Cortex Steampunk Game 1 OOC Discussion

[StarlitSiren]

Sheet updated with relationships

[StarlitSiren]

This is probably as good time as any to warn you all my rolls are shit

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Challenge accepted. Just today in a 3d20 roll LOW attempt I rolled a 17, 18, 20 to buy myself a resounding failure, with a bonus side of Complication.

[IsabellaRose]

52 minutes ago, StarlitSiren said:

This is probably as good time as any to warn you all my rolls are shit

This system is amazing for crappy rollers... it just get you more complications and drama. You literally can't go wrong.

[IsabellaRose]

Finally getting through character sheets.

@WritesNaughtyStories - Saha is all set for Step 1.

@Chiyako - Alicia needs to set her Distinctions to d4 to start, then you need to Step Up one of your Relationships or one of your Distinctions by 1 die size.

[IsabellaRose]

@AsBloodTurnsEverCold - Kojo needs to set his distinctions to d4 to start. You already have Kirsa listed as a Relationship, so you don't want to also list her as a Resource. Also, you need to Step Up one of your Relationships or your Distinction or Ability by 1 die size.

...and now I have to run off to an emergency dinner date. Some things require immediate attention. 

[WritesNaughtyStories]

9 minutes ago, IsabellaRose said:

Saha is all set for Step 1.

I'm 99.9% sure that's a typo for Step 2., but what to clarify. It would not surprise me if I failed the "Fill Out Your Character Sheet Roll"

[IsabellaRose]

5 minutes ago, WritesNaughtyStories said:

I'm 99.9% sure that's a typo for Step 2., but what to clarify. It would not surprise me if I failed the "Fill Out Your Character Sheet Roll"

Sorry, I meant to say "Saha is all set WITH Step 1." I'm just trying to get all the sheets checked to make sure no one misses anything that will help them later.

[WritesNaughtyStories]

Go. To. Dinner.

[Chiyako]

I think I did it correctly? I just need to figure out how the abilities part of her A Vampire by Rumor and Science works. I think I just list some in there? Or do I then need to create the same abilities in the Abilities section?

[IsabellaRose]

10 hours ago, Chiyako said:

I think I did it correctly? I just need to figure out how the abilities part of her A Vampire by Rumor and Science works. I think I just list some in there? Or do I then need to create the same abilities in the Abilities section?

We just need to think of what kinds of abilities she gets because of her scientifically altered body. Does she have heightened senses? Extraordinary strength? An ability to blend into the shadows or somehow eerily step out of them at just the right moment? If there's something above and beyond normal humans that she can do because of this aspect of who she is, we define it, and list it as an "Ability" that can then be added later. Abilities are like super powers. She won't have all of them right out of the gate, and we can add more as we go given that our world isn't as defined as the DC Comics world the game was designed to emulate.

[IsabellaRose]

@WickedCadrach - Missy's Step 1 looks good and is complete.

@StarlitSiren - all you need to do for Millie is add the die rating (d4) to Tinkerer so it looks like this on the sheet:

Quote

 

Distinctions/Traits

d4 Tinkerer: Steam, brass, and clockwork are your passion. Roll when mechanical knowledge or invention is in your favor.

• d4: Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to stop everything to admire or fiddle with a gadget.

 

 

[IsabellaRose]

@MagnificentBastard - a few things to change on your sheet.

TIAL-V is good. You've got your Resource "Loyal Servants" that's solid. 

1. For the step "Step up Honor or Power twice, or step up each once" you've got Power up to d6, but you put Glory up to d6 as well. We'll need to change that back to d4 and step up either Power to d8 or Honor to d6.
2. You have "Influence" listed as a Resource. I'm assuming it's meant to be the Distinction from the step "Add a Distinction". If so, we need to put it under Distinctions and flesh it out to fit the rules. There's currently a "Family Name" Distinction that does most of what it looks like you're going for, but if you don't want to use that, we can make a more general "High Society Connections" type Distinction. I outlined one below. Let me know what you think.
3. We can't include the Signature Asset just yet. That will be an "Ability", so you'll need to wait until a step allows you to "Add an Ability", and then Step Up that Ability to unlock all of its power. As a Signature Asset, it will have its own Abilities, SFX, and Limits, but they have to follow the Cortex Drama standards of "cost for benefit". I can help you craft it mechanically to do what you want it to do.
4. You still need to Step Up either a Relationship, or your Distinction or Resource.

 

Note on Dice Mechanics: Having a Distinction, like High Society Connections, means you can just assume that the listed benefits happen. If you go with High Society Connections as I outlined it below, you can just assume those connections exist and you can open doors money alone cannot. If you want an invitation to the rail baron's dinner party, you get one. If it's dramatically interesting that you might not get one, we would roll for it, but you'd automatically get to use the die for your Distinction as many times as you want during any session, as long as you can justify how it works. The SFX mechanics offer you ways to earn Plot Points by adding complications to the story, or let you spend Plot Points to add  details to the story.

I'm pointing this out because you had Influence listed with "Once per session, when making a roll related to social influence, gain a bonus die", but I want to make sure everyone understands that you can use that Distinction as many times as makes sense in the fiction. Obviously your Society Connections won't make a difference if you're facing down three banditos, but if you can justify using the Distinction, you can add its die value to your roll.

 

Proposed New Distinction

High Society Connections: You’ve cultivated a reputation among the influential... rail barons, politicians, industrialists, and the wealthy elite. Your presence at a gala, your name on a guest list, or a whispered word in the right ear can open doors that money alone cannot. Roll this Distinction’s die when your ties to the upper crust, society gossip, or cultivated influence give you an advantage.

• d4: Earn a Plot Point when your connections saddle you with obligations, unwanted invitations, or rivalries.
• d8: Spend a Plot Point to Reveal a useful contact or ally from high society who enters the scene.
• d12: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a Contest or Test when drawing on your influence in politics, wealth, or reputation.

[StarlitSiren]

Done it!

[IsabellaRose]

Aldert, Kirsa, and Jane, three of your NPCs, are all part of high society, old families from Europe and heirs to fortunes and empires, and Willis Sloan is the kind of man who's trying to step up into their game. The potential for them to know each other is just the kind of dramatic entanglement for which I play this game.

[AsBloodTurnsEverCold]

For sure interested in seeing how that shapes up now that you mention it 

[MagnificentBastard]

3 hours ago, IsabellaRose said:

@MagnificentBastard - a few things to change on your sheet.

TIAL-V is good. You've got your Resource "Loyal Servants" that's solid. 

1. For the step "Step up Honor or Power twice, or step up each once" you've got Power up to d6, but you put Glory up to d6 as well. We'll need to change that back to d4 and step up either Power to d8 or Honor to d6.
2. You have "Influence" listed as a Resource. I'm assuming it's meant to be the Distinction from the step "Add a Distinction". If so, we need to put it under Distinctions and flesh it out to fit the rules. There's currently a "Family Name" Distinction that does most of what it looks like you're going for, but if you don't want to use that, we can make a more general "High Society Connections" type Distinction. I outlined one below. Let me know what you think.
3. We can't include the Signature Asset just yet. That will be an "Ability", so you'll need to wait until a step allows you to "Add an Ability", and then Step Up that Ability to unlock all of its power. As a Signature Asset, it will have its own Abilities, SFX, and Limits, but they have to follow the Cortex Drama standards of "cost for benefit". I can help you craft it mechanically to do what you want it to do.
4. You still need to Step Up either a Relationship, or your Distinction or Resource.

 

Note on Dice Mechanics: Having a Distinction, like High Society Connections, means you can just assume that the listed benefits happen. If you go with High Society Connections as I outlined it below, you can just assume those connections exist and you can open doors money alone cannot. If you want an invitation to the rail baron's dinner party, you get one. If it's dramatically interesting that you might not get one, we would roll for it, but you'd automatically get to use the die for your Distinction as many times as you want during any session, as long as you can justify how it works. The SFX mechanics offer you ways to earn Plot Points by adding complications to the story, or let you spend Plot Points to add  details to the story.

I'm pointing this out because you had Influence listed with "Once per session, when making a roll related to social influence, gain a bonus die", but I want to make sure everyone understands that you can use that Distinction as many times as makes sense in the fiction. Obviously your Society Connections won't make a difference if you're facing down three banditos, but if you can justify using the Distinction, you can add its die value to your roll.

 

Proposed New Distinction

High Society Connections: You’ve cultivated a reputation among the influential... rail barons, politicians, industrialists, and the wealthy elite. Your presence at a gala, your name on a guest list, or a whispered word in the right ear can open doors that money alone cannot. Roll this Distinction’s die when your ties to the upper crust, society gossip, or cultivated influence give you an advantage.

• d4: Earn a Plot Point when your connections saddle you with obligations, unwanted invitations, or rivalries.
• d8: Spend a Plot Point to Reveal a useful contact or ally from high society who enters the scene.
• d12: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a Contest or Test when drawing on your influence in politics, wealth, or reputation.

Ill get on it ASAP and let you know once its done.

Thank you for the assistance, I am new to the system and I am clearly more than a little confused.

[IsabellaRose]

4 minutes ago, MagnificentBastard said:

Ill get on it ASAP and let you know once its done.

Thank you for the assistance, I am new to the system and I am clearly more than a little confused.

It’s not the easiest system to wrap your head around, especially coming from other more traditional RPGs. I had a hard time at first, but once I figured it out, I find it helps me tell the stories and play the games I’ve always wanted to play since I started playing RPGs in the [decade redacted to conceal my age].

[WritesNaughtyStories]

5 minutes ago, IsabellaRose said:

I started playing RPGs in the [decade redacted to conceal my age].

Chicken shit.

70's. Yeah, I'm fucking old. So? If I can't beat your ass, I'll send one of my kids to do it.

[MagnificentBastard]

10 minutes ago, IsabellaRose said:

It’s not the easiest system to wrap your head around, especially coming from other more traditional RPGs. I had a hard time at first, but once I figured it out, I find it helps me tell the stories and play the games I’ve always wanted to play since I started playing RPGs in the [decade redacted to conceal my age].

How many Distinctions can I have? I think Family Name/Influence is a nice to have, but not vital, hence why i put it in resources.

I feel my character needs the Sex Magick Distinction you showed me earlier, a general Charisma/Seducer/Manipulative Distinction and possible a combat one like Fencing Master. 

They are in order of importance. So if I only get one then I know what it will be.

I have upped Power and lowered Glory, I removed the Signature Item and Influence.

Edited 6 hours ago by MagnificentBastard

[IsabellaRose]

19 minutes ago, MagnificentBastard said:

How many Distinctions can I have? I think Family Name/Influence is a nice to have, but not vital, hence why i put it in resources.

I feel my character needs the Sex Magick Distinction you showed me earlier, a general Charisma/Seducer/Manipulative Distinction and possible a combat one like Fencing Master. 

They are in order of importance. So if I only get one then I know what it will be.

I have upped Power and lowered Glory, I removed the Signature Item and Influence.

You’ll get more Distinctions and more opportunities to step them up as you step through Pathways. 

As an example, a fully fleshed out character in one of my other games has 4 Distinctions rated d4, d6, d6, and d8 and 3 Abilities rated d4, d4 and d8.
 

You’ll be adding or stepping up multiple items in every step of the Pathways system. Keep the high society one for your origin and we can add sex magick and fencing later, no problem. 
 

Also there are mechanical difference between Resources and Distinctions.

 

A distinction says “this is part of this character, their history, back story, personality, skills or abilities. This can be called upon many times without need to roll dice because it’s part of who they are.”

 

a Resource is a specific person (the sheriff, a bartender, my source inside the organization), group of people (my security team, the street urchins, the prostitutes working in my bordello), or location (my lab, my private rail car, my mansion) that can be called upon or used to assist with 2 dice rolls per session. 

24 minutes ago, WritesNaughtyStories said:

Chicken shit.

70's. Yeah, I'm fucking old. So? If I can't beat your ass, I'll send one of my kids to do it.

A lady never tells her age, dammit.

But it was the 80s, and I was young.

And now I’m really too old to care anymore. I’m just used to playing the “a lady never tells her age” card. 

[MagnificentBastard]

23 minutes ago, IsabellaRose said:

You’ll get more Distinctions and more opportunities to step them up as you step through Pathways. 

As an example, a fully fleshed out character in one of my other games has 4 Distinctions rated d4, d6, d6, and d8 and 3 Abilities rated d4, d4 and d8.
 

You’ll be adding or stepping up multiple items in every step of the Pathways system. Keep the high society one for your origin and we can add sex magick and fencing later, no problem. 
 

Also there are mechanical difference between Resources and Distinctions.

 

A distinction says “this is part of this character, their history, back story, personality, skills or abilities. This can be called upon many times without need to roll dice because it’s part of who they are.”

 

a Resource is a specific person (the sheriff, a bartender, my source inside the organization), group of people (my security team, the street urchins, the prostitutes working in my bordello), or location (my lab, my private rail car, my mansion) that can be called upon or used to assist with 2 dice rolls per session. 

A lady never tells her age, dammit.

But it was the 80s, and I was young.

And now I’m really too old to care anymore. I’m just used to playing the “a lady never tells her age” card. 

I added the sex distinction. I believe that's all changes you suggested/required.

[IsabellaRose]

4 hours ago, MagnificentBastard said:

I added the sex distinction. I believe that's all changes you suggested/required.

There's only one step left:

Increase the die size of your d4 Sex Magick, 2d4 Loyal Servants, or any of your Relationships by 1 die size

[IsabellaRose]

Oh, @AsBloodTurnsEverCold - you added Journalist Dan Worth, but you've already used your add from the map for Kirsa and your "Add a Distinction OR add a new Ability" (The Other Theory), and your "Add another Distinction or step up a Distinction" (Virtuoso). The last thing is to "Step Up" the die size of any existing Distinction, Ability, Resource, or Relationship. But you can't add another new one yet.

You can keep Dan Worth in your back pocket and add him next time you get to add someone to the sheet. 

You need to step one of your things up to d6 since they all start at d4.

[IsabellaRose]

@Chiyako, @AsBloodTurnsEverCold, and @MagnificentBastard all need to:

1. add the die rating for their Distinctions, Abilities, and Resources.
2. step up one of your relationships, distinctions, abilities, or resources.

_{(now I'm going to do that thing that I hated in school, where the teacher shows off your work and all the other kids hate you)}

Take a look at the sheet for Missy. You don't have to use the same bullets or anything, but you want to list the die rating before the name of each Distinction, Ability, Resource, etc. The die rating is super important (the bigger the die, the better you'll roll). Plus, you'll be able to step them up in almost every step of Pathways, so you need to make sure you have it written down so you know where you're starting from. It's really the only way to keep everyone balanced.