Just to emphasize this point, if the player accepts a psychological contest, then they agree to it potentially having an affect on their character's choices. The cavalryman could physically continue blocking the bridge - or even try to ride across - even if suffering a complete defeat as a result of the swearing contest. Saying that he can't is telling the player that their character can't do something that they just as plainly "could do" and - from the perspective of the narrative (rather than the rules) - for the same reasons.
My point is that the cavalryman is likely to lose in the next round (an bid of 8 by the infantryman is quite reasonable and is sufficient for a victory). Therefore - in the narrative - he is on the verge of backing down, and in my opinion he needs to take some action to improve his mental state before jumping on his horse and trying to ride across.
-- -- "The T'ang emperors were strong believers in the pills of immortality. More emperors died of poisoning from ingesting minerals in the T'ang than in any other dynasty" - Eva Wong _The Shambhala Guide to Taoism_ Paul K.
Powered by hypermail