====== nWoD: Rules Cheatsheet ======
[ [[aileen:start|Back]] ]

===== nWoD =====

New World of Darkness (core)

All page references in this section and subsections refer to the **nWoD core book** unless otherwise noted.

==== Basic Mechanics ====

**nWoD** basics:
  * **Dice**: d10s only (have about 10 of them)
  * **Successes** (p125): roll result of 8s or higher (this can change)
  * **Exploding** (p125): roll result of 10 allows a reroll for more possible successes (circumstances can change this to 9 "9s again" or even 8 "8s again", p134)
  * **Exceptional Success**: 5+ net successes (p131). GM decides what happens if the action you're performing doesn't have a specific effect as listed in whichever book.
  * **Dramatic Failure** (p125): rolling a 1 on a "Chance Roll" (p125). GM decides what happens.
  * **Chance Roll** (p125): when your die pool is reduced to zero, roll 1 die. If it comes up a 10 (you can reroll), success! If it comes up a 1, **Dramatic Failure!** (p125)
  * **Teamwork** (p134) aka assistance: pick a primary actor, all assistors roll the same die pool.
    * Any successes from assistors' rolls are added as bonus dice to the primary actor's pool
    * A dramatic failure from an assistor levies a -4 penalty to the primary actor
    * Primary actors must proceed with their roll regardless of how the assistors' rolls turn out.
  * One **Turn** is approximately 3 seconds (p121). Enough time for one person to take one action.
  * One **Round** is combat-specific, and allows everyone involved in the combat to get 1 turn in.
  * One **Scene** (p121) is like a single scene in a movie or tv show, it can be approximated as 1 hour if need be, but scenes can be longer or shorter than that.

==== Advancement thru XP ====
(Basic costs nWoD p35, awarding xp nWoD p216)\\ 
(Mage-specific costs Mage p69)

^ Trait  ^ XP Cost  ^
| Attribute  | New dots x 5  |
| Skill  | New dots x 3  |
| Skill Specialty  | 3 points  |
| Merit  | New dots x 2  |
| Morality (aka, Wisdom for Mages)  | New dots x 3  |
| Mage: Ruling Arcana  | New dots x 6  |
| Mage: Common Arcana  | New dots x 7  |
| Mage: Inferior Arcanum  | New dots x 8  |
| <del>Mage: Gnosis</del> (Houserule: awarded by GM; not purchased)  | <del>New dots x 8</del>  |
| Mage: Restore lost permanent Willpower Points  | 8 per (up to your max of RES + COMP)  |

==== Combat ====

[ [[nwod:rules:combat|Go Here]] ]

==== Willpower ====

Mechanics (p95):
  * **Spend** a temporary willpower point to **gain 3 dice** on any roll you want
  * **Spend** a temporary willpower point to **gain 2 to STA, RES, COMP, Defense, or Dodge** to resist/avoid things
  * **Rate**: You can spend a maximum of 1 temporary willpower per turn no matter how it's used.
  * **Timing**: If you've already rolled, it's too late to spend a temporary willpower.
  * **Extended Actions**: One expenditure of a temporary Willpower applies to a single roll of an extended action. A point can be spent for each roll.
  * Temporary raising of **Resolve** and/or **Composure** during game play will increase your willpower, but goes away when the stat boost goes away
  * Temporary willpower is **regained** by (p96)
    * 1/scene, fulfill your **vice** to regain **1 spent temporary willpower** (subject to GM approval)
    * 1/session, fulfill your **virtue** to regain **all** spent temporary willpower (subject to GM approval)
    * 1/day, regain 1 point if you have a good night's rest
    * At any time, GM can choose to allow your character to **regain 1** spent temporary willpower point if your character **achieves a significant goal or does something cool**
    * At the **end of a story arc**, regain **all** spent temporary willpower

===== Mage: The Awakening =====

**Mage: The Awakening** uses the **nWoD** base rules, and applies a Mage-specific ruleset on top of them as an additional layer. These Mage-specific rules are summarized and occasionally detailed herein.

Page numbers in this section and subsections refer to the Mage book unless otherwise stated.
==== The Basics ====

Mage: Spell Casting basics:
  * You can attempt to cast a spell listed in the book for any Arcana you have at that level
  * You can attempt to cast a non-book spell in-line with any level of Arcana you have (GM approval)
  * If you have the spell in your **Rote** list, it is a **Rote** spell. Otherwise it is **Improvised**.
  * **Rote** vs **Improvised** spells (casting pool)
    * **Rote** spells must be specifically purchased with XP, and are cast with: Attribute + Skill (listed in the spell description) + Arcanum ranks.
    * **Improvised** spells are all other spells, and are cast with: Gnosis + Arcanum ranks. (use the highest Arcanum in a **Conjunctional spell**) Improvised spells cast outside of your Path Arcana cost 1 mana to cast.
  * **Instant** vs **Extended** spellcasting (casting time)
    * **Instant** spell castings are cast on the fly during combat rounds usually, e.g., "fast casting"
    * **Extended** spell castings are cast outside of combat as **Rituals**, and can take as long as minutes, hours, or days. Time length is usually determined by Gnosis and how many successes are desired.
    * Some spells (noted in their description) can only be cast as **Rituals** (e.g., Extended)
    * All Instant spells can be cast as **Rituals** if the caster has the time to do so.
  * **Sensory** vs **Sympathetic** spellcasting (casting range)
    * Spells cast on targets or areas you can sense in the general area of yourself are **Sensory** spells
    * Spells cast on targets or areas not in your general area, but that you have a personal connection to, can be cast **Sympathetically** if:
      * You have at least 2 dots in the **Space** Arcanum, and 
      * At the cost of 1 mana and potential danger to you
    * Most spells can be cast either way (**Aimed Spells** cannot be cast Sympathetically)
  * **Aimed Spells** (p116 side bar) directly affect the physical form of a target (not their Pattern)
    * Only applies to **Instant** action spells
    * Cannot be contested or resisted
    * **Armor** and **ranged attack modifiers** are applied against the caster's spellcasting pool
    * **Countermagic** can be used
    * **Defense** does not apply unless: 1) at point-blank range, 2) if the spell's descriptions says it does
    * **Concealment, Cover, and Prone** apply as usual
    * **Range penalties** apply. Short range (Gnosis x 10), Medium range (2x Short range), Long range (2x Medium range)
    * **Aimed Spells cannot be cast Sympathetically or thru a Sympathetic Conduit**
    * **Spell Factors** may apply, limited by GM
    * Failure on the spellcasting roll still manifests the effect. The GM decides what gets hit instead.
  * **Conjunctional spells** require dots in more than one Arcanum to cast. Ex: "Fiery Transformation" (p172) requires Forces 4, Life 4, and (optionally) Matter 4.
  * **Duration**: 
    * **Lasting** spells create a permanent effect (e.g., forever), 
    * **Concentration** means you have to concentrate to maintain the spell (usually up to one scene), and 
    * **Transitory** is an instant spell (usually 1 turn).
  * **Concentration** on a spell prevents the mage from doing anything else while concentrating on maintaining the spell.
    * **Only Reflexive actions and movement** can be taken while Concentrating. 
    * Roll **RES + COMP** to maintain concentration if distracted by something (taking damage, etc).
  * **Dismissing** a spell (p128 buried in a paragraph)
    * dismissing a spell is a reflexive action
  * **Relinquishing** a spell (p120 sidebar)
    * Allow a spell you are maintaining to persist without counting against your active spell limit
    * Cost: 1 permanent willpower point (restorable at the cost of 8 xp)
  * **Dice Penalties**: If you take on dice penalties for your **Instant** spell, you can increase the spell's effectiveness via **Spell Factors**.
  * **Success Levels**: If you roll more than one success for your **Extended** spell, you can apply the extra success to increase the spell effectiveness via **Spell Factors**. (p118)
  * **Mana** expenditure is required for some castings:
    * Casting a spell that lists Mana in the cost section
    * Casting an **Improvised Spell** from an Arcana not in your Path
    * Casting a spell that deals **aggravated damage**
    * Casting a **Sympathetic Spell**
    * Your mana expenditure per round is limited by your Gnosis (table p76).
  * **Paradox** must be rolled if:
    * The spell you are casting is **vulgar**, or
    * If a sleeper sees you casting a **covert** spell, or
    * For a non-book spell as deemed to be reality-warping by the GM.
  * **Gnosis** limits your max attribute, skill, and Arcanum (as defined in the table below) (p76)

==== Arcana ====
Arcana determine what phenomena a mage has control over, and at what level of mastery.

Arcanum ranks learnable are limited by Gnosis for 1st Arcanum thru 10th:
^  Gnosis  ^  Max Attr/Skill/Arcana  ^  1st  ^  2nd  ^  3rd  ^  4th  ^  5th  ^  6th  ^  7th  ^  8th  ^  9th  ^  10th  ^
|  1  |  5  |  3  |  3  |  3  |  3  |  2  |  2  |  2  |  1  |  1  |  1  | 
|  2  |  5  |  4  |  4  |  3  |  3  |  3  |  2  |  2  |  2  |  1  |  1  | 
|  3  |  5  |  5  |  4  |  4  |  3  |  3  |  3  |  2  |  2  |  2  |  1  |

Arcanum ranks imply a certain level of mastery of the Arcanum:
^  Rank  ^ Mastery Level  ^
|  1  | //Initiate//.  Knowledge about, elementary manipulation of, perception of the phenomena.  |
|  2  | //Apprentice//. Elementary command of, concealment of, protect against the phenomena.  |
|  3  | //Disciple//. Alter capabilities or functions of, injure (e.g., bashing) a target using, fortify, bolster, or improve manifestations of the phenomena.  |
|  4  | //Adept//. Transform, significantly injure (e.g., lethal) a target using the phenomena.   |
|  5  | //Master//. Create, destroy or mutilate (e.g., aggie) a target using the phenomena.  |
|  6+  | //Archmaster//. Do things from earlier ranks but at greater effect. E.g., Forces 5 allows you to create radiation, Forces 6 would be required to create a nuclear blast.  |


Mages are associated with a **Path** which determines their primary two Arcana and single opposing Arcanum.

^ Path  ^ Primary Arcanum  ^ Primary Arcanum  ^ Inferior Arcanum  ^
| Acanthus  | Time  | Fate  | Forces  |
| Mastigos  | Space  | Mind  | Matter  |
| Moros  | Matter  | Death  | Spirit  |
| Obrimos  | Forces  | Prime  | Death  |
| Thyrsus  | Life  | Spirit  | Mind  |

==== Instant vs Extended Casting ====

  * All spells can be cast as either **Instant** or **Extended**, unless otherwise stated in the spell description
  * **Instant** spells are cast in combat rounds (in a hurry)
    * Take on dice penalties to add [[nwod:rules:index#Spell Factors]] to your spell
  * **Extended** spells are cast as rituals (slowly, with care)
    * Spend successes to add [[nwod:rules:index#Spell Factors]] to your spell
    * Can make multiple rolls to accumulate the number of successes desired
    * Time spent for each roll is determined by Gnosis (see table below)

^  Gnosis  ^  Time per Extended Spellcasting Roll  ^
|  1  |  3 hrs  |
|  2  |  3 hrs  |
|  3  |  1 hr  |



==== Mana ====
Spending Mana
  * **Mana**: some spells require mana, some don't
  * Improvised spells outside of your Path Arcana require 1 mana to cast (p126)
  * Maximum mana spent in a given round is limited by your Gnosis (p76)
  * Mana can be spent to increase the effectiveness of your spells
    * Add **Sympathetic** to your spell

^  Gnosis  ^  Max Mana  ^  Max Mana per Turn  ^
|  1  |  10  |  1  |
|  2  |  11  |  2  |
|  3  |  12  |  3  |

Regaining Mana
  * oblation - meditate for an hour at a Hallow. Roll Gnosis + Composure, each success = 1 regained Mana
  * scour - degrade a Physical attribute by 1 to regain 3 Mana, the attribute restores after 24 hours
  * blood sacrifice - a living creature, size 2 or more, restores 1 Mana. make a Wisdom degeneration roll.
  * death arcana - provides various spells to steal Mana from other beings
  * prime arcana - eating solid tass regenerates mana after 1 hour, drinking liquid tass after 10min
==== Paradox ====

**Paradox** is a mechanic that comes into play when a mage casts reality-warping spells:
  * When casting a **vulgar** spell
  * When a sleeper sees the mage casting a **covert** spell
  * As determined to be reality-warping by the GM when casting a non-book spell

**Paradox** dice are determined by your **Gnosis** (p123 table) + extenuating factors (p123 other table). **Paradox pool** is modified by certain factors:
  * +1 Each Paradox roll after the first for the same caster in the same scene.
  * -1 If casting a Rote spell
  * -1 When using a magical tool (p89)
  * +2 When one or more Sleepers witness the effects of a **vulgar** spell

^  Gnosis  ^  Base Paradox Pool  ^
|  1  |  1  |
|  2  |  1  |
|  3  |  2  |

^  Paradox Roll Successes  ^  Severity  ^ Description  ^
|  1   |  Havoc  | Spell is out of control and targets a random person, etc.  |
|  2   |  Bedlam  | Mage gains a derangement (p269) at the level of the Mage's Arcanum ranks for the duration of the Paradox. No roll RES + COMP roll to resist. Mage's Arcanum ranks 1-3 "mild", Mage's Arcanum ranks 4-5 "severe".  |
|  3   |  Anomaly  | Reality breaks and something impossible takes place for the duration in a radius around the caster of 20 yards x Mage's Arcanum ranks used (p271).  |
|  4   |  Branding  | The mage's body is afflicted for the duration by a physical brand of severity determined by the Mage's Arcanum ranks   |
|  5+  |  Manifestation  | An entity from the Abyss manifests somewhere around the mage who invoked it, usually no farther than 10 yards x Gnosis, for the duration. It may not be within sight. Mage's Arcanum ranks determine the power-level of the entity summoned. p273  |

Mitigating Paradox:
  * **Spend Mana** points at 1 per die subtracted from the Paradox die pool (p123 sidebar). Subject to [[nwod:rules:index#spending_mana|mana expenditure rate limits]] based on Gnosis.
  * **Backlash** occurs when the mage **chooses** to absorb the Paradox successes into their own body to contain it or reduce it.
    * Take 1 bashing damage per Paradox success
    * Voluntary and automatic
    * All or in part may be absorbed (of the successes)
    * Cannot be healed with magic. Must be healed normally (sleeping it off).

Duration of the Paradox is as follows:
^  Wisdom  ^  Beldam  ^  Anomaly/Branding/Manifestation  ^
|  10  |  one scene  |  one scene  |
|  9   |  one scene  |  one scene  |
|  8   |  one scene  |  one scene  |
|  7   |  one scene  |  one scene  |
|  6   |  one scene  |  one scene  |
|  5   |  one scene  |  one scene  |
|  4   |  two hours  |  24 hours  |
|  3   |  12 hours   |  two days  |
|  2   |  24 hours   |  one week  |
|  1   |  two days   |  one month or indefinite  |



==== Sympathy ====

The **Sympathy** mechanic is a level of familiarity you have with a person, place, or thing in your life, or from your past.
  * Allows most spells to be cast on places or targets not in the same area as the caster (e.g., not in Sensory range)
  * Sympathy is the domain of the **Space** Arcanum. You must have 2 ranks of Space to be able to cast any spell **Sympathetically**.
  * You must spend 1 point of Mana to cast a spell **Sympathetically**
  * You gain a dice penalty based on your familiarity with the target or area
  * You must have +1 dots in the Arcanum than the spell cast, if the spell impacts the target in a way where they would normally resist (e.g., attack spells) (this does not change the Space 2 requirement for sympathetic casting)
  * Creates a Sympathetic conduit between caster and target
  * The caster loses their Defense while casting Sympathetically
  * **Aimed Spells** cannot be cast Sympathetically


^  Dice Penalty  ^  Sympathetic Connection  ^
|  -0   | //Sensory//. You can see, hear, smell, etc the target or area when casting.  |
|  -2   | //Intimate//. Your spouse or your child, etc. Or, you have a piece of their hair, fingernail clippings, etc.  |
|  -4   | //Known//. You know the target but aren't that close with them (e.g., a coworker you work with occasionally). Or, you have a photo of them, are on the phone with them, or can see them on a live stream.  |
|  -6   | //Acquainted//. Passing familiarity. You've run across them a couple of times; a friend-of-a-friend. An object you've held or used a couple of times. |
|  -8   | //Encountered//. You have only encountered the target briefly (e.g., passed them on the street). Or, an item you've touched once.  |
|  -10  | //Described//. You've never encountered the area, object, or person, but you can describe it. You might know their name.  |
|  N/A  | //Unknown//. If you know nothing about the target and/or have never come into contact with them, you can't cast a spell Sympathetically. You must at least know their name, description, or location to cast Sympathetically.  |

Sympathetic Conduits
  * Are established between a caster using Space 2 to cast a Sympathetic spell, and their target 
  * Last for as long as the spell that created it
  * Allows the target to cast spells back at the caster without requiring Space 2 (the usual Sympathetic/familiarity penalties still apply though)
  * Does not allow the target to cast spells at anything other than the target (not other people in the room, nor AoEs, etc)
  * **Aimed Spells** cannot be cast thru a Sympathetic Conduit


==== Spell Factors ====

For **Instant** spells (cast in combat rounds), take on dice penalties when casting in order to increase the spell's effectiveness (p118).

^  Penalty  ^  Potency  ^  Num Targets  ^  Target Size  ^  Area  ^  Adv Area†  ^  Trans Duration  ^  Prolonged Duration  ^
|  0   |  1  |  1  |  20 or less  |  1-yd rad or 5cu yd  |  1-yd rad or 5cu yd  |  1 turn  |  1 scene/hr  |
|  -2  |  2  |  2  |  21-30  |  2-yd rad or 10cu yd  |  4-yd rad or 20cu yd  |  2 turns  |  2 hours  |
|  -4  |  3  |  4  |  31-40  |  4-yd rad or 20cu yd  |  16-yd rad or 80cu yd  |  3 turns  |  12 hours  |
|  -6  |  4  |  8  |  41-50  |  8-yd rad or 40cu yd  |  64-yd rad or 320cu yd  |  5 turns  |  24 hours  |
|  -8  |  5  |  16  |  51-60  |  16-yd rad or 80cu yd  |  256-yd rad or 1280cu yd  |  10 turns  |  2 days  |

† If your Arcanum rating is at least 1 level higher than the spell being cast, use this column instead.


When casting **Extended** spells aka **Rituals** (cast in non-combat rounds), apply extra successes on the roll in order to increase the spell's effectiveness (p120).

^  Successes  ^  Potency  ^  Num Targets  ^  Target Size  ^  Area  ^  Adv Area†  ^  Trans Duration  ^  Prolonged Duration  ^
|  +0   |  1  |  1  |  20 or less  |  1-yd rad or 5cu yd  |  1-yd rad or 5cu yd  |  1 turn  |  1 scene/hr  |
|  +1  |  2  |  2  |  21-30  |  2-yd rad or 10cu yd  |  4-yd rad or 20cu yd  |  2 turns  |  2 hours  |
|  +2  |  3  |  4  |  31-40  |  4-yd rad or 20cu yd  |  16-yd rad or 80cu yd  |  3 turns  |  12 hours  |
|  +3  |  4  |  8  |  41-50  |  8-yd rad or 40cu yd  |  64-yd rad or 320cu yd  |  5 turns  |  24 hours  |
|  +4  |  5  |  16  |  51-60  |  16-yd rad or 80cu yd  |  256-yd rad or 1280cu yd  |  10 turns  |  2 days  |
|  +5  |  6  |  32  |  61-70  |  32-yd rad or 160cu yd  |  1024-yd rad or 5120cu yd  |  20 turns  |  Indefinite  |


==== Counter Magic ====

There are 3 options for countering magic:
  * Dispel Magic (p220)
  * Magic Shield (p222)
  * Counterspelling

**Counterspelling** Requirements:
  * You must have at least 1 dot in **at least one of** the Arcana used to create the spell or spell effect (p123).
  * Generally only **vulgar** spells can be countered, as covert spells require a successful **Scrutinize Roll** (p278) first.
  * A spell aimed at multiple targets does not need to be countered for each target.
  * A mage with Prime can use "Counterspell Prime" (p222) to counter any spell regardless of Arcanum, and can use this spell to counter **covert** spells as well.


If you meet the Arcanum requirements, you can **Counterspell** using these statistics:
  * Practice: Shielding
  * Action: Instant and contested; successes are compared to the spell's **Potency**
  * Duration: Lasting
  * Aspect: Covert
  * Cost: 1 Mana
  * Roll if Rote (must be learned separately for each Arcanum): INT + Occult + Arcanum
  * Roll if Improvised: Gnosis + Arcanum
  * Mechanic: Counterspell **successes are subtracted from the spell's Potency**. If the spell is left with no potency, it is canceled entirely.