Friendship Points

In Equestria, friendship really is magic, and that magic is reflected in Friendship Points. (In other Essence20 system games these are called Story Points and they work the same, but I thing -Friendship Points- sounds a lot better than -Story Points-, don't you?) There is a magic that happens when you strengthen the bonds of friendship within your group. When you help each other, forgive each other and support each other, that connection becomes all the more powerful. That power is a manifestation of magic that can even help you succeed in Skill Tests as the power and support of true friendship grants you new confidence in what you do.

Only players can use Friendship Points, but it is up to the Game Master to decide how to award them. The Game Master can reward players who contribute to the atmosphere of the game with Friendship Points. The players can use these rewards to redirect the narrative, help in dire circumstances, or do something magical. Friendship points are shared by all the players in a pool. Any points awarded are added to the pool for everyone to draw from. The Friendship Point pool begins every session with a number of points equal to the number of players (and yes this means every session, whatever you had at the end of the last one just goes away... so you should totally use those points to the last every session!).

Spending Friendship Points

In addition to abilities that cost Friendship Points to use, like Circle of Friends, each player can spend the group’s Friendship Points to gain special benefits during the session, like:

Re-roll any roll of a 1 on any die

Roll a Skill Test as if they have a Specialization

Add +5 to any single Defense for the scene

Get a hint from the GM if the group is stuck

Don’t forget to spend your Friendship Points! You’re telling a story together, and even though failures and setbacks are part of every story, so is overcoming adversity in the face of impossible odds. A well-timed use of a Friendship Point can be as exciting as a clutch Critical Success.

Gaining Friendship Points

As the session plays out, the players have multiple opportunities to gain additional Friendship Points to add to the group pool. Including:

Acting, in character, in the spirit of your role

Fumbling a Skill Test and keeping the result (yes, doing bad can mean something good!)

Creative problem solving or an insightful idea about the story

Playing up a Hang-Up particularly well

Additionally, the Game Master can reward player behavior they want to see more of. This might be a joke that gets a laugh from all of the players during a casual roleplaying scene; a decision during a difficult conflict that helps the other characters at the expense of that player’s character; or even a riveting speech during the session’s climax.

Players can be awarded Friendship Points for behavior outside of the game too, as long as everyone agrees they are handled fairly. Bringing drinks or snacks. Hosting and/or scheduling the game. Giving another player a ride to the session. Anything that would make Princess Celestia proud (short of trapping your sister on the moon) can be rewarded with Friendship Points for the group.

Hey there, Pinkie Pie here.

Usually I'm here to make jokes or make light of situations, but this time I'm here for something serious, something you need to pay close attention to...

Friendship Points can be a great way to move the story forward, grab that victory from the jaws of defeat, or just get some success when the dice are against you, but everyone needs to follow some simple rules of courtesy when using and gaining these precious points. First, as in every part of the game, the Game Master has the final say on what adds a point to the pool or what a point can be spent to do. If everyone is arguing about "that should have earned us a point" or "why can't we spend it like that?" then no one is having fun, and games are about having fun.

Second, Friendship points are a pool earned and spent by all the players at the table, so all the players at the table should have a say in how to use them. It's nice to ask the other players if they think a point should be spent on a particular action. If someone says no, let them explain why. Don't spend forever debating (or arguing) over spending a single point, but if most of the players think it should be spent, then you should spend it, otherwise don't. Remember that failing drives the story forward too.

Third, and maybe hardest for some groups, find a balance with spending your points. Don't hoard every single one like they are a precious gemstone that can't be replaced, but also don't spend them every time you fail. Just like in life, a roleplaying game needs ups and downs to be enjoyable overall. You can learn a lot more by making mistakes than by getting everything right all the time, so let the characters make mistakes that's the whole reason that there is random chance in roleplaying games.

In the end just remember Rule Zero: have fun. A game is supposed to be fun. If you aren't having fun then it isn't a game anymore.

Pheww. It was really hard being serious for that long. Okay, I'm going to go get my balloon and find Rainbow Dash, she always knows how to have a good time!