Beyond the Veil - Mechanic focus: Lend a Hand

The Wrenegade System that backs Beyond the Veil features many flexible and interesting mechanics but one that really stood out for us during this year’s UK Games Expo (UKGE) play testing was the ‘Lend a Hand’ action. This mechanic consistently stood out in player feedback, with players highlighting its ability to encourage out-of-the-box thinking, cooperative gameplay, and teamwork-based cinematic moments. Supported by the narrative flexibility that Beyond the Veil advocates, Lend a Hand is a core design philosophy that elevates how players interact with each other and the world to achieve success in the face of overwhelming odds.

What is Lend a Hand?

In Beyond the Veil, each Investigator takes actions simultaneously during the different phases of play, with Reality Checks determining success or failure. However, what makes the game more collaborative is how Investigators can support one another during these checks.

When one player chooses to ‘Lend a Hand’, both they and the active Investigator roll a Reality Check using the best Ability dice pool and the highest Skill Rank available between the two of them. In other words, collaboration doesn’t dilute the chance of success, it enhances it. It’s a great way to make use of different Investigator’s expertise and create incredible collaborative moments. This kind of narrative and mechanical cooperation can be undertaken by any number of Investigators too, allowing each to make high success chance rolls to maximise the chance for a positive outcome. For an Overseer, the only limitation needed is whether or not the supporting action actually makes sense and would improve the initial check’s chances of success. This allows Investigators to really get creative and find new ways to solve seemingly one-dimensional problems.

Cinematic moments made easy.

UKGE play testers embraced this mechanic with enthusiasm. At nearly every table, it resulted in laughter, tension, and plenty of in-character banter as teams of Investigators debated not just what to do, but who would be best to help, and why. This wasn't simply min-maxing; it was creative collaboration rooted in narrative logic. Players didn’t just ask, “Can I help?” they explained how their Investigator’s knowledge, background, or personality might fit into the scene. That small shift turned group skill checks into compelling, collaborative storytelling.

One playtest example became something of a personal favourite. In it, the group had locked themselves inside a cabin besieged by zombies. Safe enough but with no way to get out, they chose to craft Molotov cocktails from cleaning supplies to distract the mob but also needed to clear a path to the car. Floyd, with his firefighter background, understood accelerants enough; assisted by Bob, with a high Mental Ability and Maria with their Technical Skill Ranks, the group were easily able to craft the required incendiary devices as well as a mop-based battering ram. Narratively, it shows a team thinking creatively and trusting each other’s strengths. It’s the Beyond the Veil experience in miniature.

More than just numbers.

What makes Lend a Hand truly special is how it demands a balance of feasibility and flair. Overseers are encouraged to reward narrative creativity, but not at the expense of realism. The idea that every Investigator can help with every problem would be a questionable balance decision. Instead, the mechanic challenges players to justify their ability to assist meaningfully in order to keep the storytelling grounded.

For example, six Investigators keeping a wayward entity distracted using flashing lights and noise? Absolutely. A luddite with a d4 in Technical Ability trying to help hack a security terminal? Probably not. It’s that mix of logic and imagination that has proven popular with our playtesters.

Gotta hand it to us…

Lend a Hand isn't just a mechanic, it's a lens through which Beyond the Veil encourages players to view every challenge as a group. Whether you're decoding eldritch symbols, talking down a cultist, or navigating treacherous terrain, you're never doing it alone. At UKGE, that spirit of collaboration set Beyond the Veil apart, leaving players not only entertained, but inspired… and ultimately, making every single table a fun and unique experience for the players and Overseer alike.