Local Rules and Skills

Updated 4/8/2024

While we follow the core rulebook and other official National Dystopia Rising produced content, you may see a few rules and skill calls that are unique to DR:TX as well.

You can find the primary list of new keywords, abilities, and skills on the DR National Lexicon page, including abilities previously listed on our DR:TX custom content page such as Agony, Downsurge, Knockback, Nail, Murder, Rend, and Terror.

temporary local mechanics

You can find our published list of temporary local mechanics and skills in play during upcoming events below. These mechanics may stay in play for multiple events or may be eventually modified, updated, or added to the ongoing local mechanics in time.

LINGERING DAMAGE

Damage Augment. If a Threat hits you with this type of attack called as “Lingering Damage, 1 Minute!”, you will suffer repeated damage over time as the effect continues. This effect inflicts 2 Body damage for each STEP you take while affected by the Lingering Damage. This effect normally lasts for one (1) Minute, but can last longer in certain situations. This effect can be Avoided, and ends upon entering Bleed Out or when the duration elapses. If the victim does not move, they do not take damage. Forced movement, such as from a Knockback effect, still causes damage to the victim.

Nightmares (Level 1-3)

Keyword. A character with this trait is vulnerable to skills, abilities, and items that specifically target the Nightmares keyword. This is a condition gained by interacting with a particular series of unique threats and items in the play space. This behavior will work heavily with the Purple Headband mechanic below, and was first introduced during our online Barogue event, THE UNDYING PRINCE. This condition will remain in play for the entire duration of Season 5.

NIGHTMARE HOST

Keyword. A character with this trait is vulnerable to skills, abilities, and items that specifically target the Nightmare Host keyword. This condition is gained by specific voluntary actions taken by characters with certain Barogian items and threats. This condition will remain in play for the entire duration of Season 5.

MORALE BOOST

Every LC in Bravado, once per game, may spend 1 Resolve to declare “Is that all you got?!” and stand back up from Bleed Out with 10 Body, as the fighting spirit of Bravado is stronger than your fear of death.  This effect lasts until the end of the season.

ongoing local mechanics

You can find our published list of custom local mechanics and skills regularly in play below:

armor & Looting

While P. 158 suggests that any obvious and visible item only requires a few seconds of Active Roleplay to take from a helpless opponent, this does NOT apply to Armor or other large worn items. These items must be taken with a full 30-second Search and cannot be simply grabbed. It takes time to cut that Striker’s Coat free.

ARMOR COVERAGE & UNSAFE WEATHER

Due to the EXTREME weather in Texas, we will periodically decide that a game is considered “unsafe” to use the full Armor Coverage rules in the Dystopia Rising: Corebook. This rule will be communicated before the game on Facebook and during our opening Announcements.

Normally, Armor requires an amount of physical coverage equal to the 5% per Armor Point. (10 points of armor is 50%, 15 points of armor is 75%, etc.) up to a maximum of 80% coverage.

  • During these extreme weather games, Armor Coverage requirements will be reduced by ONE HALF to a maximum of 50% armor coverage, regardless of the craft level of item or Armor Points it affords.

  • If you had a set of Basic Armor (10 points), you would only need 25% coverage, etc.

Please make sure you are hydrating and spend less time worrying about heavy armor when it’s a million degrees outside.

charisma

Psionic. When this ability is used, you can engage a target in conversation for 5 minutes, then spend 5 Mind to make a psionic attack while declaring “Psionic: Charisma”. The target will treat you as a close personal friend for 10 minutes but will not engage in any unusual self-destructive activity or go against deeply held beliefs. This counts as a CvC action. At the end of the duration, the target knows they were under this effect. This skill is resisted by Basic Mental Endurance.

Contraband

Keyword. Items that are considered illegal in the San Saba can earn a punishment for your character ranging from a fine to a trip to the Gauntlet. Purchasing a Contraband item is considered to be a CvC action, and can open up your character to consequences. If you are caught with one of these items on your person during a search, it could lead to further developments in your story as a criminal. Be warned!

Compulsion

Effect. When an NPC calls “Compulsion, All <KEYWORD>, [Insert Command]”, the affected target must follow the next single command until the task is completed or nullified (such as being compelled to defend someone who then dies). The target must complete the command to the best of their ability. When the target enters Bleed Out, the effect immediately ends. Characters under the effects of Compulsion remember the actions they take, but are not in control of them. This ability is normally resisted by Mental Endurance, but some effects may prevent this resistance.

Hope you have Mental Endurance, or you’ve bought one of those fancy Grave-Bell Shards!

Melee damage reduction (MINOR & Major)

Possessed by dangerous threats and some exceptionally armored critters, Damage Reduction reduces the amount of damage taken from melee strikes and weapons. Damage Reduction (Minor) means that the target reduces incoming damage by 5 from a strike, minimum 1, while Damage Reduction (Major) means that the target reduces incoming damage by 10 from a Ranged Attack, minimum 1.

Damage Reduction (Minimal)

Possessed by very rare threats and some exceptional villains, Damage Reduction (Minimal) reduces the amount of damage taken from melee strikes and weapons to virtually nothing. These threats reduce ALL damage to a minimum of 1. These threats will declare “Minimal” when hit with damage, and Bane attacks do normal damage to the target with Damage Reduction (Minimal), but do not double their damage.

DEVOUR

Skill Call. This delivery modifier causes the attacker to be healed for an equal of Body as the attack deals. For instance, a creature might call “Devour 50 Body!”, which will deal 50 Body as the attack and heal them for 50 Body. This call can drain Body, Mind, Resolve, or Infection.

DRowning (Dark water)

Effect. The Drowning effect immediately drops you to 0 Body, regardless of what you had left, and you immediately enter Bleed Out. This condition is normally inflicted by Aquatic enemies, included in DARK WATER zone of mechanic effects, or the threat skill Dark Water Strike. The Saltwise strain and Full Dead strain are immune to this effect.

EXPOSED

Keyword. This effect is used with the Counterfeit and Forgery Procedure. When a character makes a forged document, they risk exposing to the officials of the San Saba that they can undermine their security. When the character makes the document, they roll a d20 and attempt to roll above their current EXPOSED rating. If they are Exposed, it can set into a series of events that can lead to character consequences and possible punishments in character. This Exposure can be reduced by taking an Action Request or otherwise it fades at a rate of 1 per month, to a minimum of Exposed (1).

gravetouched

Keyword. A character with this trait is vulnerable to skills, abilities, and items that specifically target the Gravetouched keyword. This is a condition that afflicts characters that are suffering from a temporary, but painful closeness to the Grave Mind. Some individuals with this ailment have not returned from death, even with Infection remaining. It is known to be spread to those with repeated and acute exposures to the Mortis Amaranthine and is a symptom of repeated use of the drug Grave Dust. This condition has no known cure at this time. Further RESEARCH will need to be uncovered to understand other ways to prevent or protect against this effect.

“I’m too young to die!”

This is a phrase we encourage our new players to use when they are in a dangerous situation or bleeding out. This clearly communicates to the other players that they are a new player that needs help and encourages good steering to react. When you are bleeding out, including this phrase into your roleplay will help ensure that people are more motivated to steer their behaviors to help.

lit inventory

You may not pull items from your LIT inventory during an event without prior approval from a Gamerunner. If you are interested in having your items written prior to an event, please send an email with your request to Info Email Address. We will have several times during this season where we have set windows to remove items from LIT for your convenience. Per National instruction, we cannot add items to LIT inventory during a live event.

Profession focus achievements (PFA)

In DR:TX, characters may be taught a Profession Focus Achievement (PFA) by another character as if it was a Skill. This process must involve one hour of appropriate roleplay learning the PFA as well as entering a request online. We do not enforce a 6-month policy for PFA acquisition for our local players.

Proficient financial influence (p. 120)

In DR:TX, characters may not use this skill during Check-In. To save time during our pre-game registration process, this skill may instead be used during a normal trip to the Post Office in game.

pUrple Headbands

If you encounter an NPC wearing a PURPLE headband or light, this represents an encounter that is “UNSEEN”.

These characters are part of some space that is not your own, like a dream or a hallucination, or someone “out of phase”. They are not out of character but in a state that can only be observed or interacted with in specific conditions. It is possible for some characters to be able to see this condition, while their friends cannot.

Your LC cannot see the Unseen in-character or interact with them unless given specific instruction from the Unseen character or Guide. The Guide or NPC will place their hand on their head and inform your LC that you can interact with that character. Once given this instruction, you can see and interact with the NPC until you cannot physically see them anymore or they leave the scene. You will not be able to see them again if they reappear unless you are specifically told otherwise.

Certain ZOMs, item cards, and Skill calls can also reveal the Unseen.

rend

Damage Type. If a Threat hits you with this type of attack, you lose points from both your Armor AND your body. For instance, a call of “Rend 5!” will deal 5 points of damage to your Armor and 5 points of damage to you directly. If you are not wearing armor, this call simply deals Body damage.

roleplay burden

Keyword. A character can have one Roleplay Burden at a time. A Roleplay Burden must be fulfilled once per 12s, or else it will turn into a Fracture.  Roleplay Burdens can be soothed or cured as if they were a Fracture but does not count as a Fracture for preventing use of certain Skills.  Players can opt-out of a particular RP behavior at any time but must fulfill any required mechanical cost or effects. Roleplay Burdens expire at the end of an event, unless the player chooses to keep them longer.

san saba social

Keyword. Certain factions can generate temporary Zone of Mechanics called San Saba Socials. Only one Zone Of Mechanics with this keyword may be posted at a time. Any other San Saba Social ZOM purchased will replace this one.

Overwriting an existing San Saba Social ZOM is a CVC action.

Skills at Character creation

While the DR Corebook outlines the Character Creation process on p. 21, during DR:TX events we allow new characters to enter play with their 16 XP spent BEFORE they enter play. While we recommend being able to enjoy the starting roleplay of learning new Skills, we understand that some may prefer a more advanced start that allows them to immediately enter play with their preferred Skills.