Blades in the Dark: Discussion – Page 19 – Blades in the Dark G+ Archives

Can someone elaborate on the Mandate from Blue Coats?

Can someone elaborate on the Mandate from Blue Coats? Specifically how the Case Dice and the claims work, I think I worked out the rest.

So a player decided to deal with his stress relief overindulging by taking an extra entanglement.

So a player decided to deal with his stress relief overindulging by taking an extra entanglement. I rolled demonic. A The Ring lookalike materializes in his fireplace as he is looking around to deal with the succen frost. (The daemon is along the theme of temperature control, absorbing and generating heat and cold at will). In my mindscape it is clearly too challenging for the players to tackle.

At first, he grabs his warhammer and swings at it. In a blur, the demon dodges the blow and ends up behind the PC. It giggles and tells him that she has a deal to propose. She does not give any information at that point, I want to see how the player reacts. After a quick bout of out of game questions he decides that he will have nothing to do with the demon, who ended up threatening his family (his obligation vice) to try and convince him.

We come back to the table where other players are and I state the mechanical choices: lay low for so long that you both escape the demon’s notice and lose reputation as your presence is lost, accept the demon deal, or deal with the daemon some other way.

They chose option 3 even if option 1 was a guaranteed result.

They went to see Griggs from the Gondoliers, who recommended either Sanctifying a place to prevent incursion from that particular demon, or performing a ritual to bind the demon so that it no longer harrasses the crew (killing it outright was hinted as being out of Grigg’s league…and therefore the crew’s!)

So now they are on the way to doing a social score with the dimmer sisters in order to get the proper arcane/occult McGuffins and knowledge in order to then (as a 2nd score) summon and bind the demon. Players expect to be able to rid themselves of the demon, but I will surprise them when even the dimmer sisters seem not powerful enough to outright slay a demon. So as Griggs surmised, forcing it to agree to a bargain is the best way to go around its apparent invincibility.

My questions are

-how do you guys do social scores to request the aid of a neutral faction, do you have any ideas about the sort of obstacles or key points that should be adressed during the first score?

-how does a crew with zero atune get to summon and bind a demon? I’m thinking of actually having it propose that they must “bring blood sacrifices every week in order to appease its wrath” or something similarly dire… would you have any less-clichéd suggestions?

Bearing in mind that all of this will probably cost them resources rather than generating coin, maybe put them at odds with the spirit wardens, and generate regular reputation (2+1) I think that this approach (not paying 3 rep) is the riskiest but most fun from a storytelling perspective, so I want to run with it.

In BitD, characters get XP for attempting Desperate actions rolls.

In BitD, characters get XP for attempting Desperate actions rolls. Was it always this way? Specifically, did the designers ever think about granting XP for failed rolls instead (a la Dungeon World)?

How would this change the game?

Any ideas floating out there on how to add complications to an assassination attempt on a mid level blue coat, in…

Any ideas floating out there on how to add complications to an assassination attempt on a mid level blue coat, in his home?

My group and I came up with a small addition for Blades that in just one session has already made things way more…

My group and I came up with a small addition for Blades that in just one session has already made things way more interesting. In engagement roll section, one of the questions is “Is there a rival or enemy interfering? -1d” In an effort to encourage players to bring in their rivals to cause problems, we have added an XP trigger similar to the desperate action trigger, that grants one XP if you allow a rival to interfere in the score. Its a small addition, but it gives the players a chance to bring in parts of their characters that in my experience dont get seen very often.

Craft an elixir to clear stress? Pros, cons, dos, don’ts?

So I have been playing Blades for almost a year and a half, started my own campaign about two months ago and I write…

So I have been playing Blades for almost a year and a half, started my own campaign about two months ago and I write RP as filler and in preparation for session (get the players excited and such). Thought I would share with you what I have so far (granted I know it’s several pages and in sections and I’m not a professional writer by any means) BUT I’m super excited and thought maybe it would be an enjoyable read and inspiration for your own campaigns.

Note my campaign is set in Iruvia and I do create a lot of custom things to flesh the setting and world out. This writing does include chars created by my players.

Here’s my starting situation for a new gang tonight, based in Six Towers (probably Hawkers of Smugglers).

Here’s my starting situation for a new gang tonight, based in Six Towers (probably Hawkers of Smugglers). I’d love any feedback or suggestions.

The Deathlands Scavengers recently discovered a massive ghost well in the basement of an abandoned compound in the Deathlands and have begun capturing spirits and smuggling them into the city. The Gray Cloaks, hoping to use the opportunity to cement their power in Six Towers, have worked closely with the Scavengers, using their contacts among the Inspectors and their knowledge of Duskwall’s law enforcement to facilitate smuggling and selling operations. This influx has dropped the value of spirit essence substantially, destabilizing the Dimmer Sisters’ power and disrupting their control over the spirit essence trade. In the meantime, Lord Scurlock is taking advantage of the situation, using the conflict over the spirit essence trade to surreptitiously move against both the Dimmer Sisters and the Deathlands Scavengers, taking the opportunity to steal artifacts and treasures from both of them, in the hope of solving a particularly dangerous riddle. Of course, all of this has attracted the watchful eye of the Spirit Wardens, who are eager to know what the source of the new glut of spirit essence is, a secret that Lady Thorn would kill to protect.

Roslyn, the Dimmer Sisters’ servant, has arranged a meeting with the players. She is patient, loyal, and straightforward. The Gray Cloaks’ operations in Six Towers are threatening everything the Dimmer Sisters have worked for, so it is time for the Dimmer Sisters to call in their favors and marshal whatever resources they can against the Cloaks.

Are the players willing to help? Are they already working for the Gray Cloaks? Are they already working for Lord Scurlock? Or are they secretly on the payroll of the Spirit Wardens?