Scrying: Plot solvent?

RTrimmer · January 30, 2015, 12:09:45 AM

How has that worked out in actual play? It looks like plot solvent.

Evermasterx · January 31, 2015, 05:35:59 AM

Quote from: RTrimmer;813181How has that worked out in actual play? It looks like plot solvent.

It's an interesting topic.
I have a PC with the best EGO and Scrying in my actual campaign, and for sure you as a GM must consider her power when planning the story.

Scrying in the past requires you are in the place or with the person of interest and you will see only the major event.
Scrying requires the subject to be known and this is a good limit.
Scrying someone in the present requires acceptance of the link, and this too is a big limitation.
Scrying in the future is of course vague as the GM desires and for sure you can give hints like the Oracle, saying nothing or all, but in an obscure way. Actually this could be a tool for moving the campaign in a new direction.

So I would say that it can be plot solvent if the GM didn't take it into account.

Oh, and remember that you only see, not hear: so the GM could use this to let you misunderstand what you see...

Artifacts of Amber · January 31, 2015, 12:57:39 PM

In amber I love scrying as a Gm.

Trump scrying gives me an opportunity to give out information and to also separate Trump artist a little by giving them much more information than another person might receive.

I have one character in my PbP that has traditionally scrying using pools of water to see things. It once again allows me to hand out information.

The plot or plans of the bad guys must hold up well enough to be able to handle this. Also in a world like Amber or ones where this is possible the opposition should be prepared for things like that to happen.

LordVreeg · January 31, 2015, 01:47:11 PM

Scrying is one of the many areas of magic a GM must actually understand and set boundaries for if they intend to run a longer term game.

Scrying is used heavily in GS, mainly in mentalist spells. It is used most heavily for communication (the Bardic Broadcasting Network is the best example), but it is also used for viewing other areas, and even viewing dreams.

Anti-scrying needs to be understood, as well. Any group that can scry and knows about it wants to prevent the scrying on them. So that needs to be taken care of as well.

finarvyn · February 03, 2015, 07:54:57 PM

Totally off topic, but did anyone else notice that the Amber board was dead for around eight weeks. From November 28 through January 29 ... not a post to be found.

Evermasterx · February 04, 2015, 03:11:23 AM

Quote from: finarvyn;813973Totally off topic, but did anyone else notice that the Amber board was dead for around eight weeks. From November 28 through January 29 ... not a post to be found.

I guess we all are busy in the shadows...

Artifacts of Amber · February 05, 2015, 05:20:03 PM

I've been running my game and tend to post less when I am getting my "Fix"

Croaker · February 09, 2015, 12:54:44 AM

Yes :-/
Nothing to contribute, so...

Jason D · February 09, 2015, 04:29:09 AM

Quote from: finarvyn;813973Totally off topic, but did anyone else notice that the Amber board was dead for around eight weeks. From November 28 through January 29 ... not a post to be found.

I've been buried at work, went on vacation in the middle of that, and have been busy working freelance on Assault on the Mountains of Madness, as well as prepping another freelance gig that will be announced shortly about a very famous IP.

Gavken · February 11, 2015, 11:41:56 AM

I've been busy running my game and playing in Artifacts game.

RPGPundit · February 16, 2015, 04:42:14 PM

Quote from: Evermasterx;813418It's an interesting topic.
I have a PC with the best EGO and Scrying in my actual campaign, and for sure you as a GM must consider her power when planning the story.

Scrying in the past requires you are in the place or with the person of interest and you will see only the major event.
Scrying requires the subject to be known and this is a good limit.
Scrying someone in the present requires acceptance of the link, and this too is a big limitation.
Scrying in the future is of course vague as the GM desires and for sure you can give hints like the Oracle, saying nothing or all, but in an obscure way. Actually this could be a tool for moving the campaign in a new direction.

So I would say that it can be plot solvent if the GM didn't take it into account.

Oh, and remember that you only see, not hear: so the GM could use this to let you misunderstand what you see...

Sounds like not too much of a "plot ruiner". Anyways, in LoO the plot should be whatever is happening! There should definitely not be some well-defined former script.

RPGPundit · February 16, 2015, 04:44:09 PM

As for the dead-forum, yeah, it's lamentable. I was hugely busy with work, trying to finish Dark Albion, doing the new column, all kinds of stuff.