Rules & References – Darkbound RPG

Overview of Basic Rules

Dice Rolls
The system is based on a dice pool made up of d6s (six-sided dice). These dice are divided into three categories, each with a specific color to represent their source:
Base Dice:
- Represent your character’s attributes (Strength, Agility, Wits, or Empathy).
Skill Dice:
- Represent your character’s skills. The number of dice rolled depends on your skill level in the specific area.
Gear Dice:
- Represent tools, weapons, or gear you use to assist with the task.

Push Mechanics:
- Characters may reroll any number of dice from a failed roll, but this comes at the cost of potential trauma or stress.
- Pushing can result in damage to Attributes or Stress levels, depending on the outcome.
- Reference: Core Rulebook, pg. 44

Key Combat Rules

Initiative:
- Combat turn order is determined by rolling initiative dice.
- Roll a D6 for your initiative and add your Agility score.
- Initiative remains fixed unless special actions modify it during combat.
- Reference: Core Rulebook, pg. 79

Actions

An action is a significant, deliberate task that requires effort, focus, or skill. It often involves rolling dice to determine success.

– Attacking: Shooting a gun, throwing a spear, or punching someone.
– Performing a Skill Check: For example, fixing a broken item, picking a lock, or convincing someone in a social situation.
– Using a Mutation: Activating a special mutation ability.
– Aimed Shot: Spending extra effort to make your attack more accurate.

👉 Actions usually require dice rolls.
👉 You can only perform one action per turn during combat.
👉 Actions tend to have direct, impactful outcomes (e.g., causing damage, repairing a piece of gear, or persuading someone).

A maneuver is a smaller, less intensive task that does not usually require a dice roll. It represents quick, simple movements or preparations.

– Moving: Running or walking a short distance (typically one zone in the game map).
– Drawing a Weapon: Pulling out a gun, knife, or other gear.
– Taking Cover: Ducking behind a wall or other protection.
– Reloading a Weapon: Preparing your weapon to fire again.
– Helping Another Character: Assisting someone in their action (may require a roll in some cases).
– Interacting with the Environment: Opening a door, picking up an item, or flipping a switch.

👉 Maneuvers are simpler than actions and usually don’t involve dice rolls.
👉 You can perform one maneuver per turn in combat for free.
👉 You can perform an additional maneuver by spending a point of your character’s Movement or by using up their action for the turn.

In a single turn, a character can:

Perform one action and one maneuver (free).
- Example: Shoot a gun (action) and then take cover (maneuver).
Perform two maneuvers by skipping their action.
- Example: Run into cover (maneuver) and then reload their weapon (maneuver).

Critical Injuries:
- Severe injuries occur when a character takes significant damage.
- Use the Critical Injury table to determine the effects, including permanent consequences or death.
- Reference: Core Rulebook, pg. 90

Improving Characters

Experience Points (XP):
- Characters earn XP by accomplishing specific objectives, such as surviving dangerous scenes inside sessions, exploring new locations, or uncovering new lore.
- XP can be spent to improve skills or acquire new talents.
- Reference: Core Rulebook, pg. 25
Talents & Mutations:
- Talents are special abilities that enhance character performance or provide unique capabilities.
- Mutations offer extraordinary powers but may come with risks or drawbacks.
- Reference: Core Rulebook, pg. 70

Handling Equipment

Encumbrance Limits:
- A character’s carrying capacity is determined by their Strength Attribute.
- Exceeding this limit results in penalties to movement and actions.
- Reference: Core Rulebook, pg. 23
Crafting & Repairs:
- Characters can create or repair items using appropriate tools, materials, and skills.
- Success depends on skill checks and the quality of materials.
- Reference: Core Rulebook, pg. 46

Unique Rules for Darkbound

Adjusted Mechanics:
- Encounters with Aberrants may trigger additional dice rolls to resist corruption or panic effects.
Custom Crafting Mechanics:
- Crafting specialized Darkbound gear requires unique components found only in corrupted zones.
- Reference specific Darkbound crafting tables for recipes and outcomes.

Task	Skill	Attribute	Example Scenarios
Climbing/Swimming	Move	Strength	Climbing walls, swimming across rivers.
Melee Combat	Fight	Strength	Attacking with fists, knives, or clubs.
Sneaking	Sneak	Agility	Avoiding detection, moving silently.
Shooting	Shoot	Agility	Using firearms, bows, or ranged weapons.
Spotting/Listening	Scout	Wits	Spotting enemies, eavesdropping.
Picking Locks/Disarming Traps	Tinker	Wits	Breaking into locked rooms, traps.
Bargaining/Intimidating	Manipulate	Empathy	Convincing NPCs, threatening enemies.
Healing	Heal	Empathy	Treating injuries, stabilizing a dying ally.

Action Type	Examples	Rolls Required?	Notes
Attack (Action)	Shoot, stab, punch, throw.	Yes	Weapon stats determine bonus dice.
Aimed Shot (Action)	Focus carefully before firing.	Yes	+2 dice to roll; counts as an action.
Overwatch (Action)	Guard an area to attack during another’s turn.	Yes	Declare conditions for when you attack.
Reload (Maneuver)	Load ammunition into your weapon.	No	Can’t fire until weapon is reloaded.
Move (Maneuver)	Travel one zone (short distance).	No	Typically free unless hindered.
Take Cover (Maneuver)	Duck behind walls, objects for protection.	No	Reduces chance of being hit.
Push (Action)	Try harder to succeed at a failed roll.	Yes	Risk damage for rerolling dice.

Gear	Bonus Dice	Damage	Special Rules
Knife	+1	1	Can be thrown.
Baseball Bat	+2	2	None.
Bow	+2	1	Silent weapon.
Pistol	+1	2	Requires reload after 6 shots.
Rifle	+3	2	Long-range weapon.
Grenade	+3	3	Hits all targets in a zone.
Lockpick	+1	–	Adds bonus to Tinker skill checks.
Tool Kit	+2	–	Used for crafting and repairs.

Core Rulebook Access:
- Digital and physical copies of the Mutant: Year Zero core rulebook are available for purchase or download at Free League Publishing.
Downloadable Reference Sheets:
- Access printable cheat sheets for combat, mutations, and crafting on the Darkbound RPG Discord.