Destiny Points

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About Destiny Points

The concept of destiny and the Player Characters' ability to tap into and influence this resource is represented by Destiny Points . Destiny is interwoven with the Force, which pervades the galaxy with both Light energy and Dark energy . Destiny is one way the Force guides and surrounds the characters.

Destiny Points are a resource that can be invested by either the players or the GM for a variety of different effects. For example, Destiny Points may be used to upgrade Ability dice or Difficulty dice, or trigger certain talents or special abilities.

Destiny Pool

Like the Force, destiny has both a light side and a dark side. Light side Destiny Points favor the characters and can be used to aid them in their actions. Dark side Destiny Points impede the characters, and are used by the GM to imperil and complicate their actions.

However, the light side and dark side are two sides of the same coin, struggling for balance, enduring the other side's strengths, and exploiting the other side's weaknesses. As the pool of light side Destiny ebbs, the dark side's Destiny pool grows. As dark side Destiny Points are consumed, light side Destiny Points are replenished.

Preparing the Destiny Pool

To determine the current Destiny pool, at the beginning of each game session, each player with a PC rolls one Force Die (the GM does not roll a ). The results of the Force dice are tallied to become the starting Destiny pool for that session.

For example, if a player rolls one light side symbol , they add one light side Destiny Point to the session's Destiny pool. If a player rolls two dark side symbols , they add two dark side Destiny Points to the Destiny pool.

Once set, the size of the Destiny pool does not change for that session. Before the next session, players will roll and generate a new Destiny pool which may have a different number and composition of Destiny Points. While the Destiny pool size is fixed for a session, the number of light side and dark side Destiny Points available can change frequently as players and GM call on destiny to influence their actions.

Using Destiny Points

Generally, Player Characters may only spend light side Destiny Points , and the GM may only spend dark side Destiny Points .

When a player spends a light side Destiny Point , it is converted into a dark side Destiny Point after the current action is resolved. When the GM spends a dark side Destiny Point , it is then converted into a light side Destiny Point in the same fashion.

Conversion takes place at the end of the action during which the Destiny Point was used, preventing players or GMs from immediately spending a just-converted Destiny Point.

Destiny is a powerful resource, but it is limited. A player can only spend one light side Destiny Point during a single action, and so should think carefully about how they want to use their destiny before doing so. The GM likewise is limited to spending one dark side Destiny Point per action.

The active player (the player or GM forming the dice pool) always has the first chance to use a Destiny Point . Once the player has decided whether or not they will use a Destiny Point, the other party involved in the check (the targeted player, or the GM in the case of an NPC) has the opportunity to respond and spend a Destiny Point as well.

Helping

All characters have the opportunity to call on destiny to enhance any skill check they are about to attempt. A player may spend one Destiny Point to upgrade their starting dice pool by one step. This refers to upgrading an Ability die into the superior Proficiency die . The GM may spend a dark side Destiny Point in this way to upgrade one of their NPCs dice pools.

Inhibiting

Destiny can also be used to help keep characters out of harm's way. Characters can call on destiny to make an opponent's skill check more challenging. A single player may spend one light side Destiny Point to upgrade the difficulty in any NPCs skill check by one step. This refers to upgrading a Difficulty die into the more potent Challenge die . The GM may spend a dark side Destiny Point in this way to upgrade one of the PC's dice pools.

Special Abilities and Talents

Many powerful talents allow characters to spend Destiny Points for various effects. For example, a savvy Politico can spend a Destiny Point to immediately recover from strain equal to their Presence rating. Many other uses exist as well — see the individual talent descriptions for details.

Luck and Deus Ex Machina

Destiny can also be used by the players to introduce "facts" and additional context directly into the narrative. The GM already does this by managing and directing the story, but this use of Destiny Points provides the players with another means to make contributions as well.

Imagine the characters land on a planet they expected to have a breathable atmosphere, only to find a leak at the gas mining facility has rendered the air toxic. One of the players suggests spending a Destiny Point , saying "Good thing you remembered to pack those rebreathers last time we were in dry dock, Pash." While none of the players may have specifically mentioned or listed rebreathers before, it's a sensible and creative addition to the game. If the GM agrees, the Destiny Point is spent and the player's contribution is now a true statement — there are rebreathers handy.

Similarly, a player may spend a Destiny Point in this manner to suggest finding a spare stimpack while quickly scavenging through a medical facility, or introducing a terrain feature the character can duck behind for cover.

Using Destiny Points narratively is a great way to keep all of the players involved and keep the story moving forward. However, the GM has final say over what is or is not acceptable.

Destiny Point Economy

All players and the GM are encouraged to use destiny regularly, creating an ebb and flow of destiny over the course of a session. While the players could theoretically "lock" all the Destiny Points and simply not spend any light side Destiny Points to prevent the GM from using dark side Destiny Points against them, this works both against the spirit of the mechanics and the setting. Players that horde their Destiny Points may find the GM using other methods of putting pressure on the group, forcing them to reconsider their plan.