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I'm well into my newest article, even if it doesn't make it to the Rifter in time. Thanks to my group's thoughts, the Hunter/Vigilante is really turning into something kewl.

But I notice now that my earliest work, the stage mage rewrite seems to be missing something.

The sleuth has the evidence system, the operative has the gadget system, the hunter has the predator system....so I'm missing a system for the stage mage! So I'm thinking I can re-rewrite it up a bit, and give it something as well, the word 'limelight' jumped into my head, so that's the term I'm using, I just haven't quite decided what to do with it. Seems to me it should deal with misdirection as is normal for the stage mage, I just haven't figured out a mechanic yet.

Thoughts?

How about a ‘produces an item’ mechanic?

The stage magician is supposed to excel at hiding stuff on his person: he’s good at concealing stuff in general, including by surreptitiously moving it from place to place on his body, and he’s especially good at card-up-his sleeve stuff in particular; and he can declare that he starts play with clothes tailor-made so “implements that might not be felt in a body search” can be put in “pockets carefully designed to be invisible upon quick examination”; and his other skills involve palming whatever item he’s near, or swiping this or that from someone without them noticing — to then stash it in a cuff or a seam or the secret lining of his belt or the belt-buckle compartment or whatever.

So maybe reverse that, with a system for saying “oh, yes, here it is.” Either he’s been searched, or he’s up on stage showing the audience there’s nothing up his sleeve, and with an is-this-your-card flourish he suddenly has the needed item in hand: exactly as if he knew to hide it beforehand, and somehow kept it out of sight until just now.

I did something a /little/ like this. 'The Turn' ability let you produce an item or small weapon even if you were searched, but I think this has a real metagame element to it that might be a bit much for standard play? The secret operative rewrite has some metagame in it, but I'm not sure if its too themely to press into that further.

Hmm. The other thing that comes to mind is — well, it’s the only one that’s inherently a performer, right? And, if I’m reading this right, it’s the ‘special training’ category with the best odds of having sympathetic members of the police force look the other way and give the character a break, though it’s the one that maybe needs it the least because it’s the one with the best disguise bonuses; and it’s also the only one that boosts PB instead of only granting a boost to MA; and it also throws in a free “smooth and graceful, a joy to dance with” skill.

So that category could get a mechanic to excel at a ‘useful contacts’ system: friendly people who would’ve paid good money to be entertained and intrigued by someone (who instead gave a free performance), and even friendlier people (who’ve maybe gone out for nights of dinner and dancing with that smooth performer); or people who think the world of, and have confided in, the person who came highly recommended by folks who were impressed by and sympathize with that master of disguise (or who were that master of disguise, in disguise).

If there’s to be a system for having connections and convincing people to help out, maybe build it from that character on down?

Hmmm again, I have a contacts system actually! Now granted the one for my home game is different than the one in the Super Sleuth/Secret Operative articles.

I allow people to gain one contact every level, they create the concept but a skill roll on their part determines their reaction. so a sleuth who wants to have a friend whom he 'helped out of a jam', he can roll Criminal Investigation, on a success, it turned out well, on a fail, well maybe there's still some issues at hand


I was thinking about focusing on the Stage Mage being the center of attention and how they're better at what they do the more people are watching. I just haven't quite figured out how to work that yet.

Maybe something to do with the number of people in the scene? Seems to me they'd love having crowds of people.

When I read this, I thought about how an exceptional performer can almost entrance the audience. I want to be careful to not use the word "hypnotize." Mesmerize, perhaps? Captivate? There could even be a slight awe effect at play or a boost to MA somehow. I don't know... just spitballing here.

that's in there. in the Mentalist section, stage mages can hypnotic suggest, or trance foes