Degree of Success or Failure

Once you have calculated effective
skill by applying all relevant modifiers
to base skill, roll 3d to determine the
outcome. If the total rolled on the dice
is less than or equal to your effective
skill, you succeed, and the difference
between your effective skill and your
die roll is your margin of success.
Example: If you have effective skill
18 and roll a 12, you succeed; your
margin of success is 6.
If you roll higher than your effec-
tive skill, you fail, and the difference
between the die roll and your effective
skill is your margin of failure.
Example: If you have effective skill
9 and roll a 12, you fail; your margin
of failure is 3.
Always note your margin of suc-
cess or failure, as many rules use these
margins to calculate results that mat-
ter in play. Even when the rules don’t
call for these numbers, the GM might
wish to reward a large margin of suc-
cess with a particularly favorable out-
come, or assess especially dire conse-
quences for a large margin of failure!
Extremely high or low rolls have
special effects – beyond those for nor-
mal success and failure – regardless
of your exact margin of success or
failure.