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Inactive Forums => CRN Games => Topic started by: Belinda K. on May 10, 2006, 05:36:14 PM

Title: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: Belinda K. on May 10, 2006, 05:36:14 PM
Can PCs refresh pools as part of normal gamey actions (e.g. "While I spend the night out drinking to refresh my Vigor, I'll also ask around in the pub if anyone has scene the Man in the Black Hat.") or must they be actions solely dedicated to pool refreshing? Can PCs ping keys while in a pool refresh scene?
Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: rafial on May 10, 2006, 05:49:06 PM
We actually had this come up last night, and we said yes.  We had scene that started out as pool refreshment, and then two PCs had a contest, and another scored some XP off a key.
Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: Clinton R. Nixon on May 10, 2006, 09:35:22 PM
Yeah, totally. I've got no problem with more than one thing happening in a scene.
Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: Eero Tuovinen on May 11, 2006, 05:34:13 AM
I require that an action for pool refreshment is voluntary and for entertainment purposes only. But anything else can happen in the same scene, of course. The point is that the character has to initiate an activity for no other purpose than pool refreshment, whatever happens later on. If the character has to do it anyway, it's not refreshment.
Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: Steve Segedy on May 11, 2006, 11:56:17 AM
We had the same thing happen in our game last night - a bout of drinking, intended as a pool refresh, turned into one PC sloppily hitting on another PC's sister.  The interaction that followed triggered some keys, and ultimately a punch in the face and a nap for the first character. 

On a slight tangent, I'd be really interested in seeing examples of the kinds of activities people do for pool refreshment.  Our game is set in ancient China, and I've been trying to think of culturally-specific activities that might qualify for pool refreshment.  Here are a few I've come up with:

Vigor

Instinct

Reason

Do any of these seem off-base for pool refreshment?  Are there other obvious ideas that your groups use?
Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: John Harper on May 11, 2006, 02:03:07 PM
Steve: Those are all great! I'm stealing your list. :)
Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: Mike Lucas on May 11, 2006, 03:23:11 PM
Thanks for those great examples Steve! You should add them to the TSOY wiki so we don't lose track of them. It's great seeing how to bring setting-reinforcement into the pool refreshes. As far as whether any seem off-base, I think it's really up to the particular group you're playing with.

Do you use the newer "if it's a contest, you must win" rule from Clinton? This is in the wiki (http://random.average-bear.com/TSOY/PoolRefreshmentRevisited) but not in the free online editions - when my hardcopy arrives in the mail I'll check if it's in there.

Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: Steve Segedy on May 11, 2006, 03:49:16 PM
I'm glad the examples were helpful- it's been useful for me to list them out, as it helps get the setting more firmly planted in my mind. 

I'd seen that "you must win" rule, but I wasn't sure whether that was a new rule or a holdover from the first version.  I guess my instinct would be to not use it- it seems like the "refreshing" part of these activities would be that the pressure is off.  Kind of like the difference between horsing around with a ball in your backyard vs. playing in The Big Game.
Title: Re: [TSoY] Pool refreshes
Post by: Twobirds on May 11, 2006, 04:32:31 PM
Yes, in the newer edition, it doesn't matter who wins.  The wiki is pretty outdated in places.

- George