Skills

Skills #

Skills in Aspiring Legends signify a character’s accrued abilities and specializations. They include suggested actions or uses and corresponding difficulty levels, known as Targets. However, these are just guidelines; players are invited to innovatively use their skills, devising their own actions. The GM sets the Target in line with the difficulty of the proposed action.

Aspiring Legends features a plethora of Skills tailored to a high-fantasy setting - Perception, Intimidation, Swordplay, and an array of Magic types such as Evocation and Illusion. The system’s modular design also allows the addition of new Skills; you can collaborate with your GM to develop bespoke Skills that align with your character and the narrative.

Skills range from level 1 to 5, each level offering bonus dice for related actions. Even untrained characters can attempt actions related to a Skill, but without any skill dice.

Skill Quick Example: Evocation Magic (Fire) #

Let’s take the skill “Evocation Magic (Fire)” as an example. Here are some actions you might attempt:

  • Igniting a small, flammable object
  • Generating a controlled explosion to remove an obstruction
  • Transforming into a fiery form enabling flight

And many more! The only limit is your creativity and the GM’s discretion.

Consequences #

Each Skill also includes example consequences for Mixed Success or Failure. On a Failure, both player and GM select a consequence. For Mixed Success, the player or the GM (GM’s choice!) picks one.

Using Evocation Magic (Fire) as an example, consequences for Mixed Success or Failure could be:

  • Unintended intensity of flames causing extra damage
  • Wild spread of flames due to loss of control
  • Temporal loss of power due to elemental instability

The goal is to keep the story engaging and dynamic, with the Skills in Aspiring Legends fostering creativity, adaptability, and fun in every gameplay session.

Skill Action Targets #

In Aspiring Legends, you can mold your character’s skills and abilities. From combat efficiency to mystical powers, your character’s prowess depends on the Skills you select. Each Skill’s action has a unique Target, denoting the proficiency needed for related tasks. Consequently, as players, you directly influence the difficulty of tasks in the world you’re co-creating.

Fixing the Targets ensures players can anticipate their Targets. Yet, the GM can modify this by designating certain dice as Lucky or Unlucky, representing tasks of varying difficulty. Players can also utilize their skills to make their or other players’ checks simpler, potentially turning more dice Lucky. This injects dynamism into the game, simulating unpredictability and shifting luck, setting the stage for thrilling and challenging gameplay episodes.

That covers the basics, but if you want to read more then head to Building Skills next.