Roll Under

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A roll under mechanic is almost a mirror to the roll over mechanic. It is most commonly used with an ability of the character in which case they must roll lower than their ability to pass.

Note that this doesn't always mean "the lower the roll, the better": Some games can rely on rolling as high as possible as long as it's under the limit (like in The Price is Right); this makes one's ability score an "upper bound" of how well they can succeed.

Games that use a Roll under mechanic

  • BESM (well, first two editions did), other tri-Stat system games
  • GURPS
  • Dark Heresy and all related systems.
  • Eclipse Phase
  • Warhammer 40000 for Leadership tests and a few other rolls.
  • Gamebooks, like the Fire*Wolf series.
  • In Nomine Satanis / Magna Veritas (and possibly In Nomine too)