If you’re coming here from Blades in the Dark or have only seen the AtLA show, here are some key differences from each that you should know up front. If neither of these are true for you, skip this post as it will mean nothing to you. Big (but not all!) differences from BitD: 

❖ Character playbooks have 3 parts, chosen separately: Cause, Corruption, and Competency. 

❖ You play with playing cards instead of dice.     

     o Four suits, four elements, ye kennit? 

❖ You have the option to play with more tactical combat. It’s just an option, but a good one. o Damage is very different. There are types and status effects. 

❖ Position and Effect have been merged into a concept called The Morale Track and there are 7 levels to it instead of 3. 

❖ The Score is called an Episode and it’s played over two sessions. The phases are different so as to fit the setting better. 

❖ Resistance Rolls are called Weaving the Web and it’s certainly different but plays a similar role. 

❖ Travel is a big part of the world despite it still feeling “small”. There’s a whole system for traveling and exploring the world. 

❖ Instead of a hold, you have a fleet of ships. 

❖ The Downtime phase has been split into Preparation and Passage phases with added emphasis on travel. 

❖ Instead of heat, you gain fame and this plays a greater role in an expanded faction game. Most everything else will feel familiar. Suffice to say, the changes above represent a vast departure from the norm, but each change was made to fit this world.