OOC and Character Chatter

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Dec 23, 2022 5:54 pm
From reading through char gen Iread as the 'witchness' or our characters meant we could use Occult for the ritual, but not necessarily everyone got active casting spells at will, unless we did take arcane background where we would get access to the powers.. though I would complain at it being free as would then be able to put in even more spell casting edges :P
Dec 23, 2022 5:57 pm
WhtKnt says:
Okay, last question. Is Arcane Background a free Edge or do we have to pay for it, since every character has it?
Every character does not have it. Treat purchasing it like you would any other edge. There are may ways to be a witch. All characters, even Chief Sweeney can cast spells from a spell book or scroll--to do so they cast it as a ritual.
[ +- ] Ritual


I'll post the above in Resources as well--the skill used is Occult. For a fiction example, think Willow in the first few seasons of Buff the Vampire Slayer. The gang was always casting spells via texts found during research.
Dec 23, 2022 6:06 pm
Lol I have a lot of opinions on Hinderances, lol, oh no!!

This is how I treat them: For a Hinderance to get a Benny it needs to impact the narrative in a dramatic way. If your character is stubborn and you roleplay that out in a scene where they refuse to buy popcorn at the supermarket because they want chips, well that is not getting a benny.

BUT, if that scene in the supermarket is going to make or break the success of the Halloween party you're throwing, because you know the visiting wizard wants popcorn, but you still refuse to buy it, putting the party in peril, well that gets a Benny.

When a Hinderance tanks the well laid plans of the party, and now the little trouble is big trouble--mmm that's that good stuff. I'm not trying to replicate physics, I'm trying to replicate fiction--and fiction needs drama and characters doing "dumb" things, is my humble opinion.

I find Hinderances and Bennies to work best when the player is not RP'ing it in a coy fashion. Just tell us OOC that you're doing X because your hinderance. Boom, sweet Benny. So go wild on them, but use them to make meaningful trouble!
Dec 23, 2022 6:09 pm
Sounds great! I'll try to get my character finished soon. Probably not today. Maybe tomorrow
Dec 23, 2022 6:10 pm
Sorry, example--in my current in person Deadlands game one of the characters has a Hinderance that makes them fidget with their gun. They describe this happening a lot, as it a little quirk of their character. But when they RP it as prompting something from an NPC, like making someone their talking with think they're being aggressive that's when we give them a Benny.
Dec 23, 2022 6:47 pm
I will think on my character, but I won't have time to work on Jamme this side of Christmas.
Dec 23, 2022 6:51 pm
runekyndig says:
I will think on my character, but I won't have time to work on Jamme this side of Christmas.
Quick question...do you want a pesky brother or a troublesome cousin? I like the brother angle, but it's completely up to you.
Dec 23, 2022 6:57 pm
Squadfather44 says:
runekyndig says:
I will think on my character, but I won't have time to work on Jamme this side of Christmas.
Quick question...do you want a pesky brother or a troublesome cousin? I like the brother angle, but it's completely up to you.
My idea is that her entire familiy is "normal" only her grandmother knows the craft, and she did not agree with the coven. Grandmother went solo/solitair. But she taught Jemma.
Jemma has an older lawyer brother and a younger cheerleader sister. So a family connection I can't see happening. BUT a childhood friend she reconnects with through the coven is a possibility.
Dec 23, 2022 6:59 pm
Was that meant to be aimed at Rune, or me :p?

Although if both of you have grown up in Salem also makes sense :p

Edit: If was meant for me defitenely up for brother.
Last edited December 23, 2022 7:05 pm
Dec 23, 2022 7:00 pm
I think Squad meant to ask Light that
Dec 23, 2022 7:06 pm
LightOfMidnight says:
Was that meant to be aimed at Rune, or me :p?

Although if both of you have grown up in Salem also makes sense :p
Lol...that's what I get for trying to be sneaky at work. Rune can have the childhood friend, if you want to go with the family connection. A sibling connection could help with the phobia angle...depending on what you go with.
Dec 23, 2022 7:14 pm
Quote:
Edit: If was meant for me defitenely up for brother.
If you do want to go for siblings, you should probably agree on one last name.
Dec 23, 2022 7:21 pm
Okay, that's all I needed to know. My first pass at a character is in the spoiler.
[ +- ] Spoiler
Dec 23, 2022 7:33 pm
Haven't settled on all my edges and hindrances yet, but I'm definitely taking Curious. Goes with the whole Gossip thing.

As for languages, I have Czech (native) and then English at D8 and Latin at D4
Dec 23, 2022 8:10 pm
@LightOfMidnight- Brother it is! What age were you thinking of bringing your character in at. (I think you mentioned 25, I'll go for 23). What last name do you want to go with? (I put Shaw down, but can definitely change it.)
Dec 23, 2022 9:30 pm
Squadfather44 says:
@LightOfMidnight- Brother it is! What age were you thinking of bringing your character in at. (I think you mentioned 25, I'll go for 23). What last name do you want to go with? (I put Shaw down, but can definitely change it.)
Had been going for Ashmore as a more fancy kinda of british name, but don;t mind. Do we want to be british or American (There was the idea with Bowl that Tereza met Caroline while in Europe and travelled over together but that can still be done if the family is American, could have been on a year abroad, or a gap year (If you Americans do that) :P)

Re Fire phobia, was thinking there had been a fire in the family in the past which is why she has it. May occasionally shy away if Deacon has a habit of using fire.

Also thinking the family is someone strict, or at least expects results from both of them, or at least her as the older one, if that works for you?

Edit Age I have 24 written in right now I think.
Last edited December 23, 2022 9:54 pm
Dec 24, 2022 11:25 am
I have submitted my work-in-progress character sheet. I got the shape of Jemma, but there will be some more changes down the road
Last edited December 30, 2022 8:19 pm
Dec 24, 2022 1:09 pm
Hm, going through the powers in the core book, there isn't really anything divination-like available for Novice characters, which is kind of annoying since that's the direction I wanted to focus on. I guess I'll go more for general support.

Since casting rituals still requires to know the spell/power, I assume we're lifting the requirement for having an arcane background in order to get powers (via New Powers edge). Otherwise, it wouldn't really be possible to build a ritual character without an arcane background.

Current plan is Arcane Protection, Boost/Lower Trait, Mind Reading, Speak Language (2x New Powers)

EDIT: I just saw the Locate spell in the Pinebox powers you shared. I'm definitely taking that one. Probably instead of Boost/Lower Trait.

Going full ritual doesn't make mechanical sense since Arcane Background + New Powers gives 5 powers while 2x New Powers only gives four for the same price (while limiting me to rituals), but I prefer it for flavor for my character, so I'm still planning it that way. No moment-to-moment casting, only rituals.
Does this make sense this way, Dunko? I can just buy Arcane Background if you prefer, but I prefer the flavor without it.
Last edited December 24, 2022 1:20 pm
Dec 24, 2022 4:22 pm
@bowlofspinach you do NOT need to "know" a power to cast as ritual! You can find them in dusty tomes, inscribed on tree bark, or copy them to a scroll from another witch. You just need to find them via research, etc!

Trappings are a super powerful narrative tool for rituals. A particularly nasty poltergeist might need a specific form of banish. One that involves trinkets from their past, perhaps. So, even knowing the power sometimes won't be enough!

But I see what your saying. I think. You want her to always have access divination. Consider a home brew edge that gives benefits when using divination rituals????
Dec 24, 2022 4:51 pm
Is everyone clear on the Soundness stat???

I maybe over complicated it by calling it soundness...it's essentially "sanity" but I prefer to call it something else.

It's Spirit รท 2 + 2, and it depletes as it's attacked. Monsters, enemies, spooks, and haunts, can have actions that attack it, but you'll always get a Spirit check to save from having it deplete.

When Soundness reaches 0 a character is "incapacitated"-- this just means they're overcome with fear, or hit a breaking point, and can't act for the rest of the scene unless they are healed. It also takes the place of Fatigue track.

Healing Soundness is done with Spirit linked traits, and if done during a intimate interlude scene the healer gets a +2 to +4 on the roll.

I promise it's not as complicated as it seems and I've used it to to great effect in SWADE noir and SWADE monster hunters.
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