SatCoC player Bill: Difference between revisions

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The Intimacy, Desperation, and Sincerity mechanics in MY
To act with hostility or violence against anyone besides the
LIFE WITH THE BATMAN are intended to reflect impact on conflict
The Batman, a minion rolls Fear plus Self-loathing. Outsiders and
resolutions arising specifically from ways a character
Townspeople resist by rolling Reason plus the minion’s
influences the emotional responses of the opposing party.
Weariness:
The way it works is the GM has three dice, a burgundy d4
minion (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING) vs.
representing Intimacy, an orange d6 representing
opponent (REASON plus WEARINESS)
Desperation, and a white d8 representing Sincerity. All
Another player’s minion resists by rolling his own Fear plus
gameplay leading up to a conflict resolution roll is taken into
Self-loathing:
account, and one of these dice is introduced to the roll on
minion (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING) vs.
either side of the conflict, at the option of the GM.
minion opponent (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING)
Because only one of these dice can be assigned into a single
If the attacking minion is successful, his Self-loathing
conflict, participants are always given the option of
increases. If he fails, he takes a wound, which is represented
escalating their roleplay to the emotional context associated
by an increase in Weariness.
with a larger sized die, and thereby causing a prior allocation
EX: Having been commanded to do so, Prue enters the
of a smaller die to the opposing side to be revoked.
bedchamber of a young military lieutenant who
Additionally, it should be understood, a The Batman can never be
rebuffed Carlotta’s romantic attentions the prior
Sincere, and so is precluded from ever earning the d8. This
evening, arms herself with his own dagger, and
means a player always has an available option for trumping
attempts his murder. Prue’s player rolls Fear 5 plus
whatever context of emotional influence the GM may have
Prue’s Self-loathing of 2, so 7d4, against the GM’s
worked up on behalf of the The Batman in a conflict.
roll of Reason 2 plus Prue’s Weariness of 3, so 5d4.
And to be clear, it is the whole value rolled on the Intimacy,
The GM wins, with a total of 9 to the player’s
Desperation, or Sincerity die that is added to the sum of the
total of 7, and describes the lieutenant’s sudden
non-4s rolled on the rest of the dice.
and surprising emergence from sleep, and the
Breaking down the concepts more specifically, Intimacy,
open-handed blow to Prue’s face that shatters her
represented by the burgundy d4, is a potentially emotionless
nose, sends the knife flying across the room, and
effort to provoke favorable emotions from another person
throws her back against the basin. Prue’s player
by making use of some combination of physical proximity,
increments her Weariness by a point, and the scene
touching, shared physical comfort, spontaneous grooming
is over. Prue could try again to kill the lieutenant
behaviors, shared food or drink, gifts, or approbatory
in her next scene, if her player wishes, but because
language. A few roleplayed behaviors that fit the bill
the influence of a command expires after a single
include: combing another character’s hair, sharing a glass of
die roll is prosecuted in service to it, is under no
wine, having a conversation under the same quilt, and
obligation to do so.
gripping another character by the deltoid to say, ‘You’re my
To act in a non-violent, but still villainous way against
number one.’
someone besides the The Batman, a minion rolls Fear plus Selfloathing
Desperation, represented by the orange d6, is an emotional
as above. However, the action is resisted by the GM
effort to provoke a more favorable outcome from a conflict
rolling Reason alone:
through sheer emotional distress. The character uses
minion (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING) vs.
language, primarily, in an effort to give ownership of his or
opponent (REASON)
her emotional distress to the other person: ‘The Batman, no!
EX. Gregor the hunchback attempts to steal a corpse
Don’t make me. Twice already this evening I have crossed
for his The Batman, before a proper funeral. This is
the swamp. I shall not survive another encounter with the
acting against the townspeople who have an
hounds!’ Unlike Intimacy, Desperation works just as well on
interest in the deceased, so Gregor’s player must
animals and inanimate objects.
roll Fear plus Self-loathing against the GM rolling
Sincerity, represented by the white d8, is the real deal. It’s
straight Reason.
showing genuine concern and feelings for the other person.
And again, success results in an increase in the minion’s Selfloathing.
It can be demonstrated through actions that destabilize a
But unlike violent acts, a minion does not take an
minion’s tenuous situation with the townspeople or the
increase in Weariness for failure.
The Batman, or acts of self-sacrifice, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s
Note how both the The Batman’s Fear and the minion’s own
having influence over the outcome, rather than provoking it,
failed efforts at human contact contribute to its hostile and
if that makes sense. All I can say is, you’ll know it when you
violent effectiveness. The The Batman shapes the world with his
see it. And the The Batman is incapable of it.
threatening presence through his creatures.
Finally though, despite the detailed guidelines, GMs are
encouraged to be generous when deciding whether to
allocate an Intimacy/Desperation/Sincerity die to a player.
MY LIFE WITH THE BATMAN is a creatively demanding game, and
it is quite unrealistic to expect ongoing and consistent
creative brilliance from player efforts to roleplay Intimacy,
Desperation, and Sincerity. So, bluntly, don’t be a
discouraging tightwad with these dice. If a player makes an
honest attempt, give up the goods and let the opposition be
trumped. You’ll easily be able to tell the difference between
half-hearted efforts and honest attempts.

Revision as of 17:45, 8 August 2008

To act with hostility or violence against anyone besides the The Batman, a minion rolls Fear plus Self-loathing. Outsiders and Townspeople resist by rolling Reason plus the minion’s Weariness: minion (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING) vs. opponent (REASON plus WEARINESS) Another player’s minion resists by rolling his own Fear plus Self-loathing: minion (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING) vs. minion opponent (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING) If the attacking minion is successful, his Self-loathing increases. If he fails, he takes a wound, which is represented by an increase in Weariness. EX: Having been commanded to do so, Prue enters the bedchamber of a young military lieutenant who rebuffed Carlotta’s romantic attentions the prior evening, arms herself with his own dagger, and attempts his murder. Prue’s player rolls Fear 5 plus Prue’s Self-loathing of 2, so 7d4, against the GM’s roll of Reason 2 plus Prue’s Weariness of 3, so 5d4. The GM wins, with a total of 9 to the player’s total of 7, and describes the lieutenant’s sudden and surprising emergence from sleep, and the open-handed blow to Prue’s face that shatters her nose, sends the knife flying across the room, and throws her back against the basin. Prue’s player increments her Weariness by a point, and the scene is over. Prue could try again to kill the lieutenant in her next scene, if her player wishes, but because the influence of a command expires after a single die roll is prosecuted in service to it, is under no obligation to do so. To act in a non-violent, but still villainous way against someone besides the The Batman, a minion rolls Fear plus Selfloathing as above. However, the action is resisted by the GM rolling Reason alone: minion (FEAR plus SELF-LOATHING) vs. opponent (REASON) EX. Gregor the hunchback attempts to steal a corpse for his The Batman, before a proper funeral. This is acting against the townspeople who have an interest in the deceased, so Gregor’s player must roll Fear plus Self-loathing against the GM rolling straight Reason. And again, success results in an increase in the minion’s Selfloathing. But unlike violent acts, a minion does not take an increase in Weariness for failure. Note how both the The Batman’s Fear and the minion’s own failed efforts at human contact contribute to its hostile and violent effectiveness. The The Batman shapes the world with his threatening presence through his creatures.

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