Distal

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Synopsis

Distal is a high-fantasy d20 RPG focused on hardships, not heroes. Growth is fueled by the trials you endure during life as adventurers, and modern mechanics support a mix of tactical combat and cooperative storytelling. We designed Distal from the ground up to be super easy to jump into, build adventures for, and run for you and your friends... while being a deep, campaign-worthy system that you can play forever. Distal approaches traditional d20 roll-over rulesets with fresh eyes, incorporating modern approaches for common pain points, and funneling our time and energy into the most broadly applicable areas of the game. Familiar and further. As a foundation, we don't stray too far from the "everyday fantasy" roots laid by Gygax and Tolkien. We balance a mix of the genre staples you're already familiar with (like Elves and Dwarves,) while pushing into less charted territories that give a distinct shape to the setting. Worlds built on connection. The Game Master (GM) helps facilitate the growth of the characters, the world, and the consequences between them. A few deeply engrained systems (like the background generator) develop lasting story elements that both the players and the GM can reference and build upon. Tactical and streamlined. From initiative, to turn economy, to character sheet, we've intentionally designed combat to avoid well-known slowdowns in combat, without going so far as to remove to-hit rolls, or oversimplify the way damage is doled out. Grounded, not gritty. Distal is not a particularly dark, grim, or gritty setting. We don't want to hack your limbs off, or risk an untimely death every time you turn down an alleyway. Your characters are meant to take shape over the course of a campaign through trials and hardships, much like a sculptor carves away stone to reveal the art beneath.