Perverse Incentives

[orsal]

Actually, I'm with Kae'Yoss on that, I wondered the same thing before I clicked on the thread.... I'm in America (which claims to have English as a native language), and "perverse" is often used in place of / in the same manner as "perverted".

Assuming that by "America" you mean "United States thereof" -- I've spent almost half my life there, and never came across that usage.

Of course, if you mean America in the broader sense, I've spent over 90% of my life there -- but it would be quite incorrect to claim that more than a minority of America in that sense claims English as a native language.

 

[Agent Oracle]

Okay, a few ideas:

* Narrate an encounter with any NPC as if it was a Noir film and you were the seasoned private eye's internal monologue. +50 xp * character level +5 * level bonus for each improbably simile and metaphor you work into the narration.

* Craft a bizarre item for a "ritual" for which there is no equivalence in the rules of the game. +100*level. +5*level bonus points for each unusual mundane object used in it's construction.

* Teach some NPC's a ridiculously complex game, make up the rules as you go. +50*level points. +5*level if the game is actually playable.

* Keep hirelings alive for the entire duration of the terms of their contract, and pay them in full at the end of said contract. +100*level + 10*level per time that you authentically save the life of the hireling.

 

[Doomhawk]

Start a discussion in character when another player, or an NPC, misuses a word: 50*level XP. Inspired by the above Perverse discussion.

 

[airwalkrr]

This is an awesome idea. Let me see what I can come up with.

"Invent a word and a definition for it in-character. 50 xp. Bonus 50 xp if another PC uses the word later in the session."

"Describe a gruesome or gory scene in particularly euphemistic or opposite terms. 50 xp."

"Design a spell with no apparent practical usage, and then find a use for it. 100 xp."

"Spend an action during combat evoking a lengthy soliloquoy about your opponent's poor fighting habits. 100 xp."

"Embarass yourself in front of the nobility. 50 xp. Bonus 100 xp if some punishment is meted out to your character as a result."

"Adopt and name a random wild animal. Insist on taking care of the creature as if it were a devoted companion/familiar. 25 xp per session spent caring for the creature."

"Auction off one of your most prized belongings to beggars 'for the hell of it.' 200 xp."

"Speak in cryptic rhyming couplets in response to questions from one NPC. 50 xp per couplet."

"Steal an item from another PC without the player realizing it. 50 xp. Bonus 50 xp if that PC tries to use the item later in the session, only to find it missing."

"Develop an alias for your character and insist upon being called that in all public places. 50 xp."

"Tell a story about your childhood that involves a traumatic, romantic, or exhilarating episode. 50 xp."

"Insist on catching your dinner each night 'the old fashioned way.' 25 xp per meal captured."

"Teach a young child to use a bow and arrow or a sword. 25 xp. Bonus 50 xp if the lesson results in a tragic accident."

"Initiate a nut shot on an NPC of your choosing. May not be a character with whom you have been engaged in combat. 50 xp. Bonus 50 xp if the NPC kicks your character back (not applicable for females)."

"[Men] Insist on referring to your genitalia as the melee weapon of your choice. Insist others address it appropriately. [Women] Insist on referring to your breasts as the melee weapons of your choice. Insist others address them appropriately. 50 xp. Bonus 50 xp if this causes confusion among others in a social setting as to the exact nature of your conversation."

"Experiment with your character's sexuality by either switching your character's sexual preference for one session or being markedly more prude/promiscuous than is typical for your character. 50 xp."

"Compare a member of the nobility to a member of the animal kingdom. 25 xp. Bonus 50 xp if the noble is offended by the comparison."

"Preface every attack with a catch phrase. 25 xp."

"Convince another PC to start taking levels in a new class. 100 xp."

"The next time another PC makes an ignorant or foolish remark, stare blankly at the PC for a brief period before exclaiming 'That is the most brilliant thing I have ever heard!' 25 xp. Bonus 50 xp if you can convince other PCs of the same."

"Give each PC in the party a nickname based on some kind of primate. 25 xp. Bonus 50 xp for each nickname that sticks beyond one session."

"Persuade a paladin there is a dire need to summon his/her mount when no dire need exists. 50 xp. 100 xp if this causes the paladin inconvenience later."

"Convince a sorcerer or wizard to learn the erase spell or learn the spell yourself. 50 xp."

"Use an anachronism to describe a major villain. 25 xp."

"Promulgate free market economics to every peasant you see. 25 xp."

"Berate an elf for his/her pointy ears. 25 xp. Bonus 25 xp if your chidings cause the elf to cry."

"Tell a dwarf his/her beard is too short. 25 xp."

"Make 'short' jokes around a group of halflings. 25 xp."

"Invent a joke about humans. It has to be a good joke. 25 xp."

"Mistake a gnome's nose for a mushroom. 25 xp."

"Compliment a half-orc for his/her elegance and social grace. Keep a straight face while doing so. 25 xp."

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

Assuming that by "America" you mean "United States thereof" -- I've spent almost half my life there, and never came across that usage.

Of course, if you mean America in the broader sense, I've spent over 90% of my life there -- but it would be quite incorrect to claim that more than a minority of America in that sense claims English as a native language.

I see that you are from Toronto - I am from the US, yes. Spent most of my life in Michigan, now live in Indiana. I've heard/been using that usage for as long as I can remember. Also, from the American Heritage Dictionary:
per·verse (pr-vûrs, pûrvûrs) adj.
1. Directed away from what is right or good; perverted.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=Perverse

And now, for some on-topic contribution:

Convince the ruler of a country to give up his throne: 100 xp
To you: 500 xp
(inspired by something that actually happened in a game I was in a long time ago)

Turn everything that another PC says into a euphemism for a game session: 100 xp

 

[edbonny]

Brilliant idea! What a lot of fun!

Instead of a fixed XP rate, I would scale the reward based on the character's level (a mission CR?). 25/50/100 xp is not much of an incentive for higher-level characters.

- Ed

 

[Savage Wombat]

Instead of a fixed XP rate, I would scale the reward based on the character's level (a mission CR?). 25/50/100 xp is not much of an incentive for higher-level characters.

- Ed

Yeah, I think that's fairly obvious - I just didn't want to have to spell that out in the examples.

 

[Agent Oracle]

What about these?

* Complete a combat against aggressive opponents that outnumber the party... Without killing anyone. +50xp*level for the player with the incentive card, +25xp*level for all other players in the party for not killing anyone.

* Deliver a one minute monologue in-character regarding the dogma of your deity. +50xp*level if you can complete it without being interrupted by another player.

*

 

[Nifft]

* Compliment a PC on a distinctive trait that he's never noticed before: 25 xp
+ Fit a reference to this trait into in-character conversation 3 or more times: +50 xp
+ Next session, work in an insult regarding that trait: +150 xp


* Flirt with an appropriate NPC: 25 xp
+ It's convincing and in character, or it furthers the plot: +50 xp
+ It's not creepy: +150 xp


Cheers, -- N

 

[airwalkrr]

This is my new favorite thread.