Pulp Alley: Hidden to whom?

[WuZhuiQiu]

In Pulp Alley, if a formerly hidden character is spotted by one opponent's character, is it revealed to all characters of that opponent? All characters of all opponents? If the latter, then hiding would not seem very worthwhile...

[gary42]

I would play it that he is only targetable by the guy who saw him but that's not official:)

[dinohunterpoa]

I would play it that he is only targetable by the guy who saw him but that's not official:)

Agree... unless the guys have a way to spread the news, like radios and such... 

[gary42]

"He's over there!"
"Where?"
"THERE!"
"I can't see 'im..."
"Follow my fing..." BLAM!
"Oh!  There he is!"

[dinohunterpoa]

"He's over there!"
"Where?"
"THERE!"
"I can't see 'im..."
"Follow my fing..." BLAM!
"Oh!  There he is!"

 

[d phipps]

We treat "hidden" as a all or nothing sort of thing. It is one of the few things we always used counters to mark (tiny black pebbles). So for us, a character is either hiding or they are not. All or nothing.

... If the latter, then hiding would not seem very worthwhile...

I agreed 100%. By design, hiding is not intended to be particularly easy or useful.

In our own scenarios, we may have a character go into hiding maybe once out of four or five games. And that fits with the fast paced style of games that we enjoy.

If a character wants to be good at hiding then they can, but you'll have to commit some ability slots to it. Otherwise, most characters won't be very good at hiding.


Occasionally, we like to change things up. In our Spy Alley games the Spy usually counts as being hidden until the alarm is raised, and other special scenario rules. So please feel free to make adjustments that fit your style.

Anyhoo, that is how we play it.

[WuZhuiQiu]

But think of the ninja! 

[gary42]

But think of the ninja! 

Yah Dave!  Ninja!

[WuZhuiQiu]

Even with an ability, it doesn't seem very useful. I like the idea of using stealth and avoiding conflict, except in self-defence (or ambush?), but there wouldn't seem to be many ways of building leagues or characters that would work like that.

[Wolf Girl]

Even with an ability, it doesn't seem very useful. I like the idea of using stealth and avoiding conflict, except in self-defence (or ambush?), but there wouldn't seem to be many ways of building leagues or characters that would work like that.

We play Pulp Alley a lot so we see lots and lots of different leagues. Some work and some don't but they are almost always fun to try. 

Probably one of the most common ways players try the old "avoid combat" scheme is to heavily favor Dodge boosting abilities. This plays nicely into the ninja idea and also works good when there are lots of perils/bursts. For another fun non-Stealth way to represent a "combat avoider", give Harmless a try.

As for truly Stealth based characters, I've found them useful against combat (Shoot/Brawl) based leagues because they usually have low cunning - if you know what I mean.   

[Menelduir]

Even with an ability, it doesn't seem very useful. I like the idea of using stealth and avoiding conflict, except in self-defence (or ambush?), but there wouldn't seem to be many ways of building leagues or characters that would work like that.

So Mr Scorpion Tong, we meet again...
Maybe you can try out some of these ideas the next time we meet.


By the book stealthy                        
League Name:   Ninja Warriors Sneak (A)                  
                        
Leader
Health   Brawl    Shoot    Dodge    Might    Finesse    Cunning   
d10       2D8      N/A       4D10      3D10    4D10       3D10   
Abilities   Summary                     
Commander [4]                        
Stealthy [2]                        
Cloud Minds [4]                        

4 x Allies                         
Health    Brawl      Shoot        Dodge       Might      Finesse        Cunning   
D6        ***         ***           4d6           d6            4d6           d6   
Abilities   Summary                     
Sly [1]                        
Stealthy [2]   

or for more versatility      

4 x Allies
Health   Brawl    Shoot   Dodge    Might     Finesse     Cunning   
d6        ***      ***           3d6        2d6     3d6             2d6   
Abilities   Summary                      
Sly [1]                        
Stealthy [2]   
                        
League Perks Companions, Shape shifters, Animal, Short Range (or some other 1 point perk)

They can then use shape shifter to convert to a combat mode when they need to attack
As shape shifter is a perk they could in theory convert back, as the 'new' attack form could also have shape shifter. (If I remember correctly)

For example
         
Leader
Health         Brawl         Shoot      Dodge      Might      Finesse       Cunning
D10            3D10          3D10      3D10        3D8        2D8            2D10
Abilities                  
Commander [4]               
Quick-Strike [3]                     
Quick-Witted [3]                     
                     
Ally 1 Brawler        
Health       Brawl        Shoot        Dodge      Might        Finesse      Cunning 
d8             3D8          N/A           N/A          3D8          N/A           N/A
Abilities                     
Mindless [1]                     
Big [2]                      
                     
Ally 2 Brawler
Health       Brawl          Shoot      Dodge       Might        Finesse     Cunning
d6             4D6            N/A         4D6          D6            D6            D6
Abilities                  
Fierce [1]                     
Agile [1]                  
                     
Ally 3 Shooter
Health               Brawl        Shoot               Dodge       Might        Finesse       Cunning
d6                     D6            3D6                 2D6           D6            2D6           D6
Abilities                  
Marksman [1]                  
Agile [1]                     
                     
Ally 4 shooter
Health         Brawl         Shoot             Dodge       Might      Finesse        Cunning
d6               N/A           3D6                3D6          D6          D6              2D6
Abilities                  
Brainy [1]                     
Marksman [1]                     
                     
I wrote this up this morning then saw Mila's post.
I like the idea of 'harmless' to simulate stealth. It allows for quick movement, limits attacks against you, but will not allow contact, but that might not be a bad thing. Always trade offs!
Again with 'shape shifter' you can change from a non combatant to a combatant as an action or if starting in contact, so it all depends on how you plan to play the league. 

Many different ways to approach the same goal, that is what makes the game go great!

[gary42]

Shapeshifter to change to a combat character.  Genius.

[FramFramson]

"The job of ninjas is to flip out and kill people"

[dinohunterpoa]

All about the Ninja trope:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NINJA

[WuZhuiQiu]

Thanks, Wolf Girl and Menelduir! @Menelduir, would that be shape-shifting once in each direction? Anyway, I could just imagine a procession of "harmless" komuso walking up to a plot point...