## Core Concepts

### Roles

**Players**
Every natural person playing the game.

**Adventurers**

- Players who undergo Expeditions
- Have access to Momentum [✠]
- Optional roles: Cartographer, Quartermaster, Archivist, Shotcaller, Marshall, Torchbearer

**Dungeon Master/Mistress (DM)**

- Controls Adversaries and Hazards
- Has access to Threat [✦]

**Models**
Any entity on the Game Board controlled by a Player, represented by a miniature.

### Model Types

**Party Models** (controlled by Adventurers)

- Characters: One per Adventurer; access to most Activities; evolve via Advances
- Followers: Follow a single Character; use Obedience to track loyalty
- Henchmen: Specialized hired help; use Morale to track loyalty

**Adversaries** (controlled by DM)

- Minion [⁎]: Basic Activities
- Elite [⁑]: Situational Activities
- Champion [⁂]: Wide array of Activities; can use Threat directly; can become Nemesis
- Nemesis [⋇]: Returning adversary; evolves like Characters

**Non-Player Characters (NPCs)**

- Spawned by Events, Hazards, or Scenarios
- Represent neutral parties or quest objectives

### Resources

**Character Resources**

- Luck Points: Re-roll checks
- Fate Points: Escape certain death

**Party Resources**

- Momentum [✠]: Used during Encounters; fuels Manoeuvres and tactical options; fluctuates throughout combat

**DM Resources**

- Threat [✦]: Used during Expeditions and Encounters; powers Adversary abilities and escalates Encounters

**Momentum Uses**

- Varies: Perform an Action
- 1pt: Decrease Check Difficulty by 2
- 1pt: Automatically perform Change Place Manoeuvre
- 2pt: Automatically perform Disengage Manoeuvre
- 2pt: Activate Weapon Quality requiring Critical Hit
- 2pt: Gain 1 additional Reaction until start of next Model's activation
- 4pt: Increase Attacks by 1 for next Action

### Time Structure

Nested scales from largest to smallest:

**Season**

- Consumed by Endeavours and Expeditions
- Represents weeks of activity

**Event**

- Immediately resolved incident

**Endeavour**

- Downtime activity characters undertake

**Expedition**

- Single delve into a Dungeon
- Contains one or more Encounters

**Encounter**

- Isolated interaction with Adversaries or Hazards
- Consists of one or more Rounds

**Round**

- Each Model acts once
- Consists of structured phases

**Activity**

- Single action taken by Model
- Interaction with location, Hazard, or other Models

### Locations

**Dungeon Structure**

- Dungeon: Confined locality where Expeditions take place; can have multiple Dungeon Levels
- Dungeon Level: Single floor/area; represented by Game Board; danger increases with depth
- Board Section: Physical tiles representing rooms and corridors

**Overland Locations**

- Region: Large area containing multiple location types
- Settlement: Safe haven for trading and Endeavours
- Wilderness: Dangerous areas connecting Settlements and Dungeons; contains Encounters and Hazards

**Hazards**
Catch-all term for interactive environmental dangers and obstacles.

**Keywords**
Used to signify synergies and antipodes; multiple occurrences usually beneficial for cost or outcome.

---

## Checks System

### Overview

- Always use D6
- Determines outcome of activities
- Rolled against Obstacle (Ob.)
- Three check types: Basic, Complex, Extended

### Check Components

**Reference Value**
Denotes the Skill or Characteristic used for calculating Target Number.

**Check Mode**

- Unopposed [⥤]: Reference Value based on Model's Skill
- Opposed [⇌]: Reference Value based on Target's skill

**Difficulty**
Always modifies Reference Value, never Obstacle:

- Very Easy [○]
- Easy [◔]
- Routine [◑]
- Challenging [●]
- Difficult [∶]
- Hard [∵]
- Very Hard [∷]
- Impossible [∺]

**Notation Format**
`[Check Type] [Check Difficulty] [Check Mode]`

Examples:

- `Basic[∶] Cool` (unopposed marker usually omitted)
- `Extended[∷] Charm⇌Perception`

### Check Outcomes

**Bane [⊗]**
Check fails with dire consequences. If not specified, treat as Failure.

**Failure [⊖]**
Check simply fails.

**Complication [⊜]**
Check succeeds but with consequences. If not specified, treat as Success.

**Success [⊕]**
Check succeeds as intended.

**Boon [⊛]**
Check succeeds with additional benefits. If not specified, treat as Success.

### Favour & Peril

**Favour [⥣]**
Increases chances of success.

**Peril [⥥]**
Reduces chances of success.

**Resolution**
Multiple instances cancel each other:

- Peril > Favour: Roll is perilous
- Peril = Favour: Normal roll
- Favour > Peril: Roll is favourable

### Re-Rolls

**Limitation**
One attempt per check (except Dark Deal).
Re-rolled result is always final.

**Sources**

- Luck Points: Spend 1 LP
- Dark Deal: Suffer 1 Corruption
- Push: Suffer 1 Stress or Fatigue

### Basic Checks

**Procedure**
Single D6 roll against Obstacle.

**Outcomes**

- Bane: Roll = 1
- Failure: Roll < Obstacle
- Complication: Roll = Obstacle
- Success: Roll > Obstacle
- Boon: Roll = 6

**Note**
For Obstacle ≥6, Boon requires confirmation by rolling success again.

### Complex Checks

**Procedure**
Roll multiple D6 (number equals Reference Value).
Each die ≥ Target generates one Mark.

**Evaluation**

- Rolling 1: -1 Mark
- Rolling 6: Roll again for bonus Mark

**Resolution**
Compare total Marks to Obstacle for Outcome.

**Obstacle Determination**

- Unopposed: Fixed number (1-10)
- Opposed: Target's Reference Value

### Extended Checks

**Procedure**
Use Complex Check rules.
Multiple rolls allowed until Obstacle reached.

**Time Cost**
Each roll consumes 1 unit of Time.

**Failure Condition**
If Marks reach 0 or below, Check ends as Bane.

---

## Abilities

### Main Characteristics

Innate abilities of a Model. Each has 2 associated Skills.

**Weapon Skill (WS)**
Close combat aptitude. Governs Melee and Defense.

**Ballistic Skill (BS)**
Hand-eye coordination. Governs Shooting and Throwing.

**Strength (S)**
Brute force and stamina. Governs Brawn and Toil.

**Toughness (T)**
Physical resistance. Governs Consume Alcohol and Endurance.

**Initiative (I)**
Speed of thought and perception. Governs Perception and Dodge.

**Dexterity (Dex)**
Fine manual tasks. Governs Streetwise and Crafting.

**Agility (Ag)**
Physical coordination and athleticism. Governs Stealth and Athletics.

**Intelligence (Int)**
Analytical thinking. Governs Intuition and Education.

**Willpower (WP)**
Mental strength. Governs Cool and Animal Handling.

**Fellowship (Fel)**
Social aptitude. Governs Leadership and Charm.

### Secondary Characteristics

**Wounds (W)**
Number of Wounds before knocked out.

**Movement (M)**
Movement distance under normal conditions.

**Attacks (A)**
Number of attacks per round.

**Magic (Mag)**
Wizard level; determines Magic Pool for spellcasting.

**Corruption Threshold (CT)**
Ability to resist Corruption.

**Insanity Threshold (IT)**
Ability to resist Insanity.

**Fate Points (FP)**
Used to avoid death and dark fates.

**Luck Points (LP)**
Used for re-rolls.

### Skills

Skills are used in Checks. Each associated with a Main Characteristic.

**Melee (WS)**
Make Melee Attack actions.

**Defense (WS)**
Defend against Melee Attack actions.

**Shooting (BS)**
Make Ranged Attack actions with Missile weapons.

**Throwing (BS)**
Make Ranged Attack actions with Throwing weapons.

**Brawn (S)**
Immediate feats of strength.

**Toil (S)**
Prolonged manual labor.

**Consume Alcohol (T)**
Resist short-term hazards like alcohol and poison.

**Endurance (T)**
Endure hardship, withstand deprivation, survive harsh environments.

**Perception (I)**
Notice things.

**Dodge (I)**
Evade attacks and immediate hazards like traps.

**Stealth (Ag)**
Move quietly and conceal.

**Athletics (Ag)**
Running, jumping, climbing, swimming.

**Streetwise (Dex)**
Lockpicking, pickpocketing, disarming traps, sleight of hand.

**Crafting (Dex)**
Create trappings.

**Intuition (Int)**
Detect subterfuge and determine value of objects.

**Education (Int)**
Recall relevant information.

**Cool (WP)**
Remain calm under stress, resist fear and psychological coercion.

**Animal Handling (WP)**
Charm, train, and care for animals.

**Leadership (Fel)**
Intimidation, command, coerce obedience. Often resisted by Discipline.

**Charm (Fel)**
Deceiving, blathering, haggling, gossiping. Usually resisted by Intuition.

### Traits

Inherent abilities based on Species.
Examples: Flier, Dark Vision, Mutation.

### Lores

Define what a character knows and specialist skills.

**Categories**

- Academic: Various fields like Accountancy, Anatomy, History, Law
- Cultural: Knowledge of social groups and languages
- Enemy: Knowledge of adversaries and combat tactics against them
- Environment: Surviving in hazardous environments
- Magic Lores: Knowledge of magic forms; enables spell casting
- Specialist Weapon Groups: Training with special weapons (Polearms, Two-Handed Swords, Blackpowder Guns)
- Trade Lores: Knowledge to create trappings or work in fields (Blacksmith, Weaver, Engineer, Artist)
- Vehicle Lores: Operating vehicles and mounts

### Talents

Represent knacks, tricks, and innate abilities.
Examples: Ambidextrous, Aetheric Attunement, Menacing, Acute Senses.

### Manoeuvres

Special combat actions and tactics.
Examples: Formation Fighting, Disarm, Shield Bash.

### Careers

Building blocks of a character providing Skills, Lores, Talents, Manoeuvres, etc.
Only applicable for Player Characters.

---

## Encounters & Combat

### Overview

Encounter is a conflict between Adventurers and Adversaries.
Triggered by Event or Location.

### Turn Sequence

**1. Encounter Setup (First Round Only)**

_I. Determine Encounter Parameters_

- Encounters may have specific Effects
- DM spends Threat to modify duration/severity or buy additional Effects

_II. Determine Surprise_

Company Surprised:

- No Momentum in first round
- Henchmen and Followers receive no Activation
- Declare all actions before Adversaries

Adversaries Surprised:

- No Adversary Pool in first round
- Common Adversaries lose Activation
- Elite and Champion Adversaries use Basic Actions only
- Declare all actions after Company

_III. Calculate Initial Momentum_
Starting Momentum equals Company's current Fortune Pool.

_IV. Prepare Adversaries_

- DM selects Adversary Group and Models
- Spend Threat for Talents, better models, or additional Pool values
- Prepare Adversary Pool by summing A/C/E values of each Model
- Position Adversary Models on board

**2. Determine Winds of Magic**
See Magic Systems section.

**3. Declare Actions**

- Roll D6: Even = Explorers declare first, Odd = DM declares first
- Alternate declaring actions
- DM declares Adversary actions in Groups

**4. Determine Initiative**
Roll 1D6 + Initiative Characteristic - Action modifier
Resolve in descending order (highest first).

**5. Resolve Actions**
Each Model receives Activation in Initiative order.

**6. Bookkeeping**

_Update Momentum_

1. Torchbearer modifies Pool:
   - +1 per Elite Adversary defeated
   - +2 per Champion Adversary defeated
   - +5 Nemesis Adversary defeated
   - +2 if Company outnumbers Adversaries
   - Varies for Action/Talent effects
2. Subtract Action costs from Pool
3. Result is Momentum Pool for next turn
4. If below 0: All Company Models gain Banes equal to deficit; set Pool to 0

_Refresh Adversary Pool_
Sum A/C/E values of remaining non-routed Adversaries.

_Apply Global Effects_
Resolve effects discreetly.
Reduce Duration trackers by 1.
Remove effects with Duration 0 after applying.

_Check Morale_
See Psychology & Leadership rules.

_End Condition_
Combat ends when no Adversaries remain on Board Section.

### Activation

**Structure**
Each Model receives one discrete Activation per Round.
Activation must finish before next begins.

**Exception**
Interrupts can occur during another Activation.

**Activation Sequence**

_1. Start Phase_
Apply condition effects.

_2. Action Phase_

- Perform one Major Action OR gain 2 free Minor Actions
- Perform one free Minor Action (before or after Major Action)
- Main Characters: Additional Minor Actions cost 1 Fatigue each

_3. End Phase_

- Reduce condition tracker by 1 (remove if zero)
- Gain Interrupts equal to Attacks Characteristic

### Actions

**Minor Actions [◇]**
Standard activities like Movement.

**Major Actions [⬡]**
Complex combat actions like Attacks and Spell Casting.

**Reactions [▽]**
Reactive activities that break normal turn order.

### Minor Actions

**Assist**
Aid another Model.

**Interact**
Open doors, grab items, use hazards/trappings.

**Movement**

- Advance: Move up to Movement (M)
- Drag: Move adjacent prone Model up to ½M
- Disengage: Challenging Opposed Athletics vs WS to leave enemy Danger Zone
- Change Place: Challenging Opposed Athletics vs WS to swap with adjacent engaged ally
- Reposition: Move to adjacent square within enemy Danger Zone

**Manage Equipment**
Switch weapon, sling/unsling shield, drink potion, draw from container.

**Recuperate**

- Recover Stress: Challenging Cool check to recover 1 Stress
- Recover Fatigue: Challenging Endurance check to recover 1 Fatigue

**Mount/Dismount**
Mount or dismount vehicle/creature.

**Prepare**
Reduce single check Difficulty by 1.

**Use a Skill**
Apply relevant skill to situation.

---

## Combat - Attacks

### Melee Attacks

**Overview**
Made with Melee Weapons against targets in Danger Zone (DZ).
Usually Opposed Simple Checks.

**Danger Zone**
Area controlled by weapon's Reach rating:

- Reach M: Ring of fields directly adjacent to Model
- Reach P: Squares directly front, back, left, right of Model
- Reach R: Reach M plus additional adjacent ring

**Engaged**
Models in enemy's Danger Zone.
Model stops when entering enemy DZ regardless of remaining Movement.

**Movement Restrictions**
Only Disengage, Change Place, or Reposition allowed in DZ.
Other Manoeuvres trigger Interrupts.

**Interrupts**
Actions with Interrupt keyword.
Performed during another Model's Activation by spending a Reaction.
Resolved before interrupted action.

**Two-Weapon Fighting**

- Use 1-H Melee Weapon, Shield, or Pistol in off-hand
- Off-hand actions: Difficulty +2
- Gain +1 additional Interrupt

### Ranged Attacks

**Overview**
Made with Ranged Weapons against targets in Line of Sight.
Usually Unopposed Simple Checks.

**Exceptions to Unopposed**
Opposed if target has Shield Rating 2+ or is in Point Blank Range.

**Engagement Restriction**
Cannot attack when Engaged unless weapon has Pistol Quality.

**Line of Sight**
Draw line from center of attacker's square to any point of target square.
Line must not cross walls, obstacles, or models.

**Shooting into Melee**
Each Model target is engaged with: Difficulty +1.
On miss: Randomly determine hit model.

**Size Modifiers (Attack Difficulty)**

- Tiny: +3
- Little: +2
- Small: +1
- Average: 0
- Large: -1
- Enormous: -2
- Monstrous: -3

**Template Attacks**
All Models in template affected unless specified otherwise.

---

## Wounds & Healing

### Damage Resolution

**Dealing Damage**
Opposed Damage vs Toughness check to cause a Wound.
Armor increases Toughness value.

**Wound Effects**
When Wound caused, draw Injury card with Severity rating and effects.

- Severity = Obstacle for healing
- Wounds < 0 = Death
- Wounds = 0 = Out-of-play

**Out-of-Play**

- Adversaries: Removed from board
- Characters: Must be dragged or abandoned (dire consequences)

### Soak Mechanic

Certain actions/armor provide Soak.
Soak cancels Wound before dealt (no Injury drawn).
Using Soak damages armor.

### Healing

Healing uses Extended Toughness check.
Usually performed as Endeavour in settlements.

### Additional Conditions

**Injuries**
Can become permanent.

**Disease/Poison**
Work similarly to Injuries with Severity rating.

---

## Conditions & Effects

### Duration Types

**Fleeting**
Ends at character's next End Phase.

**Persistent**
Has X counters.
Reduce by 1 each End Phase.
X = number of tokens/stacks.

**Ongoing**
Lasts until specific condition met.

### Common Conditions

**Staggered (Fleeting)**
Cannot perform Manoeuvres.
If X > 1: Limited actions.

**Hidden (Ongoing)**
Movement: ½M
Attacks vs ▷Hidden Model: Attacker treated as [*Blinded*]
[▷Hidden attacks] ⇒ Remove *Hidden* @End Phase

**Stunned (Fleeting)**
Miss next Activation.

**Surprised (Fleeting)**
Miss next Activation.

**Bleeding (Persistent)**
Start Phase: Automatic S[X] hit.

**Prone (Ongoing)**
Melee attacks against: Favour.
Ranged attacks against: Peril.
Remove: Spend Major Action to stand.

**Engaged (Ongoing)**
Cannot use Ranged actions.
Remove: Leave Danger Zone.

**Entangled (Ongoing)**
Movement -X.
Remove: Athletics check [X].

**Ablaze (Ongoing)**
Start Phase: Automatic S[varies] hit.

**Broken (Ongoing)**
Move away from enemies.
Cannot use Actions.

**Blinded (Ongoing)**
All checks: Peril.
Cannot use Ranged actions.

**Frenzied (Ongoing)**
Attacks ×2.
Attack nearest Model.
Only Melee Strike actions and Advance manoeuvres.
Immune to Psychology.
After removal: Fatigue [X].

**Hatred (Ongoing)**
Against specified target: Favour on Opposed checks.
Immunity to Fear of target.

**Distressed (Ongoing)**
Mental checks: Peril.

**Drained (Ongoing)**
Physical checks: Peril.

**Strained (Ongoing)**
All checks: Peril.
Start Phase: Cool check or gain Broken.

**Animosity (Ongoing)**
Against specified target: Cannot use Teamwork actions.
Social actions: +1 Difficulty.

**Deafened (Ongoing)**
Immune to Social actions.

**Weakened (Persistent)**
Strength -[X].

**Inspired (Persistent)**
All checks: -[X] Difficulty.

**Demoralized (Persistent)**
All checks: +[X] Difficulty.

**Cowed (Persistent)**
Against specified source: Opposed checks +[X] Difficulty.

---

## Magic Systems

### Arcane Magic

**Casting Procedure**
Extended Check using Magic Pool.
Magic Pool = number of dice equal to Mag attribute.

**Obstacle**
Casting Number of spell.

**Miscasts**
Count total 1s rolled across all attempts = Miscast Number.

**Miscast Severity**

- Miscast Number = Mag: Minor Miscast
- Miscast Number > Mag: Major Miscast
- Miscast Number ≥ Mag×2: Catastrophic Miscast

### Divine Magic

Handled as Manoeuvres.
Specific mechanics vary by deity and prayer.

---

## Keywords & Synergies

Keywords signify synergies and antipodes.
Multiple occurrences of same keyword usually beneficial for cost or outcome.
Used throughout Activities, Traits, Equipment, and Effects.

---

_End of Rules Reference Document_