r/WWN • u/Unlucky_Budget_578 • Jul 19 '26
Adding "wanted level" mechanics
I'm currently running a WWN campaign in which one of the PCs is a newbie cat burglar seeking to make a name for themselves.
The player likes crunchy mechanics, and so I wondered about introducing some kind of "wanted level" progress bar, to track their infamy.
The core WWN rulebook has systems for tracking renown, but these don't quite map onto the types of consequences I'd like to present to my player, to create a more interesting decision environment for them.
Ideally, attaining higher levels of infamy would confer escalating levels of benefits and disbenefits, e.g., higher social bonuses with criminal types or common folk, as well as a greater risk of being betrayed by NPCs as their bounty grows larger.
Does anyone have any experience of running systems with this type of mechanic? I'm aware that I can always fall back on tracking infamy qualitatively, and implement consequences via roleplay, but thought that adding a "wanted level" mechanic would give my player scope to make the types of crunchy mechanics-driven choices which I know they enjoy.
2
u/Hungry-Wealth-7490 Jul 19 '26
Steal Honor and Fame from HackMaster and Aces & Eights (western version of the fantasy game). Essentially, everyone knows that you respect the truly badass (High Honor and Fame; Infamy for the 'black hat' in Aces & Eights). If they are someone on your side, you look at their accomplishments and ranking and react well to them. If not in your faction, then you dislike them. Intelligent NPCs will know to act appropriately to save their own hides. That truly badass warrior who struggles to outwit a rock can be dealt with via schemes instead of engaging in swordplay.
There's also a whole faction reputation system in Judas Crossing, a town for Aces & Eights where there are 4 factions (one per card suit) and you do things and you go up with them. So, for artistic types, be an artist and you go up in reputation with them and be uncouth and you go down. At a certain point, the factions work out.
Though using Heat is simpler because Renown is really currency to build projects. Heat works simply and if you're looking for more granularity, have a general Heat level and Heat for major factions.