I’ve been creating Factions and Threats for my upcoming convention game, but mostly for my own amusement (which doesn’t take much). Here’s a Threat that I think will be kinda fun:
XERADA
An ‘economy’ starport in the Cuernavaca system. Security is lax, corruption is rampant, vandalism is likely, and the whole operation is skeevy. It’s not a total dump — you can still get basic goods and services at a fair price. It’s just a sub-par place, is all.
AGENDA: Make money, skim here and there, keep patrons from getting killed
MOVES:
– When you attempt to bribe starport personnel, roll + Influence. On a 10+, hold 2. On a 7-9, hold 1. Hold can be spent as a modifier on any moves involving starport services, security, or interaction with personnel.
– When you leave your ship docked at Xerada for more than 2 hours, roll 2D6 when you return. On a 10+, pick 3. On a 7-9, pick 1:
– No one has tried to break into your ship
– There’s no graffitti on the hull
– No small, surface modules or decorations have been removed (i.e., you still have hubcaps)
– No one tries to mug you on your way back to the ship
I like that bribe move a lot. The last choice of the second move is a bit strange, though. Perhaps “no one is waiting for you when you return” might involve the ship/dock a little better.
Random aside, I like “roll + Nothing” as opposed to “roll 2D6” but that’s just me
Ha! I actually considered phrasing it that way, too! I went with the “mugging” one because it felt better to me, in the moment; security being lax and all.
That said, I’m the kind of GM who’d let the players negotiate on that one. “How about if there’s someone there, but not too mug us?” “Uhh…yeah, okay. I can think of another devious motivation for whoever is there…”
Right, leaving off the action makes it more interesting. Maybe an ally? Maybe security called in because a stranger was murdered on the ship? Maybe a job opportunity?
I say. Good point, and I dig it. Feels more Traveller-y, this way.
May I say, I love the idea of using a Market as a environmental/passive Threat. (I’m assuming it doesn’t go out of its way to accomplish its goals, cause that would be more of an enterprise or corporation, but rather sits there and waits for money to come to it).
Agreed. The idea behind this is one i never considered – basically using Location moves from DW or Landscape threats from AW.