Multiple dice and you: what you need to know

As the alpha rules near a state where I can bear to show them to anyone, I would like to note an interesting feature in this game that may need a little bit of explanation...

By our reckoning, the D20 system is a really comprehensive system.  It's full of nuances and details, but for our purposes in creating this universe and system, it fell a little short.  Shepherds of Fate aims to be a bit more cinematic than a lot of the D20 systems out there by allowing multiple factors to be rolled for simultaneously and be added into a cumulative result.  That means that when a character's attack fails, the DM (or any player) can look at the dice and tell you exactly why your attack failed, whether it be incompetent defense, shoddy footwork, or inept anticipation.

In Shepherds of Fate, we've dealt with that by replacing your base statistics with actual, separate dice. From D4 on up to D12 (and sometimes beyond), your abilities and how you perform are variables with little more to add. When you roll, you can see on the die how well you did without looking for more things to add.  It's all right there in front of you.  Why D12? Well, we've found that by using smaller dice, results are easier to add.

To attack, you roll three dice: weapon, ability, and base.  Weapon dice determine the overall power of the weapon used.  Ability dice represent your ability with that weapon.  Base dice are added to most rolls and show your general competence as a fighter, diplomat, or any other role your character may be forced to play.  Overall, it aims to be quick, intuitive, and cinematic.  As playtesting advances, we will see how it fares.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment with suggestions.