Example Game Loop

Character

  • Name: Ilya
  • Personal Quest: Prove I am more than my family’s reputation
  • Relevant Tags:
    • Trained Investigator
    • Known to the Dockworkers
    • Haunted by a Past Failure

Active External Quest

  • Quest: Discover who is smuggling relics through the river docks

Step 1: Roll a Scene Level

This is not the first scene of play.
The previous scene was Level 4.

  • Dice formula: 1d6 + 2
  • Roll: 3 + 2 = Scene Level 5

The docks are moderately dangerous, tense, and active.

Step 2: (Optional) Roll a Scene Sentence

Rolled result:

“Someone is watching, but it’s not clear who.”

This informs tone but does not impose mechanics yet.

Step 3: Additional Scene Modifiers

The player selects the following modifiers:

  • Time of day: Late night
  • Weather: Cold rain

These elements shape the fiction and may justify tags.

Step 4: Declare Intent

  • Immediate goal: Identify who is coordinating the smuggling operation tonight.
  • Quest advanced or threatened:
    • Advances the smuggling investigation quest
    • Risks complicating Ilya’s personal quest if he fails publicly

Step 5: Establish Stakes

  • If successful:
    • Gain a solid clue identifying a key smuggler
  • If failed:
    • The smugglers notice Ilya’s interest and take countermeasures

Step 6: Resolve the Scene

First Action

Action: Quietly question dockworkers while observing traffic.

  • Base difficulty: Scene Level 5
  • Relevant tags:
    • Known to the Dockworkers (eases the task)
    • Cold Rain (hinders careful observation)

The effects cancel out. Difficulty remains 5.

Roll Result: Partial success

Outcome:

  • Ilya learns that a specific boat has been unloading at odd hours
  • Someone notices his questions

Escalation: Suspicion is introduced into the scene.

Second Action

Because the intent is not yet achieved and consequences escalated, another action is required.

Action: Follow the identified boat without being seen.

  • Difficulty: 5
  • Additional pressure:
    • Someone is watching (from the scene sentence)
  • Tag applied:
    • Haunted by a Past Failure (hinders composure)

Roll Result: Failure

Step 7: Close Scene

Apply Consequences

  • Quest update:
    • The investigation quest advances sideways; the smugglers are now alert
  • Clue update:
    • Ilya gains a partial and risky clue instead of a clean one
  • Character change:
    • Temporary tag added: Marked by the Smugglers

Carry Forward

  • Future dock scenes may justify higher opposition or predefined threat levels
  • Ilya’s personal quest is pressured; reputation risk increases

The scene ends because the original intent is meaningfully altered.