So, on the continuing train of “Prospective Season 2 slash Third Party Gimmicks” that has infected this community in the last week:
I have an idea for a Gimmick, but I’m not sure how to write it up. For those that are working on such a project themselves (and Nathan, of course), have you guys any suggestions on how I should go about getting myself started making up a sample?
Feel free to C&P my outline.
Conceptually I usually start with Moves and decide which stat the Gimmick is based around, and build out from there.
What is an appropriate spread for stats? Should they end up equaling zero when all things are said and done, or are other spreads alright for easier or harder to play style? I don’t have a copy of the Gimmicks in front of me right now for comparison.
There’s actually some info in the book, but I believe it’s a combined -1 before the bonus stat for the player to place themselves.
I just took a look at it, actually. Most of the Gimmicks have a -2 combined, except for Jobbers, Managers, and Veterans. Haven’t checked the bonus Gimmicks.
I’m thinking because of the specialization of those Gimmicks, it makes sense. If these third party ones are also specialized, I can see a -1 before allocation. What I’m planning on….I’m not sure. -2 is probably going to be the smarter choice.
The guideline is -2 for “standard” Gimmicks and -1 for Gimmicks that represent characters with elite levels of experience OR have a specialized non-in-ring role (Veteran and Jobber, and Manager, respectively)
So I was right! SCIENCE!
(wrestling science, my dear Professor Atomo)
Now that I’ve got my concept down, stats, inspiration, all that stuff….it’s the moves that need to be polished.
And they are surprisingly harder to decide upon than I originally thought. I’ve got two down, but one of them is a stat increase, so…that doesn’t really count.
We’re more than happy to help workshop your ideas, if you want to share what you have so far.
The Gimmick I’ve thought up is called “The Diva”. I’m taking inspiration from wrestlers such as Tyler Breeze, Hollywood Miz, “Dashing” Cody Rhodes, Stacy Keibler, characters like that. The ‘pretty boy’, the character that cares more about their personal looks over anything else.
Going with Look +1, Power -2, Work 0, Real -1 for stats, with a +2 Audience (more for the fanservice aspects instead of the “hey, that’s a great guy” aspect). I’ve got two moves out of four or so I want to develop, and they are:
“Actually Pretty….Good”, Add +1 to your Work (+3 max).
and
“Not The Face!” – The first time you use the Interrupt move during a match you have been scheduled in, you do not spend Momentum to do so, because protecting your moneymaker is more important than anything else.
I really like Not The Face, and it makes sense.
Actually Pretty Good is a little less flavorful, but it works mainly because these guys can also go in the ring. Rick Martel, early HBK, and the guys you mentioned before.
Maybe add a Real move dealing with being pretty, which would make sense. I just can’t think for the life of me how to word it.
That sounds like one of the classic stat swap skills, like the one the Monster Gimmick has. Something along the lines of “When ever you do X move that uses +Real, you can make it about you and swap in your +Look instead. goes to search the Gimmicks sheets to see how to word that
“GREETINGS, FEMALES: When you try to get action outside of the ring, roll +Look. On a 10+, you get the eye of the NPC or NPW you’re attracted to. On a 7-9, they’re taken, or YOU’RE taken, but that doesn’t have to stop you**.
**Could be “Someone thinks badly of it”.
NOT THE FACE is perfect. I also think having a +Real based move about using your attractiveness to get what you want backstage would make sense (kind of like what Adam proposed above, maybe that’s all it needs to be?)
Here’s my Rick Rude memorial Move:
LISTEN UP YOU SWEATHOGS: When you show off your glorious body, roll +Look. On a 10+ pick 2, on a 7-9 pick 1: Gain +1 Momentum, take control of the situation (or the match), gain the attention of someone backstage.
(alternately)
LISTEN UP YOU SWEATHOGS: Roll +Look instead of +Audience when you Work the Audience.
Alright, I think I’ve got a few good move ideas. Just want people’s input before I put this character up for full review.
NOT THE FACE! – The first time you use the Interrupt move during a match you have been scheduled in, you do not spend Momentum to do so, because protecting your moneymaker is more important than anything else
THEY LOVE ME, THEY REALLY LOVE ME – Your fans always want to believe you. Whenever you Break Kayfabe and roll a 10+, you also gain +2 Momentum.
CENTER OF ATTENTION – Somehow you wormed your way into this situation, and then made it about you. Anytime you making a Move that could result in you being granted a match or adding a stipulation, you can choose to roll +Look instead, but only if you choose to get a match or stipulation added as your result. If you are using the Cut a Promo Move and choose to be granted a match, gain +1 Momentum or +1 Heat with your opponent, no matter what the result of the roll is.
ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD – Add +1 to your Work (+3 max).
A MOSTLY HONEST FACE – Add +1 to your Real (+3 max).
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wDhN_wPfoi0Zl66Mii8R7WBK25f98VFRo1PcxYJtG88/pub
Good. May need 1-2 more active moves, and more injury boxes if you can compete injured.
Nice work! Would it be appropriate for the Finishing Move to give the choice of giving yourself or your opponent +1 Audience? (like the Anti-Hero) – I think this archetype does tend to fill that enhancement role a lot of the time, you know?
CENTER OF ATTENTION is a cool idea but the basic Moves that let you get a match or add a stipulation already roll +Look! (Cut a Promo and the Over Move). What about this:
[ ] CENTER OF ATTENTION – Whenever you insert yourself into a situation and make it all about you, you can Cut A Promo whether you were scheduled to or not. If you use your promo to book a match or add a stipulation, gain +1 Momentum at the beginning of that match.
(This gives implicit permission for the player to inset themselves into backstage segments, which I think is good for this Gimmick)
See, Center Of Attention was always the one move I thought was the least well written. And Nathan’s suggestion meshes well with Adam’s, because it takes the “me first” attitude of this Gimmick and makes it a more proactive move, something you just, DO.
And Nathan had to do this all by himself for fifteen or so gimmicks.
I do think though, that it should be a Heat generator of a move, because honestly, what better heat is there than “lemme steal your thunder”? I feel that switching out the Momentum generation to a flat “gain +1 Heat with one of the Talents whose segment you made better with your inclusion” fits better. Because if you are a Heel using it, well, dick move bro; and if you are a Babyface using it, well, the hero must shine bright.
Another thought occurred to me after I discussed this with my brother last night. I didn’t select the Gimmicks this one can not transition to after it gets “retired” and has to be re-branded. I feel as though this Gimmick would not transition into a Monster, a Veteran, or a Hardcore. Thoughts?
“Stunning” Steve Austin could’ve transitioned into the Hardcore (although he’s the anti-hero,) HBK turned into a Veteran, and Cody Rhodes transitioned into a “Monster” (although not a literal one). Even great Khali was the “Punjabi Playboy” before turning into the “Punjabi Nightmare” then “Punjabi Enhancement Talent.”
I’d warn that Steve Austin was also switching companies a lot at that time, so it probably wasn’t a direct switch.
That being said, direct switches to the Hardcore and Monster do feel a little edge-case. I do think on the Gimmick itself, you’d want to put No to those two, but most players will ignore it if there’s a good, in-story reason to ignore it.
This brings up a completely different set of questions about whether we should treat the gimmick switch rules as hard rules or good suggestions. One of the great things about pro wrestling, as cliche as it sounds, is that anything can happen, no matter where it lies on the good idea-bad idea scale.
I treat them as rules but I’m just a guy, you know?
I regret writing “Punjabi Enhancement Talent” instead of “Punjabi Jobber”