Post by lycean on Aug 13, 2021 16:03:00 GMT
1. Multiple Players - Stars: The rules are explicitly written for solo play, but when you have multiple players things get vague. Is each player a Star, or is there ever only one Star and the other players are Co-Stars?
2. Multiple Players - Leader: The rules define "Leader" (pg 12) as "Star Leader" as in a Star/player, and "Temporary Leaders" who have the highest REP when not lead by a Star. If I've got three Stars, who is the leader?
3. Multiple Players - Recruiting: Can each player recruit their own entourage of Grunts? This will get unwieldy fast if I've got three players (all Stars?) dragging 15 Grunts around Dunwich...
4. Multiple Players - PEF Group size: When passing 2d on the PEF Resolution table (pg 32) it offers possibilities of how many NPCs to encounter, all based off "your figures". Defined in the rules (pg 4), a "figure" is interchangeable with "character" which can be a Star, Co-Star, Big Bad, or Grunt. Likely dependent on the answers to the questions above, but if I've got 2 Stars with 10 Recruits, I'm generating between 10 and 14 NPCs for the potential Tarantino-style melee about to ensue if our noir investigators don't speak good. And from a story perspective, why are so many eclectically comprised mobs hanging around the city? Even if half of them are Dogs and Cats (or Bears and Albino Penguins), why are all these animals amassing alongside the citizenry? If the players go wild with Recruits, did they inadvertently send the city into Riot mode? And heaven forbid the Darkness Level is five or more, because now we're unleashing portals full of eldrich nastiness for every PEF (generally 3-5 per Scene). I feel like I'm ranting... I'll stop. But what am I missing?
5. Collector of Artifacts - Artifact Numbers: The rules say (pg 46) there will only ever be one Artifact in a Story, to be found during the Final Scene (if Finding and/or Destroying an Artifact is your goal, I'm assuming). Explorers, Priests, Cultists, and Scientists all have the Collector of Artifacts special ability that offers a chance (1) that they already have an Artifact. What am I missing?
6. Collector of Artifacts - Rep 5 Grunt: The rules stipulate (pg 45) the Priest and Cultist must be REP 5+ for the Collector of Artifacts (1) ability to be valid. These NPCs generate at a max of REP 4, and neither bumping up to Co-Star, nor Big Bad grants any REP bonus for them to suddenly remember, "Oh, by the way, I have this thing..." What am I missing?
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Appreciate any and all answers. Currently, and until a ruling for the above is settled, I'm going with the below Hose Rules. I'm listing them here for critique as much as I gave above. I'm eager to hear other House Rules, as well!
A) Stars: All players are REP 5 Stars. The Leader is chosen once the PEF has been resolved and the NPCs have been generated. All Stars/players may Recruit during the Talk the Talk phase, but only up to the collective max of 5 Recruiting Points. Additionally, you cannot recruit an Enemy of, or anyone who has negative History with, any of the Stars. Once recruited, however, they become part of the larger group of Investigators. (No player Co-Stars, unless we're really eager to split up the party to insure everyone has a chance to be Leader and get some Increasing/Decreasing REP d6).
B) PEFs: NPCs are generated based off the number of Stars. As the Darkness Level rises, so does the appearances of Creatures/Deities, so this evens out in the wash if the Stars have a good sized crew with them.
C) Collector of Artifacts: REP 4+ Priests and Cultists have a chance (1) to possess an Artifact. Anyone with an Artifact will not trade it or give it away during a Pass 2d6 Talk the Talk interaction. However, if taken from an Out of the Fight, Obviously Dead, or Captured NPC, it becomes the Star's property and will need to justified/woven into the Story. (Unless the Artifact is Cursed, in which case the NPC has to be Obviously Dead or the Artifact gets "lots" by the Star as it returns to the original owner.)
2. Multiple Players - Leader: The rules define "Leader" (pg 12) as "Star Leader" as in a Star/player, and "Temporary Leaders" who have the highest REP when not lead by a Star. If I've got three Stars, who is the leader?
3. Multiple Players - Recruiting: Can each player recruit their own entourage of Grunts? This will get unwieldy fast if I've got three players (all Stars?) dragging 15 Grunts around Dunwich...
4. Multiple Players - PEF Group size: When passing 2d on the PEF Resolution table (pg 32) it offers possibilities of how many NPCs to encounter, all based off "your figures". Defined in the rules (pg 4), a "figure" is interchangeable with "character" which can be a Star, Co-Star, Big Bad, or Grunt. Likely dependent on the answers to the questions above, but if I've got 2 Stars with 10 Recruits, I'm generating between 10 and 14 NPCs for the potential Tarantino-style melee about to ensue if our noir investigators don't speak good. And from a story perspective, why are so many eclectically comprised mobs hanging around the city? Even if half of them are Dogs and Cats (or Bears and Albino Penguins), why are all these animals amassing alongside the citizenry? If the players go wild with Recruits, did they inadvertently send the city into Riot mode? And heaven forbid the Darkness Level is five or more, because now we're unleashing portals full of eldrich nastiness for every PEF (generally 3-5 per Scene). I feel like I'm ranting... I'll stop. But what am I missing?
5. Collector of Artifacts - Artifact Numbers: The rules say (pg 46) there will only ever be one Artifact in a Story, to be found during the Final Scene (if Finding and/or Destroying an Artifact is your goal, I'm assuming). Explorers, Priests, Cultists, and Scientists all have the Collector of Artifacts special ability that offers a chance (1) that they already have an Artifact. What am I missing?
6. Collector of Artifacts - Rep 5 Grunt: The rules stipulate (pg 45) the Priest and Cultist must be REP 5+ for the Collector of Artifacts (1) ability to be valid. These NPCs generate at a max of REP 4, and neither bumping up to Co-Star, nor Big Bad grants any REP bonus for them to suddenly remember, "Oh, by the way, I have this thing..." What am I missing?
-----
Appreciate any and all answers. Currently, and until a ruling for the above is settled, I'm going with the below Hose Rules. I'm listing them here for critique as much as I gave above. I'm eager to hear other House Rules, as well!
A) Stars: All players are REP 5 Stars. The Leader is chosen once the PEF has been resolved and the NPCs have been generated. All Stars/players may Recruit during the Talk the Talk phase, but only up to the collective max of 5 Recruiting Points. Additionally, you cannot recruit an Enemy of, or anyone who has negative History with, any of the Stars. Once recruited, however, they become part of the larger group of Investigators. (No player Co-Stars, unless we're really eager to split up the party to insure everyone has a chance to be Leader and get some Increasing/Decreasing REP d6).
B) PEFs: NPCs are generated based off the number of Stars. As the Darkness Level rises, so does the appearances of Creatures/Deities, so this evens out in the wash if the Stars have a good sized crew with them.
C) Collector of Artifacts: REP 4+ Priests and Cultists have a chance (1) to possess an Artifact. Anyone with an Artifact will not trade it or give it away during a Pass 2d6 Talk the Talk interaction. However, if taken from an Out of the Fight, Obviously Dead, or Captured NPC, it becomes the Star's property and will need to justified/woven into the Story. (Unless the Artifact is Cursed, in which case the NPC has to be Obviously Dead or the Artifact gets "lots" by the Star as it returns to the original owner.)