3
DECLARING A DUEL
A PC can declare their intent to duel an
enemy at any time before or during battle.
If the GM approves, the two combatants are
engaged in duel-specific turn order. GMs
may also declare a duel replaces COMBAT if it
makes sense in the narrative or game’s pace.
THE SITUATION
A duel can’t begin if the combatants aren’t
aware and ready to fight one another. Battle
situations over a larger field that require
checks or tactics are better left as COMBAT.
If a DUEL is initiated, the GM works with the
PC to figure out the particulars. It’s best for
the GM to describe this scene with a bit of
narrative gravitas, calling out the duelists’
relative positions, what weapons they have
drawn, and the general layout of the battle.
It’s important to clarify the starting RANGE
and what weapons are drawn.
• REACH range: farther than 5’ apart
• CLOSE range: 5’ or less apart
INITIATIVE
The duelist who holds INITIATIVE acts first,
sets the pace, and can execute certain
MANEUVERS that confound their opponent.
Each weapon has a LENGTH, a number which
represents how long and wieldy it is. Higher
is longer, which is advantageous in DUELS
fought farther apart (and vice versa). If two
weapons are wielded, use the longer.
REACH range: if more than 5’ apart, the
duelist with a longer weapon has INITIATIVE
CLOSE range: if 5’ or less apart, the duelist
wielding a shorter weapon has INITIATIVE
Duelists wielding weapons of equal length
instead compare DEX score, like in COMBAT.
A tie of DEX score then compares level. If all
else fails the GM determines initiative.
The GM is responsible for keeping track of
initiative. It is often easiest to track with an
icon or card. Initiative can’t change within
a round; any effects that change initiative
occur in Step 7 (re-evaluating the situation).
FIRST & SECOND TURN
Each duelist gets one turn per round of a
duel, and one turn consists of three actions.
This is identical to COMBAT. Details of each
action and action type are on pgs. 4-5.
ACTIVE actions: the most significant type
of action, usually reserved for attacks or
high-impact events. Usually, any time a PC
rolls a d20 is considered an ACTIVE action.
MOVE actions: try to change range or put
yourself into a superior position. Sometimes
these actions require a check.
Duel Sequence
QUICK actions: trigger special effects,
attacks, or maneuvers with a quick action.
Also used to shake off conditions or effects.
REPEAT UNTIL DEFEAT
After each duelist has taken their turn, a
new round begins and the process repeats.
Duelists hit with an attack take DAMAGE, just
like in COMBAT. A duelist that surrenders,
reaches 0 HP, or is somehow otherwise
incapacitated is DEFEATED and the duel ends.