Relics of the Moon
A team-first science-fantasy roleplaying game of outlandish action-adventure
featuring the Dream Team Game SystemTM
(pre-release playtest v0.7.2)

Creating Challenges and Tests

Core Mechanics

Determining Challenge Threat, Type, and Rating

Type

Challenge Type is the easiest to determine. Depending on the approach the Cohort takes to face the Challenge, one Expertise will stand out.

Threat

The Challenge Threat is tuned to how important the Challenge is to the current scenario. The same subject may have different Threat levels at different time. For example, facing a rival Cohort may be a Minor Threat where they are present but not the focus of the story; they may just be foils in the way of the Cohort accomplishing another goal. At another time, facing the same rival Cohort as the cumination of a series of scenarios leading to an epic showdown may be an Extreme or Ultimate Challenge. Here, take a lead from cartoon and comic book storytelling; notice what role the same adversary plays in different stories.

Common and Minor

Common and Minor Threats represent situations that the Cohort frequently faces or is a common occurence in the setting. Such situations do not automatically cause Stress on their turn from resolved dice (A3 and A4, respectively). However, they still cause stress on rolls of 5 or 6, or rolls modified by traits. A Minor Threat with a trait that gives +1 / 2d can still be a formidable force as at least two resolved dice will always resolve as 5 (A4 + 1). Note that Common Threats do not affect the Destiny or Doom pools as they really don’t tap into deep storytelling reserves.

Major

Major Threats make up the majority of truly tense situations. Dice resolve as A5, and thus applying stress automatically unless reduced by the Cohort. Most major story beats will be a Major Threat: a difficult negotiation, fisticuffs with the main anatognist, racing against time in a Mule. When Major Threats have additional traits, expect a high amount of Stress for the Cohort. There are typically several Major Threats in any given scenario.

Extreme and Ultimate

These are used as capstones to longer scenarios and campaigns. They often have additional traits, too, which make them very dangerous. An Extreme or Ultimate Challenge with even a modest Rating can easily push one or more PCs to Stress Out. Those with multiple traits and high Ratings are almost guaranteed to invite PCs to Push the Limit and leave one or more with Agony.

Rating

A good starting base for a Cohort of four PCs is 5. As long as one or two of the Cohort have Rank 2+ Expertise, Rating 5 Challenges are usually resolved in 1-3 rounds. Rating 7+ are uncommon and will almost guarantee some Stress to the Cohort even with a lower Threat. Rating 9+ are rare. When combined with higher Threat or a handful of traits, they become very dangerous.

Events

While Cohorts will often face a single Challenge together, Events add even more variety. For example, an Event with three distinct Minor 2 Threats is generally more powerful than a single one of Minor 6 Threat. This is because each Challenge still acts even if the Cohort does not directly engage with it. If the Cohort faces one of the three Minor 2 Challenges and resolve both dice with 4 Successes, the other two are still operational and untouched, and the extra successes do not roll over to the other Challenges.

It is important to note, however, that each Challenge in a multiple Challenge Event should represent opposition that is distinct from each other. That is, if there are 3 members of a rival Cohort, that generally is a single Challenge rather than three separate ones. However, if one of those rival Cohort members is the leader, it may very well be two different Challenges in the Event: one of for the leader, and one for the other cohort members. One way to think about whether or not separate Challenges are needed is to compare traits. If parts of the Challenge have their own unique traits, they should be broken out into separate Challenges. Also, differining Threat levels or differing Challenge Types are by their nature different Challenges.

Most Events have a single Challenge, though two simultaneous Challenges is not uncommon. Three simultaneous Challenges in the same Event is rare, and four or more simultaneous will push the limits the fast-paced action ideal (as well as be extremely Stressful for the Cohort). However, having one Challenge trigger another after being resolved in a series of two, three, or more in a single Event can be a fun major plot point when used in moderation.

Determining Test Type and Rating

Threat

Tests are resolved in a single round and so do not have a Threat rating. Instead, the word “Test” replaces the Threat nomenclature.

Type

While some Tests have an associated Expertise Type, others rely on luck rather than skill. The Basic Test Type represents this situation.

Rating

In general, Tests rarely exceed 5 dice (Rating 5). This keeps results bounded and achievable by the Cohort. A single die is good for simple success/failure, three to five (3-5) dice are good for generating degrees of success.

For Typed Tests, the Cohort or PC builds a dice pool as normal using Expertise, activating traits that give Auto Results and Simple Modifiers. Successes resolve a number of Test dice just like Challenges. These successes are compared to a target number of successes (for example, 3 out of 5 to succeed), or a range/degree of successes that the GM determined (each success gives a cumulatively better outcome).

For Basic Tests, the Cohort or PC will roll a dice pool equal to the Rating. For example, in a Test Basic 3, the Cohort would roll three (3) dice. This is then compared to the target number of successes, or the range/degree of successes just like Typed Tests.

Example Challenges

Outrunning the Rivals: Major Stallion 5

  • Rival Mule Speed: + 1 / 2d on the Challenge turn

The Bluestripes are keen on taking the Cohort’s newly found Moon Relic for themselves. Rather than engage them head-to-head, the Setting Sun powers up the Twilight and races off across the wastes, Zan at the wheel (Stallion). It will likely only take a round or two to outrun their rivals (Rating 5). However, the Bluestripes mean business this time with a high probability of Stress to the Cohort and Vehicle (Threat Major). While the Twilight is known as one of the swiftest vehicles on Anasta, the Bluestripes’ Mule is no slouch with a Rank 2 Speed (+1 / 2d).

Leaping Leaches!: Minor Venger 5

  • Blood Suck (Doom): Upon causing Stress during the Challenge turn, spend 1+ or more Doom to increase Stress by 1 for each Doom spent.

While exploring the sewers, the Cohort is beset upon by dozens of rat-sized leaches that leap from the flowing muck looking for a meal. They’ll need to fight them off to proceed (Venger). The GM decides that the Threat of the leeches does not automatically cause Stress (Major or higher which resolve to A5), but is more than a Common treat. The GM feels Minor is correct (Challenge dice resolve to A4, no automatic successes). A Rating of 5 (five dice in the Challenge pool) is a good base for a party of four Cohort members.

Sneak into Camp: Major Phantom 6

  • Active Patrol: -1 / 2d on the Cohort turn.
  • Well-lit: -2 / 1d on the Cohort turn.

Baron Drayk’s nephew Quel is being held hostage by Baron Jexa for an unreasonable number of Moonshards. Drayk sends in the Setting Sun to rescue the boy. This is a dangerous gambit (Major Threat). The Tradeguard camp is actively patrolled (-1 / 2d). In daylight, it would be nearly impossible for them to enter camp without a confrontation (Venger) and risking Quel’s safety. They wait for nightfall to make their move (Phantom). While there is more cover in the shadows, the camp is well-lit, making the extraction a bit more difficult than they had hoped (-2 / 1d).

Example Tests

Searching for Clues: Test Stallion 5

The Cohort is confronted with a the fact that their contact is not where he is supposed to be, and there is evidence of a struggle. The GM calls for a Test Stallion 5 to search for clues as to what may have happened. The Cohort builds a Stallion pool together as they are all involved. They may use appropriate traits, including Psionic Powers to help them. 1-2 successes gives one clue, 3-4 successess reveals a second clue, 5+ successes lays bare exactly what happened.

Grab the Moonshards: Test Scav 5

A huge column is about to fall and crush some active Moonshards. Seranos is the only one nearby and has only a moment to grab as many as they can before the Moonshards are destroyed. The GM decides this is a Scav action, and sets this as a Test Scav 5 since there are 5 Moonshards. The GM determines that each success allows Seranos to successfully collect one Moonshard while the others are crushed. Since this is a Test Scav rather than a Test Basic, Seranos builds a pool using traits and modifiers that apply to Scav Challenges, such as Expertise and Background.

Lucky to Be Alive: Test Basic 1

Anryo is under steep pressure during combat with the Bonespikes. In a particularly difficult moment, Anryo takes 6 Stress in one round; this would make them Stressed Out. They activate their Lucky to Be Alive trait, which requires a Test Basic 1. A single success (5 or 6) on a single die determines success or failure.

Seek an Audience: Test Sparrow 5

The Cohort wants to speak with the leader of an unfriendly Faction. The Cohort faces a Test Sparrow 5 to make their argument to the leader’s personal guard. Every unresolved die becomes Stress. In addition, if all five (5) dice are not resolved, a new Challenge is created—Hostile Bodyguards (Major Venger 5)—as the situation escalates.