Appendix B: Quick Reference Card
CORE MECHANIC:
- Frame action as closed question
- Build dice pool: 1 Action Die + Chance Dice - Risk Dice
- Roll the pool, keep highest die
- Resolve outcome (1=No and..., 2=No, 3=No but, 4=Yes but, 5=Yes, 6=Yes and...)
- Describe result in fiction
DICE OUTCOMES:
| Roll | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Yes, and... | +1 to result |
| 5 | Yes... | Success |
| 4 | Yes, but... | Success w/ complication |
| 3 | No, but... | Failure w/ benefit |
| 2 | No... | Failure |
| 1 | No, and... | -1 to result |
ZONE MODIFIERS (Base):
- Day Side: +2 Risk Dice
- Twilight Belt: None
- Night Side: +1 Risk Die
PSYCHIC ABILITIES:
- Weather Working: Manipulate winds and storms
- Thermal Sense: Perceive heat signatures
- Deep Bonding: Connect with native life
- Shadow Walking: Navigate in darkness
- Water Finding: Locate water sources
PROGRESSION LEVELS:
- Novice: Basic capability
- Adept: Enhanced control and range
- Master: Legendary mastery and cost
PSYCHIC ABILITY COSTS:
- Weather Working → Psychically Drained
- Thermal Sense → Overwhelmed by Thermal Noise
- Deep Bonding → Grief-Struck (on loss)
- Shadow Walking → Disoriented
- Water Finding → Resonance-Overwhelmed
CONDITIONS (Examples): Injured, Exhausted, Frightened, Psychically Drained, Overheating, Disoriented, Grief-Struck
- Concept (role/identity)
- Skills (expertise) — 3 total
- Frailty (vulnerability)
- Gear (equipment) — 2 total
- Goal (ambition)
- Motive (why)
- Nemesis (opposition)
- Relationships (2 with other characters)
SETTLEMENT RESOURCE STATUS: Water: Abundant / Adequate / Rationing / Crisis Power: Full Grid / Adequate / Blackouts / Failure Provisions: Well-Supplied / Adequate / Low / Critical
DICE POOL MODIFIERS:
- Chance Die (+): Helpful Skill, favorable Gear, beneficial environment, ally help
- Risk Die (-): Opposing Skill, environmental hazard, Frailty applies, enemy opposition
WHEN TO ROLL: Roll when: outcome is uncertain + failure has interesting consequences + success isn't guaranteed Don't roll when: automatic success + automatic failure + outcome doesn't matter
SAFETY TOOLS:
- Before play: CATS (Concept, Aim, Tone, Subject Matter)
- During play: Script Change (pause and adjust immediately)
- Emergent: Lines & Veils (stated when they come up)
CONFLICT RESOLUTION:
- Zoom Out: Single question resolves entire scene
- Zoom In: Multiple questions for detailed conflict
ADVANCEMENT:
- No XP or levels
- Characters evolve through fiction
- Update Tags when story changes them
- Skills deepen, Frailties transform, Goals are achieved/replaced, Relationships shift