Doing Things

Doing Things

 * "Players, some of the things you’ll do in a Fate game require you to roll dice to see if your character succeeds or not. You will always roll the dice when you’re opposing another character with your efforts, or when there’s a significant obstacle in the way of your effort. Otherwise, just say what your character does and assume it happens."


 * - Fate SRD, on Taking Action

In Running Blind, most actions are tied to skills. The player says they want to do something, and the GM figures out which skill it falls under.

Players roll two six-sided dice to determine the outcome. The result of the action depends on the numbers that come up. A good roll has a positive result (+1, +2), while a bad roll has a negative result (-1, -2). The player adds the result of their roll to their character's skill.

As an in-game example, consider a character with a +2 in Mechanics. They choose to disarm a nearby trap. The GM decides that the trap isn't too hard to disarm and sets the difficulty at 2. Different results play out depending on the luck of the dice roll.

Using a Different Skill
Sometimes players believe a different skill could be applied to the situation. In this case, they can try to convince the GM:

Player: I want to convince this guy that I'm a guard.

GM: Roll Charm.

Player: My Charm skill is pretty low... can I scare him into believing I'm a guard?

GM: Yeah, alright. But he might not keep his mouth shut for long. Roll Presence.

As always, the GM has final rule over what does or does not work.

Reacting
Sometimes characters do things, and sometimes characters have things done to them. In the latter cases, the GM calls for a roll.

Edge Points
At the start of every session, players are handed three Edge Points which can be used to do one of four things: Players can earn more Edge Points if they roleplay their character. For example the GM might see that your character's trouble is Fiery-Tempered and say something like, "Your Fiery-Tempered street samurai probably doesn't like being threatened by the palace guards. I'll give you an Edge Point if you make things worse." The player can then choose to take the point or ignore the task.
 * 1) Gain an immediate +2 to a roll.
 * 2) Reroll and take the new result.
 * 3) Pull out a useful item you were unlikely to have.
 * 4) Save your life.

Contests

 * "Whenever two or more characters have mutually exclusive goals, but they aren’t trying to harm each other directly, they’re in a contest. Arm wrestling matches, races or other sports competitions, and public debates are all good examples of contests."


 * - Fate SRD on Contests 

A contest consists of several exchanges where the opposing parties roll against one another to see who wins, however winning is defined for the situation. Contests are won by the first person (or group) to win three exchanges.

Sometimes the opposition isn't a person. It might be a boulder dashing towards the adventurers, Indiana Jones style. Or it may involve multiple skills, like a thief breaking into a mansion and sneaking through security.

Magic, Tech, and Possibility
Most actions are limited by what's physically possible. If a player says, "I want to roll Physique to punch through this steel door" the GM will probably say no. It doesn't matter how high the player rolls; their flesh-and-bone hand just isn't going to break through steel.

The exception to this rule is when magic or technology gets involved. If a character has a steel arm giving them superhuman strength, they might just be able to punch down that door. Or maybe they'll crumple their arm into a useless wreck. The result depends on their skills, the roll, and the GM's final decision.