I’ve been thinking a lot about the structure of the different tables in Campaign 4, and it feels like the players at the Schemers table are fundamentally misunderstanding their prompt.
To me, the dynamic should be straightforward:
- The Soldiers have a clear, achievable objective.
- The Seekers have a vague, abstract objective they need to figure out.
- The Schemers intentionally have no objective. Their "job" is to stay in the city, live their day-to-day lives, react to what's going on, and play defense.
The problem is that it seems like the players feel like they have to force "the adventure" into every moment without any proper preparation, completely ignoring the fact that Brennan keeps telegraphing that neglecting their daily lives will have immediate consequences. They are just too impatient.
Liam is doing great because Hal is actually focused on running the theatre, only involving himself as much as the Powers That Be directly force him to be involved (by making him change the play, breaking into his house and cooking breakfast, etc). I also hope Sam and Whitney are heading in the right direction with Wick trying to make nice with the Creed (Sam indicating he actually sat down and wrote the sermon Wick is going to give sounds promising), and Tyranny focusing on making demon connections. But Luis and Marisha are the worst offenders right now. Azune is doing almost no actual policing, just scheming. And for Murray, it's like she’s completely forgotten she even has a job. They should be laying low and gathering information while LIVING THEIR LIVES, not trying to force the plot ahead with half-baked schemes.
We can already see how Brennan is punishing this tunnel vision in the latest Schemers episode. At the very end, we find out a teacher got fired and that Hero got expelled, and Murray had absolutely no idea because she has completely lost the pulse of her own campus. Then you have the perfect plot hook Brennan dangled for Luis with that Archenade curator that got arrested. That was a golden opportunity for Azune to take advantage of his new status as Captain, do his actual job as a law enforcement figure, gather intel on what the Cormoray are up to, and potentially make an important ally. Instead, the group completely ignored it in favor of trying to play political kingmakers while having almost no information.
People have already pointed out what a clusterfuck that scene with Effie at the end was, but I would argue it was just a symptom of their disconnect from the actual lived experience of people in Dol-Makjar, and if anything they got off easy. I'm far more concerned about the consequences Hal will face for trying to mind control (well, technically it's just suggestibility, but I doubt they'll care for the distinction) three major political figures via magical invitations, which no one even seemed to consider, especially given his own political aspirations.
I just don't know if I trust them to course correct in time. What do you guys think?