Summary

• The Cosmere RPG introduces the plot die, adding complexity and unpredictability to rolls.
• The plot die's Opportunity and Complication effects enhance gameplay beyond the typical success/failure outcomes.
• The addition of the plot die to D&D campaigns could inject more creativity and storytelling into gameplay for DMs and players.

The Kickstarter for Dungeons & Dragons games as well. Based on the Cosmere universe of fantasy author Brandon Sanderson's books, the RPG is starting with the setting of The Stormlight Archive in 2025 and following it with Mistborn in 2026. The project comes in the wake of an enormously successful 2022 Kickstarter for books by Sanderson, and it's already setting its own records on the platform.

The Cosmere RPG isn't attempting to upend the standards of TTRPG gameplay, sticking to some of the standards popularized by games like DnD. Rolls still depend on a 20-sided die, for example, and the Stormlight Archive and Mistborn settings both retain enough traditional fantasy action flavor to make a lot of sense to DnD fans. The memorable magic systems that Sanderson is known for might be enough to sell the TTRPG even without overhauls, but beyond the familiar core elements, it's still looking to set itself apart with some fresh ideas and interesting tweaks.

The Cosmere RPG's Plot Die Is An Exciting Twist

Complex Results Can Be More Fun

Although the basic tool for resolution in the Cosmere RPG is still the D20, the game introduces an extra die that can be deployed at the game master's discretion. Called the plot die, this D6 adds a couple of effects rather than simply modifying the numerical result of the roll. While it's possible to roll a blank and leave the D20 result as is, the plot die can also add an Opportunity or a Complication, and both of these options can make a crucial outcome way more interesting than before.

An Opportunity adds a positive side effect to a roll regardless of whether it's a success or failure, with the example provided on the Kickstarter page describing a scenario where fleeing characters come across a temporary hiding spot. A Complication adds points to the roll, increasing the chances of general success, but it also adds a side effect to the mix (in the Kickstarter example, a constable ing the chase). Both outcomes look beyond the binary of success/failure and consider more complex situations, codifying a mechanic that's usually just up to a game master's whims.

The Plot Die Could Be Perfect In D&D Campaigns

Nothing Restricts The Concept To The Cosmere RPG

The plot die is principally intended to be used in high-stakes scenarios, and it feels like a great way to heighten things appropriately and lead to more memorable results. DnD doesn't tend to discriminate between rolls for characters attempting clever, death-defying feats or simply sneaking past a guard. There are ways to do so that aren't in the rules — offering a player two rolls and accepting whichever result is further away from 10 in either direction is a fun one — but even then, the outcome is just the outcome.

Granting advantage for good ideas and roleplay is always a helpful way to get more out of players.

Good DMs can make things interesting in their own ways, and understanding how to add some flavor to the results of important rolls is one of the most important parts of running a memorable campaign. At the same time, there's a limit to how far a DM can stray from the core success or failure without potentially overwriting the impact of the player's roll. Tossing the plot die into any DnD campaign could be a smart, simple fix that encourages both the DM and players to embrace an environment of creative storytelling that isn't so laser-focused on monolithically good or bad results.

It's still going to be a while before the Cosmere RPG is out, but there are already some ways to play around with a stripped-down, beta version of the system in several digital marketplaces and VTTs. Even without a physical plot die on store shelves, it's easy enough to assign its effects to a standard d6 and start playing around with it in any D20-based TTRPG. Whether the Cosmere RPG fully delivers on the significant potential of bringing The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn to the tabletop remains to be seen, but it's already delivered one excellent idea that Dungeons & Dragons players might appreciate.

Source: Brotherwise Games/Kickstarter