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[Cold Friends] A Spy Game - first look

Started by vgunn, August 02, 2012, 11:42:15 PM

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vgunn

August 02, 2012, 11:42:15 PM Last Edit: August 06, 2012, 12:58:06 PM by vgunn
Let me know what you think. I'll set the mood first.


In a world of shadowy trade and blurred motivations, COLD FRIENDS is a role-playing game of espionage in a time rife with fear, tension, and doubt.



More to come . . .
 

vgunn

#1
August 02, 2012, 11:44:35 PM
Set at the height of the cold war in Berlin, COLD FRIENDS delves into the deception, paranoia, and suspicion gripping a city of spies—where truth is always the first casualty and loyalty is the rarest luxury.

 

vgunn

#2
August 02, 2012, 11:48:21 PM Last Edit: August 03, 2012, 12:55:34 AM by vgunn
This will play much more like The Spy Who Came In From The Cold rather than a James Bond film.

Here are a few details on the rules, it's a work in progress. Please be kind.


In COLD FRIENDS the system exists not simply to describe an individual's traits, but rather to highlight those motives and methods which relate to interactions between people. Any such system has to make generalizations, as well as trying to find a balance between accurate portrayals and a usable number of personalities. The resolutions here focuses instead more on the ‘why and how’ in which actions are performed, rather than simply the core attributes that allow you to accomplish them.

About half of the variations in human behavior are defined by genetic factors. However, the personality itself is built up of two completely different traits; type and temperament. Recruitment for a field operative into and their ultimate stayability while in the spy trade must be sanctioned with these factors in mind. There are four monikers used to determine the motives of all operatives in COLD FRIENDS, these are: [DESIRE] [FEAR] [GRIEF] [RAGE].

Your character will begin play with one point for each MOTIVE.

Whenever you are confronted with a problem and the outcome is not automatically successful, you'll need to roll the dice. You'll solve each problem first by choosing a WHY motive. Your character will use a particular motive based on their strongest behavioral and/or emotional state. For example, leading an assault on an enemy safe-house could be done for a number of reasons: a fellow operative was just assassinated, you could use GRIEF; they are torturing a friend, go with RAGE; first time in the field, maybe it's FEAR; or perhaps it's for selfish reasons and you pick DESIRE.

Now here is where it gets real interesting. To have a better chance at success you'll want to bump up a motive, but to do so you'll have to BURN a point from one of your STAY scores. These stay scores all start at four and are: [COMPOSURE] [HOPE] [LOYALTY] [TRUST]. If any of these drop to zero, then you CRASH. You don't want to crash.

Each SUCCESS ROLL [SR] is made up of two parts, [CLEARANCE] and [NEED-TO-KNOW]. Roll 4D4 and first compare the numbers to your MOTIVE. The higher your motive score, the easier it is to get 'clear'. Add up the clearances you get and if it meets or beats the first SR number, then you been cleared. Then you can move on to need-to-know.

First Number of the [SR]

1 Clearance = Restricted [least difficult]
2 Clearances = Confidential
3 Clearances = Secret
4 Clearances = Top Secret [most difficult]

NEED-TO-KNOW is the second part of the SR and this encompassed by the HOW question. Total your CLEARANCE scores and add it to your METHOD used. These are: [LIE] [CHEAT] [STEAL] [HARM] [SEDUCE] [COERCE] [DEFRAUD] [SABOTAGE] and will each have a range of 1 to 8. If you equal or exceed the second SR number then you've succeeded.

You can enhance a METHOD with an ENDORSEMENT. These are special qualities with a narrow focus and allow you to increase the THRESHOLD of your success.

more to come . . .
 

The Traveller

#3
August 03, 2012, 12:45:18 PM
Ridiculously cool covers, if they are the covers, and great idea with the title. I'm a little hazy on the mechanics though, can you give us a couple of examples?
"These children are playing with dark and dangerous powers!"
"What else are you meant to do with dark and dangerous powers?"
A concise overview of GNS theory.
Quote from: that muppet vince baker on RPGsIf you care about character arcs or any, any, any lit 101 stuff, I\'d choose a different game.

vgunn

#4
August 03, 2012, 02:03:50 PM
Quote from: The Traveller;567982Ridiculously cool covers, if they are the covers, and great idea with the title. I'm a little hazy on the mechanics though, can you give us a couple of examples?

Thanks! Yeah I whipped those up yesterday and really like how they turned out. If I can make decent progress, both will be used somehow. The second one probably as the cover.

As for the rules I will put together a couple of samples and also expand them a bit as well.
 

The Traveller

#5
August 03, 2012, 03:07:53 PM
I'd go with the first one as cover myself. Stark and intriguing. Would a typewriter font help with the era thats in it?
"These children are playing with dark and dangerous powers!"
"What else are you meant to do with dark and dangerous powers?"
A concise overview of GNS theory.
Quote from: that muppet vince baker on RPGsIf you care about character arcs or any, any, any lit 101 stuff, I\'d choose a different game.

deleted user

#6
August 03, 2012, 04:27:49 PM
Interesting !

How about other methods - maybe I need to Hide someone or something, or Shadow someone ?

vgunn

#7
August 03, 2012, 07:47:15 PM Last Edit: August 03, 2012, 07:55:37 PM by vgunn
Quote from: Sean !;568047Interesting !

How about other methods - maybe I need to Hide someone or something, or Shadow someone ?

It's mostly about context. So one person might use one method, while someone else could choose another.

Who are you trying to hide [? For what reason?

Is the Shadow a mark [DESIRE] [STEAL]? A defector [GRIEF/FEAR] [SABOTAGE] ? A traitor [RAGE] [HARM]?

You'll also have Endorsements which you can use to narrow the focus and can come in useful in specific situations.

So for example you might have an Endorsement (or Limitation), [BABYSITTER] maybe the person you are shadowing is a high ranking diplomat, she's important enough to have you on security detail.
 

deleted user

#8
August 03, 2012, 11:52:39 PM
Right, I get it.

The motives made me think - What if I hacked it to 1960's Paris, about a bunch of Maoist students like Godard's La Chinoise betraying each other and their ideologies...hmm

vgunn

#9
August 04, 2012, 10:33:07 AM
Quote from: Sean !;568166Right, I get it.

The motives made me think - What if I hacked it to 1960's Paris, about a bunch of Maoist students like Godard's La Chinoise betraying each other and their ideologies...hmm

Definitely could work. I'd probably start it off right after Veronique murders botches the assassination and go forward from there--throwing in some flashbacks for good measure. I could see it spiraling downward and out of control. Interesting indeed!
 
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