ap-adversaries

What this skill does

# Apocrypha Adversary Creation Skill

Create adversaries using the keyword system. Adversaries are defined the same way as player characters: by keywords with modifiers. This skill provides templates, tier guidelines, and examples.

**Authoritative Source**: For complete rules, use the `ap-rules` skill. For combat procedures, use the `ap-combat` skill.

## Adversary Structure

Every Apocrypha adversary is defined by:

1. **Keywords**: Same as player characters. Natural-language phrases with modifiers.
2. **Stress threshold**: Total stress the adversary can absorb before defeat.
3. **Fear abilities**: Special capabilities the GM activates by spending Fear tokens.
4. **Tier**: Minor, standard, or major, determining keyword count, threshold, and Fear ability budget.

## Tier Reference

| Tier | Keywords | Stress Threshold | Fear Abilities | Typical Difficulty |
|------|----------|-----------------|----------------|------------|
| Minor | 2-3 | 2-3 | 0-1 (cost 1 each) | 10-14 |
| Standard | 3-4 | 4-6 | 1-2 (cost 1-2 each) | 14-17 |
| Major | 4-6 | 8-12 | 2-4 (cost 1-3 each) | 17-20 |

### Stress Tracking by Tier

- **Minor**: Aggregate stress pool. Single counter toward threshold. GM narrates which capability degrades.
- **Standard and major**: Per-keyword tracking. Stress is allocated to specific keywords, each degrades independently, and total across all keywords counts toward the threshold.

## Creating an Adversary: Step by Step

### Step 1: Define the Concept

What is this adversary? What role does it play in the story? What makes it interesting or threatening?

### Step 2: Choose Tier

| Tier | Use When |
|------|----------|
| Minor | Thugs, wild animals, minor obstacles. Defeated quickly. |
| Standard | Rivals, monsters, meaningful threats. A real fight. |
| Major | Bosses, dragons, nemeses. A defining encounter. |

### Step 3: Write Keywords

Adversary keywords follow the same rules as player keywords:
- Natural-language phrases with modifiers (+1 to +3)
- Each keyword describes a capability, trait, or nature
- Keywords are fixed once introduced; no inventing new capabilities mid-encounter

**Guidelines**:
- Minor: 2-3 keywords at +1 to +2
- Standard: 3-4 keywords at +1 to +3
- Major: 4-6 keywords at +2 to +3

### Step 4: Set Stress Threshold

Choose a threshold within the tier's range. Higher thresholds make the fight longer.

- Minor: 2-3 (one or two successful hits defeats it)
- Standard: 4-6 (requires sustained effort)
- Major: 8-12 (a protracted, dramatic fight)

### Step 5: Set Difficulty

The difficulty is the target number for player rolls against this adversary. The tier's typical range is a starting point; adjust based on the fiction and the specific action.

- Minor: typically 10-14
- Standard: typically 14-17
- Major: typically 17-20

### Step 6: Design Fear Abilities

Fear abilities are special capabilities the GM triggers by spending Fear tokens. The cost is defined per ability when the adversary is created.

**Design guidelines**:
- Each ability should have a clear narrative effect
- Cost should match impact: 1 Fear for tactical effects, 2-3 Fear for dramatic ones
- Abilities should create interesting choices, not remove player agency

**Good Fear abilities**:
- Inflict stress on specific keyword types
- Change the battlefield or environment
- Call reinforcements or allies
- Create narrative complications
- Force the player to react

**Avoid**:
- Effects with no counterplay
- Removing player choice entirely
- Effects that bypass the stress system

### Step 7: Record the Adversary

Write the adversary's keyword block into `world.md` when introducing a significant adversary. Minor adversaries encountered once can be narrated inline.

Use `references/adversary-template.md` for the format.

## Adversary Keyword Design

### Keyword Quality

Adversary keywords should evoke the creature's nature and suggest how it fights:

Good: "Ancient Terror of the Skies (+3)" tells you this is a flying predator that has dominated its territory for ages.

Bad: "Strong (+2)" tells you nothing about the adversary's nature or how to narrate its actions.

### Keyword Coverage

Keywords should cover the adversary's main capabilities:
- How it fights (offensive)
- How it defends (defensive or evasive)
- What makes it special (unique trait)
- What drives it (motivation, for major adversaries)

### Stressed Keyword Narration

When an adversary keyword takes stress, narrate the degradation:
- "Pack Tactics (+2)" at 1 stress: the coordination falters, wolves bumping into each other
- "Impenetrable Scales (+3)" at 2 stress: cracks appear, showing vulnerable flesh
- "Ancient Terror of the Skies (+3)" at 3 stress: one wing drags, flight is labored

## Using the Dice Tool

Adversaries don't roll in Apocrypha (player-rolls-everything), but the GM uses difficulty numbers derived from the adversary's tier. The player rolls against these difficulties.

**Player attacking a standard adversary (difficulty 14, keyword +2)**:
```json
{ "groups": [{ "n": 1, "d": 12, "label": "hope" }, { "n": 1, "d": 12, "label": "fear" }], "modifier": 2, "threshold": 14 }
```

## References

- `references/adversary-template.md` - Adversary block format
- `references/adversary-examples.md` - One example of each tier (minor, standard, major)