GM: Sophie Lagacé
Players: Banana Chan, Sen-Foong Lim, Sean Nittner
System: Tiān Dēng
Back at playtesting, this time with a new basic rules set. We really wanted the Boons and Curses to be a fluid currency in the game, easy to spend and gain, and applicable to all results on all moves. Modifying rolls (+1 or -1) was a possible option, but not an exciting one. Also, if used after a role, there are lots of times when Boons would be useless (Giving +1 on a roll that is anything but a 6 or 9) and where curses could be spent without repercussion (Giving -1 on anything that isn’t a 7 or 10). They could be used before the roll, but they felt precious enough that we want to make sure they always did something rather than just change the odds.
Behold the positive and negative outcomes on every move, and the way Boons and Curses can modify them. This was the system that we were playtesting:
Gossip
Talking with someone (or something) with the intention of learning things that maybe you shouldn’t know.
When talking with someone about local rumors and other people’s lives, voice your opinion and roll 2D6.
- On a 10 or higher, they are excited to dish! Pick one positive outcome. Optimally, press your luck and select a second positive outcome but the GM picks a negative outcome as well.
- On a 7-9, they’ll share, but they expect you to share as well. Select one positive outcome and the GM selects one negative outcome.
- On a 6 or lower, they share gossip you might not want to hear. Pick one negative outcome and the GM picks one negative outcome as well.
Positive Outcomes:
- If you are talking with an NPC, they tell you a secret they probably shouldn’t. What you do with that is your business!
- If you are talking with another Crewmate, they clear all of their Stress.
- If you are talking with the Ship, shift the Ship’s Mood one space to the right.
- If you are talking with an NPC, they offer you a Side Hustle (see page XXX)
Negative Outcomes:
- The gossip is dangerous. Pick another NPC or group who could be harmed by the gossip and the GM describes a cut scene where they learn you’ve heard about it.
- This gossip is tedious. Mark 1 stress and describe how you slip out of the conversation or bravely endure it.
- The gossip is hurtful. Describe how it affects a Crewmate and remove a Boon you have with them. If you have no Boons, give a Curse instead.
And to go along with moves like this, we have Boons and Curses:
Spend A Boon
When assisting the Crewmate named on a Boon after the outcomes are determined, narrate how you help them and then spend that Boon to do one of the following things:
- Make the good better! If they get to select at least one positive outcome, you select one more as well.
- Make the bad…less bad. Add a positive spin to a negative outcome.
- Protect them from the worst of it. Choose one negative outcome that you prevent, but mark 1 stress to do it.
- Have a positive flashback with the named Crewmate.
Spend A Curse
When assisting the Crewmate named on a Curse after the outcomes are determined, narrate how you inadvertently hinder them and then spend that Curse to do one of the following things:
- Make the bad worse. If they have to select at least one negative outcome, you select one more as well.
- Make the good…not so good. Add a negative spin to a positive outcome.
- Sabotage their efforts. Clear all your stress, but the GM describes how that turns one of their positive outcomes into a negative outcome as well.
- Have a negative flashback with the named Crewmate.
We had a few variants to try out and got a lot of good results from the moves. What felt satisfying vs disporting, what was intuitive vs confusing, what was
Li Chan and the Sesame Paste Vermin
Past a gorgeous green and blue artificial moon featuring the The Cosmic Palisades Spa Resort is Li Chan the partially terraformed paradise for those who can afford it.
And on one particular estate, protected by its own private bubble was a castle whose ground were infested with….the most adorable critters. Bounding purple fur creators that make bird calls were leaping from hole to hole that they were burrowing through…and getting bigger!
The custodian, who found that the critters grew when fed anything but sesame-based products, or when not fed at all. Oh…and reproducing like gremlins. The were everywhere and the custodian needed them removed and the holes filled before the owner returned from the vacationing at The Cosmic Palisades!
- Keilam talked to a researcher Mei Mei…who inadvertently created the creatures.
- Choi Hong got us a giant tub of Sesame Paste, even though that meant fighting off other shoppers and dodging the media.
- Yang Guang made a giant (really giant) batch of Dad’s Dan Dan Noodles (with the sesame paste Choi Hong provided) and lured the creatures onto our ship… where we’re taking them to keep as pets?
Other fun bits:
- Choi Hong fixed the Engine Room…extra good, but was cursed by our ship Chang’e for not tending to her.
- Keliam did Cyber Research (on Darkstar!) to find out about Chinese hero to re-contextualize: Ji Gong, a kind-hearted Buddhist monk who used his magical powers to rescue people in need. But another comic book artist… GARY… was trying to do the same thing.
- Yang Guang made offerings to Chang’u…a song that she liked
- Boons and curses were spend like candy!
