Another clarification request...
When you attempt a check to acquire a boon, each other character at your location attempts a check to acquire it. The character whose result exceeds the difficulty by the largest amount acquires the boon (if there is a tie, those characters reroll), and each other character who attempted the check is dealt 1 point of Mental damage that cannot be reduced.
1. Can one decline to attempt a check to acquire? I seem to recall seeing somewhere that you cannot, but if someone could point me to the latest update on that, it would be much appreciated.
2. What if nobody succeeds at the check to acquire? Does nobody take the damage? Or does everybody take it...? >8)
Thanks!
I can't necessarily point to anything, but I'd say
1. It depends on who the "one" is. The character that encountered it can choose to not attempt it. But if they do, everyone else must attempt the check to acquire. The scenario effect doesn't say "may". It is no different then "When you defeat a bane, each other character is dealt 1 combat damage." It isn't optional. If you attempt a check to acquire a boon, everyone at their location also has to attempt a check to acquire it.
2. I'd say everyone takes damage.
So, a corollary is: if I'm alone at a location, and I fail a check to acquire a boon, I take a point of Mental damage?
Yeah, I'd think so.