Hi, I'm new here. I just bought the 3rd edition a couple of days ago and I'm supposed to GM in a couple of days time ( I've only been a player of the 2nd edition before ) and I've just about read through the rule books once, but one thing just confuses the hell out of me, so if you could help me, I'd really appreciate it.

So, the fortune pool. As I've understood it..

1. Each player owns the same number of personal fortune dices, the same way that in the 2nd ed. each character could use 2-3 Fortune Points every day ( How is the number of the fortune dices owned by a player determined? ) Say, each character has two that he can use at any time, on any check. After using them they go to the fortune pool, and get given back to the players as soon as there's as many dices in the pool as there are players.

2. In addition to that there are the career advance fortune points, automatically added fortune points to skills favoured by the race.. etc. These don't come from the player's own personal fortune dice supply but get added automatically.

3. The advance career/race bonus dices don't go to the pool, neither do the fortune dices awarded by the GM for good roleplaying and favourable conditions? ( Otherwise there'd be buckets of fortune dices lying all over the place after a longer campaign.)

So.. only the personally owned fortune dices go to the pool to be shared among the players when the pool refreshes?

My Int is too low.. I just can't figure it out.

Turrican said:

Each PC starts with 3 and may gain more when the Party's Fortune pool reaches a # of points = to # of PCs

Turrican said:

No. If a PC spends the Fortune Points, they are gone. The Fortune Pool is only replenished by GM award.

Turrican said:

These aren't Fortune Points. They are a Fortune Dice and have nothing to do with Fortune Points. They automatically get added.

Fortune Points do not equal Fortune Dice. Fortune Dice can be obtained through a variety of different ways.

Turrican said:

Not quite. Fortune Dice are awarded for favourable conditions. Fortune Points are awarded for good roleplaying.

Turrican said:

Summary:

1. Each PC gets 3 Fortune Points to spend. When spent they add 1 Fortune Dice to a roll.

2. A GM may award Fortune Dice to any roll to reflect favourable conditions.

3. A GM may award Fortune Points for good roleplaying. These are added to the Party's Fortune Pool.

4. When the Fortune Points in the Fortune Pool equal the number fo PCs, each player may take 1 Fortune Point and add it to their PC's personal pool. These can then be converted into Fortune Dice as normal.

5. PCs may gain Fortune Dice on other occassions. Examples include Characteristics (nomrally to reflect a racial talent) or Talent.

1. No, after using them they go to the 'supply,' which just means your pile of spares that aren't being used. The party pool is only replenished when the GM awards the party fortune. Each player starts the session with 3 fortune points and he can never have more than that (special rules excepted).

2. Yep.

3. No. *Only* fortune points awarded by the GM for good roleplaying, succeeding at plot, and stuff like that go to the party pool. These eventually find their way into the PC's fortune pool, and players choose when to use them. All other fortune is always available and is not discretionary and can be used on every relevant check.

EDIT: Probably pay attention to Skywalkers differentiation between fortune points and fortune dice, which I didn't bother to make.

Thanks a million, that makes it very clear. I don't don't know where I got off the track.. one misunderstanding lead to another. I may be back with more stupid questions though.. first time GM. *Add stress.*

Thanks.

P.S. I'll try to run a converted SoB after having roamed the wilderness for a bit first.

To clear up any lingering confusion - PCs don't get Fortune Dice ; they have Fortune Points . They may cash in those points to roll extra f ortune dice on any check. Fortune Points may also be used to speed up recharging action cards.

HedgeWizard said:

Except that PCs can purchase Fortune dice on their current career's Primary Characteristics as an advance. These are permanent additions to every future dice pool built using that Characteristic as its base.

Mac40k - yes, that is true. I was specifically addressing his first question/statement which is clearly about Fortune Points but they used the Dice term.

Turrican said:

Thanks all, these answers saved my game session. I'd still like to know a few things though..

1. Is there a limit to how much one can use at a time and how often? Can every player use fortune points every turn, making the fortune pool refresh almost constantly?

2. Is it ok if the players spam the fortune pool (especially during the story mode)? If someone says "I need to do this first aid check and I have no fortune points, can you do something and use fortune points so I can get some?" and some other player says "Ok, I'll try to... er... hit that tree with a rock, I'll spend a fortune point. **** I missed, oh well, there's your fortune point" *The pool refreshes.*

BTW, does "Assist" allow the person trying to give first aid add more fortune dice to his check even if the assisting PCs don't have first aid skill?

Turrican said:

I think you've misinterpreted the rules. Used fortune points go away. They don't go back in the pool. Fortune is only added to the pool when the GM rewards the players for something by specifically moving unused FPs into the pool. And it is only then that a refresh can occur.

And, yes, you can use as many as you like at any time.

I play assists by ear depending on the situation. I might make the player do an Int or Ag check to offer some advice or hold a flap of skin together, or I might make it auto-success to hold a bandage or mop a brow or something like that, or I might rule it out altogether. Generally, if a player can come up with a good reason that he can help, that adds to the game, then you should probably let him.

monkeylite said:

Of course! **** I'm stupid! Thanks again.