Instinct Questions

[superaub]

So, I think my group and myself are struggling with instincts. Some of the players I think have thrown their Instincts away with ones like 'Always smell the roses'

Another player is working one along the lines of 'always assess a persons intent' How could this work?

[superaub]

sorry for double posting, i accidently refreshed my browser!!! oops!

[luke]

Post ze instincts.

[Aramis]

'Always smell the roses'
Put the roses 3m into the area marked "keep off the grass"...

[superaub]

Post ze instincts.

I have 5 players, and I'll list their Instincts with my impression. Since I am a burning gm newb, it might be good to have my instincts about instincts tested.

P1:
Always admire the view. (Artha maker)
Always secure belongings. (Keeps me from screwing him when he falls in a river?)

P2:
Have a arbalest at ready. (simple and good)
Watch out for mushrooms. (has mushrooming and herbalism)

P3:
Always pack enough food and water. (decent, avoids micromanaging)
Be polite to those of higher station. (a good backup for the inevitable roleplaying mistakes we all make)
Assess for station and occupation. (could be stronger.)

P4:
Praise the Sphinx! (the sphinx is a cult figure, so artha^max)
Gather Alms (can make alms check to get a little cash on hand, not bad)
Gather anything left about. (mcgiver anyone?)

P5:
always asses true intentions. (ok, but doesnt help them enough)

so those are my players instincts (yes many are incomplete) and my impressions about those instincts. thanks to verrain and aramis for showing me the light on artha instincts. now i think the major question i have is with social instincts, like asserting people; how do i turn that into game terms? and if its just 'make a check' that doesnt strike me as helpful enough to the players.

many thanks



I can see where admire a view can be an artha factory, as aramis mentioned, which is news to me, so I've alreay learned something

[Hirram]

As far as Artha is concerned, remember that Instincts only garner Artha when you invoke those Instincts in a way that cause a character hardship- for example, "admire the view" will only earn Artha if admiring the view will cause the character problems- for example, when they're being chased, and stopping to admire the view will invite capture. Following Instincts when there's no danger does NOT garner Artha. Likewise with the Instinct "Praise the Sphinx!"- I only see it garnering Artha if the Sphinx is unpopular with some group and the character praises the Spinx when in their presence. To give a real-world analogue, praising Allah is probably worth Artha in certain US communities.

[superaub]

@Hirram - yeah thats what i was thinking! the chase scenario, or if the group were trying to be sneaky and that character runs out to the top of a big outcropping, etc.. the sphinx, at this point, is the god of a one-man cult (the player) so it probably wont garner anything too violent, but everyone will think he's a whack-job not to be taken seriously. i also see, as the campaign progresses, the sphinx becoming something more polarizing as the cult grows. then that instinct will be a major artha factory as he spews rabid heresy non-stop!

[Z-Dog]

To give a real-world analogue, praising Allah is probably worth Artha in certain US communities.

LOL

[xenomouse]

I found the instincts that make me the happiest are the ones that define the times or conditions in which I am most likely or most willing to get into trouble.

1) Repay all sleights against my honor tenfold.
2) Always trust those who put the colony first.
3) When friends are in danger, go nuts.

#1 had me push an ally into the hands of an evil sorcerer.
#2 had me aligned with a group of evil sorcerers who were working against my friends.
#3 had me attacking the village guard and being punished accordingly.

[xenomouse]

P4:
Praise the Sphinx! (the sphinx is a cult figure, so artha^max)
Gather Alms (can make alms check to get a little cash on hand, not bad)
Gather anything left about. (mcgiver anyone?)I can't imagine the other instincts being particularly interesting. The ones above have some potential...

1) When in the presence of heretics, praise the Sphinx. (That will teach those heretics!)
2) Don't let nobles pass without first demanding alms. (It's for the good of their souls.)
3) If no one is looking, gather anything left about. (They won't miss it, right?)

[superaub]

thanks everyone! we just had our first session, and i think that, combined with all the advice from the boards was what the players needed to come up with some workable instincts!

the complicating ones seem to be the most popular