Gameplay Mods modify Gameplay Modes and player activity within a Mode, how much choice they have for choosing the prompts in play. The Signifer Mod can be thought of as the “Easy” difficulty Mod where players can choose any card and prompt they with, Intentional Mod as the “Medium” difficulty Mod where players can choose between the two prompts on a card draw by chance, and Magick Mod as the “Hard” difficulty Mod where players choice on each card drawn are the prompts that are upright as drawn.
The Feedback Mod adds another layer of challenge and communication to play and is played along with one of the other Mods, it adds the FoF Character Sheets to gameplay and provides players with quantitative and qualitative feedback to their answers/moves/choices that can range from the affectionate to the critical. Read more about the art of giving and receiving feedback on the FoF website.
Some Gameplay Modes use a specific Mod, others give players a choice between Mods. Familiarize yourself with the Mods so that you can best tailor your gameplay experience
Signifier Mod (Easy)
The Signifier Mod lets players intentionally choose any prompt to focus their gameplay. Tarot readers use the term Signifer to serve as a focus for their reading. It can serve multiple functions—as a image that represents themselves or another person, to symbolize an object, a dilemma, or decision with which they are dealing, and seeking advice, to explore more, or a resolution. The Signifier Mod can be played in addition to any of the other mods.
Intentional Mod (Medium)
Want a little more choice and control with the prompts? Are you just getting to know each other? Do you want to keep conversation a bit lighter or consciously directed? Use the Intentional Mod and players can then pick between the two prompts on the cards drawn.
Magick Mod (Hard)
In the Magick Mod, we let the cards decide what the prompt will be . This can be more of a challenge to players, since a more challenging prompt may be drawn. This mod may be better suited for players who already know each other well, or if you are desiring a conversation that is led by chance and magick. When drawing a card, flip it over from left to right so as not to change the card’s orientation and which prompt would appear upright. With this mod, players only play the prompt that is upright and up top of the image on the card when it is drawn, do not pick between the prompts.
Feedback Mod
The Feedback Mod adds the FoF Character Sheets to gameplay and verbal Feedback after players answer a prompt. It adds another layer of challenge and communication to play and is played along with one of the other Mods. The verbal Feedback and Experience Points provides players with quantitative and qualitative feedback to their answers/moves/choices that can range from the affectionate to the critical.
Going clockwise from the player that answers a prompt, the other players follow up by giving verbal feedback to their answer and telling them the Experience Points they have awarded, or detracted, that player for it. The player that answered the prompt then gets a quick chance to reply to this Feedback after each instance, and then the next player clockwise gives their Feedback and Experience Points, and so on, until returning to the player that answered the prompt.
This Mod adds a whole new layer of challenge and intimacy to play. It helps players practice active listening, drawing and communicating personal boundaries, and the art of giving and receiving feedback.
Character Sheets
The Character Sheets used with the Feedback Mod and are designed to help players listen more closely during play, to note what they learn, and to practice conversation norms such as turn taking and giving and receiving feedback. This Mod adds a whole new layer of challenge and intimacy to play. It helps players practice active listening, drawing and communicating personal boundaries. Read more about the art of giving and receiving feedback at fofgame.com.
Each player has a Character Sheet for every other player. Think of it like we are all GMs (like in D&D), awarding Experience Points to players. We do so anyway in our heads, scoring answers and actions according to our own personal rubrics. Rather than do so internally and informally, the Feedback Mod helps players do so verbally and with some structure. On the Character Sheet is a section for Experience Points—this is a measure of that player’s perception of their relationship and compatibility with the other player, for whom the Character Sheet is for.
Print out your own Character Sheets for the Feedback Mod.
Experience Points
On the Character Sheets that there are three Experience Point Categories. -4 to -2 points are a clear “No.” -1 to +1 are a “Maybe.” +2 to +4 are a “Yes.” For prompts that have (2) next to them you can award -2 to +2 points, for prompts that have (4) next to them you can award -4 to +4 points.
Award or detract Experience Points and record them in the corresponding boxes “Yes” “No” or “Maybe,” then add them to the Total Experience Points box to see how much experience you and the other player have generated through play. The more you play with the same players with the Feedback Mod, the better record you will create of that player’s personality and how well you two have played together over time.
For Example:
Awarding or detracting experience points and giving feedback can be about:
- How much their answer personally appealed to you
- Whether you agree or have shared that experience or thought
- Whether it was an appropriate answer to the prompt
- How well they related their answer to the Situation Prompt in play
- How much effort you think they put into their answer
- How creative their answer was
- Whether it was an appropriate answer with your current level of intimacy
- Whether it crossed a personal boundary of yours
- Or something else!
- It’s up to you!
But it’s also up to you to explain the Experience Points you awarded or detracted and why in your verbal feedback.
Remember, sometimes people make mistakes or just don’t know. Give people the benefit of the doubt, give them honest and empathetic feedback, and they can learn and do better.