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| Mike-V-LEM |
 Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 11:40 pm Post subject: For Traitor's Manual: Treasonous Tension |
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HPD&MC Executive Coordination Officer
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 1173
Service Group: HPD&MC
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The topic of Tension (the chances of someone viewing your treasonous actions) came up in the rulebook. For the Traitor's Manual, I propose another type of Tension: Treasonous Tension.
The regular Tension level covers the chances of the Computer or a loyal citizen seeing the character's actions. The Treasonous Tension level covers the chances of a SecSoc member seeing the character's actions. The two tension levels could be the same (Computer Phreaks hacking into a bathroom surveillance system) or different (a forgotten sewage pipe leading to a Communist HQ).
While events spotted under Tension are directed to the Computer, events spotted under Treasonous Tension are directed to other SecSoc members on the team, encouraging Troubleshooters to keep in touch with their contacts. "By the way, we saw your teammate Moe-R placing a bomb under some transtube tracks earlier. Here's the photos we took of him planting it. We're sure you could put them to good use."
Even loyal actions can fall under Treasonous Tension watch if they would be of interest to any traitors on the team. "Your pal Kill-R was reporting your 'repairs' of the Multicorder to an IntSec agent when he was supposed to be going to the bathroom."
If you want to get even more convoluted, a Treasonous Tension roll could spot a Tension success and alert the traitor to his upcoming doom. "We were scanning the Vulture streams and we saw a video of you planting that bomb being sent to Troubleshooter HQ. You come up with any good explanations yet?" Or maybe a loyal citizen overhears the SecSoc talking about it and reports it to the Computer, where another SecSoc intercepts it and sells it to the other Societies (for the right price), until every citizen in Alpha Complex knows about the traitor's deeds except for the traitor.
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| Allen Varney |
| Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:02 am Post subject: |
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Gamma Very High Programmer
Joined: 22 Feb 2004
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Treasonous Tension sounds like a useful idea. I think the existing Tension rules cover the purpose you suggest well enough, though. Strictly speaking, rolling under the Tension level doesn't absolutely mean The Computer or its agents saw the treasonous act; it means only that SOMEONE saw the act. If the Gamemaster thinks it would be more fun that the PC's secret society or a rival society saw it, that would be great.
What the Traitor's Manual could cover, then, is ways to interpret the existing Tension system to reflect the kind of society-specific deviousness Mike-U so aptly conjures here. |
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| Mike-V-LEM |
| Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:17 am Post subject: |
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HPD&MC Executive Coordination Officer
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 1173
Service Group: HPD&MC
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| Allen Varney wrote: |
| I think the existing Tension rules cover the purpose you suggest well enough, though. Strictly speaking, rolling under the Tension level doesn't absolutely mean The Computer or its agents saw the treasonous act; it means only that SOMEONE saw the act. |
Strictly speaking, no, but it doesn't imply that the Tension level could be used for other viewers as well. The draft of the Paranoia sourcebook I have states that "the Tension level suggests how closely The Computer or its agents are observing the characters’ actions." That's why I felt the use of Tension by Traitors should be brought up in the Traitor's Manual, to plant the idea.
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| Costin-U-MOR-6 |
| Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 9:52 am Post subject: |
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Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
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I think it's a fair enough idea to have as a suggestion either to extend the existing Tension Level application or apply a new additional value (this is, afterall, the game where rules are freely offered for GMs to use or throw out of the window as they choose).
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| Allen Varney |
| Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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Gamma Very High Programmer
Joined: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 997
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| Quote: |
| The draft of the Paranoia sourcebook I have states that "the Tension level suggests how closely The Computer or its agents are observing the characters’ actions." |
Damn! I can't believe I committed such a blunder. Well, then, Mike-U's suggestion becomes all the more apropos.
I still don't think you need a new mechanic or value; I think you need only tell the GM, "Hey, the moronic Tension rules in the rulebook should be sensibly expanded to encompass the possibility of secret society observation as well." |
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| Mike-V-LEM |
| Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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HPD&MC Executive Coordination Officer
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 1173
Service Group: HPD&MC
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| Allen Varney wrote: |
| I think you need only tell the GM, "Hey, the moronic Tension rules in the rulebook should be sensibly expanded to encompass the possibility of secret society observation as well." |
Good enough for me, as long as it states that some areas might be low on Computer surveillance and heavy on SecSoc surveillance and to expand Tension checks to actions that the Computer might not be interested in, but SecSocs might. (Reporting something to an IntSec officer, for example.)
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| Mytholder |
| Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Gamma Very High Programmer
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 27
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*scribbles notes*
One idea I'm fiddling with is that Tension and Treasonous Tension always add up to the same amount, but players can shift the balance up and down. If I shut down cameras to reduce the Tension level, I increase the chance that I'll be seen be a secret society conspirator and so on. I'll be moving onto the UV section of the book next week as I plummet towards my deadline, so I might return to this topic then... |
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| Allen Varney |
| Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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Gamma Very High Programmer
Joined: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 997
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| Quote: |
| Tension and Treasonous Tension always add up to the same amount, but players can shift the balance up and down. |
Of course, players don't know there even is a Tension level. They would have to take such action without conveying to the GM what they're trying to do, or it's curtains for them. Not that such subtlety is bad, or beyond a good player, but... |
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