Difficulty Rating

Difficulty Rating refers to a number from 1 to 10 that determines how hard a task is to accomplish. Player characters roll a skill check typically to see if they are able to accomplish the task. The task's DR equals the number of successful dice required to accomplish that task. It is common for some things to be beyond the abilities of a character to do. For example, being able to see a highly camouflaged foe at a great distance in inclement weather might be a difficulty of 10, and any character with a perception less than 10 simply will not be able to see it, no matter what.

Difficulty of Tasks

• 10 Near Impossible - Task is so difficult that only a handful of people in the world have the ability and skill to pull it off. An example might be building a nuclear reactor or climbing a sheer cliff.
• 9 Extremely Difficult - Task is extremely difficult that 90% of people in the world cannot accomplish it.
• 8 Very Difficult - Task is very hard. It takes someone with great ability and skill to accomplish.
• 7 Difficult - Task is hard. About 70% of the population would be unable to do it.
• 6 Challenging - Task is challenging. Requires a person of ability and skill.
• 5 Average - Task is just hard enough that it requires some measure of skill.
• 4 Somewhat Easy - Task is somewhat easy for someone with skill, but a challenge for someone without experience.
• 3 Easy - Task is easy, and able to be accomplished by someone with minimal skill.
• 2 Very Easy - Task is very easy, and should be accomplished by just about anybody under normal circumstances.
• 1 Simple - Task is easy enough that anyone can do it at any time, regardless of attribute level or skill.

Character DR

Every player character also has a Character Difficulty Rating, which applies during melee combat (unarmed, edged or blunt weapons). This is how hard it is to hit the PC. Note that the DR doesn't apply towards ranged attacks. The PC's difficulty rating is determined by averaging the Aptitude and Dexterity (rounded down). Character DR can also be effected by things such as by being incumbered, injured, or fatigued (see Hunger Meter). Players may also achieve a bonus to this DR if they have certain Tricks. Ranged attacks against PCs will be at the Gamemaster's discretion, taking into account things like environment, cover, concealment, etc.

Swift Rules Edition

If you're using swift rules, DR is expressed as a bonus or penalty on a player's dice roll for success.

• -5 Near Impossible
• -4 Extremely Difficult
• -3 Very Difficult
• -2 Difficult
• -1 Challenging
• 0 Average Difficulty
• +1 Somewhat Easy
• +2 Easy
• +3 Very Easy
• +4 Simple
• +5 Extremely Simple

Simply combine the difficulty modifier above with the player's total score (Trait + Skill) to determine what must be met or rolled under for success. Example: a character is attempting to stab an enemy in the ribs. Their DEX is 6 and their Edged is 6, giving them a score of 12. If the task is more challenging, due to low light, GM might give it a difficulty of -1. So now they must roll an 11 or under to succeed.