Powers and Perils Book 1
Powers and Perils Book 1
Powers and Perils Book 1
Welcome to adventure! You are about to enter the world of Powers and Perils, a completely new fantasy role-playing system, that breaks from the old standards to create an environment of unlimited, exciting adventure. As you read the four books that comprise the basic rules, you will discover that the rules are presented, as much as possible, in the order that they are used. Throughout the rst two books, where it is appropriate, you will nd optional rules to enhance or simplify various rule sections. These are provided to allow you to select the level of diculty that is most appropriate to the world that you choose to run. We present basic rules backed with a wealth of data and systems geared to unlimited variation. You choose, from this hoard of information, the rules that t the abilities, experience and biases of your world and its participants. Within this package, you will nd four books, a pad of detailed Character record sheets and three dice. The rst book details the basic rules that are required to create a Character. Depending on the creating Players rolls and choices, the Character created is formed into a totally unique individual in one of four Character races. To complete this detailed sculpture of your Character persona, you will nd rules for Education, the Economic section, an equipment list and the basic rules for gaining experience in play. The other books detail important factors in the fantasy environment. Book Two covers the rules for combat and magic in detail. Book Three presents the basic encounter system, encounter tables and the descriptions of the creatures that can be encountered in play. It also contains detailed optional rules that can be used to enhance the variation in your world. The nal book details human encounters, contains a detailed treasure system and important suggestions for the Player and Referee. Powers and Perils forms a detailed fantasy environment that can be modied to t the needs of an existing campaign or used to create a new and exciting dimension of fantasy pleasure. In either case, it is strongly suggested that all participants familiarize themselves with the game before they begin play. It is especially important that the Referee do so.
ii
Contents
List of Tables A Beginning Note Trained Magic-User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Innate Magic-Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abbreviations and Dice Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Character Generation 1.1 Characteristics . . . . 1.2 Special Events . . . . 1.3 Use of Characteristics 1.4 Common Knowledge . 2 Character Skills 2.1 Starting Skills . . . 2.2 Increase Of Skills . 2.3 Skill Types . . . . 2.4 The Skill Tables . 2.5 Combat Skills . . . 2.6 Other Skills . . . . 2.7 General Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v 1 1 1 2 3 3 5 11 17 21 21 21 21 21 22 25 37 39 39 39 49 49 49 49 49 50 50 50 51 53 53 54 54 54 54 55 55 55 56
3 Economics and Equipment 3.1 The Economic System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Experience 4.1 Combat Experience Gain 4.2 Magic Experience Gain . 4.3 Creature Diculty Factor 4.4 Encounter Resolution . . 4.5 Combat Experience Levels 4.6 Magic Experience Levels . 4.7 Restrictions . . . . . . . . 4.8 Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 Problem Solving (Optional) 5.1 Characteristic Use . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 Skill Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 Characteristic and Skill Combinations 5.4 Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 Characteristic and Skill Gains . . . . .
6 Language and Cultural Variation 6.1 Supernatural Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 Human Tongues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.3 Cultural Variation (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iii
Contents
iv
List of Tables
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.12 1.11 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.16 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 Native Ability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Constitution and Appearance . . . . . . . . Age Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Initial Increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Station Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Felony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Special Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Bonus Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Strength Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missile Range Modier . . . . . . . . . . . . Dodge Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appearance Modication . . . . . . . . . . Appearance Eect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Height Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weight (Non-Humans) . . . . . . . . . . . . Food Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Movement Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weight (Humans) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inuence Chance Modiers . . . . . . . . . Skills for Civilized Human Characters . . . Elven Weapons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Armor and Weapons of Encountered Dwarfs Expertise Gain . . . . . . . . . . Combat Skills . . . . . . . . . . . Starting ELs for Other Skills . . Other Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . Weapon Courses . . . . . . . . . EL required to ride mount types Additional Training for Assassins Climbing Table . . . . . . . . . . Damage in Falling . . . . . . . . The Entertainment Table . . . . Crowd Type . . . . . . . . . . . . The Punishment Table . . . . . . Executioner Skill Eect . . . . . Forester Special Benets . . . . . Moneylending . . . . . . . . . . . Specialties for Scholars . . . . . . Swimming Table . . . . . . . . . Wine Quality . . . . . . . . . . . Animal Portage Table . . . . . Animal Commands . . . . . . Armor Table . . . . . . . . . . The Weapon Table . . . . . . . Animal Table . . . . . . . . . . Animal Equipment Table . . . Travel Equipment and Supplies Climbing Supplies . . . . . . . Common Medical Aids . . . . . Transport Table . . . . . . . . Buildings/Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 8 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 17 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 24 25 26 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 33 34 36 37 40 40 41 42 43 43 44 45 45 45 46
List of Tables 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 6.1 Clothing Table . . . . . . . . . . . Lodging and Entertainment Table Travel Charges . . . . . . . . . . . Hirelings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Slave Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miscellaneous Items . . . . . . . . Magic and Special Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 47 47 47 48 48 48 50 50 50 53 54 54 54 56
Magic Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combat Experience Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Magic Experience Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Multipliers for Problem Solving Multipliers for Skill Use . . . . CDF for Problem Solving . . . Characteristics and Skill Gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
vi
A Beginning Note
Powers and Perils is a highly detailed fantasy system. Before playing, you should take some time to familiarize yourself with its rules. Once you are familiar with these rules, Characters can be created. To perform this task, the appropriate sections of the rules should be consulted in the following order: 1) Section 1.1 Characteristics, as background. 2) Section 1.1.1 Native Ability. Before selecting your race, read section 1.4 and the descriptions of the Elf, Faerry and Dwarf that are listed in Book Three. 3) Section 1.1.1.1 Constitution and Appearance. 4) Section 1.1.3 Age and Station. 5) Section 1.2 Special Events, if desired. As required by the result in this section, see 1.2.1 and/or 1.2.2. If a castable power results, as a Special Attribute, see chapter 6 and the steps for an Innate Magic-user that follow in this note. 6) Section 1.1.2 Maximum Ability. Determine your total multipliers, assign them to your modiable characteristics, record them on your Record Sheet (in the multiplier boxes) and determine your Maximum Ability in each characteristic. 7) Section 1.1.4 Initial increases. Using your Age and Station, determine your combat experience, expertise, characteristic points and wealth. Assign them to your Character, and record them on your Record Sheet, as specied in sections 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.4.3 and 1.4.4. 8) Section 4.5 Combat Experience Levels. Record your CEL based on the combat experience that you purchased in section 1.1.4. 9) Section 1.3, in its entirety, where appropriate. This section details the basic factors that are used in play. The formulas that are used to determine these values are listed in the Commonly Used Formulas section of each Record Sheet. 10) Section 1.4 Common Knowledge. Select the Common Knowledge that is appropriate for your Characters race. If he is Human, make the selections, consulting section 2 as necessary, to dene this knowledge. 11) Section 2.4 Skill Table. Select the skills that your Character knows. All skills in these tables are purchased, and improved, using the expertise points that you obtained in section 1.1.4.
Trained Magic-User
1) Complete the rst ten steps in setting-up a Character. 2) Chapter 4 of Book Two Creating a Magic-User. This section details acceptance, starting magic experience and expertise and the Magic Paths that the Player can choose from. Pay all expertise costs and gain all benets that are appropriate for the Magic Path that you select. 3) Section 4.6 Magic Experience Levels. Record your magic experience points and determine your starting MEL. 4) Section 1.3. Determine Mana Regeneration and Casting Ability. 5) Familiarize yourself with chapter 3 of Book Two, the general rules that apply to magic-use in play. 6) Determine your starting benets based on the Magic Path that you selected for your Character. (Sections 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 4.4.3 and 4.4.4 of Book Two. Elf and Faerry Characters are restricted to section 4.4.3. Dwarf Characters may not use any of these sections). 7) Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of Book Two. Using the expertise points gained in section 4.1 of Book Two only, select your starting spell knowledge and increase individual ELs, if desired. See any restrictions that apply based on your Magic Path. See chapter 3 of Book Two for the rules and tables that are used. 8) Section 5.4 in Book Two, familiarize yourself with the attributes of the spells that you have selected. The Player is responsible for retaining this knowledge as uently as possible. See section 3.6 of Book Two for the basic EL modiers that apply to these spells. 9) Complete steps 11 to 13 in setting-up a Character. Your Character is complete if he is not an innate magicuser.
Innate Magic-Users
1) Complete the rst five steps in setting-up a Character. 2) See section 1.2.2 Special Attributes. Determine all factors that can be determined based on the description of your at tribute. 3) See chapter 6 in Book Two. Determine your MEL. Familiarize yourself with the rules, in chapters 3 and 6, that pertain to the use of your attribute. NOTE If you wish to be a magic-user, see chapter 4) Consult section 5.2 or 5.3 in Book Two, as appropriate, 4 in Book Two. and section 5.4 in Book Two to determine the precise 12) Sections 2.5 and 2.6. The descriptions of the skills powers of your attribute. The Player is responsible for that you have chosen. All Players should familiarize retaining this knowledge. themselves with these details. 5) Complete the last eight steps in setting-up a Charac13) Section 3.2 Equipment Tables. The wealth that was ter. purchased in section 1.1.4 is used here to purchase your Your Character is now complete. starting equipment. If your Character is not a trained or innate magic-user, he When every Player has a Character, and the Referee has is now complete. If he is a magic-user, see the appropriate created a campaign environment, the game is ready to be steps below.
A Beginning Note played. Prior to the rst game rolls, the Referee, consulting his Players as he deems appropriate, will determine what options will be used. He should inform the Players of his decision before the game begins. Any rule or section that is marked optional may be used or ignored as you see t. Any other section may be modied or ignored on the agreement of the participants in the game. Possibly more than any other fantasy role playing game, Powers and Perils demands that the Referee have a familiar and comfortable understanding of the system. For the smooth play of the game, this is crucial where it relates to the Combat, Magic, Encounter and Treasure systems. Where Players are only asked to learn those sections that deal directly with the abilities of their Characters, the Referee should have a general grasp of the system as a whole. He should never start his campaign until this is the case. It is possible that you will nd that certain sections of this system are too complex for your role playing group. Where this is the case, and the aids provided within do not fully solve the problem, you must feel free to modify the rules to your own level of play. No rules are set in concrete. As the necessity arises, adapt. IC Inuence Chance INT Intellect .LT. Less Than MDV Magic Defense Value MEL Magic Experience Level MEP Magic Experience Point(s) ML Mana Level Mod. Modier(s) MP Mana Point MR Movement Rate Mult. Multiplier(s) NA Not Applicable NAV Natural Armor Value NF Number Found OCV Oensive Combat Value PA Portage Ability PMR Phase Movement Rate PR Poison Resistance RD Round Down RU Round Up S Strength SB Strength Bonus SC Silver Coin(s) St Stamina Abbreviations and Dice Codes StB Stamina Bonus Throughout these rules, standard abbreviations and dice W Will codes are used. Wherever they are found, except where WGT. Weight they are specically used to detail sub-sections of specic WSB Weapon Strength Bonus rules, they have the following meaning: Dice Codes Abbreviations Used D2 Roll a six sided die, 13=1, 46=2. A Agility D2* As for D2 except 14=1, 5+6=2. AB Agility Bonus D3 As for D2 except 1+2=1, 3+4=2, 5+6=3. AHP Average Hit Point Value D3* As for D2 except 13=1, 4+5=2, 6=3. Ap Appearance D6 Roll a six sided die. Read it as it is rolled. AV Armor Value D10 Roll a ten sided die. Read it as it is rolled. (In all B Bonus cases a roll of 0 is equal to 10). BB Brass Bit(s) D100 Roll two ten sided dice. Choose, before rolling, one to BL Base Line represent the tens place and the other the ones place. C Constitution The nal result yields a value between 1 and 100. (If 00 CB Constitution Bonus is rolled, the value is 100. In all other cases, 0 equals CC Copper Coin(s) zero.) xDy When this form is used, x indicates the number of dice CDF Creature Diculty Factor that are to be rolled. Dy indicates the type of die that CEL Combat Experience Level is to be used. (In example, 3D10 tells you to roll three CEP Combat Experience Points(s) ten sided dice and total them). CL Contact Level xDyz As for xDy above except the roll is multiplied by z, D Dexterity a xed numerical expression. DB Dexterity Bonus (xDy)(xDy) The die rolls indicated are multiplied times DCV Defensive Combat Value each other to determine the result. (In example, DR Damage Resistance 1D61D3 yields a result from 1 to 18). DTV Damage Tolerance Value E Eloquence Finally, it is impossible, given this volume of work, that the EL Expertise Level rules presented here will prove acceptable for your world Em Empathy without change or question. Where such questions arise, the Referee must feel free to modify the rules to t his EnL Energy Level campaign. The rules should be viewed as a guide, not an FV Fatigue Value iron-bound testament to the faithful. GC Gold Coin(s) This said, we invite you to explore Powers and Perils. Let .GT. Greater Than the game begin. HC Healing Chance HPV Hit Point Value I Intelligence
1 Character Generation
The rst goal of every player, and the essential feature of any role-playing environment, is the creation of a unique individual a Character. The rules in this section, and the step chart in the Beginning Note, are used to generate your game persona. Chapter 1 of this book creates the person. Chapters 2 and 4 complete him. NOTE If your Character is a magic-user, some sections of Book Two are also required. If he is non-Human, the description of his race in Book Three should also be read. Table 1.1: Native Ability
Human Elf Male Female Male Female +3 1 2 3 0 +1 3 2 1 0 +1 +2 1 +1 +2 +2 +2 0 +3 +2 0 +2 0 +2 0 0 +3 +2 3 1 0 +1 0 +1 1 1 0 0 +1 +2 Faerry Dwarf Characteristic Male Female Male Female Strength 4 6 +1 0 Stamina 2 3 +2 +2 Dexterity +2 +3 1 2 Agility +3 +3 2 1 Intelligence +4 +2 0 0 Will +1 +3 +2 +1 Eloquence +2 +2 2 2 Empathy +1 +2 1 0 Constitution 2 2 +1 +2 Appearance +2 +4 1 2 EXAMPLE A Character is a Human Male. He rolls a 13 for Strength. His Native Strength is 16. He rolls a 15 for Dexterity. Native Dexterity is 14. With a roll of 9 for Eloquence, Native Eloquence is 9. Characteristic Strength Stamina Dexterity Agility Intelligence Will Eloquence Empathy Constitution Appearance
1.1 Characteristics
Ten characteristics are determined for each Character. Together, they delineate his abilities and set the potentials that he will have. Section 1.1.1 lists these characteristics. It is used to create a Native Ability in each. Section 1.1.2 sets a number of multipliers that allow the Player, by his own volition, to set development priorities for his Character and increase characteristic values in play. The sections that follow these add further layers of detail to the Character, making him a unique and vital person. NOTE Native Ability represents the phenotypic potential of the Character. The multipliers, as applied to the Native Ability, represent the eect of his interests and goals on the development of his somatic potential. 1.1.1 Native Ability Native Ability, for each modiable characteristic, is determined using the procedure below (See 1.1.1.1 to determine Constitution and Appearance). A) Select a Race and Sex for your Character. B) Roll 2D10 for each characteristic. C) Add any modier listed in table 1.1, based on your Race and Sex. IMPORTANT The minimum Native Ability that is possible for any characteristic, regardless of the modier added is one. If the value that results is less, increase it to one. 1.1.1.1 Constitution and Appearance The Native, Current and Maximum Abilities in these characteristics are determined using the procedure below: A) Roll 2D10 for each characteristic and add any modier that is listed for the Characters Race and Sex. (Section 1.1.1). B) Roll 1D10 to determine a multiplier for the characteristic on table 1.2. In all cases, the value in parentheses is the multiplier that is used for Appearance. The unparenthesized value is the Constitution multiplier. A separate multiplier should be determined for each characteristic based on the Characters Race and Sex. Roll twice. IMPORTANT Always round up in multiplying on table 1.2. Native Ability is only the foundation of your Character. All attributes, except Constitution and Appearance, can be improved in the normal course of play. The amount of improvement possible is determined in section 1.1.2.
1.1.2 Maximum Ability Maximum Ability is determined by multiplying an assigned number of multipliers times the Native Ability of a characteristic. The Total Multipliers that the Player may assign to his Characters modiable characteristics, i.e. all characteristics except Constitution and Appearance, are determined with the die roll below: 2D6+14 The method of applying the multipliers that are gained via the roll above is specied below:
1 Character Generation A) The maximum multiplier that can be assigned to a modiable characteristic is four. B) The minimum multiplier that must be assigned to each modiable characteristic is 1.5. C) Multipliers are only assigned in increments of .5 or 1. D) No multiplier may be assigned to Constitution or Appearance. E) Maximum Ability equals the multiplier assigned to a characteristic times your Native Ability in that characteristic. F) All multiplication in this section is rounded up, G) Beyond the restrictions above, Players may assign their multipliers in any way that they desire. The total number assigned may not exceed the Total Multipliers that are available for that Character.
OPTIONAL The preceding system reects the interests of the Character and allows the Player to have a greater feeling of progress as his Character matures. If you do not feel that this is worth the eort that it entails, use all characteristics at their Maximum Ability levels and ignore all mention of Characteristic Increases in the sections that follow, excluding those that are derived from some form of magic. Also use any Native Ability increases that occur in the Special Event section and Current Ability increases that are found there.
NOTE If the option listed in section 1.1.2 is being used, reduce this factor by 25%, rounded up. No points are assigned to characteristic points in this case. The formula yields a total number of points that are assigned, obeying the restrictions in section 1.1.4.1, on table 1.5. Table 1.5: Initial Increase
Experience Expertise Points Points Wealth* 0 (CEL 100 25 0) 6 24 25 120 30 7 28 50 (CEL 140 35 1) 8 32 75 160 40 9 36 100 (CEL 180 45 2) 10 40 125 200 50 11 43 150 220 55 12 46 175 240 60 13 49 200 260 65 14 52 225 280 70 15 55 250 (CEL 300 75 3) 16 58 300 320 80 17 61 350 340 85 18 64 400 360 90 19 67 450 (CEL 380 95 4) 20 70 500 400 100 21 72 550 425 110 22 74 600 450 120 23 76 650 475 130 24 78 700 500 140 25 80 750 (CEL 550 150 5) 26 82 800 600 160 27 84 900 650 170 28 86 1000 700 180 29 88 1100 750 190 30 90 1200 (CEL 800 200 6) *The number listed in Wealth is multiplied by the Coin Type that was determined in section 1.1.3.2. The result is the number of coins of that type that the Character has. EXAMPLE A Station 3 Character has 14 initial points allocated to wealth. The number yielded is 70. The Character starts the game with, 705 SC, 350 silver coins. Number Assigned 5 Char. Points 20
1.1.3 Age and Station Age represents the physical age of the Character in Middle World years. Station is his relative standing in his native society. For non-human Characters, age reects a period of Lower World years that they have lived. For simplicity, all of these years were spent in the Lower World. 1.1.3.1 Age A Characters age is determined by rolling D100 on the Age Table. Table 1.3: Age Table
Roll Age Roll Age Roll Age 0105 17 4155 22 9194 27 0612 18 5666 23 9597 28 1321 19 6776 24 98+99 29 2230 20 7784 25 100 30 3140 21 8590 26 NOTE Age is used in section 1.1.4 to determine the initial points that are available to the Character. It should be recorded on the Character Record Sheet.
1.1.3.2 Station The Characters standing in his native society. To deter- NOTE Where a CEL is listed, that line and every line above it will yield that CEL, until the next CEL reference is mine it, roll D100 on the Station Table. reached. 1.1.4 Initial Increases 1.1.4.1 Restrictions It is rational to assume that every Character was active in his world before the game began. Therefore, all Characters In using table 1.5, the following rules and restrictions apply: have initial characteristic, experience and expertise points A) At least five points must be assigned to each area. and an initial number of coins as wealth. A Characters B) No more than thirty points may be assigned to any one area. Initial Increase Factor is equal to the result of the formula C) The total number of points that the Player assigns may below: not exceed the Initial Increase Factor that he deter(Age2)+Station+2D10 mined for his Character.
IMPORTANT Magic-using Characters receive their initial magic experience and expertise based on their natural ability. See chapter 4 in Book Two for the rules that apply for trained Magic Users. If the Character is an untrained natural magician, or has some type of innate power, see chapter 6 in Book Two for these starting points. No experience or expertise that is gained in section 1.1.4 may be applied, other than to paying for the required apprenticeship, towards magic in any way. 1.1.4.1.1 Characteristic Points Each point received in this area can raise one modiable characteristic, that is not at its Maximum Ability level, by one. They may not be assigned to Constitution or Appearance. There is no limit to the number that may be assigned to any one characteristic. The total assigned may not exceed the number gained in using table 1.5.
EXAMPLE Osc has 40 characteristic points. He may raise his eight modiable characteristics by a total of 40 points. If his Current Strength is 20, and he assigns 12 points to Strength, it is raised to 32.
IMPORTANT Before the game begins, item availability rolls are ignored unless the rules specify that they are not.
1.1.4.1.2 Experience Points The points gained here are Combat Experience Points. They are used in determining the CEL of a Character only.
EXAMPLE Osc, with 280 experience points, starts with a CEL of 3.
1.1.4.1.3 Expertise Points Expertise points are expended to gain any skill listed in section 2 of this book or to meet the expertise requirement to learn a given Magic Path, see Book Two. Once a skill has been learned, these expertise points may be used to improve its EL. They may not be used to learn or improve any spells, if the Character is a magic-user. Any points that are not allocated to learn or improve skills may be taken as Partial Expertise in any skill that the Character has learned. 1.1.4.1.4 Wealth The number in table 1.5, times the Characters Coin Type (Section 1.1.3.2), yields the number of coins that the Player has to spend in outtting his Character. Any money that is not spent for this purpose is used, as desired by the Player, once the game begins.
1.2.1.2 Gem Theft Any gem theft by a Character is classed as Felonious Theft. There is a 30% chance that the authorities know who is responsible. Whether they do or not is unknown to the Player.
placated, the enemy will take every opportunity to make The money and experience gained were at the expense of the Characters life miserable, or short. this enemy. The Referee will determine what wrong the enemy feels he has suered and if there is anything that the Character can do to make amends. Until avenged or
1.2 Special Events 1.2.1.4 Contacts 1.2.2 Special Attributes A Contact is a friend that a Character has made by doing Special Attributes vary from Physical excellence to Supersomething to a NPCs advantage and then inuencing him natural powers. Roll D100 on table 1.8. to be a friend. 1.2.2.1 Attribute Descriptions The descriptions are listed in alphabetical order 1.2.1.5 A Pet The animal was raised by the Character from birth. It in the pages that follow. obeys him and him alone. For all others, unless curbed by the Character, it reacts as a wild animal would. Herbivores will obey 1D3 commands given by the Character. Other animals can obey 1D6+4 commands. The Referee may choose the animal, let the Player choose or roll randomly in the encounter section. The Referee will decide what, if any, special parameters or caution the Character must take in dealing with his animal. 1.2.1.6 Non-Human Reared A Character that was raised among the Elves or the Faerry may roll his Inuence Chance. If he succeeds, he has a contact with his old friends. Partial Success indicates that he left under amicable terms. Failure indicates that he left under a cloud and has no advantage in future dealings with that race. This roll is optional. The Player may opt to take Partial Success as his result without rolling. If a Character has a contact in the race, he will start with one item of equipment from that race at no cost. What is given is left to the Referees discretion, 1.2.2.1.1 Aerial Powers The Character has the innate ability to communicate with all creatures of the Air, i.e. Birds, Elementals, etc. He is totally immune to any damage inicted by Storm Powers. He will never be attacked by any Air Elemental. The EL for his Communicate talent equals (I+W+Em) divided by 20 rounded down. The starting MEL is dependent on his characteristics (See Book Two).
EXAMPLE A Character has Intelligence 12, Will 27 and Empathy 8, His EL with his talents is, (12+27+8)/20, 2.
1.2.2.1.2 Animal Power The Character can communicate with a specic species of animal. (The species is determined by the Referee, selected by the player or rolled randomly). At the subconscious level, the Character is a Tonah of the species. He will be treated as such by it. When they are threatened or attacked, the Character will suer Uncontrollable Battle Fury against the attacker unless he rolls less than or equal to his Will. The fury will last as long as the threat to his creatures lasts.
1.2.2.1.3 Battle Fury The Character is prone to ts of fury when engaged in combat. During a battle, he will become 1.2.1.7 Geas furious when the hit points damage taken, times 5, exceed A Geas is a magical compulsion placed on someone to force his Will. For Uncontrollable Fury, the above ratio is the only way them to do something. The eect of failure to perform the that the Character can be aected. With Controllable Fury, action has a disadvantageous and eventually fatal eect on the Player can attempt to will his Character into a state of the victim. The Referee will determine the parameters with fury. The chance of success, per phase of trying, equals the this in mind. See Curse or Ban (Book Two, Permanent Characters Will. Magics). The state of fury lasts until the Character fails to score 1.2.1.8 Native Ability Increase any damage for a number of phases equal to the hit points The increase at the Native Ability level will increase Cur- required to send him into fury or until ve phases after there rent Ability by the same amount and Maximum Ability by are no targets remaining in sight. EXAMPLE A Character has a Will of 64. 13 hit points are the amount times the assigned multiplier.
EXAMPLE If Native Ability in Strength increases by 2, and a multiplier of 2.5 has been assigned to Strength, Current Ability is increased by 2 and Maximum Ability is increased by 5. required to send him into fury. He will return to normal if he fails to hit for 13 straight tactical phases or if he doesnt see anyone to hit for 5 phases.
1.2.1.9 An Old Friend There is no limit to what the old friends attributes can be. The size of the treasure that the friend holds the key to is rolled on the Map Table with 1D6+14. It cannot be found without the friend. The Referee will determine all parameters of his predicament and the urgency of his need for rescue.
A Character with Uncontrollable Fury can only come out of it in this way. A Character with Controllable Fury may will himself out of the fury if he rolls his Will or less.
OPTIONAL If the only targets left to attack are friends, a Character with Uncontrollable Fury can attempt to Will himself out of the fury on any phase that he is not hit and that he does not Hit. The chance equals his Will divided by 2, rounded down.
While a Character is in a state of fury, the following increased abilities will apply: 1.2.1.10 Extraordinary Inuences A) Normal damage eects will not apply to his movement. Here, the Referee may assign whatever powers, disabilities B) When he reaches his DTV he will not be unconscious. He remains conscious until death. and special circumstances he desires to the Character. The Character has been inuenced in some exceptional way by C) While in Fury, the DTV is tripled. When the Fury ends, if the damage taken is less than the normal DTV an extremely potent inuence. If the Referee does not wish the Character is dead. If it is between 0 and the DTV, to assign a value, the Player may select the rolls that he he passes out. wishes to take as specied in the table.
EXAMPLE A Character has a DTV of 3. While enraged, he can take damage to 9. It he reaches 5, and comes out of fury, he drops dead on the spot. If he is at 1 when he comes out, he passes out.
1.2.2.1.5 Dimension Sight The Characters EL in this power equals his Will divided by 10, rounded down. He is able to place himself into a state of conscious trance. In this trance he has the ability to see into other planes of existence. The visions seen are clear and precise. A Character with this power can use Astral Powers, Planar Travel and other trans-dimensional spells with an increased chance of success if he learns them. He will subtract his EL times two from his roll. In summoning, when the power is used, he will subtract his EL. These subtractions 1.2.2.1.4 Creature Power The Character has an anity are in addition to the normal EL Modier that is used in for a specic type of non humanoid, Fantastic creature. magic. (Anything from a Cait Sith to a Dragon). He has the innate 1.2.2.1.6 Earth Powers As for Aerial Powers. This atability to communicate with these creatures at a telepathic tribute applies for Earth Elementals and Earth Powers. level. He is always marked, i.e. a birthmark, with the sigil or semblance of that creature. 1.2.2.1.7 Emotional Curse The Character is cursed with In learning magic that this species is naturally capable an exaggerated form of a particular emotion. The exact of, the Character will pay 1/2 the normal cost to learn and emotion is left to the discretion of the Referee. Until it is advance, rounded up. He will always cast the spell at one cured, it will aect the actions attempted by the Character. EL higher than his actual EL. He will be aected, as for The emotion may be directed, operating when a certain Animal Power, when his species is threatened. person or thing is encountered, or general.
D) The Character may not use any EL factors defensively while he is in fury. E) The Character may not use any missile weapon or magic while in a state of fury. If he has an Innate Magic talent that is capable of inicting damage, this power may be used. F) While furious, the Characters SB is increased by two. G) Persons defending against a furious Character may subtract 5 from their roll to hit or add 10 to the Furious Characters roll. H) While aected, the Character will attack the closest target available. If no enemies are available, he will turn on his closest friends.
EXAMPLE A Character has an anity with the Dragon. He gains advantage in learning Fire Powers and Magic in general. (Fire Powers would be gained at 1/4 cost because it is eected once for Fire and again for Magic). He may communicate with any Dragon.
Finally, the Character will never be attacked by any creature that he has an anity with unless he is the aggressor.
1.2 Special Events All Curses have a means for placating them. They may 1.2.2.1.12 Intellectual Power The Native Intelligence of be dispelled magically, if a magic-user can be found that the Character is increased by 1D65. (See Supernatural will attempt to do so. Agility for the proper application of this increase). Any EXAMPLE A Character is cursed with despair. He will have person with this talent is considered to be a Natural Magino morale. At the slightest setback, he will surrender or give cian for all Wizardry spells if he is trained as a Wizard. 1.2.2.1.13 Invisible Sight A Character with this power can The Referee will decide when rolls for the curse eect see any invisible object. His Range equals his Empathy should be taken. If the Character does not roll less than or divided by 5, rounded up. In addition, the Character will add his Empathy to his chance of disbelieving any Illusion equal to his Will, he is aected. that he sees. 1.2.2.1.8 Empathic Power Increase Native Empathy by 1D65. (See Supernatural Agility for the proper applica- 1.2.2.1.14 Immunity The Character is totally immune to the aect of a specic power. Consult the Immunity Tation of this increase). The amount of his Native Ability increase is his per- ble in Book Four and determine what the immunity applies centage chance of communing with other creatures. (The for. The Character cannot be damaged in any way by that amount times 2 is used if the creature is not normally hostile power. to the Characters race). The attempt may only be made 1.2.2.1.15 Mana Reading When in the presence of mana, once per encounter. If it works, contact is established with or those that are capable of casting mana, the Character all members of the species that are in range. will be able to determine its Alignment, Relative Power When a successful attempt is made, the creatures com- and, if a spell, a basic purpose. The EL and MEL for this muned with will not attack unless they feel compelled to do are as specied for Innate Powers. The Range equals the so. (By being attacked, encroachment on territory, theft, Characters W divided by 10, rounded down. No Mana etc.). The Empath will be able to tell the emotional state Cost applies to the use of this power. Success is automatic. of any creature that he is communing with one phase before Each time this power is used, gain 1D10MEP, up to a it reacts to it. The range for this power equals the Charac- maximum of once per day. ters rating. Its duration is one turn per point of increase. 1.2.2.1.16 Mana Sensing The Character is able to detect No Mana is required to use this talent. Shamans with this talent are considered to be Natural the presence of spells. The Range is equal to his Em divided by 5 rounded up. No Mana Cost applies in using this Magicians for all Shamanic magics. talent. Success is automatic. The knowledge received by 1.2.2.1.9 Fanatical Power The Character is tied to the the Character will be the Relative Strength of the Magic Alignment from which his power is gained. He must align and nothing else. with that force. He is naturally capable of communicating Each time this power is used, gain 1D10MEP, up to a with all creatures that are aligned with it. maximum of once per day. Elder and Sidh Fanatics will be capable of entering both the Lower and Upper Worlds, Shamanic Fanatics may enter 1.2.2.1.17 Mental Curse The curse aecting the Characthe Lower World. All other fanatics may enter the Upper ter will make it impossible for him to perform a given action, force him to react in certain ways or rob him of some or all World. The EL of a Fanatic equals (W+Em)/10, rounded down. of his memories. The eect that applies is at the discretion All other factors of the powers use are as specied for In- of the Referee. Resistance to the curse is as specied for nate Powers. The referee, at his discretion, may assign other Emotional Curses. powers and detriments to Characters with this nature. (As 1.2.2.1.18 Mental Invulnerability A Character with this he deems necessary to maintain Balance). Fanatics may attribute is totally immune to Telepathic Powers, magical not have a fanatic tie with any other force. If one is rolled, Detection and Soul Sight. He is immune, at an EL as specre-roll. ied in Innate Powers, to all spells that aect the mind of their victims. (See Immunity in Book Four for the proper 1.2.2.1.10 Fire Powers As for Aerial Powers. Applies for method of handling immunity). Characters that have this Fire Powers and Fire Elementals. attribute make poor magic-users. Eectively, they are dead1.2.2.1.11 Innate Powers The Character is naturally able ened to the ow of magic about them. If the Player chooses to use a spell of the Alignment specied. If the spell deter- to become a magic-user, the following restrictions apply: mined is a power that has multiple applications, his talent A) His Casting Speed, starting experience gain, starting expertise gain and the maximum Base Mana Cost spell will allow him to use all of those applications. The EL of an that he can learn are all reduced by 50%, rounded Innate Power equals the Characters (W+Em)/20, rounded down. down. Points gained for success may be applied towards the MEL in its use. Normal Expertise is not applicable B) He receives no increase in his MDV due to his MEL. to these powers. The EL increases only as the characteris- C) In determining his Casting Ability, the Characters Mana Level is used at 1/2 value, rounded down. tics involved increase. The Mana Cost to use this spell is as normal for magic-users. Innate Powers may be derived D) He may never learn any supernatural language. from more than one alignment. No alignment tie is derived E) He may not learn any spell that has a Base Mana Cost higher than his Mana Level/3, rounded down. from Innate Power. (See Fanatical Power).
up.
1 Character Generation F) In casting magic, his EL modier equals his EL instead will add 3 to his Weight roll and add 1 to the nal of his EL2. multiplier determined if his height is 72 or more. NOTE Only Humans can have this Special Attribute, EXCEPTION The height increase gained may not inunless it is cast on a member of another race as a curse. If crease the Characters height by more than 1.2 times the it is rolled for a non-human Character, re-roll. original height determined for him, round up. 1.2.2.1.19 Natural Magician The Character is naturally capable of manipulating Mana. Whether he receives the proper training or not, he will be capable of using magic. If he is trained, in addition to his natural gift, he can increase his power to legendary proportions. The attributes of the Natural Magician are: A) Untrained, the Character will gain mana at the rate specied for trained Wizards. If trained, any Mana that he has and all future increases are doubled.
EXAMPLE A Natural Magician has 12 Mana Points. On completion of his training, he increases to 24. When he increases to his next level, if his Mana Level is 5, he will gain 10 Mana Points. EXAMPLE A Dwarf Male Character has Physical Power. His rating is 25. His Native Strength is 11, Native Stamina is 19. Native Strength is increased to, 11+25, 36. Native Stamina is increased to, 19+(25/2), 32. His original height was 50. His new Strength and Stamina, would increase his height to 69 except that the new height may not exceed 1.2 times his old height. He is therefore, 501.2, 60 tall (Always round down).
B) All Natural Magicians have any two of the following attributes: Supernatural Will Power, Intellectual Power and Empathic Power. C) Natural Magicians recover expended Mana at a faster rate than normal (See 1.3.2.7.2.1) D) The number of Mana Points that he may cast in one phase is twice that normal for his MEL and EL, if he is trained. E) Natural Magicians may learn and cast any type of magic. The cost to gain the knowledge is 1/2 that normal, rounded up. F) Natural Magicians have the ability to use Mana Reading and Mana Sensing. Other attributes of this extremely talented individual are The powers of a Shadow Weaver only work in a place that at the discretion of the Referee. has Shadows in it. Total light and total darkness negate his IMPORTANT Trained Naturals, i.e. persons with In- ability to cast shadows. tellectual or Empathic Power as the source of their talent 1.2.2.1.24 Shape Changer A limited form of the spell. only receive benets 3, 4, 6 above. The Character is capable of taking the form of a specic 1.2.2.1.20 Other Powers The Referee can assign the Char- type of creature or animal for any duration desired without acter any attributes that he desires. As examples, the Char- the expenditure of mana. He is not required to possess any acter can be winged, have infravision, have the power to portion of that animal to make the change. He does not walk through walls, etc. The Power assigned is limited only have the power to change into any other form of animal. by the Referees decision. It can be anything. The animal that he can take the form of is at the Referees discretion. 1.2.2.1.21 Physical Curse The Curse either diminishes All Shape Changers will have the Animal Power talent some physical attribute or places some horrid physical for the creature that they can take the form of. When a growth or deformity on the Character. The attributes asthreat exists to that creature, fury will result without any signed are at the Referees discretion. If characteristics are chance of controlling it. The Character will always take his diminished, they will be reduced by 1D65, with a minianimal form when furious. mum rating of zero, for as long as the Curse lasts. No resistance is possible against the eects of a Physical 1.2.2.1.25 Supernatural Agility The Characters Native Curse once it is in force. It may be cured magically or by Agility is increased by 1D65. Regardless of the original placating it as specied for Emotional Curses. Agility rating, the minimum rating for Agility, after this 1.2.2.1.22 Physical Power The Characters Native value is added, is 25. Use the new Agility rating as the Strength is increased by 1D65, or to a rating of 25, Characters Native Ability. whichever is higher. Native Stamina is increased by 1/2 EXAMPLE A Character has a Native Ability, in Agility, of the amount of the Strength increase, rounded up. (See 9. He has his Special Attribute. He rolls a 2 on 1D6. Because Supernatural Agility for the proper application of this an increase of 10 would not increase Agility enough, his Native increase). The increase in the Characteristics will aect Ability is increased 16 to a rating of 25. If his assigned multiplier the Height and Weight of the Character. The Character is set at four, this yields a Maximum Ability of 100.
1.2.2.1.23 Shadow Powers The Character is a Shadow Weaver. He is able to warp and use the substance of Shadow to his own benet. The basic powers are: A) The Character can move through Shadow invisibly. See the Shadow Magic Invisibility spell in Book II. B) The Character can create Shadow Warriors. See the Shadow Magic Create Warriors spell in Book II. The Warrior created has the form of the Shadow used to create it. The Character may not use his own Shadow for this purpose. C) The Character can see in any darkness without cost. See the Shadow Magic Dark Sight spell in Book II. D) The Character can send his own Shadow away to perform errands and other tasks for him. See the Liberate Shadow spell in Book II. E) The Characters EL in all talents equals his Empathy divided by 5, rounded down. His MEL can be increased as normal. F) The Characters Starting Mana Level is doubled.
10
1.3 Use of Characteristics IMPORTANT Any increase in Native Ability, due to this attribute, is added to the new Native Ability to determine the Characters Current Ability before any characteristic points are applied to it. In the example above, the Character starts with a Current Ability 16 higher than his Native Ability after modication by this factor.
EXAMPLE The Native Agility of a Character is 25 after it is modied by this Special Attribute. To reach 25, the Native Ability was increased 19. The starting Current Ability of the Character, in Agility, is 44 before any characteristic points are applied to it.
1.2.2.1.26 Supernatural Dexterity As for Supernatural Agility except Dexterity is aected. 1.2.2.1.27 Supernatural Eloquence As for Supernatural Agility except Eloquence is aected.
Table 1.9: The Bonus Table 1.2.2.1.28 Supernatural Power, Lower The Character is Current Current Current attuned to the Sidh forces of the Lower World. He has Rating Bonus Rating Bonus Rating the natural ability to use all Sidh Magics, as for the Alfar. 05 1 76105 +4 276330 When he encounters Elf or Faerry parties he will be treated 615 0 106140 +5 331395 as one of the Alfar. 1630 +1 141180 +6 396465 The Character is innately able to understand, and speak, 3150 +2 181225 +7 466550 all Sidh tongues. His EL equals Em2 or 80, whichever is 5175 +3 226275 +8 551630 less. All Non-Sidh Elder or Kotothi parties that encounter the Character will relate to him as they would to an Elf. 1.3.1.1 Bonus Use 1.2.2.1.29 Supernatural Power, Upper The Character can communicate with any creature or person, native to the Upper World, that is aligned with Law, Chaos or Balance. He has the ability, as for Mana Sensing, to detect forces native to this realm. Finally, he has the innate ability to use all Astral Power spells. The Characters MEL and EL for Communicate and Astral Powers, are as specied for Innate Powers. 1.2.2.1.30 Supernatural Stamina As for Supernatural Agility except Stamina is aected. The amount of increase in Stamina does not apply in determining the Height of the Character.
EXAMPLE The Native Stamina is 14. It increases to 50. 14 is used in the equation for determining the Characters height.
This section gives the primary uses of the characteristic bonuses. They may be used, in these rules, in less important ways. The Referee is always free to use them in other ways, if he sees t to do so, or to create bonuses for other characteristics as he desires. 1.3.1.1.1 Strength (SB) 1) The SB is added to the damage that the Character scores in combat when he hits. 2) SB is used as a factor in determining the OCV of the Character. (See Section 1.3.3.2.1). 3) The SB is used as a modier in determining a Characters maximum EL in certain skills. (See 2.4).
1.3.1.1.2 Stamina (StB) 1) A Characters StB is subtracted from all healing chance 1.2.2.1.31 Supernatural Will Power As for Supernatural rolls that he takes. It is added to the number of points Agility except Will is aected. Characters that have this that he heals, if he heals (See section 1.3.2.5.1). attribute also have the evil eye if their rating is 30. The 2) StB is a factor in determining a Characters OCV (See Evil Eye may be used to cause Disease, Paralysis and Death. section 1.3.3.2.1). The Death eect is as for the Hand of Death. The EL with 3) The Characters StB is used in determining his Portage each spell equals W/30, rounded up. His starting MEL is Ability (See section 1.3.2.1 4). as specied for Innate Powers. See the appropriate spells 4) StB is used in determining a Characters Poison Resisfor the eects that apply. To gain eect with any of the tance (See section 1.3.2.5.4). powers, the Character must be using the power and have 5) The StB is used in determining the DTV of the Chardirect eye contact with an entity that can be aected. acter (See section 1.3.2.5.2). 6) StB is used in determining a Characters maximum EL 1.2.2.1.32 Three Attributes As specied in the table. in certain skills (See section 2.4). 1.2.2.1.33 Two Attributes As specied in the table. 1.3.1.1.3 Dexterity (DB) 1.2.2.1.34 Water Powers As for Aerial Powers except the 1) The DB is used in determining a Characters DCV (See connection is with Water Powers and Water Elementals. Section 1.3.3.2.2). 2) DB is used in determining a Characters Dodge Value NOTE Except where it is used in Book Two through Four, (See Section 1.3.2.4). section 1.2.2 is optional.
11
1 Character Generation 1.3.1.1.4 Agility (AB) 1) As for Dexterity. 2) As for Dexterity. 3) The AB is used in determining a Characters maximum EL in certain skills (See section 2.4). 4) AB is used in determining a Characters MR (See section 1.3.3.5). 1.3.1.1.5 Constitution (CB) 1) Per day that an injured Character fails to heal, CB is substracted, as an additive modier, from the healing chance roll (See Section 1.3.2.5.1). 2) CB is used in determining a Characters Poison Resistance (See Section 1.3.2.5.4). NOTE For detailed descriptions of the primary ways that the characteristics are used, see section 1.3.2. If the optional Problem Solving rules are used, the characteristics are also of importance in this area. 1.3.2 Other Uses 1.3.2.1 Strength In actions where Strength is the deciding factor, such as pinning an opponent, breaking down a door, etc., the following rules will apply: A) The basic chance to overpower an opponent is determined by subtracting his Strength from yours. If the result is negative, you have no chance of success. If you succeed, the opponent is pinned, held, knocked over, etc. depending on what you specied you were attempting to do. If the target you are attempting to aect dodges successfully, failure is automatic. If you are damaged while making the attempt, add ve times the number of hits scored to your roll. A Minimum Chance equal to S divided by 5, rounded up, can be applied if the Referee chooses to do so. IMPORTANT If the Referee allows, additional persons may add their Strength to this attempt. Each additional person adds his Strength to the initiators Strength.
EXAMPLE Three Characters, S43, 29 and 14 battle a Rock Troll, S80. The Character with S29 decides to throw himself at the Troll to tackle it. (2980, an action doomed to failure). His friends grab him to throttle his suicidal ambition. Their chance of Success is (43+14)29, 28%.
NOTE As an option, you may take the factors above as a number of hit points that the item will take before it breaks. The Players attempting to break it would then roll 1D10 and divide the applied strength by their roll, rounding up. The result is the hits inicted. For damage to count, at least 25% of the items value, rounded up, must be inicted on it. EXAMPLE Before meeting the Rock Troll, the three adventurers, S 43, 29 and 14, found a door. It was aged wood worth 43. The strong adventurer charged it. He scored 43/3, 15 hits. The door is damaged and holds. In the next phase, he and S29 hit it. The applied Strength is 72. 72/8 is 9 for no damage. They go again. 72/2 is 36 hits and the door burst asunder. EXAMPLE Vobal the Dancer has a Strength of 20 and a +2 StB. His Portage Ability is, (202)+(220), 80 pounds. His MR is 13. If he carries 120 pounds of weight, excluding his body weight, his MR is reduced by 30% to an MR of 9.
E) Lifting Ability The maximum weight that a Character can lift equals: Portage Ability5
EXAMPLE Vobals Portage Ability is 80. The maximum weight that he can lift is 400 pounds. In essence, he can lift things that weigh 225 to 400 pounds, but he cannot move with them.
NOTE Where a Character possesses Carrying skill, the EL is added directly to his Portage Ability and is used as part of that value in determining all factors in (4) and (5) above.
EXAMPLE With EL20 in Carrying, Vobal would have a Portage Ability of 100. His speed reduces per extra 20 pounds that he carries and his maximum lift is 500 pounds.
1.3.2.2 Stamina A) Stamina is used in determining the HPV of a Character (See section 1.3.3.1). B) Stamina is used in determining a Characters healing chance (See section 1.3.2.5.1). 1.3.2.3 Dexterity Dexterity, as other than a bonus, is not used in any significant way, beyond its use in the education system. See the Dexterity Bonus in section 1.3.1.1 for its most signicant uses. 1.3.2.4 Agility Agility, as other than a bonus, is not used in any signicant way, beyond its use in the education system. See the Agility Bonus in section 1.3.1.1 for its most signicant uses.
B) When attempts are made to batter in doors, break locks, etc., the Referee will use the system detailed in (1) above. To do so, he must determine a Strength rating for the door, lock, etc. The Strength Table (1.10) is provided as a guide for these values. C) Strength is used in determining a Characters HPV. D) Portage Ability A Characters Portage Ability equals: (S2)+(StB20) or (S2), whichever is greater. This value is a weight, in pounds, that the Character can carry without reducing his MR. Per 20% increase over this value, the Characters MR is reduced 10%, with the amount of the reduction being rounded up.
12
1.3 Use of Characteristics 1.3.2.4.1 Dodging (Optional) Any defender engaged in IMPORTANT If a Character attempts to dodge a spell, combat may attempt to dodge blows that are aimed at him. and fails, he will use his MDV at 1/2 value, rounded down, The Dodge Value of a Character equals: in resisting its eects. AB+DB If a defender dodges, the total value that is dodged equals: The AV of the dodgers armor+the attackers Dodge Value IMPORTANT In all cases, the AV that is used in determining the total value dodged is the AV for the type of armor, as listed in the equipment List. For creatures with a NAV, the creatures actual NAV is used when he attempts to dodge.
EXAMPLE A Character is wearing EL5 magic Chainmail. An AV of 3 is used in determining total value when he attempts to dodge. A dragon has a NAV of 3. Three is added when it attempts to dodge. OPTIONAL The following rules may be employed in physically resisting magic that can be dodged: A) If the dodge attempt is a Partial Success, the dodger may subtract his Dodge Value+3 from the number of hits that the spell inicts. B) The dodger, if his dodge does not succeed, may attempt to interpose his shield between himself and the spell. His chance of doing so equals: Dodge Chance+Shield AV+EL in the Shield If he succeeds, handle the spells success as specied for a Shield Hit except that magical shields will block (AV2)+ usable EL hit points. EXAMPLE Vlad has a Dodge Value of 3, an AV8 shield and EL12 in the Shield. A Giant casts an EL5 Lightning Bolt at him. He tries to dodge. His chance is 30%. He fails. He now tries his shield. His chance is, 30+8+12, 50%. He succeeds. The bolt strikes the shield, scoring 29 hits. The shield blocks, 8+8, 16 hits and is destroyed. Vlad takes 13 hits and is left without a shield. (Had the shield been magic with AV12, Vlad could block 36 hits and retain a usable shield).
1.3.2.4.1.1 Dodge Results If the listing in the table is (A), or the dodger rolls less than or equal to the listed percentage, the dodge is successful. In this case, the attackers blow automatically misses and he need not roll it. Any other result indicates that the dodge fails. The attacker must roll to hit the dodger and he will score damage if he does so. Regardless of the success or failure of a dodge, the dodger may not perform any other action during the phase that he dodges, excluding use of a shield defensively. No dodging defender may attack, in any way, in any phase that he dodges. His eorts are totally consumed by the defensive maneuver of dodging. Both factors are used on table 1.11 to determine a percentage chance that the attempt to dodge is successful. In all cases, any Character that wishes to dodge must declare his intention before the attacker takes his attack roll. If he does not do so, he may not dodge.
1.3.2.4.3 Dodging Missiles (Optional) The Referee may allow Players to attempt to dodge incoming missiles in the following circumstances: A) They can see the rer release the missile. B) They can see the missile coming for at least 50% of its ight towards them. Dodges of this type obey all rules specied in section 1.3.2.4.1 and 1.3.2.4.1.1. The total value dodged equals: The AV of the dodgers armor+a Missile Range modier. 1.3.2.4.3.1 Missile Range Modier The modier that is used is based on the range fraction that the missile is red from. Table 1.12 applies.
1.3.2.4.2 Dodging Magic (Optional) At the Referees discretion, Players may be allowed to dodge spells under the Table 1.12: Missile Range Modier following circumstances: Range Range A) The Character has a clear view of the person or thing Fraction Modier Fraction Modier that is casting the spell. Point Blank 8 Long 0 B) The spell is a spell that inicts damage when it sucShort 4 Extreme 2 ceeds. Medium 2 C) The physical appearance of the spell is both directional and visible. Where the weapon that res the missile has a listed WSB, Where any of the factors above do not apply, the Player the WSB/3, rounded up, is added to the modier above. may not dodge. Where all of them apply, the Referee may EXAMPLE The modier for an unarmored dodger to dodge allow him to do so. IMPORTANT If this form of dodging is allowed, the total value dodged for the spell equals: The AV of the dodgers armor+the EL of the spell NOTE If a Player is the caster of a spell that is dodged succesfully, he should still roll for success. If he succeeds, and the spell does nothing because it was dodged, he will receive experience and expertise points as specied for other magic, case 2, in sections 4.2 and 4.2.1.1 of this book. If Abysmal Failure results, he can suer ill eects.
an Arbalest at point blank range is, 8+(5/3, rounded up), 10. Unless the dodger is exceptionally agile and dexterous, he is not likely to succeed.
1.3.2.5 Constitution Constitution is a primary determiner of the following factors: 1.3.2.5.1 The Healing Chance A Characters healing chance (HC) equals: (C+St)/2, rounded up
13
When a Character starts a day damaged, he rolls his healing chance. Healing occurs when the roll of D100 is less than or equal to the healing chance. The following factors are subtracted from the Players roll: A) StB is subtracted each day. B) Per day that the Character fails to heal, additive, CB is subtracted.
EXAMPLE A Character has an StB of +1 and a CB of +2. On every healing roll, he will subtract one. Per day that he rolls and fails to heal, by rolling greater than his healing chance, he will add two for his CB, in addition to his StB modifier. On the second day, after failing to heal on the rst day, the Character subtracts three, on the third he subtracts ve, on the fourth seven, etc.
Any damage between this negative value and zero indicates that the character is unconscious. A remaining HPV greater than zero indicates that the Character is conscious and active. A value less than the DTV means that the Character is dead.
EXAMPLE A Character has a DTV of 4. His HPV is 26. If his current HPV, considering damage taken, is one to twentysix, he is conscious, From zero to minus four, he is unconscious. At minus ve or less, he is dead.
1.3.2.5.2.1 Trauma (Optional) When a Character has been battered into unconsiousness his DTV3 is added to his roll for Healing. If, on any roll while unconsious, he fails to heal, he is dead. (Trauma does not apply if unconsiousIMPORTANT When healing occurs a Character heals ness is the result of subdual damage). 1D3+StB hit points. No more than one healing roll is al- 1.3.2.5.3 Energy Level The Energy Level of a Character lowed per day, unless magic is used on the Character (See is equal to his C+W. It has the following eects: 1.3.4.3). Healing cannot increase a Character above his A) Without extra-somatic aid, i.e. a wand, magic ring, HPV at any time. etc., the usable Casting Ability of a magic-user can EXAMPLE If a Characters HPV is 23, healing stops when he never exceed his Energy Level.
is at 23 hit points.
1.3.2.5.1.1 Infection If a Characters Healing Chance roll, after all modication, is 91 or higher, he is infected. He will remain infected until he succeeds in healing again. The result of infection is: A) Per day, starting immediately, the Infection will score 1D3 hits on the Character. B) While infected, the Characters Healing Chance is reduced 50%, rounded up. C) If an infection scores 10 or more hit points on a Character, the Character is delirious and incapable of meaningful action. D) All normal Damage Tolerance rules apply while infected. E) When the player heals, the infection is checked. The successful healing serves only to check the infection. It will not cure any damage. 1.3.2.5.2 Damage Tolerance All Characters can withstand excessive amounts of damage. The Damage Tolerance Value (DTV) of a Character equals: ((C/20)+StB), round up
EXAMPLE A MEL14 Wizard has a Casting Ability of 139 and an Energy Level of 72. Without extra-somatic aid, he may never cast more than 72 Mana Points in one day. With it he can.
B) Forms of attack that target on the soul, mind or spirit of the Character score damage against his Energy Level If the Energy Level reaches zero the Character is killed. Healing lost energy points is done by rolling against your Constitution and subtracting your Mana Level from the roll. If the result is less than or equal to the Constitution, 1D6 energy points are regained. Eects that attack the Energy Level are specied in their descriptions. Examples are Vampirism, Soul Attack, etc. 1.3.2.5.4 Poison Resistance This factor is added to the roll that is taken when a Character might be aected by any poison. A Characters poison resistance is: (CB+StB)2 NOTE Poison resistance is used against poisons in the same way that the MDV is used against magic.
14
1.3.2.6 Intelligence Intelligence is used to determine the following factors: 1.3.2.6.1 Mana Level The Characters Mana Level is equal to (I+W+Em)/10, round up. 1.3.2.6.1.1 Magic Defense Value The Magic Defense Value (MDV) of a non-magic user is Mana Level. A trained magicuser has an MDV equal to his Mana Level plus (MEL)/2, round up. A natural magic-users MDV equals Mana Level plus MEL.
1.3.2.10 Appearance The Characters physical attractiveness to members of his own race. When dealing with other races, the Referee may modify a Characters appearance to t the standards of beauty that apply in that race. Appearance will never apply except when dealing with Intelligent Lifeforms. NonIntelligent forms couldnt care less. Table 1.13 gives factors that can be used. Factors for other races that can be encountered should be determined by the Referee based on these values. Table 1.13: Appearance Modication
Characters Race Human Elf Faerry Dwarf Human 0 +10 +20 10 Perceivers Race Elf Faerry Dwarf 10 15 25 0 +5 10 +10 0 5 15 5 0
1.3.2.6.1.2 Casting Ability A magic-users Casting Ability is a function of his MEL and his Mana Level. Per MEL that a magic-user increases, his Casting Ability is increased by The Racial view, after modication, is found on tahis current Mana Level. ble 1.14. IMPORTANT In starting a magic-user, multiply his starting MEL times his current Mana Level, after all initial Table 1.14: Appearance Eect increases have been applied. If the starting MEL is zero, Modied Rating Appearance Eect Casting Ability equals ML/2 rounded down.
EXAMPLE A magic-user starts at MEL3, ML 11. He has a Casting Ability of 33. If, by the time he reaches MEL4, his ML has increased to 14, his Casting Ability increases from 33 to 47. 0 or less 6 to 15 16 to 35 36 to 65 66 to 95 96 and Up Hideous Ugly Average Handsome Gorgeous Stunning 10 5 +5 +5 +10 +15
1.3.2.7 Will Will is used in the following ways: 1.3.2.7.1 Inuence If the Player does not wish to be inuenced, he may subtract his Will from the Inuence Chance of the person trying. The minimum chance applies when NPCs do this. It does not apply when Players do. 1.3.2.7.2 Mana Regeneration The speed with which a magic-user regenerates expended mana is: (W/10, ru)+(MEL/5, rd) 1.3.2.7.2.1 Resting If a magic-user does not use any mana during a day that he is regenerating, or if he is a natural magic-user, add his MEL to the number of points that he normally regains for that day. If a natural magician rests, add MEL2 to the mana points that he regains instead of MEL.
EXAMPLE An MEL6 magic-user casts no magic while he is regenerating his normal 7 mana points. He will regain 13 instead.
The eect listed is the amount that is added to the Inuence Chance before any other modiers are applied. If IC is 28, and the Character is viewed as Ugly, it is reduced to 23 before other modiers are applied. This does not apply when dealing with Contacts.
EXAMPLE A Dwarf, appearance 24, meets a Human, appearance 60. The Dwarf sees the Human as having an Appearance of 55. The Human sees the Dwarf as having an Appearance of 18. For this interaction, the Human is Handsome and the Dwarf is Average.
1.3.3 Other Factors 1.3.3.1 Hit Point Value The number of hit points that a Character can take before he reaches the point of unconsciousness is his Hit Point Value (HPV). The HPV is determined by the Characters current Strength, Stamina and Constitution. The formula that is used for this determination is:
All mana is regained at the start of the day, based on the expenditures of the preceding twenty-four hours. Mana (S+St+C)/4, round up never regenerates to a point greater than the magic-users NOTE Characters that take less than ten hits are rare current Casting Ability. and have little chance of surviving in combat. At least one 1.3.2.8 Eloquence characteristic should be changed to give the Character a Eloquence is used with Empathy to determine a Characters chance to survive and a HPV of at least ten. Base Inuence Chance. 1.3.3.2 Combat Value 1.3.2.9 Empathy All Characters determine Oensive Combat Value (OCV) Empathy is used with Eloquence to determine a Characters and a Defensive Combat Value (DCV). These are the basic values that are used in combat in Book Two. Base Inuence Chance.
15
1 Character Generation 1.3.3.2.1 Oensive Combat Value The OCV of a Character equals CEL+SB+StB. 1.3.3.2.2 Defensive Combat Value A Characters DCV is equal to CEL+AB+DB. 1.3.3.3 Height and Weight 1.3.3.3.1 Height A Characters Height equals: Native Strength+Native Stamina+the factor below For Dwarfs and Faerries only, the total of Native Strength and Native Stamina is divided by two and rounded up before adding it to the factor for their race. The factors that apply, depending on the Characters Race and Sex, are listed in table 1.15. Table 1.15: Height Factors
Race Human Elf Male 46 45 Female 42 42 Race Faerry Dwarf Male 28 35 Female 28 32
the requirement by 1 FP, i.e. Dwarf weighing 130 pounds needs 3 FP. NOTE The food requirement listed is a minimum number of points required to maintain the character. Less and he begins to starve. He could consume up to three times the amount needed if he chose to do so for some reason. The standard weight of a Food Point is 1/4 pound. 1.3.3.5 Movement The Movement Rate determined for a Character is the number of inches that he is capable of moving in one tactical turn. The basic factors that apply arelisted in table 1.19. Table 1.19: Movement Rate
Race MR Race Human 9 Faerry Elf 10 Dwarf *The value in parentheses is the MR when ying. MR 6(27)* 8
1.3.3.3.2 Weight A Characters Weight is derived from his Height, Race and Sex. Roll 1D10 on the appropriate table (either 1.16 or 1.17). For non-humans, add three if the Character is taller than 71. Subtract one if he is shorter than 40. For humans, use the table appropriate for the Height and Sex without modication, unless it is required for some other reason, i.e. Supernatural Stamina, Physical Power, etc. Table 1.17: Weight (Non-Humans)
Elf Faerry Dwarf Roll Male Female Male Female Male Female 0 1.2 1 2.4 2.3 1 1.7 1.5 1.2 1.1 2.6 2.5 2+3 1.8 1.6 1.3 1.2 2.8 2.6 47 1.9 1.7 1.4 1.3 3 2.7 8+9 2 1.8 1.5 1.3 3.2 2.8 10 2.1 1.9 1.6 1.4 3.5 3 11+Up 2.2 2 EXAMPLE A Human male has Native Strength of 10 and Native Stamina of 9. He is 65 tall. He rolls a nine on the weight table. He weighs, 652.6, 169 pounds. A 74 human, with the same roll, weighs, 742.9, 215 pounds. IMPORTANT In all multiplications above, round up. OPTIONAL If you do not desire to have the full range of weight and height variation in your campaign, use the 47 line at the weight multiplier for all members of a given Race and Sex. EXAMPLE If the simplication is used all Dwarf males have a weight multiplier of three. All human females, height 60 to 70, have a weight multiplier of 1.8.
1.3.3.5.1 MR Modiers All Characters will add their AB+1 to their base MR for ground movement. Faerries will add their DB+1 to their MR for ying speed. Characters that weigh 251 to 300 pounds will subtract one from their base MR for ground movement. Per additional 50 pounds, over 300, an additional one movement point should be subtracted. Regardless of negative modiers for weight, the minimum MR for a Character that is unencumbered, is six.
EXAMPLE Vlad and Drexel are together. Vlad has an AB of zero and weight of 273 pounds. His MR is 9. Drexel is a Faerry with a DB of +1 and an AB of +2. His MR is modied to 9(29).
1.3.3.6 Inuence A Characters Inuence Chance equals E+Em. It reects his ability to manipulate the actions of others through verbal persuasion. To use it, he must speak the language of the person or thing that he is attempting to inuence. It may only be attempted with non-hostile, intelligent creatures. 1.3.3.6.1 Modiers The Inuence Chance is modied by the factors in table 1.20. In all cases where a Characteristic is listed in the preceding table, it is the rating of the Listener not the Inuencer.
1.3.3.6.1.1 Table Explanations The Food that a Character requires each day is based on X The factor is subtracted after all percentage factors his weight. The requirements, in Food Points (a standard have been applied. of nutritional value), are listed in table 1.18. X% The factor is applied after all positive percentages have been applied. Humans use this table as listed. Faerries and Elves reduce the value listed by 50%, retaining fractions. Dwarfs increase +X The factor is added before any other modication.
16
pathy by 1. If the Inuence attempt succceds when he is at or below his minimum chance he may increase both characteristics by 1. (No characteristic may be increased past the Characters Maximum Ability in this way). NOTE In inuence, the Player must explicitely dene what he is attempting to inuence the listener to do. The Referee will assign factors, as he feels appropriate, based on the description. If the description is insucient and the attempt succeeds, the Referee will determine what the listener believes he has agreed to do. 1.3.4 Healing Aids 1.3.4.1 Rest If a Character does nothing for the 24 hours preceding a Healing Chance roll, his Stamina Bonus is increased by 1 for that roll. If he takes this rest in a formal settlement, i.e. village, city, etc., the Healing Chance is increased by 10. Both factors apply only while resting and only to healing. 1.3.4.2 Medicines The use of medicines and natural balms will increase the Healing Chance and/or the Stamina Bonus. All such benets apply for the Healing Chance roll immediately following the application of the medicine. They do not allow a separate or additional roll. 1.3.4.3 Magic When magic is used to heal, the eect will be as for 1.3.4.2. However, with magic, a separate and additional Healing Chance roll is allowed immediately after the magic is successfully applied. Magic will always aect the Healing Chance and the Stamina Bonus. In rolling, no chance of Infection will apply. When more than one Magical Healing power, regardless of type, is used on a given Character in the same 24 hour period, it can kill. The chance that the Character can withstand the treatment is: C2(Hit Points Taken(Magic Uses for Healing1))
EXAMPLE A party desperately needs to heal their best ghter. His Constitution is 42. On the second application of Magical Healing in the same 24 hour period his chance of surviving is, 422(23(21)), 61%. If he rolls 62 or higher on D100, he is dead.
J) K) L)
+40% 80 40+W
M) N) O) P) Q)
In all modications, round up fractions. 1.3.3.6.2 Minimum Chance The Minimum Chance that a Character will have to successfully inuence a non-enemy is equal to 25% of his Inuence Chance, rounded down. This applies only for Player Characters. It does not apply when they are attempting to inuence other Player Characters.
EXAMPLE A Character has an Inuence Chance of 82. His Minimum Chance, when applicable, is 20%.
1.3.3.6.3 Success Each time that a Character inuences someone he may increase either his Eloquence or his Em-
17
1 Character Generation pertise points. The sections that follow detail this common knowledge, by race. IMPORTANT Any time a Common Knowledge skill is duplicated through a group skill (e.g. Forester, Assassin, etc.), the player may choose to give the character another related skill of the same value or the maximum EL currently possible in the skill that is duplicated. C) (Station/3, rounded up)+1 skills from the following list:
Any Combat Skill at EL0 Swimming Tracking Husbandry Miner Entertainer Climbing Survival Carrying Forester Seaman* A Language
1.4.1 Human Characters *This skill may not be selected unless there is a large body of water, i.e. large lake, sea, etc., in or adjacent All human Characters speak their native tongue at an EL to the tribal area. of 80. They also have the following skills, depending on whether they are civilized or barbarian in origin. IMPORTANT Except where specied otherwise, all skills above are gained at the maximum EL currently possi1.4.1.1 Civilized Characters ble for the Character. If Survival is selected, the Character A) The maximum EL currently possible in City Survival gains Survival skill in any one terrain type desired, other and EL0 in Rhetoric or the maximum EL currently than his native terrain. possible for Survival in a terrain that is contained within the boundaries of the Characters home nation 1.4.2 Elf and EL0 in Tracking. Elves have the following skills: NOTE Here you are deciding whether the Character A) Mana Sensing MEL2, EL dependent on the Character. is a city dweller or a person from some outlying region B) The ability to hide invisibly in any forest. The EL of the nation. equals W+Em or 80, whichever is less. The EL is used to determine the chance that they are not observed B) Depending on the Characters Station, he has the skills if the person that they are hiding from is aware that listed in table 1.21. something is present. Success indicates that they remain hidden. Any other result means that their presTable 1.21: Skills for Civilized Human Characters ence is discovered.
Skills Carrying, Any non-combat skill with a Cost to Learn of ten or less or 10 partial expertise points towards an an apprenticeship in any non-combat skill with a Cost to Learn of 35 or less. 1 Husbandry, Forester or Miner or any two skills with a Cost to Learn of fifteen or less. 2 Locksmith, A Language at maximum EL, Sign Language at maximum EL, Seaman, Moneylender or Entertainer or any two skills with a Cost to Learn of twenty or less. 3 Read and Write plus any two skills with a Cost to Learn of twenty-five or less. 4 Read and Write plus any two skills with a Cost to Learn of thirty or less. 6 Read and Write plus any three skills with a Cost to Learn of thirty-five or less. 10 Read and Write plus any ve skills with a Cost to Learn of forty or less. IMPORTANT Where a skill is specically named above, it is gained at the maximum EL currently possible. Any other skill selected as Common Knowledge is gained at a starting level only. EXAMPLE A Character is a city dweller with a Station of 2. Without cost, he speaks his native tongue at EL80, has his maximum EL in City Survival (based on his current characteristics), has EL0 in Rhetoric and receives the skill or skills listed in the table. He will choose to have one of the skills that is explicitly listed at his maximum EL or two skills, with a Cost to Learn of 20 or less, at a starting level. Station 0
NOTE This skill is primarily useful against creatures whose primary sense, for observing their environment, is sight. Where his is not the case, or where magic is used to detect the Elf, the skill is relatively useless. C) EL80 in the tongue of the Elf Sidh. EL60 in the tongue of the Faerry Sidh. If the Elf is a trained magician, EL80 in the tongue of the Sidh. D) Innate ability to enter the Upper and Lower Worlds. Determine EL based on the Elfs characteristics. MEL equals the Elfs MEL as a magic-user, or 2, whichever is higher. E) The maximum EL currently possible in Forest Survival. F) The ability to read the intent of others, as for Empathic Power. Treat as an Innate Power. The EL equals Em/10 rounded down. 1.4.2.1 Appearance Elves are thin, lithe, humanoid creatures four to six feet in height. They have high cheekbones in a narrow, aquiline face. Their skin has a slightly greenish cast and they have nely pointed ears. They vary considerably in both size and power. They are among the eldest of the intelligent races. 1.4.2.2 Special
Elves cannot be aected by Sidh Migic. They are aicted by Iron. Any damage caused by Iron or Steel weapons is increased by two hit points, after AV subtraction, if the net damage scored is greater than zero. All Elves have a minor aiction to light. Reduce both the OCV and DCV 1.4.1.2 Barbarian Characters by 50%, rounded up, when they are ghting in magical light A) The maximum EL currently possible in the terrain that or daylight. Any light power will score its normal damage the Characters tribe lives in. plus its EL when the target is an Elf. Light that does not B) A starting level in Sign Language. have a normal damage eect will not damage an Elf in any
18
1.4 Common Knowledge way. All Elves double their MDV in defending against Elder and Balance magic. Elves do not make plate armor or platemail. Elven chainmail, AV4, is very rare. Commonly, it is only worn by Elven kings. Any armors that they do make will have an AV one level higher than standard human armor and weight 20% less, rounded up. Elves will never wear, use or willingly touch any item that is made out of Iron or Steel. The metal items that they make are made of alloys that do not contain any Iron watsoever. The values of Elven weapons are listed in table 1.22. Table 1.22: Elven Weapons F) Can enter the Lower World, MEL and EL dependent on the Character. G) Have the maximum EL currently possible in Forest or Swamp Survival. H) Have Innate Power in one Sidh spell. The Player may choose any spell with a Base Mana Cost of two or less. Starting MEL and EL are dependent on the Character. 1.4.3.1 Appearance Faerries have the general facial appearance of the Elf. They are small creatures, averaging three feet in height. They have rounded, diaphonous wings and are capable of ight. Their bodies, with few exceptions, are lithe, slight and wiry.
1.4.3.2 Special Faerries are aicted by light and iron, as specied for the Weapon WSB Fatigue Skill Type Elf. All Faerries are natural magicians in the use of Sidh Sword +1 12 Scimitar Magic. If trained, the Faerry can use any Sidh, Balance or Dagger +1 8 Sword Elder spell that he learns. Untrained Faerries have innate Throwing Dagger 0 7 Sword ability in one Sidh Magic spell. They may learn others in Bow +2 NA Bow the course of play if they are a Character. Spear 0(+2) 10 Spear Faerries have limited access to, and training in, weapons. Arrow +1 15 Used with the Bow The standard weapons are daggers, slings and light lances. Items of their own manufacture will have a WSB one less Other weapons are not commonly used by Elves. They than standard and a fatigue of two less. They are not acare only manufactured by them as rare curiosities. (The complished weapon smiths. Referee may modify these weapon parameters as he sees Faerries do not choose to wear armor. They can ride Fay t). creatures but seldom choose to do so. 1.4.2.3 Elven Society Elven society has a rigid, hereditary hierarchy. Beyond the social importance that is given to birth, status is gained through skill in magic and war. The Station of a character will never be less than 1/2 his CEL or MEL, whichever is higher. If it is, his station is increased upon succesfully inuencing Elves of higher or equal station that he has indeed earned the position that he claims. Beyond the hierarchy of birth and accomplishment, individuals in the society are allowed a great deal of freedom to do as they wish. As long as their actions do not violate the land, interfere with another Elf or bring trouble to the clan, they are tolerated. Where events caused by a chracters actions bring trouble, the Referee (As the Elven council of nobility) will determine what penalty, quest or geas will be imposed on the miscreant.
EXAMPLE An Elf Character starts with a station of 2. When his CEL or MEL reach level 5, his station can increase to 3. To gain the increase he must convince Elves with a station of 3 or higher that he deserves it.
1.4.3 Faerry All Faerries: A) Learn new languages at 50% of the normal cost to do so, rounded down. B) Have Mana Sensing, MEL and EL dependent on the Characters characteristics. C) Have Mana Reading, MEL and EL dependent on the Characters characteristics. D) Speak the tongue of the Faerry Sidh and the tongue of the Elf Sidh at EL80. They speak one human tongue at EL60. If the Faerry is a trained magician, he speaks the tongue of the Sidh at EL80. E) Are winged and capable of ying.
1.4.3.3 Faerry Society The Faerries are ruled by a hereditary king and queen. To a degree, the social rules that apply, parallel those of a human monarchy. Lesser faerries are allowed freedom but they are not given access to knowledge or wealth. Birth and the favor of the nobleborn determine the station of the faerry. To a large extent, social interaction is through reciprocal favors and obligations between individuals. Faerries are noted thieves of wealth, food and children. Due to the skills that they lack, they need to interact with stronger races that are talented in the working of metal. For this reason, they are often closely associated with nearby human settlements, Favors are exchanged, needed items are claimed, etc. To a Faerry, there is no moral wrong in theft unless the item is stolen from them. Finally, faerries expect moral conduct from those that they deal with. If promises are not kept, they will seek vengeance. Persons that are overly noisy are despised. Those that are kind are rewarded. In general, if faerries are dealt with in a kind and moral manner they will be friendly. If not, trouble will follow. NOTE Faerries feel no obligation to be moral to nonSidh creatures. They expect morality from them but feel no compulsion to react in kind. They can be quite capricious in their actions towards humans, especially humans that are handsome or beautiful. 1.4.4 Dwarfs All Dwarfs: A) Can communicate with other Dwarfs, wordlessly, as for a Communicate spell. MEL and EL are dependent on the Characters characteristics. If either Dwarf succeeds when the skill is used, communication occurs.
19
1 Character Generation B) Are prone to Controllable Battle Fury when they encounter a hated enemy of their race. NOTE Goblins are the primary enemy that applies here. The Referee, at his discretion, may expand this hatred to include all Chaos and Kotothi creatures that can be encountered underground. C) Speak Dwarf Elder at EL80. D) Have a starting Level as a Miner or an Armorer. E) Have a maximum EL currently possible in Mountain Survival and both forms of Underground Survival. F) Can enter the Lower World, MEL and EL dependent on the Characters characteristics. G) Have all attributes of the Dwarf that are specied in Book Three. 1.4.4.1 Appearance Table 1.23: Armor and Weapons of Encountered Dwarfs
Number Found 1D3 2D6 Weapon Types Possible Spear, Sword or Axe Armor Type Banded Ring Mail (AV3)* Chainmail (AV4)*
As for 1D3, heavy forms only 3D10 As for 2D6, WSB is Platemail (AV5)* one higher than the weapons normal WSB *All Dwarf armor is one AV level higher than the AV listed in the Armor Table in Book One. All shields and helmets are two levels higher.
The classical Dwarf of norse myth. Dwarfs are three and a half to four feet in height, heavily built and well-muscled. 1.4.4.3 Dwarf Magic They are commonly bearded with long hair. They are noted A Dwarfs skill in magic varies with his Will and his EL for their ability as artisans and warriors. as an Armorer or Artisan, depending on what he is making. His maximum EL in Magic is: 1.4.4.2 Special Dwarfs are resistant to Poison, Disease and Plague. Triple the MDV when they are resisting these powers. They are also resistant to Fire. Any damage that they suer from re of any kind, excluding Astral Fire, is reduced 50%, rounded down. All Dwarfs speak Dwarf Elder and the Tongue of Dvalinn. Dwarf Elder is related to the common Elder tongue and the tongue of the Faerry Sidh. The tongue of Dvalinn is only used by Dwarfs when they are speaking to another Dwarf. It is not related to any other language. It is their magical tongue and is sacred to them. No Dwarf will ever lie when he speaks in this tongue. No non-Dwarf will ever be taught it willingly. The magic of Dwarfdom is learned by Dwarfs that are skilled as armorers when they achieve an EL of 50 or higher. It allows them to place permanent magics on items that they manufacture. It is only rarely used to cast any magic other than permanent magic rites. (Such debasement of these sacred rites is commonly frowned upon by the Dwarf. It is moral only in the most dire emergencies). NOTE A Dwarf character that reaches EL50 as an Armorer can learn these rites. To do so he must complete a 150 expertise point initiation and training session. Thereafter, he is a Rune Master and can use Elder Magics and Permanent Magic as magic-users. Any Dwarf who becomes a Rune Master will increase his station to six if it is lower. All Dwarfs that are encountered are armed and armored. The quality of these items depends on the number found as listed in table 1.23. Dwarfs never use any missile weapon except spears and daggers. (The bow, after all, was an insidious invention of immoral, dishonorable elves). If the Referee allows, Dwarfs may make and use crossbows. IMPORTANT Dwarf society places a great emphasis on personal property. The most heinous crime in their society is theft. No Dwarf will steal from another creature without due payment for the item taken. (Regaining ones (W+EL)/10, round down
own property, with possible interest and denite penalty, is expected. It is not theft).
Only male Dwarfs are taught the magic arts of their race. Females are excluded from them at all levels. (In fact, there is no mythological precedent for the existence of female Dwarfs. They are added to allow female players that want to be Dwarfs to do so without mandatory sex reversal. There is also a logical assumption that a race, unless it is immortal, must breed to survive. The presence of divergent sexes is therefore likely). NOTE All non-human character races (i.e. Elf, Faerry and Dwarf ) can see in the dark as if it were daylight. NOTE All powers for non-human races should be treated as innate powers unless specied otherwise. To determine the starting MEL and EL, where it is not specied, see Book Two, Innate Magic. Characters, regardless of race, do not gain any equipment based on common knowledge.
20
2 Character Skills
2.1 Starting Skills
All skills are purchased with expertise points. The number of points that you will start the game with is determined in section 1.1.4. Expertise is expended either to gain new skills or to improve skills that the Character already has. All skills are increased in Expertise Levels, termed EL throughout these rules. The Maximum EL that a character can achieve in a skill is based on the characteristics that apply to that skill. The Current Maximum is determined using the Characters Current Ability ratings in the characteristics that apply. 2.2.3 Partial Success For all skills, points can be gained for Partial Success. For Combat Skills, Partial Success is using a skill but not scoring any damage with it. For other skills, Partial Success occurs when your roll is 1 to 25, inclusive, higher than your chance of success. Each time that Partial Success is achieved, the Character will receive one Expertise Point in the skill used. 2.2.4 Failure If a Combat Skill is not used, or another skill fails, failure is the result. No Expertise is gained for Failure. For Magic, see Book Two for the result of Failure. 2.2.5 Continued Attempts
For Other Skills only, the Character can make continued attempts to succeed. If a continued attempt follows Partial Characters may use Education to learn skills. Per day allo- Success, the chance of success is not reduced. If it follows cated to a skill, one Expertise Point is earned. If any other Failure, the chance is reduced 50% rounded down. The actions are taken during that day, the gain is reduced 50% reduction applies only for the thing that the Player is having his Character re-attempt. The eect is cumulative. rounded down, retaining fractions. 2.2.1 Education 2.2.1.1 Instructors
If the Character engages an Instructor in a skill, he will double the Expertise gain per day of study. An Instructor 2.3.1 Combat Skills can never increase your EL beyond his. If he is not another Skills that have a direct inuence on Combat. All Combat Skills start at EL0. Player, or a Contact, he must be paid 1CC per EL per week (for skills with a Maximum EL of 80) or 1SC per EL per 2.3.2 Other Skills week (other skills). Other skills are physical skills that give a Character an in2.2.2 Experiential Training creased chance of success in performing certain actions and Expertise may be gained through the successful use of skills skills that allow the Character to use special skills in play. The starting EL in these skills is determined as specied that are already known. Per encounter, in which a specic below: skill is used successfully, the Character gains the expertise specied in table 2.1. 2.3.3 Magic Skills Table 2.1: Expertise Gain
Skill Type Combat Skill Other Skill Magic Skill *See 4.3 Point Gain CDF*2 1D10 See 4.2.1.1
See Book Two. All skills start at EL0. Completion of the basic training for the Magic Path gives the Character Spell Knowledge, Experience, and Expertise as specied in chapter 4 of Book Two.
EXAMPLE A character with EL3 in the Dagger uses it to score a hit in a battle. He will gain CDF2 Expertise points for using it in that battle. If a Jeweler succeeds in determining the value of a gem he gains 1D10 points towards increasing his skill as a Jeweler.
Skill The actual skill learned. Cost to Learn The Expertise Cost to gain the Starting Level for the skill learned. Per EL Increase The cost to increase your EL, in Expertise Points. The factors listed are: NEL New Expertise Level, the NEL times the factor The points above are gained for Success. For Combat listed is the cost in Expertise Points. Skills, success is scoring damage. For other skills, success if EXAMPLE If the New Level is 4 and NEL5 is getting the desired result. listed 20 points are required to advance. If NEL2 is
listed, 16 points are required, i.e. 44.
EXCEPTION Shield users succeed when they block a Shield Hit in battle. If their shield is not hit, Partial Success will apply.
21
EXAMPLE A Character wishes to increase his skill with the Bastard Sword from EL3 to EL5. The cost to do so is (47)+(57), 63 Expertise Points.
XX The number specied is the number of Expertise Points required per EL. Maximum Level The Maximum Level that can be attained. The limit depends on the Characters Current values in the characteristics indicated. If or 80 is specied, the maximum limit, regardless of characteristics, for that skill is EL80. Where an EL is specied, no characteristics apply. The specied EL is the maximum limit. In all divisions, round up.
22
23
Per Expertise Point gained with the weapon, either educationally or in combat, this inexperience factor is reduced one. When it reaches zero, you have achieved EL0 with that weapon. Points are gained as specied for Combat Skills in the preceding portions of this section. While untrained status applies, the Character may not use any WSB that applies for the weapon. He has yet to discover how to employ it eciently. If the weapon has a WSB of 0 or 1, 1 is subtracted from the WSB while the Character is untrained. A Character is untrained as long as he is required to add any amount to his attack roll due to his skill level. 2.5.2 Shields This skill allows the use of shields in combat. The EL with the shield is added to the AV of the shield being used. AV+EL is the total damage that a shield can block in combat without being broken itself. Characters may add their shield EL to opponents attack rolls. The factor added may not exceed the AV of the shield used. IMPORTANT At no time may a Character using his EL more than double the AV of any shield that he is using. If the AV of a shield is 8, it may not be increased by the EL beyond 16. 2.5.2.1 Untrained Use When unskilled persons use a shield, the AV is reduced by 2. Per 10 Expertise Points gained, the reduction is reduced 1. When it reaches zero, EL0 in the Shield has been attained. 2.5.2.2 Non-Combat Use As for Weapons.
2.5.3 Horsemanship The ability to ride a horse. Where mounts other than horses are available, the skill is gained individually for each crea2.5.1.2 Use of Expertise ture. If the person learning is already a trained horseman, Weapon ELs are used in combat to subtract from your at- reduce the cost to gain the knowledge at EL0 by 20 expertack roll or add to the roll of a single attacker that is at- tise points. tacking you. You may not do both during the same phase. Missile Weapon ELs may only be used offensively, i.e. on 2.5.3.1 Expertise Eect your attack roll. They have no defensive value. Weapon Ex- A) When ghting from horseback, on a war-trained mount, add the Horsemanship EL to the EL of the pertise will increase the amount of damage that the Characweapon used for all hit chance and damage modiers. ter will score on Deadly and Severe hits. The EL/2, round up, applies on Severe Hits. The EL is added for Deadly B) The Horsemanship EL may always be used independently of the Weapon EL, i.e. one can be used oenHits. sively while the other is used defensively. EXAMPLE If the EL is 7, +4 damage is scored on Severe hits C) The EL required to ride and control each type of and +7 on Deadly hits. mount, for which Horsemanship is applicable, is listed When examining a weapon that you are skilled in, the in table 2.6. EL times 5 is your chance of determining whether it is a D) In combat, while charging only, the rating of a good weapon. The Referee will inform the Player that it is wartrained mount is added to the horsemanship EL of excellent, good or bad. the rider if that EL is sucient to control the mount. The same factor is added to the damage scored by a 2.5.1.3 Untrained Use charge, if the mount is controlled. When a Character uses a weapon that he is not trained in E) The EL of a horseman that cares for his wounded he will add the cost to learn for the weapon type to his mount is subtracted from its healing chance roll, in attack roll. addition to any healing skills that he may have. The EL times 5 is his chance of determining how good the EXAMPLE If a Character picks up a Scimitar without trainanimal is without husbandry skill in horses. ing, he adds 20 to his roll, i.e. a 24 becomes a 44.
Scimitar, Tulwar Spear, Javelin, Pike Sling, Handle Sling Sword, Short Sword*** Throwing Axe War Sta, any pole of usable dimensions *Skill applies for ghting with the weapon only. You must learn Throwing Axe to throw it eectively. **Light spears intended to be thrown, and used as thrusting weapons, from horseback. Lance skill trains the user in both. If a Character has Lance skill, he may use light spears and javelins from horseback at 1/2 his EL, rounded up, in the weapon used. ***The Short Sword is a weapon with a short, wide blade that is intended for thrusting and is best used with a shield. The standard sword used by Roman legions is a ne exmple of this type of weapon.
24
The basic methods of using this technique are: 1) He may use his EL oensively and attack twice in the same phase. When he does, his EL is divided as he desires between the two attacks. In addition, his rst attack will strike one position higher on the attack priority table. IMPORTANT When the two-weapon user uses this option, people who attack him during that phase, in normal melee combat only, will substract ve from their roll to hit, i.e. a 41 becomes a 36. 2) He may make one attack during the phase and use his other weapon to block incoming attacks, as for a shield. In this case, he will divide his EL between oense and defense as he desires. His defense will apply as a shield using the FV of the weapon as its shielding AV. 3) He may ght defensively, without attacking. In this case his full EL applies defensively and the highest FV of the two weapons +2 is used as the shielding AV, i.e. if he has two swords, the shielding AV is 9+2, 11.
2.5.4 Horse Archery The ability to use Bows from horseback. The Maximum EL that a Character can use when ring from a mount is equal to his Horse Archery EL or his EL with the weapon, whichever is less.
EXAMPLE An archer has EL9 in Horse Archery and EL5 with the Composite Bow. With a Composite Bow, he will re using an EL of 5 when mounted.
The Characters Horse Archery skill is subtracted from the modier listed in the Combat section of Book Two for ring from a Moving Mount.
EXAMPLE The Archer above will subtract 9 from the modier listed for the Composite Bow.
2.5.7.1 Special Rules A) The shielding eect in 2 and 3 above does not apply 2.5.5 Miscellaneous Throwing Weapons against magic. It is negated against attacking creatures and weapon-users if the SB+(NWI(1)) or The weapons included here are Rocks, Bottles and whatever SB+WSB is greater than or equal to the shielding AV. else the Referee chooses to add or allow. The rules are as for other weapons, see 2.5.1. IMPORTANT Do not include the EL in calculating 2.5.6 Hand-to-Hand The Character is skilled in unarmed combat. The EL is used, as specied in 2.5.1, when the Character is ghting with his bare hands. The Hand-to-Hand ghter may not score additional damage against an armored, including natural armor, opponent unless his EL is greater than the AV or NAV of the targets armor.
EXAMPLE To gain a damage increase against a person in Plate Mail your EL must be 4 or higher. To gain it against a Dragon, NAV 6, the EL must be 6 or higher.
this factor. Do include it in determining wether the blow will break the weapon. (Only the portion of the EL that is applied defensively will ever be applied in any way in resisting breakage.) B) Damage and breakage rules are as specied for shields in Book Two of Powers and Perils. If two weapons are used defensively, both take damage if damage is scored. If the blow is sucient to break the weapon, when two are used, one is broken and the other takes 1 damage point. IMPORTANT In all cases when breakage occurs, and two weapons are blocking, the weapon with the lowest FV is the one that breaks. C) Only weapons with a base WSB of zero or less, excluding magic enhancements and special benets gained through specic uses, and a weight of two pounds or less, that are not solely missile weapons, may be used for this technique. EXCEPTION Unless the Referee specically allows it, only swords and sword form weapons can be used for this technique. Axes may not be. (They are light enough but do not have the physical dimensions necessary to be used eectively.)
The damage scored using this skill is detailed in Book Two. 2.5.7 Two-weapon Fighting Fighting with two weapons, or light weapons, is a unique style that can be used. The requirements to do so are: A) A two-weapon user must be trained in both weapons if they are dierent. B) A two-weapon user must complete a 10 expertise point course specically in using this technique. (Maximum EL = (St+D+A)/15, Cost to advance is NEL7). After completing the course, he will raise his two-weapon EL sperately from his skill in the weapons that he uses. (he gains expertise in the weapon(s) used and in twoweapon skill, when they are used in combat). C) A two-weapon user must have two, functional weapons, that t within the size limits required to use this skill, in order to use the technique once it is learned.
25
2 Character Skills 2.6.1 Architect Player Architects must specify whether the Character is a military or civilian architect. Both specialties allow him to design structures, create simple machines and engines and detect weaknesses or points of easy access in structures. Military architects use the skill at full value for military buildings and design. When either uses his skill in the others area, his EL applies at 1/2 value (rounded down). The cost to learn the other specialty, once the rst is known, is 75 expertise points. The starting EL in the second eld may not exceed the Current EL in the rst specialty.
OPTIONAL A second architect type, using the factors above, is the Naval Architect. This specialist learns to design and analyze the structure of ships. Within this specialty, the Referee should require specialization as either a military or civilian naval architect. This has the advantages stated above except it applies to shipping and facilities with a maritime function, i.e. wharves, piers, warehouses, quays, etc.
B) Subtract the EL2 when he tries to ambush someone. C) Subtract the EL3 when he Trails someone or tries to hide. D) The EL/3, rounded down, is added to the Characters OCV. E) All Assassins have the training specied in table 2.7 in addition to their Assassin skills. City-born Assassins are allowed to replace the City Survival increase for their skill with Underground II survival, to reect their knowledge of the citys sewers and labyrinths. Table 2.7: Additional Training for Assassins
Skill EL Skill EL Trailing Max.* City Survival Max.* Hand to Hand Fighting Max.* Climbing 1 Swimming 1 Rhetoric 1 *Max. = At the Maximum EL that he is currently capable of.
F) When an Assassin attacks from a successful ambush, the following damage results: The Character is skilled in the manufacture of weapons and armors. The eects are: Deadly hit (SB+1)D10+(EL as Assassin 2) + all normal Modiers. A) The Armorer may make a metal item on the Weapon Severe hit 2D10+EL as Assassin + all normal modior Armor table, or any item that is used as a weapon ers. or armor that does not require magic to produce. Normal hit 1D10+EL as Assassin/2 + normal modiB) If the AV or WSB of the item is greater than or equal ers. to the Armorers EL divided by 10, rounded up, he Shield hit As for Normal Hit above. may not make the item. For shields, the AV is divided Miss As for a normal Shield Hit. by 3 and rounded down. C) The time required to make an item is equal to the AV G) The Assassin will always add his EL, divided by 3, or WSB, plus 2, squared in days. For Shields, the value rounded down, to his EL with any weapon that he is is not squared. trained to use. D) The Armorer can evaluate a weapon or piece of armor 2.6.4.1 Restrictions as for the Artist. The Assassins Guild is strict. No Player Assassin may 2.6.3 Artist impart the secret knowledge and techniques of the Guild The Character is skilled in variuos media of artistic expres- to any non-member. If they do so, every member of the sion. The skill may be used to: Guild is obligated to kill him. A) Analyze the quality of Artwork Success will yield The Assassin should remain available to his Guild, so the value of the piece. Partial Success will give the that he may be assigned projects. The maximum station value within 20% in either direction. Failure will give of the target assigned will equal the Assassins EL+1. The a value within 100% in either direction. The Character price paid to him, by the Guild, equals the Station of the will believe any value determined to be correct. victim+1 squared in Silver Coins. (To take out a contract B) Create Art The Artist can produce valuable art- on someone, 1/2 this amount in Gold Coins must be paid). work. The cost of the materials will be determined by Assassins may contract on their own as long as the Guild the Referee based on what the artist wants to make. receives 50%, is appraised of the target and gives its perThe value of the nished piece will equal the cost of the mission. Failure to insure any of these will result in heavy materials times ((EL/20, rounded up)+1) The time re- Guild penalties, as determined by the Referee. quired to create the item is at the Referees discretion. 2.6.4.2 Guild Assassinations (Optional) 2.6.4 Assassin The basic amount that the Guild pays its assassins is only Entry into the Assassins Guild is restricted to the children of Assassins, persons sponsored by Assassins and individuals that inuence the Assassins and have promising characteristics. The chance of a Character being accepted is equal to his Maximum EL, using Maximum Ability ratings, times 6. If the attempt is made, and fails, the Character starts the game with the ill favor of the Guild. The Assassin skill gives the following benets: A) Subtract the EL from all Combat rolls. 20% of what they receive. While this is appropriate for thugs and inexperienced guild members, it is insucient for a Master Assassin (especially if he is a loyal guild member with a good reputation). If you agree, the fee paid by the Guild can be the base fee, plus an additional percentage equal to (EL3)5% or 40%, whichever is lower, of the total amount paid to the guild. The minimum payment will always be the base fee.
EXAMPLE The Guild receives 4GC to kill a merchant. The assassin chosen receives a base of 4SC to do the job. If his EL
2.6.2 Armorer
26
both environments, the character can judge currents and distances travelled by water, with a successful roll against his EL, and has a memory for landmarks and watercourses similiar to the Thiefs memory of maps and passages. SucNOTE Though it is not specied, it is logical to as- cess in both cases equals 100% accuracy, partial success is sume the Assassins Guild members would have safe houses 75% accuracy and failure is 50% accuracy. The other advantages of this skill are: and other facilities available to them, as specied for the Thieves Guild. Such facilities should be made available to 2.6.7.1 Open Waterway Boatman guild members. 1) Knowledge of creatures that can be encountered in wa2.6.5 Badlander terways. The Badlander is skilled in nding his way through unfa2) Waterway Survival, maximum EL currently possible. miliar and/or hostile terrain, seeking out trails and water 3) Starting EL with War Sta. sources and in avoiding or anticipating ambushes. They are 4) 40% chance of maximum EL currently possible with frequently loners who are employed as border guards and the Sling. guides. When Searching, Ambushing, Avoiding or Hunting, the 2.6.7.2 Swamp Boatman Badlander will add his EL/5 (round up) to his Survival skill 1) Maximum EL currently possible in Swamp Survival. in both Badlands and Desert terrain. The resulting increase 2) Knowledge of creatures that can be encountered in the may not more than double his eective Survival EL. He may Swamp. roll D100 against his EL to detect an ambush in these ter3) Starting EL with the Bow. rains before it is sprung. Success indicates that he is aware 4) 40% chance of maximum EL currently possible with of the ambush, knows where the enemy is coming from and War Sta. can alert other party members. Partial Success indicates that he is alert but cannot warn anyone else. Failure gives 2.6.8 Bowyer him no advantage; he is caught unaware. (Party members Skill in making bows. As for Armorer except the skill apthat are aware may strike on the rst phase of the ambush plies for bows. The time necessary to make a bow is 10 or roll to wake up immediately. This skill is only usable days for a Bow, 20 for a Longbow and 40 for a Composite when the Badlander is awake.) Bow. The EL, divided by 10 and rounded down, is subBadlanders have an increased chance of Waking Up in tracted from the number of days required. (For Crossbows, any environment. Their chance will be one level higher than the skill costs 60 expertise points. The time to make crossnormal, i.e. if the normal roll for the situation is W+Em, bows is Light 12 days, Heavy 16 days, Arbalest 24 days and the Badlander will roll against (W+Em)2. Repeating Crossbow, if possible in the area, 60 days.) All The other advantages gained through this skill are: times are based on the availability of the materials neces1) Tracking, maximum EL currently possible. sary, in the proper condition for their use. Where this is 2) The Badlander knows the basic creatures native to the not the case the Referee may increase the time required by Badlands and any legends about the Badlands nearest up to a factor of 20, i.e. up to 20 times the listed time. to his home. 3) 40% chance the Badlander speaks Dwarf Elder (EL NOTE If the Character is an Elven Bowyer he only equal to Current Empathy). If so, he is a dwarf friend. makes Elven Bows. The time to do so, as specied above, is 4) 10% chance of speaking Elf Sidh (EL equal to Current 90 days. (If he has to make or collect the necessary material himself it could take ve years to nish the bow.) Empathy). If so, he is a friend of the Searbhani. 5) Starting EL in both Sling forms. 2.6.9 Brewer 6) 60% chance maximum EL currently possible in FightAs for Vintner (see below) except the skill applies for beer, ing Dagger. 7) Maximum EL currently possible in Badlands Survival. ale and other brewed beverages. At EL61 and up, the Brewer has enough skill to make Peska if he has a formula 2.6.6 Blacksmith for it. A Blacksmith is skilled in simple iron working, i.e, making 2.6.10 Carpenter and repairing common iron items. He has no skill with weapons or armor and gains no advantage in analyzing these Per time that the Cost to Learn is paid, choose one of the items. He can make rough approximations of iron quality, following specialties: 1) Marine Carpenter, 2) Woodworker workmanship, etc. for iron items he examines. (If Armorers or 3) Builder. Each specialty costs the full Cost to Learn. wish to be Blacksmiths, they must buy this skill in addition The cost to learn all three forms of Carpentry is 30 expertise points. to their skill as Armorers.) A Marine Carpenter can make naval implements, judge 2.6.7 Boatman the quality of vessels and, given a known design and the This skill is divided into two types. Either the character materials, construct small vessels for carrying less than ten is skilled in lakes and open waterways or he is skilled in people in coastal or riverine waters. He may not build Swamps. The advantages that the character will gain varies ocean-going or larger vessels without the services of a Naval depending on the environment that the player chooses, In Architect.
27
2 Character Skills Woodworkers are skilled in making common items, i.e. barrels, furniture, etc. They can analyze the quality of various woods for durability, usefulness, etc. (Possibly quite important if you need to break down a door.) If the woodworker is also an artist, or has art knowledge, he can create exceptional pieces that could be worth a great deal. NOTE It is up to the Referee to handle the possible monetary gain from using this skill. In general, the most anyone would pay for an item made by a woodworker equals EL divided by 5, rounded down, in Copper Coins. If the character is also an artist the coin type is Silver and the formula is (Woodwork EL+Artist EL)/10, rounded down. Table 2.8: Climbing Table
Climbing Factor 2 to 0 1+2 3+4 5+6 7+8 9+10 1113 1416 1719 20+up 0 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% S S S S S= Diculty Level 1 2 3 30% 20% 10% 40% 30% 20% 50% 40% 30% 60% 50% 40% 70% 50% 50% 80% 70% 60% 90% 80% 70% S 90% 80% S S 90% S S S Success F = Failure 4 F 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 5 F F 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
A Builder is skilled in raising wooden buildings. He can analyze the features of these buildings. He may not build structures more complex than a peasant house unless he 2.6.12.1 Falls has a building plan or the services of an architect. When a climber fails, or fails to catch himself after Partial NOTE This skill can give the character advantages in Success, he will fall to the ground. If he catches himself spotting traps, strange features in buildings, secret doors, after Partial Success, he will fall 1D102 feet before he etc. It is also used to rig passable structures to shelter the catches himself. In all cases, the damage scored from a fall is determined using the following formula: party from the elements when they are in the wild. 2.6.11 Carrying The Character has learned economical ways of packing and ecient methods of lifting and carrying. The EL is added to the Portage Ability of the Character. It may never more than double that value.
EXAMPLE A Character has an EL of 34. His portage ability is 23 pounds. with this skill, the Portage Ability is increased to 46 pounds.
(1D6(Feet fallen/10, round up))EL In all cases, the minimum damage that can be suered from a fall equals the number of feet fallen, divided by 10, rounded down.
EXAMPLE Two Characters, EL3 and EL2, fall 17 feet o a wall. The damage roll for the rst is a 3, the roll for the second is a 2. The rst Character takes, (3(17/10)3, 3 hits. The second Character takes, (2(17/10)(2), 6 hits. OPTIONAL The Referee can modify the damage suered in a fall, if positive damage results, using table 2.9.
No Success Roll is taken with this skill. The Character will gain 1 Expertise Point per day that he uses the skill. 2.6.12 Climbing The Character is trained in climbing steep obstructions, i.e. walls, clis, mountains, etc. His Climbing Factor equals: EL+AB+((SB+StB)/2 rounded down) In climbing situations, the Referee will assign a diculty level to the object being climbed. The level will range from zero (easy) to ve (very dicult). The climbing factor is indexed against this diculty level in table 2.8 to determine the chance that the object is climbed successfully. If the Character that is climbing is not a trained climber, use an EL of 2 in determining the climbing factor above (Per 10 expertise points gained, the negative EL is increased by 1 until a starting EL of zero is reached). Partial Success with this skill indicates that the climber loses his grip but has a chance to regain it. Re-roll subtracting the climbers EL from the roll. If he succeeds, he does not fall. If he does not succeed, he falls. NOTE The Referee must verbally describe the area that the climber wishes to climb. This description should give the Player some indication of he diculty of the slope that he is considering climbing. If the climber has equipment, increase his success chance by as much as EL 10, depending on the quality of his equipment.
In all cases where the faller strikes a sharp or jagged object in falling, double the multiplier listed above. In using the multipliers, all fractions are dropped. EXAMPLE In the case above, the climbers fell onto a cobblestone alley, i.e. hard if the Referee is mean. The rst climber takes, 32, 6 hits. The other takes 62, 12 hits.
2.6.13 Clothier There are three types of clothiers, i.e. cloth workers, that Players may choose from. They are 1) Weaver, 2) Tailor and 3) Designer. The rst two are purchased at the cost above. To be a designer, the Character must be a Weaver and a Tailor and pay 20 expertise points for a starting level as a Designer. Weavers weave cloth, rugs, etc. They can judge the quality of woven cloth. Tailors can make garments, if cloth and a basic pattern are available. They can also determine the
28
2.6 Other Skills 2.6.16.3 Dancer The Dancer is skilled in the lithe, agile movements of the dance. Beyond the ability to perform for his bread, the training of the Dancer will have the following benets: A) Per increase in EL, beginning with EL0, increase Current Agility by one. If Agility reaches its Maximum 2.6.14 Deftness Ability it may not be increased further. The Character is a skilled Cutpurse and Pickpocket. SucB) The EL/2, round down, may be subtracted from any cess with this skill indicates that the purse is cut, or the problem solving roll in which Agility is used as one of pocket picked, without the victims knowledge. Partial Sucthe prime factors. cess means that the Pickpocket pulled away before failing. Failure indicates that the Character is caught in the act. 2.6.16.4 Musician The result of Failure can vary from a loud scream to an The Musician is trained to play one musical instrument. incandescent pickpocket, depending on the victim. (The After his initial training, he may learn the basics of one Referee can also apply Deftness in sleight of hand maneu- other at a starting level cost of 15 Expertise Points. vers, etc). If the Musician is also trained in Singing and Rhetoric, he is a Troubadour, not just a Musician. 2.6.15 Disguise Artist In these rules, Musicians may only use their talent to The Character is skilled at disguising his appearance. Sucperform. cess indicates that the Character cannot be recognized through his disguise. Partial Success indicates that his ap- 2.6.16.5 Singer pearance is obscured. Close friends, relatives and enemies A Singer is trained in the use of his voice and in the poetic will be able to recognize him for who he is. Strangers will ballads of his culture. To learn the ballads of another culnot be able to. Failure indicates that the disguise is obvious ture, he must speak the language and expend 20 Expertise to any perceiver. It will fool no one. The Referee will take Points. This will gain him a starting level in that cultures this roll. In all cases, unless the Character rolls less than music. his Intelligence, he will believe that his Disguise is perfect. In these rules, Singers may only perform. (If the Character is trying to appear to be someone specic, Partial Success is failure for the close friends and relatives 2.6.16.6 The Entertainment Table To determine success, roll 2D10, subtract your EL and add of the person that he appears to be.) any Crowd Type modier that applies on table 2.10. 2.6.16 Entertainer Training in one of ve crafts. The attributes are: 2.6.16.1 Acrobat If a Character is a Dancer, reduce the Cost to Learn Acrobatics to 20. On the Entertainment table Acrobats use the same line as Dancers. If a Character is both an Acrobat and a Dancer, subtract 1 per Acrobat EL/5 (rounded up) from his success roll as a Dancer and add one to the number of coins earned performing. In addition to performing, acrobatic training aects other abilities. The following advantages are gained: A) Increase DCV by EL/5 (rounded down). B) Increase Dodge Value by EL/3 (rounded down). C) An Acrobats Climbing Factor is increased by one whether he is a trained climber or not. This applies for all aspects of Climbing including falls. D) Acrobats add their EL to all uses of Deftness, and all Dexterity or Agility based saving throws, where precise body placement is important. 2.6.16.2 Actor All Actors gain EL0 in Rhetoric and a starting level as a Disguise Artist as part of their training. Their EL as Actors may be used as an additional factor when they use either of these skills.
EXAMPLE An Actor, EL6, has EL4 in Rhetoric. When he uses Rhetoric, he may apply an EL of 10 instead of 4.
quality of the workmanship of clothing. Designers have all the skills of Weavers and Tailors. They are capable of creating unique designs and can tell, from cut and style, where a particular garment is from (given experience in clothing styles of that area).
The crowd type, rolled randomly or determined by the events of the adventure, refers to the average station of the perceivers. On a 14 they are Peasants and Serfs, on a 57 they are Commoners, on a 8+9 they are wealthy tradesmen or low nobility and on a 10 they are high nobles. The Mod., or Modier, is added to the roll of 2D10 when the success roll is taken. If the result is * a roll must be taken on the Punishment Table (table 2.12).
EXAMPLE A Troubadour has an EL of 7. He is entertaining, roll 8, a Gentle audience. He rolls a 14. 147+4 is 11. He gains 1D6SC for his eorts.
If the actor gives performances to earn money, he will roll on the Entertainment Table.
29
2.6.18 Executioner An Executioner is skilled in killing bound or helpless targets and in the eective use of torture. The skill applies when the target is unaware of the Executioner or unable to defend itself. The eect is as specied in table 2.13. Table 2.13: Executioner Skill Eect
Type of Hit Scored Damage Plus Normal or Shield Hit* EL/2, round up Severe Hit EL Deadly Hit EL 2 *In this circumstance, any Shield Hit is a Normal Hit.
2.6.16.6.1 Explanation 1D6 FP You are pelted with this food. 1t is barely edible. xDx hits You are pelted with bricks, bottles, etc. and suer damage as a result. Gain 1D6 FP if it is a BB or CC audience. None The audience holds you in disdain but are too cultured to throw bricks or tomatoes. Evicted You are bodily removed from the stage, the building and, if it is a noble audience, the City. Lashed As for Evicted. You suer 1D10 hits from a thorough ogging. Tar and Feathers Hot Tar is spread on your body and feathers are ground into it. You are ridden out of town on a rail. All equipment is lost if you roll a 40 or less on D100. If not, it is put next to you when you are released. Take 2D6 hits in burns from the tar. Prison The Noble is not pleased. You are locked in his dungeon for 2D10 days. When this period ends, if you fail to inuence him, severe punishment will be meted out to you. Death The Noble is insulted by your performance. You are incarcerated for 1D6 days. At the end of this time, if you fail to inuence the Noble, you will be executed. If you inuence him, you are lashed. 2.6.17 Eroticist An Eroticist is a specialist in bringing pleasure to others. This skill is used, like Rhetoric, to convince others to do something the Eroticist desires. Though the name of the skill has sexual connotations, skill in that area is only part of this skill. The Eroticist is a personal companion, skilled entertainer and trained to nd out what a person needs to relax and then provide it. A fully trained Eroticist is a consumate entertainer, a perfect companion and something of a physical therapist. As part of this skill, the Eroticist gains the following advantages: A) Knowledge of natural materials and drugs that bring pleasure or ease pain. (Starting Level as Herbalist with knowledge restricted to the areas above only.) B) A Starting Level in Rhetoric. C) May learn Dancer, Singer and any Musician skill at 1/2 the normal Cost to learn. (If skills are not learned at the same time that Erotic training is taken this advantage is lost.) D) May use EL/5, rounded up, to give soothing massages for injured persons. The eect increases both StB and CB for healing by the number determined plus one. If the Eroticist does not have the oils and balms used with massages, reduce the eect by 50% rounded down.
When the skill is used against a defenseless or immobile target, the EL2 is subtracted from the attack roll. Torture allows the Executioner to question prisoners. The Prisoner will answer the question, with at least partial truth, if the Executioner rolls: (EL6)Victims Stamina/2) or less The time to torture and ask one question is 1D6 tactical turns. The damage inicted in doing so is 1D3 hit points. No Combat Experience is gained for damage scored in this way. The Executioner is capable of telling when he is bringing his subject close to death. He may stop at any time. The chance that the victim passes out is a percentage of his total hit points.
EXAMPLE The torturer has inicted 13 hits on a person that takes 20. There is a 65% chance that that person passes out. The person will be unconscious 1/2 hour per hit point inicted.
IMPORTANT The chance that the victim will pass out is calculated from the damage inicted per session. It is not cumulative. 2.6.19 Fletcher Skill in making arrows. This skill operates. for arrows and quarrels, as specied for the Armorer. The time to make an arrow is 1 day. (If the materials are available. If not he must acquire the metal points and leathers and make the shaft and nock.) 2.6.20 Forester The Character is skilled in forestry. He is able to judge the value of a stand of trees, as for the artist, and knows ecient methods of harvesting them. The Forester is skilled in Tracking, maximum EL currently possible, and has knowledge of the creatures that can be encountered in the forest. The creature skill allows him to recognize any creature that can be encountered in the forest. He will also know any legends or rumors about the forest nearest to his home city or village. The Forester has the ability to remember trails and landmarks, as for a Thiefs memory for maps and passages. His chance of success in this equals his EL, as specied for other skills above. There are chances that the Forester will have other special benets. Roll D100 for each entry on table 2.14.
30
Failure has no eect. Any savings are substracted from the winners winnings. 2.6.21.1.4 Complex In this form of the game each roll is compared to every other roll to determine who wins. In this way there can be more than one winner and loser. The basic procedure is as above except each person pays the dierence between his roll and any higher roll and collects the dierence between his roll and any lower roll. See the example below to see how this works.
EXAMPLE Five Players throw 42, 28, 20, 16 and 8 respectively. The following table results: Player 3(20) +22 +8 xxxx 4 12
All knowledge is gained without cost, it is part of the art of Forestry. 2.6.21 Gambler Gamblers are skilled in games of chance and sleight of hand tricks. They get a Starting Level in Deftness as part of this skill. They also have the following advantages: A) Gambler EL to his Deftness, he can cheat while Gambling. Successful cheats add EL3 to their gambling roll. If the Deftness roll is a Partial Success the Gambler adds his EL to the roll. If it is a failure he adds nothing. B) Without cheating, a Gambler may add his EL to his Gambling roll, reecting his familiarity with the sport and a learned ability to gure the odds. C) Gamblers have an increased chance of spotting cheaters and may roll Em+(Gambler EL5) to spot another professional while gambling. D) Gamblers can make and use devices that give the benets of 1 above without requiring a Deftness roll to cheat, i.e. marked cards, loaded dice, etc. 2.6.21.1 Gambling Made Easy The rules below are used to simulate a night of gambling for one or more players. Where the gaming is especially intense, the Referee may require the people involved to participate in up to three passes using these rules. When this should apply is left to the Referees discretion. 2.6.21.1.1 The Wager The Referee determines, based on the place and individuals involved, what coin type is being played for. When the game is player initiated, they can set the stake by convincing their would be pigeon to play at that level. Once the coin type is set it remains at that level for the entire game unless the situation changes it.
1(42) xxxx 14 22 26 34
This might change if Player 1 or 2 got caught cheating, especially if the stake is gold and Player 4 or 5 do the catching.
NOTE Cutting losses may be attempted here also. Success reduces the coin loss by EL2; Partial Success reduces it by the EL. Failure has no eect. Losses cut are divided evenly between all winners. In the case above, if Player 3 is an EL5 Gambler who succeeds in reducing his loss he loses 4 coins. Player 1 and 2 win 91 and 21 respectively. 2.6.21.1.5 Detecting a Cheater The basic factor for catching someone cheating is determined by adding City Survival+2Gambling. This is the net factor that you work with in catching him. If the cheater made his Deftness roll the chance to catch him equals the Net Factor. If the result is a Partial Success it is the Net Factor2. If he fails the chance equals the Net Factor4. From this factor, subtract the EL of the Gambler you are trying to catch.
EXAMPLE Evad the Deft (EL11) is playing three pigeons and a stranger. He decides to cheat. His opponents are City Survival 3, 6, 12 and 8. The stranger is an EL7 Gambler. Evad has a partial success on Deftness. The rst player cant catch him. The second player has a 1% chance. The third player has a 13% chance. The Stranger has a 33% chance.
2.6.22 Herbalist
Skill in recognizing medicinal plants and other natural material and preparing medicines from them. Success with the skill will indicate recognition or proper preparation of the item. Partial Success indicates that the Herbalist is 2.6.21.1.2 The Game The basic game requires each parunsure of his analysis and will require further study. In ticipant to roll 3D10. It can be played in simple or complex the other case, it indicates that the preparation is 20% too forms. The gambling modiers listed above are added to weak or too strong. The Referee will modify its eects by the roll of 3D10 to determine the number of coins won or 2D10% in either direction. If it is too strong, the Percentlost. age Change(C/5), round up, is the chance that it will kill 2.6.21.1.3 Simple In this game the high roller wins the the imbiber. If the Herbalist fails, he analyzes the item incorrectly or amount of his roll after all modiers have been added. Each loser pays an equal share of these winnings. Frac- produces a potion with the opposite eect of that desired. tions from division are dropped and paid by the partici- In either case, he will be sure that he has succeeded. (The pant with the lowest roll. Trained Gamblers may use their Referee must take this roll to insure the suspense of the EL10 on D100 (If the winner is a Gambler his EL3 is Player). subtracted from this chance). Success reduces their loss by EXAMPLE The Player nds Belladonna. He analyzes it as 50%, rounded down. Partial Success reduces it by one coin. Angelina. He will use it as such if circumstances call for the
31
2 Character Skills
benets gainable from Angelina. In making a healing potion, the Herbalist fails. The potion could be a virulent poison that will kill the imbiber if he takes it.
2.6.25 Jeweler Skill in the cutting, setting and evaluation of Gems, Jewels and Jewelry. The basic attributes are as for the Artist, except applying to these items. 2.6.26 Language of Another Race The maximum EL that can ever be attained in a Language of another race is 60. All rules are as for those specied in the following section. 2.6.27 Language of Your Own Race
2.6.23 Healer Skill in healing a specic race or species. The Healer must learn to care for his own race before any other intelligent race. He may learn to care for animals at 1/2 the cost specied, rounded up. He need not learn to care for Intelligent creatures rst. Healing that has value for one species or race will only have 1/2 value when used on another related species. (It has no value when the forms of the two species are totally distinct).
The ability to speak a tongue of the Players choice. All Characters start with a specied core of Language skill. EXAMPLE A healer is skilled in healing horses. He can apply These are the tongues that he was raised speaking or eduhis skill at 1/2 value on Donkeys and Mules. It has no value on cated in. The maximum EL that can be attained in a Native Humans, Dogs, etc. or Related Language is 80. If it is an unrelated tongue, or The eect of Healing Skill increases the Healing Chance the tongue of another race, the maximum is 60. For tongues by the EL2 and increases the Stamina Bonus by the EL/3, that are dead, i.e. for which no speakers can be found to rounded up. To gain this benet the Healer must have ac- teach it, the maximum is 40. cess to the Healing materials in a Healing Kit. (See Equip- EXAMPLE On Earth, two Language groups are Germanic ment List). If he does not, his skill is used at 1/2 value, and Swahili. All Germanic tongues are related to each other. rounded down. The increase applies only in Healing and A German speaker can much more easily understand a person only for one Healing Chance roll. If the Healer wants to speaking Dutch than he can a person speaking Swahili. Tbe continue treatment, he must stay and service the patient same is true in the reverse. each day until he is healed. To simulate the rules shown in the example, the following rules can be used: EXAMPLE A Character has StB +1 and HC 33. The Healer is EL7. When he uses his skill, in addition to the benet of any A) The Referee should establish Language families. medicines that he uses, the HC is increased by 14 to 47 and the Within each family, the member tongues are Related. StB is increased 3 to +4. If he has no materials the increases Outside the family, they are Unrelated. (See chapter 6 are 1 to HC and 2 to StB. for tongues that can be used). The Healer receives Expertise Points based on whether B) A person without knowledge of a Language will have the creature treated heals. If he heals, the Healer succeeds. a chance of Partial Success if that Language is related If he is not healed, the Healer fails. to his own, or one that he speaks. The chance equals the Characters Empathy. He gains no such benet for 2.6.24 Husbandry unrelated tongues. Skill in the care and training of a specic species of animal. C) The chance of success in understanding a Language Success yields a correct evaluation of the animals worth or that has been learned is equal to the EL of the Lisone command correctly taught. Partial Success yields an tener. Partial Success indicates 10+EL% understandevaluation that is in error by 20% in either direction or the ing of what is said. Failure indicates that nothing is incomplete teaching of a command. (50% chance that understood. the animal will respond. If the command is re- D) Extra time can be taken to insure understanding. If taught, the Husbandman can subtract 10 from his three times the normal time is taken by the Listener roll. The time to attempt to teach a command and the Speaker, the chance of success is doubled. is 2 days). Failure indicates that the value is o by 100% E) Key Words (Optional) The Referee may allow Charin either direction or the animal fails to understand the acters to learn Key words in the various tongues. The command and has a 50%(EL/2, round down) chance of cost to do so is 1/2 Expertise Point per word or 1 per attacking the Husbandman. short phrase. He will understand these items with an Only animals listed in the Equipment List, or that EL equal to his Empathy. It is always the Players the Referee specically allows, may be trained. The responsibility to keep track of the words and phrases number of commands that they can be trained to obey that he is familiar with if this option is used. is 1D6+Intellect, for Carnivores and Omnivores, and F) A Language may only be learned, beyond the key word 1D2*+Intellect for other animals. level, if the Player gains access to a person that has The cost for a Husbandman to gain a new specialty, once Native Fluency in it, i.e. an EL of 80. he has the basic skill, is 20 Expertise Points for a Starting Level. To gain these points, he must have continual access 2.6.28 Locksmith to a sample of the species throughout his training. Skill in making and opening non-magical locks. The chance Without separate training as a Healer, the Husbandman to open a lock made by another Locksmith is equal to the can use healing arts on species that he is trained for. The Openers EL. Success opens it, Partial Success allows anHealing EL equals his EL in Husbandry divided by 20, other try, Failure means that the Locksmith does not have the skill to open it. rounded up.
32
2.6 Other Skills A Locksmith may always open a lock of his own construction. (A craftsman has his own trade secrets, he will always know the secret to opening his own locks). A Locksmith can construct locks, including locks that have triggers to spring traps if they are tampered with. A Trap Lock is triggered whenever a person fails in his attempt to open it. The chance that it will be triggered is equal to 20 plus the EL of the Locksmith that made it minus the EL of the opener. If the result of this formula is zero or less, the opener is too skilled to fall for that simple a trap. 2.6.29 Mason All Miners will have the maximum EL currently possible in both forms of Underground Survival. They will have a 40% chance of speaking the Dwarf tongue. If they do, the EL equals their Empathy and they are considered a friend by the Dwarfs. 2.6.32 Moneylender In most civilized societies, the lending of money for prot is considered to be an immoral and dishonorable profession. If your station is 6 or higher, or if you are not human, you may not gain this skill. It is beneath you. Characters that violate this rule, and that are found out, are generally disowned.
A skilled stone-worker. Masons must choose between 1) Stonelayer, 2) Stonecutter and 3) Brick Mason. Each time 2.6.32.1 Campaign Moneylending that the skill is purchased, one of these skills can be gained. A) The interest rate that a Moneylender will charge is based on the station of the person in the society. TraStonelayers know how stones are put in place in building. ditional practice is that the Higher the status of the Stonecutters can cut and shape blocks of building stone Debtor, the Lower the rate of interest. All interest and other crude stone artifacts. Brick masons know how to rates charged are monthly rates. Moneylenders are make bricks and mortar and lay them in place. Stonelayers not required to abide by the traditional rates. and Brick masons can analyze structural features of stone or A standard chart of traditional rates is found in tabrick buildings that apply to their skill, i.e. notice strange ble 2.15. textures or material, pick up anomalies in the building that might conceal a door, trap, etc. Stonecutters can analyze the shape of the buildings stones to get a clue about hidden Table 2.15: Moneylending structural features. Monthly Maximum Loan 2.6.30 Merchant Merchant characters are skilled bargainers, experts in the sale and analysis of a specic commodity and excellent traders. As part of this skill, the Character receives a Starting Level in Rhetoric and Read and Write (a foreign tongue he speaks if he can already write his own). B) All loans must be repaid within 12 months. If not, the Characters must select a precise category of goods that lender and his minions may take action to collect either they can buy and sell. His EL+20 is used in analyzing the Money or Vengeance. quality and value of this commodity. His unmodied EL C) The EL of the Moneylender is his chance of convincing may be used with related commodities. His EL/2 can be the person to accept his terms. Per point that the rate used for items made with related methods or materials. (If exceeds tradition, add 2 to this roll. Per point that the merchant sells some type of animal, this chance can be it is less, subtract 3. Both modiers are based on the used with other animals, i.e. a horse merchant looking at a maximum rate that is traditionally charged. mule gets this chance, looking at a dog, bird or lizard he EXAMPLE Vobal the Dancer, station 6, wants a 40GC loan. does not.) Galtan the Pelaran, EL76, convinces him to pay 10% per month.
EXAMPLE You are a merchant. As a person, you are interested in weapons. You choose to specialize in Heavy Swords. You have EL+20 chance looking at any Heavy Sword, EL chance with all Swords and Daggers and EL/2 with any other bladed weapons (including those made by another race). In another case, the player likes horses. He wants to choose horses as his specialty. He cant. He must select a specic class of horse, i.e. riding, war or draft. He gets EL+20 for that type, EL for all other Horses and EL/2 for all other Equines (Mules, Burros, Sri Eponi, etc). His chance was 76((105)2), 66%. Station 0+1 24 6 10 Rate 2240% 1120% 15% 13% (Unsecured) 10GC 30GC 60GC 100GC
NOTE Moneylenders can have an underground society for exchanging information with each other. They may also have a strong connection to the Assassins Guilds in their areas. They are noted for hiring Thugs and Assassins to exact payment or vengeance for past due debts. 2.6.33 Mountaineer (Hillman)
Like the Boatman skill, a character must specialize; in this NOTE For an additional 20 expertise points, the player case the Mountains or Hills. In both eases the characmay select humans as his commodity. In this case, he gains ter can judge heights and distances and has a memory for a Starting Level as an Executioner as well and is a Slaver. landmarks similiar to a Thiefs memory of maps. A Mountaineer/Hillman has a chance equal to his EL to know where 2.6.31 Miner he is, relative to where he had been and where he wants to Skill in extracting metals and other wealth from mines. The go. With success, he can retrace his steps and/or plot the Miner can recognize raw ores and gems when be sees them most ecient route from where he is to where he wants to and determine a rough value for them, within 20% of their be. Success, Partial Success and Failure have the meaning actual value. (This only applies when they are in the Ore specied for Boatman above. The seperate skills of each form or uncut). career are as follows:
33
2 Character Skills 2.6.33.1 Mountaineer 1) Knowledge of the creatures that can be encountered in the Mountains. 2) Maximum EL currently possible in Climbing. 3) 40% chance of speaking Dwarf Elder (starting EL equals Current Empathy). If so, he is a Dwarf friend and gains a starting EL in both forms of Underground Survival. 4) Starting EL with Throwing Spear. 5) 40% chance maximum EL currently possible with one type of Heavy Sword or Axe (players choice). 6) Maximum EL currently possible in Mountain Survival. 2.6.33.2 Hillman 1) Knowledge of the creatures encountered in the Hills. 2) Starting EL in Climbing. 3) 40% chance of speaking Elf Sidh (starting EL equals Current Empathy). If so, character is an elf friend and gains a starting EL in Forest Survival. 4) Starting EL with Throwing Spear. 5) Maximum EL currently possible in Hill Survival. 6) 40% chance maximum EL currently possible in Sword or Hand-to-Hand skill (players choice). 2.6.34 Navigation Skill in plotting the course of seagoing vessels. The EL is the chance, rolled per week, of success in following the intended course. Partial Success indicates that the vessel goes o course but the Navigator discovers the error after 1D2 days of sailing in a random direction. Failure indicates that the vessel is o course in a random direction until the next time that the Navigator has Success, i.e. at least one week. The Navigator will know the layout of the major waterways and ports within 20 miles times his EL of his home port. Navigation skill is used to ght o Storms. (See Storms in the Encounter section). A Navigator has the maximum EL currently possible in Ocean Survival without additional cost. 2.6.35 Potter The Character is skilled with ceramics. The skill may be used to make ceramic items or analyze the value of Ceramics as specied for Artists. 2.6.39 Explanation yes indicates that factor should be dened for the specialty selected. no means that it need not be (but you may wish to do so anyway). The denition of factors 1, 2 and 3 are 2.6.36 Read and Write as specied below: The ability to read and write the written form of a language 1 The physical area, nation or group the scholar studies. that you can speak. If you do not have an instructor for 2 The specic type of item or specialty within the class that this, once the game has started, double the cost to gain the is studied. skill. 3 A general historical epoch the scholar concentrates on. The skill is used, in all particulars, as for Language. EXAMPLE The player wants to be an Art Scholar. He must 2.6.37 Rhetoric Skill in the persuasive use of Language. The EL is added to the Inuence Chance of a Character. It is also added to his minimum Inuence Chance. With the appropriate factors dened, the scholar will have EXAMPLE The Inuence Chance is 40%. The Minimum a precise specialty that can be used in play. His EL is his Chance is 10%. If the Rhetoric EL is 7, the Inuence Chance is chance of analyzing that area. Half his EL, rounded up, is 47% and the Minimum Chance is 17%. his chance for dealing with closely related areas.
dene the specialty studied. He chooses Sculpture (He could have chosen Painting, Ceramics, Mosaic Art, etc.) Though it is not neccesary, he also denes his primary interest as being the sculpture of the Elici 10th Dynasty to esh out his skill. Specialty Area History Metaphysics Art Architecture Theology Mathematics Geology Geography Linguistics Medicine Another Race Astrology Antique Coins Clothing Myths and Legends 1 yes no no no yes no yes yes yes no yes no yes no yes
2.6.38 Scholar Scholars have a developed mastery of a specic eld of knowledge. All Scholars receive their Maximum Level in Reading and Writing any two languages or any one archaic language and a Starting Level in one Scholar specialty of their choice. The languages chosen must bear a logical relationship to the Scholarly specialty chosen by the player. After the Cost to Learn specied above is paid, and the rst specialty is gained, the Character can gain a Starting Level in a related specialty at a cost of 25 expertise points and any other specialty at a cost of 50 expertise points.
EXAMPLE The scholars specialty is art, i.e. paintings. He can gain sculpting for 25 expertise points. It will cost him 50 to become a historian.
The ability of the Scholar allows him to recognize items from within his area of interest and, with successful analysis, to determine their approximate age, value, area of origin and signicance. Players must be precise in dening their specialty such that it covers a specic type of item or knowledge. Some basic specialties that can be used are listed in table 2.16. Table 2.16: Specialties for Scholars
Denition Required 2 no yes yes yes no yes yes yes no yes yes yes no no no 3 yes no no yes no no no no yes no yes no yes yes yes
34
2.6 Other Skills IMPORTANT This skill requires the player to logically dene the skill he wants to have. The Referee will set the level of denition required. A scholar specialty should never be taken without such forethought and analysis. No Scholar skill gives the character any talent in making or fashioning the item studied or any advantage in the use of any other skill, i.e. an art scholar is not an artist, though he can be if he acquires the appropriate skill. Sign Language will only have value when used with Intelligent, Humanoid races. (Key signs can be learned, as for key words). 2.6.44 Smuggler
Smugglers are skilled in concealing items to prevent them from being found. In addition to the basic skill, Smugglers have a starting level in the Merchant specialty of their choice and a starting level as an Actor (Actor only. To 2.6.40 Scribe gain the other skills that go with it, the Actor skill must Characters must know how to read and write before they be bought. If it is, the Smuggler gets a maximum level learn this skill. Scribes are skilled copyists and calligra- as an Actor and a starting level in Disguise and Rhetoric.) phers. Once the basic skill is gained in their native writing Smugglers gain the following advantages in play: form, they gain it for the unique styles of other cultures at A) devices hidden by others. a cost of 15 expertise points per culture. A scribe can tell, B) chance that others can detect them, given available from the writing style used, what culture a writer is from space and a way to do it. (To hide an item perfectly the (if they know that style, if not they know he isnt from the smuggler must specify how he is hiding the item, roll local area). In addition, because of the beauty of his writsuccess and have enough time to hide it as specied.) ing, his documents, when intended to inuence the reader, The Referee may modify a Searchers success chance carry more weight. Add his EL/5, rounded up, to the Inbased on how well the item is hidden, the roll and how uence Chance of the person who originated the message. much of the necessary time the Smuggler actually had (The Inuence chance can never be more than doubled in to hide the item. this way.) C) They add their EL/5, rounded up, to anyones roll to nd them if they try to hide or try to avoid an en2.6.41 Seaman counter. A trained seaman is skilled in the various crew tasks common on a seagoing vessel. ln addition, he may ght on the In 1 and 2 above the Smuggler uses his EL as his chance. deck of a ship without reduction in Combat Value. Any When the person trying to detect hidden items is also a person that is not a Seaman will reduce his OCV, DCV trained smuggler, the Smuggler may subtract his EL/2, and all weapon ELs, by 50% rounded up when ghting on rounded up, from that Smugglers roll to nd the item. the deck of a moving ship. A Seaman has the maximum EL currently possible in 2.6.45 Survival Experience in surviving the various environments that exist Ocean Survival without additional cost. in the game. Survival skill is gained in the following specic 2.6.42 Servant environments separately. Each has its own special rules and The Servant professions, each acquired separately, are valuable knowledge to be learned. House Servant, Cook, Barber, Gardener, etc. (Servants such as maids, butlers, waitresses, etc. are House Servants.) Scrounger Waterway Ocean Swamp House servants are skilled in dealing with people, general Underground I City Mountain Lower World Underground II Forest Hill Upper World cleaning and (EL40 and up) managing house aairs. Cooks Plains Jungle Badlands Desert are trained in the culinary arts. They gain some advantage in detecting unusual undertastes, such as a poison. Barbers are trained in personal hygiene maintenance. Their knowl- Underground I is survival learned in natural caves and cavedge, in most civilized lands, includes knowledge of cosmet- erns. Underground II applies for manufactured mines, dunics as well as common hair-styles. Gardeners are skilled in geons, mazes, etc. Waterway Survival is the basic survival skill operating on waterways and lakes. Ocean Survival apcaring for plants and in landscaping. plies for Ocean environments, sea voyages and other like NOTE If you wish to create other service professions, areas. assign the basic skills logically. The basic factors should be The survival EL is used in Hunting, Ambushing, avoiding as specied above. For all of these skills, the practices and ambushes and avoiding encounters. Per day of surviving in items they are uent with are those that are native to their a given terrain 1 Expertise Point is gained. This is assigned culture. The full Cost to Learn must be paid to gain the to the terrain in which it is earned only. skill for the practices of any other culture. Until it is paid, use the existing EL at 1/2 value. Afterwards, the existing EL may be used at its full value. 2.6.43 Sign Language 2.6.45.1 Scrounger This allows the character to nd what he wants near or in human habitations. It has no value anywhere else. The The ability to communicate general concepts non-verbally. basic attributes of the skill are as follows: 1) When hunting for food, the Scrounging EL is subThe EL is the chance of success, as for Language. If the tracted from the success roll, i.e. if the EL is 4 and the person that you are trying to communicate with does not roll is a 32, the rol1 becomes a 28. (Only the highest know Sign Language, the best possible result when the skill Scrounger EL applies.) is used will be Partial Success.
35
2 Character Skills 2) Add the EL2 to the Availability Chance for an item that the Scrounger tries to nd in a market or elsewhere in a human habitation. 3) Subtract the EL from the roll when searching for anything in a city or town environment. This skill may only be learned by a person who has City Survival. It may not be used at an EL higher than the characters current EL in City Survival. It is used at 1/2 value, round up, in areas that the Scrounger does not have personal knowledge of or where he does not speak the native language of the area. 2.6.46 Swimming divided by the AV and rounded down. If the adjusted MR is zero, the Character sinks. He does not have sucient expertise to ght the increased weight. NOTE This rule is optional. The Referee may specify that the armor wearer sinks automatically. 2.6.46.4 Swimming Underwater On the rst two phases underwater, if the Character dives in, his swimming speed will equal his MR. At all other times, the speed swimming underwater will equal 50% of the MR, rounded up.
The Character has learned to swim for distance on the sur- 2.6.46.5 Turning face and survive for short periods under the water. Ta- When a swimming Character turns more than 45 degrees ble 2.17 lists the factors that apply: his speed is reduced to zero for one phase. In that phase, he may not move. Table 2.17: Swimming Table NOTE All rules and restrictions above apply to humanoid form creatures that are swimming unless they are Turns* Phases* Drowning fully adapted to an aquatic existence. The Referee may creEL Swimming Underwater Chance MR ate other rules as he believes they are necessary. 0 25 2 15% 3
1 30 4 14% 2 40 7 13% 3 60 10 12% 4 90 13 11% 5 130 16 10% 6 180 20 9% 7 240 24 8% 8 320 28 7% 9 400 32 6% 10 500 36 5% 11 620 40 4% 12 750 43 3% 13 900 45 2% 14 1100 46 1% 15 1300 47 1% 16 1500 48 1% *Add the Characters StB2 to these factors. 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 8 9
2.6.47 Thief In the Skill Table, the unparenthesized value is the cost to learn the skill from the Guild. The other value is the cost for free lance thieves. A Thief will have the following skills: A) chance equals the EL. Success is indelible, 100% accuracy, Partial Success is 20% inaccuracy and Failure is 50% inaccuracy. B) Maximum EL currently possible in City Survival and Climbing. City-born Thieves are allowed to replace the City Survival increase for their skill with Underground II survival, to reect their knowledge of the citys sewers and labyrinths. C) Gain Trailing, Deftness and Locksmith at a starting level as part of training. D) With a roll as for (1) above, the Thief can memorize passages that he passes through. 2.6.47.1 Restrictions
2.6.46.1 Drowning When the number of turns swimming, or phases underwater, is exceeded the Character has a chance to drown. Per turn swimming or phase underwater, the Character will roll his drowning chance. Per additional increment of time, the listed drowning chance is added to the accumulated drowning chance, i.e. after three turns on the surface, after becoming fatigued, a Character with EL9 will have an 18% chance of drowning.
If the Character is a Free Lance Thief, all Guild Thieves are his enemies. Guild Thieves have access to Guild Halls, safe houses and fences through their guild. They must pay the Guild 40% of the prot from any theft. To be a Guild thief, the Character must be accepted. The chance equals his maximum EL as a thief. If he is refused, he will never be accepted. Thieves that fail to give the Guild their cut lose all priv2.6.46.2 Untrained Swimmers ileges and are expelled, at best. Free lancers are subject to Persons that do not know how to swim will be fatigued from death, the Guild will pay 1SC per EL of any free lance thief the rst turn of swimming. Their drowning chance is 20% taken down by a member. per turn, or phase underwater. They will have a swimming speed of 1. 2.6.48 Tanner 2.6.46.3 Armor and Swimming No Character may swim in any armor whose AV exceeds the Characters SB/3, rounded down. Any Character that attempts to do so will be fatigued immediately and will have four times his normal drowning chance while the armor is worn or carried. While swimming in armor the MR is Skill in working leather, tanning and fashioning leather items. If the Tanners EL is greater than 40 he is capable of making serviceable Leather Armor. He can analyze common leather items and tell leather from other like materials, i.e. he knows which is leather though he may not know what the items that arent are made of.
36
2.7 General Knowledge 2.6.49 Teamster Skill in driving wagons and carts, caring for animal harnesses and, if twice the normal cost is paid, taking care of draft animals. The Teamster can analyze the quality of a wagon, cart or harnesses. He can also tell how good a team is, i.e. the quality of the animals, how well-trained they are in working together, etc. If he learns to care for animals, his Healing EL for common draft animals (horses and oxen) equals his EL as a Teamster divided by 20 and rounded up. 2.6.50 Tracking Skilled watermen may navigate on inland waterways, handle swift currents and avoid water obstacles in inland waterways and lakes. They may use their Watercraft EL at 1/2 value when sailing in the open sea, i.e. operating as Seamen. (The same applies for Seamen when they sail on inland waterways and lakes.) Finally, watermen will have some training in maintaining and repairing small vessels. Their success chance doing either is equal to their EL.
The ability to follow, or obscure, a trail in a non-city enviIt is possible to utilize some of the abilities gained from ronment that the Character has survival skill in. The EL2 certain skills without fully mastering that skill. For our is added to the chance to follow a trail or subtracted from purposes, this is called General Knowledge. It indicates the chance that a pursuer can follow it. that the Character has not sought to, or yet been able to, 2.6.51 Trailing master a given skill but he has learned certain things to The ablity to follow someone in a City environment. The his benet. Persons who gain General Knowledge in a skill chance of maintaining contact equals the EL. Success indi- determine the costs, benets and restrictions below: cates that contact is maintained and the target is unaware 2.7.1 Restrictions that he is being followed. Partial Success allows another A) Not allowed for any Combat skill. roll. Failure indicates either that contact is lost or that B) Not allowed for any skill with a cost to learn less than the person becomes aware of the follower. In failure, the 20. follower is not aware that the blew it until he cant nd his C) Skill gained is subject to Referee interpretation. victim or is amhushed by him. D) General Knowledge of this kind may not be gained in If a victim is followed successfully, the skill may be used Survival or Language skills. It is only applicable toto set an ambush for him. A separate roll, as above, is wards skills that have multiple applications or benets. required for this. The person ambushed must be a person that the Character has trailed successfully or that he knows 2.7.2 Cost passes a certain place at a certain time dependably. The cost for General Knowledge with a given skill is 1/2 of the Cost to Learn that skill completely, rounded up. Where 2.6.52 Vintner it is gained in play, the time to learn is as for any other The character is skilled in making wine and analyzing the training. quality of wines. The EL is used to determine his chance of success in this analysis. The quality of wine that he makes 2.7.3 Benets is based on his EL as in table 2.18. The character is able to use one specic attribute of the skill as if he had full training. He may not use any other Table 2.18: Wine Quality attribute of the skill in any way. The Starting and Maximum ELs for the knowledge gained are as nornal for the EL Quality skill. The Cost to Increase EL is 1/2 that specied for the 120 Poor skill, rounded up.
2150 5170 7180 Good Fine Exceptional EXAMPLE Merda Redoris apprenticed to a Jeweler before he ran o to become a soldier. He did not master the art, but he learned how to analyze the value of gems. He has EL43 in Analyzing Gems. He knows none of the other skills associated with the trade. Wal-Azabars father was once an entertainer and acrobat. When he retumed to the desert, he decided to teach his sons ways to position themselves in defense. Wal-Azabar has EL6 Acrobat only usable for DCV increase.
(The quality yielded above is, of course, dependent on the availability of the proper equipment, aging time and materials. No one can make exceptional wine from junk grapes.) NOTE In making any item the time stated is for making that item and doing nothing else. If some other action is taken, double the time required to make the item, i.e. per day doing something else as well you get 1/2 days progress on the item. 2.6.53 Watercraft The character is trained to perform tasks common in operating small boats. He may ght from these boats without reduction of his OCV or DCV. (Those without this skill reduce both values and their weapon EL by 50% when ghting from a small boat.)
2.7.4 Further Education If the person with General Knowledge decides to study further, the expertise allocated to gaining General Knowledge can be applied towards the cost to gain that skill. However, no expertise gained from using the General Knowledge may be applied to further studies in the skill. They are only applicable to the Characters use of his General Knowledge.
EXAMPLE Junal the Binder has EL65 in repairing weapons with his Armorer General Knowledge. He decides to become a real armorer. His cost to get the General Knowledge is his starting point for progressing. The expertise he has gained in repairing weapons is ignored in this. Second, with his attributes
37
2 Character Skills
Junals starting level is 40. He has EL65 in repairing weapor still and EL40 in all other skills of an Armorer.
NOTE How the Referee chooses to use this rule is at his discretion. Its purpose is to give Referees and Players the ability to esh out character personas as reasonably as possible. It also adds a new layer of realism to the game. It is reasonable to assume that people who deal often with a given set of circumstances or a certain class of thing pick up some knowledge relevant to those dealings. It is not completely reasonable to assume that every such person will, or can, master the skill or skills necessary to possess all of that knowledge. This rule allows you to simulate this fact. Properly used it should increase your ability to create characters that are complete individuals.
38
3.2 Equipment
The following tables delineate the common items that may be purchased. Should you desire to include others, base their value on the values set for these other items. 1 Gold Coin = 10 Silver Coins IMPORTANT All weapons that are purchased include 1 Silver Coin = 10 Copper Coins any quiver, sheath or other covering that is commonly used 1 Copper Coin = 10 Brass Bits with that weapon. Where the Referee considers that a 1 The weight of Coins is /8th of an ounce. The weight of holder or covering that a Player desires is not standard, he the Brass Bit is 1/16th of an ounce. Money is also available may charge more for the weapon to reect the cost of that in bar form, i.e. ingots. The standard weight of a bar is 5 item. pounds, i.e. 80 ounces or 640 coins of the type. (For the X In some tables a factor is listed in Cost and/or Weight. The listed factor is multiplied times the cost listed for BB, a bar is 1280 Brass Bits). the general or normal form of the item desired. The 3.1.1 Economic Variation (Optional) result is the base for that item. In a world with widely spread and sometimes isolated culEXAMPLE The player has a chance to have his Character buy a magic Scimitar. The cost is 5SC100, 500SC. tures, there is no guarantee that the items that have value in one culture have the same value in another. NOTE The Equipment tables represent an eort to proEXAMPLE With a bar of Gold, you are extremely wealthy duce an organized, extensive and comprehensive table of in a land where Gold is prized. Where Iron is the valued metal, equipment. If these tables do not contain items that you you could be a near pauper. desire to include, they should be added based on the values listed for related items. 3.1.1.1 Rarity and Value 3.2.1 Armor and Weapon Tables The prime indicators of value are: Type The general family of weapons that the Character A) Rarity. must be skilled in to use the weapon at EL0. B) The importance of the material in the culture. WSB In all cases where a weapon is used to re a projectile, C) The Cultural value of the items that it is used to prothe WSB of the attack equals the WSB of the weapon duce. plus the WSB of the projectile.
EXAMPLE In a culture with little Native Iron, a dedication to Warfare and a disdain for personal ornamentation, iron would far exceed Gold in value. Brass could easily be the second most valuable metal. EXAMPLE When a handle sling is used to cast a stone the WSB is, +1+(1), zero.
Armor Value Armor A factor that is subtracted from damage scored 3.1.1.2 Exchange Value against the armor wearer. The material that is the primary means of exchange in a Helmets The +X factor, as for Armor above, is only culture must be one that is suciently common to provide applied when a Severe or Deadly hit is scored an adequate supply for all its people. Thus, in the standard against the wearer. culture, Copper and Brass are the medium of Common exShields The value is the number of hit points that the change, i.e. most prevalently used in day to day society. shield will block if it is hit. 3.1.1.3 Variation For Variation, the Referee must determine 1) The Rarest Valued Material, 2) The most common material. The Rare Material is placed at the top of the exchange, the common material is placed at the bottom. Other items uctuate in value between these points.
EXAMPLE The City state of Dirllar* 1 1 1 1 Silver Coin = 1 Gold Coin Gold Coin = 10 Brass Bits Brass Bit = 5 Copper Coins Copper Coin = 1 ounce of Salt
3.2.1.1 Armor Encumberance (Optional) If a Character is knocked o his feet while in Armor there is a chance that he will be unable to get up. If his Strength, times two, is not greater than the weight listed for the Armor it will take him a full turn to rise without assistance. If it is equal or greater, it will take him one phase to rise, spent doing nothing else.
EXAMPLE To regain your feet in one phase while you are wearing Chainmail, a Strength of at least 13 is required.
3.2.2 Animals 3.2.2.1 Carrying Capacity Table 3.1 gives the Portage factors for animals that can be saddled or harnessed, The amount listed is the amount that they can carry or pull, in pounds, without a speed reduction.
*Silver and Gold are Rare, Salt is the Common medium of exchange.
39
I II III IV
EXCEPTION Animals that are classed as Highly trained or Superior will only obey a command if it is given by their master. They will ignore any other persons orders. For this exception to apply, the master must train with the animal when it is taught the commands. Otherwise, regardless of ownership, he will not be considered to be the master by the animal. 3.2.2.3.1 The Commands The Referee can vary the meaning of commands as he desires. Samples of commands that t within the narrow range that must apply are listed in table 3.2. Table 3.2: Animal Commands
Sit* Stay Come Go Kill* Hold* Protect* Heel Play Dead* Freeze Release Fetch* *These commands cannot be learned by Warhorses or other Herbivores unless the Referee specically allows it.
These values apply for the Average representative of the species or type. Larger or smaller members of the various types will increase or decrease these values based on the parenthesized value, if any.
EXAMPLE In rolling for the quality of a Warhorse I purchased, a 99 is rolled. It is double value. When saddled, it can carry 240 (80) without speed reduction, 402 is the parenthesized value and is added to the unparenthesized value.
3.2.2.1.1 Table Explanation Values listed that are not in parentheses in the Saddled column represent the weight of the rider and all items that he has on his person. The value in parentheses is the maximum weight that can be carried in saddle bags, or other containers, behind the rider. If no such weight is carried, add this value to the rider weight. In the Harnessed column, this is the total weight in a Wagon or Sledge, including the weight of the Wagon or Sledge, that the animal can pull. Beyond this value, additional animals will be required or speed reduction will occur. NA indicates that the animal is never used in this way. 3.2.2.2 Speed Reduction Per 10% over the limit above, reduce the animals speed by 10% rounded down. If an animal is pulling a Wagon or Sledge, its speed is 80% of that listed for it in Book Three, rounded down. IMPORTANT When animals pull as a team, their pulling weights, Harnessed, are totalled. If the individual animals are not trained to work together, reduce this total value by 30%, rounded down. For movement, the MR of a team of animals is based on the MR of its slowest member, as specied above.
EXAMPLE An animal with a speed of 24 is pulling a Wagon. Its maximum rate will be 18. Reductions are based on this gure if the wagon is overloaded.
Where it is specied that an animal can be given verbal 3.2.3 General Explanations commands, the commands are general actions to be done Cost The base price of an item. As for money, this value can be varied for rarity. It may be increased or deby the animal. The master learns key words and symbols creased by up to a factor of 5. that have been taught to the animal. When a specic signal is given, the animal performs the action that it associates EXAMPLE A suit of Plate Mail can range in cost from 9GC to 225GC. I would be 9GC in a great Armor center with that signal.
3.2.2.3.2 Command Eect Sit The animal will sit on its haunches until it is released from the command. Stay The animal will stay where it is until it is released. Come The animal goes to its master by the fastest route possible. Go The animal leaves its master by the fastest route possible, but stays in earshot. Kill The command is accompanied by a gesture. The animal will attack the target indicated by the gesture until it is released or the target is dead. Hold As for Kill except the animal will grab the indicated victim and hang on until released. If a fetch command is given as well the animal will attempt to bring the victim to its master. Protect The animal will guard the area, specically to protect its Master. It will threaten anything that enters a 10 area, with the master at the center except for persons and animals excluded by the master. It will always attack if its threats are not heeded. Heel The animal will follow the master on his right side until released or given other orders. Play Dead The animal will lie motionless until released. Freeze The animal immediately ceases all movement and activity. It will remain motionless until released. Release A general command that releases the animal from other orders. The animal will stop doing whatever it was doing as a result of the original command. Fetch The animal will bring the master the item indicated. The item to be brought must be in plain sight or, as the Referee determines, clearly known to the animal.
40
and 225GC in a place where it is not made and seldom seen. EXAMPLE Factor variation is an amount that the base price can be reduced or increased. In example, a book can range from 3SC to 30GC in cost.
Weight The weight of the item in pounds. If x/x is the listing, the rst number is the weight, the second is the number of items that total to that weight.
EXAMPLE 1/4/12 indicates that 12 feet of the material weighs 1/4 pound.
Avail. The chance that the item is available. This roll is not taken in the Set-up of a Character. It should be taken once play begins. Avail.* As Avail. except the roll should be taken in the Set-up also. Strength A factor that is added to damage scored in combat. To use it, the Characters SB must be at least equal to that listed for the weapon. EXCEPTION The SB of the player does not matter for use of parenthesized strength values. They are received as part of the weapons use in particular situations. Fatigue If the optional Weapon Breakage system is used, Fatigue is the basic resistance of a weapon.
41
+10 on roll to hit when thrown. Usable while mounted. As for Short Sword The parenthesized WSB applies when used while charging and mounted. As for Scimitar The parenthesized WSB applies when charging on foot. No restriction when used while mounted. The parenthesized WSB applies when charging on foot. +5 on attack roll when used while mounted. The parenthesized WSB applies when charging on foot. Not usable while mounted.
22SC 18SC
70% 80%
12 9
+1(+3) +1
14 12
Polearms Spear
Spear
7SC
100%
4 1 1/2 1 1/2 6
Spear
As for Broadsword As for Great Sword The parenthesized WSB applies when used by stationary footman. Double eective WSB when used against charging, mounted opponent. As for Glaive As for spear. Double WSB when used by stationary footmen against charging, mounted opponent. +5 on roll to hit when charging on foot. Increase eective WSB by 1 when used by stationary footman against charging, mounted opponent.
Javelin Lance
2SC 15CC
100% 100%
1 1(+1)
6 7
Heavy Lance
8SC
80%
(+2)
10
War Sta*
1SC
100%
+1
Club
12CC
100%
0(1)
10
Mace Flail Hammer* Sling** Handle Sling* Sling Projectile Stone, Rock, etc. Bow* Longbow* Composite Bow* Arrows (each) Light Crossbow** Heavy Crossbow** Arbalest* Repeating Crossbow**
7SC 2GC 12SC 4CC 1SC 8BB 10SC 27SC 40SC 2BB 18SC 25SC 48SC 15GC
80% 70% 60% 100% 50% 75% 100% 75% 50% 100% 90% 70% 40% 10%
5 7 8
1/2 1 1/2 1/2
+1(0) +1(0) +2(+1) 0(+1) +1(+2) 2(1) 0 +1 0 0 +1(0) +2(+1) +4(+2) 0(1)
11 9 10 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6 NA NA NA NA 6 4 5
1/8 Quarrel 3BB 100% 0 1/4/5 Darts 3BB/5 NA 1 1/4/5 Lead Pellets 4BB/5 NA 0 1/2/3 Caltrop 1CC/3 60% 0 *Two Hands required **Two hands required to load, may be red with one hand. To throw the weapon eectively the Throwing Axe course must If the Repeating Crossbow is available, so are these items.
The parenthesized WSB applies when used from a charging mount. Increase the eective WSB by 1 against charging, mounted opponents Heavy The parenthesized WSB applies when used from a Lance charging mount. Not usable by footmen. Double the eective WSB against charging, mounted opponents. Sta Only usable on foot. Double the eective WSB on Dealy Hits. +5 on attack rolls when charging on foot. Mace The parenthesized WSB applies on Shield Hits and when charging on foot. Increase the eective WSB by 1 on Deadly and Severe Hits. Mace As for Club Mace As for Club. Increase the eective WSB by 1 when charging and mounted. Mace As for Club Sling The parenthesized WSB applies on Deadly Hits. Sling The parenthesized WSB applies on Deadly Hits. Used with Slings Used with The parenthesized WSB applies when cast with a Sling sling or if the thrower has an SB of +3 or higher. Bow Bow Bow Used with Bow Crossbow The parenthesized WSB applies at extreme range. Crossbow The parenthesized WSB applies at extreme range. Crossbow The parenthesized WSB applies at extreme range. Repeating The parenthesized WSB applies at long range. Crossbow Used with Crossbow Used with Repeating Crossbow Used with Repeating Crossbow Nuisance Weapon, no course applies
Spear Lance
also be taken.
42
3.2 Equipment
Bolas 1SC Blinders 3BB Whistle 2BB Jesses 3BB NOTE At the referees option,
43
1 15 30 50 None 1/4 1/4 None 1/4/10 3 1/2 1/2 1/2 None 1/4 1/4/5 1 1/4 3 4 8 30
Hide Construction Silk Construction Stakes (per 5) Belt Pouch/Purse Sack Bag Large Bag Bag Strap Back Rack
Description 1FP of non-perishable, dried meat. ten Food points of grain, bagged. Usable by Characters or Herbivores. 5FP of perishable meat. Usable for Character or Carnivore nees. Edible for ve days after purchase. 8FP of Cheap Cheese. Sugars, Fruits, Dried Fruits, etc. The Referee will decide if the item desired is available and how much is received for the amount demanded. One Quart of potable water, container extra. One quart of Beer, container extra. 1 FP. One quart of Ale, container extra. 1 FP. One quart, 1FP, container extra. One quart, 2FP, container extra. One quart, 2FP, sold in bottle. One quart, 2FP, sold in bottle. One quart, sold in bottle. A distilled beverage with 4x the potency of the strongest wines. No food value. Healing and Addictive beverage. The quality equals the cost paid divided by 2, rounded down. See the Natural Magic section in Book Four. Four ounces, container extra. Used as a preservative. In some areas, used as money. Triples the time that Fresh Meat remains edible. Four ounce container with cork. Eight ounce container with cap. Sixteen ounce container with cap. One quart container with cap. Five quart container with cap. Fifteen quart container with cap. Ten quart keg. Multiply factors times the cost and weight of the beverage within it. Twenty quart keg, multiply as specied above. Forty quart keg, multiply as specied above. Carrying thong for all containers except kegs. Four ounces, container extra, used for Lighting. Four ounces, container extra, used in Warfare. 1 of oil soaked material, used in bombs. Approximate burn rate is 1 second per inch. One Candle. One quart. Used in lighting and as protective. Tar coated stick for lighting. Holds one candle. Holds four ounces of oil, contains wick. Replacement wick for oil lantern. Used to light combustible material. Replacement ints for Flint and Steel. Blankets and bedding for sleeping. Blanket. Canvas shelter, 2 by 6 in area. Canvas shelter, 3 by 6 1/2 in area. Canvas shelter, 8 diameter circle. Large shelter at least 20 by 20 in area for up to 25 people. Can be multi-room construction. Poles for 1 and 2 man tents. Two required. Poles for 4 man tent. One required. Poles for Pavillion. At least Six required. Any tent can be purchased in Hide. Round up when cost and weight modications are made. Pavillions can be made in ne cloth. Used for putting up tents. Small container. Carrying capacity 2(5) (2 lbs when held, 5 when attached to belt). Carrying Capacity 10(20). (10 lbs when held, 20 in Back rack). Carrying Capacity 20(50). As for Sack. Carrying Capacity 30(75). As for Sack. Attaches to one Bag or sack for carrying over the shoulder. Will hold 2 Large Bags, 3 Bags or 5 Sacks. The cost includes the straps necessary for its use.
44
3.2 Equipment
45
46
3.2 Equipment
Roadside Hostel Cheap Inn Good Inn Fine Inn Private Room Fine Hotel Ship Meals Beer Ale Cheap Wine Good Wine Fine Wine Goideli Wine Peska Quarts
3BB 3BB 5BB 2CC 0 1CC 1BB 1BB 2BB 5BB 1SC 2CC (Q)CC 5 15 10
47
48
4 Experience
There are two types of Experience: A) Combat Experience. B) Magic Experience. Combat Experience is only gained in Combat. Magic Experience is only gained through the successful use of Magic.
EXAMPLE A reball torches four men, MDV1, MDV2, MDV2 and MDV4. It is an EL4 spell. The caster recieves points for aecting a MDV of 4, i.e. 24 magic experience points.
NOTE In all cases where the mathematics above is considered dicult, table 4.1 can be used to determine the amount of magic experience that is gained. 4.2.1 Other Gains: Magic 4.2.1.1 Expertise
Per Hit Point scored on an opponent, excluding any damage Using the cases specied in 4.2, the expertise point gain in scored with a spell, the Character scoring the damage will the spell used is: receive the targets CDF in Combat Experience Points. A) Targets MDV2 B) Base Mana Cost2 EXAMPLE If the CDF of a target is 2, 7 hits are worth l4 Ex4.2.1.1.1 Failure When a spell is attempted, and fails, the magic-user receives one expertise point in that spell. He 4.1.1 Other gains: Combat does not receive magic experience or characteristic points from failure. 4.1.1.1 Expertise When abysmal failure occurs, the magic-user receives For each skill used in combat, except magic, the Character nothing for the spell. His failure is total and he learns nothwill receive the CDF times two in Expertise points. If ing from it. the skill is used against targets with varying CDF values, the highest CDF value is used to determine the Expertise 4.2.1.2 Characteristic Points gain. Per 25 magic experience points gained, rounded up, the
EXAMPLE A Character ghts a person with a CDF of 1. He receives 2 Expertise Points in each skill used. If he ghts a CDF of 1 and a CDF of 3 he will receive 6 Expertise Points per skill used on both. perience Points. if the CDF is 7, 7 hits are worth 49 Experience Points.
magic-user receives one characteristic point. Points that are gained through the use of magic may not be used to increase Strength, Agility or any unmodiable characteristic. No characteristic points are gained due to failure or abysmal failure.
Per 50 Combat Experience Points that a Character gains in Combat, he may increase any modiable characteristic by 4.3 Creature Diculty Factor l. In determining the number of points earned, round up. The CDF of an opponent equals (HPV/10)+(MEL/2). EXAMPLE A Character earns 124 Combat Experience Round up before adding the resulting values.
Points. He gains, 124/50, 3 characteristic points. EXAMPLE A Troll, HPV 40, has a CDF of 4. A Wizard,
EXCEPTION To earn any characteristic points, the HPV 28, MEL 11, has a CDF of 9. The total value of the Troll Character must earn at least 10 Combat Experience Points is 160 points. The total value of the Wizard is 252. in the encounter. If the experience gained is less no characteristic points are gained unless the opponent is defeated 4.4 Encounter Resolution succesfully. See 4.4 in gaining them. Full points are gained by a Character only if the encounter is resolved successfully, from his viewpoint. For an encounter 4.2 Magic Experience Gain to be successful, the opponent faced must be: The number of magic experience points that are gained A) Killed. when a spell succeeds depend on the type of spell that is B) Driven Away. used. The following rules apply: C) Captured. A) Any spell used to inict physical damage or that is used Encounters that end with the Character being driven away oensively to cause something to happen to another yield 25% of the Experience determined, rounded down. If creature: he is captured he will receive 50% of the Experience determined, rounded down. A Character receives no points if he Victims MDV(EL+2) is killed. All Experience gains are per encounter or conict. B) Any other type of spell: They are awarded at the end of the encounter and before Base Mana Cost(EL+2) the next encounter commences. IMPORTANT In all cases where multiple targets are No points of any kind are gained when the target aected aected by a single spell, the magic-user gaines experience is not free to resist, i.e. he is bound, unconscious, etc. If points for the highest MDV that is aected only. magic is used, points are gained ignoring this restriction.
49
EXCEPTION If the Character is an Executioner he may gain Expertise in this skill by attacking helpless targets. 4.4.1 Death Wounds When the wound that is struck is sucient to drive the victim into unconsciousness, or kill him, the person that scored the hit will receive his normal experience for the hit points scored or experience based on: Targets remaining HPV+(Targets DTV(1)) Where the values dier, the points received will be the smaller of the two values.
EXAMPLE Vlad scores a 37 point deadly hit on a wolf that has 5 hits remaining and a DTV of 3. Its CDF is 2. Vlad receives 16 experience for this blow.
When more than one person hits a creature in a phase where it becomes unconscious or is killed, all will receive experience points as specied above.
EXAMPLE Vlad, Jaxom and Carroak all hit the same wolf on the phasc of its death. They each receive l6 experience points, if the hit points that they inicted warrant at least that much.
Where the creature being fought is operating on a berserk DTV, and it is into its DTV on the phase that it is killed, only the remaining DTV(1) is considered to determine the points that are gained from the killing blow.
EXAMPLE Saryan ght a creature with a 6* DTV. On the phase that he strikes the death blow, it is at 2. He will, given a CDF of 3, receive, 4(1)3, 12 experience points.
B) No Magic Experience Points are gained when using an item or artifact that itself produces the spell without any mana expenditure on the part of the user. C) The Level increase as a result of a given encounter is unlimited.
EXAMPLE A Character has 47 Combat Experience Points. He kills a Creature and gains 250 CEP. Hc will advance from CEL1 to CEL3 as a result of this victory.
4.7 Restrictions
A) Magic Experience Points may only be gained by trained magic-users, Natural Magicians and Characters with a castable Innate Power of some kind.
D) No characteristic may be increased more than 10% of its Current Ability rating as a result of a single encounter. Round up in determining the Maximum Limit that applies.
EXAMPLE If the Current Ability is 8, the characteristic
50
4.8 Training
can be increased by 1. If it is 34, it can be increased by 4.
E) No more than 50% of the characteristic points earned in a single encounter may be assigned to any one characteristic. Round up in determining the Maximum Limit that applies.
EXAMPLE If a Character earns 3 characteristic points, the most that he may assign to one characteristic is 2. The other point must be assigned to one of his other characteristics. If it cannot be, it is lost.
F) Expertise Points gained that exceed a Characters current maximum EL, are taken as either Combat or Magic Experience, whichever is applicable. NOTE Sections (4) and (5) above are entirely optional. Ignore them if you so choose.
4.8 Training
Beyond the method specied previously, Characters can increase any modiable characteristic through training. Training is the allocation of time specically to the increase of a selected characteristic. Per four days allocated, the selected characteristic may be increased by 1. With an instructor, three days must be allocated for this process. The maximum number of points that can be gained through training equals the Characters Native Ability plus (his assigned multiplier times 2).
EXAMPLE A Character has a native Ability of 16 in Strength. His multiplier is 3. He may gain, 16+(32), 22 points through training his Strength. The time to do so without an instructor, for the maximum increase possible, is 88 days.
For days of training to have the desired eect, all days required to raise the characteristic by 1 point must be allocated within 2 weeks, i.e. within 14 days of the expenditure of the rst day to gain the point increase.
EXAMPLE On Day 1 a half day is allocated to Stamina training. Unless the remaining 3 1/2 days are allocated by the end of day 15, the half day allocated is wasted.
NOTE Training requires dedicated eort to succeed. Failure to maintain the regimen selected is the same as not doing it at all. In setting up a Character, Players may train at 1/2 the cost specied above, i.e. receive one characteristic point per two Expertise Points allocated. No time is expended when players train at this time.
51
4 Experience
52
53
to reduce the chance that the Character succeeds in the action. Use of non-player skill in this way is not mandatory.
EXAMPLE A barbarian wants to track an unskilled man that is trekking through the barbarians lands. This is easy. The Tracking EL20 is his chance of success. A thief wants to trail an experienced assassin through the city that the thief has just entered. This is very dicult. The Trailing EL divided by 3 is his chance of success.
OPTIONAL Instead of using the basic gain of one characteristic point, the gain can be based on table 5.4.
IMPORTANT No characteristic that is one of those used in the maximum EL formula for the skill being used should be added into the problem as an inuencing factor EXAMPLE A very dicult problem uses Agility and Empathy. The Characters Current and Maximum Empathy is 36. His (Its weight is already part of the skill training).
IMPORTANT The gain listed in table 5.4 is the total number of characteristic points that are earned by the Character. Points are only earned for success. They are applied to any characteristic that was used in solving the problem. They may not increase any characteristic above its Maximum Ability.
5.4 Restrictions
The following restrictions should be used in using the Problem Solving system: A) No more than three characteristics should be used for any one problem. B) No more than one skill should be applied to any one problem. C) Where both characteristics and a skill are applied, no more than three factors should be applied, i.e. the skill applies as a characteristic towards the limit of three specied in 1 above. D) Any success chance, for solving any problem, of 100 or highter indicates automatic success. Any result of zero or less is automatic failure. E) Where skills are used to solve a problem that involves another entity, and that entity has the skill that the Referee chooses to apply, the entities skill may be used
Current Agility is 27 while his Maximum Agility is 44. In this case, no points can be applied to Empathy as it is at its Maximum. All three points that are gained are applied to Agility, which now has a Current Ability of 30.
NOTE This Problem Solving system provides a framework for the Referee. It is not an exact system. The active ingredient that will make it work, or fail, in your campaign is the rational, logical deliberations of your Referee when he chooses to apply it. This is its driving force.
54
The languages listed in table 6.1 are spoken by supernatural Cerulean, Patani* and Dallazi*. Associated tongues are forces and non-human races, See Book Two for optional Dhalrani, Balas* Dechan, Bhamoti and Rogizini. The desert tribes of western Lpnth also borrow extensively rules that may apply if these languages are used. from the Cerulean language.
6.2.2.6 Fomorian Fomorian, Shandar*, Kolari* and Goidanese*. An associated language, borrowing from Goidanese*, is Armani. 6.2.2.7 Iravan Irava and Xianese. 6.2.2.8 Kakana Kakana*, Ghazai*, Kalem* and Timbaza*. In the recent past the Izza* have borrowed heavily from this group, especially for terms dealing with drugs, slavery, torture, etc. 6.2.2.9 Kameri Kameri*, Assiran*, Noreas* and Soreas*. Valhani*, Omava*, Dirlla, Kazi*, Djani and Zendali* borrow from various members of this group. 6.2.2.10 Katai Katai, Chunai, Bayan and Lpnth. The Sarghut* borrow certain phrases from this group. The Fomorian dialect of the Kingdom of the East has also adopted many words from this linguistic group. Somme Kllmaun dialects are associated with Bayan. 6.2.2.11 Korchi Korchi, Dirlla and Trean. Associated tongues are Fomorian, Djani and Goidanese*. The Fierazi Noreas* dialect, especially that used by the Nethagen, has begun to borrow extensively from the Korchi language in the recent past. 6.2.2.12 Lemasan Lemasan, Matan, Taolisan and Dawanese. Associated tongues are the Eastern Tongues and Robari*. 6.2.2.13 Nordian Djani, Ghiam*, Valhani and Novarischi. tongues are Assiran*, Noreas* and Soreas*. 6.2.2.14 Nylasa Nylasa*, Izza* and Mopazi*. The Fomorian dialect of Port Doman borrows from this linguistic group. Associated
55
6.2.2.15 Robab Robabzan* and Shurani*. Associated tongues are Kiraza and the old tongue of Klzababwe**. **Under the Lorcan emperors the old tongue is out of favor. Robabzan has been the ocial langueage of the nation since the reign of Ali Lorca. The old tongue is still used extensively in the city by the noble and merchant classes.
6.2.2.19 Sarghut Sarghut and Helva. Helva is spoken by the Helva and the Humagi. Few languages borrow anything from this tongue. 6.2.2.20 Teosan Teosan and Dhalrani. The Cerulean tongue borrows from Dhalrani.
6.2.2.21 Thaliban 6.2.2.16 Robari Robari is the only member of this group. They borrow from Thaliban, Thaban*, Zendali, Portan, BaRu, Marentian, Donaran and Zarunese. Associated tongues are Salaqi, Matan and take a few words from Sairacili. Elici and Xianese. 6.2.2.17 Rogizini Rogizini, Gomese, Climan, Dechan, Kiraza, Shazir, 6.3 Cultural Variation (Optional) SairKacili and Sairacili*. Each culture in the Culture book has height, weight and 6.2.2.18 Rhuskan other statistics listed for it. This information may be used Rhuselska*, Yapanza*, Kllmaun*, Djakschi* and Omava*. to add avor to your game and modify Characters to t the culture that is chosen for them, if such a choice is allowed. The Kameri* borrow some terms from Omava*.
56
6.3 Cultural Variation (Optional) The basic ways that this can be done are described in the following sections. 6.3.1 Weapons The Referee may insist that a Characters rst weapon skill be one of those that is favored by his culture. Thus, if he is a Portan, his rst weapon, and the one that a Skilled Master can train him in if he gets that Special Event, must be a dagger form, clubs or the sword. 6.3.2 Armor Each barbarian nation has specic armor preferences listed for it. The Referee may compel Players to abide by these preferences in purchasing their Characters initial equipment. Thus, a Character from a nation that dislikes helmets and doesnt use shields may not start with a helmet, shield or any shield skill. If his nations only preferred armor is leather, and he wishes to have armor, he will have leather armor. There are other examples of reasonable limitations that can be applied. How they are, if at all, is up to the Referee. 6.3.3 Height Dierent peoples have dierent average heights. In the basic system, the average height of a male character is 70. The female average is 63. Characters from specic cultures may use the height statistics from that culture to modify their determined height (or they may pick a culture based on the height that they roll, a second option). IMPORTANT The height gures given in the Culture Book are the average male heights for the culture. The average female height can be determined as follows: A) Where the male height is 66 or more the average female height is 10% less, rounded up.
EXAMPLE The average Robabzan city-man is 76 tall. The average woman has a height of 69.
B) Where the male height is less than 66 the average female height is 5% less, rounded up.
EXAMPLE The average male height in Katai is 64. The average female height is 61.
To modify a Characters height to take account of this factor, the following procedure should be used: A) Subtract the average height in the basic system, 70 for males and 63 for females, from the cultural average for the culture the Character belongs to. B) Divide the dierence by two and round to the highest whole number value, i.e. 4.5 becomes 5, 4.5 becomes 5. C) Add the result to the Characters determined height. The result is the Characters actual height. IMPORTANT Use the system for determining weight as normal once the actual height is determined.
EXAMPLE Your Character is a swordsman of Katai. His determined height is 68. His actual height, 68+((6470)/2), is 65. (Characters are given an advantage in this because they are exceptional humans and are more likely to be large).
IMPORTANT Changes in height from the system above do not aect any of the Characters Native Ability scores. He will retain the values determined by his rolls.
57