Tribe 8 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Version 1.

0
Last Update: March 19,1999
-----------------------------------------------------------Table of Contents:
1- the basics
2- the rules
3- the setting
4- miscellaneous
------------------------------------------------------------

1. 0 The Basics
1.1: Disclaimer
Tribe 8, Silhouette System et. al. are trademarks used under license by Dream Pod 9, Inc. Tribe 8,
Silhouette and all T8 game terms are copyright (c)1999 Dream Pod 9, Inc. This document should in no
way be construed as a challenge to these trademarks and/or copyrights. This document may be
distributed freely by anyone via any medium, provided that it is done without profit. John Prins
originally produced this FAQ format (jprins@interhop.net).
1.2: Acronyms
T8- Tribe 8 the game
RB- Basic Rule Book. DP9-801
WA- Weaver's Screen and Assistant. DP9-802
VSB- Vimary sourcebook. DP9-803
CoL- Children of Lilith. DP9-804
T8C- Tribe 8 Companion. DP9-805
1.3: Errata Anyone?
Errata can be found on the "FAQ/Errata" page of the Dream Pod 9 web site. Also, the T8C has a good
deal of errata, especially dealing with synthesis.
Web site: http://www.dp9.com/support/FAQ.htm
1.4: Is there anything besides the basic book that I will need to play the game?
No. The RB is fairly concise and encompassing. However, the other supplements in existence (see 1.2)
are VERY helpful in setting tone and answering the questions that this FAQ cannot and will not answer.
If you would like to see some reviews on T8 it would be best to check out some of the reviews on
RPG.net (www.rpg.net).

2.0 The Rules

2.1: If I have more penalties than my die roll, does that result in a negative value?
No. No matter what you roll, the lowest your result can be is a zero. This goes for all dice tests,
including defense rolls.
2.2: Can I use dice other than D6's?
Yes, but be aware that this will likely reduce the importance of modifiers (unless you're using a D4).
The Silhouette System is calibrated to work with six-sided dice alone.
2.3: Is there a limit to the margin of success or margin of failure on a die roll?
No, though you are inherently limited by the number of dice you roll and the modifiers on those dice.
Note that Weavers may impose a maximum margin of Success of 6. This is imposed on weapons hits, to
prevent things like a Dahlian gutter runner from slaying Joan herself with a lucky sling strike. There is
also no theoretical basement on a Margin of Failure, but remember that you cannot achieve a dice
result lower than zero.

2.4: What if I have multiple skill specializations?

Only a single Specialization may apply to any particular die roll, even if you have multiple applicable
specializations in a Skill.
2.5: Can I use one skill to augment another?
While the idea of using one Skill to augment another is appealing, the Skills in Tribe 8 are built to be
mostly self-contained. In general, this is not allowed.
2.6: What if I don't have the appropriate skill?
Roll two dice and use the lowest result -- any 'one' on either die is treated as a fumble. Attributes do
apply to this roll, as do situational modifiers. For further clarification please check RB p. 144.
2.7: Can I use a ritual to create an effect outside of my normal eminences?
No. Check RB p174.
2.8: Emergency Dice... can you clarify?
Emergency Dice are bought with Experience Points (XP) at any time. They are used on a 1 - for - 1
basis in order to add extra dice to a single roll. Once used the Emergency Dice are spent. In other
words, when you use XP to buy Emergency Dice then the XP is gone... not to be used again.
In a situation where you do not have a skill but will spend Emergency Dice then the first Emergency Die
spent reduces the number of dice for the unskilled roll to 1. Further Emergency dice can then be spent
as normal adding to the total number of dice rolled.
2.9: I have some more synthesis questions...
Great! Try http://www.dp9.com/support/FAQ.htm or the T8 Companion -- there is a whole host of
answers there. If you have anything else send it to the Tribe 8 mailing list (T8ML).

3.0 The Setting

3.1: Is Vimary based on a real place?
Yes it is. It is the remnants of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The name is most likely a derivative of
"Ville-Marie," which is a present day section of Montreal. Ville-Marie is also the name of the original
French settlement on the island, as well as that of a big expressway that runs through and under the
downtown area.
A good website for maps of Vimary and Bazaar can be found at
http://www.stcum.qc.ca/English/metro/a-mapmet.htm
Specifically:
HOM -- "Hom" is derived from "Terre des Hommes". The island itself is Le Saint-Homme, and the Den of
the Banished was once La Ronde, an amusement park. The South Tier Bridge was Pont Jacques-Cartier.
VIMARY PROPER -- Griffentowne was the Montreal Dorval International Airport. The Great Hill was
Mount Royal. The blacktop on which the Seven Fingers lie was the TransCanada Highway (a.k.a
l'Autoroute Metropolitain or "the Met"). Olympus was the Olympic Stadium, built for the games in 1976.
The West Bridge (near Westholm) was the Pont Le-Aux-Tourtes. Solitude is the City Hall (a.k.a. L'Hotel
de Ville) The Court Hall was the Palais de Justice. From what I can tell, Lai is the region between the
Canal de Lachine and the Montreal Waterworks Aqueduct.
OTHER AREAS -- H'l Kar is the le-Jsus, more commonly known as Laval. The Great River is, of course,
the St Lawrence (a.k.a. the St Laurent).
3.2: Who killed Joshua?
General consensus on this is that Tibor really did kill Joshua. However, it seems that someone, or
something, did distract our hero as he stood over the defeated Tibor (RB p21). Consensus also holds

that a Tribal, most probably a Fatima, committed this act. Now, exactly who did it is still anyone's
guess, though Baba Yaga, Tera Sheba and Joan are all likely suspects.
3.3 Who is the Stranger?
The individual referred to on p19 RB is still very much a mystery.
3.4 The barter system seems to be a bit unrealistic and difficult to use, should I get rid of it?
Probably not. The barter system offers a nice chance for role-playing on the part of the characters, as
well as helping to reduce the treasure-hoarding nature of Role-players. In VSB there is a short section
on the use of Medallions as a primitive money system (p. 131), which may came in handy. Overall,
keep working with the barter system and in time it will come to you like second nature.
3.5 What is the relationship between the Fatimas and the Z'bri?
Two sides of the same coin (RB p15). We will leave it at that.
3.6 In the RB there is a weapon called an 'armblade'. What is it?
An armblade is effectively a leather bracer that is strapped to one's forearm and the back of the hand.
Anchored to the leather are a series of metal blades that extend past a user's outstretched fingers. The
weapon is often likened to Wolverine's claws (of Marvel Comics fame) or the Predator weapon of the
same name. Just like any other weapon, there is a high level of diversity from each weapon to the
next.
3.7 What happened to the rest of the world?
DP9 has purposely left this mysterious, but it seems clear that the cataclysms that accompanied or
heralded the arrival of the Z'bri happened on a global scale. The game's current focus is on Vimary, but
exploration of an unknown world is a major game theme. WA and CoL provide glimpses of the Outlands
south of Vimary and more details will be added in future supplements. Weavers should feel free to
people the rest of the world as suits their cycles.
3.8 You know, for a FAQ this doesn't seem to be all that knowledgeable about the T8 setting!
You are right. The nature of T8 precludes anyone not on a DP9 payroll from knowing exactly what is
going on (and I would wager that even those on the DP9 payroll don't know much more that we do).
Because the game is steeped in mystery, discovery and conflict there are parts of the background and
setting that have been purposefully left hazy by the crew at DP9. The changing and evolving nature of
the setting also makes the future as much of a mystery as the past... which is just one of the appealing
aspects of the game to many players and Weavers alike. So all I can say is, wait and see.
What we can say about the setting is that the world presented in the RB is placed about 150 years in
our future. Technology on par with the modern day does exist, it is just is exceedingly rare. There are
a few tribals alive who were in the Camps (a few even present at the creation of various Fatimas), but
by and large two generations have passed since the Camps.

4.0 Miscellaneous
4.1 How do you pronounce Z'bri?
Um, uhh, "Zah Bree?" Seeing as the word is not natural to inhabitants of the real world, use whatever
pronunciation you are comfortable with.
4.2 Okay, so who really does have the coolest hair in T8?
Easy. The Fisher King is first, followed closely by Pox (both from VSB).

4.3 Could you suggest some music to help set the mood for Tribe 8?
Here are a few from the Pod that they used in making the game:
Quake
Peter Gabriel Passion
The score for the Crow (one and two)
Lost Highway
Romeo and Juliet
The Truth and the Light, music from the X-Files (Mark Snow's stuff)
Delerium by Karma
Sarah McLachlan
Ministry
Massive Attack
Leonard Cohen
OK Computer and other stuff,
Garbage (All of Vimary was written to Garbage's Version 2.0)
NIN
The Cure
Crystal Method
Skinny Puppy
Sisters of Mercy
Here are a few from the players that have been suggested:
The Myst Soundtrack
The Thing Soundtrack
Ordo Equilibrio
KKelectric Compilation
Dead Can Dance
KORN
VAST (visual audio sensory theatre)
Akira Soundtrack
KMFDM
-----------------------------------------------------------List of Contributors:
Chris Gunning (present maintainer)
Philippe Boulle (DP9)
Joshua Mosqueira (DP9)
Hilary Doda (DP9)
David Jacobs
Pierre Bourque
Edwyn Kumar
Wil Hutton
Wolf Corbett
John Prins (created FAQs on which this is based)
Thanks for reading. Any problems, additions or questions should be addressed to Chris Gunning
(shapeshifter13@hotmail.com) or to the mailing list (t8ml@coffeehaus.com)