Altaem (what's your name?) asked me some questions about While We Were Fighting in another thread:

Do player characters gain resources by stealing them from each other, or are NPCs generated to fill the role of protagonist?

Player characters may try to gain resources any way they want, and from whoever they chose, if at all. Let the player's decide what to do.

NPCs are indeed an important part of the game, and some will need to have have a few traits. All have motivations and agendas of their own. Some will turn out to become antagonists, some will become allies, and one or two may even become a protagonist in their own right. The NPC generation rules are currently missing from the playtest draft, along with a character generation chapter for player characters, but I will rectify both of these situations asap.

Please note that resources does not have to be stolen. They can be obtained by any means, and may not even require a conflict. In fact, do not assume that any player character's resources will ever increase at all. Use the Advancement & Decline rules only when a situation arrives in play that requires their use.

Is this helpful? Am I addressing your concerns?

How many conflicts (rolls) would a typical scene contain? 

I'm not quite sure what you are after here. I don't think providing a guideline for number of conflicts per scene will be useful. There is no ideal number of conflicts per scene.

However, it is imperative to remember that all conflicts of interest are between people trying to do things that are not compatible. There is no such thing as a conflict between a character and a wall that he attempts to climb or some such. The one exception to this is Crises, obviously, where a conflict between a player character and a raging fire or disease is commonplace.

Do players have practically complete freedom to frame a scene?

Will you clarify this question for me, please? Specifically, what do you mean by "complete freedom"? Perhaps an example or two is in order? I do have some guidelines, but I'd like to know that I am addressing some real concerns of yours.

Thank you for your questions.

All the best,

Peter

A short rant about conflicts of interest that may or may not have any bearing on Altaem’s questions.

You need fictional events. Characters that perform actions. Intentions are not fictional events unless they are acted upon. The GM should always ask “what do you do?” Don’t ask “what do you intend?” Intentions, goals or stakes without action (by action I mean people doing stuff) have no place in the fiction of While We Were Fighting.

All conflicts are preceded by actions.

    GM: He tries to stab you with his knife.
    Player: I don’t want him to.

While We Were Fighting does not recognize wishes as legitimate actions. No need to punish the player by being rude, but ask him to provide fictional content. Like this:

    GM: What do you do?
    Player: I try to avoid being stabbed.

That’s not enough fictional content. It’s an intention, but not an action. The player must describe the action.

    GM: I understand, but what do you do?
    Player: Um…can just try to back away from him?
    GM: Sure you can. Grab your dice…

*pauses to google Altaem*
Hmm, second link - boardgamegeek profile - that's me.

Sorry,  my name is Stephen Moore, I use Altaem online as it's unique (or was until Alta Em turned up).  It's the name of my most powerful character/super villain from a RPG I created when I was 14.  There must be tens of thousands of Stephens in the world.

My questions seemed so clear just after I read the rules a few days ago.  I wonder if I should re-read them before attempting to clarify.

Lets try with an example:
The enemy of my enemy is not my friend.  I have unsuccessfully attempted to get them to strike out at my enemy through negotiations and trade deals.  They are not interested in conflict at this time, preferring to spend all their time with a new mistress.  I feel that far more drastic action in required.  I plan to send an assassin to slay the mistress, leaving evidence that our common enemy sent the killer.

I am using my trait "Underworld Contacts" (3) to hire an anonymous assassin

So how do I frame the scene?

The assassin climbs the ivy covering the walls of the mistress's house, entering her bedchamber in the dead of night.  He is a competent professional and has carefully studies the guards rounds and knows there is no chance of being disturbed.  In the bedchamber there is only the sleeping mistress and the assassin.  The assassin strikes silently, drops the evidence and is gone.

What actions are considered conflicts?
If this was a player's mistress being targeted what defensive options do they have?
How much control does the scene framer have?  This is after all in the domain of another player, should they be able to avoid protective guards just by declaring they do?

As a GM I'd be tempted to let this play out.  Doubtless the city will become abuzz with rumors, and a useful Trait like "Underworld Contacts" could easily be turned against them.  That still doesn't help the player who's just been nuked.   

Who? A story scene always contains at least one player character

Cool. You have astutely realized that judicious scene framing is a powerful tool. I think it is imperative that you use the scene framing rules by the book. Let's go through your exemple step by step.

So how do I frame the scene?

The assassin climbs the ivy covering the walls of the mistress's house, entering her bedchamber in the dead of night.

What if I frame a scene after the event, where another PC character has just heard the news that their mistress has been assassinated?

Just want to explore the possible options in PC placement.

If the mistress’ lover a PC? Place him there.

Or perhaps your own character is watching from a balcony across the street

Hi,

It may be a few days before I can get back to this thread. Please bear with me.

All the best,

/Peter

Hi Stephen,

Sorry for taking so long.

I think scenes should be created based mainly on whatever you believe would create an intreresting and enjoyable situation. That's not much of a rule, I'm afraid, but you cannot play this game in competition with your fellow players. You need to decide what's in your character's best interest, and then have the character act accordingly. All play should be governed by these two principles, I think: Player enjoyment through interesting in game situations and character best interest.

The crux is that it is up to you to decide what's in your character's best interest. You don't have to go into competitive machiavellian mode if you don't want to. Is your son's survival really worth more than your own personal success? You decide, and act accordingly.

To further complicate things the two principles aren't always compatible. Go with your gut, and make decisions based on what's been going on in the fiction. If your fellow players grunt with pleasure you are doing the right thing. Characters may compete (or not) but players cooperate.

Altaem wrote: Just want to explore the possible options in PC placement.

Altaem wrote: Is it within my power as scene framer to declare that both the other PC and mistress are asleep or completely preoccupied in love making?.

Altaem wrote: If the other player has traits in security or bodyguard is there any way I can prevent them being involved in the scene?