Resolution

The basic resolution mechanic of Story Mode is to roll against a set Level for whatever task you are preforming. A player may use any appropriate tag on their character sheet to modify the level of the task.

A player then rolls a 1d20 against the DC. The DC is equal to 3 times the Level of the task.

d20 Result Details
1 Fail, and Fail, and things are worse
2 to DC-6 Fail, but Fail, but something else helps you
DC-5 to DC-1 Success, but Success, but not exactly as expected
DC to DC+4 Success Exactly as you expected
DC+5 + Success, and Success, and things are better
Note

If you need inspiration for what your and or but need roll as many times on the inspiration tables until you feel inspired.

Example

George wants to pick a lock on a door. The target is level is 4 he would have to beat a 12 without any tags. But George is a thief, and he has the tag "I can open anything!" these two things ease the target level by one each, lowering the level to 2. George has to now beat a 6.

If George rolls a 2 he gets a "Fail, but" George failed to pick the lock BUT someone opens the locked door from the other side...

If George rolls a 4 he gets a "Success, but" George successfully picked the lock BUT someone spots him doing so...

If George rolls a 7 he just picks the lock and the story moves on.

If George rolls a 12 he gets a "Success, and" George successfully picks the lock and George is inspired by such a great job on a difficult lock. (His next roll is eased)

Player vs Player

When a contested roll against two players characters happens both a d20 and add +1 for any tag that eases the roll, add -1 for any tag that hinders the roll. The higher of the two totals wins the contest.

Inspiration

d8 Table
1 Verbs
2 Nouns
3 Adjectives
4 Emotions
5 Motivations
6 Benefits
7 Environment
8 Complication

Verbs

d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Attack Break Chase Defend Escape Find
2 Grab Hide Investigate Jump Kick Listen
3 Move Navigate Observe Push Question Run
4 Sneak Talk Use Vanish Watch Yank
5 Alter Build Consume Destroy Enchant Forge
6 Grow Hover Ignite Juggle Knock Lure

Nouns

d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Magic Item NPC Merchant Cursed Item Scroll Map
2 Treasure Trap Weapon Armor Key Potion
3 Monster Book Artifact Rune Relic Jewel
4 Chest Door Gateway Contract Statue Totem
5 Letter Candle Mirror Shadow Whisper Seal
6 Coin Clock Ghost Omen Puzzle Mask
Adjectives
d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Ancient Broken Cursed Dark Enchanted Flickering
2 Ghostly Hidden Jagged Lucky Mysterious Obscured
3 Ornate Polished Rusted Shadowed Stained Tangled
4 Unmarked Warped Worn Aged Dented Gilded
5 Chipped Cracked Eerie Whispering Burnt Shimmering
6 Tattered Unfinished Sturdy Bloodstained Looming Pristine

Emotions

d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Joyful Angry Nervous Hopeful Confused Worried
2 Fearful Calm Frustrated Guilt-ridden Elated Suspicious
3 Lonely Determined Grateful Ashamed Excited Sorrowful
4 Tense Anxious Relieved Irritated Doubtful Overwhelmed
5 Proud Indifferent Hysterical Pessimistic Enthusiastic Shocked
6 Hopeful Envious Desperate Rebellious Melancholy Triumphant

Motivations

d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Seeking Revenge Desiring Power Protecting Someone Seeking Redemption Pursuing Knowledge Proving Themselves
2 Wanting Freedom Building Something Overcoming Fear Escaping a Past Achieving Immortality Finding Love
3 Breaking a Curse Seeking Forgiveness Saving a Friend Hiding from Consequences Seeking Wealth Making a Deal
4 Finding Truth Solving a Mystery Seeking Comfort Restoring Honor Achieving Justice Creating Legacy
5 Uncovering Secrets Earning Respect Conquering Enemies Seeking Closure Becoming Powerful Losing Control
6 Gaining Glory Fixing a Mistake Protecting a Secret Destroying an Enemy Leaving a Mark Proving Loyalty

Benefits

d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 A new ally Unexpected power Knowledge gained A hidden treasure Secret passage discovered A magic boon
2 A powerful item A boost in skill A surprise victory A rare opportunity A secret message A legendary gift
3 A powerful vision Insight into the future A helping hand An undiscovered weapon A special boon A dangerous ally
4 Unforeseen strength A long-forgotten key A change of heart Unexpected loyalty Hidden potential The enemy’s weakness revealed
5 A new skill learned An ancient artifact found A treasure chest opened A map to success A surge of magic An unexpected favor
6 A long-lost family member An unearned reward An unexpected alliance Knowledge of a secret A prophecy revealed A divine intervention

Environment

d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Sudden Darkness Thunderstorm Earthquake Eclipse Fog rolls in The air crackles with energy
2 Light flickers A gust of wind Snow begins to fall Flames ignite A strange hum fills the air Trees sway unnaturally
3 Ground shakes Unseen creatures move A cold chill hits A shift in the atmosphere Water rises Shadows stretch unnaturally
4 The ground glows A smell of decay The temperature rises The sky turns red A crack appears in the earth The landscape shifts
5 The sound of drums A rising tide The land trembles The stars dim Fireflies appear A river suddenly changes course
6 Lightening strikes A burning scent An unnatural silence Unseen eyes watching The trees start moving The ground cracks open

Complication

d66 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 The magic backfires Unexpected ally A hidden enemy Something is stolen A mysterious sound The environment shifts
2 A false lead An offer of help Time runs out Something important is missing A broken object A new threat emerges
3 A sudden storm The path splits A trap is triggered A dangerous artifact is found A secret door appears A betrayal occurs
4 Something is cursed A forgotten clue The NPC vanishes You are seen A haunting vision The land itself reacts
5 Unseen consequences Unseen forces intervene Someone lies A long-lost object surfaces Your actions are sabotaged A powerful force interferes
6 The past haunts you A sudden realization A memory surfaces You lose track of time A choice you didn’t make comes back A desperate plea for help

Modifying the Difficulty

The situation and your character tags can modify the target difficulty. This is done by either easing the difficulty or hindering the difficulty.

Easing: Easing the difficulty means that you lower the level of the task being preformed.

Hindering: Hindering the difficulty means that you raise the level of the task being preformed.

Remember that the target number to hit is 3 times the level, so the target number is essentially lowered or raised by as many times as the task is eased or hindered.

Levels of Difficulty

Level DC Description
0 0 Routine
1 3 Simple
2 6 Standard
3 9 Demanding
4 12 Difficult
5 15 Challenging
6 18 Intimidating
7 21 Formidable
8 24 Heroic
9 27 Immortal
10 30 Impossible

Special Resolution Tables

Oracle Table

The oracle table is a specialized Level 5 Check with a DC of 15. Ask a Yes or No question and use the following results to inform your game.

d20 Result Details
1 No, and No, and things are worse
2-9 No, but No, but there is a positive
10-14 Yes, but Yes, but not exactly as expected
15-19 Yes Yes
20 Yes, and Yes, and things are better

Spellcasting Table

d20 Result Details
1 Fail, and Fail, and Roll on the Mishap table
2 to DC-6 Fail, but The spell fails, but nothing backfires or goes wrong
DC-5 to DC-1 Success, but Success, but it backfires and hinders all rolls until the end of your next turn
DC to DC+4 Success The spell goes off exactly as you expected
DC+5 + Success, and Successfully cast the spell and earn the tag of Mastery for that spell.

Momentum (Combat) Table

d20 Result Player Attack Player Defense
1 Fail, and 0 -2 momentum/+2 enemy succeses
2 to DC-6 Fail, but 0 -1 momentum/+1 enemy successes
DC-5 to DC-1 Success, but 0 -1 momentum/+0 enemy successes
DC to DC+4 Success +1 momentum 0
DC+5 + Success, and +2 momentum 0

NPC Interactions Table

d20 Result Details
1 Fail, and Fail, decrease the NPCs default disposition by one step
2 to DC-6 Fail, but Fail, but their attitude changes towards you in your favor
DC-5 to DC-1 Success, but Success, but their attitude changes against your favor
DC to DC+4 Success Success
DC+5 + Success, and Success, increase the NPCs default disposition by one step

Debt Collectors Table

d20 Result Details
1 Fail, and Collectors come knocking and they come looking for blood (Combat encounter)
2 to DC-6 Fail, but Collectors come knocking but are understanding
DC-5 to DC-1 Success, but Collectors offer an alternative payment method -- do this for me, and I'll let you off (Negotiations)
DC to DC+4 Success --
DC+5 + Success, and Collectors are feeling generous. Instead of hindered by two wealth check, hinder your check at the end of the session by 1 to see if you clear your debt.

Optional Tables

Crafting Table

This table is provided if you want to include crafting as part of your game.

d20 Result Details
1 Fail, and You failed to craft the item and you a 1d4 random materials
2 to DC-6 Fail, but You failed to craft the item but you didn't lose any materials in the process
DC-5 to DC-1 Success, but Successfully crafted the item but it doesn't do exactly what you wanted
DC to DC+4 Success Successfully crafted the item as
DC+5 + Success, and Successfully crafted the item better than expected

This table is provided if you want to have navigation exploration situations in your game.

d20 Result Details
1 Fail, and You failed to navigate, and you are completely lost
2 to DC-6 Fail, but You failed to navigate, but you've found a clue to point you in the right direction
DC-5 to DC-1 Success, but You successfully navigate, but you aren't sure you are going in the right direction
DC to DC+4 Success You successfully navigate
DC+5 + Success, and You successfully navigate and find proof you are heading in the right direction