E M E R A L D C I T Y C H R O N I C L E S
GAMEPLAY: PERMUTATIONS: PERK CARDS
What are Perk Cards, and How Can I Earn Them?
Perks are Potions - Perk Cards are special 'potion-like effects' spendable and tradeable during game that take the form of cards. Perk Cards are available to Players who perform exceptional service to the game and are recognized for this by the Storytellers, by taking actions that benefit the game as a whole in an out-of-character way, such as:
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Recruiting new players, and helping them become long term players.
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Decorating the gaming space, bringing atmosphere to the game.
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Donating useful items, such as notecards, pencils, blank character sheets, and other consumables that we use every night.
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Assisting with the annual Haunted House, planning, building, acting, cleanup.
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Taking time out of game to assist with other game needs
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Donating to the NOTR nonprofit organization (which is how we pay our rent!)
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Serving as a Storyteller or Assistant Storyteller
Storytellers are the ultimate arbiters of what actions deem worthy of Perk Card draws. If granted a perk card draw, players are afforded the ability to draw randomly from a deck of cards offered by the Storytellers, which may have Common, Uncommon, Rare cards, or a combination of each, at storyteller discretion.
When Can I Use Perk Cards?
Most of the cards are usable during live play, however the cards themselves state when they may be played. Examples would be some cards are usable during combat, while others are not, and some take effect immediately, while others must wait for certain circumstances to occur first, such as an initiative order, when a target character is in torpor, or during a downtime action.
How Do I Use Perk Cards?
Perk cards may be played (turned in to a Storyteller during game) using a few simple rules. Most of the rules for each card are listed in the text of the card, however, for general guidelines, players may use:
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3 Commons, 2 Uncommons and 1 Rare per game
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Only 1 card at character gen.
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Limit of 1 card per round.
Do Cards Exist In-Character?
Cards are considered out-of-character items and usable by players to lend subtle story effects to in-character stories and actions. Perk Cards may never be traded in-character, because the cards do not exist to the characters in the game, but act as mysterious hands of fate moving behind the scenes of the story. Players may offer feedback on the results of these cards, however the ultimate effects are always up to the storytellers.
