Playing the game
The 3 different modes of play
The gameplay experience in the Worlds of Legends TTRPG System™ consists of three distinct modes of play, each influenced by the decisions made by the player characters, all of these modes adhere to the foundational structure of play outlined in the 'basics of playing TTRPGs' section of this booklet, while also introducing their own unique characteristics and specific rules.
Exploration Mode. Is the most prevalent mode of gameplay, occurring whenever the player characters engage in activities such as exploring a location or interacting with characters, creatures, or objects outside of combat. In this mode, the passage of in-game time can vary, spanning from mere seconds to minutes, hours, or even days (at the scribe's discretion). Player characters have the freedom to act in any order they choose and can take as many actions as necessary to navigate the situations they encounter. This mode allows for flexibility and imagination, enabling players to delve deep into the world and immerse themselves in it.
Encounter mode. This mode is the most structured and happens whenever the PCs engage in skill and/or combat-based interactions with other creatures or non-player characters. During an encounter, all participant creatures and characters should take turns to resolve their actions, even when in reality all actions are happening at more or less the same time. In this mode, time is measured in rounds, representing a span of just a few seconds in which participants can only take a limited amount of actions per turn.
Downtime mode. This mode usually serves to describe overland travel or set the stage for what happens during periods of rest between adventures, in this mode in-game time spans periods of time such as weeks, months, or even years. In this mode, player characters can practice a profession to earn money, use experience points to train themselves and become better at their trade or experience life outside the perilous enterprise of adventuring.
At first glance it may sound daunting to navigate between these modes, but as you engage in gameplay you will quickly realize that the shared structure always facilitates a seamless and dynamic transition between them.
Understanding the game dice
The Worlds of Legend TTRPG System™ utilizes a set of polyhedral dice to determine the outcome of the actions taken by both player and non-player characters. This assortment includes various dice each with a distinct number of sides, these dice are identified as d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and d100. In this notation the "d" stands for die, followed by a number denoting the die's sides. This applies to all dice except for the d100, also called the percentile die, which is unique in its operation. Below you will see a representation of the dice included in a typical 7-piece dice set:
While hundred-sided dice do exist, the task of randomly generating a number between 1 to 100 using a standard 7-piece set is commonly achieved using the two d10s. These dice work in tandem, with one die specifying the tens place and the other the units place. Most commercially available sets include a d10 marked in tens (10, 20, 30, etc.) for this specific purpose. When rolling a percentile die, for example, a roll of a 3 in the units die and a 40 on the tens die yields a result of 43, rolling a 1 on the units and a 00 on the tens results in 1, and a roll of 0 on the units and 00 on the tens uniquely produces 100. If somehow you lack the specially marked tens die, two standard d10s can suffice; in that case, you designate one of them as the tens digit before rolling and then combine their values accordingly afterwards.
When instructed to roll dice, the rules will specify the number and type of dice to roll, along with any modifiers to apply to the result, if applicable. The notation used for this is as follows: "3d8 + 5"; these instructions indicate that you must roll either three eight-sided dice alongside one another, or one eight-sided die three times, then sum the results of the roll and add 5 to the total. These instructions ensure clarity and consistency during gameplay.
The 6 core attributes
Within the Worlds of Legend TTRPG System™, six attributes are used to describe a creature's distinct physical build, mental capabilities, and overall presence. These attributes not only shape the creature's reactions, movements, and appearance, but they also determine how the creature interacts with the game system. A creature’s competence for each attribute is represented by a dice value, ranging from a d4 to a d12. The larger the die, the greater the creature's chances are of succeeding in specific tasks.
For player characters, these attributes embody different aspects of their being. Ask yourself, is your character known for their wit and willpower? Or, do they rather excel in strength and charm? Perhaps they are swift and nimble but lacking on the intellectual side. These attributes collectively shape a character’s capabilities, defining their strengths, weaknesses, and overall character, influencing their abilities and shaping their role within a group.
The six core attributes are:
Dexterity. This attribute reflects a creature's control over the movement of its own body. It measures agility, coordination, and reflexes. A creature with high dexterity is nimble and quick, able to react swiftly and perform intricate maneuvers with ease.
Physique. Represents a creature's hardiness, body mass, and overall constitution. It measures physical strength, and resilience. A creature with high physique possesses robust health, fortitude, and the ability to perform athletic feats with ease.
Intellect. This attribute represents a creature's capacity for critical thinking, problem-solving, and mental acuity. It measures reasoning, memory, and analytical skills. A creature with high intellect is sharp-minded, capable of processing complex information, and finding creative solutions.
Wisdom. Measures a creature's ability to perceive and understand the world around it. It encompasses intuition, insight, and practical knowledge. A creature with high wisdom possesses keen senses, sound judgment, and a deep understanding of the environment and its inhabitants.
Charisma. Measures a creature's ability to communicate effectively and exert its will upon others. It represents charm, persuasiveness, and social grace. A creature with high charisma has a magnetic presence, captivating others with their presence and influencing outcomes through diplomacy or force of personality.
Will. This last attribute reflects a creature's determination, force of will, and spiritual strength. It measures the creature’s affinity with magic and resistance to external influences. A creature with high willpower possesses unwavering resolve, spiritual fortitude, and a natural connection to the aethereal energies of the world.
Many of the dice rolls you’ll make while playing the Worlds of Legend TTRPG System™ will directly relate to the core attributes, whether by rolling an attribute die by itself, or rolling it alongside the action die (the d20) to determine the outcome of an action or task. There may be times, particularly when calculating the damage caused by a class talent, you may encounter the term "MDV" in the description of such talent. MDV stands for Maximum Die Value, and it refers to the highest value printed on the specific attribute die being used. For example, the MDV for a d8 die is 8, indicating that the maximum value that can be rolled on that die is 8.
Luck
Luck is an additional attribute that only player characters possess and that represents a measure of the character’s seemingly innate ability to attract good fortune towards themselves. A character’s luck stat is always a number between 2 and 7 that is generated by rolling 1d6+1 during the character’s creation process.
The luck stat can enter play in two different ways:
Once per day (of in-game time). a character can add its luck number as a bonus to any action die check they make during that same day.
Whenever a player’s luck number appears on the action die (the d20) as a result of any action die check they make, such result has the same treatment as if the player had rolled a natural 20 while still maintaining its printed value for when it comes to solving advantage or disadvantage dice.
A character with a higher luck stat may benefit more from using it as a fixed bonus for action die checks, while a character with a lower luck stat has a greater chance to achieve critical success when affected by one or more disadvantage dice.
Dice rolls
Dice rolls play a crucial role in the game mechanics of the Worlds of Legend TTRPG System™ as they introduce an element of chance into the narrative that’s being created. Whenever a character or creature attempts a task where success is uncertain the scribe may call for a dice check utilizing one of the various dice roll mechanics presented below, the scribe then compares the numerical result of the dice roll against a target number to determine the outcome of the check.
Usually, if the result of the dice roll is equal to or higher than the set difficulty, the character successfully completes the task at hand. Conversely, if the result is lower than the check's difficulty, the character fails and may suffer an unexpected consequence as a result. There are three different kinds of dice rolls you will be making while playing:
Single die rolls. As the name implies, this kind of roll uses a single die often specified by the dice roll itself, to produce a result. Defense rolls, initiative rolls, and recovery rolls are all single die rolls. When resolving a single die roll, roll the indicated die and then add the associated bonuses or penalties, if any.
Action die checks. As its name suggests, this kind of roll happens when a character attempts to perform any actions, and makes use of both the action die (the d20) as well as an attribute die dictated by either the rules-as-written or by the scribe, to produce a result. Attack rolls, skill checks, contested checks, and saving throws are all examples of action die checks. When resolving an action die check, roll both the action die and the specified attribute die, sum the result of both dice and then add all associated bonuses or penalties, if any. The resulting number will then be compared to a target difficulty to determine success or failure.
Probability checks. These checks use the d100, also known as the percentile die, to produce a result and usually happen whenever the scribe needs to solve a variable unrelated to any of the core attributes. When resolving a probability check, roll 2d10 using one for units and the other for tens as specified in the "Understanding the Game Dice" section of this article, and sum the result of both dice to obtain a number between 1 and 100; which will be then compared to an arbitrary value stated by the scribe to define an outcome.
Bonuses & penalties
Are small, fixed numbers that modify a dice roll either by adding to or subtracting from the result, these modifiers are typically applied under specific circumstances related to a given roll. A character's skills, talents, and perks, along with certain condition effects can either grant bonuses or impose penalties. The scribe also has the capacity to apply arbitrary bonuses or penalties based on external conditions, such as weather or terrain.
Contested checks
Contested checks in the Worlds of Legend TTRPG System™ portray competitions of strength, wit, or otherwise. These are always action die checks that occur whenever a character or creature attempts to overcome another such as when executing combat maneuvers like grappling and shoving, or engaging in skill-based competitions such as arm wrestling, drinking contests, or cup shuffling. or other games. In this case, the scribe may allow participant creatures to benefit from skill bonuses for each of their rolls.
Unlike other kinds of action die checks, contested checks are resolved by comparing the results of the opposing dice rolls against each other, rather than against a target difficulty. Each participant rolls both the action die (d20) and their respective attribute die, which may be the same or different for each creature; any relevant bonuses or penalties are then added to the result. The participant with the highest combined result emerges as the successful contender, while the others fail in the task at hand.
Advantage & disadvantage dice
Similar to the previously discussed topic, advantage and disadvantage dice introduce a mechanic that reflects favorable or unfavorable conditions impacting a dice roll. However, unlike bonuses and penalties that adjust the final result of a dice roll through fixed numbers, advantage and disadvantage die affect the odds of rolling a higher or lower outcome in the action die. When conducting an action die check with advantage or disadvantage, the character or creature rolls an additional action die for each advantage or disadvantage die awarded. So, for example, a character that receives 1 advantage die for an attack roll, rolls either 2d20s or two times the same die.
If the creature has advantage, it takes the highest result in all the d20s used for the roll. Conversely, when the creature is affected by disadvantage, it uses the lowest number as a result. It's worth noting that advantage and disadvantage dice can accumulate or negate each other. For instance, if a creature has 2 advantage dice and 1 disadvantage die for the same roll, it makes its action die roll using only 1 advantage die.
Exceeding and fumbling
Sometimes, action die checks can yield exceptional results both fortuitous and disastrous. Whenever a character or creature obtains the highest possible value for both dice when rolling an action die check, the roll is labeled as an ‘exceed,’ and signifies a triumph beyond the ordinary. Conversely, rolling the minimum possible value on both dice results becomes a 'fumble,' marking a critical failure.
An exceeding roll always succeeds in the attempted action with an outcome that surpasses expectations, regardless of whether the final number reached the target difficulty or not. It is up to the scribe to establish what exceptional results an exceeding roll might produce. For example, an attack roll may impose a status condition or induce a lingering injury, a skill check may produce additional benefits or insights, and a saving throw might grant a morale bonus to the creature or its allies, etc.
On the flip side, a fumbled roll not only guarantees failure but it is also accompanied by dire repercussions. The scribe should determine the nature of these consequences. For instance, an attack roll may result in the loss or destruction of one’s weapon, a skill check might end up causing an accident that deals damage to the creature or others nearby, and a failed saving throw may exacerbate the situation with further detrimental effects, etc.
Skills
Skills in the Worlds of Legend TTRPG System™ embody a character's specific competencies expertise, and knowledge across a diverse range of areas. Each skill confers a numeric bonus that enhances the outcome of action die checks and is associated with one of the six core attributes. For example, the ‘Mechanics’ skill is linked to the Intellect attribute.
When a player character, NPC, or creature attempts an attribute check where possessing a particular skill could be advantageous, they may add the skill’s training bonus to the roll's outcome. Consider a character trying to fix the broken engine of a vehicle, they would normally be required to make an action die check using intellect as their attribute die. Given the nature of the task, having training in mechanics could increase the chances of success, and so depending on the degree of training the creature possesses for the mechanics skill, it should also add the corresponding bonus to the result of its dice roll.
Skill proficiency is categorized into three levels: untrained, trained, and specialized. Untrained skills do not grant bonuses or modify the result of an action die check in any way, whereas trained skills provide a +4 bonus to the check. Specialized skills offer an additional +2 bonus on top of the existing training bonus for a total of +6 for applicable checks.
A level 1 character receives training on a handful of skills thanks to its background and selected class, and can further specialize those skills or gain training in new ones via the character development process. Although the specific skills listed on a character sheet may differ based on the game's setting, from handling animals to understanding the intricacies of quantum physics, the mechanics governing skills remain consistent across all settings for the Worlds of Legend TTRPG System™.
Perks
Exemplify the unique knacks that characters acquire over their lifetime, shaped by their upbringing, education, particular interests or past experience. These distinct advantages not only contribute to a character's uniqueness but can also influence how they approach tasks and interact within the game world. At level 1, characters gain a number of perks thanks to their ancestry, race, background, etc., and as the game progresses, characters have the opportunity to expand their repertoire by allocating experience points (XP) earned through their adventures.
Proficiencies
Denote a character's know-how in the proper usage of various items as well as their fluency in different languages. This encompasses a broad range of elements and indicates the foundational knowledge a character must have to utilize them effectively, from weapon groups and tools, to steeds and vehicles.
While the absence of proficiency in a language or item doesn't prevent a character from attempting to communicate or perform tasks with the item, it does introduce a challenge. A character or creature lacking a required item or language proficiency will incur a penalty, receiving 1 disadvantage die on all action die checks related to these endeavors. Artifacts, tools, vehicles, or steeds that require proficiency to be effectively used are marked as such in their descriptions and the accompanying tables.