How to Play Guide for Annihilation: Pioneers of Tomorrow

This page covers the basic materials, knowledge and core rules of the Annihilation: Pioneers of Tomorrow TTRPG which will, from now on, be referred to as A:PoT.

## Game Dice

A:PoT uses polyhedral dice which are commonly found in game stores, online stores, book stores and freely available in Virtual Tabletop (VTT) providers. Polyhedral dice consist of a 20-sided, 12-sided, 10-sided, 8-sided, 6-sided and 4-sided dice which are used for various types of rolls. Like most roleplaying games, we will abbreviate the different dice as **D20**, **D12**, **D10**, **D8**, **D6** and **D4**. If an ability or situation demands several rolls of the same dice it is abbreviated to, for example, **4D10**- The \***4**\* in the case of the **4D10** means that you roll four 10-sided dice and, for example, add them up.

Players will most likely only need one set of these dice while the Chronicler might want to keep several sets of dice to do several rolls at the same time.

## The Role of The Chronicler

As The Chronicler (in the future referred to as **TC**) you are involved in planning and making the adventures of your group. You will be the first person that your players contact if they have a question about the game setting, ruling and more. As The Chronicler your role is also to describe the game world that your players find themselves in, including controlling NPCs (Non Player Characters). As a Chronicler there are certain responsibilities and expectations you need to fulfil and while these things might seem daunting at first, keep in mind that there is a first time for everything. The most important thing is to learn from the mistakes we make along the way, reflect on them and improve.

Your tasks as a Chronicler include:

* Understanding and interpreting the rules of A:PoT.
* Make rulings when the rules are unclear or do not cover a situation/aspect.
* Prepare and present details about the world, its environment and inhabitants.
* Prepare and present situations and environments your players characters respond to and interact with.
* Portray NPCs (Non Player Characters).
* Narrate what is happening in the world.
* Set the hazards for player characters
* Set the difficulty of a situation/environment for the players.
* Describe the outcome of resolutions.
* Provide or otherwise arrange relevant equipment like dice, maps or else to be present at the table (or VTT).
* Scheduling and Hosting

These are only a few key responsibilities and expectations which might vary depending on the group, campaign setting or other factors, but hopefully this short list will prepare you for **your** adventure.

## Chronicles

Throughout the pages you will see, what is commonly referred to as campaigns in TTRPGs, referred to as chronicles. The reason is that A:PoT looks at the actions of your character/characters in a manner of factual history as the "campaigns" in A:PoT are a retelling of past events whose characters are either long dead, have long since moved on or lived to witness a happy/bad ending. The telling of these events is therefore in the hands of The Chronicler. The Chronicler can be looked in several ways, they could be an acquaintance, a silent observer or even a member of the group.

For this reason, one might see certain actions or events within the official chronicles being written/told in the past tense.

This doesn't necessarily have a narrational impact as it doesn't need to be used, but it might be an interesting concept to consider when making your own chronicle or when playing the official chronicles.

## Advantage/Disadvantage and The Dice of Fate

Sometimes, in an advantageous or disadvantageous situation, you as The Chronicler might call (and as a player might hear) for a roll with either of them. Advantage reflects the positive circumstances surrounding the roll, while disadvantage reflects the opposite. When you have either, you roll **Dice of Fate** (**DoF**) in the form of a **D8**. When a roll calls for advantage or disadvantage a **DoF** is rolled. The result is then added or subtracted from the roll in question. A **DoF** is always rolled in response to a roll. For example; Player B find themselves in a situation where **TC** calls for a roll with disadvantage in response to a Difficulty Check (DC). Player B rolls a **1D20**, as they find themselves out of combat. The result of this roll is a 18 but as **TC** called for disadvantage the **DoF** (**1D8)** is rolled whose result end up being a 6. Player B quickly subtracts the numbers and finds out, much to their dismay, that their final result of 12 fails the Difficulty Check put up by **TC**.

## Round Down Your Rolls

As a general rule regarding rolls in A:PoT, whenever you divide a number in the game, you round down if you have a fraction, even if the fraction is one half or greater. This ruling can be overruled if the action in question explicitly mentions that the roll can be rounded up.

## Miniatures (Not important for VTT users)

Although miniatures for the apocalyptic setting of A:PoT might be more difficult to come by, they are certainly not impossible to acquire. One of the ways of acquiring them are through 3D printing or clay sculpting. If you do happen to find miniatures on a website which fit the setting then make sure to check the size, as we assume that you use standard sized 28mm miniatures which is the standard "Large Size" for gaming miniatures.