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Overview
Overview
We want Masquerades & Massacres downtimes to be about how your character copes with the world changing as it goes through the Nineteenth Century, not about spending ages learning to do more damage. Think broad brush strokes of history, intricate plots, and anything like that. Be imaginative and exciting, and we'll reward you. Downtime is split into two sections. Downtime A needs to be submitted as soon as possible after each main event. It's where you run with your current plans, when you get married, and so on. Downtime B needs to be submitted before the next main event. It covers minor event, player event & linear debriefs, as well as character advancement. Plot events, minor events, player events and linears take place between Downtime A and Downtime B. For example Aliens & Alienation (Main Event) took place in 1821, Downtime 1A was 1821-1822, Espousals & Expeditions (Minor Event) took place in 1822 and 1823, and Downtime 1B was 1822-1826. Overview
Downtime A
Downtime A consists of three key parts: the event debrief; a free-text description of what your character is planning to do over the next year; and who your character intends to support in any elections. Downtime A takes about a year of game-time. Minor Events, Player Events and Linears are assumed to be set post-Downtime A and before or during Downtime B. This means that at Minor Events, Player Events and Linears your characters will not generally yet have picked up any new Merits (although they may have gained Flaws). Downtime A needs to be submitted as soon as possible after the Main Event. Overview
Debrief A: Main Event Debrief
This is primarily so that we can keep our details of all the PCs up to date. Obviously the precise questions asked will vary, but after Event 1: Aliens & Alienation we asked everyone to tell us if their characters:
Overview
Narrative Downtime A: The Next Year
This is one of the most important parts of downtime: how is your character occupying themselves between events?
Narrative Downtimes are hugely broad in scope, and there are a wide range of things you can achieve. We encourage & will reward interesting ideas. However it is not possible to kill other PCs in downtime- you can try, but you won't succeed. It may be possible to kill NPCs, depending on if we want them for the continuing campaign... It is definitely possible to weaken PCs/NPCs, or to foil their plans!
If you write interesting Narrative Downtimes that the GMs like, they may give you free Merits. This will not happen automatically, and you shouldn't expect it. But it is possible. You can write your Downtime report in a nice short form or in a longer form. Use what you see as appropriate. There is no minimum length! Note that you can also tell me their attitudes and actions towards other things, but you can only have one main focus. You can use Investment and/or Patronage to help boost the effectiveness of your actions.
Example Downtime for Lieutenant Hugh Pratt Moon:
Example Downtime for Mademoiselle Berndette Leguine:
Overview
Political Downtime A: Elections
After each event, everyone can say who they support in any upcoming Elections. People with levels in Fame, Fortune and/or Landed Family (and who aren't Foreign or Not In Communion) will by vastly more effective than people without them- they can pay for rotten seats, finance or participate in election campaigns and persuade their tenants to vote! See the Rules: Politics page for details. Overview
Downtime B
Downtime B is the biggy, consisting of five parts: debriefs for any Minor Events, Player Events or Linears you attended; a free-text description of what your character is planning to do over the next five or so years; what political motions your character intends to support in any Parliament; what Merits and Flaws your character will gain; and (if you use Magic) any new Spells your character wants to learn or research. Downtime B takes about five years of game-time, approximately. Minor Events, Player Events and Linears are assumed to be set post-Downtime A and before or during Downtime B. This means that at Minor Events, Player Events and Linears your characters will not generally yet have picked up any new Merits (although they may have gained Flaws in play). Downtime B needs to be submitted after any Minor Events, Player Events or Linears but before the next Main Event. Overview
Debrief B: Minor/Player/Linear Events Debrief
Like the Main Event Debrief, this is primarily so that we can keep our details of all the PCs up to date. Obviously the precise questions asked will vary, but after Event 1: Aliens & Alienation we asked everyone to tell us if their characters:
Minor Events and Player Events will generally feature less crazy unnatural shit than the Main Event, whilst any Linears will feature even more... Overview
Narrative Downtime B: The Next Five Years
This is one of the most important types of downtime: how is your character occupying themselves between events? What are they doing over the next five-odd years? In general, this downtime should be about your character's wider life story, and introducing plot for the next Event. Narrative Downtimes are hugely broad in scope, and there are a wide range of things you can achieve. We encourage & will reward interesting ideas. However it is not possible to kill other PCs in downtime- you can try, but you won't succeed. It may be possible to kill NPCs, depending on if we want them for the continuing campaign... It is definitely possible to weaken PCs/NPCs, or to foil their plans!
If you write interesting Narrative Downtimes that the GMs like, they may give you free Merits. This will not happen automatically, and you shouldn't expect it. But it is possible. You can write your Downtime report in a nice short form or in a longer form. Use what you see as appropriate. There is no minimum length! Example Downtime for Lieutenant Hugh Pratt Moon:
Example Downtime for Mademoiselle Berndette Leguine:
Overview
Political Downtime B: Motions
In Downtime B, there will be a number of Political Motions your character may support. Their support will be more effective if they have levels in Fame, Fortune and/or Landed Family (and aren't Foreign or Not In Communion). See the Rules: Politics page for details. Overview
Downtime B: Character Advancement
Any characters who have survived events will find themselves changed by what they experience. To represent this, in Downtime B they may take one new Flaw (and for each Flaw they take they gain an extra Merit, as normal). Serious injuries gained through Healing count as new Flaws, giving you extra Merits- this is the only way you may gain multiple Flaws that are the same.
Most of this is resolved by email discussion with miteyheroes@googlemail.com. Note that you gain new Merits at the END of Downtime B. Thus they are not available for use during Minor Events, Player Events or Linears that take place DURING Downtime B. Overview
Downtime B: Magic Research
Magic has been in decline for centuries, but it is now experiencing a revival. Characters who have Education 2 (or Cunning): Magical Theory will be able to learn more levels in their existing spells, uncover the secret of forgotten spells, or learn entirely new spells. This is explained in the Magic brief. Most of this is resolved by email discussion with miteyheroes@googlemail.com. Note that you gain new Spells at the END of Downtime B. Thus they are not available for use during Minor Events, Player Events or Linears that take place DURING Downtime B. Overview
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Intro - Setting - Rules - Char Gen - Downtime - Costumes - Who's Who - Past Events - Future Events - Forum - Facebook