Category: Uncharted Worlds

Spitballing Idea:

This idea is stolen from Coriolis and Blades in the Dark… part of character creation should include a selection of a Group Role – like a Career, but for the group as a whole, and should have moves/skills that apply to all members of the crew.

For example: Merchants / Smugglers / Explorers / Military

Merchants would have 3-4 skills based on trading, Smugglers would have 3-4 skills based on stealth or crime, etc

Each Group Role could also have rules for creating the setting specific to that role. Maybe the four listed above include special rules for starship creation, while others might include planet or city creation.

I think something like this would address two of my concerns in the base system:

1. Group cohesion isn’t built in in the manner that Bonds/Debts/Hx from other PbtA games do it. Adding mechanics to your group as a whole could encourage that cohesion more.

2. Setting creation is a bit TOO open to me, so allowing the players to flag what they want (explorers and smugglers fit into very different settings) helps with knowing where the setting should be pointed to.

Just a quick credit system for a game not based around cargo trading. I have not used this precisely in play, but will over the next few weeks.

BUY (+Credit)

When you demand important services or Assets from a market able to supply those demands, Roll+Credit you’re willing to pay for it.

On a 10+, the deal goes through.

On a 7-9, the deal will only go through if you pay a higher cost, perform a task, or accept a lesser asset/service instead of what you asked for.

SELL (+Cargo)

When you sell cargo for the Credit it is worth, Roll+the class of the Cargo.

On a 10+, you receive Credit equal to the Cargo’s class

On a 7-9, you receive Credit equal to the Cargo’s class, but the GM chooses one:

• It is local credit, not good outside this system, planet, city, or market

• You will need to deliver the Cargo somewhere before payment

• Selling this specific Cargo draws unwelcome attention

EXCHANGE (+rep)

When you exchange Credit, local or otherwise, for Cargo or other forms of Credit, Roll +1 if you’ve successfully done business in this market, -1 if you’re done business but it didn’t go so well, or +0 otherwise.

On a 10+ the exchange goes through as expected

One a 7-9, the exchange happens, but the GM chooses one:

• They don’t have as much as you asked for

• The cost or exchange rate is lower than expected

I’m still looking side-eyed at some of this, and will probably wing the 7-9 and 6- results to see if anything solidifies in play