RULES REFERENCE SHEET

Tests prolonged activities, like holding up a crumbling archway

Most actions in Soulbound are automatic, but if there’s while your allies escape. A Test can have a high Complexity
a question of whether or not the character might fail, but a low Difficulty — searching a cluttered room is not
then we use Tests. A Test involves a player rolling dice to difficult, it is just time consuming.
equal or exceed a Difficulty Number (DN) set by the GM.
The DN consists of the Difficulty of the Test (the number OPPOSED TESTS
you must equal or exceed to achieve a success) and the When two characters are in direct opposition, the GM
Complexity of the Test (the amount of successes you need calls for an Opposed Test. Opposed Tests are used when
to pass the Test). a character is trying to get the better of another character,
like sneaking past a guard. Each character tries to meet
Tests are shown in the form DN X:Y Attribute (Skill), where or exceed a DN determined by the GM, with whoever
‘X’ is the Difficulty of the Test and ‘Y’ is the Complexity, or achieves the most successes winning the Test. On a tie, the
the number of successes required to succeed. defender wins or the Test is made again.

The number of dice you roll when making a Test is The default DN of an Opposed Test is 4:1, though this can
referred to as your ‘dice pool’. Your dice pool for a Test change if the circumstances benefit or hinder one party or
is determined by your Attribute Score plus your level of another (see below).
Training with the Skill being tested. Each level of Focus in
a skill allows you to add +1 to a die after it has been rolled. Advantage and Disadvantage
For example, with Focus 2 you could change a ‘3’ to a ‘5’ Sometimes during an Opposed Test one side may have a
or two ‘3’s to two ‘4’s. benefit or hindrance that the other doesn’t. Such scenarios
are called having Advantage or Disadvantage.
A Each die that equals or exceeds the Difficulty of the
Test counts as a success. If a character has Advantage in an Opposed Test, the
A If your total successes equal or exceed the Complexity Difficulty for the Test is reduced by 1 to DN 3:1.
of the Test, you succeed.
A If you achieve no successes or your successes are less If a character has Disadvantage, the Difficulty is increased
than the Complexity, you fail the Test. by 1 to DN 5:1.

There are three types of Tests in Soulbound: Common In truly exceptional circumstances, the DN of an Opposed
Tests, Opposed Tests, and Extended Tests (see reverse). Test may begin at DN 6:1. If a character participating in
such a Test has Disadvantage, the Difficulty can not go
COMMON TESTS above 6. Instead, the Complexity increases and the DN
Common Tests, which we refer to simply as ‘Tests’, make becomes 6:2.
up the majority of Tests you undertake in Soulbound.
These are immediate tasks not directly opposed by another Natural Awareness
party, such as leaping over a gap. Sometimes characters may be in opposition without
realising it. This most often comes into play when a
Difficulty character is sneaking past a creature that is unaware
The Difficulty of a Test is the number you must equal or of their presence, or when a character is trying to lie to
exceed on a die for it to count as a success. Some tasks someone. In such cases, a character’s Natural Awareness
are relatively simple, such as jumping a gap or kicking comes into play.
down a door. These Tests usually require only 1 success.
Other Tests may need more effort and require additional As with an Opposed Test, the GM determines the
successes (see below). Difficulty of the Test based on the circumstances and
environment. The opponent’s Natural Awareness is then
Complexity used to determine the Complexity of the Test.
The Complexity of a Test is the number of successes you
need to pass the Test. Complexity often comes into play Each creature in Faltering Light and the Brightspear City
for multipart tasks, like picking an intricate lock; or for Guide already has their Natural Awareness calculated.

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 RULES REFERENCE SHEET
EXTENDED TESTS Soulfire
For tasks with little time pressure but that require focus and Soulfire is a group resource, representing the conjoined
dedication, the GM can have characters make an Extended power of the Soulbound. A group starts with Soulfire
Test. For an Extended Test, the number of successes is far equal to the number of Soulbound in the party. You need
greater than the player could hope to achieve in a single permission from the group to spend Soulfire. If you spend
roll (usually between 10 and 20). The process for making it without the group’s permission then Doom increases by
an Extended Test is as follows: 1. Soulfire can:

A Time Required: The GM determines the amount of A Achieve maximum success on a Test: Each die
time required to complete the Test. counts as ‘6’, no need to roll. This cannot be used with
A Successes and Tests: The GM determines the total the Double Your Training from spending Mettle.
number of attempts you can make. The GM also A Reroll as many dice as you like: If you’ve already
determines how often you can attempt a Test, which rolled, you get a reroll.
can be hourly, daily, weekly, or even monthly. A Recover all your Toughness: You instantaneously
A Determine DN: The GM determines the Difficulty heal all Toughness.
and Complexity of the Test. Divide the total number A Regain all spent Mettle: You go back to your
of successes required by the number of attempts maximum Mettle score.
allowed to gauge difficulty — 16 successes over 4 A Cheat death. You or an ally recover from being
Tests is hard; 16 successes over 8 Tests is easier. Mortally Wounded. Regain half your Toughness but
A Determine Skill(s): The GM determines what keep all Wounds.
Attributes and Skills are pertinent to the Test.
A Other Factors: There may be other factors to consider If the party achieves a Short-term Goal, it recovers 1
before attempting an Extended Test. The GM should Soulfire, a Long-term Goal recovers all Soulfire. If a party
make these factors clear before characters begin the member makes a Last Stand (see Combat Reference
Extended Test, and state how and when players can Sheet), recover all Soulfire.
make an attempt.
A Determine Success: Add all successes together until
you meet or exceed the threshold set out by the GM. Doom
If you fail to meet the threshold in the number of Doubt, selfishness, and fear are what once led the realms
attempts allowed, you fail. You lose any resources to the brink of destruction and many believe it will soon
consumed during the Test and may incur other happen again. This encroaching dread is represented by
penalties the GM deems appropriate. Doom. Doom starts at 1 and can never fall below this.

Doom can increase in the following ways. Each time

Mettle Doom increases, add a Doom token to the Party Sheet.
Each character has a number of Mettle points, representing
their force of will to push themselves past normal limits. A A If a party member dies.
character recovers one Mettle at the start of their turn. You A If someone uses Soulfire without consent.
can spend Mettle on Talents (including casting a spell) A If a party member Flees.
and Miracles outside of combat. In combat you can spend A If the party fails a Retreat.
a point of Mettle to: A Each time a Fear escalates to a Threat (see Brightspear
City Guide, page 47.
A Take an extra Action: See the actions list on the
Combat Reference Sheet. Doom can decrease in the following ways. Each time
A Use a Talent or Miracle: Just like outside of combat. Doom decreases, remove a Doom token to the Party Sheet.
A Double Your Training: Before rolling the dice you
can double the number you get from your training A If the Binding’s maximum Soulfire increases.
in a Skill. A If the party takes the Cleanse Corruption Endeavour
A Double Your Focus: After rolling you can double (see Soulbound, page 156).
the bonus gained from your Focus in a skill. A If a Stormcast Eternal party member is Reforged.
A If the party stop a Threat.