thread: 2006-03-06 : Unpopular Idea #2: Punish the Loser
On 2006-03-06, Matt Wilson wrote:
How to avoid the death spiral, just off da top o' me head: 1) have the punishments and rewards apply only to the conflict, not to the rest of the game; 2) apply bonuses and penalties that limit options instead of ones that hamper all options, like, "ha!, you're hit, so now you lose your special sword ability"; 2a) apply penalties with a time limit, like "you can't use that relationship in the next scene"; 3) have a buyoff option, like "you're at a -1 for the rest of this game session unless you spend 3 points."
Otherwise, re: the rest of it, yeah, that's what I'm a doin'.
This makes MDS go "Upsets"
Another way to prevent a death spiral is to ensure that there is a non-trivial, but uncertain, chance for upsets, which can radically shift the scales back. In pratice they should be just common enough that no one can quite depend on them.
This makes PB go "Sorcerer"
Which is exactly what Sorcerer does.
