Hi folks,

I am confused on the rules to generate either a Lustful Directed Trait or an Amor towards Ygraine, on pg 50 of the GPC (Year 490).

Mostly due to the example given as it seems opposite of what I would think. I've been thinking about this for so long now that I can't seem to clearly see what I am to do here (not that I could to begin with, but the waters are now even muddier!)

Roll Lustful first, and if successful, receive Dir. Trait equal to the number of points by which he succeeded.

So if my Lustful is 10, and I roll a 9, does this result in a Dir. Trait of +1? Shouldn't this be flipped around so that if you succeed, the Dir. Trait is equal to the roll? i.e. in this example it becomes +9.

Consider 2 knights, Lustful 19 on 1 knight and Lustful 2 on another. They both roll, the first rolls an 18, the second rolls a 1. From interpreting the Dir. Trait workings in the book, they both receive the same +1 Lustful (Ygraine). Yet the first knight rolled a much higher 'success' than the second. Or alternatively, the first knight rolls a 1, he has rolled the same as the second knight, yet is his Dir. Trait now 19-1 = +18?

What would happen if a player rolls a critical success? +20 Lustful?

Then moving on to Amor, further confusion, A knight who fails this (Lustful) roll must then make a Chaste roll or gain an Amor (Ygraine) passion....

The confusion here is the use of the 'or' within that sentence, which contradicts the example workings to follow. I interpret above as, if the knight succeeds at his Chaste roll, then he receives no Amor.

If he does not succeed at Chaste, then he does receive an Amor (the 'or' kicks in).

But then, the calculation to determine the resulting Amor figure, is based off succeeding at Chaste (?!) and is equal to the number of points by which he succeeded at his roll.

So 2 knights, Chaste 19 on the first, Chaste 2 on the second, both roll 1's. The first Knight now has an Amor (Ygraine) or 18? And the second knight an Amor of 1? So the super uber Chaste chap is now completely infatuated, despite having a very high success on his trait roll?

I feel I am confusing the rules here somewhat, and can't wrap my head around how this is meant to work. Help!

edit: fixed bold/underline fumble

There are two very simple answers to your question.

First off, if you're the GM, then do it the way it makes sense to you. Don't feel like you have to do everything exactly like it is written down in the book. If you want a record of how you did it, then just write it down somewhere (noting it in the margin works just fine if it's your book).

If you're not the GM (why are you reading the book?), then just ask how it's supposed to go.

Now honestly, the group I was playing with did have the problem with critting that you mentioned (Chaste instead of Lustful). The GM ruled that he gained an Amor (Igraine) Passion equal to his Chaste.

Personally, I understand your confusion. I think I prefer your take on the situation where the higher you roll the greater your Directed Trait. That being said, I think you're right in your example where both knights got a Directed Trait of +1.

Thanks Marcus, yes I am the GM (!), and yes I think I have made more of this than I needed to.

I use this forum and responses for validation where I have a crisis with my own interpretation of a rule.

I will doodle with some more numbers and see if I can just get it to work so it fits right with me.

We have a party with one knight with extreme Chaste (18), two Brit Pagans with high Lustful, and the rest middle of the road, so I expect a variety of results either next or the following session when this crops up, and want to make sure I work it correctly.

Cheers!

Would Adore (Ygraine) be more suitable to use in place of Amor (Ygraine), or is that passion specific to Guenever (as Admire is to Lancelot)?

What if the knight were to fumble his Lustful on viewing Ygraine? Automatic Amor (or Adore) gained equal to... er, what?

Or perhaps, still roll Chaste but at +10, or some other plus!

I do think that both Adore and Amor Passions are inappropriate for the era. I would not allow neither passion in my game until much later in the game. I'd just use a Lustful directed trait, or just ignore the whole thing.