View source for Systems: Information

<div class="chapter">
<includeonly>=='''[[Systems: Information]]'''==

</includeonly><noinclude>__TOC__</noinclude>

'''''Gameplay Expectations'''''

We've added a generalized gameplay expectation into each Character Type chapter in this book. These expectations are not intended to tell you how to play your character, but to set expectations for the types of plot and gameplay that often get aimed at your character. The general categories of gameplay are: Social, Political, Action, Support, and Mystery. Social gameplay will usually revolve around interactions in social settings, like visiting the church, having a tea party, or keeping your eye on the town's gossip mill. Political gameplay will focus more on managing hierarchies. Action gameplay tends toward combat - whether with enemies or among allies. Support gameplay involves healing, buffing, or otherwise changing the flow of a scene. Mystery gameplay may involve solving puzzles, or finding non-straight-forward answers to problems. As you go into each Character Type's chapter, you'll see a generalization for that type's gameplay. Some subtypes (clans, tribes, etc...) may expect different kinds of gameplay. We'll indicate these characters with the delta symbol (Δ). Please see the wiki article for these character types for more information on how these characters differ.

{{:Ranged Weapon Specifications}}

{{:Melee and Natural Weapon Specifications}}

==='''''Defensive Equipment'''''===
'''''Armor and Shields''''' - Armor and shields in this game provide an "armor pool" that sits on top of your Health pool. Both take damage before the character’s body and cannot be healed; they must be repaired or replaced. They also do not benefit from powers such as Stone Body or Hardened Flesh. To repair them, visit ST camp with the armor prop. Repairing a piece of armor or a shield costs 1/2 the amount required to replace the item. If you can craft the item you are repairing, use the crafting cost to determine this amount. If not, use the purchase cost. This repair process can be used to repair shattered equipment, but only replaces the mundane tag, not any magical tags that were on the item. When health or blood are drained, they do not affect the armor pool. Armor takes damage '''before''' character health.

Shields lose pool '''after''' armor, but '''before''' character health. When you are reduced to or below your maximum health, the shield has also been reduced to 0 pool. A shield reduced to 0 pool is broken, cannot be used in combat and must be dropped (you can pick it up when not in combat, but must drop it again if you go back into combat). Striking the shield directly with melee damage has no effect, but hitting it with bullets or spell damage will reduce the pool of that item. Status effects go directly through shields. Characters cannot resist Shatter powers used against shields.

Each piece of armor (chest, arm, leg) provides 1 armor pool. A shield provides 5 armor pool.

==='''''Glossary'''''===
: '''Special Actions''' are things your character can do that may be beyond the player's capabilities, or allow the player to do certain things. We generally refer to Special Actions by the action type:
:: '''Abilities''' are things you know how to do - they are binary: either you know how, or you don't. For example, if you don’t have the Brawl ability you may not fight with unarmed boffers, but if you do have the Brawl ability then you may.
:: '''Skills''' are things that have degrees of usefulness - they do not require energy but may require props.
:: '''Techniques''' are special abilities beyond the basics that require training and energy to achieve.
:: '''Powers''' are supernatural abilities that are above and beyond normal human capacity. Non-innate powers require a teacher (another character) as described in each section.
: '''Effect Types''' define the general behavior as well as resist methods of an effect.
:: '''Buffs''' grant a benefit that a character doesn't have access to normally; they are freely resistible.
:: '''Mental Effects''' are an effect class that targets a character’s mind. These effects usually last 10 minutes unless explicitly labeled otherwise, and can be Resisted or Shaken Off by Willpower.
:: '''Physical Effects''' directly effect the body. These usually have short durations and are delivered by touch or boffer.
:: '''Status Effects''' are an effect class that targets a character’s body. Status effects usually last 60 seconds unless explicitly labeled otherwise.
:: '''Sensory Powers''' always target "Other". They allow you to actively detect. Because they are used on others, you need a breach power or similar to use them cross-gauntlet. They can be resisted with Willpower, and are subject to Magic Awareness.
:: '''Sight Powers''' always target "Self". They allow you to passively view. You may have multiple Sight powers active at the same time, and they function in any realms your character can see.
:: '''Restorative Powers''' restore something a character has lost, such as health. They are resisted as physical or damage.
'''''Modifiers have been moved to the Powers section of the Rulebook.'''''
: '''Rule Language''' These are terms we use to wrap an idea up in a single word to make it easier to describe a Special Action in the book.
:: '''Signature calls''', also called '''sig calls''' are phrases used to designate effects. These are usually designed to take at least a full second, however certain calls (like damage numbers) may take less time. For these calls we recommend counting a second between attacks. Make your sig call in an audible, clear voice. Signature calls are required for most abilities and will be called out. We’ve tried to make most of our signature calls generally obvious, but if you have a question you may always hold up an Out of Game signal and ask.
:: '''Cooldown''' refers to a period of time you must wait before using a power again. Cooldowns begin when the power ends.
:: '''Tick''' refers to an event that occurs in a timed interval. Each time the event occurs it “ticks”. For example, Medicine 1 “ticks” every 30 seconds while using it.
:: '''Tree''' is a named grouping of powers, skills, or techniques that each have levels.
:: '''Treeset''' is a named grouping of powers that each have levels. They differ from trees in that there may be more than one power at each level. Wherever you see multiple Trees described under a single name, those are considered a Treeset.
:: '''Out of Game Signals''' are used to specify that you the player are doing something, rather than your character - in this type of immersive game we expect people to use these as rarely as possible. The following things designate a player as out of game: A closed fist, thumb facing down, placed atop your head. A weapon held horizontally across the head. A hand held up with the index and middle fingers crossed and the thumb extended. A solid orange headband.

==='''''Visual Cues'''''===
: '''''Headbands'''''
:* Orange - Out of Game - this person is not currently playing a character.
:* White - Umbra - this character is in a non-physical realm. If you do not have an ability that specifically allows you to see into the Umbra then your character may not see things in the Umbra.
:* Orange/White Twisted - Cross-Realm - this character exists in both the physical and Umbral realms - as such they can affect and be affected by things in either realm.
: '''''Masks'''''
: When a character is wearing a mask, unless you have seen them shape shift or seen them in a form and had them admit to who they are, you should not recognize the character.
:* Animal Masks - Beast Form / War Form - Characters in this form usually come with claws or tentacles. They also cause the Delirium Effect. These characters appear to be half that animal form and half man.
:* Black Mask - War Form - This version of War Form does not cause Delirium, but does appear to be an inhuman shadow creature
:* Other Masks - We ask that players use distinct masquerade masks to represent in-game masks, rather than forms or shapes, as often half face or full face masks will be used to represent inhuman characters in-game.
: '''''Mantles'''''
:* White - Vaporous Body - this character appears as a cloud of vapor, vaguely human in shape - you cannot make out their features. Weapons pass through without causing damage and most powers seem to deflect except for damaging spells and Mental effects.
:* Black with silver trim- Incorporeal Body - this character appears as a translucent human form - you cannot make out their features. They cannot be harmed in this form, but may be affected by most non-damaging powers.
:* Red - Stone Body - this character’s flesh appears to be made of stone - they are reducing all damage taken to 1.
:* Silver - Steel Fur Body. The character’s fur appears to be made of metal - they are reducing ranged damage taken to 1.
:* Orange - used by ST Camp to designate a handler - these individuals are not valid targets and cannot be seen by any powers.
: '''''Hand Signals'''''
:* Crossed index and middle fingers, thumb pointed outward - Out of Game.
:* Closed fist, thumb down atop head - Out of Game
:* Weapon horizontal atop head - Out of Game
:* Arms crossed ~90 degrees against chest - {{PowerTip|Hasty Escape}}, immune to damage as long as they continue to move away from you
:* Arm straight out, hand toward you. Avert - Mental, you may not approach this character
:* Closed fist with thumb upward, front of fist aimed directly at you - {{PowerTip|Command}}, do as this character says.
:* Hand in front of face palm toward face, fingers spread - Cloak, this target is invisible to you unless you have the {{PowerTip|Cloak Sight}} power and can see the realm they are in.
:* Hand in L shape with thumb to forehead and finger pointing outward - One-way telepathy.
:* Hand with first 3 fingers closed, thumb and pinky spread (Shaka) - Regular telepathy.
: '''''Other Signals'''''
:* 3x5 Cards in-game represent lasting effects or messages sent via non-physical means. If you receive a card from another player, read the text to determine how and if this card affects you. If you see a card attached to an object that card should describe its visibility.  {{PowerTip|Item Sight}} allows you to read any 3x5 card attached to an object, please see Item Sight for further details. If a card is attached to an immobile object, the card cannot be moved by a player unless a power specifically states that it can move that card.
:* White mesh encompassing an object says that the object is Umbra-Bound, meaning falls into the Umbra instead of into the Realm when not held.
:* A white square containing an orange circle inside with an “R” in the center is a "soft spot" that will send you into the Realm. These soft spots are visible if you have both Umbrasight and Cloaksight.
:* An orange square containing a white circle with a “U” in the center is a "soft spot" that will send you into the Umbra. These soft spots are visible if you have both Umbrasight and Cloaksight.
:* White rope bordering a doorframe with a "U", "R", or both in the center of the door or directly above the frame is a "soft spot" that will send you into the Umbra, Realm, or switch the side of the Gauntlet you are on when passing through it. These soft spots are visible if you have both Umbrasight and Cloaksight.
:* Brown packets with >= 8” overall length represent arrows.
:* Blue glow sticks or dim blue lights worn around the neck or head are NOT REQUIRED, but may be used to augment white headbands while in the Umbra after dark. They are not a replacement for headbands.
:* Green glow sticks or dim green lights worn around the neck or head are NOT REQUIRED, but may be used to augment white and orange striped headbands while under the effects of the Convergence power. They are not a replacement for headbands.
:* Other glow-stick colors may be used by ST camp, these characters will also be in the Umbra, but hold unique characteristics. Those colors are not designated here and may be learned about in-game.
:* A high-vis green/yellow sash, This character is a non-combatant, please see the appropriate rules.
:* Red ribbon wrapped around an object. This object is on fire.

{{:Equipment Costs}}

{{:Recipes}}
A description of all tags and recipes can be found here: https://darkprospects.endogaming.net/rulesweb/index.php/Equipment .

==='''''Restricted Character Costs'''''===
Learn what a Restricted Character is in the Systems: General chapter under <includeonly>[[#Restricted Character Concepts|Restricted Character Concepts]]</includeonly><noinclude>[[Systems:_General#Restricted_Character_Concepts|Restricted Character Concepts]]</noinclude>.

You can always find the *current* restricted cost for characters by visiting the restricted page, located at: https://darkprospects.endogaming.net/Characters/builder/?act=restricted.  These costs can be paid with either freebies or earned exp.
: Vampires: 0
:: Assamite (any): 5
:: Daughters of Cacophony: 8
:: Giovanni: 3
:: Ravnos: 3
:: Salubri: 8
:: Samedi: 4
:: Setite: 3
:: Gargoyle: 9
:: Revenant Merit (Ghouls): 10

:Werewolves: 0
:: Silent Strider: 1
:: Stargazer: 3

:Fera: 1 per Fera +
:: Bagheera: 3
:: Balam: 3
:: Bubasti: 4
:: Khan: 3
:: Pumonca: 1
:: Qualmi: 1
:: Simba: 3
:: Swara: 5
:: Corax: 2
:: Gurahl: 4
:: Nuwisha: 6
:: Engineer: 3
:: Plague Lord: 3
:: Munchmausen: 3
:: Twitcher: 3

:Changeling: 2
:: Sidhe: 2
:: During Season 5, Changeling will have a static cost of 22 and 26, respectively.

==='''''Power Format and Descriptor Line Tags'''''===
Throughout this book you’ll find powers and skills. In the type-specific sections you’ll see a specific format. We refer to this as the “power descriptor line”. It reads as follows:
: '''Level) Name, Cost, Target, Duration (if applicable), Additional Tags'''
The Level is the purchase level for that power.
The Name listed here is the name of the power in the Powers section of the book. If a power is written as Power: Power that means that the first power works on or against the second power.
The Cost is what resource this costs your character. If there is no cost, it should read “No Cost”.
The Target should be either Self, Other, or a combination of the two. This means you use this power on yourself, on another target, or on either target. Unless otherwise specified, the target must be in the same realm you are in (Realm: No Headband. Umbra: White Headband.)
The Duration is the amount of time the ability lasts or the words “Always On” - Always On abilities remain on at all times. If you possess an Always On effect, you may choose not to use it.

'''''An important note on No Cost powers'''''
: Any power that can be resisted and has No Cost cannot be used twice on the same target in a 1 minute period.

A partial list of Additional Tags follows. We believe most of them are self-explanatory, but in case they aren’t...
* Cross-gauntlet: This power can be used against Realm targets if you are in the Umbra, and Umbral targets if you are in the Realm (unless otherwise specified).
* Realm-only: This power can only be used against targets in the Realm.
* Umbra-only: This power can only be used against targets in the Umbra.
* “Quoted Text”: Text that should be added to your sig call.
* Touch: This ability requires you to touch the target. Please see the “Touch Abilities” section above.
* Unconscious/Dead/Dying target: The target must be in one of these states. You may have put them there yourself.
* Enforced: This ability must be used.
* Irresistible: Cannot be resisted.
* vs. [target description]: Only against the described target.
* Mass: Affects multiple targets - targets should be described on this line.
* Levels: This ability gains power as you buy further up the character sheet column it is in.
* 1x/[time]: this indicates a cooldown.

Addition of powers: You may see two powers on the same line as follows.
: '''Power 1 + Power 2, Cost, Target, Duration, Additional Tags''' - this means that both powers must be used together at the same time. Please note, that if the first power is resisted then you cannot continue with the second sig call. The entire power combination is resisted. If only the second part is resisted then only the second part is resisted.
: '''Power 1, Cost, Target, Duration, Additional Tags & Power 2, Cost, Target, Duration, Additional Tags''' - this means that each power is used independently.
<noinclude>[[:Category:Chapters]]</noinclude>
</div>