Stress¶

Stress represents the mental and physical strain your character suffers during their adventures. All classes start with 6 Stress slots. You'll be able to increase the number of Stress slots you have available as you level up, to a maximum of 12. Some features, such as your spells or abilities, might require you to mark a Stress to use them. Additionally, the GM might offer you a chance to mark a Stress in exchange for succeeding at the action you're taking. When you mark this Stress, consider the burden your character knowingly accepts. Does their anxiety rise as they use a new tactic in a high-stakes negotiation? Do they willingly dive back into danger and witness unimaginable horrors, knowing the toll it takes on them, to save an innocent life? Are they willing to take minor abrasions to fatally wound their foe?

Marking Stress¶

When an effect requires you to mark a Stress, do so on the slots of your character sheet. When you mark your last Stress, you become Vulnerable (see the "Conditions" section on page 102) until you clear at least 1 Stress.

If you're ever forced to mark 1 or more Stress but your slots are already full, you must instead mark 1 Hit Point. For example, if an adversary forces you to mark 3 Stress but your Stress is already filled, you instead mark 1 Hit Point. If you would take 2 Stress from an enemy and you have 1 Stress left, you would mark 1 Stress and 1 Hit Point.

As with Hit Points, when you make downtime moves (see the "Downtime" section on page 105), you have the opportunity to clear some of your marked Stress. Additionally, as your character levels up, you can choose to permanently increase the amount of Stress they can withstand.

Stress from Adversaries¶

Some adversary actions require you to mark Stress. These actions represent the adversary's ability to demoralise your character, exhaust them, or similarly push their physical and mental limits.

Stress from Complications¶

Your GM can tell you to mark Stress to represent a complication or consequence of an action, especially when a roll doesn't go as well as it could have. For example, you might mark Stress while having a difficult conversation, clashing swords with a worthy foe, or committing an act of incredible bravery. The GM might also allow you to mark Stress to avoid a different complication.

Stress from Moves¶

Certain moves require you to mark Stress. Unless an effect states otherwise, you can't mark Stress multiple times on the same feature to increase or repeat its effects (see the "Spending Resources" section on page 107).

You can't use a move that requires you to mark Stress if you don't have slots to mark.