RipCrypt Control Board: How to Use It in Your First Game

Quick answer

Unfold the RipCrypt Control Board and place it where every player can see it, then use its panels to track turn phases, trial difficulty, fate, events, morale, and combat as you play. Set it up before the first turn so you never have to pause the sprint to hunt for information.

Step-by-step: setting up and using the Control Board

1. Unfold and position the board: Unfold all four panels and lay the board flat in the center of the table, landscape side up. Make sure every player can see it without leaning over. Common mistake: leaving one panel folded, which hides the turn-phase or combat tracker. Checkpoint: all six trackers—turn phases, trial difficulty, fate, events, morale, and combat—are visible at a glance. If the table is small, angle the board toward the GM and read results aloud so players stay in the loop.
2. Assign a board keeper: Before the first turn, choose one person to update the board. That person moves markers for turn phases, trial difficulty, fate, events, morale, and combat as they change. Common mistake: assuming the GM will always do it while also running the story. Checkpoint: the board keeper has a clear view and a set of markers within reach. Rotate the role between sessions if the keeper also wants to focus on roleplay.
3. Set the starting turn phase: Place a marker on the first turn phase panel. At the start of each round, move the marker to the current phase before anyone acts. Common mistake: advancing the phase only after a player has already taken an action. Checkpoint: the marker matches the phase you announce aloud. Call out the phase name each round for the first few rounds to build the habit.
4. Set trial difficulty before the roll: When a trial begins, set the difficulty on the board before calling for dice. Use the trial difficulty panel to show the target number or level. Common mistake: deciding difficulty mid-roll or after seeing the dice. Checkpoint: every player can state the difficulty before rolling. If a trial has variable difficulty, note the modifier on the board with a spare die.
5. Capture the winds of fate: When fate points or winds of fate change, update the fate tracker immediately. This includes gains, spends, and refreshes. Common mistake: tracking fate on scrap paper and forgetting to transfer it. Checkpoint: the fate tracker matches each player's character sheet at the end of every turn. Do a quick fate audit at the start of each round to catch drift early.
6. Reveal cryptic events at the right moment: When a cryptic event triggers, place a marker on the event panel and reveal the event card or result. Keep the marker there until the event resolves. Common mistake: revealing the event but forgetting to clear it after resolution. Checkpoint: the event panel is empty before the next event is drawn. If multiple events can be active, use numbered markers and note the order on a scrap sheet.
7. Check morale at the specified trigger: Use the morale panel whenever the rules call for a morale check—typically after a significant setback or victory. Set the current morale level on the board so everyone can see it. Common mistake: checking morale only when someone remembers. Checkpoint: the morale marker is updated before the next player acts. Announce morale changes aloud so the table feels the shift.

Product facts

• RipCrypt Control Board: Four-panel, low-profile landscape dashboard with a matte anti-scratch coating and 2.5m backing. The durable surface and flat layout keep the board readable and stable through repeated use, so you can track phases and combat without the board sliding or scuffing.