In Nowhere Land, environments are characters. Domains breathe, react, and challenge players. This chapter teaches Tricksters how to design living, dangerous, memorable spaces.
Environment Design Overview
Drawing from Daggerheart's framework, environments have Passive, Action, Reaction, and Impulse features. These create dynamic spaces that respond to player actions.
Environmental Framework
- Passive: Always-on effects (darkness, heat, terrain). No roll required.
- Action: Hazards that activate on triggers (traps, collapsing floors). Players can notice/avoid.
- Reaction: Environment responds to player actions (echoes alert guards, flames spread).
- Impulse: Environment "wants" something. Domains guide or hinder based on Disposition.
Living Environments
Make domains feel alive by giving them personality, motivation, and agency.
Passive Features
Environmental constants that shape every action:
- Darkness: -2 dice to Perception, ranged attacks
- Dim Light: -1 die to Perception
- Difficult Terrain: Movement ×0.5, -1 die Athletics
- Extreme Temperatures: Forma checks every 4 hours
- Thin Air: -1 die to all physical checks
Action Features
Triggered hazards players can interact with:
- Pressure Plate Trap: Perception TN 12 to spot, Larceny TN 12 to disarm
- Crumbling Bridge: Athletics TN 12 to cross safely
- Poison Gas Vent: Forma TN 12 or 2 Wounds
- Swinging Blade: Perception TN 8 to notice, Forma TN 12 to dodge
Reaction Features
Environment responds dynamically:
- Echoes: Loud noise alerts enemies 100 ft away
- Spreading Fire: Each round, fire grows 5 ft. Smoke fills area.
- Collapsing Structure: Damage to supports causes ceiling fall (3d6 Wounds)
- Domain Attention: High Willpower domains "notice" violence, magic use
Impulse Features
What does the environment want?
- Hostile Domain: Paths twist, hazards multiply, -1 die navigation
- Friendly Domain: Shortcuts appear, hazards warn, +1 die navigation
- Curious Domain: Tests players (presents challenges but allows success)
- Dying Domain: Unstable, collapsing, reality tears (Anima checks)
Difficulty Tiers
Use these tiers to calibrate challenge difficulty. Based on party level and desired tension.
Difficulty Tiers
| Tier | TN | Damage | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 8 | 1 Wound | Tutorial, setpiece, resource drain |
| Tricky | 10 | 1-2 Wounds | Standard challenge, some risk |
| Challenging | 12 | 2-3 Wounds | Moderate danger, requires skill |
| Risky | 16 | 3-4 Wounds | High stakes, serious threat |
| Deadly | 20 | 5+ Wounds | Boss encounter, campaign climax |
Hazard Design
Creating memorable hazards that feel integrated into domain identity.
Hazard Template
1. Trigger: What activates it? (stepping, loud noise, time)
2. Detection: Can players notice? (Perception TN X)
3. Avoidance: How to bypass? (skill check, alternate route)
4. Effect: What happens on failure? (damage, condition, complication)
5. Disarm/Solve: Can it be neutralized? (Larceny, clever solution)
Example: Thornvine Trap
Trigger: Entering 10 ft radius of carnivorous plant
Detection: Perception TN 12 (see vines twitching)
Avoidance: Stealth TN 12 to sneak past, or Athletics TN 12 to leap over
Effect: Contested Athletics vs Willpower × 4. Failure: grappled, 2 Wounds per round
Disarm: Fire destroys plant (3 Wounds of fire damage)
Example: Reality Tear
Trigger: Entering tear zone (unstable domain boundary)
Detection: Arcane Resonance TN 8 (see shimmer)
Avoidance: Domain Weaving TN 16 to seal tear temporarily
Effect: Anima TN 16 or gain 1 Fracture + teleported 1d6 × 10 ft (random direction)
Disarm: Requires Null Shard exaltation or Thread Severance Potential
Environmental Adversaries
Sometimes the environment is the enemy. Give it stats and treat it as an NPC.
Environmental Adversary Template
Willpower: 1-5 (determines TN for resisting effects)
Passive Effect: Always-on penalty/threat
Active Effect: "Attacks" each round (1-3 Wounds)
Weakness: How to neutralize or escape
Example: The Scorching Veil
Willpower: 4 | Type: Environmental Adversary
A supernatural heat wave haunting the Ashen Wastes. It follows prey, draining life.
Passive: All in 50 ft radius: -1 die to physical checks, water consumption ×3
Active (each round): All in radius test Forma TN 16 or take 2 Wounds (heatstroke)
Movement: Follows fastest PC (30 ft per round). Cannot enter water or shade.
Defeat: Lead it to oasis (water), use ice Potential, or survive until nightfall (1d6 hours)
Domain Atmosphere
Creating memorable domains through sensory details and consistent theming.
The Five Senses
Describe domains using all senses:
- Sight: Colors, lighting, movement (emerald foliage, crimson sky)
- Sound: Ambient noise, silence, echoes (whispers, dripping water)
- Smell: Scents define places (sulfur, flowers, decay)
- Touch: Temperature, texture, air (humid, cold, oppressive)
- Taste: Air quality (metallic, sweet, ash)
See Also
- Exploration - Environmental hazards in play
- Domains & Portals - Domain Willpower and personality
- Gamemaster Guide - Putting environment design into practice
- Bestiary - Creatures as extensions of environment