First Principals ....

Message:


Give Ref tools to simplify the action.

The game was meant to reduce the winge to make them ask for the more dangerous action through ignobles and some player agency.

If you are spending (too much) time managing the character sheets as Ref, you are spending time doing something you shouldn't be doing. Roll 20 is crude in places.

If the player is worried about dying, you get the cowardly action ..... "I touch it but not so much to trigger but enough to know if ... but I do it with my left pinky ...".

By giving them one (or two) freebies, it allows bold action. Drink deeply of the goblet. If the poison is there, no reason to linger. Better to taste it and find the assassin.

What if a character grabs an extra Swaggering? They are perishable anyway.

It appears with 4 or 5 players, there's a need for a few Q&Ds that are "Do or Die" or "Double Do or Die". Two passes and you are out. Why not make those and get away from "Run and Gun"?

"Soak Offs" weren't a problem. The problem is they were simply a nameless reserve.

Why not make the "Soak Off" the "Eager camp drummer boy". While he is in the party, everyone gets +1 to their rolls. When he perishes, we all lose the +1. Snake would end the drummer boy (maybe) but Iron Pax would fight to the end of the world to save him.

"The Grizzled Vet" - A soak off but while he's in the group, everyone is a brawler.

"The Gallant Steed" - the soak off is your trusty mount. Escape any battle on a difficult roll. Would you end your Steed or take the wound?

The flawless Tailor, the camp pet, the fair cobbler, the brew master, the dude that reminds you of your father? The guy that goes into digression for you. The faithful confessor ... protected by his faith ... or not. The bastard son of the King. The noble Gunga Din. The physician who puts the troops back together.

You're the hero. Others must suffer so the hero can overcome. Count the souls on your death bed.

Referee sits back with a giant stogey and let's the action unfold.




PS: Though I did hear some pain in Jake's voice when the Jolly Umlats were sent forth to the butcher's field. Perhaps there is a heart there.


Yours,