Boosts & Tweaks

ADVANCED CHALLENGE OPTIONS

The resolution system for “The Lens” can be expanded to provide more flexibility and meaningful choice during play, at the cost of adding some crunch to skill resolution. The ADVANCED RESOLUTION options utilizes QUALITIES from Advanced Character Building options, and allow Players to change and alter their rolls with two separate mechanics. Those mechanics are:

  • BOOST: Spend ASPECT Points to increase the tier of all dice thrown in a Challenge or Save Roll.
  • TWEAK: Modify the results of a Challenge or Save Roll using Quality Modifiers, Tool Workmanship, and Luck.

DETAIL

BOOSTS

INCREASE DICE TIERS BEFORE ROLLING

Using the BOOST mechanic, a Player can spend from 1-2 of their Character’s ASPECT points to increase the TIER of all of the dice they’re rolling for any CHALLENGE or SAVE Roll. In other words, 1d4 would become 1d6, and 2d8 would become 2d10.

  • For Challenge Rolls, the Character must have acquired at least a NOVICE level of Training.
  • No one die tier can be increased beyond d12 in this way.
  • Dice in a CHALLENGE ROLL cannot be boosted more than 2 tiers.
  • Dice in a SAVE ROLL can be boosted up to 4 tiers.

Players choosing to BOOST their roll should describe how the ASPECT they’re choosing to spend will help their Character in their effort.

TWEAKS

MODIFY VALUES AFTER ROLLING

Once the dice have been rolled, the Player may choose to TWEAK the values of the roll in the following ways:

  • One die can be TWEAKED by the Character’s QUALITY MODIFIER that corresponds to the CHALLENGE or SAVE being rolled.
  • If the Character is using a tool, one die can be TWEAKED by adjusting it by the WORKMANSHIP MODIFIER of the tool.
  • One die can be TWEAKED by spending 1 LUCK OR VOID point to raise the roll to its maximum natural value based on die size.
  • No die can be TWEAKED more than once per roll.

EXAMPLE

BRETT BOOSTS A BURGLAR

A well-to-do lordling is in possession of a trinket that’s caught Sneeky Peet’s eye, and after following the furtive fellow on his path from shady tavern to shady tavern, Peet now has a chance to pilfer the trinket while the lordling steps into an alley to relieve himself. Carefully, Peet slides into position behind the lordling as the man evacuates his last four tankards onto the paving stones, and slips his hand into the man’s brocade pockets.

Brett has latched on to this trinket for god knows what reason and decided that Peet absolutely must have this trinket.

Andy, the GM, tells Brett the Target Number he needs to roll is 5. The lordling is somewhat paranoid and attentive, but currently distracted, and thinks he hasn’t been followed. This is as good an opportunity as Peet is going to get.

Concerned that his Scoundrel roll of 1d10 + 2d6 may provide too much room for error, Brett decides to BOOST his roll, spending 1 point of MIND to boost the tiers of the dice he rolls. Now, he’ll roll 1d12 + 2d8 and describes how Peet’s greed and avarice have focused his mind on this one goal: acquire the shiny.

Brett makes the roll: 2d8 -> 2, 4, and 1d12 -> 9.

  • The 9 already counts as EFFORT, so that’s at least 1 success, but a complication is the last thing he needs and he really doesn’t want to get caught.
  • Peet’s AGILITY QUALITY gives him a +1 MODIFIER, so he can TWEAK one die roll with the +1. He TWEAKS the 4 to bring it to a 5, and that now gives him 2 total EFFORT.
  • Brett gets a malicious sparkle in his eye, though, and he really wants this to be an incomparable success. If he wants to, he can use a point of LUCK to change the 2 to an 8, its maximum roll value, so long as it wasn’t already TWEAKED. He spends one LUCK and TWEAKS the 2 into an 8. Now he has 3 total EFFORT, which gives him a TRIUMPH Outcome.

Peet, with the moves and skills of a master in his craft, wakes a nearby drunk, who starts rambling. The lordling turns quickly, facing the drunk, who is abruptly sobered by the man’s urine splashing into his face. The drunk rises, furious, but before the lordling can get away, Peet deftly trips him, rifling through his pockets and not only snatching the trinket, but a few coins as well before the drunk can catch up to the man. Absorbed in their fisticuffs, neither notice the tiny kalindival sneaking gleefully off into the streets behind them.