Acquiring New Powers
Powers are one of the main ways to define your character's abilities, both in and out of combat. In this section, you will learn how to unlock new skills by earning and spending Mastery Points.
Mastery: To develop your character's abilities, you earn and spend Mastery Points. These points represent moments of personal growth, outstanding performance, or significant contributions to the story. Players typically earn 1 Mastery Point per session, which is awarded during a post-session reflection based on their actions and impact. To be eligible for Mastery Points, you must have been present during the session. It's important to note that Mastery rewards are not guaranteed; they must be earned through meaningful participation in the game.
Earning and Spending Mastery: During gameplay, characters can earn Mastery Points by actively engaging with the world, contributing to the group's goals, and embodying their narrative arcs. What qualifies for earning Mastery Points may vary from table to table, and the Game Master (GM) has the discretion to award additional points for exceptional play, roleplaying, or teamwork.
After each session, players can spend their Mastery Points to acquire new powers. The cost of these powers ranges from 1 to 5 Mastery Points, depending on their scope and impact. To unlock higher-level powers, characters must first master the earlier powers within the same tree. There is no limit to the amount of Mastery Points a character can accumulate.
Mastery Questions: Each table can use its own set of Mastery Questions to guide awards, reflecting the values and playstyle it aims to promote. Here are several examples that you can use or adapt:
Did you defeat an enemy with the Solo Trait?
Did you lead your group to overcome a challenging situation without resorting to combat?
Did you facilitate a significant roleplay moment?
Did you complete a significant task?
Did you explore a new and interesting location?
Did you earn a new Lore Statement?
Example: As the session wraps up, the Game Master gathers the players for a brief discussion and reflection on the day's adventure.
Game Master: "Great work navigating the Enchanted Forest. Let’s take a moment to reflect on how you each contributed to today’s adventure—and assign Mastery Points. Bildo, your clever solution to the Sphinx’s riddle not only saved the party but opened a path forward. You earn 1 Mastery Point. Pam, your diplomatic approach with the forest spirits gained the group a new ally. That earns you 1 Mastery Point. Barathorn, your selfless defense of another party member at great personal risk stood out. You gain 1 Mastery Point as well. I’m also awarding the entire group 1 bonus Mastery Point each for exceptional teamwork and creativity throughout the session. Use these points to unlock new powers—or save them for something more powerful later. We’ll talk about what you’re spending them on next time, unless you already have plans."
The session ends with players excitedly discussing new strategies and how their characters are evolving through Mastery.
Defining Table Mastery: When deciding what earns a Mastery Point, keep in mind the principle: “What gets rewarded gets repeated.” Collaborate with your players to identify milestones and behaviors that align with the themes of your campaign. For instance, if you want to promote peaceful resolutions or strategic thinking, develop Mastery Questions that encourage these outcomes.
Encourage your players to diversify their power choices and consider the prerequisites for each. Acquiring new powers should feel like a natural progression of the story, rather than merely a mechanical upgrade. Treat each new ability as a moment of character growth within the broader narrative of the campaign.
Generous Growth Variant: If you prefer not to associate earning Mastery Points with specific options for your players, consider simply granting 1 Mastery Point at the end of every session. You might also establish a base reward of 1 Mastery Point per session and provide an additional Mastery Point if players meet certain criteria.