So I’m playing an Angel in our US game and I need clarification on this move:
Jenn Martin
Messenger –
In the face of impending violence, ask your lord to speak through you and roll with Spirit. On a 10+, the instructions are clear and cogent. On a 7-9, they are mired in symbology and sacrifice. On a miss, your lord has nothing to offer but judgement; heal 2 harm and gain +1 armor if you act as his agent.
Also, is there an updated version of this playbook?
The most recent edition was in a Kickstarter update in May 2015 (has it been that long? WOW)- the archetype will be published after they put out Dark Streets, though I’m not sure when that will be yet.
What clarification are you looking for?
The most recent edition was in a Kickstarter update in May 2015 (has it been that long? WOW)- the archetype will be published after they put out Dark Streets, though I’m not sure when that will be yet.
What clarification are you looking for?
What situations does this apply to? I attempted to use it when my Angel was being attacked by a group of non believers but the GM was thinking it was only useful during a group combat situation. I thought it could be used as a last ditch, they’re coming for me, kind of move.
What situations does this apply to? I attempted to use it when my Angel was being attacked by a group of non believers but the GM was thinking it was only useful during a group combat situation. I thought it could be used as a last ditch, they’re coming for me, kind of move.
Essentially a narrative example would be super helpful and very much appreciated. How are the Lords instructions affecting the story? Is he broadcasting a message to everyone? Does he announce how to win, escape, or make peace? I just want to know that I understand it
Essentially a narrative example would be super helpful and very much appreciated. How are the Lords instructions affecting the story? Is he broadcasting a message to everyone? Does he announce how to win, escape, or make peace? I just want to know that I understand it
I’m the MC for this game. My understanding of this move is it’s for when The Sharks and The Jets are about to face off, the Angel can step in and give clear instruction (from the LORD) that would defuse a situation where two groups were about to go at it.
But more specifically, what power does the instructions hold? Do they HAVE to be obeyed? In the gameplay situation we had, The Angel was being attacked by corrupted, agents of the demon Legion. Why would they care about clear instructions? What kinds of instructions would the LORD give in this case? “Hey, don’t kill my Angel?”
I’m the MC for this game. My understanding of this move is it’s for when The Sharks and The Jets are about to face off, the Angel can step in and give clear instruction (from the LORD) that would defuse a situation where two groups were about to go at it.
But more specifically, what power does the instructions hold? Do they HAVE to be obeyed? In the gameplay situation we had, The Angel was being attacked by corrupted, agents of the demon Legion. Why would they care about clear instructions? What kinds of instructions would the LORD give in this case? “Hey, don’t kill my Angel?”
I don’t think it needs to be constrained to big fights between groups- if someone has cornered a victim in an alley and are about to attack them, the Angel can petition their Lord for guidance. What if the Lord answers with ‘let the violence happen’? If someone is about to shoot the Angel, you better believe that Angel is going to look to their Lord for guidance.
The message may or may not be for all to hear, either. It’s meant to be a conditional ‘read a sitch’ type of move. There has to be impending violence, but it’s meant to give the PC more information/direction. The above example plays out very differently if only the Angel can hear the Lord’s word. If the attacker can hear the Lord’s voice, but the result is a 7-9, then what happens? Maybe they attack the Angel instead of their intended victim. Maybe they walk away.
It’s not necessarily about diffusing the violence, either, it’s about the Angel being the hand of their Lord, their will. The instructions might be for others or it could be just for the Angel. The Lord’s will is meant to be ineffable- sometimes it will make sense and sometimes it won’t. The Lord smites those he judges, maybe the Angel is instructed to punish the wicked. What does the Angel do about that? How do they feel about that?
To be clear- this is not the Angel providing instruction to other characters. This is the Angel looking for guidance and getting… something (from the MC, acting as the Lord). It’s about portraying the relationship between the Angel and their Lord.
I hope that helps!
I don’t think it needs to be constrained to big fights between groups- if someone has cornered a victim in an alley and are about to attack them, the Angel can petition their Lord for guidance. What if the Lord answers with ‘let the violence happen’? If someone is about to shoot the Angel, you better believe that Angel is going to look to their Lord for guidance.
The message may or may not be for all to hear, either. It’s meant to be a conditional ‘read a sitch’ type of move. There has to be impending violence, but it’s meant to give the PC more information/direction. The above example plays out very differently if only the Angel can hear the Lord’s word. If the attacker can hear the Lord’s voice, but the result is a 7-9, then what happens? Maybe they attack the Angel instead of their intended victim. Maybe they walk away.
It’s not necessarily about diffusing the violence, either, it’s about the Angel being the hand of their Lord, their will. The instructions might be for others or it could be just for the Angel. The Lord’s will is meant to be ineffable- sometimes it will make sense and sometimes it won’t. The Lord smites those he judges, maybe the Angel is instructed to punish the wicked. What does the Angel do about that? How do they feel about that?
To be clear- this is not the Angel providing instruction to other characters. This is the Angel looking for guidance and getting… something (from the MC, acting as the Lord). It’s about portraying the relationship between the Angel and their Lord.
I hope that helps!
Huh. The reason I thought it was for others was because it was named “Messenger” (someone who delivers information between two parties) and because it talks about the LORD speaking “through” the person, as if they were a conduit like the Metatron.
So, really, all this move is is “get some advice from the MC, which may or may not be easy to understand”?
I know why Anthony Williams wanted to trigger this move when cornered in a dark hallway: Either the instructions would stop the fight, or he’d miss and heal (he’d already been stabbed once) and buff to take out the assailants. But, given your explanation above, Jenn Martin that was not the appropriate use of the move. Because, honestly, on a hit, all the LORD would have said is (clearly or otherwise) “Waste these fools, they have been corrupted by a demon.” Of course, on a HIT, he WOULDN’T have gotten the buff he wanted, so, really, in this case he’d have been kinda punished for MAKING the roll. Which is weird.
Huh. The reason I thought it was for others was because it was named “Messenger” (someone who delivers information between two parties) and because it talks about the LORD speaking “through” the person, as if they were a conduit like the Metatron.
So, really, all this move is is “get some advice from the MC, which may or may not be easy to understand”?
I know why Anthony Williams wanted to trigger this move when cornered in a dark hallway: Either the instructions would stop the fight, or he’d miss and heal (he’d already been stabbed once) and buff to take out the assailants. But, given your explanation above, Jenn Martin that was not the appropriate use of the move. Because, honestly, on a hit, all the LORD would have said is (clearly or otherwise) “Waste these fools, they have been corrupted by a demon.” Of course, on a HIT, he WOULDN’T have gotten the buff he wanted, so, really, in this case he’d have been kinda punished for MAKING the roll. Which is weird.
The ‘heal 2 harm and gain 1 armor if you act as his agent’ part on the miss is meant to force the PC into a hard choice- if you miss the Lord is gonna command you to smite and maybe there is collateral damage. Or he will tell you to turn the other cheek as someone is about to stab you. The miss result offers the Angel a chance to follow their Lord’s instructions.
As far as your example- would the Lord have said ‘waste these fools’? Maybe he would have them spared? The Lord’s instructions should always serve His ends, and often conflict with what the Angel wants.
The move started out more like the Metatron and moved away from it, I can see the name be misleading. In my head it’s like Joan of Arc where she is the messenger, but nobody else hears the Lord’s message.
The ‘heal 2 harm and gain 1 armor if you act as his agent’ part on the miss is meant to force the PC into a hard choice- if you miss the Lord is gonna command you to smite and maybe there is collateral damage. Or he will tell you to turn the other cheek as someone is about to stab you. The miss result offers the Angel a chance to follow their Lord’s instructions.
As far as your example- would the Lord have said ‘waste these fools’? Maybe he would have them spared? The Lord’s instructions should always serve His ends, and often conflict with what the Angel wants.
The move started out more like the Metatron and moved away from it, I can see the name be misleading. In my head it’s like Joan of Arc where she is the messenger, but nobody else hears the Lord’s message.
(Also I feel like the 10+ result could probably use a ‘take +1 forward when following His instructions, but we are still playtesting it.)
(Also I feel like the 10+ result could probably use a ‘take +1 forward when following His instructions, but we are still playtesting it.)
Actually, you’re on the nose, the LORD would want to waste these fools, but that particular Angel did not. So it def would have been a hard choice for the Angel. He was already stunned by the fact that bearing his wings, which he thought was going to end everything (he assumed they were believers) only escalated things. It was a fun scene except for the confusion we had around this move. 🙂
Actually, you’re on the nose, the LORD would want to waste these fools, but that particular Angel did not. So it def would have been a hard choice for the Angel. He was already stunned by the fact that bearing his wings, which he thought was going to end everything (he assumed they were believers) only escalated things. It was a fun scene except for the confusion we had around this move. 🙂