Mastering the Game

Calibration allows you to adjust the difficulty of an encounter and is calculated using Adversity Ratios (AR). To do this, calculate the difference between the sum of the ARs of the creatures present and the number of player characters.

As a reminder, a creature's adversity ratio gives an indication of the number of creatures it is recommended to pit against one or more player characters.

Calibration = (Sum of creature ARs) - Number of PCs

Here is a table that allows you to evaluate the challenge level of an encounter based on the calibration value:

ARs are generally added as fractions. Using multiple tiny creatures (AR 1/3) or small creatures (AR 1/2) will allow you to adjust and simplify this calculation.

When the calibration lands on an in-between value, always round toward the lower challenge level. A calibration of -0.5 is therefore considered manageable (-1) rather than demanding (0).

For example, let's take an encounter involving 1 Dragon (AR 3/1) accompanied by its 2 Baby Dragons (AR 1/2).
Sum AR = 3/1 (dragon) + 2 x 1/2 (babies) = 3 + 1 = 4.

Assuming the encounter involves 4 PCs, here is the calibration value.
Calibration = 4 (sum of AR) - 4 (PCs) = 0.

The encounter will therefore be demanding for 4 PCs.
Remove the 2 Baby Dragons or keep only one, and the encounter will become manageable without too much difficulty.

The number of opponents present in a combat greatly influences the outcome of encounters as well as their duration. It is therefore essential to find a balance so that each session is dynamic and engaging for the players.

It is recommended that the maximum number of creatures does not stray too far from the number of player characters (PCs).

Number of Creatures ≤ Number of PCs + 1

This promotes a balanced game dynamic without any player feeling overwhelmed.

To simplify encounter organization, it is common to calibrate the creature level to match the average (or majority) level of the player characters (PCs). This ensures consistency and an overall balance of challenge.

However, it is possible to modulate encounter difficulty by slightly adjusting the level of one or more creatures. This approach creates a dynamic where certain creatures may seem more threatening.

Creature Level = Average PC Level ± 1

For more personalized encounters, you could align each creature's level as closely as possible with that of the different PCs while taking into account the Adversity Ratio (AR). This method ensures that each player has a directly comparable opponent in terms of power, which is particularly relevant in the case of teams with disparate levels.

For example, for a team composed of characters at levels 3, 5, 5, and 7, we can propose this distribution:

• The level 3 player faces a level 3 creature with an AR of 1/1.
• The two level 5 players fight a robust level 5 creature with an AR of 2/1.
• And the level 7 player, a level 7 creature with an AR of 1/1.

Note that the printable creature sheets in the community bestiary offer a summary table of stats, allowing you to easily manage multiple identical creatures at different levels.

Let's revisit the different types of rewards and their uses, which will help you better understand their purposes and implications.

Let's now look at some guidelines and tips that will help you more easily determine the rewards to award your players.

When the rewards for your scenario are set, adjust the amounts of Experience Points (XP) and Ability Points (AP) to offer various rewards depending on the methods used by the players to resolve quests or missions.

It is advisable to maintain an overall equivalence between the XP and AP distributed, regardless of the path chosen by the players.

Let's take the example of a scenario featuring a final combat against a mini-boss, rewarding each player character (PC) with 2 XP and 2 AP. If the players opt to capture the villain alive, you could adjust the rewards to 3 XP and 1 AP, thus valuing a more strategic or diplomatic approach.

Regarding monetary rewards, you have the flexibility to distribute them either at the end of the scenario or each session, or progressively as combats and quests are resolved.

It is recommended to distribute monetary rewards regularly to allow players to cover at minimum their adventure expenses.

When multiple abilities, elixirs, or poisons affect the same attribute of a target, only the effect of the last application is taken into account.

Therefore, if a new effect is applied to an already affected target, this effect cancels and replaces any previous effect of the same type, thus ensuring that similar effects do not stack.

For example, if two different abilities attempt to reduce the physical defense (Phys Def) of an opponent, only the penalty from the most recent ability will be considered.

Effect durations are also adjusted only based on the last application, without accumulation of previous durations.

The player (PC) or the Game Master (GM) who activates a lasting effect must track and apply it each turn:

• The PC must remember the positive effects they benefit from and the negative effects they have applied to their opponents.
• The GM must remember the positive effects their creatures benefit from and the negative effects they have applied to the PCs.

If the PC or GM forgets to reapply the effect on a given turn, that turn is simply lost, and the effect's duration continues to decrease normally.

Here is how the impact of sleep deprivation and lack of food is determined.

It is important to note that these penalties are cumulative.

A character going two days without sleeping and without eating suffers a total penalty of -4 to all test rolls (-2 for sleep deprivation and -2 for hunger and thirst).

Fall damage amounts to 1d6 for every 2-meter increment, but only applies from a height of 2 meters.

For example, if a character falls from a height of 7 meters, they suffer 3d6 damage.

Between 10 and 12 meters, the character's HP drops to zero and they are unconscious. They do not suffer HP deterioration but must still be saved by their companions. Beyond 12 meters, the character dies.