Overview

Actions & Combat

In any event where combat is unfolding, all participants in the combat enter combat-time, where each person goes one after the other until the combat has been resolved. This can be done for event combat, or for player-vs-player (PvP) combat. No matter the event, any party involved is allowed to request a third-party DM from the staff team, if available.

Initiative

When entering combat, all players involved must roll initiative to determine what order they move in. All players roll a DEX test (2d10 + DEX modifier), and proceed in the order from most to least. If two combatants tie, the character with the higher DEX goes first. If both have the same, they re-roll to determine which one of them goes first.

If a new person or party joins the combat (at DM's discretion), they are always added to the very end of the turn order. NPCs (both friend and foe) can either roll for initiative, be put at the front of the turn order, or the end of the turn order, at DM's discretion.

Actions in Combat

On a character's turn, they can take a total of two actions and move up to 5 metres (5 blocks), unless otherwise stated.

A character may take these actions in whatever order they wish, but they must take both actions together: a character cannot take one action then hold for another character's turn before taking their second action. A character cannot split their movement: they cannot move 2 blocks, take two actions, then move 3 blocks. They must move all at once. The available actions are:

Examples of three tests, rolling a 2d10:

Tests & Checks

Tests are used to determine the outcome of an action only when the outcome is in doubt. For example, a well-experienced doctor setting a nose back into place does not have to roll an INT: Healing test to determine the outcome. It can be assumed to be a success. When in doubt, roll.

All tests on Avalore are done as a 2d10 (two 10-sided dice), meaning your roll will be between 0 and 20. By using 2d10 rather than a single d20, rolls are more likely to land in the middle of the pack (i.e. you will roll closer to 10 on average) then towards the extremes.

There is no rolling advantage or disadvantage on Avalore. Instead, all dice rolls have a modifier attached to them. For instance, if you are trying to do a particularly difficult roll, a DM may choose to give you a modifier like -2. This means 2 is subtracted from whatever your roll is to get your final outcome.

All tests are done with a difficulty check (DC) of 12. This means if you get higher than 12, you succeed, and if you get lower than 12, you don't. If you roll between 10-12, you get a mixed success roll, to be interpreted at a DM's discretion.

Examples of an attack being evaded:

Evasion Mechanics

When an action is used to evade, all attacks until your next turn (except reaction attacks, e.g. riposte attacks) trigger an evasion roll. Roll a DEX: Acrobatics test with a -3 modifier.

On a failure (less than 12): you take full damage; the attack is not evaded.

If you roll the same or higher than the attack: you evade the attack, taking no damage.

If you roll a success (12+) but not the same or higher than the attack: take a grazing hit - while wearing light or no armour, half the incoming damage, rounded up (e.g. 3 damage halved is 1.5, so becomes 2 damage). Armour rolls occur as normal after the damage is halved, and this still counts as a hit (i.e. does not trigger Riposte).

If wearing medium or heavy armour, grazing hits do not apply. Take full damage.

Weapons

Weapons on Avalore are divided into various classes such as daggers, crossbows, longbows, etc. Some weapon classes may have a stat requirement, such as a +1 in DEX or a +2 in STR. All weapons can be equipped from the character's 'inventory' as a free action, but the number actions required to use the weapon depend on the class. A character cannot carry more than 2 weapons on them at any given time, though can carry either a meteor hammer or small blade for free.

When making any attack, roll to see if you hit your target. Normally this roll is a normal test (2d10), however there may be modifiers depending on the weapon being used (see Weapons Index, below), Feats, or other circumstances at a DM's discretion (e.g. in a situation where hitting a target is unlikely, a DM may impose a negative modifier). You must have line of sight to attack something (whether melee or ranged), meaning there cannot be something in the way between you and your target.

Please note: child characters under the age of 14 have a -3 penalty to all aim checks.

Critical Hits
Critical hits (10, 10) cannot be blocked, evaded or grazed. Damage from a critical hit is armor-piercing (AP) no matter the weapon, while weapons that are already AP deal an additional 2 AP damage. Critical hits can have no effect if all parties agree at the start of combat.

For specific information on each of the weapon classes, refer to the Weapons Index.

Armour

Similar to weapons, Armour on Avalore is divided into a few classes, some of which have a stat requirement (usually STR). While armour does not affect an attacker's ability to hit you, it does affect how much damage you take. A character can only carry one set of armour at a time.

Please note: child characters under the age of 14 cannot wear anything heavier than light armour.

For specific information on each of the armour classes, refer to the Armour Index.

Consumables

A number of items can be used as consumables. Unless otherwise stated, these are one-use items which should be cleared after use. A character can hold up to 4 consumables of any type at a given time. For a list of consumables, please refer to the Crafting Index.

Health, Damage & Death

Every character on Avalore has 20 HP. Their HP represents how long stamina, strength and sheer luck can carry them through danger. When a character's HP reaches 0, they become Critical — they are bleeding out, teetering on the edge; a moment away from being struck by a decisive, killing blow.

When a character is in Critical, taking damage or using any action other than Dash or Evade provokes a Death Save (/roll fortitude) after the action has been completed. If you are no longer critical at the end of the action, no Death Save is required. If a character rolls lower than 10 on a Death Save, they die. When critically succeeding a Death Save, the character stabilizes at 1 HP.

On a character’s first turn while Critical, Death Saves are made without penalty. For each subsequent turn the character spends in Critical, a stacking -2 modifier is applied to their Death Saves (-2, -4, -6, etc.), which resets back to 0 if they regain HP (such as stabilizing after combat).

If a character in Critical escapes the source of danger (e.g. fleeing, hiding somewhere safe, clearing the enemies), they stabilize with 1 HP.

If all participants in a fight consent, failing a Death Save can result in unconsciousness rather than death.

Death need not be the end: your character can revive via The Storyteller.

Healing

If a character has been treated or is otherwise off-screen able to get medical treatment, they are able to recover a maximum of 5 HP per day. If you feel your character's injuries are more severe, you can choose to heal less (or not at all) at your discretion. Without medical treatment (e.g. your character is trapped and injured), natural healing per day should be no more than 3 HP, unless there are unique circumstances at play.

To increase healing rate, there are certain consumable items a healer can use, listed in the Crafting Index. Additional healing methods through Alchemy are currently being developed by the Systems Team.

Please note: It is up to you to keep track of your character's HP. Staff are not going to hover over your shoulder, but if you are powergaming (e.g. seen going to multiple combats back to back with full health each time without explanation), you may be subject to a warning / moderation action. Do us all a favour and play fair.

Characters

All characters on Avalore have three main systems to worry about: their Stats and Skills, Feats, and Experience (how you upgrade stats, skills, and feats). Other systems are in place for the arcane (mages) and fabled feats and artifacts, which you can read on the Arcane and Fable Overview pages respectively.

Stats & Skills

Avalore has 4 key Stats which represent core parts of your character: Dexterity, Intelligence, Harmony, and Strength. All new characters begin with each stat at 0. Each stat then has three Skills under it: these skills are more specific abilities of your character. All new characters begin with each skill at 0.

All stats and skills can range from -3 to +3. A skill check is made with a 2d10 plus a modifier that adds up both the relevant stat and your skill: so, for example, if you have a -1 in Dexterity and a +2 in Stealth, your Stealth checks would be at +1 (adding them together).

In sum, your proficiency in a skill is the sum of the points in that skill and its related stat. This counts for skill checks as well as weapon, armour, spell, and feat requirements.

Feats

Feats are specific traits or bonuses that provide some kind of mechanical ability to a character, such as allowing for dual wielding of swords without a penalty or increasing movement. All characters begin without any feats, and can unlock new ones via experience, detailed in the Experience section below.

Normal characters can have a maximum of 10 feats, even if they have enough experience to purchase more. These include both 'normal' feats that are listed in the Feats Index, but also fable feats that are gained from Fables (read the fable overview page for more information).

Those who engage in the arcane arts (i.e. sorcerers, mages) lose some or all of their feat slots and also have to take hindrances: read more on the Arcane page.

Normal feats and hindrances are listed in the Feats Index.

Please note: if your character has more than the maximum feats allowed for a mage when becoming one, they will have to give up the extra feats above their limit. Characters will be refunded the XP of these feats accordingly.

Experience & Progression

Experience (XP) is gained by participating in events on the server. Events under an hour grant 3 XP, and events over an hour grant 4 XP. Certain special events (e.g. campaign events) may award as much as 5-6 XP, and mini-events (examples here) or purely social events usually award 2 XP. Every new player starts with 20 XP.

A character can get up to a maximum of 10 XP per week with a maximum per character of 200 XP total. This XP can be allocated in the following ways:

FAQ