News:

Forum changes: Editing of posts has been turned off until further notice.

Main Menu

Helping Dice: rejectable?

Started by Hans, September 10, 2008, 12:48:10 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Hans

Hi:

About to run Agon for the first time this month.  One question:  can a player reject an offer of aid?  Or must they accept it?  I cannot find in the rule book where is say it can be rejected, but I can also see that being assumed as common sense. 

I can see it working both ways.
* Want to know what your fair share of paying to feed the hungry is? http://www3.sympatico.ca/hans_messersmith/World_Hunger_Fair_Share_Number.htm
* Want to know what games I like? http://www.boardgamegeek.com/user/skalchemist

Darren Hill

I've always played it that they can not be rejected, if the max roll on the die is greater than the current total. (that last is to stop people giving a d4 when the roll they need to beat is, say, 8).
Giving helping dice is a great way of getting an oath from someone, whether they like it or not! :)

Hans

Darren, I like your rule very much, and think I might use it, regardless.  It seems to be nice balanced.

It is a house rule, though, right?  That is, it's not in the book anywhere?  Could you or someone else give me your impression of what the book rule is?
* Want to know what your fair share of paying to feed the hungry is? http://www3.sympatico.ca/hans_messersmith/World_Hunger_Fair_Share_Number.htm
* Want to know what games I like? http://www.boardgamegeek.com/user/skalchemist

Darren Hill

I got the impression from the rules that helping dice couldn't be rejected: I'm sure there's some text, somewhere, that says Helping Dice are a good way to force Oaths out of people. But I don't think it's stated explicitly, so I may be wrong.
The bit of about needing to use a die size big enough to make a difference is my rule, yes.

Mel White

I also play on the lines of helping dice cannot be rejected, regardless of die size versus obstacle.  I see the point of putting some restraints on the helping die, but I've also seen d6s 'open-ended' to then reach totals of 18, 22, etc.  So, there is a slim chance that even a d4 helping die could meet a high obstacle.  The 'oath economy' (th exchange of oaths and hlp back and forth) is, I think, a big part of the game and so there is certainly no language in the book that talks about rejecting help. 
Mel
Virtual Play: A podcast of roleplaying games
http://virtualplay.podbus.com

Darren Hill

Quote from: Mel White on September 10, 2008, 06:30:32 PM
I see the point of putting some restraints on the helping die, but I've also seen d6s 'open-ended' to then reach totals of 18, 22, etc.  So, there is a slim chance that even a d4 helping die could meet a high obstacle.
This is true, but since Divine Favour needs to be used to get the reroll, and the victim - I mean, person being helped - may not have it, or may not want to use it. For me, it's a little too much extra cost on top of the oath.

John Harper

The book doesn't quite say explicitly, but it strongly implies that you can't reject a helping die. That's how I play it, anyway.
Agon: An ancient Greek RPG. Prove the glory of your name!