Testing Ways

[Skywalker]

I am really enjoying Shadows of Esteren very much. So, I apologise in advance that my first post is one in which I test out a mod to the system

One area that of the rules that I struggle with is the testing of Ways. I understand the concept just fine but I find its implementation in the rulebook to be vague. IMO testing Ways is basically a way to encourage a player to take actions that are consistent for the PC that they have created, in situations where this gives rse to an interesting complication.

As a GM, it allows me to create those great moments of tension where the players are caught between what they want to do and what the PC wants to do. The two Ways that fit this very well are Combativeness and Conviction. If the PC tries to back down from a confrontation or give up on something they have chosen to do, test Combativeness or Conviction respectively and if they fail then the PC may not do so due to what they believe strongly in. Great stuff.

The other three Ways don't seem to fit this as well. Reason and Empathy create complication but more as a consequences of an external experience. Creativity is sort of in the middle of the two in that the complication is great, but I find the action that causes it to be vague.

I have been thinking about how else I could use these three Ways. I think I would do the following:

1. Reason is tested when the PC does something that lacks reason or logic, such as a random act or self indulgence.
2. Empathy is tested when the PC allows other to suffer.
3. Creativity is tested when the PC surrenders freedom, such as when they follow an order they don't agree with or a tradition that no longer has any meaning.

Arguably, these already fit into the rules as written (especially Empathy and Creativity) but they are just expressed in a way that I find more consistent and usable in play.

Anyway, I would love to hear thoughts on the above or what other people have done with Ways.

EDIT: If this should have gone in the forum below this one (as a mechanical question), please move it

NOTE : I move it in the good section. INDEX Updated.
Welcome here Skywalker.

Boernac Gris

[Deorman]

I think you're right to use the testing as you see fit.
So long you don't do it to often so the players still have some freedom and so long it can be justified by the ways, I think the rest is only up to your imagination and to each Character's personality.

Personnaly I happened to reverse the test system time to time to test a lack of ways.
For exemple I had a PC disobeying direct orders from his superior and he had a very little creativity, in this situation I found justified that he had to test his will to disobey.

[Glass]

I usually write the primary ways of each character next to their names on my GM sheet or what their Faults are (not sure about the translation, p.234 of the French book) to make sure my players are on the right track.

I never tried this but you can also tell your players to write down Passion, Rebellion, Doubt, Influence or Guilt on their character sheets. That will help them interpret their characters if they have a hard time interpreting their Ways scores.

[Skywalker]

Thanks all.