Contest of Brews

[Badmedo]

So in my game the players have entered a grand Brewmasters contest to earn a big prize, a reputation, and maybe a few enemies!
They Forged a Divine Brew scoring in excess of 9D in the process, I cannot remember the Obstacle I set, but many Fate and Persona dice were thrown at me to accomplish this feat.

What's the best way to simulate a contest with judges?

[cathexis]

Either a roll-off or a Dual of Wits as both sides try to convince the judges that theirs is the superior product (with some added bonus coming from the thing in question, advantage dice or a pool of borrowable dice or something).

I like the Dual of Wits idea myself, keeps things fresh and your players on their toes.

[Durand Durand]

I'd also buy a half dozen nice beers and roleplay the tasting. Bonus FP for any player who brings along a beer for everyone.

[Kublai]

Is it about the judges at all? Isn't a contest between brewers?

In my head, it'd be a multi-participant Versus test. Each brewer in the competition rolls as many dice as he can muster. The judges are color, in this case.

Maybe certain types of brews are favored by judges, and if you brew towards them, you gain an advantage die. Maybe some judges dislike a certain brew and you'd get a +1 Ob.

Linked tests of Soothing Platitudes and Resources/Bribes could earn extra advantage dice.

But it seems like the roll has already been made, so those advantage dice are moot?

[ffilz]

What was the original intent in creating the divine brew? Take a moment to consider if the contest actually falls under Let it Ride.

Frank

[Badmedo]

Yeah it might be a "let it ride" situation, but you also have other folks contesting for the same intent; to create a brew to win the Brewmasters title. I don't want to cheapen this experience, as the players put a lot of effort into a booth, and marketing their "Bar of Wonders" to the city of Katapesh. Lots of people are going to be trying this brew out, so while they might not win the award, they might win popular choice with the townsfolk.

I'm using a lot of everyone's ideas, good suggestions!

I'm thinking a Graduated test to see how the judge responds to the 9D Brew (Adding color to the contest) + Duel of Wits to increase their chances. The other contenders will have set results as well. This also get's the players a chance to earn some tests.

They also personally know two of the judges, although I haven't revealed this yet.

[Kublai]

What would be the stakes for a Duel of Wits?

I can't remember a single time in a crafting competition that I argued my way to victory.

[TheWhaleShark]

What would be the stakes for a Duel of Wits?

I can't remember a single time in a crafting competition that I argued my way to victory.

I've done brewing competitions in the SCA where research was part of the competition. If you could justify a particular decision, you'd get more points than you would have if you hadn't made the justification.

But what's wrong with a versus test between the brewing skills in question? The rest of the brewers are irrelevant; just come up with a rival NPC (or better yet, tie it to a relationship or a complication from a failed Circles test) and have them be the effective competition.

[Kublai]

That's neat about the Research and in BW that would also be a linked test - a good one, indeed!

I like the idea about a rival. Have the PCs ever failed a Circles test? Make this guy pop up!

[Dean]

Hmmm... I might actually Let it Ride. They forged a "Divine Brew". That's awesome! They win the Brewmasters title...BUT!!! Have something else spin off this. A jealous rival poisons the batch they hand out to the crowd. Or the judges' cups. Or steals their recipe. Or the Brewmaster title comes along with all sorts of baggage. Or ...

I'd just grant them their intent, and keep the story clipping along!