If players don’t like something, they murder it. It’s not their fault, really. The game tells them at character gen that they’ve got a thousand and one fun options for murdering things, then rewards them with treasure and XP for successfully completing the murders. That’s why I love the idea of an anti-party so much. They’re fellow adventurers cut from the same cloth as the party. They might arrive first at the chamber o’ loot, take credit for saving the town, or (most unforgivable of all) deal slightly more damage than a PC. The best anti-parties aren’t evil though, which is what makes it so delicious. They are antagonists that the party can’t murder. Or at least, they can’t murder them without severe social repercussions. And watching a team of battle hardened murder hobos struggle against their instinct to maim and slaughter is a refreshing change of pace.

You’ve met Paladin before, back when he was toying with the idea of joining our main cast of Heroes. Since then he’s done a bit of recruiting, and has put together his own team of (from left to right) Oracle, Barbarian, and Sorcerer. Over the next few weeks, we’ll watch as Fighter and the rest of the gang compete against their opposite number in the Anti-Party. Gods help them.

What do you guys think? Are our Heroes are up for the challenge? And have you ever encountered an anti-party in your own games? If so, how’d things end up? Did you resort to murder? Become unlikely friends? Humiliate them publicly? Let’s hear it in the comments!

