my idea for the wincon was a merit random system based on damage dealt to the guardian

this is fine, but it might lead to people keeping the guardian alive for as long as possible, which would unnecessarily prolong the dynasty. also like I said in my comment on Horrors of War, there’s nothing preventing health from going below zero so you should either set the minimum to zero or say “If the Guardian is at 0 or below 0 health”

what are you thinking of in terms of gathering Soul?

EEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 🎺🎺🎺

Why isn’t health non-negative? That seems silly.

I’ve made edits. Nothing to say on gathering soul at this stage, the proposal can stand as it is and be a framework to build off of

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I understand how this rule will ever actually trigger.

The rule activates at or below 0 health, but unless there’s a rule made that describes events as the Guardian spontaneously stubbing its toe 50,000 times and dying by accident, I’m not sure how it will ever reach that health value without falling afoul of your (and Jumble’s) stated desire to vote against all banal violence framings.

Can you really not envisage a way to reduce health without a violence framing?

That is quite surprising to me. A health number is just a metaphor; it can be reduced as part of whatever mechanic you like.

I think that the violence framing is banal because it limits the mechanical operation space; a punch action reduces heath by x, a kick by y, grind until done.

Why not have the guardian be fuelled by optimism, and have their health drop once a week based on the ambient nihilism in each location?

This is exactly why I think that a route-one violence mindset is flattening.

Okay, that does make sense.