# Blood Engine: ESSENTIAL tags: #game/rpg/blood-engine ![[Blood Engine - Essential (cover).jpg]] **Blood Engine - Essential** is a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) that can be best described as "grimdark lite." It's a distillation of the Old School Renaissance (OSR) formula, taking inspiration from classic games while incorporating modern design elements. The game promises "brutal, bleak adventures in unforgiving worlds," and it delivers on that promise with a streamlined system that emphasizes player skill and resourcefulness. However, unlike many of its OSR brethren, it doesn't rely on a simple d20 roll. ## Core Mechanic **Blood Engine - Essential** uses a unique dice pool system where players roll multiple dice and add them together to reach a target number. This system is shared with another game by the same publisher, **[[Hellsquad]]**. Characters have three primary attributes: - **Vigor:** Representing physical strength and resilience. - **Instinct:** Governing reflexes and intuition. - **Cunning:** Measuring intellect and problem-solving ability. Each attribute is assigned a die value ranging from d4 to d12, reflecting the character's competence in that area. In addition to attribute dice, characters also have a **base die**, which represents their inherent capability, regardless of their specific strengths. When attempting an action, the player rolls a dice pool consisting of: - Their base die - The die associated with the relevant attribute - Any dice granted by equipment or situational modifiers The total of these dice is then compared to a target number, usually 4. If the total equals or exceeds the target number, the action is successful. This system allows for a wide range of character builds and tactical options, as players can specialize in different attributes and utilize equipment to boost their chances of success. ## References - [Blood Engine Essential - Oddplan! | DriveThruRPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/500284/blood-engine-essential) - [I Made This! - Blood Engine Essential: are you ready to bleed to survive? - RPGnet Forums](https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/blood-engine-essential-are-you-ready-to-bleed-to-survive.923553/)