Grandstanding as a Reaction

[MidnightBlue]

Consider that grandstanding, by itself, costs no doom die at all and adds a doom die. At no cost to the Watcher. The Watcher doesn't roll vs. the doom pool, so the Watcher can decide on that villain's action that the villain is going to stand there and add to the threatening ambience of the Scene, takes a die from the villain's datafile, and adds it to the doom pool.

In the case of a reaction, the doom pool isn't increased in size by numbers of dice. One of the dice is replaced by a higher die.

Thus, the use of a reaction effect die to grandstand is weaker than it is on an action.

Granted, the heroes can try to stop the grandstanding (and I generally allow this if they can come up with some cool opposition) in which case the heroes get to roll dice, and the Watcher only gets to add a die to the doom pool if he wins. And, in this case, the effect die might not be as large as he'd have used had the villain not been opposed. But, again, free doom pool increase.

Cheers,
Cam

That is an excellent point and summation.

A very clear explanation and comparison between Grandstanding Action and Reaction.

Thanks!

[Supplanter]

So no one here will object if grandstanding on a reaction costs the Watcher a PP, right? Because it's still all about the narrative! And it brings the cost in line with the similar benefit the Watcher gets from buying an opportunity to upgrade a doom die.


Jim

[MidnightBlue]

So no one here will object if grandstanding on a reaction costs the Watcher a PP, right?

Jim

If that's what you want to do, Jim, I won't object.

[Supplanter]

If that's what you want to do, Jim, I won't object.

No, silly. I mean as the official rule.


Jim

[MidnightBlue]

If that's what you want to do, Jim, I won't object.

No, silly. I mean as the official rule.


Jim

I can ignore it to my heart's content if it should happen...or learn to live with it...or learn to like it.

If Cam wants to come to my door and try to force it on me...well BUDDY...he better bring an army!

[Just kidding Cam...you can come over to my house anytime...bring Dr. Pepper.]

And yeah...I'm in a silly mood. It's hot...I'm at work...but the boss is on vacation...ate too many tacos at all-u-can-eat taco day...

But that doesn't change my opinion. I wouldn't be worried about the state of the game or feel the need to abide by that rule if it should change to your example.

[Spatula]

I'm also taken aback by something else. An evergreen topic in this community is, "Are reaction-roll effect dice too powerful?" with quite a lot of sentiment that they are. Not necessarily a majority sentiment, but a substantial one. Now comes a rule that makes reaction-roll effect dice more powerful, and people act like opposing it is bizarre and even disreputable.

Or they don't agree that it makes the reaction effect more powerful. Inflicting stress on a PC is almost always going to be a better choice, in terms of bang for your buck, than simply upgrading a doom die.

[MidnightBlue]

So no one here will object if grandstanding on a reaction costs the Watcher a PP, right? Because it's still all about the narrative! And it brings the cost in line with the similar benefit the Watcher gets from buying an opportunity to upgrade a doom die.


Jim

And to add something just a TAD more serious...but don't expect it in the future...

I could see that proposed rule as a viable alternative too. I don't need it, but I could see it if a table felt that grandstanding was too powerful for a Watcher...on par with building the DP through opportunity activation.

Sure. I could see a place for that ruling if a table (or the designers) thought it a necessary balancing mechanic.

I'm just not one that feels that the Watcher needs balancing. The table is the great Watcher balancer. If the Watcher is just there to use every rule option to build his own personal dice pool to CRUSH his puny players into so much corn meal, then I think he's going to be able to pull it off once...maybe twice...heck, maybe even three times. But as the maniacal laughter dies down that third time (at most), I bet the Watcher is going to hear the sound of crickets coming from where his players used to be.

Summation: Sure, your rule works. I just don't think "I" need it.

[Supplanter]

Summation: Sure, your rule works. I just don't think "I" need it.

Do you feel you "need" the rule that if the Watcher activates an opportunity, it costs her a plot point?


Jim

[Doc Hydrogen]

I'm also taken aback by something else. An evergreen topic in this community is, "Are reaction-roll effect dice too powerful?" with quite a lot of sentiment that they are. Not necessarily a majority sentiment, but a substantial one. Now comes a rule that makes reaction-roll effect dice more powerful, and people act like opposing it is bizarre and even disreputable.

Jim

You're forgetting one very important thing. Players think Watcher characters' reactions causing them stress is too powerful. Watcher characters opting to not hit the players, but instead make the scene more dangerous would be--could be--seen as a good thing, even from players. And again, it's not every single reaction, just when it's narratively appropriate.

And easy on the accusations. No one's slinging things like "bizarre and even disreputable" here. It's your game. If you don't like the option, don't take it.

[davethegame]

I'm in agreement with Jim on this. If you can Grandstand on a reaction, if I as a Watcher win a reaction roll, I should always do this. The game system is telling me: if you are a Watcher, and you don't want to do anything else on a reaction like inflict Stress, you should add least replace your lowest doom die with (likely) at least a d10. There's nothing I'm giving up to do so.

It's not even a case of going easy on the heroes, like with other reaction options, because I don't give up anything to do it. In some ways, you might as well change the rule to: "If a Watcher wins on opportunity, he can either upgrade a doom die, or spend a doom die to inflict stress or create an asset." And as one of the architects of the doom pool, that doesn't sit right to me