It's time to begin my second (and final) week of choosing Truths for a solo Ironsworn: Starforged game! Rolling for one a night is letting me stew on each of these truths without feeling like I'm getting too mired in the details. It feels like a little treat to look forward to each night instead of a big homework assignment to slog through (in my experience, doing all 14 all in one go can feel like a lot).
I think this extended approach could work at least as well in a group setting. Scheduling, like, 14 half-hour sessions 14 nights in a row would be next to impossible for many groups, but it would be very play-by-post friendly; you pick a set time each day to roll the next Truth on your Discord server or whatever, then it serves as a focal point for discussion and ideation until the next one drops.
Speaking of discussion, let's roll on the table!
Communication and Data Roll: 71
"In settled domains, a network of data hubs called the Weave allow near-instantaneous communication and data-sharing between ships and outposts."
I'm tired tonight. But I just won't be able to sleep until I know what Medicine is like in the Forge.
Medicine Roll: 61
"To help offset a scarcity of medical supplies and knowledge, the resourceful technicians we call riggers create basic organ and limb replacements."
Had a good session of Girl By Moonlight with my group tonight so I'm gonna try to motor on through this Truth. I'm a little nervous to see if things keep meshing so well!
Artificial Intelligence Roll: 32
"We no longer have access to advanced computer systems. Instead, we must rely on the seers we call Adepts."
Here's the swerve I was waiting for! I'll be honest, I'm a little bummed that my character won't be able to have a meaningful relationship with a droid friend. On the other hand, mentats showing up outta nowhere is as good a way to mix things up as any.
There's a subtable to roll on for more details about why we don't have advanced computer systems, but the first option immediately felt right so I'm just gonna pick it:
"The energies of the Forge corrupt advanced systems."
We've talked about how the Knuckles' Chaotix that spurred our Exodus and the balefires that isolate our Communities are two points in the same progression. So what if the third is the Forge itself? Chaos touches every point in this galaxy. It's weak enough to not be hostile to most life, yet strong enough to change how a cell differentiates here and a floating point calculation works there.
The flavor text says we have "simple digital systems and the most basic machine intelligence" at our disposal. Let's be really self-indulgent and say our ship's computer can reach a '90s-desktop feel while remaining mostly hardened against the Forge. That will work great with our awful space dial-up.
For any processing tasks more complicated than what you could do on an old Windows 98 install? You'll need an Adept for that (and yes, Adepts are absolutely a type of Paragon, possibly the most sought-after by Covenant corporations).
One more terminology tweak before I go: We don't call them Adepts around here --- they're Consultants.
Tomorrow, it's time for War.