I Used Scene Distinctions Last Night

[Dunlaing]

In general, I just use scene distinctions to be distinctions that people can use when they want to and not much else.

Last night I tried using a couple as actual game mechanics.

The Hulk (the badguy in this scenario) was headed for a nuclear power plant. Of the four heroes, one flew straight to the power plant, one lolly gagged and then flew to the power plant, and two took a side trip first and then headed to the power plant.

So I started the action scene with a scene distinction The Only Superhero Around and told the players that they'd need to get rid of that distinction before the second hero could show up on the scene. Iron Man spent his first action distracting the Hulk and delaying him (using his effect die to get rid of the distinction and then had the second guy go next. I then spent a d8 out of the Doom Pool to add a new scene distinction Only One Other Hero Around. The second hero on the scene ignored it, so when the next hero went, he used his action to try to get the last two heroes to the fight scene. I think he failed, but the next hero to go succeeded?

I thought it worked out ok. Narratively, it made sense that he heroes wouldn't all be at the fight scene when it started, but this gave us a mechanic for how long it would take them to get there.

[Supplanter]

He also created a scene distinction, "Magnitude Is Alive," then had a Watcher character apply an effect die on his turn to remove it*. Now I have to make a new character, but it certainly showed the power of the mechanic.


Jim

*This didn't actually happen. We did joke about it, though.

[Newtsy]

So I started the action scene with a scene distinction The Only Superhero Around and told the players that they'd need to get rid of that distinction before the second hero could show up on the scene.

If you would be so kind as to help me out with this. Beyond being The Only Superhero Around how was this distinction justified? What would prevent any of the other heroes from showing up (aside from it being the Watcher's decree)? I'm still trying to get used to these kinds of game elements and what you've described here *seems* like it might be neat .. I'm just trying to understand its role in this situation.

Thanks!

[Dunlaing]

So I started the action scene with a scene distinction The Only Superhero Around and told the players that they'd need to get rid of that distinction before the second hero could show up on the scene.

If you would be so kind as to help me out with this. Beyond being The Only Superhero Around how was this distinction justified? What would prevent any of the other heroes from showing up (aside from it being the Watcher's decree)? I'm still trying to get used to these kinds of game elements and what you've described here *seems* like it might be neat .. I'm just trying to understand its role in this situation.

Thanks!

I'm not suggesting that it's necessarily in the rules as written, so in that sense, nothing would be preventing the other characters from showing up except for me as the Watcher saying "sorry, you're still too far away." which is how it would work with any other game, really. The normal rule would be the Watcher (GM, DM, whatever) would tell the players how soon they arrive, based on some sense of how quickly they could have covered the distance relative to the Hulk and each other.

I essentially added in a house rule for a way to handle when they show up.

[Newtsy]

Ok, so I guess one could say you were waxing narrative?!

Thank you for the reply, Dunlaing!

[dvus]

I like that! Don't know that I'd go that route, but it flows well.

I wonder if there would be a way to add them as Complications to the players who weren't there yet, instead of a Scene Distinction? I'm going to have to think about this. I like the idea that it's more focused than a catch-all statement on the scene.

[Crion]

I kind of like that being a Scene Distinction, honestly. I would really put a damper on the players simply stating "We All Show Up" (as they have done to me) and instead have to compete against the Doom Pool (showing collateral damage, panicked citizens, or other distractions) to remove the distinction.

Again, I like it, and I might have to steal, errr. . .borrow it for my upcoming game!