When can a character Unmask? - Timing and Mechanics

By sndwurks, in Rules Questions

In the present rules on Strife, becoming Compromised, and Unmasking, it is not exactly clear when exactly the character can Unmask, mechanically. In specific, at what step of the process in taking an Action can a character choose to Unmask?

On Page 12 of the Beta, the steps of making a check are clearly delineated.

  1. Declare Intent
  2. Determine Dice Pool, Determine TN
  3. Assemble and Roll Dice Pool
  4. Apply Advantages and Disadvantages
  5. Choose Kept Dice
  6. Resolve Symbols on Kept Dice
    1. Explosive Success
    2. Strife
    3. Opportunity
    4. Success

While a character is Compromised, they are prevented from choosing any Kept Dice in Step 5 that have Strife symbols.

Is there a particular step during this process where a character may decide to Unmask, and gain the benefits of doing so? Does Unmasking take an Action? If it does not, can a character Unmask during Step 5 of making a check, allowing them to choose Kept Dice with Strife symbols? Can a character Unmask during Step 4 of making a check to ignore one of their Disadvantages? Can a character Unmask in Step 3 in response to seeing their rolled dice? If a character Unmasks after Step 2, do they get the benefit of the lowered TN when checking for Success in Step 6.4?

It says under "Unmasking During Conflict Scenes" that while a character is Compromised, they may Unmask at any point during their turn. It does not specify that this is, or is not an action. Assuming it is not, the impact to whether this can be done after dice have been rolled is important.

Edited by sndwurks

I think it is clearly not an Action, otherwise it would be mentioned, so in my view, this could really happen any time... would be a bit clunky - and borderline exploitative- to cram it in the middle of a roll resolution, but if everyone is cool with it why not.