Table of Contents
Power Scaling
Power Tiers define the overall capability level of the campaign.
They influence:
- Attribute caps
- Starting resources
- Enemy expectations
- Narrative scope
Choose a Tier before character creation.
Do not shift Tiers casually mid-campaign.
Tier 1 – Gritty
Theme:
Survival, danger, limited resources.
Attribute Cap:
+3
Starting Wealth:
Low (Wealth 1–2 or 250 credits equivalent)
Enemy Threat:
Standard enemies are serious threats. Elite enemies are boss-level dangers.
Tone:
Tactical, cautious, high-risk.
Recommended for:
Horror, survival sci-fi, low fantasy, western.
Tier 2 – Heroic
Theme:
Competent professionals, rising legends.
Attribute Cap:
+4
Starting Wealth:
Moderate (Wealth 2–3 or 500 credits equivalent)
Enemy Threat:
Standard enemies are manageable. Elite enemies are dangerous. Bosses are climactic encounters.
Tone:
Cinematic but grounded.
Recommended for:
Space opera, high fantasy, cyberpunk action, pulp adventure.
Tier 3 – Epic
Theme:
Larger-than-life heroes.
Attribute Cap:
+5
Starting Wealth:
High (Wealth 3–4 or 1,000+ credits equivalent)
Enemy Threat:
Minions are minor obstacles. Standard enemies fall quickly. Bosses require phases and scaling.
Tone:
Mythic, high-powered, dramatic.
Recommended for:
Superhero campaigns, mythic fantasy, high-powered sci-fi.
Adjusting Between Tiers
If advancing to a higher Tier:
- Increase Attribute cap
- Increase Wealth baseline
- Adjust enemy expectations
- Introduce more complex threats
Tier shifts should occur at major narrative milestones.
Avoid mixing Tier expectations within the same arc.
Design Guidance
Tier primarily affects:
- Maximum Attributes
- Narrative stakes
- Resource availability
Core math remains stable across Tiers.
Do not inflate enemy Attack bonuses just because the Tier increases. Instead, use:
- More abilities
- More coordinated enemies
- Multi-phase bosses
- Environmental pressure
Higher Tier should feel broader, not just numerically larger.
ODDS RPG Power Scaling v1.0 Playtest