Yet more Sword/Crown/Unspeakable Power info. Today, I’m going to talk about the Unspeakable Power itself.
Tom and I were really into the idea that magic, in SCUP, should be a trade-off. Sure, it gives you power, but at what cost? As such, the Unspeakable Power, that is, the source of all magic in the world, is never just “there.” The Unspeakable Power is CONSCIOUS. It has needs, wants, desires, and goals. It most likely has a personality. For example, in IPMM’s excellent AP of SCUP, Dana (the MC) chose to represent the Unspeakable Power as a sort of dark mirror, doing an impression of each character whenever they spoke with it (you kind of have to hear it to believe it- it’s both hilarious and terrifying!). In one game we played, the Unspeakable Power was bioluminescent plants that were slowly encroaching on the town, with every intent to fully absorb it and everyone in it. Whatever you decide it is in your game, it has agency. It will give you power, but it might also take something from you in exchange.
As such, people can ask questions of the Unspeakable Power. If they’ve got a little training or intuition in it, they can even use it to change the world in tangible ways. However, when you use the Unspeakable Power, it takes an interest in you. We have given the MC specific Threats they can use with the Unspeakable Power, for example. When the MC creates a Threat to the characters using the Unspeakable Power, they pick from a list of instincts that the power has to drive it in play. These include “It will become addicted to pain and suffering” and “It will give with one hand and take with the other.” We specifically invite the MC to create Powers if there is a magic user at the table.
Additionally, the MC has a specific list of MC moves for when a players misses a roll involving the Unspeakable Power. We didn’t want there to be just any old consequences for THAT kind of failure. As such, the MC may pick from moves such as “Give them what they THINK they want” and “Make a demand of them, set a price on failure” when someone misses a roll while attempting to use the Unspeakable Power. Remember: it has needs, wants, desires, goals, and a consciousness. It might not like you meddling with it…
Tomorrow, I’ll talk about something we’re really excited about: the NEW SEASON Rules.
Love the Unspeakable Power. Also, great picture.
Sometimes I have dreams that consist of words on paper. Early this morning, I had a dream that I was reading the SCUP rules. I am totally serious.
Are you saying we’re dreamy?
Umm…
I guess I am?
Yes.
[blush]
I bet you say that to all the game design collectives.
Well… Either that or I am astral-projecting into your house and reading your shit 🙂
“Whatever you decide it is in your game, it has agency.”
This is exactly what I wanted to hear. Listening to the IPMM AP’s one of my favourite parts of the game was how much the Unspeakable Power was legitimately a character, not just, well, power. But I always wondered how much of that was just their interpretation, you could easily do the same thing with the psychic maelstrom, the rules just don’t tell you to.
Here the rules aren’t saying it has to be a character, but it is a force with agencies, with motive. A storm can do a lot of damage, but that doesn’t mean it has agency, and I love that distinction.