Environmental Zones

Duskara's three zones (the Day Side, the Twilight Belt, and the Night Side) are more than scenery. They actively shape gameplay by modifying dice pools and creating narrative constraints.
Zone-Based Dice Modifiers
Whenever a character takes action in a specific zone, automatically apply the zone's base modifiers before considering character Tags or situational factors.
Day Side
Base Modifier: +2 Risk Dice to all physical actions
Reason: Extreme heat, radiation exposure, equipment degradation
Additional Considerations:
Characters without thermal protection automatically gain the Overheating Condition within minutes
Unshielded equipment fails within hours
Communication systems suffer interference
Water consumption increases dramatically
Exceptions:
Characters with Master-level Thermal Sense reduce Risk Dice by 1
Heavy-duty thermal suits reduce Risk Dice by 1
Robotic or remote operations can ignore physical Risk Dice
Opportunities:
Rare mineral deposits (add Chance Dice to prospecting/salvage)
Ancient wreckage sites (add Chance Dice to archaeological research)
Clear thermal signatures (add Chance Dice to Thermal Sense tracking)
Twilight Belt
Base Modifier: None (neutral ground)
Reason: This is humanity's adapted habitat
Characteristics:
Wind is constant but manageable
Resources are scarce but available
Temperatures are tolerable
Settlements provide infrastructure support
Dynamic Conditions:
Storm Phase: +1 Risk Die to outdoor activity
Wind Turbine Maintenance: +1 Chance Die to power-dependent actions
Water Rationing: +1 Risk Die to resource-intensive activity
Festival Phase: +1 Chance Die to social interactions
Night Side
Base Modifier: +1 Risk Die to navigation and perception (darkness)
Reason: Perpetual darkness, disorienting environment
Additional Considerations:
Characters without thermal protection gain the Freezing Condition within hours
Navigation requires Resonance, bioluminescent guides, or technological aids
Geothermal sites negate cold-related Risk Dice within their immediate area
Cave systems amplify Resonance abilities (add Chance Dice)
Exceptions:
Night-side natives or those with extensive cave experience reduce Risk Dice by 1
Resonance users can navigate without penalty in familiar cavern systems
Geothermal zones function as safe havens
Opportunities:
Geothermal vents (add Chance Dice to warmth-related survival)
Mineral seams (add Chance Dice to mining/prospecting)
Bioluminescent ecosystems (add Chance Dice to biological research)
Acoustic clarity (add Chance Dice to Resonance communication)
Transition Zones
The margins between zones are the most dangerous:
Day-Twilight Margin
Temperature swings create violent updrafts
Superstorms spawn here regularly
+2 Risk Dice to outdoor activity during storm formation
Salvage teams and thermal prospectors operate here
Twilight-Night Margin
Stable but dark, minimal wind
Entrances to Deep Roads are common
+1 Risk Die to outdoor navigation without guidance
Using Zones in Play
GM Guidance:
Announce the zone when characters enter or the scene shifts
Apply base modifiers automatically
Layer on situational Tags from there (weather, equipment, character abilities)
Use zones to create tension: approaching the day side should feel increasingly dangerous
Player Awareness:
Players should know which zone they're in
Players should understand the base risk of operating there
Players should plan around environmental realities
Example:
Kaelen is attempting to salvage technology from day side wreckage.
Zone: Day Side (+2 Risk Dice automatically)
Kaelen's Tags:
Heavy-Duty Thermal Suit (Gear): +1 Chance Die, reduces zone penalty by 1
Thermal Suit Operation (Skill): +1 Chance Die
Survival (Day Side) (Skill): +1 Chance Die
Situational:
Stellar storm incoming (scene Tag): +1 Risk Die
Ancient salvage site (scene Tag): +1 Chance Die
Final Pool:
1 Action Die
+4 Chance Dice
+2 Risk Dice (zone baseline, reduced by thermal suit)
+1 Risk Die (stellar storm)
Net: 1 Action Die + 1 Chance Die
Zone-Specific Challenges
Different zones naturally create different types of stories:
Day Side Stories:
Salvage and recovery missions
Scientific exploration
Desperate escapes
Mining operations
Thermal ability training
Twilight Belt Stories:
Settlement politics and cooperation
Resource management
Cultural festivals and gatherings
Weather worker training
Defense against superstorms
Night Side Stories:
Deep Roads exploration
Geothermal site discovery
Cave culture immersion
Ancient structure investigation
Resonance ceremonies