Dice mechanics
Modifiers in Freeform / Custom
Bonuses, penalties, and situational adjustments.
Explanation
Use modifiers as a clarity tool: adjust difficulty only when it meaningfully changes the decision, and keep outcomes story-forward.
Examples
Example: position over +1/-1
Instead of tiny modifiers, change position: better cover, better tools, better information.
Example: keep it consistent
Pick one primary difficulty lever for your table (DV/DC, threshold bands, required successes) and stick to it.
Common mistakes (smallest fix)
- Mistake: Stacking many small modifiers. Fix: Use one clear difficulty lever and keep the decision readable.
- Mistake: Applying modifiers without stakes. Fix: Define what success changes and what failure costs before rolling.