Editing Unwritten: System Reference Document/Playing a Scene (section)

===Resolving costs===

Costs can be considered to be either minor or serious. The GM should consider the nature of the action and the failure to come up with an appropriate and interesting cost.

A minor cost should add a story detail that’s problematic for the character, but isn’t really a danger, nor does it negate what the character was trying to do. Some examples of minor costs include:
* Introduce a new wrinkle to the situation that complicates things a little
* Present the player with a tough choice as part of the success
* Give an NPC a boost
* Place a situation aspect on the character

A serious cost should make the current situation worse. Some options include:
* Introduce a new wrinkle that complicates things a lot
* Reinforce the opposition or bring in new opposition
* Place a Minor consequence on the character (or the lowest empty consequence slot the character has available)
* Give an opponent an advantage with a free invoke
* Delay success so it will take much longer than expected