Glossary: The Simple Approach

This glossary defines key terms used in roleplaying. It is system-agnostic and works with The Simple Approach or any roleplaying system. Use it as a quick reference to clarify concepts and keep the roleplaying experience running smoothly.

Action and Resolution

Roleplaying is driven by the actions characters take and the challenges they face. This section defines how actions are attempted, how success and failure are determined, and how the results affect the story.

Action: A task a character attempts to perform within the story, requiring a roll to determine success or failure. Actions can range from simple everyday tasks to complex challenges that push the character's abilities. The outcome of an action influences the story, shaping events and complications.

Check: A roll made to determine whether an action succeeds or fails, usually against a difficulty rating. A check represents the character’s ability, circumstances, and any external influences affecting their attempt. A higher check result generally leads to better outcomes, while failure introduces setbacks or complications.

Die Roll: Rolling dice to generate a random outcome, used to determine the success or failure of an action. Dice rolls introduce unpredictability into the story, making every challenge an opportunity for unexpected developments.

Modifier: A numerical bonus or penalty applied to a roll based on traits, circumstances, or equipment. Modifiers can reflect experience, environmental conditions, or advantages gained through preparation. Positive modifiers improve the chance of success, while negative modifiers introduce difficulties.

Outcome: The result of an action, determined by a dice roll or another method. The outcome may include success, failure, and complications that affect the story. An outcome can be immediate, like resolving a combat encounter, or long-term, influencing future events.

Outcome Rating: A measure of how significant the complications of an action are, influencing the narrative and future challenges. A higher outcome rating might mean a dramatic shift in the story, while a lower rating represents a minor or routine effect.

Success: An action result where the roll meets or exceeds the difficulty rating, achieving the intended goal. Success may lead to straightforward resolutions or introduce new opportunities for the character.

Failure: An action result where the roll doesn't meet the difficulty rating, creating complications that move the story forward. Failure doesn't always mean disaster, sometimes it introduces complications, twists, or unintended outcomes that add depth to the story.

Narrative Complications: The impact of a failed or successful action on the ongoing story. Rather than focusing only on mechanical success or failure, narrative complications ensure that every action matters and shapes character development, relationships, and the unfolding events.

Roleplaying Genres

The Simple Approach is designed to support a wide range of roleplaying genres, offering tools and guidance tailored to different styles of storytelling. Each genre brings its own themes, tones, and expectations, shaping the kinds of stories that unfold. Some emphasize mystery and intrigue, while others focus on adventure, horror, or personal growth. This glossary provides an overview of the genres currently supported or planned for future expansion.

Cozy Fantasy: A low-stakes, character-driven take on fantasy where relationships, community, and personal growth are central. Conflict is social or internal rather than combative, and the focus is on warmth, wonder, and everyday magic.

Crime & Mystery: Stories centered on solving crimes, uncovering hidden truths, and navigating the gray areas of morality. Investigations, secrets, and deception drive the narrative, with characters relying on intellect and deduction over brute force.

Dark Academia: A blend of academic intrigue, gothic aesthetics, and intellectual obsession. Stories revolve around scholars, secret societies, and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge, exploring themes of ambition, privilege, and moral decay.

Dark Fantasy: A fantasy setting infused with grim themes, moral ambiguity, and supernatural horrors. Magic is dangerous, heroes are flawed, and the world teeters on the edge of despair.

Espionage: A genre built on covert operations, deception, and high-stakes maneuvering. Characters navigate political intrigue, infiltrate hostile organizations, and operate in a world where trust is a rare commodity.

Fantasy Academia: A genre that blends traditional fantasy with academic settings, where students, scholars, and institutions of magic, science, or history take center stage. Stories explore intellectual discovery, rivalries, and the pursuit of knowledge in a fantastic world.

Folk Horror: A horror genre rooted in rural isolation, superstition, and the clash between tradition and modernity. Ancient rituals, eerie landscapes, and unseen forces shape unsettling narratives where the past refuses to stay buried.

Heroic Fantasy: A high-adventure genre where larger-than-life heroes battle evil, explore vast worlds, and shape the course of history. Valor, destiny, and personal growth define the journey, with characters rising from humble origins to legendary status.

Historical: Stories set in real-world historical periods, emphasizing accuracy, cultural detail, and the impact of historical events. While some historical roleplaying stays grounded in reality, others may introduce speculative elements like secret societies or lost civilizations.

Holiday: A genre focused on seasonal traditions, festive themes, and heartfelt stories. These games explore the magic, nostalgia, and emotional connections tied to holidays, whether they’re rooted in history, fantasy, or modern life.

Literary: A genre inspired by the depth, complexity, and thematic weight of literary fiction. Stories emphasize character-driven plots, introspection, and complex worldbuilding, exploring human nature, relationships, and existential questions.

Magical Realism: A genre where the fantastic exists alongside the mundane without explanation. The supernatural is treated as an ordinary part of life, creating a dreamlike narrative that blends reality with myth, folklore, or personal symbolism.

Modern: A broad genre encompassing contemporary settings, from everyday life to subcultures, professions, and interpersonal drama. The focus is on realism, grounded conflicts, and the complexities of the modern world.

Modern Horror: Horror set in the present day, exploring psychological fear, supernatural threats, or the horrors of society itself. Isolation, paranoia, and the unknown are recurring themes, with characters forced to confront forces beyond their control.

Modern Occult: A genre that blends supernatural elements with contemporary life. Secret societies, hidden magic, and urban legends take center stage, with characters uncovering mysteries lurking beneath the surface of the modern world.

Modern Romance: Stories that focus on relationships, emotional connections, and personal growth. The genre can range from lighthearted romantic comedy to deep, dramatic explorations of love and loss.

Pirates: A genre centered on freedom, adventure, and rebellion. Stories explore life on the high seas, rival factions, treasure hunts, and the tension between lawlessness and loyalty. Whether historical, fantastical, or futuristic, piracy is always about the pursuit of something greater than oneself.

Space Opera: A grand-scale science fiction genre filled with interstellar travel, political intrigue, and sweeping conflicts. Personal stories are set against the backdrop of vast empires, mysterious alien cultures, and the wonders of the cosmos.

Survival Horror: A genre where resourcefulness, fear, and isolation drive the story. Characters must overcome environmental hazards, supernatural threats, or psychological terrors while struggling to survive against overwhelming odds.

Victoriana: A genre inspired by the aesthetics, culture, and social structures of the 19th century. Whether grounded in realism or blended with supernatural and steampunk elements, stories explore the tension between progress, tradition, and hidden darkness.

Each genre brings its own expectations and storytelling opportunities. The Simple Approach provides adaptable tools that let players focus on narrative depth, character development, and immersive roleplaying, regardless of the setting or style.

Structure and Techniques

Storytelling follows a structure, whether in a single session or across multiple arcs. These terms describe methods for shaping scenes, pacing events, and keeping the narrative engaging.

Beat: A key moment in the story, marking a transition or escalation in the narrative. Beats help define pacing, guiding when new information is revealed, conflicts arise, or characters make critical decisions.

Beat Chart: A structured outline that maps out story beats, guiding the narrative and challenge difficulty. A beat chart provides a roadmap for facilitators and players, helping maintain pacing and engagement.

Difficulty Rating: A numerical value representing how challenging an action is, from 1 (Beginner) to 5 (Authority). Difficulty ratings provide a consistent measure of what actions require more skill, experience, or effort to achieve.

Equipment: Tools, weapons, or items a character carries and uses in the story, affecting actions and outcomes. Equipment may provide advantages, enhance traits, or create new roleplaying opportunities.

Hook: An element that grabs a character’s or player’s attention, drawing them into the story. Hooks can be personal (tied to a character’s background) or external (related to the setting or unfolding events).

Scene Framing: The process of setting up the beginning of a scene, establishing location, stakes, and characters involved. Framing helps create a clear focus, ensuring players understand what is happening and how they can engage.

Story Arc: A structured progression of events forming a cohesive narrative. Story arcs can be short-term (a single session) or long-term (spanning multiple sessions), defining the major beats and themes.

Trait: A characteristic, skill, or ability that defines a character’s strengths and weaknesses, rated from 1 (Beginner) to 5 (Authority). Traits help shape a character’s role in the story and determine what they're naturally good at or struggle with.

Trait Rating: The numerical value assigned to a trait, indicating how proficient a character is in that particular area. Trait ratings determine a character’s strengths and influence the likelihood of success in various challenges.

Worldbuilding: The process of creating the setting, lore, and background for the story. Worldbuilding defines the locations, factions, and cultures that form the foundation of the roleplaying experience.

Trait Ratings and Difficulty

Traits represent a character’s capabilities, while difficulty ratings determine how hard an action is to accomplish. This section explains how traits are measured and how difficulty levels affect story progression.

Beginner (1): A trait rating of 1 indicates little to no experience or training. The character is just starting to develop this skill, making success uncertain without outside help or luck. As a difficulty rating, it represents the simplest tasks, something even a Beginner could attempt with a reasonable chance of success.

Novice (2): A trait rating of 2 represents limited training and some experience. The character has developed a basic understanding but is still learning, making mistakes, and improving. As a difficulty rating, it applies to basic challenges suited for a Novice, where effort and determination may lead to success.

Competent (3): A trait rating of 3 represents a solid level of training and experience. The character is capable and can handle routine tasks independently. As a difficulty rating, it applies to standard tasks that an average person could perform, requiring effort but within reach of a trained individual.

Expert (4): A trait rating of 4 represents advanced skill and expertise. The character is highly proficient and can accomplish difficult tasks with confidence. As a difficulty rating, it applies to complex tasks expected to challenge an Expert, requiring a deep level of knowledge, training, or specialized ability.

Authority (5): A trait rating of 5 represents mastery in a particular area. The character is among the best, capable of remarkable feats that few others can match. As a difficulty rating, it applies to the most challenging tasks, the kind only an Authority would be expected to handle successfully.