In Huckleberry, each character, called a Maverick, has four attributes and nine skills, each represented by a die. The base die for all attributes and skills is a d6. Mavericks can increase these during character creation and over the course of play.

Mavericks roll these dice to determine the results of actions. There are two primary methods for resolving actions: Skill Checks and Attribute Saves. Mavericks perform both methods by rolling two dice.

A Skill Check is an active attempt to influence the world by rolling a Skill die and an Attribute die. An Attribute Save is a Maverick’s reaction to uncontrollable danger. This involves rolling an Attribute die and a Wyrd die.

If a Maverick attempts a difficult action with serious risk of failure, the Trailboss will call for a Skill Check to determine the outcome. The Trailboss will choose which Attribute and Skill to use.

The Maverick then rolls the designated dice and adds the results together. A total of 10 or higher is a success. The Maverick is dealt an Ace for every two count above 10, with a maximum of four Aces per roll.

Aces represent a Maverick’s expertise and good fortune.

When dealt an Ace, a Maverick may use it immediately to Sweeten the Pot, adding benefits to the roll. Alternatively, they may tuck the Ace up their sleeve to gain a Sleeved Ace. A Maverick can later discard a Sleeved Ace to add +2 to any Skill Check or Attribute Save per Ace discarded.

Aces discarded this way can be used after making the roll, but must be used before determining the outcome. A roll modified by a Sleeved Ace cannot deal any additional Aces.

The game master, called a Trailboss, doesn’t roll dice in Huckleberry. Instead, Hostile creatures use a system called “Antes”.

At the start of a Hostile’s turn, the Trailboss will Ante Up by revealing the topmost card from a standard poker deck and declare the suit. Every Hostile has one or several challenges tied to each suit of cards that determines how it acts that turn. Antes can be a clear threat, like gunfire or a charging grizzly, but they can also be abstract, like staying calm in the face of danger.

With the Ante determined, the targeted Maverick must then roll an Attribute Save to avoid receiving injury or ailment.