Alain Rameau asked about passive opponents and used this example
>>Let's go straigth to an example.
A character wants to search a room to find a valuable magic item
hidden by some wizard. It is an important plot in the story, so the
Narrator decides to play it as an extended contest. The Starting AP
and Resistance roll for the Narrator will probably be the Hide skill
of the Wizard. The character starts searching, trying not to make
noise. I guess the Narrator will give some penalty to his Search
skill.<<
I would say that the *item* would not bid. When it is its turn to be the actor it uses the unrelated action *do nothing*. As a passive *items* are clearly not in state to do anything.
This is how it would work.
The item is hidden with the wizards ability of 12 (for example)
The thief character has an search ability of 16 (for example)
Round one: Thief bids 4 and rolls 14, *item* rolls 3. The thief losses 4, down to 12APs (he's looking in the wrong place). The *item* does nothing.
Round Two: Thief bids 8 and rolls 7, *item* rolls 5. The thief losses 8, down to 4APs (he's way off mark). The *item* does nothing.
Round Three: Thief bits 4 and rolls 18, *item* rolls 17. Both lose 4. The thief has 0APs left. The thief is unable to find the item, if he came back at some other time he could try again but for the moment he total without a clue.
Passive things like hidden items or walls do not have to *do* anything bar be passive to win an extended contest.
Also Steve Lieb asked about 40 people sneaking up on one bloke and pointed out that the one man could not lose. I think that works out right. 40 people shouldn't be able to sneak up on one person, thats why in all films and books (and life I suppose) one or two bloke always sent out to take out the guard.
PS anyone roleplay in/around Nottingham, England? Our groups seems to have shrunk in recent time and we need more peeps.
Rob
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