How to Play

Let’s look at what it looks like to play Pericle. Typically a table setup will have space for the map in the middle, a laptop with Loremaster on the table in a spot where all players can view it, and dice in the middle near the map. Players’ hero standees are in the middle as well. In front of each player, we’ll have the hero sheet with all of your hero’s information, the combat cheat sheet as a reminder of what actions are available during combat, and maybe the optional health trackers or spell & discipline cards.

Loremaster will lead the session. It will tell the story, show visuals, and play thematic music as players move through the world. When Loremaster indicates that it’s time for combat, combat instructions will appear on the screen. This will include information about which map to put on the table, where player heroes can be placed, and where the enemy is situated. It will show which enemy standee to use and give any relevant information about that enemy.

Combat takes place in turns, and each turn has three phases: Initiative, Movement, and Actions.

Phase 1

Initiative

In the initiative phase, an Initiative Check is rolled to determine which team moves first during the Movement phase. Unlike many RPGs, initiative is rolled every single turn, and only one Initiative Check is made for the entire party of heroes. One player rolls the Action Die for the team to determine if heroes or enemies will move first.

Phase 2

Movement

In the movement phase, the team who won initiative moves first. All combatants for a team complete their Movement, then all combatants from the other team move. Unlike many
RPGs, Movement for all combatants is completed before any actions, like attacking, occur. Moving first as a team then attacking later encourages teamwork, and this phase often involves tactical discussions when multiple players are playing. Each hero has a specific movement score which indicates how far they can move each turn. There are certain actions that cannot be taken if the full movement allotment is used.

Phase 3

Action

In the actions phase, players and enemies attack with weapons, cast spells, defend (using the defense die), fetch an item from their bag, swap out weapons, drink potions, and more. Unlike during the Movement Phase, when all heroes move as a team and all enemies move as a team, in the actions phase combatants perform their action in Action Order, which is explained in detail in the rulebook. Loremaster will display the Action Order of all combatants.

This turn order with the three phases continues until the combat is either won or lost. Players input the result into Loremaster, and the adventure continues.