Legwork Guide

NEW: Legwork Workshop 1 (Legworks, Martial PCs and Legworks)

What Can Legwork Do?

Legwork is an ingame mechanic that may used to:

1. Gather information
2. Let staff know what you’ll be doing in response to a situation and/or plot
3. Alert staff that you and a group of others have come up with a plan to deal with some problem and wish to schedule a scene (DMs are not required to give scenes, though they may arrange one; in addition, some legworks may be resolved within the queue, not dissimilar to a PbP; this usually depends on the amount of time the DM has, as well as the details of the plot)

For example:

===============================| View Job 63 |===============================
   Bucket: LEG                              Due On: Sat Aug 15 06:51:02 2015
    Title: Investigating the woods     Assigned To: OtyughHugger
Opened On: Tue Aug 11 06:51:02 2015         Status: Yellow 
Opened By: Grubbar
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grubbar added on Tue Aug 11 06:51:02 2015: 

Grubbar overheard some of the Dranei threatening to start a riot at the Dragon's Den. Not wanting to see violence break out (that he didn't start), Grubbar would like to inform the owners ahead of time. After, he'd like to confer with other local woodsguides and see if any of them were hired lately, to show the Dranei local hunting spots, and so on.

He has Influence among the local druid's union, and would like to use this to contact local guides.

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Anyone may use legwork, and should. Remember, final battles may only be 10% of the adventure. The rest is the epic journey across Mordor, and countering Sauron's influence. Don't be left out.

What do I Include?

1. What are you wanting to accomplish? This helps staff out quite a bit, so open with this.
2. How is the PC trying to accomplish these goals? For example:

Example: Going to a tavern to encourage anti-Dranei sentiment

Example: Speaking with your contacts about the things they know about (see the influence and organization RPP spends!)

Example: Speaking with the tavern owner whose house was recently burned down.

1. Who would you like to include on the legwork? Not only are there advantages to seeking help, DMs appreciate it, too.

...and so on. Any character may do any of these things.

What if I'm a Martial PC?

Martial PCs are made to do legwork. No, really, they are. Consider these classics:

The battered soldier lowers his rifle...then fingers the woodcutter's tool in his pocket, reminding him of happier times. Its cut surfaces he begun years ago, before dad had come in. Before he'd heard about his brother.

A guard serves with blade and armor, yet in her spare time is a champion chess player, and student of war strategies.

A barbarian who can find anyone, even in the midst of a downpour and is well-respected among other guides of the wilderness. A fighter who knows how to find a diplacer beast's last hovel, as well as an expert at when to strike. Ask him anything about beasts-that-should-not-be and he has both knowledge and connections. An oruch clansman would embody his ancestors and the teachings of Adom, and become an example to his people. Holding his blade aloft, he inspires them with his words and develops his social standing among his peers.

All of these concepts are possible without sacrificing combat utility. These characters possess an advantage over straight skill classes in their resiliency. Within their chosen area, they're also strong. On the other hand, a skill PC will be more useful in more general situations. However, within your interest, you shine. Oh, and you hit things a helluva lot harder.

Taking on an interest focus is not only a time-honored tradition within fantasy, it also avoids "stepping on toes." You have you area--it's yours. It gives you a means of connecting with others with a similar interests.

How can you make these concepts sing? Check out our Legwork Workshop, that talks about exactly these issues, and ways to think outside the box.

Things Not to Do

1. Forget that Tenebrae is a team game.
2. Demand a scene from the DM (they may be busy or have a lot on their plate; or, the LEG may not need one in the greater scheme of things).
3. Forget to state your goals.

Finally, remember that skills like diplomacy and intimidate are useful, but not cure-alls. Someone threatened with intimidate is likely to report it, and diplomacy is more limited than under 3.5.