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Table of Contents
Action Cards
Actions are anything a player can imagine their Actor doing in an RPG. Action Cards group all possible actions into broad categories called Action Tags, or just Tags. Each Action Card lists a number of these ActionTags, and each Action Card is associated with one of the 9 Trine Attributes.
Action Tags are paired with the Attribute that is most important to successfully accomplishing an Action. For example, you would play the Strength Action Card when attacking an opponent with a heavy melee weapon, but would play the Agility Action Card if attacking with a fast light weapon. Similarly, the Knowledge Action Card would be played when trying to successfully research a topic in a library, or the Presence Action Card to successfully talk your way past the guards.
While playing the game, it is expected that a player will role play some statement that they intend their Actor to attempt while playing a Trine Aspect Card. This is called the Statement of Intent. The TA card limits the Action Card that may be played next to one of the 3 Attributes associated with that Aspect (see The Trine). After the Action Card is revealed during a Hand, a player is allowed a brief justification of why that Action made sense given their earlier Statement of Intent. This is known as the Bluff Space rule, and is intended to prevent what a player says while role playing from allowing opposing players to automatically guess what TA & Action cards they are about to play.
Procedure
- Statement of Intent [Role Playing]–Say something around the table indicating what your Actor intends to do next.
- Play TA Card–This commits your Actor to playing an Action Card from one of the 3 Attributes of the TA you played.
- Play Action Card–This commits your Actor to a specific Action, and determines what Attribute Tokens you must bid. The Action you intend to take with this card should fit into one of the Action Tag categories listed on the card, or one closely related that does not overlap with Tags associated with other Attributes.
- (Action Card Revealed)–During Step 3 of the Hand the card you played is revealed to the other players.
- Justification [Role Playing]–After your card is revealed you should say something to justify why the Action Card you played makes sense given your earlier statement of Intent (see Bluff Space).
Action Tags
The Action Tags printed on the cards are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of all possible actions. Instead, they are broad categories of actions intended to give you the idea, and what kinds of other actions might also go with that Attribute, even if not explicitly printed on the card.
Choosing the right Action Card to play along with a stated action while role playing should feel intuitive once you have memorized what the 9 Attributes represent. If you aren't sure which Attribute governs success of an Action you intend your Actor to take, ask the GM (in a way that won't reveal your cards during a Hand).
Below are a list of Action Tags printed on the Action Cards from the Core Rules, as well as an extended list of other possible Tags for each Attribute. These are provided to help familiarize players with the types of Actions that go with each Attribute, so you can guess them intuitively during the game without asking the GM.
Mind Aspect
- Reason (REA)–Action Card tags Analyze, Plan, Logic, Deduce, Diagnose. Related tags: Examine, Strategize, Investigate, Assess, Devise, Identify, Interpret
- Knowledge (KNO)–Action Card tags Recall, Craft, Technical, Protocol, Research, Lore Related tags: Know Facts: Heraldry, Etiquette, Customs, Scientific, Language
- Quickness (QUI)–Action Card tags React, Think Fast, Slight, Improvise. Related tags: Anticipate, Witty Joke, Reflexive Reaction, Split-second Decision
Body Aspect
- Strength (STR)–Action Card tags Brute Force, Overpower, Lift/Carry, Break Related tags: Attack (big melee weapon), Punch, Kick, Slam, Batter
- Fitness (FIT)–Action Card tags Endure, Long Push, Sustain, Recover, Brace/Hold. Related tags: Grapple, Leap, Move, Run, Jump, Throw
- Agility (AGI)–Action Card tags Finesse, Evade, Maneuver, Balance, Precision. Related tags: Dodge, Slight of Hand, Manipulate (object)
Spirit Aspect
- Willpower (WIL)–Action Card tags Resist, Focus, Courage, Spiritual Strength, Related tags: Persist, Persevere,
Presence (PRE)
Presence measures the Actor's charisma, force of personality, their leadership ability and determines how willing others are to be influenced by them. Presence can take many forms, but whether an Actor is a successful charlatan, a famous performer, a terrifying ogre, or a beloved king, this trait is immediately recognizable to all who witness it. It is associated with the Action Card tags Interpersonal, Command, Perform, Deceive/Bluff
Intuition (INT)
Intuition is a measure of how accurately the Actor guesses things correctly, feels the right answer without knowing why, or avoids acting foolish. It also determines how aware an Actor is of their circumstances, their ability to notice things that aren't obvious, spot someone hiding nearby, etc. It is associated with the Action Card tags Notice, Read Motives, Instinct, Sense Danger
