Romance Advantages for 7^th Sea

Love is one of the primary motivating factors in all great swashbuckling tales. Love drives heroes into daring rescues, fights against overwhelming odds and impossible quests with alarming frequency. Whether it is a single brief encounter, an intense affair or a life-long commitment, romance impacts almost every hero at one time or another. While properly in the realm of role playing rather than mechanics, we are presenting a few tools to aid the game master and players alike in their pursuit of this elusive theme.

Savage Love – To Woo a Wench

Every human being needs relationships with other people, to touch and interact with them, no matter how brief the encounter. Some are willing to forego deep and lasting emotional bonds for mere physical intimacy. For them, it is not difficult to find willing partners. Heroes can attempt to seduce someone they desire or merely pay someone for a few hours of companionship.

The character makes a Panache+Seduction check with a target number of their potential partner’s (Resolve+1) times 5. The game master may increase the target number of the seduction roll, particularly if the target of his affection is not physically attracted to him. If successful, the partner may still attempt to refuse by making an Active Defense with a Resolve+Seduction. Appearance and Dangerous Beauty advantages, as well as drama and reputation dice, may be applied to either roll.

Amour – An Affair to remember

During the Middle Ages, the concept of courtly love known as amour arose and became extremely popular. More than a mere physical relationship, it involves a specific series of steps building to a deep connection. Such a relationship begins with a hero’s admiration for someone’s body and mind which must be privately announced along with the statement that the hero would do anything to prove his love. The target of his affection must then insist on proof of such a declaration through a series of challenges, tests and quests. These can range from the ridiculous, such as demanding the hero to shelter a particular rose during a rain storm, to the dangerous such as demanding the defeat of a dangerous creature while armed with only a wooden spoon. If the challenges are not met, the admirer is forced to abandon their interest. Since these proofs are entirely at the discretion of the target of affection, some people give impossible challenges to force their admirer to leave them alone. For each successful challenge, the target of affection must bestow a reward upon their admirer. Rewards begin small such as a token of favor like a handkerchief but increase into moments of intimacy such as a kiss upon a wrist or elsewhere. However, attempting to seduce your partner until the devotion is proven is a breach of the conventions as severe as badgering a target of affection after they’ve rejected you. Amour may linger in the testing stages or culminate in a romantic affair of physical intimacy. However, amour is a fleeting thing and such an affair rarely lasts for more than a year, though tender feelings may continue for years. In the legendary affairs, both parties agree to part as close friends while tragic cases tend to end with recriminations and discovery by spouses or fiancés.

After each challenge, a hero may spend a drama die to make a Panache check (with bonuses from Appearance and Dangerous Beauty advantages as well as drama and reputation dice) with a target number of their potential partner’s (Resolve+1) times 5. Similar to simple seduction attempts, his partner may make a Resolve check as an active defense and the game master may increase the target number for extenuating circumstances. If the hero’s check is successful, he has impressed his partner with his act and earned a reward. Once he has succeeded seven times, the partner begins a torrid affair with the hero. If the hero attempts to seduce his partner before proving his love or badgers his partner after being rejected, he loses tremendous face. If this is revealed publicly, he loses 5 reputation points and another five points for each additional attempt..

True Love

Throughout the ages, a handful of loves have been powerful enough to not merely change the lives of the lovers, but to alter the entire world. This goes beyond courtly love and into the realm of legend. Such romance always begins with true love. This can begin with amour, but it is not a requirement. The simple beginning is the hero must admire someone for their mind and body. Declaration of love is not required, but the person must still go through a series of encounters to kindle love within the heart of his beloved as well. This can take the form of quests such as amour without the guarantee of a reward, self-appointed challenges, gifts, outings with his beloved, or even serenades. Once he has proven himself, his beloved realizes that she loves him as well.

After each encounter, a hero may spend a drama die to make a Panache check (with bonuses from Appearance and Dangerous Beauty advantages as well as drama and reputation dice) with a target number of their potential partner’s (Resolve+1) times 5. Similar to simple seduction attempts, his partner may make a Resolve check as an active defense and the game master may increase the target number for extenuating circumstances. For example, if the encounter involved a beautiful serenade or a gift of special significance, the game master might provide a free raise while a serenade with a botched singing roll or an inappropriate gift such as a pig made out of cheese might increase the target number. If the hero’s check is successful, he has impressed his partner with his act. However, everyone expects some flaws within true relationships, so the target number increases by 5 after each successful challenge. Failure resets the target number to the potential partner’s Resolve times 5 plus 5. Once he has succeeded seven times, the partner realizes they return the hero’s love.

Advantages: Amour (Background) : According to the dictates of courtly love, you have declared your admiration and appreciation for someone. Your love knows of your affection, but does not return it until you have proven yourself through a series of quests and tests. The strength of your background determines how difficult the target of your affection wishes to make the challenges.

True Love (Background) : You have found the love of your life. This person does not know the depth of your feelings, but you intend to prove your love through gifts, intimate meetings and quests. The strength of your background determines how difficult it is to win over your love.

Love’s favor (Advantage) : You may only take this advantage if you have the True Love or Amour Background and are given a small object by your loved one. You treasure this object and keep it upon your person at all times as a symbol of her favor. In a time of danger or difficulty, you may focus your attention upon your love for additional strength. This does not take an action. You lose this advantage, but gain one additional drama die (or three additional drama dice if you are trying to save your love from danger) for use in the current scene. If not used, they disappear. This advantage may not be taken twice at one time, but after used may be taken again if your love gives you another item. Cost : 1 hp or 2 experience points.

Beloved : You are engaged in a passionate love affair which gives you strength in times of trouble or danger. Once per act, your loved one can spend drama dice to increase your skill checks. If the loved one is not controlled by a player, this is entirely at the game master’s discretion. Cost : 5 hero points or 15 experience points.