Gotta Be Fate

Watching DnD while we paint up all our big, beautiful 3D prints is a must! The TTRPG content is free to stream, darn engaging, and even inspiring at times! Today, we’ll share a fun homebrewed game mechanic from a swell group of streamers that we’re going to try out in our campaigns!

So, while we await Critical Role’s next campaign, we’ve started watching the gang over at High Rollers DnD — specifically, Campaign 3: Altheya: The Dragon Empire. It’s darn good, and we’re going to try out one of their home-brewed rules cooked up by talented Dungeon Master Mark Sherlock Hulmes.

The nifty game mechanic he’s introduced into Campaign 3 is called the Crucible of Fate. At the start of every session, everyone at the table, including the DM, rolls a d6 and then, based on the result, those dice either go to the Dungeon Master or the Players to be used in a variety of session situations. Bottom line, everyone gets to roll more dice, so what’s not to love?

We’re not experts on these rules here by any means, but we think this is how the Crucible of Fate works:

• At the start of a session, everyone at the table rolls a d6.
• 1-3 results go to the DM’s pool, while 4-6 results go to the players’ pool.
• Does not replace DnD Luck ability.
• Can only use one fate die per roll or action.
• When a die is spent, it moves to the other side (Players vs DM).
• Using a Fate Die must be declared before any roll (optionally, you could declare after).

Now that you know how Fate dice are generated, let’s look at how everyone can actually use ’em!

You can’t use Fate dice on everything, but there are lots of specific scenarios:

• Increase a Result: to an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw.
• Re-rolls: for a random event or DM-requested roll.
• Beneficial/Complication Elements: add minor elements to a scene or environment.
• Devil’s Bargain: Bend the rules or the narrative to attempt something unusual.
• Activate Additional Monster or NPC Abilities: DM only.
• Death Saving Throw (optional).
• DM Only: add to a monster’s damage roll or ability check.

DM Ben is not going to allow a Fate D6 on a player’s attack roll, and he will allow a D6 to any savings throw he has to make (to combat brutal character abilities and spells like Stun when he only has a single monster in play).

Since 3DRPG has two active campaigns going (work game and home game), DM Ben will probably try it in one of them to test the waters and work out some kinks. More importantly, though, he doesn’t want to spring this new mechanic on the group. Instead, DM Ben wants to do it in a fun and engaging way!

Perusing our office display cases, we focused on this Fortune Teller by EC3D Designs. It’s nice to have a miniature incorporate some relevant scatter terrain into its sculpt to help sell its purpose on the game table. This is STL comes from their fantastic Everyday Folk 2 Kickstarter.

Resident Painter Kimmy Utah took on the coloring duties here, and her efforts are admirable since we 3D-printed this one in FDM (rather than our usual go-to resin). Still, the color combinations work swimmingly, and we’re nervous to grab a seat.

Now the big question is, how on earth do we use this excellent 3D-printed miniature in a game to release this new Crucible of Fate game mechanic? Hmmmmmm. Well, the obvious answer is that the players pass by her unmarked establishment and are drawn inside (each one makes a CON DC 20).

Missing the roll means you don’t go through the dull door voluntarily, but likely he/she would still follow the rest inside (it’s a narrative roll more than anything).

Once inside, the room is empty and dimly lit. A woman wearing a veil sits at the table. She says nothing and gestures for the players to take a seat. She answers no questions but motions to her crystal ball, which starts to swirl and crackle before the word “fate” is formed in a bloody, misty haze. She then points to each player before the entire room suddenly begins to shake violently. The Seer is sucked into the crystal ball, it goes dark and then cracks!

DM Ben will provide no other explanation but to say it appears there are higher forces at work for this adventuring team! He will tell everyone at the table to roll a D6 and stack them in two piles accordingly. He won’t explain further until the next Crucible of Fate potential situation comes into play!

Until next time!