Playwright
For those inclined to seek fame on the stage, London en garde offers this invaluable skill for aspiring playwrights. Rolling 1d6, the Game Master determines a player character's starting Playwright Ability Score. Ranging from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 10, a player may study under a master to improve his craft to a ceiling of 6. Fees for pupils depend on the following table:
Number of Weeks1 |
Cost |
Ability Bonus |
1 Weeks |
10 Crowns |
0.1 |
2 Weeks |
25 Crowns |
0.25 |
3 Weeks |
50 Crowns |
0.5 |
4 Weeks |
100 Crowns |
1 |
Mister Jonah Weatherbee seeks pupilage from a prominent playwright. In three weeks, Mister Jack Black advances Lieutenant Weatherbee's knowledge in the dramatic arts (from a Playwright Ability Score of 5 to 5.5). Of course, Mister Black bills Mister Weatherbee 50 Crowns for his services.
Performing a play ensures improvement or loss of a writer's ability score. The table below illustrates this fact:
Playwright Result |
Ability Score +/- |
Playwright Result 1 |
+0.5 |
Playwright Result 2 |
+0.25 |
Playwright Result 3 |
+0.1 |
Playwright Result 4 |
-0.1 |
Playwright Result 5 |
-0.25 |
Playwright Result 6 |
-0.5 |
Lieutenant Weatherbee's first production (Playwright Result 2) increases his Playwright Ability Score from 5.5 to 5.75.
To ascertain a Playwright Result, the Game Master casts 1d6. Then he cross-references the rolled number with the Player Character's PLaywright Ability Score on the following table:
Playwright Ability |
Die Roll |
|||||
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
1 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
The Count of St-Omer decides to produce a play in honour of the Count of Flanders. Unfortunately, His Lordship's fondness for the obscene wins few admirers (Playwright Result 4). Moreover, the count's Playwright Ability Score goes from 4 to 3.9.
Naturally, prestige or poisonous scorn follows in the wake of a performance, depending on a PC's Playwright Result - as seen in the next table:
Playwright Result |
Social Points |
Playwright Result 1 |
3d6 Positive Social Points |
Playwright Result 2 |
2d6 PositiveSocial Points |
Playwright Result 3 |
1d6 Positive Social Points |
Playwright Result 4 |
1d6 Negative Social Points |
Playwright Result 5 |
2d6 Negative Social Points |
Playwright Result 6 |
3d6 Negative Social Points |
Retuning to Lieutenant Jonah Weatherbee's example, his Playwright Result 2 nets him 5 positive social points: 4 & 1 rolled from 2 six-sided dice.
Profit or loss from a production - for those seeking financial gain from their work - corresponds to a player's Playwright Result and his investment in the enterprise:
Playwright Result |
Profit/Loss |
Playwright Result 1 |
Profited 3 x Wagered Amount |
Playwright Result 2 |
Profited 2 x Wagered Amount |
Playwright Result 3 |
Profited 1 x Wagered Amount |
Playwright Result 4 |
Lost 1 x Wagered Amount |
Playwright Result 5 |
Lost 2 x Wagered Amount |
Playwright Result 6 |
Lost 3 x Wagered Amount |
Mister Weatherbee gains 2,000 Crowns from his endavour (a Playwright Result of 2 multiplies 1,000 Crowns by 2).
Actors or actresses improve Playwright Result by 1. Usually, a player must compensate for every performance (100 Crowns X Social Level). However, a PC courting an actress receives her expertise gratis. In addition, a player may request another player for the services of his mistress (accommodations arranged privately between PC's).
Benefit |
Social Point Bonus |
Cost1 |
+1 to Playwright Result |
Actress's Social Level |
Actress SL X 100 Crowns |
Robert, Count of St-Omer requests the talented Madame Claudette Colbert (Social Level 10). In order for Madame Colbert to consent, Monsiuer le Comte de St-Omer remunerates her in the amount of 1,000 Crowns. Thus, St-Omer's disappontment (Playwright Result 4) turns palatable thanks to Madame Colbert (Playwright Result 3). Moreover, her presence on the stage bestows 10 Social Points on His Lorddship plus the audience.
Furthermore, a PC may gain 1 Social Point for every 100 Crowns spent on customes and set designs.
Crowns |
Social Points |
100 Crowns |
1 Positive Social Point |
200 Crowns |
2 Positive Social Points |
300 Crowns |
3 Positive Social Points |
400 Crowns |
4 Positive Social Points |
500 Crowns |
5 Positive Social Points |
600 Crowns |
6 Positive Social Points |
700 Crowns |
7 Positive Social Points |
800 Crowns |
8 Positive Social Points |
900Crowns |
9 Positive Social Points |
1000 Crowns |
10 Positive Social Points |
1000+ Crowns |
1 Social Points per 100 Crowns |
Lieutenant Jonah Weatherbee purchases costumes and props worth 300 Crowns, which add 3 Social Points to his production.
Fashion Results may affect Playwright Results as shown on the table:
Fashion Result 1 |
+1 to Playwright Result |
Fashion Result 6 |
-1 to Playwright Result |
A fashionable tour de force improves the public's opinion of St-Omer's work (A Fashion Result 1 improves the Playwright Result to 2).
Of course, parties not desiring a play to succeed may engage the nefarious services of persons called yobs. These masters of mayhem disrupt the performance to beastly effect. The sole limitation upon their carnage (coinage) conveniently dictates the following tabulation:
Yob Wages (Crowns) |
Negative Social Points |
100 Crowns |
1 Negative Social Point |
200 Crowns |
2 Negative Social Points |
300 Crowns |
3 Negative Social Points |
400 Crowns |
4 Negative Social Points |
500 Crowns |
5 Negative Social Points |
600 Crowns |
6 Negative Social Points |
700 Crowns |
7 Negative Social Points |
800 Crowns |
8 Negative Social Points |
900Crowns |
9 Negative Social Points |
1000 Crowns |
10 Negative Social Points |
1000+ Crowns |
1 Negative Social Points per 100 Crowns |
Mister Weatherbee's enemies conspire to ruin his reputation. They gather 1,000 Crowns worth of yobs to incite displeasure. On opening night, said gentlemen harass Mistress Bush by questioning her capabilities as a performer. Thus, the production loses 10 social points from their callous critique!
On the other hand, the playwright or his associate may hire upstanding men to guard against such uncouth behaviour. As with yobs, these people desire compensation for their honoured duty:
Security Rates (Crowns) |
Positive Social Points1 |
100 Crowns |
1 Positive Social Point |
200 Crowns |
2 Positive Social Points |
300 Crowns |
3 Positive Social Points |
400 Crowns |
4 Positive Social Points |
500 Crowns |
5 Positive Social Points |
600 Crowns |
6 Positive Social Points |
700 Crowns |
7 Positive Social Points |
800 Crowns |
8 Positive Social Points |
900Crowns |
9 Positive Social Points |
1000 Crowns |
10 Positive Social Points |
1000+ Crowns |
1 Positive Social Points per 100 Crowns |
Fortunately, Lieutenant Weatherbee promised 1,000 Crowns to retired sailors who evict the ungentlemanly yahoos from the theatre premises. With harmony restored, the production receives 10 social points.
An audience ignorant of a play's existence naturally fails to attend the performance. Therefore, a playwright may advertise to garner more spectators for his production. Every 100 Crowns invested in advertisements increase the production's social point value:
Advertisement |
Social Points |
100 Crowns |
1 Positive Social Point |
200 Crowns |
2 Positive Social Points |
300 Crowns |
3 Positive Social Points |
400 Crowns |
4 Positive Social Points |
500 Crowns |
5 Positive Social Points |
600 Crowns |
6 Positive Social Points |
700 Crowns |
7 Positive Social Points |
800 Crowns |
8 Positive Social Points |
900Crowns |
9 Positive Social Points |
1000 Crowns |
10 Positive Social Points |
1000+ Crowns |
1 Positive Social Points per 100 Crowns |
Mister Weatherbee circulates pamphlets outlining the plot of his play. At the sum of three hundred Crowns, he manages to arouse some public interest (3 SP).
Audience members additionally gain or lose social points from Playwright Results, actresses, advertisement, costumes, set designs, and yoberry.
PC spectators to Mister Weatherbee's play add 5 social points from the Playwright Result of 2 and 6 SP's (from advertisement, costumes plus set designs) for a total of 8 social points.
Finally, a player stages a performance as a weekly action. Afterwards, he may invite other PC's to a party in celebration of the event.
Following His Lordship's artistic spectacle, the Count of St-Omer asks the Count & Countess of Flanders (and other prominent members of Flemish Society) for a soiree at the Hotel Colbert.