So, I’m assuming that M. P. O’Sullivan is tagging me in for some crazy dice math stuff.

As this iteration of Kult is mechanically similar to an AW descendent but with the change to 2d10 rather than 2d6, there are some weird effects on rolls that may or may not be intended. Three things occur: the percentage of each result changes, there is greater variability in each result leading to higher chance of streaky results, and static modifiers have dissimilar impact.

Firstly, the result space is substantially different. On 2d6, there is a 42% chance of 6-, 42% for 7-9, and a 17% of 10% on any given roll. On 2d10, there is a 36% chance of 9-, 43% for 10-14, and 21% of 15+. Using their spreads it is more or less exactly the same percentage that you’ll get a partial success, but a much higher chance of getting a full success. This leads to fewer hard moves by the GM and fewer complications.

Secondly, the total possible results of 2d6 is 36 whereas 2d10 give you 100 combinations. With a substantially larger selection space, it will take longer (in terms of number of rolls) for the results to normalize to the expectation values above. It will take much longer (on average) for the dice to behave as we would expect them to. Your run of bad luck will last longer, but due to the curve differences you won’t see it because you aren’t failing as much.

Thirdly, the static bonuses do weird things. 2d6+1 and 2d10+1 have exactly the same curve for the three result categories (6-: 28%, 7-9: 44%, 10+ 28%). A +2 and +3 have much less impact on 2d10 then they do on 2d6 however. With a +3, you are twice as likely to still roll a fail result on 2d10 as you are on 2d6. This has to do with a +1 on 2d6 being roughly equivalent to +3/5 on 2d10.

So, mechanically what does this mean thematically. What this analysis tells me is that the character’s actions are generally more successful than they are in AW, but their success has more to do with chance than with who they are. The characters are chosen by fate to do cool stuff, but what they personally bring to the table is less of a factor than the simple fact that they are chosen. If that fits the setting then rock on!