Plot points can be used during the adventure to make something go your way. For example, you cold ensure you hit with a single crucial attack, or cut a rope with your bow shot. A falling rock might hinder your opponent, whatever you can think of. All plot point usage is subject to DM approval or modification. More examples when I get time. For now, use them and see what happens. You earn more with each adventure, the more you post, the more you earn.

Plot Points:

Plot points have been nebulously defined at best so far in our game, and here I am trying to set down some rules to guide their use. Please be tolerant of the continued development. I am trying to find a balance between proper use and improper use, and give clear guidelines for Players.

These rules are intended to ENCOURAGE use of Plot Points by providing notice of the guidelines I will be using to judge them. If you know how they will be judged, you may be more likely to use them.

USES SO FAR: Bibi used a plot point to control the magic of her druidic amulet, making it change her horse's size. Blade used one in order to have stolen a sword from Bruce. Humphrey used one to make Snurre fail his saving throw against a Geas spell.

INTENDED USES: The idea behind plot points was to allow players the chance to take some minor control over forces outside their characters. They are meant to be used to change some minor aspect of a scene, or make some minor event happen. The idea is that you write it out, and what you write basically happens if you spend a plot point.

Plot points are intended to be used more in the story sense than in the combat sense. They are not intended to be relied on to win fights. They are for story development purposes, so the player can control the plot and setting a little more than usual. Bibi's plot point use with her horse was a model use. Keith's theft of Bruce's sword, though it caused a little contention, was also a good use. It would have been model if Bruce had not been a PC. Be careful using Plot Points to deal with PCs. If you think it would be unfair for someone else to do it to you, then don't do it to them--because it just might happen.

Plot points can easily be used to disrupt the storyline, and such uses have to be monitored. The DM must therefore retain absolute veto or alteration power over Plot Points. Plot Points can't make large plot changes (like, "I use a plot point to make Bibi find the Obsidian Stone lying in the grass somewhere..."). That would radically alter the storyline, and would be vetoed.

Likewise, using a plot point to avoid a major encounter or climax or decision is not allowed. These are SUPPOSED to be struggles, and using plot points to directly obviate the struggle is not allowed. For example, if the encounter with Snurre were the Final Battle of the module, Bry's plot point usage (if it worked the way he wanted) would have basically skipped the climax of the whole story. That would not be allowed.

I stated that plot points can be used to ensure success in a single action. Brian's use caused Snurre to fail a save. These are not quite the same thing, though they are damn near. Ensuring that your arrow hits the Statue in its open mouth to trigger a lever or something is different than ensuring a hit with your Death Touch Sword, or ensuring that your enemy fails a save. Using plot points to directly counter or harm your enemy is frowned upon, and will be judged more strictly than other uses. If the situation is not critical, the use will usually be allowed. The more critical the situation, the more strictly Plot Points are regulated. The crisis moments are the whole point of the stories, and Players are not encouraged to solve the crises using Plot Points. That said, if you have a great idea to win the battle and it requires a Plot Point, at least suggest your idea, and if it is story-grounded, it is more likely to be allowed. Grounding the Plot Point use in the existing story makes any use more likely to be approved.

Use of Plot Points should always be accompanied by written description of the desired effects. Players should write out what they want to happen, as though they were DM for a moment. If the use is allowed, their description will be posted (or altered as necessary and posted).

Please don't ever say, "I use a plot point to avoid death." It won't work. Note however that if you used them wisely, they could effectively save you from death. Just not directly.

No using Plot Points to avoid side effects of magic items, etc., unless there is excellent story justification.

Comments to these guidelines are requested and welcome. Keith, you probably have links to other rules for plot points. If so, you could post them, with a thorough discussion comparing my rules and contrasting them with the ones you know of. HAHAHA!