Optional Accords for Goblyn Market
The key to a one-shot adventure starting off on the right foot is making the players invested in their characters. Since it’s only one and done sending a character into the meat grinder has much less consequences than a long form game. However, if you can make the players invest in their characters, they will think twice about fatalistic actions.
Part of my job is to play as many ttrpgs as I possibly can to discover new mechanics. (More on this in another essay. I feel like I am the patron saint of rediscovering the wheel sometimes…) And something that has consistently impressed me is the way Power by the Apocalypse games get characters made and onto the table with functioning relationships to each other. World Wide Wrestling is most likely my favorite as not only do you build history it converts into a mechanical benefit during the game. However, Monster of the Week is closer to what I’ve come up with for Goblyn Market.
How History Prompts Work
The player who owns the character picks one prompt per other players according to their Impetus. Each prompt gives either a fortune or a secret to be used during gameplay to the active player. The other players decide which prompt relates to their character creating a relationship between them. Just because a character was stolen from doesn’t mean they couldn’t do a good deed in return. Betwixt, just like people, have complicated pasts.
The players then decide what Frailty applies best to their character based on these shared histories.
Shared History Prompts
Baker
Bane – Who did you turn away when they asked for an item and why?
Bane – Who stole from you?
Boon – Who sneaks into the Mortal realm to sabotage buggies?
Boon – Who got you the last piece to a new creation?
Secret – Who came to you for help when they were needy?
Secret – Who knows about your hidden device and what does it do?
Brute
Boon – Who did you protect and from whom?
Boon – Who started as a rival at arms but gained your grudging respect?
Bane – Who do you think is too dangerous for the Market?
Bane – Who is do you think is too weak to leave the Market?
Secret – Who knows your one fear?
Secret – Who are you attracted to and why are you hiding it?
Prankster
Bane – Who did not take kindly to one of your pranks?
Bane – Who doesn’t laugh enough and needs more merriment in their lives?
Boon – Who is always in to help in a joke?
Boon – Who did you provide a distraction for when they were almost caught?
Secret – Who knows why you get sad sometimes?
Secret – Who/what is the one person you would never prank and why?
Tempter
Bane – Who did you make fall in love with why did it go wrong?
Bane – Who is the person strangely resistant to your temptations?
Boon – Who goes on lavish sprees in the Mortal world with you?
Boon – Who do you use as your moral compass?
Secret – Who tempts you and why?
Secret – Who knows you what you cannot resist yourself?
Thief
Bane – Who did you steal from?
Bane – Who took their crimson crown back by force or otherwise?
Boon – Who did you steal for and what was it?
Boon – Who acted as look out for you in the Mortal realm?
Secret – Who do you hide from when you can and why?
Secret – Who knows the location of your sanctuary?
Trickster
Bane – Who did you fool and what did they lose?
Bane – Who spoiled one of your capers and how?
Boon – Who acted as the plant for you in the Mortal realm?
Boon – Who asks you for advice about the affairs of the heart?
Secret – Who knows who is after you and for what?
Secret – Who knows who you have promised to ruin?
Want to Know More?
Find more information about Goblyn Market here: Goblyn Market TTRPG – Paroxysm by Design
Buy Goblyn Market here: Goblyn Market – Gamenomicon | DriveThruRPG.com