The Task Resolution Tool

As I’m trying out a bunch of games, I have to remind myself not everything has a good conflict resolution – and I find myself falling back into bad habits and problems with task resolution systems.  Mostly in rolling dice for uninteresting results.  Guh.

Can you think of a fun, entertaining, interesting result for failure?

No, not really

Ok, then:

1) Say Yes.  The character succeeds.  Keep play moving

2) Offer a precondition: “You can try but first you’ll need to…”

3) Offer at a cost: “You can do it, but it will cost you this…”

4) Impossible: “It’s too hard, but maybe you can…(offer other ideas)”

Yes!  Well, maybe! Give me some ideas!

Ok, then it’s a good time to roll the dice.  Here’s some ways to get worthy failure.

Four Types of Worthy Failure:

Risk

Risk is not necessarily damage or harm.  Risk opens you UP to the potential of those things.  So, jumping across a gap?  Failure isn’t falling, failure is hanging by one hand, precariously, while the enemies are shooting at you.  Risk is losing your lead on escaping danger.  Failing a risk roll means the GM takes the lead and the next roll involves harm, injury or capture.

Information

Information failure means you accidentally let slip some kind of clue or information that those who would harm you can use.  Your location, your methods, your intentions, your allegiances, where your resources come from, what you are lacking, your vulnerabilities, your secrets.   This could be leaving behind a clue, accidentally saying the wrong thing, showing too much of your hand too early, etc.

Resources

Resources are things like gear, equipment, food, tools, mounts, hired allies, etc.  Mostly logistical resources.   Losing these makes life harder and some things impossible.  It can also create other problems – being in the wilderness without food or proper clothing can become a hazardous problem very quickly.

Standing

Standing is how NPCs see you.  And not necessarily society at large – just one NPC’s view of you can be everything.   Your King no longer believes you are capable of the job, your best friend isn’t sure they can trust you, your contact in the secret society doubts your commitment…    Or maybe it’s a small group – the people in a village, the wizard’s society you spent so long getting in good with.   Standing loss isn’t instant hate – but it means you have to work harder, do more, and get less and expect less support.

Inspiration 

Dogs in the Vineyard’s “Say Yes or Roll the Dice”, Inspectres & octaNe “When should we roll dice?”, Apocalypse World’s “Hard Moves”, Mouse Guard’s “Conditions”.