Another newbie question: the book says you’re taken out of “this conflict” when you fill your Stress track and suffer Trauma. Assuming this happens during a Score, I assume that means you’re out of commission until the Score ends and Downtime begins.
What do you do with the player whose character is no longer playable? I don’t like asking the player to sit out, and asking them to make another character on the fly is a little weak.
There’s a good conversation about that here with John giving his take: plus.google.com – I am having some trouble in my table with the idea that a character who reach…
TLDR: It’s up to the table, by the book it’s the current conflict and not necessarily the whole score, but do whatever feels right.
It’s also not terrible for a player to sit out. They can still meaningfully engage. More time to come up with great devil’s bargains to tempt and help other players, give ideas for flashbacks, etc. The crew also has cohorts, experts, or if nothing else just other NPCs. It’s easy to play one of them as a quick character if a player wants. Just have a stress track and a few actions; they don’t even need a playbook or special ability. Additionally, this helps flesh out the crew’s otherwise faceless gangs, and it always helps having some fun, colorful backups or second stringers when primary PCs get lost overindulging vice (my players often preferred that over other options).
When the story’s ultimately about the crew, the onscreen PCs can really come and go as suits the drama.
It’s also a great opportunity to introduce a new character.
You’re a “crew”, so grab a new cutter or lurk, and jump in. “Hey guys! I’m Boze the cutter, I’m the leader of our cohort of thugs and I like breaking bones! We were on lookout outside, and I saw that flash of magic and came in to see if I can help.”
… the player doesn’t have to sit out, that new character doesn’t have as many skills but is still super useful to the group because of the empty stress track and lack of trauma.
And if the player likes the new character they can keep playing it as a PC. If they don’t, they can switch back to their old one at a convenient point in the story. But now that NPC is a little more fleshed out than before.
It lets the players do some of the heavy lifting for the GM, while making the game richer.
It’s also great for when a PC is arrested, dealing with prison claims, scouting in another city etc.
Thanks for the ideas everyone. I ended up telling the guy he could continue to make Flashbacks for his character, but having more tools in the bag is great.
If I meant “you’re out for the whole score” that’s what I would have said. That’s not the intent.
Since version 1.0 I’ve envisioned a character coming out from the Red Sashes wine cellar a little tipsy or downright drunk, but with a clear stress bar and a smile on the lips, just in time to redirect the Crew’s efforts!
Just like in the movies!
John Harper I also thought it was for the score. I think what fooled me is that it says “You’re ‘left for dead’ or otherwise dropped out of the current conflict.” The “left for dead” part sounded to me like it was longer term than a single scene or challenge, since usually when that happens in movies you don’t see the character again for a while.