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====== Core Mechanics ======

Ironbound uses a simple, unified system to resolve most uncertain actions. When a character attempts something whose outcome is uncertain, the player rolls the appropriate dice, adds the relevant modifiers, and compares the result against the result table. The result is not merely a success or failure; Ironbound uses five degrees of success, allowing exceptionally good or poor rolls to produce correspondingly greater consequences. These rules form the foundation upon which combat, exploration, social interaction, magic, and every other aspect of the game are built.

===== Attribute Checks =====

The most common die roll that a player or the Director will make is an **attribute check**.  To perform an attribute check, the player rolls two ten-sided dice, adds them together, and adds the //modifier// from the requested attribute.  Compare the resulting total to the following table:

|  21 or more  |Complete Success  |
|  18-20  |Success  |
|  11-17  |Partial Success  |
|  8-10  |Failure  |
|  7 or less  |Complete Failure  |

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For example, Andy's character Tolmek attempts to shove a huge rock out of the way.  The Director requests a Body check.  Andy rolls two ten-sided dice, getting a total of 12, and adds his Body's +3 modifier, for a total of 15.  This is a **Partial Success**;  the Director informs him that he managed to move the rock, but only the party's Elf can squeeze through.
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===== Favour and Slight =====

Any die roll can be modified by **favour** or **slight**.  Favour represents a temporary or fleeting advantage, whereas slight represents a temporary setback or difficulty to be overcome.

When a character makes a roll with **favour**, they add one additional die to the pool being rolled.  If the die roll includes multiple types of dice, the player chooses which type of die to add.  After rolling, the player discards any one die from among those rolled.  If the roll has multiple instances of favour, the player adds as many additional dice to the roll as they have instances of favour, and discards a number of dice of their choice equal to their instances of favour.

When a character makes a roll with **slight**, they add additional dice to the pool being rolled, in a similar manner to rolls made with favour.  However, in a mixed die pool, they must add the //largest// size of die already present.  After rolling, the player must discard a number of dice equal to their instances of slight.  They must discard the dice showing the highest values first.  If the roll included multiple types of dice, compare the //absolute// value showing on the die, rather than their values relative to the maximum possible result on each die.  For example, a 5 rolled on a d12 is discarded before a 4 on a d4.

Instances of favour and slight cancel each other out, until only favour or only slight remains.  Multiple instances of either favour or slight stack. A character with three instances of favour rolls three additional dice, then discards three dice of their choice; a character with three instances of slight does the same, but must discard the three highest dice.

==== Forward Favour ====

When favour is declared as **forward**, the player can choose to add it to any roll they make, subject to the limits of the rule granting it, or they can save it for use later.  They must choose to add any instances of forward favour before rolling the dice.  

A roll can benefit from no more than one instance of forward favour. If a character has multiple instances of forward favour, they cannot combine them on a single roll; each instance must be applied to a separate roll.  However, forward favour can stack with normal instances of favour and can be used to cancel an instance of slight.

Instances of forward favour are lost after a character [[ironbound:rules:activities:take_a_long_rest|Takes a Long Rest]], unless otherwise specified.

===== Holds =====

Choosing an [[ironbound:rules:activities|activity]] that grants one or more Holds will also specify when those Holds can be spent and the options available when spending them.  Holds can only be spent when it is //not// your turn.  When a circumstance allows you to spend a Hold, you may spend only one Hold per trigger.  The rule granting the Hold will specify its triggers.

A character can have Holds from only a single source at a time. If a character has Holds from one activity and performs a different activity that grants Holds, they lose any Holds granted by the first activity.  If they perform the //same// activity again, they likewise lose any Holds granted by their first use of that activity.

Every character gets access to the [[ironbound:rules:activities:ready_a_response|Ready a Response]] activity and the [[ironbound:rules:activities:stand_in_defence|Stand In Defence]] activity.  Some classes offer other activities that grant Holds.

Remaining Holds are typically lost at the end of an encounter.

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As an example, Thurin chooses to Stand In Defence of Almak, the party's Animist.  He rolls a **success** and can therefore Hold 2.  When a kobold attacks Almak, Thurin can choose to spend one Hold to reduce the damage or to take it himself, but he could not choose to do both, even though he has two Holds.
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