CONTENTS CONTENTS Contents 0.0 Credits & Legal Information 4 0.1 Legal Information ......................................... 4 0.1.1 Using This License ..................................... 5 0.1.2 QuestWorlds Open Game License, Version 1.0 ..................... 5 1.0 Introduction 8 1.1 Why QuestWorlds? ......................................... 8 1.2 Version ................................................ 8 1.3.1 Who Is This Document For ............................... 9 1.4 Numbering ............................................. 10 1.5 Participants ............................................. 10 1.5.1 Players ............................................ 10 1.5.2 Game Master ........................................ 10 2.0 Mechanics 10 2.1 Abilities ............................................... 11 2.1.1 Ratings and Masteries ................................... 11 2.2 Possessions and Equipment .................................... 12 2.2.1 Wealth ............................................ 13 2.3 Contest Procedure ......................................... 13 2.3.1 Resolution Methods .................................... 13 2.3.2 Framing the Contest .................................... 14 2.3.3 Resistance .......................................... 16 2.3.4 Die Rolls .......................................... 17 2.3.5 Outcome .......................................... 17 2.4 Augments .............................................. 19 2.4.1 Rolled Augments ...................................... 20 2.4.2 Quick Augments ...................................... 21 2.4.3 Plot Augments ....................................... 21 2.5 Advanced Mechanics ........................................ 21 2.6 Resolution Methods ........................................ 21 2.6.1 Long Contest ........................................ 21 2.6.2 Escalating Contests .................................... 22 2.7 Resistance Progression ....................................... 22 2.7.1 No Progression ...................................... 23 2.8 Degree of Victory or Defeat .................................... 23 2.9 Benefits and Consequences .................................... 24 2.9.1 The Consequences of Defeat ............................... 24 2.9.2 Benefits of Victory ..................................... 26 2.9.2 Clearly Inferior Opponents ................................ 28 2.9.3 Recovery and Healing ................................... 28 2.9.4 Waning Benefits ...................................... 29 2.9.5 Benefits Meet Consequences ............................... 29 QuestWorlds System Reference Document 1 CONTENTS CONTENTS 2.10 Modifiers .............................................. 29 2.10.1 Stretches .......................................... 30 2.10.2 Situational Modifiers ................................... 30 2.11 Combined Abilities ........................................ 30 2.12 Mobs, Gangs, and Hordes .................................... 31 2.13 Ganging Up ............................................ 31 2.14 Mass Effort ............................................ 31 2.15 Pyrrhic Victories .......................................... 32 2.15.1 PYRRHIC VICTORY TABLE ............................. 32 2.16 Mismatched and Graduated Goals ............................... 32 2.17 Difficult Automatic Victory ................................... 33 2.17.1 Arduous Automatic Victory ............................... 33 2.17.2 Costly Automatic Victory ................................ 33 3.0 Character Creation 33 3.1 As-You-Go Method ........................................ 33 3.2 Assigning Ability Ratings ...................................... 34 3.3 Keywords .............................................. 34 3.4 Flaws ................................................. 35 3.5 Advanced Character Creation ................................... 35 3.5.1 The List Method ...................................... 35 3.5.2 The Prose Method ..................................... 36 3.6 List Method ............................................. 36 3.7 Prose Method ............................................ 36 4.0 Simple Contests 37 4.1 Simple Contest ........................................... 37 4.1.1 Procedure .......................................... 37 4.2 Group Simple Contest ....................................... 37 4.2.1 Procedure .......................................... 37 4.2.2 Group Simple Contest Resource Points ......................... 38 4.3 Advanced Simple Contests ..................................... 38 4.4 Simple Contest ........................................... 38 4.4.1 Advanced Procedure ................................... 38 4.4.2 Degree of Victory ..................................... 39 4.5 Advanced Group Simple Contest ................................. 39 4.5.1 Procedure .......................................... 39 4.5.2 Consequences and Benefits ................................ 40 4.5.3 Boosting Outcomes .................................... 40 5.0 (Advanced) Long Contests 40 5.1 Scored Contest ........................................... 41 5.1.1 Procedure .......................................... 42 5.1.2 Scored Contest Outcomes ................................ 43 5.1.3 Parting Shot ........................................ 44 QuestWorlds System Reference Document 2 CONTENTS CONTENTS 5.1.4 Asymmetrical Round ................................... 45 5.1.5 Disengaging ........................................ 45 5.2 Group Scored Contest ....................................... 46 5.2.1 Procedure .......................................... 46 5.2.2 Group Scored Contest Outcomes ............................ 47 5.2.3 Unrelated Actions ..................................... 47 5.2.4 Assists ............................................ 48 5.2.4 Followers .......................................... 48 5.2.5 Risky Gambits ....................................... 49 5.2.6 Defensive Responses ................................... 49 5.2.7 Joining Scored Contests in Progress ........................... 49 5.2.8 Switching Abilities ..................................... 49 5.3 Extended Contest .......................................... 50 5.3.1 Procedure .......................................... 50 5.3.2 Advantage Points ..................................... 51 5.3.3 Extended Contest Outcomes ............................... 52 5.3.3 Group Extended Contests ................................ 52 5.3.4 Parting Shot ........................................ 53 5.3.5 Final Action ........................................ 54 5.3.6 Desperation Stake ..................................... 55 5.3.7 Unrelated Action ...................................... 55 5.3.8 Asymmetrical Exchange .................................. 55 5.3.9 Switching Abilities ..................................... 55 5.3.10 Disengaging ........................................ 55 5.3.11 AP Lending ........................................ 56 5.3.12 AP Gifting ......................................... 57 5.3.13 Edges and Handicaps .................................. 57 5.4 Chained Contest .......................................... 57 5.4.1 Group Chained Contest .................................. 58 5.4.2 Group Chained Contest Outcomes ........................... 59 5.4.3 Followers in a Chained Contest ............................. 59 5.5 No Nesting ............................................. 59 5.6 Extended vs Scored Contests vs Chained Contests ....................... 59 5.7 Extremely Long Contests ..................................... 60 6.0 Relationships 60 6.1 Supporting Characters ....................................... 60 6.2 Allies ................................................. 61 6.3 Patrons ................................................ 61 6.4 Contacts ............................................... 61 6.4.1 Occupational Contacts .................................. 61 6.5 Followers .............................................. 61 6.5.1 Sidekick ........................................... 61 6.5.2 Replacing Lost Sidekicks ................................. 62 6.5.3 Retainers .......................................... 62 QuestWorlds System Reference Document 3 0.0 CREDITS & LEGAL INFORMATION 6.6 Relationships as Flaws ....................................... 62 6.6.1 Dependents ......................................... 63 6.6.2 Adversaries ......................................... 63 7.0 Hero Points 63 7.1 Improving Your Character ..................................... 63 7.1.1 Catch-Ups ......................................... 64 7.1.2 Directed Improvements .................................. 64 7.2.1 Plot Edits .......................................... 64 8.0 (Advanced) Community Resources and Support 65 8.1 Community Design ......................................... 66 8.1.1 Defining Resources .................................... 66 8.1.2 Specify an interval ..................................... 66 8.1.3 Assigning Ability Ratings ................................. 66 8.1.4 Resource Notation ..................................... 67 8.2 Drawing on Resources ....................................... 67 8.2.2 Required Resource Use .................................. 68 8.2.3 Penalties to Resources ................................... 68 8.2.4 Bolstering Resources ................................... 68 8.2.5 Background Events .................................... 69 8.2.7 Crisis Tests ......................................... 69 8.2.8 Cementing Benefits of Background Events ....................... 70 8.3 Changes