Post originally by Tim Gray at 2005-01-28 15:07:30
Converted from Phorums BB System

It seems to be a bit like a simplified version of HeroQuest's extended contests - which, indeed, is what inspired it. You get into a detailed contest with multiple sets of exchanges, instead of resolving the whole thing with one pair of opposed rolls.

The parties accumulate "damage" until one of them has more than they can take. It's in quotes because it's not physical injuries but a more abstract reduction in ability to continue the contest/function/influence the story - it could reflect social embrassment, for instance. When you first fail to resist the accumulated damage you're "bloodied" and actions are penalised. When you fail again you're "broken" and can only act (still penalised) by spending a point from your attribute pools. When those run out you're incapacitated.

One thing I didn't notice was HeroQuest's option for characters to add points to others' declining balances to keep them in the contest, eg a song to rally a wounded fighter. In TSOY it looks like the spiral only goes down.