Page 124 - World of Darkness

Sometimes the factors of an action work
to your character’s benefit, such as using tools
that facilitate her effort. Other times, they
work to her detriment, as in the case of the
atmospheric, car-maintenance and monstrous-
passenger problems posed above. As in life, so
in the World of Darkness. The conditions that
work against your character often seem to out-
weigh those that work in his favor. When com-
plications arise, they’re not usually for the bet-
ter — at least not as often as we’d like.
In the rules, circumstances apply as dice
added to your dice pool before it’s rolled. These
are called modifier or bonus dice. Modifier dice
typically represent the tools, weapons or gear
that your character brings to bear in an effort.
He might drive a high-performance car, wield
a knife or carry a set of precise lock picks. The
Storyteller or these rules assign a fixed rating
to the tool that your character uses. That rat-
ing dictates the number of modifier dice that
you add to your dice pool.
So, if your character enters combat with
a knife and that weapon is rated +1, you add
one die to your combat dice pool.
Circumstances can involve more than just
tools used, however. The Storyteller often de-
cides what factors apply to your character’s
actions. Most times they’re self-evident, based
on the scene that’s set or on the events that
have led up to the moment. Your character
may be injured and has trouble acting.
Weather plays its part. Your character’s oppo-
nent may be concealed or trying to avoid in-
coming attacks. Some of these conditions help
your character’s effort, and add a number of
dice to your pool as dictated by the rules or
the Storyteller. Other factors impede your
character’s effort and reduce the dice in your
hand.
Just as some factors may be known and
obvious, others may be unknown to you and
your character, and are announced but not
explained by the Storyteller. He may know
that your character was drugged in the previ-
ous scene, for example, and the effects kick in
now. Her vision suddenly blurs and she feels
dizzy. The Storyteller may reduce your dice
pools for reasons currently unknown to you or
your character.
In general, each bonus from a tool or situ-
ational factor adds one die to your pool. Each
penalty subtracts one die from your pool. Say
your character has 3 Dexterity and 3 Drive.
He drives a high-performance car at high
speeds at night and in bad weather. Your dice
pool starts at six (3 Dexterity + 3 Drive). His
car is rated +3 for maneuverability, giving you

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SYSTEMS- Rolling Dice