You have to choose augments that you can narrate as working towards the goal. It's part of conflict resolution (as I see that). Your narration has to include the augments otherwise they are not in the story.
It all comes from choosing a goal that works narratively. If we choose the goal "win the fight" it doesn't make for a satisfying narration. Consider how you narrate a Marginal Success with that goal? Then consider what the narration would be with a few augments.
Something like:
You win, a bit, despite your bladesharp, shield 2, glamour 10, knowledge of
chaos tictacs, relationship to your father, memories of the glory days and
knowledge of dirty tricks (hello Nick!)
It's not a new idea (when a player states such a goal) to get them to explain it further by asking 'why?' 'what are you doing that for?' - essentially 'what is your goal in all this?' :).
So after perhaps several times of asking 'why' the goal may be: "drive the enemy away from my daughter". Much more like it. It may also be preferable to use a skill other than the hero's martial skill as the Main Skill.
The narrative for a Marginal Success can be much more satisfying: The hero drives the enemy away but then realises her daughter has nicked out the back window probably to meet that young lad you saw her with earlier (incidentally, we try to leave outcomes, especially defeats, for the player to narrate). This narration is of the Simple Contest without factoring in any augments. The main skill has been left deliberately vague.
When we seek augments that address the goal of "drive the enemy away from my daughter" we may still look for some pretty multi-purpose fighting skills but they may now seem less relevant (well that's the hope). We start to look for ways to tell the story of the exchange instead of trying to win it at all costs.
While thinking of augments keep in mind that they have to be narrated in your expression of your Contest Outcome (not just a list of suitable augments for the main skill).
Things that appear more relevant as augments might be: Sword Skill (opponent can see how good you are), Initiate of Humakt (scary runes undermine opponent's confidence), Dazzling Wit (talk him out of it?). I've already got enough here for a satisfying narration - any more and it might be over done.
It's what you're using the augments for i.e. the goal. We have found that augments that work on the goal rather than simply amplifying the main skill for it's own sake are harder to find and more narratively-based and easier to bring into a satisfying outcome narration.
I hope that's clearer. It might not be: lol - I've had 3 hours sleep and been at the London Marathon today supporting Tracey, my wife, who did amazingly - completing her first one in under 6 hours!
M
-----Original Message-----
Jane Williams
> Augments have to address the Goal. That's it.
>
> Not merely 'help the Main Ability succeed in the
> goal' but 'help me towards the goal'.
I'm not sure I see the distinction here. Could you give some examples?
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