Fortress of Dawn
Smiths, hunters, and defenders of the frontier.
Starter Player Guide web
Learn to Play
A compact web version of the Player Starter Guide so any player can understand Nightfall Dominion before their first session.
Welcome to Nightfall Dominion
Eight hundred years ago, the Fall happened. The world survived, but it was broken. In this RPG, you do not play heroes destined to save it: you play people seeking answers in ruins, relics, and territories altered by the Veil.
Exploration
Secrets are buried.
Survival
Every resource matters.
Discovery
Truth is the reward.
Corruption
Power always collects.
Moral Decisions
There are no clean answers.
The World in 10 Minutes
The Fall
A catastrophe broke the history, biology, and reality of the continent.
The Veil
A violet and red anomaly remains at the center of the continent.
The Heartbeat
Some feel a call from the east, like a pulse in the bones.
Relics
Altered objects that offer power at a price.
Corruption
The Veil’s influence over body, mind, memory, and spirit.
Major Factions
Arcane Eclipse
Mages and researchers of the Veil.
Crimson Mountains
Vampiric houses, ancient memory, and intrigue.
Werewolf Woods
Lycanthrope clans and wild guardians.
Necromancer Wastes
Keepers of memory and death.
Tide Nomads
Explorers, sailors, merchants, and cartographers.
Create Character
- Choose Origin.
- Choose Faction.
- Choose Profession.
- Distribute Attributes.
- Choose 3 Specializations.
- Choose a Unique Trait.
- Complete the Quadrant: Secret, Fear, Scar, and Question.
- Choose Motivation.
Basic Rules
2d10 + Attribute + Specialization
| Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|
| Easy | 10 |
| Normal | 14 |
| Hard | 18 |
| Extreme | 22 |
Advantage: Roll 3d10s and keep the two highest. Disadvantage: Roll 3d10s and keep the two lowest.
Critical: 10 y 10. Critical failure: 1 y 1.
Survival
Fatigue
Maximum Fatigue = 5 + Body. Above half, you take disadvantage on physical tests.
Wounds
Healthy, Wounded, Severely Wounded, and Dying.
Rest
Short: 1 hour and recover 1 Fatigue. Long: 8 hours and recover all Fatigue.
Corruption
The Veil alters body, mind, memories, dreams, and emotions.
Combat
Combat is fast and dangerous. On your turn you have 1 Main Action, 1 Minor Action, and reasonable movement.
| Action | Rule |
|---|---|
| Melee Attack | 2d10 + Body + Combat |
| Ranged Attack | 2d10 + Mind o Blood + Combat |
| Dodge | 2d10 + Body |
| Resist | 2d10 + Body |
Avoiding a fight is often better than winning it with severe wounds.
Starting Equipment
Equipment does not exist to add infinite numbers. It exists to make the expedition possible.
Weapons
Knife, short sword, longsword, axe, spear, bow, and crossbow.
Armor
Reinforced clothing, leather, mail, plates, and shield.
Tools
Rope, compass, medical kit, writing kit, lantern, and artisan tools.
Supplies
Rations, water, blanket, bedroll, tinder, flint, and tent.
Basic Ritualism
Rituals require Resonance + Ritualism. They are slow, dangerous, and always leave a mark.
| Ritual | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Minor | 10 |
| Common | 14 |
| Complex | 18 |
| Forbidden | 22 |
Examples: Threshold Light, Distant Echo, Explorer’s Eye, Listen to Memories, Blood Mark, Minor Veil, Relic Detection, Purification, Fragmented Vision, and Temporary Seal.
Common Creatures
Bearman
Territorial, intelligent, and rarely aggressive without provocation.
Silicon Devourer
Consumes stone, metal, and ancient structures.
Living Echo
An intense memory that gained presence.
Altered Wolves
Intelligent, fast packs touched by the Veil.
Veil Shadows
Unstable manifestations of unknown nature.
Vampires, Lycanthropes, and Necromancers
They are not merely monsters: they are cultures with memory, territory, and secrets.
Your First Session
- Present name, profession, faction, appearance, and motivation.
- Describe actions in fiction, not in rules.
- Ask questions constantly.
- Take notes on names, places, rumors, clues, and promises.
- Do not fight every battle.
- Do not touch every relic.
- Respect the Veil.