The Overcome action in Fate Accelerated is one of the most versatile tools in the game, used whenever your character needs to push past an obstacle, resolve a challenge, or remove unwanted complications. It’s not about inflicting harm or reacting to immediate threats—that’s what Attack and Defend are for—but rather about problem-solving and proactive engagement with the story.
Here are some of the key ways the Overcome action is used:
Contests and Challenges: In situations where two or more characters are in a competition, like a race or a debate, the Overcome action is essential. Each participant rolls to achieve their goal, and success means gaining an advantage or progressing toward victory. This makes Overcome a go-to action in Contest-type encounters.
Removing Unwanted Aspects: If an aspect is creating problems—whether it’s a personal condition, like
“Pinned Down by Debris,” or a scene aspect, like
“Slick Floor”—the Overcome action allows you to eliminate it. Success removes the aspect or negates its influence, giving your character or allies a clearer path forward.
Helping Allies: Sometimes, your Overcome roll isn’t about your own success but about clearing an obstacle for an ally. For example, you might remove an aspect like “Blinded by Smoke” from a teammate by guiding them to clearer air or “Frozen with Fear” by offering encouragement.
Creative Problem-Solving: The Overcome action is perfect for tackling narrative challenges. Need to bypass a locked door, disable a trap, or rally a crowd to your cause? Overcome gives you the chance to shine by creatively engaging with the story and using your approaches to solve the problem.
When you use the Overcome action, the outcome depends on the roll:
A success resolves the problem entirely.
A success with style not only clears the challenge but gives you a boost for future actions.
A failure means the obstacle remains, or worse, things get more complicated.
What sets Overcome apart is its focus on removing obstacles and complications, whether those are physical, social, or narrative. From clearing dangerous aspects to navigating contested encounters, Overcome empowers Players to think creatively and collaboratively, turning challenges into opportunities for memorable moments in the story.