Group Aid

You can engage in a Group Action for any action that draws an Opposed Challenge (Hunt, Investigate, Hinder, etc.). To do so, every character engaged in the Group Action must declare that they are taking a Group Action, and they must (obviously) all declare they are taking the *same* Group Action.

Each of your Actions will be dealt with separately by the Storyguide (a separate roll will be made for each individual in the Group). Every Mark generated is pooled and totalled, and the total is divided among each of the Group members (rounding down any remainders).

At this point, the Storyguide rolls the Opposed Challenge : the 'opponent's' Defense versus the "Marks" from the members of the group. If you think of this in terms of a basic challenge, this is the point at which Prowesses are being compared.

If the Groups' individual Marks are lower than the opponent's Defense, then each individual takes a Hindrance (either Potent or Simple) on the next series of rolls. This is where it gets exciting! The Storyguide rolls a basic challenge (one d6) for every person engaging in the Group Action. **The Group Action will be successful if any one roll for the Group is successful.**

Sound confusing? It is, a little, so I'll give you an example.

Malicia wants to find out what Keth has been up to for the past month. She manages to convince Shapurnippal, Molior, and Jade to give her a hand in her Investigate action. Each of the characters submits "Group Investigate Keth" as their Endeavour Action. After all bonuses, rerolls, Secular Power, and all the other bells and whistles have been tabulated, the roster stands like this:
Malicia - 3 Marks
Shapurnippal - 5 Marks
Molior - 3 Marks
Jade - 4 Marks

Once their Marks are pooled and then divided, it looks more like this:
Malicia - 3 Marks
Shapurnippal - 3 Marks
Molior - 3 Marks
Jade - 3 Marks

Keth has, through various devious and perfectly legal means, managed to acquire a Defense (Secular Power, Resources, etc.. Successful Hide actions give Keth re-rolls on the Opposed Challenge.) of 5. The Storyguide now performs the Opposed Challenge.

Because Keth's Defense is higher than the Group's average Marks, the Group takes a minor Hindrance (-1) to their Opposed Rolls. This means the Storyguide must roll a 5 or 6 for each of the Group members on the Opposed roll to get a success. (Incidentally, had Keth's Defense been double the Group's average Marks, the Group would have a Potent Hindrance (-2) to their Opposed Roll).

The Storyguide rolls as follows:
Malicia - 3
Shapurnippal - 3
Molior - 5 (At this point, the Investigate Action is successful, but the Storyguide *REALLY* likes rolling dice, so she goes ahead and rolls for Jade anyway)
Jade - 4

Because the Storyguide rolled a 5 for Molior, the Group Action was successful.

Pretty cool, huh? Now, if you're still with me, let's talk about Risk. For Group Actions, Risk is pooled, but not divided. So there is a very good chance, if Risk is not mitigated by at least some of the Group members, that Dire Risk could be generated (3+ Risk)...this can result in things like : every one of the Fallen in the city know what you've got up to; taking Traumatic wounds; the loss of Temporary Secular Power or Resources; etc..

A few questions arise in response to this. First, I'd like to be clear on your math. You list 3 Marks per person in your example, yet 15 Marks/4 people = 3.75. Is this rounding intentional?

Secondly, can we expect our SG to roll all actions in Group Actions, to determine the end Risk?

Is this rounding intentional?

Yes. The results are totalled, and then 'averaged out' (really, it's the mean), with all "remainders" being tossed aside. Which is to say, rounded down.

Secondly, can we expect our SG to roll all actions in Group Actions, to determine the end Risk?

Yes. Your SG rolls all of your downtime Endeavours Actions. Which is to say, a mitful of dice and a stack of Endeavours sheets is as good a way to spend an evening as any!

And, to be honest, your SG is having quite a ball with the downtime system. Confusion and all. Might I just say, as a corollary to my answer to your question, the point of the downtime system is to do your best to *avoid* taking Risk. I'm just mentioning that for the edification of one or two people in the peanut gallery who seem to accumulate an awful lot of the stuff.

Hm. My understanding was that the point of the downtime system was to get stuff done. My attitude has always been "Survival is not a win condition". If the goal is entirely to stay safe, I must say that I'm not interested.

Okay, point taken (it was 5:30am, I was tired and sick...).

We're both not quite right.

The *point* of the downtime system is to add flavour to the game. The secondary point of the downtime system is to get things done. The point of there being a mechanic in the game that deals with things like Risk (which will never cause you to *die*, btw, so the survival not being a win situation is moot) is to make th eabove points *easier*. Of course, the point of Risk is to make things interesting and challenging.

I was just poking fun at a couple of youse who seem to be trying to take on all the Risk for the entire player base.

I have no idea who or what you are talking about.

Risk is awesome. Not that I go looking for trouble of course.

Okay! I give!

You're all a bunch of Risk-loving fluffernutters! Okay?

Geez.

I was *talking* about Cheriour.

What?? Cheriour has a problem with risk? Pfft. I don't believe a word of it.

yeah cherior? no risk at all there... nope... none what so ever...

Hey, it's not that Cheriour accumulates risk, it's that risk is attracted to Cheriour's devil-may-care attitude and masculine virility.

Obviously.

Sacha