Initiative

First, you determine if either side (or anyone) is surprised. Surprised individuals:

• Cannot make triggered actions or free trigger actions.
• Suffer edges against them for attacks and damaging area powers.
• Receive banes on resistance rolls.

If no one is surprised, initiative is determined by rolling a d10. A result of 6 or higher means the heroes go first. Then, you enter Alternating Side Initiative. After a hero takes their turn, the GM selects a monster to act. This alternation continues back and forth. If one side runs out of characters, the other side simply finishes off their remaining members.

Enemies operate slightly differently. For example, the GM activates all Minions in a Squad simultaneously. Additionally, the GM organizes monsters into Groups for an encounter, allowing all members of a Group to act together.

Turns / Rounds

Once all players and monsters have taken their turn it is a single round.

Action Economy

On a turn, a creature can perform a Move, a Maneuver, and an Action. You can break up your Movement around your Maneuver and Action as well.

You will also receive one Triggered Action per round, which functions similarly to a Reaction. Your character may have access to multiple Triggered Actions, so you'll need to choose wisely when to use this.

Movement

Movement corresponds to your speed, indicating the number of squares you can travel. You can choose to Shift, which allows you to move half your Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks from enemies.

Maneuvers

Maneuvers are quick actions you might want to attempt that aren’t necessarily free to do, but would feel frustrating if they consumed your entire Action. Examples include:

• Aid
• Drink Potion
• Escape Grab
• Grab
• Hide
• Knockback
• Search
• Make/Assist Test
• Stand Up

Actions

Your Action will primarily consist of attacks, but you can also choose to do other things, such as:

• Catch Breath (use a Recovery)
• Charge
• Defend (grant a double bane to attacks against you)
• Free Strike
• Heal

Attack Mechanic

Typically this is an ability Power Roll.

• 2d10 + Characteristic/Attribute + Edge/Bane

Result will be listed on the Abilities table.

Defensive Mechanic

Monsters will utilize Power Rolls to deal damage to your Stamina accordingly. You may have Triggers or abilities that can help reduce incoming damage.

Monsters come in various types, similar to those in 4th Edition D&D. These include Brutes, Artillery, Minions, Harriers, Hexers, Controllers, Ambushers, and more.

Reaction Rolls

These are similar to saving throws. Hidden monsters, motives, or environmental features may need to make Reaction Rolls. The effects of these rolls can vary significantly.

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Modifications to Resolution

Edges & Banes

In addition to Characteristics and other Ability bonuses and penalties, there are also Edges and Banes.

A single Edge provides a +2 bonus to any Power Roll. A double Edge automatically increases the Tier result, regardless of your roll. Conversely, Banes impose a -2 penalty and decrease the Tier result.

When you have both Edges and Banes, they counteract each other. If you have one of each, they cancel each other out. No matter how many Edges or Banes you accumulate, the maximum effect is capped at double. For example, having three Edges is simply referred to as a double. If you have a double Edge and a single Bane, it results in a single Edge.

• 5 Edges + 1 Bane = single Edge
• 1 Bane + 1 Edge = nothing
• 5 Edges + 2 Banes = double Edge + double Bane = nothing

Assist a Test

If you assist with a test, you will roll a Test and either grant your ally a bane, edge, or double edge to their test.

Rest Mechanic

Resting in Draw Steel is referred to as a Respite. To take a Respite, you must have 24 hours of uninterrupted time.

Resource

Heroic Resources - Metacurrency for Classes

These resources are highly variable, reflecting the unique mechanics and themes of each class. Some classes build a positive resource as they utilize powers, while others accumulate a negative resource. The rate at which these resources accumulate can differ significantly—some classes may build their resources more slowly, while others do so more quickly. The design team at MCDM has focused on creating a specific vibe and feel for each class, ensuring that the resources reflect that essence.

For example, the Tactician uses Focus, while the Conduit uses Piety.

Victories

Victories serve as a power balance within the game. They are not strictly an action pool but function similarly by tracking your success across encounters. As you lose hit points and resources during consecutive encounters, your character naturally becomes weaker or has less potential.

Victories increase when you successfully complete encounters, whether they involve combat or non-combat challenges. As your Victories accumulate, you unlock new class-specific bonuses that can be quite beneficial, adding a press your luck element to the game. You’ll face the decision of whether to continue pushing forward to gain more Victories while managing dwindling resources.

Importantly, Victories are banked and can be converted into Experience when you take a Respite (a longer rest). This system encourages strategic planning and risk assessment throughout your adventures.

Health & Dying

Stamina and Health Mechanics

Stamina serves as the primary measure of health in this game, akin to Hit Points in other systems. When your Stamina reaches 0, your character falls unconscious.

Recoveries

You have a specific number of Recoveries, each tied to a Recovery Value. Whenever you take damage between rests, you must spend one of your Recoveries to regain Stamina equal to your Recovery Value. This mechanic is reminiscent of the Hit Dice system from 4E D&D. Additionally, various powers or actions may allow you or your allies to spend a Recovery.

You regain your Recoveries after completing a Respite (long rest).

Hope Tokens

Hope Tokens provide an additional layer of healing options. When you possess a Hope token, you can spend it on your turn or immediately after taking damage to recover an amount of Stamina equal to your Recovery Value. This acts similarly to inspiration tokens, but specifically for health recovery.

Winded & Dying

Your Winded value is set at half your total Stamina. This value may trigger other effects, particularly for abilities or attacks against you.

When your Stamina hits 0, you enter a dying state. While in this state, you can continue to fight, but if your Stamina drops into the negative equal to your Winded value, your character dies.

While dying, any attack you make, test of Might or Agility, or any triggered action, costs you 1d6 Stamina. Additionally, you cannot use the Catch your Breath action while dying, although your allies may be able to assist you.

The game also contains a TON of other features, and rules explanations. Here are a list of other things you'd find in the current game.

• Group Tests
• Montage Tests
• Hide & Seek
• Renown
• Followers
• Wealth
• Flanking
• Concealment
• Cover
• Negotiation
• Mounted Combat