Broken Roads: The NPCs we love to hate

Broken streets is the party RPG recently released by Australian studio Drop Bear Bytes. In this game, players meet all sorts of characters on their journey, and not all of them are a pleasure to be with. There are distant parents, selfish jerks, narcissistic mercenaries and callous murderers on the streets. Most of them wouldn’t look twice at you, but some would be more than happy to put you in the dirt.

As the game’s narrative designer, I worked with the team to select some of the NPCs we love to hate and give you a taste of some of the characters you’ll encounter in our post-apocalyptic world.

Louise Evans

As a meat and grocer for the farming town of Aldersyde, Louise Evans has never shied away from expressing her opinions in the most uncharming and inflammatory ways possible. Louise always believed that everyone was beneath her, especially her son Charlie and his runaway father. She only ordered the Aldersyde Town Council to take over the running of the town because she was tired of the farmers and their endless whining.

Louise never wanted to stay in Aldersyde, and if you ask her, it was entirely Charlie’s fault that she was in this crap-smelling town in the first place. To Louise, Charlie is spineless, useless and a waste of space.

Louise is a (not so) shining figure of motherhood and kindness in the world of Broken Roads. And depending on your choices, you may be able to talk about the morality of parenting and what it means to be a “good parent.”

Malcolm Hogan

Malcolm Hogan, of Hogan House in Merredin, is a boastful man who has only gotten this far in life thanks to nepotism. If he had been outside the walls of Merredin, someone would have sealed his mouth with a bullet long ago.

Always scheming, Malcolm is looking for a lackey to bolster his campaign against Governor Angela Smith. He’s a man who relies on confidence and “charm” to cover up his stupidity and inability to actually do anything right, aside from getting on everyone’s bad side.

You have several options to morally agree with or question Malcolm’s plans and who he may or may not benefit with his decisions that could change Merredin as a whole. Vote for Hogan!

Ian Mason

Ian, the leader of the aptly named “Mason Gang”, is the sleaziest of them all and would win first place for the “Most Punchable Face” award five years in a row. Ian is a hired mercenary and a narcissist who thinks that anyone who doesn’t kiss his feet is jealous of him and wants him dead.

In reality, “Deadeye Mason,” as everyone else calls him (and not because of his marksmanship), is the butt of all jokes and only lives because no one believes he’s worth the bullet. Living or dead, Ian Mason is a waste of space through and through.

You can use your moral compass orientation to intimidate him and argue with him about the meaning of contracts and obligations, although it may be a more one-sided conversation.

James Wakefield

James Wakefield is a bad omen. Behind all his bravery lies a cruel man who kills mercilessly in the name of his hometown of Brookton.

The problem is that his unwavering loyalty to his people is the only reason Brookton went up in smoke. If anything, the residents of Brookton should be grateful that James knocked on their door: at least he killed them quickly.

Depending on how determined you are to find him, you might have a chance to get your fists up and settle the score

These are just a few of the colorful characters to look out for during your time with them Broken streets. We can’t wait to see who else gets on our players’ nerves, and we hope you enjoyed this insight into the types of people that make up our narrative.

Broken streets

Versus Evil, LLC

☆☆☆☆☆
19

★★★★★

$39.99

Born from a love of the traditional computer role-playing game, Broken Roads offers a rich, compelling narrative as players make their way through a desolate future Australia. Broken Roads combines traditional and brand new role-playing elements on a classless system that offers almost unlimited character development possibilities and presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass. This novel design sees dialogue options and quest choices influence and be influenced by a character’s philosophical leanings. Features • All-new post-apocalyptic setting • Unique morality system that influences dialogue, quests and character development • Authentic Australian locations and environments • Blend of traditional and original RPG mechanics • Up to 5 party members • Turn-based tactical combat • Hand-drawn artwork • A rich and densely designed World