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Court of Law Trial

Environments Designed by Jeffery Estes [Moderator] • Art by https://picryl.com/media/salemwitchcrafttrial-large-454b2c
Tier
2
Type
Event
Difficulty
14
Impulses
Mea Culpa Kangaroo Court Objection Strike from the record Expose contradiction Enforce decorum Sway Judgement

Environment overview

A formal legal proceeding where truth, deception, and influence shape the verdict

Potential adversaries

Surprise Witness Obscure Legal Precedent Effective Argument Unsupported Claims

Features

Passives

passive
  • The Trial

    Track the proceedings with two clocks: For The Defense (8) and For The Prosecution (8).
    When a PC makes an action roll to influence the court (Presence, Knowledge, or Instinct):
    • Critical Success: Defense +2
    • Success with Hope: Defense +1
    • Success with Fear: Defense +1, Prosecution +1
    • Failure with Hope: No advancement
    • Failure with Fear: Prosecution +1
    When a clock fills:
    • Defense: Verdict favors the party
    • Prosecution: Verdict goes against them

    Questions
    • What detail draws the judge’s attention?
    • What argument changes the room?
  • Discovery

    If the party prepared evidence or witnesses, their first 2 rolls have advantage. Otherwise, the GM gains 1 Fear.

    Questions
    • What did the party uncover before the trial began?
  • Burden of Proof

    Unsupported claims are made with disadvantage.
    Supported claims are made with advantage.

    Questions
    • What missing proof weakens the case?
  • Judicial Bias

    Place 3 tokens on this feature.
    Remove a token when the party impresses the court. Add a token when they upset the court (max 6, min 0)
    • 0 tokens: Next defense roll has advantage
    • 6 tokens: Advance the Prosecution clock by 1
    Clear tokens at the end of the trial.

    Questions
    • What bias shapes the judge’s rulings?

Actions

action
  • Crowd Pressure

    Spend Fear to escalate the courtroom.
    • 1 Fear: A PC has disadvantage on their next roll, a PC marks 1 Stress, or add 1 Bias token
    • 2 Fear: Advance the Prosecution clock by 1 or introduce a new witness or evidence

    Questions
    • What causes the crowd to react?

Reactions

reaction
  • Objection

    Trigger: Testimony or evidence is presented
    Roll Presence or Knowledge (14)
    • Success: Negate the action
    • Failure: Prosecution +1

    Questions
    • What flaw do they expose?
  • Rules of Decorum

    Trigger: A PC breaks legal protocol
    Mark 1 Stress or advance the Prosecution clock.

    Questions
    • What action draws the judge’s warning?

About this environment

“A charged courtroom where law, politics, and hidden agendas clash beneath a veneer of order.”

This environent uses three clocks to track the process from Start to Finish.
1- Pretrial/Discover
2- Defense
3- Prosecution

Court of Law Trial

Tier 2 Event

A formal legal proceeding where truth, deception, and influence shape the verdict

Impulses: Mea Culpa, Kangaroo Court, Objection, Strike from the record, Expose contradiction, Enforce decorum, Sway Judgement

Difficulty: 14

Potential Adversaries: Surprise Witness, Obscure Legal Precedent, Effective Argument, Unsupported Claims

Features

The Trial - Passive: Track the proceedings with two clocks: For The Defense (8) and For The Prosecution (8). When a PC makes an action roll to influence the court (Presence, Knowledge, or Instinct): • Critical Success: Defense +2 • Success with Hope: Defense +1 • Success with Fear: Defense +1, Prosecution +1 • Failure with Hope: No advancement • Failure with Fear: Prosecution +1 When a clock fills: • Defense: Verdict favors the party • Prosecution: Verdict goes against them
  • What detail draws the judge’s attention?
  • What argument changes the room?
Discovery - Passive: If the party prepared evidence or witnesses, their first 2 rolls have advantage. Otherwise, the GM gains 1 Fear.
  • What did the party uncover before the trial began?
Burden of Proof - Passive: Unsupported claims are made with disadvantage. Supported claims are made with advantage.
  • What missing proof weakens the case?
Judicial Bias - Passive: Place 3 tokens on this feature. Remove a token when the party impresses the court. Add a token when they upset the court (max 6, min 0) • 0 tokens: Next defense roll has advantage • 6 tokens: Advance the Prosecution clock by 1 Clear tokens at the end of the trial.
  • What bias shapes the judge’s rulings?
Crowd Pressure - Action: Spend Fear to escalate the courtroom. • 1 Fear: A PC has disadvantage on their next roll, a PC marks 1 Stress, or add 1 Bias token • 2 Fear: Advance the Prosecution clock by 1 or introduce a new witness or evidence
  • What causes the crowd to react?
Objection - Reaction: Trigger: Testimony or evidence is presented Roll Presence or Knowledge (14) • Success: Negate the action • Failure: Prosecution +1
  • What flaw do they expose?
Rules of Decorum - Reaction: Trigger: A PC breaks legal protocol Mark 1 Stress or advance the Prosecution clock.
  • What action draws the judge’s warning?

Discussion

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