Witchmarks: Embracing or Denying the Curse

[Ross Watson]

I had some thoughts today on how to represent the Accursed's choices with unlocking his Witchmark today.

If I break it down far enough, what I think we have here is fairly simple.

Embracing the curse = More power, supernatural abilities grow stronger, but at the cost of increasing the weaknesses associated with his Witchbreed. At the highest end, the Accursed is incredibly strong in his supernatural powers.
Denying the curse = Growing more human, reducing the weaknesses of his Witchbreed. At the highest end, the Accursed finds his curse broken and is returned to human form.

I'm thinking of calling "Embracing the Curse"  "Acceptance."
Similarly, "Denying the curse" as "Defiance."

I'm open for better naming ideas, please let me know if you can think of something that sounds cooler.

For both types, I'm thinking that it is a series of Edges that the character chooses when changing Ranks (a significant event in Savage Worlds).

I'm leaning towards making these as bonus edges you just get rather than something you have to give up another option to gain.

I'm thinking that these are "Edge chains," in that they have per-requisites that guide you down one path or the other. You have to take "Acceptance 1" before "Acceptance 2," and so forth.

However, what I think would be cool is that there's ALSO an edge you can take, if you want, that represents a quantum shift in your character's understandings. You can be that guy who was revelling in his unholy powers for three ranks and then at the end decide "You know, I think I've just figured out what life is all really about," and go full Defiance instead.

Any thoughts or comments on this so far?

[Scott Johnson]

Ross
I like the sound of all of that.
SJ

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From: Ross Watson <spy...@clansmith.org>
To: accursed-wo...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 8:01 PM
Subject: Witchmarks: Embracing or Denying the Curse

[Darrell]

This sounds cool mechanically. Story-wise, do these paths represent the characters' vast willpower? Spiritual enlightenment? While it might not mechanically matter, it can help players and GMs create narrative milestones. "Yes, you're now a Veteran, so you can get the next Acceptance level, but you must seek out an elder of your breed to teach how you to do so." (At minimum, it would probably be okay to just note "GMs might require players to explain how they've reached a new level of acceptance or denial.")