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this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2023
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Science Fiction
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As someone who has to write RPG settings and scenarios, if I can't be consistent with the tech or magic, then I think of what would be the easiest way to do something.
In this case? If I had to do this and didn't want to throw in crazy tech? Easiest way to stop the Heroes? The Villains bribe/blackmail someone to interrupt the jump, or they've planted a device to sabotage the engines at a certain time. They're waiting at that point.
Nothing like a good ambush AND some intrigue ("how did they do that?")
My players hate when I interrupt their journey. We're on month 3 of adventures due to an interrupted journey... and now they trust NOBODY!
Take a page from the way the Putin and the FSB dealt with the Wagner group; hold families hostage. They don't have to interdict the protagonists, they just have to be willing to murder every single person that the protagonist cares about if the protagonist doesn't turn themselves in. The protagonist might be willing to sacrifice their own life to achieve a goal, but are they willing to sacrifice their entire extended family and all of their college friends?
The Villains, that would be damaged by the Information, already hired goons (the agents) to deal with damaging stuff. Subcontracting wouldn't be an option for those professionals. But yeah if the Villain wouldn't have already those agents they sure would hire/blackmail/bribe someone from the empire to make the heroes disappear... permanently.
Don't over do it though, eventually players are so paranoid that they see an enemy even when its just a helpful NPC.
Oh absolutely. We've been in this campaign for 14 years, they know when I'm throwing them a curve ball and when they're among friends. They've just not gotten back to their destination to figure out who is who yet. It's been great fun!
However you want to deal with it, you do you! I just find that when I want to be consistent in my world, less tech/magic and more "people did it" seems to flow better. That's me, though.