paid for.

[Kannon]

• Supporting characters do not gather Advancement Points.