Crown and Skull Combat Cheatsheet

The 5 Phases

  • Combat is divided into 5 phases per round
  • Players choose which phase they act in before combat starts
  • Once chosen, your phase is locked for the encounter
  • Multiple players can choose the same phase
  • Enemies act in 1-3 phases per round (specified in their stat block)
  • When heroes and enemies share a phase, heroes go first

On Your Phase

  • Move: Move about 6" table space (or reasonable distance). Small sidesteps allowed without using your phase
  • Perform an Action: Make an attack, use a skill, cast a spell, or perform one discrete action
  • Hurry: Move AND take an action, but all enemies gain +5 ATK against you for 1 round (due to clumsy haste)

Making Rolls

  • Skill Rolls: Roll D20 at or below your skill value to succeed
  • Defense Rolls: When attacked, roll D20 at or below your Defense value minus the enemy's ATK
  • Damage Rolls: NO TO-HIT ROLLS! When you attack, roll damage directly. Enemy DEF may reduce it
  • Critical Success: D20 roll of 1 = maximum success
  • Critical Failure: D20 roll of 20 = maximum failure

Attrition (Damage System)

  • Basic Attrition: Cross off any 1 equipment or skill
  • Flesh Attrition: Randomly select a skill and cross it off
  • Equipment Attrition: Randomly select 1 equipment and cross it off
  • Destroy Attrition: Destroy 1 random equipment AND cross off 1 random skill (destroyed = permanently lost)
  • Brutal Attrition: Cross off 1D6 total random equipment and skills
  • Crossed-off items cannot be used until restored or repaired
  • Death: If you have no inventory left to absorb a hit, you take a "hit to the heart" and die at the end of the next Phase 5 unless healed

Healing and Recovery

  • Healing: Successful heal (magic, potion, first aid) restores 1 crossed-off skill
  • Repair: Use repair or armorer skill to restore damaged equipment
  • Take a Breather: After each scene (when safe), regain 1 equipment or skill
  • Rest: A night's rest in safety regains 1D4 combined equipment and skills

Enemy Stats

  • ATK: Penalty applied to your Defense rolls when defending against their attacks
  • DEF: Reduces damage you deal to them
  • Phases: Which phases the enemy acts in (e.g., 1, 3, 5)

The Extremes

  • Hero Coins: Reroll any roll OR maximize damage/output of an attack. Can be freely given between players. Max 1 coin per player
  • Negotiation: Ask the GM for environmental advantages to reduce difficulty
  • Player-facing design means YOU make most rolls, not the GM!