Who is taking the govt.'s side?

[jaif]

Anybody out there playing the government side? My entire group sides with the resistance - I'm having a hard time making the government pitch sound real.

-Jeff

[Doc_Nova]

As I recall, the same issue was brought up with comic fans during the actual publication of the event. Tony and Reed are frequently referred to as villains by fans during that period and are disliked by many (again, fans) due to seeming to act so far out of character.

While a troupe-style game where the players have a character on either side of the issue would be interesting, I think it will be found that most (and I am sure there are some that will rise to the challenge) will go the "resistance" route.

For me, its more of a supers gaming nostalgia as this rings so similarly to the entire Brave New World game line that was produced years before Civil War ever came out. (It was, and still is, one of my favorite game settings ever produced.) It posited the very same story line: horrific event creates government crackdown on supers, supers divide into two camps: pro-registration and anti-registration (it was even called the Resistance and it was led by the most patriotic character in the setting), and civil war ensues. The parallels are almost blatant, but I find that to be complimentary of Matt Forbeck's work rather than a mimickry (or worse, mockery) of it.

[Mystrich]

Even in the comics, the heroes who sided with Tony usually had reasons beyond what the actual issue was. Spiderman's identity has always been a major point he wants to hide to protect his family. As Cap brings up, Tony abused his role as a father figure that Peter didn't have and convinced him "You could have saved your girlfriend's Gwen's life with this act."

Sue brings up that Reed Richards worships Tony to the point he'd do ANYTHING that Tony told him. He didn't actually care about the issue, he just wanted to be on the same side as the man he had idolized his entire life.

The other reason behind it all was that people just didn't want to fight the government. As seen with Luke Cage, Iron Man was ready and willing to take down any hero and even their family (possibly even harming civilians in the process) if it meant each and every hero was either arrested or under the act. The X-men couldn't spare having their 180 remaining mutants killed because they didn't sign. She-Hulk wasn't going to lose her job because she was fighting the law as a lawyer.

If you want to players to play on the side of Registration, maybe make it apparent: They have something to lose if they don't. SHIELD and Iron Man will go after them and their families and they have to be ready to make the sacrifice.

[Doc_Nova]

Excellent motivational points, Mystrich, one and all. The example about Luke Cage and going after family will definitely be used in my campaign...one character is a family-oriented mother of two who actually has "Soccer Mom" as a distinction. So yes...this is quite inspirational to my take on Civil War. Thank you.

[Zuldan]

i think you meant to do a cause well that would have been more dramatic.

[MidnightBlue]

Actually, for everyone that has longed to play villains, the Registration side is the perfect opportunity. We even see that in the comics/event with the introduction of the Thunderbolts as Marvel's answer to DC's Suicide Squad.

I guess when/if I get the chance to run the event, I'll just have to do everything I can to show the pros/cons of both sides to encourage players to give each side a go.

There were plenty of examples of attrocities committed on both sides of the issue in the comics.

[vitruvian]

The X-men couldn't spare having their 180 remaining mutants killed because they didn't sign. She-Hulk wasn't going to lose her job because she was fighting the law as a lawyer.

The X-Men *didn't* sign, though. Of course, they were already registered under the MRA.

And with She-Hulk - there was a provision in the law saying you couldn't represent clients defending against the law as a lawyer without being disbarred or fired? Not in any comic ever published, there wasn't.

[vitruvian]

There were plenty of examples of attrocities committed on both sides of the issue in the comics.

Can you list one for the anti-reg side? Drawing a blank.

[vitruvian]

Sue brings up that Reed Richards worships Tony to the point he'd do ANYTHING that Tony told him. He didn't actually care about the issue, he just wanted to be on the same side as the man he had idolized his entire life.

Reed's older than Tony, so it can't be the case that he's idolized him his entire life.

[Mystrich]

Sue brings up that Reed Richards worships Tony to the point he'd do ANYTHING that Tony told him. He didn't actually care about the issue, he just wanted to be on the same side as the man he had idolized his entire life.

Reed's older than Tony, so it can't be the case that he's idolized him his entire life.

I swear I remembered reading that Tony paid for Reed's college tuition, which confused me as I also thought that, but maybe it's just been Tony has been famous for his inventions longer?

The X-Men *didn't* sign, though. Of course, they were already registered under the MRA.

Emma Frost talked to Tony in one issue and they made it clear that they wouldn't join the opposing forces and didn't want trouble. I forget if they mention signing, but considering Tony didn't attack, I thought it was pretty clear that they must have signed (again Luke Cage is the example of someone who refused to sign and that didn't happen at the school). Though Tony did keep them watched by Sentinels at all times as a just in case.