Barebones Basic Edition
Long time no see! I have been busy with life adulting here and there. No more excuses!
I’ve been retooling Barebones, making it truly Basic. What do I mean by that? I decided to move to a "Chances" style of rolling.
Players use their stat as their target number. For example, if a Fighter has a 3 in MIGHT, whenever a MIGHT test is called, they roll a single d6. If they roll a 3 or under, they succeed.
Why go "Basic"?
I wanted to strip away the math and keep the focus on the table. No floating modifiers, no complex math—just your attribute vs. the die. It’s a 1-in-6 to 5-in-6 chance of success, every time.
Key Features of BBBX:
System-Agnostic: Whether it’s gritty noir, sci-fi, or high fantasy, the engine stays the same.
Hits, Not HP: Forget tracking 48 Hit Points. You start with 3 Hits. If your armor doesn't soak the damage, you’re in trouble (similar to the philosophy in EZD6).
The Death Spiral: When you hit 0 Hits, you don't just fall over—your attributes start to bleed. If your MIGHT hits 0, you're dead. If your WILLPOWER hits 0, you’ve seen things your mind simply can't handle.
Luck as a Resource: Luck is your edge against a cruel universe. You can burn it to boost a roll or neutralize a fumble. But once it’s gone, you’re at the mercy of the dice. You regain it through bold, cinematic roleplay or by rolling a 6—finding a silver lining in a failure.
Magic is Dangerous: Magic-Users don't just "run out of slots." They risk their minds. A fumble on a spell test means you take a hit to your WILLPOWER and forget the spell entirely until you can study again. It makes every casting feel heavy.
Here is the document as always, make a copy of this document and add it to your drive!
Want to playtest?
I am currently looking for playtesters to break this system! You can read the full document below. Please make sure to make a copy of it for your own use.
I’d love to hear your feedback. Let me know what you think!
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