RPGADay 2026: Day 6
Prompt of The Day: Reach
Victory Within Reach
Today’s topic comes with the cryptic word Reach. In game terms, this could mean the Range of some sort of attack or power, or maybe the number of targets affected by a single use of that power.
And that could easily be called Scope.
Reach can be a noun, or a verb. It’s a melee weapon Trait in Mythras. Daggers have short Reach. Polearms have a longer Reach. Ranged attacks don’t have Reach; they have Ranges, like most firearms, archaic weapons, spell attacks and so on.
However, here I’m going to talk about a different use of the word Reach. The ability to strike up a rapport with someone you are communicating with.
In a recent episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Ensign Nyota Uhura was attempting to communicate with a young Vulcan Cadet. Only, that Vulcan turned out to be obnoxious.
This reminded me of something I realised early on in my efforts to learn languages, whether they be Welsh, Latin, French, Italian, Dutch, Japanese, Zdetl, or Klingon. There is a technical mastery of a language, and then there is communication - where you are using the language to get into the other person’s mind, get them to see what you see, hear what you hear, and know what you know.
This is Reach. It comes with rapport, understanding, and an abiding sense of empathy for the other person. True communication doesn’t just create empathy in oneself; in responding to the communication, one hopes that the listener learns a little empathy for you.
Daily Character: Simon Patterson
Setting: Space: 1999
Notes: Simon was a self-insert in the Modiphius Space: 1999 tabletop roleplaying game. His speciality, while technically Communications, was actually more about understanding people, learning their languages, and even translating writings.
Basically, I wanted a non-sarcastic Dr Daniel Jackson from Stargate SG-1 in the command staff, and I worked with the GM to take every opportunity to learn new languages, decipher communications, and speak with new alien species wherever possible.
Daily Prompt List
1 Discipline
2 Stature
3 Poise
4 Charm
5 Burden
6 Reach
7 Mercy
8 Resolve
9 Privilege
10 Secret
11 Tact
12 Loss
13 Strain
14 Regard
15 Endurance
16 Composure
17 Intensity
18 Directness
19 Desire
20 Promise
21 Charity
22 Grit
23 Fortune
24 Distance
25 Familiarity
26 Regret
27 Hunger
28 Devotion
29 Labour
30 Pride
31 Edge