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Author Topic: ∞ Infinity Gaming System: Tabletop Action Movie RPG  (Read 2107 times)

Daddy Warpig

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∞ Infinity Gaming System: Tabletop Action Movie RPG
« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2015, 11:05:53 AM »
Describing Success (and Failure)

As with the other mechanics, the GM is tasked with not only describing the situation the players face, but also the consequences of any Challenges. He translates game mechanics into description, telling players how their characters did.

The outcomes above were chosen to be simple, clear, and straightforward. They are also relatable: Everyone knows what it's like to fail or to sort-of succeed (but not fully). Everyone knows what it's like to just squeak past, or to succeed, or to succeed so well others are impressed. Because these are relatable, they are easily describable.

Here's an example: A character must jump a ravine, that's both wide and deep. After the Skill roll, the GM calculates Success Levels, then has to describe the outcome to the player. Here's a few ways that could go.

Failure = The character falls. "You miss the cliff. You fall into the dark gulf without a sound, still clawing for the ledge as it recedes in the distance."

Success = The character almost fails, but not quite. "You leap across the gorge, landing on your face, then begin to slip towards the edge. You scrabble at the edge of the cliff for a second, trying to find a vine or crack to get a grip on. After a moment of panic, you pull yourself up."

Solid (1 SL) = He makes it over, but only just. "You make it across, but land face-first in the dirt. Your clothes are dirty, your hands scraped-up, and your pants are torn."

Superior (2 SL) = Nothing fancy, but he made the leap. "You jump the gorge and land on the other side. You're a little winded, but exhilarated."

Spectacular (3 SL) = Spectacular Success means they easily made it, and did so in an impressive way. "You easily clear the vast distance to the other side, lightly landing on your feet. The extreme height doesn't bother you; you own this mountain."

Spectacular+ (4 SL) = The kinds of feats you see in movie stunts, but almost never in real life. "You jump the gorge, tuck and roll, and come up in a crouch. Onlookers gasp."

In many cases, different outcomes won't make a mechanical difference. Even so, the GM should make the effort to give a short description, especially if it's unusually bad or good. Especially Spectacular or better Successes, players love it when their characters look cool.

The Skill Challenge outcomes are built so GM's can easily describe them. Description makes the world come alive, and it helps the players invest in the campaign world and their characters.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2015, 11:18:45 AM by Daddy Warpig »
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