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🧭 Domains
Domains are the heart of character customization and growth. Instead of choosing a class, each character selects two Domains that define their role, style, and magical or martial nature.
🌀 What Is a Domain?
A Domain is a themed set of powers rooted in training, culture, or mystical forces.
Domains may be:
- ⚔️ Martial — like Weaponmaster or Skirmisher
- 🔮 Magical — like Elementalist or Sorcerer
- 👻 Spiritual/Abstract — like Trickster or Spirit-Touched
Each Domain includes:
- A Base Card for each Tier — your core feature
- A set of Feature Cards — mix-and-match powers
- A Progression Path — what’s needed to reach higher Tiers
🏗️ You can (and should!) invent your own lore to explain a Domain’s source. This helps personalize your setting and character.
Players start with two Domains, enabling unique combos without class-level complexity.
📈 Domain Tiers
Domains grow through four Tiers, each reflecting greater mastery:
Tier | What You Get |
---|---|
Tier 1 | Base Card + 2 Feature Cards |
Tier 2 | Up to 4 Feature Cards total |
Tier 3 | Up to 7 Feature Cards total |
Tier 4 | Up to 10 Feature Cards total |
Each Base Card lists the requirements to reach the next Tier. You may level up your two Domains independently.
🎓 Example: A character might be Tier 3 in Fury but only Tier 1 in Elementalist.
🧩 Choosing Features
Each time you gain a Domain or level it up, choose Feature Cards from that Domain’s Tier.
Most Domains offer 5–6 features per Tier, but you’ll only pick a few—ensuring characters feel distinct.
Each Feature Card includes:
- An Action Cost (in Action Load or d4s)
- A defined Effect or trigger
- A Power Tag (e.g., Arcane, Nature, Divine)
- A spot to fill in your Aspect value (e.g., Finesse = 6)
🌍 Customizing the World
GMs can curate the Domain list to match their world’s lore and themes.
Ideas:
- Limit Domains by region, culture, or cosmic force
- Create Domains tied to factions or religions
- Reward new Domains as milestone gifts
🎨 Use Domain access to shape your setting’s tone, power structure, and mystery.
🧬 Unlocking Additional Domains
Some characters may unlock a Third Domain (or more) as a reward for:
- Story arcs
- Personal quests
- Transformation milestones
This reflects a turning point—a new mentor, awakened power, or internal shift. It could feel like gaining a subclass, or starting a whole new path.
Note: Additional Domains may only be added to a character if all their current Domains are at least Tier 2.
🧾 Feature Card Terminology
All powers granted through rules cards are called Feature Cards.
These include:
- 📖 Domain Cards
- 🧬 Species Cards
- 🛖 Community Cards
- 🎭 Background Cards
- ✨ And more
They all use a common layout for clarity and ease of use.
🧱 Domain Card Design Philosophy
Each Tier of a Domain should include:
- 📇 A Base Domain Card — shared core + advancement requirements
- ⚔️ A Combat Action
- 🧭 An Exploration Utility
- 🎭 A Roleplay Feature
- 🤝 A Team Action
Some features will be active (with Action Load costs), and others passive (modifying stats, rules, or actions).
📘 The Base Card is unique per Tier but evolves only by updating the advancement goal. The Tier 2 Base Card for Fury might be identical to Tier 1 except for its new requirement line.