Re: "scripting" contests

From: simon_hibbs2 <simon.hibbs_at_...>
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 16:56:12 -0000

> Iu was just wonderign what folks might think of a GM being VERY
> proactive and aggressive in framing extended contests. The kind of
> thing I am thinking of is the climactic meeting with the primary
> villain. For this kind of scene, the GM might wish to, say, have
the
> villain driven backwards up a sprial staircase so that they can
> deliver some last words in a dramatic scene at the top of the tower
> in a driving gale - or whatever.
>
> It seems to me that the extended contest mechanic makes this sort
of
> thing possible. Becuase the GM has a final result in mind, they
can
> use this to deliberately frame their narration of exchange results
to
> give this effect. ...

There are a number of ways you can dramaticaly increase the odd of pulling this off :

1. Just Do It. Instead of spinning it out over several exchanges, thus increasing the risk that something will go wrong, so it in one exchange.

"Ok, it's the bad guy's turn. He is trying to hold you off from the stairs. He gets a (minor, or marginal, or major) defeat. He is unable to make headway against you, and inexorably he is driven step by step up the stairwell to the top of the windswept tower."

2. Use NPC Hero points.

"You're using your sylph to suck him out from the stairwell? You criticaled? Er... the sylph's gust of wind pulls him off his feet and stuns him, but he recovers (spending a hero point to avoid being wiped out) and retreats up the stairwell in panic. You've definitely got him on the run"

The make it clear that if they don't pursue, he'll get a chance to recover and start a new contest.

3. Disguise an victory as a defeat.

"You lost the exchange against him? Ok, he successfuly draws you into a cut-and-thrust fight as he apparently retreats up the stairwell. Before you realise it you are on the top of the windswept tower and off your ballance. He cries out 'Ha, ha... I have drawn you to your doom. Now I shal cast your body from my tower, to be broken on the rocks below'. He lunges at you..."

Simon Hibbs