GM Flowchart: Renown, Reputation, and Intrigue¶
This page is a GM-facing guide for adjudicating social actions, reputation shifts, and lasting consequences in Kaernest.
It describes how actions turn into reaction, reaction turns into consequence, and consequence turns into history.
Use this as a reference, not a script.
Core Principle¶
Impact determines permanence, not success.
Success answers: Did it work right now?
Impact answers: What did this change about the world?
Step 0: Should This Be Resolved?¶
Before rolling anything, ask:
- Can this action meaningfully change relationships, power, or future events?
- Are there stakes beyond a single exchange?
- Would failure matter?
If the answer is no, resolve it narratively and move on.
If yes, continue.
Step 1: Did the Action Create Reputation?¶
Ask:
- Were there witnesses?
- Is there evidence?
- Will the story spread?
- Does anyone with power care?
If no, no Rep is gained or lost.
The action may still matter fictionally.
If yes, assign a Rep shift.
Step 2: Assign Reputation (Rep)¶
Rep reflects immediate, local reaction.
Use these guidelines:
- Minor but notable action: ±1 to ±2 Rep
- Clear public success or failure: ±3 to ±4 Rep
- Dramatic, undeniable event: ±5 to ±6 Rep
Rep should reflect:
- Visibility
- Emotional impact
- Who witnessed the action
Do not overthink exact numbers.
Step 3: Does This Trigger an Intrigue Conflict?¶
Ask:
- Are multiple parties invested?
- Is there resistance, opposition, or negotiation?
- Could this escalate into broader consequences?
If no, apply Rep and move on.
If yes, resolve an Intrigue Conflict.
Step 4: Resolve the Intrigue Conflict¶
Follow the Intrigue Conflicts rules:
- Establish stakes
- Roll and determine MoS
- Apply Social Force
- Determine Impact
This Impact represents the scale and permanence of the outcome.
Step 5: Interpret Impact¶
Use Impact to determine what changes.
Impact 0¶
- No lasting change
- Information exchanged
- Positions remain flexible
Impact 1¶
- Minor leverage
- Soft obligation
- Rumors or implications
Impact 2¶
- Meaningful commitment
- Public alignment
- Noticeable shift in stance
Impact 3¶
- Major consequence
- Loss of face
- Forced action or concession
Impact 4¶
- Defining outcome
- Political ruin or elevation
- Permanent shift in the campaign
Impact answers how big the change is, not what it looks like.
Step 6: Apply Reputation Effects¶
Based on Impact and fiction:
- Increase or decrease Rep further if appropriate
- Lock in or clear existing Rep
- Spread effects to related factions or locations
Rep represents the aftershocks of the outcome.
Step 7: Convert Rep to Renown¶
Check Rep totals:
- If Rep ≥ +7 → Renown, Rep resets to 0
- If Rep ≤ −7 → Renown, Rep resets to 0
This represents what becomes remembered history.
Step 8: Adjust Effective Renown¶
Consider where the action occurred:
- Apply distance modifiers
- Apply border or cultural modifiers
- Apply home ground bonuses
This determines how much Renown actually matters here.
Step 9: Update the World¶
Ask:
- Who reacts next?
- What doors open or close?
- What factions take interest?
- What new conflicts are now possible?
Renown is not a reward.
It is a pressure that reshapes the Setting Overview.
Common GM Pitfalls¶
- Do not give Rep for secret actions without witnesses.
- Do not use Renown as a flat bonus to rolls.
- Do not resolve major social change with a single unprepared roll.
- Do not protect institutions from consequences without reason.
Let the world remember.
Design Reminder¶
- Rep is fast, local, and emotional.
- Renown is slow, broad, and structural.
- Impact determines permanence, not success.
This flow turns actions into history.