Performing a task (a consciously willed activity). When you announce that your character is doing something, she's taking an action. Most actions are “standard actions”

A task more challenging than normal.

Taking more than one action in a turn. The first action's Dice Pool is reduced by a number of dice equal to the total number of actions your character will take in the turn. Each following action loses an additional die (cumulative).

An action that two or more characters take against one another. Rolls are made for each against Traits designated by the Storyteller, and the character with the most successes wins.

An action with no difficulty modifiers. You simply roll your Dice Pool and tally any successes. All tasks your character performs are standard actions unless the Storyteller declares otherwise (by applying a difficulty., noting multiple actions or stating that the action is resisted).

A notable and often dramatic failure when attempting an action.

The total number of dice available to you for a given action. Your Dice Pool is equal to the Attribute plus Ability most applicable to the action taken. If your character doesn't have an Ability rating in a task, you default to the base Attribute involved and use its score instead.

Short for the “difficulty of the roll,” a difficulty notes the added challenge involved in accomplishing a task. You must roll the standard base of one success plus the additional difficulty indicated (usually by the Storyteller) to accomplish a difficult action.

The method used to indicate rating values. Each dot equals a die that may be used to perform actions.

A numbered Trait value; usually a range From 0 to 5, though sometimes from 0 to 10 (Often noted in numbers of “dots”),

A die that rolls equal to or higher than the Target Number of 7. Most actions require only one success; more challenging actions demand more successes.

Any successes you roll beyond the minimum required to accomplish an action. Extra successes may be used to make a standard success truly inspired.

Rolling exactly the number of successes required to accomplish an action.

A specific set of game mechanics used in a certain situation; rules to help guide dice-rolling resolutions to simulate dramatic actions.

The standard rating of 7 which you must roll or exceed for your character to succeed in a dice action.