The Nowhere Land System Reference Document (SRD) provides the core rules and open content for creating your own games, settings, and supplements using the Nowhere Land system.
🎮 INSPIRED BY THE NOWHERE LAND
Like Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) and Forged in the Dark (FitD), Nowhere Land encourages third-party creators to build upon its foundation. Games created using this SRD may use the designation:
"Inspired by the Nowhere Land"
or
"A Nowhere Land Game"
See licensing terms below for usage requirements.
🏷️ OFFICIAL BADGES
Download and use these official badges for your Nowhere Land-compatible creations:
📜 CORE SYSTEM
The D6 Pool System
Nowhere Land uses a simple d6 pool system:
- • Dice Pool: Attribute + Skill (typically 2-6 dice)
- • Success: Highest single die ≥ Target Number (TN)
- • Default TN: 4 (Easy), 6 (Standard), 8 (Hard), 10+ (Heroic)
- • Advantage: Roll extra dice, keep highest
- • Disadvantage: Roll extra dice, keep lowest
- • Exploding 6s: On a natural 6, roll again and add
Attributes
Characters have four core attributes rated 1-4:
| Attribute | Governs |
|---|---|
| BODY | Physical strength, endurance, health, combat prowess |
| MIND | Intelligence, perception, knowledge, puzzle-solving |
| SOUL | Willpower, charisma, mystical connection, social influence |
| FLUX | Adaptability, luck, supernatural sensitivity, domain attunement |
Skills
Skills are rated 0-3 and represent training and expertise:
⚔️ COMBAT
Combat Basics
- • Initiative: FLUX + Awareness, or Popcorn initiative
- • Attack: Attribute + Combat vs. TN (usually 6)
- • Defense: Dodge (avoid) or Parry (block)
- • Damage: Weapon damage - Armor = Wounds taken
- • Wounds: Characters have ~6-10 Wounds before incapacitation
- • Conditions: Bleeding, Stunned, Frightened, Prone, etc.
Combat Maneuvers
Standard actions available in combat:
- • Attack: Make a standard attack roll
- • Defend: +2 to defense until next turn
- • Grapple: Contest to restrain opponent
- • Shove/Trip: Force opponent prone or back
- • Aim: +1 to next attack
- • Help: Grant ally advantage
- • Disengage: Move without provoking opportunity attack
🌀 THE DOMAIN SYSTEM
Domains (Open Content)
Domains are pocket realities with their own rules, connected by Portals:
- • Each domain has: A Genius (ruling spirit), Laws (physics), and Attunement effects
- • Blessings: Benefits gained by aligning with a domain (+1 to +5)
- • Curses: Penalties from opposing a domain (-1 to -5)
- • Portals: Connections between domains (may require keys, trials, or payment)
- • The Ledger: Cosmic debt tracker; debts owed to the setting's antagonist
Creating Domains
When designing a domain, define:
- 1. Concept: The core theme or metaphor
- 2. Laws: 2-3 physical or metaphysical rules that differ from normal
- 3. Genius: The ruling spirit and their personality
- 4. Blessings: 3-5 benefits for attuned characters
- 5. Curses: 3-5 penalties for opposed characters
- 6. Inhabitants: Creatures and NPCs native to the domain
- 7. Portals: How to enter and exit
📖 CAREERS & ADVANCEMENT
Career System
Characters have Careers that define their abilities and progression:
- • Starting Career: Provides 3-4 abilities and skill bonuses
- • Advancement: Gain XP through play, unlock new abilities
- • Multiclassing: Can take abilities from other careers at higher costs
- • Career Abilities: Unique powers tied to character concept
Experience & Growth
- • Session XP: 1-3 XP per session based on goals achieved
- • Milestone XP: Major achievements grant bonus XP
- • Skill Advancement: 5 XP to raise a skill by 1
- • Ability Purchase: 10-20 XP depending on power
- • Attribute Increase: 20 XP (rare)
🎭 SOCIAL EXCHANGE
Social Mechanics
- • Disposition: NPCs have attitudes (-2 Hostile to +2 Friendly)
- • Persuasion: Change disposition or obtain favors
- • Deception: Mislead or conceal truth
- • Intimidation: Coerce through fear
- • Social Wounds: Pride, reputation, and trust can be damaged
⚙️ OPTIONAL SYSTEMS
Optional Mechanics
- • Solo Play: Oracle tables for GM-less play
- • Bastion Management: Player-owned locations and resources
- • Faction Reputation: Standing with political groups
- • Crafting: Creating items and equipment
- • Downtime: Activities between adventures
📋 OPEN CONTENT
✅ OPEN CONTENT (Free to Use)
- • The d6 pool resolution system
- • The four-attribute structure (Body, Mind, Soul, Flux)
- • The skill list and skill mechanics
- • Combat rules and maneuvers
- • The Domain/Blessing/Curse framework
- • The Career advancement system
- • Social exchange mechanics
- • Solo play oracle system
- • Generic creature stat block format
- • Random table formats
❌ CLOSED CONTENT (Require Permission)
- • The Count character and lore
- • The Count's Ledger debt/credit system (specific mechanics)
- • The Reach system (targeting mechanics)
- • The Reverie essence (creative/imaginative power)
- • The Drift system (transformation and domain influence)
- • Named domains (Clockwork Citadel, Drowned Quarter, etc.)
- • Named NPCs and their stories
- • The Passage and portal hub lore
- • Specific scenarios and adventures
- • Artwork and visual assets
- • The "Nowhere Land" name (for title)
📝 LICENSE TERMS
Creative Commons Attribution
The Nowhere Land SRD is released under CC BY 4.0 with the following terms:
- • Attribution: Credit "Nowhere Land by Joachim Mouffron"
- • Link: Include a link to nowhere-land.com
- • Logo: May use "Inspired by the Nowhere Land" designation
- • Commercial: Commercial use is allowed
Revenue Sharing (Optional)
For commercial products earning over $1,000 USD:
- • Royalty: 5% of net revenue above $1,000
- • Reporting: Annual self-reporting
- • Waiver: Available for small creators and non-profits
- • Contact: licensing@nowhere-land.com for agreements
🎲 QUICK REFERENCE
Target Numbers
| TN 4 | Trivial |
| TN 6 | Standard |
| TN 8 | Challenging |
| TN 10 | Hard |
| TN 12+ | Heroic/Legendary |
Damage Scale
| 1 Wound | Minor (unarmed, small weapons) |
| 2 Wounds | Standard (swords, axes) |
| 3 Wounds | Heavy (great weapons, firearms) |
| 4+ Wounds | Devastating (explosions, boss attacks) |
📚 SRD QUICK START
For Game Designers
To create a game "Inspired by the Nowhere Land":
- 1. Use the d6 pool system and attribute/skill framework
- 2. Create your own domains, NPCs, and lore
- 3. Add the "Inspired by the Nowhere Land" designation
- 4. Credit Nowhere Land and link to the website
- 5. If earning over $1,000, arrange royalty agreement
"Every world begins with a door. This SRD is your key. Step through, and make something strange and wonderful."
— Invitation to Creators
Version 1.0 | Last Updated: February 6, 2026
© 2026 Joachim Mouffron. Nowhere Land and all associated marks are trademarks.