rules that REALLY elide / Edicts of the Demigods
They say that a mortal can only decide what he does, not what results from it. A god, likewise, can decide many things about the world, but cannot control the actions of mortals. What, then, is a demigod capable of?
1: When steel is drawn in your sight (it can be your own steel), you may declare this battle a TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER. All present know the stakes and may back down. The stakes are thus: Any weapon attack that hits, kills.
2: When entry is blocked in your sight, you may declare there is a SECRET WAY. All present know the danger and may turn back. The danger is thus: Intruders cannot leave the way they came, and cannot rest until they leave.
3: When a perilous journey is begun in your sight, you may declare ARRIVAL IS CERTAIN. All present know the meaning and may choose a different path. The meaning is thus: The living bodies of the travellers will arrive at their destination without delays, but all else is uncertain. Roll d6 for each traveller. 1: Lose all HP and all possessions. 2-5: Lose all but 1 HP and all but 1 possession. 6: Lose 1 HP and one possession.
4: When the true enemy or solution is out of your sight, you may declare it will be REVEALED IN TIME. All present know the folly and may continue searching. The folly is thus: It could be too late. Roll d6. 1-5: They waste the rolled turns, minutes, hours, days, months, years, or decades, appropriate to the mystery in question, before discovering what they seek. 6: They figure it out with time to spare.
Design notes: These are intended as "fast forward buttons" that a player of a particular archetype might be able to "push." It's an experiment in extreme streamlining; the point is that if you encounter a situation that usually necessitates ordinary gameplay, you could choose to zip straight past it, but if you do, you have to accept a great deal of risk that would otherwise possibly be mitigated by a multi-step procedure. The second one kind of breaks this pattern, and I'm not totally pleased with it. I originally went with "if caught, you will be executed," but that seemed too close to the first one. These also serve as last-ditch attempts, if all else has failed or is likely to fail. I think that's fine.
It's kind of impossible to set up stakes for a rule which will be applicable in 100% of scenarios, but I think these are about as close as I can get. I'd be interested to hear other ideas.