Gameplay mechanics (no ontology)

From Mazeworld

This page lists the important gameplay mechanics of Mazeworld.

Aiming and body parts

The contestant may choose to attack specific body parts of his/her enemy. Depending on the type of enemy, damage on certain body parts might be higher or lower, often with a special effect.
When a player does not specifies a body part attacked, it is by default the upper body, the abdomen, or other applicable. Please check the individual articles of every creature to learn its body map. Keep in mind that many pieces of clothing and armor, the various Armor Classes of clothing/armor and Encounters, and certain other statistics, can modify or otherwise alter the behavior of damage in relation to body parts.

By default, the following values are used:

Body group	Damage multiplier		Effects
HEAD	1x all damage		Failure threshold +1
BODY	1x all damage		No penalty
LIMB	0.4x Pain		No penalty
EXTREMITY	0.5x Pain		Failure threshold +1
WEAK POINT	2x Pain, 2x limb damage to nearest limb		Failure threshold +1

HEAD group: Head
BODY group: Torso, upper body, lower body...
LIMB group: Arms, legs, shoulders, elbows, wings, tentacles...
EXTREMITY group: Hands, feet, mandibles, claws, tails, horns...
WEAK POINT group: Eyes, genitals, beaks, underbellies...

Basic fighting mechanics

Mazeworld requires two kinds of random number generations: regular, d6 dice throws, as well as more complex xdy throws. Most of the RNG matters are hidden to the player during gameplay.

Encounter generation and behavior

• When a contestant is facing the door(s) inside a room, unless he/she is facing a door leading to a scripted event (see later), every room is assigned a random number, each number corresponding to a room on the complete list of events. The list of events is randomized between every game, as such, it is impossible to correctly "map" which number corresponds to which room between different games.

• Encountering an enemy triggers a roll which sets how many instances of that creature will be met and thus, have to be fought. This roll is hidden and depends on each specific species.

• During combat, the GM may roll at its own discretion a 1d100 dubbed the Temerity roll; it is rolled primarily for NPCs (though exceptions can occur). Depending on the situation, if certain events during the fight could be considered strenuous, frightening, or otherwise challenging to the creatures in the fray, the roll is made in an attempt to change their behavior, if it is deemed appropriate.
  

Depending on the score obtained, the encounter may, from negative to positive: Pass out, quake in fear, become very anxious, resume the fight normally, or explode in anger. If an encounter passes out, it can be looted and robbed from without retaliation, until something wakes it up.
Furthermore, certain creatures can never be affected by a temerity roll, such as mindless beings (drones, blobs...)

Combat

• Fighting is turn-based. Success or failure of the attack of each participant in the fight (contestant, enemy or enemies) is decided on dice rolls.
• In order to attack, most weapons require the user to aim at a particular body part of the chosen enemy; this is called a target.
  • EXAMPLE: If a contestant desires to attack a human enemy using a Beretta M9, the contestant can choose to aim at a particular body part of said enemy; i.e. torso, arms, or head.
  • If a target is not specified, then the hits will hit a random body part (via the @bodyaim bot command) instead.
  • Certain weapons cannot be aimed at a precise target on a creature, so instead, simply designating the entire creature as a target may work.
• When choosing to attack, a participant in a fight may roll a 2d6 per shot or hit attempted, depending on if they're using firearms or other weapons.
  • EXAMPLE: If a contestant tries to fire three rounds at an enemy using a Beretta M9, he/she has to roll three 2d6s. The command to quickly roll this is @roll 3#2d6. Adjust the number left to the # symbol to reflect the desired amount.
  • NOTE: Due to bot limitations, it is impossible to roll more than 20 dice at once - if you desire to attack more than 20 times, and if the contestant's weapon allows, simply roll the 20 first in one line, then the remaining shots in another. Repeat for any other increments of 20 needed, and so on.

The result of each 2d6 roll determines whether the shot or hit associated will hit or miss.

During normal circumstances:

Score	What happens		Effects
12	Critical success		Attack hits perfectly and deals extra effects (@critwin)
9 to 11	Hit		Attack hits successfully where intended
7 to 8	Inaccurate Hit		Attack might not hit as intended
6 to 3	Miss		Attack fails to hit entirely
2	Critical failure		Weapon fails to work, jams, or hurts the user

• Scoring 2 leads to a critical failure, leading in the attack backfiring to the attacker in one way or another.
  • Melee weapons will simply fail to hit, and may lose between 1% and 5% condition per critical failure.
  • Firearms may fail in several different ways, see here for a list of firearm failure types.
  • Explosive ordnance may fail to work as intended, depending on the type.
  • Critical failures with monster attacks may result in the monster hurting themselves.

• Scoring between 3 and 6 leads to a miss or failure, meaning the attack simply misses.
• Scoring between 7 and 8 leads to an inaccurate hit, meaning the attack MIGHT not hit as intended.
  • For most ranged attacks, an inaccurate hit translates into a flat 50% chance to hit modifier, meaning that the hit is not guaranteed. This means that if an inaccurate hit is rolled, a 1d2 is rolled on top of that; 1 translates into a miss, 2 into a hit.
  • For most melee attacks, including unarmed combat, but excluding martial arts techniques, an inaccurate hit instead translates into a flat 0.8x Pain & Limb damage modifier.
    • Martial arts techniques do not take in account inaccurate hits; thus the damage modifier does not apply if the technique is successfully executed.
• Scoring between 9 and 11 leads to a hit or success, meaning the attack hits successfully and as intended.
• Scoring a 12 leads to a critical success, leading in the attack landing exactly where the player wished, and may, depending on the victim and the weapon used, cause extra effects (extra damage, additional effects...).

Certain items or effects may affect those thresholds, and certain encounters may have naturally different thresholds - most of the time, they will be referred to as their Failure Threshold, to determine which values will lead to failing an attack.

Inaccuracy Range

Inaccuracy range is not a fixed value but instead depends on what the current FT is. It is normally equal to (FT score) + 2 - which means that the 2 points above FT are considered Inaccurate Hits.

• Assuming the default Failure Threshold of 6, the Inaccuracy range is 7-8. If the FT decreases to 4, Inaccuracy range becomes 5-6, and so on.
• Concentration and critical hits override inaccuracy, both regular and secondary effect (see below).
  • Example: If FT were to rise to 9 or 10, then Inaccurate hits occur only on a 11, as a 12 always means critical hit.

Inaccuracy range may also be modified, expanded, or removed entirely depending on the Contestant's Combat skills and on certain Secondary effects. There is also Inaccuracy as a Secondary effect.

Battlespace

The general term for the space in which creatures evolve when in combat is called the battlespace. A good visual representation of the battlespace is shown in the picture above.

When combat is ongoing, the battlespace is typically delineated into various components, which help positioning each participant to the current fight:

• Sides represent areas of the battlespace.
• The concept of range is abstracted into two settings: Melee ("within melee range") and Ranged
• The presence or not of Cover
• The position of each creature, relative to each other.

Every battlespace has 4 sides, though all four sides are rarely used in a typical fight - in the majority of cases, combat occurs on one or two sides. Sides are numbered corresponding to cardinal directions, as shown with the map above.

Doors and positioning

Every creature, item and room furniture in a room have a position in one of the battlespace Sides. Particularly so in the Uncivilized Area, that position may be randomly generated. This also includes furniture that can contain items or can be interacted with, such as bookshelves, desks, lockers, computers, and so on.

When entering a new room in the UA, regardless of the door taken in the previous room, the Contestant will always be considered to be coming from the South door (Side 1).

In towns and defined areas, it instead depends on that particular facility's map ; going from Room A, through the East door (Side 4) into Room B, means the Contestant will enter inside Room B on Side 3 (West).

It must be noted that doors also have positioning. The "North" door always correspond to the "North" side (Side 2), and so on. Outside of combat, room positioning doesn't matter and the Contestant can leave through any door they wish. But when in combat, in order to leave through a door, they must first be on that door's corresponding side. If the Contestant is on Side 1 and they want to leave through the North door while in combat, they must first move into Side 2, then attempt an escape.

Range and movement

When not in combat, the battlespace does not matter and items located anywhere in the room may usually be reached and picked up immediately, and other creatures can be talked to and interacted with at any moment. What follows only applies during combat, or when about to engage in combat.

The concept of "sides" does not represent allegiance, but positioning. While usually, the Contestant and any allies he/she may have always start combat in Side 1 and enemies/other combatants start combat in sides 2-4, each creature is capable of moving across sides and, with the right weapons, attacking other creatures, either on their own side or in other sides.

Items generated in a room can be on any Side of the battlespace ; this is relevant when you want to know if you can pick up an item while hostile creatures are in the room.

This is where the concept of range comes into play, as well as the terms "Melee" and "Ranged".

• An attacker creature attempting a melee attack can only target another creature "Within melee range", which simply means on the same side as the attacker. An attacker in Side 1 can only melee attack another creature in Side 1, and so on.
• An attacker creature attempting a ranged attack can target any other creature in the battlespace; ranged, as such, means capable to target on any side. An attacker in Side 1 can ranged attack any other creature, whether they may be in Side 1, 2, 3 or 4, and so on.

Certain attacks can target "all creatures on the same side", or "everyone on the same side". It is as the description implies; if such an attack targets a creature in Side 2, the target - and all other creatures currently in Side 2 will be affected.

Movement across sides during combat is possible, though rules and circumstances may vary depending on what motivates the movement.

• Typically, movement is done in the context of a melee attack against a creature on another side; it is referred to as a combat movement. In order for an attacker creature on one side to melee attack a victim creature on another side, the attacker has to move from their original side to their victim's. When done as part of a melee attack, the attacker moves only when its turn comes; thus movement during an attack directly depends on Initiative Speed (see below).
  • Example: The Contestant is on Side 1, equipped with an iron baseball bat. He is facing a wolf, on Side 2. The wolf prepares to attack by biting, while the Contestant prepares to strike the wolf with the bat. Both of these attacks are, obviously enough, melee attacks. The wolf's bite attack has an Initiative Speed of 3, while the Contestant's bat has an IS of 18. As the wolf's IS score is the lowest, the wolf's attack is the fastest; thus the wolf moves from Side 2 to Side 1, then attacks, in one same move. Consequently, as the wolf is now in Side 1, the Contestant does not have to move to another side to attack; he may simply strike the wolf as it is within melee range.
• Movement to another side can also be performed without it being part of an attack; it is called a non-combat movement. As the term implies, it is a non-combat action, similar to using an item or attempting to flee, which means that it has an Initiative Speed of 0 and as such, is usually resolved before combat actions (attacks). Non-combat movement takes 1 turn; once complete, the turn ends.
  • Non-combat movement CANNOT serve as an evasive maneuver from melee attacks; a melee attack is defined by the target, not by the location. The only way to evade an attack is to attempt escaping the battlespace entirely, which generally means attempting to leave the room. (See here for details).
  • Non-combat movement however has other tactical uses, such as reaching items or equipment located on another side, or searching for new cover.
  • Example: As before, Contestant on Side 1 with iron baseball bat, versus wolf on Side 2. Instead of attacking the wolf, the Contestant wants to move to Side 3 in order to reach an item that is lying there. In this case, the order is Contestant, Wolf. While the Contestant gets to move first, their turn ends when reaching Side 3, and it doesn't prevent the wolf from attacking the Contestant; the wolf simply follows the Contestant from Side 2 into Side 3 and makes their attack.

Special notes regarding accuracy and FT calculation

• If several FT modifiers are involved, at no point the total FT can go any lower than 3 or any higher than 10. If, during FT calculation, the end result would be lower than 3, it becomes 3; and if it would be higher than 10, it becomes 10.
  • Example 1: Knowing that natural FT is 6, X successively consumes Amphetamines, Diazepam and an Accuratio mushroom. X is under the effects of three sources of FT-1 thus his FT is lowered by 3. If he consumed another FT reducer, it would be ineffective.
  • Example 2: X consumes Diazepam (FT-1), an Accuratio mushroom (FT-1), Amphetamines (FT-1) then Steroids (FT+2). The total calculation is 6-1-1-1+2, making his FT 5.

Firearm failures

When 2s are scored while using firearms, the user is prone to the risk of a critical failure. Certain checks are made if it happens:

• First, a d100 must be rolled once per 2 rolled (Three "2" = three d100 rolls), the results of which are then compared with the gun's current cleanliness percentage. Those rolls are hidden.
• If the 1d100 roll result is lower or equal to the cleanliness percentage value, the 2 is treated as a normal failure.
• If however, it is higher, then a critical failure occurs and must be resolved as such, the type of failure depends on the type of weapon.

Firearm failure types

• Failure to eject, also known as a Stovepipe: This is the most common type of failure, which results in a spent casing stuck in the ejection port.
  • Resolution: The player's turn ends. The contestant performs a "tap-rack-ready" in order to remove the faulty casing; the weapon is ready to fire next turn.
• Failure to fire, also known as a Misfire: Certain types of weapons can instead suffer from this, where ammunition simply fails to fire.
  • Resolution: The shot corresponding to the 2 is simply not fired, any subsequent rounds fired afterwards are resolved normally.
  • NOTE: For Recoil calculation purposes, if a FTF occurs, it is skipped ; FTFs do not factor in calculation. If six shots are attempted, but only 5 go off, then recoil is calculated as though only 5 shots have been fired.
• Failure to feed: Belt-fed weapons are prone to this kind of failure. Feeding is blocked due to a double-feed issue, which prevents cycling.
  • Resolution: In order to make the weapon ready again, a reload must be performed; if the user doesn't have a spare belt or mag, they can simply remove and reload the same belt or mag to clear the malfunction. This is a slow process; it ends the turn during which the critfail occurred, and requires another turn to perform the reload if done during combat.
  • It is generally advised to simply switch to another weapon and resolve the malfunction AFTER the fight is finished, if possible.
• In even rarer cases, catastrophic failures may occur. These usually destroy the entire weapon.

Example

• Assuming FT 6, an IWI Jericho 941R, a semi-automatic pistol, with a cleanliness of 83.57%, is fired 8 times.
• 8 shots require eight 2d6 rolls. The results of those eight shots are: 7, 8, 5, 2, 8, 2, 7, 10.
  • A 1d100 must be rolled for the first 2 (4th shot), and another for the second 2 (6th shot).
  • On the first 2, the d100 result is 67. 67 is lower than 83.57, as such this shot is treated as a normal failure.
  • On the second 2, the d100 result is 92. 92 is higher than 83.57; as such, it is a critical failure proper. For this weapon, a stovepipe occurs.

Kill assists ("Ally kills")

During fights between multiple encounters and/or groups of encounters, sometimes multiple attacks from different people may land on the same target. In this kind of situation, it may be difficult to establish who has truly killed whom. As such, a system of assists exists in order to determine who should be credited with the kill.

The rule is simple: whoever caused the kill shot, is responsible for the kill, and as such is the only one to receive the relevant stats.

If the contestant's allies perform kills, they are counted towards the contestant's total tally. However, kills made by temporary teammates or NPCs fighting by the Contestant's side, do NOT count if they are not formally considered as allies.

Executions

After combat, it is possible that all of the Contestant's opponents may be unable to fight anymore, either due to blacking out, or in other special incapacitating states.

If such a situation occurs and the Contestant wishes to ensure that the opponents are defeated, they can be executed. An execution works like an attack in that it uses the same rules and damage as during normal combat, with one exception ; executions cannot miss. An execution can fail if it doesn't kill immediately, however it can be attempted again. Whether or not it is successful, an execution attempt lasts 1 turn.

Executions can be performed during combat, or outside of combat.

Damage and protection systems

Please refer to their articles: Damage chart - Protection chart

Explosives

More detailed explanation of rules with explosives can be read on this article: Explosives rules

Resolution of a combat turn

Combat may be initiated either by the player, or the GM via external events. Combat is turn-based. When combat begins, a series of steps must be respected at every turn to ensure that all the needed information is provided so that turns can be resolved.
Since version 2.5, a brand new turn resolution system has been designed to add a sense of speed and reflexes to combat in MazeWorld: the Initiative system. This system relies on a statistic, the Initiative Speed (IS), and is one of the most important stats to look out for during combat. The use of IS is detailed later on.

Every party has the possibility to attempt a wide range of actions when their turn comes during combat. The most obvious of which is fighting. Though other actions may be performed, they usually are under their own set of rules (such as running away, using specific items...), end the turn immediately (skipping the turn, swapping weapons from the backpack...), or remain free (talking...).

Before the first turn

Contestants (and, in fact, other encounters as well) may perform certain actions as soon as they enter a room, before a potential fight starts proper. Those actions are:

• Taking cover. If stealth is maintained, the contestant will benefit from an always first advantage (see below for turn order resolution)
• Slipping past unnoticed (if stealth is maintained), see Other useful ways to use 2d6s
• Escaping (otherwise), see Other useful ways to use 2d6s

Turn resolution steps

• 1) The GM decides what NPCs intend to do, normally without revealing it to the player.
• 2) The player (you) is then asked what the Contestant intends to do for this turn.
• 3) The GM announces "Start of Turn x" (x being the turn number).
• 4) Non-combat actions are treated as having an Initiative Speed of 0 and is, as such, usually resolved before combat actions. A "non-combat action" is anything not involving an attack, such as reloading, swapping spare weapons, using an item or consumable, etc.
• 5) The Initiative Speed (see below) of every creature is compared, then the order of passage is announced.
• 6) Each participant in the fight resolves its combat actions, in the announced order. This is during this step that attack dice are rolled. Depending on the weapons or attacks involved, different rules may be called upon (Recoil, Failure Threshold, multiple projectiles, explosives, etc.)
• 7) Once every attack is resolved (aka: how many hits and misses are confirmed), damage calculation steps are made, if necessary.
• 8) The turn ends, the GM announces "End of Turn x". Any relevant end-of-turn effects are applied to ALL concerned creatures; effects such as natural Pain regeneration, periodic damage due to being set on fire, Bleeding rolls, etc.
• 9) If the fight isn't declared over by the GM, the fight continues on the next turn and the process repeats from Step 1.

Damage calculation steps

Assuming the attack hits...

• A) Pain is calculated first. Various factors affect the end amount, the most important ones being AC, the victim's Pain sensitivity, the various attack multipliers, and so on.
• B) Limb damage is calculated next, using LDV and its modifiers.
• C) Other forms of damage are checked if needed (for example, a Blunt-type attack can cause fractures, and if needed, applied. Critical successes (rolling 12) may give additional effects.
  • Typically, clothing damage, Blood loss, and injuries such as wounds, fractures, etc. are checked, with relevant critical success and/or bullet type modifiers applied.

Initiative system

The Initiative system employs the use of a statistic, the Initiative Speed (IS) to determine the order of passage of a creature involved in combat with another. In other words, the IS is a representation of how fast they are; the better the score, the more they'll be first to attack in a turn.

For humans and beings that can use human-usable weapons, the Initiative Score is tied to the weight of the weapon used, with "1" being the naturally fastest, and "Unsp." (Unsparable) being the naturally slowest. For other creatures, each of their attacks has an attributed IS value instead.

• Note that IS and weight can be different; the term IS tier is employed. In normal conditions, a weapon with Weight 14 will have an IS of 14. However, there are ways to lower the effective IS of a weapon. If an effect speaks of lowering IS tiers, then it is to be considered one tier lower than its actual weight. For a Weight 14 weapon, having an effect that applies IS tier -1 means all attacks are considered 1 tier lower than their natural weight. For a Weight 14 weapon, IS thus becomes 9.
  • If multiple tier lowering effects are active, they stack. Two active effects at the same time = 2 tiers down, and so on.

During step 5 of turn resolution, the IS of all attempting a combat action is compared. The lowest IS is the fastest, and the fastest goes first. In case multiple creatures have the same IS, their order of passage is random.

• EXAMPLE: Two creatures are about to fight. Creature A has IS 9, while Creature B has IS 14. As such, A will go first during that turn. The order of passage is: A > B.
  
  

Certain situations may add exceptions to the Initiative system:

• Case 1: During turn resolution, two or more participants in a fight have the same IS. How is it resolved?
  • Solution: This is called a speed conflict. In this case, a die with as many sides as there are encounters involved is thrown to decide who goes first, then another to decide who goes second, and so on until all have been ordered. If two participants are in a speed conflict, a 1d2 resolves who goes first (and as such who goes second). If there are three, a 1d3 chooses the first, then a 1d2 chooses second and last. And so on for any larger groups.
• Case 2: Both the contestant's side and at least one encounter side are taking cover at the same time. Who gets the always first advantage?
  • Solution: First, those who SUCCEED their cover rolls are checked. Those who failed theirs simply take cover, then their turns end. The cover-taking rolls are checked; the highest score goes first. In case of a tie, it is treated as a speed conflict (see above) and is resolved as such.
  • NOTE: The above applies only for attacks done in the same turn as cover-taking. For any subsequent turns, normal IS speeds are taken in account, assuming all parties in the fight remain behind cover.
• Case 3: The same situation as Case 2, but there are members in either side who are not taking cover.
  • Solution: Those taking cover are treated as being always faster than those who are not. In other words, those not taking cover see their actions resolved only after those who did, penalizing recklessness.

Initiative Speed tiers

"IS tiers" are frequently referred to ; these tiers are nothing more than ways to refer to each of the possible weight values for items, particularly weapons. The higher the IS tier, the heavier - and thus, slower - the item is. In other words, lower is better in this case. Certain IS tiers cannot be naturally achieved with weapons or attacks, and can only be attained through specific effects - i.e. IS tier modifiers.

Tier number	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	99
Weight value	Non-combat actions	1	2	3	5	9	14	18	22	26	30	Unsparable	Concentration

Notes:

• IS Tier 99 can only be reached by Concentrating ; it is called as such to further denote that it cannot be reached in any other ways, e.g. through effects that affect an user's Initiative Speed.
• IS Tier 0 can be reached through effects modifying IS (example: using a Weight 2 weapon alongside an effect that reduces IS by 2 tiers). IS Tier 0 is special in that all non-combat actions are treated as having an Initiative Speed of 0 ; thus, attacks with an effective IS of 0 are as fast as non-combat actions and can potentially be resolved before a creature attempting a non-combat action, such as trying to take cover, fleeing, reloading, and so on.

How to describe a combat action

When the player is asked what to do, and they wish to make a combat action (an attack) they have to write a short, descriptive line detailing their intention. Whether or not they will succeed depends on the attack roll they will make later in the turn.

The description line does not have to be written in an elaborate manner, so long as the required information is conveyed. The following examples are all describing the same action and are all acceptable:

• "AR70/90, Hellhound, Abdomen, Burst mode, 2 bursts"
• "John attacks the hellhound using his AR70/90, firing two bursts at the creature's abdomen."
• "Fire two bursts at the hellhound's chest with the AR70/90"

The following example is also considered acceptable, but is bare-bones and leads to the default values being used.

• "Jack fires at the hellhound with his AR70/90".

In this example, only the target and the weapon used are known; only steps 1 and 3 have been given information, leaving the attack to be interpreted as semi-auto, one shot, towards the hellhound's chest. While valid, it demonstrates that omission of information may have underwhelming, or undesired results.

In addition to invalidations due to insufficient information (as explained above) and gameplay mechanic impossibility (e.g. trying to fire more shots or bursts per turn than the maximum limit), description lines may also be invalidated due to incapabilities related to the weapon; for example, trying to use a non-existent fire mode, or using an accessory that isn't mounted on the weapon.

• If the contestant attempts to fire more rounds than the weapon has left, then only the remaining shots will be fired, naturally, then the turn ends.
• If the contestant attempts to fire an empty weapon or attachment, then the turn ends after the weapon has been dry-fired. Attempting to fire more shots than the weapon has left, when the weapon has 0 left, is valid, but ends the turn seemingly prematurely.

NOTE: It is impossible to "spray" at multiple targets -at once- even when using full-auto capable weapons, a contestant still has to aim at -a specific target- in particular.

Remember the following steps

• 1) Announce the weapon used (Writing the weapon's name is recommended, although just announcing the Class is acceptable)
• 2) Announce the use of accessories, if applicable (If none is specified, it is assumed none is used), unless the accessory has a passive effect; in which case it is always applied.
• 3) Announce the intended target
• 4) Announce the target's body part (if none given, torso/upper body is assumed)
• 5) Announce the fire mode selected or the amount of hits attempted, if applicable (if none given and the weapon has more than one, the lowest possible is assumed)
• 6) Finally, announce the amount of rounds fired / bursts fired / hits attempted, within the limits possible (If no figure is given, the lowest non-zero amount is assumed)

When the contestant's turn to attack comes, the player makes the attack roll (generally requiring to roll as many 2d6s as shots/hits attempted). If any hits are successful, damage is then calculated according to the description of the move, the results of the dice rolls, while taking in account weapon accessories and Recoil, if applicable. The calculated damage is then applied. Afterwards, the GM makes a description of the results.

Other useful ways to use 2d6s

• Melee weapons can be used to hit multiple times in a single turn; up to 2 for Class 5 Long, and up to 3 for Class 5 Short weapons (Does not apply to ranged Class 5 weapons). The player must indicate how many hits he or she will attempt, then roll 2d6 an appropriate amount of times. All hits must target the same body part, just as multiple shots from a firearm are aimed at the same body part.

• Cover roll: Attempting to take cover during combat, which is a special non-combat action in that, if successful, allows the user to perform another action this turn (except taking cover again). In order to perform a cover roll, the Contestant must check for available cover first. (Players may ask to observe the entire battlespace to check which sides have which cover - doing so is a free action) If there is cover available on his/her side, a 2d6+Agility roll must be performed. The roll has a fixed FT 6 ; thus success occurs if the result is 7 or more, and the only way of influencing the result is by influencing Agility. Successfully taking cover has obvious benefits: additional protection during combat, and maintaining stealth if it wasn't broken.

• Escape roll: Attempting to escape combat, which is a non-combat action. In order to perform an escape roll, the Contestant may simply make a 2d6+Agility roll as soon as combat begins. The roll has a fixed FT 5 ; thus success occurs if the result is 6 or more, and the only way of influencing the result is by influencing Agility.
  • WARNING: A successful escape roll immediately pulls the Contestant out of combat and prompts the player to the next doors or another direction to flee to, and unless allies or friendly creatures are also successfully escaping and following, it will leave allies behind to their fates. It is possible to abandon allies and friendlies that way, so beware.
  • If stealth has been maintained, this roll becomes a Stealth escape roll. The difference between the two is that in a stealth escape roll, the escapees are not spotted, which means no alarms raised or enemies calling backup.

Recoil system

Please refer to this article: Recoil

Skills

As the Contestant progresses, the Contestant may increase their skills and become more proficient in the use of the many weapon categories available in the Mazes.

Skills are grouped into two major categories: combat skills and noncombat skills.

Combat skills

There exist 20 different combat skill types, and 5 different skill levels for each.

Combat skill types

Combat skills are grouped into 3 major categories: firearms, explosives, and melee. They are as follows:

Firearm skill group:

• Bolt-action
• Pump-action
• Lever-action
• Automatic pistol
• Automatic rifle
• Automatic shotgun
• Semi-auto pistol
• Semi-auto rifle
• Semi-auto shotgun
• Double-action (DA) revolver
• Single-action (SA) revolver

Explosives skill group:

• Grenade launcher
• Rocket launcher
• Planted explosives

Melee skill group:

• Blunt weapons
• Sharp weapons
• Piercing weapons
• Non-gun ranged weapons
• Thrown weapons
• Martial arts (unarmed combat)

Notes:

• All Automatic skills cover the use of both Full-auto and Burst mode.
• All Rifle skills cover the use of submachine guns and machine guns.
• The KBP GM-94 is a pump-action grenade launcher, but it is covered by the Grenade Launcher skill, not the Pump-action skill.
• All single-shot firearms that are not grenade or rocket launchers are covered by a relevant Semi-auto skill, as follows:
  • The Super LeMat's shotgun mode, the Remington 220 Spartan, the Baikal MP-27M and the Chiappa Triple Threat are all covered by the Semi-auto shotgun skill.
  • The Golden Gun and the Pen Gun's gun mode are covered by the Semi-auto pistol skill.
• All underslung grenade launchers are covered by the Grenade launcher skill.
• Underslung shotguns:
  • The KAC Masterkey is essentially a pump-action shotgun, so it is covered by the Pump-action skill.
  • The M26 MASS is, similarly, a (very small) bolt-action shotgun, thus it is covered by the Bolt-action skill.
• All hand grenades are covered by the Thrown weapons skill.
• Any form of planted explosive that is thrown instead of properly planted, is instead covered by the Thrown weapons skill.
• Any melee weapon (and, in fact, any item) that is thrown instead of properly fired or used in melee, is instead covered by the Thrown weapons skill.

Combat skill levels

Skill levels determine the Contestant's proficiency with weapons of that particular weapon category. They are as follows:

• Unskilled (0-9.9 skill points) - At this skill level, the Contestant is afflicted with a FT+1 malus.
• Basic (10-24.9 skill points) - The default skill level ; standard FT, no modifiers.
• Skilled (25-49.9 skill points) - Standard FT, but natural Inaccuracy Range is now 1.
• Expert (50-99.9 skill points) - Standard FT, but natural Inaccuracy Range is now 0.
• Master (100+ skill points) - At this skill level, not only is the natural Inaccuracy Range set to 0, but the Contestant also enjoys a FT-1 bonus.

Skill groups and skill levels are related to Weapon badges - each badge corresponds to a skill level from Basic onwards.

Training and advancing combat skills

The primary and easiest method of advancing a combat skill is to use any weapon of the desired category and successfully kill enemies, until skill is increased to the desired level.

Another method of advancing skills, particularly useful for Contestants seeking to improve their proficiency with low-leveled skills, is through training exercises.

Training exercises take the form of mini-games, which can be played either in a shooting range for firearm and explosive skills, or against a wooden training figure in a dojo for melee skills.

Shooting range training minigames:

• Target shooting (firearm skills)
• Quickdraw (firearm skills)
• Target blasting (explosives skills)

Dojo training minigames:

• Wooden Man (Melee weapons)
• Wooden Man (Unarmed)

When completing training minigames, Training Points (or TPs) may be earned. TPs partially substitute for kills in field conditions. While TPs contribute to increasing skill, they do not add to the kill count.

• 1 kill translates directly into 1 skill point.
• 10 TPs translate into the equivalent of 1 skill point for the purposes of skill leveling.
• A limited amount of Training Points can be earned: 250 per skill, which is just enough to go from zero point Unskilled level to Skilled level. Further training after reaching 250 TPs does not yield any more.

• NOTE: In addition to improving unarmed combat proficiency, advancing the Martial Arts skill also unlocks the right to be taught certain techniques from the Dojo's martial artist.

Noncombat skills

There are 7 different noncombat skill types, and 5 different skill levels for each. Each skill is tied to a specific activity: Hunting, Crafting, Handloading, Mining, Bartering, Repairing and Lockpicking. Each of the skills affects the Contestant in a different way, and each one is trained in its own way.

Certain skills have a "Level 0" (Unaware) which represents a lack of minimal knowledge to start practicing the associated activity. All skills have skill levels between 1 and 5; Lv1 - Unskilled, Lv2 - Basic, Lv3 - Skilled, Lv4 - Expert and Lv5 - Master. The effects for each of those skill levels vary depending on the skill type.

Hunting skill

For the specifics on the activity itself, please read Hunting.

• Default level: Lv0 - Unaware - skill is essentially inactive and must first be activated.
• Activation requirements: Seek any restaurant chef and purchase the "Hunting and butchering basics class" for 600 P$. This will enable the skill and set it to Lv1.
• Skill training: Successfully butcher a creature to acquire 1 Skill Point in Hunting.

Effects of skill levels:

• Lv0 - Unaware: Skill is inactive and the Contestant cannot hunt at all.
• Lv1 - Unskilled: Can harvest 1d25% meat worth (between 1% and 25% of the total meat worth). Always yields at least 1 meat if the result would be inferior to 1, and if the creature had at least 1 meat worth remaining.
• Lv2 - Basic: Can harvest 1d46+4% meat worth (between 5% and 50% meat worth)
• Lv3 - Skilled: Can harvest 1d61+14% meat worth (between 15% and 75% meat worth)
• Lv4 - Expert: Can harvest 1d76+24% meat worth (between 25% and 100% meat worth)
• Lv5 - Master: Can harvest 1d51+49% meat worth (between 50% and 100% meat worth)

Skill point requirements:

• Lv1: 0 SP (Skill Points)
• Lv2: 10 SP
• Lv3: 25 SP
• Lv4: 100 SP
• Lv5: 200 SP

Crafting skill

For the specifics on the activity itself, please read Crafting.

• Default level: Lv0 - Unaware - skill is essentially inactive and must first be activated.
• Activation requirements: Seek any Workshop engineer and purchase the "Crafting and engineering basics class" for 600 P$. This will enable the skill and set it to Lv1.
• Skill training: Successfully craft an item from a valid recipe to acquire 1 Skill Point in Crafting.

Effects of skill levels:

• Lv0 - Unaware: Skill is inactive and the Contestant cannot craft items at all.
• Lv1 - Unskilled: Default success chances.
• Lv2 - Basic: +10% crafting success chances.
• Lv3 - Skilled: +20% crafting success chances.
• Lv4 - Expert: +30% crafting success chances.
• Lv5 - Master: +40% crafting success chances.

Skill point requirements:

• Lv1: 0 SP (Skill Points)
• Lv2: 5 SP
• Lv3: 25 SP
• Lv4: 50 SP
• Lv5: 100 SP

Handloading skill

For the specifics on the activity itself, please read Handloading.

• Default level: Lv0 - Unaware - skill is essentially inactive and must first be activated.
• Activation requirements: Seek a handloading expert and get a lesson on the basics of handloading from them. Coming soon! This will be a quest reward.
• Skill training: A new stat, "ammunition handloaded", will be tracked. Every 20 rounds handloaded grants 1 Skill Point in Handloading.

Effects of skill levels:

• Lv0 - Unaware: Skill is inactive and the Contestant cannot handload ammunition at all.
• Lv1 - Unskilled: Default handloading performance.
  • Default maximum amount of rounds manipulated per turn: 5
  • Default chance per shot fired to produce an usable spent case: 10% (assuming the caliber is valid)
  • Allowed to handload only SP and -P/TAC loads.
• Lv2 - Basic: Max rounds manipulated per turn now 8. Spent case chance per shot now 20%.
• Lv3 - Skilled: Spent case chance per shot now 25%. Can now handload +P/MAG loads.
• Lv4 - Expert: Max rounds manipulated per turn now 10. Spent case chance per shot now 1/3 (33.33%). Can now handload +P+ loads.
• Lv5 - Master: Max rounds manipulated per turn now 20. Spent case chance per shot now 50%.

A "round manipulation" is any one of the following:

• Priming a case or hull
• Loading a primed case/hull with a powder charge AND a projectile (this is what counts towards the "ammunition handloaded" stat)
• Disassembling a round of ammunition

Skill point requirements:

• Lv1: 0 SP (Skill Points)
• Lv2: 25 SP (500 rounds)
• Lv3: 100 SP (2000 rounds)
• Lv4: 500 SP (10000 rounds)
• Lv5: 1000 SP (20000 rounds)

Mining skill

For the specifics on the activity itself, please read Mines.

• Default level: Lv0 - Unaware - skill is essentially inactive and must first be activated.
• Activation requirements: Seek the mining supplies store manager in a Mine, and purchase the "Mining lessons" for 600 P$. This will enable the skill and set it to Lv1.
• Skill training: Successfully extract 1 ore bundle to gain 1 Skill Point in Mining.

Effects of skill levels:

• Lv0 - Unaware: Skill is inactive and the Contestant cannot mine ore at all.
• Lv1 - Unskilled: Default mining performance.
  • Pick-axe mining: Burns 15 ntri and 8 wtr per hit. 10% chance to extract per hit.
  • Drill Arm mining: Burns 8 ntri and 4 wtr per hit. 20% chance to extract per hit.
  • Explosives mining: Blast extracts (limb damage) / 12
• Lv2 - Basic:
  • Pick-axe mining: Chance to extract per hit is now 12.5%
  • Drill Arm mining: Chance to extract per hit is now 25%
  • Explosives mining: Blast now extracts (limb damage) / 10
• Lv3 - Skilled:
  • Pick-axe mining: Now burns only 10 ntri and 5 wtr per hit. Chance to extract per hit is now 20%.
  • Drill Arm mining: Now burns only 5 ntri and 3 wtr per hit. Chance to extract per hit is now 40%.
  • Explosives mining: Blast now extracts (limb damage) / 8
• Lv4 - Expert:
  • Pick-axe mining: Chance to extract per hit is now 25%.
  • Drill Arm mining: Chance to extract per hit is now 50%.
  • Explosives mining: Blast now extracts (limb damage) / 6
• Lv5 - Master:
  • Pick-axe mining: Now burns only 5 ntri and 3 wtr. Chance to extract per hit is now 40%.
  • Drill Arm mining: Now burns only 3 ntri and 2 wtr. Chance to extract per hit is now 80%.
  • Explosives mining: Blast now extracts (limb damage) / 4

Skill point requirements:

• Lv1: 0 SP (Skill Points)
• Lv2: 100 SP
• Lv3: 250 SP
• Lv4: 500 SP
• Lv5: 1000 SP

Barter skill

For the specifics on the activity itself, please read Bartering.

• Default level: Lv0 - Unaware - skill is essentially inactive and must first be activated.
• Activation requirements: Seek a negotiation expert and get a lesson on the basics of bartering from them. Coming soon! This will be a quest reward.
• Skill training: Successfully convince a shop owner to lower their prices to earn Skill Points.
  • Easy haggles (10% off) grant 1 SP. Medium haggles (20% off) grant 2 SP. Hard haggles (30% off) grant 4 SP.

Effects of skill levels:

• Lv0 - Unaware: Skill is inactive and the Contestant will not be able to attempt haggling.
• Lv1 - Unskilled: Haggling can be attempted on purchases values 250 P$ or less.
• Lv2 - Basic: Haggling can be attempted on purchases values 500 P$ or less.
• Lv3 - Skilled: Haggling can be attempted on purchases values 1000 P$ or less.
• Lv4 - Expert: Haggling can be attempted on purchases values 2000 P$ or less.
• Lv5 - Master: Haggling can be attempted no matter the value of the Contestant's purchases.

Skill point requirements:

• Lv1: 0 SP (Skill Points)
• Lv2: 20 SP
• Lv3: 50 SP
• Lv4: 100 SP
• Lv5: 200 SP

Repair skill

For the specifics on the activity itself, please read Repairing.

• Default level: Lv1 - Unskilled - skill is already active and can be used and trained.
• Activation requirements: Already active.
• Skill training: Successfully repairing a weapon grants 1 Skill Point in Repair. Successfully repairing a 0% condition weapon grants 5 Skill Points.

Effects of skill levels:

• Lv0 - Unaware: N/A - skill begins at Level 1
• Lv1 - Unskilled: Gun Repair Kits (GRKs), Melee weapon Repair Kits (MRKs) and Gun Cleaning Kits (GCKs) respectively restore condition and cleanliness at their default values (+10% per use)
• Lv2 - Basic: All repair and cleaning kits now restore 15% per use
• Lv3 - Skilled: All repair and cleaning kits now restore 20% per use. Can now use a relevant repair kit on a 0% condition weapon to try repairing them (consumes 3 kit uses per attempt, 25% chance of success. Succeeding restores 5% condition to the weapon.)
• Lv4 - Expert: All repair and cleaning kits now restore 25% per use. 0% condition repairs now have a 50% chance of success and restore to 10% condition.
• Lv5 - Master: All repair and cleaning kits now restore 30% per use. 0% condition repairs now have a 75% chance of success and restore to 15% condition.

Skill point requirements:

• Lv1: 0 SP (Skill Points)
• Lv2: 25 SP
• Lv3: 100 SP
• Lv4: 250 SP
• Lv5: 500 SP

Lockpicking skill

For the specifics on the activity itself, please read Lockpicking.

• Default level: Lv1 - Unskilled - skill is already active and can be used and trained.
• Activation requirements: Already active.
• Skill training: Successfully picking a lock grants 1 Skill Point in Lockpicking.

Effects of skill levels:

• Lv0 - Unaware: N/A - skill begins at Level 1
• Lv1 - Unskilled:
  • Default step difficulty
  • Default kit efficiency
  • Default trap disabling efficiency
  • Default force picking efficiency
• Lv2 - Basic:
  • Step difficulty is lowered: Step 2 now only requires FT 7
  • Kit efficiency is increased: 1 kit use now grants 2 checks.
• Lv3 - Skilled:
  • Trap disabling efficiency increased: FT decreased to FT 7
  • Force picking efficiency increased: Can fail 1 time without triggering the trap (except when rolling 2 - natural critical failure)
• Lv4 - Expert:
  • Step difficulty is lowered: Step 2 now only requires 2 successful checks.
  • Kit efficiency is increased: 1 kit use now grants 3 checks.
• Lv5 - Master:
  • Step difficulty is lowered: Steps 1 and 2 now only require FT 6.
  • Trap disabling efficiency increased: Now only requires 1 successful check.
  • Force picking efficiency increased: Can fail 2 times without triggering the trap (except when rolling 2 - natural critical failure)

Skill point requirements:

• Lv1: 0 SP (Skill Points)
• Lv2: 10 SP
• Lv3: 25 SP
• Lv4: 50 SP
• Lv5: 100 SP

Unplanned situations and creativity

Not every single possible situation can be marked down in the game as a written rule. Players who make use of common sense and creativity may find themselves getting out of situations, or creating certain things that weren't foreseen or planned by the author. Nevertheless, it is the game's policy to not forbid or stop a player from using of creativity to achieve the intended goals, so long as it isn't against the already defined rules.

A few hints and examples of "unplanned" situations that players themselves have made use of and discovered...

• It is possible to break items made of glass, such as the bottle of beer, to obtain the following weapons: the Broken bottle, or several glass shards.
• When metallic objects are destroyed, metal shards may be obtained and used as weapons.
• Wooden objects may break into makeshift sticks, chopsticks, planks or even stakes.
• Chemistry is fun, especially when it involves fire.
• There are more things that can be used and interacted with than what is evident.
• And more...