S&V Question;
On p297-289 there is a description of magnitude. It describes artifacts working essentially a bit like the “old” tempest move; you go for an effect and the group decides what a reasonable stress cost for it would be. Seems fine to me, i get how it works, and i’ve used it before to great effect.
Now, the problem is in the Mystic move “the Way”, which allows one to spend a gambit in place of any stress cost. It even specifically calls out that for abilities with variable stress costs, it counts the entire thing.
My question is, given a powerful enough artifact, can a mystic with this move essentially spend a gambit to use the artifact to insane levels of effect? regardless of the other consequences of such an action, do we think it makes sense, or is intended this way? and if not, how would you solve a situation where a player wants to use a combination like that?
I think I’d allow it myself. And my read is that yeah, it is intended that way.
First, they found a super powerful artifact, and that probably wasn’t easy. Second, the consequences of using it will balance out their readiness to do so (probably…at least for more reasonable groups). I’d probably pair it with a warning that a resistance will only reduce the consequence, not negate it. Third, the game won’t end after that, and I can’t imagine that they won’t have consequences for the use of it. IMAGINE THE DEVIL’S BARGAINS OH SWEET GOODNESS.
I’m reminded in this moment of John Harper handing his players in Stars Without Number a nuclear missile. The problem lies not in the use of it, but in the aftermath on the other side.