diff --git a/play.tex b/play.tex
index 8ac6a51d8b95f6f923d26b7b27240dc2ecfaba58..9a9f956c2b452b61a939a50ee90dcf572d1d5161 100644
--- a/play.tex
+++ b/play.tex
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Fenestra is currently experiencing the freezing season of Qualmea, when the trees shed their leaves, letting sunlight shine on roads which are slowly turning white, with little specks of snow.
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
Wasn't it raining last time? Are we jumping time again?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Yes - three weeks passes every session, so we've actually started a new `\gls{cycle}' in \gls{fenestra}.
- And as usual -- we'll start in \pgls{broch} -- one of the towers \gls{guard} towers between \glspl{village}.
+ And as usual -- we'll start in \pgls{broch} -- one of the \gls{guard} towers which sit between \glspl{village}.
Mark off any rations or \glspl{ingredient} from last session -- they've all been eaten or gone rotten.
\end{description}
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
\Gls{fenestra} has twelve seasons (which map to our twelve months) so every time we enter January, \gls{fenestra} enters \gls{Qualmea}.
And it marches on regardless of who's at the table -- even if nobody's there, \gls{fenestra} keeps moving.
- This helps keep the table open, so Nina -- a new player -- can jump right in.
+ This helps keep the table open, so Soibhan -- a new player -- can jump right in.
}
\sideBySide{
@@ -35,13 +35,14 @@
What did you do?
\item[Alice:]
Well, Grogfen helped a trader getting to town\ldots
- (but I don't want to tell her about going in, or the \glspl{sp} she paid us)
+ (but I don't want to tell her about entering a town, or the \glspl{sp} she paid us)
\item[\gls{gm}:]
So how will you explain how long the mission took?
Remember, she has a record of when Grogfen left the \gls{jotter} who gave her the mission.
\item[Alice:]
With lies\ldots?
Can I just roll this one?
+ I'll still tell her about the strange markings on all the trees.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure.
You just need to keep it consistent with what she knows.
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@
\end{description}
}{
- Whenever the characters try to accomplish something risky, we use this system:
+ Whenever the characters try to accomplish something dangerous, the player rolls:
$$2D6 + \underbrace{Attribute + Skill} ~vs~ \glsentrytext{tn}$$
@@ -75,47 +76,46 @@
Sometimes a piece of equipment or a social contact can add to the roll, so the total Bonus can become very high.
A \gls{tn} of 14 is not unreasonable in some situations.
+ The full formula for an action is:
+
$$2D6 + \underbrace{Attribute + Skill + Equipment} ~vs~ \glsentrytext{tn}$$
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
- \item[Nina]
+ \item[Soibhan]
Do I get a character?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
You sure do.
Take the Book of Stories and roll $2D6$ on these charts.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
Okay, I'm a human\ldots called\ldots `Sootfilch'.
What's with the name?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
People in \gls{fenestra} believe that the gods takes the best in life, so it's bad luck to name their children after good things.
- You can roll the stats up next.
- There's a guide on the character sheet as well as the players' book.
+ Roll the Attributes next.
\end{description}
-
}{
- Character creation's fast, so don't worry about your \gls{pc} dying.
+ Character creation's fast, so don't worry about \glspl{pc} dying.
Most will begin as members of the \gls{guard} -- the place they put society's unwanted; the useless miscreants, bastards, and political agitators.
The character creation rules are in the \textit{Book of Stories}%
\iftoggle{stories}{, \autopageref{character_rolls}.}{.}
- This book just has a lot of notes on Traits, and details on resolution
- (it's mostly good for reference).
+ This book focusses on resolution mechanics, details of Traits, and spells.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Low Dexterity and high Intelligence, so we'll look up what that says.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
It says I'm a `Loner'.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
That makes sense.
Society and social ties are very important in \gls{fenestra}, so people can end up in the \gls{guard} just because they don't have anyone arranging a safe position for them.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
This equipment looks a bit rubbish.
Can't I get something better?
At least some proper armour?
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
Starting equipment and beliefs all come wrapped together with the core concept in character creation.
This lets new people get up and running quickly.
- Most players end up making more interesting characters with some random input, but if players really want to decide on every facet, a `point-buy' character creation system exists.
+ Most players end up making more interesting characters with some random input, but if players really want to decide every facet of their character, they can use the `point-buy' character creation system.
Starting pay for the \gls{guard} is roughly nothing.
This forces the \glspl{pc} into some side-jobs and creative thinking, if they want to get their hands on reasonable weapons and armour.
@@ -138,14 +138,14 @@
Sure -- you're in a \gls{broch}, so you can ask \gls{jotter} Cartpike.
Roll $2D6$, then add your \roll{Charisma}{Empathy}.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
\dicef{9}
\ldots that's an `11' in total?
Do I pass?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure, but how would a loner ask for equipment?
What would they do?
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
He's probably ask her when she's alone.
Knock politely, and just explain he's not been given the tools to survive.
\end{description}
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
\item[\gls{gm}:]
\Gls{jotter} Cartpike agrees to give you the armour, as long as you head out on the new mission, immediately.
Sootfilch, Grimesinge, and Mossboke will journey out to two neighbouring \glspl{village} -- that means a `walled village' -- and cut around the perimeter.
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
We're bush-whacking?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Yes.
@@ -182,21 +182,23 @@
For the mission, he rolls $3D6$ again, and finds the troupe must go to two nearby \glspl{village} and cut away at the perimeter.
- Finally, he rolls up a single \gls{village} while two players explain how armour works to Nina.
+ Finally, he rolls up a single \gls{village} while two players explain how armour works to Soibhan.
The \gls{village} has bear traps surrounding it (that might make expanding the perimeter challenging!) and rumours about the local swamp-hag who occasionally eats people.
- Since it's near a marsh, he names the \gls{village} `Marshwall'.
+ Since it's near a marsh, he names the \gls{village} `Marshwall', and notes it down on his expanding map.
- The various encounter charts shouldn't be considered `hard rules' -- they exist more to support the \gls{gm}.
+ The various encounter charts and random tables shouldn't be considered `hard rules' -- they exist to support the \gls{gm}.
+ You can find the random rolls in the \textit{Book of Judgement}%
+ \iftoggle{judgement}{, \autoref{encounters}, \autopageref{encounters}}{}.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
May as well do the distant one first.
Can we walk ten miles in an afternoon?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure, that's just 5 \glspl{fatigue} along the road.
- Nina -- Sootfilch is human, so you can ignore the first \gls{fatigue}.
+ Sootfilch and Grogfen are human, so they can ignore the first \gls{fatigue}.
\end{description}
}{
Travelling times are easy to work out.
@@ -209,14 +211,14 @@
\begin{description}
\item[\gls{gm}:]
So everyone heads off to Marshwall, and on the road traders try to sell you torch pitch and rope for 100~\glspl{cp} each.
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
Nah we're\ldots actually, that'd be really handy.
I'll take both.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Roll \roll{Wits}{Crafts} to determine the quality of the goods (\tn[9]).
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
\dicef{7}
- Crap\ldots
+ Already?
\end{description}
}{
Purchases can get tricky, as tricksters are everywhere.
@@ -230,17 +232,17 @@
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Snow's started to fall, thicker than before.
By evening, the road is white, but you can see Marshwall's high wooden walls ahead, and an archer waves at you from his perch.
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
Time to rest.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Wait a minute\ldots
just checking for encounters.
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
Crap\ldots
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Who's in the lead?
Grogfen has the highest Speed, so I think she would be.
- Can you roll \roll{Wits}{Vigilance} (\tn[12])?
+ Can you roll \roll{Wits}{Vigilance} (\tn[13])?
\item[Alice:]
\dicef{3}\dicef{2}
Crap\ldots
@@ -248,7 +250,9 @@
}{
When two people (or creatures) act against each other, the player rolls at \tn[7], plus their opponent's score.
- The creature's total Bonus is +5, so Alice must roll at \gls{tn} ($7 + 5 =$) 12.
+ $$2D6 + \underbrace{-1 + 0} ~vs~ 7 + \underbrace{2 + 2 + 2}$$
+
+ The creature's total Bonus is +6 (with a snow-camouflage Bonus), so Alice must roll at \gls{tn} 13.
}
\sideBySide{
@@ -257,45 +261,50 @@
I rolled a `4', so what happens to me?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
A bleach-white tentacle grabs you by the neck, another around your left leg, then the great woodspy rises.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
The what?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
``Woodspy'' -- a great land-octopus, able to camouflage, with a load of tentacles.
- It grabs her and starts to slither away, pulling its way through the trees while holding Grogfen tight above its head.
- \item[Nina:]
+ It grabs her and starts to slither away, yanking its way through the trees while holding Grogfen tight above its head.
+ \item[Soibhan:]
What do we do?
- Run after it.
+ Run after it?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
If you want to, spend \pgls{ap}.
You can roll \roll{Speed}{Athletics} at \tn[11].
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
Okay, \dicef{7} \ldots sorry, Alice\ldots
\end{description}
}{
Everyone starts combat with 3~\glspl{ap} plus their Speed Bonus.
Having more \glspl{ap} lets you act before others, and do more.
- Most combat actions resist an opponent, so most involve both combatants spending \pgls{ap} as the same time.
- Characters can even go into the negative, but having -2~\glspl{ap} means a -2 Penalty to all rolls.
+ Most combat actions resist an opponent, so spending \pgls{ap} usually forces an opponent to spend one too.
+ These forced-expenditures can push characters into negative \glspl{ap}.
+ A character on negative \glspl{ap} feels seriously flustered, and takes the negative as a penalty to their actions.
+
+ For example, a character on -2~\glspl{ap} would take a -2 penalty to all actions (and could only act in response to something acting against them).
+
+ Using \glspl{ap} means you don't need to be too precious about which order peole act in -- every character receives the actions they're due by the end of the round.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
Wait, Earth magic covers snow, doesn't it?
Can I make the snow solid around the woodspy's tentacles to stop it getting away?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Yes -- it's still \tn[11], but you can roll your \roll{Charisma}{Earth} to cast.
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
\dicef{9} Got it!
\item[\gls{gm}:]
What does he say?
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
`Solid frost, and woodspy tomb'?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
- Well the snow responds, and grabs a couple of tentacles.
+ Well the snow responds, freezing solid, and holding a couple of tentacles tight.
- Nina -- one \roll{Wits}{Vigilance} roll, please (\tn[11]).
+ Soibhan -- one \roll{Wits}{Vigilance} roll, please (\tn[11]).
\end{description}
}{
Spells work like any other roll, including when making a Resisted roll -- the spellcaster uses their Bonus to resist the opponent, or players roll their \gls{pc}'s Bonus against the \gls{npc}'s.
@@ -332,13 +341,13 @@
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
\dicef{5}\dicef{1}
Does a `5' pass?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
A bear trap, hidden in the snow, leaps up dealing\ldots\dicef{6} 6 Damage.
You can remove your 5~\glspl{fp}.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
And the last Damage?
Does my armour get it?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
@@ -350,46 +359,53 @@
}{
\Glspl{fp} measure a character's distance from death and (in some sense) their courage.
Once they run out, all further damage makes a real wound -- Sootfilch might carry this damage for the remainder of the session.
- However, after \pgls{interval} the troupe will regenerate \glspl{fp}, so the wounds won't leave them near-death for the entire session.
+ However, after \pgls{interval} the troupe will regenerate \glspl{fp}, so the wounds won't leave them near-death for the entire session -- they can persevere while wounded, and rely on their luck.
BIND doesn't have much in the way of healing magic, but it has plenty of Fate spells.
}
\sideBySide{
\begin{description}
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
I'll stab the woodspy.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Okay -- spend \pgls{ap} to take out your sword.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
Spent.
I'll stab the woodspy!
\item[Alice:]
\dicef{11}
- I'm free.
- \item[Mat:]
+ I'm free, but out of \glspl{ap}.
+ \item[Matt:]
I'll go for another binding spell, can I make it trapped so Sootfilch can stab it easier?
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Sure, and it's at \tn[10] this time.
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
Can I not stab the woodspy?!
\item[\gls{gm}:]
Snow freezes around its every grounded tentacle, while Grogfen pulls away.
Roll \roll{Dexterity}{Combat} at \tn[7].
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
\dicef{9}
That's 8, how do I Damage?
- \item[Mat:]
+ \item[Matt:]
$1D6$!
- \item[Nina:]
+ \item[Soibhan:]
\dicef{6} that's an 8 in total, with the shortsword.
\item[\gls{gm}:]
- The shortsword enters, and its snow-white skin splits, blue blood runs down the wound and the skin writhes red, black, and mottled-brown.
+ The shortsword enters, and its snow-white skin splits, blue blood runs down the wound and the skin writhes, turning red, black, then mottled-brown.
\end{description}
}{
The woodspy would usually flee at this point, but being bound by ice, and trapped, the troupe will destroy it in a moment.
Once it dies, Laiquon will pull its beak out, to create \pgls{talisman} for a Water spell, then the troupe can sell the rest of the body to the farmers in the \gls{village} for a few copper and a couple of favours, like a nice place to rest.
+
+ The \gls{gm} hasn't introduced the real hooks yet -- the \gls{sq} \glspl{segment}.
+ Last session saw several little plot-\glspl{segment} which provided foreshadowing for the swamp-hag's plans.
+ The next \gls{segment} in the forests will be the reckoning, but if the players decide to stick to their mission, on the roads, the \gls{gm} will have to start a new \gls{sq} to throw at them.
+
+ Running multiple \glspl{sq} isn't a problem.
+ The old plot can wait, and new \glspl{guard} will hear about the important background from the \glspl{jotter} records.
}
\end{multicols}