D2 System

Introduction

The d2 System is a role-playing system that can be used with nearly any kind of dice, from coins to standard six-sided dice to d20s, as long as it has an even number of sides. I am using it as the basis of Exalted Lite, Forgotten Dawn, and Solar Storms.

Because it only uses a d2, I will be referring to 'flipping coins' where most other systems will involve rolling dice. When rolling dice, the easiest thing to do is consider an even number a success ('heads'), and an odd number a failure ('tails'). Feel free to use another means if it suits your group.

Test

The core of making a test in d2 is to flip your attribute in coins, count the number of heads, adding the result to your attribute. For example

• An attribute of 0 can normally only result in a 0 (see #Pips below).
• An attribute of 1 can result in a 1 if the result only comes up 'tails', or a 2 if 'heads'
• An attribute of 2 can result in a 2 (both tails), 3 (one head), or 4 (both heads)
• A score of 3 can result in a 3-6, etc.

Pips

This results in a pretty steep difference between a score and its predecessor (a score of 2 will beat a score of 3 only once every thirty-two tries). To mediate this, a single attribute rank can be divided into three pips, as follows:

• The first pip only flips a single coin. It does not count as a rank for the purposes of adding to the result.
• The second pip does not flip a coin, but instead counts as a rank for the purposes of adding to the result.
• The third 'pip' grants the full rank bonus.

In OpenRPG, the first pip should be recorded like 1d2-1+score, and the second pip 1+score, when making use of macros and such.

In other formats (or simple records), use score+h for the first pip and score+1 for the second pip.

Scaling

A feature of the d2 System is the ability to scale, where a group of two or more coins can be counted in a single coin. This mostly comes into play in settings like Solar Storms, where the vast difference between capabilities needs representation.

Scales are assigned a letter, from A to Z. Human scale is considered to be scale B. Each scale is considered to be ten times as good as the scale previous. For example, a score of 6 on scale C would be only two pips on scale D, but a score of 60 on scale B, and 600 on scale A.

• As the above suggests, a single pip on the higher scale represents three coins on the one below it.