What is Cairn?
Cairn is a compact fantasy adventure game where equipment and the situation help define what a character can attempt. The first-edition rules do not need a large character sheet of combat bonuses to make encounters dangerous. This helper therefore separates saves from damage and avoids automatically imposing the attack-roll sequence of a different fantasy RPG.
How to use the presets
The save preset supplies one d20 for comparison with the relevant ability under the save rule. Damage has separate die-size presets. In the basic first-edition combat procedure, attacks go to damage rather than requiring a generic attack roll first. Use the actual armor and critical-damage rules afterward; the dice tray neither tracks abilities nor decides the severity of an injury.
Choose a weapon's damage die directly when resolving a basic attack. Reserve the d20 preset for the appropriate save.
Practical table tips
- Do not add a d20 attack check just because the interface has one. Choose the operation required by Cairn.
- Keep armor and ability loss on the character sheet. The displayed damage number is only one stage of resolution.
- Ask what the character does in the environment before requesting a save. A concrete plan can change the problem without changing a die.
Cairn dice FAQ
Is this for first or second edition?
The text and presets are labeled for the first-edition SRD. Other versions need their own checks for differences.
Do ordinary attacks require a d20 roll?
Not in the basic first-edition procedure described here; use the relevant damage roll.
Does it track critical damage?
No. Apply armor, ability loss and any required save from the actual rules.
Armor, abilities, critical damage, inventory and recovery are not automated. The linked SRD is the rules reference.
Independent, unofficial dice aid. Game names identify the intended use; their publishers do not endorse this page. These original explanations are not a replacement for the rules.