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===Example 1: The Sea Finch===
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===Example #1: The Sea Finch===
 
In a swordfight, Captain Smashing initiates the duel and is the protagonist at the start of the contest.  This makes Baron Vile the antagonist.  Captain Smashing is a saucy rogue, possibly showing off in front of some nearby damsels.  He’s not trying to kill Baron Vile; just make him look silly and deprive him of his weapon.  Vile, meanwhile, thinks that Smashing is a jerk who’s been a thorn in his side for far too long; he’d like to jab his sword into Smashing’s throat.
 
In a swordfight, Captain Smashing initiates the duel and is the protagonist at the start of the contest.  This makes Baron Vile the antagonist.  Captain Smashing is a saucy rogue, possibly showing off in front of some nearby damsels.  He’s not trying to kill Baron Vile; just make him look silly and deprive him of his weapon.  Vile, meanwhile, thinks that Smashing is a jerk who’s been a thorn in his side for far too long; he’d like to jab his sword into Smashing’s throat.
  
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On the other hand, if Baron Vile delivers 1 check, he might have pricked the Captain’s hand with the tip of his sword or even just gotten him off-balance.  If he delivers 6 checks, he might well have rammed a length of that steel into some valuable piece of Smashing.  If Baron Vile wins, then Captain Smashing is probably dead or dying.
 
On the other hand, if Baron Vile delivers 1 check, he might have pricked the Captain’s hand with the tip of his sword or even just gotten him off-balance.  If he delivers 6 checks, he might well have rammed a length of that steel into some valuable piece of Smashing.  If Baron Vile wins, then Captain Smashing is probably dead or dying.
  
===Example 2: You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two===
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===Example #2: You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two===
 
That sly rogue known only as the Cunning Weasel is attempting to pick drunken lord Wobblybottom’s pocket and relieve his lordship of his overly-burdensome wallet.  The Cunning Weasel is the protagonist and Wobblybottom the antagonist.  The Weasel’s goal is to take the wallet without being noticed.  Lord Wobblybottom’s goal is to notice that attempt.
 
That sly rogue known only as the Cunning Weasel is attempting to pick drunken lord Wobblybottom’s pocket and relieve his lordship of his overly-burdensome wallet.  The Cunning Weasel is the protagonist and Wobblybottom the antagonist.  The Weasel’s goal is to take the wallet without being noticed.  Lord Wobblybottom’s goal is to notice that attempt.
  
Note that Lord Wobblybottom has a goal even though he is entirely unaware of what is going on.  Again, recall that in the broadest possible sense, reality resists the protagonist in every contest.  If the GM had decided that there was no chance for the Cunning Weasel to fail (she’s simply too skilled or Wobblybottom is too drunk), then there is no contest.
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Note that Lord Wobblybottom has a goal even though he is entirely unaware of what is going on.  Again, recall that in the broadest possible sense, reality resists the protagonist in every contest.  If the GM had decided that there was no chance for the Cunning Weasel to fail (he’s simply too skilled or Wobblybottom is too drunk), then there is no contest.
  
This contest would play out in much telescoped time.  Each roll of the die might represent a few tenths of a second as the devious Weasel eases her hand into the pocket, grasps the wallet, and slips her hand out again.  Each check might well be an inch or two of movement in this way.  So if the cutpurse delivers 1 check, her hand moves just that much closer to the fat wallet; if she delivers 6 checks, she’s almost home.
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This contest would play out in much telescoped time.  Each roll of the die might represent a few tenths of a second as the devious Weasel eases his hand into the pocket, grasps the wallet, and slips his hand out again.  Each check might well be an inch or two of movement in this way.  So if the cutpurse delivers 1 check, his hand moves just that much closer to the fat wallet; if he delivers 6 checks, he’s almost home.
  
 
Wobblybottom’s checks are even more complex to interpret.  If he delivers 1 check, he might have coughed or glanced around or done something else to make discovery that much marginally more likely.  A few more checks and perhaps he turns his torso, trapping the Cunning Weasel’s hand still buried in the pocket.  If Lord Wobblybottom wins the contest, he made it impossible for the Weasel to get the goods.  He might even have noticed what’s going on, which might well begin a new contest (goal: drub that dirty thief).
 
Wobblybottom’s checks are even more complex to interpret.  If he delivers 1 check, he might have coughed or glanced around or done something else to make discovery that much marginally more likely.  A few more checks and perhaps he turns his torso, trapping the Cunning Weasel’s hand still buried in the pocket.  If Lord Wobblybottom wins the contest, he made it impossible for the Weasel to get the goods.  He might even have noticed what’s going on, which might well begin a new contest (goal: drub that dirty thief).
  
===Example 3: What Does it Say, Indy?===
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===Example #3: What Does it Say, Indy?===
 
In this contest, a renowned linguist is trying to decipher the weird, characters that he found on a pot-shard.  His goal is to be able to understand what the script means.  The script’s goal is to remain unintelligible. Again: anything and everything can be an actor in a contest and have a goal, even inanimate entities or abstract ideas.
 
In this contest, a renowned linguist is trying to decipher the weird, characters that he found on a pot-shard.  His goal is to be able to understand what the script means.  The script’s goal is to remain unintelligible. Again: anything and everything can be an actor in a contest and have a goal, even inanimate entities or abstract ideas.
  
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Those are the basic ideas of <B>SAMSARA</B>; the rest of the system is just amplification and implementation of them.
 
Those are the basic ideas of <B>SAMSARA</B>; the rest of the system is just amplification and implementation of them.
 
 
Contents
 
 
[[Samsara:Main Page|Main Page]]
 
  
 
1.[[Samsara:Fundamentals|Fundamentals]]
 
1.[[Samsara:Fundamentals|Fundamentals]]
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9.[[Samsara:Samsara points|Samsara Points]]
 
9.[[Samsara:Samsara points|Samsara Points]]
  
10.[[Samsara:Long term play|Long Term Play]]
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10.[[Samsara:Ultramundane abilities|Appendix A--Ultramundane Abilities]]
 
 
11.[[Samsara:Examples of play|Examples of Play]]
 
 
 
12.[[Samsara:Ultramundane abilities|Appendix A - Ultramundane Abilities]]
 
 
 
13.[[Samsara:Settings|Appendix B – Settings]]
 

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