At the end of our Second Darkness game I'll be running CotCT. We're wanting to try the APG version of the Hero Point system from the system we currently use. I'm worried that the change might be too confusing for some of my players if we used the APG points system side by side with the Harrow Points given out in CotCT.
I'm especially worried about the more casual gamers at my table who don't even bother to learn what their spells and abilities do. Springing two different additional points systems on them may bring the game to a screeching halt.
How did those of you who played/GMed Crimson Throne like the Harrow points? Good? Bad? Confusing?
Is there some way of combining the two while retaining the flavor of Harrowing at the start of each module?
Right now I'm leaning towards scrapping the Harrow Points and just doing the Hero Points. I'll just keep the Harrowings in as flavor. Any thoughts?
Book 1 I just did the Harrowing for Flavor. We too are using Hero Points and that's doing well so far. However I decided that I'll keep it as it is, but during book 2 I am going to do one group harrowing using pre set cards (the stat cards for the adventure) and each pc will get one of the cards. They can then use that card during the adventure to do the effects of the card, or use them to do a plot twist of a thing based on their card. I think Ill be giving the card out randomly...
My group right now is currently using both harrow and hero points, and they seem to be managing to keep track of things well enough.
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It's confusing to talk about them at the table, and I keep forgetting to tell PCs that they're at the encounter that gives them their bonus from the draw.. :( I make copious notes in several places and I still am about 80% on alerting the player.
I have a player who almost never uses either (she rarely remembers to use action points either when we play those games), but that's the player more than the two systems.
I did make print outs of what you can do with hero points and harrow points for each player, so they can keep it for reference. I think that is helpful.
Alternately, you could combine the two systems. Up the hero point maximum to 4 or 5 and let them use their hero points for the bonuses of each adventure (in addition to the other things). Give out a hero point for the reading, in addition to leveling and any other super heroic things they may do.
I melded hero & harrow points. I give out coloured glass beads for points (visually - it reminds the players to use them). Hero points are one colour bead, harrow are a different colour.
Hero points are given out normally. Players get an extra hero point in the scene based on the "choosing" card they drew. This extra point (I call harrow point) allows them to do anything a normal hero point can do OR can be spent as a normal harrow point (player's choice).
My players now think of this Harrow glass bead as a "Plus-sized Hero Point". :)
Frankly, I much prefer hero points. When I played CotCT, quite a few harrow points went unused; not so with hero points.
Frankly, I much prefer hero points. When I played CotCT, quite a few harrow points went unused; not so with hero points.
What Ive decided to try for the second harrowing is Take my Harrow cards and photo copy them, well the 9 con cards rather. Then set them up as her ghostly harrow. I have predetermined position and meaning. Then I am going to print a riddle on the back of each card that is a hint to the encounter involved. Then Each of the players will get to pick a card randomly. They will hold onto that card copy until the time comes that they can use it, and it will signal them (im not sure here yet). Each card will be like a minor magic item...