Chuubo's Marvelous Wish Granting Engine

3 July 2016: 8pm Friday: Chuubo

• GM: M. P. Sullivan
• Matthew Aaron: Aubrey Maturin: Inventor! Of! Tomorrow!
• Me: Bahira Bilal: Spirit Witch
• Brenan Taylor: Cleophe Carcossa: Vampire Princess
• Robyn Slough: Niko Anti

This is likely to be light on details due to a combination of my exhaustion and the difficulty of writing up a gentle pastoral of a session.

The GM welcomed us all in with several varieties of tea and cookies, saying that this wasn't going to have the pacing of the typical convention scenario. It would be light and player driven, and pastoral. There wouldn't be any endings as this was a game designed to be played over multiple sessions. And he invited us to take the time to be a little more still and leisurely.

I'm not sure about the no endings bit. I mean, yes, in terms of what Chuubo is intended to do, that's correct. We played the equivalent of, perhaps, a chapter in mechanical terms. But, it didn't feel like we ended in the middle. It felt a little like a Miazaki movie, which is exactly the sort of experience Chuubo promises, and it felt like a story, with a beginning, middle, and end, even if it wasn't the usual type of convention gaming story.

The tea and cookies and the introduction helped us get our minds in the quieter space ideal for this sort of game. It also helped that the GM had player packs for each of the four PCs.

Chuubo has a lot of moving parts, and I can't say I learned much about how they interact and how to gm the game. But, I didn't have to. I had a laminated set of sheets that told me all that I did need to know in order to play.

Chuubo is a diceless game, and the action is all driven by the players. This matched what I remembered when Josh ran a short Chuubo campaign for me, Avram Grumer, Nunzio Thron, and Alden Strock. That campaign eventually foundered, as, while we were having fun, it didn't seem quite as tied to the system as it should have been, and I think eventually, the disconnect was more than we wanted to deal with. That wasn't the case here, though.

The GM used the default setting of Town, I think. Or perhaps it was Horizon? That was a city made by a vampire who really liked Victorian London and wanted it for his own. My notes say that folks wanted a sun again, so "vampire king drove away" -- I think this means that they drove away the vampire king who created the city, but they didn't drive away all vampires. Certainly, the city had many vampires, ghost, and so on, as well as humans.

All of the PCs were teenagers attending school. The school was the largest building in Horizon. I'm not sure if it was Night School or if there was a Night School within the larger school. Certainly, Night School was for vampires and adults wanting to get a higher education.

It was the Last Day of School. At night, there would be the Star Festival.

Each character had a bond. The player brought these into play -- this mechanic was totally and completely player driven.

• Aubrey Maturin: Must explain in the most complicated elocution
• Bahira Bilal: Spirit Interpreter
• Cleophe Carcossa: Must help someone bullied or threatened
• Niko Anti: Play fair

These are promises from you to the universe.

Afflictions: Promises from universe to you:

• Niko Anti: Bishonen. Must always be attractive.
• Cleophe Carcossa: Scion of Noble Family: Always recognized by vampires
• Bahira Bilal: Walking key to the door between this world and the spirit world
• Aubrey Maturin: Never alone

Arcs are more general for a 1 shot. My notes say, "Binding stories deal with power manipulation and learning to live with stuff", but I'm not sure of the context of this.

Another player driven mechanic is Emotion XP. You get this if your in character actions get a player OOC reaction of a particular type, possibly expressed as a gesture.

• Niko Anti: Putting my faith in you
• Cleophe Carcossa: Fist shaking (over the top)
• Bahira Bilal: Thumbs up (it will be all right)
• Aubrey Maturin: Offering comfort

Everyone has 2 quests, 1 generic and 1 personal. Bahira had "Between Two Worlds" and something I can't quite decipher in my notes. (I can make out "Training", but there was something in front of it.)

There were three questions for each PC. If I read my notes correctly:

First question:

What was Aubrey's first invention? An automatic pencil sharpener to sharpen a pencil _while_ writing. Aubrey probably spends more time fixing it than sharpening a pencil the normal way would take.

What did Cleophe steal from the Vampire King? His favorite slippers.

What does Niko want to bring home for his sister? A silk dress.

Second question:

Question unknown, but answer: Aubrey's sketch book, a massive tome.

My notes say "Sheen = name of Bahira's spirit companion", but I think the actual question was "What is Bahira's favorite part of the city?" A small grove in a public park -- generally kinda quiet.

Cleophe's question unknown, but answer: She has a Pristine 1967 Vespa Spirit -- a moped. Also known as The Fun Wagon or The Fun Mobile.

Niko: What music describes the way Niko plays sports? We Are the Champions

Third question:

Aubrey: What character do you talk to when you're having problems? Cleophe, who's sort of his polar opposite.

Bahira: Same question, I think: Aubrey, cuz he can keep talking, and I don't have to say anything.

Cleophe: Who's caught your eye? Niko, obviously, but Niko's caught _everyone's_ eye, so Aubrey has it now. He's smart; that's cute.

Niko: Who is your chief rival at school? Aubrey.

Cleophe was rebellious vampire princess.

Cleophe: I am the awful ray of sunshine you'll find in the night!

Bahira was in the school library, which was huge. Every wall had a ladder attached. Sheen was with her, and she was studying, even though it was the last day of school. She wanted to set up summer goals.

She heard a whispering with no visible source and startled. The GM took her reaction as the starting point for defining what was whispering and why.

Sheen, a flame-colored weasel, scuttled out.

Sheen: Are you okay?

Spirit: Bahira Bilal!

Bahira: ...uh huh?

Spirit: You encroach on worlds uninvited.

Bahira: I'm just in the library.

As the spirit menaced her, she formed an Intention to defend herself and Sheen. An Intention is mechanical and starts at the appropriate skill level, which was 3 for Bahira's spirit magic. Intentions can be boosted by Will, and I think everyone had 8 Will. Folks could spend 1, 2, 4, or 8 points at a time.

Bahira created a shield. The menacing spirit curled around the shield like smoke -- and disappeared. Bahira got a thumbs-up reaction from the GM.

Aubrey was in the library as well. Bahira went to him and told him what had just happened. Aubrey was fascinated about this whole spirit and walking key business.

Aubrey: So, tell me what that's like.

He took out his notebook. I threw in a token, signifying that I thought Bahira's scene was done, and the spotlight could fade out on her and illuminate someone else.

The camera panned down the hall to the pool, where Niko was. Niko's Intention?

Niko: I'm the best -- they already know that.

Niko just wanted to play his best and have a good game _with_ the team, not show off. I think the default was 4 points for this Intention, and Niko stuck with it.

Somewhere around here, I think I dozed. Cleophe went to Aubrey.

Cleophe: Aubrey! Aubrey! School's out for summer!

She wanted to go for a ride with him. My notes say that the fought off just a little bit of a tear, but not why.

Aubrey (I think): Okay, let's go for a ride.

I gather that the rest of Niko's team fell in love with Cleophe. She decided that Aubrey was too self-concerned and showed him the sunset. He drew it, and they shared a moment, which is a big thing in Chuubo.

By now, everyone had had a scene and then faded. There were two full turns per chapter so we were halfway through a chapter.

At this point my notes get more confusing.

I forget the context of this:

Oh -- Did you want the book? That's too bad -- not that you're graduating, I mean. Someone got a token at this point.

At this point, my notes say:

Setting Bonds (Principles)*
Genre Afflictions (Connections)*
Character Bonds trump them.

Also, Cleophe had or would acquire a mask that was a perfect disguise, BUT because of her Affliction would still be recognized as a vampire by the other vampires.

My notes also say: "*Refresh or give you bonuses as 2", and I don't recall what that meant.

In the next scene, Cleophe was at home, getting ready for the star festival. She had been dreaming about Bahira B walking all alone in another part of the city, wandering underground streets, and then, slowly, many eyes opened, peering at her.

Cleophe lived in a giant castle in the middle of city. In the vampiric equivalent of being a rebellious punk rocker, she had painted her room a bright yellow, and she had a butterfly mobile.

Someone (as a vampire): Like, we'd understand -- if you pulled the _wings_ off.

There was a knock at her door.

Cleophe: Who is it?

Vampire King: It's your father, the King of Vampires.

And her father came in.

Cleophe: Your Majesty!

And she bowed with a flourish, which the player described as a "vampire f*ck you".

Cleophe's father was in a dayrobe over his pajamas, having just woken up. Being the King of Vampires, he was, of course, still wearing a half cape.

Vampire King: Cleophe, were you out half the day again?

Cleophe: It's fun!

Vampire King: Whatever shall I do with you, Cleophe?

Cleophe: I suppose live forever so I don't become a vampire queen.

Her Intention (and subtext): Leave me alone, Dad.

I think the skill used was her moped skill, which was 2, allowing her to accomplish the task, with a tangible effect.

Vampire King: Oh, if your mother were here --

Cleophe: Don't even!

Vampire King: You're so terribly like her, Cleophe.

And he walked off barefoot down the hall. This, like the sunset, was very much a shared reaction.

Bahira went into Monster Town.

Bahira's thought balloon: What am I supposed to apologize _for_, and who am I supposed to apologize _to_?

Monster Town was almost a second city unto itself, a bit like Gunnerkriegg Court, I think. Spirits were running into Monster City, not unlike rodents, puzzling Bahira, I think. My notes say that some larger spirits were equally puzzled.

Aubrey was with Bahira. He was using his Deviant Science to make a Spirit Detector!

Aubrey: But they all run away before I detect them!

His relevant skill was 3 and he added 2 points of Will for a total of 5.

Bahira: Are they running away from me?

Aubrey: This is an echo detector -- it helps me see the spirits.

Bahira: But -- they don't echo.

She saw a spirit jelly fish.

Jelly Fish: Hi! It's amazing to meet you!

Bahira: Me? I'm just a student.

Jelly Fish: You're not _just_ anything.

I think Sheen may have seconded that, or at least put in an appearance. The jelly fish explained to Bahira that some of the spirits, the ones running into Monster Town, I think, were afraid of the stars, which I think the jelly fish explained was basically being afraid of change.

Bahira: How do I help them?

Jelly Fish: That's a good question.

And on that note, I decided it was a good point for Bahira to fade.

Aubrey wandered deeper into Monster Town, and I think we cut next to Cleophe's scene.

GM: What does her dress look like?

Cleophe: Amazing.

Me: Fairy princess?

Cleophe's Player: Yes! On her moped.

My notes mention a star straining down the street. I'm not sure that isn't a typo -- perhaps Cleophe on her moped looked like a star streaking down the street or stars were raining down on the street?

GM: -- and Aubrey walks right in front of you!

Cleophe: OMG!

Aubrey walked head down, book in one hand, detector in the other hand.

Aubrey: It worked!

Cleophe: What is it?

Aubrey: It helped me see the spirits, in a matter of speaking.

Bahira and the jelly fish watched this.

Jelly Fish: Somebody needs to watch out for that boy.

Bahira: I'll try.

To Bahira's surprise, Cleophe _hugged_ her. Bahira hugged Cleophe back.

Bahira: You look lovely!

Cleophe: Thanks -- that's so nice!

Cleophe pulled out her makeover kit. Bahira looked from it to Aubrey.

Bahira: I think he needs it more than I.

Cleophe: Oh I agree. Aubrey, come here!

Aubrey was so distracted by all of this and his spirit detector that his sketch book got left behind -- or stolen. A wicked sly spirit snaked over, turned to shadow, and plucked book, taking it, or perhaps somehow tucking it into himself.

GM: You want to drag both into the star festival?

Cleophe: Of course! Bahira's getting a makeover too!

And she dragged them onto her moped, and they drove through the star festival, which sounded a lot like the festival of San Genaro or a circus. Everyone tumbled off the moped.

Cleophe: Wheeeeeeeeee!

She dragged Bahira and Niko into the festival and spotted Niko.

Cleophe: Hi, Niko!

And she ran off into the fair.

Niko, looking for a dress for his sister, had a realization.

Niko: Cleophe has excellent taste! I have to find Cleophe!

And he tried to catch up with her, but he wanted to be nice, and not elbow people. The GM agreed -- after all, Niko played a fair and honest game.

Cleophe, of course, ran to a place with musicians and a dance floor. When Niko caught up with her, she was buying coffee and looking great.

Cleophe: Niko!

Niko: So good to see you!

Cleophe: Let's dance!

Niko: No -- I need your help!

He told her about his goal to buy his sister a dress.

Cleophe: You came to the right place! Come on!

And she pulled him after her on the quest for the perfect dress!

Aubrey and Bahira (looking after them): So...

There was a slight digression here as the GM explained that Town exists on the edge of every body of water ever imagined. If you get lost at sea, in any period, you could wash up here.

Cleophe learned that it had been five years since Niko had last seen his sister.

Niko: I just want to get her something that will make her feel special.

Cleophe: We'll make her feel the specialest yet!

And I think each got a point, Cleophe for being Over the Top and Niko for Stepping Up for His Sister. And a Montage of Dresses followed.

By now, everyone had had two scenes and thrown in 2 tokens. We had reached the end of a chapter. And, my notes say we got 2 xp for playing in scenes.

The GM talked briefly about Issues, otherwise known as "really short quests". These were:

• Bahira: Mystery
• Niko: You Are Not Alone / Trust
• Cleophe: Hero: More to You than This
• Aubrey: Complex

Or so my notes tell me. They also say:

Don't spend xp on issues
Emotions / Issues -- you can get next level at end of chapter
Rewards generally magical in nature
E.g., 1 Miracle Point

In any case, at this point, all previously formed Intentions were gone and all Will spent on them restored.

We decided that it was time for a denouement, which needed to include the realization that Aubrey's book was missing.

The festival started. All the lights turned out, and the stars blinked into existence. Folks could see everyone by starlight and moonlight. And, it was a quiet city for a moment. Then, there was laughter. A huge party! And the lights came back on.

Niko and Cleophe were standing together when the lights went off.

Cleophe / Cleophe's Thought Balloon: This is the moment I have been waiting for.

She moved closer, putting a hand on Niko's shoulder. This was romantic social trust and vulnerability from the vampire princess.

Cleophe: Beautiful. It's my favorite night of the year.

GM (Giving a token to Niko): I believe that Niko's got game.

Niko by instinct put his arm around Cleophe. The tension in Cleophe's shoulders relaxed. She was looking up at the stars, realizing that she didn't usually get to see this.

And Cleophe's player put in a token. This was a moment my notes described as "Cuddle up, slice of life".

Niko (thinking to himself): Is this me making a friend?

Everyone else was looking up at stars. Aubrey and Bahira were together, and Bahira was talking about what they had seen that night.

Bahira: ...and I know you're gonna write it all down.

And Aubrey moved to do just that -- and realized that his sketchbook was gone!

I think the player earned a token from the audience trying to comfort him, while the character took a deep breath. Then, Aubrey tore down the street in search of his book -- leaving his spirit detecting device on the table next to him.

Aubrey clearly Intended to get the book back and put 4 Will into that -- and rode off on Cleophe's Moped.

Someone: Grand Theft Moped!

Bahira managed to get onto the moped as well. By the time Niko and Cleophe tried to return to their friends, they found just the spirit detecting device -- and Cleophe's moped was gone!

Cleophe gasped, staggered backwards, and sunk in s chair.

GM: Do you give chase?

Cleophe: Yeah, I'm afraid I may actually creep out my boyfriend a bit.

Niko demonstrated trust, taking off his letterman jacket and putting it on Cleophe.

Niko: I know it's not the most fashionable thing -- but it will keep you warm.

Cleophe: You're so sweet. (taking a deep breath) I'm gonna ask you to do something a little bit strange.

Niko: Okay...

Cleophe: Grab onto my shoulders and hold on.

Cleophe's Player: Vampire powers don't _look_ natural, and when they use them, vampires don't _look_ like a person. It's a little bit freaky.

Cleophe had glowing eyes, fangs, and long fingernails.

Someone: Still has French tips, right?

Cleophe / Cleophe's Player: That's the thing about vampire fingertips. They don't break!

At the Mouth of Undercity, Aubrey pulled up on Cleophe's moped, with Bahira barely holding on.

Bahira: eeeeeeeee!

Spirits (puzzled by the human coming to the undercity when they're having their festival): He has one above, right?

Bahira used her Affliction: Walking Key and 1 Miracle point to bring Aubrey into the spirit world. He could now see it all at once, spirit and human. The spirits were living their lives.

Aubrey / Aubrey's Player: At any other moment in time, this would be a moment I'd subject to scientific study -- but I cannot care right now.

Ironically, Bahira was talking to Aubrey and telling him all about the world unfolding around them. My notes say, "Picture of sort of big whirlwind with little dots under it, perhaps a smaller person following?"

Cleophe and Niko landed at the Undercity. They were seeing the two worlds together, something Niko had not seen before. Cleophe was looking normal again.

Cleophe: I hope that's... okay.

Niko:...Sure. That was new.

Cleophe: I try not to do that too often. It's a little scary.

And she put faith in him. Well, technically, I suppose, the player put faith in Niko, as it's supposed to be an OOC reaction, but this is the sort of moment where it seems to a PC reaction more than a player reaction.

Niko: But it could be useful.

Cleophe: Sometimes it is -- my Dad likes it.

Aubrey's player noted that Aubrey's Affliction was Never Alone -- always encounter a friend.

Cleophe's Player: And here they all are!

There was a bustling market in the Undercity, selling Tokens of the Mortal World. You know, televisions and so on.

GM: Strange fish -- or -- your book.

Yes, there was a ne'er do well smoky gray skin spirit hunched over a card table. On the table were:

• Watches
• Car Keys
• Knick Knacks

GM: And your book.

Aubrey: _My_ book!

I noted two intentions here, I think:

• Scare him away -- probably the sneaky spirit's
• Aubrey: Get Book Back

Cleophe helped, flashing her fangs, her eyes going red.

Aubrey grabbed his book. I think the spirit backed down and he harangued the spirit until Cleophe interrupted.

Cleophe: Aubrey!

Aubrey: What? My book!

Cleophe: You've got it.

Aubrey: ... I do!

And, he told her about the book as the four friends walked out of the market. Cleophe had her hand around Niko's shoulder and was _actually_ listening.

And there we ended.

Afterwards, we talked about the game and Chuubo itself.

Matthew noted that everyone was drifting towards moments of real connection, which, he said, is also a win condition. We all liked the pot of tea to get us in the mood and agreed that it created space for permission to slow down. The GM said that in a lot of games, there is a "rush to drama". While, not necessarily a bad thing in many cases, that doesn't work well with Chuubo's mechanics.

GM: Things get really weird rushing in Chuubo.

If one does melodrama, a la Monsterhearts, where it is totally appropriate, one misses the moments, and those are the heart and soul of Chuubo.

Matthew described the emotional arc as being "more of discovery than overcoming a flaw" and not an arc, but more "emotional discovery".