A system for dueling in RPGs, by Gabe Pofcher

Key Stats

Expertise: the size dice you roll

Vigor: how many dice in your starting pool, and the maximum number of dice your pool can contain by the end of the position phase

Stamina: pool refill rate

Starting a duel

1. determine initiative order
2. Both characters roll their pools.
3. Each character performs a position phase, and play then proceeds with each character performing a full round in initiative order.

Round structure

Phase 1: Exploit

Exploit any number of dice to attempt to apply an effect to your opponent (can only take this action once per exploit phase)

• choose an effect
• roll all dice you exploited
• if they sum to the target number or less, you fail to apply the effect, and all exploited dice leave your pool
• otherwise, choose a combination of your exploited dice which sum to greater than the target number. Expend them to apply the effect. Any leftover dice return to your pool as if held

Phase 2: Position

1. roll any carried dice along with the dice added by your stamina this round

2. Take any number of the following actions in any order:

   Burn (remove from your pool) one die to remove from your opponent's pool one die with a lower value

   Hold a die, at its current value, in your pool for the next round

   Carry a die to reroll at the start of the next round