Getting Started

The Core Loop

Five steps. Everything in the game works this way.

Every action in Level One — whether you're punching a guard, charming a duchess, or picking a lock in the dark — follows the same five-step loop. Learn this and you've learned the game.

  1. Start with the Story

    What is it you want to happen? How would the character do that? Always start with the story. You want to get into a restricted area at the Duke's ball, but there's only one door and it's guarded! If your character is a locally renowned bard, she'd probably try to talk her way past with a tale of being Lord Kelton's paramour and not wanting to keep him waiting. You tell the GM your plan, and the GM points out the guard's job is literally to resist your attempt.

  2. Add Up Whatever Will Help

    Your character is Level 3, with the Performer Role at rank 2 and one rank in a Misdirection Maneuver (+1), and you've made sure in advance you're appropriately dressed in expensive but tantalizing clothes (+1 Boost). Your Effective Level, or EL, is 7.

  3. Choose Your Dice

    For now, let's keep this simple. The Simple Pool method says roll dice equal to your EL and count the odd numbers. Later we'll look at tactical options.

  4. Everyone Rolls

    You roll and add up the results for a 5. The guard, a Level 2 Warrior 1, has an EL of 2 — his Warrior role doesn't help him against your social manipulation. The GM rolls for him and gets a 2.

  5. Compare and Apply

    Your 5 beats his 2 by 3, giving you 3 points of effect — more than his base Level! The guard's suspicion crumbles. He's convinced you belong here and waves you through with an apology and a sly wink.

The Core Principle

The relative EL of the opposition always defines the difficulty of the task, and even easy tasks can go wrong. That's it. Practically everything in the game works this way.

Roles and Levels — A Quick Clarification

You may have noticed: "Level 2 Warrior 1"? Yes, you read that right. Roles are rated separately from character base Level, and you can even make and play a competent character with no Roles at all — though there will be a lot of things they just can't do.

Base Level represents your overall grit, experience, and durability. Roles represent specific areas of expertise. The two combine when both apply, but you choose them independently and advance them independently.

For more on this, see Building a Character and Roles.