Too Many Rulez ....

Message:


We get to this point in every campaign we've played when players hit 3rd to 4th level.

We get strategic on the Make Rolls to pick up Swaggering and such. It doesn't change the game.

Then, out comes the 1 per encounter make roll which is silly. The cards decide. No Make rolls in the Epilog is silly as well.

Iron English debated using a Make Roll three times and used 1 to grab a low percentage Swaggering. (It would be Swaggering I would eventually get either way.) Even still, I took a vicious but levelled.

Iron Snake used his and still got a Vicious wound.

Iron Squires died with no Make Rolls... but ... more likely because his connection was flawed. (Died on an Optional roll he didn't need to make.)

Iron Dave ... that dude's a beast ... no make rolls needed.

Plus, we're twisting the Q&D's a little. Red just ratchets them up to match the available resources. Sometimes he ratchet's too much.



The problem is too many Make rolls. One per level is too many.



Propose: (Not all four ... pick one.)

(1) "Precious Make Rolls": Drop back to 1 Make Roll at 1st, 4th, and 8th level. Use them where you wish. With double attempts, you can get out of a lot of trouble. Two or less for most of the game.

(2) "Make Rolls to Move the Story": Add Encounters where you need a make roll to succeed. Not necessarily "Make Roll or Vicious" but "Make Roll or the Mission Fails". Heck, go back to 6's and 7's being bad encounters and let the Make Rolls turn them into Knaves.

The Make Roll was meant to be the amazing coincidence. "Your ship is stolen unless ... Make Roll and describe what happens --- the guard on duty Fights to save the ship."

(3) "Karma": Use them as they are or slightly reduced but when you use them, you pull a card on the "Make Roll Q&D". Spouses are lost, Farms fail, ships sink, Relatives are imprisoned or suffer set back. Sure you had luck, but it cost you somewhere else. Perhaps it's just an entanglement. You have a twin who is making enemies in another court. You inherit an empire but it distracts you. Your eye sight begins to diminish.

(4) "Bonus": If you don't use a Make Roll in the Mission, you draw on the "Good Fortune Q&D". That's where you get estates, connections, ships, etc.


I like all the Options. Perhaps 1 and 3 the best.


Yours,