Adjusting the Difficulty Level
Before the roll, the GM should adjust the DL based on relevant conditions, NPC's attitudes, and environmental effects.
Raising and Lowering the DL
When you adjust the DL, you move up or down an entire Difficulty Level tier. That is, if the DL is Moderate (14) and something causes the DL to be raised by one, the DL goes to Hard (20) because that is the next step up in the Difficulty Level chart. If the DL is Moderate (14) and something causes it to be lowered, it goes to Easy (8) because that is the next step down in the chart.
| Difficulty Level | DL Range |
|---|---|
| Extreme (32) | 32 - 37 |
| Severe (26) | 26 - 31 |
| Hard (20) | 20 - 25 |
| Moderate (14) | 14 - 19 |
| Easy (8) | 8 - 13 |
These five Difficulty Levels, Easy (8), Moderate (14), Hard (20), Severe (26), and Extreme (32), are the only DLs you will ever use in this game. You will never apply a +1 to a DL causing it to be 9, for example. When a DL is raised or lowered, it moves a full increment up or down the chart.
Easy (8) and Extreme (32)
The level below Easy (8) is considered trivial. If the DL is Easy (8) and a trick or effect lowers it, the GM can rule that no roll is necessary because the action is so trivial, it carries no risk. Otherwise, the DL stays at Easy (8).
The level above Extreme (32) is considered impossible. If the DL is Extreme (32) and a trick or effect raises it, the GM can rule that the action is simply not possible for the character. Otherwise, the DL stays at Extreme (32).
Conditions
Conditions like [Wounded], [Distracted], and [Inspired] raise or lower the DL on rolls you make. Conditions are described in their own section later in this book. If a character is under the effects of multiple conditions that alter the DL, they all apply.
Environmental Effects
When the environment could negatively influence the outcome of a roll, refer to the appropriate conditions in these rules. Some tricks are more difficult to pull off successfully when it is [Raining], [Foggy], [Windy] or [Dark]. To keep things quick, the GM can eschew these specific conditions and decide to simply raise the DL by one anytime there are one or more environmental effects that make a trick more difficult.
Attitude
When you use a [Social] trick on an NPC, their [Attitude] towards you can raise or lower the DL.
| Attitude | Effect |
|---|---|
| Friendly | Lowers the DL of your [Social] tricks by one |
| Neutral | No effect |
| Hostile | Raises the DL of your [Social] tricks by one |