What kind of game is Under Oath?

Under Oath is designed to be played in a judgment-driven style.

The rules provide a foundation, but they do not attempt to define every situation in advance. The Game Master is expected to interpret events, resolve uncertainty, and apply the rules in context so that actions lead to consistent outcomes.

At the same time, the game is structured. Characters have defined capabilities, and the world operates according to its own internal logic. Outcomes are not negotiated or decided ahead of time—they follow from what the characters attempt and how the situation responds.

Play is shaped by decisions and their consequences. Some actions will succeed cleanly, others will succeed with complications, and some will fail. Those results change what happens next, sometimes in ways that are not immediately obvious.

Under Oath is intended to support ongoing play over time. Challenges are meant to matter, and decisions can have lasting effects, but the structure of the game allows characters to continue and develop through those outcomes rather than being reset or rewritten.

Now that you understand how the game works, here is the world in which it takes place.