Ever feel like your awesome idea for an action gets boiled down to a simple "you hit" or "you miss"? The Victory Codex throws that out the window. At its core, this system is all about one thrilling concept: Victories = Facts!
When your character stares down danger and you roll the dice for a Check, you're not just hoping for a high number. You're aiming to earn Victories. And those Victories? They're your currency to directly shape what happens next. You don't just succeed; you declare how you succeed, painting the scene with your own details.
Imagine This:
Your grizzled warrior doesn't just "pass a stealth check." With a Victory, you establish the Fact: "I melt into the flickering shadows of the war-torn alley, the patrol passing by completely oblivious."
Your ace pilot isn't just "dogfighting." They score Victories and you narrate: Fact: "I bank hard, laser fire scorching my tail, and establish the Fact that the pursuing fighter clips an asteroid, spiraling out of control!"
Here's the Nitty-Gritty (but the fun kind!)
Rolling the Bones (All d6s, All the Time!)
Every crucial action, every tense moment comes down to a Check – that's when you grab your handful of six-sided dice.
Your Dice Pool - Skill & Style
You'll build your dice pool by combining your character's core Skill dice with what we call Way dice (or in some games, like Praise the Fallen, these might be "Twist" dice – representing unique talents, psychological edges, or even dangerous powers!). It's your character's raw talent mixed with their unique approach.
The Hero Die - Your Moment to Shine (or Sweat!)
One of those Skill dice is always your special Hero Die (use a cool, different colored one!). This die is a game-changer:
- Roll high, and you might score instant Victory, no questions asked...
- Roll a dreaded '1', and even if you succeed overall, the GM gets to throw in a complication. Things just got interesting.
Facing the Heat - GM's Dice Pool
You're not rolling in a vacuum! The GM has their own pool of dice, set by the scene's difficulty. It's your crew versus the world, and the dice tell the tale of that clash.
Earning Victories - How You Win the Moment
When the dice hit the table, you're comparing your rolls to the GM's. Outroll them, and you rack up Victories. These are what you spend to...
Establish Facts - YOU Write the Action!
This is where the magic happens. Each Victory lets you lay down a Fact – a concrete detail about what happens in the game world. It's your chance to describe the cool maneuver, the critical insight, the environmental detail that changes everything. Player agency isn't just a buzzword here; it's built into the core of every roll!
Save Some for Later - Bonus Dice
Got more Victories than you need for this exact moment? Most Victory Codex games let you bank them as Bonus Dice. Tuck 'em away and unleash them on a future roll when you really need to stick the landing or add that perfect narrative flourish.
Permission to Be Awesome - Your Character's Expertise
Your character's Role, background, or special abilities often give you "narrative permission" to establish specific kinds of Facts. A hardened space marine will see and declare different battlefield truths than a psychic mystic, making every character's contribution unique.
The GM's Role - Setting the Stage & Raising the Stakes
Don't worry, GMs, you're still crucial! You set up the explosive situations, control the antagonists, and weave the larger narrative. But now, you get to react to and build upon the awesome Facts your players bring to the table. And when the GM scores Victories? That means more twists, unexpected challenges, and delicious complications for the players.
No Dead Ends - Failing Forward
Even when a Check doesn't go the players' way, the story doesn't just stop. The Victory Codex encourages "failing forward." This means a failed roll often introduces an exciting new problem, a tough choice, or an unexpected shift in the situation, keeping the action dynamic and the stakes high.
The Victory Codex is built to be flexible, powering everything from gritty dungeon crawls to sprawling space operas. If you're looking for a system that puts storytelling first, empowers your players to make a real impact, and keeps everyone at the edge of their seats, then welcome to the Victory Codex. Get ready to tell some incredible stories, together.
