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Dan Maruschak
United States
Eugene
Oregon
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On January 3, 2011, Leo, Nolan, and I got together on Skype for a 3-hour playtest of Final Hour of a Storied Age rev 0.67, continuing the story from our previous two sessions. An audio recording of this session is available as episode 16 of the Designer vs. Reality podcast.
Chapter 17
Viewpoint: Dan 16. Leo 2.
Adversity: Leo 10,2,6. Nolan 16,6.
Marcus peers through the doorway of Astrin's house. [Nolan spends his 6 on a d4 passive threat: ash and debris] The debris and swirling ash that fill the house [d4] make it difficult to find anything inside. [I spend my 16 to activate Marcus's Quick-witted at d8, Scholar's Apprentice at d6, Yearns for Adventure at d6, and Secret Prince at d4] Having studied such things [Scholar's Apprentice d6], Marcus knows that these are mere annoyances, not actual dangers. [Dan 1 vs. Nolan 2. Nolan wins and bumps Ash and Debris to d6, I exhaust Scholar's Apprentice.] The residual heat from the fire makes it oppressive inside the house, and the swirling ash gets into Marcus's eyes, making his search all but impossible. [Nolan spends his 16 to create a new NPC, a fire drake. He gives it the traits Fire Breathing, Lizard Like, Powerful Musculature, and Tough Hide. This is a new NPC so we have to figure out the creation tax. We settle on 2 for "implied by previous fiction". It's a bit of a stretch, but we have established fantasy creatures in the world with the earlier appearance by the goblins, and something had to be responsible for burning the town. For plausibility, we choose the plausible but unexpected level, which is arguable since you could make the case that this is a surprising development rather than an unexpected one, but we all thought this character was cool so we were inclined to accept the tax levels that would allow Nolan to introduce it. A 16 normally activates 4 traits, but after tax Nolan gets 4 – 2 – 1 = 1 trait. He activates Fire Breathing at d8.] From under the rubble [Ash and Debris d6], the lizardlike form of a dog-sized fire drake emerges, a gout of flame streaming from its maw [Fire Breathing d8]! Rather than fear, Marcus is thrilled that he has come face to face with a dragon [Yearns for Adventure d6]! However, he's no fool [Quick-witted d8], and knows that the most dangerous place is in front of its mouth. He reasons, therefore, that the safest place would be on its back. [Dan 4,3 vs. Nolan 5,4. Nolan wins and bumps Ash and Debris to d8, I exhaust Yearns for Adventure.] As he tries to move around it, it seems to thrash around as if defending something, shooting flame indiscriminately, and Marcus is forced backward. Marcus deduces from its behavior [Quick-witted d8] that the drake isn't acting like a mindless animal. He calls out to it, "Please, mighty dragon, I am a prince of this realm [Secret Prince d4] and seek an alliance with you." [Dan 5,2 vs. Nolan 6,5. Nolan wins, his third in a row.] The drake gives no sign of comprehending Marcus, but also no sign of allowing him to enter the house. [Nolan wins as adversity so he gets a new viewpoint die. He takes the d12 for the second phase of his segment that supports the protagonist's third segment.]
Chapter 18
Viewpoint: Dan 12. Leo 1.
Adversity: Leo 7,7,4. Nolan 5,4.
Marcus looks on apprehensively as [Leo spends a 7 to activate the drake's Fire Breathing at d8 and its Tough Hide at d6] the drake chuffs smoke [Fire Breathing d8] and generally makes it clear that he has no intention of being dislodged from the house any time soon [Tough Hide d6]. [I spend my 12 to activate Scholar's Apprentice at d8 and Yearns for Adventure at d6] Marcus recalls from his studies [Scholar's Apprentice d8] that, while dragons are very territorial, they always emerge from their lairs to hunt for food. He hunts around the village and finds a partially intact smokehouse and takes a generous cut of meat which he can use to lure the drake out into the open. [Dan 6 vs. Leo 8,6. Leo wins and bumps Tough Hide up to d8, but I don't exhaust.] The drake moves forward, his hide [Tough Hide d8] scraping on the door frame as he approaches. He snorts some flame [Fire Breathing d8] at Marcus who panics and drops the meat, only to have it snatched from the air by the drake who withdraws back into the house. He seems to have a particularly smug look on his face as he eats the meat. Knowing he'll have to get past this standoff if he ever wants to get on with his adventure [Yearns for Adventure d6], Marcus recalls from his reading [Scholar's Apprentice d8] that dragons will often sleep after a big meal, so he settles in to wait until that happens so that he can sneak past. [Dan 2,1 vs. Leo 3,1. Leo wins but his dice are maxed out. I'm not exhausted.] Marcus waits. And waits. And waits. And eventually concludes that the meal wasn't large enough to trigger the sleep response, as the dragon simply sits there watching, occasionally chuffing smoke [Fire Breathing d8] and scraping its scales against the floor [Tough Hide d8] in a dominance display. Racalling that Artax would always be thirsty after a meal [Scholar's Apprentice d8], Marcus hopes the drake will have a similar tendency. He goes to the village well and raises up a bucket of water, hoping to tempt it out that way. [Dan 8 vs. Leo 7,3. I win but my die is already maxed out. Leo exhausts both traits.] The drake is tempted, and Marcus perches the bucket on the edge of the small stone wall surrounding the well. As the drake climbs up to drink the wall crumbles beneath him, causing him to tumble into the well. Marcus dashes back toward the house. [Leo spends his 3 to activate the drake's Lizard-like at d8] [Leo narrated the drake dashing back into the house ahead of Marcus, but I asked him to rewind that a little bit since I was having trouble dealing with the adversity of the drake inside the house.] The drake uses his talons to grab onto the walls of the well and scamper back up to the surface [Lizard-like d8]. Based on his studies of the effects of light and darkness [Scholar's Apprentice d8], Marcus suspects that the beast will be disoriented for a moment when he emerges. He figures that this might be his one opportunity to get on its back, since he would certainly like to experience what it's like to actually ride a dragon [Yearns for Adventure d6]. [Dan 4,1 vs. Leo 4. I win and bump Yearns for Adventure to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] Marcus is able to get on top of him, but is quickly reminded of the old adage about being careful what you wish for, as the agitated dragon races around town trying to buck the boy from his back. The frantic dragon tries everything, even occasionally rolling to toss Marcus off [Lizard-like d8]. With the initial shock fading into thrill [Yearns for Adventure d8], Marcus recalls from his study of horses [Scholar's Apprentice d8] that if you ride it out the animal will eventually accept your dominance, and he hopes dragons are the same. [Dan 4,4 vs. Leo 4. I win, my third in a row.] Eventually the drake does give in and allows Marcus to explore Astrin's house in peace. [I won as viewpoint player so I advance one phase along my plot thread.]
Chapter 19
Viewpoint: Dan 5. Leo 10.
Adversity: Dan 3,1. Nolan 18, 2.
At the abandoned farmstead, Pyrotenax [Nolan spends his 2 on a d4 passive threat: encased in rock] realizes that the earth he previously heated to liquid has cooled and hardened around him, encasing him in rock [d4]. [Leo spends his 10 to activate Pyrotenax's Fire Magic at d8 and Mystical Will at d6] He focuses his fiery energies on the earth, returning it to liquid [Fire Magic d8], and changes his own density so that he can float to the surface [Mystical Will d6]. [Leo 6,4 vs. Nolan 2. Leo wins and bumps his Mystical Will to d8, Nolan exhausts.] The ring surfaces and the ground hardens underneath it, with the ring slightly indented into the liquid-smooth surface. [Nolan spends his 18 to introduce Robur into the chapter. We decide that the farmstead is a short journey away from Whitehollow for a distance tax of 1 and that it's plausible but unexpected for Robur to show up here to investigate the fire for a plausibility tax of 1. An 18 usually gives 4 traits, so after tax Nolan gets 4 – 1 – 1 = 2 traits. He activates Strong at d8 and Fiercely Loyal at d6] Robur, intent on carrying out his mysterious task from the king [Fiercely Loyal d6], crosses paths with Marius and the farm workers, who warn him away from a fiery evil at the farm. Pyrotenax detects the strong-willed Robur [Strong d8] approaching, his mind focused on getting on with his task as quickly as possible. Pyrotenax heats the air around himself [Fire Magic d8], creating an eye-catching heat haze, and wills [Mystical Will d8] the sunlight into him, making the ring shine temptingly. [Leo 7,3 vs. Nolan 6,2. Leo wins but his traits are already maxed out. Nolan exhausts Strong.] Robur is unable to resist the dreamlike image and approaches curiously. He uses his dagger to pry the gold ring free and holds it up to examine it. [Note: the back-and-forth nature of the exchange broke down a little bit on this one as Leo and Nolan negotiated back and forth what was happening in this exchange. I think Nolan was having a hard time justifying the use of this character to himself, and that tentativeness came across in his contributions. I think he felt a little bit trapped by his own earlier narrative choices, since he had Marius and the farm workers leave the farm at the end of chapter 16, but his story die showing an 18 required him to introduce an NPC.] Even though he's distracted for a moment, Robur's mind is never away from his task for very long [Fiercely Loyal d6], so he pockets the ring and resumes his journey. Pyrotenax heats the air around him [Fire Magic d8], hoping the haze will distract and disorient the knight while he hammers away at his mind [Mystical Will d8]. [Leo 7,6 vs. Nolan 2. That completely exhausts Nolan, so Leo wins the chapter.] Robur succumbs, believing himself too tired to continue with his journey, and makes camp. He idly reaches into his pocket and brings the ring back out, growing increasingly fascinated with it. [Leo won as viewpoint, so he advances one phase along his plot thread. This completes his first segment, "Be discovered from underground prison". For completing a segment he gets 2 traits worth of narrative special effects. He decides to adjust Robur's alignment to ideologically aligned with antagonist, and also gives Robur and Pyrotenax the traveling together relationship.]
Chapter 20
Viewpoint: Dan 9. Leo 10,5.
Adversity: Dan 10,10. Nolan ?,?.
Robur breaks camp and marches stolidly toward the capital, with Pyrotenax safely in his pocket. [I spend a 10 to introduce Marius. He was last seen at the farm, which we decide is a short journey away from the current location, so I have to pay a distance tax of 1. We decide I don't owe any plausibility tax. Normally a 10 can activate 2 traits, but after tax I get 2 – 1 = 1 trait, so I activate Marius's Savvy at d8.] Marius, savvy [d8] enough to know that there's something unusual going on, has followed Robur. "That ring is evil and must be destroyed, or at least cast off!" Marius shouts. [I spend my other 10 on a d6 active threat: angry mob] Robur turns and sees that the farmer is at the head of an unruly mob of peasants bearing farm implements [d6]. [Leo spends his 10 to activate Pyrotenax's Beguiler of Mortals at d8. Normally a 10 would activate 2 traits, but Pyrotenax was last seen in the same vicinity as Marius so he needs to pay the same distnace tax of 1. He also spends his 5 to activate Robur's Fiercely Loyal at d8. Since Robur is traveling with Pyrotenax he doesn't have to pay any tax since Leo already paid it when activating Pyrotenax's trait.] Pyrotenax reaches out to Robur's mind [Beguiler of Mortals d8] and warns him that these peasants are trying to steal his ring, boosting his motivation to protect Pyrotenax [Fiercely Loyal d8]. [Leo 8,4 vs. Dan 6,2. Leo wins but his traits are maxed out. I exhaust my angry mob.] Robur draws his sword and charges, and the peasant rabble scatters, unwilling to face the wrath of a trained knight. Marius, more clever than most [Savvy d8], slyly suggests, "If the ring is not evil, then you should have no problem praying to the water goddess while wearing it!" "Ignore this nonsense," Pyrotenax whispers, "you have more important things to do." "I'm on important business! [Fiercely Loyal d8]" Robur growls. [Leo 8,1 vs. Dan 1. Leo wins but is maxed out. I don't exhaust.] "Don't trouble me with any more of your religious foolishness," Robur calls behind him as he stomps onward, "I'm on an important mission for the king." "Well you certainly don't want to go that way!" Marius says. "The bridge is washed out in that direction," he adds, hoping he can use his superior knowledge of local geography [Savvy d8] to get Robur and Pyrotenax lost and confused. "That's what the king wants us to investigate," Pyrotenax whispers to Robur [Beguiler of Mortals d8], and Robur marches onward with determination [Fiercely Loyal d8]. [Leo 7,1 vs. Dan 8. I win and Leo exhausts both traits. He doesn't have any dice or traits left so I win the chapter.] The seed of the idea planted by Marius grows under Pyrotenax's exhortation, causing Robur to fixate on the idea of a bridge as he makes his way toward the river. [I won as adversity so I get another viewpoint die. I take the d12 for my seventh phase.] [A lot of interesting conceptual stuff came up in this chapter based on Leo's understanding of how the game is supposed to work, the nature of adversity, how it's difficult for the adversity player to introduce adversity if the viewpoint player isn't pushing strongly toward a goal.]
Chapter 21
Viewpoint: Dan 15. Leo 12,6.
Adversity: Leo 10,8,5. Nolan 7,4.
In Astrin's house in the burned-out village, Marcus [Leo spends his 5 to activate a d4 passive threat: rubble] sees that everything in the house is covered by ash and debris [Rubble d4], not to mention the cast off bones from the drake's feeding. [I spend my 15 to activate Marcus's Scholar's Apprentice at d8, Quick-witted at d6, Yearns for Adventure at d6, and Secret Prince at d4] Marcus quickly realizes [Quick-witted d6] that the principle of searching the house for information should be no different from searching the library [Scholar's Apprentice d8], a task with which he's intimately familiar. [Dan 4,3 vs. Leo 4. I win and bump Quick-witted to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] Marcus begins shifting the rubble, hoping to start on some system of organization, and gets a glimmer of hope when he begins to notice books and papers mixed in with everything else. They are, however, so dirty and grimy that it will be difficult to make anything out [Rubble d4]. Marcus knows he'll never be able to move on until he figures this out [Yearns for Adventure d6], so he concentrates harder than he ever has before [Scholar's Apprentice d8]. [Dan 4,4 vs. Leo 2. I win and bump Yearns for Adventure to d8 and Leo exhausts.] He finds a journal which indicates that there is a prophet who is supposed to live in a nearby cave, so he sets off in that direction.
[Leo spends his 8 on a d4 passive threat: thunderstorm] A thunderstorm brews up quickly. As Marcus rushes toward the apparent safety of the caves, [Leo spends his 10 on a d6 active threat: dragons] two dragons who were battling each other nearby and focus their attention on Marcus. With multiple threats to deal with, Marcus racks his brain trying to remember everything he can about caves in order to find some safety. [Dan 4 vs. Leo 5,2. Leo wins and bumps Dragons to d8, but I don't exhaust.] Marcus finds a suitable candidate to give him shelter from the storm [d4], but it isn't long before he discovers that the cave is inhabited -- by dragons [d8]! Not wasting a second [Quick-witted d8], Marcus dashes from the cave the moment he sees the dragon, hoping it will chase him, because he knows [Scholar's Apprentice d8] that dragons are particularly vulnerable to lightning. [Dan 8,3 vs. Leo 5,1. I win, and we mistakenly believe that it's my third win in a row, so we continue as if I won the chapter.] The beast chases Marcus, and as it raises its head up to strike, its sinuous body acts as a lightning rod, and its corpse is left charred and crackling. [I won the chapter as viewpoint so I advance a phase in my plot thread. This completes my "Find the prophet" segment.] As Marcus stares in disbelief that his longshot plan worked, he is buffeted by the flapping of enormous golden wings as a mighty dragon lands before him. She explains that she is the prophet that Marcus has been seeking, and that she has waiting a long time for him to come. [For completing a segment I get two traits worth of narrative special effects. I choose to make the fire drake ideologically aligned with the protagonist and he and Marcus are now traveling together] The dragon prophet explains that she has been working with a secret cabal of scholars so that someone trustworthy like Marcus will be able to take the throne, keeping it from the grasp of Pyrotenax who will tear the mortal realm asunder. She dispatches her youngest offspring, the young drake that Marcus met in the village who has been surreptitiously following him, to assist Marcus in his quest.
Chapter 22
Viewpoint: Dan 6,3. Leo 12,9.
Adversity: Dan 9,5. Nolan 4,2.
Pyrotenax and Robur arrive at a bridge across the river. [I spend my 5 to introduce a d4 passive threat: lost] Pyrotenax has been hammering Robur's mind so heavily that he has become confused and lost, and Pyrotenax himself has been buried for so long that he has no better idea where they are. They are lost [d4]. [I spend my 9 to introduce another d4 passive threat: water] In addition to the river, rain begins to fall from the sky, and Pyrotenax finds the proximity of so much water [d4] to be oppressive and uncomfortable. [Leo spends his 12 to activate Pyrotenax's Ancient Spirit at d8 and Beguiler of Mortals at d6 and spends his 9 to activate Fire Magic at d6] Pyrotenax creates a shell of heat [Fire Magic d6] around them, causing the rain drops to sizzle away into steam as they hit it, and exerts will upon Robur, letting him feel an ounce of his immortal calm [Ancient Spirit d8], hoping it will help him get his bearings. He promises that the sooner they can finish the task, the sooner Robur will be free of his burdens [Beguiler of Mortals d6]. [Leo 5,2,2 vs. Dan 4,2. Leo wins and bumps Fire Magic to d8, but none of mine are exhausted] In the center of the bubble of warmth, Robur finds his center, and accepts his role in finding a suitable host for Pyrotenax. However, none of that gives them any better idea where they are [lost d4], and the rain begins to pick up [water d4], with a few drops even managing to make it all the way through the shield. Pyrotenax intensifies his shield to drive away the rain [Fire Magic d8], and begins communing with the world [Ancient Spirit d8] to find the direction and the distance to the place where he'll be able to connect with his true host. [Leo 5,2 vs. Dan 1,1. Leo wins and I'm exhausted. I don't have anything left so Leo wins the chapter.] Robur confidently strides forth in the direction Pyrotenax decrees, and the rain tapers off with help from Pyrotenax's not-so-gentle touch. [Leo won as viewpoint player so he advances on phase along his plot thread.]
Chapter 23
Viewpoint: Dan 9,4. Leo 7,1.
Adversity: Leo 9,3,2. Nolan 17,2.
[I am moving through my third segment, and Nolan has a support segment that targets it. He
chooses to roll his first phase of support dice: 4,5. He gives the 5 to me, so my dice are story dice are now 9,5,4.]
On the road to the capital, still some distance away, Marcus spies someone ahead of him on the path. [Nolan spends his 17 to introduce Marian. We decide it's a short journey from the capital to the current location, so he has to pay a distance tax of 1. We decide that it's possible but surprising for her to appear, so he has to pay a plausibility tax of 2. A 17 normally activates 4 traits, so Nolan gets 4 – 3 = 1 traits after tax. He activates Marian's Demigoddess at d8. He also spends his 2 to activate Champion of the People at d6.] As Marcus gets closer he sees that it's a radiant woman [Demigoddess d8] in a dress like seafoam. "I am looking for the true prince that will lead the people [Champion of the People d6]," she says. "He is supposed to come this way, and I feel he must be near," she adds, as if expecting Marcus to give her directions. [I spend my 4 to activate Marcus's Secret Prince at d8 and my 5 to activate Scholar's Apprentice at d6] From his studies [Scholar's Apprentice d6], Marcus recognizes the signs of Marian's divine heritage and addresses her by the proper title. He explains, "I am the prince. There's this prophecy you see, and I need to take the throne or it will be very bad for everybody." [Dan 6,4 vs. Nolan 2,1. I win and that takes out everything Nolan has.] Marian is quite impressed that Marcus knows her title, even pronouncing it correctly, and listens to his story and accepts him as the prince. [I still have a story die left over, so with Nolan's consent I use it to update Marian's alignment to ideologically aligned with protagonist. I won the chapter as the viewpoint player so I advance one phase along my plot thread.]
Chapter 24
Viewpoint: Dan 2. Leo 9,8.
Adversity: Dan 7,4. Nolan 11,2.
Pyrotenax urges Robur forward over a bridge on the river, toward the direction where he will identify his true host. [Nolan spends his 2 on a d4 passive threat: the river] The river is swollen and racing, covering the bridge [river d4]. [Leo spends his 9 to activate Pyrotenax's Mystical Will at d8 and spends his 8 to activate Robur's Strong at d8] Pyrotenax exerts his will [Mystical Will d8] to increase the pull of gravity, keeping Robur solidly grounded as he moves stolidly across [Strong d8]. [Leo 8,1 vs. Nolan 4. Leo wins but both his traits are maxed out. Nolan doesn't exhaust.] Robur marches across, nearly to the far side, when the bridge finally gives way under the force of the river [d4], plunging Robur and Pyrotenax into the water. [Nolan spends his 11 on a d6 active threat: sucking current] Furthermore, the rush of the current past the ruined pilings creates a terrible suction, pulling Robur back to the center of the river [Sucking current d6]. Pyrotenax focuses his attention on the water [Mystical Will d8], making it frothy and foamy so that Robur will have an easier time moving through it [Strong d8]. [Leo 2,2 vs. Nolan 6,3. Nolan wins and Leo is out of stuff so Nolan wins the chapter.] It isn't enough. The big man is swept downriver, barely maintaining his hold on Pyrotenax. [Nolan wins as adversity so he gets another viewpoint die. He takes the d20 for the first phase of his support segment.]
Chapter 25
Viewpoint: Dan 3. Leo 11,6.
Adversity: Dan 1,1. Nolan 14,7.
[Nolan spends his 14 on a d6 active threat: the river. He spends a 7 on a d4 passive threat: water] Immersed in water [d4], Pyrotenax feels his power almost smothered as he and Robur are swept down the raging river [d6]. [Leo spends his 11 to activate Pyrotenax's Fire Magic at d8 and Ancient Spirit at d6 and his 6 to activate Robur's Strength at d8.] Pyrotenax reaches out to the fiery molten core of the world to strengthen his power against the river [Ancient Spirit d6] and heats the water [Fire Magic d8] to create a counter-current to assist Robur as he swims to shore [Strong d8]. [Leo 1,1,1 vs. Nolan 4,1. Nolan wins and bumps River to d8, but Leo doesn't exhaust.] Despite their best efforts, Robur is swept further downriver. The water [d4] presses in on Pyrotenax as the current [River d8] tries to pull them under. Pyrotenax and Robur redouble their efforts [Fire Magic d8, Strong d8]. [Leo 6,5 vs. Nolan 2,2. Leo wins and Nolan is exhausted. Nolan's out of stuff so Leo wins the chapter.] Robur makes it to the riverbank, the water virtually steaming off of him as he pulls himself ashore. [Leo won as viewpoint so he advances one phase along his plot thread.]
Chapter 26
Viewpoint: Dan 9. Leo 8,5.
Adversity: Leo 10,7,5. Nolan 9,1.
[I am moving through my third segment, and Nolan has a support segment that targets that. He chooses to roll his second phase of support dice: 9,7,1. He gives the 7 and 1 to me, so my dice are story dice are now 9,7,1.]
Still on the road to the capital, Marcus [Leo spends his 10 on a d6 active threat: orc and ogre bandits] is surprised when a swarm of orc and ogre bandits spring out of concealed positions at the side of the road [Orc and ogre bandits: d6]. [I spend my 9 to activate Marcus's Quick-witted at d8 and I spend my 7 to activate the fire drake's Fire Breathing at d8] "Quick, boy!" Marcus calls to the drake [Quick-witted d8], "give them a good roasting! [Fire Breathing d8]" [Dan 1,1 vs. Leo 2. Leo wins and bumps the bandits to d8, I exhaust both traits.] The ogres turn out to have far tougher hides than Marcus and the drake suspected, as they merely shrug off the flames while they pummel the young drake. They move in around Marcus and he realizes he's completely surrounded by bandits [d8]. [I spend my 1 to activate Secret Prince at d8] "Oh, you've got me!" Marcus cries melodramatically. "I'm sure that once you take me to the capital, my father the king will pay a princely ransom for me! [Secret Prince d8]" [Dan 2 vs. Leo 3. Leo wins and I exhaust. I'm out of stuff so Leo wins the chapter.] The bandits seem to take little notice of his words, merely bundling him off to a makeshift cell in their bandit encampment. [Leo wins as adversity so he gets another viewpoint die. He takes the d10 for his seventh phase. He also has some left over story dice that he could spend on narrative special effects like making it hard to re-introduce the fire drake, but I'm not sure he realizes that and I forget to remind him.]
That's where we ended the session for the night. I'll have the conclusion of the story in the next playtest report.
(Final Hour of a Storied Age is currently in beta testing. I really need feedback from people trying to play my game without my direct involvement. I would deeply appreciate it if you would consider giving the game a shot. I want to produce the highest quality game I can, but I can only do that with the help of playtesters. If there’s anything I can do that would help you get a game going just let me know.)
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