Shadow World Worksheet

The following is quoted from an expanded worksheet I once made for an Amber campaign. These changes are likely to result in somewhat more expensive shadow-worlds, but they also solve several potentially abusable loop-holes in the Amber rule structure.

(It also corrects a plot hole the existing rules forced into the setting: If every Amberite has the ability to create a personal inescapable hell dimension that becomes part of the destiny of any other Amberite they choose, why isn't it done repeatedly in the first 5 novels? To address this, I trimmed the Shadow Barriers abilities pretty far back.)

Shadow Type:
___ 1 point: Personal Shadow: This world is in some random part of the Universe. By default it has no resistance to any Power.
___ 2 points: Shadow Near Amber: This world is naturally resistant to change and Entropy. Control over it is slow and gradual.
___ 2 points: Shadow Near Chaos: This world is subject to mutation and change. Control is near-instant, but incomplete and unpredictable.
___ 4 points: Primal Plane (Near Amber): This world is unalterable and uncontrollable.
___ 4 points: Primal Plane (Elsewhere): This world is enduring, it repairs damage and change, always returning to it’s original form.

Shadow World’s Defenses & Interaction with Powers.
___ 0 points: Typical: The Shadow’s resistance or weakness to manipulation by Powers is based upon what type of Shadow you’ve chosen.
___ 1 point: Malleable to certain Powers: Pick one ore more Powers. Those Powers are more potent and versatile here than in most similar Shadows. This detracts from any natural resistance implied by the Type of Shadow World you’ve chosen.
___ 2 points: Resistant to certain Powers: Pick one or more Powers. Those Powers functions more slowly here than you would otherwise expect. This combines with any natural resistance implied by the Type of Shadow World you’ve chosen. For example, a Shadow near Amber that is Resistant to Entropy could well be completely protected and immune to Entropic effects.
___ 2 points: Guarded: Fierce guardians defend this world from all intrusions.


My Level of Control Over This World:
___ 0 point: Control of the Grand Scheme: I can’t alter elements of the room I’m in or the immediate scene, but I can control what happens to the society, structure, and evolution of the world over the long term.
___ 1 point: Control of Shadow Folk & Things: I can quickly find what I’m looking for in this world, and can improvise details as I go, I also have great control over the personality and actions of most shadow people here.
___ 2 points: Control of Reality & Contents: I can restructure what’s in this world to suit my whims. In addition to the powers listed for “Control of Shadow Folk & Things”, I can erase or create people and things, edit the perception of history and even alter the physical laws that govern science in this world.
___ 1 points: Set Time-Flow: At the time of creation, I can choose how fast time passes in this world relative to Amber. For every hour that passes in Amber, _____________ passes in my world.
___ 4 points: Control of Time-Flow: I can speed up or slow down the flow of time in this world as I see fit. Changes are gradual, and subject to the constraints of the game, as above - we're not going to pause all the other PCs for 5 sessions while you dink around in your private world.
___ 2 points: Control of Destiny: I may make this world become a part of someone’s else’s destiny, so that they will eventually arrive here despite their best intentions to stay far away.

Shadow World’s Connections to other Worlds
___ 0 points: Typical: This Shadow has no naturally occuring methods of reaching other worlds.
___ 1 point: Shadow Paths: One or more Paths exist to any other worlds you are familiar with. Paths can be followed by anyone with Pattern, Entropy, or the Artifact & Creature Quality “Follow Path”.
___ 2 points: Shadow Gates: One or more gates exist in this world, opening directly into other worlds that you also own. Gates can be open to anyone, or they can be operated by magic or machinery that requires some familiarity to use.