HiLo RPG
The HiLo RPG is a very simple set of rules for roleplaying in any genre.
Table of Contents
Basic Rules...........................1 Assisting......................1
Characters.......................1 Criticals.......................1
Tasks................................1 Modifiers......................1
Basic Rules
Characters
Characters are defined by a Level and a Cliché. Examples
of clichés; Jaded Smuggler, Daring Swashbuckler, Veteran
Soldier, Honest Cop
A cliché should, ideally, describe the characters skills and
abilities (such as Cop) and their demeanour (Honest).
Tasks
When a character undertakes a task which is not an
automatic success (things like opening doors are
automatic successes) a test must be made. First of all the
player running the character decides how good a Fit the
characters cliché is to the task being attempted, this
determines how they roll their dice:
• Cliché is a Bad Fit: Roll 2d10 and read the
lowest dice as the tens value (e.g. a 2 and an 8
is read as 28).
• Cliché is an Indifferent Fit: Roll 2d10, before
rolling state which is the tens dice.
• Cliché is a Good Fit: Roll 2d10 and read the
highest dice as the tens value (e.g. a 2 and an 8
is read as 82).
To succeed you need to equal or beat a Difficulty number
(DIFF) set by the GM or an opposed roll by another
character: The table below gives DIFF numbers for
qualitative difficulties and for opposing characters (based
on their fit in opposing your task).
Easy 10+
Routine/Opposing task is a Bad Fit for Opponent 30+
Challenging/Opposing task is an Indifferent Fit for 50+
Opponent
Very Challenging/Opposing task is a Good Fit for 70+
Opponent
Extremely Challenging 90+
Assisting
If one or more characters assist in a task everyone should
roll then take the highest roll and add the tens value of all
the other rolls to that one high roll.
Criticals
A successful roll of doubles (both dice the same) is a
critical success, meaning you succeed exceptionally well.
A failure of doubles is a critical failure, meaning you fail
exceptionally badly.
Re-Rolls........................1
Conflict........................1
For dangerous tasks, such as climbing, assume that a
normal failure just means you failed. You only get hurt on
a critical failure.
Modifiers
Modifiers apply to rolls once made. They usually come
from things like equipment or other circumstantial
modifiers. They are usually measured in increments of
ten (e,g, +10, -10, +20, -20 and so on). A basic tool gives
a +10, a good tool +20 and a superior tool +30.
Re-Rolls
You get a number of re-rolls per game session equal to
your Level. These can be used to re-roll a roll you just
made or make another character re-roll a roll they just
made (which was directed at you). Either way, the new
roll replaces the original roll.
Conflict
If two or more characters try to oppose each other roll
and the highest roll “wins” the conflict. Combat is best
handled as a series of rounds.
At the start of the combat have everyone make rolls to
determine who acts first in each round. The person who
initiated the combat always gets to act first and doesn't
have to roll.
In Combat situations roll to hit against a fixed DIFF based
on the targets skill at fighting (in melee) or their cover (in
ranged combat), where Excellent Cover is DIFF 90, Good
Cover is DIFF 70, Indifferent Cover is DIFF 50, Poor Cover
is DIFF 30 and no Cover is DIFF 10 and.
On a hit, the effect is based on the successful roll, as
follows:
• An ODD hit stuns the target, they lose their next
turn (though they can defend normally still).
• An EVEN hit disables the target immediately.
They are out of play until the end of the combat.
If their side wins they survive, otherwise their
life or death is up to the winning side.
• An ODD Critical Hit stuns the target and they
cannot defend (DIFF 10 to be hit).
• An EVEN Critical Hit is an instant kill if using a
potentially deadly weapon.
Basic armour gives +10 on defense, +20 for good armour
and +30 for superior armour.
A Basic weapon (pistol/knife) gives +10 attack, good
weapon (carbine/sword) +20 attack and a superior
weapon (rofle/2h melee weapon) +30 attack.