Sen The Magnificent: Part 0: FAE Tutorial Game

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:09

Do you have anything in mind for setting, character, or story?

Inbar Rose

Let me think for a moment.

BESW

Fantasy, sci-fi, realistic? Historical, modern, future? Drama, adventure, horror?

Inbar Rose

I want to try a game where the main "theme" is sacrifice.

not the blood and dagger kind.. the kind where you will have to lose the things you love and care about to succeed

BESW

Keep in mind, I'm only planning a single short session.

Inbar Rose

hmmm

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:12

So while a theme like that is great, we won't have time for an arc.

Inbar Rose

Lets keep that for another day then.

Okay... then how about a heist?

BESW

Interesting.

Inbar Rose

That is something that can be done in a single session

BESW

One-man job?

Inbar Rose

It also focus's the game into a very zoomed-in micro world

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:13

Excellent.

Inbar Rose

One man job.....

BESW

So I think the thing to do is figure out who you're going to be, and let the job be defined by the man.

Inbar Rose

something about my guy makes him unique to this task

I am actually a good guy though

BESW

Modern realistic setting?

Inbar Rose

the bad guys took something of mine....

And the only way to get it back is to do the heist

I think modern is interesting.. But I think it would be cooler to do a heist in a fantasy setting

Maybe a combined sort of like..... shadowrun modern

modern day with some fantasy elements

no magic

but like.. strange creatures and maybe some strange races

like the vault is gaurded by a 4 headed dog or something

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:15

Okay.

Inbar Rose

Just brainstorming :)

BESW

Modern low-fantasy, mostly represented by unusual inhabitants rather than unusual abilities.

Inbar Rose

Sounds right

BESW

Okay.

Inbar Rose

So... my guy is actually a circus acrobat, and my fiancee was kidnapped by the bad guys, the need me because I am the only one with enough skill to get into the strange impenedrable vault

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:17

Are you a strange race?

Inbar Rose

sure why not

A rare one

BESW

Like a rat-person who can squeeze through unusually tight spaces.

Inbar Rose

Hmmm..... sounds interesting

rather than "rat" how about my bones/internal organs can be mushed around without damage

BESW

Or a chameleon person who specialized in fantastical skin displays.

Inbar Rose

and my race is like reptilian and can regrow lost limbs (not instantly of course)

That is more for flavor. :P

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:19

Okay, a preternaturally durable lizard person.

Acrobat.

Inbar Rose

yes! :)

And the vault is inside a floating bubble of water held up only by some weird physics fluke in this unexplainable blah blah fantasy world blah

BESW

Sounds like your high concept: Preternaturally durable squamataman acrobat.

(Squamata is the class name for lizards and snakes.)

Inbar Rose

squamataman ?

oh

BESW

It also sounds squishy.

Inbar Rose

yes!

one of the reasons my race is rare

we dry up easily

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:22

Ooh, nice.

Inbar Rose

but we can stay in the water for lengthy periods of time

hence I am uniquely suited to this task

BESW

Is that your trouble?

Inbar Rose

yes!

BESW

Keep in mind, this is a one-shot session so your trouble is going to be a major issue in the story we tell.

Inbar Rose

indeed!

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:22

Is "drying up" interesting enough for you?

Inbar Rose

no

but "unquenchable thirst" is!

BESW

Ahah.

So your trouble is Easily dehydrated.

(If we were going for a bigger game, we'd put a bit more work into these and make sure they'd be interesting and applicable in many situations.)

Inbar Rose

yeah...

I think the idea is less that "not being in water makes me die" and more "being in water keeps me comfortable"

BESW

Ah.

Like a fish out of water

Inbar Rose

yes!

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:25

Now you need between one and three other aspects.

I suggest that you come up with something totally unrelated to your high concept and your trouble.

Does he collect stamps?

Inbar Rose

No, but he has a fiancee

BESW

Is he secretly a government spy?

Inbar Rose

who was kidnapped

BESW

Okay.

Inbar Rose

"Anything for Lola" ?

Don't ask, Lola just came to mind.

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:26

Sounds good.

Inbar Rose

haha

"Sucker for a pretty face" ?

BESW

As another aspect?

Inbar Rose

Dunno, that phrase just came to mind.

Shouldn't we design the game aspects?

Okay.. something about my career as a circus acrobat.....

BESW

In FAE, we basically come up with a phrase. At the moment, it's Modern low-fantasy, mostly represented by unusual inhabitants rather than unusual abilities.

Inbar Rose

something about always doing flashy stunts

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:29

And it's being modified as we do your character creation.

Inbar Rose

always pleasing the audience

big finale

BESW

@InbarRose But he's got no audience....

Inbar Rose

doesn't matter

He is.. whats teh phrase.... something about flare for dramatic...

BESW

You're thinking in terms of physical stuff, right?

Inbar Rose

You know.. like... even if no one is watching.. when I do the amazing backflip over the lazer censors I am going to do a victory dance kind of thing

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:30

He's the kind of guy who slides down the rail instead of walking down the stairs.

Inbar Rose

sure :)

BESW

He's Always in the spotlight.

Inbar Rose

"Ain't no business like show business" ?

Your's is WAAY better.

BESW

Or maybe he's Gotta be in the spotlight.

Depending on how you want to spin it.

Inbar Rose

I don't like the word spotlight too much. And I thought it would somehow include; flare, flashy, or dramatic.

ooooO!!!! "once more with style?"

How do I morph that phrase.

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:34

Hm.

How about this: does he have a catchphrase he uses when he does something especially impressive?

Inbar Rose

or.. better yet "looks good doing it"

BESW

What does the showmaster say to introduce him or to send him off?

Inbar Rose

that requires me to think of a name.

BESW

Anything worth doing is worth doing with style.

Inbar Rose

hupa! That's why you make the big bucks :P

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:36

Now... maybe something about his attitude toward either the kidnappers or whoever he's stealing from.

Inbar Rose

"one good turn deserves another" ?

BESW

It'd be dramatic if he's friends with the guy he's stealing from.

Inbar Rose

or former acrobatic partners that turned rival because of a stunt that left him crippled so he HAD to get me to do this for him!

BESW

(By the way, just about any of your suggestions so far have been serviceable. If you can't get just the right aspect right off, you can use a serviceable-if-clunky one and wait for inspiration during the session.)

@InbarRose Just remember, the aspect you choose tells me what you want the session to be about.

Inbar Rose

thanks.

@BESW yep! :)

A ~~story~~ show of betrayal, love, and acrobatics.

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:40

@InbarRose What does that mean?

How will you invoke it for a bonus, and how will I compel it?

Inbar Rose

I dunno.. I am still thinking about it.

"An eye for an eye" concept

"he will be sorry he messed with me" kind of deal.

BESW

Is this specifically about the kidnapper(s), or is it a general life philosophy?

Inbar Rose

hmmm

about the kidnappers

BESW

(By the way, how are you about installing scripts in your browser?)

Inbar Rose

@BESW I can't at work.

BESW

Sep 30, 2013 14:42

This script will turn d6s into dFs in this chat room only.

And this one shows whenever someone else with the script installed is typing. It works whenever you're both in the same chat room anywhere on the site.

We designed them to help facilitate chat-based Fate play here.

I feel like an aspect about revenge on the kidnappers has a lot of overlap with your Lola aspect, and not very much utility in most of the heist itself.

Inbar Rose

I think I installed it.

Do I need to refresh?

BESW

Aye.

4d6

Dice Service

•

Inbar Rose

cool.

BESW

And you've got a button in the upper right to change the colors.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 14:46

upper right where?

oh, cool.

1d

Dice Service

•

BESW

4d

Dice Service

•

Inbar Rose

okay. so the kidnapper/bad guy/former partner's name is...... X (for now)

and the aspect is "X is going down" ?

or... "I will get you X" ?

no.. those suck

BESW

I'm not sure how much utility that's going to have during the heist itself. I'm okay with that, so long as you know it.

To make an aspect, define what you're talking about. Who is X? If he's an old colleague, were they friends? rivals?

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 14:50

I just mentioned that

BESW

Is there any guilt or anger about the colleague's disability?

Inbar Rose

he blames me... but it was his own cocky mistake?

my attitude is "I pitty X, but I will take him down"

BESW

Did that blame have any repercussions on you?

Inbar Rose

yes, he kidnapped lola and is making me do this heist

BESW

Did you get arrested, or lose a job, or have your mutual friends turn away?

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 14:51

I don't think any of that is going to really impact the short game.

BESW

No, but it would inform the drama if X has a history of getting you to take the fall for him.

If, on the other hand, this is a sudden and unexpected betrayal, that's a different kind of drama.

Inbar Rose

I think its more like... he hurt himself, blamed me. became bitter, we fell out of touch... years later he now kidnaps my fiancee

"X must face the consequences"

BESW

X won't make me his whipping boy again, or I guess we aren't friends anymore, or the like.

The thing about aspects is that the more actual story is behind them, the more they can say and do.

Inbar Rose

how about simply... "X betrayed me" ?

BESW

@InbarRose Is it betrayal? You haven't really said you ever trusted him.

He's just a coworker who went insane.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 14:55

True...

BESW

May I make a suggestion?

Inbar Rose

always

BESW

This is a rather radical alteration of the narrative.

Change the colleague. He's not the kidnapper.

Inbar Rose

okay

BESW

The kidnapper's identity doesn't matter, they're just an excuse for the scenario. Call them the mob or something.

The colleague is who you're being forced to steal from.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 14:56

ooo

I like that

BESW

You were friends, but he blamed you for his forced retirement and you haven't spoken in years.

Inbar Rose

X blames me....

that is not a good aspect though

BESW

Maybe you feel like you are to blame, at least a bit, and are guilty about it.

Inbar Rose

well, actually that can be a story aspect

BESW

Or maybe you just feel like he's a guy with a really bad string of luck and you hate adding to it.

Or maybe you're just a guy who hates kicking people while they're down.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 14:58

"Or maybe you just feel like he's a guy with a really bad string of luck and you hate adding to it." more like it,.

BESW

The thing about aspects is that they can be inspired by a specific story incident without actually referencing it.

I hate to kick a man when he's down is a great aspect.

Inbar Rose

yes it is.

BESW

It says a lot about your attitude toward the heist's target.

But it can also be used in other situations too.

Inbar Rose

indeed.

and it is GREAT for compels. :)

BESW

Yes. Yes, it is.

So you've got a guy who is determined to save his love, and do it in style, but without making peoples' lives worse if he can help it.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:00

who is a Preternaturally durable squamataman acrobat

Like a fish out of water

I like it!

BESW

As do I!

Inbar Rose

What's next?

BESW

Now, assign scores to your approaches: +3, +2, +2, +1, +1, and +0, as you see fit.

Inbar Rose

done.

BESW

(There's an even simpler method where you just get +1 to a roll for every aspect you have that makes sense to benefit the action, but that's a bit much.)

Now, between one and three stunts.

One moment.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:03

Stunts are still a bit confusing for me in Fate Core - and you said they are different in FAE.

BESW

You've got two templates.

Inbar Rose

in Fate Care, what is confusing is how exactly I can select stunts, I know I can make them up... but There is not enough rules/mechanics that I found on how to design them...

BESW

FAE's an easier place to start.

> Because I [describe some way that you are exceptional, have a cool bit of gear, or are otherwise awesome], I get a +2 when I [pick one: Carefully, Cleverly, Flashily, Forcefully, Quickly, Sneakily] [pick one: attack, defend, create advantages, overcome] when [describe a circumstance].

or

> Because I [describe some way that you are exceptional, have a cool bit of gear, or are otherwise awesome], once per game session I can [describe something cool you can do].

Examples:

- Because I am a Smooth Talker, I get a +2 when I Sneakily create advantages when I’m in conversation with someone.
- Because I am a Lover of Puzzles, I get a +2 when I Cleverly overcome obstacles when I am presented with a puzzle, riddle, or similar conundrum.
- Because I am a World-Class Duelist, I get a +2 when I Flashily attack when engaged in a one-on-one swordfight.
- Because I have a Big Kite Shield, I get a +2 when I Forcefully defend when I use my shield in close combat.

And for the second template:

- Because I am Well Connected, once per game session I can find a helpful ally in just the right place.
- Because I am Quick on the Draw, once per game session I can choose to go first in a physical conflict.
- Because I can Run Circles Around a Leopard, once per game session I can show up anywhere I want to, provided I could run there, no matter where I started.

Inbar Rose

so.. "Because I am an ~~acrobat~~ performer, I get a +2 when I flashily overcome when I am being watched"

BESW

Pretty much.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:06

Or is that too much like the aspect

BESW

It's okay if a stunt reinforces an aspect: it means you can be really, really good at that thing.

Inbar Rose

Okay, I like this stunt because it is NOT GOOD for a heist.

BESW

Hee.

Inbar Rose

:)

BESW

Sen is an awful personality for this mission.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:08

exactly!

But I am the only one who can do it! :P

I Think that should be something

BESW

This is one fun thing Fate can do: it's about "competent, dramatic, pro-active" characters, but nothing says they have to be doing their specialty all the time.

Inbar Rose

The only one who can physically do it... but I am the worst person for the job...

BESW

Because I am a squamataman, I get +2 whenever I Quickly create advantages underwater.

Inbar Rose

I was just thinking of something because I am a sqwhatever

Let's name the race.

BESW

Like, what kind of reptile he's based on?

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:11

Doesn't matter. The name "elf" was just invented...

How about "Remdiji" ?

BESW

He's sounding more and more like a salamander.

Inbar Rose

hehe

manamander :P

BESW

Salaman.

Inbar Rose

jaw drop

Brilliant.

so.... high concept becomes "Salaman Acrobat" ?

BESW

(I'm allergic to randomly made-up words; it's an extra thing for my players to keep track of and remember. Whenever possible I use real words, or very close to it.)

I think so.

"Salaman" implies amphibiousness, durable squishiness, and lizardy traits.

Inveterate: "having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change"

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:15

yeah

um..... can "underwater" be changed to "using water" ?

or... "using bodies of water" ?

BESW

> Because I am a salaman, I get +2 whenever I Quickly create water-related advantages.

Inbar Rose

Sounds good.

BESW

I suggest that you leave the last stunt slot open.

Fill it in when you hit something appropriate during the session.

Inbar Rose

I was going to suggest that I do that as well.

BESW

Great minds think alike.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:17

:)

BESW

(Fools' thoughts differ little.)

Inbar Rose

That... or I need to take a 5 minute break... :P

brb

back.

Okay. So.... now that this step of character creation is finished.... what next?

BESW

That's it, your character's done.

Fate PC creation is dead fast unless you get hung up on aspects, and FAE is even faster.

Inbar Rose

Design parts of the world?

BESW

This is a call.

We've established the basic setting and the specific premise.

Now, it's a question of how much you want to pre-craft the adventure.

Because really, all we need for the session is the heist location.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:26

Well, I will follow your queue on this. I want to learn from your experience.

BESW

And I'm inclined to let that largely define itself as we go through.

Inbar Rose

So, just for clarity's sake, lets run through the backstory.

BESW

Okay.

Inbar Rose

Shall I?

BESW

Ten years ago one of your friends and colleagues had a terrible accident that forced him to retire.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:27

Okay.

BESW

He blamed you, viciously, and you parted ways. Haven't been in touch since.

Inbar Rose

His name was (is) ... Terry

BESW

Recently, a shadowy person or persons kidnapped your lovely fiancee Lola... from a charity marathon ([grin]).

Inbar Rose

That I did not attend because.... I was doing a show?

BESW

Sounds good.

They'll give her back safe and sound, if you break into Terry's semi-aquatic (he's also a salaman) mansion (the acrobat union's injury settlement lawyers are top-notch, and he's quite rich)...

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:30

And he sold his story for movie rights and made lots of money? :P

BESW

...and steal an item of undefined nature and value: they've told you where it is, what its defenses are like, and what it looks like.

And I'll tell you those things when we start the session proper, because I haven't thought of them yet.

Inbar Rose

Or.. better yet... he is nobility... he was the black sheep for being a circus performer, but after his injury the family took him back...the item is something to do with his nobility.

BESW

Mmm, that works.

Inbar Rose

And he hates his nobility

That is why he became a circus performer.. SO he DOUBLE hates me for stopping his freedom and his career, and wounding him, (allegedly)

BESW

I find that it's best to leave a lot of open room for coming up with whatever is best for the story at the time.

(This is very hard for me, as I spent nine years crafting detailed worlds for my players to discover.)

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:33

@BESW I know the feeling.

So, cool. Tomorrow we can play. I don't have much time at the moment anymore. Thanks! I learned a bit about aspects. Still a new concept, very cool.

BESW

Aye, they're quite versatile.

We didn't even get much into flat declarations.

Inbar Rose

?

BESW

Except for the high concept and trouble, your aspects don't say much that's just true.

They describe his attitude, his motives and convictions.

Inbar Rose

hmmm

BESW

This isn't a problem.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:38

Give me an example of something that would work in this case.

BESW

It's just a thing aspects can do that your set don't explore much.

Ummm.

Inbar Rose

Would something like "Always land on my feet" count?

BESW

It would.

As would Poisonous skin.

Inbar Rose

hmmm

That is much more declarative.

BESW

Your high concept Salaman Acrobat implies some declarations: you can breath in air and underwater, you're a good swimmer, you need to be kept damp, you're cold-blooded.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:40

"cold-blooded" in the literal sense. :)

BESW

It also says that you're in good physical shape, limber and quick with good reflexes.

Inbar Rose

I have to say, that my "trouble" is troubling me.

BESW

It's a little boring.

Inbar Rose

The more I think about it, the more I think it is implied.

BESW

Aye.

Whatever you make your trouble, you're saying that is what you want me to make sure is the most common and irksome obstacle between you and your goals.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:42

But in this case it is very much linked to my High Concept.

BESW

Indeed.

When your HC didn't specify salamander, your trouble was more unique.

Inbar Rose

Is that good or bad?

BESW

It's okay if your trouble re-states an implication in another aspect, I think, IF that's honestly what you want your trouble to be.

Inbar Rose

Well. It is also a bit of an ambiguous aspect.

BESW

I've seen a character who had three different aspects that could've been his trouble, so the one he actually made his trouble was important.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:43

What does it mean like a fish out of water?

BESW

Do you still want your amphibious nature to be the primary obstacle to achieving your goal?

Inbar Rose

No.

BESW

Your trouble can be external.

Inbar Rose

"wrong place wrong time"

BESW

Terry's security is crazy good is a valid trouble for this session.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:45

"the wrong guy for the job"

or how about.....

"I am not a thief"

BESW

Hee, I like that one.

Inbar Rose

My main trouble is that this is TOTALLY not my profession.

BESW

"Damnit, Jim..."

Inbar Rose

Reference ?

BESW

Original Star Trek. Bones, the doctor, would often be asked to do things it was unreasonable to expect a medic to be good at.

"Damnit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a ______" is the memetic catchphrase.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:47

I never really watched Star Trek (Please don't ostracize me)

BESW

No worries.

So, with this new trouble....

Inbar Rose

I have watched virtually every other sci-fi show though.

@BESW Yes... ?

BESW

We've got a newt-acrobat with a tendency to show off. He's a decent guy who wants to save his love without making too much trouble, but the task he's been given is not really in his skill set.

Inbar Rose

And it is unfortunate that his mark happens to be Terry... :P

BESW

That feels tight.

Inbar Rose

Sep 30, 2013 15:50

Heh "tight".

BESW

He's got personality, motive, internal and external conflict, and a skill set he's definitively competent in.

That's a tightly wound character, nothing feels like it's hanging loose.

Inbar Rose

Good to hear.

BESW

And it ties firmly into the scenario, marrying man and mission in solid narrative bonds.

Inbar Rose

The way you say it makes it sound so much grander.

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