Although i understand the rules for using debts, and we create great stroyplots during the first session, i guess we’re not using them to their full potential during game sessions.
Any tips for using debts during games?
Although i understand the rules for using debts, and we create great stroyplots during the first session, i guess…
Although i understand the rules for using debts, and we create great stroyplots during the first session, i guess…
If you as the MC have debts on player characters, try to think of favours those people need filling and have them approach the characters for them.
Be mindful of the factions they haven’t marked yet and remind them that cashing in or honouring a debt with that faction will allow them to mark it.
Ultimately, it takes some time and practice to get used to using them. Don’t be too hard on yourself or them while that happens.
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Oh, also. I find often PCs will pay off debts without realizing it (which counts as honouring them).
In my latest game, the PCs helped out the local werewolf pack big time without being asked to and all the debts the pack alpha had on them were essentially erased for it (aka cashed in retroactively). They all seemed to really like that.
It’s not a major problem fortunatelly, Andrew Medeiros .
In all the groups i’ve tested, first session was such a great experience i didn’t even notice that.
It’s now that I’m playing a campaign with my usual group that i get this feeling. I’m a veteran Master, and i love the Powered by the Apocalypse game mastering style (in fact it’s the way i’ve been playing since the 90’s), so games flow naturally. But i would like to get the most from the rules, even more when i think they have such a great potential.
I move NPCs around using their motivations, and previous story hooks, so i may be already using debts in a very simplyfied way. PCs respond the NPC demands even when not using debt rules, just because thats the way all we have learned to roleplay.
I’ll check and try what you say ^_^
PS.- sorry for my english, not native speaker 🙁
I think the issue that Andrew Medeiros is being up is natural. People are fictionally caching in debt, it is just not being reflected in the mechanics.
I think the most important thing you can do is to model all the uses.
I have my NPCs ask questions and cash in debts to get them answered honestly or spend debts to get introductions or gifts. Sure, that stuff can all show up as favors, but it’s great to call attention to how debts work in the system deliberately.
The group I’m in right now sort of deals with this at the end of the session. Part of what we do is discuss any debts we think might have been owed(both to and by our characters) that we didn’t already address in play. If one or both parties already had a debt on the other, this could result in the erasing(resolution) of a debt instead of a gaining. We’re using the 1.1 rules, so marking faction isn’t so important for us, but if using the 2.0+ that would indeed also include marking the faction.
I figure this will become more natural to keep up w/ as events are happening as we get used to the system, but if all else fails, just take a few minutes at the end of the session to think over the session and tie up any loose ends.
I like Derek Cardwell’s solution a lot. It’s a simple extension of the Debt logic.