System1

Xen's Fantasy Game System (XFGS)

This began life as a generic fantasy system, and to much extent it still is. It is predominantly focused on the world of Dellan, because that's the world in which it was initially played. That said, the system is generic enough that the setting can be separated from the system, and it can be applied to any setting your heart desires.

Alpha 0.5

Character Sheet

Click Through here is a Character Sheet. NOTE: This character sheet is out of date as of Alpha Version 0.5 (23 Sept, 2018)

Introduction

This system is based on the existing Superhero Game, with a few additions for genre specificity.

The driving factor behind the system is that the game designer dislikes systems that lock people into playing a Class. To survive in a brutal fantasy world, as would be needed in any world, a character needs to be an all-rounder. To have a trick or two that someone else might not know about.

This system is designed to be simple, quick and versatile.

This is the first major revision of the game, to attempt to simplify some mechanics in the earlier version that were perhaps a little too cumbersome.

The basics

This game is based on the highest number idea. In general (there are, of course, exceptions, but keep reading for these), you roll 1D20, and add the result to your score. That is then your final score.

The score for a task is generally: Ability+Skill+D20= Score

The score is then compared to the Challenge Rating, which is given to the players by the Games Master (That is, the person who is running the game for you).

There are two special rolls that you need to be aware of. A roll of 20 is always a success, and called a critical success. A roll of 1 is always a failure and called a critical fail.

Critical successes mean that you achieve whatever it is you’re trying to do. This doesn’t mean that what you’re about to do will go your way. If you are trying to kick open a door that is boobytrapped, and you roll a 20, you will definitely kick open the door. This does not warn you about the boobytrap, and does not, necessarily, stop it from going off. A critical success might also mean that you have found a way to do whatever task you were doing in a way that works better for you in general permanently. (see quirks)

A Critical Fail means that something bad has happened to you, or your party members. Either you’ve managed to misfire and shoot yourself in the foot, not noticed useful material, or in some cases find that a task that you are trying to do you are physically incapable of doing (and may never be able to do ever (see quirks).

In theory, every task can be tried. For those untrained in a task, the task might not be (rationally) likely to succeed, and might even have a Challenge Rating (CR) above what a person could roll. That does not mean that a person should not be allowed to try. There is always the chance of a natural 20, and even a non-succesful roll can be improved by the use of Luck.

Challenge Rating

This is the number that a hero has to achieve in order to succeed at a task.

The challenge rating for basic tasks is 17.

This rating changes based on other factors that can make a task difficult. Low light can make a target difficult to see, and might raise the target rating by 2 or 3 for a small object, for a challenge rating of 20 (CR 20).

Under Duress

Heros are not generally required to make a roll if their skill is naturally over the Challenge Rating for a task. There are are some exceptions to this. A roll is always required when Under Duress. This is a time of stress for the hero, and there is a chance that they might make a mistake. In some instances, the difficulty of the simple task may be increased because of the duress.

For example, a hero can unlock a simple door given time, the right equipment and peace without a roll. In this particular instance, however, the building is on fire, their life is in direct danger by the spreading flame. The Challenge Rating of the task has now moved from simple (17) to difficult(23). This is not the challenge rating of the lock, but a combined difficult of all the situational factors. This might get even more difficult if the hero doesn’t have the right equipment (+3 difficulty for this particular lock), and being actively shot at (+4). This makes the challenge rating 30.

Being under duress can make even the simplest of tasks nigh-impossible. Only a real hero would even attempt them.

Luck

This game is designed so that the characters can be heroes. There are going to be times when a hero doesn’t manage to pass a roll, but really feels that they need to do. As such, each character has 5 free Luck points that they can use for these actions. These refill at the end of the story arc, the GM will tell you when. If these run out, because a hero has been particularly unlucky, or wanting to be particularly heroic, the character can then also use the Experience Points that they have built up on their sheet for the same thing.

Luck Example

A Luck point allows a hero to roll 1d6 to attempt to increase their score. Each time a point is spent, you get an automatic bonus 1, to represent the Character point you have spent, and you get to roll, and add 1d6 to your roll.

Ability+Skills+1 (+1+1d6+1+1d6+ etc) +D20=Score

You can keep rolling the 1d6 as often as you have character points or XP to spend. If you roll a 6, the dice ‘explodes’ (you are very lucky), and you get a free roll, adding this number, ignoring any 1’s to your total. However, if you roll a 1d6 on the dice, you lose ALL ACCUMULATED POINTS FROM THE DICE. This is not considered a Critical Fail.

For example, a hero is trying to pick a particularly difficult lock. They have 9 in lockpick (Ability of 4 and skill in lockpick of 5). They roll a d20, and roll 5. This is very difficult lock, with a difficulty of 21. As they are in a battle, and desperately need to free the prisoners behind the locked door, the hero decides to press on.

They spend a character point, and roll 1d6 for another 4, adding the 1 for the character point spent, they now have 19. Being so close, they decide to roll again.

If they roll any number other than 1 on the d6, they will succeed this test. If they roll a 1, they will loose all that they have gained from the dice roll (in this case the 4), and only be left with the character point spent (which will 2. One for each dice).

Luck and Critical Fails

Luck cannot be used to improve, or make a critical fail not happen. For that, you must use Fate points

Luck Stat

The Luck stat is a special stat that a hero can buy with XP, either when they create their character, or later during the game if their character has been particularly lucky.

For each point that a character has in Luck, they gain an extra 5 luck points

Insanity

(needs a better name!)

Adventuring is likely to take a mental toll on a character.

This stat reflects the amount of trauma that a person can undergo in adventuring. As such, not every character will react to situations in the same way - with a few game-mechanic exceptions.

This scale runs all the way to 20.

• 1-2 : This suggests that the person has a few parts of themselves that is suffering trauma, but not likely to affect the character in anything but really-specific contexts.
• 2-4 : The character is beginning to have some behaviours that occasionally affect the game. This will be things like finding certain situations difficult to cope with. Generally at this level, people are learning to live with their mental health issues, and as such have found ways around it.
• 5-6 : This is the point where in modern society people would begin seeking counselling. Their behaviours impact them, rather than the game most of the time. For example, at this level a character might have an aversion to wool. In a medieval-based society, that makes clothing and other equipment difficult, as other forms of clothing is more expensive. The character can find a way around it, but it takes effort.
• 7-8 : It is at this point that characters beheviour is beginning to affect others. They perhaps find dark caves impossible to enter, or have spouts of OCD, or dissassociative behaviour. The character is still functioning, but it is the point at which someone should visit a doctor.
• 8-10 ; At this level a character will have good days and bad days. Medication, or other forms of help will be vital for a character to function on a regular basis, but even these will have days when they fail.
• 11-12 : A character will find that their mental health has deteriorated to the point that they cannot function in the world without help and intervention. They will need to be reminded to take their medication, and will need help in dealing with issues that most people will be able to take in their stride. It is possible that a character will have times of clarity, but these need to be translated through their particular mental health problems
• 12-14: A character at this level is finding it difficult to interact with the world in a way that makes sense. They have to translate everything through their issues, and will generally find that functioning is increasingly difficult. Understanding the world is incrediblly difficult, and danger may not appear as danger to them. Without constant help and supervision, it is very likely that this character would be unable to survive.
• 15+ : From this point onwards, a character is unable to ineract with the world in a meaningful way. Their mental-health problems are so great that they would need to be constantly restrained.
• 20 : At this point, the character has totally broken from reality. This is akin to a character death, as the character cannot come back from this point. The best that they can hope for is to be places in an instution / temple, and be cared for until the end of their days.

Fate Points

Heroes are watched by Lady Fate. The granting of the first Fate Point by The Lady is what separates a hero from an ordinary person. Fate points are powerful, and rare. If you've ever wanted to know what is that makes a protagonist survive a fall that would have killed anyone else, this is the game mechanic that does that.

Every hero begins the game with 1 fate point.

Fate points are awarded at the whim of the Lady, though they are most often awarded for doing her bidding, and following the fate she has mapped out for you: Being the hero you are meant to be.

Fate points are awarded for a hero being selfless, giving themselves to save others. For being a hero. This should be extraordinary acts of valour, and not just a hero using their healing ability to heal the wounded.

Using Fate Points

A Fate point is a powerful item. It gives a player access to fate itself, allowing them to rewrite fate as they see fit. This may not necessarily be in their favor. A fate point can be used for all manner of things. Perhaps a hero is in desperate need of a weapon, and while searching an abandoned cabin, they use a fate point to find one. The weapon they find, of course, will be at the discretion of Lady Fate (Or, in game terms, the GM). Abuse of the Fate point will may mean that Lady Fate will withdraw her favor, or worse, grant that hero a black mark.

Using Fate: A GM's Perspective

Fate points are meant to be there to aid the players in their time of need. They can even roll-back a disastrous critical fail. However, they cannot play with the fabric of reality itself (generally speaking). A player cannot use a fate point to find a specific item in a location where it would not normally be found. They cannot summon the Great Sword of Akash to their bedroom, for example. Players who annoy Lady Fate will gain a black mark.

A Fate Point cannot be used to counter another Fate Point (that can only be done by a Chaos Point(see below). It can be used to re-direct an already-state Fate Point Action. The combined actions will always be positive for those involved.

A Black Mark of Fate

Lady Fate is not to be trifled with. Those who do will have her favour removed, and gain a black mark. Players with a black mark cannot use Fate Points unless they have more Fate Points than they have black marks.

Optional Rule: For every black mark that a player has, it increases the number needed to roll a critical failure.

A player with five Black Marks has managed to anger the Lady so that their fate holds only one thing: Death. The Lady will relentlessly, and without mercy hunt the player (and all who are with them) until they are dead. For the good of the party a hero with 5 black marks should leave the game.

Black Mark Example

If a player gains 1 black mark, they require 2 Fate points to be able to spent a fate point. The other fate point is untouchable while they have the black mark.

While they have the black mark, on the roll of a 1 or 2 on the D20 they have Critically Failed. A character with 3 black marks would critically fail on a roll of 1,2 or 3, and so on.

Removing Black Marks

A Black Mark can be removed in a number of ways.

• They can visit the Temple of Fate in Ithica, and pay a large sum of money to have it removed. NOTE: The Temple does not take kindly to repeat visitors.
• They can request a fate quest. A Fate quest is a quest given by the lady that they must succeed at. Failure will mean another black mark.
• They can follow their fate in an exemplary manner. The problem with this can be finding out what their fate actually is.
• Lady Fate can be capricious. She may remove it at her own whim.

Chaos Points(Optional Rule)

There must be balence.

Lord Chaos does not like Lady Fate's ordered world, and instead would rather add a bit of excitement into the lives of people.

Chaos Points are a measure of just how much chaos a character can bring. These rules should be used sparingly, and with caution.

Chaos Points,unlike Fate Points, build up. They can only ever be spent once, but once spent,they are not erased, but rather placed in "Permanent Chaos Points". When a player reaches 3 permanent Chaos points, they cannot gain another. If they do gain another, they fall completely to Chaos, loosing their mind, and their soul, on the alter of Lord Chaos' Madness.

They have no in-game affect until they are spent, and a player can only have one unspent Chaos Point at a time.

Using Chaos Points

Sometimes it seems that things are going a little too smoothly, or perhaps your are jelouse that Somone is too favoured by Lady Fate, or you have another agenda mind. Or perhaps there is no other way.

Lord Chaos, unlike his benevolent counter part, can be summoned to a situation. What happens from there remains in the hands of Chaos. Sometimes he's helpful, sometimes he's not.

Using Chaos Points - Mechanics

The mood of Lord Chaos is as changeable as the wind, and he does not like being angered. He is far more capricious that Lady Fate, and childish demands will be met with childish outcomes. Do not temp Chaos; his sort attention span means his responses are often violent, deadly, and very terminal.

Chaos Points can be used in one of two ways:

• As a last ditch effort to save the day. Lord Chaos cannot be commanded, and will act as he sees fit. To work out how Lord Chaos will act, check the following table:

• • On a 20: Chaos acts in your favour, in a very very positive way.
  • On an event roll: Chaos will act in your favour.
  • On an odd roll: Chaos will act against you
  • On a 1: Chaos will act against you in a wholely unhelpful, likely negative way.

• To counter a fate point. Chaos Points can be used to counter another player's use of a fate point. When used in this way, there is no need for a dice roll. This keeps the world unaltered, and the fate point is lost.

Gaining Chaos Points

Chaos Points are gained by being Chaotic, by going against Lady Fate's Plan. In very, very rare instances, Lord Chaos may give out these 'favours' just because. A Chaos Point in general is not gained by spending of a Chaos Point, but they may be gained like that in very rare cases.

This may lead a player to be tempted to play as Chaotically as possible, to gain Lord Chaos' favour. This will indeed work, Lord Chaos will smile favourably on those who sow Chaos, and grant their character another Chaos Point. This will force the unspent Chaos Point into being a permanent Chaos Point.

The Parts of a Character

Abilities

To know how well, or badly a character can achieve a thing, a hero needs statistics, or stats for short. Generally, these break down into 7 categories. During character creation, each score point in these abilities will need to be bought.

Strength

This is a measure of how physically strong a person is. This covers actions done with the body.

Agility

This covers how agile someone is. That is, how supple and nimble the whole body is. This the dodge skill (that is, how difficult you are to hit) is based off this stat.

Dexterity

This deals with fine manipulation of things. This is the skill used for picking pockets, or locks.

Intellect

This stat covers how intelligent your character is. This stat is the basis for any special knowledge a character has. This is the characters learned knowledge.

Awereness.

This stat covers how much the character is aware of things that are going around them. This stat is the basis for perception rolls, willpower, and general knowledge checks. It is also the skill that initiative is based on.

Presence

This covers a character’s force of personality. How charismatic they are, or even, how unnerving they are. It covers persuade and intimidation checks.

Ability Scale

Abilities need not have a positive range. A negative in an ability shows that that ability is disabled, or in some way missing. The negative score would mean removing that number from the total number rolled.

Score Description

• -5 Disabled in some way
• -3 Young Child /Elderly
• -1 Teenagers/Young Adults
• 0 Average Human Adult
• 1 Trained Human Adult
• 2 Professionally trianed Human Adult (Weight Lifter/Accademic)
• 3 Professionally trained. (eg. Professor, Personal trainer etc)
• 4 In the top 20% of their chosen field
• 5 Amongst the best in their field locally
• 6 Amongst the best in their field nationally
• 7 Expert
• 8 Legend

Special Scores

Health

This covers how healthy a body is. This stat is primarily used to see how much damage your body naturally takes, how long you can keep doing something, and how difficult it is to ward off poisons. This skill is responsible for working out which soak dice you roll when spending Character Points to soak damage.

1 = d4 2= d6 3=d8 4=d10 5=d12 6=d12+d4

When a character has a health score of 6 or more, for each 5 more, add another dice. So a character with 7 in health is rolling a d12+d6, 8 is rolling a d12+d8. It is only a one on the largest dice (eg. d12) that counts for stopping the roll culmination. If a hero has 10 in health (and therefore has 2 d12’s), the hero must pick which dice is the ‘major’ dice before rolling. It may be helpful for the two dice to be of different colours.

Luck

Luck is a measure of how generally luck your character is, and controls how many luck points a character has before they need to start using their own XP. Every hero gets 5 Luck points for free. For each point in Luck that a hero has, they gain an additional 5 Luck points.

For example, a character with a Luck score of 1 has 10 Luck points.

Passive Defences and Initiative

These scores are the passive defences that a body has. It takes into account the natural difficult it is to hit someone, or to poison someone and so on.

In some cases, the character will have the ability to roll a d20, in others, these are the 'target' number for attacks. For example, a Magic Attack designed to drain someone's soul would have the difficulty number of 17 + Willpower Or Spiritual Defence, whichever is higher.

In some cases, a person will be trying to overcome something. For example, they are in a cave where a magical affect is trying to make them sleep. A player can roll a d20 and add to it their Mental Defence.

In some cases (such as during combat), a character is aware that they are going to be hit, and it may be more beneficial to use a skill or superpower, rather than these scores.

NOTE You cannot add more than 20 in points spent. This includes points spent in Boost.

NOTE The XP cost for points spent DOES NOT include points spent using Boost.

Physical Defence (aka. Dodge)

This score is how quickly you can get out of the way of things that you weren't aware of.

This score is based on Agility. Dodge is the score that will be used when someone is shooting at you from a distance. Initially, this will be based on your Agility score. During character creation (and when improving a character while spending XP) this score can be increased.

When a character improves their agility score, their Dodge score also improves by the same amount. For example: a hero has an Agility score of 4, and a Dodge score of 6. They improve their Agility score to 5, because of this, their Dodge score becomes 7.

Total= Boost + 2 x Agility + Awareness + Points spent

Mental Defence (aka Willpower)

Mental Defence is based on Intelligence.

It shows your mental stability, your will to keep going, your mental strength. It is used for the defence against mental attacks, and it is also used to wake a character up from unconsciousness, and to keep a character from dying.

Total = Boost + Intellect*2 + Presence + Points Spent

Spiritual Defence

Spiritual Defence is based on Presence.

This is the person's ability to defend their soul, to keep their spirits up. Some attacks will directly attack a person's spirit. For some attacks, Spiritual Defence and Willpower overlap, and a character can use whichever is higher.

Total = Boost + Presence*2 + Primary Clerical Circle (level) + Points Spent

Magical Defence

Magical Defence is based on Intellect

This is the persons ability to fend of magical attacks. This can be used instead of other (relevant) defences against magic if this is higher. Generally, this gives mages a better chance against other mages.

Total = Boost + Intellect*2 + Control (level)+ Points Spent

Toughness

This score is based on Health. This score shows how resilient someone is to taking damage. This score is always removed from the amount of damage a character would receive when a character takes damage.

Example: A hero has been hit in the face by a brick in a sock. It is a successful strike, and would do 10 points of damage. A hero has a toughness of 6, so the hero only takes 4 (10 minus the toughness of 6, which is 4) points of damage.

This score is always used when taking damage. Any other abilities or skills that reduce damage are added to this score.

Total = Boost + Health*2 + Strength + Points Spent

Initiative

It is based on Awareness. Initiative is used to work out who goes first in a fight. This can be affected by skills, and by super-powers. Unlike other skills, a base of 10 is not added to this. It can be improved by XP, and has no limit.

Total = Boost + Awareness * 2 + Agility + Points Spent

Combat Defences

However hard the heroes try to negotiate with the bad guys, at some point they are likely to get into a fight. The combat system is designed to be quick, and easy, with the mechanics generally favouring the heroes (assuming they haven't just decided to 1v1 a Dragon. There's only one cure for such stupidity).

Note You cannot spent more than 10 in points spent for each of the below defences.

Melee Defence

This is how good a character is at defending themself in a close-combat fight.

You only get the Weapons Skill bonus if you have that particular weapon equipped. During combat, you can only have either 'Melee' range weapons OR 'Ranged' weapons equipped (one or the other; you can swap freely between weapons during combat, but only on your turn).

You cannot use Melee Defence to defend against ranged weapons.

Total = Physical Defence + Weapons Skill + Points Spent

Ranged Defence

This is how good a character is at defending themslef from ranged attacks.

You only get the Weapons Skill bonus if you have that particular weapon equipped. During combat, you can only have either 'Melee' range Weapons OR 'Ranged' Weapons equipped (on or the other; you can freely swap between weapons during combat, but only on your turn)

You cannot use Ranged Defence to defend against a Melee Weapon.

Total = Physical Defence + Ranged Weapon Skill + Points Spent.

Body Points

Body Points (BP) are an indicator of how much physical damage a hero can take. This is worked out by adding Health to the number 20, followed by the value of a D20. This value can be increased by XP at the creation of a hero.

This amount is increased when the value of Health is increased.

Skills

Skills are abilities that the hero is trained in. They may have a mechanical skill from a day job, or they may have learned acrobatics while growing up in a circus. Each of these skills has a controlling Ability. For example, acrobatics is a skill that uses the full body, as such it comes under Agility. The scores are then both combined to give the score for the skill (as shown in the Basics section).

Having a positive number in a skill means that a hero is trained in that skill.

Skill are generally common-sense abilities, and no exhaustive list could ever be created. Skills follow the general idea that the higher score the better.

Score Description

• 1 Hobbyist. Something they do occasionally
• 4 Professionally trained
• 6 Able to teach professionally
• 8 researcher in the subject
• 10 best in the locality
• 14 best nationally
• 17 best globally

Two skills with the same name are not necessarily equivalent. They should be shaped with quirks(see below), and with the way in which the character uses them. If a character concept revolves around trivia, then perhaps their skill check on knowledge for something that could be considered trivia will succeed at a lower Challenge Rating than someone who specialises in the area, but not in that particular field. This is meant to create interesting, and unusual characters from the way in which they are played.

Fighting Skills

Some skills will naturally be fighting skills. Brawling, or swordfighting, for example. Some skills might be more general, like Marksmanship.

NOTE: Sometimes fighting skills are general. Such as Marksmanship. This gives the hero the ability to use many weapons (guns/crossbows etc) interchangeably. General skills cannot be added to damage done with a weapon. (eg. Melee does not add a damage bonus, whereas Sword use does. However, sword use can only be used for fighting with swords, and not bottles. see also Combat)

There is not an exhaustive list of skill here, as they can be picked by the player, with consent of the GM. An example list to follow (eventually).

Circles of Power

Circles of Power are what make heroes exceptional people. Circles allow a character to roll extra dice based on the rating of that circle, and perhaps any relevant skill that is contained there in. These are skills that cannot be gained in any other way.

A hero can have as many circles, and circle powers, as they like. Each circle governs an aspect, or an element of a character. When a character uses a circle, or a circle power, the ratings are added together to produce a Circle Rating. With this number, it is compared to the table table below to see how many dice a character rolls in addition to their usual skill checks (if any).

For example, a Hero has the Strength Circle at 1. For every action they take that involves Strength, they would add their Strength score, plus any relevant skills, then roll a D20, plus 1d4 for their Strength Circle rating.

Circle Powers

Circle powers are skills that are connected with the circle in which they live. Circle powers are focused, rather than general. It makes them easier to learn, but removes the versitility. A Power can be focused on defence, attack, damage, and so on, but cannot be used for multiple aspects. The hero must chose at purchase of the power what aspect it is covering.

It is always a good idea to give a descriptive name to the power, which describes how it will work. The words Attack/Defence/etc. can be part of the name, or appended to it, or (for asthetic reasons) simply marked with an A (for Attack) or a D (for Damage) and so on.

The power of a Circle Power is produced by adding the rating of the Cirlce Power, to the controlling Circle.

A hero cannot have a Circle Power, and not have already purchased the controlling circle.

For example, A warrior hero would like to be stronger at hitting trolls with their sword. They would take the skill Great Swing Attack at 1, in their Strength Circle (also at 1). This makes their Circle Power Rating 2 when using this power. As such, they would add 1d6 to their roll when they are using this skill.

Circle Rating

• 1 = d4
• 2 = d6
• 3 = d8
• 4 = d10
• 5 = d12
• 6 = d4+d12
• 7 = d6+d12
• 8 = d8+d12
• 9 = d10+d12
• 10 = d12+12
• 11 = d12+d12+d4

...

And so on.

Magic

Magic is a force that comes from between realities. Mages pull this power, and manipulate it to their will.

The first circle that any mage learns is the circle of Control. This is both a physical and mental discipline that trains the mage to remain focused while channelling the magic through them. This is important, as magic can be used as a channel for the Things from Beyond to enter into the world.

This control circle must then be combined with an element, or aspect that the mage wishes to control. Aspects can be, for example, earth, fire, metal, air, water, rock, time, distance and so on. One circle is needed for each aspect. A Mage can only have as many circles as they have points in control.

Magic Limitations

• A Mage can only cast spells that they have the circles for.
• Magic spells are instant - without the circle duration
• Mystica is lost even if the spell fails.
• A mage can only have as many circles as they have points in control

The basics of magic spell building

To build a spell, a Mage needs to have the relevant circles.

For example, our Hero wants to throw a fireball. The Mage starts with Control (at 1) and Fire (at 1). The Mage can now throw a fireball within combat distance (15ft). If the Ogre is within that distance, the Mage adds up the circles, and compares it to the table. 2 means 1d6. As such, the mage would roll 1D20+1D6, and try to get over the targets ranged defences. When the fireball hits, it does 1d6 points of damage (as Control (1) and Fire (1) is 1d6).

However, what if the target (a large Ogre), is 30ft away?. For this, the Mage needs to add Distance (at 1). The mage would also like the Ogre to burn for a while, so the Mage needs to add Time (at 1). In this situtation, the Mage adds Control (1), Fire(1), Distance(1), and Time(1) together. For this spell, a Mage is rolling 1d20 and 1d10 (looking at the chart, we can see that 4 is 1d10). When the fireball hits, it does 1d10 damage.

A Mage can use as many circles for a spell as makes sense.

In some instances, a Mage might not want to use the full power of a circle. Perhaps to conserve Mystica (See below), or to ensure the spell is not so powerful as to kill their target, perhaps they need them alive. A Mage never needs to use the full power of any circle. They must always, however, have at least 1 point of control in any spell.

For each circle that a Mage adds, it drains Mystica (see below)

Bardic Magic, Drudic Magic, and so on, all fall under this same idea. The only exception is Clerical Magic (see below).

Mystica

For each circle that a Mage adds to a spell, it drains Mystica. Mystica is a measure of the physical strain it takes to summon and manipualte magic, breaking the laws of nature and physics. Mystica, in this way, is the Mages' "Spell power". For every 1 they have in their control power, they gain 5 points of mystica. When a mage is out of mystica, that doesn't mean that they can't cast magic, but it means that the spell now takes a physical toll on the mages' body. For each spell cast after the Mystica has run out come out of the hero's body points.

For example, When our hero threw that deadly fireball at the Ogre, they had used up their 5 mystica points (for having 1 in control). They chose to take the 4 points of damage that casting the spell did to them in order to save the party.

Mystica Damage

In extreme situations, it is possible to a mage to power a spell from their body. They can use their health-points to power a spell, literally burning away part of who they are to power the spell. This is called 'Mystica Damage'. It cannot be healed by clerical magic or potions, and can only be healed by resting and recovery of those points through the use of the health dice.

This is a dangerous way of using mystica. If a mage takes half of their health-points in mystica damage they run several, terrible risks - not in the least losing themselves to the magical void.

When a mage reaches half their health in mystica damage, they fall unconcious, and cannot regain consciousness until they have healed to above half of their health. For each day that they are unconcious, a mage must make a willpower roll. Failing this will power-roll will mean that they take they take 15 points of damage minus their control level, to a minimum of 5.

For example, if our mage has a control of 4, and they fail their will-power roll, the will take 11 points of damage.

If a mage takes their full health in mystica damage, they are dead. Their soul has been destroyed by being drawn into the magic void, and ripped into tiny shreds.

Magic and the Critical Fail

When a mage critically fails a spell, there is a chance that they have summoned a Thing from Beyond. This happens as well as any other negative affects from the spell.

To discover if a mage has summoned a Thing, take the power of the spell, and add increase the critical fail value by the number of points in the spell, then remove the number in control For example, a our mage trying to hit the Ogre critically failed. They now need to find out if they have caught the attention of a Thing. They were using 4 circles to achieve this.

NOTE: for this check, it is not the number of points in control that were used in the spell, but rather, the number of points in control that they have.

They remove the total value of Control (4 - It must be at least 4, they have 4 circles), leaving 0. They add this to their critical fail value (in this instance, is 1, but may be higher if they have black marks of fate) for a total of 1 (This number can never be less than 1). They now roll a D20. If they roll less than, or equal too 1, a Thing appears.

Example 2: They decide to set the Orc on fire. They decide to throw everything they have at including a specialisation in Fireball. They have 6 total in Fireball, and they have a control of 2. Here, they crit-fail, and now must make a roll to see if a Thing appears. Here, they take their control of 2, away from the number of dice they rolled, leaving 4. They now add their crit-fail number (1), for a total value of 5. If they roll less than 5 a Thing appears.

Clerical Magic

Clerical magic is slightly different from mage's magic.

Their clerical power comes from a Deity, so there is no danger of summoning a Thing from Beyond. This means that they do not need a Control circle to cast magic, but they are limited to the circles that are granted by their chosen deity, and limited to when and how their magic will work based on their standing with their deity.

Losing favour with one's deity, or taking an action that is directly in contradiction to their God's wishes may result in the removal of magic all together.

Clerics still require Mystica to cast their spells. To work out how much Mystica a cleric has, use the prime circle of their chosen Deity. The prime circle in for clerics acts as the control circle does for mages. A Cleric cannot have more circles than they have points in their prime circle.

For example, Clerics of Albeal, the Goddess of Law have the prime circle of Justice. Our Cleric of Albeal has 3 in this Circle, as such, they have a Mythica of (3x5)=15.

The circles a cleric can select are based on the nature of the deity. The prime circles of the deity are listed under the deities description. Some deities have more than one affinity, which will aid the cleric in choosing circles that benefit their deity. The cleric does not need to choose circles from their deities description beyond the primary circle.

The cleric cannot chose circles that are diametrically opposed to the deities prime nature. As such, a cleric of Mishna cannot choose any circle who's only use is to cause damage. The cleric could, however, choose fire, as it has uses in cleansing, heating, and cooking, but to use the fire to intentionally do damage would instantly loose the favour of Mishna. It is even possible to loose the favour of Mishna by accidentally loosing control of the fire magic. It should be noted that not deities do not necessarily allow all of their clerics to have the same circles. Their reasons are often ineffable.

This gives the cleric more freedom in casting spells. They do not always need to use their primary circle in casting spells (in the way a mage would need to use control), providing the action they are seeking to take is broadly within the aims of the deity.

For example, our cleric of Mishna wishes to provide water in order to aid their escape from a dungeon. They are the only ones trapped in it, and reason that by filling their small cell, they will be able to float up to the window and to freedom. As this will save the lives of themselves, and their party, it falls broadly within the aims of Mishna which is to preserve life. To cast this spell, the cleric could choose to rely solely on their water circle.

Cleritcal Crit Fail

When clerics critically fail their rolls, they do not summon a thing from beyond, as their magic comes from the divine. It is possible that this fail might incur the wrath of their deity, as such the Games Master may decide what happens.

However, if there is no specific response from the deity, there is a chance that they have 'shorted' their magic, and taken magical damage from badly channeling divine energy.

The Cleric rolls another D20, if they roll 1 then they take the total value of the spell as physical damage.

For example, if they were using a spell with a Power Rating of 4, they would take 4 points of damage to their Body Points. This cannot be soaked.

Wild Magic

Wild Magic is a very, very, very bad idea.

A very, very bad idea.

Wild Magic is magic that is attempted by simply using a Power Circle, without a control circle.

This means someone who doesn't have a control circle AT ALL, or a mage who chooses not to add a single point from a control circle.

When casting Wild Magic, it does not take a points of Mystica, as there's no control, and therefore no strain. When casting wild magic, it is considered a critical fail on a roll of 11 or less. A critical fail will summon a Thing, normally a more powerful Thing that would be expected. Perhaps even more than one.

Wild Magic is a very, very, very bad idea.

Magic Difficult Chart

Magic allows a caster to try any spell that they can imagine. This doesn't mean that they are going to achieve it. Each Magic Circle increases the caster's ability to achieve their aim, and as such, lowers the difficult of the more difficult tasks.

+Fire Magic
Circle Rating	Example	Notes
1	Can create a small, finger-sized flame. About as warm as a match.
2	Can create a small, palm-sized flame. Warm enough to burn skin.
3	Can create a small, palm-sized flame, warm enough to cook with.
4	Can create a flame the size of a football.
5	Can create a flame about two feet, hot enough to to do severe burns.
6	Can create the flame about two feet in size,
7	Can create a flame about 4 feet in size, warm enough to begin char meat
8	Can create a flame about 6 feet in size.
9	Can create a flame about 10 foot in size.
10	Can create a flame about 12 foot in diameter,
11	can create a flame about 14 foot in diameter, with temperatures reaching 140 degrees Celsius
12	Can create a flame about 16 foot in diameter, with temperatures reaching 160 degrees C

+Duration
Circle Rating	Example	Notes
1	Increase the length of a spell by 10s of seconds
2	Increase the length of a spell by minuits
3	Increase the length of a spell by 10s of minuits
4	Increase the length of a spell by hours
5	Increase the length of a spell by 10s of hours
6	Increase the length of a spell by days
7	Increase the length of a spell by 10s of days
8	Increase the length of a spell by months
9	Increase the length of a spell by 5 months
10	Increase the length of a spell by years
11	Increase the length of a spell by 5s of years
12	Increase the length of a spell by decades
13	Increase the length of a spell by 3 decades
14	Increase the length of a spell by centuries
15	Increase the length of a spell by 10s of centuries

Notes on the Duration Chart

Every spell cast without duration lasts only one round.

Magic Difficult Chart Explained

This chart is an example of what is achievable with different circle ratings, at the base difficulty of 17.

NOTE: Control does not add to the difficult, as it must (for safety) always be used (The use of Control is what gives us a difficulty of 17 to start with).

So, if a person has a circle rating in fire 4, and wishes to create a simple palm-sized fire, they would only need to roll 17.

If, however, a person with a circle rating of 4 wanted to create a 16ft flame, things become a little different. To find the difficulty number, we take 4 away from 12, to give us 8. This we add to the usual magic activation number of 17, to give us our final difficult number of 25.

The difficult for the creation of the spell increases with every level of complexity that a mage wishes to add to their spell.

For every circle beyond the first that a mage wishes to add, the difficulty increases by one. For example, if the above mage wishes to create a palm sized flame, then they could do so at a difficult of 17. If they had the circle 'time', and wished the flame to stay alight in their palm for an hour, providing they have the relevant circle level in time, the difficulty would only become 18.

Dark Magic

Dark Magic is any magic that manipulates or desecrates life. This includes necromancy, as well as any spell that manipulates someone's emotions (love spells etc) to make someone go against their nature.

There are many sources for Dark Magic.

The Magic Void

The Magic Void, the place between, is the place from which most mages draw their magic. It is a wild place, inhabited by monstrous Things. The Magic Void, however, has limited uses. It can only operate in the 'natural sphere', it cannot be used to raise the dead, or bend things to unnatural ends.

Blood Magic

Living creatures all contain within themselves traces of magic; some more than others. These traces can be found in the fresh blood of the creatures. The fresher the blood, the more potent the magics. The use of this magic takes the mystica from the creature who's blood it is.

This type of magic does not require a control circle, as it does not pull directly for the void.

For example, if a Blood Mage uses magic to power a simple fire spell, and seeks to use 4 mythica, the creature who's blood is being used permanently looses 4 health points.

The Realm of Darkenna

The real of Darkenna is perhaps the most potent form of mystica of all the dark sources. Magic from here is granted by the Lords of Darkenna. All give with a price.

Using Dark Magic

Mages who use their magics to manipulate people are using Dark Magic. The source of the magic (from where they are drawing their power) will depend on the penalties that they get for doing such an action.

From the Magic Void

A mage who uses magic from the magic void leaves themselves open to it. Should a mage crit-fail using this magic, they gain a magic taint from the void. This increases their crit-fail value for all magic rolls by the amount of taint.

From Blood Magic

Blood magic requires the destruction of a creature's soul. It isn't, however, a complete destruction. Remanants of the creature, a twisted, torture remnant will attach itself to the mage. These voices constantly whisper at the mage, and for each creature that dies during the use of the magic, the user gains another soul.

The Blood Mage must constantly be wary of their own sanity; For each soul that they have that is more than their willpower score, they gain both an insanity point, and a black mark of fate (for ending the fate of another in an unnatural way).

From the Lords of Darkenna

The Lords of Darkenna are always seeking to gain some foot-hold in the world. They will whisper to the mages who seek to use their magic for their own gain. A control Circle will keep the Lords and bay, but they will constantly offer gifts and deals in exchange for more power. The Lords will seek to gain control over the mage, and to eventually have them become their puppet.

Combat

Combat is likely in a hero game, as hero's attempt to overthrow the villains, and save the day.

Combat is therefore designed to be quick and simple, to keep the action fluid and exciting.

Combat happens in rounds.

To decide who is going first, everyone rolls a D20, and adds their initiative to the result.

In order, every hero takes a turn. A turn is defined as something that could be rationally done in 5 seconds. Each of these actions in theory happen at the same time, but for the sake of ease of play, they tend to happen one after another. A hero can choose to “hold their action” until after another hero has taken their turn.

During the round. Any hero can speak to another hero when it’s not their turn. It is the role of the GM to make sure that this conversation is “in Character”, and not about knowing that character A has an X number in a skill Talking is considered a “free action”, that is, it doesn’t use up the hero’s action for that round.

During combat, a hero may want to use an active defence, rather than a passive defence. The passive defence is the default values named above, the active values are an activated super-power. For example, a hero may have a high-tech sword. As this is counted as a superpower for the sake of the rules, with 7 (Agility (4) sword use(3)), this would be doubled to 14, which is better than their default parry 13. To use this, at the start of the combat, they may choose to activate the parry. This then because their parry value for the duration of the combat.

If the hero critically fails at their activation they have made themselves easier to hit. Their score becomes the value of the super-power without being doubled.

If the hero critically succeeds at their activation they have made themselves more difficult to hit, and the value of the super-power is tripled.

Combat Turn Order

Decide Initiative

Anyone with an initiative power can choose to activate it.

• Roll initiative + d20, the highest goes first.
• If two players draw, the person with the highest initiative score goes first

Each player may take a single action.

• A single action may be anything that takes roughly 5 seconds:
• Activating their superpowers for improved defences
• Moving more than 5ft
• Making an attack

Attacking

During their turn, a hero will likely want to attack a villain.

To make an attack, a hero chooses the relevant fighting skill.

If the skill is a physical weapon (sword or gun), they then use skills like sword fighting, or pistol use. These are then added to the controlling Ability, and added together. The difficult for the attack is the defender’s Parry (in the case of a sword) or Dodge in the case of a gun, and so on. If the skill is a super-power, they use the relevant super-power skill (dark bolt, mental attack). The difficulty is the target’s Dodge in the case of a ranged dark-bolt, or Will in the case of a mental attack, and so on.

Example:

Swordfighting (Agility(4)+Sword Skill(3)) + D20 (14) = 21

Causing Damage

If the attack succeeds, the hero makes a damage roll.

For a physical weapon, damage is calculated by the following calculation:

Weapon’s Skill +Weapons Damage + (D20) = Final score.

Example: Swordfighting 7 (Sword Skill (3)+Agility (4)) + 10 (Weapons Damage (Strength +5) + (D20 (14) ) = 35.

For ranged weapons:

Weapon Specific Skill + Weapons Damage + D20

eg:

Weapon’s skill 7 (Bow (3)+ Dexterity(4)) + 10 (Arrow) + 14 (D20)= 31

NOTE: When rounding damage, always round up.

It is not possible to critically fail at doing damage.

If the hero rolls a critical success in doing damage, then the damage total is doubled, if the hero wishes (there are times when a hero may not necessarily wish to do double the amount of damage, especially if that damage might kill a villain).

In some cases, a hero may want to do extra damage with a relevant superpower. A good example of this is a hero with a sword, and super-strength. In this example, they may wish to activate (see above) their super-strength instead of using their default strength. If a hero did successfully activate their super-strength when using a sword (as in the above example), then their strength is replaced with their super-strength * 2. They are not added together.

Damage

When a hero is hit by a villain, they will take damage.

The amount of damage is worked out like this (this is called a Soak Roll):

Total Damage Dealt - (Toughness +(Armour)+Health Dice+D20) = Damage

Example: Damage Dealt (27) - ( Toughness (13) + Health Dice (2)+ (D20 (5)) = 7

If a hero rolls a critical fail at this point, the hero takes damage, but has also done themselves a critical injury, such as breaking an arm, or twisting an ankle. These can give minuses to the hero from this point onwards. For example, breaking a left arm might give a -2 to agility, which will affect all rolls connected to it (including Dodge), thereby making them easier to hit.

If a hero rolls a critical success, the hero takes no damage, no matter how much less than the full damage the soak roll is.

Soak

On some occasions, a hero might want to avoid taking damage. They can do this by choosing to roll their health dice (see health), and spending a Luck Point(LP) (or, if they are out of Luck Points, and XP). For each Luck Point they spend, they can roll their health dice and add the number to their soak score (above). If they roll a 1 on their health dice, then they loose all the Luck Points spent so far, and all the benefit achieved from them, and are reduced down to their basic soak score.

Unconsciousness

If a hero takes more damage than half their current Body Points, they fall unconscious. Any actions that require them to be concentrating stop. A hero remains unconscious until they roll a successful Will roll against Challenge Rating 25, or a suitable moment after the time of Duress has passed. A hero may not wish to become conscious, and can choose to remain unconscious and therefore not make the roll.

Taking such a large amount of damage has a chance of causing permanent physical harm. On falling unconscious, a hero rolls their health dice. On the roll of a one, they have caused some physical harm. A broken arm, or leg, or perhaps something more fatal.

Body Damage Roll

To work out which part of the body has been affected, roll a d6 and compare it to the following table.

• 1 right arm.
• 2 left arm.
• 3 right leg.
• 4 left leg.
• 5 Chest
• 6 head.

Damage to the head and chest areas may lead to bleeding and/or extended unconsciousness.

Dying and Death

As in all good stories, heros die.

If a hero reaches negative Body Points in damage, they are considered to be Unconscious.

While they are between 0 and -10, they are incapacitated. With a Will Defence roll (Challenge rating 17 + the amount of damage over 0 they have taken. For example, if they are on -3, the Challenge Rating would be 20) they may become semi-conscious.

In this semi-conscious state, they may:

• Crawl a small distance (3ft/round)
• call for help
• Use fate points
• Use chaos points
• They may, with Strain, take an action. (NOTE: if the player does not have any strain, then they will still take the damage to their body points, this would push them into dying).

A Hero who is on 0 body points, is simply incapacitated. They do not get worse, and cannot get better without outside help. A Hero on 0 body points will take 1 point of non-soakable damage if they are not healed to at least 1 by midnight on the day in which they were taken to 0. This will push them into negative numbers.

A Hero who is on negative points ( -1 to -10) will take a point of non-soakable damage every 5 rounds, this is a factor of them 'bleeding out', or taking similar damage, until they are healed above 0 (they must be healed to at least 1 to stop the affects of 'bleeding out' once they start). This affect continues until they have reached double their hit-points in negative damage.

Dying

If they have taken negative body points that is equal to or greater than -10, then they are considered to be dying.

A hero who is dying must instantly make a Body Damage roll (above). This is an injury that they have sustained that cannot be healed without extensive rest and care.

A hero does not instantly die. There is a chance that their team-mates might try to rescue them. The hero’s action immediately following them beginning to die a hero must make a Will roll against a Challenge Rating of 17. Every turn there after, the Challenge rating increases by one. So, the next turn, the Challenge Rating becomes 18. This continues until the Hero fails the roll.

If at any point the hero fails the roll (and does not have enough luck points to succeed) the hero is also considered to be dead.

If a hero critical fails any of these rolls, then the hero is dead. If the hero has a chance of resurrection, they must take a permanent disability/disfigurement of some kind, often do with the physical damage that they received on reaching -10.

Not Used: Option Rule: A Hero has only 10 rounds in which they can be saved, so that if the challenge rating reaches 27, they are dead.

Example Weapon Damage Chart

Weapon Name	Damage	Notes
Rock	1 + Strength
Glass Bottle/Scalpel	2 + Strength
Knife	1d4
Generic Sword	1d6
Short Bow	1d6
Long Bow	1d8
Two Handed Sword	1d12	Using such a hefty weapon will throw it's user off-balance. As such, the wielder suffers halving of any defensive stance they take.
Balanced Knife	3
Balanced Sword	4
Balanced Short Bow	5
Balanced Long Bow	7
Balanced Two Handed Sword	10	NOTE: The defensive stance here is reduced by 1/3

A Note on the damage chart

These damages are examples.

There will be swords which are better made, that are custom designed for the wielder. There will also be magical swords that will give a tiny boost, and so on.

Balanced Vs. Generic

Balanced weapons are weapons of high-quality and high-precision. This means that the wielder can be much more sure of how the weapon will swing, and how much damage it will do. As such, the balanced weapons do a constant amount of damage, rather than a dice roll. This gives a more consistent amount of damage.

The Generic weapons all have flaws in them, either in their weighting, or in the metal of the blade, or so on. This means that the weapon doesn't always hit well. It can also mean, of course, that these flaws line up in favour of the wielder and might mean that it can do more damage than the balanced weapon. The difference is, of course, that it can equally do less damage.

Health and Healing

The world of Dellan is a dangerous place. It is likely that at some point the hero is going to get injured.

Clerical Magic is the strongest form of healing in Dellan. To heal a cleric needs to the cast the magic (difficulty 17, plus any extra difficult based on the seriousness of the wounds). If it is successful, then the magic effect (whatever dice was used to cast the magic) becomes the amount of healing that a character received.

Mages, because of their source of magic, are unable to learn healing magics.

If a healer has no magic, then the amounts of healing is much reduced. A healer must make a successful intelligence(healing) (or similar) roll, the difficulty being the type and amount of damage done. If successful, the healer then does

Healing Skill(total) + rolled circle skill = amount of healing.

For example, if a hero has Intelligence 1, First Aid at 3, with an Intelligence Circle of 2, the amount of healing they would do is:

4 + (1d6 roll) 3 = 7 points of healing.

Permanent Damage

It is possible to receive permanent damage in Dellan, even with a cleric on-hand to heal. Clerical magic will first work to protect life. As such, a bone that has not been set properly when the cleric heals them, will be healed badly set.

This is generally only a problem during combat encounters where it is more important to heal the Dying Hero, than spend time trying to fix their broken body. In these cases, a Hero may receive permanent damage.

Clerics can also not (generally speaking) heal damage to soft tissue that is done as the result of ageing, or something that could be considered 'self inflicted'. As soft tissue cannot be 'set' before magic is cast, it is possible that lung/heart/digestion damage done by some poisons that have caused death may leave the Hero permanently scarred.

In a high-magic system, such as this, permanent may not be fully permanent. A character willing to have their arm broken, and healed under the care of Clerics of Mishna (or other, clerically-dedicated healers) for an extended period, and to spend the relevant of XP may be able to 'fix' the disadvantages of their permanent damage. Such healing will take as many months as the level of damage (for example, a -1 penalty to the right arm, would take 1 month of intensive care to fix, a -2 penalty would take two months, and so on). Much of this will depend on the nature of the injury. Clerics may be hesitant to preform healing at all on people who are considered reckless (and therefore likely to undo the work), or those who have required such acts of care repeatedly (NOTE: Clerics will be guided by their God, so going to another city to try at a different temple will generally receive the same result if the clerics follow the same God)

Non-Magical Healing limitations

Because healing is based on the natural rythms of the body, there are limits to often such rolls can be made.

• A hero who is in danger of dying, that is, below 0, can have a healing roll made on them every round until they are successfully at 0 or above.
• A hero who is above 0, but below half their total hit-points can have a healing attempt made once every hour.
• A hero who is over half their total hit-points can have a healing attempt made once every day.

Potions and Poultices

These are forms of healing that have been crafted by those skilled in the art. The prices quoted here are a general guide. The prices will vary greatly over Dellan, based on the availability of the items.

Divine Potions

Some clerics of Mishna (and rarely, other religions) are able to make healing potions. These often have a short shelf-life (from a day to a month), and their healing value is set. They range from small (5pts of healing) up to major (40+pts of healing). These are very expensive, as the clerics who are capable of making them are rare. They are also not easy to get a hold of, as they are holy items clerics can be very jumpy about letting just anyone get a hold of them. Generally, they cost around 1 silver per point of healing, if a suitable cleric can be found to make them.

Alchemical Potions

Alchemical Potions work much the same way as normal(mundane) healing would, with the same limitations (above). The main difference is that these potions can have a variety of affects. Some of the more expensive potions can even reduce the amount of time between the application of potions.

Alchemical potions are much cheaper than divine potions, but those with strong healing ability are rare.

Potions generally cost around 5 copper a point.

Poultices

Poultices are folk remedies that are used to reduce the pain a wound. They are cheap, and have some small healing abilities, but they are more based on chance. Poultices are around a copper per level, though it is very rare to find someone able to make more than a level 4 poultice.

• level 1 : 1d4
• level 2: 1d6
• level 3: 1d8
• level 4: 1d10
• level 5: 1d12
• level 6: 1d20

There are rumours that some people are able to create poultices of higher level than these (and for each level higher, the amounts loop around again. Level 7 is 1d20+1d4, Level 8 is 1d20+1d6, and so on).

There are some poultices that are a different combination of dice.

Poultices can only be applied once per day, as they speed up the natural healing of a wound.

Health

Physical damage is not the only problem in Dellan. There are diseases and poisoning as well.

Diseases and Poisoning are more of a problem in Dellan, the usual forms of healing (above) only heals the damage done by them, not the cause. A cleric generally deals with these problems by ensuring the person is well-healed, and letting the natural defences of the body flush it out, though for some diseases this is very difficult to achieve.

Curing Diseases or Poisoning with Clerical Magic

It takes a dedicated cleric to cure either of these. It requires either a dedicated circle skill, or an incredibly difficult (35+) activation roll in order to attempt to get these out of the system. The difficulty will depend on the type and severity of the disease, and the familiarity of a cleric with this kind of healing. The difficulty can also be reduced if the cleric can correctly identify the problem.

In most cases it can take hours of concentrated work for the spell to be effective.

Curing Diseases or Poisoning with mundane means

The biggest challenge is identifying the problem. A correctly-identified poison will allow a highly-trained healer (or alchemist etc) to create the right kind of medicine.

Curing Poisoning

With Poisoning, most methods of poison cure is to purge the poison from the body. Everything from inducing vomiting, to ensuring that the poison is forced out of every pore. This is not a pleasant experience, and and can, in some cases, cause a person to gain an insanity point. Purging is not a quick experience, and will require several successful fortitude rolls, with the benefits gained from the medicine in order to completely drive the poison out of a person's system. Poisons may still cause permanent damage while it is purged.

Poison can be cured with an anti-poison. All poisons can be cured in this way, though the cure may still result in purging. Though not all anti-poisons can cure all poisons. The more powerful the poison, the more unique the anti-poisons, with the most powerful poisons of all requiring a unique anti-poison.

Creating an Anti-Poison

In an ideal situation, an anti-poison can be created by analysing a large specamine of the origina poison, with many tests made to see what reagents are succesful at nutralising that poision. Such time and care is often not available.

In that case, samples of the victim's blood, or other bodily fluids can be used to make an anti-poison, but the results will be less effective, and may take longer to take affect.

For example, a hero has been poisoned. If the correct anti-poison can be found, then the Hero will gain a +15 to their fortitude roll (needing 17 to succeed). They need to succeede 3 times in order to be free of the poison. For each failed roll, the poison will do them some damage (for example, 1d10 points of damage, which cannot be soaked as it is *inside* the hero).

If correct anti-poison cannot be found, then a sample of blood is taken. The , healer will need to correctly identify the poison. The difficulty is based on how rare the poison is, and how difficult it is to detect. Some of the most powerful and deadly poisons can mimic diseases, and often get mis-diagonosed until it is too late. These would require a roll of 40+ to detect. Most simple poisons (generally made from poisonous frogs or snakes) require a simple roll of 17 to detect.

To make the anti-poison, (assuming all ingredients can be gathered), the healer will need to make a difficult alchemy roll or similar. The result of that roll will determine how much help the hero gets to fight off this poison. Generally, this is the amount of skill the healer has in the relevant poition creation skill.

For example:

Intellect (1) + Alchemy (3) = 4 + Intellect Circle (2d6,which rolled 7) = 11.

In this example the hero would gain 11 to their fortitude rolls.

NOTE: At least 3 rolls must be made, even if the anti-poision is sucessfully more than the number a hero would need to roll to pass a fortitude roll. That is, for example, if a hero must roll 17 or more on their fortitude roll, and the anti-poison gives a +18, the hero must still roll 3 times. There is always the chance of a critical failure.

Curing Disease

The process to curing disease is much the same as finding the correct anti-poison.

Quirks

During the game, characters will find that they are passing more rolls than some, and failing more rolls than others. Perhaps a character simply can’t juggle swords when they are showing off. These kinds of random actions should be turned into Quirks. Quirks give permanent negatives and positives to actions. For example, a hero has (through random luck) just rolled 3 critical successes in a row to a task. That task could be made into a Quirk, and now gains a +2 to success to any future actions.

It can also work the other way. A character has managed to critically fail a certain task repeatedly. That character is just not cut out to using that skill in that way, and it becomes a quirk. That character is now at a -2 to those tasks in future.

When a character gains a negative quirk, those characters should increase their permanent Luck Points by one for each negative quirk they have.

optional: For each positive quirk a character has, they should reduce their permanent character points by one.

Quirks are designed to ensure that it is play-style, and skill usage that drive the character, rather than simple statistics.

Optional Rules

Strain

Strain is a type physical ability that allows a character to put their body under unnatural strain to achieve remarkable, heroic actions.

These actions can only be used once per round. In some rare cases, actions can be strung over two different rounds, in that case, the second action takes double the strain.

Attribute-based Strain abilities require at least 1 in the attribute to use them. Generic strain abilities may be used regardless of attribute.

The more powerful the action, the more strain that is consumed. The amount of strain consumed is equal to the level of the strain action.

If a player is out of strain points, but decides to push their body further, they take 15 points of unsoakable damage to themselves to complete the action. This damage is like Mythica Damage, and is subject to the same healing rules.

A character does not have to buy Strain Actions (below) in any order. They can purchase whichever level of strain action they can afford with their XP.

Gaining Strain

Strain can be regained by a character having a full rest. This means a good meal, a full night of comfortable rest, and a good breakfast. This requires a decent place to sleep (so not a cold forest floor), and a hearty amount of food - trail rations will NOT suffice!

Strain Actions

Like most things in this system, this is not a complete list of strain actions available. Strain, however, is based on physical ability.

Level 1 Abilities

React

The ability to respond to an action during a turn. This gives the character the ability to take a full action in response to another action. This must be called before damage is dealt if a character wishes to stop the damage.

Guaranteed Strike

Instead of rolling the dice, you may make an attack at 1/2 of your full attack value. For example: D20 + d8 +4 = 20 +8 +4 = 16

Guaranteed Damage

Instead of rolling the dice, you may make a damage roll at 1/2 of your full damage value. This does require having landing a successful strike on the target. For example: D20 + d8 +4 = 20 +8 +4 = 16

Again!

A character may take two actions without penalty (other than taking the strain). For example, a character may attack twice, or a character may run twice the distance Strong/Fast/Dexterous/etc A character may double their attribute *attribute* for one action. This DOES NOT include their circle score. NOTE: This must be bought for each attribute that you want to use the strain with. (eg. You must buy Strong for strength, Dexterous for Dexterity, and so on).

My Body As Shield

Within combat distance, a character may put themselves in the way of a blow. They take the full DAMAGE of the blow, instead of it's intended target. They take the damage, even if the initial attack would not have been enough to do damage to them. The act of putting themselves in the way of the blow means that they are hit, and must take the full damage.

I know that

A character may recall one useful fact about a topic.

It is only a scratch

If a character has been knocked unconscious, they may spend a point of strain to be conscious and able to fight the next round. They may remain concious for 5 rounds, or until the end of combat, which ever is sooner. They must then be unconcious for 5 rounds to recover.

Level 2 Strain Abilities

Generic Again!

A character may take two full actions without penalty (other than taking the strain). For example, a character may attack twice, or a character may run twice the distance. With this generalised ability, they may use any two physical actions they wish. They may take their action either following their original action, or at the end of the round.

Stronger/Dexterous/Fast/etc

A character may tipple their strength *attribute* for one action. This DOES NOT include their circle score. NOTE: This must be bought for each attribute that you want to use the strain with. (eg. You must buy Strong for strength, Dexterous for Dexterity, and so on).

I saw that

A character is able to discern the smallest of movements, and as such will pass (with a simple pass) the next perception/awareness roll. This is a *sight based* ability (as such, anything invisible would not be detected)

I heard that

A character is able to discern the smallest of sounds, and as such will pass (with a simple pass) the next perception/awareness roll. This is a *hearing based* ability (as such, it does not give bonuses to *seeing* things).

Is this it?

A character is able to find a moderately-well hidden (DN of 18) item (trap door, hidden item, etc)

Level 3

Strike

Instead of rolling the dice, you may make an attack at your full attack value. For example: D20 + d8 +4 = 20 +8 +4 = 32

Damage

Instead of rolling the dice, you may make a damage roll at full damage value. This does require having landing a successful strike on the target. For example: D20 + d8 +4 = 20 +8 +4 = 32

Again, Again

A character may take three full strength based (physical) actions without penalty (other than taking the strain). For example, a character may attack twice, or a character may run twice the distance (assuming their run skill is under strength - if a character's run skill is under Agility, then they may not run twice with this strain.

Very Strong/Very Dexterous/etc

A character may quadruple their strength *attribute* for one action. This DOES NOT include their circle score. NOTE: This must be bought for each attribute that you want to use the strain with. (eg. You must buy Strong for strength, Dexterous for Dexterity, and so on).

Level 3

How you doin'?

Despite the odds, the character is able to make ONE NPC (it DOES NOT work on player characters) to be flattered by your flirtations. This doesn't override their sense of duty, nor does it change whether or not they are attracted to the character.

It's just a flesh wound!

A character is able to remain conscious when they are at 0 Body Points for 5 rounds. They will be conscious, and so able to cast magic, and drink potions. They can even crawl short distances.

Level 5

Vengeance

(Can also be taken under Health) A character cries vengeance upon an enemy in combat. They can continue fighting until that enemy is DEAD. They will continue taking damage, and will not fall unconcious. They can even be taken to more than -10 in damage. However, the moment their target escapes them, or dies, the adrenaline leaves their body and must take the combat damage affects. If they have been taken below -10, then they are dead. Note: They can be healed during combat.

Animals

Pets

Pets are domesticated animals. In theory, any animal can be domesticated, however the rarer and more magical the creature, the more difficult it is to do. It will take many succuessful animal handling (or similar) roles, over an extended period of time to tame a rare animal. In the case of magical animals, the difficult will be higher.

Pets cost 5XP.

For example:

* +5 for magical creature
* +5 for rare creature
* +5 for an older creature. 
* +3 for a traditionally violent creature
* .. .and so on. 

For each added complication, the difficulty, obviously increases. The most sucesful way of getting a pet it so find it young, and to be able to train and care for all it's needs for the first few weeks of it's life.

Pets, however, are simply that. They are generally non-combat creatures, and cannot be used in useful ways to solve puzzles. They are easily distracted, but loyal.

Familiars

Familiars are likely the most common form of animal that players are going to want. This is the kind of animal that is able to solve puzzles, fight for, and with them, and have a modicum of independence.

Familiars cost 15XP at generation, or 25XP bought later in the game. A Familiar must first be a successful pet. Either an already-domesticated animal, or one that has become a pet (see the section on Pet for more details).

Familiars gain their own character sheet, and gain two advantages and one disadvantage.

Their health is 1d20 /2 +10. A critical success explodes, but the result remains halved.

Everything else on the character sheet can be bought as though it is a character, within reason.

A Familiar bought at creation can have items bought at the same cost as any other character at creation, but comes from the same XP pool as the player purchasing the character.

A Familiar bought later in the game can have the players XP spent on it at the same cost as any other character.

It should be remembered that they are an animal, therefore, an animal with Intellect of 1, is more intelligent than the average animal of it's species, not a human.

It should also be remembered that a Familiar isn't Psychic, and doesn't speak Ithican/Common. It can understand gestures and simple commands, but complicated instructions with many steps are likely to confuse the animal.

Soul Items

Soul Items are weapons that contain a person's soul. Sometimes this is intentional, and sometimes it is accidental.

These items are very rare.

Soul items can be found, or in rare cases a player can start with one.

Soul Items themselves gain a character sheet, for the 'soul' inside them. The powers of the item function in the same way as magic does, with the same limitations.

Character Creation

At Character creation, a player has 85 points to build their character. The cost for each section are below:

• 15 XP for Species pack
• 15 XP for a New Circle
• 5 XP per point in a Circle AFTER purchase
• 7 XP for a circle skill
• 3 XP for a point in a circle skill AFTER purchase
• 5 XP for an Atrribute
• 5 XP for a Special Stat
• 3 XP for a Skill
• 3 XP for a Defence Stat
• 2 XP for a Skill Specialisation.
• 15 Boost Points : Boost points can be used between the Passive Defence stats. Boost cannot be used to boost a stat by more than 5.

XP Earning

(Generally earn roughly 3-5 XP per session)

XP Spending

* New Circle: 25 xp
* New Circle Skill: 10xp
* New Skill : 7xp
* New Skill Specialisation: 5xp
* New Special Skill: 15xp

* Next Circle Level: 10xp X the level you are going too. 
* Atributes: 10xp times the level they are going too. 
* Skills: 5 times the level they are going too.
* Specialisation: 3 times the level they are going too
* Defenses: 3 times the level they are going too (Magic Defence, Physical Defence, etc.)
* Circle Skills: 5 times the level they are going too. 
* Special Skills : 10xp X the level you are going too.
* Each point of strain costs 15XP (Note: This may change - so please not XP spent)
* Each Strain Action costs 10*level (Note: this may chance - so please note XP spent)