Troika! SRD
Overview
Troika! SRD centers on 2d6 procedures, background-based character starts, and a token-stack initiative system. Characters are defined by Skill, Stamina, Luck, Background-derived Advanced Skills, and compact inventory slots.
Core Procedure Notes
- Character creation: Skill = 1d3+3, Stamina = 2d6+12, Luck = 1d6+6; baseline possessions include 2d6 silver pence, knife, lantern and oil, rucksack, and 6 provisions.
- Backgrounds: roll d66; each background grants possessions, Advanced Skills, and sometimes a Special rule.
- Core tests: 2d6 Roll Under for unopposed tests and 2d6 Roll Versus for contests; double 1 always succeeds and double 6 always fails in Roll Under contexts.
- Combat exchange: attacker and defender Roll Versus; winner rolls damage, loser subtracts from Stamina.
- Initiative stack: each PC contributes 2 tokens, enemies contribute tokens by Initiative total, plus one End of Round token.
- Time structure: a Turn is one activation when holding initiative; a Round is the span between End of Round token draws.
- Survival pressure: at 0 Stamina during initiative, death occurs when the next End of Round token is drawn unless healed.
- Protection and carry: armor reduces damage by tier (0/-1/-2/-3) and characters have 12 inventory slots.
Position in Foundational Comparison
Within the foundational comparison scaffold, Troika! is the entry with the most explicit token-stack initiative procedure and one of the clearest 2d6 Roll Under / Roll Versus pairings. Its SRD combines concise core loops with extensive background and spell content.
Referee Use
- Build encounters around the initiative stack procedure (PC tokens, enemy tokens, End of Round token) so pacing effects are visible at the table.
- Use Roll Under for unopposed task pressure and Roll Versus for active opposition.
- Track Stamina and End of Round timing carefully, since 0 Stamina timing is explicitly lethal.
- Keep inventory ordering meaningful because retrieval is tested against item position.