OOC Discussion (Session 4)

[shroomofinsanity]

I also have my cash dice from character creation.

[Marullus]

Oh, true.
- Thag: no cash
- Allric: 1D heirloom
- Berry: 2D Cash
- Rabon: 1D heirloom and 2D Cash

...I don't think that counts against us in a divvy, though - we need a fair way to handle new treasure. (It might be worth trying to spend the pouches of gold and saving the more efficient pouch of gems.)

Thoughts?

[shroomofinsanity]

Definitely spend the bulky stuff. I have no issue spending mine towards the greater good. And I need to do a circles test for info on my enemy, which Rabon can totally help on, if he is ok with that.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Rabon will help.
He's staying with a friend, so his biggest thing is the tools. I think the stained glass will work for that. Use the hammer to buy oil and food in bulk. Rabon can try that. (Any bartering gives him a better chance to spend Fate related to his wise. Which helps with getting to level 3. Which I hope to do before leaving town. Wish me luck on that.)

[Marullus]

So... Haggling is a little bitchy.

Rather than making individual tests, make one Haggler test against the town. Note that this test does count toward your lifestyle, so there’s some risk involved. Haggling is always done individually.

A haggling test is +1 Lifestyle and it implies you only make one test for each trip to a town. Each PC gets a chance, though, if they risk it. It has randomized effect, and is pricey.

A Remote Village is Ob3.

Only Thag has Haggler (2D), btw. Rabon, Allric, and Berry are Beginner's luck -- That's 1D for Rabon, 2D for Berry, and 3D for Allric. Thag can help and we're fresh, but it is still a tough roll. Only the Busy Crossroads is easier, though.

Your wise, though, does help with any resource tests. Once we each have Resources 1 we can also help. (Just don't lose, so wise is good.)

[BillTheGalacticHero]

Rabon has Manipulator, and Berry has Persuader, both are suitable for helping Haggler.

Reading up on Haggling, whether you pass or fail you still roll on the same Haggling table - 3D6. If you pass the test you can choose the result you roll or the next higher one. If you fail you have to subtract the margin of failure from the 3D6 result.

Either way you have to add +1 to the Lifestyle cost. I'm willing to try it, looking at an "average" die roll with two failures would either make me Angry (if I rolled an average 9; or allow me to remove Angry, if I roll a 10; or allow me to take an extra item at he same price if I roll an 11). It's only if the 3D6 roll is really bad do things go sour.

I'm willing to do the haggling.

[Marullus]

Rabon has Manipulator, and Berry has Persuader, both are suitable for helping Haggler.

Ahhh, good point! That really helps.

The rules are designed to spread the tests out and make multiple people act. It is probably worth it for several of us to try to haggle and try to buy something to get the tests flowing when it comes to it.

[Marullus]

"Like I said," the guard continues with a shrug, "try the tavern. I saw a guy with a floppy hat for sure."

You made usake an Obstacle 5 roll for THAT? I said we could just wait for the tavern and you specified we should do it now - so let's finish the job.


The book says that I get to name the NPC and add him as a new Friend on my sheet as a result of that roll. I would like if you gave a description of him first so you retain that narrative control and then I will pick an appropriate name. (I assume there's some kind of magic professional native to the town? If you don't want to describe him, I'll say he's a hedge wizard at the outskirts near the Herbalist. Floppy hats are a lovely trend, though.)

[BillTheGalacticHero]

I still have my straw hat with the three feathers. At least I think I do.

[BillTheGalacticHero]

Rabon has Manipulator, and Berry has Persuader, both are suitable for helping Haggler.

Ahhh, good point! That really helps.

The rules are designed to spread the tests out and make multiple people act. It is probably worth it for several of us to try to haggle and try to buy something to get the tests flowing when it comes to it.

I can make the Haggle test with help, and then can help for anyone who wants to try Beginners luck with it. And looking at the table the only really bad results fare a modified 3 or 4. I would think that the Nature: Demanding would fit in here nicely if one of us Humans wanted to try it.

[shroomofinsanity]

Hmm...I could make a demand on religious grounds perhaps. I'd ask about my trait here, but I was hoping to save my touched by the gods to assist in finding a proper person to hold the book.

[BillTheGalacticHero]

Hmm...I could make a demand on religious grounds perhaps. I'd ask about my trait here, but I was hoping to save my touched by the gods to assist in finding a proper person to hold the book.

Just use your Persuader skill when helping me -- drop some sort of hint that a righteous, god-fearing merchant would not want to upset their deity by deliberately misleading a fine customer like me. And Rabon would use Manipulator to add some side comments just at the right moment to distract the merchant.

If you decide to Haggle yourself, then you would use Beginner's Luck, and possibly tap your Nature: Demanding.

the Lifestyle cost is an individual burden, so if you help and I fail you have to accept the penalty too. I guess the merchants talk amongst themselves after hours.

We should add another line in our character sheets for accumulated Lifestyle cost in town.

Another thought...
Instead of using Manipulator, Rabon could use Shrewd-Appraisal-Wise (he drop hints to the merchant on the quality of our stuff), so if I do fail he doesn't suffer the Lifestyle penalty. That sounds so much like what a Rogue would do.

[shroomofinsanity]

Ok, I'll do my best traveling preacher routine, something about how the Lords look kindly on those that help people in need. And I am the eyes and ears of the Lords.

[Marullus]

the Lifestyle cost is an individual burden, so if you help and I fail you have to accept the penalty too. I guess the merchants talk amongst themselves after hours.

Yikes! You think so? Hadn't considered that.

Since it is a cost on the tester (successful or not) I wouldn't have considered that. Helpers share consequences of failure, but Lifestyle costs aren't a consequence of failure. (IMHO failure would cost Lifestyle for the tester AND a condition-with-success for all involved or a Twist for all involved.)

I was hoping to save my touched by the gods to assist in finding a proper person to hold the book.

The definition of "proper person" is key here. Falco is a remote village and doesn't have a church (and thus no religious town services).

That's part of what led to my IC appeal that we go next to the Ashen Throne. (In addition to the fact that I need to visit there before levelling again or I lose my chance of spell gain.)

He asks Rabon, Berry, and Thag if they have any connections in this backwater as well. As they wind their way to the herbalist in an area without crowds, he posits, "Berry, I don't think you'll find a suitable repository for your Dwarven books and, frankly, I don't trust the powers of Hollifort to use them well. You have a rare book to show the nature of dwarven practice which sheds... new light... on their teachings. Perhaps we consider a trip to the scholars of the Ashen Throne, hmm? I'd fancy a week or two there with those of my order and you could seek a more suitable keeper for your lore." After a considering pause as he puffs on his pipe, he adds, "Do any seek to return to the monastery, or to that witch's hut?"

[Rusty Tincanne]

Another thought...
Instead of using Manipulator, Rabon could use Shrewd-Appraisal-Wise (he drop hints to the merchant on the quality of our stuff), so if I do fail he doesn't suffer the Lifestyle penalty. That sounds so much like what a Rogue would do.

This. And not just because he's a rogue. Also because it will be one of the few times he ever gets to use that wise, so I have to!

[BillTheGalacticHero]

the Lifestyle cost is an individual burden, so if you help and I fail you have to accept the penalty too. I guess the merchants talk amongst themselves after hours.

Yikes! You think so? Hadn't considered that.

Since it is a cost on the tester (successful or not) I wouldn't have considered that. Helpers share consequences of failure, but Lifestyle costs aren't a consequence of failure. (IMHO failure would cost Lifestyle for the tester AND a condition-with-success for all involved or a Twist for all involved.)

I was hoping to save my touched by the gods to assist in finding a proper person to hold the book.

The definition of "proper person" is key here. Falco is a remote village and doesn't have a church (and thus no religious town services).

That's part of what led to my IC appeal that we go next to the Ashen Throne. (In addition to the fact that I need to visit there before levelling again or I lose my chance of spell gain.)

He asks Rabon, Berry, and Thag if they have any connections in this backwater as well. As they wind their way to the herbalist in an area without crowds, he posits, "Berry, I don't think you'll find a suitable repository for your Dwarven books and, frankly, I don't trust the powers of Hollifort to use them well. You have a rare book to show the nature of dwarven practice which sheds... new light... on their teachings. Perhaps we consider a trip to the scholars of the Ashen Throne, hmm? I'd fancy a week or two there with those of my order and you could seek a more suitable keeper for your lore." After a considering pause as he puffs on his pipe, he adds, "Do any seek to return to the monastery, or to that witch's hut?"

I guess that would be up to the GM. Guilt-by-association. "Yeah, he's with those guys who tried to swindle me trying to barter cheap stuff."

But then, it does say "Haggling is always done individually." Does that mean you can't get help? I think you should be able to get help, using the suggestions I gave previous: Manipulator to distract the merchant; Persuader to gently nudge them to a better deal for us, etc. Perhaps the rule would be interpreted that only the tester suffer the consequences, and only he reaps the benefits.

Isn't arguing (i.e complaining) about rpg rules a Peasant skill? roflmao

I think it boils down to, do we want one or more of us to get a possible bonus out of dealing with the merchants. As I said, I'm willing to try, and if Rabon uses his Wise he gets to help for free.

As to what to do after town? I would vote for the Monastery, at least to check out the lower level. Unless we hear more disturbing rumors about missing children, which might lead to that Witch's Hut.

IC: Falco sort of reminds me of home, in that it is a small place where everyone knows everyone, and strangers from other places are something unusual. I've never been here, but perhaps they have heard of my Mentor, if we want to do some name-dropping.

I could do some Digging for Leads to find more information about the Witch's Hut. It's a Circles test, and I think my Circles are 4, which I think is reasonably high. But it adds to the Lifestyle cost, which for me would already be up to 2 at that point (Haggling, staying in the Stables), and I have no cash on hand, all I would have is what I could get bartering our loot.

[BillTheGalacticHero]

"Like I said," the guard continues with a shrug, "try the tavern. I saw a guy with a floppy hat for sure."

You made usake an Obstacle 5 roll for THAT? I said we could just wait for the tavern and you specified we should do it now - so let's finish the job.


The book says that I get to name the NPC and add him as a new Friend on my sheet as a result of that roll. I would like if you gave a description of him first so you retain that narrative control and then I will pick an appropriate name. (I assume there's some kind of magic professional native to the town? If you don't want to describe him, I'll say he's a hedge wizard at the outskirts near the Herbalist. Floppy hats are a lovely trend, though.)

Perhaps the guard didn't want to converse about what he knows while on duty, and will tell us more at the Tavern when he's off-duty?

[BillTheGalacticHero]

Since it is a cost on the tester (successful or not) I wouldn't have considered that. Helpers share consequences of failure, but Lifestyle costs aren't a consequence of failure. (IMHO failure would cost Lifestyle for the tester AND a condition-with-success for all involved or a Twist for all involved.)

You could argue that there is no consequence of failure other than a modifier on the results of the Haggling table, which would only affect the Haggler himself, for both success or failure. The Haggling test is just adding to the Obs level for the Resources test at the end, so it has no success/failure result by itself.

[BillTheGalacticHero]

So, I will roll a Haggling test later tonight. But I think I need something to haggle with. What item(s) of loot am I getting? I'm thinking the 3D gem?

Rabon can help Haggle with no consequences using Shrewd-Appraisal-Wise, Berry can help with Persuader. The result will be applied to any Marketplace tests and/or Lodging, and/or Digging For Leads. Pass or Fail will increase by Lifestyle by 1.

I think I will end up with a minimum of Lifestyle 3. (Haggling, Flophouse or Stables, buying crossbow bolts). I'm Resources 0 so I will have to use what ever I get from loot.

That will give us a ranged weapon for the next adventure, and then if Rabon loans me his dagger I will have two weapons for close-in work. Food we (I) can Hunt for (the crossbow will help there), water is free when leaving town. Other gear (oil, etc) you guys will have to handle.

Well, I'm off to play Tunnels & Trolls tonight, it's the once-per-month game session. I'll be offline for a few hours.

[Marullus]

We need to handle the Herbalist, then apparently go to the tavern, then go to the market. Let's not roll until we're in the right scene, right?

Also, re: your Lifestyle, I don't believe buying things in the market raises it. (You need to spend resources directly for that test, so it doesn't need the pay-later proxy.)

Yes, we need to work out this loot distribution before we start rolling resources tests (if we can go back to that).

I would like to know Ludanto's clarification on if Help is allowed on Haggling, and if so, his interpretation of the costs of failure.

Right now, we need to finish the Contacts check so we can go back to the Herbalist conversation and continue on...