Year 4 Updates

A lot of changes are coming in 2023! Assuming all goes well, the members of the Midnight Cabal finally free themselves from their debt, and the Agency as they know it is no more. This marks a shift in the premise of Nocturne Symphony, as characters - and players - are free to explore the wider setting on their own terms.

As we enter a new era, there are new things on the horizon:

• 2nd character slots & permadeath

• Post-Cabal character retirement

• General character retirement and replacement policies

• Reduced/altered character application requirements

• New playable character types: mortals and stigmatics

• Player-made Rings and Agencies

• Leitmotif revisions

• Resonance cap removal and purchase changes

• Passive EXP gain via character check-in

• Location-based character directory

2ND CHARACTERS & PERMADEATH

Going forward, we will have 2nd character slots permanently open for current players. However, our system will be a little different, as we will be testing permadeath.

For all players with two characters, at least one character must have permadeath "toggled" on - meaning that it is possible for the character to permanently die. Currently, characters technically can suffer permadeath by reaching Integrity 0 or having 0 Max Willpower/Health from stacks of Death's Door. However, these paths are highly telegraphed and relatively simple to mitigate, and Storytellers will avoid using permanent options like Hellfire. For characters marked with the permadeath option, they face risks more fitting for the narrative - an unrecoverable or too-damaged body, having no available resurrectioners, etc. Note that this isn't intended to have Storytellers go out of their way to try to kill characters, but rather they should feel free to carry out scenes that are narratively fitting.

Players who already have two characters will have both grandfathered in without permadeath, though players can choose to activate permadeath for one or both of their characters. If either of these characters are replaced, they must choose one to allow for permadeath.

Players who currently only have one character do not have to activate permadeath for said character. If you choose to bring in a second character, however, at least one of them must be marked for possible permadeath. Players can choose to switch which character has the permadeath option, but should avoid switching multiple times outside of character death or retirement.

Please note that this is a mechanic in testing, especially as the World of Darkness (and D:tD) is a dangerous setting at heart. The character application and replacement process is changing in order to accommodate possible permadeath. We welcome feedback on this, but wish to keep this mechanic at least until we see how relevant it becomes in play.

POST-CABAL RETIREMENT

In January 2023, following the end of the Midnight Cabal, players can choose to retire their existing character(s) for free.

All of the character's lifetime EXP will be transferred to their replacement character (even EXP that were spent on usually nonrefundable purchases, aka Resonance, Willpower, and Integrity). In addition, their replacement character can start with the same number of purchases that the retired character had, and buy up to the Resonance of their retired character.

This opportunity is more lenient compared to the general retirement policy we will have going forward (see next section). As the Midnight Cabal disbands, players may find that their character would prefer to move on with their lives, or simply be interested in a different story with the changed group premise. We feel that this marks a good narrative moment for any switches.

Retired PCs can be kept as NPCs. As with any NPC, only licensed Storytellers should use them to significant capacity.

CHARACTER REPLACEMENT

We are adopting a looser retirement/replacement policy for characters. If you are no longer interested in a character, you are free to reach out to us privately to discuss the process.

Characters can be retired at any time (just as permadeath marked characters can die at any time). Please only retire a character if you're 100% sure of the decision.

When replacing a character due to voluntary retirement or permadeath, the new character retains all the EXP of the ex-character EXCEPT for EXP spent on nonrefundable purchases (Resonance, WIllpower, and Integrity). Additionally, the new character will be allotted 1 year's worth of purchases upon creation. For example, they can spend their transferred EXP to start out with 12 additional Skill Dots. However, the new character must start at Resonance 1, if applicable. This allotment may increase as the group gets older.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

As we open up 2nd character slots again, we will be changing the character application requirements. This is primarily to accommodate permadeath PCs, as creating a character who may permanently and prematurely die is different than creating one meant to reach the end of the narrative. More details will be given out when applications open, but here are some things you can expect.

The new art template requires only a headshot, with demon forms being optional.

The new profile template approaches backstories differently. While some basic information is always necessary, new character applications do not require a fully detailed backstory - and, in fact, we would prefer if you kept it short. You are free to expand on your character's backstory in your own time, outside of the application process. Or, you can give a Storyteller reigns over it - whatever you feel most comfortable with. While backstories should still have some general narrative cohesion internally, with the character concept mechanically (e.g. the sickly bookworm who hates physical activity shouldn't have 5 Brawl), and with the NS setting at large, we are no longer strictly reviewing backstories for realism. "Film school dropout struggles with their Etsy shop until they make a wish pact for fame and money" is perfectly fine.

Additionally, the profile will have some additional questions to flesh out key parts of the character that may be immediately relevant to tie into the current world, or that Storytellers could use in storyhooks. Unlike our previous policy, characters are welcome to have encountered the supernatural (preferably the Symphony, but ghosts are cool too) prior to them becoming a player character. Some things to think about include: What is one way the character suffered due to the Symphony? Why or how are they currently involved with the Symphony? What is a complication they are currently or have recently dealt with, mundane or supernatural? This information should be succinct and immediately relevant.

MORTALS AND STIGMATICS

Players are now able to play as mortals (i.e. mundane humans) and stigmatics.

While stigmatics have a significantly lower power ceiling than pactholders, they also have a unique set of abilities and limitations. They intrinsically belong to the Symphony, with no escape unlike their pactholder cousins. Death and suffering comes quickly to them, being at the bottom of the Symphonic food chain - and yet everyone is well aware that they have their uses.

Meanwhile, mortals are significantly weaker than both stigmatics and pactholders - but, given the group premise, they should still be created with the Symphony in mind. Mortals in the Symphony are exceptional individuals - they have to be, to survive. Of course, it is only a matter of time before they become a stigmatic - which may be your primary reason for starting as a mortal to begin with. The challenge of playing them is figuring out how they get and stay involved.

Mortals can become stigmatic through play, and both mortals and stigmatics can become pactholders through play. However, note that we imagine becoming a pactholder through natural play will be challenging, both IC and OOC. If your ultimate goal is to have a character become a pactholder, we recommend letting a Storyteller know so they can help. If you yourself are a Storyteller, you can have your mortal/stigmatic PC pair with an established demon NPC of your own. Just make sure to follow the narrative as you would run it for another player.

PLAYER RINGS AND AGENCIES

Starting in January 2023, players characters can form or join Rings. Characters that do not join a Ring are considered independent by default.

When creating a player character Ring, please fill out the following form and submit it to #frog-mailbox: X
There will be an announcement when we are officially open for Ring submissions!

CREATING A RING

Player characters can create Rings of their own. To do so, they need a minimum of two characters, ideally (but not necessarily) two player characters. The Ring must complete and submit a form to #frog-mailbox in the NS Discord.

Player Rings are not required to accept all interested parties. In-character reasons should be greatly considered. In other cases, a Ring may simply not be accepting new membership for OOC reasons. We trust players to respect each other and the stories being written.

RINGS AND NPCS

Players can include NPCs in their player-made Rings. All guidelines and rules regarding NPCs apply.

JOINING A RING

Characters can join existing NPC Rings and Agencies. Please note that we do not encourage this option for player characters (especially if you're not joining with multiple other PCs), as we expect they may end up more isolated as a result. The Ring/Agency must be canon (i.e., it has been approved and featured in a game run by a licensed Storyteller).

Players must get permission from the owner of the Ring/Agency. Storytellers are not required to allow player characters to join any NPC faction they may own. Retired characters can be put in a Ring/Agency.

SYMPHONIC POLITICS, IC VS OOC

Players are highly encouraged to explore the depths of inter-faction politics, both between PC rings and NPC factions. Part of the richness of the D:tD setting comes from the struggles of personal goals vs the goals of those around you, whether they're allies or enemies.

That being said, all players are expected and required to be mature about in-character interactions. Communicate your needs and wants clearly, and understand that you may need to compromise characterization for out-of-character comfort, within reason.

Respect each other's boundaries, but also their time and energy. All players should understand when retconning may be necessary to avoid a story that isn't enjoyable, and at the same time players should not rely on retcons to avoid in-character consequences/fallout/mistakes.

If politics get bloody, remember which characters are marked as allowed for permadeath and which are not.

LEITMOTIF REVISIONS

As we enter Year 4 of Nocturne Symphony, how we approach mechanics, homebrew, and balance has changed drastically. Because of this, we are revisiting player character Leitmotifs.

Players should send a ticket request in Discord and submit their Leitmotif(s) for review by filling out a form. This form will be provided when revisions are open, but in summary:

• Summarize what the spell does in a single sentence.

• What is the mechanical intent of the spell? The thematic intent?

• What are some cool use cases you hope to use this spell for? This is a continuation of the "intent" question, but imagining hypothetical scenarios can help better define what you want out of a spell.

• What are your high priority details? What are some things you have in mind, but are willing to compromise on if they don't make the cut?

Players are welcome to engage in a back-and-forth regarding the exact mechanics. However, for the sake of format/wording standardization, moderators will be writing the discussed spell details based on the Leitmotif concept/discussion.

RESONANCE CHANGES

Going forward, the Resonance cap for player characters will be removed. The Resonance system will have the following mechanics added:

• Resonance costs 5 EXP up until Resonance 5. Afterwards, Resonance costs an additional 1 EXP per Dot.

  • • For example, Resonance 6 costs 6 EXP. Resonance 7 costs 7 EXP, and so on.

• Resonance can be purchased once a month, up to Resonance 8.

  • • A character can purchase Resonance 9 if they have been at Resonance 8 for six consecutive months. Losing Resonance will restart the timer. In addition, the character must have at least 10 Etudes and 5 Cadenzas.

    • Resonance 10 cannot be purchased.

• Characters lose one dot of Resonance upon death.

  • • Characters cannot purchase Resonance while they have Death's Door.

    • Characters cannot drop below Resonance 1 in this manner.

PASSIVE EXP

Characters will be able to earn "passive" EXP. This EXP must be manually claimed, but does not require art/prompt submissions or mission attendance.

Once per month, players can submit a short summary about what their character has been doing in the last month. The character earns 1 EXP. Players with two characters can do so for both.

These summaries are intended to be short and simple, with 1-2 sentences/bullet points minimum. They do not need to be exhaustive of everything the character has done. For example, "[Character] stayed home and recuperated from a mission" would be acceptable. More detail is welcome, but not necessary. This option will ideally:

• Prompt players to think about any development or downtime their character has had over the month.

• Allow characters to continue to earn EXP even if players are busy. This is especially for players with two characters, as it can be difficult to use both characters equally.

• Serve as a very minor activity check-in for players. There are no consequences to not submitting summaries.