Burning Destiny Points

[HelgiBergmann]

If you haven't read A Game of Thrones, or seen the 1st season of the show, then beware of massive spoilers

Hey guys.

In the game I've been running I've been wondering how much you can do by burning a Destiny point. The rules say that you can burn a DP to:

Avoid certain death. When you use this option, your character is presumed dead and is removed from the story until such time as the Narrator deems it appropriate for the character’s return.
SOIAF Core book p.70

and

Add a significant detail to a scene, such as gaining a major clue, finding a way out of a nasty predicament, or some other significant and useful element that moves the story along in your favor.

In my game, three PCs have been conspiring together to make one of them the Liege Lord of the Riverlands. Their plot unravelled, and all three of them were sentenced to death for treason.

Should the PCs who have DPs be able to get out of this situation?

I'm kind of torn on this, as I feel that in order to feel like ASOIAF, the game should be quite brutal, and characters should die sometimes, like in the novels. However I'm wondering whether from a rules perspective one could say that Ned was an example of someone who had spent or burned all his DPs?

Would you have let Ned's PC survive when Joffrey decided to ask Ilyn Payne to execute him?

[Zorbeltuss]

Having Ned burn a destiny point to make it so that Joffrey allowed him to take the black? Sure.

Though the burning of destiny points would probably have to happen at the trial if they want to get out of it (taking the black could be an option still, but unless you want that kind of game, that's as much of a PC retirement as death would be).

[Crannogman]

Personally, I would allow my players to burn destiny points to avoid execution. There are a number of options available to facilitate this, be it taking the Black, or perhaps even a raiding party from a rival house, Ironborn or what have you, attacking the hold where they're imprisoned, allowing for an escape. With that option I would require them all to take the Fugitive drawback though. Anyway they get out of it could make for some awesome jumping off points for new adventures.

As far as Ned is concerned, applying game rules to story events, I would say Ned DID burn a destiny point, resulting in Varys getting him the deal to make a false confession and join the Watch. Joffery, being the spoiled little prick that he is, burned a destiny point as well to negate that and had him executed anyway. Just my two cents.

[HelgiBergmann]

I agree with your posts.

One thing though, where is the fugitive drawback? It's not in my core book.

[Crannogman]

My bad. There isn't one. I didn't have my book while I was responding. Maybe Outcast would work?

[Ser Richard]

yes burning a DP would get them out of their deaths, but i'd only give them the Outcast only, if there way out of death was a draing esacpe from prison. but remember they can burn a DP to get not get Outcast too.