Game Loop

The player makes all the rolls.

A scene is resolved when its declared intent is achieved, thwarted, or meaningfully altered.

If multiple actions are required, resolve them in sequence, escalating consequences after each roll.

The Scene Level sets the base difficulty for all actions in the scene unless the task, item, character has an already defined level. This level replaces the scene level for the task applied to this target only.

New scene or environmental tags may be introduced only as a consequence of a roll or a change in the fiction.

Escalation should meaningfully alter the intent, stakes, or available actions after each roll.

  • Escalation occurs after any roll that does not fully resolve the declared intent.

A scene may be closed early if its stakes are no longer relevant or its intent is rendered impossible.

If neither intent nor stakes would change as a result of a roll, do not resolve the scene mechanically.

A scene may close unresolved, carrying its stakes forward as complications

Procedure

  1. Roll a Scene Level
  • Get a Scene Level 1d4+2 is the default roll but you could use the hex method for increasing difficulty possibility based on the last scene
Last Scene Level Dice Formula Level Range
Starting scene 1d4+2 3-6
3-4 1d6+2 3-8
5-6 1d8+2 3-10
7-10 1d10+2 3-10*

* 11 & 12 in this Range are a 10

  1. (optional) Roll a Scene Sentence

  2. Roll/Create additional Scene modifiers: weather, time of day, season, phase of the moon, etc

  3. Declare Intent

  • What is the characters immediate goal for this scene?
  • What quests is advanced or threatened?
  1. Establish Stakes
  • If successful, what is gained
  • If failed, what is lost or complicated
  1. Resolve the Scene
  • Choose the action(s) taken to pursue the declared intent. The number of actions is determined by the fiction and the established stakes.
  • Determine the difficulty using the Scene Level and any relevant tags.
  • Roll and compare results to the difficulty.
  • Interpret the result according to the resolution tables.
  • Apply consequences to quests, clues, and characters based on the established stakes.
  1. Close Scene
  • Update quests/clues
  • Carry forward consequences and advantages into the next scene
  • Update any character changes (tags, wounds etc)