Player's Guide
Player's Basics
Basics of Role-Playing
The core essence of role-playing is to take on the role of a character in an imaginary game. This is something most of us have been doing in one form or another since we were children playing “make believe”. Role-playing has elements of improvisational acting, storytelling, and deductive reasoning in addition to gaming. Your character can be very similar to you, or everything you are not… depending on the world your character inhabits you might be a wise wizard, a cunning vampire, or a noble space marine. The more effort you put into creating a unique persona and acting out that character in the various circumstances in which you find yourself, the more enjoyment you will get out of it.
In a role-playing game, one player takes on the role of the Storyteller (or Game Master, Dungeon Master etc.) with the responsibility of describing the world the characters inhabit and telling the players what they can see, hear, feel, touch, and taste. The Storyteller is also responsible, as the name implies, for coming up with a story to set the players in. This story is not already written with neatly defined roles, but simply a rough framework. The players are the main characters in the story, and their actions determine what happens next. The Storyteller needs to be prepared to adapt to the other players' choices, so the most experienced player in your group of friends should probably start with the role of Storyteller. As the players get comfortable with the game, consider trading off the duties of the Storyteller.
This guide will focus on the role of a player in a game, responsible for a single character in the fantasy world of Lorithandar. For more information about the world of Lorithandar itself please consult the Lorithandar Campaign Guide.
About the Brilliance & Shadow System
Brilliance & Shadow is a tabletop roleplaying system designed for epic fantasy where players take on the roles of powerful characters called Fated in a world of faerie, trolls, and magic spells. What makes Brilliance & Shadow different from many other games is the epic scope of the game. Players begin play with powerful abilities and skills far beyond ordinary mortals, and only become more formidable with time.
Dice
Like most role-playing games played around a table, Brilliance & Shadow uses dice to determine the outcome of actions. Anytime a character performs a non-trivial action, the player rolls dice to see whether the action succeeds or fails. This system uses 10-sided dice. We recommend that each player have 10 to 20 dice on hand. The better your character is at performing a task, the more dice you will need. The number of dice rolled to represent an attempt made by your character is referred to as your “dice pool”.
Statistics
Characters possess a variety of numbers used to describe their natural capabilities, trained skills, and how much injury they can endure before death. These numbers are fully described in the following chapters.
Modifiers
Modifiers are Bonuses and Penalties applied to the dice pool you roll to determine success. In most cases, bonuses add the listed number to the dice pool as additional dice, while penalties remove the listed number from the pool.
Rolling the Dice
When your dice pool has been modified by all applicable bonuses and penalties, the remainder are rolled to determine success. Each die is considered a success on an 8, 9, or 10. Some actions require only a single success, while others improve the result the more successes are rolled. Additionally, rolling a natural 10 (0 on the die) allows you to re-roll that die. Some powerful spells and powers can expand this allowing re-rolls on 9's or 8's as well. Sometimes dice pools suffer penalties that would reduce the dice pool to below 1 dir. In these cases your character still gets to roll a single die.
Types of Actions
All actions are classified in a number of different ways, which help to structure what you can and can not do in a given length of time. There are Free Actions, Fast Actions, Move Actions, Standard Actions, and Full Actions. Additionally, you can modify these actions with Readied Actions or Delayed Actions. There are also actions that are much longer, requiring too much time to be included in combat rounds, such as rituals. See the main article link below for details on each type of action.
Combat
Combat is treated the same way as other forms of rolls. An applicable Stat and Skill are combined, Modifiers are applied, and the results indicate the success of the attack, or spell. Unlike many other tabletop games, rolls to hit and rolls for damage are combined into a single roll. This helps keep combat moving quickly so players don’t spend the bulk of the game waiting for other players to roll.
See the main article for Combat for details on how combat rolls are determined, modifiers that may or may not be applied, and how resolution occurs.
Story Points
Each character begins play with 4 Story Points that may be used to provide 3 bonus dice on a roll. Only one such point can be spent each round. These Story Points are replenished as a reward by your Storyteller for finishing a chapter in the game. Your Storyteller may also reward good roleplaying by individual Story Dice that must be spent in a particular session. No more than 3 Story Dice may be spent in a single round regardless.
Creating a character
Creating a character is the very first thing you will be doing with the Brilliance and Shadow system. This character will be your representation in the story that the Storyteller weaves for you. It will contain your triumphs, your defeats, your personalities, your interactions, and your memories. Characters in Brilliance and Shadow are far more versatile than in other role playing systems, and it is easy for new players to become overwhelmed with their choices. It is recommended that beginning players choose from one of the Pre-Built Archetypes so that they can really get a feel for how the system works before building their own first character.
Once you have a grasp of how the system works, or if you really want to dive into the vast landscape of possibilities and bring elements together to bring your own idea to life, see the main article on Creating a Character below.
1. Concept
Before you can create any sort of stats, you should create a character concept. To help you get a handle on your character’s identity and motivation, come up with a short, two- or three-word description of him/her. Examples: “shadow priest”, “Imperial mage”, “wandering mercenary”. Often looking through the available races can help narrow down your concept as some races are much more suited to certain lifestyles.
2. Select Race
There are nine playable races in Brilliance & Shadow. Each offers distinct advantages and disadvantages. There is no “best” race, but some races are better suited to certain professions and roles. Trolls, for example, are known as fearsome warriors while having little aptitude for magic. See the Races section for more details.
3. Select Source
Each player has access to powers beyond normal mortals. The nature of these powers is determined by their chosen Source. There are 5 sources to choose from*:
| Title | Description | Starting Powers |
|---|---|---|
| Adept | An adept draws on the power of his own internal energy to perform feats beyond ordinary men. With no knowledge of magic spells, spirits, or prayers, an adept gains skill through hard work, dedication, and supernatural talent. He may be a skilled warrior, cunning thief, or silver-tongued orator and many of history’s greatest tyrants, generals, and warriors were adepts.
You might enjoy playing a Adept if: You enjoy using abilities which improve your own character, or aren’t interested in magic spells. Adepts get the best self buffing abilities in the game. |
One Rank 2 Discipline with one ability from Rank 1, and one ability from Rank 2 |
| Magecraft | Mages are powerful spellcasters who draw on the elemental power of the world to cast devastating blasts of fire or lightning, mind control, teleportation, healing or protective magical barriers.
You might enjoy playing a Mage if: You like versatile characters who can gain access to a huge variety of powers including damage spells, protective magic, and healing. Mages have the broadest power set in the game and can pick up dozens of useful spells, but can struggle with managing Mana, their primary resource. |
One Rank 2 Sphere with two spells from Rank 1 and one spell from Rank 2 |
| Shamanism | Shamans draw their powers from elemental, nature, animal, or ghostly spirits. These spirits linger unseen in the world, but Shamans can manifest their spirit guides to protect them, imbue the spirits into weapons or armor, and use powers granted by the Spirits. Shamans are often barbaric warriors, holy men, or sages, reaching through the veil of Twilight to see into the realm of spirits and the dead.
You might enjoy playing a Shaman if: You like the idea of having companion spirits to send into battle and draw power from. Shaman have a great mix of buffing, and support powers drawn from their spirits unique capabilities. |
One Rank 2 Spirit with one spell from Rank 1 and one spell from Rank 2 |
| Channelling | Channelers are priests, clerics, and avatars of immortal patrons gifted with access to their patron’s power. They may be a member of an established order, or a lone crusader for their god or goddess. The powers a channeler wields are restricted to the Domains their patron offers and always reflect the patron. They range from Order, and Healing, to Death, and Chaos.
You might enjoy playing a Channeler if: You enjoy strongly specialized theme characters. Channelers abilities are based off which patron or deity they serve. Thalu the God of Fire for example tends towards destructive powers while Nimway offers more defensive and healing oriented domains. In the area of your patrons influence, you will be unequalled. |
One Rank 2 Domain with one Line and one power from Rank 1 in that Line and one power from Rank 2 in that Line |
| Sorcery | Sorcerers are dark casters of primal planar magic nearly beyond their control. They reach into the Outer Planes to unleash raw destructive magic in waves of fire, demonic conjurations, and armies of undead.
You might enjoy playing a Sorcerer if: You enjoy magical brute force. Sorcerers have a few extremely powerful abilities, but very little versatility. In many ways they are the opposite of Mages; trading increased risk and lack of versatility for overwhelming strength in their areas of specialty. Often described as “sledgehammers” they have little utility, and no healing, but are arguably the best in the game at raw power. |
One Rank 2 Seed with the Rank 1 and Rank 2 powers from that seed |
Benefit Points may be spent to gain a secondary source.
4. Select Primary Statistics
Your characters innate capabilities are Primary Statistics (Stats). Your character begins with one point in each Primary Stat automatically. You may distribute 10 Points among the Primary Statistics. Points costs are cumulative, and the point costs are slightly cheaper if your Race has a Favored Stat (see the Races section for details)
| Statistic Rank | Regular Point Cost | Favored Point Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free | Free |
| 2 | 1 Point | 1 Point |
| 3 | 1 Point | 1 Point |
| 4 | 2 Points | 1 Point |
| 5 | 3 Points | 3 Points |
Example: Mar wants to raise his Constitution to 4 as a Wild Elf with a Favored Stat of Constitution. He needs to spend 1 Point each to raise Constitution to 2, 3, and then 4, for a total cost of 3 points. Another character lacking his Favored Stat would need to spend a total of 4 Points for the same starting rank, since Rank 4 costs 2 points instead of 1.
| Primary Statistic | Description |
|---|---|
| Strength | Physical might, this stat governs your ability to climb, lift, throw, jump, run quickly, wear heavy equipment, and deal damage with melee weapons. |
| Dexterity | Physical agility, this stat governs your ability to sneak, perform acrobatics, dodge attacks, and fire ranged weapons such as bows and crossbows. |
| Constitution | Physical toughness, this stat governs your ability to soak damage, resist poisons, and resist disease. |
| Intelligence | Mental might, this stat governs your ability to research, investigate, perform medical procedures, and is the primary statistic for Channelling, Magecraft, and some Shaman spells.
Note: This stat has no bearing on your characters education; that is defined through Skills and Benefits. |
| Willpower | Mental toughness, this stat governs your ability to stay alert, act decisively, resist social influence, and is the primary statistic for Sorcery, and some Shaman spells. |
| Charisma | Mental agility, this stat governs your ability to carry yourself, interact with animals, influence others, and gather information. This influence may be a combination of looks, personality, or manipulation. |
5. Calculate Secondary Statistics
Your character's Primary Statistics are combined with additional bonuses to create Secondary Statistics such as your characters Health and Initiative. Some Secondary Statistics are based on the average 2 Primary Statistics. Any time one of your stats or abilities is an average, you must round down to the nearest whole number.
| Secondary Statistic | Description |
|---|---|
| Magic | This stat governs the limits of Source powers, and increases player's mana pool. Player's may have Source powers (Domains, Disciplines, etc) of a rank equal to Magic + 1. All players begin play with a Magic Stat of 1 which may be raised only by General Experience. (see Earning & Spending XP) |
| Health | Derived: Constitution + Racial Bonus. This stat is the total points of lethal damage you can sustain, and the number of rounds you have before you bleed to death. Recovers slowly. |
| Vigor | Derived: Constitution. This stat is the total points of non-lethal damage you can sustain before you begin to take lethal damage from non-lethal attacks or effects. Recovers more quickly than Health. |
| Mana | Derived: Magic x 10. This stat is the pool of points used to power spells and adept abilities. |
| Initiative | Derived: Willpower. This stat is the ability to react quickly without hesitation in the face of danger. This bonus is added to 1d10 rolls for Initiative to determine turn order. |
| Speed | Derived: Racial Bonus + Average of Dexterity and Strength ( (Strength + Dexterity) / 2 ). This stat is the number of yards your character can travel in a single move action. Note: Faerie derive Flight Speed by Intelligence + Racial Bonus. |
| Dodge | Derived: Average of Dexterity and Intelligence ( Dexterity + Intelligence ) / 2. This stat is the chance of evading physical attacks. |
| Physical Defense | Derived: Dodge + Equipment Bonus (Armor/Shield). This stat is the combined chance of avoiding damage from incoming physical attacks. |
| Magical Defense | Derived: Magical Armor. This stat is the combined chance of avoiding damage from aimed magical spells. |
| Resistance | Derived: Willpower + Racial Bonus. This stat is the chance of ignoring spells, poisons, or disease that directly affect the mind or body. |
6. Select Skills
Your character’s learned capabilities are Skills. Each character distributes 20 Skill Points among their skills.
| Skill Rank | Point Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Point |
| 2 | 1 Point |
| 3 | 1 Point |
| 4 | 2 Points |
| 5 | 3 Points |
Untrained skills will incur penalties:
| Base Stat of Skill | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Charisma | 0 |
| Strength | -1 |
| Dexterity | -1 |
| Intelligence | -2 |
7. Select Character Benefits
Your character also has benefits in the form of traits, assets, and training. Each character begins play with 2 Benefit Points to spend toward Character Benefits. Some races or backgrounds may gain bonus benefits or points, however no Benefit may be raised beyond Rank 2.
8. Select Starting Equipment
Every character begins play with starting equipment. This normally includes:
- 1 Martial Weapon
- Light or Medium Armor
- Travel Pack (5 days of food, bedroll)
- Change of clothes (Common Quality)
- 10 Gold
Additional equipment, including heavy armor, improved materials (quicksilver, adamantine, ironwood), substantial supplies, mounts, etc may be obtained using the Improved Background Benefit.
Earning and Spending Experience
At any time in a session, though more commonly at the end of play, you could be awarded with XP that you can choose to spend, or save toward a long term goal. XP can be used to increase the rank of an attribute, learn a new skill, add or increase the level of a merit, and so on. Experience is granted as a combination of General Experience (GXP) and Skill Experience (SXP). Skill Experience may only be spent on raising Skill Ranks while General Experience may be spent on anything.
Experience costs are as follows:
Primary Statistics: Non-Favored Stat: 5 GXP per rank (*/10/15/20/25) Favored Stat: 5 GXP per rank, with a 10 GXP reduction for rank 4 (5*/10/15/10/25)
- all characters primary statistics start at rank 1.
Magic Statistic: 5 GXP per rank (*/10/15/20/25)
- all characters magic statistic starts at rank 1.
Character Benefits: 3 GXP per rank (3/6/9/12/15)
Powers (Sphere, Seed, Domain, Spirit, Discipline): 5 GXP per rank (5/10/15/20/25)
Mage Spells (Mage): 2 GXP times rank (2/4/6/8/10) A Rank 4 spell is 8 GXP
Adept Abilities (Adept): 2 GXP times rank (2/4/6/8/10) A Rank 4 ability is 8 GXP
Domain Lines(Channeler): 2 GXP times rank (2/4/6/8/10) A Rank 4 power is 8 GXP, however Channelers must buy Lines in Rank order (you must have Rank 1 in a line before purchasing Rank 2)
Skills: 3 SXP per rank (3/6/9/12/15) Note: Players may choose to spend GXP in lieu of, or in combination with SXP to purchase skills. Each GXP spent this way is treated as 1 SXP.