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Grading the Burning Wheel System
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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 9280798" data-attributes="member: 42582"><p>As per my post 71 upthread, I think there is a tendency to exaggerate the differences.</p><p></p><p>You can read some actual play here: <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/burning-wheel-actual-play.680804/" target="_blank">https://www.enworld.org/threads/burning-wheel-actual-play.680804/</a> And there is a character sheet appended.</p><p></p><p>The character has standard FRPG-ish elements:</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px">Stats (Power, Forte, Agility, Speed, Perception, Will);</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Derived attributes (Reflex, Health, Steel, Hesitation, Circles);</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Gear, and an associated attribute, Resources;</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Skills</p><p></p><p>PC gen is via Lifepaths (two or three LPs is a young PC who will have fewer skills, rated probably at 2s and 3s; four or five LPs is a solid starting character who will probably be 30 to 40 years old with some skills at 4 and 5).</p><p></p><p>Lifepaths yield points that (together with starting age) yield stats. Lifepaths also yield skills and skill points; resource points (used to purchase starting gear and property, and also starting Relationships, Reputations and Affiliations - these all combine to affect starting Resources).</p><p></p><p>Some skill points can only be used to purchase skills that are made available by lifepaths (these are pretty much what you would expect - eg the Squire lifepath makes Sword skill available). Others - general skill points - are less common, but may be used to purchase any skill. The opening level of a skill is dependent on designated stats (eg Sword depends on Agility) but once opened, a skill advances independently.</p><p></p><p>The systems has over 100 skills. Some of this is the result of various craft and weapon skills - eg the system distinguishes Armourer from Blacksmith from Coppersmith from Whitesmith (= silver-smith); and distinguishes Axes from Hammers from Maces - but the system also has a wide variety of social skills (eg Extortion is different from Intimidation is different from Ugly Truth), healing skills (eg Apothecary is different from Herbalism is different from Field Dressing is different from Surgery), etc.</p><p></p><p>Note that the labels on the above-linked PC sheet of "good skills" and "evil skills" is not a system thing; that's my classification of my two columns of skills, as part of my understanding and presentation of the character.</p><p></p><p>Starting Circles is half Will, and can also be modified (slightly) by how resource points are allocated. After a PC is generated, Circles advances independently of Will, just like a skill. The point of Circles is to meet characters from your past; a Circles check can be modified by appropriate Affiliations and Reputations (eg Aedhros has a Reputation as ill-fated for himself and others; this is a bonus when hoping to meet Half-Orc thugs, dubious necromancers, other Dark Elves, and the like).</p><p></p><p>Health is derived from Will and Forte, modified by background (eg if your backstory includes having been tortured, your starting Health is lower). Steel is derived from Will, Perception and Forte, also modified by background (eg if you backstory includes having been tortured, your starting Steel may be higher). Health and Steel, once generated, advance independently like a skill. On the other hand, Hesitation is 10 minus Will; and Reflexes is a straight average of Perception, Agility and Speed. These two attributes vary with any variation in those skill ratings.</p><p></p><p>Lifepaths also give traits. Some of these are analogous to D&D-ish feats (Call-on Traits, some Die Traits). Some are analogous to Champion-ish disadvantages (some Die Traits, eg Maimed or Missing Eye). Some are purely descriptors (Character Traits). Traits may be gained or lost through play - sometimes as consequences, and also via the "trait vote", which is a periodic process where the table agrees how each PC has changed or developed and what affect that has on their traits.</p><p></p><p>Some traits also generate an additional attribute, called an Emotional Attribute. Eg all Elves have the Grief die trait, which gives them the Grief emotional attribute. Aedhros (the PC whose sheet is attached to the post linked abov) is a Dark Elf (in the JRRT sense, not the Vault of the Drow sense) and so rather than Grief has the Spite emotional attribute. My Knight of a Holy Military Order PC Thurgon has the Faithful trait, and so has the Faith emotional attribute, which permits prayers that are somewhat analogous to D&D cleric spells.</p><p></p><p>Each character also has Beliefs and Instincts (typically three of each, though some Die Traits open up additional slots). Beliefs are statements of conviction or hope or aspiration or goals. Instincts are statements of behaviour. The player can re-write these at any time, subject to the GM being allowed to postpone a re-writing if it seems like an attempt to squib or to dodge a pending or unfolding conflict.</p><p></p><p>Upthread I posted the key "how to play" text from the BW rulebook:</p><p></p><p>Beliefs, Instincts, Relationships, Reputations, Affiliations and some traits (especially character traits) are the "player-determined priorities" referred to in this text.</p><p></p><p>The GM's core responsibility is to frame scenes that speak to these priorities - "present[ing] the players with problems based on the players' priorities". This prompts the players to declare actions for their PCs. The resolution of these actions determines what happens next.</p><p></p><p>Action resolution is governed by three key principles:</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px">*<em>Say 'yes' or roll the dice</em> - if the player declares an action which doesn't put something that matters (by reference to player priorities) at stake, then it succeeds - it is mere colour that moves the fiction along (this is the GM's call, but the player is allowed to make the case that something <em>is</em> at stake). If something that matters is at stake, then the dice must be rolled. The actual rolls are standard dice pool resolution: roll you dice, count your successes (by default, that's 4+ on a d6) and see if you meet the target (either a fixed obstacle, or the result of an opposed roll).</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">*<em>Intent and task</em> - when an action is declared, the player states both intent (what they and their PC hope to achieve from the action) and task (what is being done). Task determines both the obstacle (and the book has a <em>lot</em> of advice on setting obstacles, both general and by reference to those dozens of skills) and the skill(s) that are tested (there are relatively intricate rules for augments - eg my Blacksmithing skill helps my Armourer skills - as well as prep - eg I heat the forge to a tremendous temperature before I start smithing - and help - eg my apprentice works the bellows while I pound the steel into shape). On a success, both intent and task are achieved. On a failure, intent is not achieved, and the GM narrates what happens (including whether or to what extent the task succeeds or fails - this is the basis for [USER=59]@Old Fezziwig[/USER]'s comment, not far upthread, about the system allowing for partial successes).</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">*<em>Let it ride</em> - once a test is resolved, the matter is settled and only if things in the fiction change significantly (there is fairly extensive advice on what this means) can whatever was at stake in a previous test be re-staked by the GM.</p><p></p><p>There is also a relatively intricate system of "meta-currency", called "artha" - Fate, Persona and Deed points can all be spent to modify dice pools and dice rolls in various ways. These are earned by reference to the player priorities (eg expressing a character trait in play earns 1 Fate point; acting on an Instinct so as to cause trouble for your PC earns 1 Fate point; resolving a Belief earns 1 Persona point; impassioned roleplay that gives voice to some conflict among your Beliefs, Instincts and traits earns 1 Persona point ("mouldbreaker"); etc).</p><p></p><p>This is important to the game, in that the maths tend to be relatively punitive unless artha is spent. The principles that govern the GM, and the players leaning into their priorities, should generate a situation where artha is earned and spent, and the PCs' fortunes ebb and flow.</p><p></p><p>It is the principles that govern scene-framing and action resolution, and the ebb and flow that results, rather than the technical details of the PC builds and dice roll systems, that make BW play different from some typical approaches to D&D, CoC, etc.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 9280798, member: 42582"] As per my post 71 upthread, I think there is a tendency to exaggerate the differences. You can read some actual play here: [URL]https://www.enworld.org/threads/burning-wheel-actual-play.680804/[/URL] And there is a character sheet appended. The character has standard FRPG-ish elements: [indent]Stats (Power, Forte, Agility, Speed, Perception, Will); Derived attributes (Reflex, Health, Steel, Hesitation, Circles); Gear, and an associated attribute, Resources; Skills[/indent] PC gen is via Lifepaths (two or three LPs is a young PC who will have fewer skills, rated probably at 2s and 3s; four or five LPs is a solid starting character who will probably be 30 to 40 years old with some skills at 4 and 5). Lifepaths yield points that (together with starting age) yield stats. Lifepaths also yield skills and skill points; resource points (used to purchase starting gear and property, and also starting Relationships, Reputations and Affiliations - these all combine to affect starting Resources). Some skill points can only be used to purchase skills that are made available by lifepaths (these are pretty much what you would expect - eg the Squire lifepath makes Sword skill available). Others - general skill points - are less common, but may be used to purchase any skill. The opening level of a skill is dependent on designated stats (eg Sword depends on Agility) but once opened, a skill advances independently. The systems has over 100 skills. Some of this is the result of various craft and weapon skills - eg the system distinguishes Armourer from Blacksmith from Coppersmith from Whitesmith (= silver-smith); and distinguishes Axes from Hammers from Maces - but the system also has a wide variety of social skills (eg Extortion is different from Intimidation is different from Ugly Truth), healing skills (eg Apothecary is different from Herbalism is different from Field Dressing is different from Surgery), etc. Note that the labels on the above-linked PC sheet of "good skills" and "evil skills" is not a system thing; that's my classification of my two columns of skills, as part of my understanding and presentation of the character. Starting Circles is half Will, and can also be modified (slightly) by how resource points are allocated. After a PC is generated, Circles advances independently of Will, just like a skill. The point of Circles is to meet characters from your past; a Circles check can be modified by appropriate Affiliations and Reputations (eg Aedhros has a Reputation as ill-fated for himself and others; this is a bonus when hoping to meet Half-Orc thugs, dubious necromancers, other Dark Elves, and the like). Health is derived from Will and Forte, modified by background (eg if your backstory includes having been tortured, your starting Health is lower). Steel is derived from Will, Perception and Forte, also modified by background (eg if you backstory includes having been tortured, your starting Steel may be higher). Health and Steel, once generated, advance independently like a skill. On the other hand, Hesitation is 10 minus Will; and Reflexes is a straight average of Perception, Agility and Speed. These two attributes vary with any variation in those skill ratings. Lifepaths also give traits. Some of these are analogous to D&D-ish feats (Call-on Traits, some Die Traits). Some are analogous to Champion-ish disadvantages (some Die Traits, eg Maimed or Missing Eye). Some are purely descriptors (Character Traits). Traits may be gained or lost through play - sometimes as consequences, and also via the "trait vote", which is a periodic process where the table agrees how each PC has changed or developed and what affect that has on their traits. Some traits also generate an additional attribute, called an Emotional Attribute. Eg all Elves have the Grief die trait, which gives them the Grief emotional attribute. Aedhros (the PC whose sheet is attached to the post linked abov) is a Dark Elf (in the JRRT sense, not the Vault of the Drow sense) and so rather than Grief has the Spite emotional attribute. My Knight of a Holy Military Order PC Thurgon has the Faithful trait, and so has the Faith emotional attribute, which permits prayers that are somewhat analogous to D&D cleric spells. Each character also has Beliefs and Instincts (typically three of each, though some Die Traits open up additional slots). Beliefs are statements of conviction or hope or aspiration or goals. Instincts are statements of behaviour. The player can re-write these at any time, subject to the GM being allowed to postpone a re-writing if it seems like an attempt to squib or to dodge a pending or unfolding conflict. Upthread I posted the key "how to play" text from the BW rulebook: Beliefs, Instincts, Relationships, Reputations, Affiliations and some traits (especially character traits) are the "player-determined priorities" referred to in this text. The GM's core responsibility is to frame scenes that speak to these priorities - "present[ing] the players with problems based on the players' priorities". This prompts the players to declare actions for their PCs. The resolution of these actions determines what happens next. Action resolution is governed by three key principles: [indent]*[i]Say 'yes' or roll the dice[/i] - if the player declares an action which doesn't put something that matters (by reference to player priorities) at stake, then it succeeds - it is mere colour that moves the fiction along (this is the GM's call, but the player is allowed to make the case that something [i]is[/I] at stake). If something that matters is at stake, then the dice must be rolled. The actual rolls are standard dice pool resolution: roll you dice, count your successes (by default, that's 4+ on a d6) and see if you meet the target (either a fixed obstacle, or the result of an opposed roll). *[i]Intent and task[/i] - when an action is declared, the player states both intent (what they and their PC hope to achieve from the action) and task (what is being done). Task determines both the obstacle (and the book has a [i]lot[/I] of advice on setting obstacles, both general and by reference to those dozens of skills) and the skill(s) that are tested (there are relatively intricate rules for augments - eg my Blacksmithing skill helps my Armourer skills - as well as prep - eg I heat the forge to a tremendous temperature before I start smithing - and help - eg my apprentice works the bellows while I pound the steel into shape). On a success, both intent and task are achieved. On a failure, intent is not achieved, and the GM narrates what happens (including whether or to what extent the task succeeds or fails - this is the basis for [USER=59]@Old Fezziwig[/USER]'s comment, not far upthread, about the system allowing for partial successes). *[i]Let it ride[/i] - once a test is resolved, the matter is settled and only if things in the fiction change significantly (there is fairly extensive advice on what this means) can whatever was at stake in a previous test be re-staked by the GM.[/indent] There is also a relatively intricate system of "meta-currency", called "artha" - Fate, Persona and Deed points can all be spent to modify dice pools and dice rolls in various ways. These are earned by reference to the player priorities (eg expressing a character trait in play earns 1 Fate point; acting on an Instinct so as to cause trouble for your PC earns 1 Fate point; resolving a Belief earns 1 Persona point; impassioned roleplay that gives voice to some conflict among your Beliefs, Instincts and traits earns 1 Persona point ("mouldbreaker"); etc). This is important to the game, in that the maths tend to be relatively punitive unless artha is spent. The principles that govern the GM, and the players leaning into their priorities, should generate a situation where artha is earned and spent, and the PCs' fortunes ebb and flow. It is the principles that govern scene-framing and action resolution, and the ebb and flow that results, rather than the technical details of the PC builds and dice roll systems, that make BW play different from some typical approaches to D&D, CoC, etc. [/QUOTE]
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