[Torg] Arc Awards

[Benjamin Grant]

Thought I would post the Arc award system we came up with to determine how
many possibilities get awarded to each PC at the end of an arc:

 

The average award for each player (according to the book) should be 2.5
possibilities per session the arc lasted for.  For example, if the arc
lasted 4 sessions, the arc award average should be 4 times 2.5, or 10
possibilities.  On the other hand, if it lasted 8 sessions, it should be
double that.

 

Each player and character should then be rated in four different areas and
how they did over the Arc: Heart, Fun, Potence, and Growth.  Each area is
rated either -¼,0,or +¼:   

 

·         Heart:  Did the character, over the course of the arc, matter?
Was the character engaging or compelling – did we care about the character
and/or enjoy the character’s contribution to the story?  Was the character
“cool”, or “amazing”, were we riveted to see what they did next, or what
happened to them next?

o   Standard hero, neither a standout for worse or better: +0

o   Especially uncool, annoying, we cringed when he took center stage: -¼

o   Especially cool, compelling, we were riveted when he took center stage:
+¼

 

·         Fun:  Did the *player* (not the character) bring the fun factor
over the arc?  Were they entertaining?  Did they make the game a  better
game, or detract from it by always bringing up things at unhelpful times?
Did they make too many jokes, or just enough?  Were they good humored
throughout?  Did they share the spotlight, or steal it?

o   Good natured and good humored: +0

o   Lack of presence, or passive, unengaged: -¼

o   Entertaining, engaged, shared spotlight: +¼  

 

·         Potence:  did the character act effectively through the arc?  Did
they accomplish most of their goals, and do it well?  Where they in front,
getting things done, or did they provide essential support to the character
who were in front?  Did they use the tools at their disposal creatively and
to good effect, not just for party goals but personal as well?

o   Standard effectiveness and/or supportiveness: +0

o   Especially passive, nonsupportive, ineffective, or unsuccessful: -¼  

o   Especially effective or supportive in accomplishing goals: +¼

 

·         Growth: did the character take substantial steps toward personal
growth?  Is the character different than how he started?  Has he learned new
choices, discovered new options, or broadened his horizons and experiences?
Or was the character played as a flat stereotype?

o   Dynamic character, but no significant growth or character evolution: +0

o   Flat, two dimensional, and/or stereotyped character: -¼   

o   Dynamic character, with significant growth and character evolution: +¼  

 

Be careful not to just look at how the character (or player) was over the
last few sessions, but examine the journey over the entire past arc to
answer the above questions.  This will give the PC a rating of -1 to +1.
Add that to the normal 2.5 possibilities for a total of 1.5 to 3.5, multiply
that by the number of session in this past arc, and that is your possibility
aware for them this arc.  Of course, Glories, EHPs, etc are counted
separately.

 

Example:  We just finished a 6 session Arc.  If Cad looked cool and
compelling for most of the arc (+¼), if his player made the game especially
fun (+¼), was only of normal Potence and effectiveness(+0), and was played
as a dynamic character but had no significant character evolution over the
arc (+0), that’s a total of +½, plus 2.5, or a 3 total.  3 times 6 sessions
(in this arc) is an 18 possibility award.  Of course, Cad still gets his
normal session awards(1-4 plus subplots and checkmarks), gets 3
possibilities per unspent EHP, and gets 3 possibilities per Glory in the
group above and beyond that.

 

-Benn Grant

eFix Computer Consulting

 <mailto:benn at 4eFix.com> benn at 4eFix.com

603.283.6601

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