The Imagination Engine is the rules system that powers many of our games. It was developed for Victory, our DriveThruRPG #PocketQuest 2023 Game Jam entry. Since then, it has been extensively playtested with multiple groups and multiple game masters. As a result, it has been revised, refined, and expanded.
Due to PocketQuest2023's limitations, the original game was created in one month and had to fit into 20 pages. Our subsequent games have no such time or length restrictions.
In the Imagination Engine system, you roll three dice to resolve an action—your Core Die, an Attribute Die, and a Skill Die.
Core Die - Your Core Die starts at d12 and is reduced based on your wounds.
Attibute Die - You have three physical and three mental attributes, each ranked from d4 to d12. The attribute you use for an action depends on your approach to the problem.
Skill Die - Your level of training in a particular skill is represented by a die value ranging from 0 to d12. As with attributes, your skill for an action depends on your approach to the problem.
Each die that meets or beats the target number counts as a success.
- With two or more successes, you achieved what you were attempting.
- One success, partial success or a success at a cost.
- Zero successes, you failed.
There is obviously a bit more to it, but that is the basics. You can learn to play or game master this system quickly. Each Imagination Engine game includes tools, guidance, examples, and other support to make playing the game fast and fun. The skill list varies based on the game's genre.