DUNGEONDEE's “ITBFI TOKEN” SYSTEM

Thanks for checking out my nifty little inspiration variant designed to encourage roleplaying.
ITBFI is the best acronym I could think of. It stands for Inspired, Trait, Bond, Flaw & Ideal.
This is a work-in-progress with feedback from the community of r/DnDBehindTheScreen.

- DungeonDee

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THE BASICS:

Inspiration is awarded in the form of TOKENS, which players can have a maximum of 5 at once.
Tokens are categorised into Inspired, Trait, Bond, Flaw & Ideal.
Everyone starts every session with 1 FREE INSPIRED TOKEN and must earn the others.
Unused tokens DO NOT carry over to the next session.
You can only ever have 1 OF EACH CATEGORY AT A TIME.

3D Printable Tokens available on Thingiverse: DungeonDee's Inspiration Variant - Thingiverse

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EARNING TOKENS:

Traits, Bonds, Flaws & Ideals Tokens can only be earned once per session.

To earn a Token you must effectively use your Traits, Bonds, Flaws & Ideals on your character sheet, in combat actions or role play actions in a way that promotes character or story development in spite of the drawbacks to the player.

You must announce the link to your Traits, Bonds, Flaws & Ideals after the action has resolved. At this point the GM will decide if you have earned a token.

Unlike other tokens, Inspired Tokens can be earned multiple times per session based on the same Traits, Bonds, Flaws & Ideals or other factors such as Awesome or Funny Moments but a Player can only have 1 Inspired Token at a time.

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SHARING TOKENS:

Only an Inspired Token can be given to a fellow player if they do not already have one.

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SPENDING TOKENS:

A token of any type is worth a second d20 when you make an attack or ability check roll. Use the higher of the two rolls. Multiple tokens can be spent at once, rolling as many d20s as tokens spent and choosing the highest roll.

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CHARACTER GROWTH:

If a player wishes to request a change or addition to their PCs Traits, Bonds, Flaws & Ideals to better suit the direction the character development is heading, it is encouraged. Doing so can be done at the beginning or end of a session.

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EXAMPLES:

Below are some examples of ways some interesting Traits, Bonds, Flaws & Ideals could be used in order to gain Inspiration Tokens. I feel like adding a bit of Role Play into combat makes a big difference to my games so want to encourage more.

Flaw - Distrusting of others or paranoia.

Role Play Action - The Player Character keeps a detailed account of their party's weaknesses.

Combat Action - The Player Character refuses an ally’s potion, worried about intent.

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Bond - Protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Role Play Action - The Player Character takes the blame for a stolen apple by a hungry child.

Combat Action - The Player Character gives a defenceless villager their only weapon.

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Trait - I blow up at the slightest insult.

Role Play Action - The Player Character attacks someone over a misunderstanding.

Combat Action - The Player Character focuses attacks on an NPC that's insulting them (Bard).

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Ideal - Redemption. There's a spark of good in everyone. (Good)

Role Play Action - The Player Character trusts someone unlikely.

Combat Action - The Player Character uses an action to attempt to persuade the enemy.