Just confirming my understanding of engagement rolls and the initial position. So let’s say the crew rolls a 4-5 on the engagement. First thing: That sets the initial position for a standard effect related to the first obstacle in the score at Risky if I understand correctly. Right?
Also, my question is about the Discussion at that point. As usual, the player(s) can then ask for more effect, to make it Desperate- right? Or even a little less effect, to make it Controlled- right? Or is the engagement special, and effect and position set once those dice roll, and adjusted positions not up for discussion?
Yeah your understanding of the roll setting the position is correct.
I’ve always had the discussion as an option, though I think the nature of the engagement roll makes trying to make the engagement less dangerous immediately significantly more different. But if it’s risky because there are two guards doing a crossing pattern in the hall way and the player wants to shoot one but make it more desperate by jumping out in the middle of both of them first that’s totally fine. Makes sense.
On page 129, it just says that on a 4/5, “You’re in a risky position when the action starts.” It doesn’t mention effect level at all, so that could be anywhere from zero to great, depending on what the players want to try.
I think if players want to trade down, to make the position from an Engagement roll worse, that’s probably fine (Desperate actions are fun!), but they shouldn’t be able to make it better, because that’s taking all the fun out of the roll, and it essentially makes failing the roll meaningless.
Chris McDonald I disagree. since asking for a minor effect after a 4-5 would just be controlled, and would still be different than if they rolled a 1-3 engagement result: asking for a controlled position when desperate gives you standard effect would reduce effect twice ( to zero). Risky becomes the only option to actually Do anything on a 1-3 so I think it’s fine
Was looking for a rules admonition tbh, since I admit I’m not perfect, and could quite possibly have missed it. Otherwise I see no reason that the engagement should differ from other parts of the Discussion
Mark Cleveland Massengale I guess one of the factors there is that the engagement roll doesn’t specifically set effect, effect is more likely to be adjusted by the action. Depending on the player wants to do the effect could change.
A desperate position could become great effect if the whisper just drops a tempest bolt on a normal person because that’s got potency behind it.
So it’s all fairly up to circumstance and adjustment really but I do think the conversation and option for conversation is there.
We never adjust effect/position for the roll after engagement, but sure, that’s fine by the rules.
I personal have the first few rolls be desperate, rather than just the first.
Ok, so the rules say it’s okay, but your answer implies that it might be ill-advised of me to allow it. Does that sound right John Harper? If so, can you explain that a bit?
I prefer to keep the momentum high at the very beginning of the score. Engagement roll, then the first action roll, in fairly quick succession. But, as always, do what works in the moment. If it makes sense to stop and asses the situation again after the engagement roll, then go ahead.
Andy Owlington Kay. There is admonition against doing that exact thing in the text though (see top of p130)
Oh, I must of missed that! Cheers!
sweet, that is my preference as well – I really only ask because I was explaining position and effect and engagement to some players and the clarification on whether this was just a style choice or not suddenly became important to me. Thanks!
Andy Owlington glad I could help. double cheers!
It may be a dumb question, but does a critical here really matter? “Critical: Exceptional result. You’ve
already overcome the first obstacle and
you’re in a controlled position for what’s next.”
That’s nice, but is the number of obstacles set? Will not the GM just think of another “to compensate”? Thinking about it now as I ask the question, I guess the number of obstacles really flows from the fiction, and as such their number is “limited”. How many are “standard” for a Score?
Tarald Røste It’s a limited number, but as usual the GM determines the number of obstacles and the source of opposition behind them.
This subject came up recently in another thread. From John’s responses, he doesn’t aim to tell you a “standard” number, and you’re right: fiction first. Your input on that thread might spark some more conversation tbh
plus.google.com – Is there a guide on how many obstacles, or how ‘easy’ or ‘hard’ a score shou…