My new warlock character that I’m making is going to be a mob boss, and the party recruited by a king is going to need to meet him as a contact. What is an in character reason that I (player playing the mob boss) would not be allowed to be killed by the party?
Imo they should be able to kill him, but make sure that there are consequences. Maybe they are the lesser of two evils. Additionally, who would be after them if that character died? What does he offer the party that they can't get normally? If he dies, how hard will the quest become without him?
I'm unclear on the situation. Is this a PC or an NPC?
If your new character is a PC run by you, a player, why do the other players need a reason not to kill them? Do you have to do this every time someone makes a new character?'
If it's an NPC, I would think the reason not to kill him would be because the king sent them to meet him as a contact. The king didn't send the party to assassinate the guy, he sent them because the guy has something they need. So that's already one in-character reason. You have something they need.
If you need others, maybe murder is wrong? Maybe, as a mob boss, you unofficially keep the docks free of foreign spies and saboteurs in exchange for the cops looking the other way on some harmless smuggling? Maybe you have a secret past with one of the party members where you helped them get off the streets when they were a kid and got them into Paladin school?
Okay now reading Tim's post and rereading yours, I see what you're getting at.
I'm going to assume you're lawful evil here. As an evil character in a party of good characters, things will always be rocky. Take a lesson from the Dwarven god Abbathor. The keys are compromise and deception. You need to be able to convince your party that your goals align. You're a business man not a savage. Sometimes business means getting your hands dirty, but overall you play by the rules just enough to squeak by.
Additionally, think of Benico Del Toro's character in The Last Jedi. You've already got your in as an informant, now demonstrate that you are valuable and that you can help them further their goals. Then work within the party until their value is outweighed by the benefits of betrayal (Or not, that's up to you). Some of my previous plot points still apply as well.
Because morality is a little more complex than "he bad I kill." Even the goody goodiest paladin should recognize the nuance there, unless they're a vengeance paladin and your character killed his dog or something. Maybe the good characters would want you to be put in prison, and you can be just sticking around for "one more job" as long as you can prove yourself useful to them. Basically:
Them: "You should be put away for a very long time for what you've done."
You: "of course, of course, maybe you'll have the chance after im done helping you with this matter for the king..."
Them: "ok now that's done, whew, let's send you to jail now."
You: "oh yeah, of course, definitely, that is unless you want to use some of my criminal contacts to track down the druid's long lost sister?"
Perhaps you have blackmail on a party member, such that they would not dare threaten to kill you over it (until it is no longer blackmail).
The king sent them to you as a contact. Clearly you have information or resources that even the king thinks you are more important alive than dead. As a former ring leader, you know how to prioritize your safety. If the king's recommendation isn't enough, you surely can convince the group that killing you would be bad for everyone. Maybe some of your retired cronies are lurking in the shadows, crossbows ready.
There are lots of reasons good characters might not kill a mob boss:
1. The fight over succession that would ensue would cause too many civilian casualties
2. The boss follows some sort of code (ie no selling drugs to kids or outside schools, no running of underage prostitutes, etc) and the most likely successor doesn't
2a. The most likely successor is just straight up more evil/scary/dangerous and killing the boss would put him in power.
3. The mob boss and law enforcement have a working relationship trading info and helping each other out that a successor might not honor
4. The mob boss ensures crime is quiet and out of sight and doesn't get out of hand or affect daily life, commerce, tourism, etc and there's less violence and fewer civilian casualties with him in charge than there would be without him
5. The boss has friends or family in above boatd high places that they either don't want to or can't afford to piss off or upset
6. Better the devil you know
7. They've actually grown to like him personally during the adventure and can't bring themselves to do it
Those are just the ones I thought of off the top of my head. You could probably come up with plenty more.
My new warlock character that I’m making is going to be a mob boss, and the party recruited by a king is going to need to meet him as a contact. What is an in character reason that I (player playing the mob boss) would not be allowed to be killed by the party?
Imo they should be able to kill him, but make sure that there are consequences. Maybe they are the lesser of two evils. Additionally, who would be after them if that character died? What does he offer the party that they can't get normally? If he dies, how hard will the quest become without him?
I'm unclear on the situation. Is this a PC or an NPC?
If your new character is a PC run by you, a player, why do the other players need a reason not to kill them? Do you have to do this every time someone makes a new character?'
If it's an NPC, I would think the reason not to kill him would be because the king sent them to meet him as a contact. The king didn't send the party to assassinate the guy, he sent them because the guy has something they need. So that's already one in-character reason. You have something they need.
If you need others, maybe murder is wrong? Maybe, as a mob boss, you unofficially keep the docks free of foreign spies and saboteurs in exchange for the cops looking the other way on some harmless smuggling? Maybe you have a secret past with one of the party members where you helped them get off the streets when they were a kid and got them into Paladin school?
Okay now reading Tim's post and rereading yours, I see what you're getting at.
I'm going to assume you're lawful evil here. As an evil character in a party of good characters, things will always be rocky. Take a lesson from the Dwarven god Abbathor. The keys are compromise and deception. You need to be able to convince your party that your goals align. You're a business man not a savage. Sometimes business means getting your hands dirty, but overall you play by the rules just enough to squeak by.
Additionally, think of Benico Del Toro's character in The Last Jedi. You've already got your in as an informant, now demonstrate that you are valuable and that you can help them further their goals. Then work within the party until their value is outweighed by the benefits of betrayal (Or not, that's up to you). Some of my previous plot points still apply as well.
Because morality is a little more complex than "he bad I kill." Even the goody goodiest paladin should recognize the nuance there, unless they're a vengeance paladin and your character killed his dog or something. Maybe the good characters would want you to be put in prison, and you can be just sticking around for "one more job" as long as you can prove yourself useful to them. Basically:
Them: "You should be put away for a very long time for what you've done."
You: "of course, of course, maybe you'll have the chance after im done helping you with this matter for the king..."
Them: "ok now that's done, whew, let's send you to jail now."
You: "oh yeah, of course, definitely, that is unless you want to use some of my criminal contacts to track down the druid's long lost sister?"
And so on
What he offers is that it’s my PC, and if I’m killed I need to make a new character
No, Im a player and the mob boss is my backstory
He holds some valuable information
they/her Always open to chat. Just send me a PM
I am failure and perfection
Without grace, but I am tired
Of walking life like it's a wire
Perhaps you have blackmail on a party member, such that they would not dare threaten to kill you over it (until it is no longer blackmail).
The king sent them to you as a contact. Clearly you have information or resources that even the king thinks you are more important alive than dead. As a former ring leader, you know how to prioritize your safety. If the king's recommendation isn't enough, you surely can convince the group that killing you would be bad for everyone. Maybe some of your retired cronies are lurking in the shadows, crossbows ready.
There are lots of reasons good characters might not kill a mob boss:
1. The fight over succession that would ensue would cause too many civilian casualties
2. The boss follows some sort of code (ie no selling drugs to kids or outside schools, no running of underage prostitutes, etc) and the most likely successor doesn't
2a. The most likely successor is just straight up more evil/scary/dangerous and killing the boss would put him in power.
3. The mob boss and law enforcement have a working relationship trading info and helping each other out that a successor might not honor
4. The mob boss ensures crime is quiet and out of sight and doesn't get out of hand or affect daily life, commerce, tourism, etc and there's less violence and fewer civilian casualties with him in charge than there would be without him
5. The boss has friends or family in above boatd high places that they either don't want to or can't afford to piss off or upset
6. Better the devil you know
7. They've actually grown to like him personally during the adventure and can't bring themselves to do it
Those are just the ones I thought of off the top of my head. You could probably come up with plenty more.
I agree with the idea of holding some valuable information. this also gives the party a reason to bring the warlock along until he talks
Full of rice, beans, and bad ideas.