TARGET NUMBER TABLE
HOW TO PLAY
Referee: Presents the world, the story and controls
all creatures in the setting.
Players: Portray the role of a hero in the game,
banding together to undertake adventures.
The game is played as an interactive story with the
referee presenting a scene and the players making
a decision on their course of action. The outcome
of these actions are determined and play moves on
to the next scene.
CHECKS
Check: Used when attempting something risky,
uncertain or when avoiding/opposing something.
Roll d20 to equal or exceed a specified target
number (see the Target Number Table).
Failure may result in some consequences such as a
setbacks, lost time or loss of resources.
Bonus Die: If a relevant skill is used, add your
skill die to the roll. Skill dice range from d4, d6,
d8, d10, d12 (max. Heroes) or d20 (max.
Monsters).
Critical Success or Failure: Rolling a natural 20
or beating the target number by 10 or more is a
critical success and results in a more positive
outcome. Rolling a natural 1 or failing by 10 or
more is a critical failure and results in a worse
outcome.
Advantage (Adv.) & Disadvantage (Dis):
Awarded based on situational factors. Roll the
check twice taking the highest result (Advantage)
or lowest result (Disadvantage).
Reaction Rolls: Used to determine the attitude of
an opponent. The referee rolls a d20 on the
Reaction Table and interprets the result.
Fate Table: Used when the referee is asked a
question and wants to leave the outcome to
chance. The referee rolls a d20, consults the Fate
Table and interprets the result.
Rounding Up: Always round figures up to the
nearest whole number.
Exploding Damage: Granted through some class
abilities. If you roll the maximum weapon damage,
you roll that die again and add the new die roll
result to the original result. This occurs once only.
Inspiration Re-Roll: Players may spend an
inspiration point to re-roll a check or gain
advantage on a check.
ADVENTURING ENCOUNTERS Difficulty Target Number
Session: Getting together in real life to play the game Random Encounters: The referee makes a secret Very Easy (No roll) 0
is known as a game session. This typically takes check at the end of each turn. No checks are made Easy 5
between 2-4 hours. during an encounter or combat. Moderate 10
Adventure: A broad term to describe the goal of the The target number to avoid an encounter starts at 1 Challenging 15
session. An adventure may contain individual on a d20 and increases by 1 point each turn and Difficult 20
objectives known as a mission, quest or side-quest. resets when an encounter occurs or the players Very Difficult 25
reach a place of safety out of the adventure site.
Rewards: Takes the form of (in-game) payment, Almost Impossible 30
equipment, services, information or favours and may On a failed check, an encounter occurs which the
be awarded upon successful completion of players may choose to interact with. Random REACTION TABLE
adventures. encounters are not always adversarial and may d20 Outcome or Reaction
present opportunities to learn information or act as 01 A terrible outcome, hostile
a distraction (i.e. side quest) to the player’s main 02-03 A very bad outcome, aggressive
ADVANCEMENT goal. 04-07 A poor outcome, defensive
Experience Points (XP): Awarded by the referee to Distance: For unplanned encounters use the zone 08-13 An indifferent outcome, cautious
each party member for completing certain range table to calculate distance between parties. 14-17 A good outcome, favourable
achievements (see Experience Points Awards table). 18-19 A very good outcome, friendly
When a hero has acquired a certain number of XP Opponent Reactions: The referee will determine
they may raise their level and improve their skills and the reaction or use the Reaction Table. 20 An excellent outcome, helpful
abilities. Surprise: If a party surprise the other they get a free FATE TABLE
Level Requirements: Heroes need to earn Current turn to act. The referee determines if a party is d20 Outcome or Reaction
Level x 8xp to reach a new level (i.e. At Level 1, earn 1 surprised based on the situation or may call for an 01-03 No, some complication or constraint
opposed check.
x 8xp to reach Level 2. At Level 2, earn 2x 8xp = 16xp t 04-06 No
reach level 3) and can reach level 10 maximum. XP is Rounds: Combat & Encounter activities are divided 07-09 No, but some opportunity
reset at each level. into rounds of approximately 10 seconds although 10-11 Interruption or circumstance change
the entire situation lasts 1 turn. Each person can
Level Benefits: When a hero reaches a new level they
move and take one action during their turn.
12-14 Yes, but some complication
gain the following benefits; Health +2. Inspiration
Speaking does not count as an action. 15-17 Yes
+2. Defence +1 (at even levels only). Skills, improve 3
18-20 Yes and some assistance or benefit
separate skills. Abilities choose 1 new ability. Social Interactions: Command (authoritative) or
Guile (cunning or negotiation) checks can be used ZONE RANGE TABLE
to help decide social interactions. Dialogue between d20 Zone Range Band & Distance
EXPLORATION the players and referee can grant advantage or 01 0 Melee (5ft) or next to a creature
Turns: When adventuring exploration turns take 10 disadvantage. 02-03 1 Short (30ft)
minutes and heroes can explore one room. Chases: Use a time and proximity progress clocks. 04-06 2 Medium (60ft)
Player Actions: Players may move and take one Tactics and skill checks can be used to close the 07-10 3 Intermediate (90ft)
action each turn. distance between parties. However, if the time clock 11-14 4 Long (120ft)
runs out before this is achieved then the target
Movement: Players move from room to room when escapes. 15-17 5 Far (180ft)
exploring. During combat, players can move one zone 18-19 6 Distant (240ft)
(approx 30ft) as part of their action. 20 N/A Escaped (Greater than 240ft)
Exploring & Searching: Managed through asking
questions and describing the scene. Checks are not EXPERIENCE AWARDS TABLE
made for searching. If a hero is actively looking for Achievement XP Award
something in the right area, they will find it unless a A game session was completed. 1
specific action is required. A side-quest was completed. 1
Traps & Hazards: These will generally be obvious An adventure was completed. 2
and can be overcome through player interaction. A campaign was completed. 3
Checks may be used to overcome physical effects. Made an important discovery. 1-3
Knowledge & Lore: Checks can be used to give clues Explored an adventure site. 1-3
or allow questions, not solve the issue. Established something important. 1-3
Overcome a story opponent . 1-3
COMBAT
Initiative: Determines the order in which
combatants act. Roll d20 + Agility or monster/
NPC skill die and act from highest to lowest score.
To speed up play make one roll for all opponent
combatants of the same type.
Zones: The battlefield is divided into zones of
around 30ft areas. However, zones can be
abstracted in size and shape to organise the
battlefield (i.e. a different room could each be a
zone).
Most combatants may move one zone as part of
their action. Fast creatures may move two zones as
part of their action. Slow creatures may move to
the edge of a zone and into the next zone on their
next turn.
Combat Actions: Combatants may move one
zone and take one action as follows:
A. Attack; engage and attack an opponent.
B. Press (melee); attack a person at advantage but
next attack received from this person also at
advantage.
C. Block (melee); disadvantage on attacks made
and received from one person until next turn.
D. Fast Move; move two zones instead of one but
take no action.
E. Use Item; use a readied item or pick up/access
an item.
F. Use Ability; use an ability.
G. Combat Manoeuvre; perform a melee based
combat action against a creature of your size or
smaller. Declare a manoeuvre from the list below
and roll to hit. On a success, the defender either
accepts the manoeuvre or takes weapon damage
instead, this is rolled after the decision is made:
G1. Disarm; knock the opponent’s weapon from
their grasp which scatters in a random direction.
G2. Grapple; hold an opponent which prevents an
opponent from moving but does not preclude
them from attacking.
G3. Knock Down; you knock an opponent to the
ground. Next round the move part of their action
must be used to get up, they may still attack.
G4. Push; you push an opponent back anywhere
within your current zone.
G5. Weaken; you target the opponents worn
armour reducing their defence score by 1.
Multiple use of this can destroy worn armour.
COMBAT Continued.
Attacking: Roll d20 + melee or ranged skill to equal
or exceed the opponent’s defence score:
• Critical Success: Attack does double damage.
• Success: Your attack hits, roll for damage.
• Failure: Your attack misses.
• Critical Failure: Your weapon is damaged.
Damage: On a successful hit, roll the weapon damage
and deduct this from the opponents health score.
Opportunity Attack: If two people are engaged in
melee combat and one wishes to move away, the
opponent may bring forward their next action to
attack before the person moves away.
Morale: A creature who fails a morale check is
precluded from attacking and will flee until successful
or physically unable to do so. Roll d20 + Will or
Monsters/NPC’s skill die to beat a target of 10.
The target number increases by +5 each subsequent
check. A morale check is triggered when:
• Leader is killed.
• Facing a great fear.
• Health or numbers reduced to 50%.
• Battle is nearly lost.
Size: Creature size ranges from; tiny (Insect), small
(Dog), medium (Human), large (Ogre), huge
(Dragon) and colossal (Behemoth). Advantage or
disadvantage when attempting actions on creatures of
a small or larger size (i.e. grappling or chasing).
HEALTH & INJURY
Impaired: Act at disadvantage. This occurs when
someone is reduced to a third of their health.
Incapacitated: The creature is unable to act at all.
Death: Occurs when someone reaches zero health.
Healing & Recovery: Injuries can be healed using
bandages, medicines, potions or magic or overnight
rest. Impairment and incapacitation can be overcome
through, time, rest, a cure or a check.
Overnight Rest: All creatures regain d4 Health (or
Fortitude skill die whichever is the higher) and d4
Inspiration (or Will skill die whichever is the higher)
through overnight rest.
ABILITIES
Abilities: Special feats linked to a hero’s class or
ancestry. Class abilities cost an inspiration point.
EQUIPMENT
Weapons: Have a damage die rating (d4, d6 etc)
which is deducted from the target’s health in combat.
Heroes of
Adventure
Armour: Has a defence bonus (+1, +2 etc) which is
added to the defence score. Some armour has a
Damage Resistance (DR) score which is deducted
from any damage rolls.
Shield: Has a defence bonus (+1, +2 etc) which is A classic fantasy adventure game
added to the defence. Bookmark Edition
Shield Break: Shields may be sacrificed to negate all Version 1 - May 24
damage from one attack.
Inventory: A hero is assumed to be wearing clothes,
carrying a backpack and carrying up to 200 coins of
treasure. A hero may carry 12 gear slots of equipment
and only 3 bulky items. When you carry more than
this, you are impaired (act at disadvantage). You may
carry double the normal allowance as a maximum.
200 coins equates to 1 slot.
Ready Items. 6 items are considered ready to use
(including carried items and any armour worn). Other
items are stowed and take a turn to access before use.
Damage: If a critical failure occurs then the
equipment is damaged. This has no immediate affect.
Rules
However if a damaged item is used and another
critical failure is rolled the item is destroyed.
Repair: Items can be repaired for 25% of their cost.
Usage: Some equipment has a usage score and may be
consumed immediately or depleted through use.
WILDERNESS TRAVEL
Hex: Wilderness maps are divided into 6 mile hexes.
Travel progress is tracked on the wilderness map.
Wilderness Turn: Takes half a day and players can:
A. Move: Typically covers 12 miles/2 hexes but may
increase or decreased based on terrain and transport.
B. Explore a hex: Search to reveal points of interest.
C. Forage: Wilderness check to gather d4 days food.
D. Hunt: Ranged combat check to hunt d6 days fresh
meat food.
SETTLEMENT VISITS
Settlement Turn: Takes half a day and players can:
A. Rest: Gain advantage on health/inspiration
recovered during overnight rest.
B. Recruit: Seek to recruit new followers. DESIGN: The Nameless Designer
C. Visit a shop/service. https://nameless-designer.itch.io
D. Learn new rumours.
E. Undertake downtime activities.
Detailed movement is not tracked here.