Previous version 1 · 2024-06-03

Previous Version: 1.0

The Command System

Table of Contents

Introduction
Core Mechanics
Advancement
Command Styles
Commands
Provisions
Play By Post

Lists
Rulings

External Links

Roll Thread

Command Book Templates

A Horde Master's Guide to Monster Making

The Mirage Board

NPC/Ally Command Book

What Is the Command System?

This is a lightweight framework for adding mechanical devices to existing RP threads. It is smaller in scope to the Dungeons and Darkness system, prioritizing flavor over complicated mechanics. The only reward loop for the Command System is more RP, and some of those rewards will be of your own making. This is GoL's "rules light alternative" for those who like the game-like feel of progressive advancement but not necessarily the math-intensive and intricate systems of DnD.

Because the use of this system is meant to integrate differently with the site than we're used to, I'd like to stress a few design concepts before getting into actual mechanics.

Narrative

Keep the Story Moving

Combat in this system should always be to advance the narrative. Have a goal to complete, and let the enemies be obstacles in your path. Both while you're designing your character and their moves, ask yourself if these mechanics will help you move from one obstacle to the next.

Creativity

Flavor over Function

As you interact with this system, instead of thinking about things in terms of "what your character can do" instead try to imagine an overall picture of what it looks like when they fight. How do they interact with friends and allies, what do they want to get out of the fight? What reasons do they have to fight in the first place? Hold onto that feeling and use the rules below to express it.

Sportsmanship

Remember to be Kind

This system is meant to be used in the scope of regular RP. Just like in regular RP, nothing will happen to your characters that you do not want to happen. Do not fear failure. Discuss circumstances and fallbacks when necessary. Worry less about optimizing and covering every weakness. Let your character have interesting weaknesses that can be exploited, while having cool moves that are fun to describe. When you're making your character, trying to avoid un-fun strategies that will stall the story you and others are trying to tell. You're not playing to win, you're playing to find out what happens next.

Core Mechanics

Basics

At Character creation, you will choose one of these dice to represent each of the four stats. Pick one of three stat schemes, and distribute the dice accordingly.

Reckless - Your stat dice are a d4, d8, d10, and a d12.
Brave - Your stat dice are d6, d8, d10, and a d10.
Modest - Your stat dice are d8, d8, d8, and d10

Whenever you want to make use of one of these stats, you'll roll that stat's dice twice. Then you'll apply either the higher rolled number (HR) or the lower rolled number (LR), depending on the action you're using.

You may use Two of these actions each turn, or replace one of them with a command you have created (rules on Commands below). You cannot use two actions that use the same stat in a single turn.

STRENGTH

The measure of your physical prowess.

Strike - Roll your Strength Dice twice and deal the High Roll (HR) as damage.
Raid - Roll you Strength Dice twice and deal the Low Roll (LR) as damage. This cannot trigger a Counterattack or Dodge.

MAGIC

The proof of your magical talent.

Charge - Roll your Magic Dice twice. You may end cooldown on one of your Commands you didn't use this turn if the High Roll (HR) is equal to or greater than its CP.

_{CP is short for "Command Points", which are explained in the Command section of this guide.}

Cleanse - Roll your Magic Dice twice. If the High Roll (HR) is 4 or greater, you end up to 2 conditions currently affecting you.

DEFENSE

The fortitude of your mind and body.

Guard - Roll your Defense dice twice. You may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your High Roll (HR).
Cover - Roll your Defense dice twice. You intercept an incoming attack for an ally, taking damage instead of them and reducing it by your Low Roll (LR).

AGILITY

The quickness of thought and movements.

Dodge - Before you make your post, choose an incoming source of damage. Roll Agility twice. If the high roll (HR) beats the incoming damage amount, you take no damage and suffer no resulting conditions.
Counterattack - Choose an attack that dealt damage to you during the previous round of posts. Roll Agility twice. If the high roll (HR) beats the chosen attack's damage, you deal HR to the enemy that used it.

Resources

Hit Points - Your hit points start at 30. You can increase your HP by taking certain Advancements.
Item Points - A resource used to produce items from your provisions. You begin with 10 IP.
Command Deck - The number of Commands you can equip at one time. Your Command Deck starts with two slots.

Cooldown

A Command goes into Cooldown after you use it, this means it can't be used until it's cooldown ends.

At the end of each of your turns, roll 1d6. You may choose a Command you didn't use this turn with CP equal to or lower than the result and bring it out of cooldown.

Affinities

By taking advancements you may gain weaknesses or resistances to elements or conditions. These are called your Affinities. Affinities are fairly simple.

If you are weak to an element, attacks of that element get +4 against you.
If you resist an element, attacks of that element get -4 against you.
If you are weak to a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 2 to affect you. Cleanse must roll 6 or higher to end this condition.
If you resist a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 6 to affect you. Cleanse must roll 2 or higher to end this condition.

Advancement

Advancement in the Command System is based on the number of posts attributed to your character account. For every 20 posts your character makes, you may select one of the following "Advancements" for them. Many of these can be selected multiple times. Their limits are provided below.

Origin Tier

When you create a character, you may choose one of three tiers for them to start out in, based on their combat experience level IC. Your character's post count will give them extra Advancements on top of these as described above. Be sure to take Marks of Mastery as normal based on the number of Advancements you start with.

Novice - begin with 5 Advancements.
Intermediate - begin with 15 Advancements
Advanced - begin with 25 Advancements

Basic Advancements

HP + 5 or IP + 1 (Max 6)
+1 Command Deck (Max 10)
Learn a new Command (Max 12)
Create a New Provision (max 3)
Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command (Max 2)
Adopt a new Condition or Elemental weakness and resistance. (Max 2)

Critical Advancements

You may choose to take a Critical Advancement instead of a regular Advancement if you have 20 or more Advancements already.

Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command or Create a Mastered Provision (Max 2)
Refine your Command Style. It gains 1 point to spend on features (Max 2)
One of your Commands becomes your Signature Command. It costs 1 less slot (max 1)
One of your provisions becomes your Key Item. It costs 1 less IP. (max 1)
Adopt a new Condition or Elemental Resistance. (max 2)
HP + 10 or IP + 2 (Max 2)
Create a New Provision (max 3)

Mark of Mastery

Marks of Mastery are narrative benefits that come with advancing naturally in this system. They are less mechanical in nature but act as badges of honor for progressing through the game and influencing the world around you. For every 5 Advancements you gain, you may choose one Mark of Mastery from the list below. You may take the same Mark of Mastery multiple times, each time you do so, the scope or reach of that Mark's influence increases.

[spoiler=Marks of Mastery]

The Connections - You have been to many worlds and met many people. The connections you've made with both friends and enemies strengthens your resolve, and it seems no matter where you go you can pull on these invisible threads to lead you back home. Did you always value these connections? Have they saved you in a time of crisis?
The Darkness - You faced the darkness inside yourself and you faltered. You tumbled down a dark path, and lost your way. You may have been seeking love, or power, or something else entirely. What did you find in the darkness that strengthened you? And what have you destroyed as a consequence?
The Establishment - You are building an enterprise to accomplish your goals. It requires resources, personnel, but you've got the talents to acquire these things. Does the engine you're building reflect your goals, or has it taken on a life of its own?
The Fame - Your name and deeds proceed you. People are more likely to know your name, whether you like it or not. Fame is a fickle thing that grows a life of its own and can sometimes get bigger than the truth. Do you like being famous? Is your fame good or bad? Are there things you wish people didn't know?
The Followers - Your ability to command and inspire people has rallied allies to your cause. These compatriots may have various strengths of their own and can help you accomplish tasks you couldn't do so alone. What do you mean to the people who follow you, and what do they mean to you?
The Grudge - You have poured a lot of time and energy into a rivalry or conflict with one other character in particular. Whether they're a player or an NPC, a large motivation for you has been overcoming them in some way. How has this conflict uprooted or spilled over into your other responsibilities or relationships? What would you give up to see this conflict resolved?
The Light - You have earned your place in the light through your trials. Maybe you were tempted by the darkness and resisted, even when it cost you something precious. Maybe you failed, and had to find the light anew after an arduous journey through darkness. What has made your inner light so strong? What compromises have you considered that might lead you astray?
The Lore - You are well-travelled, well-studied, or well-versed in some topic or point of personal interest. It doesn't take much prompting to activate your inner library of facts and anecdotes. Where did you learn these things? How does your well of knowledge solve problems or possibly create them?
The Travels - You are adept at navigating the cosmos and know where to find whatever you need on most worlds you visit. If you haven't been there, you know someone who has. Even under foreign skies, you have developed a knack for finding the right path. How did you gain the expertise? What did you lose along your travels, and what did you gain in return?
The Ultimate Weapon - You have honed a particular weapon through your travels and it reflects your strength and dedication. It's not just a part of you, but a key player in your story. How do the weapon's unique properties lead to new opportunities for you?

Customization

Command Styles

Every character has a thing they do in battle. A way they weave between offense and defense, a shift in stance, a cycle of energy. This is where power meets personality. What makes your character's power unique? How do they benefit or suffer from its use and how do they use those things to remove obstacles in their path?

At Character Creation, you'll create a Command Style for your character. It defines the way your power manifests in the world. It could be exceptional martial prowess, honed by years of toil. It could be a well spring of inner mana that surges in sometimes uncontrollable ways. It could be a powerful weapon that unlocks the nature of things! Command Styles enable all the strange things you do.

Command Styles have mechanical presence too. You can spend up to 3 points on your Command Style. You can choose some of these more than once. Each of the following costs 1 point.

It deals damage to the opponent in some way.
It Heals you or allies.
It supports you or your allies.
It hinders the enemy.
It creates a unique resource to interact with stylish commands and other style features and a way to spend that resource. Your other style effects can generate or spend this resource. (max 1)
It gives you another method to generate your unique resource. (max 1)
It creates a custom positive condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)
It creates a custom negative condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)

The Rule of Two

Many Command Styles will help you in various ways. They might trigger healing off of some kind of basic action or provide bonuses to certain roll results, etc... If you're not sure what kind of potency an effect should have, try using the number 2. This is not all encompassing and some things might get scaled up or down for balance, but if you're unsure, 2 is always a good place to start.

Commands

Commands are special skills that require more than the average amount of energy to produce. Once you use one of your commands, you must wait for it to cooldown.

Whenever you get a new command advancement, you can use the rules below to create a new command.

You get two Command Deck Slots and two Commands at character creation.

It is possible to have more commands than you have command deck slots, but you can only ever take your command deck into combat. You can change which commands are in your command deck at any time when you aren't in combat.

Command Rolls

A command must roll dice if it Deals damage, Heals HP, or gives a negative effect to a target.

If your command requires rolling dice, you must decide which stat dice you'll use to roll the command when you create it. All commands roll only one pair of dice, and apply that result to all effects listed as part of that command.

When you create a command that has more than one property which requires dice results, you must choose one to be the "primary result". That property will use the High Roll (HR). All other effects will use the Low Roll (LR).

Similar to the Strength actions, Commands deal or heal damage by default without the need of "accuracy checks". A negative effect or condition, however, requires a roll of at least 4 to take effect.

Command Creation

Commands use Command Points (CP) to balance the powers of various commands. All commands have 3 CP to spend on properties and must spend at least that many. Properties are effects that contribute to the "game-state". They advance you toward victory or make it harder for enemies to defeat you.

This CP cap goes up by +1 if your ability interacts with your Command Style in some way. It goes up by +2 if you decide to make a Master Command, which takes up two Command Deck Slots. See the Mastered Commands section below for more details. For each of the below that is true, the command's cost increases by the amount given. Count each instance of a similar property as an addition cost.

[+2] Essential* - The command replicates a generic stat action (Max 1).
[+1] Damaging** - The command deals damage to the enemy.
[+1] Healing** - The command heals an ally.
[+1] Overcharged - The command hits multiple enemies or multiple allies (Max 2).
[+1] Lingering - The commands's effects last two additional turns, including Conditions, Quick, Commanding, and applicable Stylish properties. (Max 1)
[+1] Empowering - The command empowers Allies in some way (Max 2).
[+1] Hindering - The command hinders the enemy in some way (Max 2).
[+0] Resonant - The Command's mechanics or flavor reference your Command Style, increasing the CP cap by 1. (Max 1)
[+1] Stylish - The Command gains an additional effect from interacting with your Command Style. (Max 1).

^{*If a generic stat action deals damage, adding a Damaging property increases its damage by +2

**Add +2 to total damage or healing when taking multiple times.}

Mastered Commands

Mastered Commands, like normal commands, have CP to spend on properties. As mentioned before, they get 2 more CP to spend than normal commands, and take up an extra slot in your Command Deck. Additionally, Mastered Commands also have additional properties that only they have access to, listed here.

[+1] Versatile - The command can act differently depending on circumstances.
[+2] Quickening - The command gives you access to a third action, such as one used by an ally or summoned being. Does not stack.
[+1] Commanding - The command gives you access to a new command while active. Create the temporary command when you create this one. These commands are part of your deck only while this effect is active.

Provisions

Every character has 10 Item points. You may use your item points to use one of your custom provisions, or a Generic Provision once per turn without using an action. You begin a thread with your full item points, but once you use them you do not regain them.

You do not start with any provisions unless you choose to replace one of your starting commands with a provision instead. You may gain new custom provisions as an Advancement. When creating a custom provision, use the same rules for creating commands, except that you can create provisions that cost less than 3 CP if you want to. A provision costs its CP in item points to use. Provisions do not have stats. If a provision needs to roll dice to resolve an effect, it uses d6.

You do not have a predetermined "stock" of provisions. Any time you spend item points, you can justify how and why you have the item or ability you're using from your custom provisions or the list of Generic Provisions below.

Play By Post

This system is meant to be played by post on this forum, with each player taking turns. Not every fight needs to be run by a "GM" or game master. Any player in the thread can also run enemies and bosses if they have the permission of the other thread participants. For more information, reference the Horde Master's Guide (linked at the top of this post).

Rolling Dice

In the interest of more streamlined conflict threads, you might want to roll your dice outside of your thread post, and simply post with the results in mind. There are two ways to achieve this. You can roll in our discord's #identity-bot-dice channel and link the resulting dice roll message in your post for posterity. Just make sure you type out the results as well so that those who wish to take you at your word don't need to check discord for your dice results.

You may also use the Roll Thread (linked at the top of this post) to post your dice rolls in a thread on this forum and link that to your post for reference.

If you wish to make your rolls in the same thread that you are RPing in, you may do so, just trying to keep all your roll and RP posts within 20 minutes of each other so the site can combine the posts together.

Lists

Elements

Fire
Ice
Thunder
Wind
Water
Earth
Light
Dark
Poison
Gravity
Time
Psychic

Negative Conditions

Damage Over Time (DoT) - Lose 3 HP each turn.
Weaken - When rolling an attack that deals damage, use the lower of the two dice instead of the higher one.
Berserk - You must prioritize injuring the user of this ability over other objectives.
Panic - You must prioritize escape over other objectives
Dispel - MAG decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use MAG commands.
Slow - AGL decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use AGL commands.
Stun - STR decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use STR commands.
Sunder - DEF decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use DEF commands.
Silence - You don't roll cooldown at the end of your turn. NPCs cannot roll dice higher than d6 when using commands.
Zombie - You take damage instead of getting healed by healing effects

Positive Conditions

Regen - Regain 3 HP each turn.
Haste - AGL increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 AGL commands each turn.
Combo + - STR increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 STR commands each turn.
Protect - DEF increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 DEF commands each turn.
Dualcast - MAG increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 MAG commands each turn.
Mine - Targets that attack you take 2 damage.
Cleave - When you use the Strike action, you may deal LR damage to a secondary target.
Recoil - When you Guard, targets that attack you take the lower number rolled as damage.
Shell - When you Charge, you may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your Low Roll (LR).
Chant - When rolling to cooldown a command at the end of your turn, you may roll 2d6 and use the HR.

Generic Provisions

Potion | 1IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR HP.
Hi-Potion | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR+2 HP.
Esuna | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Cleanse using the HR.
Ether | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge using the HR.
Mega-potion | 3IP | Roll 2d6. Any number of characters recover HR+2 HP.
Mega-ether | 3IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands as if they Charged.
Elixir | 4IP | Roll 2d6. Cleanse with HR and recover LR+2 HP.
Megalixir | 5IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters recover LR+2 HP and may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands.
Tent | 5IP | Any number of characters recover 10 HP. and all their commands end cooldown. Each character must make at least two down-time relaxing posts to benefit from this item.

Rulings

This section is for established limits and more granular rules that emerge as we feel out the systems boundaries. While the system's goal is to be flexible, somethings still need to be monitored to keep things fun and avoid unfair differences is power level. Reading this section is optional, but these precedents will be referenced during the approval process.

General Concepts

Both rolls for any actions (including commands) cannot do the same thing, Carte Blanche. E.g. the HR and LR for a command cannot both deal damage.
HR and LR should never be added together to produce a total result.
Static modifiers to a roll cannot exceed a total of +10
If you Guard twice in a turn, you gain Damage negation equal to the higher result (i.e. you do not combine the totals). This also applies to Recoil damage.
Players may fully rework their Command Book for free once after it is initially approved, pending approval from a Dungeon Master.

Command Styles

Command Styles tend to grant bonuses with a value of 2, such as +2 the roll for Strike / Dodge / Guard, dealing 2 damage automatically when something happens, or healing 2 HP when something happens. (Rule of 2)
Custom conditions can only be created in Command Styles. These conditions must be used in commands for their effects to activate, just like standard conditions (e.g. Haste or Slow)
- Custom Conditions cannot utilize an HR result in the same manner as LR in conditions such as Cleave and Shell
- Players cannot duplicate advantages in their command style. ie: using three "helps allies" to give allies +6 to a roll.

Commands

When applying stylish properties, damage or healing can differ from a standard +2.
Stylish Damage & Healing Modifiers (so far)
- +3 damage, conditional (target has a condition)
- Up to +4 damage, variable (e.g. number of ailments a target has up to 4)
- Up to +6, spend resources

[/spoiler]

Previous version 2 · 2024-10-09

Previous Version 1.1

The Command System

Lists
Rulings

External Links

Roll Thread

Command Book Templates

A Horde Master's Guide to Monster Making

The Mirage Board

NPC/Ally Command Book

What Is the Command System?

This is a lightweight framework for adding mechanical devices to existing RP threads. It is smaller in scope to the Dungeons and Darkness system, prioritizing flavor over complicated mechanics. The only reward loop for the Command System is more RP, and some of those rewards will be of your own making. This is GoL's "rules light alternative" for those who like the game-like feel of progressive advancement but not necessarily the math-intensive and intricate systems of DnD.

Because the use of this system is meant to integrate differently with the site than we're used to, I'd like to stress a few design concepts before getting into actual mechanics.

Narrative

Keep the Story Moving

Combat in this system should always be to advance the narrative. Have a goal to complete, and let the enemies be obstacles in your path. Both while you're designing your character and their moves, ask yourself if these mechanics will help you move from one obstacle to the next.

Creativity

Flavor over Function

As you interact with this system, instead of thinking about things in terms of "what your character can do" instead try to imagine an overall picture of what it looks like when they fight. How do they interact with friends and allies, what do they want to get out of the fight? What reasons do they have to fight in the first place? Hold onto that feeling and use the rules below to express it.

Sportsmanship

Remember to be Kind

This system is meant to be used in the scope of regular RP. Just like in regular RP, nothing will happen to your characters that you do not want to happen. Do not fear failure. Discuss circumstances and fallbacks when necessary. Worry less about optimizing and covering every weakness. Let your character have interesting weaknesses that can be exploited, while having cool moves that are fun to describe. When you're making your character, trying to avoid un-fun strategies that will stall the story you and others are trying to tell. You're not playing to win, you're playing to find out what happens next.

Core Mechanics

Basics

At Character creation, you will choose one of these dice to represent each of the four stats. Pick one of three stat schemes, and distribute the dice accordingly.

Reckless - Your stat dice are a d4, d8, d10, and a d12.
Brave - Your stat dice are d6, d8, d10, and a d10.
Modest - Your stat dice are d8, d8, d8, and d10

Whenever you want to make use of one of these stats, you'll roll that stat's dice twice. Then you'll apply either the higher rolled number (HR) or the lower rolled number (LR), depending on the action you're using.

You may use Two of these actions each turn, or replace one of them with a command you have created (rules on Commands below). You cannot use two actions that use the same stat in a single turn.

STRENGTH

The measure of your physical prowess.

Strike - Roll your Strength Dice twice and deal the High Roll (HR) as damage.
Breach - Roll you Strength Dice twice and deal the Low Roll (LR) as damage. If the target has active damage negation (e.g. Guard), reduce that negation by your LR value before dealing damage.

MAGIC

The proof of your magical talent.

Charge - Roll your Magic Dice twice. You may end cooldown on one of your Commands you didn't use this turn if the High Roll (HR) is equal to or greater than its CP.

_{CP is short for "Command Points", which are explained in the Command section of this guide.}

Cleanse - Roll your Magic Dice twice. If the High Roll (HR) is 4 or greater, you end up to 2 conditions currently affecting you.

DEFENSE

The fortitude of your mind and body.

Guard - Roll your Defense dice twice. You may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your High Roll (HR).
Cover - Roll your Defense dice twice. You intercept an incoming attack for an ally, taking damage instead of them and reducing it by your Low Roll (LR).

AGILITY

The quickness of thought and movements.

Dodge - Before you make your post, choose an incoming source of damage. Roll Agility twice. If the high roll (HR) beats the incoming damage amount, you take no damage and suffer no resulting conditions.
Raid - Roll you Agility Dice twice and deal the Low Roll (LR) as damage. This cannot trigger a Dodge or be intercepted by Cover.

Resources

Hit Points - Your hit points start at 30. You can increase your HP by taking certain Advancements.
Item Points - A resource used to produce items from your provisions. You begin with 10 IP.
Command Deck - The number of Commands you can equip at one time. Your Command Deck starts with two slots.

Cooldown

A Command goes into Cooldown after you use it, this means it can't be used until it's cooldown ends.

At the end of each of your turns, roll 1d6. You may choose a Command you didn't use this turn with CP equal to or lower than the result and bring it out of cooldown.

Affinities

By taking advancements you may gain weaknesses or resistances to elements or conditions. These are called your Affinities. Affinities are fairly simple.

If you are weak to an element, attacks of that element get +4 against you.
If you resist an element, attacks of that element get -4 against you.
If you are weak to a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 2 to affect you. Cleanse must roll 6 or higher to end this condition.
If you resist a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 6 to affect you. Cleanse must roll 2 or higher to end this condition.

Advancement

Advancement in the Command System is based on the number of posts attributed to your character account. For every 20 posts your character makes, you may select one of the following "Advancements" for them. Many of these can be selected multiple times. Their limits are provided below.

Origin Tier

When you create a character, you may choose one of three tiers for them to start out in, based on their combat experience level IC. Your character's post count will give them extra Advancements on top of these as described above. Be sure to take Marks of Mastery as normal based on the number of Advancements you start with.

Novice - begin with 5 Advancements.
Intermediate - begin with 15 Advancements
Advanced - begin with 25 Advancements

Basic Advancements

HP + 5 or IP + 1 (Max 6)
+1 Command Deck (Max 10)
Learn a new Command (Max 12)
Create a New Provision (max 3)
Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command (Max 2)
Adopt a new Condition or Elemental weakness and resistance. (Max 2)

Critical Advancements

You may choose to take a Critical Advancement instead of a regular Advancement if you have 20 or more Advancements already.

Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command or Create a Mastered Provision (Max 2)
Refine your Command Style. It gains 1 point to spend on features (Max 2)
One of your Commands becomes your Signature Command. It costs 1 less slot (max 1)
One of your provisions becomes your Key Item. It costs 1 less IP. (max 1)
Adopt a new Condition or Elemental Resistance. (max 2)
HP + 10 or IP + 2 (Max 2)
Create a New Provision (max 3)

Mark of Mastery

Marks of Mastery are narrative benefits that come with advancing naturally in this system. They are less mechanical in nature but act as badges of honor for progressing through the game and influencing the world around you. For every 5 Advancements you gain, you may choose one Mark of Mastery from the list below. You may take the same Mark of Mastery multiple times, each time you do so, the scope or reach of that Mark's influence increases.

[spoiler=Marks of Mastery]

The Connections - You have been to many worlds and met many people. The connections you've made with both friends and enemies strengthens your resolve, and it seems no matter where you go you can pull on these invisible threads to lead you back home. Did you always value these connections? Have they saved you in a time of crisis?
The Darkness - You faced the darkness inside yourself and you faltered. You tumbled down a dark path, and lost your way. You may have been seeking love, or power, or something else entirely. What did you find in the darkness that strengthened you? And what have you destroyed as a consequence?
The Establishment - You are building an enterprise to accomplish your goals. It requires resources, personnel, but you've got the talents to acquire these things. Does the engine you're building reflect your goals, or has it taken on a life of its own?
The Fame - Your name and deeds proceed you. People are more likely to know your name, whether you like it or not. Fame is a fickle thing that grows a life of its own and can sometimes get bigger than the truth. Do you like being famous? Is your fame good or bad? Are there things you wish people didn't know?
The Followers - Your ability to command and inspire people has rallied allies to your cause. These compatriots may have various strengths of their own and can help you accomplish tasks you couldn't do so alone. What do you mean to the people who follow you, and what do they mean to you?
The Grudge - You have poured a lot of time and energy into a rivalry or conflict with one other character in particular. Whether they're a player or an NPC, a large motivation for you has been overcoming them in some way. How has this conflict uprooted or spilled over into your other responsibilities or relationships? What would you give up to see this conflict resolved?
The Light - You have earned your place in the light through your trials. Maybe you were tempted by the darkness and resisted, even when it cost you something precious. Maybe you failed, and had to find the light anew after an arduous journey through darkness. What has made your inner light so strong? What compromises have you considered that might lead you astray?
The Expertise - You're an expert in a certain field. By chance or dedication, you've come to command knowledge and skills with which to confront the trials ahead. How did you come to possess this skillset? Does having these capabilities make life easier for you...or more troublesome?
The Travels - You are adept at navigating the cosmos and know where to find whatever you need on most worlds you visit. If you haven't been there, you know someone who has. Even under foreign skies, you have developed a knack for finding the right path. How did you gain the expertise? What did you lose along your travels, and what did you gain in return?
The Ultimate Weapon - You have honed a particular weapon through your travels and it reflects your strength and dedication. It's not just a part of you, but a key player in your story. How do the weapon's unique properties lead to new opportunities for you?

Customization

Command Styles

Every character has a thing they do in battle. A way they weave between offense and defense, a shift in stance, a cycle of energy. This is where power meets personality. What makes your character's power unique? How do they benefit or suffer from its use and how do they use those things to remove obstacles in their path?

At Character Creation, you'll create a Command Style for your character. It defines the way your power manifests in the world. It could be exceptional martial prowess, honed by years of toil. It could be a well spring of inner mana that surges in sometimes uncontrollable ways. It could be a powerful weapon that unlocks the nature of things! Command Styles enable all the strange things you do.

Command Styles have mechanical presence too. You can spend up to 3 points on your Command Style. You can choose some of these more than once. Each of the following costs 1 point.

It deals damage to the opponent in some way.
It Heals you or allies.
It supports you or your allies.
It hinders the enemy.
It creates a unique resource to interact with stylish commands and other style features and a way to spend that resource. Your other style effects can generate or spend this resource. (max 1)
It gives you another method to generate your unique resource. (max 1)
It creates a custom positive condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)
It creates a custom negative condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)

The Rule of Two

Many Command Styles will help you in various ways. They might trigger healing off of some kind of basic action or provide bonuses to certain roll results, etc... If you're not sure what kind of potency an effect should have, try using the number 2. This is not all encompassing and some things might get scaled up or down for balance, but if you're unsure, 2 is always a good place to start.

Commands

Commands are special skills that require more than the average amount of energy to produce. Once you use one of your commands, you must wait for it to cooldown.

Whenever you get a new command advancement, you can use the rules below to create a new command.

You get two Command Deck Slots and two Commands at character creation.

It is possible to have more commands than you have command deck slots, but you can only ever take your command deck into combat. You can change which commands are in your command deck at any time when you aren't in combat.

Command Rolls

A command must roll dice if it Deals damage, Heals HP, or gives a negative effect to a target.

If your command requires rolling dice, you must decide which stat dice you'll use to roll the command when you create it. All commands roll only one pair of dice, and apply that result to all effects listed as part of that command.

When you create a command that has more than one property which requires dice results, you must choose one to be the "primary result". That property will use the High Roll (HR). All other effects will use the Low Roll (LR).

Similar to the Strength actions, Commands deal or heal damage by default without the need of "accuracy checks". A negative effect or condition, however, requires a roll of at least 4 to take effect.

Command Creation

Commands use Command Points (CP) to balance the powers of various commands. All commands have 3 CP to spend on properties and must spend at least that many. Properties are effects that contribute to the "game-state". They advance you toward victory or make it harder for enemies to defeat you.

This CP cap goes up by +1 if your ability interacts with your Command Style in some way. It goes up by +2 if you decide to make a Master Command, which takes up two Command Deck Slots. See the Mastered Commands section below for more details. For each of the below that is true, the command's cost increases by the amount given. Count each instance of a similar property as an addition cost.

[+2] Essential* - The command replicates a generic stat action (Max 1). You may replace HR with LR, but not vice versa, or apply an element to damage as desired.
[+1] Damaging** - The command deals damage to the enemy.
[+1] Healing** - The command heals an ally.
[+1] Overcharged - The command hits multiple enemies or multiple allies (Max 2).
[+1] Lingering - The commands's effects last two additional turns, including Conditions, Quick, Commanding, and applicable Stylish properties. (Max 1)
[+1] Empowering - The command empowers Allies in some way (Max 2).
[+1] Hindering - The command hinders the enemy in some way (Max 2).
[+0] Resonant - The Command's mechanics or flavor reference your Command Style, increasing the CP cap by 1. (Max 1)
[+1] Stylish - The Command gains an additional effect from interacting with your Command Style. (Max 1).

^{*If a generic stat action deals damage, adding a Damaging property increases its damage by +2

**Add +2 to total damage or healing when taking multiple times.}

Mastered Commands

Mastered Commands, like normal commands, have CP to spend on properties. As mentioned before, they get 2 more CP to spend than normal commands, and take up an extra slot in your Command Deck. Additionally, Mastered Commands also have additional properties that only they have access to, listed here.

[+1] Versatile - The command can act differently depending on circumstances.
[+2] Quickening - The command gives you access to a third action, such as one used by an ally or summoned being. Does not stack.
[+1] Commanding - The command gives you access to a new command while active. Create the temporary command when you create this one. These commands are part of your deck only while this effect is active.

Provisions

Every character has 10 Item points. You may use your item points to use one of your custom provisions, or a Generic Provision once per turn without using an action. You begin a thread with your full item points, but once you use them you do not regain them.

You do not start with any provisions unless you choose to replace one of your starting commands with a provision instead. You may gain new custom provisions as an Advancement. When creating a custom provision, use the same rules for creating commands, except that you can create provisions that cost less than 3 CP if you want to. A provision costs its CP in item points to use. Provisions do not have stats. If a provision needs to roll dice to resolve an effect, it uses d6.

You do not have a predetermined "stock" of provisions. Any time you spend item points, you can justify how and why you have the item or ability you're using from your custom provisions or the list of Generic Provisions below.

Play By Post

This system is meant to be played by post on this forum, with each player taking turns. Not every fight needs to be run by a "GM" or game master. Any player in the thread can also run enemies and bosses if they have the permission of the other thread participants. For more information, reference the Horde Master's Guide (linked at the top of this post).

Rolling Dice

In the interest of more streamlined conflict threads, you might want to roll your dice outside of your thread post, and simply post with the results in mind. There are two ways to achieve this. You can roll in our discord's #identity-bot-dice channel and link the resulting dice roll message in your post for posterity. Just make sure you type out the results as well so that those who wish to take you at your word don't need to check discord for your dice results.

You may also use the Roll Thread (linked at the top of this post) to post your dice rolls in a thread on this forum and link that to your post for reference.

If you wish to make your rolls in the same thread that you are RPing in, you may do so, just trying to keep all your roll and RP posts within 20 minutes of each other so the site can combine the posts together.

Lists

Elements

Fire
Ice
Thunder
Wind
Water
Earth
Light
Dark
Poison
Gravity
Time
Psychic

Negative Conditions

Damage Over Time (DoT) - Lose 3 HP each turn.
Weaken - When rolling an attack that deals damage, use the lower of the two dice instead of the higher one.
Berserk - You must prioritize injuring the user of this ability over other objectives.
Panic - You must prioritize escape over other objectives
Dispel - MAG decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use MAG commands.
Slow - AGL decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use AGL commands.
Stun - STR decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use STR commands.
Sunder - DEF decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use DEF commands.
Silence - You don't roll cooldown at the end of your turn. NPCs cannot roll dice higher than d6 when using commands.
Zombie - You take damage instead of getting healed by healing effects

Positive Conditions

Regen - Regain 3 HP each turn.
Haste - AGL increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 AGL commands each turn.
Combo + - STR increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 STR commands each turn.
Protect - DEF increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 DEF commands each turn.
Dualcast - MAG increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 MAG commands each turn.
Mine - Targets that attack you take 2 damage.
Cleave - When you use the Strike action, you may deal LR damage to a secondary target.
Recoil - When you Guard, targets that attack you take the lower number rolled as damage.
Shell - When you Charge, you may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your Low Roll (LR).
Chant - When rolling to cooldown a command at the end of your turn, you may roll 2d6 and use the HR.

Generic Provisions

Potion | 1IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR HP.
Hi-Potion | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR+2 HP.
Esuna | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Cleanse using the HR.
Ether | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge using the HR.
Mega-potion | 3IP | Roll 2d6. Any number of characters recover HR+2 HP.
Mega-ether | 3IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands as if they Charged.
Elixir | 4IP | Roll 2d6. Cleanse with HR and recover LR+2 HP.
Megalixir | 5IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters recover LR+2 HP and may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands.
Tent | 5IP | Any number of characters recover 10 HP. and all their commands end cooldown. Each character must make at least two down-time relaxing posts to benefit from this item.

Rulings

This section is for established limits and more granular rules that emerge as we feel out the systems boundaries. While the system's goal is to be flexible, somethings still need to be monitored to keep things fun and avoid unfair differences is power level. Reading this section is optional, but these precedents will be referenced during the approval process.

General Concepts

Both rolls for any actions (including commands) cannot do the same thing, Carte Blanche. E.g. the HR and LR for a command cannot both deal damage.
HR and LR should never be added together to produce a total result.
Static modifiers to a roll cannot exceed a total of +10
If you Guard twice in a turn, you gain Damage negation equal to the higher result (i.e. you do not combine the totals). This also applies to Recoil damage.
Players may fully rework their Command Book for free once after it is initially approved, pending approval from a Dungeon Master.

Command Styles

Command Styles tend to grant bonuses with a value of 2, such as +2 the roll for Strike / Dodge / Guard, dealing 2 damage automatically when something happens, or healing 2 HP when something happens. (Rule of 2)
Custom conditions can only be created in Command Styles. These conditions must be used in commands for their effects to activate, just like standard conditions (e.g. Haste or Slow)
- Custom Conditions cannot utilize an HR result in the same manner as LR in conditions such as Cleave and Shell
- Players cannot duplicate advantages in their command style. ie: using three "helps allies" to give allies +6 to a roll.

Commands

When applying stylish properties, damage or healing can differ from a standard +2.
Stylish Damage & Healing Modifiers (so far)
- +3 damage, conditional (target has a condition)
- Up to +4 damage, variable (e.g. number of ailments a target has up to 4)
- Up to +6, spend resources

[/spoiler]

Previous version 3 · 2024-11-12

Previous version 1.2

The Command System

Table of Contents

Introduction
Core Mechanics
Advancement
Command Styles
Commands
Provisions
Play By Post

Lists
Rulings

External Links

Roll Thread

Command Book Templates

A Horde Master's Guide to Monster Making

The Mirage Board

NPC/Ally Command Book

What Is the Command System?

This is a lightweight framework for adding mechanical devices to existing RP threads. It is smaller in scope to the Dungeons and Darkness system, prioritizing flavor over complicated mechanics. The only reward loop for the Command System is more RP, and some of those rewards will be of your own making. This is GoL's "rules light alternative" for those who like the game-like feel of progressive advancement but not necessarily the math-intensive and intricate systems of DnD.

Because the use of this system is meant to integrate differently with the site than we're used to, I'd like to stress a few design concepts before getting into actual mechanics.

Narrative

Keep the Story Moving

Combat in this system should always be to advance the narrative. Have a goal to complete, and let the enemies be obstacles in your path. Both while you're designing your character and their moves, ask yourself if these mechanics will help you move from one obstacle to the next.

Creativity

Flavor over Function

As you interact with this system, instead of thinking about things in terms of "what your character can do" instead try to imagine an overall picture of what it looks like when they fight. How do they interact with friends and allies, what do they want to get out of the fight? What reasons do they have to fight in the first place? Hold onto that feeling and use the rules below to express it.

Sportsmanship

Remember to be Kind

This system is meant to be used in the scope of regular RP. Just like in regular RP, nothing will happen to your characters that you do not want to happen. Do not fear failure. Discuss circumstances and fallbacks when necessary. Worry less about optimizing and covering every weakness. Let your character have interesting weaknesses that can be exploited, while having cool moves that are fun to describe. When you're making your character, trying to avoid un-fun strategies that will stall the story you and others are trying to tell. You're not playing to win, you're playing to find out what happens next.

Core Mechanics

Basics

At Character creation, you will choose one of these dice to represent each of the four stats. Pick one of three stat schemes, and distribute the dice accordingly.

Reckless - Your stat dice are a d4, d8, d10, and a d12.
Brave - Your stat dice are d6, d8, d10, and a d10.
Modest - Your stat dice are d8, d8, d8, and d10

Whenever you want to make use of one of these stats, you'll roll that stat's dice twice. Then you'll apply either the higher rolled number (HR) or the lower rolled number (LR), depending on the action you're using.

You may use Two of these actions each turn, or replace one of them with a command you have created (rules on Commands below). You cannot use two actions that use the same stat in a single turn.

STRENGTH

The measure of your physical prowess.

Strike - Roll your Strength Dice twice and deal the High Roll (HR) as damage.
Breach - Roll you Strength Dice twice and deal the Low Roll (LR) as damage. If the target has active damage negation (e.g. Guard), reduce that negation by your LR value before dealing damage.

MAGIC

The proof of your magical talent.

Charge - Roll your Magic Dice twice. You may end cooldown on one of your Commands you didn't use this turn if the High Roll (HR) is equal to or greater than its CP.

_{CP is short for "Command Points", which are explained in the Command section of this guide.}

Cleanse - Roll your Magic Dice twice. If the High Roll (HR) is 4 or greater, you end up to 2 conditions currently affecting you.

DEFENSE

The fortitude of your mind and body.

Guard - Roll your Defense dice twice. You may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your High Roll (HR).
Cover - Roll your Defense dice twice. You intercept an incoming attack for an ally, taking damage instead of them and reducing it by your Low Roll (LR).

AGILITY

The quickness of thought and movements.

Dodge - Before you make your post, choose an incoming source of damage. Roll Agility twice. If the high roll (HR) beats the incoming damage amount, you take no damage and suffer no resulting conditions.
Raid - Roll you Agility Dice twice and deal the Low Roll (LR) as damage. This cannot trigger a Dodge or be intercepted by Cover.

Resources

Hit Points - Your hit points start at 30. You can increase your HP by taking certain Advancements.
Item Points - A resource used to produce items from your provisions. You begin with 10 IP.
Command Deck - The number of Commands you can equip at one time. Your Command Deck starts with two slots.

Cooldown

A Command goes into Cooldown after you use it, this means it can't be used until it's cooldown ends.

At the end of each of your turns, roll 1d6. You may choose a Command you didn't use this turn with CP equal to or lower than the result and bring it out of cooldown.

Affinities

By taking advancements you may gain weaknesses or resistances to elements or conditions. These are called your Affinities. Affinities are fairly simple.

If you are weak to an element, attacks of that element get +4 against you.
If you resist an element, attacks of that element get -4 against you.
If you are weak to a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 2 to affect you. Cleanse must roll 6 or higher to end this condition.
If you resist a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 6 to affect you. Cleanse must roll 2 or higher to end this condition.

Advancement

Advancement in the Command System is based on the number of posts attributed to your character account. For every 20 posts your character makes, you may select one of the following "Advancements" for them. Many of these can be selected multiple times. Their limits are provided below.

Origin Tier

When you create a character, you may choose one of three tiers for them to start out in, based on their combat experience level IC. Your character's post count will give them extra Advancements on top of these as described above. Be sure to take Marks of Mastery as normal based on the number of Advancements you start with.

Novice - begin with 5 Advancements.
Intermediate - begin with 15 Advancements
Advanced - begin with 25 Advancements

Basic Advancements

HP + 5 or IP + 1 (Max 6)
+1 Command Deck (Max 10)
Learn a new Command (Max 12)
Create a New Provision (max 3)
Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command (Max 2)
Adopt a new Condition or Elemental weakness and resistance. (Max 2)

Critical Advancements

You may choose to take a Critical Advancement instead of a regular Advancement if you have 20 or more Advancements already.

Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command or Create a Mastered Provision (Max 2)
Refine your Command Style. It gains 1 point to spend on features (Max 2)
One of your Commands becomes your Signature Command. It costs 1 less slot (max 1)
One of your provisions becomes your Key Item. It costs 1 less IP. (max 1)
Adopt a new Condition or Elemental Resistance. (max 2)
HP + 10 or IP + 2 (Max 2)
Create a New Provision (max 3)

Mark of Mastery

Marks of Mastery are narrative benefits that come with advancing naturally in this system. They are less mechanical in nature but act as badges of honor for progressing through the game and influencing the world around you. For every 5 Advancements you gain, you may choose one Mark of Mastery from the list below. You may take the same Mark of Mastery multiple times, each time you do so, the scope or reach of that Mark's influence increases.

Invoking Masteries

You can invoke masteries in dives which are led by GMs or other players in order to request special information or influence plot decisions based on the Masteries your character possesses. The effects of invoking masteries can vary from thread to thread and in threads where one player is guiding things it is up to them to what degree your mastery applies.

[spoiler=Marks of Mastery]

The Connections - You have been to many worlds and met many people. The connections you've made with both friends and enemies strengthens your resolve, and it seems no matter where you go you can pull on these invisible threads to lead you back home. Did you always value these connections? Have they saved you in a time of crisis?
The Darkness - You faced the darkness inside yourself and you faltered. You tumbled down a dark path, and lost your way. You may have been seeking love, or power, or something else entirely. What did you find in the darkness that strengthened you? And what have you destroyed as a consequence?
The Establishment - You are building an enterprise to accomplish your goals. It requires resources, personnel, but you've got the talents to acquire these things. Does the engine you're building reflect your goals, or has it taken on a life of its own?
The Fame - Your name and deeds proceed you. People are more likely to know your name, whether you like it or not. Fame is a fickle thing that grows a life of its own and can sometimes get bigger than the truth. Do you like being famous? Is your fame good or bad? Are there things you wish people didn't know?
The Followers - Your ability to command and inspire people has rallied allies to your cause. These compatriots may have various strengths of their own and can help you accomplish tasks you couldn't do so alone. What do you mean to the people who follow you, and what do they mean to you?
The Grudge - You have poured a lot of time and energy into a rivalry or conflict with one other character in particular. Whether they're a player or an NPC, a large motivation for you has been overcoming them in some way. How has this conflict uprooted or spilled over into your other responsibilities or relationships? What would you give up to see this conflict resolved?
The Light - You have earned your place in the light through your trials. Maybe you were tempted by the darkness and resisted, even when it cost you something precious. Maybe you failed, and had to find the light anew after an arduous journey through darkness. What has made your inner light so strong? What compromises have you considered that might lead you astray?
The Expertise - You're an expert in a certain field. By chance or dedication, you've come to command knowledge and skills with which to confront the trials ahead. How did you come to possess this skillset? Does having these capabilities make life easier for you...or more troublesome?
The Travels - You are adept at navigating the cosmos and know where to find whatever you need on most worlds you visit. If you haven't been there, you know someone who has. Even under foreign skies, you have developed a knack for finding the right path. How did you gain the expertise? What did you lose along your travels, and what did you gain in return?
The Ultimate Weapon - You have honed a particular weapon through your travels and it reflects your strength and dedication. It's not just a part of you, but a key player in your story. How do the weapon's unique properties lead to new opportunities for you?

Customization

Command Styles

Every character has a thing they do in battle. A way they weave between offense and defense, a shift in stance, a cycle of energy. This is where power meets personality. What makes your character's power unique? How do they benefit or suffer from its use and how do they use those things to remove obstacles in their path?

At Character Creation, you'll create a Command Style for your character. It defines the way your power manifests in the world. It could be exceptional martial prowess, honed by years of toil. It could be a well spring of inner mana that surges in sometimes uncontrollable ways. It could be a powerful weapon that unlocks the nature of things! Command Styles enable all the strange things you do.

Command Styles have mechanical presence too. You can spend up to 3 points on your Command Style. You can choose some of these more than once. Each of the following costs 1 point.

It deals damage to the opponent in some way.
It Heals you or allies.
It supports you or your allies.
It hinders the enemy.
It creates a unique resource to interact with stylish commands and other style features and a way to spend that resource. Your other style effects can generate or spend this resource. (max 1)
It gives you another method to generate your unique resource. (max 1)
It creates a custom positive condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)
It creates a custom negative condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)

The Rule of Two

Many Command Styles will help you in various ways. They might trigger healing off of some kind of basic action or provide bonuses to certain roll results, etc... If you're not sure what kind of potency an effect should have, try using the number 2. This is not all encompassing and some things might get scaled up or down for balance, but if you're unsure, 2 is always a good place to start.

Commands

Commands are special skills that require more than the average amount of energy to produce. Once you use one of your commands, you must wait for it to cooldown.

Whenever you get a new command advancement, you can use the rules below to create a new command.

You get two Command Deck Slots and two Commands at character creation.

It is possible to have more commands than you have command deck slots, but you can only ever take your command deck into combat. You can change which commands are in your command deck at any time when you aren't in combat.

Command Rolls

A command must roll dice if it Deals damage, Heals HP, or gives a negative effect to a target.

If your command requires rolling dice, you must decide which stat dice you'll use to roll the command when you create it. All commands roll only one pair of dice, and apply that result to all effects listed as part of that command.

When you create a command that has more than one property which requires dice results, you must choose one to be the "primary result". That property will use the High Roll (HR). All other effects will use the Low Roll (LR).

Similar to the Strength actions, Commands deal or heal damage by default without the need of "accuracy checks". A negative effect or condition, however, requires a roll of at least 4 to take effect.

Command Creation

Commands use Command Points (CP) to balance the powers of various commands. All commands have 3 CP to spend on properties and must spend at least that many. Properties are effects that contribute to the "game-state". They advance you toward victory or make it harder for enemies to defeat you.

This CP cap goes up by +1 if your ability interacts with your Command Style in some way. It goes up by +2 if you decide to make a Master Command, which takes up two Command Deck Slots. See the Mastered Commands section below for more details. For each of the below that is true, the command's cost increases by the amount given. Count each instance of a similar property as an addition cost.

[+2] Essential* - The command replicates a generic stat action (Max 1). You may replace HR with LR, but not vice versa, or apply an element to damage as desired.
[+1] Damaging** - The command deals damage to the enemy.
[+1] Healing** - The command heals an ally.
[+1] Overcharged - The command hits multiple enemies or multiple allies (Max 2).
[+1] Lingering - The commands's effects last two additional turns, including Conditions, Quick, Commanding, and applicable Stylish properties. (Max 1)
[+1] Empowering - The command empowers Allies in some way (Max 2).
[+1] Hindering - The command hinders the enemy in some way (Max 2).
[+0] Resonant - The Command's mechanics or flavor reference your Command Style, increasing the CP cap by 1. (Max 1)
[+1] Stylish - The Command gains an additional effect from interacting with your Command Style. (Max 1).

^{*If a generic stat action deals damage, adding a Damaging property increases its damage by +2

**Add +2 to total damage or healing when taking multiple times.}

Mastered Commands

Mastered Commands, like normal commands, have CP to spend on properties. As mentioned before, they get 2 more CP to spend than normal commands, and take up an extra slot in your Command Deck. Additionally, Mastered Commands also have additional properties that only they have access to, listed here.

[+1] Versatile - The command can act differently depending on circumstances.
[+2] Quickening - The command gives you access to a third action, such as one used by an ally or summoned being. Does not stack.
[+1] Commanding - The command gives you access to a new command while active. Create the temporary command when you create this one. These commands are part of your deck only while this effect is active.

Mirage Extra Deck

The Extra Deck is a secondary deck each character has that is empty until you have purchased or obtained a Mirage Command from a Dive. The extra deck functions just like the Command Deck, only that it can only be filled with commands with the [Mirage] tag. These commands can be Mastered or Standard, and take up slots as normal. Everyone has 3 slots in their extra deck.

Provisions

Every character has 10 Item points. You may use your item points to use one of your custom provisions, or a Generic Provision once per turn without using an action. You begin a thread with your full item points, but once you use them you do not regain them.

You do not start with any provisions unless you choose to replace one of your starting commands with a provision instead. You may gain new custom provisions as an Advancement. When creating a custom provision, use the same rules for creating commands, except that you can create provisions that cost less than 3 CP if you want to. A provision costs its CP in item points to use. Provisions do not have stats. If a provision needs to roll dice to resolve an effect, it uses d6.

You do not have a predetermined "stock" of provisions. Any time you spend item points, you can justify how and why you have the item or ability you're using from your custom provisions or the list of Generic Provisions below.

Play By Post

This system is meant to be played by post on this forum, with each player taking turns. Not every fight needs to be run by a "GM" or game master. Any player in the thread can also run enemies and bosses if they have the permission of the other thread participants. For more information, reference the Horde Master's Guide (linked at the top of this post).

Rolling Dice

In the interest of more streamlined conflict threads, you might want to roll your dice outside of your thread post, and simply post with the results in mind. There are two ways to achieve this. You can roll in our discord's #identity-bot-dice channel and link the resulting dice roll message in your post for posterity. Just make sure you type out the results as well so that those who wish to take you at your word don't need to check discord for your dice results.

You may also use the Roll Thread (linked at the top of this post) to post your dice rolls in a thread on this forum and link that to your post for reference.

If you wish to make your rolls in the same thread that you are RPing in, you may do so, just trying to keep all your roll and RP posts within 20 minutes of each other so the site can combine the posts together.

Lists

Elements

Fire
Ice
Thunder
Wind
Water
Earth
Light
Dark
Poison
Gravity
Time
Psychic

Negative Conditions

Damage Over Time (DoT) - Lose 3 HP each turn.
Weaken - When rolling an attack that deals damage, use the lower of the two dice instead of the higher one.
Berserk - You must prioritize injuring the user of this ability over other objectives.
Panic - You must prioritize escape over other objectives
Dispel - MAG decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use MAG commands.
Slow - AGL decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use AGL commands.
Stun - STR decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use STR commands.
Sunder - DEF decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use DEF commands.
Silence - You don't roll cooldown at the end of your turn. NPCs cannot roll dice higher than d6 when using commands.
Zombie - You take damage instead of getting healed by healing effects

Positive Conditions

Regen - Regain 3 HP each turn.
Haste - AGL increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 AGL commands each turn.
Combo + - STR increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 STR commands each turn.
Protect - DEF increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 DEF commands each turn.
Dualcast - MAG increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 MAG commands each turn.
Mine - Targets that attack you take 2 damage.
Cleave - When you use the Strike action, you may deal LR damage to a secondary target.
Recoil - When you Guard, targets that attack you take the lower number rolled as damage.
Shell - When you Charge, you may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your Low Roll (LR).
Chant - When rolling to cooldown a command at the end of your turn, you may roll 2d6 and use the HR.

Generic Provisions

Potion | 1IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR HP.
Hi-Potion | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR+2 HP.
Esuna | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Cleanse using the HR.
Ether | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge using the HR.
Mega-potion | 3IP | Roll 2d6. Any number of characters recover HR+2 HP.
Mega-ether | 3IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands as if they Charged.
Elixir | 4IP | Roll 2d6. Cleanse with HR and recover LR+2 HP.
Megalixir | 5IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters recover LR+2 HP and may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands.
Tent | 5IP | Any number of characters recover 10 HP. and all their commands end cooldown. Each character must make at least two down-time relaxing posts to benefit from this item.

Rulings

This section is for established limits and more granular rules that emerge as we feel out the systems boundaries. While the system's goal is to be flexible, somethings still need to be monitored to keep things fun and avoid unfair differences is power level. Reading this section is optional, but these precedents will be referenced during the approval process.

General Concepts

Both rolls for any actions (including commands) cannot do the same thing, Carte Blanche. E.g. the HR and LR for a command cannot both deal damage.
HR and LR should never be added together to produce a total result.
Static modifiers to a roll cannot exceed a total of +10
If you Guard twice in a turn, you gain Damage negation equal to the higher result (i.e. you do not combine the totals). This also applies to Recoil damage.
Players may fully rework their Command Book for free once after it is initially approved, pending approval from a Dungeon Master.

Command Styles

Command Styles tend to grant bonuses with a value of 2, such as +2 the roll for Strike / Dodge / Guard, dealing 2 damage automatically when something happens, or healing 2 HP when something happens. (Rule of 2)
Custom conditions can only be created in Command Styles. These conditions must be used in commands for their effects to activate, just like standard conditions (e.g. Haste or Slow)
- Custom Conditions cannot utilize an HR result in the same manner as LR in conditions such as Cleave and Shell
- Players cannot duplicate advantages in their command style. ie: using three "helps allies" to give allies +6 to a roll.

Commands

When applying stylish properties, damage or healing can differ from a standard +2.
Stylish Damage & Healing Modifiers (so far)
- +3 damage, conditional (target has a condition)
- Up to +4 damage, variable (e.g. number of ailments a target has up to 4)
- Up to +6, spend resources

[/spoiler]

Previous version 4 · 2025-03-17

Previous Version 1.3

The Command System

Table of Contents

Introduction
Core Mechanics
Advancement
Command Styles
Commands
Provisions
Play By Post

Lists
Rulings

External Links

Command Book Templates

The Mirage Board

A Horde Master's Guide to Monster Making

NPC/Ally Command Book

Roll Thread

What Is the Command System?

This is a lightweight framework for adding mechanical devices to existing RP threads. It is smaller in scope to the Dungeons and Darkness system, prioritizing flavor over complicated mechanics. The only reward loop for the Command System is more RP, and some of those rewards will be of your own making. This is GoL's "rules light alternative" for those who like the game-like feel of progressive advancement but not necessarily the math-intensive and intricate systems of DnD.

Because the use of this system is meant to integrate differently with the site than we're used to, I'd like to stress a few design concepts before getting into actual mechanics.

Narrative

Keep the Story Moving

Combat in this system should always be to advance the narrative. Have a goal to complete, and let the enemies be obstacles in your path. Both while you're designing your character and their moves, ask yourself if these mechanics will help you move from one obstacle to the next.

Creativity

Flavor over Function

As you interact with this system, instead of thinking about things in terms of "what your character can do" instead try to imagine an overall picture of what it looks like when they fight. How do they interact with friends and allies, what do they want to get out of the fight? What reasons do they have to fight in the first place? Hold onto that feeling and use the rules below to express it.

Sportsmanship

Remember to be Kind

This system is meant to be used in the scope of regular RP. Just like in regular RP, nothing will happen to your characters that you do not want to happen. Do not fear failure. Discuss circumstances and fallbacks when necessary. Worry less about optimizing and covering every weakness. Let your character have interesting weaknesses that can be exploited, while having cool moves that are fun to describe. When you're making your character, trying to avoid un-fun strategies that will stall the story you and others are trying to tell. You're not playing to win, you're playing to find out what happens next.

Core Mechanics

Basics

At Character creation, you will choose one of these dice to represent each of the four stats. Pick one of three stat schemes, and distribute the dice accordingly.

Reckless - Your stat dice are a d4, d8, d10, and a d12.
Brave - Your stat dice are d6, d8, d10, and a d10.
Modest - Your stat dice are d8, d8, d8, and d10

Whenever you want to make use of one of these stats, you'll roll that stat's dice twice. Then you'll apply either the higher rolled number (HR) or the lower rolled number (LR), depending on the action you're using.

You may use Two of these actions each turn, or replace one of them with a command you have created (rules on Commands below). You cannot use two actions that use the same stat in a single turn.

STRENGTH

The measure of your physical prowess.

Strike - Roll your Strength Dice twice and deal the High Roll (HR) as damage.
Breach - Roll you Strength Dice twice and add the LR to your next attack as a damage bonus. If that attack's target is guarding, that attack's statuses and element are not ignored by their guard.

MAGIC

The proof of your magical talent.

Charge - Roll your Magic Dice twice. You may end cooldown on one of your Commands you didn't use this turn if the High Roll (HR) is equal to or greater than its CP.

_{CP is short for "Command Points", which are explained in the Command section of this guide.}

Cleanse - Roll your Magic Dice twice. If the High Roll (HR) is 4 or greater, you end up to 2 conditions currently affecting you.

DEFENSE

The fortitude of your mind and body.

Guard - Roll your Defense dice twice. You may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your High Roll (HR). Ignore the element and statuses of any attack that reduces your Guard.
Cover - Roll your Defense dice twice. You intercept an incoming attack for an ally, the attack targets you instead of them. Reduce any damage by your Low Roll (LR).

AGILITY

The quickness of thought and movements.

Dodge - Before you make your post, choose an incoming source of damage. Roll Agility twice. If the high roll (HR) beats the incoming damage amount, you take no damage and suffer no resulting conditions.
Raid - Roll you Agility Dice twice and deal the Low Roll (LR) as damage. This cannot trigger a Dodge.

Resources

Hit Points - Your hit points start at 30. You can increase your HP by taking certain Advancements.
Item Points - A resource used to produce items from your provisions. You begin with 10 IP.
Command Deck - The number of Commands you can equip at one time. Your Command Deck starts with two slots.

Cooldown

A Command goes into Cooldown after you use it, this means it can't be used until it's cooldown ends.

At the end of each of your turns, roll 1d6. You may choose a Command you didn't use this turn with CP equal to or lower than the result and bring it out of cooldown.

Affinities

By taking advancements you may gain weaknesses or resistances to elements or conditions. These are called your Affinities. Affinities are fairly simple. You may begin with an elemental weak/res pair for free if you choose to.

If you are weak to an element, attacks of that element get +4 against you.
If you resist an element, attacks of that element get -4 against you.
If you are weak to a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition automatically succeed. Cleanse must roll 8 or higher to end this condition.
If you resist a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 8 to affect you. Cleansing this condition automatically succeeds.

Advancement

Advancement in the Command System is based on the number of posts attributed to your character account. For every 20 posts your character makes, you may select one of the following "Advancements" for them. Many of these can be selected multiple times. Their limits are provided below.

Origin Tier

When you create a character, you may choose one of three tiers for them to start out in, based on their combat experience level IC. Your character's post count will give them extra Advancements on top of these as described above. Be sure to take Marks of Mastery as normal based on the number of Advancements you start with.

Novice - begin with 5 Advancements.
Intermediate - begin with 15 Advancements
Advanced - begin with 25 Advancements

Basic Advancements

HP + 5
or IP + 1 (Max 6)
+1 Command Deck (Max 10)
Learn a new Command (Max 12)
Create a New Provision (max 3)
Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command (Max 2)
Adopt a new Condition weakness and resistance
or Elemental weakness and resistance. (Max 2)

Critical Advancements

You may choose to take a Critical Advancement instead of a regular Advancement if you have 20 or more Advancements already.

Increase provision dice to d8
or Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command
or Create a Mastered Provision (Max 2)
Refine your Command Style. It gains 1 point to spend on features (Max 2)
One of your Commands becomes your Signature Command. It costs 1 less slot (max 1)
One of your provisions becomes your Key Item. It costs 1 less IP. (max 1)
Adopt a new Condition Resistance
or Elemental Resistance. (max 2)
HP + 10
or IP + 2 (Max 2)
Create a New Provision (max 3)

Mark of Mastery

Marks of Mastery are narrative benefits that come with advancing naturally in this system. They are less mechanical in nature but act as badges of honor for progressing through the game and influencing the world around you. For every 5 Advancements you gain, you may choose one Mark of Mastery from the list below. You may take the same Mark of Mastery multiple times, each time you do so, the scope or reach of that Mark's influence increases.

Invoking Masteries

You can invoke masteries in dives which are led by GMs or other players in order to request special information or influence plot decisions based on the Masteries your character possesses. The effects of invoking masteries can vary from thread to thread and in threads where one player is guiding things it is up to them to what degree your mastery applies.

[spoiler=Marks of Mastery]

The Connections - You have been to many worlds and met many people. The connections you've made with both friends and enemies strengthens your resolve, and it seems no matter where you go you can pull on these invisible threads to lead you back home. Did you always value these connections? Have they saved you in a time of crisis?
The Darkness - You faced the darkness inside yourself and you faltered. You tumbled down a dark path, and lost your way. You may have been seeking love, or power, or something else entirely. What did you find in the darkness that strengthened you? And what have you destroyed as a consequence?
The Establishment - You are building an enterprise to accomplish your goals. It requires resources, personnel, but you've got the talents to acquire these things. Does the engine you're building reflect your goals, or has it taken on a life of its own?
The Fame - Your name and deeds proceed you. People are more likely to know your name, whether you like it or not. Fame is a fickle thing that grows a life of its own and can sometimes get bigger than the truth. Do you like being famous? Is your fame good or bad? Are there things you wish people didn't know?
The Followers - Your ability to command and inspire people has rallied allies to your cause. These compatriots may have various strengths of their own and can help you accomplish tasks you couldn't do so alone. What do you mean to the people who follow you, and what do they mean to you?
The Grudge - You have poured a lot of time and energy into a rivalry or conflict with one other character in particular. Whether they're a player or an NPC, a large motivation for you has been overcoming them in some way. How has this conflict uprooted or spilled over into your other responsibilities or relationships? What would you give up to see this conflict resolved?
The Light - You have earned your place in the light through your trials. Maybe you were tempted by the darkness and resisted, even when it cost you something precious. Maybe you failed, and had to find the light anew after an arduous journey through darkness. What has made your inner light so strong? What compromises have you considered that might lead you astray?
The Expertise - You're an expert in a certain field. By chance or dedication, you've come to command knowledge and skills with which to confront the trials ahead. How did you come to possess this skillset? Does having these capabilities make life easier for you...or more troublesome?
The Travels - You are adept at navigating the cosmos and know where to find whatever you need on most worlds you visit. If you haven't been there, you know someone who has. Even under foreign skies, you have developed a knack for finding the right path. How did you gain the expertise? What did you lose along your travels, and what did you gain in return?
The Ultimate Weapon - You have honed a particular weapon through your travels and it reflects your strength and dedication. It's not just a part of you, but a key player in your story. How do the weapon's unique properties lead to new opportunities for you?

Customization

Command Styles

Every character has a thing they do in battle. A way they weave between offense and defense, a shift in stance, a cycle of energy. This is where power meets personality. What makes your character's power unique? How do they benefit or suffer from its use and how do they use those things to remove obstacles in their path?

At Character Creation, you'll create a Command Style for your character. It defines the way your power manifests in the world. It could be exceptional martial prowess, honed by years of toil. It could be a well spring of inner mana that surges in sometimes uncontrollable ways. It could be a powerful weapon that unlocks the nature of things! Command Styles enable all the strange things you do.

Command Styles have mechanical presence too. You can spend up to 3 points on your Command Style. You can choose some of these more than once. Each of the following costs 1 point.

It deals damage to the opponent in some way.
It Heals you or allies.
It supports you or your allies.
It hinders the enemy.
Conditionally add a property to certain commands. (max 1)
It creates a unique resource to interact with stylish commands and other style features and a way to spend that resource. Your other style effects can generate or spend this resource. (max 1)
It gives you another method to generate your unique resource. (max 1)
It creates a custom positive condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)
It creates a custom negative condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)

The Rule of Two

Many Command Styles will help you in various ways. They might trigger healing off of some kind of basic action or provide bonuses to certain roll results, etc... If you're not sure what kind of potency an effect should have, try using the number 2. This is not all encompassing and some things might get scaled up or down for balance, but if you're unsure, 2 is always a good place to start.

Commands

Commands are special skills that require more than the average amount of energy to produce. Once you use one of your commands, you must wait for it to cooldown.

Whenever you get a new command advancement, you can use the rules below to create a new command.

You get two Command Deck Slots and two Commands at character creation.

It is possible to have more commands than you have command deck slots, but you can only ever take your command deck into combat. You can change which commands are in your command deck at any time when you aren't in combat.

Command Rolls

A command must roll dice if it Deals damage, Heals HP, or gives a negative effect to a target.

If your command requires rolling dice, you must decide which stat dice you'll use to roll the command when you create it. All commands roll only one pair of dice, and apply that result to all effects listed as part of that command.

When you create a command that has more than one property which requires dice results, you must choose one to be the "primary result". That property will use the High Roll (HR). All other effects will use the Low Roll (LR).

Similar to the Strength actions, Commands deal or heal damage by default without the need of "accuracy checks". A negative effect or condition, however, requires a roll of at least 4 to take effect.

Command Creation

Commands use Command Points (CP) to balance the powers of various commands. All commands have 3 CP to spend on properties and must spend at least that many. Properties are effects that contribute to the "game-state". They advance you toward victory or make it harder for enemies to defeat you.

This CP cap goes up by +1 if your ability interacts with your Command Style in some way. It goes up by +2 if you decide to make a Master Command, which takes up two Command Deck Slots. See the Mastered Commands section below for more details. For each of the below that is true, the command's cost increases by the amount given. Count each instance of a similar property as an addition cost.

[+2] Essential* - The command replicates a generic stat action (Max 1). You may replace HR with LR, but not vice versa, or apply an element to damage as desired.
[+1] Damaging** - The command deals damage to the enemy.
[+1] Healing** - The command heals an ally.
[+1] Overcharged - The command hits multiple enemies or multiple allies (Max 2).
[+1] Lingering - The commands's effects last two additional turns, including Conditions, Quick, Commanding, and applicable Stylish properties. (Max 1)
[+1] Empowering - The command empowers Allies in some way (Max 2).
[+1] Hindering - The command hinders the enemy in some way (Max 2).
[+0] Resonant - The Command's mechanics or flavor reference your Command Style, increasing the CP cap by 1. (Max 1)
[+1] Stylish - The Command gains an additional effect from interacting with your Command Style. (Max 1).

^{*If a generic stat action deals damage, adding a Damaging property increases its damage by +2

**Add +2 to total damage or healing when taking multiple times.}

Mastered Commands

Mastered Commands, like normal commands, have CP to spend on properties. As mentioned before, they get 2 more CP to spend than normal commands, and take up an extra slot in your Command Deck. Additionally, Mastered Commands also have additional properties that only they have access to, listed here.

[+1] Versatile - The command can act differently depending on circumstances.
[+2] Quickening - The command gives you access to a third action, such as one used by an ally or summoned being. Does not stack.
[+1] Commanding - The command gives you access to a new command while active. Create the temporary command when you create this one. These commands are part of your deck only while this effect is active.

Mirage Extra Deck

The Extra Deck is a secondary deck each character has that is empty until you have purchased or obtained a Mirage Command from a Dive. The extra deck functions just like the Command Deck, only that it can only be filled with commands with the [Mirage] tag. These commands can be Mastered or Standard, and take up slots as normal. Everyone has 3 slots in their extra deck.

Provisions

Every character has 10 Item points. You may use your item points to use one of your custom provisions, or a Generic Provision once per turn without using an action. You begin a thread with your full item points, but once you use them you do not regain them.

You do not start with any provisions unless you choose to replace one of your starting commands with a provision instead. You may gain new custom provisions as an Advancement. When creating a custom provision, use the same rules for creating commands, except that you can create provisions that cost less than 3 CP if you want to. A provision costs its CP in item points to use. Provisions do not have stats. If a provision needs to roll dice to resolve an effect, it uses d6.

You do not have a predetermined "stock" of provisions. Any time you spend item points, you can justify how and why you have the item or ability you're using from your custom provisions or the list of Generic Provisions below.

Play By Post

This system is meant to be played by post on this forum, with each player taking turns. Not every fight needs to be run by a "GM" or game master. Any player in the thread can also run enemies and bosses if they have the permission of the other thread participants. For more information, reference the Horde Master's Guide (linked at the top of this post).

Rolling Dice

In the interest of more streamlined conflict threads, you might want to roll your dice outside of your thread post, and simply post with the results in mind. There are two ways to achieve this. You can roll in our discord's #identity-bot-dice channel and link the resulting dice roll message in your post for posterity. Just make sure you type out the results as well so that those who wish to take you at your word don't need to check discord for your dice results.

You may also use the Roll Thread (linked at the top of this post) to post your dice rolls in a thread on this forum and link that to your post for reference.

If you wish to make your rolls in the same thread that you are RPing in, you may do so, just trying to keep all your roll and RP posts within 20 minutes of each other so the site can combine the posts together.

Lists

Elements

Fire
Ice
Thunder
Wind
Water
Earth
Light
Dark
Poison
Gravity
Time
Psychic

Negative Conditions

Damage Over Time (DoT) - Lose 3 HP each turn.
Weaken - When rolling an attack that deals damage, use the lower of the two dice instead of the higher one.
Berserk - You must prioritize injuring the user of this ability over other objectives.
Panic - You must prioritize escape over other objectives
Dispel - MAG decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use MAG commands.
Slow - AGL decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use AGL commands.
Stun - STR decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use STR commands.
Sunder - DEF decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use DEF commands.
Silence - You don't roll cooldown at the end of your turn. NPCs cannot roll dice higher than d6 when using commands.
Zombie - You take damage instead of getting healed by healing effects

Positive Conditions

Regen - Regain 3 HP each turn.
Haste - AGL increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 AGL commands each turn.
Combo + - STR increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 STR commands each turn.
Protect - DEF increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 DEF commands each turn.
Dualcast - MAG increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 MAG commands each turn.
Mine - Targets that attack you take 2 damage.
Cleave - When you use the Strike action, you may deal LR damage to a secondary target.
Recoil - When you Guard, targets that attack you take the lower number rolled as damage.
Shell - When you Charge, you may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your Low Roll (LR).
Chant - When rolling to cooldown a command at the end of your turn, you may roll 2d6 and use the HR.

Generic Provisions

Potion | 1IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR HP.
Hi-Potion | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR+2 HP.
Esuna | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Cleanse using the HR.
Ether | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge using the HR.
Mega-potion | 3IP | Roll 2d6. Any number of characters recover HR+2 HP.
Mega-ether | 3IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands as if they Charged.
Elixir | 4IP | Roll 2d6. Cleanse with HR and recover LR+2 HP.
Megalixir | 5IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters recover LR+2 HP and may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands.
Tent | 5IP | Any number of characters recover 10 HP. and all their commands end cooldown. Each character must make at least two down-time relaxing posts to benefit from this item.

Rulings

This section is for established limits and more granular rules that emerge as we feel out the systems boundaries. While the system's goal is to be flexible, somethings still need to be monitored to keep things fun and avoid unfair differences is power level. Reading this section is optional, but these precedents will be referenced during the approval process.

General Concepts

Both rolls for any actions (including commands) cannot do the same thing, Carte Blanche. E.g. the HR and LR for a command cannot both deal damage.
HR and LR should never be added together to produce a total result.
A roll's dice size can't go higher than a d14
Static modifiers to a roll cannot exceed a total of +10
If you Guard twice in a turn, you gain Damage negation equal to the higher result (i.e. you do not combine the totals). This also applies to Recoil damage.
Players may fully rework their Command Book for free once after it is initially approved, pending approval from a Dungeon Master.

Command Styles

When a style adds a property to a command, it can only do so once per turn.
You cannot spend more than one style point on the same effect (ie 3 style points for +6 damage/healing/etc)
Command Styles tend to grant bonuses with a value of 2, such as +2 the roll for Strike / Dodge / Guard, dealing 2 damage automatically when something happens, or healing 2 HP when something happens. (Rule of 2)
Custom conditions can only be created in Command Styles. These conditions must be used in commands for their effects to activate, just like standard conditions (e.g. Haste or Slow)
- Custom Conditions cannot utilize an HR result in the same manner as LR in conditions such as Cleave and Shell
- Players cannot duplicate advantages in their command style. ie: using three "helps allies" to give allies +6 to a roll.

Commands

When applying stylish properties, damage or healing can differ from a standard +2.
Stylish Damage & Healing Modifiers (so far)
- +3 damage, conditional (target has a condition)
- Up to +4 damage, variable (e.g. number of ailments a target has up to 4)
- Up to +6, spend resources

[/spoiler]

Previous version 5 · 2025-07-30

Previous Version 1.4

The Command System

Table of Contents

Introduction
Core Mechanics
Advancement
Command Styles
Commands
Provisions
Play By Post

Lists
Rulings

External Links

Command Book Templates

The Mirage Board

A Horde Master's Guide to Monster Making

NPC/Ally Command Book

Roll Thread

What Is the Command System?

This is a lightweight framework for adding mechanical devices to existing RP threads. It is smaller in scope to the Dungeons and Darkness system, prioritizing flavor over complicated mechanics. The only reward loop for the Command System is more RP, and some of those rewards will be of your own making. This is GoL's "rules light alternative" for those who like the game-like feel of progressive advancement but not necessarily the math-intensive and intricate systems of DnD.

Because the use of this system is meant to integrate differently with the site than we're used to, I'd like to stress a few design concepts before getting into actual mechanics.

Narrative

Keep the Story Moving

Combat in this system should always be to advance the narrative. Have a goal to complete, and let the enemies be obstacles in your path. Both while you're designing your character and their moves, ask yourself if these mechanics will help you move from one obstacle to the next.

Creativity

Flavor over Function

As you interact with this system, instead of thinking about things in terms of "what your character can do" instead try to imagine an overall picture of what it looks like when they fight. How do they interact with friends and allies, what do they want to get out of the fight? What reasons do they have to fight in the first place? Hold onto that feeling and use the rules below to express it.

Sportsmanship

Remember to be Kind

This system is meant to be used in the scope of regular RP. Just like in regular RP, nothing will happen to your characters that you do not want to happen. Do not fear failure. Discuss circumstances and fallbacks when necessary. Worry less about optimizing and covering every weakness. Let your character have interesting weaknesses that can be exploited, while having cool moves that are fun to describe. When you're making your character, trying to avoid un-fun strategies that will stall the story you and others are trying to tell. You're not playing to win, you're playing to find out what happens next.

Core Mechanics

Basics

At Character creation, you will choose one of these dice to represent each of the four stats. Pick one of three stat schemes, and distribute the dice accordingly.

Reckless - Your stat dice are a d4, d8, d10, and a d12.
Brave - Your stat dice are d6, d8, d10, and a d10.
Modest - Your stat dice are d8, d8, d8, and d10

Whenever you want to make use of one of these stats, you'll roll that stat's dice twice. Then you'll apply either the higher rolled number (HR) or the lower rolled number (LR), depending on the action you're using.

You may use Two of these actions each turn, or replace one of them with a command you have created (rules on Commands below). You cannot use two actions that use the same stat in a single turn.

STRENGTH

The measure of your physical prowess.

Strike - Roll your Strength Dice twice and deal the High Roll (HR) as damage.
Breach - Roll you Strength Dice twice and add the LR to your next attack as a damage bonus. If that attack's target is guarding, that attack's statuses and element are not ignored by their guard.

MAGIC

The proof of your magical talent.

Charge - Roll your Magic Dice twice. You may end cooldown on one of your Commands you didn't use this turn if the High Roll (HR) is equal to or greater than its CP.

_{CP is short for "Command Points", which are explained in the Command section of this guide.}

Cleanse - Roll your Magic Dice twice. If the High Roll (HR) is 4 or greater, you end up to 2 conditions currently affecting you.

DEFENSE

The fortitude of your mind and body.

Guard - Roll your Defense dice twice. You may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your High Roll (HR). Ignore the element and statuses of any attack that reduces your Guard.
Cover - Roll your Defense dice twice. You intercept an incoming attack for an ally, the attack targets you instead of them. Reduce any damage by your Low Roll (LR).

AGILITY

The quickness of thought and movements.

Dodge - Before you make your post, choose an incoming source of damage. Roll Agility twice. If the high roll (HR) beats the incoming damage amount, you take no damage and suffer no resulting conditions.
Raid - Roll you Agility Dice twice and deal the Low Roll (LR) as damage. This cannot trigger a Dodge.

Resources

Hit Points - Your hit points start at 30. You can increase your HP by taking certain Advancements.
Item Points - A resource used to produce items from your provisions. You begin with 10 IP.
Command Deck - The number of Commands you can equip at one time. Your Command Deck starts with two slots.

Cooldown

A Command goes into Cooldown after you use it, this means it can't be used until it's cooldown ends.

At the end of each of your turns, roll 1d6. You may choose a Command you didn't use this turn with CP equal to or lower than the result and bring it out of cooldown.

Affinities

By taking advancements you may gain weaknesses or resistances to elements or conditions. These are called your Affinities. Affinities are fairly simple. You may begin with an elemental weak/res pair for free if you choose to.

If you are weak to an element, attacks of that element get +4 against you.
If you resist an element, attacks of that element get -4 against you.
If you are weak to a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition automatically succeed. Cleanse must roll 8 or higher to end this condition.
If you resist a condition, attempts to inflict you with that condition must roll 8 to affect you. Cleansing this condition automatically succeeds.

KO and Revival

If your HP is reduced to 0 by an attack, you take no further actions unless it is to attempt to dodge an attack that would reduce you to 0. A character with 0 HP probably doesn't need to make posts unless the participants want them to for some story reason. (bleeding out, dream states, dives to the heart, etc...)

A character with 0 HP:

Can't take actions.
Can't use provisions.
loses all positive and negative conditions and durational effects such as Quick

Healing a character with 0 HP allows them to return to combat and take actions. Depending on the situation, a GM might impose additional penalties on characters who fall unconscious, or even situationally turn off this healing = revival mechanic.

Character Death

Characters do not automatically die when they hit 0 HP. Usually, this just means they are unconscious or at least unable to continue the fight in some way. How you handle your character reaching 0 HP is entirely up to you.

Advancement

Advancement in the Command System is based on the number of posts attributed to your character account. For every 20 posts your character makes, you may select one of the following "Advancements" for them. Many of these can be selected multiple times. Their limits are provided below.

Origin Tier

When you create a character, you may choose one of three tiers for them to start out in, based on their combat experience level IC. Your character's post count will give them extra Advancements on top of these as described above. Be sure to take Marks of Mastery as normal based on the number of Advancements you start with.

Novice - begin with 5 Advancements.
Intermediate - begin with 15 Advancements
Advanced - begin with 25 Advancements

Basic Advancements

HP + 5
or IP + 1 (Max 6)
+1 Command Deck (Max 10)
Learn a new Command (Max 12)
Create a New Provision (max 3)
Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command (Max 2)
Adopt a new Condition weakness and resistance
or Elemental weakness and resistance. (Max 2)

Critical Advancements

You may choose to take a Critical Advancement instead of a regular Advancement if you have 20 or more Advancements already.

Increase provision dice to d8
or Increase a stat's Dice by 1. d4 > d6 > d8 > d10 > d12 (Max 1)
Learn a Mastered Command
or Create a Mastered Provision (Max 2)
Refine your Command Style. It gains 1 point to spend on features (Max 2)
One of your Commands becomes your Signature Command. It costs 1 less slot (max 1)
One of your provisions becomes your Key Item. It costs 1 less IP. (max 1)
Adopt a new Condition Resistance
or Elemental Resistance. (max 2)
HP + 10
or IP + 2 (Max 2)
Create a New Provision (max 3)

Mark of Mastery

Marks of Mastery are narrative benefits that come with advancing naturally in this system. They are less mechanical in nature but act as badges of honor for progressing through the game and influencing the world around you. For every 5 Advancements you gain, you may choose one Mark of Mastery from the list below. You may take the same Mark of Mastery multiple times, each time you do so, the scope or reach of that Mark's influence increases.

Invoking Masteries

You can invoke masteries in dives which are led by GMs or other players in order to request special information or influence plot decisions based on the Masteries your character possesses. The effects of invoking masteries can vary from thread to thread and in threads where one player is guiding things it is up to them to what degree your mastery applies.

[spoiler=Marks of Mastery]

The Connections - You have been to many worlds and met many people. The connections you've made with both friends and enemies strengthens your resolve, and it seems no matter where you go you can pull on these invisible threads to lead you back home. Did you always value these connections? Have they saved you in a time of crisis?
The Darkness - You faced the darkness inside yourself and you faltered. You tumbled down a dark path, and lost your way. You may have been seeking love, or power, or something else entirely. What did you find in the darkness that strengthened you? And what have you destroyed as a consequence?
The Establishment - You are building an enterprise to accomplish your goals. It requires resources, personnel, but you've got the talents to acquire these things. Does the engine you're building reflect your goals, or has it taken on a life of its own?
The Fame - Your name and deeds proceed you. People are more likely to know your name, whether you like it or not. Fame is a fickle thing that grows a life of its own and can sometimes get bigger than the truth. Do you like being famous? Is your fame good or bad? Are there things you wish people didn't know?
The Followers - Your ability to command and inspire people has rallied allies to your cause. These compatriots may have various strengths of their own and can help you accomplish tasks you couldn't do so alone. What do you mean to the people who follow you, and what do they mean to you?
The Grudge - You have poured a lot of time and energy into a rivalry or conflict with one other character in particular. Whether they're a player or an NPC, a large motivation for you has been overcoming them in some way. How has this conflict uprooted or spilled over into your other responsibilities or relationships? What would you give up to see this conflict resolved?
The Light - You have earned your place in the light through your trials. Maybe you were tempted by the darkness and resisted, even when it cost you something precious. Maybe you failed, and had to find the light anew after an arduous journey through darkness. What has made your inner light so strong? What compromises have you considered that might lead you astray?
The Expertise - You're an expert in a certain field. By chance or dedication, you've come to command knowledge and skills with which to confront the trials ahead. How did you come to possess this skillset? Does having these capabilities make life easier for you...or more troublesome?
The Travels - You are adept at navigating the cosmos and know where to find whatever you need on most worlds you visit. If you haven't been there, you know someone who has. Even under foreign skies, you have developed a knack for finding the right path. How did you gain the expertise? What did you lose along your travels, and what did you gain in return?
The Ultimate Weapon - You have honed a particular weapon through your travels and it reflects your strength and dedication. It's not just a part of you, but a key player in your story. How do the weapon's unique properties lead to new opportunities for you?

Customization

Command Styles

Every character has a thing they do in battle. A way they weave between offense and defense, a shift in stance, a cycle of energy. This is where power meets personality. What makes your character's power unique? How do they benefit or suffer from its use and how do they use those things to remove obstacles in their path?

At Character Creation, you'll create a Command Style for your character. It defines the way your power manifests in the world. It could be exceptional martial prowess, honed by years of toil. It could be a well spring of inner mana that surges in sometimes uncontrollable ways. It could be a powerful weapon that unlocks the nature of things! Command Styles enable all the strange things you do.

Command Styles have mechanical presence too. You can spend up to 3 points on your Command Style. You can choose some of these more than once. Each of the following costs 1 point.

It deals damage to the opponent in some way.
It Heals you or allies.
It supports you or your allies.
It hinders the enemy.
Conditionally add a property to certain commands. (max 1)
It creates a unique resource to interact with stylish commands and other style features and a way to spend that resource. Your other style effects can generate or spend this resource. (max 1)
It gives you another method to generate your unique resource. (max 1)
It creates a custom positive condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)
It creates a custom negative condition that you can apply with your commands. (max 1)

The Rule of Two

Many Command Styles will help you in various ways. They might trigger healing off of some kind of basic action or provide bonuses to certain roll results, etc... If you're not sure what kind of potency an effect should have, try using the number 2. This is not all encompassing and some things might get scaled up or down for balance, but if you're unsure, 2 is always a good place to start.

Commands

Commands are special skills that require more than the average amount of energy to produce. Once you use one of your commands, you must wait for it to cooldown.

Whenever you get a new command advancement, you can use the rules below to create a new command.

You get two Command Deck Slots and two Commands at character creation.

It is possible to have more commands than you have command deck slots, but you can only ever take your command deck into combat. You can change which commands are in your command deck at any time when you aren't in combat.

Command Rolls

A command must roll dice if it Deals damage, Heals HP, or gives a negative effect to a target.

If your command requires rolling dice, you must decide which stat dice you'll use to roll the command when you create it. All commands roll only one pair of dice, and apply that result to all effects listed as part of that command.

When you create a command that has more than one property which requires dice results, you must choose one to be the "primary result". That property will use the High Roll (HR). All other effects will use the Low Roll (LR).

Similar to the Strength actions, Commands deal or heal damage by default without the need of "accuracy checks". A negative effect or condition, however, requires a roll of at least 4 to take effect.

Command Creation

Commands use Command Points (CP) to balance the powers of various commands. All commands have 3 CP to spend on properties and must spend at least that many. Properties are effects that contribute to the "game-state". They advance you toward victory or make it harder for enemies to defeat you.

This CP cap goes up by +1 if your ability interacts with your Command Style in some way. It goes up by +2 if you decide to make a Master Command, which takes up two Command Deck Slots. See the Mastered Commands section below for more details. For each of the below that is true, the command's cost increases by the amount given. Count each instance of a similar property as an addition cost.

[+2] Essential* - The command replicates a generic stat action (Max 1). You may replace HR with LR, but not vice versa, or apply an element to damage as desired.
[+1] Damaging** - The command deals damage to the enemy.
[+1] Healing** - The command heals an ally.
[+1] Overcharged - The command hits multiple enemies or multiple allies (Max 2).
[+1] Lingering - The commands's effects last two additional turns, including Conditions, Quick, Commanding, and applicable Stylish properties. (Max 1)
[+1] Empowering - The command empowers Allies in some way (Max 2).
[+1] Hindering - The command hinders the enemy in some way (Max 2).
[+0] Resonant - The Command's mechanics or flavor reference your Command Style, increasing the CP cap by 1. (Max 1)
[+1] Stylish - The Command gains an additional effect from interacting with your Command Style. (Max 1).

^{*If a generic stat action deals damage, adding a Damaging property increases its damage by +2

**Add +2 to total damage or healing when taking multiple times.}

Mastered Commands

Mastered Commands, like normal commands, have CP to spend on properties. As mentioned before, they get 2 more CP to spend than normal commands, and take up an extra slot in your Command Deck. Additionally, Mastered Commands also have additional properties that only they have access to, listed here.

[+1] Versatile - The command can act differently depending on circumstances.
[+2] Quickening - The command gives you access to a third action, such as one used by an ally or summoned being. Does not stack.
[+1] Commanding - The command gives you access to a new command while active. Create the temporary command when you create this one. These commands are part of your deck only while this effect is active.

Provisions

Every character has 10 Item points. You may use your item points to use one of your custom provisions, or a Generic Provision once per turn without using an action. You begin a thread with your full item points, but once you use them you do not regain them.

You do not start with any provisions unless you choose to replace one of your starting commands with a provision instead. You may gain new custom provisions as an Advancement. When creating a custom provision, use the same rules for creating commands, except that you can create provisions that cost less than 3 CP if you want to. A provision costs its CP in item points to use. Provisions do not have stats. If a provision needs to roll dice to resolve an effect, it uses d6.

You do not have a predetermined "stock" of provisions. Any time you spend item points, you can justify how and why you have the item or ability you're using from your custom provisions or the list of Generic Provisions below.

Play By Post

This system is meant to be played by post on this forum, with each player taking turns. Not every fight needs to be run by a "GM" or game master. Any player in the thread can also run enemies and bosses if they have the permission of the other thread participants. For more information, reference the Horde Master's Guide (linked at the top of this post).

Rolling Dice

In the interest of more streamlined conflict threads, you might want to roll your dice outside of your thread post, and simply post with the results in mind. There are two ways to achieve this. You can roll in our discord's #identity-bot-dice channel and link the resulting dice roll message in your post for posterity. Just make sure you type out the results as well so that those who wish to take you at your word don't need to check discord for your dice results.

You may also use the Roll Thread (linked at the top of this post) to post your dice rolls in a thread on this forum and link that to your post for reference.

If you wish to make your rolls in the same thread that you are RPing in, you may do so, just trying to keep all your roll and RP posts within 20 minutes of each other so the site can combine the posts together.

Lists

Elements

Fire
Ice
Thunder
Wind
Water
Earth
Light
Dark
Poison
Gravity
Time
Psychic

Negative Conditions

Damage Over Time (DoT) - Lose 3 HP each turn.
Weaken - When rolling an attack that deals damage, use the lower of the two dice instead of the higher one.
Berserk - You must prioritize targeting the user for at least one action each turn before pursuing other objectives.
Panic - You must prioritize anything other than targeting the user over other objectives for at least one action each turn.
Dispel - MAG decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use MAG commands.
Slow - AGL decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use AGL commands.
Stun - STR decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use STR commands.
Sunder - DEF decreases by 1 dice size. Cannot use DEF commands.
Silence - You don't roll cooldown at the end of your turn. NPCs cannot roll dice higher than d6 when using commands.
Zombie - You take damage instead of getting healed by healing effects

Positive Conditions

Regen - Regain 3 HP each turn.
Haste - AGL increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 AGL commands each turn.
Combo + - STR increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 STR commands each turn.
Protect - DEF increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 DEF commands each turn.
Dualcast - MAG increases by 1 dice size. May use 2 MAG commands each turn.
Mine - Targets that attack you take 2 damage.
Cleave - When you use the Strike action, you may deal LR damage to a secondary target.
Recoil - When you Guard, targets that attack you take the lower number rolled as damage.
Shell - When you Charge, you may negate an amount of damage you would take next turn up to your Low Roll (LR).
Chant - When rolling to cooldown a command at the end of your turn, you may roll 2d6 and use the HR.

Generic Provisions

Potion | 1IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR HP.
Hi-Potion | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and recover HR+2 HP.
Remedy | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Cleanse using the HR.
Ether | 2IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge using the HR.
Mega-potion | 3IP | Roll 2d6. Any number of characters recover HR+2 HP.
Mega-ether | 3IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands as if they Charged.
Elixir | 4IP | Roll 2d6. Cleanse with HR and recover LR+2 HP.
Megalixir | 5IP | Roll 2d6 and Charge with the HR. Any number of characters recover LR+2 HP and may use the HR to end cooldown on one of their commands.
Phoenix Down | 5 IP | For three turns, if you hit 0 HP, roll 2d6. You recover HR + 4 HP.
Tent | 5IP | Any number of characters recover 10 HP. and all their commands end cooldown. Each character must make at least two down-time relaxing posts to benefit from this item.

Rulings

This section is for established limits and more granular rules that emerge as we feel out the systems boundaries. While the system's goal is to be flexible, somethings still need to be monitored to keep things fun and avoid unfair differences is power level. Reading this section is optional, but these precedents will be referenced during the approval process.

General Concepts

The HR and LR for a command cannot both deal or both heal damage.
HR and LR should never be added together to produce a total result.
A roll's dice size can't go higher than a d14
Static modifiers to a roll cannot exceed a total of +10
If you Guard twice in a turn, you gain Damage negation equal to the higher result (i.e. you do not combine the totals). This also applies to Recoil damage.
Players may fully rework their Command Book for free once after it is initially approved, pending approval from a Dungeon Master.

Command Styles

Only one style point can be spent to add properties to commands. Enhancing a property with a modifier is not adding a property to the command.
When a style adds a property to a command, it can only do so once per turn.
You cannot spend more than one style point on the same effect (ie 3 style points for +6 damage/healing/etc)
Command Styles tend to grant bonuses with a value of 2, such as +2 the roll for Strike / Dodge / Guard, dealing 2 damage automatically when something happens, or healing 2 HP when something happens. (Rule of 2)
Custom conditions can only be created in Command Styles. These conditions must be used in commands for their effects to activate, just like standard conditions (e.g. Haste or Slow)
- Custom Conditions cannot utilize an HR result in the same manner as LR in conditions such as Cleave and Shell

Commands

When applying stylish properties, damage or healing can differ from a standard +2.
Stylish Damage & Healing Modifiers (so far)
- +3 damage, conditional (target has a condition)
- Up to +4 damage, variable (e.g. number of ailments a target has up to 4)
- Up to +6, spend resources

[/spoiler]