I thought it might be useful to dig a bit more into how I was using the mechanics for combat in the latest session. I share this for two reasons. One is it might help others come up with ways to handle combat, and the other is so people can identify ways I could use the system better. (I’ve found out several times I was handling the system in unhelpful or unintended ways.)
THE AMBUSH
There was a cutter, a hound, and two whispers in a trainer’s box down by the edge of the hagfish racing pool. (That’s every bit as unpleasant as it sounds.) It was a slow Thursday afternoon. Suddenly plasm weapons are firing with big gusting bangs! A dozen attackers are sweeping down at them, six to a side, closing in on their location.
I made a six segment clock called “attacking hollows” because the whispers could see they were hollows without having to roll or anything, they’re just that good. I also told them that every “round” that went by where there were still segments on the clock, they would all suffer a consequence.
Since the hound had charged shot, he opened up on one flank. He got a 1-3 result modified +1 effect by his fine pistols, filling 2 segments but with a complication. I upgraded the situation from risky to desperate as the attackers raced up towards melee range. (However, we got to see the charged shot actually burn the ghosts out of the hollows he hit, so that was fun.)
I decided the cutter could ignore the desperate situation, keeping it at risky, because he had a special ability that allowed him to engage bigger groups. He rolled 4-5 and filled 2 segments, and the remaining hollows were leaping into the box in melee range now.
The whispers wanted to have started a ritual at the beginning of the round; fine. They pulled down one of the hagfish nets, and one used his electroplasm to charge it while the other weaponized it to eject ghosts from their hollows. The casting whisper took 2 stress, I think, to make the ritual work. The other whisper took stress to give +1d to the other, and the roll was a 6, finishing out the clock by the end of the round so there were no consequences for the group to take. I did not add effect to the roll for using the electroplasm vial; instead, that made the ritual possible.
THE MOB HIT
The cutter saw a group of a dozen raggedy hollows hefting out the strong boxes from the gambling counter. He wanted to stop them from escaping and knock them all down.
Since he could ignore scale issues, he got to tackle the group as a risky situation. I made a 6 segment clock for “Contain the Rags.” Each round the clock was not full he would take a consequence. He had quality melee weapons. He used mayhem.
I offered him a devil’s bargain if he lost his weapons, stuck in foes. He took it, and ended up with a 4-5, so he filled 2 segments +1 for the weapons. I don’t remember the complication; maybe some of them were trying to escape? Anyway, he rammed his sword and shield into a couple of them, warning them he’d be back for them. (The hollows drove the bodies like they stole them, heedless of harm, making them more dangerous.)
For the consequence, a pile of them tried to grapple him and shiv him; he took the damage on his armor.
Round two, the hound fired on the group and knocked 2 segments off, running out of shot until he reloaded. Since there was only one segment left and most of the group was now available, they took a couple wretches captive without having to roll.
FUN DEVIL’S BARGAINS
They used a rook gang in the second heist. I offered the devil’s bargain when they tried to palm the amulet that whether they succeeded or not, they’d be ejected from the tavern; the group didn’t take it, wanting to keep them on hand.
Then when the rooks caused a distraction for them, I offered a bargain that however it ended a fight would break out. They DID take that one. (If they succeeded, they could slip out of the fight; if not, the rook gang would take a pounding and get ejected and the distraction would not make much ripple.)
After that when one of the characters wanted to make a distraction above and beyond the bar brawl, I offered a bargain that there would be at least one casualty in the fight; they took that one.
The distracting character also was offered a devil’s bargain to be spotted, his face remembered at the scene; he took it. =) The Lampblacks will be VERY interested.
When a whisper was using a ghost to intimidate potential attackers, I offered a bargain that the ghost would come out and scare them, but then it would want to stretch its legs. =) He took the bargain!
As a whisper was trying to pull a spirit out of a body, however it turned out, he would leave “fingerprints” another whisper could see. He took the bargain, but fed the corpse to a hagfish pool.
Anyway, we had a good time and I look forward to playing again.