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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Asmor" data-source="post: 4313940" data-attributes="member: 1154">I'm thinking of running an episodic game without a real arc, because it's likely that my players aren't going to be very consistent for a while.So one of the things I'm kicking around is a system for keeping track of favors. Gaining favors - whenever you complete a minor quest for someone, in addition to any agreed upon payment, you get a minor favor. Complete a major quest and you get a major favor. Each favor has a level, equivalent to the level of the quest which granted the favor.Using favors - Favors can be traded in to get boons, though they require a diplomacy roll. Major favors give a +5 bonus to the diplomacy roll.When you call in a favor, you state which boon you want and make a diplomacy check. If you succeed, your boon is granted. If you fail by 10 or less, your boon is granted, though in a slightly compromised form (DM's judgment). If you succeed by 10 or more, your boon is granted with a bonus (DM's judgment). If you fail by more than 10, your boon is not granted at all, but you retain the favor and may use it again at a later date. You may try to get a favor from the same person twice in the same adventure.Intimidation - Regardless of the result of your diplomacy check, you may attempt an intimidate check. The intimidate check is automatically at least +5 higher than your Diplomacy roll. Making an intimidate check carries some consequences, though: Even if you still fail by 10 or more and your boon is not granted, you still lose the favor. On top of that, regardless of the outcome, the NPC will likely not look favorably upon you in the future. He will never give you quests again, and you take a cumulative -5 penalty on all future diplomacy and intimidation checks to call in outstanding favors.BoonsLackeys - If successful, you gain the use of 5 minions, appropriate to the NPC, for the rest of the adventure. For example, a necromancer might give you zombies, a commander might give you 5 soldiers, etc. The minions are the same level as the favor.Compromise - You gain 3 minionsBonus - You gain 7 minionsCompanion - If successful, you gain the use of a trusted lieutenant of the NPC for the rest of the adventure. This is a non-elite, non-solo, non-minion creature of the same level as the favor and a type appropriate to the NPC and the nature of the request. For example, if you expected to need to break into a vault, you could ask for someone with thievery skills. Unlike the lackeys, the companion is someone of at least mild import to the NPC; he expects the companion to survive, and will be concerned if the companion is harmed.Compromise - The companion's level is 1 lowerBonus - The companion's level is 1 higherMagic item loan - If successful, the NPC loans you a magic item of a level not higher than the level of the favor for the rest of the adventure. The NPC expects to get the item back.Compromise - The maximum level of the item is 5 lower.Bonus - The maximum level of the item is 5 higher.Magic item - If successful, the NPC gives you a magic item. The magic item's level must be at least 5 lower than the level of the favor. You get to keep the magic item permanently.Compromise - The magic item's level is 10 lower than the level of the favor.Bonus - The magic item's level may be up to the level of the favor.Money - Instead of getting or being loaned a magic item, you may ask for gold instead. If you're getting a loan, the NPC expects the money paid back in full (with no interest) by the end of the adventure. If you're just outright getting a magic item, you get to keep the money. The amount of gold is equal to half the value of the highest level magic item you could have acquired.Assassination, kidnapping, information gathering, etc - Use the following to determine the minimum level of a favor required to perform some task, based on the target. Note that this favor doesn't guarantee that your task will be completed, just that the NPC will try his best to complete it using the resources he has available. He will also not do anything especially foolish in attempting to complete the task, like get himself killed or bankrupt himself.Target is...A peasant - Level 1A guard - Level 5A mayor of a small town - Level 10Low-ranking noble or mayor of a large town - Level 15High-ranking noble - Level 20King of large nation - Level 25Minor deity - Level 30Major deity - Level 35You want NPC to...Kill target - Level +10Kidnap target - Level +5Audience with target - Level +0Protect target - Level +0Spy on target - Level -5Other...Target resides on different plane - Level +2, minimum level 20Target is well-liked by NPC - Level +5Target is disliked by NPC - Level -5Compromise - The NPC accepts the task, but devotes only a few of his resources to it.Bonus - The NPC accepts the task and, further, establishes it as his driving goal. He will do whatever he can to accomplish the task, even so far as risking life, limb, and livelihood.Other - These ideas are meant to be inspiration. Use them as guidelines for judging other favors. For example, if the PCs need an invitation to a charity auction which usually costs 5,000 gp, treat it as if they were asking for a magic item which costs 5,000 gp.</blockquote>

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