Dice mechanics
Modifiers in Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary
Bonuses, penalties, and situational adjustments.
Explanation
M20 magick uses difficulty (a number from 3 to 9, default 6); successes against that difficulty determine effect. Mundane Ability rolls also default to difficulty 6. Modifiers add or subtract dice from the pool, not from the result.
Examples
Example: position over +1/-1
Instead of tiny modifiers, change position: better cover, better tools, better information.
Example: keep it consistent
Pick one primary difficulty lever for your table (DV/DC, threshold bands, required successes) and stick to it.
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Stacking many small modifiers. Fix: Use one clear difficulty lever and keep the decision readable.
- Mistake: Applying modifiers without stakes. Fix: Define what success changes and what failure costs before rolling.