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Post by alfred on Mar 5, 2013 9:40:23 GMT -5
Erik, let me get into the PDF and I'll be able to answer more informatively. In general though, it works like this:
You're Roleplaying, you do something that fits one of your compels, signal me that that's what you're doing, and take an Honor. Compels are supposed to cause trouble, so in return for you taking Honor, I make complications happen.
So, for example, how brutish or rude does The Mountain make you? JUST rude enough. You get an Honor and I Roleplaying an NPC who is now offended (you took Honor, of course they're offended, right?)
Or, you're role-playing, and I offer you an Honor to behave a certain way -- like offering XP in apocalypse world on a manipulate. If you do, you get the Honor. If you refuse, I believe you lose two Honor (three total: the one you refuse from me and two others).
As for how some are more specific than others or more broad than others? Yeah, they're all flavored differently -- it's hella narrativist and they're not all equal. In some cases, though, you wouldn't want to be Funny when being Seductive could suffice (ya know, maybe your lord thinks your humor is too familiar a behavior at his war council -- boom, lose Honor) or some crap.
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Post by alfred on Mar 5, 2013 11:22:37 GMT -5
Adam brought up the use of color in Houses of the Blooded, so here it is for our use in Blood & Honor.
Black
"I am veiled by my shame."
For the ven, wearing black is a symbol of shame. The even word dulla (doo-ee-ah) best translated as "veiled," or invisible. Criminals wear black, and noone speaks to them. No one helps them, no one pays attention when they're being mugged. Nobles hire personal guard. To hide their identity and their shame, they wear masks and black robes. At parties, people ignore them. No need to point out another ven's shame, he's already being punished enough.
Red
"Get out of my way."
Red is passion. Romance or revenge. Nothing stands in the way of romance or revenge.
Grey
"Tears are not enough."
The color or mourning. Worn while grieving the dead.
Yellow
Forbidden color. Illness. Madness. No one wears yellow.
Green
"Spring is in my veins."
Youth, vigor, lust, Strength. Generosity. Naivete. Sincerity. Renewal, birth. It is also worn when seeking forgiveness, so it is associated with regret.
Blue
"I want to know."
Wisdom. As wide as the sky, as is all there is to learn. Often combined with green. Deep colors symbolize deeper knowledge -- humility requires choosing a shade lighter than your true knowledge... bravado begs a shade darker than you deserve. This color begs others for debate, questions, and discussion.
Lavender
"Entertain me."
The party color. Enjoyment. Delight. Not as intense as red, lavender is idle enjoyment. Whimsy, foolishness, simple pleasures. Theatres filled with those dressed in lavender. Undemanding color, disarming. 'I am playing the game, but not for keeps.'
White
"I am ready."
Death is inevitable. Wearing white symbolizes preparing for death. Serenity, patience. Ready for the end. It can also symbolize that a beloved friend or family member is passing into the Great Sleep and that your thoughts go with them. Mystery cults encourage their members to wear white throughout their lives, symbolising the long preparation for The Great Sleep. Others weave white into their clothes, eventually replacing it all with pure white.
Brown
"I am not playing the game."
Many wear brown simply to avoid the machinations and plots of their neighbors. Brown is the color of soil. Labor. 'I am too busy to play.' The color of honest work. An unspoken truth is acknowledged here: all play and no work, and civilization would crumble. Brown also carries connotations of the lower castes. Many wear brown to show an appreciation for the commoners, a respect for the unclean. Controversial, at least. Scandalous, more likely.
Gold and Silver
Gold, the sun, reason. Soft, malleable. Silver, the moon, emotion. Hard, cold. The color of nobility. Forbidden to the commoners.
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Post by alfred on Mar 5, 2013 14:09:13 GMT -5
Erik: Sword in the Scabbard applies in any sort of fight. I could compel you in a violent situation to have your sword sheathed when the shit hits the fan, or you could similarly compel yourself. More pressingly or more likely, it just means you'll be compelled to not use violence as your first solution to a problem.
Okay, also I have a question. There are some subsystems from Houses of the Blooded we might be interested in using in our game and I wanted to get some opinions on using them.
There's a Romance system for finding love, which is legit for this kind of political game, yeah?
There's an insult game mechanic where you can stick someone with a shitty aspect that everyone knows about, like "Imp" or "Bastard" or "Easy lay."
There is a bit about narcotics that work like aspects to give you small bumps and compels that make you act high -- with a chance of addiction to ruin everything!
There's a Contracts system, which is really just rolling Beauty to make an agreement favorable for you.
That's it. Those are the four I need y'all's opinions on. Do we think Romance/Insults/Drugs/Contracts are important to the kind of game we're playing?
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jt
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Post by jt on Mar 5, 2013 14:16:21 GMT -5
I think the Romance works fine for the sort of European courtly intrigue, and also the Insult Game (it reminds me of Nordic Skalds and Celtic Bards and catty Girls in High School Restrooms the world over).
Not sure about narcotics if only because off the top of my memory I can't really recall any instances of hard drug use in Euro-courtly literature.
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simon
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Post by simon on Mar 5, 2013 17:23:45 GMT -5
Romance and Insult seem appropriate.
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erik
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Post by erik on Mar 5, 2013 17:53:58 GMT -5
Not sure about narcotics if only because off the top of my memory I can't really recall any instances of hard drug use in Euro-courtly literature. well we do have some fantastical elements , right? So there could be something. But it seems like something that would be somewhat rare or might be. So probably not worth including as an actual "main" mechanic. Agree about romance and insults. Can other romances happen on the side? Non-arranged? Also I'll decide on my other two votes . But If my dog knew my plans will be getting one of my vote regardless. I kinda want to vote one that potentially has some martial usage since we all the votes seem to be court/social reliant. - which I don't know..maybe that's a good thing "shrugs" With Dig Two Graves..do you determine what you are seeking revenge for? And what you get offended by? Also with "Deer Hunter" I assume it's purely hunting sport and not people  ? |
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jt
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Post by jt on Mar 5, 2013 18:08:51 GMT -5
That is basically every use of the Romance rules in Houses of the Blooded.
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simon
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Post by simon on Mar 5, 2013 18:13:59 GMT -5
Thoughts for a motto - I had a think over breakfast and thought of a few dumb ones:
Under Every Stone
Men For All Seasons
Reaching Onwards
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Post by alfred on Mar 5, 2013 18:36:23 GMT -5
For Dig Two Graves, it is up to you if it counts as revenge. As long as you've been wronged, you're probably in clear to use that aspect. For Deer Hunter, it's hunting in the wilderness -- assume that includes tracking, yeah? Maybe you hunt people, maybe you don't.
And yeah, the Romance system in HotBlooded is that you roll to begin the romance game, and then the other party rolls back -- you flirt back and forth -- and one of you winds up being pursued and the other is the pursuer. It can be your arranged bride, a tart on the side, whatever. It's specifically romance though -- so it only counts for whoever you actually are romantically entangled with. You can bang whoever, but Romance is special.
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simon
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Post by simon on Mar 5, 2013 19:13:27 GMT -5
Actually, I'm going to switch my vote over from A Merry Companion over to Dig Two Graves.
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simon
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Post by simon on Mar 5, 2013 20:36:40 GMT -5
So we need to tally up/finish voting for the Aspects, decide on House motto, and choose a building each?
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Post by alfred on Mar 5, 2013 20:40:48 GMT -5
Erik and JT need to pick their three, y'all need a Motto, and choose a holding each, yeah.
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jt
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Post by jt on Mar 5, 2013 21:04:25 GMT -5
Hmm, let's see. I guess I'll vote for:
Fog Cannot Be Dispelled By a Fan
If My Dog Knew My Plans
One Word Can Warm The Winter
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Post by alfred on Mar 5, 2013 21:05:19 GMT -5
Also y'all need to pick what your Province's specialty is.
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erik
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Post by erik on Mar 5, 2013 21:19:24 GMT -5
I guesss - If My Dog Knew My Plans
- Dig Two Graves
- Fog Cannot be Dispelled by a Fan
I was half-way tempted to vote for One Word can Warm The Winter. But like Dig Two Graves a bit more. Also for some reason I prefer the sexy Wives one over the Jester one. edit: Under Every Stone sounds the best of the ones simon suggested. The ones I try to think of end up being too convoluted. Like alluding to a hydra or something. Cut us Down and Another will Rise (or some such). Or "Grasp Eternal" some nonsense. Something having to do with tentacles/reach and ensnarement . re: the Hydra sounding ones....they ones I come up with always come out sounding like a slogan for Viagra. |
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