Howdy Vados!
It’s Jonathan here with another signature DR:TX Rules Ramble, leading up to our October live event CIRQUE DE DREAD! This is our first ST led overarc of the season, led by Matt Hoadley, Ash Sexton, and Luka Drystan. Each week, I’ll discuss in detail an aspect of the upcoming event, compiling the rules and lore into one easy place to read! This week, we are covering some last-minute Rules You Should Know, featuring some Threat Skills that might be useful to prepare for, as well as some other Local Rules updates!
TICKET SALES ARE CLOSED ONLINE, BUT YOU CAN STILL GET A TICKET AT THE GATE!
Amber wrote about a bunch of Logistical Announcements in her last blog post. Did you get a chance to check out the announcements? Read about it HERE!
We’ve updated our New Player Corner with a lot of great resources for new and returning players alike. Thanks to DR: Michigan and DR: New York for paving the way with excellent similar content!
We’ve updated the SES Buy List, and we’ve allowed it to use your San Saba Society Memberships instead of requiring involvement with the Red Ledger. Check out what your Marks can earn you if you sign up for the Survival Ethos System last month!
You might have missed it, but we updated our Local CAPS list last season. There are some brand new shiny rewards if you bought some items from our Wish List, or if you help our game with extra NPC shifts or spend time as a Guide. Check it out!
Let’s get started!
Rules You Should Know
We only have a few days left before our October event, CIRQUE DE DREAD. We are excited to spook you with our bloody raider carnival, creepy Nemesis in the night, and a whole lot more. While you are searching for your very own CIRCUS MEDALLION, let’s not forgot a few things that might be handy to remember this weekend.
Check-In Mod!
This weekend, there will be a Check-In module to complete when you show up to play, as part of “Entering Town”. This is a specific type of mod that might ask you to roll a dice with our Logistics folks when you pick up your character sheet to determine what happens next.
All you need to tell us is this: How did your character get to Bravado this weekend?
Your answer might involve some roleplay opportunities, some starting mechanics for your character, or some neat plot-themed choices. Remember, if you are a Nomad, you can use your Lineage Advantage to avoid these types of mods, and there are some items that can let you avoid them as well.
Otherwise, step right up and join the show!
New Threat Skills
If you check the website, you’ll find that I update stuff online pretty much all the time. I’m constantly tinkering with my Blueprint Checklist, or updating for Local Rules and Local Threats. Eagle eye readers might have caught these already, but let’s make sure everyone is on the same page.
Here’s the brand new Threat Skill that we’ve mentioned in other blog posts:
“STEP RIGHT UP!” (COMPULSION)
Effect. Various NPCs may call this unique Compulsion mechanic. The NPC will call “COMPULSION: STEP RIGHT UP AND JOIN THE SHOW!” When you hear this phrase, your character will be compelled to participate in the dangerous and deadly carnival events held by Colonel Rictus's Flying Circus. Proceed to the NPC that made the call and follow their instructions for the next TEN (10) minutes. This ability can be resisted with Mental Endurance.
That’s not entirely new, since I’ve mentioned in my last few blog posts, but let’s cover a returning favorite, inspired by some of our friends in the DR Network, but especially relevant for Halloween fun:
Slaughter:
This overwhelming strike is the pinnacle of what can be done in a single blow by a [REDACTED]. The creature will call “50 Body, Reduce Bleed Out to 1 Minute!”. This does not reduce the Bleed Out timer below 1 minute, even if used multiple times.
Ouch. Better save some mind to AVOID that strike. If you don’t, you’ll probably be knocked into Bleed Out, with a shortened Bleed Out timer as well!
This is a Strike, so it can (and should) be Avoided, and it still needs to actually connect. A parry or Shield will block this attack just fine. It deals Body damage, so that skips right past your Armor. Don’t rely on that Striker’s Coat helping much against a Slaughter.
This is a rare ability, so you’ll only see this attack a few specific threats. So, if something looks really big and scary, it might have this ability. Lesser raiders and thugs won’t be able to swing this hard.
Abilities that change Bleed Out timers already exist in the world through the common Threat skill “Cannibalism”. However, don’t forget that Proficient Faithful Will actually EXTENDS your Bleed Out timer to 10 minutes and prevents this from being changed. That means that this ability will stop that part of a Slaughter call, but not the damage itself.
Now that the power attack is out of the way, let’s cover one more thing to watch out for, though this has been in play for a bit in the network-wide Threat Guides.
Tireless Tracker
The [REDACTED] can call: “No Escape” in response to the use of “Never Here”, negating it.
The “No Escape” call was added to the last update to the DR Corebook on page 104, and it is the counter to the powerful skill use in Master Stealth. Normally, folks can escape from a deadly threat pretty easily with this Skill, but this is a reactive threat ability that certain threats can call to stop their prey from escaping.
If you use your last Resolve to declare “Never Here” and it gets countered in this way, you do not gain a Fracture for using your last Resolve like normal, but you still spend the Resolve (DR Corebook, p. 132).
Unlike other No Escape items that might block Master Stealth for several minutes, this is a one and done ability. It doesn’t prevent you from using it again, provided you survive the surprise of the first attempt failing and you still have Resolve remaining.
Lastly, while you may be familiar with these next Threat Skills, let’s remind everyone a bit about what to watch out for with this common ability, Cannibalism:
Cannibalism
If a target Lineage is unconscious, subdued, or in bleed out, this [REDACTED] can begin 30 seconds of brutal cannibalistic roleplay. While roleplaying ripping out pieces of meat and consuming the target Lineage, the target must roleplay being in incredible pain. If uninterrupted for the full 30 seconds of the roleplay, the Extra calls “Cannibalism: reduce bleed out time to 1 minute”. If the target is already under 1 minute left in bleed out, their timer does not go up or decrease. Multiple uses of Cannibalism by one or more [REDACTED] will not reduce the count further than one minute.
Carnivals are my favorite place for fun snacks, like popcorn, corny dogs, fingers… I mean, cotton candy. Many of the threats this weekend will have various ways to consume their prey, so when something starts to gnaw on you while you are in Bleed Out, we want you to be prepared.
Devour
This delivery modifier causes the [REDACTED] to be healed for an equal of Body as the attack deals. For instance, a creature might call “Devour 50 Body!”, which will deal 50 Body as the attack and heal them for 50 Body. This call can drain Body or Mind.
The “big brother” to Cannibalism lets certain [REDACTED] literally eat you alive without having to wait for a pesky thing like knocking you into Bleed Out first. Those arms and eyeballs are looking mighty tasty …
rules updates
The last bit here is a few updates to some things on the website, particularly pertaining to some of our recurring mechanics.
The bonuses from Player Led Faction ZOMs cannot be stacked, and you cannot be a member of multiple player-led Factions. You gotta show some loyalty to your crew, and only pick one!
If you are interested in your player-led crew getting some neat abilities of their own, let us know! You can still complete the ZOM: An Air of Legitimacy outside of the Stakeholder’s Meeting, but it might take you a bit more work to complete.
We’ve also updated a few other pages:
We released some cool Local Blueprints last season, but all of these prints had listed “Season 4” on them. While it’s on my list of things to still update, for now, if you have one of these Green-sheet Local Blueprints, you can assume that it applies for Season 5 too. I’ll have some more information on these print updates soon!
There are a few new Local Items of note:
SAN SABA WAR SUPPLIES
Local Plot Item. War Supplies are an item card that represents the food, water, medical supplies, and ammunition the San Saba Militia needs to prosecute their war against the Oxkiller Alliance. This item can be used with the War of Antlers plot kit, and is crafted with the “Bullets & Beans” Zone of Mechanics posted at the General Store. The new General of the Militia, Hargrave Moss-Iverspit, will likely be interested in these items!
RRC LIQUIDATION VOUCHER
Local Plot Item. When a character successfully completes a Liquidation Run during Season 5, they will earn a voucher from the Railroad Conglomerate. This item may be exchanged at the Post Office for crafted gear, or saved and turned in with other vouchers for larger rewards. You can only complete TWO Liquidation Runs during the same event for these rewards. These Liquidation Runs will continue through the season!
MAP OF WAKING
Local Plot Item. Single Use. A character with this item may use Master Stealth normally within a Liquidation Run, ignoring the global “NO ESCAPE” mechanic within. This does not prevent a “No Escape” call inflicted by a skill, threat, or item while within.
Did you find any other Easter Eggs I put on the website?
Wrap Up
That’s it for today Vados! Colonel Rictus’ Flying Circus is coming to town soon, and I want to make sure I can be first in line for the fun and festivities! We hope you survive your Friday the 13th, avoid looking at the sun during the Eclipse, and survive the Nemesis nightmare of CIRQUE DE DREAD!
Remember, you can still get tickets at the door, so don’t miss out on the bloody good time!
See you soon Vados!
