The core mechanics of Dark Provinces rely on two primary components, Personality Trait Cards and Challenge Cards.
Personality Trait Cards replace traditional RPG character sheets with dynamic behavioral archetypes based on the HEXACO model of personality. The defining element of the Dark Provinces game system is ACTION UNDER PRESSURE. When a crisis hits and there is no time to plan an ideal response, players are forced to rely on the ingrained psychological and physical fallbacks deeply embedded in their character's psyches. Personality Trait Cards capture those instinctual reactions, such as relying on method, acting recklessly, or lashing out in spite.
Challenge Cards are the vehicle that drive both the moment-to-moment gameplay and the revelation of the overall Broken Waters universe. The Challenge Cards replace static canned adventures that often railroad you to a single destination, and vague sandbox designs with unclear goals, with self-contained game scenes that form a branching, multi-path decision tree with extensive potential adventure outcomes.
The decision tree provides player agency about which Challenges to confront, at least 6 ways to confront each, and the uncovering of clues depending on the approaches chosen. The Challenge Card system provides at least 20 different challenge types, that include combat, and permit the creation of long-term ally and rivalry relationships within the universe. And after reading the challenge scenario, the players can test their strategy against the scenario description, to collect specific clues, and determine adjustments to combined Doom and reputation, and individual trust, stress and resources.
Here are three examples of Challenge Cards in the game, to provide additional context on how challenges are framed, and what players might experience while playing the game.
