Legwork Guide
NEW: Legwork Workshop 1 (Legworks, Martial PCs and Legworks)
What Can Legwork Do?
Legwork is an ingame mechanic that may used to:
- Gather information
- Let staff know what you’ll be doing in response to a situation and/or plot
- 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
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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 guides 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 understand your goals, 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.
- 3. Who would you like to include on the legwork? Not only are there advantages to seeking help, DMs appreciate it, too.
- Important: Including others is useful. For example, if you'd like to interview the temple of Daeus, you'll find it advantageous to bring a Daeusite with you. Having someone onboard with connections to the group you're talking with gives you better results. If you're a rogue with a +20 diplomacy, they'll talk with you--but it's not in their interests to provide full disclosure. The same if you were asking around the Arcanists'.
...and so on. Any character may do any of these things. Especially by working with others.
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. |
Developing an interest or 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. In addition, all of these concepts are possible without sacrificing combat utility.
How can you make these concepts sing? Check out our Legwork Workshop, that talks about exactly these issues. ...and how to rock at legwork...even with "only 2 skill points per level."
What does Legwork Get Me?
- Involvement in plots
- Behind the scenes information
- Greater character development
...and more! Remember, a final combat may only be 10% of the adventure. This is more and more true the higher level you go.
Things Not to Do
- Forget that Tenebrae is a team game.
- 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).
- 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. This actually means that legwork can shift the advantage towards creativity and connections in many cases.