Some Cleanup on Progression Rules
This is a sequel post to First Draft of Progression Rules, a post from a few weeks ago. I introduced my playtest group to the concept of Promises, Testimonies, and Cautionary Tales last week and the idea didn't quite stick. I am adding in the below writeups to the playtest rules to see if this makes it a little bit clearer.
Contract Fulfillment
A key goal of player characters is to find a way to fulfill their obligation to their Creditor. Each entry in that chapter contains a basic prompt of the types of contracts that the corresponding Creditor tends to make, but restoration of a Lost Soul requires more than simple action, and it certainly can’t be done by accident.
The first step toward completion of a Contract is to make a plan. Granny is a great resource for understanding the nature of your Contract, and she wants to see you whole again. The two primary means of advancing the plan are by fulfilling Promises that benefit your Creditor, which then become Testimonies, or by investing Wealth toward the interests of the Creditor. It is hard to directly turn Wealth into Contract advancement, so it is usually through indirect means like commissioning projects during Downtime.
Character sheets have four check boxes in the space set aside for Contracts. Each check box represents an advancement in the state of the Contract; a Testimony or equivalent level of effort is required for each check box. As the Contract progresses, characters may take on more characteristics of their Creditor as an outward expression of their commitment. If a Promise made for the sake of a Creditor is broken, the resultant Cautionary Tale does not advance the Contract but it may be added to the character’s Faux Pas as an alternative means of recharging Combat Abilities.
Legacy Development
Promises may be fulfilled and broken in the name of a character’s Past Life and Legacy. Once you have at least one Cautionary Tale or Testimony assigned to your Legacy, you gain access to the Cultivate Legacy Downtime Action. The Cautionary Tales and Testimonies tied to your Legacy increase your notoriety, while actions taken to Cultivate Legacy shape the direction and objective of that notoriety.
Your Legacy is primarily narrative, but it shapes how likely it is for NPCs to have heard of you and how they may receive you upon first encounter. Your Legacy reflects something to live for if you ever do manage to restore your soul, and something that will outlive you in case you don’t. When you encounter an NPC you may invoke your Legacy and Save against your primary Suit. On a success, the NPC has heard of you and may spread the word about meeting you.
Balance
Creditors are imperfect constituents of the Arcana of Appalachia. They are powerful and they are flawed. Players may decide to make and fulfill Promises which act against the interests of their Creditor in the name of bringing greater harmony to the region. These become Testimonies in the name of Balance, marked as a B in their Contract checkboxes. This may put players at odds with their Creditors, but it allows players to exert some will on the Arcana. You do not gain any characteristics of your Creditor for that step of advancement, but it does progress the state of the Contract.
Final Thoughts
The Balance concept is one I've been fussing with as we've worked through the real core setting of the game and moved from stereotypical folk horror to something more intentional. I'd be curious to hear if this makes sense or if it just comes across too rambley at this state!
Thanks for reading!