Basics (PSR Supplement)

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This page covers the basics of PSR that will be familiar to anyone who's ever rolled a d20.

Each player controls and describes a character called a protag. A group of protags, called a party, together explore a fictional world described by a separate player called the narrator.

Often, each game session represents a new chapter in a continuous story told through the dictated actions of the protags, and guided by the words of the narrator. A single adventure can span one or several game sessions, which like a story typically has rising action and conflict leading to a climax. Often adventures are driven by life-or-death combat, pitting the party against monsters and villains. When these adventures are strung together in a consistent world, together they’re called a campaign.

“Creatures” include everything from protags and monsters, to kittens and robots. All NPCs, or “non-protag creatures,” are controlled by the narrator. Items are objects small enough for protags to wield or carry on their body. Usually, adventures involve interacting with creatures and using items.

Core Guidelines

• Exceptions Win. The rules in PSR will sometimes conflict. In these cases, a specific or exceptional rule will always beat a general rule.
• Silver Rule. PSR is just a guide. Your narrator ultimately decides how the game world works, including its rules. The guidance here helps to keep everyone on the same page and keep things fair, but the world steered by your narrator might differ, and your party might decide a different way of things is doing better.
• Golden Rule. We're here to have fun. :^)