Storytelling

The Storytelling system is a RPG system published by White Wolf Game Studio as the core system for their new World Of Darkness (nWoD) and Exalted Second Edition settings. It was published in 2004 and replaced the previous Storyteller system, being a more stream-lined version of the rules.

Characters in Storytelling have Attributes (broad capabilities such as Strength and Intelligence) and Skills (narrow learned capabilities such as Firearms and Stealth). Attributes and Skills are rated from one to five. When making a skill check the player rolls a number of d10 dice equal to their character's applicable Attribute plus Skill score - the Dice Pool. All dice results equal to or greater than a Target Number are a success. Generally only one success is needed to complete a task, thought the total number of successes determines the degree of success and are compared in opposed rolls.

In New World of Darkness the Target Number is 8, meaning that any roll of 8, 9 or 10 counts as a Success. Only one Success is needed to achieve the task, and 5 Successes in a roll is an Exceptional Success. Also, rolls of 10 can be re-rolled (10 Again) with further Successes being counted and further 10s re-rolled.

New World of Darkness typically has small Dice Pools, with a low ratio of Successes to rolled dice (1:3) supporting its dark and gritty setting.

Characters in nWoD Storytelling have a Nature and Demeanor which describe the character in broad strokes. They also have one Virtue and Vice.

In Exalted Second Edition the Target Number is 7, meaning that any roll of 7, 8, 9 or 10 counts as a Success. Rolls of 10 count as two Successes. It is common for rolls to have a Difficulty of more than one - that is to succeed a number of Successes equal to or greater than the Difficulty must be rolled.

Exalted Second Edition typically has large Dice Pools, often over ten, with a higher ratio of Successes to rolled dice (1:2) leading to a high powered and cinematic setting.