Tension Dice from Angry Games

In the worlds of tabletop roleplaying games, every minute spent in a dungeon is dangerous. At least, that’s how it should be.

But players think nothing of wasting time searching every corner of every corridor. Of rerolling actions again and again. Of resting for an hour or two or sitting still for a whole day waiting until they can camp and recover their spells and hit points.

Does that sound like your players? Then it sounds like you need Tension Dice.

Tension Dice make every minute count. When the players take drawn-out, time-consuming actions, the Tension Dice pile up. When they take reckless, dangerous actions, the Tension Dice are ready to throw Complications their way. And that means the players can’t just waste their time. They’ve got to think. And think about more than just which skill has the highest bonus.

Tension Dice are compatible with most tabletop roleplaying game systems. They add a sense of time to dungeon delves, infiltrations, wilderness treks, urban adventures, and even downtime. With Tension Dice and the Tension Pool system, the GM can introduce a variety of in-game Complications without just throwing swarms of wandering monsters in the party’s path. And the GM can even use Tension Dice to keep accurate track of in-game time.

Players have it easy. Complicate their lives with Tension Dice.

Launching this summer on Kickstarter.

Just set up the Tension Pool and remember four rules.

Grab a bowl, cup, or other container. Something that makes a nice, loud sound when you throw a die in there. Put it where everyone can watch it fill up.

Whenever the characters do something that takes a lot of time, like searching for traps or picking a lock, add a Tension Die to the Tension Pool.

Whenever the characters do something that’s likely to bring them trouble, like bickering at an intersection or battering down a door, roll all the Tension Dice in the Tension Pool. Then, put them back.

No Tension Dice in the Tension Pool? Grab a Tension Die and roll it anyway. Then set it aside again. Trouble’s always lurking.

When you add the sixth Tension Die to the Tension Pool, grab all the Tension Dice and roll them. Then, set them aside and wait for the Tension Pool to fill up again.

Whenever you roll the Tension Dice, keep an eye out for Complications. If any Tension Die comes up on its marked face, introduce a Complication into your game. Either immediately or in the very near future.

All it takes is four rules. But don’t let the simplicity fool you. You can do a lot with Tension Dice. Build custom Complication tables for your adventures. Maybe the dungeon goes on high alert when the characters attract attention. Or maybe someone is spreading nasty rumors in town and their social interactions suffer a penalty. You can also build game effects that trigger Tension Pool rolls. Stumbled into a colony of shriekers? That’s going to make some noise. And with a few extra, optional rules, you can use the Tension Pool as a clock and track time and durations during dungeon delves, overland treks, and even downtime.

Tension Dice are easy to use, but in the hands of a creative GM, they’re a powerful and versatile tool for changing the game with the passage of time.