Reactions & Tests

A Reaction occurs when a protagonist’s capabilities are being measured without them performing an Action. In other words, a Reaction is invoked when the world exerts pressure on the protagonist and they must endure, notice, recall, or maintain something rather than proactively attempting to change the situation. Reactions are resolved using Tests.

Reaction Types

A Reaction belongs to one of the following types.

Resist

When a protagonist is resisting some influence under the referee’s control. This includes physical danger or mental and social coercion.

Examples: A cultist strikes you with a club, a demon attempts to dominate your will, a bully tries to intimidate you, toxic miasma chokes you.

Notice

When a protagonist’s senses or intuition are being tested.

Examples: Spotting a hidden figure watching from the rafters, sensing a shift in someone’s mood, or realizing a story doesn’t add up.

Remember

When a protagonist attempts to recall information.

Examples: Recognizing a symbol of an obscure sect, remembering the weakness of a monster chasing you, or recalling a legend relevant to the situation.

Sustain

When a protagonist is maintaining something, such as an effect or an extended effort.

Examples: keep a summoned entity under control, hold concentration under duress, maintain a grapple.

Support

When a protagonist is participating in a Cooperation Check as a Follower.

Examples: sneaking as a group, working together to lift a heavy object, performing a group ritual.

Recover

When a protagonist is attempting to recover from a Wounds.

Tests

A Test is used to determine if a protagonist’s Reaction succeeds or fails. Unlike Checks, where players roll dice, Tests are resolved using a Difficulty roll made by the referee.

Difficulty Rolls

To perform a Test, the referee rolls Difficulty dice, which is 2d10. The result is then compared against the protagonist’s most relevant Skill’s Reaction score, determined by the nature of the Reaction. If the Difficulty roll is equal to or greater than the Reaction score, the protagonist fails. Otherwise, the protagonist succeeds.

Tests are binary - there are no partial successes, Costs, or Critical Hits for Tests.

Reaction Scores

A protagonist’s Reaction Score for a Test depends on their ranks in the most relevant Skill and their ranks in the corresponding Ability. It is calculated using the following formula (rounding up the final result):

10 + (Ability rank + Skill rank)/2

Open or Secret Tests

The referee may choose to roll Difficulty in secret when the protagonist should not immediately know whether they succeeded or failed, or even if a Test occurred at all.