draft/scatter-4.txt
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    35 | | |-+  *Part IV: Sorting the Nuts and Bolts
       
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    43 
       
    44 Author 	Topic: Part IV: Sorting the Nuts and Bolts  (Read 596 times)
       
    45 
       
    46 *Le Joueur <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=73>*
       
    47 Member
       
    48 
       
    49 Posts: 1363
       
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    54 <http://www.scattershotgames.com>
       
    55 	
       
    56 <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=1096.msg10267#msg10267>
       
    57 *Part IV: Sorting the Nuts and Bolts
       
    58 <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=1096.msg10267#msg10267>*
       
    59 « * on:* December 28, 2001, 04:03:00 PM »
       
    60 	
       
    61 
       
    62 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       
    63 December 28th, 2001 -
       
    64 
       
    65 At the behest of my friends here on the Forge, I will present
       
    66 Scattershot at the point I have it.  Even though this is a
       
    67 work-in-progress and much of the terminology is in a state of flux, I am
       
    68 not trying to present a diary of the progress.  Expect the lead
       
    69 component of this thread to undergo changes as Scattershot does.  This
       
    70 edition was originally put together very early on Friday, December 28th,
       
    71 2001.  This series of articles will detail strictly the mechanics of
       
    72 Scattershot, articles relating to the techniques of 'how to play' will
       
    73 have to wait until I have more of them centralized and organized.  The
       
    74 third major component of the game, the setting and genre material is
       
    75 will be addressed once I get a new batch of playtesters.
       
    76 
       
    77 As promised /now/ we begin to describe the actual nuts and bolts of
       
    78 Scattershot's mechanics.  Everything in Scattershot's mechanics revolves
       
    79 around resolution of actions that participants have their characters
       
    80 perform.  In fact all other mechanics have been positioned so as to be
       
    81 simply another presentation of the resolution mechanic.  In order to
       
    82 adequately explain all that goes into Scattershot's resolution process,
       
    83 first I need to lay out a number of descriptors.
       
    84 
       
    85 All things performed within Scattershot's resolution mechanic are
       
    86 described by Ratings.  Mostly numeric, these Ratings are the most
       
    87 important part of this mechanic.  There are many qualities and
       
    88 classifications involved in these Ratings and without describing what
       
    89 they are, a user might become confused what they are being asked to do.
       
    90 
       
    91 First of all, all Ratings in Scattershot break down into three different
       
    92 /Types/.
       
    93 
       
    94 Invoked
       
    95 
       
    96       When the character performs an act or has one performed on them
       
    97       (at either Specific
       
    98       <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>
       
    99       or Mechanical
       
   100       <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>
       
   101       play 'densities') a Rating is used to determine the
       
   102       result.[/list:u]Magnitude
       
   103 
       
   104             The Rating is used to determine how much of something can be
       
   105             or is affected.  In a fashion likened to Mayfair's DC
       
   106             Heroes, Scattershot has a chart of 'amounts' that can be
       
   107             affected (we have named this either the Universal
       
   108             Equivalency or Universal Effect Chart - also known as the UE
       
   109             or 'Huey' Chart).  Lifting capability qualifies as one of
       
   110             these.[/list:u]Resource
       
   111 
       
   112                   These Ratings are something that 'gets used up' during
       
   113                   play, either spent or reduced by circumstance.
       
   114                    Old-fashioned hit points are one example, but so are
       
   115                   Hero Games' Endurance Batteries.[/list:u]Next we
       
   116                   separate Ratings based on their /Application/.
       
   117 
       
   118                   Instantaneous
       
   119 
       
   120                         Any conscious action by a player results in this
       
   121                         kind of Application /for/ the character.
       
   122                          Examples would be things like sight-based
       
   123                         Observations, Fencing, Pottery, or any type of
       
   124                         Detection ability.[/list:u]Reactive
       
   125 
       
   126                               When some other party attempts an act
       
   127                               /upon/ a character or that might involve
       
   128                               them (whether they know it or not), this
       
   129                               is the type of Application used.  Examples
       
   130                               include forms of sensation or magical
       
   131                               resistence.[/list:u]Residual
       
   132 
       
   133                                     There are two kinds of Residual
       
   134                                     Applications, on-the-spot and
       
   135                                     preemptive.  A preemptive Residual
       
   136                                     Application happens when something
       
   137                                     that is resolved has 'lingering'
       
   138                                     effects.  This might be how hard a
       
   139                                     code is to break (which is created
       
   140                                     when the code is invented); it could
       
   141                                     also be how good a work of art is.
       
   142                                      When an on-the-spot Residual
       
   143                                     Application is required, it is
       
   144                                     created right then, but treated as
       
   145                                     though it had been continuously in
       
   146                                     effect prior to when it was needed.
       
   147                                      This could be a 'how well did I do
       
   148                                     at the ball' savoir-faire result or
       
   149                                     how well something was jury-rigged.
       
   150                                      (Residual Applications form a
       
   151                                     cornerstone to how the Scattershot
       
   152                                     mechanic is used, but I'll get to
       
   153                                     that later.)[/list:u]The next topic
       
   154                                     is the /Kinds/ of Ratings there are
       
   155                                     in Scattershot.  I'll take them out
       
   156                                     of order to make their structure and
       
   157                                     relationships clearer.
       
   158 
       
   159                                     Preternatural or Supernatural Abilities
       
   160 
       
   161                                           This includes all manner of
       
   162                                           superpowers and magical
       
   163                                           effects.  If you are doing it
       
   164                                           with something other than your
       
   165                                           hands or physical tools, it's
       
   166                                           probably one of these.  Every
       
   167                                           use of a Rating in Scattershot
       
   168                                           actually involves two Ratings
       
   169                                           (but in some they can be
       
   170                                           somewhat hidden).  The first
       
   171                                           is some measure or limit on
       
   172                                           how much can be affected.
       
   173                                            This 'quantity' (this is in
       
   174                                           quotes because sometimes the
       
   175                                           'quantity' can be a distance
       
   176                                           or a philosophical property or
       
   177                                           otherwise) is indexed on the
       
   178                                           UE Chart often using a
       
   179                                           Statistic (more on these
       
   180                                           later) for both superpowers
       
   181                                           and magic (and most of the
       
   182                                           rest of these abilities too).
       
   183 
       
   184                                           The second Rating is the
       
   185                                           number that the dice are
       
   186                                           actually used with.  This is a
       
   187                                           Rating of efficacy that the
       
   188                                           character can perform the
       
   189                                           appropriate action with.  When
       
   190                                           the dice are compared to this
       
   191                                           Rating, the /quality/ of the
       
   192                                           success (or failure) is
       
   193                                           determined.  That's the basic
       
   194                                           structure of all Scattershot's
       
   195                                           resolutions.  Know the amount
       
   196                                           affected, randomly check
       
   197                                           against the character's
       
   198                                           efficacy, and determine the
       
   199                                           result.
       
   200 
       
   201                                           In the case of a superhero,
       
   202                                           except in special
       
   203                                           circumstances, all their
       
   204                                           powers will be based on a
       
   205                                           single Statistic, likewise
       
   206                                           with a mage or psychic.  When
       
   207                                           these kinds of abilities are
       
   208                                           Reactive they include things
       
   209                                           like 'active' defenses.  In
       
   210                                           Residual Application these are
       
   211                                           things like force fields,
       
   212                                           memory wipes, illusions and
       
   213                                           the like.[/list:u]Skills
       
   214 
       
   215                                                 These include primarily
       
   216                                                 things a character has
       
   217                                                 learned or is talented
       
   218                                                 with.  Things that can
       
   219                                                 be done in the 'mundane'
       
   220                                                 fashion are considered
       
   221                                                 skills.  The major thing
       
   222                                                 that separates skills
       
   223                                                 from the above abilities
       
   224                                                 is that skills use
       
   225                                                 static limits of what
       
   226                                                 can be affected.  For
       
   227                                                 example, a psychic might
       
   228                                                 be able to lift a car
       
   229                                                 with telekinesis only
       
   230                                                 when something boosts
       
   231                                                 their power level, but
       
   232                                                 an auto mechanic is able
       
   233                                                 to repair a single car
       
   234                                                 in about 3 hours.
       
   235                                                  Modifiers alter this,
       
   236                                                 but not the same way as
       
   237                                                 a magician is slave to
       
   238                                                 the amount of
       
   239                                                 'available' magic.  Each
       
   240                                                 skill lists its base
       
   241                                                 parameters (and all of
       
   242                                                 them happen to be based
       
   243                                                 on 5 templates that are
       
   244                                                 offered later to create
       
   245                                                 additional material).
       
   246                                                  (An example of a Skill
       
   247                                                 used Reactively would be
       
   248                                                 a counterfieter
       
   249                                                 recognizing a forgery
       
   250                                                 that, itself, is a
       
   251                                                 Residual Application of
       
   252                                                 the skill used of the
       
   253                                                 original
       
   254                                                 forger.)[/list:u]Statistics
       
   255 
       
   256                                                       There are 6 Stats
       
   257                                                       in Scattershot
       
   258                                                       Strength, Agility,
       
   259                                                       Hit Points,
       
   260                                                       Reaction,
       
   261                                                       Observation, and
       
   262                                                       Power
       
   263                                                       (surprisingly it
       
   264                                                       /can/ be
       
   265                                                       pronounced;
       
   266                                                       SAHROP).  Stats
       
   267                                                       are Ratings that
       
   268                                                       are
       
   269                                                       'self-referent,'
       
   270                                                       this means that
       
   271                                                       when a roll is
       
   272                                                       needed, the amount
       
   273                                                       effected is also
       
   274                                                       indexed with the
       
   275                                                       same Stat.
       
   276                                                        Strength and
       
   277                                                       Power are
       
   278                                                       primarily
       
   279                                                       Magnitudes.
       
   280                                                        Agility,
       
   281                                                       Reaction, and
       
   282                                                       Observation are
       
   283                                                       usually Invoked.
       
   284                                                        This leaves Hit
       
   285                                                       Points (and in
       
   286                                                       some genres,
       
   287                                                       Power) as mostly
       
   288                                                       Resources.  (Power
       
   289                                                       is used as a
       
   290                                                       Reactive, Invoked
       
   291                                                       ability when
       
   292                                                       preternatural
       
   293                                                       characters act
       
   294                                                       upon 'natural'
       
   295                                                       characters.  A
       
   296                                                       high Agility can
       
   297                                                       afford a small
       
   298                                                       Residual bonus on
       
   299                                                       skills listing its
       
   300                                                       effect.)  I can go
       
   301                                                       into the unusual
       
   302                                                       interpretations of
       
   303                                                       these seemingly
       
   304                                                       classic Stats if
       
   305                                                       requested, but I
       
   306                                                       will leave that
       
   307                                                       until
       
   308                                                       later.[/list:u]Advantages
       
   309                                                       (and Disadvantages)
       
   310 
       
   311                                                             These are
       
   312                                                             the only
       
   313                                                             Ratings that
       
   314                                                             do not occur
       
   315                                                             as numerical
       
   316                                                             (especially
       
   317                                                             in the Basic
       
   318                                                             mechanics
       
   319                                                             <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>).
       
   320                                                              Their
       
   321                                                             primary use
       
   322                                                             is in
       
   323                                                             General Play
       
   324                                                             <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>,
       
   325                                                             but they
       
   326                                                             function as
       
   327                                                             Residual
       
   328                                                             Applications
       
   329                                                             when used in
       
   330                                                             either
       
   331                                                             Specific or
       
   332                                                             Mechanical
       
   333                                                             play
       
   334                                                             <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>.
       
   335                                                              Since they
       
   336                                                             rarely
       
   337                                                             benefit any
       
   338                                                             other roll
       
   339                                                             more than 1
       
   340                                                             point, the
       
   341                                                             horrors of
       
   342                                                             'currency
       
   343                                                             issues'¹
       
   344                                                             never
       
   345                                                             arise.[/list:u]Like
       
   346                                                             Advantages
       
   347                                                             and
       
   348                                                             Disadvantages,
       
   349                                                             bonuses and
       
   350                                                             penalties
       
   351                                                             are treated
       
   352                                                             as Residual
       
   353                                                             Ratings.
       
   354                                                              This
       
   355                                                             becomes very
       
   356                                                             important in
       
   357                                                             certain
       
   358                                                             situations
       
   359                                                             in
       
   360                                                             Scattershot
       
   361                                                             and as far
       
   362                                                             as I know
       
   363                                                             may be an
       
   364                                                             original way
       
   365                                                             of looking
       
   366                                                             how these work.
       
   367 
       
   368                                                             There are a
       
   369                                                             few other
       
   370                                                             variations
       
   371                                                             worthy of
       
   372                                                             note in
       
   373                                                             Scattershot.
       
   374                                                              The
       
   375                                                             Durations of
       
   376                                                             ability
       
   377                                                             usage are
       
   378                                                             also very
       
   379                                                             important in
       
   380                                                             deciding how
       
   381                                                             an ability
       
   382                                                             affects
       
   383                                                             play.  There
       
   384                                                             are three
       
   385                                                             Durations
       
   386                                                             noted in
       
   387                                                             Scattershot.
       
   388 
       
   389                                                             Immediate
       
   390 
       
   391                                                                   These
       
   392                                                                   are
       
   393                                                                   acts
       
   394                                                                   that
       
   395                                                                   only
       
   396                                                                   take a
       
   397                                                                   single
       
   398                                                                   action
       
   399                                                                   by a
       
   400                                                                   character,
       
   401                                                                   like
       
   402                                                                   firing
       
   403                                                                   an
       
   404                                                                   arrow
       
   405                                                                   at a
       
   406                                                                   target.[/list:u]Involved
       
   407 
       
   408                                                                         These
       
   409                                                                         activities
       
   410                                                                         take
       
   411                                                                         more
       
   412                                                                         than
       
   413                                                                         one
       
   414                                                                         time
       
   415                                                                         unit
       
   416                                                                         in
       
   417                                                                         Scattershot,
       
   418                                                                         in
       
   419                                                                         Mechanical
       
   420                                                                         play
       
   421                                                                         <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>,
       
   422                                                                         the
       
   423                                                                         exact
       
   424                                                                         amount
       
   425                                                                         of
       
   426                                                                         time
       
   427                                                                         can
       
   428                                                                         be
       
   429                                                                         very
       
   430                                                                         important.
       
   431                                                                          Sometimes
       
   432                                                                         Involved
       
   433                                                                         actions
       
   434                                                                         are
       
   435                                                                         considered
       
   436                                                                         a
       
   437                                                                         series
       
   438                                                                         of
       
   439                                                                         sequencial
       
   440                                                                         actions,
       
   441                                                                         such
       
   442                                                                         as
       
   443                                                                         taking
       
   444                                                                         part
       
   445                                                                         in
       
   446                                                                         an
       
   447                                                                         archery
       
   448                                                                         tournament
       
   449                                                                         (which
       
   450                                                                         is
       
   451                                                                         a
       
   452                                                                         different
       
   453                                                                         skill
       
   454                                                                         than
       
   455                                                                         normal
       
   456                                                                         archery)
       
   457                                                                         or
       
   458                                                                         tracking
       
   459                                                                         wild
       
   460                                                                         game.
       
   461                                                                          This
       
   462                                                                         awareness
       
   463                                                                         of
       
   464                                                                         Duration
       
   465                                                                         is
       
   466                                                                         directly
       
   467                                                                         linked
       
   468                                                                         to
       
   469                                                                         one
       
   470                                                                         of
       
   471                                                                         Scattershot
       
   472                                                                         combat's
       
   473                                                                         more
       
   474                                                                         interesting
       
   475                                                                         features
       
   476                                                                         (but
       
   477                                                                         I'll
       
   478                                                                         save
       
   479                                                                         that
       
   480                                                                         for
       
   481                                                                         later).[/list:u]Scenic
       
   482                                                                         (I
       
   483                                                                         really
       
   484                                                                         need
       
   485                                                                         a
       
   486                                                                         different
       
   487                                                                         word
       
   488                                                                         here)
       
   489 
       
   490                                                                               These
       
   491                                                                               activities
       
   492                                                                               basically
       
   493                                                                               take
       
   494                                                                               an
       
   495                                                                               entire
       
   496                                                                               scene
       
   497                                                                               unto
       
   498                                                                               themselves
       
   499                                                                               to
       
   500                                                                               play
       
   501                                                                               out.
       
   502                                                                                Only
       
   503                                                                               on
       
   504                                                                               rare
       
   505                                                                               occasion
       
   506                                                                               will
       
   507                                                                               a
       
   508                                                                               Scenic
       
   509                                                                               Duration
       
   510                                                                               skill
       
   511                                                                               usage
       
   512                                                                               be
       
   513                                                                               'played
       
   514                                                                               out.'
       
   515                                                                                They
       
   516                                                                               are
       
   517                                                                               usually
       
   518                                                                               handled
       
   519                                                                               during
       
   520                                                                               naturally
       
   521                                                                               occuring
       
   522                                                                               breaks
       
   523                                                                               in
       
   524                                                                               play,
       
   525                                                                               like
       
   526                                                                               'between'
       
   527                                                                               scenes.
       
   528                                                                                A
       
   529                                                                               couple
       
   530                                                                               of
       
   531                                                                               examples
       
   532                                                                               include
       
   533                                                                               hunting
       
   534                                                                               and
       
   535                                                                               foraging.
       
   536                                                                                Usage
       
   537                                                                               of
       
   538                                                                               a
       
   539                                                                               Scenic
       
   540                                                                               Duration
       
   541                                                                               ability
       
   542                                                                               usually
       
   543                                                                               only
       
   544                                                                               occurs
       
   545                                                                               during
       
   546                                                                               General
       
   547                                                                               play
       
   548                                                                               <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>.[/list:u]One
       
   549                                                                               of
       
   550                                                                               the
       
   551                                                                               special
       
   552                                                                               mechanics
       
   553                                                                               in
       
   554                                                                               Scattershot
       
   555                                                                               involves
       
   556                                                                               using
       
   557                                                                               a
       
   558                                                                               skill
       
   559                                                                               (or
       
   560                                                                               other
       
   561                                                                               ability)
       
   562                                                                               at
       
   563                                                                               a
       
   564                                                                               Duration
       
   565                                                                               they
       
   566                                                                               are
       
   567                                                                               not
       
   568                                                                               associated
       
   569                                                                               with.
       
   570                                                                                Using
       
   571                                                                               'strategy'
       
   572                                                                               (managing
       
   573                                                                               a
       
   574                                                                               whole
       
   575                                                                               battle)
       
   576                                                                               in
       
   577                                                                               place
       
   578                                                                               of
       
   579                                                                               'tactics'
       
   580                                                                               (taking
       
   581                                                                               advantage
       
   582                                                                               of
       
   583                                                                               the
       
   584                                                                               situations
       
   585                                                                               of
       
   586                                                                               a
       
   587                                                                               fight)
       
   588                                                                               is
       
   589                                                                               one
       
   590                                                                               example,
       
   591                                                                               another
       
   592                                                                               would
       
   593                                                                               be
       
   594                                                                               using
       
   595                                                                               to
       
   596                                                                               'charm'
       
   597                                                                               in
       
   598                                                                               a
       
   599                                                                               scene
       
   600                                                                               in
       
   601                                                                               place
       
   602                                                                               of
       
   603                                                                               'savoir-faire.'
       
   604                                                                                (This
       
   605                                                                               'defaulting'
       
   606                                                                               is
       
   607                                                                               actually
       
   608                                                                               based
       
   609                                                                               on
       
   610                                                                               how
       
   611                                                                               Scattershot
       
   612                                                                               handles
       
   613                                                                               the
       
   614                                                                               bonuses
       
   615                                                                               and
       
   616                                                                               penalties
       
   617                                                                               for
       
   618                                                                               taking
       
   619                                                                               more
       
   620                                                                               or
       
   621                                                                               less
       
   622                                                                               time
       
   623                                                                               to
       
   624                                                                               do
       
   625                                                                               something.)
       
   626 
       
   627                                                                               Another
       
   628                                                                               variation
       
   629                                                                               noted
       
   630                                                                               in
       
   631                                                                               Scattershot
       
   632                                                                               is
       
   633                                                                               the
       
   634                                                                               value
       
   635                                                                               of
       
   636                                                                               the
       
   637                                                                               Scope
       
   638                                                                               of
       
   639                                                                               what
       
   640                                                                               is
       
   641                                                                               being
       
   642                                                                               resolved.
       
   643                                                                                This
       
   644                                                                               not
       
   645                                                                               only
       
   646                                                                               includes
       
   647                                                                               things
       
   648                                                                               involved
       
   649                                                                               with
       
   650                                                                               concepts
       
   651                                                                               like
       
   652                                                                               the
       
   653                                                                               Scope
       
   654                                                                               of
       
   655                                                                               a
       
   656                                                                               subject
       
   657                                                                               being
       
   658                                                                               affected,
       
   659                                                                               but
       
   660                                                                               also
       
   661                                                                               the
       
   662                                                                               scope
       
   663                                                                               of
       
   664                                                                               those
       
   665                                                                               performing
       
   666                                                                               the
       
   667                                                                               act.
       
   668 
       
   669                                                                               Individual
       
   670 
       
   671                                                                                     Most
       
   672                                                                                     activities
       
   673                                                                                     are
       
   674                                                                                     resolved
       
   675                                                                                     on
       
   676                                                                                     this
       
   677                                                                                     level.
       
   678                                                                                      One
       
   679                                                                                     individual
       
   680                                                                                     acts
       
   681                                                                                     upon
       
   682                                                                                     another
       
   683                                                                                     or
       
   684                                                                                     a
       
   685                                                                                     small
       
   686                                                                                     group
       
   687                                                                                     (what
       
   688                                                                                     they
       
   689                                                                                     act
       
   690                                                                                     upon
       
   691                                                                                     is
       
   692                                                                                     alternatively
       
   693                                                                                     limited
       
   694                                                                                     by
       
   695                                                                                     the
       
   696                                                                                     UE
       
   697                                                                                     Chart).
       
   698                                                                                      This
       
   699                                                                                     works
       
   700                                                                                     on
       
   701                                                                                     every
       
   702                                                                                     'density'
       
   703                                                                                     of
       
   704                                                                                     play
       
   705                                                                                     <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>
       
   706                                                                                     quite
       
   707                                                                                     easily.[/list:u]Squad
       
   708                                                                                     (another
       
   709                                                                                     term
       
   710                                                                                     that
       
   711                                                                                     needs
       
   712                                                                                     a
       
   713                                                                                     changing)
       
   714 
       
   715                                                                                           This
       
   716                                                                                           scope
       
   717                                                                                           is
       
   718                                                                                           especially
       
   719                                                                                           relevant
       
   720                                                                                           when
       
   721                                                                                           addressing
       
   722                                                                                           the
       
   723                                                                                           components
       
   724                                                                                           of
       
   725                                                                                           a
       
   726                                                                                           scene
       
   727                                                                                           individually
       
   728                                                                                           would
       
   729                                                                                           take
       
   730                                                                                           altogether
       
   731                                                                                           too
       
   732                                                                                           long,
       
   733                                                                                           destroying
       
   734                                                                                           'flow
       
   735                                                                                           of
       
   736                                                                                           play.'
       
   737                                                                                            One
       
   738                                                                                           of
       
   739                                                                                           the
       
   740                                                                                           techniques
       
   741                                                                                           of
       
   742                                                                                           Scattershot
       
   743                                                                                           combat
       
   744                                                                                           involves
       
   745                                                                                           shifting
       
   746                                                                                           up
       
   747                                                                                           to
       
   748                                                                                           this
       
   749                                                                                           level
       
   750                                                                                           under
       
   751                                                                                           certain
       
   752                                                                                           circumstances.[/list:u]Mob
       
   753                                                                                           (and
       
   754                                                                                           so
       
   755                                                                                           on)
       
   756 
       
   757                                                                                                 Other
       
   758                                                                                                 Scopes
       
   759                                                                                                 obviously
       
   760                                                                                                 exist,
       
   761                                                                                                 but
       
   762                                                                                                 are
       
   763                                                                                                 almost
       
   764                                                                                                 always
       
   765                                                                                                 handled
       
   766                                                                                                 in
       
   767                                                                                                 General
       
   768                                                                                                 play
       
   769                                                                                                 <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>
       
   770                                                                                                 (though
       
   771                                                                                                 sometimes
       
   772                                                                                                 it
       
   773                                                                                                 can
       
   774                                                                                                 creep
       
   775                                                                                                 down
       
   776                                                                                                 to
       
   777                                                                                                 Specific
       
   778                                                                                                 play
       
   779                                                                                                 <http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=1087&forum=2&0>)
       
   780                                                                                                 and
       
   781                                                                                                 Scenic
       
   782                                                                                                 Duration
       
   783                                                                                                 (wars
       
   784                                                                                                 can
       
   785                                                                                                 be
       
   786                                                                                                 handled
       
   787                                                                                                 this
       
   788                                                                                                 way).[/list:u]When
       
   789                                                                                                 you
       
   790                                                                                                 take
       
   791                                                                                                 the
       
   792                                                                                                 Types
       
   793                                                                                                 and
       
   794                                                                                                 Applications
       
   795                                                                                                 of
       
   796                                                                                                 a
       
   797                                                                                                 Rating
       
   798                                                                                                 into
       
   799                                                                                                 account,
       
   800                                                                                                 the
       
   801                                                                                                 Kind,
       
   802                                                                                                 Duration,
       
   803                                                                                                 and
       
   804                                                                                                 Scope
       
   805                                                                                                 of
       
   806                                                                                                 how
       
   807                                                                                                 it
       
   808                                                                                                 works,
       
   809                                                                                                 you
       
   810                                                                                                 begin
       
   811                                                                                                 to
       
   812                                                                                                 see
       
   813                                                                                                 how
       
   814                                                                                                 Scattershot
       
   815                                                                                                 makes
       
   816                                                                                                 use
       
   817                                                                                                 of
       
   818                                                                                                 the
       
   819                                                                                                 Ratings
       
   820                                                                                                 involved
       
   821 
       
   822                                                                                                 Next
       
   823                                                                                                 time,
       
   824                                                                                                 peeling
       
   825                                                                                                 away
       
   826                                                                                                 the
       
   827                                                                                                 layers
       
   828                                                                                                 of
       
   829                                                                                                 the
       
   830                                                                                                 mechanics.
       
   831 
       
   832                                                                                                 Fang
       
   833                                                                                                 Langford
       
   834 
       
   835 	Logged
       
   836 
       
   837 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       
   838 Fang Langford is formerly the creator of the Scattershot Role-Playing
       
   839 Game System.  This project has been permanently suspended.  If you have
       
   840 any questions regarding the implementation of it or anything else, he
       
   841 can be reached at ripjack@mad.scientist.com
       
   842 <mailto:ripjack@mad.scientist.com>
       
   843 
       
   844 *Pages:* [*1*] 	Print
       
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