The Show Must Go On

The best way to earn Renown and improve your Actor's Star Power is to perform Roles for Shows. The ultimate goal for a Cast is to raise the Ratings for a particular Show, ensuring that it doesn't get cancelled, and to perform well so that they can earn Renown.

How does this game measure Ratings?

Ratings generally increase or decrease after each Show, as viewers get a chance to watch the Show and give their own opinions on it. In general, Ratings are likely to go up when all of the Actors involve give an excellent performance, and likely to go down when some or all of the Actors do poorly. If Ratings fall too low, a Show may be cancelled for lack of Ratings -- which can be harmful to the Actors' careers!

How do you tell whether an Actor has had an excellent performance?

As a general rule, Actors receive Points throughout an Episode that symbolize how well they are performing during a particular episode. Points are awarded for participation, excellence, and furtherance of the Plot and of any particular Goals for your Role. Points can also be lost for a particularly poor performance... so try to remain in character!

So how does that relate towards earning Renown?

The amount of Renown all characters earn for a particular performance is a fixed amount based on the Ratings a Show is received, divided up amongst the Cast according to how many Points they earned. This means that a Leading Role who gives a particularly poor performance (and thus earns few Points) may be outshadowed, both on-screen and off-screen, by a lesser Role who does much better at his part!

Are there other benefits for excellent performance?

Indeed there are. Shows, and Actors, who earn consistently high Points may be eligible for Awards at the Award Ceremonies that are held every so often. Awards are powerful benefits that can dramatically affect any Show or Actor who receives it.