Before reading this, please read the first project on the Fates here - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1282297344/ Players control: • Their character's decisions • Their character's actions • Their character's dialogue • Their character's approach • Their character's reactions to Fate Players cannot determine: • Whether another character is successfully affected • Whether another character is injured • Whether another character notices them • Whether a dangerous action automatically succeeds • The outcome of a Fate Petition Fate should resolve uncertainty without taking control of a character away from their player. ──────────────────────────── CHARACTER VS. CHARACTER When two characters directly oppose one another, Fate may be required if the outcome cannot reasonably be determined through roleplay. Neither player automatically decides the result. The Fate Keeper considers both characters, including: • Relevant Experience & Knowledge • Position • Preparation • Environment • Strategy • Circumstances • Actions already taken Fate determines the uncertain outcome. A character does not win simply because their player writes a more forceful response. ──────────────────────────── FIGHTS Not every fight requires Fate. Friendly sparring, play-fighting, and practice should generally be roleplayed normally. Fate may be required when a fight is serious and its outcome could meaningfully affect the story. Players may describe their character attempting to attack, defend, evade, or escape. They may not decide that the opposing character is automatically hit or injured. Fate determines the uncertain outcome. Injury must still follow Legacies' injury rules and remain appropriate to the circumstances. ──────────────────────────── STEALTH & DETECTION Stealth may require Fate when another character could reasonably discover the attempt. Players may describe how their character attempts to remain hidden. They cannot decide that their character is automatically undetected. Fate considers factors such as: • Stealth Experience • Visibility • Distance • Noise • Scent • Environment • The observer's awareness • The character's approach ──────────────────────────── PLAYER AGENCY Players remain in control of their characters throughout the Fate process. Players control: • Their character's decisions • Their character's actions • Their character's dialogue • Their character's approach • Their character's reactions to Fate Players cannot determine: • Whether another character is successfully affected • Whether another character is injured • Whether another character notices them • Whether a dangerous action automatically succeeds • The outcome of a Fate Petition Fate should resolve uncertainty without taking control of a character away from their player. ──────────────────────────── CHARACTER VS. CHARACTER When two characters directly oppose one another, Fate may be required if the outcome cannot reasonably be determined through roleplay. Neither player automatically decides the result. The Fate Keeper considers both characters, including: • Relevant Experience & Knowledge • Position • Preparation • Environment • Strategy • Circumstances • Actions already taken Fate determines the uncertain outcome. A character does not win simply because their player writes a more forceful response. ──────────────────────────── FIGHTS Not every fight requires Fate. Friendly sparring, play-fighting, and practice should generally be roleplayed normally. Fate may be required when a fight is serious and its outcome could meaningfully affect the story. Players may describe their character attempting to attack, defend, evade, or escape. They may not decide that the opposing character is automatically hit or injured. Fate determines the uncertain outcome. Injury must still follow Legacies' injury rules and remain appropriate to the circumstances. ──────────────────────────── STEALTH & DETECTION Stealth may require Fate when another character could reasonably discover the attempt. Players may describe how their character attempts to remain hidden. They cannot decide that their character is automatically undetected. Fate considers factors such as: • Stealth Experience • Visibility • Distance • Noise • Scent • Environment • The observer's awareness • The character's approach ────────────────────────────
CRIME & CLAN LAWS Fate may be required when a character attempts an action such as: • Trespassing • Theft • Concealing a crime • Escaping after being discovered • Transporting something secretly • Breaking a Clan law where discovery is uncertain Fate does not decide whether something is against the rules. Legacies' rules and Clan laws determine that. Fate determines what happens when a character chooses to take the risk. ──────────────────────────── REPEATED PETITIONS A player may not repeatedly Petition Fate until they receive the result they want. Once Fate has answered an attempt, the story continues from that result. A new Petition may only be made when the situation has meaningfully changed. For example: A character fails to climb a dangerous cliff. They cannot immediately attempt the exact same climb again simply to seek another result. They may, however, find another route, receive assistance, wait for safer conditions, or change their approach. ──────────────────────────── CONSEQUENCES Fate does not create consequences without reason. The possible consequences of an attempt must come from the circumstances themselves. A failed attempt to cross a shallow stream may simply leave a character wet. A failed attempt in a genuinely dangerous environment may carry more serious consequences. The greater the risk already present in the situation, the greater the possible consequences may be. However, Fate should never be used as a convenient way to remove a character from the story. Permanent consequences must follow Legacies' established rules. ──────────────────────────── FATE KEEPERS Fate Keepers are authorized staff members responsible for resolving Fate Petitions. They must: • Judge Petitions fairly • Consider relevant Experience & Knowledge • Consider the circumstances • Avoid favoritism • Respect established character limitations • Keep consequences appropriate • Protect player agency • Resolve uncertainty rather than punish players Fate Keepers should not decide outcomes based on whether they personally like a character or plot. Fate is impartial. ──────────────────────────── FATE REVIEWS If a player believes a Fate judgment was based on incorrect information or misunderstood circumstances, they may request a review from staff. A review is intended to correct an error—not to obtain a preferred outcome. Staff may review a judgment when: • Important information was overlooked • The Petition was misunderstood • Relevant Experience & Knowledge was incorrectly assessed • The outcome contradicts established circumstances • The consequences were unreasonable • The judgment violated Legacies' rules Staff decisions following a review are final. ──────────────────────────── THE PURPOSE OF FATE Fate is not here to tell characters what they can and cannot do. It exists because stories are full of moments where nobody can know what will happen next. A character may prepare. They may learn. They may make a clever choice. They may take a risk. But once the choice has been made, the path ahead is uncertain. That is where Fate begins. The player writes the choice. Experience tells us what the character can bring to it. The circumstances determine what is at stake. And Fate decides what happens next. ──────────────────────────── QUICK REFERENCE DO I NEED FATE? Is the outcome genuinely uncertain? NO → Roleplay normally. YES → Submit a Fate Petition. THE FATE KEEPER CONSIDERS: Experience & Knowledge + Preparation + Approach + Circumstances + Opposition + Risk THEN FATE ANSWERS: ✦ FORTUNE The attempt goes especially well. ✦ SUCCESS The intended goal is achieved. ✦ COMPLICATION The goal produces an unexpected difficulty. ✦ FAILURE The intended goal is not achieved. REMEMBER: Experience determines capability. Circumstances determine difficulty. Fate resolves uncertainty. The player controls the character. Fate controls the unknown.PLAYER AGENCY Players remain in control of their characters throughout the Fate process. Players control: • Their character's decisions • Their character's actions • Their character's dialogue • Their character's approach • Their character's reactions to Fate Players cannot determine: • Whether another character is successfully affected • Whether another character is injured • Whether another character notices them • Whether a dangerous action automatically succeeds • The outcome of a Fate Petition Fate should resolve uncertainty without taking control of a character away from their player. ──────────────────────────── Please see the final continued version here - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1380198600/
