Move Cull: Obligations

There are a lot of moves in The Sprawl. I’m in the process of revising and streamlining them. Currently in my sights is Obligations/Hit The Street. This is tricky because there are a lot of flow on effects, especially for the Hunter and Fixer.

Obligations basically has two effects: (1) signposting the potential for Contacts as a source of general complications and (2) specifically complicating Hit the Street.

Contacts as a form of complication (1) is already covered by the MC Agenda (Fill the character’s lives with action, intrigue and complication; Be mindful of the characters personal directives and put your bloody fingers all over them) and thus by the moves and principles, and by the explicit text in the Contact section.

Contacts as a player-facing complication in Hit the Street (2) can be handled by tweaking that move to include a player-selected source of complication. Conveniently enough, that’s a better implementation of contacts as a source of complication anyway.

This is what I’m thinking at the moment:

Hit the Street (Style)
When you go to a Contact for help, roll+Style, on a 10+, choose 3, on at 7-9 choose 2:

• They have what you want, immediately.
• You get a little something extra… (choose either +intel or +gear)
• It doesn’t attract unexpected attention, complications or consequences.
• The price is fair.
• They don’t have a pressing problem they need your help with. If they don’t choose this option, take -1 ongoing to Hit the Street until you help them.

Basically now the choice for immediate success on on a 7-9 is between unwanted attention, contact trouble, and extortionate prices. Pick one to avoid.

For reference, this was the Obligation move:

Obligations
At the start of each mission, roll+Obligations. On a hit, one of your Obligations has a pressing problem that they need your help with. The MC will pick the Contact and introduce the problem during the mission. On a 7-9, you can either help your Contact or avoid them and their problem. As long as you avoid them you take -1 ongoing to hit the street with your other contacts. On a 10+, you can’t avoid them or their problem.