Reference Pages
Stress
Mental, Physical & Emotional Strain
Stress represents how much mental, physical, and emotional strain a character can endure. Some special abilities or effects require the character activating them to mark Stress, and the GM can require a PC to mark Stress as a GM move or to represent the cost, complication, or consequence of an action roll.
Key Stress Mechanics
Maximum Stress = Vulnerable
When a character marks their last Stress, they become Vulnerable until they clear at least 1 Stress.
Stress Overflow
When a character must mark 1 or more Stress but can't, they mark 1 HP instead.
Usage Restriction
A character can't use a move that requires them to mark Stress if all of their Stress is marked.
Clearing Stress
Recovery Methods
PCs can clear Stress by making downtime moves. A PC's maximum Stress is determined by their class, but they can increase it through advancements, abilities, and other effects.
Stress in Practice
When You Mark Stress:
- • Using certain special abilities
- • GM moves and consequences
- • Costs of action roll outcomes
- • Environmental hazards
Strategic Considerations:
- • Monitor your Stress levels carefully
- • Plan downtime to clear Stress
- • Avoid becoming Vulnerable
- • Balance resource usage with risk