Getting Started

The Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) system for Foundry VTT is a generic system that is built as a framework to allow you to build out character sheets for most systems that would be considered PbtA, assuming they include playbooks, character advancement, and a 2d6 (or similar, such as 2d10 or d6+d8) core mechanic that revolves around ranges of success.

This guide will help you configure the system so that you can run campaigns in your preferred setup. Generally, you should only have to complete the steps in this guide once when creating a new world.

How to Install the System

The PbtA system is currently in development and is not yet available through the official package listing for Foundry. However, it has been used to run many games and is reasonably well tested, and I consider it stable enough to use for an actual campaign.

To install the public beta version, use this manifest URL with Foundry's system installer: https://gitlab.com/asacolips-projects/foundry-mods/pbta/-/jobs/artifacts/beta/raw/system.json?job=build-beta

Development is currently in a temporary hiatus, but I'm expecting it to resume by the end of 2021 and will focus the next major release on supporting configuring sheets through the UI, rather than using the TOML syntax described later in this guide.

How to Use This Guide

This guide is broken into the following major sections:

1. Configuring Your System - Describes the basic structure of the sheet configuration and how to write the TOML syntax (similar to .ini files) used to configure it.

2. Configuring Dice Rolls and Results - How to configure your dice roll formula, modifiers to the rolls based on stat toggles (e.g. "Highlight" or "Debility"), and how to create result ranges such as 6-, 7-9, and 10+.

3. Configuring Character Sheets - How to configure the 5 groups used by character sheets: stats, top attributes, left attributes, move types, and equipment types.

4. Configuring NPC Sheets - How to configure the 3 groups used by NPC sheets: top attributes, left attributes, and move types.

5. Making Changes to Existing Worlds - Gotchas to be aware of when changing the sheet configuration for worlds that already have characters created.

6. Configuration Reference - Reference pages that describe all of the sheet configuration options in a reference format rather than guided tutorial.

7. Error Reference - Reference page that describes common errors in the sheet configuration dialog and ways to resolve them.

8. Pbta Sheet Presets - A collection of character and NPC sheet presets for popular PbtA RPGs. Message me at asacolips#1867 on Discord to submit new presets!