Rift Walker Play Test v0.5

I am super excited to announce the next edition of the play test of Rift Walker! Over the last few months I have been working with the feedback from my players to get the best version so far. You will mainly see that there is a much more defined Rift Master section (honestly maybe too long haha). See below the core updates and what I want to do with 0.6!

Download the play test here! Rules 0.5 and shoot me your feedback here!

Rules Changes - 0.4 to 0.5

Core Roles & Backgrounds

• Added Guardian role with new interpose action.

• Added generalist role with bonus to focus.

• Cleaned up role abilities to give both a benefit and an interesting choice.

• Defined background items as separate from pool slots and always available.

• Introduced Archetype Background Kits for themed starting gear/skills. More to come

• Clarified XP system — goals and legends integrated into Rift Walker creation and session end.

• Legends clarified: quests with clear consequences/rewards.

• Goal tracking and value improvements. Story downtime gives net bonuses and works towards completing goals

• Updated sheets – perm background slots, cleaned up pools

• Powers were implemented as cleaner versions

Rules & Mechanics Updates

• Codified Legend Difficulty for treasure access, montages, and extended encounters.

• Downtime can grant +1 modifier to a pool slot. – Gain

• Monsters can spend dice; bosses gain “big attack” wind-up mechanic and spend dice for more range.

• Critical wounds revised — Pool slot injury, one turn immediate effect, Effect until healed -1, failure while it is a 0, crit wound on further damage while 0 – making them not mandatory to heal straight away

• Clarified skill/warrior distinctions.

• Damage choice: unavoidable hits can target Endurance or Will, player’s choice.

• Movement now zone-by-zone per action, can split movement.

• Clarified health/morale descriptions. More to do here.

• Conditions only apply while active. And better names/less of them.

• All attack types can be melee or ranged – extra dice spending for powers still applies

• Codified that powers affect monster actions, not targets or turns

Optional & Narrative Systems

• Optional rules for enhanced weapons/tools, travel rifts, background reward kits, “burn the candle” dice economy, and traditional initiative.

• Removed complex Threat mechanic.

• Expanded consequences tables and success/failure result options.

• Added optional “Push Your Luck” (devil’s bargain, succeed with consequence).

• Added “Half Role” option for mixed abilities – optional rule

• “If you have time + 2 relevant slots” rule allows auto-success without a roll.

RM World & Campaign Building

• Expanded world building rules (sights/sounds/smells, currency differences).

• Added rules for rift travel styles with trade-offs.

• GM section overhauled — includes session structure, random tables, campaign/world/adventure building methods, foe goal tracker, d6 timers, and downtime conflict rules.

• Added monuments list and legend creation rules.

• Added more clear Peril Points (formerly Doom Points) with narrative uses.

• Many prep sheets made for RM

• Revised monster attack tables for Elite/Boss vs. Minion/Standard foes.

• Minion attack rules clarified for group actions

For Version 0.6

• Recovery – is it needed?

• Character genre tables:

• Powers in character tables: form, flaw and 3 ideas

• Player tables arrange the types so in a line work out for look etc

• damage swingyness from foes

• morale vs hp description – is it enough?

• Examples in the rules for character creation and adventure prep, building monsters

• More thorough monster tables

• Finish off genre tables

• Second sheet for optional rules and more character information

• Condition names could be clearer

• Lifepath system – not just for pool slots, but pool sizes, powers and your character’s personality/flaw to help guide your totally freeform narrative – something you get for invoking the flaw or personality of your character

• Using pool slot items as instant successes but burning – noting modifier

• Formatting – page count out of whack with 29 for plays and 50 for GM. Want:

  • Player Guide

  • Core Rules

  • GM section

  • Encounter/Monster Section

• Clarify 4 phases of play more:

  • Montage – set successes creating consequence vs rewards

  • Narrative – timer and a series of challenges to overcome with optional rewards through exploration

  • Extended – Effort tracked through successes with HP/Morale

  • Downtime – make progress toward something