You venture out into potential hazards and peril.

Maybe you relish it, or you are compelled. Or perhaps it’s a little of both.
Do you travel back after? Are you drawn further on?

Acknowledgements
Many rules have been inspired by (or quietly copied from) the following games and blogs.
Into the Odd - most of the rules
Cairn & Mausritter - Items, magic
Fate Core - Traits
2400 - Running the game, rulings
Stonetop - Companions, persuasion
CATS - Setting up a game
Necropraxis - Event roll
d66 Classless Kobolds - Cast templates
Heart - Portraying a cast
Maze Rats - Character tables
Wicked Ones - Flexible magic
Blades in the Dark - Clocks
Errant - Projects
The One Ring - Journeys
Electric Bastionland - Luck roll
Mythic Bastionland - Slow actions
Odd Skull - Manoeuvres
The Scones Alone - Expedition resources

Version 2.0
Text & Layout by Benji T • benji-t.itch.io
Cover illustration generated by Wombo Dream.
Interior illustrations are from the public domain.
Into the Odd is by Chris McDowall.
1. Introduction
What is This
Ventureborn is a small set of rules to allow
quick setup and no-frills play. All that’s
missing is a world to play in. Pick one from
a book, movie, or show, or make a world up,
and jump in.

What You Need

At least one set of polyhedral dice: d4, d6,
d8, d10, d12, d20. And imagination.

Setting Up
Concept – What is this world? What are its
Player Best Practices
truths? Portray a compelling character. Show
what you care for. Pursue goals. Connect
Aim – What do our characters want to do?
with others.
How do they meet?
Engage with the world. Describe how and
Tone & Playstyle – What kind of story
why you do things. Help build the world. Be
do we want to tell? How do we feel about
part of the conversation.
drama, challenge, optimism, violence, etc.?
Play to find out. Be bold, take risks.
Subjects & Themes – What ideas do we
Embrace difficulty and setback.
explore? What do we exclude (just no)
or veil (only off-camera)? Any special
requests? No reasons have to be provided. GM Best Practices
Bring the world to life. Give characters
How to Play and places personality. Ask questions. Be
generous with information.
Flow. The GM presents a scene, players
describe what their characters do, and Fill their lives with adventure. Assume
the GM describes the outcome and character competence. Root for them.
consequences. The GM continues by Present threats and challenges and
developing the scene further, or by opportunities to shine.
wrapping up and presenting a new scene. Play to find out. Convey the world and
Rules. Each group should agree on how to rules honestly. Plant seeds, give players
use them, and fill in gaps during play. agency, and let stories grow.
Care. Play with care, respect, and
communication. At any time, anyone can
bring up concerns.

1
 2. Making a Character
► Roll 2d6 + 3 for each attribute, and d6 for health points. Write each in their matching
[current] / [max] spaces.
Strength (str): Fighting, agility, toughness, might
Wits (wit): Cleverness, cunning, sharpness, know-how
Heart (hea): Resolve, empathy, presence, connections
Health Points (hp): Capacity to shrug off harm or stress

► Write up to three traits.

Traits define your character and their place in the world. Each trait can be as simple
as Kind or Rebel Dinosaur, or as complex as Runaway Heir of Clan Stormwok.
You need at least one trait to start playing, and the rest may be created during play.
Example types of traits:

1 Origin / Roots
2 Attitude / Approach
3 Quirk / Quality
4 History / Past
5 Trade / Training
6 Bond / Affiliation

► Write up to three items.

Items may be tangible or intangible assets: equipment, tools, specialties, contacts,
favours, secrets, resources, etc.

► If the play group is small, or if you just feel like it, make companions.
A companion might be a hireling, apprentice, childhood friend, steed, familiar, etc.
Roll 2d6+3 for each attribute, d6 hp, and write one starting trait or item.

The tables on the following pages can be used as inspiration: for best results, roll or pick two
entries and combine them. Or just invent from your imagination.

Add as few or as many other details as you care to.

Start playing.

2
Sample character sheet. Feel free to add details, diagrams, and doodles.

Name / Pronouns

Strength / Traits

Wits /

Heart /

HP /

Items

3
 d66 tables: roll d6 for section, and d6 for entry.

Motif Archetype
Dye Dust Food Nomad Doomed Jester
Air Junk Heart Adamant Marshal Romantic
Key Water Chaos Scoundrel Brain Beast
Light Void Gear Caretaker Keeper Reformed
Mask Gem Faerie Face Elder Prodigy
Earth Poison Hive Scion Idealist Hammer
Wheel Fire Electricity Mystic Weaver Harbinger
Ice Dark Ghost Foundling Pillar Revenant
Plant Mind Iron Rebel Masked Outsider
Knot Order Dream Tinkerer Troubadour Exemplar
Word Star Beast Seeker Legacy Jaded
Bone Shell Song Rookie Razor Guardian

Outfit Ability
Utility Flashy Tailored Burrow Force Reflexes
Chic Uniform Eccentric Strike Swim Shapeshift
Sleek Mismatched Regal Summon Transmute Retrocognition
Oversized Vintage Sigils Drain Snare Telepathy
Patched Fashionable Punk Chance Strength Bioform
Worn Rugged Mobile Pulse Poison Sharp sense
Dyed Many pockets Cosy Fly Aura Absorb
Faded Heraldry Ripped Illusions Element Precognition
Elegant Hand-sewn Stained Prehensile Phase Learn
Formal Meditative Singed Heal Stretching Technology
Goth Ceremonial Undersized Resist Blast Duplicate
Frayed Embroidered Rumpled Wall-crawl Constructs Invisibility

Stuff Weaponry
Urn Brush Fishing rod Staff Bow Whip
Hat Net Pot / skillet Axe Crossbow Sai
Doll Biscuits Tambourine Sword Sling Nunchaku
Horn Wrench Ribbon / twine Spear Bolas Trident
Bell Honey Knitting pins Club Pistol Fan
Charm Badge Spyglass Hammer Musket Tonfa
Herbs Umbrella Nuts / seeds Mace Explosives Spade
Cards Slippers Prosthetic Flail Boomerang Wheel
Scarf Flute Tea set Wand Shuriken Cane
Incense Plunger Concertina Orb Claws Gauntlets
Novel Mirror Handkerchief Knife Polearm Helm
Soap Medal Diary Scythe Hook Shield

4
 Mission Drive
Follow Exchange Replace Safety Truth Notoriety
Retrieve Eliminate Investigate Glory Power Excitement
Impress Impersonate Raid Defiance Meaning Tenacity
Escort Discredit Catch Indulgence Cultivation Mystery
Build Interrogate Locate Wonder Courage Restoration
Convince Refute Observe Justice Honour Harmony
Infiltrate Plant Delay Revenge Pride Trickery
Chart Destroy Mediate Mercy Recognition Conscience
Smuggle Deliver Rescue Drama Faith Wisdom
Protect Seize Rally Curiosity Care Creativity
Fix Threaten Teach Redemption Loyalty Tradition
Sabotage Burgle Salvage Freedom Challenge Peace

Vibe Place
Busy Jagged Cobbled Plains Islands City
Familiar Dynamic Ageless Mangroves Savannah Factory
Eerie Uplifting Warm Glacier Steppe Outpost
Neon Cosy Mossy Highlands Taiga Crypt
Gritty Hollow Fierce Forest Caves Ship
Pastel Yawning Dusty Mountain Coast Port
Cluttered Ornate Stereo Falls Lake Village
Chilly Sturdy Herbal Canyon Desert Temple
Eclectic Tidy Solemn Tundra Valley Manor
Brittle Magnetic Breezy Sea Oasis Academy
Crisp Spare Foggy Clouds Swamp Castle
Faded Sprawling Adapted Moor Jungle Sewers

Animal
Octopus Turtle Owl Seal Fox Rabbit
Jellyfish Crocodile Vulture Whale Wolf Squirrel
Ray Snake Falcon Manatee Leopard Porcupine
1–3
Marlin Lizard Sparrow Otter Kangaroo Camel
Catfish Chameleon Crow Platypus Mole Boar
Starfish Frog Toucan Beaver Mongoose Goat
Clam Spider Crane Bat Raccoon Buffalo
Crab Moth Parrot Pigeon Bear Giraffe
Lobster Bee Goose Quail Lemur Deer
4–6
Seahorse Cricket Gull Ostrich Gibbon Rhinoceros
Centipede Beetle Penguin Peafowl Sloth Horse
Earthworm Snail Flamingo Hummingbird Pangolin Elephant

5
 3. How to Play
Tests
When you attempt something risky or
opposed, you make a test: roll a d20. If it
is equal to or less than the appropriate
attribute, you pass and avoid danger. A roll
of 1 is a critical success, and a 20 is a critical
failure.
Advantage & Disadvantage
When a circumstance gives an advantage,
roll an additional die and take the better
result. For disadvantage, roll an additional
die and take the worse result. Advantage
and disadvantage cancel out.
You may assist someone and share in the
consequences and risks. All involved make
rolls; take the best result.
Traits
Exhaust a trait for a relevant benefit:
explain how the trait helps, then pick one:
● Add advantage for a roll
● Increase die size (e.g., d6 ► d8) for a
roll
● Declare you have an item, within
reason
Restore a trait by introducing a relevant
complication. Restore all traits after a long
rest.
The GM may also offer a restored trait for
other complications, or give everyone a
restored trait for good roleplaying. Traits
may be used for other characters, places,
and situations.
Turns
When timing is crucial, such as in conflict,
characters take turns. On your turn, you get
1 move and 1 action.
Players usually take their turns before
opponents, if any, and may act in any order.
If surprised, you must pass a wit test to
take a turn in the first round.
6
Attacks
An attacker rolls the associated die,
subtracts the target’s defence, then deals
that much harm.
If an attack is impaired, roll d4 instead.
Examples: through cover, while distracted
or injured.
If an attack is enhanced, roll d12 instead.
Examples: helpless target, exposed weak
spot.
When attacking with multiple dice, take the
highest result. Examples: multiple attackers,
d6+d6 pair of daggers, quick volley.
Blast attacks affect all targets in the noted
area. Roll harm separately for each affected
character. If unsure how many targets are
affected, roll the attack die for a number.
Examples: explosions, huge cleaving swings,
meteor impact.
Defence
Defence, typically from armour and shields,
reduces harm from attacks. Maximum
defence is 3. A ready shield may be broken
to ignore one attack.
Harm & Critical Harm
Taking harm reduces hp by that amount. If
you have 0 hp, remaining harm reduces the
relevant attribute: str for physical, wit for
mental, hea for emotional or spiritual.
Any time you take attribute harm, make a
test with that attribute. Failure means you
take critical harm: you can barely move or
act, and you require tending and rest.
Taken Out
If any attribute is reduced to 0, you are
taken out: unconscious, gasping for breath,
panicking, trapped, captured, etc. If the
situation is lethal, you are dying and need
immediate help if you are to survive.
If a player’s character dies or retires from
adventuring, introduce a new character
(make or take over one) as soon as possible,
favouring inclusion over realism.
Rest
Short Rest. A few minutes of rest and calm.
Restore all hp.
Long Rest. Several hours of rest and a
meal. Restore d6 of one attribute, all hp,
and all traits.
Full Rest. A week of downtime in safety
and comfort. Restore all attributes, hp, and
traits.
Morale
An individual or group makes a hea test in
the following situations. If they fail, they
are routed and attempt to flee or parley.
● Lone opponent reduced to half hp
● Group (opponents or allies) loses half
their number
● Group’s leader is defeated
● Other scary events, such as facing
more danger than expected
Growth
Characters grow more interesting, not
necessarily stronger. Growth is qualitative,
and measured in quests completed, bonds
forged, places discovered, stuff collected,
things built, skills learned, favours owed,
reputation earned.
Alternatively, the GM may consider these
options at the end of a session:
● Change a trait.
● Increase scores. Players roll 3d6 for
each attribute and d6 for hp. If the
roll is higher, increase the score by 1.
Attributes may not exceed 15.
Rulings
If there isn’t a rule for something, make
a ruling by adapting existing rules or
making one up. During a break, revisit
unsatisfactory rulings as a group.

Players do not make morale tests. They may

try to flee or parley as they wish.

Companions
Ordering or asking them to do things takes
your action. If the thing is against their
instincts or interests, this requires passing
a hea test, paying their cost, or both. Failing
could mean they do the thing, but poorly.
Cost. Pick an appropriate cost for the
relationship: coin, tutelage, safety,
respect, companionship, etc. Costs must
be paid regularly, at least weekly or
between expeditions. Not paying their
cost repeatedly may result in loss of the
companion.

7
 4. Items & Magic
Item Slots
You have 10 slots for items and burdens.
If carrying more, you move slowly, have
disadvantage on tests, are impaired on
attacks, and are treated as having 0 hp.
Bulky items are large or heavy, requiring 2
slots and typically both hands to use. Some
may take more slots.
Unwieldy items cannot be ordinarily
carried.
Tiny items like coins, and “items” like
shaggy fur, don’t usually take a slot.
Burdens
Burdens take up 1 item slot each, and come
from hazards, conflict, and other events.
Clear with the listed actions or suitable in-
game actions. Examples of burdens:
Deprived. A crucial need (e.g., food, sleep,
warmth) is not met. You do not benefit from
rests. Clear by meeting the need.
Fatigue. Clear with long rest. Gained in
these events:
● Go a day without long rest
● Deprived for more than a day, and for
each following day
● Use certain types of magic or skills
Weakened / Dazed / Miserable.
Disadvantage on str / wit / hea tests
respectively. Clear with full rest.
Muddied. Pass a str test to grab items from
your pack. Clear with a shower or bath.
Stuck. You can’t move, but you may still
perform actions. Clear by removing what
restricts you.
8
Weapons
Melee weapons. Light: (d6) one-handed,
usually easy to conceal and throw. Medium:
(d6) one-handed, or (d8) using both hands.
Heavy: (d10) bulky.
Ranged weapons. Light: (d6) usually
one-handed or easily carried in one hand.
Heavy: (d8) bulky.
Ammunition. Don’t bother tracking. If
relevant, check depletion with creative
use or risky situations, as with expedition
resources.
With creativity, other things could be
improvised as a weapon: other items, the
environment, etc.
Armour
Most armour is bulky and gives 1 defence.
Heavier armour takes 2 more slots for each
additional defence. Special-made armour
may take less slots.
Shields give +1 defence and may be broken
to ignore one attack, but must be held for
these benefits.
Maximum defence is 3.
Expedition Resources
If at least one character is carrying the
resource, there is enough for the group.
They take up 1-2 item slots each. Not having
them will have relevant consequences.
Examples: Food, water, lanterns, fuel,
camping equipment, climbing equipment.
Expected use does not deplete the resource.
Creative use, or a situation that puts the
resource at risk, triggers a d6 luck roll.
1 Depleted
2–3 One use remaining
(expected or creative)
4–6 Unchanged
Casting Spells
Casting is demanding: hold the magic
item with two hands and speak the trigger
words. You cannot move on the same turn
you cast a spell. Characters with fewer
hands or don’t speak have other equally
demanding ways of casting.
Casting while in danger or under stress
may require a test.
Spells may be altered (duration, range,
scale) given sufficient time and safety.
Magic Items
Many types of magic items exist, and these
are some examples:
Scroll. Holds one spell. Does not take up a
slot, but disappears after cast.
Spellbook. Holds one spell. May be cast
multiple times, but causes fatigue.
Relic. Holds one spell. Usually good for 1–3
casts. Restored through special rituals. The
stronger the spell, the less casts and the
harder to restore.
Focus. Does not hold spells itself, but saves
the effort of digging through your pack.
While holding your focus, you may cast
spells from other magic items you carry.
Requires one full day to attune to the
chosen item.
Potion. Holds 1-3 doses. Use by drinking,
rubbing, throwing, etc., and not through
casting. Fragile.
Option: Flexible Magic
Some settings have a sort of magic or
“magic” tied more to broad specialties
instead of individual spells. Examples:
superpowers, hacking, witchcraft, sorcery.
The costs of using this magic are based on
the intended effect.
● Minor: cosmetic, stylistic, no impact.
No test, usually no cost.
● Moderate: equal other actions in
impact. Test if risky. Fatigue.
● Major: equal to a team’s action, or one
person over time. Always test. Fatigue,
take d6 harm.
● Monumental: equal to a team over
time, or impossible effects. Always test
with disadvantage. Fatigue ×2, take
d12 harm.
Example costs used are fatigue and harm,
and alternative costs include: limited casts,
obligations, recovery rituals, doom clocks,
special equipment.
Repurposing Items & Magic
Techniques can use rules from items if
meant to be used frequently, or magic if
meant to be limiting. Adjust as needed.
Examples: dragon uppercut (d8, free hand),
electric riff (d6+d6 ranged, holding guitar),
shadow slide (move or avoid harm, fatigue,
free action), aerial strike (d10 blast, one use).
Talents represent feats, abilities, or powers,
and can be repurposed from magic. Talents
don’t use slots, provide a specified benefit,
and may have costs if they’re especially
strong: these may be used once each day for
free. Each additional use may cost fatigue,
d6 harm, or both.
Depending on the game, you may start with
a talent, and perhaps get one talent each
time you advance.
9
 5. Running the Game
Procedure
Centre play on the fiction rather than the
rules. Start with envisioning the situation,
giving information generously.
When players act, determine which rules
to apply, and how, to show impact and
consequences. Follow up with what using
those rules means in the fictional world.
Ask clarifying questions if needed, and
invite players to do the same.
Event Roll
When entering a new area (e.g., room,
region) or time period (e.g., 6-hour watch,
week), roll a d6. Useful for exploration and
making a living world.
1 Setback, encounter
2 Exhaustion: need some rest
3 Depletion: low/threatened resources
4 Environment change
5 Clues, signs, foreshadow
6 Opportunity, beneficial find

Responding to Players
Consider these options when a player Reaction & Instincts
describes action and intent: Example 2d6 reaction or mien rolls if
unsure. Roll with dis/advantage if desired.
1. Impossible – Say why, offer
alternatives. 2 Hostile / Spiteful / Angry
2. Costly – Offer that option, or multiple 3–5 Wary / Unfriendly / Upset
unappealing options. 6–8 Uncertain / Indifferent / Busy
3. Risky – Advise on risks before rolling. 9–11 Talkative / Social / Curious
4. Safe – Player succeeds. 12 Friendly / Helpful / Joyful
Let players revise intended actions to Most opponents do not attack intending to
reduce cost or risk, perhaps try something kill, and stop when no longer threatened.
more modest or thoughtful. Careful opponents (and players) will avoid
conflicts unless sure of a win, and fight
Bad Rolls dirty if needed.
Ideally, players know risks beforehand. On
a bad roll, something bad happens, and Estimating Harm
you decide if the action failed or succeeded
Compare to weapons or the table below, or
partially. Ideas:
default to d6 if unsure.
1 unintended consequences d4 slap scrape singe unsettle
2 extra cost: time, resource, or harm d6 pound wound pain scare
3 foe takes opportunity to act d8 pummel slash burn frighten
4 something interrupted you d10 batter gouge scorch terrify
5 someone or something is threatened d12 crush mangle maim horrify
6 new complication introduced
Harm could instead use existing or new
burdens, and clear with suitable actions or
Luck Roll sufficient rest. Examples: furious (can only
attack for your actions), terrified (must pass
For when you need randomness that
a test to approach source of fear), poisoned
doesn’t fit tests or attacks. Roll a d6:
(disadvantage on all tests).
1 Crisis Extraordinary
2–3 Warning Unusual
4–6 Safe Mundane

10
Creating a Cast
A short vivid description is often enough.
Add more details as needed.
● Numbers: An average person has ~10
str / wit / hea and ~3 hp. Maximum
20 str / wit / hea and 30 hp.
● Weapons: One or more. Examples:
horns (d8+d6), fire whip (d10 blast).
● Flavour: Instincts, talents, quirks.
Effects may trigger on dealing or
suffering critical harm.
Portraying a Cast
Play up mannerisms, ways of speaking, and
exaggerate them to make them stick.
Do bad impressions, adjust body language,
or just be conversational. It all works.
Each NPC could have something the players
can help with, even if they don’t know it yet
or don’t say it up-front.
Persuasion
Persuading a reluctant NPC may be
structured as one or a few tests or a conflict,
whichever fits the situation. Outcomes are
based on the player’s approach, and the
NPC’s disposition, knowledge, and wants.
Successful persuasion may mean they
comply, or reveal the best way to get their
help.
Failure may mean that they won’t comply,
that what you’d need for their help is
difficult or distasteful, or that the attempt
at persuasion has made the situation worse.
Cast Templates
[Minions] rabble, skellingtons, imps, coyotes,
hired guns
3 hp, 10 str / wit / hea. Weapon (d6)
● Simple quirk and obvious weakness
● Behaviour, strength, or annoyance
● Critical harm: impactful and very
likely weird
[Rivals] knights, trolls, raptors, bears,
commandos
8 hp, 13 str / wit / hea. Weapons (d8+d6)
● Intimidating presence or magical
effect
● Possible blast damage or spells
● Critical harm: context-altering and
dangerous
[Bosses] liches, hell pigs, dragons, t-rexes,
mecha
12 hp, 17 str / wit / hea. Weapons
(d10+d8, blast)
● Context-altering effects and strategies
● Highly intelligent and/or crafty, will
exploit players
● Critical harm: death
11
 6. Optional Tools
These may help in adjudicating different types and scopes of conflicts.

Squads
A large group of similar attackers or a
colossal being may be treated as a squad.
When a squad takes critical harm, it is
routed or significantly weakened. When an
attribute reaches 0, it is destroyed.
Squad attacks against individuals are
enhanced and are blast attacks.
Individual attacks against squads are
impaired, unless using blast attacks or other
effective strategies.
Vehicles & Structures
These are usually only harmed by similar-
scale things like squads, some blast attacks,
and other vehicles and structures.
Alternative attributes could be Hull,
Fittings, and Crew or Fuel. Alternatively,
just use hp, destroyed if reach 0 hp. Repairs
take a day or more.
Examples: ships, crawlers, large wagons,
possibly structures.
Manoeuvres
Zones
Zones are abstractions to divide larger
physical or social spaces into smaller
spaces, like rooms in a building.
Examples zones: areas of a sports field,
parts of a colossal opponent, layers of a
corporation, city districts.
Exact distance is not important. A reference:
Close Same zone. Most actions affect
things in your zone.
Near 1 zone away, one move takes
you here. Ranged weapons
usually reach here. Thrown
items and shouts probably do.
Far 2 zones away. Ranged weapons
likely reach here.
Distant 3+ zones away.
Obstacles like terrain, size, and engaged
opponents may hinder your moves or
actions.
Example hindrances: you now need a test,
you are disadvantaged, it costs both your
move and action, you take a hit or lose
something.

When attempting a non-attack manoeuvre

against an opponent, make a test. If you
pass, the opponent chooses to either let
the manoeuvre happen, or resist and take
increased attack harm (e.g., d8►d10).
If you are in a position to make an
enhanced attack, you may instead perform
a reasonable manoeuvre without a test.
Examples: shove, distract, trip, grab, disarm,
slip past.

Slow
Actions and items that are slow must have
the action declared on the previous turn.
You may still move on the turn you perform
the slow action, but if something interrupts
or stops the slow action, you can’t replace it
with another action.

12
These provide optional structure to zoom in on certain aspects of play.
Progress Clocks
Used for complex tasks, or to pace a scene
differently from conflicts. Clocks use 4/6/8
ticks. Fill the clock when action is taken to
overcome the obstacle, usually 1–2 ticks
at a time. Or empty the clock when acting
against it. Clocks can begin partially filled.
1/4 1/6 1/8
Example uses: projects, countdowns, linked
clocks, races (2 opposing clocks), tug-of-war
(compete to fill or empty).
Projects
Projects are longer-term endeavours that
are not completed in one or a few actions,
or even scenes. Examples: craft, study,
harvest, build, scavenge, train.
Use a 4–8 tick clock and estimate time for
each undertaking (e.g., few hours, a day, a
week). When a player attempts to progress,
roll 2d6, modified for helping and hindering
circumstances (limited to +0 and +3).
7–9 Complication: prevents progress
until cleared. After cleared, next
attempt will succeed.
10+ Success. Fill 1 tick.
Factions
A faction starts with 1–3 resources and
2–3 goals. Goals should interact with other
factions or compete for limited resources.
When goals complete, update any new or
lost resources. Each goal has a clock of 2/4/6
ticks. 0/2 0/4 0/6
Between sessions, each faction works
towards one goal. Roll 2d6, modifying
+1 for each relevant resource, and –1 for
each relevant resource of an affected rival
faction, if any, (limited to –2 or +3).
7–9 Fill 1 tick
10+ Fill 2 ticks
If desired, players may be a faction:
they represent a group, head a domain,
own a turf, or are simply a faction unto
themselves. Their collective actions have
stronger influence, impact, and interaction
with other factions.
Journeys
For going from one place to another,
focusing on what happens along the way
and what shape you arrive in.
Use a 4–8 tick clock. For each leg of the
journey, roll 2d6 and modify for the
following conditions (limited to –2 or +3):
● Weather is great (+) or bad (–) or
terrible (– –)
● Following a clear road, path, or chart
(+)
● Knowledgeable guide (+)
● On vehicles or steeds (+)
● Carrying heavy load (–)
● Terrain is hard (–) or daunting (– –)
Roll result: 6– Fill 1 tick
7–9 Fill 2 ticks
10+ Fill 3 ticks
If the journey is still incomplete, make an
event roll, plus another d6 to see what this
event relates to:
1–2 Supplies and foraging
3–4 Shelter and camping
5–6 Safety and dangers
Exploration
For exploring potentially dangerous places.
Timekeeping here is not exact, and meant to
measure some amount of activities before
encountering things or requiring rest.
One day has four watches of six hours each,
and one watch per day must be long rest or
you are deprived.
Sites: Use a 6-tick clock for each hour 0/6. Fill
one tick per exploration turn. Make an event
roll when each hour is filled, with more
bad events if the group is noisy or careless.
Assume players are cautious and will notice
hazards and traps. Example turns: move to
next room, search room, a fight, short rest,
parley, tinker with something.
Hexes: Spend one watch per exploration
turn. Make an event roll when entering
an unexplored hex. Example turns: travel
to next hex, explore, forage, search, set up
shelter, long rest.
13
14