[The Committee] An Optional Rule for Using Desires

[Eric J. Boyd]

During development of The Committee for the Exploration of Mysteries I tinkered with an optional rule for using character desires that didn't find its way into the final text. That said, I think some may find it an entertaining addition so I thought I'd share it here.

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Courting Disaster
Usually a player narrates an aside describing how their character's desire made a hazard more difficult in order to regain the ability to use that desire to aid the character. This means that under the standard rules, if you have not yet used your character's desire to aid them, there is no reason to have it hinder them. 

Players may choose to use the optional rule that a player can narrate an aside describing how their character's desire hinders them in order to immediately gain one Acclaim or regain the ability to use that desire in aiding their character. In either case, take the d10 rolled by your Opposition with the lowest result and reroll it, using the new result in determining the hazard roll.

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This optional rule makes the use of desires less binary and provides some incentive for players to take risks with less difficult hazards. Of course, it also makes desires assume a more negative or perhaps comedic role in the tale. This can be perfectly in character for some of the headstrong members of the Committee who hold to their self-interest above common sense when on expedition.

If you've got thoughts on this option or have a chance to use it in play, I'd love to hear about it.