Whom the gods notice, they destroy.
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
— The Masque of Pandora, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
S cion uses the Storypath system to play out the adventures
of Gods, monsters, and heroes of the modern day. It uses
a simple core mechanic to resolve these heroic escapades,
making it easy to learn and easy to run, but full of depth for
those who want to branch out and create their own epic
stories. In this way, the system encourages players to adopt
creative, in-character approaches to achieving their goals,
and its dramatic focus ensures that the story is always moving
forward, shepherded by the Storyguide, even when characters
suffer setbacks.
Characters in Scion are larger-than-life heroes, with im-
pressive Attributes and a range of Skills. They have meaningful
pasts and ambitious futures, as well as a range of connections
to the world around them, represented by the Paths they walk.
They face Complications to their successes, and exploit their
surroundings to apply Enhancements to their efforts.
The stories of Scion are brimming with high-octane
action, procedural investigation, and social intrigue — three
robust areas of play that work together and strengthen each
other. These systems help vary the pace of the story, and offer
opportunities for every character to contribute, so no one
misses out on the spotlight.
THE CORE
MECHANIC
A dventures in Scion are rife with risky situations. Faced
with such a challenge, players must decide how their
character will approach it, and then roll dice to determine
the outcome. Players roll a pool of 10-sided dice (or d10s)
based on the Skill and Attribute they are using to resolve the
challenge. Each die that meets or exceeds the character’s target
number is a success. If the player rolls at least one success,
she can add bonus successes from useful Enhancements. The
player uses this collection of successes to meet the Difficulty
of the challenge and overcome any Complications. If she can’t
generate enough successes to meet the challenge’s Difficulty,
she fails and receives a Consolation.
The most important question is not how players roll the
dice, but when they should.
WHEN TO ROLL DICE
Stories are full of moments when a character’s fate
hangs in the balance. Dice model this drama and uncertain-
ty. When a situation is well within characters’ capabilities
and outside factors aren’t mucking it up, the Storyguide
should assume success. When characters face an important
trial that could end in success or failure, their players should
roll dice. We call these situations challenges, and they all
rely on a dice pool.
THE CORE MECHANIC/BUILDING A POOL: SKILLS AND ARENAS
ROLLING DICE
Rolling dice in Scion is simple, with a
lot of optional elements to accentuate your
experience. The following pages help explain
the process, but here’s a quick breakdown:
1. The player picks a Skill relevant to the roll at
hand.
2.The Storyguide and player agree on which
Attribute is most relevant to the way the
character is approaching the roll. The
Storyguide might determine the Approach
while the player decides the Approach, or
both can simply settle on one Attribute.
3.The Storyguide sets the Difficulty of the roll,
as well as any Complications (optional).
4.The player rolls a number of d10s equal to
the Skill + Attribute. Each die that rolls the
target number or higher (usually 8 or 7) is a
success. 10s count as a success and are rolled
again. If the roll has at least one success, the
player adds any Enhancements to the pool of
successes generated (optional).
5.Using her successes, the player spends
them to buy off the Difficulty. Should she
desire, she can use remaining successes to
buy off Complications and purchase Stunts
(optional).
For players familiar with Scion First
Edition, Appendix 3 (p. XX) has a high-level
breakdown of how dice-rolling has changed.
FORMING A DICE POOL
A dice pool is a set of 10-sided dice which represents a
character’s ability to tackle a particular challenge. Each dice pool
is made of two parts: a Skill and an Attribute. The player decides
which Skill from their character sheet best matches the challenge
he’s facing, and then decides which Attribute best matches his ap-
proach to using that Skill. He then adds together a number of d10s
equal to the Ratings of the chosen Skill and the chosen Attribute.
Any Skill can pair with any Attribute. An Attribute can
reflect a character’s Physical, Mental, or Social strengths,
and displays their Force, Control, or Resilience in that area,
but a physical Attribute does not have to pair with a physical
Skill. Brawling may be a test of physical force (i.e., Close
Combat + Might), but it may also be a test of mental control
(i.e., Close Combat + Cunning) as a character focuses on
finding weaknesses to exploit. The Skills section on p. XX
lists some common pairings, but those are only suggestions.
57
Dice pools are almost never modified, which makes it easier
for players to memorize their common pools.
BUILDING A POOL:
SKILLS AND ARENAS
I n the Storypath system, a character’s aptitude for a given
task is represented by a dice pool, determined by two
elements: The Skills they can bring to bear and the Arena
of the challenge.
SKILLS
Skills represent a character’s learned traits: abilities that
have been developed over time through study or experience. If
Attributes represent a character’s capabilities, Skills represent that
character’s capacity to apply those capabilities in various situations.
Sometimes certain tasks will be impossible to perform
without at least one dot in a Skill. No matter how steady
a character’s hand, they cannot pilot an airplane without
having at least some knowledge of the controls.
The following Skills represent the available areas of
expertise to all mortals and supernatural creatures in The
World of Scion. The casual knowledge offered by some Skills
may change depending on the context of the character pos-
sessing them. A centaur sage versed in Medicine will have a
different understanding of treatment than a mortal surgeon.
ACADEMICS
Academics represents the time a character spent study-
ing the humanities. Characters with Academics generally
have some knowledge of law and politics, allowing them to
understand and even manipulate legal and political systems,
as well as most bureaucracies.
Academics 1: A basic grasp of fields like literature, art,
and law. The character can navigate a library and probably
turn up some useful information after a day or two.
Academics 3: Well-versed in political and literary writ-
ings, can easily quote famous thinkers. Focused research will
usually unearth relevant information within a few hours.
ATHLETICS
ATHLETICS + MIGHT
SUCCESSES SAMPLE FEAT
3 Lift two microwaves, rip tough plastic
4 Tote a hay bale on one shoulder, kick open a deadbolted door
5 Lift a refrigerator, bend an iron bar
6 Punch through a reinforced wooden door
8 Kick a reinforced wooden door to pieces, rip rebar out of the wall
10 Lift an average car and use it as a thrown weapon, kick nearly any door open
12 Knock semis over with a well-placed shove, tear down a temple’s load-bearing pillars
16+ Storyguide’s extrapolation
58 CHAPTER TWO: STORYPATH SYSTEM
Academics 5: An almost encyclopedic knowledge on
just about every subject. The character can rattle off relevant
information for any situation, and with time in the archives
can uncover secrets that have eluded researchers for years.
Academics + Reason also represents the total number
of languages a character can maintain fluency in without
constant effort. This isn’t the number of languages they
speak, only the number they can learn. They still need to
study a language to pick it up.
ATHLETICS
Athletics represents the technique needed to properly
leverage the power of the human body. Usually an Athletic
character has spent some time in physical training, whether
they be sports stars, fire fighters, or just fitness enthusiasts.
Athletics 1: An irregular exerciser with moderate fit-
ness. The character can run a mile without getting winded,
and can climb or swim in ideal conditions without trouble.
Athletics 3: A trainer with excellent physical fitness.
The character regularly runs miles each day without injury
and probably plays a star role in several sports.
Athletics 5: One of the world’s greatest athletes, qual-
ified for a major sports team or the Olympic games. The
character can expect to excel at just about any physical task.
Athletics + Might determines what characters can lift
or break with an action. Breaking something in this way
is likely a complex action as the character tears the object
apart, but lifting is a simple action.
It’s worth noting that Scions and Legendary creatures
with narrative Scale (see Scale, p. XX) regularly exceed the
limits of this chart, which mostly applies to mere mortals.
Use the sample feats as a rough benchmark and guideline for
what your character can do rather than a strict proscription.
CULTURE
A character’s Culture Skill represents their exposure to
different societies and cultural ideas. A character with this
background has spent time appreciating art, language, and
religion from around the world, and can easily identify faux
pas and social hierarchies for groups ranging from foreign
companies to insular internet forums.
 SKILL SPECIALTIES
The Skills listed here are intentionally broad categories, reflective of general character competence.
However, once a character reaches four or more dots in a Skill they may choose a Specialty focus, writing
it next to the Skill on their character sheet. A Warrior Scion may choose Close Combat (Greatswords), for
example. A character receives +1 Enhancement on all rolls with that Skill unless that would grant more than
+3 total; failing a roll involving a Specialty grants 1 Momentum in addition to any Consolation.
Culture 1: A basic understanding of cultural expression
around the world. The character is less likely to make a faux
pas in groups he has read about or spent time in.
Culture 3: A comfortable grasp of the nuances of
almost every mortal culture. The character can steer their
friends away from gauche behavior even after only a short
exposure to a group.
Culture 5: A cultural prodigy with perfect insight into
the artwork and mores of worldwide cultures. The character
can pass himself off as a native mere moments after entering
a new society.
CLOSE COMBAT
A character’s skill in Close Combat can determine how
well they are able to fight in close quarters with a foe. Usually
this means a background involving combat training or expe-
rience, whether at a wushu guan or out on the mean streets.
Close Combat applies when wielding melee weapons or bare
fists, even when grappling and subduing an opponent.
Close Combat 1: Capable of handling themselves in a
fight, holding their own with other amateur brawlers with
minimal injury.
Close Combat 3: Very talented at using both fists and
weaponry effectively. The character can easily take down
multiple untrained opponents or skilled single combatants.
Close Combat 5: An efficient and terrifying force in com-
bat. The character knows how to close distance and effortlessly
dismantle the defenses of even battle-hardened warriors.
EMPATHY
Empathy allows characters to work out the motivations
and emotions of those they interact with, and manipulate
those feelings to their advantage. This Skill is just as useful
for those who want to make friends as it is for those who
want to profile serial killers.
Empathy 1: Sensitive to the emotional cues of others.
The character can usually tell when someone is hiding
something, if they are paying attention.
Empathy 3: The character can easily spot lies and read
between the lines, and is talented at knowing just what to
say and when.
Empathy 5: A human lie detector who can assemble
a full psychological profile for an individual based on the
merest of clues.
BUILDING A POOL: SKILLS AND ARENAS
FIREARMS
The Firearms skill represents a character’s training and
experience with modern projectile weapons like guns (bows
and javelins fall under Athletics). It also represents their
ability to repair and maintain such weapons.
Firearms 1: Can make simpler short range shots, and
maintain most weapons.
Firearms 3: A trained marksman who can hit their tar-
get even in rain or low light. They are comfortable drawing
quickly, and firing in close quarters. With the right equip-
ment and circumstances they can make long-distance shots.
Firearms 5: An expert shooter with experience in both
firefights and sniping. The character can repair broken guns
with the appropriate parts and tools, and modify weapons to
better suit their needs.
INTEGRITY
Integrity reflects a character’s emotional fortitude
against outside influence or to resist Leadership or Persuasion.
A character uses Integrity to resist emotional swaying and to
hide her own emotions and intentions from others. Integrity
can be represented by some training techniques in military,
special operations, or performing arts, or it could be an in-
nate Skill of certain characters.
Integrity 1: Simply stubborn, or the character is just not
easily swayed.
Integrity 3: A dependable person, either with formal
training in resisting influence or a keen and cunning mind
capable of determining what the influencer’s true aim is.
Integrity 5: An expert with long experience and formal
training in resisting mind-control or torture techniques,
unable to be broken or swayed in a direction they don’t
ultimately wish to go in.
LEADERSHIP
Leadership is a knowledge of the techniques needed to effec-
tively lead and coordinate groups. Characters with this skill can look
at the bigger picture in order to make sure every member of the
team is contributing in the most effective way possible. These char-
acters radiate a confidence that lets them take control of a situation.
Leadership 1: The character has spent some time man-
aging others, and can get a group of individuals to work and
think as a team with time and effort.
59
 Leadership 3: The character has spent extensive time
leading others, and people are inclined to set aside personal
interest for the greater good under his command.
Leadership 5: The character can lead armies into battle
with genius strategies, and expect total loyalty. He can be
certain that his orders will always be understood, and carried
out to the letter if possible.
MEDICINE
Skill in Medicine represents a character’s knowledge
about the operation of the bodies of living things. Their ex-
perience allows them to diagnose and treat any living crea-
tures, so long as they bear some resemblance to creatures she
has encountered before.
Medicine 1: Basic first aid. The character can judge at
a glance if a creature is in physical distress.
Medicine 3: The character can treat even serious in-
juries, and stabilize what might otherwise be a fatal wound.
With the right facilities, they can diagnose diseases and
administer ongoing care.
Medicine 5: A master surgeon and physician, able to
save lives regularly with quick and accurate application of
aid. The character can perform transplants and lifesaving
excisions even in extremely challenging conditions.
OCCULT
The Occult Skill represents knowledge of the supernat-
ural elements of The World and beyond, such as cryptozo-
ology, the secret histories of various pantheons, or mystical
rituals (functional and otherwise).
Occult 1: A passing interest in the mysteries of The
World. The character can identify simple magical rituals and
common paranormal phenomena.
Occult 3: The character can conduct more complex
ceremonies and identify a wide range of magical creatures.
They can identify many types of cults, and trace them back
to their divine (or Titanic) patrons.
Occult 5: The character instantly recognizes all but the most
obscure cults, rites, and spells. He easily converses with the souls of
the dead, and can navigate the complex rules of Terra Incognitae.
PERSUASION
The Persuasion skill represents a character’s talent at
bringing others around to their way of thinking. Whether
seducing or debating, whether she needs to change the way
someone sees the world or force them into a compromise,
the Scion is using Persuasion.
Persuasion 1: The character can usually talk their way
out of minor trouble, and convince others of their honesty if
the truth’s on their side.
Persuasion 3: Silver-tongued. The character can draw
sympathy from officers of the law, talk their way out of speed-
ing tickets, and never fails to get a date on a Friday night.
Persuasion 5: Charisma just one step short of hypnosis.
The character can convince even cynics to believe in them,
60 CHAPTER TWO: STORYPATH SYSTEM
and regularly receives preferential treatment. It’s hard to
find someone they can’t win over.
PILOT
Characters use Pilot to control any method of trans-
portation, such as a car, bus, boat, motorcycle, horse, plane,
giant bird, or anything else he may have cause to ride on
or in. It also measures his ability to acclimate to unfamiliar
conveyances and make repairs on them.
Pilot 1: The character can control most vehicles under
normal circumstances. They can even ride a mount without
fear of falling off.
Pilot 3: A deeper understanding of the forces involved
in operating a vehicle. The character can do some trick driv-
ing, operate under difficult conditions, and pilot a complex
vehicle like an airplane or submarine.
Pilot 5: A stunt driver’s dream. The character can
perform precision driving maneuvers and jumps, fly a plane
through a storm, and navigate by sonar underwater.
SCIENCE
The Science Skill represents a character’s exposure to
the philosophical underpinnings of the scientific method.
Though they likely have some knowledge of modern scien-
tific theories, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they have
a PhD. They have just learned to look at the world in an
orderly and quantifiable way. For this reason, it is entirely
compatible with Occult.
Science 1: The character can understand physical
evidence, and separate useful data from background noise.
Science 3: The character can extrapolate from avail-
able data, incorporating all evidence into a comprehensive
theory. They can also make simple compounds with access
to the right materials and tools.
Science 5: The character can create and test hypotheses
almost instantly, running thought experiments to deduce the
most likely explanation. They can create advanced chemical
reactions with household products, and repair machines on
basic physical principles.
SUBTERFUGE
Subterfuge represents the character’s ability to deceive
others, hide, and create disguises. It also helps them commit
criminal acts such as forgeries, sleight of hand, and lock-
picking. This can represent training with an organization of
criminals or even spies.
Subterfuge 1: Basic lies come easily to the character,
and cheap locks do not present much of a challenge. They
know enough to stay off the radar of local authorities.
Subterfuge 3: A master thief, extremely adept at crim-
inal activities. They can spin complex lies and break into
most safes. The constabulary is likely aware of and frustrated
by their exploits.
Subterfuge 5: A legend in the underworld, the charac-
ter can impersonate someone’s own mother and clean out a
bank vault without anyone even knowing they were there.
SURVIVAL
The ability to understand and overcome the challenges
of inhospitable environments is represented by the Survival
skill. This often means finding food and shelter in the wild,
crafting basic tools from things found in nature, navigating
unknown territory, and taming local wildlife.
Survival 1: The character can get the lay of the land in
an unfamiliar place and she can expect to comfortably sur-
vive for several days, finding her food and water with some
effort and building a basic shelter.
Survival 3: An affinity for the outdoors. The character
can last months in the wilderness, making a sturdy shelter
and tools, and comfortably finding food in the right places.
Survival 5: An expert at tracking and foraging. Even
the most extreme elements do not dissuade her, and she can
easily survive in blistering heat or a fierce blizzard.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology represents the character’s comfort with the software
and hardware that make up modern devices, whether they’re operat-
ing them, repairing them, or misusing them. Computers are the most
obvious of these machines, and perhaps the most dangerous.
Technology 1: The character can expect most modern
devices to do what they want. They can use computers, and
resolve common errors.
Technology 3: An excellent grasp of programming
languages and electrical engineering. When anyone needs
something fixed, they turn to the character.
BUILDING A POOL: SKILLS AND ARENAS
Technology 5: A master hacker, who’s broken into
government databases or built her own complex servers.
They seldom buy any devices, certain they could assemble
something better on their own.
ARENAS
Every dramatic challenge in the game exists in one of
three different Arenas, reflecting the abilities it requires and
obstacles it involves. On every roll, the Storyguide deter-
mines the Arena of a challenge.
The Physical Arena requires muscle, bodily coordina-
tion, toughness, and so on. Fights and chases are the most
common challenges in the Physical Arena.
The Mental Arena needs genius, quick wits, careful de-
duction, and so on. Research, investigations, and planning
are the most common challenges in the Mental Arena.
The Social Arena looks for charm, empathy, a poker
face and so on. Persuasion, seduction, and acquiring support
are the most common challenges in the Social Arena.
A character’s talents in a given Arena are represented by
a numerical value which usually ranges from 1 to 3. This value
is used to create the dice pools for challenges in that Arena.
For example, a skinny office worker might have Physical 1,
while a bulked-up power lifter might have Physical 3.
These values are relative. A particularly weedy example
of a jotunn would still have Physical 1, but their massive
Size would make up the difference when dealing with tiny
mortals (see Scale, p. XX).
61