Riveted RPG - Romance Subplot Rules

Romance Subplot Rules

Phase One - Meeting

• Roll once.
• Success: Proceed to Phase Two.
• Failure: The subplot ends.

Phase Two - Challenge

• Roll twice.
• Two successes: Progress and proceed to Phase Three with Normal Difficulty.
• One success: Enter a "Will they won't they" state. After a delay, return to Phase One with decreased difficulty.
• No successes: Proceed to Phase Three with increased difficulty.

Phase Three - Conclusion

• Roll three times, with difficulty modifiers based on Phase Two outcomes.
• Three successes: The player chooses the final state of the relationship from Romantic Happy End, Platonic Happy End, No Relationship, or Hostile Relationship.
• Two successes: The GM decides between a Romantic Happy End or a Platonic Happy End.
• One success: The player chooses between a Platonic Happy End, No Relationship, or Hostile Relationship.
• No successes: The GM decides between No Relationship and Hostile Relationship.

Example

Phase One - Success

The player rolls a success in the first phase of the romantic subplot system, which indicates a successful meeting. This initial positive encounter propels the narrative into the Challenge phase with normal difficulty.

Amidst the grandeur of the bustling ballroom, Lady Eleanor first cast her gaze upon the strikingly handsome, ever-so mysterious Mr. Fitzwilliam. Their eyes met, a magnetic pull drawing them inexorably closer. Pleasantries were exchanged, smiles mirrored, and as the orchestra's melody swelled around them, the seeds of mutual attraction were undeniably sown.

Phase Two - One Success

In Phase Two, the player rolls only one success. This partial success indicates the presence of unresolved tension or an external complication in the relationship, transitioning the narrative back to Phase One but now with an Easy Difficulty modifier.

Alas, their blossoming bond was soon tested. Mr. Fitzwilliam's unexpected departure to tend to his estate in the North brought about a sudden halt to their courtship. The distance between them, both physical and emotional, sparked an unspoken question - would their budding affection withstand the test of time and circumstance?

Phase One - Success

Returning to Phase One with Easy Difficulty, the player rolls a success, once again indicating a positive development in the relationship and propelling the narrative forward to Phase Two.

Weeks turned into months, but Lady Eleanor's feelings did not waver. Instead, they grew, fueled by the heartfelt letters exchanged. Her faith in their bond remained steadfast, and when Mr. Fitzwilliam finally returned, their reunion was nothing short of joyous, reigniting the spark that had first ignited in the ballroom.

Phase Two - No Successes

In the repeated Phase Two, the player rolls no successes. This result indicates significant challenges or setbacks, leading to Phase Three with an increased difficulty modifier.

However, upon Mr. Fitzwilliam's return, he was not the same man Lady Eleanor remembered. The affairs of his estate had left him burdened and distant. This unforeseen change cast a shadow over their reunion, and Lady Eleanor found herself wrestling with doubt and uncertainty.

Phase Three - Two Successes

In Phase Three, the player rolls two successes. This indicates that the relationship generally turns out well, but the GM now has the decision between a Romantic Happy End or a Platonic Happy End.

Despite the mounting challenges that seemed determined to pry them apart, Lady Eleanor remained steadfast. A beacon in the storm, she was unyielding in her resolve, providing Mr. Fitzwilliam with a pillar of unwavering strength and affection to lean on. In the face of adversity, she found a courage within herself she had never known, her determination steadfast as the North Star.

GM Decision - Romantic Happy End

The GM, given the decision-making power from the two successes in Phase Three, chooses a Romantic Happy End for the subplot.

As the spring blossoms bloomed, so too did their love. With Lady Eleanor's unwavering support, Mr. Fitzwilliam found his burdens easing. His heart, once heavy, lightened, leaving space for the love he felt for Lady Eleanor. And so, under the gaze of a thousand stars, he proposed, sealing their story with a romantic happy ending they both deserved.