Terminology #

Dice Notation #

Dice are used extensively throughout this game in complex combinations. It’s important to know the notation.

The number after the “d” indicates how many faces are on the die you’re supposed to roll.

Dice Notation #

Multiple Dice Rolls #

A number before the “d” indicates the number of dice to roll. for example, 1d20 means a single d20 is to be rolled. 3d6 indicates that three d6’s are to be rolled and the sum of their rolls is the number used.

Dice Roll Modifiers #

A bonus or penalty applied to a roll affects the outcome after the dice are rolled. For example, 1d20 + 2 means roll a d20 and add 2 to the result.

Abilities #

Abilities are the main way characters interact with the world. Almost every action a character can take which can possibly end in failure involves using an ability. These abilities are described by scores, describing how good or bad a character is at doing certain tasks, and their corresponding bonuses, describing how die rolls are modified.

Ability Descriptions #

Characters are described by six abilities: strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom, and charisma.

Table 0: Abilities #

Ability Checks #

In order to determine success for failiure for any action, the Game Master (GM) will prompt a player to make an abliity check vs a Difficulty Class (DC). The formula to determine success is as follows:

1d20 + ability bonus >= DC

The GM determines which ablilty is relevant to the check.

Proficiency #

Proficiency is an indicator of whether a character has training or competence in a particular activity. Ability checks done for activities in which a character is procifient have the character’s proficiency bonus to the roll result.

1d20 + ability bonus + proficiency bonus >= DC

The GM determines whether a roll is with proficiency or not.

Advantage and Disadvantage #

Sometimes circumstances make a feat easier or harder to accomplish than it needs to be. In such a case, a roll can be done with advantage or disadvantage. For example, trying to shoot an arrow at someone who is invisible would be harder for the person doing the shooting. Meanshile, the invisible person whould have an easier time attacker their opponent.

When the situation favors the initiator of the action, they roll with advantage. To roll with advantage, instead of taking a single d20 roll, they roll twice and take the higher of the two rolls.

Similarly when the situation disfavors the initiator, they roll with disadvantage. To roll with disadvantage, instead of taking a single d20 roll, they roll twice and take the lower of the two rolls.

There is no such thing as “double” or “triple” advantage. Compounding effects cannot bestow extra dice to be rolled as part of advantage. If two compounding factors simultaneously impart both advantage or disadvantage, the roll is made with a straight d20 roll, no matter how many effects are in favor or against.

For example, if a character is both invisible and has the high ground is trying to shoot an enemy with a bow, but their target is lying prone, there are two factors which may impart advantage and one effect which may impart disadvantage. In this case, the attack roll is rolled normally, as the advantage and disadvantage cancel each other out.

Combat #

Time and Combat Rounds #

Time flows in two different ways, depending on whether or not combat has started. Outside of combat, actions typically take one minute, ten minutes, or an hour.

Inside combat, action is faster-paced and many things happen at once. Combat happens as a series of rounds. Each round is 6 seconds long, so 10 rounds happens over the course of 1 minute.

Order of Combat #

Surprise and Ambush #

If the player characters are actively trying to surprise the enemy, roll inititative with advantage. If the opponents are trying to surprise the party, roll initiative with disadvantage. If both are seeing surprise, or neither are expecting an encounter, roll with initiative normally.

On Your Turn #

Players on their turn have two main actions:

• Their character can take an action.
• Their character can spend their movement budget.

Movement can happen at any time during the turn. So a character may move 30’ before an action, or after an action, or even in the middle of an action. For example, a character with extra attacks may break up an attack so that they move in between each attack.

A simple action like drawing a weapon may be done as part of movement. A trivial action like saying a few words or dropping something in your hand may be done for free during your turn.

Morale Checks #

When the monsters observe that the fight is going against them (for example, when half the group has fallen or they have lost half their HP), they should make a morale check (Wis save) or they must flee or surrender. This does not apply to undead, constructs, and other creatures that either have no intelligence or no survival instinct.

Actions #

An action is the main thing the character does over the course of the round. Consult the table below for the mechanic that resolves the action. Note that any action which can be performed over the span of a few seconds may be considered an action.

Table 1: Actions #

Attack Rolls #

Attacking is the core action of combat. It consists of two parts: the attack roll and the damage roll. The attack action allows only one attack roll unless otherwise specified.

To make an attack roll, roll an ability check against the target’s armor class. Which ability is rolled depends on the type of attack. Consult the table below to determine the type of check needed. If you are using a weapon to attack, you may do so with proficiency if you are proficient in that weapon. Magic users are always proficient with spell attacks.

If a weapon attack is successful, roll the damage die indicated in Table 24. If the weapon is not ranged, you may add your Strength bonus to the damage. Ranged weapons and spells do not get added damage from ability scores unless otherwise noted.

Table 2: Attack Rolls #

Critical Hits and Misses #

If an attack roll is a natural 20, (the literal number on the die is 20, before factoring in bonuses), you have scored a critical hit. Critical hits automatically hit, even if the roll result doesn’t meet the armor class. In addition, a minor benefit occurs. Usually the result is that you roll double the normal dice for damage before factoring in bonuses. But the player may opt for a different effect at the GM’s discretion, as appropriate for the situation. For example, the creature is knocked prone, or drops their weapon, or an ally turns up just in time to help out, or maybe the creature was already standing precariously at the edge of the cliff and a critical hit sends them over the edge.

Conversely, if the attack roll is a natural 1, the attack automatically misses. However, the player may choose to succeed anyway, in which case the GM introduces a minor detriment to the character. It may be that their weapon gets stuck and they lose use of it while the opponent is still standing, or the ground gives way and they fall into a fall cavern, or their nemesis just managed to track them down and now have two situations to deal with.

Distance and Range #

Distances can be long range, short range, touch, and self.

Self, as one might expect, indicates it can only happen to the caster of that spell. When a spell description mentions “you”, it means the caster, so spelss that target “you” are self range.

Touch means roughly within arm’s reach. Short range is within a stone’s throw. Long range is about as far as an arrow can reach. These are left deliberately vague and flexible.

Melee weapons (weapons which are not thrown and are not ranged) only attack targets within touch range. The same applies for unarmed attacks. Thrown weapons can only attack targets in short range or closer. Other ranged weapons may attack targets up to the distance indicated as their range in the equipment tables.

A PC may use a weapon at a longer range than incidated above. For example, throwing a weapon without the thrown property. The GM has discretion on whether it’s actually physically possible for the weapon to reach that far. If the target is reachable, the attack is made with disadvantage. For example, it’s certainly possible for the bolt of a light crossbow to reach long range, but as it’s not designed to shoot so far with accuracy, the attack is made with disadvantage.

Spell Attacks #

To affect an unwilling touch target with a spell (such as with inflict wounds) requires a spell attack. Ranged spell effects against a single unwilling creature with no saving throw specified are also spell attacks. There is no difference to the roll whether the spell target is within touch, short range, or long range as long as the target is within the distance indicated by the spell.

Movement #

Movement works like money. Each round every character has a budget of 30’ of movement to spend. Actions like dash increase the budget. Normally 5’ of movement moves your character 5’ of distance. In some circumstances, the cost may be more.

In rough terrain, the cost to move is doubled. For example, the cost to move 5’ of distance is 10’ of movement. The following are possible examples of rough terrain, but the decision as to what counts as rough terrain is determined by the GM.

• Soft sand
• Deep mud
• Knee-high water
• Blizzard-level winds
• Slippery ice
• Going up a somewhat steep incline
• Climbing with a rope
• Crawling
• Swimming
• A bridge made of spiderwebs
• A mountain of loose gold coins

Reactions #

Every character gets one reaction per round. These are things which can happen outside of a character’s normal turn. A reaction can only happen on a particular trigger. The reaction happens before the triggering action can take effect.

The following are examples of reactions. Every character has an opportunity attack as a reaction. Other reactions come from class traits and memorized spells.

Table 3: Example Reactions #

Opportunity Attacks #

If an creature is within touch range of their opponent uses their movement to move outside of touch range, it provokes an opportunity attack by the opponent. The opponent gets a single attack roll on the moving creature before they leave touch range. This is not an Attack action, so multiple attacks are not possible, but other combat maneuvers that only cost an attack roll like Disarm can be used as an opportunity attack.

A creature that uses the Disengage action does not attract oppotunity attacks and can freely move into and out of touch range for the remainder of their turn.

Saving Throws #

Saves are ability checks used to avoid effects. These are made the same as any attack roll or skill check is made, with proficiency being determined by the class. The DC for saving throws is DC 11 unless specifically stated otherwise. Success results in that particular negative effect being avoided entirely, unless the effect’s description says otherwise.

Special Effects and Conditions #

Combat is complex, and any number of things can happen in the heat of battle that can help or hurt your chances of winning. In lieu of a comprehensive set of conditions, such judgements are left to the GM to be applied on a situational basis. The effect most of these should have is advantage or disadvantage. The table below is a small sample of situations where advantage may apply.

Table 4: Example Conditions #

Exhaustion #

Extreme heat or cold without proper preparation, 24 hours without sleep, a day without water, or three days without eating result in a level of exhaustion. Each level of exhaustion results in a cumulative -2 penalty to all rolls and 5’ fewer movement budget avalable. Seven cumulative levels of exhaustion results in death. A full day’s rest cures one level of exhaustion.

Death and Dying #

When a character drops to 0HP, they are dead and are no longer controlled by the player.