Dawnfall: Aitechnocene is built upon a diceless RPG system that balances strategic decision-making with immersive storytelling; this is achieved by a point-bid system, where you bid points from a reserve pool that all characters have called the Effort Pool against a difficulty set by the Game Master, and if your total is higher than the difficulty, you get what you want. While the system is diceless and completely devoid of randomness, it does not lack uncertainy, because neither party knows how many points the other is bidding.
Every character possesses distinct Skills, Perks and Passions that influence the narrative and gameplay. Skills are not only a measure of how good a character is, but also serve as a guide to how many Effort points the player is allowed to spend to succeed and overcome obstacles. Perks are the character's unique traits, that help shape him and define him; mechanically, they help the player by giving him free Effort points to spend, or might help him in the game's narrative. Finally, Passions are what make the character tick and engage with the world around him; they also help the player recover spent Effort Pool points, can give mechanical bonuses, or net the player Experience Points.
In a typical game session you will roleplay your character, exploring the world around you and engaging with other characters, until a point where conflict arises and you have to use your Skills. Then the Game Master will set a Difficulty, while you choose the appropriate Skill to use and the number of points you want to spend from your Effort Pool, and then at the same time you both reveal the amount of points, highest number wins - you might want to use a dedicated Dawnfall: Aitechnocene numbered token to represent this. If it's you, you get what you want; if not, or if it's a draw, then you might concede something on the game's narrative, or you might accrue Stress points, which will hinder you later on.
This is the bare bones of the system, and it's as easy as it seems. I aimed to design a system that strikes a balance between simplicity and engagement, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with the dramatic potential of the game's narrative. This way, players can navigate the challenges with ease while still experiencing the full emotional depth of the story.
Embark on quests, form alliances, and navigate the treacherous landscape as you adapt to a harsh environment filled with danger and opportunity. Whether you choose to band together with other survivors or carve your own path, every choice you make has far-reaching consequences.
Welcome to Dawnfall: Aitechnocene, an immersive post-apocalyptic tabletop RPG that plunges you into a world redefined by the rise of artificial intelligence and the struggle for survival. Our journey began with a shared passion for crafting compelling narratives and engaging gameplay experiences.
