This document is intended to be a distillation of the base system mechanics for Schismata. Absent from this document is the lore or implied setting. The hope is that this will support extension of the system and enable the creation of derivative works, new implementations, etc., without burdening the individual game developers with unwanted flavor text that does not fit with their game ideas. That is, Schismata should be able to form the basis of any kind of game. Covered here are: the basic action resolution mechanics of Schismata, which are effort-based dice pools; the rules around expending, depleting, and replenishing action pools; the definition and characteristics of actions; rules for how these mechanics work for character creation and advancement; and additional support mechanics necessary to run a game, namely time and movement.

Whenever a character’s actions have an uncertain (i.e., interesting) result, you’ll roll dice.

The core Action Resolution mechanic is to:

1. Build your Action Pool
   1. An Action Pool consists of all the Effort Dice spent to power the Action, plus or minus any Circumstance Dice.
   2. Minimum: At least one Effort Point is required.
   3. Maximum: You cannot spend more Effort Dice than the current number of points in the Ability Action Pool you are using for the Action.
   4. Circumstance Dice cannot reduce an Action Roll below one, nor can they reduce the minimum points spent for the Action Roll.