Xceptional - A quick look at the system

d5 - a d5 is a roll of d6 where 6 is read as ZERO.

5x5 roll - A 5x5 roll is two d5 rolls multiplied together.

Ability Scores range from 1 to 4.

Skill Ranks range from 1 to 4 plus UNSKILLED.

Ability Score multiplied by Skill Rank equals target to roll or less on a 5x5 roll.

A roll of ZERO always succeeds.

A roll of TWENTY FIVE always fails.

Skill Ranks can have a +1 or -1 applied as a positive or negative rank shift respectively producing the following range of possible target numbers.

	Ability of 1	Ability of 2	Ability of 3	Ability of 4
Weak	-1	0	1	2
Unskilled	0	1	2	3
Skill of 1	1	2	3	4
Skill of 2	2	4	6	8
Skill of 3	3	6	9	12
Skill of 4	4	8	12	16
Skill of 5	5	10	15	20

Weak - This result only occurs when a player attempts to do something as unskilled and the GM has applied a negative rank shift. When attempting a "weak" task roll, the target number is base ability score -2.

Unskilled - If you have no skill for the task you are attempting you must attempt the task as unskilled. When attempting a task roll as "unskilled," the target number is base ability score -1.

Skill of 5 - A skill rank of 5 is only possible when a player attempts to do something with a skill rank of 4 and the GM has applied a positive rank shift.

The 5x5 roll

-1*	1 in 6	17%
0	11 in 36	31%
1	12 in 36	33%
2	14 in 36	39%
3	16 in 36	44%

4	19 in 36	53%
5	21 in 36	58%
6	23 in 36	64%
8	25 in 36	69%
9	26 in 36	72%

10	28 in 36	78%
12	30 in 36	83%
15	32 in 36	89%
16	33 in 36	92%
20	35 in 36	97%

*How do I roll a -1?

It is possible (though rare!) that a character with an Ability Score of 1 (reduced through combat) attempts a task unskilled for which the GM applies a negative rank shift. This would require the character to roll a -1 to succeed at the task. There is a special rule for this. Read the -1 as "roll -1 dice." That is, you must attempt your task roll with only 1d5. Since a roll of ZERO always succeeds, if you roll 0 the task was successful.

There you have a quick over view of how the dice are used in combination with Ability Score and Skill Rank to resolve tasks.

Regards,

Jeff Moore.