Editing Bluebooking

Please reread my notes on "how to" bluebook.
My requests for subject line, and email address, etc...
Below describes the process of Bluebooking.  If you want to include another PLAYER please email the request BEFORE
starting the bluebook conversations. I don't want any player to
participate that doesn't want to, or doesn't have time. So get
confirmation first.

Please include the GM (me) on ANY/EVERY email for bluebooking,
including the initial request.

We can develop PRIVATE wiki posts for your Bluebooking once done.

Anyone interested can go ahead and start emailing me, please allow me
2-3 days minimum time to read/reply.


==BLUEBOOKING XP==
'''NOTE''': Between sessions the maximum xp award for Bluebooking will be 500xp.



==BLUEBOOK ROLEPLAYING==

'Bluebooking' was first described by Aaron Allston in the Champions
supplement "Strike Force". The 'blue book' in question is a standard
(in the U.S.) blue book used to answer essay questions during exams.
Instead of using it to figure out whether you passed or failed, the
blue book was used for in-character dialogues, especially of the sort
that many (presumably male) gamers might find uncomfortable.

Bluebooking describes short gaming sessions that do not involve the
entire group, but which instead focus on the actions of one or a few
characters.

Bluebooking is nothing more than writing out roleplaying and conversations between characters, rather than acting them out. Usually, this takes place between game sessions. These scenes could include:
* thoughts or plans the character is having
* private conversations with NPCs
* private conversations between other PCs
* past history (or future?!!) scenes
* questions to the GM
* etc...


Sometimes players feel uncomfortable acting out some scenes, or will
want to keep some scenes private. We also use it to flesh out
background events. Roleplaying character romances, for example, can be
very uncomfortable to do verbally in a game session setting,
especially if there's a gender difference between the player/GM and
the character. Admittedly modern e-mail can replace a lot of this type
of interaction. This presents a perfect opportunity to use
bluebooking. Bluebooking also has the advantage of permanence; you
keep the written records of what went on, and can use them to create
future scenarios.

I encourage players interested in bluebooking type activities to set
up PBeM "side games" outside of the regular tabletop game, which could
satisfy the desire for writing out solo character stuff without it
eating up face-to-face game time.

Mostly for those that seem to have a lot of in game down time. This
helps me keep track of everything that the players are trying to do by
looking over their books. That is if the player is actually trying to
accomplish something.

I've also found it useful for the GM to convey information to a player
that he doesn't want the whole group to be aware of right away, such
as when the PC has had his mind taken over or the like (for a player
willing to roleplay such an event himself).

Blue booking also allows for roleplaying which is important to the
character, but not for the troupe, or the main plot line. These could
be personal investigations, interaction with the cast of characters
around the character's secret ID (Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Perry White,
and Clark's neighbors when dealing with Superman), research
activities, or even just introspective roleplaying. All of these
things would bogg down a game if the player did them durring a session
(in most cases), so by doing them via a bluebook (or scene journal,
which is another name for them), allows the player to explore these
areas without bogging down the game.

In short, the player writes out a play session of what their character
does solo (or with the permission of another player) or with other
characters. It should be in story format, but does not have to be. The
GM reads over what is done and either approves it, approves it
conditionally (needs changes), or denys that it could happen. Approved
blue book entries become part of the campaign's continuity. Most GM's
will award experience, luck, or some kind of reward for blue book
activities.

Players with characters who have deep secrets will also be fertile
fodder for blue booking. The occasional tactician will also use it to
direct their investigations. It can add a great deal to a group
campaign, when the characters also opperate solo most of the time "off
camera".

It is not the "End all" of game tools, but it is a useful one in your
gaming arsenal.

==So how can we use it for MIDNIGHT?==

Bluebooking form: [[Midnight RPG - Chapter 00.000]]

Well any of the above are open. Any questions and details you wanna
go over (some of you have had these conversations with me already -
Andrew and Bill recently for example regarding Dragon-lore!)

Normally I do WANT to KEEP all "normal" email/questions/thought that
CAN be shared with the group here on the Yahoo Club. I want to do
that to avoid having to retell things.
However for this idea, for this special circumstance of our LARGE
group and the infrequent games I think it could work well...
Especially with the holiday and surgery for me (typing ideas/RPing
isn't hard when in rehab).




So...
WHY do it??
* FUN!
* development and exploration of your character
* secrets and paranoia!
* xp (see below)


If this is something some folks want to do here are my thoughts for
specifics...


===EMAIL ADDRESS===
Try to keep your email list solid, email me to/from whichever account
you want it to be permanent. I'll be keeping a folder for each of you.
Use my kevperrine@ yahoo.com account ONLY. I will not reply to others.

===SUBJECT LINE===
Potentially I'd be dealing with ALOT of bluebooking emails. Please
USE the subject line well. For example, I'd like to see something
like thess...


'''EXAMPLES''' <br> "SOUTH Chapter 4.1 - KYUAD: Researching Dragons" (in which Bill asks
details about what he knows about dragons from his lorebook) <br> <br> "SOUTH Chapter 4.1 - KYUAD & DURGAZ: Dragon-Lore" (in which Andrew
initiates a role-played conversation between Durgaz and Kyuad about
Dragons)  <br> <br> So...
* Campaign Group
* Chapter it takes place in
* Character(s) involved
* Your sub-title for the chapter
* then the email is the details


Make sense??



==EXPERIENCE POINTS REWARDS!==
If you do the role-playing/storytelling you deserve and WILL get xp
for it! This will be rewarded in one sum following the next game in
with your regular xp sum. (I'll be posting xp rewards on the wiki
soon to show how I'll do it). Yes, this will make rewards differences
if players choose NOT to bluebook. But I'm okay with that. It
WILLNOT depend on HOW MUCH bluebooking you do. I'll give one xp sum,
the same for everyone each chapter. So the first time it might be an
extra +300 xp, next time it might be more/less. Depending on how the
game's going.



==OTHER REWARDS==
Well, if the fun and extra xp isn't enough, I'm thinking about making
a special "FATE" points for Bluebooking Players. I'll spell out what
you can do with them clearly (later on the wiki) but generally
they'll be used similar to the CONAN RPG system which is fair/cool but
not overbalancing.







These Pyrrhic Points may (at first) seem odd or unbalanced for the
MIDNIGHT setting. I feel that the time you give to adding to the
story and your character's experience in effect INCREASES their
"fate". So by doing the Bluebooking option you're actually getting a
benefit unavaiable any other way.
These points WILL be on top of extra xp for Bluebooking. The xp for
Bluebooking will not be extremely significant but will/should add to
your character in both ways in my humble opinion.






==WHAT ARE PYRRHIC POINTS==
A Pyrrhic Victory is a victory with devastating cost to the victor.
These "points" are a narrative device enabling the players to bring
creative input to bear in the game, beyond merely describing theri own
actions and throwing the dice. With Pyrrhic Points, you, the players,
can alter the game world in some may so as to benefit your character
but with a cost attached. Pyrrhic Points are intended to offer you
the chance to add to the story of your character, adapting the events
around you or the circustances that befall you so as to improve the
game and give hope to the grim world of Aryth, be it ever so slight.

You will recieve Pyrrhic Points ONLY through time given to
"BLUEBOOKING" play, as described under Bluebooking. You will recieve
one PP for the Bluebooked time between sessions.

These PP are extremely precious, since they can save your life. You
can achieve this by opting to be "left for dead" rather than killed
outright.

They have three other uses as well; but saving you life is definately
the most crucial one, so it is recommended that you always keep one PP
reserved for that purpose alone. Of course, the angle might be perfect
for a "Mighty Blow" instead, eve if that leaves you desperately short
of PPs but that is a decision for your hero to take. Magical
resurrection is very scarce in possibilities, though it is achievable
in interesting ways it is usually best to simply not die.

Your maximum number of PPs at any given time equals your level.


==USING PYRRHIC POINTS==
These are the standard uses for PPs:

===Left for Dead [1 PP]===
When death is emminent a player character may spend 1 PP to avoid
being killed outright. You are instead "Left for Dead", the NPC or
situation that did you in will assume you dead and continue with their
plan of actions with this assumption until you alter this perception.
A character who is left for dead appears dead to a casual
examination, but will effectively be concious at 0 hit points able to
do no strenuous actions until healed. Actions other than
crawling/stumbling for help, etc... render the character back to the
condition prior to spending the Pyrrhic Poin'''t, and may not spend
another Left for Dead PP at that time. <br> Pyrrhic reprecussion:''' You will choose a "mark" of some sort. This
will have an in-game rule function drawback equivalent to a -2 or a
drawback of some sort. Discuss this mark with the GM privately for
approval/suggestions.


===Mighty Blow [1 PP]===
Rather than rolling the damage dice on any successful hit or damaging
magical attack of some kind you can elect to declare a mighty Blow, at
the cost of 1 PP. A Mighty Blow deals the maximum possibly damage.
This includes any bonus damage, such as that rolled for sneak attacks.
A primitive or standard quality weapons always break irreparably when
used to deliver a Mighty Blow. Even masterwork or magical weapons used
to deliever a Mighty Blow has a 50% chance of snapping in two, though
if it does it will usually be possible to use the broken pieces as
some sort of improvised weapon. It is not completely destroyed and may
be reforged. A Covenant Item used in this manner has even greater
effect - focusing the power within to charge the attack with the power
of a full Critical Strike (although you must roll to confirm).
Because of this power the Covenant Iterm has a 25% chance to break and
may be reforged by exalted effort (left to the GM). <br>  '''Pyrrhic reprecussion:''' Losing the benefit of your weapon is one
reprecussion. If a magic item or Covenant Item is used in this manner
the effect is to be determined by the GM based on the situation. It
could be anything from explosive results to a curse lashed back on the
attacker. If magic/spells are used in this manner the magic or spell
in question has a 50% chance to be more difficult to enact for the
next 24 hours. Effectively treated as if a Red Mirror is working
against you.


===CANCEL FATIGUE EFFECTS: [1 PP]===
Anytime you would suffer non-magical tiring or fatigue effects you can
spend a PP to ignore the effects until the end of the scene you're in.
This effect allows you to muster the courage and energy to keep
fighting when your body wants you to stop. <br>  '''Pyrrhic reprecussion:''' Your effort was immense, the next time you rest
and eat you need to double your normal needs for both rest and
food/water. For each additional day you push through, your needs are
doubled. Normal limits for food and water apply, if you go without
food/water for too long you'll die following your push.


===SURGE: [1-2 PP]===
Gain an additional non-attack action, anytime during your initiative.
Using this action does not change you place in the initiative order.
You can use a Surge to complete a full round action in conjunction
with your normal actions for the round. <br>  [2 PP] For two Pyrrhic Points you can Surge at ANY time during the round. <br> '''Pyrrhic reprecussion:''' On the following round you must make a
Fortitude Save DC10 + your level. If you fail you are DAZED for that
round. You may not use PP while Dazed.


===WILL TO POWER: [2 PP]===
Gain an immediate additional saving throw from lasting effects such as
Mind Controls, Paralysis, Stunning Effects, etc... <br>  '''Pyrrhic reprecussion:''' The concentration of will to overcome the
lasting effects has focused your mind away from Defensive needs. Your
Base Defense is reduced -2 for the duration of the scene.


===DESTINY: [1-3 PP]===
You can at any time spend PPs, with the agreement of the GM, to alter
the world in some way. Essentially, this allows you the player to
have some input into the story, over and above the actions of your
character. This change must be one that is plausible, minor and not
overwhelmingly beneficial to the player characters, including hints
and GM suggestions or insight. It may well assist them to accomplish
their goals but they must still accomplish those goals by their own
strength and wits, not simply by spending Pyyhric Points!
Another option for this use of PP is to alter your own character in
some minor way, by revealing a new facet of their past.
Uses of Destiny Pyyhric Points are more likely to be accepted if
plausibly related to a character's own future destiny, as relected by
their goals. <br> '''Pyrrhic reprecussion:''' The GM determines how many PP the effect should
be worth. The GM also determines a counter effect that will happen
regarding your destiny alteration. This may or may not come into
effect immediately.





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[[Midnight: North & South Portal]]