PLAYING THE GAME

Occult is a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) played collaboratively by a group of players and a Game Master (GM).

Together, the players and the GM create a story. The events of that story are not predetermined. Outcomes are shaped by player decisions, the world presented by the GM, and the roll of dice.

Players participate by creating characters with statistics, skills, and abilities represented through the mechanics of the game.

Games of Occult are collaborative. Players and the GM work together to create the unfolding narrative.

Players decide what their characters attempt to do. The GM describes the world, portrays its inhabitants, and determines how the world responds.

Not every action requires a roll. If a character attempts something simple and there is no meaningful chance of failure, the GM may allow it to succeed.

For example, climbing a short, stable ladder would likely succeed automatically if the character is physically capable.

In uncertain or risky situations, the GM may call for a skill check to determine the outcome.
To use the ladder example: a GM may call for a roll if the ladder were extremlytall, unstable or damage, missings runs or being climbed in a hazzardous senario.

A skill check determines whether a character successfully performs a challenging action.

The GM decides which statistic and skill are most appropriate for the task being attempted.

More detail on how skill checks work can be found in the Skills section of the rules.

There is often nuance in deciding how an action should be resolved. Different situations may call for different skills, even if the task appears similar.

Because of this flexibility, skills in Occult are intentionally open-ended and can be applied in many ways depending on the circumstances.

The GM represents the world itself. They describe environments, determine outcomes, and portray every character in the world who is not controlled by a player.

The GM may portray NPCs through dialogue, voice, mannerisms, or narrative description. In short, everything the players interact with that is not their own character is controlled by the GM.

Occult takes a relatively hands-off approach to gameplay outside of combat. GMs are given broad freedom to decide:

Skills are intentionally versatile and can be applied in many contexts. The rules generally avoid prescribing a single "correct" skill for most actions.

(Some skills - such as stealth - may be more clearly defined.)

While narrative play outside of combat is flexible, combat is where the rules of Occult become much more structured.

Combat rules should be followed more strictly to ensure fairness and consistency. A full explanation of combat can be found in the Combat Rules section.

To play Occult, players will need a standard polyhedral dice set.

Most rolls in the game use a d20, particularly when making skill checks to determine whether actions succeed or fail.

For this reason, the full set of polyhedral dice will see regular use.

Players do not need to know every rule in the game. In most cases, players only need to understand:

Players are not expected to memorize how monsters work or mechanics unrelated to their character.

The GM should aim to understand the rules more broadly. Since the GM controls the world, its inhabitants, and the outcomes of player actions, familiarity with the wider rule system will help the game run smoothly.

Occult was designed with a particular philosophy in mind. Where complexity adds depth and strategy - especially in combat - the rules embrace it.

Where complexity only slows down play, it is avoided. Outside of combat, the game intentionally steps back and allows the table's creativity to take the lead.

They are your imagination, curiosity, and creativity. Let those guide the story.