Actions
If your character attempts to do something with an uncertain outcome, the result will be determined by performing an "action".
Your character may attempt the following actions:
- Take a risk
- Help another
- Hinder another
- Rest and resupply
- Face death
- Gain experience
If your character is fighting another, you will also be able to attempt the following actions:
- Strike down
- Clash
- Seek advantage
An action requires you to roll two dice and compare the results to a target score.
A die result that matches or exceeds the target score is called a winner. A die result lower than the target score is called a dud.
A score of 10 is always a winner.
A score of 1 is always a dud.
The target score represents the difficulty of the task. It is up to you to determine the appropriate target score for an action.
The following table serves as a guide for you to use when determining target scores:
Difficulty |
Target Score |
Trivial |
2 |
Easy |
4 |
Challenging |
6 |
Difficult |
8 |
Very difficult |
10 |
Impossible |
12 |
Your modifiers reduce the target score, making it easier for you to accomplish certain actions. After determining the appropriate target score for an action, subtract the relevant modifier from the score.
If you have a skill relevant to the action, you may choose to spend a focus token to reduce the target score by the skill score. For example, if you attempt to climb a cliff and you have a climber skill score of 3, you may spend a focus token to reduce the target score by 3.
To spend a focus token, take a token from your focus pool and place it aside. It is now spent. You cannot spend a spent token.
Other actions and circumstances, such as the help another action, may also affect the target score of an action.
Combat in I Bury the Gods uses the concept of advantage. Advantage represents having an upper hand in the fight and the enemy on the defensive.
Your actions during a fight will determine whether you gain or lose advantage. When a fight begins, you won't have advantage. If you want to gain advantage, you will be able to do so by clashing or seeking advantage.
Take a risk
If you attempt an action that has a chance of failure, you will need to take a risk. This will determine whether you succeed or fail to achieve your goal.
First describe the successful outcome. For example, if you succeed in negotiating with a cult leader, the cultists will agree to free their hostages.
Determine which modifier is applicable to this action and the target score.
Now roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, the player character will complete the action successfully.
If you roll one winner and one dud, the following will occur:
- The player character will complete the action successfully.
- A complication will occur.
If you roll two duds, the following will occur:
- The player character will fail to achieve the successful outcome that the player had envisioned.
- A complication will occur.
Help another
If another player character is about to perform an action, you may attempt to help them. Describe how your character will attempt to help.
Determine which modifier is applicable to this action and the target score.
Now roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, the player character who is about to perform an action will subtract 1 from their target score.
If you roll one winner and one dud, the following will occur:
- The player character who is about to perform an action will subtract 1 from their target score.
- A complication will occur.
If you roll two duds, the following will occur:
- The player character who is about to perform an action will add 1 from their target score.
- A complication will occur.
Hinder another
If another player character is about to perform an action, you may attempt to prevent them from succeeding. Describe how your character will attempt to hinder.
Determine which modifier is applicable to this action and the target score.
Now roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, the player character who is about to perform an action will add 1 to their target score.
If you roll one winner and one dud, the following will occur:
- The player character who is about to perform an action will add 1 to their target score.
- A complication will occur.
If you roll two duds, a complication will occur.
Rest and resupply
Once per day, your character must rest and resupply.
The target score for this action depends on the type of lodgings your character has. If they are staying at an inn or similar, the target score will be 4. If they are camping outside, the target score will be 6. If they have no access to shelter at all, the target score will be 8.
Subtract your strength modifier from the target score.
Now roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, the following will occur in the order provided:
- Discard all of your remaining focus tokens.
- Add six tokens to your focus pool.
- Remove up to four tokens from the wound pool.
If you roll one winner and one dud, the the following will occur in the order provided:
- Discard all of your remaining focus tokens.
- Add four tokens to your focus pool.
- Remove up to four tokens from the wound pool.
If you roll two duds, the following will occur in the order provided:
- Discard all of your remaining focus tokens.
- Add four tokens to your focus pool.
- You may choose to spend one or more focus tokens to remove an equal number of tokens from the wound pool.
After resolving this action, the day ends and a new day will begin.
If a full day goes by without your character performing this action, remove one token from the focus pool.
Face death
Your character has suffered a wound. You must now determine the severity of the wound.
The target score for this action is the number of tokens you have in your wound pool currently. None of your modifiers can apply to this action.
Roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, the action will have no further effect on you.
If you roll one winner and one dud, add one additional token to the wound pool.
If you roll two duds, your character will perish.
Strike down
You spot an opening in your foe's defenses and attempt to strike them down.
Determine the target score and subtract your strength modifier.
Now roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, your opponent will perish. Describe the manner of their defeat.
If you roll one winner and one dud, the following will occur:
- Your opponent will suffer a wound.
- You will lose advantage.
If you roll two duds, your character will suffer a wound. Add one token to the wound pool and face death.
Clash
You and your foe trade blows, neither one having an edge over the other.
Determine the target score and subtract your strength modifier.
Now roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, the following will occur:
- Your opponent will suffer a wound.
- You will receive advantage.
If you roll one winner and one dud, the following will occur:
- Your opponent will suffer a wound.
- Your character will suffer a wound. Add one token to the wound pool and face death.
If you roll two duds, your character will suffer a wound and face death.
Seek advantage
You feint, parry and dodge, looking for an opening in your opponent's defenses.
Determine the target score and subtract either your agility or your insight modifier.
Now roll two dice.
If you roll two winners, you will receive advantage.
If you roll one winner and one dud, the following will occur:
- You will receive advantage.
- Your character will suffer a wound. Add one token to the wound pool and face death. Reduce the target score of the face death move by 1.
If you roll two duds, your character will suffer a wound. Add one token to the wound pool and face death. Reduce the target score of the face death move by 1.
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