Apocalyptic

In this world, the supernatural isn't just a threat—it is a debt that must be paid. 1. The Core Principle: Success at a Cost There are no "failed" actions, only unintended consequences. If a player attempts something within their character's expertise, they succeed. If it is outside their expertise or under pressure, they must choose one of the following "Costs": Physical Toll: Take a wound or permanent scar. Psychological Strain: Lose a piece of your humanity/sanity. Resource Depletion: Lose a vital item (ammo, food, light). Environmental Escalation: The supernatural "Gloom" grows stronger or alerts an entity. 2. The Rule of Three Resources Instead of stats, players manage three pools. When a pool hits zero, the character is "Taken by the Dark." Blood (Physical): Your ability to exert force and endure pain. Will (Mental): Your ability to resist the maddening whispers of the rift. Supply (Material): Your scrap, fuel, and clean water. 3. Supernatural Mechanics: The Taint Magic is powerful but parasitic. Using supernatural abilities requires The Offering: To cast or use a relic, you must narrate a sacrifice (e.g., "I spill my own blood" or "I burn a cherished memory"). The more powerful the effect, the more the AI narrator will warp the environment around you. 4. Narrative Combat: Positioning & Intent Since there is no "To Hit" roll, combat is about Trade-offs. If you engage a monster, you kill it or drive it back, but the AI will describe the harm it deals to you in return. To avoid harm, you must use the environment or a Supply (like a smoke bomb). 5. Principles for the AI Narrator Show, Don't Roll: Describe the rattling of the ribs and the smell of ozone rather than asking for a check. The World is Decaying: Everything—weapons, buildings, hope—is breaking down. Silence is Lethal: The monsters of this world hunt by sound and "soul-scent."