Powers (FiD)

Starfox's Blades in the Dark fan page

Powers turn Blades in the Dark-style games into power fantasy.

Introducing Powers

Rather than the fantastical being rare and poorly understood, adding powers to your gives characters entirely new abilities they can use. Introducing these into a game changes the game world, making it more fantastical. Your game will change from the typical grim blades in the dark into something different and higher powered, though possibly just as grim. Powers consist of two elements—a playbook, and powers. Playbooks are frameworks for which powers you can use and how you use them. Powers describe what effects you can create.

Power Playbooks

Playbooks are the frames for acquiring powers. The playbooks are the power traditions of your world, roles such as wizard, sorcerer, saint, mutant, or technomancer. Each playbook gives you access to certain powers, which are chosen in the same manner as special abilities. A power playbook can also have regular special abilities to choose from, but rarely as many as ordinary playbooks do. This is in addition to all the normal features of a playbook.

Finally, each power playbook gives you a trauma condition. This means you can't survive as much new trauma as characters who have not meddled with the powers. The actual trauma condition generally affects how you use powers, imposing conditions you must fulfil in order to use powers.

Multiple Power Playbooks You cannot pick special abilities from a power playbook unless you are using that playbook. It is possible to add a power playbook by selecting this as a special ability. If you already have a power playbook, you can gain multiple power playbooks this way, giving you a wider range of powers at the price of more trauma conditions and thus more restrictions on the use of all of your powers.

Doing so gives you access to the special abilities and items of the power playbook, but also forces you to accept its trauma condition. You can even gain access to multiple power playbooks this way, giving you a wider range of powers at the price of more trauma conditions and thus more restrictions on the use of all of your powers.

Animism

You gain your power from a host of spirits, each less in power than the patrons of other power playbooks but versatile in their breadth. You may see these spirits as your masters, allies in a cause, servants you bully, mischievous friends, or slaves to capture or a mix of all of these. Some spirits are actual physical creatures, others may call these creatures monsters but you won't. An animist might be known as a medium, medicine man, miku, shaman, or druid.

Trauma Condition - Pact Tokens You activate your powers by whispering to your spirit allies and touch a pact token. Your powers are based on deals with spirits, and each spirit is represented by a token that represents your relationship with that spirit. This is usually small tokens, but can be tattoos, scents, holograms, piercings, or even the spirit visibly floating around you. The spirits demand that these tokens be visible. Observers can tell your power playbook and those in the know can learn your powers from your symbols. The stronger you are, the symbols you have.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

• Wisdom of the Spirits Commune with local spirits. They'll assign a task to strengthen your bond, often involving purging corruption or defeating spirit foes. Success grants you and allies 2 stress relief. Vice indulgence gains +1d.

Powers There are myriad spirits, giving you access to oh so many powers. Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Allies and antagonists

˄ ˅ Bolo, a talking animal

˄ ˅ Fatiga, a spirit-speaker

˄ ˅ Hernan, a monster and spirit

˄ ˅ Lorigan, a tribal chief

˄ ˅ Terranam, a herbalist healer

Items

☐, ☐ A bribe for your spirits that gives +1d on a single use of a power.

☐ A temporary pact that allows you a single use a power you do not know.

☐-☐ A disguise that hides your spirit symbols without interfering with your powers.

☐, ☐ Spirit-pact armor that works against any type of attack.

☐ A blessed weapon that is potent.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge by dealing with the environment or using powers.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Consort 2

Attune 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Chi

Chi embodies the inner power of living creatures, which can be channeled through disciplined practice. It focuses on self-improvement, immediate surroundings, and the manipulation of inner energy.

Trauma Condition - Inner Peace To utilize chi effectively, one must maintain inner peace and freedom of movement. Powers that affect only the user or creatures touched gain improved position, while those used at a distance suffer a loss of effect due to the practitioner's inability to fully channel their energy.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

• Remember Your Teachings Drawing on past teachings, the practitioner can gain a 1d assistance bonus through a flashback, reflecting their training and discipline. This flashback costs at least 1 stress, and can be made made in addition to pushing, but does not stack with assistance from another character.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Challengers

˄ ˅ Mon Mah, a chi master

˄ ˅ Managan, a chi adept

˄ ˅ Chon-hu, a healer

˄ ˅ Dadaga the mystic shadow

˄ ˅ Hileah, heir to nobility

Items Chi users have access to a number of medicine bundles, known as potions. Once the action that benefits from the potion is resolved, you take minor harm that cannot be resisted.

☐, ☐ A potion that lets you ignore the stress of pushing.

☐ A potion that allows one use of a power on the list of chi powers that you do not know.

☐, ☐ An outfit showing your school or allegiance that can be used as armor against prowess and resolve effects.

☐ A potent weapon.

☐ A fine weapon.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge with prowess or wisdom.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Prowl 2

Skirmish 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Mutation

Mutants possess innate powers either from birth or acquired through extraordinary circumstances, encompassing superheroes, monsters, and individuals with extraordinary abilities.

Trauma Condition - Focus Power As a mutant you require bodily movement to activate powers. Your powers have a unique visual signature recognizable to those familiar with your abilities. Your first acquired power becomes your focus power, reducing the stress cost of using abilities related to it by one. However, you also become vulnerable to effects targeting creatures associated with your focus power. This includes barrier, attune, command, and sway powers, and possibly more depending on your specific focus power.

Powers A mutant is born with a link to their first power, see the trauma condition. Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Dramatic Encounters

˄ ˅ Yogalin, a misunderstood monster

˄ ˅ Haga Haga, a mentor

˄ ˅ For-step Joe, a mutant

˄ ˅ Kakali, agent of the genetics board

˄ ˅ Yogun, a bounty hunter

Items

☐ Drug that reduces the stress cost of activating a power by 4, but inflicts light harm: mutating. This consequence cannot be resisted.

☐ A costume that shows your identity or affiliation, made to work with your powers. This gives you a pool of three points of stress that can only be used to pay for power use. ☐☐☐

☐ A disguise that hides your identity.

☐, ☐ A gimmick that allows you to avoid worsening position when threatened by multiple opponents.

☐-☐ Fine climbing gear.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or in a one-on-one confrontation.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Wreck 2

Command 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Orphic

Orphic magic is worked through performance, using one or more of acting, music, song, dance, or other performing arts. Mostly used to charm and influence, a masterful orphic can calm the waves through song and even enchant death itself. Orphics may be known as bards, songmasters, thespians, and by a myriad of titles for performers.

Trauma Condition - Turbulence An orphic has three lesser trauma conditions, rather than one severe one.

1. As an orphic your first power must be the animal, flux, illusion, life, mind, order, or time power. Thereafter you can select any orphic power you wish.
2. You must make some kind of performance to use your powers, which attracts attention but can also provide cover for your power use, making it seem to be just a normal performance. It is hard to see that what you do is supernatural.
3. Orphics have a hard time with relationships. You can be charming in the short term, but your long-term relationships are troubled; jealousy, infidelity, broken friendships, overzealous fans and similar over-emotional events conspire to leave you lonely.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

• Star Quality By playing for 5 minutes with an audience (other player characters suffice) you can reduce the stress cost of a power by two. This applies to all downtime power use.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Strangers in the Night

˄ ˅ Tam Tam, a music shop keeper

˄ ˅ Celest, an orphic

˄ ˅ Yagatan, venue owner

˄ ˅ Kalle, adventurous fan

˄ ˅ Haia, mysterious heir

Items

☐ Notes and lyrics that allows one use of a power on the list of orphic powers that you do not know.

☐ A memento that reduces the stress cost of a power by three.

☐ Party supplies for five people. Spend additional load for more people, ☐-☐ for 25, ☐-☐-☐ for 125. This is not food.

☐ Fine disguise kit

☐ A musical instrument or striking outfit that allows you to push any resolve action (not just powers) at the cost of only one stress. You must carry a light load to use this.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or charm.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Sway 2

Finesse 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Psi

Psionics is futuristic magic. The list of powers varies greatly depending on setting. This writeup is for a mature and powerful psionic tradition.

Trauma Condition - Sensitivity You are vulnerable to powers and suffer a worse position against others who use powers, or a loss of effect is the position is already desperate. If the opponent is also a psionic with this sensitivity, you also gain increased effect. It is not uncommon for a psychic duel to end with both blowing their brains out.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Clever Friends, Rivals

˄ ˅ Rokun, inquisitor

˄ ˅ Shasak, fixer

˄ ˅ Lollapo, smuggler

˄ ˅ Malata, psychic

˄ ˅ Heroman, warrior

Items

☐-☐-☐ Jewelry, headband, crystal, or tattoo on the hands, forehead, or temples that allows you to push powers at a cost of one stress.

☐ Crystal that allows one use of a power on the list of psi powers that you do not know.

☐-☐-☐ Crystal that burns itself out to entirely remove the stress cost of a single power use.

☐, ☐, ☐ An object linked to the wearer of a similar object that you gave them in a flashback. Allows you to use powers on a creature touching the item as if touching them.

☐ Dreamwalker's Incense: A enhances astral projection and lucid dreaming, increasing the effect of study, survey, and sway powers.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or by forging or using social bonds.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Survey 2

Sway 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Saint

Gods and spirits share their powers with saints, their select servants.

Trauma Condition - Faith Saints pray for their powers, which usually involves straightforward words and gestures asking for what you want. Your patron will answer your prayers even if you only say them in your mind, but this increases the stress cost of using powers by one. As a miracle-worker need to love and serve your patron saint, spirit, or god. This does not mean that all disciples of the same patron agree on much of anything, religious dissent is as old as religion. Creatures you summon are servants of your patron. This makes them less hostile, but strict in matters of faith.

You cannot use powers with the the consort, hunt, and skirmish actions except your domain power, see special abilities below. Picking up another power playbook that does allow these powers negates this limitation.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

• Community Name a religious faction. Gain +1d on all insight and resolve action checks when dealing with followers of this faction. This includes lay people of the same faith, even if their faction allegiance is uncertain.

• Domain Power Learn any one power outside of the saint power list, or an action normally forbidden, representing the patron's sphere of divine influence. This even allows the prohibited combinations light + dark and flux + order. You can choose a power normally allowed to miracle-workers as your domain, in which case you reduce the stress cost of all abilities of that power by one.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness or Light (not both), Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux or Order (not both), Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Metal, Mind, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Allies and Antagonists

˄ ˅ Tarikan, a teurgist

˄ ˅ Velmi, inquisitor

˄ ˅ Hakkaman, rebel

˄ ˅ Rowahl, career cleric

˄ ˅ Sossingal, heretic

Items

☐, ☐, ☐ Holy item that gives +1d on any one action roll against supernatural enemies of the faith.

☐, ☐, ☐ Sacred armor that works against any type of attack.

☐ Oil to bless a weapon, making it potent.

☐, ☐, ☐ Food enough to feed 10 people.

☐ Potent hand weapon.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or charisma.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Sway 2

Attune 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Sorcery

Sorcery beckons those with an innate connection to the arcane, weaving spells effortlessly with an instinctual finesse. Embark on a journey through the mystical realms of magic, where raw power intertwines with untamed intuition in a mesmerizing dance of potential and peril.

Trauma Condition - Ostentatious As a sorcerer you must speak out loud and gesture to use powers. Your power effects are dramatic and obvious to observers.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Powerful Personas

˄ ˅ Xanatan, fellow sorcerer

˄ ˅ Yuclan, cultist

˄ ˅ Hatakan, mastermind

˄ ˅ Jolanpah the innocent

˄ ˅ Wester, a monster

Items

☐☐ Staff (or similar large item like a tome or big crustal ball) that allows pushing action rolls for powers at a cost of one stress.

☐ Scroll that allows one use of a power on the list of sorcerer powers that you do not know.

☐ A familiar, a small intelligent animal that serves you as a messenger, spy and confidante.

☐ Scary mask

☐, ☐, ☐ A drug that enhances your power, increasing effect by one.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or majesty.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Skirmish 2

Command 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Soulsworn

In a world where the supernatural reigns and dark forces lurk, you find yourself in a pact with a monstrous patron. Whether it's a lord of hell, an enchanting fey, an alien beyond lore, or a revenant laughing at death, you've willingly traded your soul for unearthly powers. Bound by this unholy bargain, you now wield dark magics and command otherworldly creatures to do your bidding.

Trauma Condition - Cerberic Your pact has three facets, like the three heads of Cerberus.

1. Invocation: You must loudly invoke the name of your patron to wield your powers.
2. Aura: You emit a malignant aura that causes people to be reluctant to offer you services or associate with you. Worsen your position in Consort actions.
3. Demands: Your patron imposes demands on you, and failure to fulfill these demands may result in adverse consequences. While your patron cannot strip you of your powers, it will use its servants and influence against you if you go against its wishes. This can worsen your position on actions against servants of your patron and situations relating to your patron's interests.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

• Sacrifice When you kill a creature, you can dedicate their soul to your patron to recover one stress. You can recover up to eight stress per score this way. Killing someone usually requires a great effect level.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Dark Allies, Dire Foes

˄ ˅ Magelus, rich patron

˄ ˅ Ziphon, inquisitor

˄ ˅ Zordan, soulsworn

˄ ˅ Noggaron, cultist

˄ ˅ Eladin, dealer in forbidden goods

Items

☐-☐ Familiar Spirit, a monster camouflaged as a small animal that acts as an agent of your patron and serves you as a spy and confidante. The familiar can help you use your powers, this reduces the stress cost of powers by one. Using the familiar this way reveals its true nature.

☐, ☐ Drug that gives you +2d to an action roll for a power, but inflicts medium harm: disoriented. This consequence cannot be resisted.

☐-☐ Fine potent melee hand weapon, usually a sword or dagger.

☐ Incense improves the effect of all powers. If enemy also has powers, worsen position by one.

☐-☐ Fine scary mask or costume.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or coercion.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Attune 2

Command 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Technomancer

In a world where technology reigns supreme, you've mastered the art of technomancy, blending advanced gadgets and high-tech wizardry to wield extraordinary powers. Whether it's manipulating digital constructs, hacking into secure networks, or augmenting your own abilities with cybernetic enhancements, your expertise sets you apart as a techno-sorcerer of unparalleled skill.

Trauma Condition - Nerd As a technomancer, you possess a distinctive trait that sets you apart; whether it's a peculiar jargon, a technological gadget or prosthetic you use constantly, or some other identifier that makes you recognizable as a technomancer. You rely on gadgets for all your powers, requiring a technobabble explanation for their functionality. Additionally, you are unable to access master and apex abilities from the attune, command, and sway actions unless you use a flashback to devise a gadget that enables you to do so.

As a technomancer, your affinity for all things high-tech manifests in a distinctive trait that defines your identity. Whether it's your reliance on cutting-edge gadgets, a peculiar jargon that only tech enthusiasts understand, or a signature prosthetic, you're unmistakably a technomancer. Your powers are intricately tied to your gadgets, requiring a technobabble explanation for their functionality. Additionally, accessing master and apex abilities from the attune, command, and sway actions requires you to devise specialized gadgets in a flashback.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

• Security Tech: Your deep understanding of technology allows you to decipher complex systems and manipulate digital interfaces with ease. Gain +1d on tinkering and survey actions involving , security, sensors, and communications gear.

• Inventor: You possess a knack for innovation, able to create ingenious gadgets on the fly. Gain +1d when creating gadgets or improvising solutions using your technical expertise. Often applicable in flashbacks and long-term projects.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Human Resources and Rivals

˄ ˅ Ting-yan-cha, fixer

˄ ˅ Melomina, technican

˄ ˅ Shok-ok, ganger

˄ ˅ Moking, dispatch operator

˄ ˅ Smoking Toe, hacker

Items

☐, ☐, ☐ A power cell that reduces the stress cost of a power by two

☐ A specialized gadget that grants you a single use of a power accessible to technomancers that you do not know.

☐-☐ A gadget devised in a flashback that grants you access to a specific power for the duration of the score. This requires expending stress like any other flashback.

☐ Fine tinkering tools.

☐ Fine lockpicks.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using technomancy or tinkering.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Tinker 2

Wreck 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Theurgy

You harness divine magic through the invocation of ancient secrets that compel divine powers to aid you, or through the meticulous study of divine beings and their servants, allowing you to replicate miracles. While many theurgists align themselves with a patron deity and strive to emulate the deeds of saints, such devotion is not for all. In fantasy worlds, theurgists often wield significant influence within the church, facing opposition from zealous saints. For theurgists, their affiliation with a church is akin to a profession rather than a calling, enabling them to switch institutions and patrons across their career. However, deviations from religious principles within hierarchies can spark significant unrest and potential schisms.

Trauma Condition - Enactment You are invoking divine power through lore and ritual. You need to preach and gesture to use powers. This does not require faith, but using divine powers creates expectations, both within yourself and others. Failing external expectations can lead to persecution, failing inner expectations can lead to loss of self-esteem.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Divine Associates and Adversaries

˄ ˅ Majalan, saint

˄ ˅ Hokkin, career cleric

˄ ˅ Soloman, sage layman

˄ ˅ Halomar, monastic

˄ ˅ Leloman, teurgist

Items

☐, ☐, ☐ Blessed oil to anoint a weapon, imbuing it with potency for the duration of the score.

☐, ☐ Sacred ward that works as armor against any type of attack.

☐-☐-☐ Elaborate sacred vestments reducing the stress cost of powers by one. If worn at the start of the session, the load is reduced to ☐.

☐-☐-☐ Astrolabe, reliquary, glockenspiel or antikythera that requires both hands to use. Reduces the stress of using powers by 1.

☐ Scroll granting one-time use of a power available to theurgists but not currently known.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or diplomacy.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Command 2

Attune 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Wizardry

Wizards study magic powers with a philosophical, sometimes even scientific mindset and record their lore in tomes and libraries. This is a powerful power framework, both competent and flexible. Wizardry is eclectic. Their methods include alchemy, astrology, esotericism, geomancy, herbalism, lithomancy, mysticism, numerology, pyramidology rune lore, sigils, and the like. Some of these may be the center of magical traditions of their own besides their use in wizardry.

Trauma Condition A wizard must speak out loud and gesture to use powers. The more powerful the power and the further the reach, the louder and wider this needs to be. Their powers are recoded in tomes called spellbooks, and a wizard that can't access their spellbook cannot do long-term projects, except for a study project to create a new spellbook. If you can't use your spellbook when preparing for a score add 2 dice to the stress cost and die requirements of all powers. So a basic power now requires 2 dice and costs 5 stress, an advanced power requires 4 dice and costs 7 stress, and so on.

Special Abilities
In addition to the listed powers, you have access to these special abilities.

• Crafty Creator Add increased effect to all tinker action rolls relating to powers. For you tinker is always an appropriate aspect to use when working on a long term power projects.
• Loremaster You may always use study for a set up action for yourself, either in the moment or as a flashback. On a partial success, improve position or increase effect. On a full success, improve position and increase effect. On a critical success, improve position, increase effect, and also increase the result level of actions affected by the set up by one (so a miss becomes a partial success, a partial success becomes a full success, and a full success becomes a critical success). The consequences of this are generally slight, but might make you misinformed or cocksure.

Powers Air, Animal, Barrier, Darkness, Death, Earth, Electricity, Fire, Ice, Flux, Illusion, Kinesis, Life, Light, Metal, Mind, Order, Plant, Space, Time, Water.

Intelligent Friends and Rivals

˄ ˅ Rawlin, bookbinder and copyist

˄ ˅ Xigatin, wizard

˄ ˅ Trollico, specialist in one esotheric method

˄ ˅ Lavatir, haughty master of wizardry

˄ ˅ Telmo, librarian

Items

☐-☐ Staff (or similar large item like a tome or big crustal ball) that increases the effect of powers by 1.

☐, ☐, ☐ Pouch containing materials that can reduce the stress cost of a power by two

☐, ☐, ☐ Scroll that allows one use of a power on the list of wizard powers that you do not know

☐, ☐ Pointy hat that acts as armor for insight and resolve.

☐ Crystal ball that gives +1d on action rolls for study and survey when using powers.

XP

• Every time you roll a desperate action, mark xp in that action's attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 xp (in your playbook or an attribute) or 2 xp if that item occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using powers or lore.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.

Starting Actions

Study 2

Tinker 1

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one

Powers

Powers are what actually gives you exceptional abilities. A power playbook doesn't give you any power abilities unless you select a power from that playbook's special abilities. Once you select a power, you gain abilities appropriate to the power. So if you select the electricity pool, you can shoot lightning, power electric engines, cause shortcuts, summon electric creatures, and so forth. In many cases, powers work as equipment does, empowering your normal actions. Some powers allow you to do what is normally impossible, these generally have more rules governing them

Stress Cost You use your normal actions to activate powers, but there is an associated cost in stress. The stress cost of each category of power abilities is given at the top of each column, but this cost is reduced by the result of the action roll. This works much like resistance rolls, but is handled as a part of the action roll. Each power ability has a stress cost, which is reduced by the result of the action roll. A critical success reduces the cost by 2 for each six rolled beyond the first. This is the same roll used to judge the effect of the action itself. Sometimes the use of a power does not need an action roll, but you still make one to find the stress cost. For example, using Survey and darkness to allow your friends to see in the dark is not exciting enough to require an action roll. In this case, ignore the result of the action roll, it always succeeds without consequences. For basic powers not used as a part of a significant action, just ignore the cost and action roll.

Avoid The Trap of Powers Just because a power allows something does not mean that you can't do it without that power. Attacks with weapons do not lose any effectiveness just because there are power that do the same. Items can be more effective than powers because once you select an item of equipment, you usually have it for the rest of the score. Attune allows the identification of supernatural creatures even without a power.

Powers are Inflexible Unlike normal actions, which are flexible, powers are specific. If you want to make a ranged attack using your power, that is done with Hunt action unless the particular power description says otherwise, you cannot fudge this with another action as you normally can.

Powers are Flexible The abilities described for each combination of power and action are typical examples that can be expanded upon. The drift of the ability is set, but the particulars can be changed. If a character wants to do something that seems appropriate to their power but no description fits, modify existing abilities to allow it as some kind of action.

Combining Powers If you know several powers, you can combine all of them with a single action, as long as this makes sense. So if you know both the fire and plant powers, you can dismiss, infiltrate, or infiltrate using both at once, but using barrage or research using both powers at once makes less sense. It is also possible to combine powers with another power-user as a part of assisting them. Combination powers are often more effective but become more vulnerable to the banish effect of the attunement action. Negating any of the component powers of a combined power negates the entire power.

Power Duration There are no specific rules for the duration of powers. Most powers last for a single use of an action: you use the power, the effect happens, and then the power ends but the effects of the power remains. The typical example of this is attacks, you wield your fire blade for the duration of the fight, and then it dissipates. Powers that last usually last for an entire score, but this depends on the degree of success. A possible consequence of power use is that the power suddenly ends at an inappropriate moment.

Power Area The target of powers can be described in plural or singular, but uses the normal effects of multiple targets, increasing position and reducing effect as appropriate. If the power explicitly says it has an area this does no apply.

Powers Gated by Dice Power effects can be gated by the number of dice rolled for an action. This means that pushing, assists, and devils' bargain enhances the effect of your powers. No dice, no power. One die gives access to free abilities. two dice gives access to item abilities, three dice gives access to stress abilities, four dice allows access to all powers.

Optional Rule: Powers Gated by Tier If powers seem to powerful for low-tier adventures, you can tier-lock powers. At tier zero, you can only use free powers. At tiers 1-2 you can only use free and item powers. At tier 3-4 you can use free, item, and stress powers abilities. At tier 5, you can use all powers. This makes powers almost useless at tier zero and weak until tier 3. Long-term projects allows use of powers as if you were two tiers higher. Make sure to limit exceptional equipment like bombs and grenades in a similar manner.

Availability and Genre Different power and action combinations fit in different genres, as do power playbooks. The easiest way to manage this is to modify or remove the power playbooks and powers that don't fit. But you can also remove the abilities linked to certain actions. Removing attune removes summoning and anti-power abilities, making the setting decidedly less mystical. Removing command and sway powers make powers more physical and less subtle. Removing consort makes a creature's form more definite, making the setting less confusing. Removing finesse, hunt, skirmish, and wreck removes exceptional attacks, making the setting much less flashy. Removing prowl limits how people move, also making the setting less flashy. Removing study and survey removes information powers, making the setting more mundane. It is also possible to limit sub-categories of power playbooks, making certain components secret and something that has to be earned. This can include adding the powers currently forbidden to a certain playbook.

Power Specifications

List of powers and how they differ from the generic power table.

1. Air Power. Air is an elemental power that affects gasses, and to a limited extent vacuum.
2. Animal Power. Animals are an important part of mystic experience.
3. Barrier Power. Barriers is the ability to create walls and circles of protection.
4. Darkness Power. Darkness is linked to both physical and spiritual darkness.
5. Death Power. Death and disease are powerful forces.
6. Earth Power. Earth is the base of all, the solid ground we walk on and dig into.
7. Electricity Power. Electricity is often technology, but there was always lightning.
8. Fire Power. Fire is an element of transformation, it can destroy but also forge.
9. Ice Power. The power of frozen water, arctic cold, and creatures of cold.
10. Flux Power. Flux is the power of luck, chaos, decay, and randomness, but also of freedom, inspiration, and art.
11. Illusion Power. Illusion powers create images, sound, and other sensory impressions to confuse and delude.
12. Kinesis Power. The ability move things, including simple thoughts.
13. Life Power. Life power is about life energy used to heal and improve living things.
14. Light Power. Light is both physical and spiritual light, inspiring deeds of charity and benevolence.
15. Metal Power. Metalworkers have often been associated with mystical powers.
16. Mind Power. Mind delves into sentience and intelligence.
17. Order Power. Order is the power the status quo that restores normality.
18. Plant Power. Governs plants and dead plant matter, including fungi.
19. Space Power. Governs location and distance, the power to teleport and create extradimensional spaces.
20. Time Power. Time allows looking into the past and possible futures, but can create deadly paradoxes.
21. Water Power. Water is the element of life, spirituality, and endless flowing cycles.