RSSFinal Hour of a Storied Age Playtest 6B
Jun 21
designing, playtesting No Comments
On Sunday, June 13, 2010 I ran a skype playtest of Final Hour of a Storied Age rev 0.61 with Lance Allen of Wolves Den Publishing and Lenny Balsera the Lead System Developer for the Dresden Files RPG. The story continues from the previous session. The audio is posted as episode 8 of the Designer vs. Reality podcast, so listen first if you want to avoid spoilers.
Chapter 5
Spotlight: Lance 1. Dan 2,1. Lenny 10,8.
Adversity: Lance 10,8. Dan 12,11,9.
The Elder, not wanting another direct confrontation with Gerhard, sneaks into the palace to find the crown prince. [I spend my 9 on a d4 passive environmental threat, The Elder's old and creaky joints.] He quickly discovers that he’s not as young and spry as he used to be, as his old and creaky joints slow him down and seem destined to attract every guard in the place with each click and pop. [Lenny spends his 10 to activate Been There, Done That and Flame Magic]. Even though it’s not as easy as it used to be, The Elder has done this before [Been There, Done That d6] [Roll for exchange 1: Lenny 4 vs. Dan 1. Lenny wins, I exhaust. Lenny bumps Been There, Done That to d8] and is able to avoid the guards and make his way to the door of the crown prince’s chambers. [I spend my 11 on a d6 active environmental threat, palace guards]. Outside it stand a pair of foul-tempered palace guards, clearly in no mood to grant anyone entry. The Elder, of course, has dealt with their type before [Been There, Done That d8] and knows that fire is an ideal solution [Flame Magic d8]. [Roll for exchange 2: Lenny 4,1 vs. Dan 2. Lenny wins, both exhaust. Since there are no active traits to bump, Lenny gets a bonus point]. He unleashes a blast of flame at their feet, forcing them to flee in terror. [I spend my 12 on a d6 active environmental threat, a raging fire]. The Elder notices that his blast of fire wasn’t quite as narrow and focused as he intended as a tapestry goes up in flame and fire begins to spread down the hallway. [Lenny spends his 8 to activate Flame Magic]. Annoyed at yet another distraction, The Elder mutters chants of quiet to bring the flames under control [Flame Magic d8]. [Roll for exchange 3: Lenny 7 vs. Dan 4. Lenny wins, neither exhaust. Lenny bumps the fire down to d4]. The Elder slowly calms the flames, but a smoldering tapestry falls from the wall, igniting the carpet [d4], and he sighs in frustration as he redoubles his effort to extinguish the fire [d8]. [Roll for exchange 4: Lenny 1 vs Dan 2. I win, both exhaust. Since there are no active traits I get a bonus point]. The fire spreads down the hallway, away from the prince’s chamber, and The Elder glances back and forth between the flames and the doorway, wondering whether he should just forget about the fire and let it burn. Prince Steffan emerges from his chambers with a bucket of water, dumps it on the fire, and shakes his head disapprovingly at The Elder. [I don't have any active traits to offer more adversity and no story dice to activate more, so Lenny wins the chapter as spotlight player and advances on stage along his plot].
Chapter 6
Spotlight: Lance 12. Dan 7,7. Lenny 2.
Adversity: Dan 11,4,2. Lenny 9,7.
Julian decides to take a picnic basket to Astrid’s and invite her out for the day, but as he approaches her house on his plow horse [I spend my 11 to introduce a new NPC, Herman. Normally I'd get two traits activated, but I have to pay a creation tax for a newly created NPC, in this case the tax is one because he is directly mentioned on a seed as the protagonist's rival, so I can only activate one trait, Gets what he wants.]
Herman
d8 – Gets what he wants
d6 – Winning smile
d6 – Smooth talker
d4 – Rich family
he sees his rival for Astrid’s affections. Herman, who always gets what he wants [d8], has had a similar idea and is knocking on Astrid’s door with a picnic basket of his own, waiting to whisk her away in his fancy carriage. [Lance spends his 12 to activate Doggedly Stubborn and Geniunely Goodhearted]. Julian stubbornly [d8] refuses to accept defeat, so he rides around the back of the house to Astrid’s window. [Roll for exchange 1: Lance 8 vs. Dan 5. Lance wins, neither exhaust. Lance bumps Gets what he wants down to d6]. While Herman is busy talking to the housekeeper, Astrid comes to the window to talk to Julian, and he invites her to come for a ride. Just then, the housekeeper opens the door to Astrid’s room and shows Herman in [Gets what he wants d6]. “Ah, Astrid, I’ve prepared a wonderful picnic for us. Well, I should say my servants prepared it, but I’m ready to show you a wonderful day together.” Julian pushes forward with his plan anyway [Doggedly Stubborn d8], reaching through the window to scoop Astrid out onto his horse. [Roll for exchange 2: Lance 3 vs. Dan 3. Tie, neither exhaust. We tried an on-the-fly rules mod and let Lenny narrate the result]. Flabbergasted by Julian’s uncouth behavior, Herman crosses the room just in time to grab a hold of Astrid’s leg, locking Herman and Julian in a tug-of-war with Astrid in the middle. [I spend my 2 to activate Winning smile]. Although Herman smiles to Astrid whenever she looks his way [d6], he fixes Julian with a murderous glare, making it clear that he is ready to go as far as he needs to in order to get Astrid [Gets what he wants d6]. Julian wouldn’t hurt someone just because he’s a romantic rival [Genuinely Goodhearted d6], but he isn’t prepared to let Astrid go [Doggedly Stubborn d8]. [Roll for exchange 3: Lance 4,3 vs. Dan 5,4. I win, Lance exhausts. I would bump something but the chapter is winding down]. While it begins playfully enough, Julian gets the sense that Herman won’t keep it that way for long. To prevent Astrid from getting hurt Julian lets go, doing so just as Herman was yanking her toward him. She tumbles back into the room and the two of them land in a heap on the floor with Astrid giggling excitedly. Herman flashes his smile and escorts her out to his carriage. [I am able to offer adversity but Lance has no more active traits or story dice to activate more, so I win the chapter as the adversity player and add a d20 spotlight die to my current plot stage].
Chapter 7
Spotlight: Lance 16. Dan 7,6,6. Lenny 2.
Adversity: Dan 7,6,6. Lenny 8,5.
After some time has passed, Julian rides his horse through town, wondering how he can possibly get closer to Astrid. He is shocked to see Herman talking and giggling with another girl. [Lenny spends his 8 to activate Herman's Gets What He Wants]. Herman stares right at Julian. “Nobody has to hear about this, do they, farm boy?” [Lance spends his 16 to activate all four of Julian's traits] Julian, never one to step away from a problem [Doggedly Stubborn d8] tries to deal with it the best way he knows how: he climbs down from his horse and takes a swing at Herman [Country Boy d6]. [Roll for exchange 1: Lance 5,4 vs. Lenny 7. Lenny wins, neither exhaust. Lenny bumps Doggedly Stubborn down to d6]. Herman, despite his dandy nature, is no pushover. He blocks Julian’s swing and manages to trip Julian into the dirt. “How rude can one be?” asks Herman. “Not even a proper challenge. But if it’s a fight you came for, I’ll give it to you. You really should know your place, though. I could buy and sell you ten times over.” [Lenny spends his 5 to bring in Rich Family d4, and is also using Gets What He Wants d8]. Julian isn’t ready to let it go [Doggedly Stubborn d6] and says, “All the money in the world can’t buy you honor or integrity, Herman.” [Geniunely Goodhearted d6]. [Roll for exchange 2: Lance 6,4 vs. Lenny 4,1. Lance wins, Lenny exhausts. Lance could bump something but doesn't bother to specify since the chapter is winding down]. Herman goes slightly red in the face as he realizes the entire town is looking on and that news of what he’s been doing will certainly get back to Astrid. Julian, realizing that he’s already won, gets back on his horse and rides off. [Lance wins the chapter as the spotlight player and advances along his plot track to start working on stage 3, the final stage of his first segment].
Chapter 8
Spotlight: Lance 3. Dan 11,9,9. Lenny 1.
Adversity: Lance 8,6. Lenny 10,4.
Prince Gerhard approaches his brother the crown prince’s chambers. [Lenny spends both of his story dice to introduce a new character, Guard Captain Gunter. Since we've talked about palace guards before, their captain would be in the "implied by previous fiction" category, which is a tax of two. It's reasonable for him to be there so there isn't any plausibility tax. Normally spending a 10 and a 4 would be enough to activate three traits, but the tax brings it down to one, and Lenny chooses to activate Nose for Bullshit]
Gunter
d8 – Royal Blademaster
d6 – Nose for Bullshit
d6 – Alcohol Tolerance
d4 – Guard Cronies
Guard Captian Gunter, known to be a loyalist, guards Steffan’s door and is willing to challenge anyone, even Prince Gerhard. “It’s a late hour. What business brings you here?” [I spend my 11 to activate Accomplished Liar and Cold and Calculating]. “Gunter, clearly I was concerned for my brother’s safety. I heard there was a fire.” [Accomplished Liar d6]. [Roll for exchange 1: Dan 2 vs. Lenny 3. Lenny wins, neither exhaust. Lenny bumps Nose for Bullshit to d8] Gunter snorts derisively. “Come now, sir, no one else can hear us, you can speak plainly. When was the last time you were truly concerned for your brother? Tell me your actual business and perhaps I will give you access to the prince.” [Nose for Bullshit d8]. Gerhard gives him a cold smile [Cold and Calculating d8]. “Gunter, I know you’re a loyal man, but perhaps you should rethink who you are loyal to. Once my brother and father are out of the way the army may very well need a new general.” Gerhard is confident that Gunter’s ambition will outweigh his loyalty, and has no qualms about making promises he has no intention of keeping [Accomplished Liar d6]. [Roll for exchange 2: Dan 4,2 vs. Lenny 2. I win, both exhaust. Since there are no active traits I get a bonus point.] Gunter, clearly intrigued by the offer, steps aside and lets Gerhard approach the crown prince’s door. [I won the chapter as spotlight so I advance one stage along my plot. I also decide to spend one bonus point to move Gunter along the alignment track to be ideologically aligned with the antagonist].
Chapter 9
Spotlight: Lance 12. Dan 9. Lenny 5.
Adversity: Dan 12,11,3. Lenny 11,3.
A few days after the encounter in the town square, Julian approaches Astrid’s house expecting that she will have heard about Herman’s womanizing by now. [I spend my 11 to activate Herman's Gets What He Wants and Smooth Talker]. As he gets close enough to see inside, he spies Astrid and Herman sitting on a couch, much closer than Julian would have expected. Herman says, “Astrid, darling, you have to understand that the only way I could be sure that our love was true was to test myself with those other girls. But I know now that you’re the only one for me.” [Smooth Talker d6]. [We accidentally skipped the step of explicitly activating Julian's traits with Lance's 12. He should only activate two traits with a 12 but he inadvertently played the chapter as if he had all four available]. Julian enters the house. “I’m tired of trying to play polite. I’m tired of pretending to be smooth and polished, since there’s no way I can compare to Herman an his easy lies. Astrid, I have loved you since we were children and if you give me the chance I’ll show you that every day for the rest of our lives.” [Country Boy d6 and Genuinely Goodhearted d6]. [Roll for exchange 1: Lance 4,4 vs. Dan 6. I win, neither exhaust. I bump Smooth Talker to d8] Herman replies, “I agree with you about one thing, there’s no way you compare to me.” He turns to Astrid. “Darling, why don’t you let this boy know that his childish infatuation is a distraction that you’ve outgrown?” [Smooth Talker d8 and Gets What He Wants d8]. Ignoring him, Julian implores Astrid, “Do you remember when we were thirteen and we were down by the river and we found that tarnished silver ring? Will I’ve kept it, and over the years I’ve polished it up for you. I realize it’s nothing so fine as the gifts you’re used to, but it’s something that I’ve always believed should be yours. I would choose to give this to you on the day that we are wed, but if you should choose someone whose love is less true then it should still be yours.” [Doggedly Stubborn d8 and Mysterious Ring d4]. [Roll for exchange 2: Lance 4,1 vs. Dan 7,4. I win, Lance exhausts. I bump Genuinely Goodhearted down to d4]. Clearly, Astrid is embarassed that Julian is telling stories about her playing by the river like a little girl when she wants to be thought of as a woman.
Herman says, “Don’t worry, darling, I’ll get rid of him.” He looks Julian square in the eyes. “I think the lady would like you to leave, and so would I.” [Gets What He Wants d8]. Julian answers, “I think the lady can speak for herself and doesn’t need a fancy mouth like yours to do it.” [Country Boy d6]. [Roll for exchange 3: Lance 2 vs. Dan 4. I win, Lance exhausts. I forgot to bump any traits.] Astrid turns away, clearly mortified at being thrust into the center of the conflict. “I think that says more than enough,” adds Herman. “Why don’t you just leave here before there’s trouble?” [Gets What He Wants d8 and Smooth Talker d8]. [Lance didn't narrate a response, but I think he was rolling Genuinely Goodhearted d4]. [Roll for exchange 4: Lance 2 vs. Dan 5,2. I win, both exhaust. There are no bumpable traits so I get a bonus point.] Julian fully expected Astrid to come to his defense, but the fact that she stayed silent has his head spinning and he doesn’t even think to protest as Herman pushes him out the door and slams it in his face. [I won the chapter as adversity and I take the d10 spolight die for my second stage, the one one I'm currently working on.]
Chapter 10
Spotlight: Lance 7. Dan 10,10. Lenny 2.
Adversity: Lance 10,3. Lenny 16,2.
Gerhard opens the door to his brother’s chambers and, instead of Steffan, meets The Elder. [Lenny spends his 16 to activate all four traits]. He has his staff out [d6], ready for battle. “You’re too late, Gerhard. I have protected him from your treachery.” Magical flames [d8] dance on his fingertips, daring Gerhard to try his resolve. [I spend a 10 to activate Peerless Duelist and Cold and Calculating]. Prince Gerhard draws his sword [Peerless Duelist d6] and says, “I see it has taken you a while to build up your courage,” figuring that needling The Elder will take him off his game [Cold and Calculating d8]. [Roll for exchange 1: Dan 4,4 vs. Lenny 6,1. Lenny wins, Lenny exhausts. Lenny reduces Peerless Duelist to d4]. There’s a furious back and forth, Gerhard’s blade flashing, The Elder’s fires burning. The Elder, still skilled with his staff even if he’s not as quick as he once was, knocks Gerhard’s sword aside, pushes the prince to the floor, and looms over him. “Get you gone, princeling. Your efforts here will only lead to your demise. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen to many a dynasty.” [Short Temper d4 and Been There, Done That d6]. Gerhard, lying on the floor, holds out his hands nonchalantly. “Oh no, I’ve been disarmed. Whatever shall I do?” He smiles as Gunter the royal blademaster comes in behind The Elder. [I spend a 10 to activate Gunter's Royal Blademaster and Guard Cronies]. The Elder turns to face the new threat [Royal Blademaster d8] and Gerhard leaps to his feet, sword back in hand [Peerless Duelist d4] to trap the old wizard in the middle. [Roll for exchange 2: Dan 7,3 vs. Lenny 6,4. I win, neither exhaust. I bump Peerless Duelist back up to d6]. As skilled as he is, The Elder can’t parry two men at once. Gerhard and Gunter laugh, playing with the outmatched old man. [Lenny spends his 2 to activate Flame Magic]. The Elder is backed into a corner, driven beyond mere anger [Short Temper d4], and unleashes a spell he’s used before [Been There, Done That d6] when his magic has almost been depleted, a searing ball of fire [d8]. Gerhard and Gunter, confident in their footwork from countless hours of sword practice [Peerless Duellist and Royal Blademaster], move to duck out of the way, knowing that Gunter’s cronies [d4] will be there to rush them to the surgeon if they end up a little singed. [Roll for exchange 3: Dan 8,2,1 vs. Lenny 3,3,2. I win, both exhaust. My only active trait is already a d8 so I get a bonus point.] The fire hurtles past them, failing to even scorch their clothes. The Elder is dumbfounded as no one has ever dodged his magic in all his long years. The fight gone out of him, The Elder sinks into the corner as Gerhard laughs at him. [Lenny doesn't have any more active traits to provide adversity and no more dice to get more, so I win the chapter as the spotlight player and advance my plot.]
Chapter 11
Spotlight: Lance 9. Dan 10. Lenny 2.
Adversity: Lance 9. Lenny 19,5.
Gerhard looks for his brother and finds [Lenny spends his 19 to introduce Steffan. He mentioned on a seed so the creation tax is one. Normally a 19 activates four traits so Lenny gets three. He chooses Honest and Forthright, Magical Talent, and Also a Peerless Duelist]
Steffan
d8 – Also a Peerless Duelist
d6 – Honest and Forthright
d6 – Magical Talent
d4 – Heir to the Realm
Crown Prince Steffan at the end of an underground passage that leads from his chamber to the stables. Steffan draws his sword [Also a Peerless Duelist d8] and faces his brother, saying “You didn’t kill the old man. Did you?” [I spend my 10 to activate Cold and Calcualting and Peerless Duelist]. Gerhard replies, “Of course I didn’t kill him. He’s still useful. Unlike you.” [Cold and Calculating d8]. [Roll for exchange 1: Dan 2 vs. Lenny 7. Lenny wins, neither exhaust. Lenny bumps Magical Talent to d8] Their swords clash again and again, a blistering flurry of strokes and counterstrokes, parries and ripostes. Slowly but surely Steffan pushes his younger brother back. A bluish aura trickles from Steffan’s shoulder into the blade, and his blows seem to strike with a power beyond even the greatest of swordsmen. [Magical Talent d8]. “I have endured your machinations for too long, brother. It ends now.” Steffan continues his furious assault [Also a Peerless Duelist d8]. Gerhard tries to parry the attacks [Peerless Duelist d6] [Roll for exchange 2: Dan 4 vs. Lenny 5,2. Lenny wins, Lenny exhausts. Lenny bumps Cold and Calculating down to d6.], but with only the strength of a normal man he is at his brother’s mercy. [Lenny spends his 5 to activate Also a Peerless Duelist]. Holding Gerhard at swordpoint, Steffan says, “You are my blood, and if you cease this nonsense I promise you that your fate will be a gentle one. This does not have to lead to suffering.” [Honest and Forthright d6]. Knowing that his brother will not be able to resist [Cold and Calculating d8], Gerhard reaches out his hand. “Of course, brother, merely take my hand and we can come to some agreement.” [Roll for exchange 3: Dan 1 vs. Lenny 6. Lenny wins, I exhaust. Lenny bumps Peerless Duelist down to d4.] Steffan takes Gerhard’s hand but doesn’t fall for Gerhard’s ploy – when Gerhard’s hidden blade flashes forth Steffan’s own sword is there to meet it. “When will you learn, Gerhard? When will you learn?” He shoves Gerhard backward and they continue in a fair fight [Honest and Forthright d6 and Also a Peerless Duellist d8]. Battered and bruised, Gerhard does his best to match his brother [Peerless Duelist d4]. [Roll for exchange 4: Dan 3 vs. Lenny 4,3. Lenny wins, both exhaust. Lenny should get a bonus point here, since there are no active traits to bump.] The swords clash more furiously than ever, sending sparks flying with each deafening blow of steel upon steel. The battle grows ever more desperate and all semblance of civility is shed as both men use fists, feet, elbows, knees, anything to gain an advantage on the other. Ever so slowly, as the battle rages, Gerhard’s strength begins to wane. Steffan’s assault drives him backwards, then to his knees, then to his back. Eventually Gerhard doesn’t even have the strength to lift his sword, but he still stares at his brother with hate in his eyes. Steffan, exhausted but victorious, prepares to put an end to the struggle, his heart heavy with remorse. As Steffan lifts his sword to strike the killing blow, the stablemaster slams a pitchfork down on the crown prince’s head, cracking his skull. “I’m sorry my prince,” the stablemaster says to Gerhard, “I didn’t realize you’d need my help quite so quickly.” He helps Gerhard to his feet, and Gerhard says, “Thank you for your help.” Then he runs the stablemaster through with his sword. He shakes his head and rehearses his lie. “My brother and the stablemaster fought. I tried my best, but they killed each other before I could stop them.” [Lenny couldn't provide any more adversity so I won the chapter. I advance my plot, which completes my first plot segment. This put us into an unusual situation with respect to the rules: narratively Steffan was dead because that was my plot segment goal, but the character still exists as an NPC unless I spend bonus points to officially remove him from play. I'll need to put some thought into the right way to handle that in the design.]
Chapter 12
Spotlight: Lance 6. Dan 5. Lenny 10.
Adversity: Lance 9,2. Dan 12,9,6.
The Elder sits alone, locked in a cell guarded by Guard Captain Gunter [I spend my 6 to activate Gunter's Alcohol Tolerance], who still seems alert despite the revelry that he and other supporters of Gerhard have been engaging in [Alcohol Tolerance d6]. [Lenny spends his 10 to activate Wizard's Staff and Flame Magic]. Although confined, The Elder is far from helpless. He holds out his hand and his staff flies to it through the bars [Wizard's Staff d6] and he unleashes a gout of magical flame [d8]. [Roll for exchange 1: Lenny ?,? vs. Dan 1. Lenny wins, neither exhaust. Lenny bumps Wizard's Staff up to d8]. The bars on the cell melt into slag and The Elder steps through, past the startled Gunter, and runs up the stairs. [I spend my 12 to activate Gunter's Royal Blademaster and Nose for Bullshit]. Although the exact manner of the escape came as a shock, Gunter suspected that The Elder would try something funny [Nose for Bullshit d6], so the exit to the dungeon complex is locked and double-reinforced. The Elder turns his flames [d8] on the door [Roll for exchange 2: Lenny 4 vs. Dan 4. Tie, neither exhaust.], but it’s made of case-hardened steel and doesn’t yield as easily as the bars did. [Nose for Bullshit d6]. The Elder grits his teeth and throws all of his power against the door, his flames burning white hot [Flame Magic d8]. [Roll for exchange 3: Lenny 7 vs. Dan 5. Lenny wins, neither exhaust. Lenny bumps Nose for Bullshit down to d4]. The Elder bursts through the door, but the delay in getting through it has given Gunter a chance to catch up. He pulls his sword [Royal Blademaster d8] and says, “You won’t get away that easily, old man.” The Elder brings up his staff to parry the blow. [Wizard's Staff d6]. [Roll for exchange 4: Lenny 8 vs. Dan 1. Lenny wins, I exhaust. All active traits are already at the extreme die sizes so Lenny gets a bonus point.] “You’ll find I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, young man,” says The Elder while he pummels Gunter. “And you think I don’t?” Gunter replies [Nose for Bullshit d4]. “You think I would station only one guard on you?” Hearing armored footsteps approaching, The Elder redoubles his efforts to take out Gunter with his staff. [Roll for exchange 5: Lenny 2 vs. Dan 2. Tie, both exhaust.] As they fight, neither one gaining ground, the footsteps fade down another passage, revealing Gunter’s threat of more guards as merely a bluff. [ I spend my 9 to activate Prince Gerhard's Cold and Calculating].
The stomping guards, however, masked the quieter approach of Prince Gerhard. “All right, Elder. The deed is done,” he says [Cold and Calculating d8]. “I’m ready for you to transfer the power to me, now.” Cursing, The Elder hurls a ball of flame at the prince [Flame Magic d8]. [Roll for exchange 6: Lenny 7 vs Dan 4. Lenny wins, I exhaust. Since there are no bumpable traits, Lenny gets a bonus point.] The fireball slams into Gerhard, sending him flying across the room where he smashes into a table. The Elder looms over him and declares, “There will be no heir to the magic of the Valley of Fire thanks to your treachery. This era of magic will come to an end. But at least I will have the satisfaction of destroying the perpetrator.” He raises his hands and sends another blast of flame toward Gerhard, but at the last moment Gunter interposes himself to take the blast for his prince and is burned to cinders. [I had no more traits to provide adversity so Lenny won the chapter, advancing one plot stage and completing his subplot. We decided that he resolved his "find a recipient" plot by choosing himself. Lenny also spent three of his bonus points to kill Gunter.] Disgusted that the prince was saved, but with his magic already taxed to its limits, The Elder limps away. [Since this is the first time that a supporting character has finished a subplot with the current spotlight/adversity selection mechanics we realized there are a few holes in the rules regarding what should happen next with the character. For example, as the rules are currently written it's impossible for Lenny to win spotlight again because he has no unresolved plot stages to put spotlight dice in.]