Post by Gigermann on Mar 10, 2012 15:18:00 GMT -6
As usual, here is an experiment I'd like to try out for this game. However, if not everyone participates, it won't be worth much, so I'm considering this to be "all or none."
Relationships
A Relationship is, effectively, a leveled Perk that can grant a bonus to actions performed for or regarding the subject of that Relationship, based on the "strength" of that Relationship; maximum of 4(?) Levels. This applies to all PCs and "regular" NPCs (in this case, those in the Party). All Relationships will start at "neutral," effectively "zero" levels.
Statements
Your statement for each PC and Major NPC you have a Relationship with defines your opinion of that character. Your statement should be one short sentence that sums it all up: The love of my life. I can’t stand him. She frightens me. I would follow him anywhere. He is reckless. I don’t trust her. The Relationship can be positive or negative, a "friendship" or "rivalry," independent of its strength. As you play through the campaign, your experiences and impressions of the other PCs will grow and change. You will be able to challenge your Relationships and alter your statement for these characters to reflect those experiences.
Using Relationships
Any time you make a check that can be justified (subject to GM's approval) according to a Relationship can gain a bonus to that check; rather like a one-shot Higher Purpose. The Relationship grants a +1 per Level, which may be used all at once, or split up as desired, over the course of a single game-session. This bonus may be claimed after the roll has been made. When deciding which Relationship to add, ask yourself two questions: Who am I performing this action for or against? Does this action agree with the Relationship statement I’ve written for this PC or Major NPC? If you answer yes to the second question, describe how your character’s Relationship drives his dramatic action. If your answer to the second question is no, consider challenging the Relationship.
Challenging Relationships
Relationships are not stagnant. They change and grow at the speeds of the seasons, tides, or even hours of the day. Old friends become bitter enemies. Longtime foes find friendship and love. Odd acquaintances discover common ground on which to join forces. When you wish to take an action that’s in conflict with your Relationship statement for that PC or Major NPC, you can challenge your Relationship, gaining an additional +3 bonus (above the Level; maximum of +5) to a so-justified check, as above. That Relationship steps back by one Level for the rest of the game-session, but at the end of the session, you can rewrite your statement and redefine your connection to regain the original Level, if you wish.
Rewriting Relationships
Any Relationship that was stepped back during the game-session may be restored at the end of the session to its previous rating, but because you challenged it, you rewrite the statement to reflect your new perspective. Alternately, you can leave it at the reduced Level and gain a bonus CP (effectively a RP bonus CP). You may also step up a Relationship between sessions by spending awarded CPs as normal, just as you would with other Traits. You have to put work into a Relationship to make it better; the expenditure of CPs to upgrade the Relationship should be "justified" by in-game actions.
EXAMPLES OF RELATIONSHIP STATEMENTS
Below is a generic list of Relationship Statements. These are just suggestions—instead of choosing from this list, use it as inspiration for writing your own statements. Get creative! And remember, your Level with another character doesn’t reflect how much you like him, but how strongly you feel about him. Nobody said you couldn’t have a 4-Level Relationship with the statement I hate him and all that he stands for.
Relationships
A Relationship is, effectively, a leveled Perk that can grant a bonus to actions performed for or regarding the subject of that Relationship, based on the "strength" of that Relationship; maximum of 4(?) Levels. This applies to all PCs and "regular" NPCs (in this case, those in the Party). All Relationships will start at "neutral," effectively "zero" levels.
Statements
Your statement for each PC and Major NPC you have a Relationship with defines your opinion of that character. Your statement should be one short sentence that sums it all up: The love of my life. I can’t stand him. She frightens me. I would follow him anywhere. He is reckless. I don’t trust her. The Relationship can be positive or negative, a "friendship" or "rivalry," independent of its strength. As you play through the campaign, your experiences and impressions of the other PCs will grow and change. You will be able to challenge your Relationships and alter your statement for these characters to reflect those experiences.
Using Relationships
Any time you make a check that can be justified (subject to GM's approval) according to a Relationship can gain a bonus to that check; rather like a one-shot Higher Purpose. The Relationship grants a +1 per Level, which may be used all at once, or split up as desired, over the course of a single game-session. This bonus may be claimed after the roll has been made. When deciding which Relationship to add, ask yourself two questions: Who am I performing this action for or against? Does this action agree with the Relationship statement I’ve written for this PC or Major NPC? If you answer yes to the second question, describe how your character’s Relationship drives his dramatic action. If your answer to the second question is no, consider challenging the Relationship.
Challenging Relationships
Relationships are not stagnant. They change and grow at the speeds of the seasons, tides, or even hours of the day. Old friends become bitter enemies. Longtime foes find friendship and love. Odd acquaintances discover common ground on which to join forces. When you wish to take an action that’s in conflict with your Relationship statement for that PC or Major NPC, you can challenge your Relationship, gaining an additional +3 bonus (above the Level; maximum of +5) to a so-justified check, as above. That Relationship steps back by one Level for the rest of the game-session, but at the end of the session, you can rewrite your statement and redefine your connection to regain the original Level, if you wish.
Rewriting Relationships
Any Relationship that was stepped back during the game-session may be restored at the end of the session to its previous rating, but because you challenged it, you rewrite the statement to reflect your new perspective. Alternately, you can leave it at the reduced Level and gain a bonus CP (effectively a RP bonus CP). You may also step up a Relationship between sessions by spending awarded CPs as normal, just as you would with other Traits. You have to put work into a Relationship to make it better; the expenditure of CPs to upgrade the Relationship should be "justified" by in-game actions.
EXAMPLES OF RELATIONSHIP STATEMENTS
Below is a generic list of Relationship Statements. These are just suggestions—instead of choosing from this list, use it as inspiration for writing your own statements. Get creative! And remember, your Level with another character doesn’t reflect how much you like him, but how strongly you feel about him. Nobody said you couldn’t have a 4-Level Relationship with the statement I hate him and all that he stands for.
- I can barely tolerate him.
- She used to be so nice.
- I must make it up to him.
- She’s my best friend.
- He deserves my support.
- She’s just a silly rich girl.
- He must pay for his crimes.
- She has gone too far.
- He needs me to take care of him.
- She is stone cold.
- He’s easy to manipulate.
- I like her more now…
- He doesn’t understand my vision of the world.
- She needs to get her head in the game.
- I wouldn’t let anything hurt him.
- She’s someone I can trust.
- He’ll never change.
- If this keeps up, I’m going to kill her!
- He’s about the dumbest person I’ve ever met.
- She has a good head on her shoulders.