24-System Player Playtest Packet
The 24-System is a flexible, consequence-forward RPG engine designed to create tension without sudden character collapse. Actions have lasting effects, resources erode over time, and pushing your luck carries risk, but characters remain playable even when things go wrong. The goal is sustained pressure and meaningful choice, not instant death or runaway death spirals.
Survival, Pressure, and the Cost of Commitment
Playtest Document
This is not a complete rulebook.
Momentum and clarity take priority over precision.
The GM may rule quickly and move play forward.
1. What Kind of Game This Is
The 24-System is a tactical survival-horror RPG.
- Combat is about space, attention, and injury, not hit point attrition.
- You are assumed to be competent.
- Danger escalates through pressure, fear, and wounds, not random failure.
- Retreat, preparation, and avoidance are valid successes.
If you try to “solve” the system, it will hurt you.
2. The Core Loop
On your turn, decide:
- What parts of your body are you committing?
- What space are you controlling or giving up?
- What risk are you willing to accept?
Then:
- The GM sets a Difficulty (DC).
- You roll your dice.
- Your result is the sum of your two highest dice (plus flat bonus).
- Partial Criticals matter more than totals.
3. The RHLF Action System (“Ralph”)
Instead of action points, you commit parts of your body.
| Anchor | Meaning | Represents |
|---|---|---|
| L | Primary Hand | Weapons, manipulation |
| R | Secondary Hand | Shields, support |
| H | Head | Attention, targeting, intent |
| F | Feet | Movement, balance, stance |
Key Rule:
If a body part is injured, actions using it degrade.
If it is disabled, those actions may be unavailable.
You are limited by what your body can still do, not by turns.
4. Warding & Space Control
Warding (Automatic)
If you are:
- aware of danger,
- not already engaged,
- and not committing your Head (H) elsewhere,
→ you are automatically warding.
Warding means:
- you threaten space,
- enemies must contest movement through you,
- warding is directional and limited.
What Breaks Warding
Any action that commits H, including:
- attacking,
- aiming,
- casting spells,
- tracking another threat,
- issuing complex commands.
Movement alone does not break warding.
5. Attacking & Defending
Defense (Reactive)
When attacked, you may choose one defense per attack:
- Dodge (F) — evade entirely
- Parry (L) — redirect (weapon risk)
- Block (R) — absorb (shield risk)
Defense is reactive and does not need to be declared in advance.
Common Combat Actions
| Action | Body Used | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | L | Ends warding |
| Focused Attack | L + H | Careful, precise |
| Full Martial Attack | L (R) H F | Maximum commitment |
| Advance | F | Close distance, may be contested |
| Covering Fire | L + H | Forces choices, no damage |
6. Resolution & Outcomes
You roll dice from your skill plus any Leverage.
Possible Outcomes
-
Legendary (24+)
Cinematic success with major effect. -
Partial Critical (Max Die)
Something extra happens, even if you fail. -
Success
You achieve your goal cleanly. -
Success with Complication
You push forward, reroll one die, accept a setback. -
Failure
You do not get what you want. The situation changes.
Failure always moves the scene forward.
Hit Location by Outcome (Attacks)
If you do not declare a called shot, use this default:
- Success: Hit the Core.
- Partial Critical on a hit: Hit a limb (
L,R, or Legs; attacker chooses). - Legendary (24+) on a hit: Hit the Head.
If you do declare a called shot, that declared location overrides the default mapping.
7. Leverage & Pressure
Leverage
Good positioning, planning, teamwork, or preparation.
| Leverage | Bonus Die |
|---|---|
| 1 | d4 |
| 2 | d6 |
| 3 | d8 |
| 4 | d10 |
| 5 | d12 |
Roll all dice and keep the two highest.
Pressure
Danger, darkness, fear, injury, time limits.
- Pressure does not remove dice.
- Pressure raises the DC.
Skill keeps you effective.
Pressure keeps you unsafe.
8. Wounds, Stamina, and Injury
- Stamina represents short-term exertion and shock.
- Wounds are lasting injuries.
Armor may convert wounds into stamina loss.
Once stamina goes negative, actions degrade.
Injuries:
- reduce movement,
- weaken attacks,
- disrupt strategies.
There is no “fine at 1 HP” state.
9. Fear
Fear is tracked from 0 to 6.
Fear does not remove agency.
It biases decisions, especially toward caution.
| Fear Level | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Alert, cautious |
| 3 | Hesitation when advancing |
| 4 | First hostile action loses one body anchor |
| 5 | Limited to 3 of 4 body anchors |
| 6 | Breakdown or withdrawal |
Fear punishes reckless engagement, not survival.
10. Weapons & Escalation
Weapons differ by:
- how many body parts they require,
- what happens on Partial Criticals.
Examples:
- Precision — stamina bleed, armor gaps
- Chopping — destroys armor
- Crushing — ignores mitigation
- Reach — controls space
- Firearms — escalation buttons
Bows and guns are parity weapons until crits.
Crits are terrifying.
11. Magic (If Present)
Magic always works.
The roll determines how dangerous it becomes.
- Spells never fizzle.
- Failure causes backlash or escalation.
- Magic always costs attention (H).
Magic is powerful, unsafe, and loud.
12. Character Creation (Quick)
- No attributes.
- Skills determine dice.
- Choose:
- 1 specialty skill
- 1 strong skill
- 2 competent skills
- Choose 2 traits.
Your character is defined by what you risk.
13. Table Expectations
- Describe intent first.
- Declare body commitment clearly.
- Don’t hunt for optimal builds.
- Retreat is success.
- Ask questions.
- Trust the fiction.
If something is unclear, the GM will rule fast and move on.
Final Note to Players
This system is not here to protect you.
It is here to:
- make danger legible,
- make survival meaningful,
- and make scars matter.
If you walk away alive, it will be because you chose to.
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