Game Rules: Rounds and Actions

Time is measured in rounds. Rounds are abstract but typically represent 4-6 hours in the game world. A typical conflict plays out over several days.

Actions

Actions break down into the following categories:

• Standard Actions take 3-7 rounds to complete, including:
• Praxis actions, which usually take 3 rounds;
• Social actions, which usually take 5 rounds;
• Magic actions, which usually take 6 rounds; and
• Ritual actions, which usually take 7 rounds.
• Free Actions take effect instantly; including:
• Invoke actions, which are typically instant; and
• Mist actions, which are able to interrupt other actions. And finally
• Prompt Actions have characteristics of both—they take effect at the same speed as Invoke or Mist actions, but then leave the character committed for some number of rounds.

You can take one free action at some point during the execution of a standard action. This is called your "available free action." Three rounds after you use that available free action, it comes back. That means that during a 7-round action, you could use your free action on the first round, then the fourth, then the seventh—or, if that timing doesn't work out for you, on the second and the sixth. If you start another 7-roudn action afterwards, you could take a new free action immediately—the new standard action comes with its own available free action, effectively resetting the three round counter.

If you aren't executing a standard or prompt action, you have a free action available every round.