Appendix F: Rival Party Generator
Fate's Edge GM Guide — Appendix F
Use the following d6 tables to generate a rival party in under 5 minutes. Roll once in each category or choose deliberately.
| d6 | Name | Flavor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ashen Cord | Echoes, smoke, unbreakable knots. |
| 2 | The Brass Legion | Gears, discipline, cold precision. |
| 3 | The Thorns of Winter | Ice, silence, patient cruelty. |
| 4 | The Gilded Chain | Wealth, obligation, gilded cages. |
| 5 | The Salt Pact | Oaths sworn in brine, pirates or pilgrims. |
| 6 | The Unfaced | Masks, secrets, stolen identities. |
| d6 | Role | Archetype |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leader | Shadow mage, war-priest, strategist, or oath-breaker. |
| 2 | Muscle | Berserker, knight, duelist, or beast-handler. |
| 3 | Mage/Weird | Cantor, free caster, runekeeper, or witch. |
| 4 | Scout/Thief | Infiltrator, poisoner, sniper, or ghost. |
| 5 | Face/Healer | Negotiator, spy, medic, or confessor. |
| 6 | Specialist | Engineer, summoner, trapper, or lore-master. |
| d6 | Patron | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ikasha (Shadow) | Secrets, thresholds, omens. |
| 2 | Malachai (Curse) | Corrupted bargains, venomous gifts. |
| 3 | The Traveler (Roads) | Journeys, shortcuts, debts. |
| 4 | The Ninth (Knowledge) | Forbidden truths, fractured minds. |
| 5 | Khemesh (Depths) | Unstoppable pressure, drowning. |
| 6 | Palinode (Performance) | Rapture, encores, hungry fame. |
| d6 | Goal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retrieve the same artifact. | Sunstone, charter, relic. |
| 2 | Capture/kill a mutual contact. | Witness, defector, rival. |
| 3 | Secure a Patron's favor. | Complete a ritual or sacrifice. |
| 4 | Eliminate the PCs for a rival. | Bounty, vendetta, jealous patron. |
| 5 | Claim a contested site. | Anchorhold, shrine, trade route. |
| 6 | Prevent a prophecy. | Stop the PCs from changing fate. |
| d6 | Relationship | Initial Attitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unexpected rivals | Neutral — will negotiate first. |
| 2 | Hunters seeking a bounty | Hostile — will attack if confident. |
| 3 | Former allies, now betrayed | Bitter — may accept apology at cost. |
| 4 | Pawns of a common enemy | Reluctant allies — temporary truce. |
| 5 | Zealous competitors | Competitive — will cheat but not kill. |
| 6 | Mysterious | Unreadable — may help or hinder. |
| d6 | Resource | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hidden safehouse | Can hide from pursuers once. |
| 2 | Bribed official | May delay a legal timer once. |
| 3 | Spy network | Gains +1 die to gather info. |
| 4 | War chest | Can hire temporary muscle. |
| 5 | Patron's omen | Once per arc, avoid a Miss. |
| 6 | Stolen map | Shortcut to any location once. |
Rival Party Timer
Every rival party should have a visible agenda timer, e.g., Rival Agenda [6]. Tick it:
- When the party ignores or fails to hinder the rivals.
- When the GM spends 2+ SB on off-screen rival activity.
- When a session ends without contact.
When the timer fills, the rivals achieve a major milestone (steal the relic, secure the Patron's favor, etc.). The GM reveals their progress through rumors, looted sites, or a direct confrontation.
Example Rival Party (Quick Build)
The Ashen Cord (from simulation)
Composition: Vesper (leader, shadow mage, serves Ikasha), Tallow (berserker, serves Malachai), Ember (cantor, serves Palinode), Cinder (scout, no Patron).
Goal: Retrieve the Sunstone fragment before the PCs.
Relationship: Unexpected rivals — will negotiate or betray as needed.
Clock: Cord's Agenda [6].
Resource: Hidden safehouse in Silkstrand.