make a lucky shot clarification

[brindy]

In the section of the rules on Darkness (page 96) it says that "attacks in complete darkness failwithout the need for a roll unless the player spends
1 XP to “make a lucky shot” "

One interpretation of this is that the player has to pay 1 XP to make the roll... but in that case what is the target number? Is it just modified by four in the defenders favour as it says above that? Also, this sucks a little IMHO.

Another interpretation is that spending the 1 XP allows them to make the lucky shot, i.e. automatically pass.

What do people think? Or is there clarification further along in the book?

 

[dm4hire]

Good question and I interpret it as meaning the xp expenditure effectively does one of two things as you point out, either it gives you a 1 step favor that allows you to attempt to hit the target or you hit and deal your damage as normal. I would think it does the later though since you would be giving up that xp. If it does the former then definitely grant only the 1 step advantage, meaning you gave up the xp for a gamble. Either way it is a major sacrifice to give up that 1 xp.

 

[brindy]

Either way it is a major sacrifice to give up that 1 xp.

Certainly sounds like it, but I wonder if that's just because we put so much value on XP as a result of playing other games? As the game plays, I guess the GM could dish out XP all over the place by making intrusions regularly. XP then becomes dual purpose - currency for advancement and an effective benny for the purpose of moving the story along in an exciting way.

Will have to see how it goes, but currently I'm favouring on the side of pay XP and you automatically pass whatever it is you were trying to do.

 

[dbm]

Will have to see how it goes, but currently I'm favouring on the side of pay XP and you automatically pass whatever it is you were trying to do.

I agree that needs clarification. I would interpret it personally as spending 1XP allows you to use the rules for 'very dim light' instead of darkness for that shot. I wouldn't make it auto-hit as you can't spend 1XP to achieve that under normal light conditions and it would be a little weird to me if darkness made spending XP better.

 

[brindy]

I agree that needs clarification. I would interpret it personally as spending 1XP allows you to use the rules for 'very dim light' instead of darkness for that shot. I wouldn't make it auto-hit as you can't spend 1XP to achieve that under normal light conditions and it would be a little weird to me if darkness made spending XP better.

Ah yes, I concur. Reading along a bit XPs are for re-rolls so that make sense. Thanks.