< One-Round Multiple Action Conflict Between Two Characters - With Reallocation | Conflict Examples | One-Round Multiple Action Conflict Between Three Characters >

OK, sometimes in a one-on-one conflict, a third character gets involved, but doesn’t have a goal of their own. Instead, they are helping one side or the other.

In this scene, Michelle’s supporting character, Sal, a weaselly informer, is trying to seize a letter from Jason’s character Eckhardt. Krista’s character Lucy will try to help Eckhardt.

Michelle: Sal says, “Give me the letter and I’ll see to it that Mr. Wallace gets it.”

Jason: “I think I’d rather give it to him in person.”

Michelle: Sal sidles a bit closer than you’d like. “It’s probably better if I take care of it.”

Jason: Uncool. I’m going to put the letter back in my jacket pocket.

Michelle: I’m going to call this a conflict. Sal is lunging forward, trying to grab the letter. If he wins, he runs off with the letter.

Jason: Fine. If I win, I keep the letter, and Sal tells me who he’s working for.

Michelle: Nice. Let’s allocate.

Krista: Hang on. I’m right there. I’m not going to let Sal get away with grabbing the letter and running.

Michelle: OK. Do you have a goal?

Krista: No. I just want to help Eckhardt.

Michelle: Great. Everybody allocate.

Jason decides he’s going to get physical, too. He allocates two action tokens in Force and Policeman to grab ahold of Sal, two in Grace and Policeman to dodge Sal’s blows, and two in Will and Policeman to intimidate Sal into giving up his employer. Policeman is doing serious duty here.

Krista decides to load all of her action tokens, a total of six, in Grace, to trip Sal when he goes for Jason, helping Jason’s defense. She doesn’t really have an aptitude that applies.

Michelle allocates two of Sal’s action tokens in Force and Dirty Fighter to grab the envelope, and three tokens in Grace and Coward for Sal to run away.

Michelle: Everybody ready? Let’s reveal. Sal is going to use his Force action here to shove into Eckhardt and grab that envelope away from him. The Grace is to beat feet after.

Krista: I’m using Grace here to trip Sal and make it easier for Eckhardt to defend himself against the grab.

Jason: I’m using Grace to avoid that grab, Force to seize Sal, and Will to intimidate him into giving up his boss.

Michelle: Cool. Let’s start with Lucy, since she’s helping and the outcome of her action will affect your totals, Jason.

Krista: I didn’t really have an aptitude that applied, so I’m just using Grace. I put six action tokens in it, though, so that plus Grace 3 equals 9.

Michelle: You’re trying to stop him from grabbing, and since you aren’t using an aptitude at all, he definitely gets the +2 bonus for having a more applicable aptitude. His Force is only 2, and his Dirty Fighter is also 2, and he had two action tokens in there for a total of 8. Even with the advantage of having an aptitude you get a success. His grab action is at a -1 against Eckhardt.

Krista: Good.

Michelle: OK, Eckhardt. Let’s resolve the grab. Sal had a total of 6 against you, since you have an aptitude, and there’s the additional -1, so you just need to beat a 5.

Jason: Eckhardt’s Grace is 3 and Policeman is 3 and I put in two action tokens. That’s 8.

Michelle: You beat him by 3, a complete success. Sal sidled forward and lunged at you, reaching for the envelope. You jerk your hand away, just as Lucy sticks her foot out to trip him, and he stumbles and misses the envelope. Seeing where this is going, he turns to flee. This is where we resolve your grab and his running action.

Jason: My Force is 2, and Policeman again at 3, plus two action tokens. That’s 7 for the grab.

Michelle: Sal’s Grace is 3, and his Coward aptitude is 1, and he put 3 tokens in to run for it. His total is also 7. That’s a tie. Neither one of you gets what you want.

Jason: He can’t run, and I can’t grab him… but I still get my Will action because he didn’t get away yet.

Michelle: That’s right. Eckhardt grabs his jacket by the collar, but Sal is a slippery character. He ducks out of the jacket, leaving you holding his clothes, and he turns to run. He’s off balance, though, and he only manages a few shaky steps. He looks back at you.

Jason: I put my cop face on and shout, “Stop!” My Will is 4, and Policeman is 3, along with two more action tokens is a total of 9.

Michelle: Yeah, and Sal’s got no defense against that. He stops, quaking, obviously too terrified to run, or do anything else.

Jason: “I’m not going to hurt you, Sal, but you’d better tell me who sent you.” I take a couple of menacing steps forward.

Michelle: “You gotta believe me, Eckhardt, I don’t want any trouble with you! It was Duncan. He’s the one who wants the letter!”