In order for a Character to Level Up as part of a Story’s progression, they must gain Experience.
Experience is a representation of your Character learning, becoming stronger and flourishing due to the challenges they have overcome.
At the end of each Session, the Players will together review the Questions posed by the Session, the Fantasy of their Story, and those of their Characters Roles. If they answer “Yes” to a Question, they are rewarded Experience Points associated with that Question. You cannot gain Experience from the same Question more than once per Session.
If a single Session lasts a particularly long time (longer than 4 hours) the GM may choose to pose these Questions additional times during the Session (e.g. during during a break in the game).
Using Experience
You may spend 20 Experience Points during a Long Rest or as part of an extended Period of Downtime to Level Up.
We recommend that Players have no more than a 1 Level difference between their Characters at any one time.
Players may also spend Experience to advance other parts of the Story.
Projects require Characters expend Experience and Credits to progress them.
Bonds may be deepened by Characters expending Experience.
Certain Role features may also require a Character expend Experience. For example a Character may expend Experience to change Spells.
Session Questions
The first Question which is always answered is: “Did you turn up and have a fun time?”
If Yes, you gain 1 Experience Points.
This Question may only be posed once during particularly long Sessions.
Fantasy Questions
Fantasy Questions represent how well your Characters engaged with the Fantasy of the Story.
If you are using multiple Fantasies, you may use any of the Questions posed by those Fantasies.
Below are examples from the Dragons and Demons Fantasy and Knights and Nobles Fantasy.
The Dragons and Demons Fantasy portrays tales of adventurers seeking out and ridding the world of dangerous threats. Ask the below Questions at the end of a Session.
- “Did you learn about a new threat?” If Yes, you gain 1 Experience Point.
- “Did you explore a new location in search of a known threat?” If Yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- “Did you help end a challenging threat (be it peacefully or with violence)?” If Yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
The Knights and Nobles portrays tales of Knights and Nobility who embark on epic quests, but also vie to win the favor of the Nobility.
- “Did you do something especially Noble?” If Yes, you gain 1 Experience Point.
- “Did you improve your standing among the Nobility?” If Yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- “Did you complete a Noble Quest?” If Yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
However, you cannot claim to use the same accomplishments to satisfy more than one Fantasy Question. In the examples above, defeating a Dragon could satisfy either ending a significant threat or completing a Noble Quest, but not both. Additionally while defeating a Dragon might improve your standing with Nobility, a separate act would be needed to satisfy that Question.
Role Questions
Each Role grants a Character a Question posed to their own Character only.
If you answer Yes to a Role Question, you gain 1 Experience Point.
| Role | Question |
| Avatar | “Did you interact with the Natural World directly?” |
| Brute | “Did you successfully solve a problem with violence, threat or brute force?” |
| Champion | “Did you perform acts in furtherance of your Purpose?” |
| Chosen | “Did you discover more about your Patron or perform acts which would please your Patron?” |
| Enchanter | “Did you use your enchantments or knowledge of magic to successfully solve a problem?” |
| Explorer | “Did you explore a new location?” |
| Gifted | “Did you rely upon your inherent control over Magic (i.e. metamagic) to successfully solve a problem?” |
| Hero | “Did you do something especially reckless, brave or heroic?” |
| Inventor | “Did you use technology to successfully solve a problem?” |
| Muse | “Did you use your ability to inspire others or your creativity to successfully solve a problem?” |
| Paragon | “Did you perform acts which live up to the virtues you embody?” |
| Scholar | “Did you learn something new?” |
| Summoner | “Did you rely upon a Summoned being to successfully solve a problem?” |
| Tactician | “Did you propose a plan involving multiple Characters to solve a problem?” |
| Trickster | “Did you use Trickery to successfully solve a problem?” |
| Warrior | “Did you engage in combat with a worthy opponent or use your Training to successfully solve a problem?” |
Characters who have multiple Roles may only benefit from one Role Question. They may change their choice of Question at the Start of a Session, but unless otherwise made clear their Initial Role determines their Question.
An act which satisfies a Role Question may also be used to satisfy a Fantasy Question. For example, if a Warrior ended a significant threat by fighting a Dragon, they would satisfy both their Role Question and that Fantasy Question.
More Fantasy Questions
Dungeons and Discoveries
The Dungeons and Discoveries Fantasy portrays tales of adventurers delving into long forgotten ruins, caves systems, mines or other forms of “Dungeon” in search of the secrets they hold. Ask the below Questions at the end of a Session.
- “Did the Group spend time exploring a Dungeon?” If Yes, you gain 1 Experience Point.
- “Did the Group uncover a secret location, solve a puzzle or find a Fantastical Item?” If Yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- “Did the Group discover a new level within the Dungeon or defeat a challenging threat within the Dungeon?” If Yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
Cities and Superheroes
The Cities and Superheroes Fantasy portrays tales of superhuman Characters fighting to protect the people of a city from nefarious supervillains. Ask the below Questions at the end of a Session.
- Did you rescue an innocent person? If yes you gain 1 Experience Point.
- Did the Group bring a Villain to justice? If yes you gain 2 Experience Points.
- Did the Group foil a Villain’s masterplan or prevent a Disaster? If yes you gain 3 Experience Points.
Flowers and Fairies
The Flowers and Fairies Fantasy portrays tales of mischievous Fairies and their allies working together to help maintain the cycle of Seasons. Ask the below Questions at the end of a Session.
- Did you cause mischief? If yes you gain 1 Experience Point.
- Did you improve your standing with the Archfey? If yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- Did the Seasons change? If yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
Casinos and Crimes
The Casinos and Crimes Fantasy portrays tales of talented ne’er-do-wells working together to ensure the House doesn’t always win. Ask the below Questions at the end of a Session.
- Did the Group learn more about their Mark? If yes you gain 1 Experience Point.
- Did you commit Crimes? If yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- Did the Group successfully complete a Score? If yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
Spies and Suspicions
The Spies and Suspicions Fantasy portrays tales of well-trained spies working together to uncover secrets and preventing international disasters. Ask the below Questions at the end of a Session.
- Did you uncover a Secret? If yes you gain 1 Experience Point.
- Did you infiltrate a secure location? If yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- Did the Group foil a Villain’s masterplan or prevent a Disaster? If yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
Pirates and Plunder
The Pirates and Plunder Fantasy portrays tales of a rag-tag group of Pirates in pursuit of Treasure and notoriety. Ask the below Questions at the end of a Session.
- Did you spend time on the high-seas? If yes you gain 1 Experience Point.
- Did you improve your Infamy? If yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- Did the Group find Treasure? If yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
Stars and Strife
The Stars and Strife Fantasy portrays tales of would-be heroes rebelling against the tightening grip of a Galactic overlord. Ask the below Question at the end of a Session.
- Did you spend time in Space? If yes you gain 1 Experience Point.
- Did you help a Group in need? If yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- Did the Group successfully strike a significant blow against the Empire? If yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.
Ruins and Robots
The Ruins and Robots Fantasy portrays tales of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world, searching among the ruins for a way back to some form of normalcy. Ask the below Question at the end of a Session.
- Did you spend time exploring the Ruins? If yes you gain 1 Experience Point.
- Did the Group find a Fantastical Item or old piece of technology which would aid their survival? If yes, you gain 2 Experience Points.
- Did the Group defeat a significant threat to their survival? If yes, you gain 3 Experience Points.