Fuzion

Fuzion is a generic tabletop role-playing game (RPG) system designed as a flexible, universal ruleset for creating and running campaigns across diverse genres, from realistic everyday adventures to superheroic epics. Developed through a collaboration between R. Talsorian Games and Hero Games, it integrates core mechanics from the Interlock system—famously used in titles like Cyberpunk and Mekton Z—with elements of the Hero System from Champions, resulting in a streamlined point-buy framework for character creation and action resolution. Released in the late 1990s, Fuzion emphasizes adaptability, allowing game masters to "dial" power levels and incorporate plug-ins for specific settings without rigid constraints.^[1]^[2] At its core, Fuzion employs a modular structure with primary Characteristics (such as Intelligence, Reflexes, and Constitution) purchased via Option Points, alongside Derived stats like Stun and Hits for tracking damage. Skills, Talents, Perks, and Complications further customize characters, with campaigns scaled from "Everyday" (low-point, realistic) to "Superheroic" (high-point, exaggerated) styles to suit narrative needs. Action resolution uses either a 3d6 roll (Hero-style, for predictability) or 1d10 (Interlock-style, for variability), compared against Difficulty Values modified by skills and circumstances, supporting everything from personal combat in 3-second phases to large-scale vehicle and mecha battles.^[1]^[2] Fuzion's influence extends to powering several notable RPG lines, including adaptations of Dragon Ball Z and Sengoku, where its genre-bending capabilities enable seamless character portability between worlds—such as transferring a cyberpunk operative to a feudal samurai campaign. The system includes rules for magic, psionics, superpowers, and ten levels of technology, making it suitable for beginners who can grasp the 56-page core rules in a single evening. Despite its innovative intent to unify disparate mechanics, Fuzion has been praised for its field-tested simplicity while occasionally critiqued for inconsistencies in high-power scaling, yet it remains a foundational tool for creative roleplaying.^[2]^[1]

History and Development

Origins and Collaboration

Fuzion emerged from a collaborative effort between R. Talsorian Games and Hero Games, two prominent role-playing game publishers seeking to streamline their respective systems into a single, versatile framework. R. Talsorian Games, known for developing the Interlock system that powered titles like Cyberpunk, brought its emphasis on narrative-driven gameplay and streamlined resolution mechanics. Hero Games, creators of the HERO System featured in Champions, contributed its granular point-buy character creation and detailed simulationist approach. The partnership was publicly announced on July 11, 1996, with the explicit goal of producing a unified generic RPG system that merged Interlock's flexibility for storytelling with HERO's precision in building adaptable characters across genres, while simplifying overall complexity to encourage broader adoption.^[1]^[3] Leading the design were Mike Pondsmith from R. Talsorian Games, along with Hero Games principals Steve Peterson and Ray Greer, who integrated core elements from both parent systems to form Fuzion's modular foundation. Development spanned approximately two years, culminating in the initial release of the core rules as a free PDF download in 1997, marketed as a foundational "system core" to support all future publications by both companies and licensed third parties. This royalty-free distribution model aimed to foster widespread use and customization, positioning Fuzion as an accessible entry point for game masters and players alike.^[1]^[4] The collaboration concluded in late 2001 when DOJ, Inc. acquired the assets of Hero Games, effectively dissolving the joint venture and allowing each company to refocus on its proprietary systems. R. Talsorian Games retained control over Interlock variants for ongoing titles, while Hero Games reverted to developing the fifth edition of its HERO System, marking the end of shared Fuzion development. Rights to Fuzion itself remain jointly held by Pondsmith, along with Hero Games principals Steve Peterson and Ray Greer.^[5]^[6]

Publications and Legacy

The core rulebook for Fuzion, titled Fuzion Core Rules, was released in 1997 by R. Talsorian Games as a free PDF download of approximately 56 pages, encompassing basic rules, sample characters, and modular system components designed for adaptation across genres. This publication served as the foundational text, emphasizing flexibility through customizable elements like stats, skills, and resolution mechanics, and remains accessible via R. Talsorian's digital archives.^[7] Several licensed adaptations utilized Fuzion as their ruleset, expanding its application in licensed properties. The Bubblegum Crisis RPG, published by R. Talsorian Games in 1996, adapted the anime's cyberpunk setting with Fuzion mechanics for character creation and combat in a dystopian megacity. Similarly, the Record of Lodoss War RPG (early 1999, R. Talsorian Games) employed Fuzion to simulate high-fantasy adventures in the island kingdom of Lodoss, incorporating modular options for magic and melee. An update to the mecha-focused Mekton Zeta Plus (1995, R. Talsorian Games) integrated Fuzion rules for enhanced robot construction and tactical battles, building on the original Mekton system's legacy. Notably, Hero Games released Champions: The New Millennium (1997) using Fuzion rules. R. Talsorian Games further incorporated Fuzion into supplements for existing lines, notably Cyberpunk v3.0 (2005), which transitioned the cyberpunk setting from the Interlock system to Fuzion for streamlined gameplay in a high-tech future. Hero Games, a co-developer of Fuzion, experimented with it in early prototypes for the fifth edition of the HERO System but ultimately abandoned the approach by 2002, opting instead for a full revival of the original HERO ruleset to preserve its detailed point-buy mechanics.^[8] Fuzion's legacy lies in its promotion of modular, genre-agnostic design, influencing subsequent universal systems by prioritizing adaptability over rigid structures, as seen in the evolution of flexible toolkits in later RPGs.^[8] It faced criticism for its bare-bones presentation, lacking extensive genre-specific guidance and support materials, which limited its adoption beyond initial licensees.^[9] Fan communities have sustained interest through homebrew expansions, while indie projects like the Action! System (developed from 2001 onward by Gold Rush Games, with ties to Fuzion's creators) offer simplified variants emphasizing fast-paced action.^[8] As of 2025, Fuzion remains out of print in physical formats, with no major official publications since the early 2010s; however, the core PDF and select adaptations continue to be distributed digitally through R. Talsorian Games' archives and platforms like DriveThruRPG.^[7]

System Overview

Core Principles and Modularity

Fuzion is designed as a generic role-playing game system, applicable to any genre or setting such as science fiction, fantasy, or superheroes, without incorporating hardcoded rules specific to particular worlds. This universal approach allows game masters to adapt the mechanics seamlessly across campaigns, emphasizing narrative flexibility over rigid genre constraints.^[10] At its core, Fuzion employs a point-buy character creation system where players allocate Characteristic Points (CPs) to primary attributes and Option Points (OPs) to skills, talents, perks, powers, and complications, ensuring balanced and customizable characters. This method promotes equitable distribution of resources, with costs scaled to maintain playability— for instance, primary characteristics cost 1 CP per level, while derived stats like Stun require 5 OPs for a +5 improvement. The philosophy prioritizes simplification of complex mechanics from its predecessor systems, combining broad attribute categories to streamline play while enabling expansion through modular components, focusing on fast resolution rather than exhaustive simulation.^[10] Fuzion's modularity is achieved through four key tools: Plug-Ins, Keys, Switches, and Dials. Plug-Ins provide add-on rules for specific elements like magic systems or martial arts, derived as simplified versions from parent systems such as HERO or Interlock. Keys denote essential core rules, such as the initiative mechanic using Reflex plus skill, that must be included for standard play. Switches allow toggling optional features, like hit locations or variable die rolls (3d6 versus 1d10), to suit campaign needs. Dials adjust the intensity of rules, such as setting realism levels from gritty everyday scenarios to cinematic superheroic scales, influencing factors like power point costs or the Rule of X target number. This structure enables game masters to calibrate the system precisely, differing from the more granular power options in HERO—where Fuzion divides HERO powers by 5 for brevity—and the less structured, explosion-based skills in Interlock, which Fuzion replaces with a consistent point-based framework.^[10]^[11]

Dice and Resolution Basics

Fuzion's resolution system offers two primary options for dice: 1d10 (Interlock-style, for variability) or 3d6 (Hero-style, for predictability), with the GM choosing one for the campaign; core gameplay thus requires either ten-sided dice or six-sided dice accordingly.^[1] The basic resolution mechanic involves rolling the chosen die/dice, adding the relevant Primary Stat (such as Reflexes or Intelligence, typically rated from 1 to 10) and the associated Skill Level (also 1 to 10), along with any applicable modifiers, to generate a total. This total is then compared to a Difficulty Value (DV) determined by the Game Master (GM). Standard DV benchmarks include 10 for Challenged tasks, 14 for Everyday challenges, 18 for Competent ones, and 22 for Heroic difficulties, with success achieved if the total equals or exceeds the DV. For example, attempting to pick a standard lock might require Reflexes 5 + Lockpicking 4 + roll ≥ DV 14.^[1] To introduce variability and dramatic potential, Fuzion employs open-ended rolls. For 1d10, a result of 10 prompts an additional d10 roll added to the total, repeating if another 10 is rolled (though additional critical successes beyond the first are not scored). For 3d6, a natural 18 adds two more d6. Conversely, critical failures occur on a natural 1 (for 1d10, subtract another d10) or all 1s (for 3d6, subtract two d6), lowering the total and likely causing failure; botches with complications are at GM discretion, particularly for unskilled attempts (skill level 0).^[1] In opposed rolls, both participants perform the standard resolution: roll + Stat + Skill + modifiers, with the higher total prevailing; ties typically favor the defender or are resolved at GM discretion to maintain narrative flow. Modifiers adjust the roll based on circumstances, such as environmental factors (-2 for dim lighting or -5 for extreme conditions), injuries (-1 per wound level), or equipment (+1 to +3 for quality tools), allowing the system to reflect situational nuance without overcomplicating the core equation: Total = roll (open-ended where applicable) + Primary Stat + Skill Level + Modifiers ≥ DV.^[1] This mechanic's modularity permits GMs to adjust DV scales for genre-specific intensity, ensuring adaptability across campaigns.^[1]

Character Creation

Concept and Lifepath

The character creation process in Fuzion commences with establishing a core concept for the character, which defines their role within the game's genre, their motivations, and long-term objectives. Players conceptualize archetypes suited to the campaign setting, such as a cunning cyberpunk hacker infiltrating corporate networks to expose corruption or a stoic fantasy knight driven by a code of chivalry to protect the realm. This foundational step prioritizes narrative identity over numerical attributes, allowing players to envision how the character interacts with the world and evolves through story-driven decisions.^[1] Following the concept, the lifepath system employs a flowchart-guided questionnaire to construct the character's backstory, personality, and interpersonal connections through player choices or dice rolls. Participants navigate sections covering childhood events (e.g., family crises like parental murder or exile shaping early trauma), basic personality traits (e.g., friendly, moody, or sneaky), valued relationships (e.g., prioritizing a lover, friend, or family member), core motivations (e.g., honor, vengeance, or wealth), worldview (e.g., viewing people as inherently wonderful or manipulative), early background (e.g., upbringing in poor, middle-class, or wealthy environments), friends and enemies (e.g., a betraying ex-friend as a rival or a loyal partner as an ally), romantic and conflict experiences (e.g., a happy affair or tragic loss in war), significant life incidents (e.g., mentorship or imprisonment), current occupation (e.g., freelancer, military officer, or scholar), and overall outlook (e.g., craving adventure or embracing stability). These elements, determined via rolls such as 1D6 for events or 2D6 for backgrounds, yield non-mechanical outputs like personality descriptors (e.g., rebellious or intellectual), complications (e.g., a vow of vengeance), and contacts (e.g., a government informant).^[10] The lifepath's design ensures narrative richness precedes mechanical allocation, fostering deeply roleplayed characters with built-in plot hooks for the game master, such as unresolved rivalries or supportive networks. Adaptable via genre-specific templates, it maintains brevity with roughly 5-10 interconnected questions to avoid overwhelming players; for instance, in a sci-fi setting, selecting a "corporate upbringing" might generate tech-savvy contacts alongside corporate espionage enemies, embedding social dynamics without immediate stat implications. Complications, like psychological obsessions or social dependencies, can optionally enhance depth while later influencing resource distribution.^[1]

Primary and Derived Stats

In the Fuzion role-playing game system, character creation begins with the allocation of Characteristic Points (CPs), which players spend to purchase Primary Stats, also known as Characteristics. These points are distributed by the Game Master (GM) based on the desired power level of the campaign, typically ranging from 20-30 CPs for everyman characters to 50 CPs or more for heroic ones, allowing an average stat value of 3-4 for ordinary individuals and 5 or higher for protagonists. CPs and Option Points (OPs) are separate pools, with OPs used later for skills and options.^[1]^[10] Primary Stats are bought at a cost of 1 CP per level, with each stat starting at a minimum of 1 and generally capped at 7-8 for baseline humans, though GMs may adjust limits for non-human or exceptional characters.^[10] The Primary Stats are organized into four categories to reflect different aspects of a character's capabilities: Mental, Combat, Physical, and Movement. The Mental category includes Intelligence (INT), which governs problem-solving and knowledge recall; Willpower (WILL), measuring mental resilience and determination; and Presence (PRE), representing charisma and social influence. The Combat category comprises Technique (TECH), for precision in technical and artistic endeavors; Reflexes (REF), determining reaction speed and initiative; and Dexterity (DEX), covering agility, balance, and coordination in action. The Physical category features Constitution (CON), indicating health and resistance to fatigue or illness; Strength (STR), for physical power and lifting capacity; and Body (BODY), reflecting overall durability and size. Finally, the Movement (MOVE) category consists of a single stat, Movement, which sets base locomotion rates across terrains. This structure ensures balanced development across physical, mental, and combative domains, with all stats rated on a scale of 1-10 or higher in modular campaigns.^[10]^[1] Derived Stats are automatically calculated from Primary Stats at no additional CP cost, providing secondary values that influence gameplay without direct purchase, though optional improvements can be bought using Option Points (OPs) at 5 OPs for enhancements like +5 Stun or +2 defenses. Key examples include the Reflex Total, computed as REF + DEX, which serves as the base for initiative rolls in combat. Endurance (END) is derived as CON × 10, used for sustained efforts such as breath-holding, where 1 phase equates to roughly 2 END points of air. Running speed is MOVE × 2 meters per turn for standard movement, while Sprinting reaches MOVE × 3 meters per turn. Stun, representing resistance to non-lethal damage, equals BODY × 5, and Recovery (REC) for healing is STR + CON, allowing REC points of Stun recovery per phase or Hits per 24 hours. These derivations emphasize efficiency, as increasing related Primary Stats indirectly boosts multiple Derived values.^[10] To maintain balance, heroic characters average Primary Stats of 5-7 across categories, enabling superhuman feats within the system's "Rule of X" limits (e.g., total of key stats like STR + REF + relevant Skill ≤ 18-20), while everyman profiles hover at 3-4 for realistic portrayals. The system's modularity permits GMs to add custom stats, such as Magic, by integrating them into an existing category and allocating 5-6 extra CPs per stat in heroic setups, ensuring adaptability across genres without altering core mechanics.^[1]^[10]

Skills and Options

In the Fuzion system, skills represent a character's learned abilities and are purchased using Option Points (OP). Skills cost 1 OP per level, whether broad categories of expertise or narrower specialties within them; specialties are typically bought as separate skills at the same rate. Skill levels range from 1 to 10, and during task resolution, the relevant skill level is added to the associated primary stat to form the base value for dice rolls.^[1] Categories of skills are organized into groups such as Combat (e.g., Firearms for ranged weapons or Martial Arts for hand-to-hand), Technical (e.g., Electronics for device repair or Programming for software development), and Social (e.g., Persuasion for negotiation or Streetwise for urban survival).^[1] Options in Fuzion allow players to customize characters further with perks and complications, which are balanced against a separate pool of Option Points (OP) typically ranging from 20 to 50 depending on the campaign's power level. Perks provide advantages, such as Contacts (1 OP per level, granting access to informants or allies), enhancing a character's resources or capabilities. Complications, conversely, introduce flaws that add depth and earn bonus OPs; for example, an Enemy complication (representing a persistent rival or organization) provides 5-20 OPs based on its Frequency, Intensity, and Importance. The total value of complications cannot exceed the starting OP level.^[1] Within the options framework, Option Points also fund advanced features like cyberware or equipment augmentations, while extraordinary abilities such as superpowers are handled through the OP pool or genre-specific Plug-Ins, with examples like Talents costing 3 OPs each. These elements are designed to be modular through "Plug-Ins," allowing game masters to adapt them to specific settings. For instance, a melee-focused character might invest in Brawling (Dexterity + skill level) to improve close-quarters effectiveness.^[1]

Gameplay Mechanics

Task Resolution

In Fuzion, task resolution for non-combat challenges employs a unified mechanic centered on unopposed rolls against a fixed Difficulty Value (DV) to determine outcomes for routine actions. The player calculates an Action Total by adding the relevant Characteristic (typically rated from 1 to 10) and Skill level (also 1 to 10) to a die roll—3d6 by default for predictability, though 1d10 is an alternative option—and compares it to the DV set by the Game Master based on task complexity. For an average skill check, such as using Intelligence + Technical to repair a simple device, the DV is often 14, representing a competent but routine effort.^[1]^[10] Extended tasks, which involve prolonged efforts like research or crafting, require accumulating a set number of successes over multiple rolls, with each roll tied to a time increment determined by the GM. For example, hacking into a secure network might demand 3 successes at a DV of 18, where each successful roll represents 1 minute of focused work, allowing progress to build incrementally while failures delay advancement.^[1]^[10] Teamwork enhances group efforts by designating one character as the lead roller, whose Action Total forms the base, while assisting players make separate rolls using complementary Skills; each success by an aider adds +1 to the lead total per 5 points of margin, capped at +3 regardless of group size, ensuring collaborative play without overwhelming bonuses.^[1] Failure results if the Action Total falls below the DV, halting progress on the task, while a botch—triggered by rolling a 1 on the 1d10 (or all 1s on 3d6) without any relevant Skill levels—introduces severe setbacks, such as a tool breaking or unintended consequences like alerting guards during stealthy reconnaissance. Partial successes may occur when the total is close to the DV, granting a limited outcome accompanied by a complication, like completing a repair but causing a temporary malfunction, at GM discretion.^[10]^[1] Environmental and situational modifiers fine-tune the DV or Action Total to reflect real-world challenges; for instance, poor visibility from darkness imposes a -4 penalty on perception-based rolls like Awareness + Intelligence, while favorable conditions such as ample lighting might grant a +2 bonus.^[1]^[10] The degree of success is determined by the margin by which the Action Total exceeds the DV, allowing the GM to scale outcomes (e.g., a small margin for basic success, larger for superior results such as faster completion or enhanced quality).^[1]

Combat Actions

In Fuzion, combat is structured as a turn-based sequence where participants determine their order of action through Reflexes (REF) ratings, followed by executing moves and significant actions within defined time frames. This system emphasizes tactical decision-making, balancing mobility, offense, and defense while incorporating modifiers for environmental factors. The mechanics are designed to simulate fast-paced confrontations, drawing from the game's core resolution principles but adapted for adversarial interactions.^[1] Initiative order is set by the character's REF rating, with the highest acting first in descending order; ties are resolved by a die roll such as 3d6 + REF or d10. This reflects reactive speed and positioning, ensuring that quicker characters gain an early advantage in engagements. Alternatively, the GM may opt for a rolled initiative of 3d6 + REF each phase for more variability.^[1]^[12] Combat unfolds in 3-second phases, with a full round consisting of 4 phases (12 seconds total), during which each character receives one significant action such as attacking, moving up to their Run speed, or using a skill, and any number of minor Free Actions like shouting commands or dropping an item. This structure promotes dynamic play, allowing characters to reposition while committing to a primary task, with phases repeating until the conflict resolves. Free Actions are unrestricted in number but must be minor and non-disruptive to maintain the pace of the phase timeframe.^[1] Significant Actions encompass attacks, defenses, and maneuvers, each resolved against a Defensive Value (DV). An attack, whether ranged or melee, involves rolling the relevant Stat plus Skill plus die roll against a DV of 10 plus the target's DEX + Dodge skill; active defense, such as Dodge, counters this by rolling DEX plus the relevant skill plus die roll against the incoming attack total, potentially negating the assault if successful. Maneuvers include options like Aiming, which grants +1 to the next attack roll per phase spent (maximum +3) but consumes the action for those phases, enabling players to trade immediacy for precision in critical moments. The attack total formula is:

\text{Attack Total} = \text{Relevant Stat} + \text{Skill} + \text{Die Roll} \quad \text{vs.} \quad \text{Defensive DV (10 + DEX + Dodge)}

Active defense total vs. attack total.^[1]^[12] Range and cover introduce tactical modifiers to the attack total, simulating real-world hindrances. For instance, close range (up to 10m) imposes a -2 penalty, medium (11-50m) -4, and long (51m+) -6; partial cover behind an obstacle adds +2 to the DV; these adjustments scale with distance bands and concealment levels to reward strategic positioning. Area effects, such as explosives, require a single roll against the DV of multiple targets within the blast radius, streamlining group engagements without excessive die rolls.^[1] Taking multiple Significant Actions in a phase or round incurs a cumulative -2 penalty to REF (or relevant stat) per extra action, applied to all related rolls to represent divided attention and fatigue. This mechanic discourages spamming actions, encouraging players to prioritize effectively within the constraints of a single phase. For non-attack skills used in combat, such as perception checks, the standard task resolution applies briefly to integrate fluid challenges without disrupting the turn sequence.^[1]^[12]

Damage and Effects

In the Fuzion role-playing game system, damage is categorized into two primary types: stun, which represents non-lethal injury such as that inflicted by fists or blunt impacts, and lethal (killing), which denotes life-threatening harm typically caused by firearms or edged weapons.^[1] Stun damage affects a character's Stun track, while lethal damage impacts the Hits track, with both tracks initially equal to BODY x 5.^[1] Upon a successful attack, damage is calculated by rolling d6 equal to the weapon's Damage Class (DC), with melee weapons potentially adding Strength in additional dice; this is then reduced by the target's defenses.^[1] The resulting net damage is applied to the appropriate track, reduced by Stun Defense (SD, often CON x 2) for stun or Killing Defense (KD, often BODY x 2 or armor rating) for lethal. Penalties to actions apply at thresholds: -2 to all rolls when below half maximum Hits, and -4 below one-quarter Hits.^[1] Damage effects escalate with severity, with unconsciousness at 0 Stun and dying at 0 Hits.^[1] Certain attack outcomes, such as critical hits via hit location, may multiply damage (e.g., x2 for head shots) or ignore defenses if the attack total significantly exceeds the DV.^[1] Additionally, knockdown effects may occur on a successful attack, determined by attacker STR vs. target BODY or knockback distance (5m per net DC minus resistance), potentially disrupting further actions.^[1] Recovery from damage varies by type and severity. Stun damage recovers at the character's Recovery (REC, derived from STR + CON) rate: REC per phase for 0 to -10 Stun, per round for -11 to -20, and slower for worse, or faster through an Endurance roll against an appropriate DV during combat phases.^[1] Lethal damage requires more time, healing REC Hits per 24 hours under standard rest conditions, though medical aid via a skill roll can reduce this timeline or prevent complications.^[1] Characters reach a dying state at 0 Hits on the track, losing 1 Hit per round until stabilized; death occurs at -2 x BODY, at which point no further recovery is possible without extraordinary intervention.^[1]

Advancement

Experience and Rewards

In the Fuzion role-playing game system, experience is awarded in the form of Option Points (OP), which serve as the primary mechanism for recognizing player achievements and facilitating character development. These points represent not only mechanical progression but also narrative growth, capturing a character's evolving expertise, resilience, and story impact within the campaign.^[1] The Game Master (GM) awards OP at the end of each session or adventure, typically distributing 1-2 OP for base participation, 1-2 OP for clever or inventive role-playing, 1 OP for solving a mystery or major plot point, and 2-3 OP for resounding adventure success. For instance, a player might earn 1-2 OP for using a skill cleverly to negotiate a tense standoff, or 2-3 OP for overcoming a major foe through coordinated teamwork. These awards emphasize holistic participation over mere survival, with the GM adjusting based on the group's dynamics.^[1] Fuzion incorporates modular "dials" to tailor the OP scale to the campaign's tone via the Rule of X, which sets power limits (Everyday: 14; Competent: 16; Heroic: 18; Incredible: 20; Legendary: 22; Superheroic: 24) and guides progression to maintain balance. In heroic or superheroic settings (higher X), players gain OP more quickly, fostering rapid power escalation, while gritty or realistic campaigns (lower X) slow the rate for a more grounded experience. Optional group awards, such as bonus OP for completing a major plot arc, can further incentivize collective milestones.^[1] Players track OP individually on their character sheets, banking unspent points for future allocation, often logging awards alongside session notes for transparency. The "Christmas" variant encourages frequent small awards during play (e.g., 1 OP for in-moment roleplaying) culminating in larger rewards at adventure's end, such as specialized equipment or ability boosts, to maintain momentum without overwhelming bookkeeping. These points can later be spent on enhancements like skill levels or characteristics, underscoring their role in long-term character evolution.^[1]

Character Improvement

In Fuzion, character improvement occurs through the expenditure of Option Points (OP) earned during gameplay, allowing players to enhance their characters' capabilities over time. To increase a skill level from L to L+1, the cost is (L+1) OP, with skills normally ranging from 1-10 for human characters. For example, raising a skill from level 4 to 5 costs 5 OP.^[1] Similarly, increasing a primary characteristic from S to S+1 requires 5 OP, with normal human maximums of 7-8 and higher values possible for superhuman characters with GM approval; for instance, boosting a characteristic from 5 to 6 costs 5 OP.^[1] Acquiring new options post-creation costs as per their creation prices in OP (e.g., 1 OP per skill level, 3 OP per talent), subject to the campaign's Rule of X power level, which limits total character potency through formulas like attacks (Damage + Reflex + Skill ≤ X) and defenses ((Hits/5) + (Defense/5) + Dexterity + Skill ≤ X) to maintain balance. Major improvements like characteristic increases require GM approval to ensure they align with the story and prevent power imbalances. This structure promotes gradual development, with minor advancements such as a +1 skill boost possible every session, while significant changes like a +1 characteristic typically occur less frequently.^[1] Special rules enhance flexibility in advancement. Additionally, Plug-Ins—modular genre supplements—introduce specialized advancement options, such as escalating power levels in superhero campaigns or technological upgrades in cyberpunk settings, tailored to the narrative. These mechanics encourage story-driven growth, with the GM overseeing large expenditures to tie improvements to in-game achievements.^[1] The cost formulas are expressed as: For skills:

\text{Cost to raise from } L \text{ to } L+1 = (L+1) \text{ OP}

For characteristics:

\text{Cost to raise from } S \text{ to } S+1 = 5 \text{ OP}

These increasing costs for skills reflect Fuzion's design philosophy of rewarding consistent play while scaling difficulty for higher levels of proficiency, with flat costs for characteristics to allow steady core improvements.^[1]