Latest revision as of 15:54, 1 May 2026

Beyond: Flexible Science-Fiction Roleplaying

Beyond is a science-fiction roleplaying game about capable characters moving between worlds of a vast universe, pursuing their own goals, and shaping the situations they encounter. It presents a universe connected by travel, trade, exploration, and conflict, where each world offers new opportunities and complications.

The game is built for clarity and momentum at the table, with a focus on meaningful decisions, distinct characters, and flexible play across a wide range of science-fiction settings.

Characters

Characters in Beyond are defined by their Attributes and Careers, Edges and Drawbacks.

Attributes describe fundamental capabilities: physical ability, agility, intellect, and presence. Careers represent a character’s background and experience, covering broad areas of knowledge and competence.

A character’s combination of Careers suggests both what they can do and how they approach situations. A Soldier, a Mercenary, and a Marine may all be capable in combat, but their training and experience lead them to act in different ways.

Edges and Drawbacks add further distinction, providing advantages, complications, and personal detail.

Resolution

All uncertain actions are resolved with a single roll:

2d6 + Attribute + Career

The result is compared to a Target Number:

9+ Routine
12+ Difficult
15+ Extreme

This unified approach allows a wide range of situations to be handled consistently and quickly.

The Setting

Beyond supports a wide range of science-fiction settings. Worlds are described using simple Codes and Tags that establish their essential character at a glance while leaving room for interpretation and expansion.

Interstellar travel connects these worlds into a playable network. The exact nature of faster-than-light travel may vary, but it always serves to link locations into a structure that supports movement, exploration, and interaction.

Each world is a place with its own conditions, culture, and tensions, ready to be explored and developed in play.

Starships

Starships are a central element of many campaigns. They define how characters move through the setting and what opportunities are available to them.

Ships are described by their capabilities and roles, providing a clear understanding of what they can do and how they function in play.

A ship is both a means of travel and a base of operations, shaping the scope and direction of the campaign.

Equipment and Wealth

Equipment reflects a character’s background and current circumstances. Characters typically have access to the tools and gear appropriate to their experience.

Wealth represents access to resources, credit, and influence. It provides a simple way to determine whether a character can obtain something significant when the situation calls for it.

Play

A typical Beyond game follows a group of characters as they move between worlds, take on jobs, and engage with the people and factions they encounter.

Play may focus on exploration, trade, investigation, conflict, diplomacy, or any combination of these. The structure of a campaign grows from the crew’s activities and the situations that arise around them.

Using the Codex

This Codex provides the rules and tools needed to play Beyond.

Players should begin with Character Creation and Careers. Additional sections cover Edges, [[Beyond:Drawbacks|Drawbacks], [[Beyond:Worlds|worlds], [[Beyond:Spacecraft|spacecraft], and other elements of play.

Beyond Codex Home • Player Guide • Character Creation • Careers • Edges • Drawbacks • Morphotypes • Arms & Equipment • Tactical Combat • Worlds • Spacecraft

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 <div class="codex-page codex-page--beyond">
-= Beyond Codex =
+= Beyond: Flexible Science-Fiction Roleplaying =
-''Flexible Science-Fiction Roleplaying''
-''Build the map. Define the drive. Discover what waits beyond the next node.''
+[[File:BeyondSpaceport.png]]
-== What Is Beyond? ==
+''Beyond'' is a science-fiction roleplaying game about capable characters moving between worlds of a vast universe, pursuing their own goals, and shaping the situations they encounter. It presents a universe connected by travel, trade, exploration, and conflict, where each world offers new opportunities and complications.
-''Beyond'' is a science-fiction roleplaying game built for speed, clarity, and play at the table.
+The game is built for clarity and momentum at the table, with a focus on meaningful decisions, distinct characters, and flexible play across a wide range of science-fiction settings.
-It is a game of crews moving between worlds, taking jobs, making decisions, and dealing with the consequences.
+== Characters ==
-You are not managing a spreadsheet.
+Characters in ''Beyond'' are defined by their Attributes and Careers, Edges and Drawbacks.
-You are not tracking every item or expense.
-You are playing capable people in a dangerous, connected universe.
+Attributes describe fundamental capabilities: physical ability, agility, intellect, and presence. Careers represent a character’s background and experience, covering broad areas of knowledge and competence.
-== The Core Idea ==
+A character’s combination of Careers suggests both what they can do and how they approach situations. A Soldier, a Mercenary, and a Marine may all be capable in combat, but their training and experience lead them to act in different ways.
-Everything in ''Beyond'' is built around a few simple principles.
+Edges and Drawbacks add further distinction, providing advantages, complications, and personal detail.
-* Use one core roll to resolve uncertain actions
+== Resolution ==
-* Define characters by what they have done, not by skill lists
-* Assume competence unless it matters
-* Replace accounting with judgment
-* Describe worlds in words, not numbers
-* Keep the focus on decisions and consequences
-If a rule does not create a decision, it does not belong.
+All uncertain actions are resolved with a single roll:
-== The Characters ==
-Player characters are not ordinary citizens.
-They are the ones who move.
-They travel between worlds, take risks, and operate where systems break down or overlap.
-They may be:
-* Free traders carrying cargo and secrets
-* Scouts exploring unknown routes
-* Agents investigating problems others avoid
-* Mercenaries selling their skills
-* Scientists chasing discovery
-* Smugglers, diplomats, journalists, or something harder to define
-Your Careers describe where you have been. Your actions define who you are.
-== The Universe ==
-The galaxy is not a map of distances. It is a network of connections.
-Worlds are linked by routes. Some are close. Others are difficult or dangerous to reach.
-No single authority controls everything.
-Some worlds are tightly governed. Others are chaotic. Most exist somewhere in between.
-Technology varies. Cultures differ. Assumptions break down quickly.
-> If you stay in one place, you miss the game.
-== How Play Works ==
-When something matters, roll:
 '''2d6 + Attribute + Career'''
-Target Numbers:
+The result is compared to a Target Number:
 * '''9+''' Routine
@@ Line 77: / Line 33: @@
 * '''15+''' Extreme
-If success is obvious, do not roll.
+This unified approach allows a wide range of situations to be handled consistently and quickly.
-If failure is meaningless, do not roll.
-Roll only when the outcome matters.
-== Equipment And Wealth ==
-Characters are assumed to have what they reasonably need.
-If a Technician needs tools, they have them.
-If a Soldier needs field gear, they have it.
-Only unusual, rare, or expensive items require rolls.
-Wealth replaces detailed money tracking. It reflects access, resources, and influence rather than exact currency.
-== Worlds ==
-Worlds are described using simple Codes and Tags.
+== The Setting ==
-Codes give the broad shape of a world. Tags define what makes it interesting.
+''Beyond'' supports a wide range of science-fiction settings. Worlds are described using simple Codes and Tags that establish their essential character at a glance while leaving room for interpretation and expansion.
-A world should be understandable at a glance.
+Interstellar travel connects these worlds into a playable network. The exact nature of faster-than-light travel may vary, but it always serves to link locations into a structure that supports movement, exploration, and interaction.
-If you cannot describe a world in one sentence, refine it until you can.
+Each world is a place with its own conditions, culture, and tensions, ready to be explored and developed in play.
 == Starships ==
-Starships are defined by what they can do, not by weight, cost, or components.
+Starships are a central element of many campaigns. They define how characters move through the setting and what opportunities are available to them.
-They are tools for action, not objects to manage.
-A ship should be playable at a glance.
-== What Drives Play ==
-Play emerges from:
-* The crew’s purpose
-* Jobs and opportunities
-* Factions and conflicts
-* The characters’ own goals
-Characters do not act because the system tells them to.
-They act because something matters.
-== Getting Started ==
-To begin play:
-# Create characters using [[Beyond:Character Creation|Character Creation]]
+Ships are described by their capabilities and roles, providing a clear understanding of what they can do and how they function in play.
-# Review [[Beyond:Careers|Careers]]
-# Define a campaign frame
-# Create or choose a few [[Beyond:Worlds|Worlds]]
-# Introduce factions or tensions
-# Take a job
-That is enough to start a campaign.
+A ship is both a means of travel and a base of operations, shaping the scope and direction of the campaign.
-== The Golden Rules ==
+== Equipment and Wealth ==
-Assume competence.
+Equipment reflects a character’s background and current circumstances. Characters typically have access to the tools and gear appropriate to their experience.
-Roll only when it matters.
+Wealth represents access to resources, credit, and influence. It provides a simple way to determine whether a character can obtain something significant when the situation calls for it.
-Keep the game moving.
+== Play ==
-Make decisions, not calculations.
+A typical ''Beyond'' game follows a group of characters as they move between worlds, take on jobs, and engage with the people and factions they encounter.
-== A Final Note ==
+Play may focus on exploration, trade, investigation, conflict, diplomacy, or any combination of these. The structure of a campaign grows from the crew’s activities and the situations that arise around them.
-''Beyond'' is not about simulating a universe.
+== Using the Codex ==
-It is about creating one at the table.
+This Codex provides the rules and tools needed to play ''Beyond''.
-If something gets in the way of play, ignore it.
+Players should begin with [[Beyond:Character Creation|Character Creation]] and [[Beyond:Careers|Careers]].
+Additional sections cover [[Beyond:Edges|Edges]], [[Beyond:Drawbacks|Drawbacks], [[Beyond:Worlds|worlds], [[Beyond:Spacecraft|spacecraft], and other elements of play.
 {{BeyondNav}}
@@ Line 160: / Line 75: @@
 [[Category:Beyond]]
+[[Category:Settings]]