Welcome to My World...
Attributes
Powers
Toys
Relationships
Wish Lists
Contributions
Combat
Cosmology
Play Style
Welcome to My World...
Introduction
It has become apparent during the course of play that a lot of the assumptions and the ground rules that I thought were understood about the game, are, in fact, not. This is my fault. I have devoted so much time to fleshing out the adventure, and making sure Iím prepared for the games that I havenít made sure that my players are prepared. This has led to miscommunications, misunderstandings, and general lack of coherence that has damaged the playing experience for you.
I apologize.
This is my attempt to fix that. Iím going to outline as many of the baseline assumptions that I make about the world of Amber and the way things work there as I can. I would like you to examine these, ask questions where I have not been clear, and point out places where my expectations differ from yours. I will clarify, discuss, debate, and change this document until it encompasses a set of shared assumptions and expectations that we can use to continue in a more enjoyable way.
So, please help. Read this, send me feedback, send me questions, send me arguments, send me disagreements. Let me know what you want out of the game, the way Iím letting you know what I want. I think that this will make the game more satisfying for all of us.
~Rick
Attributes
Basics
The first thing that you should know is that the number of points you bid on your Attributes is now irrelevant. I have scaled them against the Elders, producing an Attribute ladder that makes sense to me. It is not reasonable to assume that the first rank in Strength from your generation cannot overpower Fiona in an arm-wrestling contest. First rank in any attribute is closer to the first rank amongst the Elders, but still below. You need something to aspire to. You can, however, be guaranteed of being better than the majority of Elders if you have first rank.
The gaps between ranks have expanded in number of points, and new ranks have been inserted between them in some cases. Advancement is done on this expanded ladder, so if you had a difference of five points between you and the next PC in an attribute, there may now be 30 points difference, and four ranks between you. I will not clarify your standing on these new ladders, as judging these things is difficult from your subjective viewpoint.
One thing needs to be said concerning first rank. First rank characters have special little benefits that they have earned by risking the points in the Attribute auction. If you manage to snag first rank from one of the incumbents (hard to do, because I give them the advantage when doing the advancement), you will get a note from me with a couple of little perks youíve picked up. They wonít be as numerous, nor as powerful as the ones the incumbent had, but they are pretty sweet.
Specifics
Psyche
Psyche governs two things in my game: your magical/psychic ability, and the strength of your will. Anyone with Chaos rank or higher is capable of magic and psychic feats. Without training to focus your ability, the range and scope of such things are very small. Basically, Chaos rank requires physical (skin to skin) contact to sense any enchantments, or to initiate mind-to-mind contact. Amber rank lets you do it with close eye contact and some fierce concentration. As your rank increases, you can increase the distance between you and your subject, but it costs in power. The closer you are, the more of your Psyche you can bring to bear in mental combat. Think of the telepaths on B5, and youíve got the right idea.
Mind-to-mind combat needs to be initiated either by one of the methods above, or by something else that gives you a link to the mind of the target. This can be a Trump, a spell, or anything else that establishes mental contact. Just making contact is non-intrusive, so using a Mind Touch micro-spell as a targeting component in a spell is fine. When you start mental combat, however, the target is usually immobilized, quite often has seizures, and may be damaged, depending on how strong their mind is compared to yours, their Endurance, how gentle you are, and what youíre doing to them. Unless youíre very, very good, mind-reaming someone is not subtle.
Strength
Strength governs three things: actual physical strength, your unarmed fighting ability, and resistance to physical damage. Physical strength is pretty self-explanatory. Unarmed fighting ability includes both ability and knowledge of different styles and tricks. Resistance to physical damage is produced by the layer of hard muscle that high Strength gives you, which offers some natural protection against physical blows.
Endurance
Endurance governs how long you can keep exerting yourself, and how quickly you heal. Anyone with Chaos rank or better in Endurance can regenerate, and the higher the rank, the faster the bits grow back. At Amber rank and above, youíre pretty much immune to normal bacteria, viruses, and poisons, although especially virulent, magical, or engineered ones still pose a danger.
Warfare
Warfare governs your skill with weapons, your tactical and strategic ability, your military leadership skills, and, to a lesser degree, your reaction time. Any combat that uses a weapon uses Warfare, as does any game that deals with a simulation of combat. Leading and training troops is also managed through Warfare. Your reaction time, as regards imminent threat of danger, is based on comparing your Warfare with the Warfare rating of the threat.
Powers
Basics
Okay, Iíve been thinking things over with regards to the powers, and here are some decisions you should be made aware of.
Powers are bought in character creation in the packages listed: Basic and Advanced versions. The Advanced versions, for those of you who bought them, are customized packages of abilities based on how I see the Power working with your character.
Gaining Powers through advancement is going to work a little differently. In this situation, Iím going to start using a type of Partial Power system, to reflect the fact that people who bought the Powers at character creation have had time to study and master the abilities subsumed by the Power, while those who acquire the Power later start at the beginning, learning the ways the Power can be used. This has two effects on play: first, characters who learn new Powers start with only a bare minimum of abilities (usually one), and the cost to acquire them is reduced. That means that you can walk the Pattern for a reduced cost, but you still canít use it to shift Shadow as quickly, and you donít know how to use it to affect probabilities in Shadow.
This brings me to the other point about gaining Powers. Advanced Powers are very individual. If youíre trying to learn, say, Advanced Trump, donít put that down on the Wish List. Put down what sort of ability with Trump youíre trying to gain. Iíll assign it a point cost (which I wonít tell you), and when you can afford it, youíve got it. Donít worry about what abilities are available at more advanced versions of the Powers, just come up with something that fits the way the Power works in the game and that you would like to have. If I donít think it fits, Iíll tell you.
When I talk about the ability fitting the Power, Iím trying to establish something important. No single Power can do everything. Logrus has abilities that Pattern canít duplicate, for example. You may be able to mimic the effects to a degree, but the actual functioning is going to be different. I want to make sure that each Power comes across as unique, with itís own strengths and weaknesses. Thatís the criteria Iíll use for approving or rejecting an ability.
One thing I should note is that you can get ideas for abilities with Powers by observing what other people can do with their Powers. Want to see what you can do with Trump? Watch a Trump Artist to see if they know any tricks you donít. If you see them do something cool that you canít put it on your Wish List. Of course, those arenít the only abilities open to you. Creating new ones is as simple as making something up and getting my approval.
Specifics
Pattern
Pattern allows you to shift through Shadow, and to manipulate the underlying order inherent in Shadow. Thatís the key to understanding how it works. You look for patterns, and you change them, using the force of your will. The main restrictions on Pattern are that you have to be moving to use it, you have to be able to see details in your environment, and you can only use it in Shadow. Amber is immune to the manipulations of Pattern.
Pattern allows you to move through Shadow at three basic speeds: Shadow Walk, Hellride, and Royal Road. A Shadow Walk is the normal mode of transport, where you move at a reasonable speed, changing one item in your environment at a time, until you arrive. It is moderately tiring, and not all that quick. A Hellride involves traveling at great speeds, making numerous extreme changes in your environment as you travel, and using tricky shortcuts like caves and tunnels. It is extremely tiring, but very quick. Normal creatures, including humans, can be driven mad by Hellrides, due to the unsettling experience of moving this quickly through Shadow, and the strain the movement puts on a mind. The Royal Road is a slow, stately trip, usually keeping a single mode of transport for the entire journey, doing all you can to maintain comfort and safety while you travel. It is moderately tiring, quite slow, but extremely comfortable.
One other note: walking the Pattern, especially for the first time, can kill you. If you do walk the Pattern, I will ask you to role-play the walk: I will throw memories and situations from your past at you, and you must role-play through them. How well that goes will determine how confusing and difficult I make the walk. If things go poorly or you are very tired, I will do my level best to make you make a mistake. If you make a mistake, like stepping off the Pattern, or moving the wrong way on it without first reaching the centre, or falling down, you will die. I hereby absolve myself of any blame for such things. The Pattern is an item of great and Primal power. It is not now, nor will it ever be, safe.
Some ideas about abilities using Pattern are faster transport through Shadow, using the Pattern to look through Shadow, editing or erasing a Shadow, or misleading someone who is currently shifting through Shadow.
Logrus
Logrus allows you to shift through Shadow, and to pull item through Shadow to you. It does this by drawing on the disorder inherent in every Shadow, looking for the loopholes in the underlying order, and exploiting them. When you use the Logrus to travel through Shadow, you reach out and find your destination, and pull yourself to it. This means that, while you donít have to be able to see as with Pattern, you do have to be able to move to propel yourself through Shadow; the Logrus canít do it all. Travel in this manner is always a Hellride.
Movement in either direction using the Logrus is quite quick, but it can take a great deal of time to find the location before you begin moving. Anywhere from several minutes to over an hour may be required to locate the item or Shadow youíre looking for. Summoning the Logrus to mind generally takes 30-60 seconds of uninterrupted concentration, although the distance from the Courts of Chaos is a large factor in summoning it. Once it is summoned, the search takes time depending on how well you know the place/item youíre looking for, how specific you are about your request, and how far you have to reach through Shadow to find it.
Passing through the Logrus has the same dangers as walking the Pattern, with the added problem of madness. If you do make it through the Logrus, you go mad for a time, the length of time dependent on how well you did in the challenges I put before you, and your condition when you started. It can take your character out of play for a time, so be warned. The Logrus may be a little less deadly than the Pattern, but it has its own perils.
Advanced abilities with Logrus include Merlinís trick of summoning primal Chaos, molding Shadow Ways, inflicting the madness of the Logrus on another, or summoning and controlling demons from the Abyss
Trump
Trump allows you to communicate mind-to-mind with an individual pictured, or to travel to a person or place pictured. It draws on a type of sympathetic imagery, created by meditative attention paid to the act of creation, and the construction of a card which involves symbolism and depiction which capture the core identity of the place or person on the Trump. A functional Trump is cool to the touch, and an active one is actually cold.
Contact with another person through a Trump puts both parties in mind-to-mind contact, with no defenses up. Mental conflict initiated at this point can be extremely brutal, and only the fact that Trumps are really only used this way in time of war keeps people using Trumps; doing this sort of thing is generally viewed as Bad Formô.
Trump communication is not directly visible to those not involved. While the direct experience of Trump contact is visual and auditory, even involving the other senses in some cases, it is all occurring in the mind of the people in contact. Thus, itís safest to not interrupt someone who is gazing into space, or at a card in their hand, whether or not theyíre speaking.
As far as Trump Etiquette is concerned, consider a Trump like a telephone that rings inside your head. You can choose not to answer it, but you canít choose not to hear the ringing. General telephone etiquette is encouraged, and is expected by the Elders. This means call for a reason, call at a reasonable time, donít keep calling every five minutes, and behave yourself when youíre in someone elseís mind.
New abilities with Trump include opening Trump Gates, identifying incoming calls, creating Trumps in forms other than card form, or using the memory of a Trump you have drawn instead of the card to contact or travel to the subject.
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting lets you change the form of your body into a shape other than your own. It works through the vehicle of the Chaos that is necessary for life, existing in every cell of your body. Anyone with Chaos blood has the potential to learn to Shapeshift. The restrictions are that you can only change your mass by 50% in either direction, and that, no matter what your form looks or feels like, itís still living flesh.
Shapeshifting to one of your basic forms (human, demon, archetypal, or primal) takes a minute or two. Clothes generally restrict this, and removing them makes things easier. It takes a couple of minutes to shift to another form that youíve practiced. It take ten to fifteen minutes to try to take on a brand new form, and you will not be very skilled in using it until youíve worn it for several weeks. While this doesnít make a huge difference with regards to being a white dog instead of a black dog, it does make a big difference if you try to move around on more legs than youíre used to, or try to fly if youíve never had wings before.
Learning a new shape just takes time. You can do cosmetic variation on a known shape fairly simply, taking only a day or two to get the right look down, so that you have a brand new version of the shape which you can assume fairly quickly. For something more extreme, it takes a careful study of the subject before you start shifting, and several weeks of practice with the form before it goes on your practiced list.
New ways to use Shapeshifting include acquiring the Powers of the form you take on, shifting between forms more quickly, shifting your mind and personality, shifting at a cellular level to become a different substance, or overcoming the mass restrictions.
Power Words
Power Words are quick access to basic magical effects. They are quick to use, and quite powerful, but of very short duration. Each Power Word is either a word or gesture that can be invoked in about a second, which is tied to the basic rules of existence. Power Words are manifestations of some of the underlying structure that infuses both Order and Chaos, drawing on primal principles to produce their effects. Effects are instantaneous in nature, but recovering from them may take time. For example, Resume True Form forces a Shapeshifter instantly back to its true form, but doesnít hold it there. It will, however, take the Shapeshifter some time to change to a different form.
When Power Words are chosen, each one may be selected as a word or a gesture. If you want one which is both, you need to take it twice. You canít use a spoken Power Word if you canít speak, and you canít use a gestured Power Word if your hands are bound.
Advanced versions of Power Words might increase the range or duration of the effects, or produce far more powerful effects. Also, new Power Words may be devised, following the style of the existing Power Words.
Sorcery
This is the study and ability to use external sources of power to shape reality to your will. While it exists in many Shadows, only Amberites and Chaosites are able to use Sorcery in different Shadows, as the nature of magic changes from Shadow to Shadow. The basic power source for Sorcery is the ambient magical background energy existing in the Shadow, which is drawn upon with the Magical Energy micro-spell. Advanced study allows different power sources, such as Pattern and Trump, to be employed.
Sorcery is primarily an academic Power, involving research, study, and effort to craft, hang, and maintain spells. Spells are prepared leaving key variables undefined, and then stored on a special artifact until needed. The casting time of spells varies depending on their complexity and the variables left undefined, ranging from half an hour to several days. Releasing the spell requires that the variables be defined, and the spell be released from the storing item.
Sorcerors, without using spells, can create minor magical effects, roughly equivalent to D&D cantrips: they can light fires, create lights, dust their rooms, chill a drink, heat food, etc. Nothing that is directly hostile, and nothing that affects more than what they can see.
Advanced Sorcery abilities include reaching beyond the Shadow you are in to effect your spell, gaining access to different power sources to produce special effects, or removing your dependency on the nature or magic in the Shadow you are in.
Conjuration
Conjuration is the crafting of items beyond the scope of mere craftsmanship. It draws upon deep and secret knowledge and understanding of the nature of matter, and the proper reverence for the act of creation. With the appropriate tools and time, a Conjuror can even create life.
Itís the tools and time that are the limiting factor. While each Conjuror has his or her own method of crafting, they need their tools to do their work, whether itís a forge, a machine shop, an alchemical laboratory, or a cloning tank. While Conjurors can and do shape things out of pure will, these items are ephemeral, and fade quickly. The time it takes to create an item varies based on the complexity of the thing created.
Like Sorcerors, Conjurors can, without using their tools or spending too much time on it, produce minor items instantly out of the air. These items will be small and inoffensive: a penknife, a handkerchief, a bird which immediately flies away, a piece of paper, a ball which casts light like a lantern, etc.
More advanced forms of Conjuration, such as the Correspondences and High Compellings, allow the Conjuror to shape abstract items, such as thoughts, memories, and opinions.
Advanced Conjuration may consist of such abilities as fast Conjuration, gaining the ability to unmake things, transcending the 4-point top level of the various qualities, or creating things out of intangibles.
Toys
Basics
Toys are any items you would spend points on which are not Powers. This includes Artifacts, Creatures, Shadows, and Constructs. By spending points on them, you make them a part of your character, just like your Attributes and Powers. If you do not spend points on them, they belong to me, and I control them.
When I say that I control them, I mean it. You may get away with using the Toy once or twice, but Iíll be watching, and looking for a chance to use it to make your life difficult. I will cause it to turn on you, sooner or later, unless you spend the points. If you spend the points before I make it bite you in the butt, fine. Just think of it as borrowing points: every time you use something that you havenít paid points for, itís like you temporarily get an amount of Bad Stuff equal to the cost of the item. If itís a one- or two-point item, thatís usually no problem, but beware of expensive things. They will turn on you faster, and harder.
Specifics
Artifacts and Creatures
Artifacts and Creatures are identical in the way they are handled by the rules, and by me. The only difference between the two is that Creatures are alive, and Artifacts arenít, so with some of the things you people have come up with, you can see that itís a very fine line indeed.
If you want to have a Creature, you can have a completely innocuous, inoffensive one for free. Same goes for Artifacts. Anyone can have a helpless kitten and a butter knife if they want. They only time it becomes important to pay points is if the Creature or Artifact has an impact on game play: if your kitten can rack spells for you, or your butter knife has a Trump in the handle, you have to pay for it. Otherwise, it comes under my control, as noted above.
If you want a living Creature, you donít have to pay for things like Mobility, Vitality, and Healing at the basic level: living things do this anyway, for the most part. The downside is that the Creature has a personality, and I will expect you to treat it like a living being, not a tool. This is a role-playing restriction, more than anything else, but I remove the right to make a Creature that you have spent points on turn on you if you mistreat it too badly, so be warned.
Please note that in the initial information package I gave you, I made a mistake. The progression for adding qualities to Creatures and Artifacts is always 1-2-4, never 1-2-3. Sorry about that.
Shadows
Shadows are your worlds. They can be anything that you want them to be, and they can contain anything that you like, within the limitations of the points you spend. That means that if you want a Shadow with a fragment of real Power in it, you have to pay for Primal Plane, not just Personal Shadow. Other than those limitations, though, go nuts.
Any pieces of background colour that you describe for your Shadow, and any Guardians that you pay for in it, are at your beck and call within your Shadow should you wish it. Bringing them out of your Shadow without having bought them as separate Creatures or Artifacts will, however, turn them over to my control, with all the perils noted above. If you want your Guardians to come to another Shadow to fight for you, they can, but I will eventually cause them to turn on you unless you buy them as separate Creatures.
Constructs
Constructs are one of the slipperiest concepts in the game. A Construct is something that draws on Powers outside itself to perform its functions, which can be almost anything you want them to be. The restrictions are that Constructs themselves are pretty much immobile, they draw on Powers in Shadow, they can gain sentience and personality, and that they cannot have a Power that you do not possess yourself.
Constructs donít generally move around. They are situated somewhere in Shadow, and you either must travel to it, or have purchased a manifestation for the Construct to interact with it. There are some exceptions to this, like the Spikards, but they tend to run pretty expensive.
The Power sources used by Constructs are generally the ambient background energy of Shadows. Some are tied into multiple Shadows, and some are tied into very specific parts of certain Shadows, but they all draw on the Power of Shadow. Building a Construct that draws on a real Power source is not only expensive, but also extremely dangerous.
You can buy intelligence for your Construct. This is a two-edged sword, as it makes the Construct more autonomous. While that means that you donít have to spend as much time worrying about someone taking over the Construct from you, as they could if the Construct had no intelligence, you now have to deal with the Construct as if it were an NPC. This means that it will have its own priorities and agendas, and that you need to worry about not mistreating it. Even if you donít buy intelligence, dealing with the forces that it does will quite often cause even the simplest machine to become conscious.
You can only give your Construct Powers that you yourself have. If you are not a Trump Artist, you will not be able to create something that uses Trump in any way. Multiple people can pool points to build a Construct. In this case, only one of the group need have the Power for the Construct to have it.
Relationships
Basics
In general, I get to determine how NPCs feel about you. I do this based on your role-played history with the NPC, your Good or Bad Stuff, and story elements. The only way you can generally make someone like you more is to be nice to them, and the only way you can make someone like you less is to not be nice to them. Because I try to make all the NPCs individuals, what one considers to be nice may differ from what you think it is, and from what other NPCs would consider it to be.
If you have Good Stuff, people will, within reason, tend to react favourably to you and give you the benefit of the doubt. Your initial impression will tend to be positive, unless you do something to mess it up. If you have Bad Stuff, people will tend to distrust you. You may still charm them, but itís the charm of the rascal and the rake, not the noble knight. Think mad, bad, and dangerous to know.
If you mess with someoneís plots, whether you know that you did it or not, they arenít going to like you much. If you aid someoneís plans, deliberately or not, theyíre going to be better disposed towards you. In Amber, there are always plots. In Chaos, there are even more. No matter what you do, itís going to either advance or hinder someoneís schemes, so be prepared to reap the rewards and punishments.
Buying a positive relationship is the only way to guarantee that you have at least one person on your side. The catch is, I get to choose who, and they may not want you to know. Sometimes itís safer that way.
Specifics
Ally in Amber or Demon Friends
This level of Relationship is usually with someone who is less powerful than your character, but who has access to some resources that you donít. Weíre talking about retainers in your household, either Amber or Chaos. They will support you as much as they safely can, but will not generally risk their lives for you.
Court Friend
This is someone active in the politics of the place where you bought them. They will work to advance your interests, and will support you, but will have their own agendas, as well, and will probably expect support, either direct or indirect, in return. They tend to be at least as powerful as your character. You may never find out who your Court Friend is, as politics tend to make people cautious about openly displaying favour for someone which may turn them into a target.
House Support
The noble houses of the Courts of Chaos are the basic political units in that kingdom. Buying House Support makes you the fair-haired child of your house, which will do its best to aid you, as long as it doesnít damage the standing of the house at court. You can expect aid, sanctuary, information, and limited firepower if your need coincides with that of the house, and can at worst demand a hot meal and a place to sleep.
Chaos or Amber Court Devotee
This is an Elder at either end of the universe who is deeply interested in your character. They are generally more powerful than your character, and will do all that they can to help you succeed. Sometimes, though, you wonít know who it is, because you would be a lever an enemy could use against them. They will work carefully behind the scenes to ensure your continued survival and success, and may even be willing to sacrifice themselves for you. Donít count on it, though.
Wish Lists
Basics
The Wish List is a prioritized list of the things you would like to improve for your characters. It has a number of different parts.
- I need the name of your character on it. The reason for this should be obvious.
- I need a total of how much Bad Stuff you will accept for your character. This will be the cut-off point for granting any wishes. If the amount that you have listed is less than your current total, I will first of all assign points to bring you to that level. This takes precedent over anything else on the Wish List.
- I need a list of the items you want to improve for your character, ranked in the order of your preference. I start at the top and I work down, so put the most important things at the top.
- I need a determination beside each item as to whether or not you are willing to take Bad Stuff to get the item. I will limit you to the maximum number of Bad Stuff points you have said that you are willing to take, and I will only give you Bad Stuff if you need it to purchase something that you have said that you will take Bad Stuff to get.
So, how do I do the advancement? I decide how many points each character receives, based on a top-secret algorithm known only to me and Steven Hawking. (translation: whatever I feel like giving you, so treat me right) Expect five points, maximum, per game, unless you have accomplished something truly extraordinary. I start at the top of the list, look at what you want, and see if you can afford it. If you can, great. It's yours. If you can't, and you've not said that you would take Bad Stuff to get it, or your Bad Stuff limit would be exceeded, I move on to the next item. I continue in this manner until you either spend all your points or I reach the end of the list. Any left-over points get put into Good Stuff.
How does Good Stuff fit in? I dip into your Good Stuff at character advancement. If I can use your Good Stuff to give you something on your Wish List, I do so. I will never take you below Zero Stuff unless you specify that you will allow it. If you want to make sure that you have a minimum amount of Good Stuff, put that on your Wish List. If you want to guarantee that you have that minimum number, put it first. If you just put down Good Stuff on your list, without a number of points, I will dump all your remaining points into Good Stuff and stop looking down the list, so that might as well be the last thing on the list.
One last thing. If you want to save up for something special that costs a lot of points (eg Pattern Imprint, Shapeshifting, Sorcery), specify on your Wish List that you're banking points for that, and note what fraction of your advancement points you're dedicating to it. Before anything else on your Wish List, except meeting your Bad Stuff limit, I will assign that fraction of points to it. When your banked points are sufficient to purchase the item, they will be spent to do so.
You can change your Wish List after each game, but I'd ask that you let me know that you're going to do so as soon after the game as possible, so that I don't have to go back and redo your advancement.
You can spend your advancement points during the game, if you find that there is something that you need, and that you would have to spend points for. While many things can be found in Shadow or formed by your Powers, if you want to keep something for more than the original use you intended, it will cost you points. If you want to gain a new Power in the middle of a session, it will cost you points.
But, you ask, if you donít know how many points you have, and youíre not sure what the item costs, how can you avoid taking Bad Stuff? Well, you canít. You have to take the chance. I will tell you that I will first take any points that you have banked and spend it on the purchase, and then I will dip into your Good Stuff. Any Wish List requests about Good Stuff and Bad Stuff take back seat to the in-game actions of your character: once your foot is on the Pattern, youíve spent the points.
This may drop you below your minimum requested Good Stuff, and may even give you Bad Stuff, no matter what your Wish List says. Think carefully before you commit to this, because there will be no backing out once the points are spent.
Specifics
Attribute Improvement
If you want to get better at Psyche, Strength, Endurance, or Warfare, put down on your Wish List that you want to raise it. Your ranking is different from what you bid at this time; I have pro-rated this generation against the Elders, so that all attributes are on par with each other. You still climb in jumps based on who is above you, and you can only go up one level at a time. Also, the cost of raising an Attribute is higher: one Attribute point equals two Advancement points.
New Powers
If you finally work up the nerve to walk the Pattern, or you suddenly get a hankering to turn yourself into a frog, put that down on your Wish List. If you can afford it, you've got it. See the notes under the Basics of Powers for the way that Iíve decided to do this.
New or Improved Items
If you want a new toy, or you want your toy to be better, put that down. that means you can get a new enchanted sword, or you can improve your current enchanted sword so that now it can talk to you.
New or Modified Shadows
Same thing with Shadows. If you want to improve the level of Barrier in your Shadow, or if you want a brand new Shadow, just put it down.
Allies and Such
If you want to turn someone you've met in game into an ally, or get a spy on someone's staff, or just create a new devotee, put that down. These are subject to GM approval.
Buying friends and allies requires both role-playing the relationship and spending the Advancement Points to purchase it. There are, however, a couple of catches.
First, you can never buy another devotee. Having someone willing to lay down his life for you is rare enough; finding more people willing to do so after brief acquaintance is stretching the bounds of credibility. If you want another devotee, you will have to earn it through extended role-playing and commitment to the relationship. Make me feel that the NPC would care enough about your character to form that sort of bond.
For lesser relationships, you can buy them with anyone that you are on good terms with due to role-playing. Simply put it on your Wish List, and it becomes one more thing for you to spend points on. Note that you must be on good terms as a result of the in-game actions and behaviour of your characters to purchase this relationship; if they are neutral or hostile towards you, you cannot buy a relationship with them until you improve their opinion of you.
There is one other way to get a relationship within the game, and that is to create an NPC who has a pre-existing relationship with you. This means that, in the game, you decide to visit your buddy who is a guard on Night Watch in the City of Amber. Iíve never made up anyone like that, but itís conceivable that such a person exists. You can spend the points for the relationship immediately, using the normal guidelines for acquiring things in-game, but you owe me something more: I want one page of background on the character for each point worth of relationship youíre buying with him. This background should include not only details of the character, but details of the relationship between you: how it started, why youíre still friends, what sorts of things you do together, etc. Every extra page of background that you give him, up to a maximum of five extra pages, will count as Advancement Points for your character. I will need this write-up before the next character advancement period, or you take a Bad Stuff hit equal to the number of pages you are short of your commitment.
Something Else I've Forgotten
If you come up with something that you think you should be able to spend points for that I've missed, put it down. I'll let you know.
Contributions
Basics
I want contributions for a couple of reasons. One is that the rules suggest it, and I like the idea. Another is that it gives each player a hand in building the world in which we play, which is not only cool, it takes some of the pressure off of me. Thirdly, weíve got such a talented bunch of people involved in this game that I want to collect the contributions to form what I expect to be a truly impressive body of work, to show off to each other in a yearís time or so, when the characters have grown and changed.
I limited you to 30 points of contributions at character creation, to keep people from over-committing. If you find that you have the urge, however, you can prove to me that you can handle other contributions, as well. If you keep the contribution up faithfully, I will provide a bonus of Advancement points at the end of an adventure. You have to have kept to the schedule for the majority of the adventure to earn this bonus; if you start a journal two sessions before the end of an adventure, youíll have to wait for the end of the next one, and maintain the journal throughout, to get the bonus.
While I would like people to stick to the timelines and schedules listed below, I realize that this is only a game. Real life intrudes, and sometimes these gaming commitments cannot be met. Thatís fine. Let me know. If it becomes a regular thing, weíll have to discuss changing contributions to something that you can manage more easily, or adjusting your character to take into account the new point totals. If it happens a couple of times, itís really no big deal. If you find yourself swamped, that is a big deal. Talk to me. This is supposed to be fun.
Specifics
Diary
This is a journal of your characterís in-game and downtime experiences, in their own voice. It doesnít have to be too detailed: just a page or two of notes each session is more than adequate. Itís a chance for you to cement the personality of the character in your own mind, and my chance to see how the characters are thinking about whatís going on in the game. I expect a diary entry for the last session before the next.
Trumps
Creating Trumps of the people and places your character has encountered is a good way to add to the visual quality of the world. I want copies of any Trumps you make, but you may keep the originals. Copies can be as simple as a photocopied black and white sheet with your trump on it. I just want something for the official record. One Trump is required for every two sessions of play to keep up-to-date on the contribution.
Stories and Poetry
A great opportunity to flesh out your characterís history, Toys, downtime, and character. They donít have to be long, about a page is all thatís required. Longer stories and poems can be split over several contribution periods. I require a copy of any story or poem for the archive. One page of story or poetry is required every two sessions for this contribution.
Web Page
Creating and maintaining a character Web Page is useful in that you get to show the world your Amber characters, and make the necessary information available to the rest of the players. The visual presentation you choose also tells me something about your characterís personality. For this contribution to be worth points, however, you have to keep it up-to-date with new information, your diary entries, your trumps, stories, poetry, etc. If you let the page lag too far behind, you lose the points for the contributions.
Quotes
Amber generally runs to banter. By keeping track of the interesting, humorous, and profound (if only...) things said in the game, more banter is encouraged. This is fun, and it adds to the atmosphere and enjoyment of the game. Also, a record of the quotes ensures that the spontaneous pearls of wisdom wonít be lost to us. We can read them again and again and say to ourselves, "What were we thinking?" Quotes must be collected from each session, and sent out to all participants.
Campaign Log
The official history of the campaign, told from an outside perspective. This is a record of what happens during the game, not what the characters think happen. Itís recorded objectively, as history. One entry is required each session, delivered to each participant.
Other Things
Anything else you think might contribute to everyoneís enjoyment of the game can be worth some points. Pennyís wonderful snacks certainly help people enjoy themselves. Weíll discuss each proposal on a case-by-case basis, and set up a point value and schedule.
Combat
Basics
Combat is resolved by comparing relevant Attributes, and letting the higher rank win, unless the lower rank can cheat creatively enough to overcome the difference in ranks. This applies to all forms of combat. Cheating includes all tactical or strategic choices your character makes during combat, fair or foul. Pretending to be weaker than you look is cheating. Fighting in a completely defensive manner is cheating. Going on an all-out berserker attack is cheating. Anything you do to tip the odds in your favour is cheating, as far as my usage of the word in this game is concerned.
During combat, I will usually describe the set-up, and ask you what you do. Then, we trade actions back and forth, until the combat is over. Sometimes the combat is relatively unimportant, and your opponents are so far beneath you, that you can just say, "I kill them," and Iíll ask you what you want to do next. If the combat is more important, or youíre more evenly matched, itíll become more detailed. You donít always have to describe detailed actions, though; generalities will usually do. For example, you could say, "I use a defensive parrying pattern that seems weak in Tierce, and, when he attacks in Tierce, I stop-cut his arm, and use a ballesta to close the distance, thrusting in Prime," or you could say, "I fight defensively, with a deliberate show of weakness in one area to draw him in, and attack him all-out when he falls for it." Both come down to the same thing, in game terms; one just uses fencing terms. Considering that the characters you play are all better than you at this sort of thing, itís reasonable to assume that their attacks and defenses are not limited to the actual tactics you can imagine, so sometimes itís more realistic to go for the generalities to capture the flavour.
Any sort of combat generally requires your characterís full attention, unless you significantly overmatch your foe. While you can speak, and use other abilities, it does distract you, and gives an advantage to the enemy for the period of time that it takes you to use the Trump, or Power Word, or Spell, or whatever. This may be all that is needed to give your opponent the chance needed to take you out. Be careful what you try.
One last point: you are always in danger in combat. You always have the potential to lose. Remember, your foes will be cheating, too.
Specifics
Warfare
Warfare combat is any combat that uses weapons. Weapons include troops under your direction. Rocks, swords, lasers, shock troops, bows, guns, all of these depend on your Warfare skill. If your opponent also has a weapon, you both fight using Warfare. If your opponent is unarmed, he tries to lay his hands on you using his Strength, and you try to fend him off with your Warfare.
Strength
Strength combat is any empty-handed combat. Whether itís brawling, or the most refined of martial arts, Strength governs it. If both you and your opponent are unarmed, you both fight using Strength. If your opponent has a weapon in his hand, he can try to fend you off and keep you from getting your hands on him using his Warfare. If youíre willing to take a hit or two to close the distance with him, you can generally move the contest strictly to Strength fairly quickly, but you will be wounded as you close.
Psyche
Mind-to-mind combat is abstract, and is conducted when you make mental contact with your opponent and attempt to do something to their brain that they donít want you to. Both participants are generally immobilized in Psyche combat, unless one is significantly superior to the other. No outward signs of the combat show, aside from the immobility of the participants, and the possible collapse and seizure of the loser.
Cosmology
Basics
Oy. Where do I start?
Okay. Shadows tend to be four-dimensional. Maybe more, if you listen to modern physicists, but weíll go with four for purposes of our game. Three spatial dimensions, and one temporal dimension. The Shadows are arrayed in a five-dimensional space, which is essentially a continuum stretching from the Primal Pattern to the Abyss. Each Shadow is a self-contained reality, with itís own physical and magical laws. They are all concurrent in three dimensions, variably related in the fourth, and spread along the continuum in the fifth.
That makes almost no sense. I know. Letís try it this way: All Shadows exist in the same space. They move through time in different rates, but in the same direction. By moving in a fifth dimension, you can move from one Shadow to another. You have to move in this fifth dimension to shift Shadow, and you can only do that with a Power or Toy that lets you do it. This means that every point in a Shadow is equally close to an "adjacent" Shadow: you have to move in the fifth dimension to actually cross over. The movement in the other four is just to give you the stimuli you need to make the shift in the fifth.
Now for the exceptions. Certain well-traveled routes and natural phenomena provide a method for moving through the fifth dimension. These routes always lead from one specific Shadow to another specific Shadow, from one place within the first Shadow to one place in the second Shadow. They are the trade routes established by the Water Crossers, the Black Roads, the fairy rings that will take you under the hill to the fey courts. These things always have a place within a Shadow that can be described easily in three dimensions.
I hope that covers it. Iím betting that it doesnít, though.
Specifics
Order and Chaos
These are the two poles of reality. The Chaotic pole is the Abyss, where all order breaks down and vanishes. The Orderly pole is, theoretically, the Primal Pattern, but, as it allows life to exist in itís presence, with all the Chaotic potential that life entails, it is more likely that there is a point of stasis somewhere beyond the Primal Pattern that is just as deadly to those reaching it as the Abyss.
Shadow is formed by the interplay between Order and Chaos, and all Shadow partakes, to one degree or another, of both forces. Shadow cannot exist without both light and darkness.
The Unicorn and the Serpent
These are the avatars, if you will, of Order and Chaos. They seem to have the run of the entirety of existence, from the Abyss to the theoretical Still Point. They seem to be autonomous, but concerned with promoting their backer, as it were, and have taken on the aspect of Gods at the appropriate end of the spectrum. They seem to have some concern for their mortal followers, at least, more so than the Pattern and Logrus do.
The Pattern and the Logrus
These are the manifestations the principles of Order and Chaos in the physical world. They are the portals to initiation in and dedication to one of the two guiding philosophies. If they are sentient, and most people would not believe that they are, they are coldly rational, and uncaring about the fate of the inhabitants of the worlds that they have formed.
Amber and the Courts of Chaos
These are the human realms surrounding the poles of Order and Chaos, containing the Pattern and Logrus, and worshipping the Unicorn and the Serpent. Their politics can build or destroy worlds. The inhabitants of these places seem to partake heavily of the nature of the other end of the spectrum, which is probably required for survival. Thus, the Courts of Chaos are tied round with ritual and tradition, while Amber brims over with unpredictable people and schemes.
Corwinís Pattern
A troublesome complication. No one really knows whatís going on with it except, maybe, Corwin, and he hasnít seen fit to discuss it with anyone. A wild card in the mix. Its effect on the balance between Amber and Chaos is still being assessed.
Ygg
Ygg is the tree planted by Oberon, which marks the half-way point between Amber and Chaos. Due to the nature of Yggís power as the Borderline, all Shadow journeys from one end of reality to the other pass through Yggís Shadow, near to Ygg himself.
Shadow Storms
Shadow Storms are disturbances which travel through the fifth dimension of Shadow, affecting all Shadows that they pass over and through. Within individual Shadows, Shadow Storms manifest as unusual weather disturbances that leave devastation in their wakes, and spread things from Shadow to Shadow as they move. They are caused by profound adjustments within Shadow, such as the loss of a Shadow, or the readjustment of tension when a new Pattern is drawn. They are quite capable of destroying a Shadow if they are severe enough.
Play Style
Basics
I want to talk a little bit about the kinds of stories Iím trying to tell with this game. Of course, these things will change and evolve as the game progresses, but Iím starting with certain goals and expectations, and I want to make you aware of them. They cover the way I look at things, the way I build the adventures, the direction I see the game moving in the future, and the feel Iím trying to achieve.
You, as players, are all a part of this, and I want to make sure that the plans I have are something you want to be involved with. If you see something on this list that doesnít seem to fit with the game you envisioned, talk to me about it. You are as much part of the game as I am, and you are just as responsible for building the world and the stories. I need your input to make sure that everyone has a good time.
Specifics
You are the Heroes
This is the story of your generation. The actions you take are the ones that are going to shape the world you live in. Your successes and failures are going to save or damn your characters. Everyone else is at best a secondary character.
Heroes Take Action
This game is about doing great deeds, fighting impossible odds, and pulling off the impossible. While some things are going to be solved through careful research, most problems will be more effectively dealt with as they were in the books. You have to go out and do something, or nothing happens.
Actions Have Consequences
The things that you do will affect the entirety of the universe, for good or ill. On a very immediate scale, you will be held responsible for your actions by the NPCs of the game, because they have a very real stake in the outcomes of what you do. On a personal level, this means cleaning up your own messes, facing the music when it comes, and taking the credit due you when you have earned it. You all have the ability and opportunity as characters to put your stamp on the world. Use it wisely.
You Have Ultimate Power
Any one of you is a match for pretty much any sort of mundane threat that can be thrown at you. You have the resources to conquer nations single-handedly, to warp the beliefs of an entire world, to destroy a reality at a whim. Given that sort of power, who decides for you what is right and what is wrong? What is your moral and ethical yardstick? If no one can punish you, is anything you do a crime? What is the true measure of goodness? Thatís something each character has to decide for themselves, and itís one of the key themes of the campaign. Remember, the word, "sin," has moral and ethical connotations. I didnít just choose it because I liked the quote, although that was a factor.
Heroes Grow Through Suffering
Someone once said that heroes are people who manage to get up one more time than they get knocked down. Iím going to try, in this game, to knock your characters down. Itís up to you to decide if they get up. Iím not going to do this maliciously; at least, thatís not the way itís intended. A true hero, in my opinion, needs the journey through the Underworld before they can truly claim to be heroic. That means Iím going to try to get your characters to face their weaknesses, examine their assumptions, and question their dearest beliefs. This is the second main theme I plan to explore in this game: what will it take to turn a character into a hero? As a carrot, I promise that there will be great victories waiting for you, along with the bitter disappointments. Also, I promise to do my best to direct my barbs towards the characters, and not the players. Do you think your character has what it takes?
Your Story is Just Beginning
Youíre all junior members of the families of Amber and Chaos. Your parents have written their legends across the religions of a million worlds. They stand as the exemplars of all the things that they hold to be important. They are almost gods. You are not. Yet. Each of you has the potential to surpass and supplant your Elders. This is, at its heart, a generational saga, and, as such, deals with the children exceeding their parents. This is the third main theme I want to explore: how does it feel when you finally get strong enough to beat up your dad? The road is a long one, but there is an end, and you do have the chance to stand as the new exemplars. All it takes is fanatical dedication and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds. Are you up to the challenge?
You are a Part of the World
By that, I mean both players and characters. Despite the tendency to adversarial relations between players and GM, or characters and GM, I canít do this alone. Itís too much work for one person if I want to do justice to the scope and compass of the game, which I do. That means that I need the commitment from the players to work with me to make the game fun: tell me when Iím taking things too seriously, warn me if Iím fixating on uninteresting details, help me when I go astray. I also need the commitment from the characters to take part in the world we build together: get involved in things, question the status quo, put your stake on the table, and play. Iím counting on you.
Final Words
I hope this clears things up with regards to the rules and background. If not, talk to me. If something is not clear, please ask me about it, and I will do my best to clarify. If you disagree with something, tell me what and tell me why. If I canít change your mind, youíll probably change mine. I need everyone to agree with the finalized version of this document, so that we have a hard and fast set of rules for the background, and an agreed-upon set of assumptions about the game. This is important because, once we all agree on the contents of this document, it will become the law of the game world. If you get bitten by something Iíve covered here, I will have no mercy.
You have been warned.