As characters go on Quests, they grow and improve. In the game, this can be one of the tangible goals for the players. The main currency for achieving this and indicator of how well the character is doing in game terms are growth points or just simply growth. The Referee hands these out after a Quest.
Growth can happen because of the following situations.
- Bringing motives into play, as determined by the player and approved by the Referee.
- Quest achievement awards. These are determined and handed out by the Referee.
- In game rewards for skill use. If the player fumbles or criticals during a skill test.
- Ad hoc growth awards. The Referee gives these out as a result of certain events occurring during the Quest.
AWARDING GROWTH FOR MOTIVES
The characters’ motives are the main way players get to drive play and grow their characters. If your character completes a motive, either short or long term, during play, cross it out. If you engage with a motive in a gaming session, bringing it in to play, but don’t complete it, put a * next to it. You can only mark growth once in this way per Quest. Make sure you make these marks as soon as your character achieves them with your Referee’s permission.
At the end of the Quest, look at your motives.
- +5 growth points if you complete your Saga motive.
- +2 growth points if you complete your Quest motive.
- +1 for every motive that is brought into play. You don’t get this award as well as the award for completing a motive.
As a result, you should have a total between 1 growth point (you engaged with your short-term Quest motive) and 7 growth points (you complete both your Quest motive and Saga motive). At this point, rub out any asterisk markers and remove any short-term motives, whether completed or not. Leave the completed long-term motives on the character sheet.
Motive Review
At the end of each Quest, the player and the Referee can call for a Motive Review. During the review, the player can change Saga Motives that are no longer interesting to them or relevant to the character. They can also remove uncompleted Quest Motives or carry them over to the next Quest, in which case the Referee makes a note of them.
REFEREE GROWTH AWARDS
The Referee award character growth as a result of the following.
- Quest achievement award is directly linked to how long the quest was.
- In game rewards for skill use. If a character fumbles or criticals during a skill test, their player adds a growth point immediately.
- Ad Hoc awards that acknowledge growth that occurs due to achievements outside of the standard growth system.
Quest Achievement Awards
At the end of a Quest, the Referee makes this award, a simple flat award of two to ten growth points for the Quest, depending on the length of the Quest.
In Game Rewards for Skill Use
If a character fumbles or criticals during a skilltest, they grow from the experience and the player immediately records a one-point growth award. The table should also cheer on the player. There is no limit to how many times this reward can be issued. The reward reflects this author’s belief that we grow from great success or great failure.
Ad Hoc Awards
Ad hoc means when necessary or needed. The characters may grow as part of the Quest in ways that are immediate and hard to fit within the context of awarding growth points and the Referee wants to make a one off award of a character growth directly linked to the Quest.
SPENDING GROWTH AWARDS
Players may spend growth points in the downtime between Quests, even when their characters who are badly injured are healing. The default downtime period is fluid depending on the context.