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OK, now we’ve covered a really basic conflict. Now, let’s get a bit more complicated. If two characters are in a conflict, they can try more than one tactic to get what they want.

In this scene, Michelle has the mine foreman confront Jason’s character Eckhardt, who is trying to enter the mine.

Michelle: A mine foreman comes out as you rush up to the mine. “Hold it right there!”

Jason: This is a conflict. I’m not letting him stop me.

Michelle: OK. What’s your goal in the conflict? The mine foreman wants you to turn around and go back down to the office.

Jason: I’m getting into that mine, and I don’t have much time. I don’t want him to delay me.

Michelle: Sounds good. Let’s allocate.

Michelle and Jason allocate secretly. Michelle decides the foreman is going to get rough with this strange character. She allocates 4 action tokens for the foreman to grab Eckhardt and give him the bum’s rush, using Force 3 and his aptitude Redneck 2. Michelle figures Eckhardt might try to fight back, so she puts two action tokens in Grace 2 to dodge, again using Redneck 2.

Jason knows the foreman probably has the edge in a physical confrontation, so he decides to mix it up a bit. He doesn’t want the foreman to get his hands on Eckhardt, so he allocates 3 tokens to defense, with Grace 3 and Policeman 3. He then allocates another 3 to Will 4 and Policeman 3, to show the foreman his gun and intimidate him into letting Eckhardt pass.

Michelle: Ready?

Jason: Ready. Let’s reveal.

Michelle: The foreman is going to grab ahold of you, and give you the bum’s rush out of here. “I don’t think you heard me, buddy. This mine is off-limits!” That’s the Force action. The Grace action is to defend against you fighting back.

Jason: Good thing I’m not fighting back, then. My Grace action here is to resist any physical assault, and the Will action is to show the guy my gun and get him to back down.

Michelle: Nice! I didn’t see that coming. Let’s resolve. Your Grace is definitely opposing the foreman’s Force. I’ve got a total of 9: 4 action tokens plus Force 3 plus Redneck 2. I figure as a redneck, he knows how to throw down.

Jason: All right, that’s fair. I’m using my Grace to resist, and I figure I’ve gotten in a few scraps as a cop. So, my total to resist is 9: 3 action tokens, plus Grace 3 and Policeman 3.

Michelle: That’s dead even. That means each of you only gets a partial success. Here’s what happens: the foreman rushes up to, saying, “This mine is off-limits, buddy!” and he grabs hold of your jacket, trying to manhandle you back down the hill. You’re light on your feet, and you’ve been in some scraps before, so you resist, twisting away as he tries to force you to move. He’s got a grip, but he can’t make you move.

Jason: Cool. Now the other action. He’s got no defense against Will. I pull out my gun. I’m not aiming it him, I’m just showing him I have it. “I’m more than you can handle, friend. Just step back, and we don’t have a problem.” I’ve got 10 in that action: 3 action tokens, plus Will 4 and Policeman 3. I’m using the gun, too, so that gives me a +2, right?

Michelle: In this case it’s a +1. A gun’s purpose is to shoot people, and here you’re just using it to intimidate. Guns can certainly be used for that purpose, though, so you do get a bonus. You’re total is 11. He’s resisting with Will only, and he’s just got a 2. You beat him by 9 points, that’s a spectacular success. As soon as the gun comes out, he lets go of your jacket and puts his hands in the air, stepping back and shaking his head. “I don’t want any trouble, man. Take it easy.”

Jason: Good. I sprint for the mine entrance.