Over the past day or so (maybe I’m late to the party here), I’ve noticed a couple of options allowing players to offend others’ characters, with the explicit warning that they may respond and "get back" at you. One is spilling wine on someone at the party, and I noticed the other on a card today.
I wonder how other people feel about this?
There doesn’t seem any way to opt out of your character being used in this way – though I don’t know if there is any actual disadvantage in terms of MW, money, scandal or similar.
It calls to mind the bad reaction to some election options a couple of years ago, when people were being mobbed. Then there is the upcoming "war in Parabola", which also suggests an element of aggression.
They’ve been around for about a month. They probably got drowned out by the Feast of the Rose fairly quickly. The announcement post is over yon: https://www.failbettergames.com/new-social-actions/
You can only Sleight an Acquaintance, not a Contact, so you can "opt out" by snubbing that person. There don’t seem to be any immediate penalties for getting Slighted. It just gives a quality which enables them to respond.
The opportunity to respond is a benefit to the Slightee, because it can earn a dreaded Mood. If they do respond, the effect on the Slighter has some inconvenience but is probably net-positive, and they chose to open themselves up to that in the first place.
Overall I don’t see much in the way of mechanical opportunities for abuse. There’s no more opportunity to harass someone than sending a regular letter.
The assassins are pretty fun, too. I never knew I wanted to use Shapeling Arts to make my liver do a barrel roll, but here we are!
Thanks! I see I missed various things.