A progress clock turns ongoing effort or approaching trouble into a shared visual signal. It records the fiction; it does not replace it.
Name the obstacle, not the method
A good clock tracks “Access the vault,” not “Pick the lock.” Players can use force, deception, research, or another method while the same fictional obstacle changes.
Choose a useful size
Four segments suit a short obstacle, six a complicated problem, and eight a daunting effort. The number communicates scale rather than exact mathematics.
- Danger clocks reveal consequences.
- Racing clocks compare competing progress.
- Linked clocks expose layers.
- Faction clocks move the wider world.
Change fiction before ticking
Describe what changed in the world, then mark the segment. When a clock fills, create a consequence, a new node, or a changed position.
REINFORCE
Turn it into play in three questions.
This is not about points; it helps you recall the key ideas while preparing.