Glossary (IB) (FiD)

Glossary of Fox in the Dark and Icarus Burning terms and their Blades in the Dark equivalents.

Game Terms

Blades in the Dark	Fox in the Dark	Icarus Burning	Meaning
Score	Score	Operation	Adventure
Gang	Gang	Team	Group of NPCs working for the crew
Lair	Lair	Base	Home of your crew
Coin	Coin	Credit	Unit of value, grows by Tier
Tier 0-6	Tier 0-6	Tier 1-6	Resources (level)
Stash	Stash	—	Savings for a better lifestyle.
Heat	Heat	Friction	Complications.
Vice	Vice	Indulgence	Stress recovery.
Wanted Level	Wanted Level	Entropy	Notoriety.

Actions

Blades in the Dark	Fox in the Dark	Icarus Burning	Meaning
Hunt	Hunt	Mark	Shooting
Study	Study	Study	Analysis
Survey	Survey	Mark	Observation
Tinker	Tinker	Rig	Mechanic
Finesse	Finesse	Helm	Vehicles
Finesse	Finesse	Micro	Acrobatics
Finesse	Finesse	Micro	Fencing
Prowl	Prowl	Lunar	Agility
Prowl	Prowl	Micro	Agility
Prowl	Prowl	Terran	Agility
Skirmish	Skirmish	Terran	Dexterity
Wreck	Wreck	Rig	Demolition
Wreck	Wreck	Lunar	Brute
Attune	Attune	Judge	Intuition
Command	Command	Command	Presence
Consort	Consort	Consort	Socializing
Sway	Sway	Sway	Charisma

Character Playbooks

Blades in the Dark	Fox in the Dark	Icarus Burning	Meaning
Cutter	Warrior	Rover	Bruiser
Hound	Ranger	Rover	Wilderness
Leech	Sage	Philosopher	Scholar
Lurk	Rogue	Outis	Burglar
Slide	Mountebank	Sophist	Charmer
Spider	Mastermind	Machinator	Planner
Whisperer	Occultist	—	Mystic
—	Knight	Helio	Rider
Leech	Savant	Praxic	Technician
Hound	Sharpshooter	Rover	Sniper
Cutter	Fighter	Lancer	Soldier
Cutter	Captain	Captain	Leader
Vampire	Monster	Posthuman	Nonhuman
Ghost	Spirit	—	Noncorporeal
Hull	Monster	Cyborg	Machine

Fox in the Dark

The Powers of Fox in the Dark use specific terms that have defined meanings within the system.

Ability

One of the four Abilities tied to a specific combination of an Action and a Form, defined by its level of Complexity: Basic, Advanced, Master, or Apex.

Action

One of the twelve core Blades in the Dark Actions. Form Abilities are activated using an Action roll.

Advanced

The second level of Complexity for a Form Ability. Requires at least 2d and a 4+ result to avoid Stress Cost.

animus

The animating principle bound into matter that grants motion and purpose to elementals, constructs, and lesser undead, distinct from a free-willed Spirit.

Apex

The highest level of Complexity for a Form Ability. Requires at least 6d and a critical result to avoid Stress Cost.

Area

The fictional space affected by an Ability. Some Abilities explicitly affect an Area; others may extend to multiple targets when the fiction supports it.

Attribute

One of the three broad categories of Actions in Blades in the Dark: Insight, Prowess, and Resolve.

An Attribute rating equals the number of Actions under it that have at least one dot. Attributes are used to resist Consequences and determine trauma capacity.

Basic

The lowest level of Complexity for a Form Ability. Has no minimum die requirement and avoids Stress Cost unless a fumble is rolled.

Complexity

The level of sophistication of a Form Ability: Basic, Advanced, Master, or Apex.

Effect

The initial scale or potency of an Action, determined by the fiction and negotiation between player and GM.

Form

A themed collection of Abilities linked to all twelve Actions. Each Form provides 48 Abilities.

Form Ability

A specific Ability defined by a combination of Action, Form, and Complexity.

Master

The third level of Complexity for a Form Ability. Requires at least 4d and a 6 to avoid Stress Cost.

Outcome

The final result of an Action after all modifiers, including Tier differences, Set Up Actions, and pushing for Effect.

Range

The fictional reach of an Ability. Unless specified otherwise, it follows the normal range of its associated Action.

Scene

A discrete challenge or exchange in play, typically involving one or more Action rolls and ending with a change of location, opposition, or stakes.

Score

A full operation undertaken by the crew, as defined in Blades in the Dark. Some Abilities last for the duration of a Score.

Spirit

A creature native to the Spirit World. Also a Playbook. Spirits are greater than an animus. They can manifest limited physical effects and may temporarily materialize.

Stress Cost

The 2 Stress paid when a roll fails to meet the minimum success threshold required by an Ability’s Complexity.

true name

The unique identity required to summon a specific creature. For technomancers this may take the form of an ID signature, blueprint, or holographic pattern. Learning such an identity may require a flashback, downtime research, or be gained as a reward.