REFEREE
What follows are rules for game referees, with instructions on how to make good rules judgements, methods to build adventures monsters, encounters, and treasures quickly and easily. with some examples to get you started.
| CHAPTER | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| DESIGN YOUR CAMPAIGN | There’s more to a campaign than how many dice you roll to build a Character, whether you’re a deep worldbuilder or just looking for an idea for a one-shot. WORLDBUILDING methods, including the WORLD LAB, the FACTION LAB, and the ADVENTURE LAB should give you a few good places to start. |
| PREPARE THE SESSION | Planning for each session is important, but it doesn’t have to take you hours. Using session design tools like the ITEM LAB, the MONSTER LAB, and the ENCOUNTER LAB will give you the tools you need to streamline your sessions before and during play. |
| RUN THE SESSION | Operational guidelines to help you run the game, from the FUNDAMENTALS of running the game and resolving CHALLENGES and SAVES, to the specifics of running in all of the different PLAYSPACES like SKIRMISHES, DIPLOMACY, GOVERNANCE and more! |
BRETT (playing Sneeky Peet): “I sneak up slowly on the camp, taking care to watch out for lookouts or patrols.”
ANDY (the Game Referee) takes a look at her notes. There are six mercenaries here - a gnome silently patrolling in the underbrush, and five others relaxing in the firelight. Sneeky Peet’s a good infiltrator, but will he be good enough? We’ll find out…
“Roll a Stealth Challenge, Brett, Target Number is 6.”
BRETT: “6!! Crap, okay… 1d10 for Talent and 2d8 for Training… 6, 4, and… 6! Two effort, solid success.”
ANDY: “Very nice….
ANDY nods to herself, silently congratulating Brett. Though both Peet and the patroller are equally trained and talented, Peet got the drop on him. Andy takes note of where the patrolling merc actually is right now and moves the scene along.
ANDY: “Okay, Peet slides up to just outside the campfire’s ring of light; it doesn’t appear as though anyone has noticed him… There are four - no, wait, five people there - mercenaries by the look of them. A tall human is tending to his equipment, and an imposing-looking drakkhozhn is telling a ribald story to her comrades in a deep, resonant voice. The others are sitting and eating with their backs to you - there’s a pot over the campfire they dip into for seconds.”
BRETT: “Could one of them be the goblin we’re looking for?”
ANDY: One of the mercs is definitely the goblin they’re looking for, but there’s no way Peet can be sure from his current position. Andy smirks to herself: Peet will probably move around to get a better look, but the longer Peet observes, the more likely the goblin’s dog will be able to smell him…