Notable Event Developments (benefit/drawback)

Game Master >
Notable Event Developments are generally events that precede an adventure or campaign that PCs are participating in. For each Character, they make a check that delineates their role in a notable event. This provides more flavor for the story and cohesion within the group – solidarity through shared trauma! It can be used by Game Masters to introduce concepts that are important in the upcoming scenarios – ideas, faith, institutions, brotherhoods, items, and even NPCs. It should never unbalance the upcoming scenarios, and some benefits may only be temporary as a form of game balance, as determined by the GM who creates them. Drawbacks are usually wounds reflected as permanent loss of Attributes, Health, Essence, etc. and may not be specific to the upcoming scenarios. Notable Event Developments may also be used as part of the outcome of adventures as purely a Reward mechanism.

  • Of course the true impact of granting a benefit or drawback will depend on the player, their style, and how well they can use the mechanics to maximize or minimize its impact.
  • It serves to provide a unique feature to help with character envisioning.
  • Extreme impacts to characters should be limited to a lower probability in the outcomes; Most of this is to provide flavor and bonding, and a small advantage or disadvantage without seriously impacting the characters overall chance of success. A GM can explore extremes – including lethal options!
  • Not all advantages that can be gained may be appropriate or useful to your character, depending on their capabilities. A GM and player may be able to come to some accordance by replacing a feature with one more useful but the same level of impact.
  • If you are introducing something that is new to a Player, the GM may have to provide reminders or a written explanation on how it impacts the game.
  • It is recommended that for any set of Notable Event Developments, there be a “default” pathway that provides no benefit or drawback for players who do not want to risk their Character. These will provide some flavor of the shared experience, but not modify their PC in any way. It is up to the GM if they want to allow the player to review all possible outcomes before they choose this.
  • These developments may be at any time in a campaign, but are best suited for starting characters, at Character Inception.
  • At the GMs discretion, these can be used with Best Practice guidelines, as the Notable Event Developments occurr after the technical character creation process is done.

Note: This is not a chance for PCs to roleplay in or actively participate in a Combat, but just adds to their back story. As such, these are generally random chance based, and do not reflect a specific outlook or Character Concept.

"But, it’s what my character would do!" - These types of character aspects are not an excuse to be disruptive to the point that it constantly endangers the safety of the group or the story continuity. Find creative ways to work through situations and do not manifest them to extreme levels of Behavior for your own amusement and to the detriment of the group.

Simple Example

Notable Events at the Battle for Savid’s Bridge

Each player will roll a d6 to determine what event their character participated in, and check the result below. If the GM allows it, players may simply choose the option for “You Were There at Savid’s Bridge”.

< 1-2 > Defeat at Savid’s Bridge: You stood at the thin red line, but you and your brigade failed to defend the bridge and the while it was not a rout, the bridge was captured. You were one of the few who fell from it, to be rescued before you let go after hours of hanging on a sheer ledge. It took weeks to recover, and you never had the same vigor again after that. The memory of the defeat was difficult, but the terror of hours wedged in a gap, hanging on for dear life it etched into your memory. Your character loses 1 point of Constitution permanently.

< 3-4 > Rally at Savid’s Bridge: Once the Troll was unleashed upon the bridge, the damage to it and the crew holding it were brutal. They say their screams still echo in the deep chasm as they fell for minutes before being dashed on the rocks below. Yet you and a valiant few managed to pin the beast as it exited on the south side, your side. Before it could get to the clear, you managed a lucky hit, and then others in your squad followed suit and soon it was downed – death by a thousand cuts. Although the bridge was lost, and gatehouse occupied, your squad saved it from a total rout. You gain 1 Health permanently and your whole squad is awarded with fine shields that have +1 Resilience.

< 5-6 > You Were There at Savid’s Bridge: It was a brutal fight. The troll, the bodies falling, and capture of the gatehouse on your side, but the gap in Evared’s Pass was plugged and the enemy got no further. If only your battalion had been moved up sooner. You saw a share of the fighting, but the enemy had already made their gains, and was spent. The screams, the blood, and the sweat are all part of your memory now, but it seems far away. You have the bragging rights of saying “I was there”.

First Application Dev & Test: See The Six Spire Pass Campaign of CY 9181 (For use 7/2026 in a Historical 1 shot Northern Exposure campaign.)