Redo: The Breath-Powered Fan Mechanic

The “fan focus” card isn’t quite hitting the mark as a game mechanic. An the idea of negative cards isn’t quite what I want. So this is an attempt at a second design idea. This is a crafting mechanic.

Overview:

This crafting mechanic emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and emotional growth, reflecting the themes of resourcefulness and resilience in the story. Players work together to gather materials, overcome challenges, and assemble symbolic items that represent personal growth or problem-solving in the narrative.

Mechanic: Crafting Symbolic Items

Setup:

• Each player controls a character with unique skills (e.g., engineering, creativity, empathy).

• The crafting table is represented by a blueprint card for the item being crafted. This card shows the required components and any challenges or skills needed for assembly.

• Components are collected through exploration phases or are provided by NPCs like Ellie.

Crafting Steps:

1. Blueprint Acquisition:
   Players receive a crafting blueprint, such as "The Breath-Powered Fan." The blueprint outlines:

   • Required Components: Small fan blade, brass tubing, lightweight motor (optional), glue, etc.

   • Skill Checks: Specific skills required, such as Precision, Creativity, or Patience.

2. Gather Materials:
   Players use their turns to gather materials through mini-challenges like:

   • Skill Rolls: Rolling dice to find or refine components (e.g., a successful roll with a creativity bonus finds a functional fan blade).

   • Collaboration Tasks: Players can combine their skills or trade resources to obtain harder-to-find components.

3. Assemble the Item:

   • Players must complete a series of Assembly Challenges to put the item together. For "The Breath-Powered Fan," this could include:

     • Aligning the fan blade: Requires a Precision Roll (e.g., roll 12+ with a dexterity bonus).

     • Connecting the tubing: Requires a Team Check (players combine rolls to reach a target score, reflecting teamwork).

     • Testing the fan: The player must roleplay "blowing" into the fan, then roll to see if it spins successfully.

4. Emotional Challenge:

   • Symbolic items like the fan have an Emotional Effect tied to the character's growth. To complete the crafting, the character must overcome an emotional hurdle, such as:

     • Reflecting on a personal fear or insecurity.

     • Sharing a meaningful moment with another character at the table.

   • The GM can reward the group with Inspiration Points or bonus resources for thoughtful roleplay.

5. Completion:
   When the item is successfully crafted, it becomes a usable item in the game. For "The Breath-Powered Fan," it might:

   • Provide a calming effect during tense encounters (e.g., allows a reroll on anxiety-related skill checks).

   • Serve as a symbolic reminder for the character, granting +1 to emotional resilience rolls.

Example Playthrough:

1. Blueprint Received:
   Ellie provides the group with the blueprint for "The Breath-Powered Fan," encouraging Jordan to take the lead.

2. Material Gathering:

   • Jordan rolls a Creativity Check to locate a lightweight fan blade in the workshop (succeeds).

   • Another player rolls for Patience to carefully clean the brass tubing without damaging it (barely succeeds).

   • A failed Resourcefulness Roll means they must barter with Ellie for glue, trading extra components.

3. Assembly:

   • Jordan rolls for Precision to align the fan blade (succeeds).

   • Another player uses their Empathy Skill to roleplay guiding Jordan through the process, granting a bonus to his final roll.

4. Emotional Challenge:
   The GM prompts Jordan’s player: “Before you test the fan, think about what this represents for your character. What’s something Jordan needs to let go of?”
   The player responds in character, reflecting on Jordan’s guilt about his parents’ fights.

5. Completion:
   The fan spins when Jordan blows into it, symbolizing his ability to move forward. The group celebrates the success, and the fan is added to Jordan’s inventory as a Coping Tool, boosting his confidence in future encounters.

Impact in the Game:

This mechanic blends collaborative problem-solving with emotional storytelling, immersing players in the world while emphasizing the narrative themes of growth and resilience. Each crafted item becomes a meaningful part of the story, both functionally and symbolically.