So, just GM’d my first session of BitD (first time GMing anything, yikes!). Had a great time. Definitely kept me on my toes, but looking forward to our next session. Couple questions came up from that first session, though:
1) How “binding” are the results of an Engagement roll? My group’s first Score involved ambushing a group of Lampblacks en route to a deal with the Fog Hounds. Their plan was to hit the Lampblacks as they were crossing a bridge into the Docks, steal their clothes and Coin, and then pose as Lampblacks to complete the deal.
They got a 6 on their Engagement roll, so I figure, “Cool, Controlled position to start.” The group’s Hound is set up in a prime sniping position overlooking the bridge, with the group’s Cutter lying in wait ahead. The Lampblacks take the bridge as expected, wary but not anticipating any trouble. Rather than just jump the Lampblacks, however, the Cutter swaggers up to them, blocks their way, and demands that they “pay the toll.”
Huh.
I gave him Controlled position for his Command roll (they’d earned it), but mulling it over, it seemed a pretty Desperate thing to do. I mean, it’s one guy, threatening a bunch of armed, hardened thugs on their own turf. That… seems pretty dangerous. Made me wonder what the best practice is when players are given an optimal situation but do something that potentially squanders their opportunity (say, during a Social operation, the players get a 6 on their Engagement roll and then inexplicably decide to Wreck something to impress their affluent host; still Controlled?).
2) What’s a good way to do traps? Once the fighting broke out, one of the Lampblacks went after the crew’s Leech, who’d been hiding off to the side, trying (and failing) to use his blowgun. He quickly flashbacked to setting up a snare near his position that would string up anyone who came after him. I thought it was a cool idea, but I wasn’t immediately sure how to play it out.
I wound up having him to a Tinker roll to craft the trap (minimum Tier 2); I had him pay Stress, wasn’t sure if I should’ve had him pay Coin instead. I then used the trap’s Quality (2) in a Fortune roll to determine its effectiveness. Still, I wasn’t sure if I should’ve had the Leech do another roll (probably Tinker or Wreck?) to effectively place the trap beforehand. The way I did it doesn’t really take the target’s capabilities into account (are they able to see it, avoid it, etc.). Definitely not something I want the group abusing going forward.