Though things may seem quiet to everyone else, I'm still busy plugging away at all of these little support systems that will help the game function when it gets up and running. Thankfully, today I can check fate pool management off the list. On your PC character sheets, you'll now see a line item under "Health" that lists the color and number of stones in your character's fate pool.
The white stones in your fate pool will deplete as they are drawn. Very shortly, you'll also be able to buy more of them (up to a limit) with boon. We haven't fully decided how gray and black stones will work yet. Death is something to be feared and avoided, so you'll always have one or the other in there, but there may be circumstances when you get more. Also, I've left the system open to allow plot to devise any number of other stones their devious little minds can concoct. Imagine, if you will, that your character is touched by dark magic and gets a purple stone in his or her fate pool, only to later draw it and rise from the grave as a vengeful undead wreaking havoc upon town!
But I digress. As with other character management systems, fate stones are recorded in your character history as you gain or lose them. This should keep everything nice and accountable, the way I like it.
Questions? Comments? Fun fate stone ideas? Seriously, what sort of interesting consequences should accompany death?
I'd advise against having many more detrimental effects in the fate pool. Dying in a game where you can perm no matter how many lives you have is scary enough.
If we do have additional detrimental stones I think they need to be collected by the player's choices ip and not just an added HAHA plot killed you. For instance with the purple stone idea, I think that dabbling in Necromancy and having it blow up on you could cause a purple stone but not just getting killed by Mr. Ubber Undead and now if you die again you might get screwed. If plot wants to raise pc's as undead they should have to earn it. ;)
For the record, death is supposed to be scary. Very scary. However, I think most players will agree that anything short of perming their characters is less scary than the alternative. Thus, adding alternate fate stones will ultimately make death more interesting but less scary, since it reduces the probability of pulling gray or black.
That being said, I agree with you, Jessi. Player choices should be the primary factor that affects their fate pool. In fact, the purple stone is designed for exactly that. I had envisioned it as an outcome from wielding powerful necromantic items or botching while researching certain powerful warlock actions. You're being naughty one way or another, and it comes back to bite you. Imagine someone drawing purple during a field battle... ;)
Of course, there might be some stones that can be added by plot as well. I personally don't want to bind their hands; if there's a compelling story reason to alter a character's fate pool, I'll more than likely allow it. There might be stipulations, of course. For example, the stones might have to expire after a certain time if not drawn, or again, players might have to make the choice that adds them.
"If plot wants to raise pc's as undead they should have to earn it." Plot has my authority to be arbitrary and cruel, but only in the spirit of fun. And, seriously, rising as a powerful undead to slay your friend sounds pretty fun to me. :P
well let's say you get a curse put upon you because you cheated a wizard or something, when you die you get lucky and rez...but you pulled a yellow stone and are now mute or blind or some other ill effect because the wizard's curse came into effect. I'd say that's earning it alright
"she looked into your eyes / and saw what lay beneath / don't try to save yourself the circle is complete."
I like the idea of the purple stone being one for undead type things. maybe have a stone for some kind of illness...as in you came back to life but the resurection didn't quite go so well so now you suffer from blindness or something bad like that.
"she looked into your eyes / and saw what lay beneath / don't try to save yourself the circle is complete."