[As Above, So Below] Thematic Questions

[Tymen]

I didn't mean to get all iron-fisted. What I'm aiming for, but haven't written up yet, is the idea that the Devil's Advocate and the players work out what they want their cosmology to be like, before they start playing.

I will of course, include a cosmology which I would like to play with in the book, but it will be an example of one such taht can be used as a background. How much you want to invest into it will be up to those who play the game. At least, that's where my thoughts lay now.

I'd take a different approach actually.  I'd make the game very focused on the cosmology you'd like to play and tie it pretty tightly to that.  If players want to stretch the cosmology in another direction, they'll do that on their own.  It isn't necessary for you to leave things loose or vague for that to happen.

Consider Dogs in the Vineyard...one of the most tightly rules-tied-to-setting games around.  Yet players have no trouble envisioning Dogs in the X variations that have the same theme with different setting details.

YMMV, OC

Well, when two people make the same or similar suggestions, I think I should at least pay attention to what they are saying.

You have a good point. Having a concrete cosmology would make it easier to cement the rules to it. Okay, I'll work on it and try to bring it together. Thanks for the input.

[Tymen]

That said...there might be some justification for a "weariness" mechanic.  When the angels are constantly forced to make hard choice after hard choice there could be a mechanic akin to Stress in Inspectres that needs to be refreshed from time to time or the angel becomes more vulnerable to corruption.

I believe I've come up with an effective "Weariness" Mechanic which dovetails nicely into the game.

For each Scene/Conflict after the first which your Angel deals with, Weariness goes up by 1. This is the minimum amount of Corruption gained during that Scene, should you lose the conflict. The only Weariness can be bought off is by other Angels assisting you during your scenes, 1 purity for 1 Weariness.

Example:
It's Honorael, Angel of Speech, third scene/conflict. Through his language professor faithful, he is trying to stop a Student from jumping off the ledge of his school. His weariness is at 2.

If he succeeds in talking the jumper down. Nothing happens.
If he fails, he gains 2 corruption from the scene.

If Gabriel, Angel of Fire, helped him during the scene by interjecting a statement of narration for 1 purity, his Weariness goes down by 1 to 1.

Does this make sense?

[Valamir]

Seems to.

Instead of being supported, is there a way for a dark angel to be discouraging and increase your weariness in the same manner as Gabriel in the example?

[Tymen]

Seems to.

Instead of being supported, is there a way for a dark angel to be discouraging and increase your weariness in the same manner as Gabriel in the example?

Good, I'm glad it looks like it makes sense.

That is a possibility, but I was thinking that when I get to the Dark Angel/Fallen aspect of the Game. (The So Below part.) That the way it would effect would be that the Fallen spends corruption to interrupt/hinder your success and thus casuing you to fail, which causes you to pick up Corruption and when your next round rolls around you gain another point of Weariness.

Although I could work it as an either you pay a corruption to interfere or to increase the Weariness.

I think I like that last idea, best actually.

I'm currently focused on the As Above part of the game, but this does give me some ideas to chew on.

Thanks for your input and response.

If you are intersested I could send you a work in progress copy of what I have so far.