[& Sword] The Contessa's Baby

[Frank T]

Hi Steve,

Now you can see why Kickers work: Because they tell you what the players are interested in. Q.e.d.

Sebastian does not have a bound demon, right? We have been talking about this "no demon" option from &Sword on a German forum, and been puzzled a little. Cutting off one corner of the triangle between a demon's Need and Desire, Humanity, and the Kicker seems... wasted. Do you think not having a bound demon made the game more interesting for Gino? Or would you rather, in retrospect, advise him to get a demon (an object or something)?

Frank

[hix]

Frank, I think Sebastian not having a demon has helped differentiate him from Rasputin.

In the story, Rasputin is the dark seeker of supernatural knowledge, and he only has the one starting demon. It made sense of all three of us that Sebastian would have no demon at all - because Sebastian seems more innocent, and less inclined to use supernatural allies to solve his problems. *  ... And not having a demon just seemed right for Gino's character. We were all in agreement when we came to discussing it.

So, I'd say it's helped Gino with his characterisation, and helped both players' portrayal of the duo.

***

I'm 50-50 on whether I'd advise Gino to get a starting demon or not. I think I'd leave the choice up to him, but brief him much more thoroughly on how deadly demonic enemies can be. **

I think the lack of a bound demon has certainly made things more interesting for Gino now. If he'd had one to start with, sure I'd have had another angle to Bang his character with and introduce new tensions. However, now Gino's got to start making some on-screen choices about whether Sebastian WANTS a demon.

Your suggestion about getting an object demon appeals to me though. Something demonic that's not overt could fit well with Gino's character concept.

* However, Sebastian may well have Pacted or bound and banished demons in previous, unplayed adventures. We haven't really discussed that.

** Although, at that stage of character creation (pre-Kicker) I didn't know what demonic enemies would be showing up in the situation.

[hix]

Going into the final session, I knew the following situational questions were going to have to be addressed:

- Will Rasputin sacrifice his Baby to Jalali or not?
- Will Rasputin and Sebastian summon any demons (to either heal Sebastian or take on the Contessa)?
- Will Rasputin and Sebastian attack the Contessa?
- Will Rasputin and Sebastian attack Kigongo?
<another write-up<as inspired by this thread<i) That was the end.
ii) We play on, because the game could wrap up very quickly (within a scene).
iii) We play on, aware that taking down Kigongo and the Swarm could become another three-part story.
<The Swarm hovers above the Contessa as she fails to Banish it.

[hix]

[Ron Edwards]

Hooray!! I am a happy game designer.

Quite a while ago, in reference to a Roger Rabbit discussion, I posted that I always play the demons as Toons. A lot of people found that incomprehensible, because they thought I was talking about playing them comedically. I wasn't. You've really nailed what I was talking about.

Best, Ron