Pocket d6 - Essentials

Pocket d6 is derived from PrimalQuest by Diogo Nigueira, adapted to be more setting neutral and flexible, to produce this one-page SRD, available for use under Creative Commons for any purpose.  Additional material for the system is being worked on - this document represents only the essential mechanics and principles, as follows: 

D6s

My initial priority with this game was to ensure play was possible with a single type of dice and, even better, the most common type of dice – the sort you could salvage out of any board game.  All you need is two d6 – admittedly, play is possible with only one, and play is enhanced if you have a few on hand.

Single Rolls

A secondary goal was to keep resolution of most mechanical situations to a single roll while keeping all participants relevant.  The test factors in the actor, the target, and degrees of success nicely, without the need to roll for subsequent damage or effects. 

Fit in your Pocket

The original, simplest draft fits on a single sheet of paper, double-sided.  I wanted the expanded version to continue to fit in your pocket, hence the limited page size, and commensurately concise rules.

Single Page/Spread

Whenever possible, rules and concepts fit onto a single page or a single two-page spread – if you need to understand a concept, the need to turn pages should be limited unless cross-referencing. 

Play Anywhere

I like hex grids, and primarily use them.  I do not always have hex grids, and some people prefer different approaches.  The rules are written such that you can use hex or square grids, wargame inch/centimeter measurements, or theater of the mind, without converting rules.    

Bolt On

It was a priority to write the game such that bolting on genre rules and rules for different scales of play be possible without requiring new mechanics that did not mesh with the previously-described core ideas or mechanics.  It all comes back to the two d6 and the Test.