Example:
Humakti, at the front of party of heros, attempts to out stare withered
matriarch.
Withered matriarch has a few medium wins, Humakti recognizes he is close to
losing.
Humakti drops out of contest and 'just wanders off' leaving rest of party
behind.
I ruled he had had a minor defeat, on the grounds that he had lost face even
if he
had not stayed for the final defeat, and assigned him a minor penalty.
Was I right or am I a sadistic GM?
Question:
Do followers lend AP just by backing someone up?
Example:
Parties matriarch faces off against said withered matriarch, braces
facial muscles for a good stare.
Withered matriarch whistles. Large number of family spill out of stead
and form a block behind her. Silence descends. Massed staring ensues.
Family includes 12 adults. Matriarch now on 2W (her skill) plus 36
bonus from 12 supporters = 58 skill points. Parties Matriarch worried.
Was I right to provide this level of benefit? Is there no law of diminishing returns from supporters?
Question:
Should a massive defeat in a non combat skill be Very Serious?
Example:
After a few exchanges and losses by both sides parties matriarch
manages to transfer AP to her withered opponent, who then bids her
full 58 points and wins sending parties matriarch to -56 or
thereabouts.
The player decided the defeated PC, whose authority over her clan hung entirely on their unquestioning awe of her steel will, was broken by the exchange and fled, becoming a sad old shadow living on the edge of society. Thats the players right, but....
As a ref I was going to apply something that was a 'Dead' severity
but to social standing. What would other folks have done...
loss of the ability used (intimidate)?
loss of all abilities that related to authority?
gain a flaw?
remove the character from play?
Corollary:
Never get into a staring contest with withered matriarchs.
We were horrified at the extreme result but,
1 - the player could have used a hero point to alter the fatal
roll but we all forgot.
2 - I did not have to go for the kill. Sometimes it makes
sense, other times it doesn't, but most npcs should not bid
extreme amounts even for non-combat conflicts. That is if you
want any PCs left.
Nick Hollingsworth
Birmingham - the land of the free and the home of the balti
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