Actions

Actions are the method by which a hero faces a challenge. Actions in DURPG are not limited to a single part, but instead are a series of actions that a hero performs to overcome the challenge. This is the primary aspect of the game that players need to understand. They will set a goal, choose an approach and then say if any of their hero’s elements would factor into their action. The Facilitator will help the player decide on which approach best fits the action they are describing. Here is a breakdown of each part of an action.

The Situation

This is what the Facilitator will describe for the players involved so that everyone has a clear idea of what is going on and what is at stake. Once the situation is described and players have asked any clarifying questions, the Facilitator will ask “What do you do?” and the player will say their goal and approach.

The Goal

The player will say what they want the outcome to be. This should not be too detailed, since the actual outcome will be determined by the dice and the player will narrate what it actually looks like afterwards. The goal needs to be something like “I want to take out one of the guards” or “I want to take out all three guards.” This goal is going to help the Facilitator determine the challenge level. The Facilitator may ask clarifying questions of the player, but once they are all set, the player will choose their approach.

The Approach

This is what the player will be adding to their action roll, the D20, to determine the action roll total. A player may only choose one approach for an action, though many times there will be many approaches that could fit part of what they are trying to do. In this case, the player should choose the approach that best fits the most critical part of the overall action, or the part that must succeed in order for the whole thing to work. Typically this will not be the thing that they are best at, since that might not be as challenging as the part of their action that they are less proficient in. As an example, if the mighty barbarian is trying to overcome a group of pirates in a ship to ship battle, the hardest part of the challenge might not be their Fight, but rather their Agility, since they will need to keep their balance while the ship is moving. The main thing for the player to keep in mind is how they want to narrate the outcome. The approach they choose will be the primary influence on this, followed by any story elements or stuff they are using.

Adjusting the CL

Once the player has said their goal and approach, the Facilitator will set the Challenge Level that they must meet or beat to succeed. The player will be able to adjust the CL by suggesting any story elements that might factor into their approach. If any story element(s) would help them succeed, the Facilitator will reduce the CL by one level, regardless of how many story elements factor in. If any story elements would hinder them, then the CL will increase by one level. Positive and negative story elements should cancel each other out.

Surging

If a player wants to surge on their action they must say so before they roll the die. They may spend one surge to either reduce the CL by one level or reduce their current Strain by one level. If another player wants their hero to help the acting hero, they can ask to spend a surge to assist them. They will need to briefly say how they assist, either in the moment or using a flashback to say how they might have helped them prepare for this challenge. Anyone can assist, but only one surge may be spent and the CL can only be reduced by one level for any assists. Remember that if the challenge is no longer challenging, don’t call for an action roll.

The Roll

Once the CL has been set and adjusted, the acting player will roll their D20 and add their approach. If they are using some kind of special gear that is relevant to their action, they may also add its bonus number. Compare the final roll total to the CL to get the outcome. The Facilitator will summarize the outcome and then the player will narrate what it looked like. Be as descriptive and cinematic as you like, keeping in mind the style and tone of the game. Any assisting hero will share in the outcome, positive or negative, and will narrate their part, though the spotlight should mainly be on the acting hero.

Facilitator Tips for Action Rolls

• Actions are not a simple “hit or miss'' in DURPG. One roll may contain many individual parts.
• Choosing an approach should be up to the player, but you can help make suggestions.
• Remind players that they will use their approach and story elements in their narration of the action.