LOCAL RULES & MECHANICS

These are changes or additions to game rules and mechanics. These rules and mechanics apply only to SoCal. Use of local mechanics in other chapters requires permission.

+ “I’m Too Young to Die”

New Players (under 50xp) are encouraged to wear a blue armband as an out-of-game signifier to others. This lets more experienced players know that they should conduct more frequent check-ins with these players, and help them find ways to be included in the event experience.

As a local rule, a New Player in bleedout (and only a New Player) may call out “I’m too young to die!” Other players will be aware that a New Player is in danger, and hopefully respond more urgently to save them. Additionally, any threats that are capable of executing a Killing Blow will not do so against a New Player who uses this call. The New Player’s bleedout timer does not pause, and the character will still die if time runs out.

+ Armor Coverage

Due to the climate here in Southern California, understand that sometimes wearing Heavy, bulky armor can be a real drag (if not a legitimate safety concern). In light of this, we have decided that for DR SoCal, we will be halving all of the coverage requirements for armor. We hope this will help encourage our players to look their best, while still being cool, comfortable, and (most importantly) safe!

Armor Level / Coverage Required:

Starter: 13%
Basic: 25%
Proficient: 38%
Master: 50%

Note: These are just the minimum required. If you are comfortable going over these required levels, you are still welcome to.

+ Skill Module Rewards

As a local rule, we offer rewards to all participants in modules created by Master Skill Action Requests, as follows: 

Criminal Influence: Choice of one item from the Criminal Purchase List, according to skill level.

Financial Influence: 2 Currency at Basic, 5 Currency at Proficient, 10 Currency at Master.

Hunting: one Gizmo: Secret ingredient (as per Solunar Delicacy Hunt Blueprint) for each skill level.

Sailing: Choice of one item from the Sailing Purchase List, according to skill level.

We do not write reward vouchers as Gizmo cards. Instead, Logistics is informed of the mod’s outcome, and players may report to Logistics to receive their reward directly.

+ Local Blueprints and Procedures

With a chapter’s permission players can use the fusion print to convert fragments into shards. They can use those shards as materials in SoCal blueprints that require them and are approved by that chapter. They cannot use the shards for experimentation, or in any way not specified by a SoCal blueprint. Spire crystals of any kind may only be found in SoCal, and the requirements for them in blueprints may not be bypassed by any means. No spire crystal, no spiretech.

Spire Shard Fusion Procedure

SpireTech Prints

Local Procedures

+ Local Diseases & Conditions

The following diseases and conditions may afflict survivors in SoCal. If national versions of these become available we will review our use of them. In order to remain sensitive to triggers due to Covid-19 pandemic, SoCal does not run content related to diseases that are transmissible between people - diseases are acquired through exposure to specific environmental or threat conditions.

Creeping Crystallization

Disresonance

Hemophilia

Necrosis

Radiation Poisoning

Infection Rot

+ Local Threat Mechanics

The following skill calls are used by local threats. At this time they are not replicable by LCs.

All-Faith Bane:  As per Bane, affecting those baptized into any faith or cult.

Consume Corpse:  Roleplay eating a target in bleedout for 2 minutes, then say “Killing Blow, Consume Corpse.” If the Killing Blow is successful, the target dies and leaves no corpse behind to be interacted with. Enormous threats may sometimes consume a corpse instantly. While most threats prefer live prey, some will happily consume a recently dead corpse.

Destroy Corpse:  Perform a killing blow and then say “Killing Blow, Destroy Corpse.” If the killing blow is successful, the target dies and leaves no corpse behind to be interacted with. Certain threats will destroy corpses of the recently dead.

Feign Death:  After taking damage, say “Feign Death.” You appear to be dead unless inspected with Basic Medical, which will reveal your status, or struck with Double Tap, which will cause you to cry out and react in pain. Onlookers must treat you as if you are dead, and should not attempt to further damage you. You are still vulnerable to incidental damage from area effects, by the sound of my voice effects, and zones of mechanics. You may end the effect at any time.

Psionic Suggestion, Confess Your Sins:  Target must audibly verbalize any self-perceived wrongs or transgressions they have committed in their remembered lifetime for the next 5 minutes. A target affected by Choking Blow will attempt to communicate non-verbally.

Psionic Suggestion, Defend Me:  Target must fight to defend you for the next 5 minutes, or until they enter bleedout, or until you die. The target need not activate skills or items, and will not perform killing blows, but must otherwise fight to their best ability to protect you. Hostile action by you against the target ends the effect.

Psionic Suggestion, Follow Me:  Target must follow within 3 steps of you for the next 5 minutes, and may take no other action, although they may speak. Hostile action by you against the target ends the effect, as does taking damage from any source.

Psionic Suggestion, Ignore Me:  Target must ignore your presence for the next 5 minutes, and will rationalize and excuse non-aggressive actions taken by you, including talking or interacting with objects. Hostile action by you against the target ends the effect.

Psionic Suggestion, Let Me In / Out / Through:  Target must unlock and open any doors, remove any barricades or other obstacles, and move out of the way to allow you to pass. Effect ends once you have moved past and are 3 steps away from the target, or if you do not move past within 5 seconds of the path being cleared. Hostile action by you against the target ends the effect.

Psionic Suggestion, <Other Command>:  Commands other than those enumerated above require gamerunner approval when used against LCs.

Psionic Stealth:  As per Basic Stealth, but may be used in broad daylight and / or while observed. Say “Psionic Stealth” when putting up the stealth symbol for clarity.

Pull Under: The target is pulled under the ground and directly into the mortis amaranthine. They must go OOG and report to Ops to see what fate awaits.

+ Spire Fragments, Shards, and Crystals

Spire Crystals are a local plot resource that can be found in a variety of colors. Each color of crystal has its own category of effect, which players have discovered through experimentation:

Red: Raiders

Blue: Lineages

Green: Critters

Purple: Technology

White: Zombies

Black: Imprint, Gravemind

Prismatic: Wild Card

Grades of Crystal:

Local Plot Item: [Color] Spire Fragment: Local plot resource. Phys rep: 1” crystal

Local Plot Item: [Color] Spire Shard: Local plot resource. Phys rep: 3” crystal

Local Plot Item: Flawless [Color] Spire Crystal: Local plot resource. Phys rep: 30” crystal

Spire Crystal Fusion:

This process is publicly known, and can be performed at any Artisan Workstation without a physical blueprint.

Flawless Spire Crystals

Flawless Spire Crystals are a grade of crystal made from Local Plot Item: Spire Shard of same color x 10. Spire Crystal Fusion at this scale is not achievable by individual artisans or a standard workstation, and instead requires the involvement of story factions that are knowledgeable about the process and have the necessary industry. Such groups are discoverable in-game.

Spire Crystal Experimentation

An individual, acting as the contact person for a group of players, may submit an Action Request to create a module centered on experimentation with a Flawless Spire Crystal. This requires turning in Local Plot Item: Spire Shard of the same color x 10 as the ingredients to create a Flawless Spire Crystal, as well as involvement with a story faction, as above. Such modules focus primarily on toyetics and puzzles. Flawless Crystal devices have effects that are impactful and wide-reaching, affecting the entire settlement of El Dorado and often the surrounding region. This may take the form of town-wide zones of special mechanics as well as having substantial influence on story narratives.

+ Dog’s Head Blitz

Dog’s Head Blitz is a skirmish variant of the combat sport Dog’s Head. Combat rules are unchanged in terms of power, swings, striking areas, and contact-safe weapon requirements.

Each team has four players, and the objective is to move the Skull, which must be carried by the team’s Quick, to the opposing goal, placing it on a spike or in a basket. 

Each team has 2 Enforcers, 1 Stick, and 1 Quick. Enforcers are equipped with a round shield (provided by Story) and melee standard weapon. A successful strike from an Enforcer causes the target to take a knee for 5 seconds. The Stick is armed with a two-handed melee weapon. A strike from the Stick causes the target to take a knee for 10 seconds. The Quick is unarmed and may not strike others, however only the Quick may handle the Skull, and must drop the Skull if struck.

Dog’s Head teams may register at the Post Office for scheduled matches, which offer material rewards, and more importantly fame and glory.