[Diaspora] Rules Questions

[C. W. Marshall]

Hi!

Thanks for these questions!

On 28-Oct-09, at 8:24 AM, Darren Brewster wrote:

> Hi Guys, I have a few rules questions after reading through Diaspora:
>
> 1. How does being Taken Out effect conflicts on a different Stress
> Track. Like getting Taken Out in a Social Combat, then wanting to
> initiate a Personal Combat.
>

You don't want to get taken out, and smart players will be offering a  
concession before you get to that point. Being Taken Out means you  
are out -- your character might be dead, or might just be out for the  
session. But it's at the discretion of your opponent -- when you are  
taken out you no longer have the ability to negotiate the terms of  
your defeat. It might not be the end of your character, but it could be!


> 2. By default how are Stress Boxes filled up? The number and all
> before it? A hit on a filled box rolls up to the next open box? I
> think that was my reading, but I'm not sure if that is for one
> specific type of conflict or all of them in general.

Yup, that's right, for all systems.

> 3. Does "Platoon" refer to a generic group size, or to the specific
> size from page 178?

The generic size is what is offered on p. 178 -- that side bar was  
written by me for me because I am less good with matters military. A  
platoon is just a collection of units.

> 4. Can a defense that has been rolled and left on the table for the
> round be increased later on by use of Aspects, or once it hits the
> table, that is it? Example: You defend against a poor attack and don't
> need to use any Aspects to boost it, but them the next guy to attack
> gets a much better roll which means you don't successfully defend
> without a roll boost from an Aspect.

It can be boosted in just this way.

> 5. On page 234, High Capacity refers to the wrong Aspect (looks copied
> exactly from Slug Throwers). Also, you can't have it and Awkward
> Reload, but that isn't listed with Energy Weapons, only Slug Throwers.
> What is the ruling here?

Great catch, and this will be added to the errata. High capacity will  
probably be re-written to say "Out of juice" cannot be free-tagged.  
Cost: 1bp.

> 6. Can you give a detailed example/explanation of Armour Agility
> penalties. I don't find it very clear to me.

Armour that isn't lightweight and flexible is hard to move around in,  
and characters wearing armour suffer -2 agility. However,  
"lightweight" and "flexible" can be bought off -- either one of these  
stunts reduces the agility penalty to -1; both mean that there is no  
agility penalty (though that costs 5bp). You could get a bonus to  
your agility through powered armour as well. You are right that it's  
not as clear as it might be, and I'll consider rewording it.

> I have two more to ask too, but I don't have my book with me and I
> need to reference it to formulate the questions (I am working from
> notes I took while reading and they aren't very detailed).

Things like this are very useful for us -- thanks!

Toph