I would like to suggest a system that makes it possible to follow/track another character, who passed by (recently!).
At present, following someone can become rather difficult when they begin running as soon as they believe they are alone. They can quickly move out of sight, turn around obstacles, and effectively disappear from the trail, leaving little opportunity for a character who is deliberately observing them to continue the pursuit. From a roleplay perspective, this feels like a missed opportunity. A person moving through woodland or even a city, particularly at speed, would ordinarily leave some signs of their passage: disturbed leaves, broken twigs, impressions, bent vegetation, tracks on cobbles, people turning their heads in the streets, noise, etc. These signs might even be subtle, but they should give a skilled tracker something to work with.
Of course, this is no small thing.. but possible elements could include:
The intention would not be to make anyone permanently trackable, nor to remove the advantages of stealth but allow tracking to become a meaningful part of roleplay. For characters who spend their time observing paths, guarding borders, scouting, following a trail would add something new to their environment. I believe such a system could create interesting opportunities for both the observer and the person being followed, while making the world feel partially more real. Thank you for reading through my suggestion!
At present, following someone can become rather difficult when they begin running as soon as they believe they are alone. They can quickly move out of sight, turn around obstacles, and effectively disappear from the trail, leaving little opportunity for a character who is deliberately observing them to continue the pursuit. From a roleplay perspective, this feels like a missed opportunity. A person moving through woodland or even a city, particularly at speed, would ordinarily leave some signs of their passage: disturbed leaves, broken twigs, impressions, bent vegetation, tracks on cobbles, people turning their heads in the streets, noise, etc. These signs might even be subtle, but they should give a skilled tracker something to work with.
Of course, this is no small thing.. but possible elements could include:
- Signs of passage: Characters moving through suitable terrain leave traces that can be discovered or interpreted.
- Terrain and movement: The visibility and persistence of tracks could depend on the ground, weather, and whether the character is walking or running.
- Tracking: Characters with suitable skills could have a better chance of finding and interpreting a trail.
- A chance to lose the trail: Tracks should not guarantee success. Rain, hard ground, deliberate efforts to conceal one's passage, and a sufficiently skilled quarry could all make tracking more difficult.
- Fairness for both sides: The mechanic could support stealthy observation without making escape or counter-tracking impossible.
The intention would not be to make anyone permanently trackable, nor to remove the advantages of stealth but allow tracking to become a meaningful part of roleplay. For characters who spend their time observing paths, guarding borders, scouting, following a trail would add something new to their environment. I believe such a system could create interesting opportunities for both the observer and the person being followed, while making the world feel partially more real. Thank you for reading through my suggestion!