While many tasks are accomplished with a single attribute check, some are more complex and require multiple attribute checks. While the GM can simply ask for three or more checks to represent an extended challenge, these rules allow for a little more detail.

Quick task. Each check takes one minute.

Minor task. Each check takes one hour.

Major task. Each check takes one day.

Extensive task. Each check takes one week.

Epic task. Each check takes one month.

Some careers, such as the scientist or alchemist, offer exploits which alter things.

An extended task can take one of the following forms:

Achieve three successes before three failures
Competing checks, with the winner being the first to reach three successes
Achieving a number of successes before a countdown pool expires

Failed checks. A failed check can be retried, but the time is wasted.

Multiple characters. Different characters may attempt to solve different parts of the solution simultaneously. The constituent parts can still be combined by the group to form the complete solution.

TASK MATRICES

Below are some generic science matrices covering sci-fi and fantasy, including engineering, medicine, computing, herbalism, and alchemy. GMs are encouraged to devise their own matrices for various situations. For example, a GM might devise a commonly used matrix for opening electronic doors, doing brain surgery, or repairing a starship engine. The matrices below are d66 matrices, but more specific ones may be smaller (only d6) if necessary. Example results include:

Reroute the auxiliary baryon buffer.
Bypass the infected neural cluster.
Soup of the lotus-fig bean.
Boil zinc in a sapphire bowl.
Recompile the public command function.

Engineering

Engineering results are read in the format alpha the beta gamma delta.

Example: reroute the auxiliary baryon buffer.

Generic engineering science matrix

d66	Alpha	Beta	Gamma	Delta
11	increase	microscopic	quantum	relay
12	decrease	photonic	artificial	inversion
13	focus	linear	pulse	interference
14	amplify	sonic	flux	discriminator
15	reverse	auxiliary	gravimetric	signal
16	agitate	nucleonic	particle	capacitor
21	pacify	transwarp	system	configuration
22	invert	reciprocating	nadion	effect
23	boost	magnatomic	subspace	disturbance
24	nullify	quantum	frequency	field
25	energise	verteron	wavefront	phenomenon
26	intensify	ambient	spatial	array
31	electrify	anomalous	alternating	emission
32	eliminate	modulated	baryon	domain
33	oscillate	inverted	space-time	coupling
34	Modulate	temporal	dampening	stream
35	Monitor	assymetrical	tetryon	variance
36	restrict	atmospheric	neutrino	distortion
41	Connect	magnetic	plasma	controller
42	convert	phased	interface	actuator
43	modify	rapid	data	continuum
44	counteract	ionic	E-M	banks
45	balance	astrophysical	nano	harmonic
46	harmonise	nucleonic	polaron	mutation
51	reset	accelerated	positron	invariance
52	recalibrate	anterior	override	seal
53	reroute	primary	access	container
54	overload	secondary	load	generator
55	fluctuate	tertiary	tachyon	filter
56	concentrate	backup	charge	safeguard
61	extend	master	compression	manifold
62	redirect	emergency	diagnostic	buffer
63	correlate	warp	mass	accelerator
64	synchronise	trifold	nanite	booster
65	pressurise	psitronic	proton	transponder
66	recollimate	thermal	radiation	stabilizer

Medicine

Medical results are read in the format alpha the beta gamma delta.

Example: bypass the infected neural cluster.

Generic medical science matrix

d66	Alpha	Beta	Gamma	Delta
11	irradiate	inverted	neural	cells
12	excise	assymetrical	basilar	pathways
13	decontaminate	malignant	berylite	neurons
14	transplant	persisting	biomimetic	tissue
15	clone	periodic	cardiac	protoplasm
16	balance	infected	reticular	nerve
21	incise	swollen	synaptic	muscle
22	puncture	degenerate	bile	bone
23	fuse	obstructed	cranial	cyst
24	remove	restless	nodular	joint
25	secure	spasming	endocrine	gland
26	reshape	detached	neurological	ganglia
31	strengthen	misaligned	aplastic	membrane
32	replace	infected	autonomic	protein
33	repair	defective	sympathetic	enzyme
34	divert	impaired	idiopathic	genome
35	bypass	scarred	subcutaneous	tumor
36	excite	haemorrhaging	fungal	clot
41	drain	inflamed	frontal	cluster
42	regenerate	failing	temporal	gene
43	resequence	occluded	parietal	receptor
44	massage	carcinomic	occipital	capillary
45	reconstruct	disrupted	pituitary	deposit
46	disrupt	paralyzed	corellium	abscess
51	stimulate	weak	anchilles	hematoma
52	freeze	blocked	aphasic	cartilage
53	magnetize	deviated	leutscher	tissue
54	cauterize	damaged	biotic	cord
55	electrify	eroded	mutagenic	artery
56	modulate	abscessed	genetic	vein
61	pressurize	toxic	peripheral	molecules
62	pulse	foreign	core	valve
63	compress	contracting	radial	anomaly
64	cleanse	dislocated	amniotic	chromosome
65	perforate	deformed	transient	cavity
66	inoculate	mutated	intrinsic	lobe

Herbalism

Herbalism results are read in the format alpha of/from the beta gamma.

Example: soup of the lotus-fig bean.

Generic herbalism matrix

d66	Alpha	Beta	Gamma
11	water	red	mold
12	tea	bitter	leaf
13	soup	milk	plant
14	incense	devil's	wood
15	smoke	lotus	nut
16	poultice	abyssal	fig
21	ointment	black	mushroom
22	powder	elder	bark
23	pill	pepper	grass
24	ungeunt	dragon's	fruit
25	pellet	barnacle	acorn
26	elixir	wild	bloom
31	essence	blue	tree
32	cake	blessed	berry
33	injection	passion	orchid
34	stew	drake's	bean
35	raw	spirit	petal
36	boiled	witch	pod
41	fragrance	gold	shrub
42	dried	morning	root
43	syrup	thunder	bud
44	snuff	king's	vine
45	brewed	assassin	stem
46	fermented	whistling	foil
51	bath	green	week
52	oil	evening	seed
53	dissolved	frost	rose
54	tincture	queen's	bush
55	compress	gilly	pollen
56	maceration	tangle	sap
61	decoction	violet	herb
62	liniment	horse	flower
63	bolus	pipe	stalk
64	salve	death's	spud
65	paste	flutter	bulb
66	gum	stink	thorn

Alchemy

Alchemy results are read in the format alpha beta in a gamma delta.

Example: boil zinc in a sapphire bowl.

Generic alchemy matrix

d66	Alpha	Beta	Gamma	Delta
11	calcinate	copper	copper	bowl
12	dissolve	gold	gold	flask
13	separate	iron	iron	kiln
14	coinjoin	lead	lead	amphora
15	ferment	mercury	mercury	bottle
16	distil	silver	silver	carafe
21	coagulate	platinum	platinum	cup
22	boil	nickel	nickel	decanter
23	sublimate	zinc	zinc	ewer
24	heat	amber	amber	flagon
25	freeze	firestone	firestone	flute
26	purify	jade	jade	goblet
31	dilute	adamantium	adamantium	jar
32	evaporate	bloodstone	bloodstone	keg
33	cook	ruby	ruby	mug
34	circulate	sapphire	sapphire	pitcher
35	burn	diamond	diamond	snifter
36	filtrate	topaz	topaz	beaker
41	smelt	ivory	ivory	tube
42	refine	coral	coral	funnel
43	centrifuge	obsidian	obsidian	dish
44	crystallize	coal	coal	cylinder
45	fractionate	chalk	chalk	retort
46	cool	salt	salt	kettle
51	bake	limestone	limestone	oven
52	agitate	pearl	pearl	crucible
53	crush	mithral	mithral	cauldron
54	grind	crystal	crystal	jug
55	cohobate	ironwood	ironwood	pot
56	brew	lavarock	lavarock	vial
61	dessicate	electrum	electrum	canteen
62	separate	moonsteel	moonsteel	cistern
63	agitate	marble	marble	firkin
64	simmer	sulpher	sulpher	drum
65	warm	fool's gold	fool's gold	vat
66	chill	arsenic	arsenic	cask

Computers

Computing results are read in the format alpha the beta gamma delta. These include hacking attempts.

Example: recompile the auxiliary data kernel.

Generic computing matrix

d66	Alpha	Beta	Gamma	Delta
11	overload	core	binary	subroutine
12	clone	auxiliary	root	kernel
13	recompile	polymorphic	routing	firewall
14	spoof	backend	injection	program
15	loop	direct	control [alarm]	protocol
16	reboot	closed	data	script
21	reconfigure	sub	boolean	array
22	unlink	modular	heap	compiler
23	redesign	nested	source	enumerator
24	extend	closed	bridge	function
25	remove	dynamic	pattern	interpreter
26	reference	persistent	exception	code
31	initialize	pseudo	memory	parameter
32	iterate	public	state	procedure
33	activate	secure	integer	table
34	interface	recursive	logic	database
35	reassign	generic	stack	extension
36	call	static	assembly	algorithm
41	concatenate	super	pool	argument
42	mask	virtual	access	assembler
43	patch	abstract	batch	exception
44	rename	run-time	biometric	language
45	invoke	cyclomatic	analog	processor
46	override	conditional	broadband	counter
51	reference	contravariant	command	environment
52	constrain	declarative	configuration	index
53	evaluate	directed	EKT	block
54	flush	dummy	floating	expression
55	append	parallel	AJS	file
56	access	global	heuristic	matrix
61	bounce	intrinsic	operations	manager
62	fragment	invariant	integrated	client
63	delete	local	KVS	point
64	format	monomorphic	latency	archive
65	flash	negative	NTP	sector
66	install	inherited	output	cache