Roles

All who play share the responsibility of creating a fun environment to play in, as well as a compelling story to tell. The golden rule of Echelon is to help others before you help yourself, both in the game and around the table. Regardless of which role you fill while playing Echelon, the rules of the game become weighted in your favor when you use them to benefit each other. Adventuring through treacherous dungeons or unraveling political intrigue might make it seem like you’re facing the dangers all on your own, but if you remember the golden rule, you'll find that success comes more often with a friend at your side.

Game Master

The first and largest role is the Game Master role.The Game Master is the adjudicator of rules and is generally responsible for knowing which rules apply and when it is appropriate to forgo a rule or set of rules. Game Masters are also creators of the story to be revealed. At times,they will establish the elements of the world and the circumstances the Player Characters find themselves in. Other times, they will play the part of Non-player Characters that inhabit the world. Most importantly, the Game Master organizes the flow of the game and reveals the opportunities or consequences the Player Characters create for themselves. In short, Game Masters create the glue that keeps everything together, and it’s a big task. However, when you play Echelon, you’re never really alone. Game Masters also know when to lean on Players to draw more color into the world, the scene, or even the frame.

Player

The rest of the group at the table takes the role of Players. Players in Echelon may wear a number of hats. The responsibility of Players is much more narratively focused compared to the role of a Game Master.As a Player, your first priority is to develop a character to inhabit the world with. Next is to embody that character, making real-time decisions on their behalf as the story unfolds. Lastly, it is to be an expert in who and what your character is and how to use the rules of the game to preserve that. On occasion, you may be called upon to fill the role of another Player’s Ally,someone who seeks mutual success with you or a companion. Other times, you might be asked to create stories on the spot for Non-player Characters that might be generated then and there or to fill in more color on parts of the world that your character has ties to. The last and most frequent responsibility you may face is to create the narrative of your actions. When you try a thing and succeed, you get to tell us how it happens and how cool it looks.