This weeks challenge comes from u/Klok_Kaos

“Chase mechanics, to include vehicles of variable speeds (and on foot), obstacles, stunts, offensive driving. Needs to account for variable move speeds and accelerations (i.e. you can’t have a footrace if everyone has 30 move speed).”

Working on this one took a loooong time. I went down many rabbit holes, and found I was retreading exceptionally well trod ground in some instances. To finally get something I’m happy putting up on the blog, I returned back to the drawing board more times that I’d like to count.

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So I went back to basics.

I imagined myself at the gaming table, engaged in a chase sequence; What would I want to achieve? How would I take part in the chase? Would I be on foot, on a mount, in a vehicle? Am I the player or the DM? How does the gameplay vary from each perspective?

As I started to visualise what that might look like, I started to think about the brief, and began pulling out the core assumptions to work out if they were true and if so, how to model them.

Core Assumptions

• If you have greater speed and acceleration, you’re going to win.

• Unless your opponent can either:

  • Outmanoeuvre you (stunts).

  • Slow you (obstacles and offensive manoeuvres).

From there I started to put together the potential roles of player characters (PCs) and non-player characters (NPCs). You can find the scenario I came up with at the end of this post.

PC and NPC roles

PCs and NPCs can fill any role, depending on the type of game you’re running. Perhaps your players are running a heist and are trying to flee the scene, or perhaps your players are federal agents trying to take down a gang of notorious bank robbers?

• Runner: The role of the runner is to escape.

• Saboteur: The role of the saboteur(s) is to assist the runner in their escape.

• Chaser: The role of the chaser(s) is to catch the runner and/or neutralise the saboteur(s).

The mini-game starts when the runner makes his move.

The mini-game ends when either:

1. The Runner Loses the Tail by running out of line of sight and succeeding an opposed stealth check vs. a chasers’ investigation/fieldcraft roll (any relevant modifiers apply).

2. The Chaser successfully tackles and/or grapples/restrains the runner during the chase.

Each participant in the chase gains a number of stamina tokens equal to their Stamina bonus (or the Stamina bonus of their mount).

For vehicles, the participant gains a number of fuel tokens equal to the vehicle’s Fuel Tank bonus.

Stamina and Fuel tokens can be spent to increase acceleration and perform manoeuvre during the chase.

Actions:

• Accelerate (x2 (1), x3 (2), x4 (3))

• Slow (0)

• Change Mode (from on-foot, to car or mount, and visa versa) (0)

• Manoeuvre (1)

• Choose route (area knowledge) (0)

• Find the Runner’s trail (investigation/fieldcraft) (0)

• Shake the tail (stealth)

Manoeuvres:

• Offensive Manoeuvres:

  • Tackle/Ram (acrobatics/piloting)

  • Clear/Create obstacle (athletics/piloting)

  • Block escape routes (fieldcraft)

• Defensive Manoeuvres:

  • Dodge/Evade (acrobatics/piloting)

  • Clear/Create obstacle (athletics/piloting)

  • Lay false trail (fieldcraft)

Basic Game loop:

• The runner starts the chase.

• Chasers pursue runners and can ignore or attempt to eliminate saboteurs.

• Runners and Saboteurs attempt to outrun, tackle/ram, dodge/evade, or out manoeuvre Chasers.

• Runners and Saboteurs escape.

or

• Chasers restrain/detain the Runner and/or Saboteurs.

Speed/Horsepower

Player, mount, and vehicle speed balance will vary widely depending on the actual game system, so I’ll leave this section mostly up to GM discretion. But it’s worth considering how Speed could be connected to a strength or power stat to align with how human speed is based on a combination of stride length and cadence, power to weight ratio (muscle power vs mass), and muscle fibre composition for explosive strength and sustained power (slow-twitch vs fast-twitch fibres).

For vehicles, they might have a strength or power equivalent such as a “Torque” attribute that could be used to calculate individual vehicle speeds.

A note about speed for vehicles: The Accelerate action could be limited to vehicle type. For instance while a sedan might be able to accelerate to x4, a dirt bike might only be able to accelerate to x3.

Stamina/Fuel

I would base stamina and fuel points around an endurance or constitution attribute for players and mounts. Human stamina is based on a combination of cardio vascular fitness, VO2 max, and metabolic efficiency (lactic acid processing, thermo-regulation).

• Average bonuses are usually small enough to make a chase realistic.

• Exceptional bonuses are, well, exceptional and make for interesting heroic outcomes.

For vehicles. A “Fuel Tank” attribute would make sense here. Don’t be shy to make the vehicle’s fuel attribute much larger than a player’s or mount’s stamina bonus.

• The benefit of a vehicle is the much higher speed and fuel reserve.

• Players and mounts make up the difference in agility, handling and terrain adaptation.

Agility/Handling

Human agility is based on reaction time, balance, spatial awareness (specifically proprioception - the ability to sense the body’s position and movement), and coordination (neuromuscular control).

For the purposes of the game, again, it comes down to system specifics. For player and mount agility, I think acrobatics and animal handling rolls are probably sufficient to represent most situations. With piloting/driving being the skill used for vehicles.

Perhaps, an acrobatics check based on a mount’s agility/dexterity might make more sense for mount based checks.

For vehicles, it might be worth looking at ways to build a “handling” attribute that mirrors agility/dexterity in organics. This could account for the manoeuvrability of different vehicle types. However, that’s beyond the scope of this challenge, so for now I’ll just leave vehicle handling to a piloting/driving check, and use speed to determine the “quality” of the vehicle.

Full Game Loop:

• As an action a Runner and any collaborative Saboteurs can initiate a chase by choosing to Accelerate and paying the stamina/fuel cost (they gain surprise and a full round of adjusted movement unless otherwise mitigated).

• Then runners, chasers, and saboteurs roll reaction/initiative checks to determine order of operations.

• As an action, Chasers, Runners and Saboteurs can vary their speed by paying the applicable stamina/fuel cost to Accelerate.

• As an action Runners and Saboteurs can choose a manoeuvre, and attempt to tackle/ram, dodge/evade, create obstacles to block the path of the Chasers, or clear obstacles laid by Chaser who are on their route.

  • They must pay the applicable stamina/fuel cost. This represents the adrenal impact on endurance in characters and mounts or the extra fuel burnt speeding and slowing in vehicles to turn sharply, charge through a barricade, or avoid crashes.

• If out of line of sight, saboteurs can attempt to lay false trails to confuse chasers. They take the manoeuvre as an action, and set an opposed DC based on their fieldcraft/survival roll.

• Chasers, Runners, and Saboteurs can use a manoeuvre action to create a temporary obstacle (think unsettling traffic so it becomes a hazard, pulling down crates to block a path, or driving through boxes and garbage to reduce visibility in a side street) to slow each other down. Opposed checks (athletics/piloting vs athletics/piloting)

• If able to reach strategic choke points on the terrain, Runners, Chasers, or Saboteurs can use a fieldcraft/survival rolls to create a more permanent barricade with an opposed DC based on their roll.

Determining Winners and Losers

• Runners and Saboteurs escape if they succeed at a stealth roll when out of line of sight of all Chasers.

• Chasers win if they successfully tackle, grapple, or otherwise restrain/detain the Runner.

• Restrained/detained Saboteurs may offer other roleplaying opportunities at the discretion of the GM (e.g., lead PCs to a hideout later on, etc.).

Example: Urban Chase Scenario - The Informant’s Escape

Setup

The Runners:

• Runner: “Wire” is a data courier who’s stolen crucial information.

• Saboteur 1: “Smoke” is a demolitions expert and Wire’s partner.

• Saboteur 2: “Ghost” is a local street kid with area knowledge.

The Chasers:

• Zara: Corporate security agent (on foot)

• Kal: Zara’s partner (also on foot)

• Detective Mills: Police investigator (mounted on police horse)

• Agent Voss: Federal operative (in an unmarked sedan)

• Agent Reed: Voss’ partner (in the same unmarked sedan)

Scenario Start

Wire emerges from an abandoned subway entrance in the warehouse district, clutching a data chip. He spots the Chasers just before they spot him from their surveillance positions around the plaza.

Starting resources:

• Wire: 3 stamina tokens

• Smoke: 2 stamina tokens

• Ghost: 2 stamina tokens

• Police horse: 4 stamina tokens

• Sedan: 8 fuel tokens

Reaction/Initiative: Wire gains surprise and immediately uses Accelerate x2 (1 stamina), moving at double speed toward a nearby narrow alley between the buildings.

Round 1: The Chase Begins

Wire’s Turn:

• Action: Accelerate x2 (1 stamina, speed doubled).

• Heads for “Murphy’s Alley” - too narrow for the Sedan.

• Shouts code word “Blackout!” to signal saboteurs.

Smoke’s Turn:

• Action: Manoeuvre - Create Obstacle (1 stamina).

• Athletics check to topple a construction barrier across the plaza.

• Creates a temporary obstacle between mounted Mill’s and the foot pursuit.

Ghost’s Turn:

• Action: Choose Route (Area Knowledge check).

• Knows about the dirt bike parked behind Chen’s Electronics.

• Signals Wire with hand gestures about the bike location.

Chaser Responses:

• Zara and Kal: Start pursuit on foot and are forced to navigate Smoke’s obstacle.

• Mills: His horse can jump the barrier with a successful Animal Handling check.

• Voss and Reed: Drive around the block to cut off escape routes.

Round 2: Urban Obstacles

Wire’s Turn:

• Action: Manoeuvre - Clear Obstacle (1 stamina).

• Parkours over a chain-link fence with an Acrobatics check.

• Now one block from the dirt bike.

Smoke’s Turn:

• Action: Manoeuvre - Tackle/Ram (1 stamina)

• Attempts to tackle Zara to slow foot pursuit.

• Opposed Acrobatics vs Athletics check.

Ghost’s Turn:

• Action: Choose Route (0 stamina).

• Uses Area Knowledge to guide Wire: “Left at the wall covered in graffiti!”

• Provides advantage or roll bonus on Wire’s next navigation check.

Chasers Tactical Decision:

• Mills uses his mount’s superior speed (Accelerate x2 - 1 fuel) to take a parallel side street..

• Voss and Reed speedily (Accelerate x3 - 2 fuel) reposition the sedan to cover main roads out of the district.

• Zara and Kal decide whether to pursue the saboteurs or the runner.

Round 3: Mode Change Complications

Wire’s Turn:

• Action: Change Mode (0 stamina/fuel)

• Reaches dirt bike, attempts to hot-wire it

• Requires thieves tools/technology check.

• Dirt bike starts with 6 Fuel Tokens.

Smoke’s Turn:

• Action: Manoeuvre - Create Obstacle (1 stamina).

• Uses a small explosive charge to collapse scaffolding in Mills’ side street.

• Blocks the alley behind Wire, slowing pursuit.

Ghost’s Turn:

• Action: Manoeuvre - Lay False Trail (1 stamina).

• Fieldcraft check to create diversion.

• Points foot pursuit towards a fake escape route.

Chaser Complications:

• Voss and Reed’s sedan is blocked by Smoke’s scaffolding collapse.

• Mills must dismount to navigate narrow passageways.

• Zara and Kal fail the contested roll to discern the false trail and split up to cover both the saboteurs and the runner.

Round 4: Vehicle vs. Vehicle Potential

Wire’s Turn:

• Successfully starts the dirt bike.

• Action: Accelerate x3 (2 fuel) - maximum speed for the dirt bike.

• Heads for highway on-ramp.

Smoke’s Turn:

• Action: Shake the Tail (Stealth).

• Uses smoke from debris to break line of sight.

• Attempts to escape in the urban maze.

Ghost’s Turn:

• Action: Choose Route (Area Knowledge)

• Knows shortcut to highway that avoids main roads.

• Tries to radio Wire with route information.

Chaser Decision Point:

• Continue chasing saboteurs or chase the runner?

• Sedan vs. dirt bike on an open road.

• Mill’s horse cannot follow onto the highway.

Round 5: The Great Escape

Wire’s Turn:

• Action: Accelerate x3 (2 fuel)

• Hits the highway at triple base (max) speed.

• Uses dirt bikes superior handling for lane-splitting.

Voss and Reed:

• Action: Accelerate x4 (3 fuel)

• Higher top speed, but quickly fall foul of poorer handling.

• Must navigate more carefully and eventually run into rush hour stop-start traffic.

Saboteur Cleanup:

• Smoke and Ghost attempt final stealth checks.

• If out of line of sight, roll opposed stealth checks vs. Chaser investigation rolls.

Scenario Analysis

Final Resource Totals:

On Foot Phase (Rounds 1-2):

• Wire: Started with 3 stamina, spent 2 (1 remaining).

• Smoke: Started with 2 stamina, spent 2 (exhausted - base movement only).

• Ghost: Started with 2 stamina, spent 1 (1 remaining)

Vehicle Phase (Rounds 3-5):

• Wire’s Dirt bike: Started with 6 fuel, spent 4 (2 remaining - can continue).

• Sedan: Started with 8 fuel, spent 5 (3 remaining - still operational if blocked by traffic).

• Mill’s Horse: Started with 4 stamina, spent 1 chasing (3 remaining).

This scenario, while simplified, demonstrates a variety of gameplay styles. Including:

Mixed Movement Types:

• Foot vs Foot: Smoke tackling Zara.

• Mount vs Foot: Mills pursuing on horseback.

• Vehicle vs Vehicle: Sedan chasing dirt bike.

• Foot to Vehicle: Wire’s mode change.

Terrain Usage:

• Narrow Alley: Favours foot/mount over vehicles.

• Highway: Vehicles dominate.

• Vertical Obstacles: Favour athletic characters.

• Traffic: Creates dynamic obstacles.

Strategic Elements:

• Area Knowledge: Ghost’s local expertise.

• Resource Management: Stamina/fuel expenditure.

• Role Specialization: Each saboteur has different tactics.

• Environmental Interaction: Scaffolding, barriers, traffic.

Victory Conditions:

• Runner Success: Wire reaches the countryside with the dirt bike.

• Saboteur Success: Smoke and Ghost evade the chasers in the urban maze.

• Chaser Success: Any combination of captures/restraints.

GM Notes

Vehicle Advantage Demonstrated:

• The dirt bike and the sedan can maintain high speeds longer than foot pursuit.

• Smoke was exhausted early, showing human stamina limitations.

• Vehicles enable sustained high-speed chase phases.

Terrain Advantages:

• Urban: Multiple routes, vertical movement, environmental obstacles.

• Vehicle Counters: Traffic, narrow spaces, pedestrian areas.

• Mount Advantages: Can navigate between foot and vehicle terrain.

• Area Knowledge: A goldmine of shortcuts, hazards, and resources.

Adaptation Tips:

• If not using contested rolls, scale obstacles to party level.

• Consider buffs/debuffs to adjust stamina/fuel totals for desired chase length.

• Use familiar landmarks for immersion.

• Fail forward. Let failed rolls create new complications, not dead ends.

Unanswered Questions

Q1. How do tokens regenerate?

You “run out of gas” - literally and figuratively and need to refuel/short rest.

Q2. Are there consequences for spending all tokens (e.g., exhaustion, engine damage)?

There are no consequences for “running out of gas”, you just can’t continue, although this is an intriguing context for future “extra effort” manoeuvres - perhaps involving performance enhances (players/mounts) and N2O use (vehicles).

Q3. Can players combine actions (e.g., Accelerate + Manoeuvre in one turn)?

If players have more than one action per turn, then yes. I would also imagine that class-specific features, that turn actions into free or bonus actions, would work well here too - providing advantages in pursuit or evasion.

Q4. What does line of sight mean in different terrain contexts (e.g. urban alleys vs open roads and country)?

The Area Knowledge skill can be used to request terrain information from the GM/DM to discern environmental clues and good paths - if there isn’t a game map to use.

Line of sight means any turn you end your turn without an opponent or team mate in direct line of sight. For the purposes of Shaking the Tail, you want to start your next turn out of line of sight and complete a successful opposed stealth check against your chaser’s investigation or tracking/fieldcraft skill to evade pursuit.

Thoughts on Play-Testing

Core Mechanics:

• Resource economy balance: Do stamina/fuel pools feel right? Too generous/stingy?

• Action costs: Are acceleration multipliers priced correctly? (1/2/3 tokens for x2/x3/x4 speed).

• Victory conditions: How often do chases end in escapes vs captures?

Test with simple scenarios first:

• Single runner vs single chaser (same movement type/mode)

• Then add complexity: mixed movement, multiple participants, saboteurs.

Key Play-Test Questions to Answer:

Pacing:

• How long do chases typically last? (Intuitive sweet spot, I’m thinking 4-8 rounds max).

• Do players run out of tens too quickly/too slowly?

• Are there enough meaningful decisions each round?

Balance:

• Are vehicles too dominant/not dominant enough?

• Do mounted characters have a clear niche or are they genre specific?

• Are saboteurs effective or just distractions?

Fun Factor:

• Do players feel agency or are they just rolling dice?

• Are there “dead turns” where nothing interesting happens?

• Does resource management create tension or tedium?

Potential Problem Areas:

Action Economy Issues:

• What if everyone wants the same action type?

• How do simultaneous manoeuvres resolve?

• Reaction/Initiative might be too important.

Resource Depletion:

• Players might hoard tokens early, making chases long and boring.

• Or spend too freely and stall out anticlimactically.

Complexity Creep:

• Easy to add more manoeuvre types, but might overwhelm.

• Reliance on GM input for environmental opportunities might get fiddly.

This completes week 2 of my 52 week game mechanic design challenge. Subscribe for free to receive a notification when I post the next challenge. Next week I will be tackling a Hacking mini-game that isn’t boring for non-hackers at the table.

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If you have any questions of feedback, comment below or join the discussion on Reddit, here.

This mini-game transforms bardic and other character performances into dramatic three-act narratives, when audience mood, and growing or receding fame, create escalating stakes.

In this design I’ve defaulted to a D20 system to show how difficulty classes (DCs) and modifiers might work, but it could be adapted to any system. It’s yet to be play tested, so I’m especially happy to receive any feedback on balance and mathematical progression. More on areas to be tested at the end of this post.

If you’re interested in the development process, you can read more about how I designed the Zurvan’s Showstoppers mini-game here [coming soon].

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If anyone has tackled similar show/performance mechanics, I’d love to hear about other approaches .

The basic loop

Calculate Audience Mood >

Adjust Mood for PC Fame Level >

Succeed/Fail In-Act and Act-Climax Performance Checks >

Calculate Final Audience Mood >

Once Final Audience mood has been calculated we can move onto rewards:

5. Calculate Reward based on mood >

6. Adjust Fame if scored good mood >

Mood

You can’t get far in a performance without keeping an eye on audience mood. There are many things that might affect it, including different venues, locations, and sociopolitical situations.

For the sake of example, let’s suggest that these 3 performance locations start with a default mood based on the average mood of the audience:

• A small village that hasn’t seen performers in many months or years, might start engaged or enthusiastic.

• An audience in a large town might see a lot of performers, so what’s one more? They may start in an indifferent mood.

• An audience in a large city, with lots of regular performances available daily, might start in a sceptical or disinterested mood.

This same starting mood can be scaled to establishment or locale. For instance:

• A dive bar’s audience might be hostile by default - you wondered why there was a metal cage around the stage.

• A street busker’s passing audience may be disinterested as they bustle past on personal and business errands.

• A festival’s audience might be sceptical as you’re not something they’ve seen before.

• A tavern’s audience might be indifferent to the background music while they drink and carouse.

• An inn’s audience might be engaged as they rest and recuperate.

• A theatre’s audience might be enthusiastic having heard good things about your performance.

• An opera house’s audience might be captivated having heard you received the patronage of the Grand Duke himself.

Note: I could imagine adventures based around improving the mood of a location to boost the potential for lucrative shows and opportunities for fame.

Note: Fame could potentially also be impacted by other activities the performers undertake, such as clearing out a nearby dungeon or bandit camp.

Fame

Fame influences an audience’s expectations and impacts starting mood.

Each level of fame represents a progression: an unknown person might discover a hidden talent. If they develop and showcase that talent publicly, they could become a celebrity or a star. Over time, if their impact is profound and lasting, they might achieve the status of a legend.

• If you’re unknown, no one has heard of you.

• If you are talented, you’re known locally.

• If you’re a celebrity, you’re known regionally.

• If you’re a star, everyone in your country or nation has heard of you.

• If you’re a legend, everyone in the world has heard of you.

The game loop

1. Determine audience mood:

   1. By settlement type, or

   2. By establishment type, or

   3. Roll a D8

2. Positively adjust the audience mood by 1 level per PC fame bonus

   1. or party average if a troupe of performers.

   2. or simply add the fame bonus if rolling the dice.

3. Calculate the ACT1 Climax DC (e.g., DC15 +/- ACT Climax mood modifier).

4. ACT 1 Performance begins

   1. Inciting incident (standard performance check DC 10)

      1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Climax Performance Roll

   2. Refusal of the call (standard performance check DC 10)

      1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Climax Performance Roll

   3. Meeting the mentor (standard performance check DC10)

      1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Climax Performance Roll

5. ACT 1 Climax Performance check (DC15 +/- ACT Climax mood modifier)

   1. A success raises the mood by 1 level

   2. A failure drops the mood by 1 level

6. Calculate the ACT2 Climax DC (e.g., DC15 +/- the adjusted ACT Climax mood modifier)

7. Act 2 Performance begins

   1. Test, Allies, Enemies (standard performance check DC 10)

      1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Climax Performance Roll

   2. Approach to the innermost cave (standard performance check DC 10)

      1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Climax Performance Roll

8. Midpoint/Big Twist (standard performance check DC 10)

   1. Success/Failure = +/- 2 to Climax Performance Roll

   2. Reflection and reward (standard performance check DC10)

      1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Climax Performance Roll

9. ACT 2 Climax Performance Check (DC15 +/- adjusted ACT Climax mood modifier)

   1. A success raises the mood by 1 level

   2. A failure drops the mood by 1 level

10. Calculate the ACT3 Finale DC (e.g., DC15 +/- the adjusted ACT Climax mood modifier)

11. ACT 3 Performance begins

    1. Resurrection (standard performance check DC 10)

       1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Finale Performance Roll

    2. Return with the Elixir (standard performance check DC 10)

       1. Success/Failure = +/- 1 to Finale Performance Roll

12. ACT 3 Finale Performance Check (DC15 +/- adjusted ACT Climax mood modifier)

    1. A success raises the mood by 1 level

    2. A failure drops the mood by 1 level

13. Calculate the audience's final mood and compare this to the following tables to determine Remuneration (tables 3.0 and 3.1 ) and Fame growth (table 3.1).

Example: Jlerpy’s Jesters, known throughout the kingdom as a masterful theatre troupe and stars of the boards (National Stars: Fame +3), are set to perform on stage at a festival in the City of Redditon. The local lord is dealing with civil unrest and is staging the festival in an attempt to distract the populace.

The crowd is hostile (ACT Climax mood modifier +3) as there has been a great deal of turmoil in the region. But the troupe’s fame alone is enough to calm the crowd, bringing the gathered audience up to an indifferent mood level (ACT Climax mood modifier +0). Can their performance engage, enthuse, or captivate the crowd?

They begin their performance with a narrative flow that hints at an unrealised potential and the chance to fulfil it. They succeed their performance check (DC10), gaining a future +1 bonus to the ACT1 Climax performance check (DC15 +0).

Next, they reach inside the audience's hearts revealing to all that it is hard to step up and take the first steps on a journey beyond everything they’ve ever known. They succeed their performance check (DC10, gaining an additional +1 bonus to the ACT1 Climax performance check (DC15+0).

Next they regale the audience with the tale of how the hero of our song met a wizened old man who pointed them towards an inn on the far borders of their homeland. This time they fail their roll gaining a negative -1 bonus to the ACT 1 Climax performance check (DC15+0).

At this stage, they have gained a +2, and a -1 bonus to their ACT1 Climax check, for a total of +1. They roll their check DC15, and roll a 15 (+1 and any other system-specific bonuses) for a total score of 16+, which is enough to pass. The crowd’s mood improves by 1 level, from indifferent to engaged. This makes the ACT2 Check DC now DC15-1 or DC14.

At the end of ACT2, they have gained +3 and -2 bonuses respectively, which when totalled with their bonuses from ACT1, leaves them with a total ACT2 Climax check bonus of +2. They roll a 17, for 19 total, and smash their performance, gaining another level of mood improvement, taking the crowd from engaged to enthusiastic. This drops the ACT3 Finale DC to 13.

At the end of ACT3, despite the bonuses they gained, they fail their Finale check, dropping the final audience mood from enthusiastic back down to engaged.

Remuneration (getting paid)

How Remuneration by Fame works: Your initial fame (pre-performance) determines the baseline share of the ticket sales you take home (see Table 3.0).

The more famous you are, the larger crowd you can draw, and the greater net profit from the venue. There are additional modifiers available based on final audience mood (see Table 3.1)

How Mood Bonus to Remuneration works: If at the end of your performance the final audience mood is engaged, enthusiastic, or captivated, you gain the relevant modifier to your baseline % of ticket sales. This represents walk-ins or a cut of the bar take, as business surges due to excited and thirsty patrons.

If your performance ends with a final audience mood of sceptical, disinterested, or hostile, you deduct the relevant bonus to your baseline % ticket sales. This represents the disappointed, walkouts, and refund demands.

Example: A legendary musician who has captivated his audience will gain 90% of ticket sales.

An unknown performer who leaves the crowd disinterested will walk away with nothing. Worse, if an unknown performer leaves a crowd hostile, he may end up owing the venue owner money (-10%) for repairs or lost takings - due to a hostile, angry, and potentially violent crowd.

How Fame Growth works: If at the end of your performance the final audience mood is enthusiastic or captivated, you gain +1 level of fame in that location (village, town, city) as you become the literal talk of the town. If however, your performance ends with a disinterested or hostile audience, you lose one level of fame, as word of mouth discourages audience attendance and the crowd loses interest in your entertainment ability.

Example: An unknown performer delivers a stunning performance, leaving their audience captivated and begging for more. Word of mouth quickly spreads and their fame in the village, city, or town grows as they become known as a local talent on the rise.A legendary performer delivers a poorly rehearsed and ill-conceived performance, hoping to rest on his laurels. While he draws a large crowd, he leaves the audience disinterested and bored. Perhaps the legend is no more, as he becomes a star on the wane.

Growing fame across regions

To grow from unknown, to talented represents a fame growth that is localised. So how does one go about becoming a regional celebrity, a national star, or even an international legend?

Start by creating a regional hierarchy, in this example we’ll go with a classic feudal world.

• World

• Kingdom

• Duchy/County

• City/Town/Village

Define a capital for each kingdom, and a regional capital for duchy/county.

• To go from unknown to a local talent, you need to achieve a final audience mood (FAM) of enthusiastic or captivated in one city, town, or village in a region.

• To become a regional celebrity, you need to achieve a FAM of enthusiastic or captivated in 5 regional locations (cities, towns, villages) one of which should be the regional capital.

• To become a national star, you need to achieve a FAM of enthusiastic or captivated in each regional capital - including the kingdom capital.

To become an international legend, you need to achieve a FAM of captivated in each kingdom’s capital.

Example: Jlerpy’s Jesters, already stars, want to become legends. They have been touring for years and have one capital city left to conquer. They know that to become legends they need to give a truly captivating performance, one for the ages. Finishing their performance with the audience spellbound, they ascend to the status of legends, as every merchant and princeling attending, carries the tale of their performance far and wide, opening the door of every wealthy patron in the land.

Transferring fame across regions

When entering a new region or kingdom, your fame level defaults back to unknown. You can carry over some of your fame by taking part in inter-regional or international festivals, allowing you to share your fame with mixed audiences that include current and potentially future fans.

These festivals will often take place during seasonal festivities, such as spring, midsummer, harvest, and midwinter, see table 4.1:.

Additionally, there may also be events sponsored by rich patrons that can increase your reach with new audiences and transfer your fame. The level of fame transferred would correlate to the regional level of your patron: e.g., Bailiff (Village), Mayor (town), Sheriff (City), Count (Regional capital), King (kingdom), see also table 4.1:

Additional options for improved gameplay

System specific mechanics such as spells, costumes, or other items might grant additional bonuses to performance checks at the GM’s discretion.

• Time spent in regular rehearsal, could give bonuses to performance rolls.

• Could be potential for a “fame maintenance” mechanic

• Venue specific modifiers (good/bad acoustics, good/bad stage quality, etc.).

• Competition mechanics for festivals

• Consequences for repeated poor performances in the same location (run out of town?)

Thoughts on areas for play-testing

• Modifier Accumulation Balance

  • Do Act-Climax performance bonus stack correctly or do the over/under accumulate.

• Difficulty Scaling vs. PC progression

  • Is DC15 too high for low level characters?

  • Does DC need to be defined or can it be handwaved by GMs?

• Mood Swing Volatility

  • Can failures cause a death spiral?

  • Does the +3/-3 mood modifier range create too much variance?

  • Are stars and legends too insulated from failure?

• Economic Balance

  • Can performers make meaningful money?

  • Do legendary performers break the economy?

  • How do negative percentages feel in play?

If you’ve made it this far, I hope you’ve enjoyed this first draft of the Showcase mini-game. For more stuff like this subscribe to my blog.

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If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to comment below, or join the original discussion on Reddit, here.