So I'm considering House Rules, and I've come up with one that I want to poke at:

1) The rule of limited resources in Amber.

I talk a lot about how Amber gaming isn't about limiting your resources; you have your lower hierarchy of needs taken care of, you have jabs in the second level, but now you have the opportunity to take care of the kinds of things that can only come of interacting with other people. So why limit any resources?

The resources I limit are threefold:
Time, Trump, and Personal Energy.

Time

Time is limited and it only moves forward. Personally, it has to be an awesome time travel story for me to be interested, and there's just not enough awesome out there. "Fast Time" and "Slow Time" shadows are wearing on a person - the form is based on a Pattern-norm. Enough of either and you can age your form past your recuperative capabilities.

Trump

Trump must be created: it cannot just be "found," although Trump-like magics certainly exist in Shadow. I have reasons for this in every world I develop. Part of the problem is that they're a pure reflection of the crossroads of Time and Personal Energy, just like any other unique magic. What's Dworkin's secret? He doesn't have to invest his Personal Energy into Trumps.

Personal Energy

Which isn't to say that this isn't the best reason in the world that Endurance is the Most Important Attribute, but Personal Energy is what powers most things of interest. It's most of what we play out. So I have no compunction looking at someone and saying, "Shame you didn't buy up in Endurance. You can do it, but it will take Time, and it will take Time to recover your Personal Energy."

Why limit these? Because they create conflicts that interest me as GM to give to the players to get the most out of their players. "You have limited time, and energy for maybe one more spell before the demon eats your face. How are you going to spend it?"

Is, "Looking for more time," an Awesome Answer? Only if it's what the Players really want to do.

Thoughts?

After catching Princess Elaine and Prince Haven in a state of scandalous flagrante (by which we mean, being flagrantly scandalous? Or flagrantly disobedient?) King Oberon chose to exile the two of them to "a place of his choosing." He was remarkably calm, even after Prince Haven scored a mark on him. Prince Haven and Princess Elaine were flung through Shadow into a clearing somewhere near a road of smooth yellow brick. The King called for the execution of his wife, Lora, presumably to raise "a more obedient generation." Prince Morombath was given leave to follow up his duties in a place of repose. Instead, he followed his instincts (and, incidentally, a lover) to Chaos, where he became the guest of Duke Isaac "the Silver-Tongued" and Isaac's lover, Duke Trahern of Celestine City.

Time Passes. The son of the Lord of the Moonriders Akonisho and his siege against Rebma is broken by the Baronness Calypso. He disappears, presumed dead. What Princess Elaine and Prince Haven were supposed to be doing for Rebma was accomplished by Prince Thomas of Celestine City, who also disappears after the fight.

The Unicorn has not been seen in Amber in over a century.

In the official history, the King's next wife, Rilga, has a son, Xavan the Misfortunate. Rilga and Oberon have many falling-outs, and she spends more time away from the Castle than in it. Oberon has an affair with Dybele that leads to no children. Rilga leaves Oberon, swearing some form of vengeance. In the meantime, Oberon spends more and more time dallying in Shadow. From one of his dalliances, Prince Bernaise is brought to Amber, to lead the Rangers and other forces Oberon has begun to build in order to better defend his Realm.

Dworkin Trumps Haven to give him the signet ring that marks him as Prince of the City. Haven and Elaine respond in tandem. Dworkin, perplexed as to Elaine's being there, offers her a ring from his own finger as it would be impolite to give Haven a gift without him having more to share. Dworkin says he hopes to see them soon, but leaves quickly. Haven does a little bit of sorcerous poking about the rings, to find that, actually, its better to leave off that poking.

Haven and Elaine subvert the Emerald City to become their personal stately pleasure dome. The (not-so-)Cowardly Lion is left as regent, while they raise an army of elite, if eclectic units in the fast time Shadow of Valdemar.

When alerted by certain measures he had put in place, Dworkin informs Oberon that he believes the King has a son in a place far off near Chaos. The King retrieves this son, Kaathan, a tall noble of the House of the Dragon. Rilga's child. It will be seen if Kaathan is truly of the noble blood. Dworkin thinks there are others Oberon has left scattered, and goes on a quest of his own to consolidate them. After all, war is moving through Shadow. Bernaise and Xavan are brought in to take this strange man's measure.

Prince Morombath is brought in to investigate a strange visitor to Sways, one from a seemingly high-tech shadow, who is confused and alone except for a powerful artifact. The stranger has the Mark of Doom.

Prince Haven's preternatural army is nearing a readiness for war. Soon they can march. He has consulted the Jewel of Sunlight, Ama, who promises her blessing for some of his vampiric troops, in exchange for some of his lifeforce.

In our last session, upon investigation of a strange psychic portal in Prince Haven's bedroom, in Haven and Princess Elaine conspired to have Prince Morombath take a non-consensual journey through it. Strange dreams continue to occur, as has at least one unusual Trump call. Prince Morombath found himself drawn to the Ways of the Sourceress Patricia and Patricia's personal guest (Guest Star: the LintKing!) and granted Courtizan approval of his plan for Revenge. (With a capital R!) The Royal Trio were then summoned to Court to be part of Baronness Calypso's plans, with Prince Haven made Heir to the City, and the Princess Elaine and Prince Moro to be the guests of the Rebman Queen in "assistance against the City of the Sky." After Princess Elaine stormed out in protest of her father's misogyny, the Queen followed begging the Princess to show some restraint. Instead, she and Prince Haven met up to do some Shopping, while Prince Morombath did some more restrained purchasing for the trip. He made it back in time to be escorted to the Komori-Uta Dance Troupe, whereas Princess Elaine and Prince Haven made a spectacle of themselves at Duke Kraig's Rebman-style BBQ. (A joke, a joke, I promise.) They returned together and made quite sure the servants would spread the word that they were last seen in scandalous proximity, if nothing was specified as happening.

The heir to the throne is the Princess Elaine, whose response when King Dad tried to marry her off for political influence was to blackmail him fairly successfully. She's human ranked in Warfare, but first in Endurance, so while she might not catch everything, she's at least awake and alert to handle it. Elaine got a reputation of being a bit of a fashion plate and flirt during the session, as well as having a great deal of eye candy hanging around her. (Lots of play on "pieces of art.") There's a political argument that says whoever she marries will be on the Throne, rather than her, and she seems to be ruining her father's chances for political prowess by playing outside the gentry.

Her brother Morombath ("Moro") is her dramatic opposite. First in Warfare, he's the sneaky sort with connections. If there's a shady deal in town, Moro knows about it and is probably making a profit from it, if not in cash it's pounds of flesh he's getting. King Dad knows a kingdom needs people like this, even if it's not what he's looking for in an heir. He was always chatting with one of his "spies," although he'd probably call them "friends," and they were giving him information. He was also quickly controlling the sources of information, many of them in very deadly fashion.

The other brother was Haven, the sorceror, and a bit of a pyromaniac. He started the game with a bad dream and a sorcerous attack, and it hasn't let up since for him. There's dark magic about, magic from the elements that seem to be protecting them, despite the rumours of goddesses at war, and more primitive magics, such as those of blood and bone. Someone is targeting Elaine and he's the only magician who can stop them.

I've cribbed a bit of shorthand from Imajica and the Darkover series so far, although the serial numbers are filed off pretty well. We've got at least three gems (matrices) of Power wandering around with different affinities, and some very dark deals being made. I want to remind them that promises are power, sometimes especially when they're broken.

A synopsis:

Upon the three of them waking up from disturbing dreams, Prince Moro was approached by a cultist who wished to trade an Artifact in exchange for Family power, while Prince Haven was attacked by sorcerous means. Word got around to a courtier that part of this power was directed at the Princess Elaine, and he lost a scuffle with the Guard trying to get through to warn her. An unusual gem was found in his belongings, and it was given to Prince Haven for investigation. After following up on some leads to other clues, including those of the feuding goddesses, Susuru and Sharra, the Princes and Princess returned to join the Rebman Baroness Calypso's fete, where upon the blue gem was stolen, and the place set upon by fire and water both. His things mostly destroyed, they were told that the lost words of Earth and Air were their only hope. In search of more answers, they greeted the Baroness with a gift of Prince Moro's that had cut Princess Elaine's fingers, and were given a sunlike gem in return that burned Prince Moro's hand. The gem was retrieved by Prince Haven, and Prince Moro was instead given some form of power in return, and a private audience with the Baroness. They returned home without incident, to pick the story up again next Thursday...

Funniest bit from GM's perspective: King Dad's monologue to his son, Prince Haven, about why to stay away from Rebman Women. He finally got to saying, "Just...think of vagina dentata. Don't go there. Stay away from even thinking about their pretty parts. They're poisonous."

Weakest bit from GM's perspective: Queen Mom & King Dad as NPCs. They're not intended to be on stage very long, but they ought to be real people.

I had a lot of fun. It's been a while, and we needed to warm up a bit, especially with the whole diceless idea, but I think this has some good potential and I expect next session to improve.

Parental love is a concept that the ADRPG plays up with the idea that Oberon really didn't love his children, more suggesting that he controlled them, and in fact, was likely to kill their lovers and break up any familial connections if they interfered with his desires (or, if working together, they constituted a threat.) Aloof, perhaps more Unicorn than man, maybe even unable to do more than give his blessing in the end.

I think he loved his children and was able to give that blessing after spending that time with Corwin, seeing that they weren't all fratricides or dangerous incest (thanks Julian!) waiting to happen. That there was nobility in them, despite the deeds (however inspired by his royal majesty himself) that occurred. Of course, I used the "for love of a girl," concept in my Patterns Repeat Themselves: Lightning tale, however twisted the suggestion.

What about the Queens? Clarissa's love of her redheaded cabaltrio may have been their reason to hang together, rather than separately. Did Faiella's love strengthen Corwin for the struggle ahead, and did her absence draw him (however unusually) to Deirdre? Did Dybele love Florimel, or see her as a rival for Oberon's attentions? Did Benedict do all he could for Mother? Or was his refusal to aid her the way his brothers what becomes his "Mark of Doom"?

Love of friends is treated as it usually is. Lord Rein and Bill Roth are "manly pats on the back, maybe hugs" kinds of friends. Corwin does not oath any form of long-term commitment to them, but he does give them gifts, and accepts their service as his due. Retainers, maybe. Does Corwin actually have any friends?

Romantic love is treated differently. Was there pain in Benedict's voice when he talked of his failure to move more swiftly against Lintra? Was it more a "fool me once" pain, a matter of dignity, or of competing strategies, or did he care for her? We know Benedict cared for his servants enough to go after his brother at their death, or is the Master of War left stranded and alone on the battlefield of Love?

Random didn't love Morganthe. That denial brings him pain, not in her death, but in the possibility of losing his son. Is that love for Martin, or a matter of control? Is this Random's weakness? At the same time, can you see Random trying to control Vialle? He doesn't protect her - he leaves her alone with the potential traitor Rinaldo. He thinks she's safe with Corwin, the brutal fellow who should have taken Random's gift of death to a guy who cut them off. (Real Road Rage Gone Regal!) Do we have a love match here, or is there something more sinister?

Dara...ah, yes, Dara. Here's tough love-'em-and-leave-'em Corwin, composing ballads upon Moire's green-curled love muffin (note: that may not be the canon terminology) only to leave her without a "TTFN" from the Pattern she guarded, having regular boffing with Lorraine in false Avalon, and then wandering across this freckled midlife-crisis and falling hard. Or did he just examine his feelings when he found out his roll in the hay came up with a young Chaosian wizard trained to hate him?

And Deirdre? Posing, teasing Deirdre, manipulating Corwin maybe a little more than a little sister should. (Not that Florimel didn't play the coquette once or twice, herself. Maybe that's just a variant on the Family Game.) Did Corwin love her? Or was it an obsession? Did he find analogues of her (was Lorraine one?) throughout Shadow?

Did the love he felt change him? Lorraine gave him shame. Deirdre gave him her namesake: sorrow.

Dara, I think, gave him a strange kind of hope.

If I were to work with love in a campaign, I couldn't ask for better. Shame, sorrow, and the odd piece of hope. All interesting, personal conflicts, and all worth investigating.

Your thoughts?

We were the last ones, and we stood at the edge of the dock, maintaining our stance through practice. There are always times where the water embraces a ship; it is a matter of the crew's skill whether or not She lets it go.

The gate before us was as black as the sky. I didn't know if it was born of the dark arts of sorcery or the more scholarly ones of Trump. I certainly didn't want to argue with Signy about her going through it before me, but we ended up in a stubborn tussle. I think I won only because the feel of brined wood beneath my boots was as familiar as going home.

Julian stood from where he had been keeping vigil. Water streamed down his black hair, as if it existed separately from the drenching the storm was providing. His look was eloquent, as if he could communicate his disdain in the mere arch of, say, an eyebrow. This was good, as noise simply could not be heard over the thunder of bolt and wave.

I argued anyway. It was nonsensical, something about him not having the right sword, or being the right sacrifice. Caine argued more eloquently, but metal rang out anyway. They struggled, something about Jovian and a dragon was sworn.

The seas erupted around the scaly snout of one of the creatures we had been dreading. With a scream heard through even the fall of water, a lightning bolt was aimed both from the darkness and the black wyverns that flew like dark souls against the night. There were riders on the beasts, who I thought Brennan named Moonriders.

I turned around. Tridents rose in the waters, green, blue, and red with blood. The dragon's eyes were fevered, intense and glowing of their own accord. I turned - I could not see the mountain, nor the castle, swallowed as they were by the storm.

Caine alternately pulled or pushed me through the warp, and for a moment, all I could remember was the lady of my other dreams, and the lotus that bobbed in the dragon's wake.