As I’ve started running another Burning Wheel campaign, I’ve noticed the heavy and seemingly extreme use of FoRKs. Amongst the characters, there is an extremely dangerous persuader (Remy Leduc); He can easily FoRK three or more skills into a single Persuasion test.
That is the nature of a 7 Lifepath character. He is extremely potent in his particular focus. This character has the luxury that for each Persuasion test he can choose between almost certain success or a test for advancement. This is a design decision of Burning Wheel.
His heavy reliance on FoRKs comes with a mechanical cost…He won’t be advancing his Persuasion skill. Nor will he need to spend Artha on these tests. This character has already plateaued in regards to Persuasion.
In fact, Remy’s player is adverse to failing a Burning Wheel test. He is tracking the result of all tests by all players, recording dice rolled, obstacle, artha involved, and success/failure.
Why the Fear of Failure?
A single test in Burning Wheel is quite “gamey”. You can maneuver for bonuses (i.e. FoRKs and helping dice), commit precious resources before the roll (i.e. spending a Persona point), and even gamble on salvaging a failed test (i.e. spending a Fate point).
A single test in Burning Wheel has many similarities to combat in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D 📖), albeit as a fast combat. In D&D you maneuver for bonuses (i.e. flank) and commit precious resources before the roll (i.e. use a daily power, unleash your highest level spell).
It is these similarities that creates the disproportionall fear of failure. In the games of D&D I’ve played, failure in combat means death or at least dead ends.
Burning Wheel, however, discourages failure from being the end. It is instead the start of a new thread steeped in a complication. Burning Wheel is all about saying “Yes but…”
Embrace Failure
Burning Wheel has many mechanics for improving your chance of success, but those chances come at the cost of advancement. Don’t be afraid to fail a test in Burning Wheel. In failing, your character is getting something.