Scum: Other Stuff

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Overview

The core game system that has been detailed is very simple, but worth reiterating briefly here:

• You reduce the attribute being tested by 1 point.
• You roll a single D6.
• If you roll equal or below the attribute rating, you pass.

Because using attributes wears them down, players will generally want to avoid rolling dice as much as possible! However, sometimes they need to get things done, and will have to pass attribute tests to get anywhere!

This wiki page explores different ways to use attribute tests - its designed to be guidance and a source of ideas rather than an exhaustive list. GMs and players familiar with the rules will almost certainly find plenty of other opportunities to call for attribute tests!

PvE actions

PvE is a term from multi player online roleplaying games (MMORPGs), meaning "Player vs Environment". In Scum a PvE action is any action that doesn't directly target or affect another player. This can include targeting or interacting with NPCs, or with the physical environment, or just testing for purely internal effects.

The most common PvE attribute test is the build up, detailed more in the Core Rules. Essentially a build-up is an action that increases your own attributes - players who want to master the game would do well to master the art of good build-ups!

This page details other PvE actions that may or may not come up in game.

PvP actions

PvP is a term from multi player online roleplaying games (MMORPGs), meaning "Player vs Player". In Scum a PvP action is any action that directly targets another player, though some actions of this sort could also be used to target player-like NPCs.

The most common PvP attribute tests relate to murdering people and avoiding being murdered, as detailed in theHurting People section. That's the reality of Scum life!

This page details other PvP actions that may or may not come up in game.

Time taken

Vitally, the GM should be ready to adjudicate how long an action takes. Generally time-frame for actions should fall into three categories:

Fast Actions take a few minutes or less, and conceivably a Scum could attempt multiple actions of this type within a half-hour scene.

Standard Actions' take half an hour or so. A Scum attempting this sort of action would take a whole half-hour scene to do so, though he'll still have time to change locations at the end of the scene as normal.

Slow Actions' take longer than half an hour. The GM should divide slow actions into two or more Standard Actions that must be completed to achieve success at the slow action. For example, fixing up a car could be a one hour slow action - one half hour standard action to steal the parts needed, and one half hour standard action to git the parts.

Note that failing an action doesn't normally stop you from trying again, and with slow actions you can keep retrying the various standard actions that make it up until all are passed. However, because the game system has attributes diminishing with each test and because tests can take up precious time, its generally a bad idea to be too pig-headedly stubborn in trying again and again.

Modifiers

The Scum system believes in keeping things simple and keeping the core test simple.

Sometimes, however, the GM will want to represent that a task is especially easy or difficult. To do this, he can offer +X or -X modifiers to the roll. A plus modifier will make the task harder, a minus modifier will make it easier.

For example:

• Smashing down a light wooden door - Nutter test with -2 to the roll.
• Smashing down a big metal door - Nutter test with +2 to the roll.

GMs are discouraged from handling equipment in this way - instead, treat the acquisition of equipment as a "Build Up" action, and its benefits can be reflected in the attribute gains a player gets from the build-up.

Nutter actions

PvE actions

In PvE, the Nutter attribute is useful for any tests of physical strength, of aggression and of psychotic/sociopathic behaviour.

Examples of PvE Nutter actions:

• Smashing down a door.
• Vandalising a mailbox.
• Smashing up someone's living room.
• Smacking about some old geezer for a laugh.

PvP actions

The most common PvP use of Nutter is to stab another player with your knife (and yes, it should go without saying that all Scum carry knives). Of course, as detailed in the Hurting People section, this isn't something you can do easily - you need to psyche yourself up first, not be distracted, then have the guts to stick the blade in.

However, the above rules only relate to "serious" violence, that is when a Scum is trying to hospitalise his opponent with his knife. More "casual" violence is far less of a big deal psychologically, and indeed is part of Scum everyday life. Examples might include:

• Mugging a mate. (fast action: successful test means you get to take some of their stuff - for example, steal 1 point of Drugs.)
• Beating someone up. (standard action: successful test means the victim is taken out of action for the next hour.)
• Wrestling the girl into the understair cupboard, to lock her up there. (standard action: successful test means the victim is locked in there till she can break out, or someone lets her out.)

Players (as opposed to player characters) should be evry aware that PvP casual violence is likely to cause a degree of offence. Don't be surprised if the girl you locked in the cupboard decides she wants to murder you in revenge, and don't be surprised if the other players don't stop her!

GMs should also be aware how dark and gritty they want their games to get, and what their player's comfort zones are. The rules as written could easily be used to allow player characters to perpetrate sexual assaults on other player characters, but stories of this sort are probably a little darker than most are comfortable with. The GM, and any player, always has the right to say that they don't feel comfortable with the way the game is going, and it is the GM's job to fix this.