An Upgrade is a positive progression on elements such as, but not limited to, Properties, Success and Failure, or Dice.
When performing an Upgrade refer to the progression list of the element being Upgraded and move forward from your starting position once.
A Downgrade is a negative progression on elements such as, but not limited to, Properties, Success and Failure, or Dice.
When performing a Downgrade refer to the progression list of the element being Downgraded and move backward from your starting position once.
Success and Failure can be Upgraded or Downgraded through the use of certain Masteries, Item Effects, Abilities, or the Mettle Action.
Failure and Success may never be Upgraded or Downgraded beyond Critical_Failure or Critical_Success respectively.
When Downgrading the level of Success move backwards along the following list from your starting level of Success once per Downgrade.
Example: Marty the Merc rolls a Success on a pending Attack. As the target of this Attack his foe Joe Hammerhand uses the Mettle Action to Downgrade the Attack to a Failure.
Example: Marty rolls another Attack. The Attack this time however is a Critical_Failure. Joe cannot Downgrade Marty's Attack any further even if he wanted to. Marty has an Ability or Item that allows him to Upgrade his Critical_Failure to a Failure and uses it. Joe can once again use the Mettle Action to Downgrade the Failure back to a Critical_Failure.
Dice can be Upgraded or Downgraded through the use of certain Masteries, Item Effects, or Abilities.
When Upgrading a Property, advance along the appropiate progression list from your starting Property. Moving once per Upgrade.
Example: Olivine the Oricalcai is performing a Study Check under the effects of the Advantage Property due to his Mastery of Thought Ability. His ally Ted performs the Help Action to give Olivine another instance of Advantage. Due to Mastery of Thought Olivine's Advantage is Upgraded to Reliable. This means Olivine's Study Check is now under the effects of both the Reliable and Advantage Properties.
The same would be true in the case of Disadvantage being Upgraded to Unreliable.
When Downgrading a Property, move backwards along the appropiate progression list from your starting Property. Moving once per Downgrade.
Example: The Exploding Property being Downgraded would become the Fine Property. The affected Pool would no longer be under the effects of the Exploding Property and now only be under the effects of the Fine Property.
The same would be true in the case of Disadvantage being Downgraded to Fickle.