System Quick Reference Sheet
Skill Checks
Roll 2d6 and add the character’s most relevant attribute modi-
fier and skill. Sometimes more than one skill might apply; the
PC can choose which to roll. If the roll is equal or higher than
the check difficulty, the PC succeeds. If less, then they either fail
outright, attain only partial success, or suffer an unanticipated
turn of events at the GM’s discretion.
For opposed skill checks, both participants roll and the
higher roll wins. For NPCs, assume they have a +0 bonus unless
the activity is one they’d reasonably be good at. In that case, they
can apply their listed skill bonus to the check.
Skill Check Difficulties
6 A relatively simple task that is still more than the PC
would usually be expected to manage in their regular
background. Anything easier than this isn’t worth a
skill check.
8 A significant challenge to a competent professional
that they’d still succeed at more often than not.
10 Something too difficult to be expected of anyone but
a skilled expert, and even they might fail.
12 Only a true master could expect to carry this off with
any degree of reliability.
14+ Only a true master has any chance of achieving this at
all, and even they will probably fail.
Saving Throws
To make a saving throw, a victim­rolls 1d20 and tries to equal
or exceed their relevant saving throw score. Target Physical
saves for poisons, diseases, and exhaustion, Evasion saves for
diving for cover or leaping back from peril, and Mental saves
for resisting psychic powers. NPCs have a saving throw score
of 15 minus half their hit dice, rounded down.
Injury and Healing
A target reduced to zero hit points by a lethal attack is mortally
wounded. One dropped by non-lethal assaults is unconscious.
Dying victims can take no actions and will die soon with-
out help. Allies can attempt an Int/Heal or Dex/Heal skill check
as a Main Action to stabilize the victim. With no medical tools,
the difficulty is 10 plus the rounds since they went down. With
a medkit, it’s difficulty 8 plus the time, and using a Lazarus patch
makes it difficulty 6 plus the time. Failed checks can be attempt-
ed again, but a victim will die after the sixth round.
Stabilized characters regain 1 hit point after ten minutes
and can act normally, but any further damage kills them instant-
ly. This fragility ends after they regain more hit points, either
through rest, stims, or biopsionic healing.
Stabilized PCs take at least a week to start recovering hit
points normally. Those who have merely been hurt but not
mortally wounded regain their level in lost hit points after every
night’s peaceful rest.
The Combat Sequence
Combat is divided into rounds of six seconds. Every participant
gets a turn, and then the sequence starts over again.
First, every participant rolls initiative, rolling 1d8 plus
their Dexterity modifier, if they have one. Participants act in
order, highest to lowest, with PCs winning ties with NPCs.
On their turn, a combatant can take one Main Action, one
Move, and as many On Turn actions as is plausible. A combat-
ant can take Instant actions at any time, even when it’s not their
turn, or even if dice have already been rolled.
Acting In Combat
You can use a Main Action to attack an enemy, disengage from
a melee, use a skill, reload a gun, produce a Stowed item, take a
second Move action, or do anything else you could accomplish
in six seconds.
You can use a Move action to stand up from prone, club
up a ranged weapon, or move 10 meters. Your movement is
half that if you’re climbing, swimming, or otherwise navigating
rough terrain. You can’t split a Move action around your Main
Action. You have to move all at once. If you move away from a
melee combatant without spending a Main Action to disengage
from the fray, all adjacent melee attackers get a free attack at you.
You can use an On Turn action to fall prone, say something,
drop an object, or do anything else that’s very simple to do and
takes almost no time or attention.
You can use an Instant action at any time to trigger certain
special powers. You can also use it to make a Snap Attack with
a weapon or go totally defensive, though both of the latter will
cost you your Main Action for the round, and can’t be done if
you’ve already used your Main Action.
Hitting in Combat
To hit a target, the attacker rolls 1d20 and adds their attack
bonus, the relevant combat skill, and the attribute modifier
relevant to their weapon. Weapons with more than one listed
attribute allow the PC to use either. If the PC lacks the relevant
combat skill entirely, they take a -2 penalty to hit. If the roll is
equal or greater than the target’s Armor Class, the attack is a hit.
On a hit, the attacker rolls the weapon’s damage and adds
their relevant attribute modifier. The target takes that many
hit points of damage.
On a miss, a weapon that inflicts Shock damage might still
hurt the target. If the weapon’s Shock can harm the target’s
Armor Class, the target takes the weapon’s Shock damage even
on a miss. This damage is increased by the wielder’s relevant
attribute modifier and any other damage bonuses. A weapon
never does less damage than its Shock would do on a miss.
Morale in Combat
To make a morale check, NPCs roll 2d6. If equal or less than
their morale score, they keep fighting. Otherwise, they flee,
withdraw, or surrender. NPCs check morale after their first
casualty and after half are down. PCs never check morale.