I have designed a simple, filmic, narrative-heavy, and hopefully intuitive game system for quick solo play or friendly narrative-driven action. The idea was to use 2d10 (D100) to approximate and reduce the dozens of rolls found in many gaming systems down to a single Action Roll. To strip it down to its DNA, if you will, I wondered: Is it possible to reduce every decision down to a single percentage, and would that be simpler than multiple rolls for every intent?
In D.N.A., you state your intent, check your Power Tier, and roll. I’ve created a few charts to add variety and cinematic flavour to the results. I created this for myself, but feel free to modify or share it. It works great for solo games or fun multiplayer stories, though it is open to abuse and not ideal for competitive play!
🧬 D.N.A: Dramatic Narrative Action
Where the story never stops for a rulebook.
D.N.A. is an ultra-light narrative engine. No complex math, no character sheets, just pure action.
Choose your Tier and start playing:
- PUNY (-10): Civilians, dregs, or swarms.
- BASIC (+0): Standard soldiers, common thugs.
- SKILLED (+10): Veterans, assassins, leaders.
- ELITE (+20): Super-humans, heavy-armour pilots.
- LEGENDARY (+40): God-tier entities, war machines.
The GM (or the environment) shifts your Tier based on the situation:
- EASY TASK: Shift Tier UP (e.g., Basic becomes Skilled).
- STANDARD: No Tier Shift. Use your base Tier Bonus.
- HARD TASK: Shift Tier DOWN (e.g., Skilled becomes Basic).
- IMPOSSIBLE TASK: Shift Tier DOWN two steps.
State your Intent, roll 2d10 (as a D100), and add your Tier Bonus.
| Result Type | Trigger | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| CRITICAL PASS | Natural 91–00 (or 91+) | Cinematic Perfection. Roll on CP Chart. |
| SUCCESS | 26–90 Total | Achieve goal exactly as intended. |
| PARTIAL SUCCESS | 11–25 Total | "Yes, but..." Success with a twist. |
| FAILURE | 03–10 Total | You miss or are outplayed. |
| CRITICAL FAIL | Natural 01–02 | Disaster. Roll on CF Table. |
Use these for Natural 01–02 or 91+ results.
| 1d10 | Critical Failure (Lower is Worse) | Critical Pass (Higher is Better) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Catastrophic: Gear breaks or unit lost. | Clean: Total success, zero mess. |
| 3-4 | Panic: Forced to flee or cower. | Terrifying: Enemy stunned. |
| 5-6 | Entangled: Stuck, prone, or trapped. | Tactical: Better spot or silent kill. |
| 7-8 | Exposed: Lose cover or take damage. | Collateral: Lucky event triggers. |
| 9-10 | Reversal: Enemy takes initiative. | Unstoppable: Act again immediately. |
Designer's Notes
In a narrative system like D.N.A., a turn isn't measured in "inches of movement" or "number of attacks." Instead, think of a turn as one cinematic beat. A reasonable turn for a single model is: One Movement + One Significant Action.
1. What is a "Significant Action"?
Anything requiring a roll on The Ladder: Combat (bolter fire, blade swings), Technical (hacking, repairing), or Physical (leaping gaps, dragging allies).
2. Movement is "Free"
Narrative movement is free. Only roll if the terrain is Hard (vertical walls, deep sludge, hazardous debris).
3. The "Unstoppable" Exception
Result 9-10 on the CP Table allows an immediate second action—the mark of a hero.
4. Grouping (The "Squad" Rule)
Moving 20 models one by one can be boring. The Shortcut: Roll once for a whole squad of Basic or Puny units to keep the game flowing.
• Example: "The 5 Orks charge the barricade." Roll once for the group. A Partial Success may mean only 2 make it over while the rest are pinned down.
Example Scenarios
Scenario 1 (Solo Stealth): A Skilled (+10) Renegade sneaks past a Sentinel. Nat Roll: 04 (Total 14): PARTIAL SUCCESS. Caught cloak; must act to cut free.
Scenario 2 (Squad Combat): 5 Elite (+20) commandos in a Hard Jungle (Shift to Skilled +10). Roll 12 (Total 22): PARTIAL SUCCESS. Target down, flare triggered.
Scenario 3 (Apocalypse Scale): A Legendary (+40) War-Engine vs. 100 soldiers. Volley fire is Easy, shifting the soldiers to Skilled (+10). They roll 75 (Total 85): SUCCESS.
The Golden Rule: If the action makes the story cooler, it’s reasonable.
D.N.A. Core Engine | Version 1.0 | Designed by Neil Reed
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