CUT TO THE CHASE

Dramatic Chase Sequences

High-octane chase scenes are a staple of modern swashbuckling cinema. So how do you bring that same
excitement to your gaming table? Cut to the Chase presents an Action Sequence variant designed to inject
your chase scenes with visceral, high stakes drama. Inside you’ll find:

 tools designed to work seamlessly with any Action Sequence

 a step-by-step walkthrough of how they work in play
 a complete round-by-round example
 guidelines for villains, monsters, and brute squads in chases
 advice and idea generators to help you get the most out of chase scenes in your 7th
Sea 2nd edition game

by THOMAS G. HARRISON
Proofreading: Matt Baker

Special Thanks to: Martin Coulter, Kevin Krupp,Ted LeBeau and Søren Aske Hjorth

Explorers Society, 7th Sea and all related marks are © and ™ 2016 John Wick Presents. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be duplicated without express permission from the Author.
Second only to the epic ship battle, the chase sequence is a staple of modern swashbuckling cinema. Whether
it’s an epic race to the docks under heavy musket fire, a breakneck carriage chase on the King’s Road, a moonlit
dance across the rooftops of Iskandar, or a tense chase through twisting, narrow alleyways of the slums of
Charouse, eventually you will want to bring this sort of action to your tabletop game.
The rules presented in this expansion are designed to blend seamlessly with the existing 7th Sea 2nd edition
core rules, but provide extra tools for GMs to bring these exciting cinematic sequences to life in interesting and
dramatic ways.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF ACTION SEQUENCE

Chase Scenes use the same structure as an Action Sequence with some slight modifications. To accomplish their
objective, whether it is to escape pursuit, reach safety, or capture a wily street urchin who has stolen a priceless
Syrneth artifact, the Heroes must achieve a certain Momentum before the scene ends. The Momentum
requirements and the Time Limit (in Rounds) establish the stakes of the chase and are determined by the GM at
the start of the scene.

Momentum
Momentum is an abstract measurement of the progress of the chase. The Heroes’ Momentum reflects
outpacing, outmaneuvering, outsmarting, and outenduring the opposition. While distance is certainly part of
the equation, Momentum is NOT a strict measure of distance and should never be used as such.
At the beginning of a Chase, the GM specifies one of two Momentum requirements:

4 basic chase, or a chase where the Heroes enjoy some advantage over the opposition.

a chase where the Heroes are at a disadvantage against the opposition; also used for large (5+ players)
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or experienced groups.

The Heroes begin a Chase with 0 Ranks in Momentum. Building Momentum is a Special Opportunity that
costs 1 Raise per Hero in the scene. This reflects the group pushing forward in the chase. When a player spends
a Raise to build Momentum, they should describe what happens in the scene to aid the Heroes in the chase.
This could be an action his Hero takes (“I kick over a stack of barrels to create an obstacle…”) or some misstep
or stumble on the part of the opposition (“The villain’s henchmen get tangled up in a crowd of pilgrims…”).
Building Momentum really takes to heart the “change the scene” aspect of Raises.

Time Limits
In a game of attrition, the Heroes will generally win. Setting a firm timeframe on the chase heightens the drama
and raises the stakes with each passing round. At the beginning of a Chase, the GM specifies a Time Limit (in
Rounds) the Heroes have to escape or capture the opposition.

this is a desperate chase and a challenge for any group, where the Heroes will be forced to take
2 Rounds
Wounds if they hope to achieve the Momentum requirement.

3 Rounds a basic chase, where neither side enjoys any particular advantage over the other.

4 Rounds an extended chase

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Obstacles
Winning a Chase is easy if the Heroes are willing to
throw all of their Raises at it. However, as with any
Action Sequence, they also have to contend with
Consequences and Opportunities each round. Chases
offer a new feature: Obstacles. Obstacles are a special
type of Consequence: a carriage crosses the road in
front of the Heroes, the pursued overturns a cart full
of fruit, innocent bystanders block the path.
The GM is expected to establish any
Consequences and Opportunities at the beginning
of the round and Chases are no different. But
Obstacles are more fun and dramatic when they are
unexpected. At the beginning of each round of the
chase, the GM can roll a number of d10s based on the
terrain. A wide open boulevard with no foot traffic
or rolling plains would be relatively easy to move
through. A dense forest, a packed marketplace, or a
rugged cliff face is far more difficult.
Open Terrain 2d10
Difficult Terrain 3d10
Treacherous Terrain 4d10
 Every Odd result (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) indicates an
Obstacle. Like any Consequence, a player
may spend 1 Raise to describe how her Hero
overcomes an Obstacle. Otherwise the Obstacle
inflicts 1 Wound to the Hero and the chase
continues. Wounds from Obstacles are not
necessarily physical injuries, but can also reflect
fatigue, stress, or any number of conditions. A
chamber pot dumped on a Hero during a chase
wouldn’t leave a bruise, but would certainly cause
discomfort and irritation as he races through the
streets in pursuit of his quarry. The GM can make
one up on the spot or take inspiration from the
lists presented under Additional Details below.
Obstacles are added to any Consequences and
Opportunities the GM has already established, or
might inspire new ones.
 Matched pairs of dice, even or odd, indicate
a Major Obstacle. Major Obstacles carry TWO
Consequences each: they inflict a Wound (like
regular obstacles) AND cost the Heroes a Rank
of Momentum. Heroes may spend 2 Raises to
counter both Consequences, or spend 1 Raise and
choose one of the two Consequences to counter.
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Obstacles affect all the Heroes in the Scene.
Each player must decide how his or her Hero deals
with them. An Obstacle may only be removed from
the scene if the GM offers an Opportunity, or a player
presents a plausible action, to remove it. A large
Ussuran with a massive warhammer, for instance,
would be able to remove a fence as an Obstacle, but
not a broken down carriage.
Like any Consequence, Obstacles can be timed. In
fact, this can be used to ratchet up the tension when
the GM rolls an unusually large number of Obstacles.
 Optional Rule: The GM may spend a Danger Point
to turn any Obstacle into a Major Obstacle.
 Optional Rule: With larger groups (more than
4 players) with lots of Raises at their disposal,
the GM may opt to roll 1 extra die for every 2
additional Heroes in the scene. So for a group
of 6 players, the GM would roll 3, 4, or 5 dice
for Obstacles, or 4, 5, or 6 dice with 8 players.
Remember that Obstacles affect ALL the Heroes
in the scene, unless you offer an Opportunity
otherwise.
Shifting Scenery
Chases move quickly. While the chase itself is treated
as a single scene, it doesn’t stay in the same place.
Each round of sequence progresses to a different
location, complete with its own set of consequences
and opportunities. How these locations progress
depends on the scenario. In a chase through a castle,
these could be a different room, while chase through
a city could move from a busy marketplace, to twisting
alleys, and culminated in a dirty slum. Or a chase
through the grand boulevard could take a sharp turn
through a Jenny House before taking to the rooftops
high above the city streets. There really is no limit
to the sorts of locations that might be employed in a
chase. The idea here is to keep things moving. The
GM might improvise these locations or map the chase
using index cards, post it notes, or some other visual
aid.
Despite the changing scenery, the chase is
considered a single scene, or part of a larger scene.
End of the Line
If the Heroes reach or exceed the Momentum
requirement before the time limit expires, they
accomplish their objective: they reach safety ahead
of their pursuers or corner their quarry. If the time
limit expires before they can reach the Momentum
requirement, they are caught or their quarry escapes.
PUTTING IT ALL
TOGETHER
Now that we’ve covered what makes a Chase Scene
different from a standard Action Sequence, let’s put
the whole thing together in practice. This way you can
see how all the different parts work together in play.
For our example, we will be following the exploits of
Carmena Elena de Ibarra de la Luz [played by Ana] and
Rory McGuigan [played by Joe], two Heroes who have
stolen into the castle of Vito Bonometti, a Vodacce
Conte, to rescue a young girl held captive there. As
the duo make their escape, the Conte unleashes a
horde of armed guards in pursuit!
Step 1: Establish the Stakes
Before the chase begins, the GM must establish
the stakes of the scene by setting a Momentum
requirement (4 or 6) and a Time Limit (2-4 rounds). In
addition, the GM should describe the location where
the chase begins.
The GM, tells the players the chase begins in the
palace courtyard. The gates to the palace are sealed
and scores of armed guards are pouring out of the
castle as the Conte shouts from the ramparts, “bring
me the girl, and their heads!” There are too many
guards for a straight up fight, so Carmena and Rory
opt to make a run for it, hoping to escape into the city
slums. As there are only two of them, the GM tells
the players they must reach a Momentum of 4 before
the end of the third round to escape. Otherwise, the
guards will catch them, forcing them to fight against
overwhelming odds or surrender and be dragged back
before the vengeful Conte in chains. The GM smiles
and asks each player for an Approach.
Step 2: Approaches
Everyone announces an Approach for the Round. The
GM tells each player which Trait+Skill to use for her
Risk.
Ana, playing an accomplished duelist, tells the GM she
will bring up the rear, sword drawn menacingly hoping
to give the horde pause. She asks if this Approach
can count towards the group’s Momentum. The GM
agrees. Joe, meanwhile, states that he will carry the
girl and is looking for both a way out and anything he
can use to throw off or hinder their pursuers. The GM
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asks Ana for an Intimidate+Panache roll, and Joe for a
Brawn+Notice roll (since he is carrying the girl).
Step 3: Consequences, Obstacles, and
Opportunities
After hearing Approaches, the GM tells everyone
what the Consequences and Opportunities are, if
any, and when those Consequences or Opportunities
occur. To determine obstacles, she rolls a number of
d10s based on the difficulty of the terrain and looks
for Odd results (Obstacles) and matched pairs (Major
Obstacles). If any are present in the roll, the GM
informs the players what they are.
Because the palace courtyard is mostly clear, the GM
rules it is Open Terrain and rolls 2d10. She rolls a 1
and a 6, so there is one Obstacle present. She tells Joe
that there is an Opportunity to discover a secret route
through the wall where a half-lowered rusty portcullis
rests. Joe asks if it would be possible to lower the
portcullis to block the guards. The GM says yes, but
it will cost another Raise (a second opportunity). She
tells them that the girl could get hung up on the rusty
bars (a Consequence).
Step 4: Roll & Raises
All players roll at the same time and count their Raises
and tell the GM what they rolled.
Ana and Joe roll their dice, including bonus dice for
Flair. Ana scores 3 Raises, while Joe only scores 2.
Step 5: Actions
The players then take turns describing their Heroes’
Action and spending one or more Raises on that
Action, just like in a standard Action Sequence. If
they hope to escape the guards, they each need to
spend 1 Raise to building Momentum, in addition to
overcoming Consequences or taking advantage of
Opportunities. In a Chase, building Momentum and
accomplishing Intent are the same thing. Players do
not have to spend a Raise to “pursue” or “run from...”
These things are simply assumed as part of the
Objective and reflected in Momentum.
Ana has 3 Raises, so she goes first. Carmena waves
her sword menacingly enough to frighten the guards
(1 Raise, for Momentum). Joe, with 2 Raises, shouts,
“Follow me!” and makes a break for the portcullis
(1 Raise). He tells the GM he will spend another
Raise so help the child pass the rusty bars (1 Raise to
counter a Consequence), leaving him with no Raises
left. Ana asks if she can lower the portcullis to further
impede the guards? The GM agrees, but rules it
outside her Approach, so it will cost 2 Raises but will
count towards building Momentum. Ana spends her
2 Raises. Straining with all her strength, the rusty
chain that holds the portcullis in place finally relents
and groans loudly as the rusty iron gate shuts closed
ahead of the guards. The duo is out of Raises and have
a Momentum rank of 2.
Step 6: End of the Round
When all players are out of Raises, the GM tallies their
Momentum. If they have reached the required rank
(4 or 6), the chase ends and the Heroes are victorious.
If not, the chase continues unless the time frame (2-4
rounds) has expired, in which case the Heroes lose
and are either captured or their quarry escapes. If the
chase continues, the GM describes how the location
changes and calls for Approaches for a new Round
(back to Step 2).
The GM describes how they escape the palace walls
leaving a host of angry guards pressed against the
iron bars and move into the crowded streets of the
Vodacce city. Behind them, they hear the grinding of
gears as the palace gates rumble open. “What do you
want to do this round,” she asks.
Our Example Continues
Moving into the second round with a Momentum of 2,
Carmena and Rory are still short of the Momentum to
escape the Conte’s guards. The action has moved into
a crowded Vodacce street market, full of idle crowds
and traffic.
The GM calls for new Approaches. Joe says Rory
will try to clear a path by tricking the crowd into
believing the girl has the plague (Wits+Convince). Ana
says Carmena is looking for a cart or an animal she
can use to block the street and keep the guards at bay
(Wits+Notice).
The GM decides the market qualifies as difficult
terrain. She rolls 3 dice and gets 3, 3, and 9: an
Obstacle and a Major Obstacle! She tells the players
that a wagon is unloading goods to one of the market
stalls (the Obstacle), and that the carriage of another
noble is caught up in the traffic (the Major Obstacle).
In addition, Rory’s action has the Consequence of
turning the crowd into a full-blown panic, as well
as the potential of drawing the ire of some bloody
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minded Vodacce duelist (2 Consequences). The GM
also dangles an Opportunity to Ana, saying Carmena
might spy an alleyway that leads away from the
market to a more open, less trafficked avenue. But
she must take the Opportunity before less than 2
Raises remain – a timed Opportunity. Both Obstacles
lie between it and Carmena!
The players roll. This time both of them score
4 Raises. Now the players face a dilemma. If they
counter all of the Consequences and Obstacles, they
will not be left with any Raises to build Momentum or
take advantage of the Opportunity. They know if they
don’t build 4 Momentum by the end of the next round,
the chase will end and they will be captured. Even
worse, the Major Obstacle has the potential to COST
them the point of Momentum they’ve already built.
It’s time for some hard choices.
Both players decide they can’t risk losing
Momentum. Joe spends 2 Raises to avoid both
Momentum loss and a Wound. Ana however decides
she wants to keep an extra Raise handy for her
actions, so spends only one to avoid the Momentum
loss. So the duos Momentum remains unchanged.
The GM asks them each to describe their action. Joe
tells her that Rory leaps up and runs across the top of
the carriage, to the shock and surprise of the footmen
and driver. Based on this, the GM tells him this action
will cost 2 Raises since it doesn’t correspond with
his Approach (Wits+Convince). Faced with spending
3 Raises total to overcome the Major Obstacle, Joe
decides to take a Wound and keep the third Raise for
later. “Jumping across carriages carrying a woman is
thirsty work,” he says. Ana describes how, with a cry
of alarm, she drops to the ground and slides under the
carriage, rolling to her feet on the other side. Because
of her Approach (Wits+Notice), the GM agrees that
Carmena finds a suitable hole in the crowd for this sort
of acrobatics, and that it explains the Wound as well.
This leaves both players with 2 Raises each. They
decide to ignore the wagon of goods, and each take 1
Wound. Ana asks if they can use the panicked crowd
to their advantage, accomplishing the blockade she
was looking for in the first place. The GM agrees, so
Joe instead spends a Raise to avoid an irritated duelist,
as does Ana. Cries of plague panic the crowd, leaving
complete chaos in their wake. Ana thinks long and
hard about the alleyway, but in the end decides to risk
the next location so she and Joe can spend their last
remaining Raises on raising their Momentum to rank
3. Together, they describe how the Conte’s guards
runs into a wall of panicked people, screaming about
plague and begging for protection. They still need one
more rank of Momentum to escape (their Objective)
by the end of the next round.
The GM describes the crush of the crowd and
screams and cries of fear. Some shop keepers are
pulling down the awnings of their stalls. The Conte’s
guards continue to press after them, but are meeting
a great deal of resistance due to the panicked crowd,
not to mention the existing obstacles. She tells Ana
and Joe that they continue down the busy street
towards the poorer side of the city. The crowds here
are taking an interest in the commotion the Heroes
have left in their wake, with pockets taking up the
cries of “PLAGUE!” She asks the players for their next
Approach.
Will our Heroes escape the Conte’s guards? Or
will they find themselves cornered and overwhelmed?
They have one Round left to determine their fate.
What will they be willing to sacrifice to escape?

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
A Peek Behind the Curtain
Depending on how you’ve read the above, it should
be obvious that it is easy for the Heroes to win a
Chase scene every time. They can also fail to reach
their Objective almost as easily. It all comes down to
choice.
Imagine a group of four players. The GM defines
a 3 round chase with a goal of 4 Momentum. Lets
assume the players each have 3 Raises between
them. On the first round of the chase, all four players
spend all their Raises on building moment, taking
them from 0 to 3. Of course, that means taking every
Consequence and missing every Opportunity the GM
throws at them that round, but now they are only 1
rank of Momentum shy of their Objective. The scene
ends and unless one of the Heroes has suffered a
Dramatic Wound, all Wounds go away.
Now imagine the same group of players in
the same chase. By the end of the second round,
the players find themselves with only 2 ranks in
Momentum. On the third (and final) round, they
will need to devote 2 Raises each (or comparable
combination – Momentum is a Group Opportunity
after all) to building Momentum or they will fail to
achieve their Objective and meet their fate. Then, as
the third round beings, the GM rolls a Major Obstacle
in their path!
Compare these examples with a standard
Dramatic or Action Sequence, either of which could
easily be used to frame a chase scene. In the former,

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the Heroes’ resources are finite enough that you
need to be careful how much you inject in the way
of consequences or opportunities so that the players
can interact with the scene and still accomplish
their objectives. In the latter, you have a question of
purpose. When is the purpose achieved? How many
Raises does it cost? One? All of them? If the villain
has enough Raises to counter the Heroes’ efforts, how
do they accomplish their objective? And what about
brute squads?
The Chase Scene variant outlined above was
designed to address all of these factors. Momentum
and Time work together to build tension and establish
the stakes in the scene. Without those two features,
a chase may as well be a Risk. By imposing a time
limit, things escalate quickly. This is why building
Momentum is treated as a Group Opportunity rather
than something each Hero must invest in each round.
A lucky roll or smart use of an Advantage Knack can
really turn the tide in the Heroes’ favor. After all, the
objective isn’t to make Chases daunting, frustrating
affairs, but to create the sense of swelling excitement
that carries over round after round to a climatic
crescendo. The player is always in control of his
Hero’s fate, but will his choices pay off or cost him in
the end?
It’s important to point out that win or lose, the
action does not need to end with the chase. A gang
of pirates kidnaps the girl you were protecting right
out from under your nose. A Hero reaches for her
mother’s sword only to find it in the hands of an
escaping thief. The vengeful villain and his goons
corner the Heroes in a maze of alleys before they can
reach the safety of the Rose and Cross chapterhouse.
Using these tools, a chase scene can be self-contained
or part of a larger Action Sequence.
When is a Chase not a Chase?
Chase Scenes assume both the Heroes and the
opposition start off on equal footing, quite literally.
Both sides might be on foot, on horseback, in
gondolas, climbing hand over hand on a sheer cliff
face, or rocketing down a winding road in a pair of
carriages. If one side possesses an obvious advantage
– one side is on horseback while the other is on foot,
for instance – then there is no contest. That side wins.
Case closed.
If you must run a one-sided chase, there are
several ways to handle it:
 You can give the Heroes a starting bonus to their
Momentum, usually +1 or +2 ranks is enough
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 You can require more Momentum; increments of
2 (4, 6, 8, 10) are recommended. The upper limit
should be 10.
 You can award more than one rank of Momentum
as an Opportunity. This is best treated as a
special circumstance (the Heroes grab a horse
or hop aboard a carriage, giving them a sudden,
immediate advantage).
Combat in Chase Scenes
While part and parcel to Action Sequences, hand-to-
hand combat is generally something that happens
when the chase ends, and not before. There may be
opportunities for short, surgical strikes to weaken the
resolve of the opposition, or some quick back and
forth exchanges during the chase, but for the most
part hand-to-hand combat should be discouraged
during a chase. Ranged weapons might be brought to
bear, but it’s very difficult to aim and reload when you
are on the run.
If the Heroes insist on staging a grand melee
as part of a chase, it should cost them in terms of
Momentum.
Multiple Parties in a Chase Scene
Chases work best with two parties involved, but that
doesn’t have to be the case. Chases are about the
Heroes building momentum towards an objective.
The action is focused on them, not the opposition.
Intrusions by outside parties or agents who are
not connected to the Heroes’ objective can be treated
as a Major Obstacle.
Splitting Up
Sometimes in a chase sequence, the Heroes will
want to split up. Perhaps it’s to split the forces of
the opposition, or lure them into a trap, or even
to prepare a surprise ambush. Either way, when
the Heroes split both groups start with the same
Momentum rank.
Carmena and Rory decide to split up at the end of
Round 2 in order to confuse the guards and give Joe
a better chance of escaping with the girl. They have
a Momentum rank of 3. From this point, they are
treated as separate groups, with each having 3 ranks
in Momentum.
The cost for building Momentum applies to each
group separately. So if a group of four Heroes splits
into two groups, of 1 and 3, the first group would have
to spend 1 Raise each round to increase Momentum
while the second would need to spend 3.
The group that reaches the Momentum goal first
achieves their objective first. This can be important
when Heroes have ulterior motives that are not
shared by the rest of the group. How long one group
has before the other group arrives on the scene is
dependent on the scenario and the GM’s judgment.
“I Fail”
So what happens when a player in a chase declares, “I
fail”? In many ways, this is just like splitting the group
but with an important question: does the surrender
of one Hero end the chase? If it does not, the rest of
the Heroes continue on with their current Momentum
rank.
In the case of Carmena and Rory, if Carmena
surrendered, Rory would be left on his own with the
girl. The GM might rule that Carmena’s surrender
buys Rory an extra rank of Momentum, but since the
guards are after the girl they would be unlikely to stop
pursuit. On the other hand, what if Rory were to hand
off the girl to Carmena and try to pass off a bundle of
dirty rags as the child? In that case, the guards might
take Rory into custody and leave Carmena to escape,
effectively ending the chase.
Villains in Chases
You may have noticed by now that there is no mention
of the opposition stating Approaches, rolling dice,
or sorting Raises. That’s because unlike a standard
Action Sequence, Villains do not roll dice in Chase
Scenes. The Action is completely left to the Heroes.
There are some good reasons for this. If Villains had
their own pool of Raises with which to counter the
efforts of the Heroes, the back and forth would draw
the scene out forever, leaving the players frustrated
and wreck any sense of pacing.
Instead, 7th Sea already offers a perfect mechanic
to represent villains in a chase: Danger Points! Are
the Heroes at a disadvantage against a cunning
villain? Spend a Danger Point to increase the amount
needed for a Raise to 15. Does the villain create
an unexpected obstacle? Spend a Danger Point to
Pressure the Hero to respond (no need to spend a
Raise in a Chase Scene).
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Listen up GMs, this is important!
Do not start a chase scene with a villain you are
not prepared to lose. If your villain must escape the
Heroes, spend a point of Influence and be done with
it. Do not string the players along for 3 rounds before
pulling a vanishing act. When you do this, you rob
the scene of every ounce of dramatic tension you’ve
created. It’s better to just inform the players that
the villain gets away than to leave them feeling like
they’ve wasted their time.
Brute Squad Abilities
Because combat really isn’t part of a chase, many
brute squad abilities don’t apply or work slightly
differently in these Sequences. Here are some
suggestions:
 Assassins: Spend a Danger Point to inflict a
number of Wounds to a single Hero equal to
Strength minus the current Momentum rank.
 Duelists: This ability may only be used if a Hero
engages in hand-to-hand combat with the brute
squad during the chase.
 Guards: Spend a Danger Point to foil any specific
act that would target a villain.
 Inquisitors (H&V): This ability may be used
normally.
 Pirates: This ability may be used normally. If
the Heroes are in pursuit when this ability is
employed, consider offering an Opportunity
(1 Raise) to increase Momentum by 1 rank.
 Thieves: This ability may be used normally. If
the Heroes are in pursuit when this ability is
employed, consider offering an Opportunity
(1 Raise) to increase Momentum by 1 rank.
Monstrous Qualities
Monstrous Qualities can definitely change the
dynamic of a chase. Fortunately, most of them
require a Danger Point to activate so, as with
other villains, the GM can usually forgo rolling dice
for monsters (and monstrous villains) in a chase
scene. More often than not, in a chase involving
monsters, the Heroes will find themselves the
hunted rather than the hunter. With this in mind, the
following Monstrous Qualities need some additional
consideration in a Chase Sequence.
 Ambushing (CE): A monster that activates this
power should be treated like a Major Obstacle. At
the GM’s discretion, this creature may target one
Hero for Wounds equal to half its Strength score.
All other Heroes are still subject to 1 Wound as a
Consequence and potential Momentum loss.
 Colossal (PN): Colossal monsters in a chase are
more part of the scenery than straight opposition,
wreaking havoc and crushing structures in the
wake of the Heroes.
 Fearsome: This Quality applies normally, whether
the Heroes are chasing after the monster or
running away.
 Obsessed (CE): If the Heroes possess (or are!) the
object of the monsters Obsession, consider using
a 2 round (desperate) chase if the objective is
escape. Other Objectives (reaching a protected
area or a location where the Heroes enjoy a
special advantage) might fit a standard chase. If
a particular Hero is the object of the monster’s
obsession, she can effectively end the chase if she
surrenders.
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 Relentless: With Relentless Monsters, escape
is temporary at best. Either use a 2 round
(desperate) chase or simply make escape
impossible. Other Objectives (reaching a
protected area or a location where the Heroes
enjoy a special advantage) might fit a standard
chase.
 Slippery (PN): As with Villains, do not initiate a
Chase sequence only to activate this power to
escape at the end. Just spend the Danger Point
and save the players the frustration.
 Swift: There is very little use in pursuing or
running from a Swift monster. If you must, use a
2 round (desperate) chase.
 Teleporting: A monster that activates this power
appears suddenly and may be treated like a Major
Obstacle. At the GM’s discretion, this creature
may target one Hero for Wounds equal to half its
Strength score. All other Heroes are still subject
to 1 Wound as a Consequence and potential
Momentum loss.
 Winged: Winged monsters may be treated like a
Major Obstacle, diving into the thick of the chase
to strike before flying off. At the GM’s discretion,
this creature may target one Hero for Wounds
equal to half its Strength score. All other Heroes
are still subject to 1 Wound as a Consequence and
potential Momentum loss. Furthermore, with
larger winged monsters you may spend a Danger
Point to carry off a Hero, effectively splitting the
group. The player may spend a Hero Point to
counter this. Players who opt to Fail in a chase
against a winged monster will likely be carried off
to its roost or lair.
Skills in Chases
Players should be encouraged to be creative when it
comes to the use of their skills in a chase. Here are
some ideas and suggestions on how different skills
might be employed.
 Aim: This skill might be employed to throw
items and create distractions or obstacles for an
opponent. Shooting a rope holding up a broad
awning, for instance.
 Athletics: This skill is used for a foot, swimming,
or climbing chase. Running, jumping, climbing,
falling, and swinging can all be assumed under the
Athletics skill.
 Brawl: This skill might be used to knock down
barrels, crates, furniture or other large objects to
create obstacles for an opponent. You might also
start a fight in a crowd to stymie pursuit.
 Convince: This skill might be used to distract,
motivate, or mislead innocent bystanders, law
enforcement, or even your opponent(s). Convince
can be used to manipulate a mob or crowd.
 Empathy: This skill might be used identify
distractions, false trails, and other tricks an
opponent may use to lead you astray. It might
also be used to gauge the resolve of an opponent,
perhaps creating an opportunity to end the chase
early.
 Hide: This skill might be used to momentarily
disappear, allowing you to create false trails and
double back, confounding an opponent. These
tricks will only serve you for so long before your
opponent grows wise to them.
 Intimidate: This skill might be used to demoralize
an opponent, weakening her resolve. Against
small groups, this might be enough to build
additional Momentum.
 Notice: This skill might be used to identify
ambushes, traps, and potential detours and
shortcuts. Need a quick exit from a twisting
alleyway? Looking for something you can use to
block an opponent’s path? Notice can help with
that.
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 Perform: This skill might be used to distract,
motivate, or mislead innocent bystanders, law
enforcement, or even your opponent(s). Perform
can be used to call attention to oneself and can
help when creating a distraction or splitting up
from the main group.
 Ride: This skill is used for horseback or otherwise
mounted (camels, asses, etc) chases.
 Sailing: This skill is used for water-borne vessels:
ships, barges, rafts, or gondolas.
 Scholarship: This skill might be used to keep
track of your location in a foreign city, identify
dangerous surroundings, and avoid getting
cornered in a dead end. The Streetwise
Advantage Knack may be used the same way.
 Tempt: This skill might be used to create
distractions, false leads, or other tricks to lead
your opponent(s) astray. Tempt might be used
to get the opposition to take risks they wouldn’t
normally take.
 Theft: This skill might be used to Swipe something
useful during the chase, or perform some action
unseen. Anyone can steal a horse during a chase,
but Theft might let you do it without creating
even more trouble.
 Warfare: This skill might be used to identify
strategic or tactical blunders, direct your
opponent into traps. Hand in hand with Convince
and Tempt, Warfare should allow the Hero to
apply tactical expertise to a chase.
 Weaponry: This skill might be employed to use
your weapon to cut through certain obstacles,
dissuade outside involvement, etc. Whether
you are smashing barrels to clear a path, cutting
a rope to a support rigging to send a suspended
harpsichord plummeting to the ground below.
 Sample Obstacles by Location
Streets (alleyways)
Open, Difficult, or Treacherous
market stalls
(vegetable, fruit, fish, meat)
pedestrians
aristocrat with guards
loaded cart or wagon
overturned cart
herd of animals
(pigs, sheep, goats, cows) cargo loader (winch, crane)
wedding party
religious procession
construction site
funeral procession
band of entertainers
gang of drunken ruffians
gang of laborers
beggars, street urchins
(pickpockets, cutpurses)
city guard
street theatre/fair
pot hole/deep ruts
stack of barrels
pile of sacks
stack of crates
stack of timber
dead end
staled or damaged carriage
rickshaw or private coach
soliciting jennys
unexpected turn
gate or chain (road block)
fence
canal
open manhole
(to sewers or catacombs)
public fountain
slick cobblestones
animal dung (offal)
emptied chamber pot
mule team
carousing pirates
hole in wall/crawlspace
A Crowded Market
Difficult or Treacherous
servant bearing a large basket
street vendor
servant pushing a wheelbarrow
carried pane of stained glass herd of animals with shepherd
group of priests or academics
gaggle of geese
squire & horse
public fountain
band of entertainers
slick cobblestones
carousing pirates
soliciting jennys
rickshaw or private coach
Docks Forest Mountain
Difficult or Treacherous Difficult or Treacherous (trail, path)
slippery patch low branches Difficult or Treacherous
loose plank brambles or poison oak steep slope
gang of laborers exposed roots cliff face
clueless foreigners thick undergrowth chasm/crevasse
crowd gambling fallen rocks/boulders loose gravel/rocks
loaded cart or wagon stream or river mud (washed out trail)
construction site (ford or rickety bridge) fallen rocks/boulders
empty streambed fallen tree
band of drunks stray or panicked animals dangerous animal
carousing pirates stack of logs (venomous snake, lion, bear)
stack of barrels rolling logs bandits
pile of sacks falling tree snare/pit/trap
stack of crates tall tree stump loose gravel/rough trail
stack of timber hanging vines thorny undergrowth, scrub
piles or rope, tack steep embankment/crevasse slippery moss/fungus patch
bundles of sailcloth cliff stray/panicked animals
barrels of tar/pitch/oil slick, muddy slope (mud slide) (mountain goats, etc.)
(flammable) snare/pit/trap mine shaft
barrels of fish dangerous animal
soliciting jennys (venomous snakes, bear, lion) Marsh (swamp, bog)
pickpockets, cutpurses forest fire Difficult or Treacherous
naval officers, marines loose gravel/rough trail
skiff, dingy low stone wall/fence Quicksand
gangplank hunting party/camp Mud
narrow catwalk bandits Shallow water
fishmongers refugee camp Exposed roots
Tree stump
Fallen tree, deadfall
Rooftops Fields (meadow) Dangerous animal
Difficult or Treacherous Open
(snake, insect swarm, crocodile)
loose tiles low stone wall or fence low branches
slippery shingles bush, brambles, scrub hanging vines
clotheslines herd of animals algae slick rocks
flock of birds (sheep, goats, cows) leeches
rickety scaffolding pond, stream or river sudden rainstorms/flash flood
wobbly gargoyles mud bandit
living gargoyle laborers refugee camp
weak spot/hole in roof hedgerow fishing boat
gaps between buildings angry bull swamp gas
steep rooftop wild boar (explosive, nauseous)
smoking chimney old bridge abandoned hovel/hut
soliciting jennys hunting party deep channel
animal burrow/gopher hole sandbar
low stone wall/fence
Open Road
Open (Difficult at worst) River fishing nets
Open, Difficult, or Treacherous will-o-wisps
Drainage ditches
toll gates low bridge
mill waterwheel
coach & horses fishing boat
traveling pilgrims barge
donkey/ox & cart/wagon timber raft
chain gang rapids
rough, uneven road exposed rocks, sandbar
washed out road/bridge fishing nets
fallen rocks/boulders tree trunk
fallen trees fallen tree, logs
broken down cart half-submerged shipwreck
bandits/highwaymen waterfall
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 Cut to the Chase
DRAMATIC CHASE SCENES
gamemaster reference

Momentum
At the beginning of a Chase, the GM specifies one of
two Momentum requirements:
a basic chase, or a chase where the Heroes
4
enjoy some advantage over the opposition.
a chase where the Heroes are at a dis-
6 advantage against the opposition; also used
for large (5+ players) or experienced groups.
 Momentum starts at rank 0.
Time Limit
At the beginning of a Chase, the GM specifies a
Time Limit (in Rounds) the heroes have to escape or
capture the opposition.
a desperate chase and a challenge for
any group, where the Heroes will be
2 rounds
forced to take Wounds if they hope to
achieve the Momentum requirement.
a basic chase, where neither side enjoys
3 rounds
any particular advantage over the other.
4 rounds an extended chase
Obstacles
At the beginning of each round of the chase, the GM
can roll a number of d10s based on the terrain.
Open Terrain 2d10
Difficult Terrain 3d10
Treacherous Terrain 4d10
 Obstacles affect all the Heroes in the Scene.
 An Obstacle may only be removed from the
scene if the GM offers an Opportunity, or a player
presents a plausible action, to remove it.
 Every Odd result indicates an Obstacle. A
player may spend 1 Raise to overcome an
Obstacle or take 1 Wound.
 Matched pairs of dice, even or odd, indicate
a Major Obstacle. Major Obstacles carry TWO
Consequences: inflict 1 Wound AND cost the
Heroes a Rank of Momentum. Heroes may
spend 2 Raises to counter both Consequences,
or spend 1 Raise and choose one of the two
Consequences to counter.

SAMPLE OBSTACLES
Urban Wilderness
1 market stall entertainers low branches rough trail/loose gravel 1
2 cart/wagon soliciting jennys hanging vines mud 2
3 construction religious procession exposed roots pond/stream/river 3
4 stack of barrels wedding party thick undergrowth hedgerow 4
5 stack of crates funeral brambles/thorns fence/low wall 5
6 pile of sacks street fair fallen rocks/bolders old bridge 6
7 stack of timber laborers fallen tree/deadfall crevasse 7
8 public fountain drunks steep embankment empty streambed 8
9 open manhole slick cobblestones cliff animals 9
0 dead end animals muddy slope hunters/bandits 0

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