Gameplay Resolution and Basic Mechanics

Gameplay Resolution is done with a deck of cards rather than with dice. A Player's Avatar in the Shadowlands can do whatever the player themselves is physically capable of doing. Anything beyond the capacity of the Player requires the expenditure of cards to accomplish.

The Deck

A deck of 72 custom cards with values of 1 through 4 and two sigils: one for Action Type (6 possible types) and one for Style Type (5 possible dual types).

Card Values

• 12 cards with a value of 0
• 24 cards with a value of 1
• 18 cards with a value of 2
• 12 cards with a value of 3
• 6 cards with a value of 4 

Action Types are divided in two groups: Skill and Story.

Mechanics

Players can perform any tasks in game that they can perform in real life.  To perform an action beyond their real life ability, they must use VAJRA, COOL, or cards.

Tasks are assigned difficulty based on how far beyond the player's current ability the attempted task is. The difficulty is divided into 3 categories: possible, impossible, beyond the impossible. The storyteller does not tell the players the difficulty beyond those three descriptors. Difficulty levels 1 through 3 are POSSIBLE. Difficulty levels 4 through 7 are IMPOSSIBLE. Difficulty levels 8 through 12 are BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE. Nothing has a difficulty level higher than 12.

1. New. The task is unfamiliar to the player, but they have done similar and potentially harder things in the past.  
2. Untested. Beyond the player's current capabilities, but achievable in the near future, beginner's luck is entirely possible here.
3. Challenging. Beyond the player's current abilities and near future progress, but potentially achievable.
4. Unbelievable. This would be difficult even for somebody trained to do exactly that.
5. Ridiculous. This would be difficult for an expert in the field.
6. Epic. This would be nearly impossible for the best in the world.
7. Legendary. This would be the equivalent of the first trans Atlantic flight, the first 4 minute mile, etc... 
8. BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE. This is simply not physically possible and could only happen in the Shadowlands.
9. BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE. This is simply not physically possible and could only happen in the Shadowlands.
10. BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE. This is simply not physically possible and could only happen in the Shadowlands.
11. BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE. This is simply not physically possible and could only happen in the Shadowlands.
12. BEYOND THE IMPOSSIBLE. This is simply not physically possible and could only happen in the Shadowlands.