What are Scenario Battles?
For some time now, I have been working on designing a spiritual successor to the long-running Battle Tree Facility that closed early this year. This playtest is for a particularly promising (in my opinion) set of rules that emerged from the design process.
Scenario Battles have a separate set of rules from BBP (alike Contests). Because they deviate so dramatically from standard play, a playtest is necessary to gather feedback. "Is this something players want, and to what degree?" is an important question being asked here.
What follow are the comprehensive Game Rules. Below those, you will find some design notes, and finally signup procedures and rewards.
***** Game Rules *****
You do not need to know the standard BBP rules to play this.
Each match sees a conflict (combat or not) unfold between your and your opponent’s Pokemon.
On your turn, you will write an action for your Pokemon to take. Your action will prompt reactions from various characters based on word associations you draw between your action and a list of abstract words. You score points for each reaction you elicit via these word associations. You win by being the first player to earn 16 points.
Beyond name and species, consider what sort of personality you want your Pokemon to have. Here, character is as important as anything else. Specifically, your Pokemon will need a Thesis, (which illustrates a life-long belief or preference); and a Goal (which is an immediate plan of action).
Shade the Gengar
Bio: A mischievous and frightening ghost Pokemon. Has typical ghost powers (levitation, phases through objects, etc) and feeds on life energy.
Thesis: - Making others scared of death is fun.
Goal: - Damage the opponent.
Tricks:
Shadow Ball - Darkness [c], Fear [a]
Evil Face - Eye Contact [c], Mania [a]
Tease - Laugh [c], Superiority [a]
***** End Example *****[/SIZE]
You cannot repeat Simple Actions in a match.
Following that, you can make both Pokemon execute any number of Tricks for which your Simple Action invoked at least 1 Association. You choose the outcomes of both players’ Tricks.
Example: Gengar uses Cast Shadow: Gengar looms over the enemy Ratatta, casting a dark shadow over the vermin. Invokes [Superiority] and [Darkness].
[Superiority] - (Tease): From its lofty vantage, Gengar notices how much smaller its foe is than itself. Gengar uses a claw to pinch Ratatta’s tail and lift it up. The ghost giggles with delight as it watches the rat squirm in its grasp.
[Darkness] - (Shadow Ball): With its other hand, Gengar molds its shadow into a ball of dark plasma and fires it at the Ratatta, dealing heavy damage.
For each Association you invoked, replace that word with either:
> A similar word of the opposite type (Concrete/Abstract)
> A similar word but more extreme
> An opposite word
You cannot re-apply an Association that you just invoked this round.
For Shadow Ball, Gengar replaces Darkness [c] with a similar but Abstract word: Unknown [a].
For Tease, Gengar replaces Superiority [a] with a similar but more extreme word: Paternity [a].
Your own Trick: Delete 1 of its Associations and learn a new Trick.
Your opponent’s Trick: Delete 1 of its Associations.
(If a Trick has 0 Associations, delete it.)
Regardless of how many Tricks you performed, you earn no Points. Instead, do each of these up to 1 time each:
Defend your Thesis: Identify something from this round that aligns with your Thesis. Learn 2 new Tricks.
Attack your opponent’s Thesis: Point out something from this round that opposes your foe’s Thesis. Choose 1 of your opponent’s Tricks: Delete all its Associations, then give it 1 Abstract Association of your choice.
If the player who took the first turn reaches 16 points, their opponent gets 1 Bonus Turn to try and surpass them. If the opponent surpasses them, the game ends (no further turns take place). If both players end up tied for points after this Bonus Turn, then both players lose. (Both Pokemon find themselves at an impasse.)
Additionally, it must abide by 3 rules: Singularity, Clarity, and Time.
Singularity: Must be a single action.
Clarity: Must be immediately understandable.
Time: The action must take no longer than five (5) seconds to complete.
Associations can be nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
They must have meaning. (e.g. You cannot use grammar-filler words like “The” or “With” as Associations.)
Concrete: Real objects, actions, and objective (measurable) descriptors.
Punch, Fire, Jump, Cry, Bite, Fast, Accurately, Bright.
Abstract: Opinions, feelings, concepts, and subjective (non-measurable) descriptors.
Hatred, Lovely, Justice, Overcome, Ironically, Funny.
In both cases, compound words are allowed.
Poke Ball, Eiffel Tower, Breaking Point, Eye Contact, Sleight of Hand.
Write a letter [a] or [c] in brackets to clarify whether the Association is Concrete or Abstract.
Breaking Point [c] would be an object’s literal breaking point. Breaking Point [a] would be a character’s figurative breaking point.
To Invoke an Association, you must: Use it, Create it, or Cause it.
Examples:
If the Association is “Fire [c]”:
Use: Your character warms their hands by a bonfire.
Create: Your character conjures a magical flame.
Cause: Your character bumps a lamp over, setting the carpet on fire.
If the Association is “Hatred [a]”:
Use: Your character, motivated by anger, attacks the foe.
Create: Your character grows spiteful as they nurse their battle wounds.
Cause: Your character delivers an inflammatory speech to rile up a crowd.
All Invocations must be direct means or results of your Simple Action. If you can’t tell whether an Association falls within the scope of your Simple Action, focus specifically on the two words of your Simple Action.
Player A posts their Pokemon profile in the challenge thread.
Player B accepts the challenge and starts a thread with their Pokemon and their opponent’s.
Player B explains the setting (or if they want, they let Player A do so.)
Player A takes the first turn.
These restrictions are to prevent Player A from entering the match with 6 similar Associations and Invoking them all on the first turn before the opponent can act.
The alternative setup style, Extended Setup, is not covered by this document. It includes a step in which Associations are scrambled.
***** End of Game Rules. *****
What are the design goals of this Facility?
These design goals are set in stone, at this point in time:
These design guidelines are negotiable:
These design questions have not yet been answered:
Please feel free to use this thread as a signup queue.
Treat this as you would a playtest from the Construction Site. The same rules and rewards apply. (This was sanctioned as a legitimate playtest, but is being maintained here instead of the main Construction Site thread due to (strictly speaking) not being a BBP balance test.)
Additionally, I will be providing a survey to participants in the future, which players will be able to answer either publicly or privately.
Thank you for your time.
For some time now, I have been working on designing a spiritual successor to the long-running Battle Tree Facility that closed early this year. This playtest is for a particularly promising (in my opinion) set of rules that emerged from the design process.
Battle Tree was a Facility where a challenger could fight against a ref in a series of 3 battles.
One of the elements that made Battle Tree unique was its focus on narrative storytelling.
Unfortunately, long-term, Battle Tree struggled as a Facility. Juggling multiple battles and a story proved to be very difficult for refs; a problem which compounded with overall run times that were excessively long compared to other Facilities. Besides that, it never felt like the refs got to have as much fun as the challengers. A pile-up of problems led to the reffing queue stagnating. I closed the Facility after a sustained period of inactivity, promising to replace it with something more functional.
One of the elements that made Battle Tree unique was its focus on narrative storytelling.
Unfortunately, long-term, Battle Tree struggled as a Facility. Juggling multiple battles and a story proved to be very difficult for refs; a problem which compounded with overall run times that were excessively long compared to other Facilities. Besides that, it never felt like the refs got to have as much fun as the challengers. A pile-up of problems led to the reffing queue stagnating. I closed the Facility after a sustained period of inactivity, promising to replace it with something more functional.
Scenario Battles have a separate set of rules from BBP (alike Contests). Because they deviate so dramatically from standard play, a playtest is necessary to gather feedback. "Is this something players want, and to what degree?" is an important question being asked here.
What follow are the comprehensive Game Rules. Below those, you will find some design notes, and finally signup procedures and rewards.
***** Game Rules *****
Overview
A spin-off Facility featuring a brand-new mode of play. Despite being PvP, this plays similarly to a traditional Tabletop RPG, with a strong focus on storytelling and open-ended actions.You do not need to know the standard BBP rules to play this.
- Recommended Level: 0+ (any)
- Complexity: 2/5
- Conflict: 3/5
- Time Estimate: ~10 min setup, ~20-30 min. per post, ~5-6 posts per match
- Skills: Writing, Role Playing, Word Association, Points Racing
Each match sees a conflict (combat or not) unfold between your and your opponent’s Pokemon.
On your turn, you will write an action for your Pokemon to take. Your action will prompt reactions from various characters based on word associations you draw between your action and a list of abstract words. You score points for each reaction you elicit via these word associations. You win by being the first player to earn 16 points.
Profile
You can bring a Pokemon of any species, regardless of whether or not you own it. You can give them whatever moves and abilities you like – it does not matter whether your Pokemon’s capabilities match up with the official game’s data. Even made-up moves are allowed.Beyond name and species, consider what sort of personality you want your Pokemon to have. Here, character is as important as anything else. Specifically, your Pokemon will need a Thesis, (which illustrates a life-long belief or preference); and a Goal (which is an immediate plan of action).
- Name + Species + Picture
- Bio: A description of the species and some of its basic capabilities.
- Thesis: A guiding philosophy the Pokemon follows. Typically a short sentence of the form “X is Y.”
- Goal: An action you are trying to accomplish throughout the match.
- Each comes with 2 Associations: 1 Concrete, 1 Abstract.
Shade the Gengar
Bio: A mischievous and frightening ghost Pokemon. Has typical ghost powers (levitation, phases through objects, etc) and feeds on life energy.
Thesis: - Making others scared of death is fun.
Goal: - Damage the opponent.
Tricks:
Shadow Ball - Darkness [c], Fear [a]
Evil Face - Eye Contact [c], Mania [a]
Tease - Laugh [c], Superiority [a]
***** End Example *****[/SIZE]
Allowed Species and Art
For your Pokemon's species/biology, you can use:- Official Pokemon species.
- Official Pokemon species that you have altered or fused in some way.
- Your own original, made-up species.
- Smogon CAPs.
- Official Pokemon art (including 3D models, game sprites, screenshots, etc).
- Official Pokemon art that you have edited/modified.
- Original art you made, or have permission to use.
- Smogon CAP sprites.
Turn Structure
On your turn, you can do any 1 Simple Action (Singularity+Clarity+Time).You cannot repeat Simple Actions in a match.
Following that, you can make both Pokemon execute any number of Tricks for which your Simple Action invoked at least 1 Association. You choose the outcomes of both players’ Tricks.
Example: Gengar uses Cast Shadow: Gengar looms over the enemy Ratatta, casting a dark shadow over the vermin. Invokes [Superiority] and [Darkness].
[Superiority] - (Tease): From its lofty vantage, Gengar notices how much smaller its foe is than itself. Gengar uses a claw to pinch Ratatta’s tail and lift it up. The ghost giggles with delight as it watches the rat squirm in its grasp.
[Darkness] - (Shadow Ball): With its other hand, Gengar molds its shadow into a ball of dark plasma and fires it at the Ratatta, dealing heavy damage.
For each Association you invoked, replace that word with either:
> A similar word of the opposite type (Concrete/Abstract)
> A similar word but more extreme
> An opposite word
You cannot re-apply an Association that you just invoked this round.
For Shadow Ball, Gengar replaces Darkness [c] with a similar but Abstract word: Unknown [a].
For Tease, Gengar replaces Superiority [a] with a similar but more extreme word: Paternity [a].
Opponents’ Tricks
You can Invoke your opponent’s Tricks as well as your own. Suppose in the above example the enemy Rattatta has a Trick, Bite, with an Association “Shadow [c]”. When Gengar uses Cast Shadow, they can Invoke Rattatta to use Bite in reaction. Since it’s the Gengar’s player’s turn, the Gengar’s player narrates Rattatta’s Bite and determines its outcome.Brilliant Invocation
If you invoke two (2) associations of 1 Trick, you may apply a bonus effect, depending on whose Trick it was.Your own Trick: Delete 1 of its Associations and learn a new Trick.
Your opponent’s Trick: Delete 1 of its Associations.
(If a Trick has 0 Associations, delete it.)
Success
If you accomplish your goal, you earn 2 points for each of your Tricks you performed, and 1 point for each Trick you made your opponent perform.Failure
If you did not accomplish your goal, you may instead use the round as a Learning Opportunity.Regardless of how many Tricks you performed, you earn no Points. Instead, do each of these up to 1 time each:
Defend your Thesis: Identify something from this round that aligns with your Thesis. Learn 2 new Tricks.
Attack your opponent’s Thesis: Point out something from this round that opposes your foe’s Thesis. Choose 1 of your opponent’s Tricks: Delete all its Associations, then give it 1 Abstract Association of your choice.
Victory
You win if you have 16 points.If the player who took the first turn reaches 16 points, their opponent gets 1 Bonus Turn to try and surpass them. If the opponent surpasses them, the game ends (no further turns take place). If both players end up tied for points after this Bonus Turn, then both players lose. (Both Pokemon find themselves at an impasse.)
Simple Action Guidelines
A Simple Action must be 2 words or fewer.Additionally, it must abide by 3 rules: Singularity, Clarity, and Time.
Singularity: Must be a single action.
Clarity: Must be immediately understandable.
Time: The action must take no longer than five (5) seconds to complete.
| Restriction | Invalid example | Valid example |
| Singularity: It must be a single action. | “Golf” Involves multiple steps (setting up the tee, hitting the ball, going after it, retrieving it from hazards, etc) | “Swing Club” |
| Clarity: It must be defined clearly with 1-2 words. | “Flamethrower” “Flamethrower” as in the Pokemon move, or the weapon? Avoid colorful language when naming your Basic Actions. | “Breathe Fire” |
| Time: It must take only a few seconds at most to do. | “Strangle” The full act of strangulation takes roughly 10 to 15 seconds to reach unconsciousness. On the other hand, merely binding the neck takes a split second. | “Bind Neck” |
Associations
Associations are words that indicate when a Pokemon will use its Tricks.Associations can be nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
They must have meaning. (e.g. You cannot use grammar-filler words like “The” or “With” as Associations.)
Concrete: Real objects, actions, and objective (measurable) descriptors.
Punch, Fire, Jump, Cry, Bite, Fast, Accurately, Bright.
Abstract: Opinions, feelings, concepts, and subjective (non-measurable) descriptors.
Hatred, Lovely, Justice, Overcome, Ironically, Funny.
In both cases, compound words are allowed.
Poke Ball, Eiffel Tower, Breaking Point, Eye Contact, Sleight of Hand.
Write a letter [a] or [c] in brackets to clarify whether the Association is Concrete or Abstract.
Breaking Point [c] would be an object’s literal breaking point. Breaking Point [a] would be a character’s figurative breaking point.
Invoking an Association
Simple Actions can Invoke Associations.To Invoke an Association, you must: Use it, Create it, or Cause it.
Examples:
If the Association is “Fire [c]”:
Use: Your character warms their hands by a bonfire.
Create: Your character conjures a magical flame.
Cause: Your character bumps a lamp over, setting the carpet on fire.
If the Association is “Hatred [a]”:
Use: Your character, motivated by anger, attacks the foe.
Create: Your character grows spiteful as they nurse their battle wounds.
Cause: Your character delivers an inflammatory speech to rile up a crowd.
All Invocations must be direct means or results of your Simple Action. If you can’t tell whether an Association falls within the scope of your Simple Action, focus specifically on the two words of your Simple Action.
It is Player A’s turn.
Player A is using Hunter the Popplio.
Bio: A young sea lion Pokemon, easily bored and eager for attention. She can shoot bubbles out of her nose. Often gets herself into trouble when her parents aren't around.
Thesis: Whatever Hunter sees move is instantly the most interesting thing possible.
Goal: Force attention/interaction out of Bernadetta.
Tricks:
Question Incessantly: Touch [c], Clueless [a]
Blow Bubbles: Breath [c], Artistic [a]
Show Trinket: Treasure [c], Friendly [a]
Player B is using Bernadetta the Octillery.
Bio: Eight-legged cephalopod, has suction cups to adhere to surfaces. Can spray ink through her mouth
Thesis: Being in view of people is dreadful
Goal: Escape line of sight of the opponent
Tricks:
Sneak Into Crevice - Curl Up (c), Stealth (a)
Ink Shot - Ink (c), Distraction (a)
Flail Around - Tentacles (c), Outburst (a)
The setting: a coral reef on the seabed. Hunter the Popplio is alone and bored, trying to keep herself occupied by blowing bubbles. In her periphery she sees something red and slippery move amongst the corals. A new diversion? Of course she’ll have to investigate…
Player A:
Simple Action: Poke Tentacle.
Not knowing what she’s looking at, Hunter gives the slippery red object a poke with her flipper. It squirms in response and vanishes behind a clump of coral.
Poke Tentacle uses Touch [c], Uses Clueless [a], and Causes Distraction [a].
Touch [c], Clueless [a] - (Question Incessantly): Hunter pokes her head around the corner. “Hello? Anyone there? I’m bored… Do you know any fun games to play?”
Brilliant Invocation: Delete Clueless [a] to learn Play With: Chase [c], Boredom [a].
Touch [c] -> Cling [c] (more extreme)
Distraction [a] - (Ink Shot): Bernadetta is less than pleased to be bothered by this insistent little Popplio. She blasts the pest with a jet of sticky black ink. Hunter hacks and coughs.
Distraction [a] -> Focus [a] (opposite)
Goal passed: Force attention/interaction out of Bernadetta. “A Pokemon that shoots ink! How fun!” thinks Hunter. “I wonder if she does other cool stuff, too?”
+3 Points.
Post-Round
Hunter the Popplio: (3 Points)
Tricks:
Question Incessantly: Grasp [c]
Blow Bubbles: Breath [c], Artistic [a]
Show Trinket: Treasure [c], Friendly [a]
Play With: Chase [c], Boredom [a]
Bernadetta the Octillery:
Tricks:
Sneak Into Crevice - Curl Up (c), Stealth (a)
Ink Shot - Ink (c), Focus (a)
Flail Around - Tentacles (c), Outburst (a)
Player A is using Hunter the Popplio.
Bio: A young sea lion Pokemon, easily bored and eager for attention. She can shoot bubbles out of her nose. Often gets herself into trouble when her parents aren't around.
Thesis: Whatever Hunter sees move is instantly the most interesting thing possible.
Goal: Force attention/interaction out of Bernadetta.
Tricks:
Question Incessantly: Touch [c], Clueless [a]
Blow Bubbles: Breath [c], Artistic [a]
Show Trinket: Treasure [c], Friendly [a]
Player B is using Bernadetta the Octillery.
Bio: Eight-legged cephalopod, has suction cups to adhere to surfaces. Can spray ink through her mouth
Thesis: Being in view of people is dreadful
Goal: Escape line of sight of the opponent
Tricks:
Sneak Into Crevice - Curl Up (c), Stealth (a)
Ink Shot - Ink (c), Distraction (a)
Flail Around - Tentacles (c), Outburst (a)
The setting: a coral reef on the seabed. Hunter the Popplio is alone and bored, trying to keep herself occupied by blowing bubbles. In her periphery she sees something red and slippery move amongst the corals. A new diversion? Of course she’ll have to investigate…
Player A:
Simple Action: Poke Tentacle.
Not knowing what she’s looking at, Hunter gives the slippery red object a poke with her flipper. It squirms in response and vanishes behind a clump of coral.
Poke Tentacle uses Touch [c], Uses Clueless [a], and Causes Distraction [a].
Touch [c], Clueless [a] - (Question Incessantly): Hunter pokes her head around the corner. “Hello? Anyone there? I’m bored… Do you know any fun games to play?”
Brilliant Invocation: Delete Clueless [a] to learn Play With: Chase [c], Boredom [a].
Touch [c] -> Cling [c] (more extreme)
Distraction [a] - (Ink Shot): Bernadetta is less than pleased to be bothered by this insistent little Popplio. She blasts the pest with a jet of sticky black ink. Hunter hacks and coughs.
Distraction [a] -> Focus [a] (opposite)
Goal passed: Force attention/interaction out of Bernadetta. “A Pokemon that shoots ink! How fun!” thinks Hunter. “I wonder if she does other cool stuff, too?”
+3 Points.
Post-Round
Hunter the Popplio: (3 Points)
Tricks:
Question Incessantly: Grasp [c]
Blow Bubbles: Breath [c], Artistic [a]
Show Trinket: Treasure [c], Friendly [a]
Play With: Chase [c], Boredom [a]
Bernadetta the Octillery:
Tricks:
Sneak Into Crevice - Curl Up (c), Stealth (a)
Ink Shot - Ink (c), Focus (a)
Flail Around - Tentacles (c), Outburst (a)
Match Flow
Match Flow - Casual SetupPlayer A posts their Pokemon profile in the challenge thread.
Player B accepts the challenge and starts a thread with their Pokemon and their opponent’s.
Player B explains the setting (or if they want, they let Player A do so.)
Player A takes the first turn.
Casual Setup First-Turn Restrictions
If using Casual Setup, on Turn 1, Player A has the following restrictions:- Player A can only invoke up to two (2) Associations of their own Tricks.
- Player A cannot do any Brilliant Invocations on their own tricks.
These restrictions are to prevent Player A from entering the match with 6 similar Associations and Invoking them all on the first turn before the opponent can act.
The alternative setup style, Extended Setup, is not covered by this document. It includes a step in which Associations are scrambled.
***** End of Game Rules. *****
What are the design goals of this Facility?
These design goals are set in stone, at this point in time:
- Participants' roles should be symmetrical.
- No refs or facility-siding players.
- It uses no data tables. (No movelists, species stats, point-buy tables, etc)
- All the information needed to play the game should be contained solely within the rules page, and the battle thread itself.
- Character should be the driving element (as opposed to, for example, species).
- Mechanically, choosing a different action should have different results.
These design guidelines are negotiable:
- As much as possible, players should be given space to invent from scratch, rather than being given a pre-made list of options to choose from.
- As much as possible, this Facility should avoid creating unnecessary work for approvers.
- As much as possible, this Facility should avoid currency bloat / profile bloat.
These design questions have not yet been answered:
- Should this fill a similar role to conventional Facilities (in terms of progression/rewards), or a different role entirely?
- How much investment on the BBP side of the game should this require?
- Is there room to make this more competitive?
- Do players prefer a "one-shot" style, or something with more overarching structure where a single character changes over the course of multiple matches?
- Do players prefer using this Facility for combat, or for non-combat scenarios?
- Should there be an overarching setting/lore?
- Should I provide pre-made characters/settings for players to use for themselves in matches?
- Is there room for competitive (staked) modes of play?
Please feel free to use this thread as a signup queue.
Treat this as you would a playtest from the Construction Site. The same rules and rewards apply. (This was sanctioned as a legitimate playtest, but is being maintained here instead of the main Construction Site thread due to (strictly speaking) not being a BBP balance test.)
Additionally, I will be providing a survey to participants in the future, which players will be able to answer either publicly or privately.
Thank you for your time.
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