What are Approaches?
Approaches are descriptions of how your character accomplishes tasks. Each character has six approaches:
- Careful: A Careful action is when you pay close attention to detail and take your time to do the job right. Lining up a long-range arrow shot. Attentively standing watch. Disarming a bank’s alarm system.
- Clever: A Clever action requires that you think fast, solve problems, or account for complex variables. Finding the weakness in an enemy swordsman’s style. Finding the weak point in a fortress wall. Fixing a computer.
- Flashy: A Flashy action draws attention to you; it’s full of style and panache. Delivering an inspiring speech to your army. Embarrassing your opponent in a duel. Producing a magical fireworks display.
- Forceful: A Forceful action isn’t subtle—it’s brute strength. Wrestling a bear. Staring down a thug. Casting a big, powerful magic spell.
- Quick: A Quick action requires that you move quickly and with dexterity. Dodging an arrow. Getting in the first punch. Disarming a bomb as it ticks 3… 2… 1…
- Sneaky: A Sneaky action is done with an emphasis on misdirection, stealth, or deceit. Talking your way out of getting arrested. Picking a pocket. Feinting in a sword fight.
Using Approaches
At first glance, it may seem like you would always use the Approach in which your character has the highest score. That’s not the way that Approaches work, however. Approaches are used situationally, with what’s happening in the game determining which Approach is used.
For instance, if Agent Smith is trying to break into a guarded warehouse unnoticed to rescue some hostages, that calls for a Sneaky Approach. He could throw caution to the wind and use a Forceful Approach, breaking the door down, but it definitely would not go by unnoticed and would therefore not be the correct choice for that situation. If Agent Smith decided that he didn't care if he was noticed or not, then Forceful becomes the correct choice.
Generally speaking, during play you won't pick an Approach to use. Instead, describe what you want your character to do, and the Approach will usually become readily apparent.
