YSoG - Insight, Beliefs, Bonds.
So lately I've been I've been tinkering with YSoG's supplementary mechanics.
Insight, I think, is pretty much exactly where I want it to be -- there is no fat to cut. You're encouraged to ask questions about your surroundings, and if the answer gives your character concern, you mark an insight. There's an implied sense that you're adapting to hostile environments, and an expression of your character in how that concern manifests. Then, through your insight into hostile surroundings and knowledge of threats, you spend your insight to gain an edge. Gain insight, spend insight. Simple loop, works thematically, lovely stuff.
Beliefs & Bonds get a bit more complicated... Bonds do nothing by themself, and really just act to refresh Beliefs. Bonds almost act like an intermediary currency and I worry it might feel completely useless... Why not just do X to gain Beliefs directly? How valuable is a bond? How does the maths feel during play?
I could certainly cut down the system and remove the Bond currency and allow players to gain Beliefs through other means (maybe by taking 1d on a roll). However, I currently have three narrative targets I want to hit, but without adding additional mechanics, it's hard to implement these into the game loop.
Meaningful conversations: Gain bonds.
Nice Downtime Moments: Spend bonds to gain beliefs.
Expressing your values: Spend beliefs.
Bonds as +1d
This is the approach that a lot of PbtA games take, and I don't really resonate with it. I think it's quite dull from the perspective of a heroic fantasy, as you're all meant to be on the same team (unlike Monsterhearts and etc, where inter-party relationships are more complicated). I think there is a merit to affirming how an action resonates with your values as a person, and so Beliefs seems a stronger fit for +1d.
Bonds as Social Currency
Maybe Insight does too much, as it pretty much takes care of everything you might need in an adventure. Thematically, it does make more sense that as you befriend your companions, maybe that also implies you're able to meet people or make a good impression -- allowing it to act as a kind of "social insight" -- though it still doesn't make complete sense...
I'll have to see how I feel about it. Maybe it's not an issue and I'm just overly precious about the few mechanics I do have.
