The Batman-Riddler relationship is one of the most legendary partnerships in DC Comics. No matter what part you play in the story: whether you’re a civilian, a cop, or a superhero, you’re sure to run into the bizarre relationship at some point. The question is, how do you deal with the Batman-Riddler relationship as a GM or a player in a fantasy world?
Enchanted Listening Spots
Whether you play in a straight-up tabletop roleplaying game or use a digital tool to manage your campaigns, chances are you’ll run into the Riddler at some point. And if you’re playing in an urban setting, there’s a good chance that a lot of people will be talking about the caped crusader at the same time. Because let’s face facts: no matter what setting you play in, the chances of hearing about Batman are pretty high. What’s more, chances are you’ll hear a little bit about the Riddler as well.
Now, one of the great things about having the Batman-Riddler relationship in your game is the many funny stories and quirky anecdotes you’re bound to come across. And while you might not always want to incorporate the darker elements of their partnership into your game, there’s no denying that there’s some wonderful, hilarious material there for the picking. However, if you want to keep things lighthearted and maybe even make a little bit of a joke about the character, it’s best to create some listening spots where the players can relax, rejuvenate, and refresh themselves while also staying informed about what’s going on.
Riddler Cards
If you decide that having some friendly competition in your game is an appealing idea, there’s a simple yet wonderful way to incorporate the Batman-Riddler relationship while also keeping things lighthearted. Instead of having the Riddler show up in person at the beginning of each session, send him an e-mail or a text message instead. Then, at the end of each session, you can have the players confront the Riddler with their accomplishments, noting who solved which puzzle, who defeated which supervillain, and so on. This is an excellent way to keep things interesting for the players and also establish a friendly competition between the different teams or individuals playing the game.
What’s more, having the Riddler as a GM-less opponent keeps things interesting for the players because it adds an element of uncertainty. What if the players solve the puzzle and the Riddler turns out to be a different villain? Then what do you do? How is the competition then resolved? These sorts of questions keep things fresh for the players and also establish a friendly competition between the different teams or individuals playing the game. They can also introduce some dramatic tension, as the heroes might actually feel that they can compete with the Riddler, especially since he’s usually a one-man-band operation. As long as you don’t take things too seriously, it’s easy to have fun with the Batman-Riddler relationship in your game and still keep track of what’s going on.
Above all else, having the Batman-Riddler relationship in your game is a great idea because it creates an interesting dynamic that can help bring life to any setting. Whether you want to play in a steampunk world or a more traditional superhero environment, having the Riddler around is always a plus because he’s such an interesting character.