Re: [WorldofGlorantha] Re: Ho Much Rule fiddling Is Tolerable?

From: Brian Curley <bkcurley_at_...>
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:32:50 -0500


> The answer is quite simple - I never said anything about a big climactic
> scene, I think someone else said that if everyone is involved then surely it
> must be a big climactic, extended group contest. I happen to disagree with
> that.

Um, that somebody was me and that's not what I said. I said *IF* it's climactic scene, i.e. something everyone will feel disappointed by not being a part of, then it should be an Extended Contest. If it's just a challenge in the middle of an adventure, then:

  1. A Simple Contest is the way to go.
  2. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed that they weren't in on "the big ship building."
  3. If you do have players like that, then there is always a Group Simple Contest or;
  4. Do an Extended Contest anyway. Whatever makes it fun for your players.

And b-d assume that "not being a part of it" means "I don't get to roll my die." If they're providing an augment, or APs (in and Extended Contest) they're still participating. If the disappointment comes from not hearing the satisfying clatter of dice on the table, then it sounds like narrative role-playing is not that player(s) cup of tea.

And just because one player fails in a Group Simple Contest doesn't mean the entire group fails. It means that there's a potential problem, or better yet an interesting challenge, with that character's part of the ship. So if the guy working on the hull fails, the ship is still a ship... it just leaks - how badly depends on how badly the character failed the contest. And even then it doesn't mean the ship sinks (unless the narrator can think of something interesting that comes from that result). The heroes now have to figure out how to deal with a leaky boat. It's the whole "failure can be interesting" thing again.

BKC

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