Need some feedback on this move for Urban Shadows.
Second Sight
Through your second sight, you are given an awareness that one of your foes is within a close vicinity. Choose one archetype (ie. Spectre, Vamp, Wizard, ect..); when you are within the vicinity of this archetype, the MC will make you aware of such “danger.”
I have been in chat with +Dylan Clayton and +Sean Hess, and Dylan brought up how hard it is for MC’s to keep track of so many moves.
I agree …. but at the same time. Unless you walk into EVERY Room and say “I keep an eye out” you will have no idea if a Vamp is there, which means your second sight is worthless.
How about “if you want to know if a — is in the room then roll plus stat. On a seven through nine only the —- you know about are in the room. On a 10+ there are no — in the room, and anything you thought was a — turns out not to be. I don’t miss there is a —- right behind you and it wants to eat your skin.” I think that the 10+ could cause huge plot bombs when there are known things of that type there. I also think on a miss it is critical that the creature behind always wants to eat your skin.
Problem is Keep an Eye out similar to read a sitch is already so close to that.
David, I think you have a good move btw …. Just when would I use it over Keep an Eye Out?
How about:
Spend 1 spell hold to see the direction of the closest X.
I think the two moves can have similar meaning to a character, but they have different effect on the narrative. When reading a sitch, the character may discover that monster is the biggest threat or is control and through that determine that the creature is there. The narrative effect is that the character is more aware of there surroundings and may be on guard. In other words the meaning is the character is more aware and the narrative effect is they are more prepared for it.
It is ok if the meaning is the same, as long as the narrative effect is different. For instance, on my proposed move the meaning is the character is aware of how many of that type of creature is there. The narrative effect is to change the scene so that there are that many of the creature there.
Another example of how moves can overlap in meaning but be different in meaning in AW is manipulate versus frenzy. In manipulate you can offer enlightenment for goods or services. In frenzy you give enlightenment and receive specific benefits. The narrative effect of manipulate is that a trade takes place and you part ways or whatever, while the effect of frenzy is that a bunch of people are doing fucked up shit they don’t normally do because your a fucking wacknut and everybody has to put up with the consequences.
Sorry Tommy, I don’t know the specifics of your system so I can’t really comment on resource use or know about specific moves already in your system. I’m just trying to give some fun suggestions for directions to add narrative interest into moves
Thank you, you have good suggestions
np
In your game, what do the characters do with this knowledge? I could see spinning the move around what they do with the knowledge, rather than having it as an information move.
When a creature of your selected archetype reveals its presence, roll + stat. On a 7-9, you sensed them seconds before, carry +1 forward. On a 10+, carry +1 forward and your Second Sight affords you the opportunity to (choose 1)…
-hide, disappear or vanish
-barricade yourself securely in
-have a gun to their head when they enter
-[some other thing PCs in your game would do with this knowledge]
Clint …. I like that alot.
I just need to test when to use this as may overlap against hard moves.
Why not have someone roll and keep hold once per session?
10+ =3 (or 2)
7-9= 2 (or 1)
When you spend hold, you may ask if an enemy is is close proximity.
I’d get rid of the “pick a type” bit and just limit the uses instead I think.
Stuart McDermid, what if they are not an enemy, but just an interested party? I think it is the right track, just bene trying to work that balance of fun and balance.
Sounds like a terminology thing.
Instead of enemy, how about:
When you spend hold, you may ask if anyone of interest is in close proximity. At that point, you let the MC decide who is of interest.
Stuart McDermid, would you be worried at all of this move being abused?
Only 2-3 times per session. You could make it hold 1 on a hit if you were really worried.
I do not understand this abusing moves in an AW hack
Does it need to be faction/archetype specific? If not, how about a very basic approach:
Second Sight: You can always ask the GM “what supernatural forces are present here” and get an honest answer.
Or if that’s too broad (the game is, I assume, mostly focussing on supernaturals, right?) you could make the question “what here is illusion or hidden by supernatural forces?”