As an illustration of a human conflict that might be typical of an
FRP scenario, I'm going to sketch out a valley of the 1800s North
American Wild West. The valley features a fast flowing stream which
cut a gorge between two mountain chains. A high plateau opens above
it. The open prairie is below. The stream is one of the region's best
sources of water. Living in the region are a half dozen characters,
each of which might become a player character in a competitive
scenario where not all of the characters win. More likely, one of the
below individuals is leader of the PC group, and the rest become NPC
opposition.
The Native American Chief has a treaty which says the valley is his
as long as the grass grows and the sun shines. He has doubts about
the treaty's worth. In past years he has made an uneasy peace with
the cattle people, but now more white people are coming.
The cattle rancher sees the valley as open range, and as such it is
open to him and to all. He opened this land, and has been the Big Man
here, and is used to getting his way. As his ranch hands are numerous
and loyal, few have challenged him.
The cavalry captain is here to keep the peace, and to follow orders
from Washington. On the other hand, money talks. It can certainly can
change the orders, and might even change how they are
interpreted.
The Sheriff of the local town is also here to keep the peace, but at
another level. He owns the saloon, and gets his cut from sales of
alcohol, from gambling, and from prostitution. He's kind of ruthless,
but is good at keeping 'the law' as he would like to see it. This
mostly means he'll run off anyone who wants to run a competing scam.
He's got an understanding with the cavalry captain, but the cattle
rancher and his ruffians don't like him very much.
The young German immigrant farmer has a deed to some land just
outside the valley, astride a ford used by most everyone. He comes
with barbed wire. He's got the law on his side, a fair young wife,
and numerous farmer friends whose lands are not quite in such a
strategic position. The other farmers have also been having troubles
with the cattle men, the Indians, and that ungodly sheriff.
The railroad robber baron has sent an agent to quietly do whatever it
takes to get a road driven through the valley to the high plateau. If
he succeeds, most everyone (white) in the region will become
wealthier. However, this wealth will not be evenly distributed...