I posted an add in my longest groups discussion, I'll send any interest but I think they are all pretty full on current games.
I have a.question about healing (if u see bad caps/punctuation, then me on phone.)
how do we heal? where it say in book how stress and harmz go away? kthx.
Generally it happens between missions, if the Quartermaster chooses the appropriate campaign actions. There are a couple of abilities that allow for it during a mission, and it is theoretically possible to lose stress by rolling double sixes when resisting consequences, but generally speaking stress and harm does not go away in a mission.
If you've played Gloomhaven, you can think of stress and harm like the cards mechanic-- the best way to deal with it is to finish the mission before your stress and harm gets too much.
I can use Doctor and Tonics (since I have First Aid) to remove some effects as well, but I gotta be around and have some time and some of it is temporary
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Success but with consequences!
Your choice: either all three Rookies take Level 1 Harm (which will fill the Level 1 boxes for Aron and Jughead), or one Rookie (your choice) takes Level 3 Harm, leaving them incapacitated.
Clock is at 9/10.
Hmmmmm. I think I have an interesting idea.
I'd like one Rookie to get harm...but then I take it.
Since I was Marshalling them, I can do that, yeah?
Questions: A couple of things on the sheet I'm not familiar with from BitD: the Corruption mechanic and the 'clock' on the right hand side with the "Specialist" column. What do I need to know about them?Various things can give you Corruption. It's almost impossible to get rid off. If you fill your Corruption track, you get a Blight. Get three or four Blights, and you turn into a monster and have to be killed.
(Dark fantasy, it says so right on the tin.)
Ah, so it's similar to Stress => Trauma, then? Only harder to get rid of than stress - although now I mention it, how do you get rid of stress in BoB? Presumably we don't have vices we can indulge during downtime?
Questions: A couple of things on the sheet I'm not familiar with from BitD: the Corruption mechanic and the 'clock' on the right hand side with the "Specialist" column. What do I need to know about them?Various things can give you Corruption. It's almost impossible to get rid off. If you fill your Corruption track, you get a Blight. Get three or four Blights, and you turn into a monster and have to be killed.
(Dark fantasy, it says so right on the tin.)
Ah, so it's similar to Stress => Trauma, then? Only harder to get rid of than stress - although now I mention it, how do you get rid of stress in BoB? Presumably we don't have vices we can indulge during downtime?
Instead of individual downtime, downtime is handled by the Legion as a whole. The Quartermaster has the duty of deciding which downtime actions to take, and one of them is Liberty which removes 3 stress from all Legion members. Another is R&R, which deals with Harm, and there are also options to get assets (Food, Horses, Religious Supplies, Black Shot, and others), to recruit more Rookies (to replace the losses that will eventually happen, primarily from secondary missions), and for Long Term Projects. The campaign action economy is tight so stress reduction is unlikely to be done after every mission, but in recompense the Legion has multiple specialists and squads that it can rotate in as necessary.
As for why she hasn't been with you from the start, maybe Shreya gave her a side mission which she completed and is on her way back from when she saw the signal flares? Ride (march) towards the sound of the guns.Napoleon said it, and it always worked for him!
I'll take his success rate in battle! The whole dying old in exile thing also looks pretty good when you're facing undead horrors.
Instead of individual downtime, downtime is handled by the Legion as a whole. The Quartermaster has the duty of deciding which downtime actions to take, and one of them is Liberty which removes 3 stress from all Legion members. Another is R&R, which deals with Harm, and there are also options to get assets (Food, Horses, Religious Supplies, Black Shot, and others), to recruit more Rookies (to replace the losses that will eventually happen, primarily from secondary missions), and for Long Term Projects. The campaign action economy is tight so stress reduction is unlikely to be done after every mission, but in recompense the Legion has multiple specialists and squads that it can rotate in as necessary.
Thanks, that's good to knwo. I should probably start thinking about my backup character.
DMDM (great name!), when do you want to bring me in? A dramatic/dynamic entry would suit me well but I'll take whatever you offer :)
OK, let's say as prevously that the light of the flares (you guys fired 2 in succession, right? Quartermaster gonna cry) caught Karina's attention as she was on her way back to base from a separate mission. She's made haste to see what's going on, but she's still some way off. Thankfully her fine recurve bow, with its Panyar heartwood, has an excellent range so even from a hunded yards or so from the action she can still make a difference.
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So, the character sheet for Karina Zayatevya, scout of the Legion, is ready. Let me know what you think. My plan is to play up the heritage and the fact scouts tend to be loners, so there'll be short sentences with lots of nyet and da and Russian Reversals. You can call her Katya if you've served with her on a major mission, so come up with a flashback that's suitably awesome and you gain "diminutive rights" - of course, she'll have a shorter name for you as well. Atterro's is going to be either "Terminus" or "Tumnus" I haven't decided yet :)
Do, um...do you want a story of a mission that you did with the good Brother? Do you want to write it or would you mind if I did?
So, the character sheet for Karina Zayatevya, scout of the Legion, is ready. Let me know what you think. My plan is to play up the heritage and the fact scouts tend to be loners, so there'll be short sentences with lots of nyet and da and Russian Reversals. You can call her Katya if you've served with her on a major mission, so come up with a flashback that's suitably awesome and you gain "diminutive rights" - of course, she'll have a shorter name for you as well. Atterro's is going to be either "Terminus" or "Tumnus" I haven't decided yet :)Do, um...do you want a story of a mission that you did with the good Brother? Do you want to write it or would you mind if I did?
Please feel free! I look forward to seeing your story :)
I've been drafting a post to get into the acction and I've realised something you probably already worked out: the BitD system is waaaay more interactive than Pathfinder. You can't really post your actions without some sort of consultation.
Player 1 "I would like my character to do [stuff] and try to achieve [effect]. I'd like to use Action X, but I think it's more likely Action Y."
GM "I think you 're right, but I'm willing to let you use Action X, but it will be at reduced effect."
P1 "I'd really like to use Action X. I just think it's what my character would do. Can I lose position to gain increased effect?"
GM "Yes, I think that works. You're going to roll Action X at Desperate position. Want a Devil's Bargain? It would be [details]"
P1 "That sounds pretty bad, so no thanks. I think I'll push myself instead. Can someone give me an assist, please?"
P2 "Yes, my character can assist by doing [stuff]"
P1 "Thank you. That means I'm rolling N dice at Desperate position. Let's see what happens."
As a compromise so that I can actually post something rather than a back and forth negotiation, I'm going to put the mechanics of my actions (basically an outline negotiation like above) into a spoiler. If you don't like it, we can go back and iron out the details.
I hope that works for you :)
Thanks, that's helpful. As a Daredevil, I'm going to want to trade position for effect quite a lot so I will factor that in. If you don't think it applies to a given situation then let me know :)
I need to go and eat so I will come back and see what you've made of my post later on!
Thanks, that might work although I'm a scout so surprise is pretty much what i do to other people. Like those Hounds.
If you're open to it, what about using the narrative I mentioned earlier? KAtya is passing through on her way from a (presumably successful) mission, she has to report back, isn't that the way the army works? Maybe start an 8=clock "Katya's really not supposed to even BE here" and put 1 tick in it from the DB. Extra complications add more ticks.
If the mission here wraps up before the clock is filled, I go back to base with the others and report in, minor delay but investigating a yellow flare is prbably part of what a scout is supposed to do so no harm, no foul (it adds to the mystique as well). If the clock gets filled, then she is LATE. I'll let you decide on the penalty, but Legion discipline is probably not pleasant.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by rolling a die for ticks?
The way I haev used them before for a DB is that any time I roll "consequences" with an Action dice roll (say I roll a 4 for Shooting) then a number of ticks get added to the clock depending on the roll (4/5 versus 1/2/3) and on the position (Controlled v Risky v Desperate).
You seem to be suggesting something different, which is fine! But I'm not clear what. Sorry.
EDIT you know what? I'll take the DB as you outlined it. You can explain the nuances to me after I'm damned. Isnt that how it works?
Ok, I get it, I think. Thank you.
That means I have to roll for the DB I just used, yes? And next time I use a DB, I roll again - separately from the Action Roll.
Ouch, 2 ticks filled on a 4-clock!
Someone very helpfully fired not one but two flares. (I did refer to them in my gameplay post)
Scout Karina: you're some little distance away. Also, I don't think you can see what's going on now -- no more flares.
-- Here's a thought: you might have some Owlsight Oil (page 366) on you. Two ways you could have this. One, pay one Stress for a flashback. Two, the team decides to have an Alchemist (as opposed to a Mercy). In that case, Sonia just comped you some. Maybe you guys are friendly? Just a thought.
That works! I have teh "scrounge" ability so this definitely seems like something I could use it for. I will put a flashback together. (I'm definitely in favour of Alchmist over Mercy, for the record)
Also, whose turn is it? I get that BitD doesn't exactly work like PF but would you be able to tell us who's up next?
I've put my DB clock into my status bar. You mentioned "unwiding" clocks, do you have thoughts on how I can do that with mine? I'm at 2/4 already :(
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"I'm just saying I don't see how--"
"Ooo! A whetstone!" Karina exclaimed, cutting off Attero's musings and picking up the aforementioned item. "Why would someone leave a perfectly good whetstone just laying about? It was only partly hidden by this corpse--oh," she ends, answering her own question.
Attero looked at her for a few paces as they continued walking before trying to finish his thought. "I don't see this as the best use of our re--"
"Hey! A prybar! I've been needing a new prybar!" The scout added the new bit of treasure to her kit, letting the older bit of twisted metal it replaced drop to the ground before moving on.
"Ahem. I'm just saying I don't see this mission as the best use of our resources. We should be finding a party of the enemy to destroy," he finished, sort of surprised that the thought was able to conclude. He looked to Katya for a reaction.
"Hey! A bottle of oil!" she said in answer. "You know how hard these are to find in the field?" After securing the supplies, she moved on at a brisk pace. "And it is a good use of us, my dear Heavy. We won't crush any foes in glorious combat if we all die of starvation. And pork is a good way to not die of hunger. We know there's a pig farmer in this town, so hopefully he'll part with a brace or three at a reasonable price." Katya allowed her brow to furrow. Money was near useless out here, and they couldn't afford to part with anything actually useful, so the negotiations should be...spirited.
"So be it," the armored brother concurred. "I only hope we don't come away with nothing. I heard this guy has a bit of an...odd reputation."
"Da," she agreed. "Some of the villagers said he was really really--oh, we're here."
The pair arrived at a ramshackle house surrounded by low stone huts and a smell unique to pig farms.
"Come in, legionnaires!" they heard in response to their knock.
"Apparently we are expected," Attero observed.
The pair entered the main room of the farm house. In evidence of their expectation the room was bare, save for a single desk at which sat a slovenly man who constantly toyed with an unlit cigar. The only other occupant of a the room was a large, low-browed figure who stood at one side of the desk. His thick arms and myopic eyes identified him as the brawn of the operation.
"Come in come in, my warmly welcome guests, yes?" the man at the desk said, waving a hand at the only other piece of furniture in the room, a single, rough-hewn chair opposite him. "We, ah, we have heard of your coming. You, ah, wish to purchase a pig, yes?"
The Heavy and the Scout shared a look that spoke volumes. Karina, not wanting to be rude, yet, poured herself into the offered chair while Attero remained standing, and returning the unyielding stare from the farmer's enforcer.
"More than one, if you can spare it," Katya said with as much sweetness as she could muster. "And we are prepared to pay--"
The rest of her sentence was dismissed with a wave of the cigar-holding hand. "We, ah, we are not interested in whatever nick-nacks you, ah, proffer, yes? Here, ah, here we value things with value, yes? We, ah, we need something that is, how you say, intrinsic?"
The farmer offered up the word as if on a silver platter, expecting to impress his guests. The silence he received was discomforting, so he decided to come to the point.
"We, ah, we need...a child!" he said, his eyes lighting up. "It, ah, it does not matter which, or how, yes? There, ah, there must be a score of little brats running about in refugee camps, yes? You, ah, you lose a mouth to feed and you get a pig, yes?"
Attero, never much needing an excuse to pick a fight, gave no outwardly sign, but his internal switch moved from "Not Fighting" to "Probably Fighting". Katya, charged with negotiations, wanted to make sure she was hearing what she was hearing.
"You just want to see a child? Or you want one to labor for you for a day--" she stammered before being cut off.
"Forever! Yes?" the pig-merchant shot out, licking his lips and making an obscene gesture with his cigar.
Karina re-crossed her legs and sighed. "Huh. That's a really good offer. But I've got a better one for you. How about instead I...set you on fire? Yes?"
"Master not like that talk! Master rip off your--URGK!" The first words from the large brute were suddenly cut off as Krieg, Attero's hammer, slammed into his chest as though falling from a great height. Though not fatal, the man would have a shield-sized bruise in the coming days. And for now he was held fast by Attero's iron grip.
"Tolerance is a sign of weakness!" Attero spat at the brute as he held his warhammer against the man's chest. Though the brute continued to thrash, trapped between iron and wall, his struggles were as useless as if against a stone statue. "Magnanimity is a sign of weakness!" the Heavy continued, as if that explained everything.
"Uh-oh. Now you got on his bad side," Karina said, not moving from her chair, though a playful smile danced on her lips. "How about Mercy?"
"Mercy is a sign of weakness!"
The pig merchant also had not moved, though the blood drained from his face in a stunned disbelief.
"Come now, Terminus, I think our friend is looking for some, um, leniency. What do you think of Leniency?"
"Leniency is a sign of weakness!"
"Well, there you have it," Karina said, drawing her flask of oil from a bandolier. She uncorked it, filling the room with the heady, dark smell of thick accelerant.
"You know what the vinters say," she wafted it under her nose and took a loud, deliberate sniff. "It's a good year.
Now, shall I begin?"
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"It was nice of him to throw in leashes," Attero observed as he walked along, trailed by a dozen suckling pigs.
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Aterro I like, thank you. Although that's Katya's word allowance for a month! I think she must have benn having a good day. Maybe it was the immediate after-effects of encountering Shreya the Chosen :) I should write a post about that.
I've put my DB clock into my status bar. You mentioned "unwiding" clocks, do you have thoughts on how I can do that with mine? I'm at 2/4 already :(This requires us to be a little creative. How _would_ you show the Legion leadership that you're not a loose cannon who just runs off and ignores orders?
That's pretty much Katya's T-shirt, actually. Every organisation has someone who's too bloody useful to fire, so they get shunted somewhere. She got shunted to be a scout. Which she loves because it gives her opportunities for running around being awesome. That doesn't answer your question, sorry. I will think about it while I try not to let the clock run out.
There's a long breath of silence. Then,
"Uhhh..." says Jughead.
"Chut!" Alisa holds up one hand. "We are not 'having a moment' here."
This exchange made me feel SEEN :)
This is a long post so it's going in this thread :)
Okay, so Katya's dice rolls: I'm not sure if you can swap position for effect in this case. I mean, you're shooting at Eater from ~50 yards away. What would be the desperate bad effect?
I will accept pushing for greater effect, because that's always good.
A reasonable question :) The blurb on the Desparate position states that "You overreach; you're in searious trouble." I think the first applies here.
The sensible thing to do when you're shooting from stealth in darkness against a strong foe is to play it safe. Take your time, shoot from cover, aim, put everything you have into that one shot with the Black Arrow to make damn sure it hits. That would be Risky, or maybe even Controlled if you're feeling generous.
That's not what a daredevil does.
Think of the absolute, coolest thing that an archer could do here? The equivalent to Legolas in LOTR shooting orcs while surfing the stairs on a shield, or running all the way up an elephant to shoot it dead, the sort of thing that makes a legend. Think of someone who triest to get that outcome ALL THE TIME, and that is Katya. She isn't goinig to settle for the controlled sniping shot. She's going for the cool outcome, the stuff of cinema. The one where Eater turns to face the Legionaries, its jaws gaping open... and there's a tearing, fleshy sound as the point of an arrow juts out of its belly as it's shot from behind. It staggers for a few yards and falls, maybe not dead yet, but your close combat just got a hell of a lot easier.
As for what can go wrong in terms of desperate bad effect? Harm is unlikely given she is shotting from 50 yards away - but an alternative for a failed Desperate roll is that you suffer a serious complication. You're a GM, clearly an experienced one. If you can't think of 3 serious possible complications from a failed roll in the time it takes you to do that GM slow blink (the one that says "you're screwed, and I'm about to have a lot of fun explaining exaclty how much") then the world as I know just doesn't make sense any more :P
Incidentally, I put Katya together *before* I'd bought the BoB rulebook, so it's ncie to read the description of the Zemyati and realise I got Katya exactly right:
The courage to take foolhardy action is valued strongly among the Zemyati. Dares are common game both to children and adults. Zemyati are known to list all the foolish elements of a plan, then do it anyway, as if in defiance of the odds. Many of their folk heroes are daredevils that risk incredible odds and become legends only because they survived.
BTW, for the record: it's canon that Eater "eats the breath of the dead". So my version of Eater has absorbed a bunch of last, dying words. Those are the voices -- fsck that gator, freedom at last, hold my beer, etc. Its "breath attack" blasts you with all those dying moments.
Yes, nice touch - and VERY creepy :)
When your PC suffers a consequence that you don’t like, you can choose to resist it. Just tell the GM, “No, I don’t think so. I’m resisting that.” Resistance is always automatically effective—the GM says if the consequence is reduced in severity or if you avoid it entirely. Make a resistance roll to see how much stress your character suffers as a result of their resistance.
You make the roll using one of your character’s attributes (insight, prowess, or resolve). The GM chooses the attribute, based on the nature of consequence:
- Insight: Consequences from deception or understanding.
- Prowess: Consequences from physical strain or injury.
- Resolve: Consequences from mental strain or willpower.
Your character suffers 6 stress when they resist, minus the highest die result from the resistance roll. So, if you rolled a 4, you’d suffer 2 stress. If you rolled a 6, you’d suffer zero stress. If you get a critical result, you also clear 1 stress.
Usually, a resistance roll reduces severity of a consequence. If you’re going to suffer fatal harm, for example, a resistance roll would reduce the harm to severe instead. Or if you got a complication when you were sneaking through an enemy camp, and the GM was going to mark three ticks on the “Alert” clock, she’d only mark two (or maybe one) if you resisted the complication.
The GM also has the option to rule that your character completely avoids the consequence. For instance, maybe you’re in a sword fight and the consequence is getting disarmed. When you resist, the GM says that you avoid that consequence completely — you keep hold of your weapon.
Each consequence can only be resisted one time.
OK, now you're just milking it for the suspense :P
EDIT: That was pretty cool. Worth the wait! :)
Question: I'm really hoping that thing is dead now, and I understand that as a GM you might want some uncertaingy about that so you can sow dobut and/or bring it back later.
But.
If it HAS escaped, is that a consequence I could resist by paying Stress? Would love to get a shot at finishing this thing off for good, if it isn't already dead.
I need to read about corruption and resistances to see if I want to resist the corruption.
Anyone who wants to jump into the river to be sure, is welcome to do so!
Ha.
Monicca [sotto voce]: "Oh, like that's never happened before."
Tabitta: "WHAT?!?"
Monicca: "Nothing."
Ha?
Fine by me, significantly less crass than the banter of vets I've known.
Ha?
Every squad is like a family! Usually a deeply, deeply dysfunctional one.
More seriously: I'm going for a certain gritty cameraderie, which will include soldiers sh*t-talking each other. Let me know if I'm coloring outside the lines.
Yeah, sorry, I'm being a bit hypocritical here because it did draw a smile and it's certainly the sort of thing I would say to one of my friends. I'm just cautious with this sort of thing because I've had some unfortunate experiences during tabletop gaming (if you understand, you understand. If you don't,vyou don't)