[Sorcerer] Cascadiapunk!
Joel P. Shempert:
Hey, i just remembered a question I was gonna ask-anyone have any pointers on the assigning of Bonus Dice in play? I found that area of the game kind of uncomfortable, like that old game of "guess what the GM wants" that most "GM assigns bonuses/gives rewards" systems that I've used seem to degenerate to.
We didn't roll a lot of dice in the first session, so it was hard to get a feel for it, but I did assign one bonus die, which was to Seth for such an audacious action as having Nobody jump the clubbers in the alley. I used the occasion to introduce the "roleplaying for bonus dice" rule and explain how it works. Jake asked, "who decides when someone gets a roleplaying bonus?" and I replied, "I do."
And I have to admit, as I gave that answer I felt really, really guilty.
I almost felt like I'd suckered all the players who showed up expecting a nice, "enlightened," player-empowered, Indie gaming experience, and, well, betrayed them with this sneaky little rule that seems to say "the game shall now be about jumping through hoops to impress me and guess what sorts of things I want you to do, and how."
The moment was exacerbated by me overlooking this one bit of rules discomfort and failing to come to terms with it before the game. So I'm gonna try to come to terms now. Can anyone share some experiences where you found the bonus dice assigning to go smoothly or not, in play?
I should not that no one else showed outward signs of being uncomfortable with the rule, they just took in the info, shrugged and moved on. This may just be my issue*. But it still IS my issue, you know? So here we are.
Peace,
-Joel
*I think mainly my issue is that giving bonus dice one time 'cause you like a particular statement or action implies that all those other times, you didn't like the statement or action. When the judgment is more distributed, like Gift Dice or Fanmail, but when it's all vested in the GM< then it turns the focus back on ME, as the Performer or Creative Orchestrator.
Ron Edwards:
Hi Joel,
I have just the thread for you: [Sorcerer] Role-playing bonus dice.
Best, Ron
Joel P. Shempert:
Thanks, Ron! That thread sews things up for me nicely. The confident smile has returned to my face.
I particularly like the insight that that the dual roles of antagonizing and affirming are in balance with this authority distribution. That's slick, and rings true. And the point about "advancing the story" = "making things change" is an apt clarification and reminder. Thanks again!
Peace,
-Joel
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