Difference between revisions of "Age Of Dragons: Game Systems"

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(Determining Dice Pools)
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==Determining Dice Pools==
 
==Determining Dice Pools==
===Pneuma, Soma and Sophis===
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The number of dice you roll for task resolution is determined by several factors, but primarily by your '''Attributes'''. The three Attributes are '''Soma''', '''Sophis''' and '''Pneuma'''.
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===Soma, Sophis and Pneuma===
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'''Soma''' is ''"body"'' - the clay from which a dragon's physical body is formed. Those with strong soma are brutally powerful, resilient and physically adept. They tend to be more agile when on the wing, and can achieve greater feats of strength and endurance.
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A Dragon's ''Soma'' attribute sets the dice pool for any tasks relating to pure physical prowess.
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'''Sophis''' is ''"mind"'' - the intellect and will that governs and guides the Dragon. A strong sophis indicates keen intelligence, good memory, strong logic and great force of will. Dragons with well-developed sophis are not easily dissuaded from their chosen course, and are more adept at intellectual pursuits of all sorts.
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A Dragon's ''Sophis'' attribute sets the dice pool for any tasks relating to mental strength or mental agility.
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'''Pneuma''' is ''"breath"'' - the mystical force which the ''Mother Goddess'' animated the first ''Dragons'', and the living energy that accounts for all movement and change in the world, be it the burning of a candle, the flow of a river, or the flight of a dragon.
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A Dragon's ''Pneuma'' attribute sets the dice pool for any tasks which relate to social charm, using magic, artistic creativity, environmental awareness or acting with grace and fluidity. Essentially any task that doesn't easily fit under the auspices of ''Soma'' or ''Sophis'' can be handled using ''Pneuma''.
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Example tasks, for a Dragon with Soma 3, Sophis 4 and Pneuma 5:
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* Battering down a castle gate - Soma, 3D6.
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* Shaking off the effects of the Red Scab Contagion - Soma, 3D6.
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* Researching histories in the carved libraries of the White Archives - Sophis, 4D6.
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* Recalling the name of an elvish diplomat you spoke to just once, four centuries previous - Sophis, 4D6.
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* Singing a tearful lament for a fallen brother - Pneuma, 5D6.
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* Waking to the footfalls of the knight who is creeping up on you in your lair as you sleep - Pneuma, 5D6.
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===Birthright Modifiers===
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Several Dragon Breeds are especially blessed in certain ways, and receive a bonus to their dice pools accordingly. For example, ''Sable Dragons'' have ''Exceptional Will'' and gain +1 dice to ''Sophis''-based tasks that relate to mental willpower.
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Dragon Breeds can also be weak in certain ways, and can receive dice penalties. For example, ''Ghost Dragons'' have ''Unsettling Presence'' and take a -1 dice penalty to ''Pneuma''-based tasks that relate to positive social interaction.
  
 
==Defining Target Numbers==
 
==Defining Target Numbers==

Revision as of 05:43, 29 August 2007

Age Of Dragons: Main Page -> Age Of Dragons: Game Systems

Overview of Task Resolution

Age of Dragons aims to keep dice-rolling systems as simple as possible, to keep the emphasis on storytelling and to make the game easy to learn.

The game system uses pools of six sided dice. Generally half a dozen six-sided dice per player should be enough to start off. The rules henceforth refer to these as D6, with standard terminology as follows.

  • XD6 indicates that you roll X number of six-sided dice. Each die you roll that equals or exceeds the Target Number counts as one Success. For example, 4D6 indicates that you roll 4 six-sided dice.
  • TN(X+) indicates that you need to roll X or higher for a die to count as a success. For example TN(3+) indicates that any dice that roll 3 or higher count as a success.
  • The Difficulty is the number of successes you need to get to achieve a given task, and is written as Diff X. For example Diff 2 indicates that you need to attain 2 or more successes to achieve a task.

So, for example, 6D6 TN(5+) Diff 3 would indicate that you roll 6 six-sided dice, counting any that roll "five" or "six" as a success, with three such successes needed to achieve the stated task.

Determining Dice Pools

The number of dice you roll for task resolution is determined by several factors, but primarily by your Attributes. The three Attributes are Soma, Sophis and Pneuma.

Soma, Sophis and Pneuma

Soma is "body" - the clay from which a dragon's physical body is formed. Those with strong soma are brutally powerful, resilient and physically adept. They tend to be more agile when on the wing, and can achieve greater feats of strength and endurance.

A Dragon's Soma attribute sets the dice pool for any tasks relating to pure physical prowess.

Sophis is "mind" - the intellect and will that governs and guides the Dragon. A strong sophis indicates keen intelligence, good memory, strong logic and great force of will. Dragons with well-developed sophis are not easily dissuaded from their chosen course, and are more adept at intellectual pursuits of all sorts.

A Dragon's Sophis attribute sets the dice pool for any tasks relating to mental strength or mental agility.

Pneuma is "breath" - the mystical force which the Mother Goddess animated the first Dragons, and the living energy that accounts for all movement and change in the world, be it the burning of a candle, the flow of a river, or the flight of a dragon.

A Dragon's Pneuma attribute sets the dice pool for any tasks which relate to social charm, using magic, artistic creativity, environmental awareness or acting with grace and fluidity. Essentially any task that doesn't easily fit under the auspices of Soma or Sophis can be handled using Pneuma.

Example tasks, for a Dragon with Soma 3, Sophis 4 and Pneuma 5:

  • Battering down a castle gate - Soma, 3D6.
  • Shaking off the effects of the Red Scab Contagion - Soma, 3D6.
  • Researching histories in the carved libraries of the White Archives - Sophis, 4D6.
  • Recalling the name of an elvish diplomat you spoke to just once, four centuries previous - Sophis, 4D6.
  • Singing a tearful lament for a fallen brother - Pneuma, 5D6.
  • Waking to the footfalls of the knight who is creeping up on you in your lair as you sleep - Pneuma, 5D6.

Birthright Modifiers

Several Dragon Breeds are especially blessed in certain ways, and receive a bonus to their dice pools accordingly. For example, Sable Dragons have Exceptional Will and gain +1 dice to Sophis-based tasks that relate to mental willpower.

Dragon Breeds can also be weak in certain ways, and can receive dice penalties. For example, Ghost Dragons have Unsettling Presence and take a -1 dice penalty to Pneuma-based tasks that relate to positive social interaction.

Defining Target Numbers

Level of Training

Internal modifiers

Assigning Difficulties

Levels of challenge

External modifiers

Permutations

Competed tasks

Extended tasks

Rules Glossary