Yeah.

My read of Encounters, and now I’m doubting myself like crazy because it seems wrong, is that it’s the PCs deciding what and how to roll, sorta-kinda “roleplaying” but not really, but it’s always against a TN of 14, racking up successes before they hit their Tolerance.

Now I’m thinking you have to have the NPCs pushing back via opposed tests, rather than just being talked at by the heroes. Then my questions are 1) is losing in an opposed test counted against Tolerance (I’d say so) and 2) how do you work out compromises and not-quite-perfect victories?

Currently in our game, Encounters have devolved to pure math exercises because they don’t have to be anything else. They never fail at their rolls (spending Hope as necessary but only rarely), and it’s entirely an exercise in seeing just how many rolls it’ll take to get to 7 successes, or even that many if they care.