Adventure

DESIGN
Nikola Vrtis

BASED ON MATERIAL BY AND

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
Greg Farshtey, Douglas Kaufman, Fred Jandt,
Peter Schweighofer, Bill Slavicsek, Bill Smith,
Ed Stark, George R. Strayton, Teeuwynn
Woodruff, and other D6 System, MasterBook,
Shatterzone, and Torg contributors

PDF INTERIOR GRAPHIC DESIGN Note to Our Readers

& COVER GRAPHIC DESIGN This PDF version of the D6 Adventure rulebook was
Nikola Vrtis compiled from many sources as a basic rulebook for use
with such worlds as Bloodshadows, which was originally
BASED ON THE MASTERBOOK with the MasterBook system. See the introduction for more
information on this system and suggestions for settings.
GRAPHIC DESIGN BY If you received a copy of this file from a friend and would
Stephen Crane like to support the publishing efforts of West End Games,
please send US$12.00 via PayPal (https://
INTERIOR ILLUSTRATION www.paypal.com/) to d6lweg@yahoo.com.
Paul Daly, Karl Waller, For more information about the D6 System and other
West End Games products, please visit our Web site,
Jaime Lombardo & Ron Hill www.westendgames.com.
This PDF does not require any additional books to play,
D6 ADVENTURE PLAYTEST TEAM though a world might be helpful. If you want advanced
Ron Fricke, Scott Palter, Matthijs Krijger, options, you will need to look in another D6 System-based
German E. Vargas Ramos, rulebook (such as the core rulebook, WEG #51005). You
or your favorite local or Internet retailer can order the D6
M. Shanmugasundaram System core rulebook through West End Games. You can
… and their groups, friends find more information about ordering directly from West
and accomplices. End Games in the Catalog section of our Web site.
Thank you for the use of
your imaginations and your time. WEG 51009 • Version 1.0

WEST END GAMES • www.westendgames.com

®, TM and © 1993 West End Games. TM & © 2003 Humanoids Inc. All Rights Reserved.
West End Games, WEG, and D6 System are trademarks and properties of Humanoids Inc.
 • Contents •
Introduction ............................................................. 3 Chapter Four: Combat ........................................... 41
System Overview ................................................................................... 3 Attacking and Defending .................................................................. 41
Base Combat Difficulty .............................................................. 41
Chapter One: Character Basics ................................. 4
Active Defense .............................................................................. 41
Character Creation .............................................................................. 4
Combat Difficulty Modifiers ..................................................... 42
Attributes ................................................................................................. 4
Determining Damage ................................................................. 43
Skills ........................................................................................................ 5
Healing .......................................................................................... 45
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Special Abilities ........................ 6
Move .......................................................................................................... 7 Chapter Five: More Example Difficulties .................. 46
Special Points ......................................................................................... 7
Chapter Six: Psionics ............................................. 55
Body Points ............................................................................................. 7
Obtaining Access to Psionics ............................................................ 55
Strength Damage ................................................................................... 7
Learning Psionics Skills .................................................................... 55
Funds ........................................................................................................ 7
Using and Resisting Psionics ............................................................ 55
Equipment ............................................................................................... 7
Psionics Modifiers ............................................................................... 55
Background and Character Featuers ............................................... 7
Psionics Skills ....................................................................................... 57
Learning and Improving Skills .......................................................... 7
Improving Attributes ............................................................................ 8 Chapter Seven: Magic ............................................. 61
Improving Strength Damage .............................................................. 8 Obtaining Access to Magic ................................................................. 61
Improving Body Points ........................................................................ 8 Learning Magic Skills ......................................................................... 61
Magic Skills ........................................................................................... 61
Chapter Two: Character Options ............................... 9
Characteristics of a Spell ................................................................... 62
Introduction ........................................................................................... 9
Using Spells and Their Effects ......................................................... 62
Costs ........................................................................................................ 10
Building the Spell ................................................................................ 63
Character Creation by Points ........................................................... 10
Basic Aspects ................................................................................ 63
Advantages ........................................................................................... 10
Spell Measures Table ................................................................. 65
Disadvantages ..................................................................................... 15
Optional Aspects .......................................................................... 66
Special Abilities .................................................................................. 25
Final Spell Total and Spell Difficulty ..................................... 70
Special Ability Limitations ........................................................ 31
Design Time .................................................................................. 70
Chapter Three: General Skill Use ............................ 32 Precalculated Spells ........................................................................... 71
Rolling Dice ........................................................................................... 32 Blank Spell Worksheet ...................................................................... 75
Wild Die .......................................................................................... 32
Chapter Eight: Equipment ..................................... 76
Character Points .......................................................................... 32
Purchasing Equipment ...................................................................... 76
Fate Points .................................................................................... 33
Gear ........................................................................................................ 76
Using Skills ........................................................................................... 33
Armor ..................................................................................................... 77
Untrained Skill Use ............................................................................. 33
Weapons Terminology ........................................................................ 77
Rounds and Initiative ........................................................................ 33
Firearms ................................................................................................. 78
Performing Actions in Rounds ......................................................... 34
Explosives .............................................................................................. 78
Rolled Actions ............................................................................... 34
Missile Weapons ................................................................................... 79
Free Actions .................................................................................. 36
Melee Weapons ..................................................................................... 79
Multiple Actions ........................................................................... 36
Preparing ....................................................................................... 36 Chapter Nine: Rewards ........................................... 80
Aiming ............................................................................................ 36
Rushing .......................................................................................... 36
Character Templates .............................................. 81
Choosing Difficulties, Determining Success ................................. 36 Blank Character Sheet ........................................... 90
Standard Difficulties .................................................................. 36
Opposed Difficulties .................................................................... 37
MasterBook/D6 Conversion .................................... 92
Generic Modifiers ........................................................................ 37 Reference Sheet ..................................................... 93
Good Roleplaying Modifier ....................................................... 37
Second Chances ........................................................................... 37
Gamemaster’s Fiat ....................................................................... 38
Example Difficulties .................................................................... 38
Mental Defenses ........................................................................... 39
Movement Difficulties ................................................................ 39
 • Introduction •
This book provides the fundamentals necessary to play in a gamemaster, who will let you know whether or not to add it to
pulp fiction, modern adventure, espionage, low-level super your total.
hero, or similar setting using West End Game’s famous D6 The gamemaster informs the players when to roll the dice,
System roleplaying game rules. and uses the rules to interpret the die rolls to see how success-
This book assumes that you know something about role- ful an action is.
playing and have played some version of the D6 System a few The higher you roll, the better your character accomplishes
times, or that your gamemaster has some familiarity with the task at hand. When your character tries doing something,
some version of the D6 System. In the interest of keeping this the gamemaster decides on a difficulty based on the task’s
book short and focused on the essentials, many examples and complexity. The gamemaster doesn’t usually tell you the diffi-
detailed explanations have been left out. For more details, culty number you need to equal or beat to succeed. He often
examples, and options (such as expanded chase rules), pick up won’t inform you which tasks are easier and which are harder,
a D6 System rulebook designed for a specific setting, such as though he might give you hints (“Hmmm, catching your grap-
the games published by West End Games for their licensed pling hook around that small outcropping is going to be pretty
properties. (Check your favorite local or Internet game retailer hard.…”).
for availability.)
Taking Damage
System Overview To describe how much injury a character can sustain, each
This overview provides basic concepts germane to roleplay- character has a certain number of Body Points. A player sub-
ing with the D6 System. The concepts presented herein are tracts the amount of damage the attacker rolls for his weapon
further explained in the rest of this book. from the total number of Body Points her character has (which
were figured out when the player created the character).
Making Actions Improving Rolls
Each player has a character with attributes and skills that
describe how well that character can perform various actions. In addition to scores for a character’s attributes and skills,
Attributes represent a character’s innate abilities, while skills she has Fate Points and Character Points. Players can spend
are specific applications of those abilities. these points in particularly difficult and heroic situations.
A die code associated with each of those attributes and skills When a player spends a Character Point, he gets to roll one
indicates how good the character is. The larger the value, the extra die when his character tries to successfully complete a
more experienced, trained, or naturally adept your character task. The player may choose to spend a Character Point after
is. Each die code indicates the number of six-sided dice you roll he’s made a roll (in case it’s an important roll and the player
when your character uses an attribute or skill (1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, rolls very low, or he wants to improve his result). Players gain
5D, etc.), and sometimes an added bonus of “+1” or “+2” you add more Character Points at the end of a game for completing
to the total result you roll on the dice. goals and playing well.
When a player spends a Fate Point, that means her charac-
Example: If your character’s Physique attribute is 3D+1, if ter is using all of her concentration to try and succeed. A player
you had her try to lift a cargo container, you would roll three may only spend a Fate Point before any die rolls are made.
dice and add 1 to the total to get her result. Doing so doubles the number of dice she’d normally roll,
To represent the randomness of life (and the tons of little usually for one round and one action only, though the game-
modifiers that go along with it), every time you roll dice, make master may allow players to spend more Fate Points in
sure that one of them is of a different color than the others. (If particularly challenging moments. This allows the character
you only have one die to roll, then that die is the Wild Die.) This to do one action really well. When a Fate Point is used, it’s lost
special die is the Wild Die, and it can have some interesting but may be gained back at the end of the game if used in a
effects on your dice total. brave, heroic, or climactic moment.
If the Wild Die comes up as a 2, 3, 4, or 5, add the result to
the other dice normally. If the Wild Die comes up as a 6, this Reality
is a Critical Success. Add the 6 to your other dice results and The D6 System rules are not meant to reflect reality’s
roll the Wild Die again. As long as you roll a 6, you keep adding reality. Rather, they have been designed to model fiction
the 6 and you keep rolling. If you roll anything else, you add reality, the reality of stories, television shows, comic books,
that number to the total and stop rolling. If the Wild Die comes and movies. If you want to use this system to describe the real
up as a 1 on the first roll, this is a Critical Failure. Tell the world, you’ll need to add your own modifiers and limits.
 CHAPTER ONE

• Character Basics •
Fate Points: Characters start with 1 Fate Point.
Character Creation For equipment, Advantages, Disadvantages, Special Abili-
To make a character, you’ll need to select a template from ties, background, and character features, see the appropriate
within this book or another D6 game, or make your own. A sections in this chapter for more details on how to fill out these
blank character sheet is included at the end of this book for optional sections.
your convenience. You can either print off an extra copy of your
chosen sheet, or copy the information onto a separate sheet of
paper.
Attributes
Each character has seven attributes, which measure basic
Templates physical and mental abilities that are common to every living
creature (and some nonliving things), no matter what universe
A few templates have been provided at the end of this book or dimension they exist in.
for your convenience. To get started right away, pick one and
distribute seven skill dice among the skills listed; the dice for Reflexes: Measure of balance, limberness, quickness, and
attributes have already been done for you. Note that the listed full-body motor abilities.
skills are the ones that type of character might typically have, Coordination: Measure of hand-eye coordination and fine
though you could include others not on the list if you’d like. motor abilities.
If desired, you can fill in the other character features (such Physique: Measure of physical power and ability to resist
as gender, age, etc.) and provide any additional notes on the damage.
character’s history. There is no need to purchase equipment, as Knowledge: Measure of strength of memory and ability to
that has already been figured for the characters. learn.
If you choose a template from another D6 game, you may Perception: Measure of mental quickness and attention to
need to make some adjustments in the types of skills that a detail.
character based on that might have. Check the list herein to Presence: Measure of emotional strength, physical attrac-
make sure the template’s skills are described in this D6 tiveness, and personality.
version. If one is not, either cross it off the template or Extranormal: Measure of a character’s extraordinary abili-
substitute a similar skill that does exist. ties, which could include psionics, magic, or other extranormal
talents. It is often listed by its type, rather than by the term
Make Your Own “Extranormal.” Most characters begin with a score of 0D, since
people with such abilities are extremely rare. Those who have
If you wish to make your own character from scratch, an Extranormal attribute must decide how it’s manifested.
without a template, use these guidelines. This chapter de- Characters almost never have more than one Extranormal
scribes each characteristic in more details, including examples attribute.
on how you can split the dice.
These guidelines assume you’ll make a normal Human You as a player have 18 attribute dice to split among your
character. If not, talk with your gamemaster about the mini- character’s attributes. (Minor gamemasters’ characters are built
mums, maximums, and other requirements for the character using less dice, while major ones typically have the same number
species you want to use. as or more than players’ characters.) You can either put whole
Attributes: Distribute 18 dice among the seven attributes. dice in each attribute, or you can give each a mixture of whole
The minimum is 1D and the maximum is 5D in all attributes dice and pips. Each die equals three pips.
except Extranormal attributes.
Skills: Distribute seven dice among the skills. The maxi-
mum number of dice added to any one skill is 3D.
Move: This equals 10 meters per round. • More Character Options •
Body Points: Roll your character’s Physique and add 20 to
the total. Chapter 2, “Character Options,” offers a way of rounding
Strength Damage: Drop the pips from your character’s out your character through Advantages, Disadvantages,
Physique or lifting value, divide the number by 2, and round and Special Abilities. Disadvantages give extra points,
up. This is the Strength Damage die code. which can be used to buy attributes, skills, Advantages, and
Funds: Roll 1D to determine your base Funds die code. Special Abilities. The chapter also includes guidelines for
Look under “Funds” in this chapter for modifiers to this roll. creating characters using creation point pools.
Character Points: Characters start with 5 Character Points.
 Character Basics ❖ Page 5

order to take a specialization in that skill, but when you give

your character specializations in that manner, they are treated
as separate skills. If you give your character specializations
in base skills he already has, those specializations are consid-
ered bonuses to the base skill when attempting tasks of that
type.
Specialization dice may not be used to improve the base
skill; once you’ve chosen at least one specialization, you have
to use the remaining specialization dice to either purchase
more pips in the same specialization or purchase one or more
pips in other specializations.
You roll the specialization’s die code only when you use the
specific item or knowledge reflected by the specialization.
Otherwise, you roll the base skill (or attribute if you didn’t put
additional dice in the full skill).
Example: If your character’s Knowledge is 3D and her
demolitions is 3D+2, you could give her a demolitions special-
ization of vehicles of +1 (which means that, when she’s at-
tempting to blow up vehicles, she rolls four dice). You would
then have two specialization dice and two specialization pips
to place among other specializations. With these, you could
further improve her demolitions: vehicles specialization, or
you could pick one or more other specializations in the same or
Paul Daly

other base skills.

A character may not put dice in any skill associated with the
Extranormal attribute unless that character already has dice
Example: You’ve distributed most of your attribute dice,
in that attribute.
but you have four dice left to put in Perception and Pres-
The maximum number of dice the character may start with
ence. You could put 1D in Perception and 3D in Presence, or
in any base skill is 3D greater than the governing attribute,
2D+1 in Perception and 1D+2 in Presence, or some similar
with no more than 3D greater than the base skill in any
combination.
specialization.
Extranormal is the only attribute in which a Human char- As this skill list includes broad definitions not applicable in
acter may have no dice; there is no maximum that a Human all eras or worlds for which D6 Adventure could be used, the
character may have in this attribute. No Human character gamemaster has the final say on actual skill applications.
may have less than 1D or more than 5D in any other attribute.
Other species have other minimums and maximums, which Reflexes
are either listed with the description or specified by the
acrobatics: Perform feats of gymnastics, extraordinary
gamemaster.
balance, and dance, as well as break falls.
brawling: Competence in unarmed combat.
Skills climbing: Scaling various surfaces.
Skills are more specific applications of an attribute. For dodge: Slipping out of danger’s way, whether avoiding an
example, the skill dodge is a more specific use of your character’s attack or a sprung booby trap.
Reflexes. Skills are areas of knowledge that are not necessarily flying: Maneuvering under one’s own power (such as with
common to every living creature. Skills must be taught — by wings).
a teacher or by experience — and some creatures simply don’t jumping: Leaping over obstacles.
have the capacity to learn certain skills. melee combat: Wielding hand-to-hand weapons.
All skills beneath a given attribute begin at that attribute’s piloting: Operating any kind of vehicles traveling on or
die code; those in which the character has trained or has some through the ground, a liquid medium, the air, or space.
experience are improved. riding: Controlling and riding domesticated mounts.
You have seven skill dice to split among the various possi- sneak: Moving silently and avoiding detection, whether
bilities. As with attributes, you can either put whole dice in through shadows or crowds.
each skill, or you can give each a mixture of whole dice and pips.
Remember that each die equals three pips. Coordination
Example: Your character’s Physique is 3D+1. If you wanted lockpicking: Opening a mechanical (not electronic) lock
her to be a little better in the lifting skill, you could add one pip without the key or combination, as well as disarming small
to the base attribute to get a lifting skill score of 3D+2. If you mechanical traps.
decided to add two pips to the base attribute, the lifting score marksmanship: Shooting any gun one can carry, even if it
would be 4D. requires a tripod setup to fire. Covers everything from small
slugthrowers to shoulder-launched rockets.
You can also specialize in skills. Specializations reflect a missile weapons: Firing unpowered ranged weapons.
greater familiarity in a particular area covered by a base skill. sleight of hand: Nimbleness with the fingers and misdirec-
One skill die equals three specialization dice. Of course, one tion, including picking pockets, palming items, and stage magic.
specialization die still equals three pips. throwing: Hitting a target accurately with a thrown item,
You don’t need to have any extra dice in the base skill in including grenades, stones, and knives. Also used for catching
 Chapter 1 ❖ Page 6

thrown items. (Using or modifying grenades as explosives for search: Spotting hidden objects or people, reconnoitering,
special destructive effects requires the demolitions skill.) lip-reading, or eavesdropping on or watching another person.
streetwise: Finding information, goods, and contacts in an
Physique urban environment, particularly through criminal organiza-
lifting: Moving or lifting heavy objects. tions, black markets, and other illicit operations.
running: Moving quickly while avoiding obstacles and survival: Surviving in wilderness environments.
keeping from stumbling. tracking: Following the trail of another person, animal, or
stamina: Physical endurance and resistance to pain, dis- creature, or keeping after a moving target without being
ease, and poison. noticed.
swimming: Moving and surviving in a liquid medium
Presence
Knowledge animal handling: Controlling animals and making them
business: Comprehension of business practices and the perform tricks and follow commands.
monetary value of goods and opportunities. Business can charm: Using friendliness, flattery, or seduction to per-
compliment charm, con, and persuasion when haggling over suade someone to do something he wouldn’t normally do.
prices for goods and services being bought or sold. command: Effectively ordering and coordinating others in
demolitions: Setting explosives to achieve particular de- team situations.
structive effects. con: Bluffing, lying, tricking, or deceiving others.
forgery: Creating and noticing false or altered documenta- disguise: Altering features or clothing to be unrecogniz-
tion in various media (paper, electronic, plastic card), though able.
may require other skills to help detect or make the forgery. intimidation: Using physical presence, verbal threats,
languages: Familiarity with and ability to use various taunts, or fear to influence others or get information out of them.
forms of communication, written, spoken, and nonverbal. persuasion: Influencing others or getting information out
Characters may choose one “native” language in which they of them through honest discussion, debate, bribery, or diplo-
have written and spoken fluency. Additional languages in macy. Hypnotism is a specialization of this skill that cannot be
which a character has proficiency can be represented by used without training.
specializations of this skill. willpower: Personal ability to withstand stress, temptation,
medicine: Using basic field medicine to treat injuries, as other people’s interaction attempts, mental attacks, and pain.
well as detailed understanding and application of medical
procedures, including diagnosing illnesses and performing Extranormal: Magic
surgery. Magic is one possible Extranormal attribute. For specific
navigation: Determining the correct course using external information on Magic, see its chapter in this book.
reference points, such as stars, maps, or landmarks. alteration: Casting spells involving change.
scholar: This skill represents knowledge and/or education apportation: Casting spells involving movement.
in areas not covered under any other skill (such chemistry, divination: Casting spells involving knowledge.
mathematics, archeology, cooking, art, etc.). This may be conjuration: Casting spells involving creation.
restricted to a specific field (represented by specializations) or
a general knowledge of a wide range of subjects. It is used to Extranormal: Psionics
remember details, rumors, tales, legends, theories, important Psionics is another possible Extranormal attribute. For
people, and the like, as appropriate for the subject in question. specific information on Psionics, see its chapter in this book.
However, the broader the category, the fewer the details that astral projection: The ability to leave one’s body.
can be recalled. It covers what the character himself can recall. empathy: The ability to sense emotions.
Having another skill as a specialization of the scholar skill far-sensing: The ability to use one’s senses at a distance.
means that the character knows the theories and history healing: The ability to heal injuries with the mind.
behind the skill but can’t actually use it. It can be useful with medium: The ability to speak with the spirits of the dead.
investigation to narrow a search for information. protection: The ability to psionically defend against in-
security: Installing, altering, and bypassing electronic jury.
security and surveillance systems. psychometry: The ability to sense information about a
tech: Using complex mechanical or electronic equipment, person, place or event by looking at an object connected to it.
such as programming and operating computers. strike: The ability to psionically cause injury.
telekinesis: The ability to move things with the mind.
Perception telepathy: The ability to read thoughts.
artist: Making works of art, like painting, music, and
writing. Advantages, Disadvantages, and
hide: Concealing objects, both on oneself and using camou-
flage. Special Abilities
investigation: Gathering information, researching topics, Advantages and Disadvantages are benefits or quirks your
and piecing together clues. character has developed. Some affect the character’s attributes
gambling: Playing and cheating at games of strategy and and skills, while others serve as useful roleplaying tools for
luck. rounding out the character. Special Abilities are unusual
know-how: Ability to figure out how to perform an action, talents or powers the character has that are outside the norm
as well as a catch-all skill encompassing areas not covered by for Humans. The next chapter, “Character Options,” discusses
other skills (such as basic, not fancy, sewing or cooking). these characteristics. You may ignore this section if you don’t
repair: Creating, fixing, or modifying gadgets. want to add them to your character.
 Character Basics ❖ Page 7

Move This version of D6 uses difficulties for the prices of items,

allowing the gamemaster to more easily adjust the “real world”
This number (usually 10) represents how many meters your cost to something appropriate for her world or her part of the
character moves in a round at maximum walking speed in world. The total determined in the previous paragraph then
standard (1 g) gravity. (This rate can be increased by using the becomes the die code of the Funds attribute, which can be
running skill and is used as the basis for other movement skills.) increased just like any other attribute or through bonuses
received as adventure rewards.
Special Points If the gamemaster prefers to use cash or its equivalent,
Characters also typically start the game with one Fate multiply the fund total by a value specified by the gamemaster
Point and five Character Points. You can spend these points to (typically the equivalent of US$250, 250 euros, or 250,000
improve your character’s chance of succeeding in especially yen). This is how much money the character receives per week
difficult situations. (The mechanics of this are discussed under for whatever sort of work the character does.
“Using Skills,” later in this chapter.) Character Points are also Using the Funds attribute is discussed in the “Equipment”
used to permanently improve skills. Your character earns chapter.
more Character and Fate Points by having adventures. There
is no limit to the number of Character or Fate Points your Equipment
character may have at any time. Players of starting characters may select one small weapon or
some protective gear plus a few tools of your character’s chosen
Body Points trade, unless there is equipment already listed on the template
This section of the character sheet allows you to keep track sheet. Some basic equipment is explained in the “Equipment”
of the healthiness of your character. chapter; the gamemaster may allow other options.

Determining Body Points Background and Character Features

When you create a new character, roll his Physique (includ- The character sheet provided in this book and most other
ing any modifiers from Disadvantages or Special Abilities) and templates include spots for your character’s name, career,
add 20. This becomes his Body Point total. Write it on the species, gender, age, height, weight, and background informa-
character sheet in the space provided. Templates already have tion. Unless specified by the template or your gamemaster
their Body Points determined. allows it, your character’s species is Human. Everything else
in these sections you are free to fill in as you like.
Strength Damage
Strength Damage indicates the amount of harm a character Learning and Improving Skills
can do in combat with body parts, melee weapons, thrown
When a player first creates a character, she should use the
weapons, and most missile weapons.
character creation guidelines for gaining attributes and skills.
Determining Strength Damage Players whose characters have been through at least one
adventure can use Character Points, accumulated from com-
To determine the Strength Damage die code, take the pleting adventures, to learn new skills and improve old ones.
character’s Physique or lifting (including any modifiers from Spending Character Points this way may be done only between
Disadvantages or Special Abilities) and drop the pips. Divide adventures.
by 2, and round up. This is the Strength Damage die code. In addition to Character Points, the hero needs experience
with the skill, either through training or by attempting to use
Funds the skill (through rolling its die code or its governing attribute’s
To figure out how much the character can get without too die code, regardless of the outcome) during an adventure. If the
much trouble on a regular basis, use the accompanying “Deter- gamemaster decides that there is a significant amount of
mining Funds” sidebar. training involved (such as improving a skill beyond 6D), or the
character needs to find a suitable teacher, that might become
an adventure’s focus.
The cost of getting one pip in a new base skill equals the
• Determining Funds • number before the “D” in the governing attribute’s die code.
Roll one Wild Die and treat a Critical Failure as a 1. Example: If a character wants to learn languages after an
(A high roll indicates that the person started with a adventure and he has a Knowledge die code of 3D, the first pip
large inheritance or a recent lottery win, while a low roll in languages costs him three Character Points. The hero then
reveals no inheritance or a recent loss.) Next, modify the has a 3D+1 in his languages skill.
result by the following table. Include any modifiers to
The cost of improving an existing skill is determined in the
attributes due to Disadvantages or Special Abilities.
same way, except that the number of dice in the skill (instead
The minimum total is 1.
of in the attribute) is used to determine the cost.
Characteristic Modifier
Example: A character has a dodge of 4D+2 and wants to
1D in Presence -1
increase it. To raise the skill by one pip to 5D, the character
1D in Knowledge -1
must spend four Character Points. To increase the skill to
4D or more in Presence +1
5D+1 after the next scenario, the character must spend five
4D or more in Knowledge +1
Character Points.
8D or more in business skill
plus its specializations +1 The cost to get one pip in a new specialization equals one-
half of the number before the “D” in the governing attribute or
 Chapter 1 ❖ Page 8

The first way is how kids improve their normal attributes

• Character Options • and how everyone improves their Extranormal attributes. The
gamemaster may chose to use this option for adult character
and Improving Attributes and Skills who want to increase their normal attributes.
In the first method, to boost an attribute by one pip costs 10
When determining how many Character Points a player times the number before the attribute’s “D” in Character
needs to improve his character’s skills and attributes, Points. Generally, a single attribute may only be raised one pip
ignore any modifiers provided by Advantages, Disadvan- per adventure, though it’s possible that the effects of the
tages, or Special Abilities. situation influence the character’s physical makeup for a while
or the gamemaster may decide that the situation was so life-
changing that morethan one attribute may be boosted by more
skill’s die code. The cost to improve an existing specialization than one pip.
by one pip equals one-half of the number before the “D” in There is an upper limit using this method: Every time an
specialization skill’s die code. (In both cases, round up.) adult character boosts a normal attribute, the player rolls that
A character does not need the governing skill to get a special- attribute’s new die code and the gamemaster rolls one die less
ization in it. However, if he does have one, getting a specializa- than the maximum die code for the species. (In the case of
tion in it acts as a bonus to the base skill when taking actions of Humans, the maximum for all attributes except Extranormal
that type, but it does not also improve the entire base skill. and Funds is 5D, unless altered by a special ability, so the
Example: For a hero with 6D in missile weapons to gain a gamemaster would roll 4D.) If the gamemaster’s roll equals or
bow and arrow specialization, he needs to spend three Charac- exceeds the player’s roll, the attribute improves. If it does not,
ter Points to get a +1 in the specialization. The full missile the attribute does not improve, the character gets half the
weapons skill, however, stays at 6D. Character Points back, and the character has reached her
upper limit for that attribute. Ignore this upper limit rule for
Specializations learned before the base skill should be
Extranormal and Funds attributes.
treated as separate skills if the character learns the base skill
In the second way, the gamemaster requires all adult
later. Specialization learned after learning the base skill (or
characters to take the Increased Attribute Special Ability
those included with the base skill at character creation) im-
(discussed in the “Character Options” chapter) in order to
prove when the base skill improves.
improve their attributes. There is no maximum with this
A character may improve a skill or any of its specializations
method, aside from whatever roleplaying or adventure ob-
but not both. In other words, a character may improve as many
stacles the gamemaster decides to include.
specializations as he desires at the same time, though he
cannot improve them at the same time as he’s improving the
governing skill. Skills and specializations may only be im- Improving Strength Damage
proved by one pip each in between each adventure. As a character’s Physique or lifting goes up or is altered by
Special Abilities or Disadvantages, refigure the Strength Dam-
Improving Attributes age die code using the rules herein.
With the exception of Extranormal and Funds, the at-
tributes you choose for your character usually represent her Improving Body Points
maximum potential. Most of the time, you’ll improve your As a character’s Physique goes up or is altered by Special
character’s attributes by training in one particular aspect Abilities or Disadvantages, you’ll need to change the Body
(improving skills), through temporary means (taking drugs), Points amount. Roll the dice indicated by the Special Ability or
or with implanted equipment. Nonetheless, some freak indus- Disadvantage (if applicable), and add any pips or other modi-
trial accident or bio-manipulation experiment might provide fier. Then add or subtract, as dictated by the Special Ability or
you with a reason to improve your character’s base attributes. Disadvantage, that number from the Body Points total.
(Some characters, such as kids, might start with fewer at-
tribute dice, but their excuse for their attributes’ improvement
is puberty.) There are two ways to do this.
 CHAPTER TWO

• Character Options •
This chapter is for roleplayers who want to explore more of The other part of “use what you know” refers to using
their characters’ possible backgrounds and abilities. After information about the world-setting your character is in and
completing basic character generation in Chapter 1, look any “genre references” you may think of. Read the basic
through this chapter to “flesh out” your character’s history description of the game setting or remember pertinent books,
and abilities. If something inspires you to change your television shows, and or movies — if the genre is similar to one
character’s basic characteristics, feel free to go back and make of them, then you can “steal” ideas from them.
adjustments.
Peruse the Character Options
Introduction You might not want to write a background for your charac-
ter until you look at some of the options you might have. Take
a look at the Advantages, Disadvantages, and Special Abili-
Expanding the Character Concept ties, and see some of the benefits/drawbacks you can choose for
Background generation comes in two parts. The first part is your character. You might see something you want to work in,
the expanding of the character concept, or character’s story. and that will help give you ideas for a background story.
There are several ways you can do this. The easiest is to just
come up with a “character history.” Answer questions like: Aliens/Mutants/Fantastic Species
• Where/when was my character born? Non-Human characters and monsters have been a staple of
• What did my character do as a child? roleplaying games since their inception. Zombies, ghosts, space
• What unusual experiences did my character have? aliens, and nuclear mutations are all possibilities in a roleplay-
• Why did my character “choose” to become the character ing game, depending upon the game setting, as are any other
he/she is now? combinations you can come up with.
• What was my character doing right before the game When a species is created, then every character created from
begins? that species must have certain background Special Abilities,
Disadvantages, and, possibly, Advantages. However, there
There are, of course, other questions you can come up with,
should be enough points left with which the player may
though these are among the most common.
customize the character. Usually, the character ends up with
You can jot down notes and you can go back and fill in the
more options than normal for average person in the game
gaps as you go.
setting, but fewer than the player alone can choose for the
Don’t dwell on mundane details. Right now, focus on inter-
character.
esting details and specifics. You can make up the name of the
character’s school, the exact date of birth, and other things as
you go along.
Developing Character Options
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Special Abilities are in-
Think Ahead to Character Options teresting options and background knowledge that you can
The next part of background generation allows you to select select for your character (if you want) to make the character
Special Abilities, new skills, and other interesting game- and more interesting, more (and less) effective, and more fun to
story-related options called Advantages, Disadvantages, and roleplay (if you do it right). You know the story of your
Special Abilities. Suggest the fact that your character might character — here’s what that story means.
know things, people, or whatever that aren’t reflected by the Advantages are perks that the character has because of her
character’s attributes and skills yet. status in society, the people she knows, or something in her
background. They generally do not directly affect attributes or
Use What You Know skills. Disadvantages hamper the character in some way. They
This comes in two parts. First, stay true to your “character might affect her attributes or skills or they might mean trouble
concept.” Those skills you selected — provide a reason for for her in certain situations. Both Advantages and Disadvan-
them. Say your character knows marksmanship and several tages make the character more rounded and more believable.
specializations? Why? Was the character in the army? A Special Abilities are those abilities that exceed what are
gangster? A member of a secret paramilitary organization? normally possible for a Human character. They can be due to the
How were these skills learned? You don’t have to explain every character’s species, some sort of unique training, or a magical/
skill, but any skills that are slightly unusual (special effects- super-science/other effect. Thus, they give the character a bonus
using skills) should be explained, as well as skills the character to her attributes or skills, or they provide her with access to
has two dice or more in (he is really good at those). something that the average Human character can’t do.
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 10

cost), more skill dice (at a rate of one creation point for each
• Character Creation by Points • skill die), or more attribute dice (at a rate of two creation points
for each attribute die).
Those who wish to use points to create their characters,
rather than following a template or being restricted in what
they can put in skills and attributes, can use a point system.
Getting Rid of Disadvantages and
Each starting character receives 79 creation points to dis- Losing Advantages
tribute among all the options. One attribute die equals four
creation points, one skill die equals one creation point, three The beauty of roleplaying games is that nothing has to be
skill specialization dice equal one creation point, and Ad- permanent. Advantages can be taken away, and others can be
vantages and Special Abilities have their own costs associ- added (they’re called “adventure rewards” — and you don’t
ated with them. Creation points may only be spent as whole have to use this section to get them). Disadvantages can be
points, not fractions. Players may add up to 10 additional “bought off” or “roleplayed out” as well. And that’s probably
creation points to their totals by taking an appropriate what most players are interested in.
number of Disadvantages. For more experienced charac- In most cases, Disadvantages can only go away if the
ters or for worlds involving more Special Abilities, game- gamemaster allows the player to roleplay through an adven-
masters should feel free to raise the number of starting ture, or series of adventures, that take care of the problem. For
creation points and the number of creation points received example, an “enemy” might eventually be killed, a character
from Disadvantages. might be able to negotiate a way out of Debt, or an Advantage
Flaw might be “repaired.” These things should only happen
after the character has been used during several adventures
For example, a particular character might have a Special and “earned” the right to get rid of a Disadvantage. Either that,
Ability that gives him a +1 to any combat-related skill total. The or the character might sacrifice Character Points or an Advan-
character probably will have some kind of Disadvantage as well. tage for a Disadvantage linked to it or an Advantage or Special
The character might have to add +1 to the difficulty of all Ability of relative strength.
interaction-related skill totals, or there might be a totally unre- For example, if a character had Equipment (III), he might
lated Disadvantage (of comparative power) — like the character also have a Rank III Disadvantage tied to it. If the character
is afraid of the dark and has trouble acting when in the dark. can get rid of the equipment (which he might not be able to do
in some settings — a cursed sword or a cybernetic spine, for
Playing Advantages and Disadvantages example), then the Disadvantage goes away.
If you, as a player, get tired of a Disadvantage, talk to your
Every Advantage and every Disadvantage in the lists below gamemaster. You can probably work out a compromise.
has its own rules for implementation. There are, if you look hard
enough, some nightmarish combinations. If something looks like
it is going to cause trouble in the game later on, check with your
Advantages
gamemaster before choosing it. Ultimately, the gamemaster has
final say on the choice of all Advantages and Disadvantages, as Authority (I)
well as final say on the interpretation of those choices. The level of the Advantage is based on the character’s rank,
duties, and power in his local “jurisdiction.” An Authority (I)
Organization Advantage might belong to someone who, because of circum-
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Special Abilities are listed stance, does not have a lot of opportunity to use his authority
alphabetically in their respective sections. Advantages and or someone who is very low in rank.
Disadvantages are further organized into ranks. These ranks The Law Enforcement is one version of this Advantage
are numbered; higher-numbered ranks are more powerful. that gives adventurers some measure of abilities associated
They are abbreviated I, II, III, IV, and so on. Special Abilities with being a deputized agent of the law. Authority: Law
don’t have ranks. Instead, the descriptions . Enforcement (I) means the character can carry a firearm and
has limited authority to enforce the law. Private investiga-
tors, bounty hunters, and bail bondsmen would need this
Costs Advantage.
Each rank is worth one creation point per number. Advan- Note: It is not necessary to have the Authority: Law
tages cost creation points, while Disadvantages give you cre- Enforcement Advantage to own a firearm in those countries
ation points. Thus, a Rank I Advantage costs one creation that allow ordinary citizens to own them. However, if owning
point, while a Rank IV Disadvantages gives you four creation
points. Each Special Ability has its own cost associated with
one rank in that Special Ability.
Players using templates or whose gamemasters require a • Game Mechanics •
certain number of dice to be spent on attributes and skills may Within the descriptions of several Advantages, Disad-
ask permission from their gamemasters to exchange one skill vantages, and Special Abilities, you’ll notice references to
die for one creation point. game mechanics that haven’t been explained yet (like the
A maximum of 10 creation points worth of Disadvantages is Critical Failure die result and the names of difficulty
recommended for any genre. levels). If this is your first time playing a D6 game, you can
ignore these for now. You’ll learn more about them in the
Using the Creation Points next chapter. Once you start playing adventures, you’ll find
You may use creation points that you earn from giving your the game mechanics in this chapter useful.
character Disadvantages to buy Advantages (at their rank
 Character Options ❖ Page 11

a gun is illegal in a country and limited to deputized officials, thinking superfluous. Contacts are totally under the control of
then this version of the Advantage would be necessary. the gamemaster and, even powerful and influential contacts
from this rank should be kept under a tight rein. See Contacts
Authority (II) (I), above, for more information.
Same as Authority (I), but the character has more influence,
possibly commanding a small number of troops or being in Contacts (III)
charge of a small company or town. With Authority: Law The contact(s) chosen should be nearly supernormal, super-
Enforcement (II), the character is actually a police officer and natural, or uncanny in origin. For example, in a pulp fiction
is allowed to make full arrests and reasonable search and setting, a character’s Contact (III) might be an “Adventurer’s
seizures. Guild” with globe-trotting members and representatives who
all have their own slightly unusual abilities — and who can
Authority (III) turn up at the oddest moments.
Same as Authority (I), except that the character has a great Work with the gamemaster to come up with some interest-
deal of power and influence. The head of a large company or ing contacts. A mystical force that “protects” the character
someone whose authority is simply never questioned would under certain circumstances, or a group of psionic monks who
have this Advantage. With Authority: Law Enforcement (III), can be called upon for “mental aid” — or maybe just a really
the character can be a federal agent and have authority over complete occult library.
local police for the purpose of investigations. Restrictions: Again, as with Contacts (I) and (II), don’t let
the contacts take over the game — and don’t let the player
Contacts (I) character abuse them. Contacts are gamemaster controlled,
This Advantage helps out the character and the gamemas- but they will usually only be brought into play at the player
ter. The character “knows somebody” or a group of somebodies character’s request.
who will generally help out the character if he makes a decent
appeal or sufficiently compensates the contact. This level of Contacts (IV)
contact only sticks around for a limited amount of time (part of There is some sort of strange “force” that “watches over” and
an adventure or maybe throughout a short adventure). occasionally helps the character. In many ways, this Advan-
The character might know a “group” with a wider range of tage is not as useful in most adventure situations as the other
influence (but less power) that will help out, again, for a modest versions of Contacts, but it can have very dramatic effects on
fee or under the right circumstances. The influence might not occasion.
be as direct, but it is easier to come by. For example, there Some examples of this might include a particularly power-
might be clubs or organizations that will provide certain ful gamemaster character who will occasionally listen to the
services for travellers — maps, hotel reservations, emergency character’s appeal for aid or, even more likely, step in occasion-
transportation, etc. — for a small membership fee. You have to ally when the character is in trouble to help him. Or, in a real
call them or go to their offices, and they won’t do much about world setting, a large governmental agency might, for some
that maniac with the gun who is chasing you, but they can be reason, want to step in and aid the character at times.
of immense help under the right circumstances. The list can go on and on. Generally, the character can get
Restrictions/Notes: Contacts should not automatically minor assistance (as could be gotten from Contacts (I) or
help the character, but they should be reasonable in their Contacts (II)) on a fairly regular basis — and under the same
negotiations. Multiple contacts of various ranks may be se- sort of circumstances as having lower versions of Contacts —
lected and they may be stacked. For example, a certain person but “the big stuff” only happens when the gamemaster thinks
might be a Contact (I) in most circumstances, but he could be it appropriate. The character might get killed before the
a Contact (II) or even a Contact (III) in the right place — for
example, a mercenary might help out for a fee versus normal
foes, but when fighting his “hereditary enemies,” he might be • Contacts, Patrons, and Enemies •
almost invincible and eager to help.
Remember that contacts are gamemaster characters. They Having friends in high places can often mean the char-
should be created and played rationally. If a player refuses to acter attracts the attention of the friends’ friends... and
roleplay or takes advantage of contacts, he should be penalized enemies. Players willing to roleplay long, associative net-
when trying to use them (and possibly lose them). There should works may add lower-level Contacts in exchange for an
also be a reason in the character’s story why he has these equivalent number of Ranks in one or more Enemies. The
contacts. player must purchase one Contact or Patron of Rank II or
greater. All additional Contacts and Enemies must be
Contacts (II) associated with that primary Contact or Patron. As long as
the total number of Ranks in the additional Contacts equals
This Advantage is identical to Contacts (I), except the contact the total number of Ranks in the Enemies, the Enemies do
is more powerful, more influential, easier to get hold of, willing not count toward the Disadvantage maximum.
to do more favors, or affects the game on a larger scale. For example: A player decides to have a Rank III Patron.
If the contact is supposed to be a large group, it now has The player may then add any number of Rank I or II
much greater influence over a wider area. In the real world Contacts as long as she adds an equal number of Enemies.
example, instead of having the auto club as a contact, the If she chose to add three Rank I Contacts (well-placed
character might have a government agency there to help him personal assistants to the Patron), the player would have to
out occasionally. think of three Rank I Enemies, or one Rank I and one Rank
Restrictions/Notes: Under no circumstances should any Enemy, or one Rank III Enemy.
contact, regardless of rank number, make roleplaying and
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 12

Contact (IV) intervenes — maybe the character just wasn’t the character might choose an “alien” culture (one totally
doing something the contact felt was important to it — but, different from his own) and gain an understanding of it
most likely, assistance will be provided. comparable to the understanding in Cultures (I). Or, he could
Restrictions/Notes: Player characters should take this choose to learn more about a relatively small cultural group (to
option only if they want to take Disadvantages relating to it. the point where the character would be accepted as one who
For example, if a character in a pulp fiction campaign wants to has spent a lot of time with the people). The last option, the
have a group of super-scientists who like him and will supply sweeping cultural understanding, would also be much more in-
him with substantial aid on a regular basis (like a spy who gets depth. The character would be able to call on cultural parallels
outfitted with new gizmos at the beginning of every adventure much more often and the gamemaster should give more infor-
and who can call for more during certain times in the adven- mation.
ture), then he should take Disadvantages that reflect that. The Restrictions/Notes: The same as for Cultures (I), but the
character is a member of an organization (see the Disadvan- character has about the level of knowledge of an outsider who
tage Employed), or he must do reciprocating favors for the has lived in the culture for a while. Either that, or he would get
super-scientists (see the Disadvantage Price), or there are more useful information on alien cultures or “sweeping” cul-
equally powerful people who want to eliminate him because of tural examinations.
his contacts (see the Disadvantage Enemy).
If the character does not want to take extensive Disadvan- Cultures (III)
tages relating to the contact, then Contacts (IV) should be The character is either a native of an unusual culture or has
unpredictable and not always useful. For example, the super- the knowledge and the “respect” of one. A person who has lived
scientists might provide the character with plenty of extraor- a significant portion of her life in a culture and has that sort of
dinary equipment, but it might not always be what the char- understanding of it would have Cultures (III) — only the
acter needs or might not work correctly all of the time. character is actually a part of the game setting’s dominant
culture as well.
Cultures (I) If an alien culture can be, and is, selected, then the charac-
This is another Advantage that can be utilized in more than ter has an extreme familiarity with it. Otherwise, the charac-
one way. The first way is the simplest. The character has ter might be something of a “cultural anthropologist” — the
knowledge of a particular (usually unusual) culture that he character can observe a particular culture for a brief time and
can use to his Advantage when among people of that culture. have a very good (gamemaster-controlled) chance of under-
This acts both as a knowledge (scholar) type skill and as a standing the culture on a respectable level.
bonus (usually +1) to interaction in that culture. For example, Restrictions/Notes: As with Cultures (I) and (II), the
a character in a pulp fiction game setting might have Cultures character must choose what sort of cultural familiarity to have.
(I) pertaining to a certain Amazonian tribe. When the charac- Also, there must be a compelling reason the character has this
ter goes on an adventure in the Amazon, chances are good he familiarity or understanding. Finally, if the character chooses
will get help from that tribe in his activities instead of being to be a “cultural native” of a particular culture, she should
attacked as a stranger or trespasser and ending up with his probably have to learn language: (the culture’s major lan-
head on a pike. guage) at least +1D.
The second way Cultures (I) can be used is a little more
wide-sweeping. The character has a knack for drawing paral- Cultures (IV)
lels between unknown/unusual and known cultures. For ex-
ample, the character might be able to figure out why certain This selection should only be taken if the game setting
religious taboos exist in a society she’s just met. These should employs the use of alien (totally not understood by normal
just be bursts of culture-related intuition that the gamemaster people) cultures. The character understands the alien culture
supplies occasionally — the player can only remind the game- and can interact within it — he is still an alien to it, but he is
master her character has this ability and hope the gamemaster treated better than any other outsider (most likely).
feels the situation is appropriate. For example, in a game setting where “aliens live among
us,” the character might not be an alien — he is a member of
Restrictions/Notes: A character with Cultures (I) has secret society that keeps the aliens hidden. But, because of
about the level of knowledge of a frequent tourist — no more. something in his background history, he can interact with
Unless the character has skills like streetwise, languages, and certain types of aliens and he can understand their ways. This
other supporting skills, he acts as if he has visited the culture doesn’t mean he’s friends with them, but he has a better chance
and learned a decent amount about their ways, but he is of interacting with them, figuring them out, and outsmarting
definitely an outsider. This Advantage may be taken more their “alien logic” than other characters.
than once for different cultures.
In the second example, the character has absolutely no Restrictions/Notes: The character should have related
control over her ability and only gains very limited insights — Disadvantages, and there has to be some extensive back-
though sometimes at critical moments. The character cannot ground description telling why the character has this Advan-
“call upon” this knowledge. This version of the Advantage may tage. Otherwise, see the other entries regarding Cultures.
not be taken more than once, but it may be combined with the
other type of Cultures at any rank. Equipment (I)
In both cases, the character’s background must reflect the The character gains a piece of equipment he would not
“special insight” he has into the culture or cultural trends. normally be able to have because it is too expensive or “unavail-
able,” but only if it is allowable under the game setting. For
Cultures (II) example, in a real world game setting, a character could start
This option can be used pretty much like Cultures (I), only the game with a .45 automatic pistol, but not an M16 assault
on a larger scale. Instead of choosing a small, unusual culture, rifle — the latter is generally unavailable for civilian use and
 Character Options ❖ Page 13

even characters with military backgrounds have to take the should be just slightly more powerful or more useful item than
Equipment (II) Advantage to get it. what is available normally.
Additionally, the character might choose to take lots of little For example, a character might just choose an average gun
pieces of equipment instead — more than what the gamemaster and increase the damage value by a modest two points, but
would normally allow. Basically, equipment totaling in cost not make it so it never has to be reloaded. The more powerful the
more than about US$1,000 (or a price difficulty of Moderate or item, the more Disadvantages and restrictions should be
Difficult) would fit in this category. Equipment (I) may be related to it.
selected more than once or in combination with higher ranks of
the Equipment Advantage with gamemaster approval. Fame (I)
Restrictions/Notes: Typically, as long as the character is The character, for some reason, is fairly well known. The
not careless with it, Equipment taken with this Advantage is extent of the character’s fame should be determined by the
replaceable, unless the Burn-out Disadvantage is included game setting. In a global game setting (such as pulp fiction,
with it. real world, or science fiction), the character has moderate
recognition value in a particular region. In a smaller game
Equipment (II) setting (like high fantasy or low fantasy settings), the charac-
The character gains a piece of equipment that would be very ter might have more dense penetration of recognition, but with
hard to get because of expense or availability. Standard mili- less wide-sweeping effects (e.g., everyone in town knows who
tary weapons that are usually out of reach of the normal citizen they are, but no one from more than a few days travel away has
are available. In addition, equipment totaling in cost not more ever heard of them).
than about US$5,000 (or a price difficulty of Difficult or Very Whenever the gamemaster or the player thinks the charac-
Difficult) would probably be okay. In game settings that have ter might be recognized (and the Fame Advantage would come
magical or super-science equipment, objects of fairly low power into play), the gamemaster should roll 3D. If the result is 15 or
would probably be obtained using this Advantage. higher, the character is recognized. Otherwise, he will have to
do something “special” to be recognized (and gain the benefits
of recognition).
Equipment (III) If a character with Fame (I) is recognized, he should gain
Items of equipment that are normally unavailable to just small perks, like being seated in a restaurant early, avoiding
about anyone can be picked up using this Advantage. Any one small legal hassles (like routine customs checks), or just be
item on any equipment chart can be selected, or the gamemas- treated generally better (perhaps the character gets a couple of
ter can make up a “special” item that gives skill bonuses of up bonus points to persuasion, con, and charm attempts). Like
to +1D or has special effects. Or they can just be really most roleplayed Advantages, the gamemaster should decide
expensive or virtually unavailable items. Equipment totaling on the results.
a few tens of thousands of dollars (or a price difficulty of Heroic Restrictions/Notes: Fame may be chosen multiple times
or low Legendary) falls under this category. as long as the player defines how each Fame is different. For
Restrictions/Notes: The gamemaster should watch this example, a character might have Fame (I) in regards to his
Advantage carefully. It can only be selected once — though fighting abilities, but another type of Fame pertaining to his
the Rank I and II versions can also be selected — but it can intelligence or some other ability.
still unbalance a beginning character. Generally, things that
can be taken away fairly easily — like magic wands and Fame (II)
swords, military hardware, super-science gadgets, low-pow- The character is very well known. On a global setting, the
ered miraculous artifacts, and other related equipment — character would probably be recognized in most fairly civilized
would be suitably appropriate for characters with minimal cultures and almost definitely in her home culture. The game-
experience. master should roll 3D and, on a 15 or higher, a person from
another culture will recognize the person and react (usually
Equipment (IV) favorably). In the character’s own culture, this reaction comes
Really bizarre and, most likely, powerful equipment is open on an 8 or more. If the character draws attention to herself in
to the character — but only one such piece or a collection of her own culture (identifies herself), then the reaction will most
small, related pieces. Most likely, no one else can use the likely be automatic (gamemaster’s option).
equipment without making some sort of exhaustive skill total, Restrictions/Notes: At this level of fame, the character
and it can probably not be repaired or duplicated. “Special should be treated like a famous author, an occasional movie
effects” equipment fits into this category. star or television actor, or a reasonably recognizable sports
The equipment could be a weapon more powerful than most figure (in a real world setting). Some gamemaster characters
personal weapons in the game setting. Or it could be a magical will be immune to this fame, but most will have some sort of
spell that could not normally be used by the character or (generally positive) reaction. Otherwise, see Fame (I) for more
anyone else in the world at its relatively low difficulty. Or it information.
could be a collection of gadgets and gizmos that can perform
many different mundane tasks — but how, nobody knows. Fame (III)
Restrictions/Notes: The character should have Disad- There is a pretty good chance anyone in the game setting
vantages related to the equipment. Maybe Enemies want to (unless it is a multi-world setting) will recognize the character
steal it, or it has an Advantage Flaw so it doesn’t work all the (or what the character is) fairly easily. The base die total
time — or the same way every time. In addition, the equipment needed is 8, and it can be modified by circumstance. The
should not make the character so powerful that opponents fall character has the status of a movie star, a famous politician, or
before him. Really, in game mechanic terms, the equipment a top-ranked sports hero.
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 14

Patron (I) means the character has a backer who will fund
one expedition, with all proceeds going to the patron. All of the
costs (room, board, travel, expenses) are covered by the patron,
with the understanding that the player character is basically
just a worker-for-hire. Anything that the adventurer discovers
or purchases becomes the property of the patron.

Patron (II)
A Patron (II) expects much less from those he backs. The
character may receive less financial support, but will have
greater freedom of action.
A newspaper publisher looking for hot stories is a common
example of an organization qualifying for Patron (II). They
cover a character’s travel expenses and any legal fees in
exchange for inspiring stories. Anything that the character
finds on his own (like artifacts) remain his own.

Patron (III)
A Patron (III) will give a character a limited stipend and
cover expenses, then offer to purchase whatever the character
recovers. Without consistent results, the funding could be cut
off.

Trademark Specialization (I)

This Advantage works a lot like a combination of the Skill
Bonus Special Ability and Fame. The character is very good at
one very specific thing, and he is known for it. Choose any
specialization that the character has (or would like to have in
the future), and the character gains +2D to the roll when it is
used. In addition, when the character uses it, there is a
gamemaster-option chance that people will recognize how
“naturally good” the character is at the specialization, and this
might produce interesting situations. Also, the character might
be contacted by people or recognized by certain people because
of how good he is at that one specialization.
Restrictions/Notes: This character acts as if trained in
the use of this skill. No character may have more than two
Trademark Specializations.

Wealth (I)
A character who selects this Advantage doesn’t get money
handed to him, but, instead, has a certain economic standing.
The character belongs to an “upper-middle class” economic
layer. The character has respectable amounts of cash on hand
or nearby at most times — in real world figures, the character
could easily write a check for US$15,000, or produce 10 times
Paul Daly

that through loans, credits, or mortgages on short notice. If

using Funds as an attribute, this Advantage adds +10 to
relevant totals.
Restrictions/Notes: They are the same as for Fame (I) and Restrictions/Notes: Characters should only select one rank
Fame (II) — certain people just won’t be impressed. In addi- of Wealth, unless there is some reason they might have Wealth
tion, characters with Fame (III) should almost always have to (I) and another rank of Wealth in other circumstances.
take the Disadvantage Infamy at least Rank I — no matter how
nice, talented, or generally well-liked a person is, there’s Wealth (II)
always somebody out there who wishes them harm. This is just like Wealth (I), only moreso. The character is
from the upper class (or is in the upper class for some reason)
Patron (I) and doesn’t generally have to worry about any sorts of mun-
The odds are that most player characters are not indepen- dane costs. In addition, having a large amounts of cash in a
dently wealthy. But they might have access to wealth in the vault at home (about US$20,000 in a real world setting) is not
form of patrons. If the characters are treasure hunters, patrons unusual, with much more readily available in the bank. The
might include museums, universities, private philanthropists, character could be minor nobility, have a large trust fund, or be
newspapers or even retired adventurers. married to the owner of a large corporation. If using Funds as
 Character Options ❖ Page 15

an attribute, this Advantage adds +15 to its related totals. not a Disadvantage. For example, if a character has an Advan-
Restrictions/Notes: See Wealth (I) for comments. Also, tage Flaw where he can’t use his Advantage when the tempera-
this wealth will not always help and will “go away” if misused ture is below 60, and the character is always adventuring in
(and it should be a major concern to the character at times), but places where the temperature is at least that high, then it is not
it should be there most of the time. Gamemasters will probably a Disadvantage. Check all Disadvantages (and Advantages, for
think of ways to work around wealth and players should play that matter) out with your gamemaster and explain to him what
along — if you can throw money at every problem, then it isn’t you think they mean before you start playing the game. That
that much fun to try to solve, is it? way, you can avoid this problem before it crops up.

Wealth (III) Achilles’ Heel (III)

The character is of the upper-upper class and has the money The character has a particular, very serious, weakness. It is
to prove it. Money is seldom a consideration — though there not something that other characters will find particularly
should be plenty of times when money won’t help. The character dangerous or inconvenient, but the character suffers severe
probably has an estate or a series of investments that will keep modifiers to difficulties or even damage when exposed to it.
him comfortable for a good long time. This doesn’t mean the Some examples include:
character can buy everything — he is still subject to the avail- Allergy: The character is strongly affected by reasonably
ability of items — but he could probably start the game with the common things that she cannot always avoid. When exposed to
equivalent of US$25,000 in his pocket, not counting bank and the allergen, the character must generate a Moderate Phy-
brokerage accounts. If using Funds as an attribute, this Advan- sique or stamina total (as an action) or automatically take 3D
tage adds +20 to related totals. in damage. The character can resist the damage through
Restrictions/Notes: There must be some sort of roleplay- applicable defenses, but she has to generate the stamina total
ing limit on wealth of this magnitude. In the real world game every round she is exposed to the allergen.
setting, that limit is hard to explore — can you imagine a Atmospheric Incompatibility: The character is sensitive
fabulously rich person being “troubled” by adventures? Well, if to something in the normal atmosphere and must shield herself
you can, then maybe you can use this option (though it is not from it. Failure to do so causes her to lose one Body Point for each
recommended). Otherwise, there should be fairly extensive minute exposed to the substance. These points cannot be re-
reasons why the character can’t use his wealth to resolve every sisted or healed through any means until the character is out of
situation — or hire somebody to do it for him (which is really the harmful situation. For example, a plant creature might be
the same thing). poisoned by the high quantity of carbon monoxide produced by
Additional Ranks: For each additional rank purchased in some combustion engines. When in the presence of these engines
this advantage, add another +5 to Funds totals, or +$5,000 to (i.e., when in a big city where these sorts of engines are used), the
the cash-in-pocket. character must have an “air filter” on at all times.
Cultural Allergy: The same as above, but there is some
Disadvantages social situation that causes the character to freeze (exposure to
Many Disadvantages will be counterparts to the Advan- nudity, the sight of police, etc.) and lose all Critical Success
tages listed above. A Skill Bonus is the positive end of a Skill rerolls until the condition is gone.
Drawback (below). When choosing Disadvantages, keep four Environmental Incompatibility: The character is sensi-
things in mind: tive to something in the environment — it may be an extreme
1. You’re going to have to live with the Disadvantage. of temperature, the chemical content of the rain water, etc.
Take only Disadvantages that you don’t expect to ever get rid Exposure to this without the proper protection causes the
of — there are rules for eliminating Disadvantages, but that character to lose one Body Point for each minute exposed to the
should be done only on occasion. substance. These points cannot be resisted or healed through
2. You have to balance the Disadvantages with the any means until the character is out of the harmful situation.
Advantages. Not only does this mean that you normally have Metabolic Difference: The character needs more life
to pick a certain number of Disadvantages from the same support (normally food) than “normal” and will begin to take
ranks that you chose your Advantages from, but you also have damage, after hours of malnutrition. For example, the charac-
to balance the Advantages thematically. Several Advantages ter must eat a meal every four hours or, every hour after the
almost have to be directly affected by Disadvantages (espe- four are up, the character lose one Body Point that cannot be
cially Rank III and higher Advantages), while others should recovered except by eating.
be. Discuss your character’s Advantages with your gamemas- Nutritional Requirements: The character must ingest
ter and come up with some sort of compromise. an element not commonly consumed by Humans (blood, dead
3. Choose more roleplaying Disadvantages than game Human flesh, etc.) to survive. Often, the character will encoun-
mechanic ones. Instead of taking easy-to-use modifiers to ter prejudice because of this, and she will certainly develop
skill attempts or abilities, select Disadvantages that you can physical problems if she fails to consume this substance in a
roleplay. Granted, you won’t want to have an overwhelming reasonable amount of time.
number of either type of Disadvantage, but Disadvantages Rot: The character’s body is rotting. She periodically loses
that can be roleplayed and can work themselves into an pieces of herself (fingers, toes, etc.) and must pause to fuse them
adventure story are much more interesting than simple modi- back on (this is a simple action but takes a round to perform). The
fiers to difficulty numbers. character suffers no damage from this, but she should be
4. The Disadvantage has to be a Disadvantage. Any inconvenienced (for example, in combat, the character’s fingers
Disadvantage that can be easily worked around, no matter how might fall off, causing him to drop his weapon — this makes an
potent, or that actually helps the character on a regular basis is excellent Critical Failure complication).
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 16

Vulnerability: A particular form of attack or interaction normal contact would assist the character for an almost negli-
affects the character much more severely than other charac- gible fee, the flawed contact will haggle and nag until “re-
ters. For example, a character with a vulnerability to firearms warded.” There should be some reason why the character
might “freeze up” when he sees another character point a gun would want to keep the contact happy as well.
at him — making the other character +5 to hit him (most likely Cultures: When the character gets hints or knowledge
during the first round of combat only). Another character about a culture, he knows everything except … There is some
might automatically apply +10 to the difficulty of any attempts sort of critical piece of information that has been withheld from
to resist another character’s con attempts. (The less likely the the character. Or, if the character has the “sweeping knowl-
situation is to occur, the greater the difficulty modifier.) edge” of lots of cultures, his interpretations will sometimes be
Restrictions/Notes: The Achilles’ Heel (III) should be very almost totally wrong (gamemaster option). In order to make
serious, but not “instant death” for the character. There should this flaw work, the character should not find out about the flaw
always be some way to avoid it (not easily), or some chance that until it would be “interesting.”
it can be countered. The more creative the Achilles’ Heel (III), Equipment: In most cases, there is just some sort of minor
and the more likely the character is to be affected by it, the less mechanical flaw in the equipment that can’t normally be
it actually should do. A character who is vulnerable to water (he fixed. For equipment that requires a skill total, gamemasters
probably has a phobia), for example, might “panic” and suffer +3 could either add +3 to the difficulty of all actions using it, or,
to the difficulty of all actions when exposed to a large body of on a Critical Failure, the equipment either won’t work or
water, +5 when in it, and +3 when wet. Or, the character might malfunctions. For equipment that doesn’t require a skill
just take 3D in damage every time he gets a significant portion total, there might be occasional side effects or maybe it does
of his body wet. There should be a good reason why any Achilles’ require a periodic Moderate skill check of some kind to keep
Heel (III) affects the character. operating.
Achilles’ Heel (IV) Skills: If the character fails at the skill check with one of a
related set of three skills, she can’t reroll Critical Successes
The character’s weakness is even more severe than the CIII either until the end of the scene or until she succeeds at the
version of this Disadvantage. Some examples include: skill check.
Allergy: The same rules apply as for Allergy, save that the Wealth: The character cannot access his wealth easily.
character cannot perform any actions while exposed to the Either it is “tied up” in red tape most of the time, or he has to
allergen. go somewhere to get it, or someone else (reasonably friendly)
Cultural Allergy: The same rules apply as for Cultural has control over it and doesn’t always release it easily.
Allergy (III), save that not only does the character lose all Restrictions/Notes: There are, of course, much more in-
Critical Success rerolls if exposed to the specified social situa- ventive and interesting ways Advantage Flaw can be used —
tions, she also is at +1 to all difficulties. and you should explore them all. In general, at Rank I, a flaw
Rot: The character loses major parts of his body periodi- should not debilitate a character or take away his Advantage
cally due to rotting (limbs, etc.) and must pause to replace on a regular basis — but it should make it a little less of a “sure
them. Doing so requires no skill total but does take three thing.”
rounds to perform. The trigger that causes this to take effect
should be no less frequent than a Critical Failure during
combat or interaction rounds.
Symbiosis: The character is bound symbiotically to an-
other, drawing strength or energy from her. Symbiosis can be
either physical or mental. For every 100 meters by which one
character is separated from the other, both lose -1 pip (cumu-
lative) to either their physical attributes or their mental
attributes. (Remember: three pips equal one die.) If the
character’s symbiote is killed, the character loses -1D from the
attributes affected until she can convince another character to
willingly bond with her (the bonding process should be simple
— like sharing blood — but it must be done with willing
participants). For an extra column in this Disadvantage, the
character is bound both mentally and physically to another,
and will lose from both sets of attributes if separated.

Advantage Flaw (I)

This Disadvantage is linked to a particular Advantage.
Whenever the character uses the Advantage, there is some a
chance for sort of negative modifier or roleplaying disadvan-
tage. The results are minor, but noticeable. There are several
ways this flaw can work, and here are some examples for
certain Advantages:
Paul Daly

Contacts: The contact will help the character, but will be

either “annoying” about it or a “hard bargainer.” Where a
 Character Options ❖ Page 17

Advantage Flaw (II) An infection passes certain Advantages and Disadvantages

to the target (specified by the player and the gamemaster when
This Disadvantage works in exactly the same manner as the player gives the character this Disadvantage). It is possible
Advantage Flaw (I), above, but with more serious results. If the for the infection to pass more Disadvantages on than Advan-
flaw made things a little more difficult (with, perhaps, an tages, but is not possible for it to pass more Advantages than
increase to the difficulty of +3), then the flaw makes things a Disadvantages.
lot more difficult (+6). If the flaw came into play occasionally Keep in mind that the infected character may well hate the
(like every time the character were in a desert), it now comes character responsible for his new state, so the infecting char-
into play much more frequently (like when he is in any dry acter may have gained an Enemy. In fact, there should be some
environment). overwhelming reasons why this is actually bad for the infect-
Restrictions/Flaws: Having circumstances that effectively ing character — it is a Disadvantage, after all.
take away the complete benefit of the Advantage is certainly Gamemasters who do not feel that the Enemy Disadvan-
within the bounds of Advantage Flaw (II), and those circum- tage is enough of a negative could also work in other sorts of
stances can occur reasonably often (no more than during one Advantage Flaws as side-effects of spreading the infection.
quarter of a normal adventure, however). They will force the For an extra rank in this version of the Advantage Flaw:
player to roleplay and to think about ways to “get around” the Infection Disadvantage, the infection value increases to
flaw or to try other options, rather than just relying on a Physique+4D. Also, the penalties for infecting another charac-
particular Advantage. For example, if a character has a Spe- ters should be more severe — maybe the character infected
cial Ability with the flaw that it only works at night — a Rank then knows thing about the infection character that will give
II flaw if only about a quarter of the character’s normal him an advantage over his enemy, or perhaps the infecting
adventuring occurs during the daytime — that would force the character temporarily loses more abilities or attribute pips.
character to rely on other abilities and his wits during the
daytime. Otherwise, the rules for Advantage Flaw (II) are the Minor Stigma: There is something that the character
same as in Rank I. cannot do without performing the “proper rituals” before or
after (a creature who must sketch an image of his intended
Advantage Flaw (III) victim before hunting him down; a shapeshifter who must be
“purified” by his cult after killing someone; a psychic cannot
This rank takes on some of the characteristics of an Achilles’ use Psionics without special equipment).
Heel (III), but more in direct relationship to an Advantage, an
attribute, or a large set of skills. The rules for the flaw are the Stench: The character smells terrible due to one of his
same as for Advantage Flaw (II), but the effects are even more Advantages or just because he exists. Add +6 to the difficulty
severe. Not only does the character lose the benefits of the of all stealth attempts, as everyone can smell him coming. This
Advantage or attribute (or undergoes a condition that essen- will also affect interaction attempts, giving them at least a +1
tially negates it), but he also suffers an additional Disadvan- to the difficulty.
tage. Restrictions/Notes: Advantage Flaw (III) takes a power-
For example, a character with this flaw might be able to use ful Advantage and turns it into a worse-than-useless Disad-
Psionics. However, every time the character uses her psionic vantage for a comparatively brief period of time. This Disad-
abilities, she “taps into” the general mood of the people around vantage should be linked to especially powerful or useful
her. If the people near the psionic are feeling strong or negative Advantages that the character will want to use fairly often. A
emotions, the character immediately loses the ability to use single Advantage can have more than one Advantage Flaw,
psionics and she can’t reroll any Critical Successes until the and, if the character wants, several flaws, of various ranks, can
end of the scene (and she gets a really intense headache). be linked to one Advantage. See other examples of Advantage
Or, maybe the character has Equipment (III) — a really Flaw for more information.
powerful weapon. But, whenever the character suffers a Criti-
cal Failure using the weapon, the gun not only runs out of Age (I)
ammo, but the character experiences some sort of “feedback” at The character is a teenager or just past middle age. And,
a moderate damage value (maybe the weapon’s normal dam- since this is a roleplaying game and not real life, he’ll stay that
age value minus a specific amount). The character then has to way. In general, characters who are “too young” often have to
recharge the weapon (either through the use of a Price Disad- roleplay through episodes where they are not taken seriously,
vantage or by waiting until the end of the Act, most likely). where they are ignored, and where they have less rights and
Some other examples: control than older characters. Those who are “too old” get
Infection: Under certain circumstances, the character treated in much the same way — characters “in their prime”
passes along certain abilities and characteristics to another often defer to the character, but they will also treat the
character. The character has an infection value of Physique character as if he were infirm or possibly senile.
+2D. Restrictions/Notes: In general, the gamemaster should
The gamemaster and the player should determine how the try to treat the character as if he were “too old” or “too young”
character spreads the infection. It may be as the side-effect of and have fun with it. Game mechanics are seldom necessary,
an attack, through physical contact, or through some other as good roleplaying can make things work here, but if they
means. When the character performs the requisite action, he become necessary, add +3 to the difficulty of intimidation and
must generate an infection total (which does not count as a persuasion actions performed by the character that you think
separate action). The target generates an Physique or stamina would be influenced by his age (a young character trying to lead
total as well (which does not count as an action). If the a group of experienced characters, or an older character trying
character’s infection total exceeds (not equal to) the target’s to convince younger characters that he is “with it”). Age may
Physique or stamina total, the target is infected. only be taken once.
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 18

Age (II) probably failed in the jumping attempt (so he falls), but,
instead of being able to grab for a cable or a lower ledge, the
The Disadvantage is the same, only moreso. Instead of being character’s belt gets caught on a hook. Now, the character has
a teenager, the character is a preteen child. Instead of being to free himself before the terrorists come around the corner and
“middle aged,” the character is old. The roleplaying situations blow him away.
are basically the same, but the effects are more dramatic.
Restrictions/Notes: Bad Luck (I) may be taken if the
Restrictions/Notes: The character automatically receives character already has the Good Luck or Great Luck Special
+3 to the difficulty of all physical actions (those that use Ability. The character might even, on occasion, be able to use
Reflexes, Coordination, and Strength) that require unusual the benefits of the Good Luck or Great Luck Special Ability to
exertion (running, jumping, fighting, etc.). A young character get out of trouble or partially negate the effects of Bad Luck (I)
must add +3 to the difficulty of all mental actions (those that — that’s the way it works. Also, the gamemaster should
use Knowledge, Perception, or Presence) when attempting to remember that the character has Bad Luck (I) — not the
solve “adult” problems or interact with adults. Both types of player. If the player gets into a consistent “streak” of rolling
characters should be roleplayed true to type. Critical Failures on the dice, then the gamemaster should start
There is no reason characters cannot be “young” or “old” and “skipping” the invocation of Bad Luck (I) occasionally — more
not take this Disadvantage. Older characters “in good shape” than three or four occurrences of Bad Luck (I) during an
have no problems jogging, lifting, fighting, or whatever, and adventure is a little much.
young, intelligent people can often interact and think just as well
— if not better — than adults. This Disadvantage addresses Bad Luck (II)
those characters, young and old, who can’t “keep up” as easily.
The rules for this Disadvantage are the same as for Bad
Bad Luck (I) Luck (I). However, a Critical Failure or a total equal to one
more than the die code of the skill or attribute causes Bad Luck
The character is exceptionally unlucky. This Disadvantage (II) to activate. (For example, if the character has 5D in a skill
is under the gamemaster’s control most of the time. The easiest and rolls a total of 6 on the dice — which is one more than the
way to handle it is, whenever the player rolls the dice and a die code in the skill — the Disadvantage comes into play) , even
Critical Failure comes up, not only does it take away the The effects are exactly the same, only the gamemaster might
highest die in the roll, but something bad happens. The make the setbacks more uncomfortable.
gamemaster can choose from not allowing the player to reroll
Critical Successes until the end of the scene, the character Restrictions/Notes: See Bad Luck (I).
loses an action during the next round, or from invoking some
sort of strange, but not too terrible, “bad luck effect.” Bad Luck (III)
For example, the character might be running from a group The same as Bad Luck (I) and Bad Luck (II), but the
of terrorists who he’s been fighting since the beginning of the character suffers the effects on a Critical Failure or a total
act. He is trying to jump across an elevator shaft when the equal to or less than two more than the die code of the skill or
player rolls a Critical Failure on the dice. Well, the character attribute. (So, if the character with a skill of 5D rolls a 6 or 7,
then the Disadvantage is activated.) The minimum effect is
that the character loses her actions on the round and probably
something disastrous happens.
Restrictions/Notes: See Bad Luck (I) and Bad Luck (II).
Since Bad Luck (III) can have such devastating effects, the
gamemaster might want to “overrule” occurrences of it. For
example, if, during a standard scene of an adventure, a char-
acter is trying to persuade a shopkeeper to sell him an item at
a better price, he might roll a low total on the dice. The
gamemaster could have something disastrous happen — the
shopkeeper keels over with a heart attack just as the chief of
police walks in and the character is suddenly suspected of
murder — but does it serve any purpose in the adventure?
Possibly, but if it doesn’t, save it until later. Then, when the
character is at the climax of the adventure and he doesn’t roll
a disastrously low total — but the gamemaster feels a “dose of
bad luck” would improve the story — he can use that as an
excuse. Players should understand that Bad Luck is arbitrary
and will often occur at the worst possible moment.

Bigotry (I)
The character has “something against” a particular race of
Jaime Lombardo & Ron Hill

people, a particular religion, or some other aspect of life that a

minority of people “fit into.” While this bigotry should not be
overt and rule the character, it is something that should be
roleplayed. The character will discriminate against other char-
acters who are of the minority, or, at best, accept them as
“exceptions to the rule.” The character will make insensitive
comments and generally be annoying in regards to those people.
 Character Options ❖ Page 19

Restrictions/Notes: This Disadvantage isn’t recommended different culture than the one he is normally in. For example,
for players who don’t think they can roleplay it convincingly or a character in a real world setting might be from India but
realistically. It is hard to roleplay bigotry, especially in a real operate out of the United Kingdom. While the U.K. does not
world-type setting, without getting too carried away and being have any particular dislike of Indians, there might be a few
offensive to someone, so keep that in mind. “cultural clashes” occasionally. Bigots might get in the way of
the character, and the character might not always “know”
Bigotry (II) things about the setting that natives would automatically
Bigotry (II) is the same as Bigotry (I), only more intensified. understand. The character is an outsider.
Instead of “disliking” a particular type of person, the character Restrictions/Notes: At the worst, this can be treated like
hates that type. Player characters of that type will, most likely, Prejudice (I), but, most often, the character is just unfamiliar
be betrayed and abused at any opportunity — unless the with aspects of the mainstream. Characters cannot usually
character wants something from them that he can’t get. take this Disadvantage more than once.
Or, if the player doesn’t want to play that intense a form of
prejudice, the character could have a “wider sweeping” bigotry. Cultural Unfamiliarity (II)
The character doesn’t just focus on one minority group — he The character is of a culture almost totally different from
dislikes a whole crowd of them. Or, perhaps, the character is the “mainstream” he operates in. The character should con-
bigoted against one majority. Use the description for Bigotry stantly make mistakes and “social gaffs,” and all attempts at
(I) as a guideline. streetwise or similar “getting around town” skills should have
Restrictions/Notes: The same rules and warnings for Big- +6 to the difficulty (at least). In addition, the character should
otry (I) should be applied. In addition, any stronger versions of probably have trouble with the native language (he could even
Bigotry should really be used only by gamemaster characters — take the Disadvantage Language Problems).
villains, particularly — because then a player doesn’t have to Restrictions/Notes: The rules are the same as for Cul-
assumed the role of an extreme bigot for an entire adventure. tural Unfamiliarity (I).
Burn-out (see description) Cultural Unfamiliarity (III)
Under a certain set of proscribed circumstances, the Advan- The character is, in all respects, an alien. Either he’s from
tage goes away — permanently. The player and the gamemaster another planet with a completely different culture, or what-
should work out the circumstances, with the following criteria: ever fits the game setting — he just doesn’t fit in (socially, and,
1. The Burn-out should have a chance of occurring about most likely, physically). Otherwise, this Disadvantage works
once or twice an adventure. exactly the same way as the other rank versions.
2. The Burn-out should be something that could be avoided Restrictions/Notes: See Cultural Unfamiliarity (I).
— but the character might not want to avoid it.
3. There should be a logical reason for the Burn-out to occur. Debt (I)
4. Both the player and the gamemaster should be aware
that the Burn-out will occur at some point. The character owes money, or something else valuable, to
someone. In most cases, this should be some sort of lending
As long as those criteria are met, the Burn-out Disadvan- institution or credit house, and the payments aren’t too ardu-
tage should be playable. Some examples might include: ous. The character just has a harder time getting credit and
• If the character is soundly defeated in an adventure, the has to turn over a substantial amount of any profits he makes
Burn-out occurs. on an adventure to the lender.
• When the character completes a particular mission of great Restrictions/Notes: Only take this Disadvantage if you
importance (this would probably only happen after several intend to live up to it. There should be some reason the
adventures — but the mission should be something the charac- character doesn’t want to default on the debt, and that should
ter wants to complete for some reason), the Burn-out occurs. be worked out beforehand. Also, taking Debt (any rank) with
• If the character suffers a particular effect (she loses most Enemy (any rank) can be interesting — maybe the character
of her Body Points, she is the victim of a particular type of fairly is in deep to a loan shark or a manipulative and not entirely
uncommon attack, etc.), she suffers the Burn-out. scrupulous lender. This Disadvantage can be taken with the
• When a character’s Advantage is somehow negated (a Advantage Wealth (any rank), as long as there is some reason
Contact who has a good chance of being killed, a piece of it can’t be just paid off. A character with Wealth (III) (phe-
Equipment that someone is trying to steal or destroy, etc.), the nomenal resources) might be stuck in a contract where he has
Burn-out occurs. to turn over the profits of any adventure to someone, for
This Disadvantage is worth a number of ranks equal to the example — he still has his wealth, but all the little neat things
Advantage with which it’s associated. and rewards he gets have to be coughed up at the end of the
Restrictions/Notes: Any Advantage could have the possi- adventure (or the character has to persuade the lender/
bility of Burn-out. Just think of a logical (or, perhaps, super- contract holder to let him keep them).
natural) reason an Advantage would go away. There should be
a decent chance that it could go away, but the character should Debt (II)
have some chance of avoiding that occurrence … for a while. The character owes a lot of money (or something else valu-
able) to someone dangerous, or the results of owing this debt are
Cultural Unfamiliarity (I) dangerous. For example, the character could owe his life to a
The character is not from the “mainstream” culture of the really strange old scientist, and, every time that person needs a
society he spends the most time in. The character should work favor (usually going off somewhere dangerous and doing some-
out where he is from, but it should be somewhere with a thing suicidal), the character has to drop everything and go.
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 20

Paul Daly
Restrictions/Notes: The rules are the same as for Debt (I).
Employed (I)
Debt (III) The character has a job. Maybe the job is related to what the
character wants to do during a game session, or maybe not.
The character owes everything to someone or something. In
Regardless, the character wants to keep her job (or has to, for
the case of worldly goods, all such items must be turned over
some reason), and she must be responsible about “missing
to the “lender” at the end of an adventure — the character
work” and fulfilling her obligations.
must “borrow” these things back at the beginning of the next
adventure. And it is up to the gamemaster what the “lender” Restrictions/Notes: The player and the gamemaster might
gives back. have to work to roleplay this, but there should be an occasional
In most cases, this means the character is either Employed conflict between what the character wants to do and what she
or under some sort of roleplaying restriction. For example, a has to do. The character might even have to keep some
character might belong to a particularly strict cult or religion. activities secret or lose her job.
She has to “tithe” all worldly goods (or, at least, a large portion
of worldly goods) to the cult after every adventure. If she does Employed (II)
not, she would be “cast out” — a fate she would not enjoy — or The character works for someone, or something, that pretty
even hunted and killed. At the beginning of each adventure, much runs his life. When he goes on adventures, he either has to
the character must beg and persuade whoever is in charge to go through lots of red tape to get permission, or its because he
let her have any goods she needs. was “assigned” the mission. As a result, the character has little
Restrictions/Notes: Debt (III) is so wide-sweeping that it free will regarding what he does or how he does it, and he should
cannot usually be combined with the lower versions or linked come into conflict with his employer on occasion. Also, since the
to individual Advantages unless the player and the gamemas- character is an employee, if he is “on a mission,” he usually has
ter are particularly inventive. A character with Debt (III) to turn over his share of the “loot” for “corporate disposal” — he’ll
might “owe” the possession of a Rank III or IV Advantage to a get something out of it, certainly, but not a full share.
particular source, however (a character might have receive Restrictions/Notes: The rules are the same as for Em-
Good Luck from a supernatural source), and have to pay some ployed (I). Just make sure that “the job” is fairly inconvenient
sort of other tithe (a sacrifice, all the money the character for the character, but there are reasons he doesn’t quit. Maybe
obtains, etc.) to be able to use the Advantage, but, in most he has the Wealth Advantage only so long as he has the
cases, the character is over his head in worldly debt. Employed (II) Advantage — that would be a good way of tying
in the Disadvantage.
 Character Options ❖ Page 21

Employed (III) strives to kill the character, hurt people she knows, and do
awful things just because the character won’t like them. Just
The character is, for all intents and purposes, a slave. This about everything bad that happens to the character would
does not mean the character is poor or without means — just please the arch-nemesis — and he is probably responsible for
without free choice. The character does virtually everything a lot of them. The Enemy (III) should be involved in, directly or
because he has to. For example, a character might be the head indirectly, most adventures the character goes on.
of a large corporation. But the only way things get done is for
the character to do them or be there to oversee their getting Restrictions/Notes: Enemy (III) is a very powerful, and
done. Adventures only occur when they are in direct concor- very important, Disadvantage. Many beginning gamemasters
dance with the interests of the “employer.” In all other ways, might not want to go to the trouble of creating and constantly
this Disadvantage is like its lower rank versions. maintaining a villain or group of villains relating to the
character — but others will enjoy it. Talk to your gamemaster
Restrictions/Notes: See Employed under the other ranks. about this option before you select it.
Enemy (I) Handicap (I)
An individual or group has it “in” for the character. An The character has a minor physical or mental handicap that
Enemy who is a single person of power and influence no greater makes certain actions more difficult. The handicap could be a
than the character might actually want the character dead. An “bad knee,” or just a particular “mental block” regarding
Enemy (I) of power and influence greater than the character certain types of activities.
simply wants to “hassle” the character for some reason. Maybe The player and the gamemaster should work out some sort
in the town the character operates, the law enforcement of affliction and then choose a group of related skills (much in
authorities have his name and picture on file — and they’ll use the same way skills are picked for the Skill Bonus Advantage
any excuse to run him in or hassle him because they think of — only, in this case, the minimum number of skills is five). The
him as a “troublemaker.” Or, perhaps, the character’s landlord character then adds +1 to the difficulty of all actions performed
throws everything out on the street if he’s one minute late with using those skills. Some possible examples include:
the rent, or the character’s boss always assigns him the most
boring or most dangerous “missions.” The enemy does not have Bad Knee: Dodge, acrobatics, running, jumping, swim-
to have a position in the character’s life — he can just be ming
someone who, for some reason known to the gamemaster (and Trick Shoulder: Brawling, melee combat, climbing, throw-
probably the player, but not always the character), has a ing, missile weapons
grudge against the character. Unobservant: Perception, investigation, languages,
lockpicking, persuasion
Restrictions/Notes: There is no reason this Disadvantage
can’t be used similarly to an Advantage Flaw or as a complement Restrictions/Notes: As you can see from the sample
to other Disadvantages or even Advantages. Maybe a character’s groups, it is much easier to come up with physical handicaps
Contact is sweet and helpful (a secretary in the Pentagon who than mental ones. The mental ones make sense only if you
tells the character “a little more” about the mission he’s been take a particular point of view — the Unobservant group is
assigned), but someone who influences the contact is an Enemy based off the idea that the character not only doesn’t easily
(the secretary’s boss who has been trying to seduce the secretary “spot” things, but he also has trouble picking up on interactive
and resents the fact that the secretary likes the character better) “cues.”
and sometimes makes it hard for the contact to help. Enemy (I) Specializations can also be used — with gamemaster ap-
characters should either show up only occasionally (maybe once proval. Three specializations that the gamemaster thinks the
during an adventure), or they should be minor annoyances that player might have to use reasonably often (like investigation
can only be a real problem if the character doesn’t deal with them (find) or marksmanship (pistols)) could substitute for one
when they show up. Multiple Enemies of various ranks can be general skill. Handicap (I) can be selected several times, as
selected (just don’t go overboard). long as the gamemaster thinks it appropriate. Since it is very
much the counterpart to Skill Bonus, additional restrictions
Enemy (II) and notes can be related to the ones found there.
The rules are the same as for Enemy (I), only the character Handicap (II)
is more powerful, more annoying, and/or more a part of the
character’s life. The disability is much more serious, or more widespread.
The player and the gamemaster can define the type of disabil-
Restrictions/Notes: It should be mentioned that killing ity the character has and make a list of skills that get difficulty
the Enemy or running away should not get rid of the Disadvan- modifiers totaling +20 (or even pick skills that he can’t do). (In
tage — at least not easily. At the very least, the character other words, 10 skills each with a +2 difficulty modifier; one
should have to go though a few adventures to “remove” the skill with a +4 modifier, two skills with a +3 modifier, and five
Enemy from his life. Usually, the character has to deal with the skills with a +2 modifier; or some other combination.) Thus, for
Enemy for quite a long time. Multiple enemies can, of course, example, a character in a wheelchair would not be able to jump
be selected. at all (a Reflexes skill), but he can dodge with a difficulty
(maybe +3 to the opposing character’s marksmanship total),
Enemy (III) and the skill throwing would not be affected at all.
Again, the rules are the same as for Enemy (I) and Enemy Restrictions/Notes: The player should make certain to
(II). The character is beset by, most likely, a group of enemies define the disability and be prepared to take the modifiers that
or a very powerful enemy who wish to kill or otherwise come. The gamemaster will often have adventures where the
“remove” the character from the game setting. For example, a character is severely limited in what he can do, so it seems like
pulp fiction adventurer might have an “arch-nemesis” who the gamemaster is “picking on” the character, but a good game-
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 22

master will also have some aspects of every adventure where the something) in the past that makes him hated and reviled by
character is not inconvenienced. The rules for Handicap (II) are, most people. The rules are essentially the same as for Infamy
otherwise, very similar to Handicap (I), above. (I) and the recognition chances are similar to Fame (II), but the
modifier to interactions should be, usually, at least +6.
Handicap (III) Restrictions/Notes: As stated under Infamy (I), unless
There is a substantial group of activities that the character combined with Fame, this Disadvantage only allows for the
cannot do, and they cannot even be compensated for in most negative aspects of notoriety. A character who has Infamy (II)
cases. A Handicap (II) might put a character into a wheelchair, would be considered by nearly everyone (but not everyone) to
but the character can still get around. A Handicap (III) would be “scum” and someone who “deserves no better than he gets.”
be almost like being confined to a bed. When combined with an equal or higher rank of Fame, there is
Restrictions/Notes: Most players will not want charac- often that “fear and respect” option — many characters will
ters with this severe a Disadvantage, and generally, it is not still try to betray or hurt the character in some way, but most
recommended. However, in game settings where Extranormal won’t be that open about it.
attributes or Special Abilities are common, this can be used.
For example, a character who is confined to bed in a magic- Infamy (III)
using setting might only be able to go out in the body of a golem The character cannot go out because she will be recognized
— an artificial man with limited abilities. The character in most places — a lot of people hate her to the point of violence.
should have to suffer for this handicap most of the time, but Virtually anyone would kill or drive away the character if
there can be interesting ways to play it — with the gamemaster’s possible, and it is likely there are those hunting her (at least
permission. Enemy (I) should be chosen in addition to this Disadvantage).
However, the character could use disguises and could avoid
Illiterate (II) populated areas to remain a viable character. Most likely, the
A character can be considered Illiterate for one of two character has to move around until she can “live down” her
reasons. The first is simply due to her inability to read. The infamy (if ever) or until she dies.
other reason is if she did not speak the local language (an Restrictions/Notes: See Infamy (I) and Infamy (II).
immigrant arriving in a new country or an explorer among
natives, etc.). These people may be extremely intelligent and Language Problems (II)
well-read people, but have difficulty exhibiting that in their The character does not understand the language of the area
new country. she spends most of her time in. She must learn skill pips in the
specialization languages: (specific language). Otherwise, she
Infamy (I) receives a +6 difficulty modifiers in addition to any other
The character is about as well known as a character with modifiers for what she’s attempting to convey or understand.
Fame (I), but for different reasons. The odds of being recognized Restrictions/Notes: The character cannot begin the game
are the same as for Fame (I), but the reaction is quite different. with more than one pip in languages: (specific language), but
The character experiences hostility, prejudice, and intentional may learn more at a regular cost. However, the character
“slights” — in game mechanic terms, the character should have should speak another language in the game setting fluently.
the difficulty of all interactions increased by at least +3.
Restrictions/Notes: There is a reason for this negative Negative Learning Curve (II)
attention. Either the character did something, is accused of When the character attempts to learn a new skill, or
having done something, or is suspected of having done some- improve an old one, he does so at double the applicable
thing not particularly pleasant, or the character has, through Character Point cost. This Disadvantage is associated with a
other strange circumstances earned a “bad rep.” Sometimes, single attribute, and it applies to specializations. There should
this Infamy will help the character — but it shouldn’t help too be some sort of reason for this in the character’s background,
much. If the character had a combination of Fame and Infamy such as a lack of education.
(by selecting both options), then maybe he’d earn a reputation
like Wyatt Earp or Jesse James in the American Old West — Restrictions/Notes: This is the counterpart to Gifted in
certain people would look up to him or respect him, and there Learning, and it should be treated in much the same way. This
would be definite fear there most of the time, but there would Advantage can be taken multiple times, as long as each is one
also be a lot of people who would enjoy seeing the person leave is for a different attribute.
or die. Of course, Infamy (I) should be something minor —
maybe the character is an “ex-con” or a former criminal, or he Poverty (I)
did something “questionable” in the past and was cleared. Since characters who adventure tend to accumulate wealth,
People are not overtly hostile, but they are unfriendly when this Disadvantage is only available at Rank I. The character
they recognize him. Several ranks of Infamy can only be begins the game with the shirt on his back and, maybe, a few
selected if the character is “infamous” for multiple reasons — pieces of cheap and substandard equipment. The character
but the effects should be cumulative, and this can only be done should also have the attitude of someone who is “poor,” what-
if the gamemaster thinks it is appropriate (a character with ever that might be in the game setting.
Infamy (III) would hardly have to worry about Infamy (I) in If using Funds as an attribute, this Advantage subtracts -
most cases, so it would not be a proper combination). 10 from relevant totals.
Infamy (II) Restrictions/Notes: As an excellent combination, this
Disadvantage could be selected with Debt or Price to make the
The character is, most likely, wanted for a crime of a fairly situation more realistic. Poverty can only be selected once.
serious nature, or he did something (or is thought to have done
 Character Options ❖ Page 23

Prejudice (I)
The character is of a minority group — or maybe it is just the
character himself — that is subject to prejudice and discrimina-
tion. The character receives modifiers to the difficulties (from +2
to +4) during normal interaction with characters not of the
minority group, and is generally treated unfairly by society. The
group the character belongs to, or the reason he is discriminated
against, should be identified immediately, and the player should
know how he can expect to be treated in most cases.
Restrictions/Notes: The gamemaster has to be careful
with this one (see Bigotry, above). Roleplaying prejudice is not
often something players want to get into, and it can be espe-
cially uncomfortable in a real world or similar setting. When
used in a setting where there are many different sapient
species, however, it can be quite interesting — especially if
there are several characters in the group who are prejudiced
against.

Prejudice (II)
The minority group the character belongs to is oppressed.
The character experiences disparity virtually every day. While
other characters of the same minority group may not actually

Jaime Lombardo & Ron Hill

experience this prejudice (i.e., they didn’t select this option), it
is probably because they aren’t in positions where this dis-
crimination can be easily practised.
Restrictions/Notes: The character often experiences dis-
crimination and most interactions are performed at a +3 to +6
to the difficulty. This prejudice should be roleplayed at every
opportunity. However, gamemasters and players should only
use this Disadvantage when both sides are comfortable with
using it in a pretend situation (see Bigotry and Prejudice for
more information). gamemaster’s opinion the character does this too often, both
the Advantage and the Price should go away permanently.
Price (I) Price can be taken often at various ranks, and the same Price
can be linked to more than one Advantage — though, unless
This is a Disadvantage similar to Advantage Flaw, above. the Price is actually double (the character has to pay the same
But, instead of there being something wrong with the character’s price twice as often), it only counts as one Disadvantage.
Advantage, there is a “price tag” attached. Every time the
character wants to use the ability, or — more likely at this rank
— the character has to pay a Price to continue using the ability
Price (II)
at least a few times during the adventure. The Price for using a particular Advantage, or group of
The Price might be an actual fee — and a significant one at Advantages, is much higher than mentioned in Rank I, but the
that. If the fee isn’t paid, the Advantage goes away until the price rules are the same. Contacts will be extremely hard to “pay off”
can be paid. But this won’t work for many Advantages (at least or do favors for — maybe an entire short adventure has to be
not in an interesting manner), so there are other ways to do it. devoted to “paying back” a contact who helped out.
Most likely, the Price will be a roleplaying effect. Maybe Optionally, paying two Fate Points or six Character Points
every time a Contact does a favor for a character, he not only at the end of an adventure where the Advantage was used is a
demands the normal, negotiated recompense (if any), but the quick way of “paying the price.”
character must do a favor of equal importance for the charac- Restrictions/Notes: See Price (I).
ter. Or, whenever a piece of Equipment is used (most likely
after the adventure), parts of it need to be replaced or serviced Quirk (I)
by a specialist (who may charge a high fee or ask a favor).
The character suffers from a personality quirk that makes
One more suggestion for Price (I) would be that the charac-
certain types of roleplaying and interaction more difficult. This
ter has to pay one Fate Point or three Character Points at the
quirk could simply be a habit or an affectation that has gone too
end of an adventure to “pay for” the use of the Advantage. This
far, or it could be a minor psychological problem. Some ex-
reflects the fact that the use of the Advantage “takes some-
amples include:
thing out of” the character when it is used.
Dependency: The character has a slight dependency on a
Restrictions/Notes: The Price should be fairly easy to
substance or even a roleplaying event. The character might be
meet, but it should take some work. At this rank, it should be
a “pack-a-day” smoker who, if he doesn’t get a cigarette at least
something that the character can roleplay along with an
once an Act, he gets irritable and, perhaps, lose Critical
adventure or resolve between Acts or adventures (like paying
Success rerolls during interactions. Or maybe the character
off the recipient of the Price). However, if the character does
always has to “have the last word” in any situation and will
not pay the Price, the Advantage does go away — and, if in the
often beat an argument into the ground rather than “lose.”
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 24

Kleptomania: When in a store or surrounded by small, normal one, or even a type of roleplaying interaction (maybe
portable items, the character will occasionally try to “lift” the character has to try to come as close to dying as he can).
something. When possessed by his Quirk (see rules below), the Paranoid: The character trusts no one. He receives a +6 to
character suffers +3 to the difficulty of sleight of hand, lock- the bonus number when trying to resist being conned, but he
picking, or related attempts at theft because he really doesn’t also receives this “bonus” when trying to be persuaded — and
know he’d doing it. he must be persuaded before he’ll help even his closest friends.
Indecision: The character does not like making decisions “Everyone is out to get him.”
and will delay making them. When roleplaying, the player Phobic: The character is deathly afraid of something. It
should actively participate in group discussions, but he should could be heights, open spaces, spiders, or another character.
be “wishy-washy” and indecisive at critical moments. Unless the character makes his willpower roll (below), he
Stutter: When under pressure, or when relaxed, or when dissolves into terror.
some other fairly common “mood” hits the character, he stut- Vengeful: The character cannot stand to “lose” or be
ters. The upshot is the character suffers +3 to the difficulty of “wronged.” If the character perceives herself as “looking fool-
any interaction at this time and player should roleplay having ish” (or whatever), she will go to great lengths to “get even” (in
a “hard time” getting his ideas across to the other players. reality, the character probably takes it too far).
Restrictions/Notes: Good roleplayers will have fun with Restrictions/Notes: The character has Very Difficult Pres-
these, and other, Quirks that they come up with. Indeed, this ence or willpower roll to make to overcome the Quirk — at the
Disadvantage is often more fun to play than many Advantages least. If, in the gamemaster’s judgement, there is a reason the
— but the gamemaster should make certain it is being role- character should have modifiers to the difficulty, then he will.
played. Whenever the gamemaster thinks it appropriate, he Players who don’t want to play a character that can frequently
should make the player generate a willpower or Presence total “lose control” should avoid this option. Other rules are the
against a base Moderate difficulty to “indulge” in his Quirk same as under Quirk (I)
automatically (i.e., “suffer” for it). The negative effects of the
Quirk immediately come into play. Also, if the character Reduced Attribute (II)
repeatedly makes this roll, resisting the impulses of the Quirk,
the gamemaster should start modifying the difficulty upwards Something about the character’s species, age, physical
until the character fails. Multiple Quirks can be selected. condition, or some other factor has permanently reduced one
The gamemaster may allow multiple inclusions of the same attribute by 1 pip. The character may not reduce the attribute
version of this Disadvantage, with all modifiers are cumula- die code below 1D, and the attribute die code may never be
tive and an increase by +5 per inclusion to the willpower increased by spending Character Points (though gaining a
difficulty. Special Ability would help).
Additional Note: Some players may choose to have their Restrictions/Notes: The reduction in die code increases
characters roleplay Quirks they already have or might like to by 1 pip for each additional rank taken in this Disadvantage.
play. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. It can be (Remember that there are three pips in one die.) The character
hysterical to have a player “steal” dice out from under another may have different variations on this Disadvantage for each
player’s nose (symbolizing the fact that the character is taking attribute, including Extranormal attributes. Characters who
necessary items away from the other player’s character) as have this Disadvantages on an Extranormal attribute before
long as things don’t go too far (i.e., when people start getting having any die code in that attribute may never take that
upset). However, players who are “indecisive” should not play Extranormal attribute.
characters who are indecisive — since they would be anyway.
This is too much like getting a Disadvantage for nothing. Sense of Duty (I)
Quirk (II) The character feels compelled to take certain actions out of
a love of code or perceived duty to something else. The charac-
The rules for Quirk (II) are the same as for Quirk (I), only ter may, at times, do things he finds morally questionable in
the chance of occurrence is much greater and the effects are order to achieve a greater good. With Sense of Duty (I), the
larger. For example, if the character had a “dependency,” the character’s beliefs do not come into play very often.
character would have to fulfill that dependency much more
often (once a scene, perhaps), and the character might experi- Sense of Duty (II)
ence one automatic Critical Failure per scene that he doesn’t
(a smoker might have a coughing fit in the middle of a tense The character with the “Sense of Duty (II)” Disadvantage
negotiation or during a stealth attempt, for example). believes very strongly in something and will attempt to per-
suade others of the rightness of his beliefs. His patriotism or
Restrictions/Notes: The difficulty of resisting the “im- loyalty to an ideal plays a role in his day-to-day life.
pulse” is now Difficult, but all other rules are the same as under
Quirk (I). Sense of Duty (III)
Quirk (III) A character whose belief in a cause is so strong that it
motivates almost all his actions would have Sense of Duty (III)
These “personality quirks” are much more serious. The for a Disadvantage. The character is willing to die for his belief.
character might be a junkie, a psychotic with a certain type of
behavior, or has a severe phobia (he’s deathly afraid of some- Uncoordinated (II)
thing). Some examples:
The character has no physical grace to speak of and is, in
Dependency: The character is a junkie, always after a face, something of a klutz. Add +1 to the difficulty of all
“fix.” The “fix” might be an illegal substance, or a perfectly Reflexes- and Coordination-based skills.
 Character Options ❖ Page 25

Restrictions/Notes: The difficulty modifier is cumulative success (gamemaster’s option), the animal is controlled for a
for multiple inclusions of this Disadvantage. number of minutes equal to the animal handling skill total
times 10. A controlled animal will serve its master faithfully,
Special Abilities even sacrificing itself on his behalf. The Special Ability has a
range of sight or voice. The character may gain one more
Before allowing players to create characters with Special species for each rank.
Abilities, the gamemaster may wish to peruse this list to see if Note: A swarm of insects counts as one animal, as does a
there are any she would prefer not to appear in her games. She school of small fish. Any creature with a Knowledge die code of
may also decide that certain Special Abilities require specific less than 2D could be considered an animal, unless the game-
Limitations on them or Disadvantages on the character. master says otherwise (for example, a horse would be animal,
Any Special Ability that gives a bonus to the die roll or the but a zombie with a Knowledge of 1D would not).
skill total also allows the character to use that skill as if
trained. Armor-Defeating Attack (2)
Unless stated otherwise in the Special Ability, it does not
count as an action for the character to get the bonus from a When a character with natural weapons (the character’s
Special Ability. However, the character must state that she is fists, claws, teeth, etc.) attacks someone protected by armor,
relying on the Special Ability or she does not receive the bonus. this ability negates the armor value, up to +1D per rank. The
The cost for one rank of the Special Ability is included in character must specify how the attack negates the armor: an
parentheses. In games where attribute and skill dice are set at acidic mist slips through any openings, enchanted claws reach
character creation, players may use points received from directly to the flesh, etc. There should be at least one type of
Disadvantages to get Special Abilities. Players in games using armor that is unaffected by this.
character creation point pools may use some of the points in
their pool or points gained from Disadvantages to purchase Atmospheric Tolerance (2)
Special Abilities. The character can breathe one form of atmosphere that
Some Special Abilities, such as Ambidextrous, do not lend would be lethal to most other characters. A character may not
themselves to being taken more than once. Bonuses received have this ability more than once.
from taking multiple ranks of the same Special Ability are
added together. Players may also add Limitations to their Attack Resistance (2)
Special Abilities, which reduce their effectiveness (and the The character is highly resistant to a certain type of attack.
cost); these are described at the end of this section. She gains a +1D per rank to her damage resistance total
In games where characters with Special Abilities are com- against this type of attack.
mon, additional ranks of each Special Ability cost one creation Extranormal Attack: Resistant to one type of damage —
point per rank at character creation. In games where characters either physical or mental — from an Extranormal source (such
with Special Abilities are uncommon, additional ranks of each as Magic or Psionics) attack. Characters who wish to be
Special Ability costs the value listed with the Special Ability. immune to both physical and mental damage must purchase
Unless the gamemaster decides to reward a character with a this Advantage once for each type from each source.
Special Ability, it costs five times the listed cost in Character Nonenchanted Weapons: Resistant to physical damage from
Points (and a really good excuse) to acquire or improve a Special nonenchanted weapons.
Ability after character creation. A character may improve a
Special Ability by only one rank after each adventure, unless Attribute Scramble (4)
there is some compelling reason to allow otherwise.
The character can adjust an opponent’s (or a friend’s)
attributes temporarily. She gains the scramble skill at +1 per
Accelerated Healing (3) rank in a single version of this Special Ability (it is a Presence
The character heals a +1D Body Points per day per rank, skill, described only here), which she can increase as normal.
and a Critical Failure on the die roll is treated as zero, rather The scrambler must pick as her focus either physical or mental
than as subtracting the highest die roll. abilities (never Extranormal, Funds, or Special Abilities). She
can never do both, except by taking this Special Ability once for
Ambidextrous (3) each version.
The character is equally adept with her right or left hand. When she goes after a target with an brawling roll, she may
She may perform an action with each hand in the same round, choose (as a multi-action) to also perform a scramble attack
and if they are the same action (say, firing two guns), she versus her target’s willpower or Presence. (No close combat
suffers no multi-action penalty. If she is performing two attack is necessary for a willing target.) If her total is higher
different actions (say, firing a gun with one hand and fighting (not equal to), she may shift her target’s attribute points
with a sword with the other), she takes the multi-action around, within certain limits. The close combat attack does no
penalty as normal. A character may not have this ability more damage.
than once. She may increase one or more related attributes by a
number equal to the amount she takes away from other related
Animal Control (3) attributes — but she may not decrease or increase any one
attribute by more than 2D (6 pips).
This gives the character the ability to control one particular The change lasts for a number of rounds equal to the
species of animal, bird or insect. The character gets a +10 difference between the scramble attack versus the target’s
bonus to her animal handling total for that species. She must willpower or Presence. A character who has been adjusted
generate an animal handling versus the Presence or willpower cannot be scrambled again until the original adjustment
of the animal (more than one animal can be targeted, although wears off.
this is a multi-action). If the character gets a high enough
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 26

Blur (3) worth 3. This Special Ability may only be taken with another
Special Ability.
The character can appear indistinct to the naked eye or
nonenchanted visual aids (binoculars, etc.). Commonly, a char- Enhanced Senses (3)
acter with this Special Ability will only be spotted out of the
corner of the eye. This adds +1 to the character’s dodge, sneak, One of the character’s five senses is heightened to abnormal
and hide totals, as well as +1 to all default search, tracking, levels. The bonus to the skill total received depends on the
investigation, and attack difficulties against the character sense: sight is +1; hearing is +2; touch, taste, and smell are +3.
that the blurring character is not actively trying to defeat. The bonus is per rank and applies to all skills related to the
(These modifiers are per rank in this Special Ability.) On the sense. To have multiple enhanced senses, this Special Ability
character’s turn, she may automatically become blurry, with- must be taken at least once for each sense.
out taking an action, and remain so until she chooses other-
wise. Blurring also makes it difficult for the character to hold Environmental Resistance (1)
a conversation with others. The character is resistant to extremes of heat, cold, and
pressure (within reason) and gains a +3D per rank to Physique
Combat Sense (3) or stamina checks to resist ill effects from these environmental
The character can sense danger. She is never surprised. condition.
Rather, she and her attacker must determine initiative as
normal. Even if the attacker still goes before the character Fast Reactions (3)
does, any combat modifier from the surprise is reduced by 2. A The character gains +1D per rank to his Perception when
character may not have this ability more than once. determining initiative, and, for up to three times during the
adventure, he may receive one additional action for one round.
Confusion (4)
The character can hamper the thoughts of those she comes Fear (2)
into physical contact with, at will. He gains the confuse skill at The character can provoke fear in those who can see or hear
+1 per rank (it is a Presence skill, described only here), which him. He gains a +1 per rank to all intimidation totals and
he can increase as normal. combat defense difficulties against those so affected.
As a multi-action with a brawling attack, he may also
perform a confusion attack versus her target’s willpower or Flight (6)
Presence. If his total is higher (not equal to), the target is The character can fly, either by nature or by virtue of having
confused. Characters may not play cards (if the gamemaster is wings. The character’s movement rate equals his base Move
using game-enhancing cards with her adventures), spend plus +10 per rank.
points and receive a +5 difficulty modifier to even simple
actions for a number of rounds equal to two times the rank of Gifted in Learning (3)
this Special Ability.
The character has an uncanny ability to learn new skills
Darkness (3) and improve old ones, limited to one attribute. He always
learns new skills as if he had a teacher (even if he doesn’t), and
The character can project a field of darkness around him- he can improve skills he already knows at a cost of one
self, adding +5 per rank to the difficulty of any sight-based skill Character Point less than normal. This Special Ability applies
totals. The field extends in a half-sphere around the character to specializations. It is combined very well with the Age
with a radius equal to one meter per rank. The field can be Disadvantage, if the character is young — he is a prodigy, and
maintained for a maximum of one minute per rank before that’s why he’s learned his starting skills so quickly. This
dispersing. Special Ability can be taken multiple times, as long as each is
one is for a different attribute.
Elasticity (1)
The character can stretch, elongate, and compress his body, Glider Wings (3)
allowing him to expand his height or become so narrow he can The character can fly by drifting with air currents, provided
pass through keyholes, cracks or any other opening he could there is sufficient wind (gamemaster’s call). Characters with
normally see through. The character gains +1 per rank to this Special Ability need the flying skill to control their pas-
dodge, sleight of hand, or disguise totals. sage. A character may not have this ability more than once.
Endurance (2) Hardiness (6)
The character has great endurance, and gains a +1D per The character can take damage better than normal. She
rank to Physique or stamina checks when performing taxing adds +1D per rank to her damage resistance total against any
physical tasks (i.e., holding one’s breath underwater for a long type of damage.
period, running a long distance, etc.).

Enhancement (1 or more) Immortality (7)

The character is immortal, though she will grow older, at a
The Special Ability this is associated with is somehow more decreased pace compared to the rest of her species. If she is
than the typical version. The cost depends on which aspect of reduced to zero Body Points, she doesn’t die. She will not go
the Special Ability is improved. For instance, an Enhancement unconscious or bleed to death (as mortally wounded characters
that gives a +1 bonus to one skill covered by the Special Ability do), but she will not heal without psionic or magical aid or the
would be worth 1 point, while a +1D bonus to that one skill is
 Character Options ❖ Page 27

Accelerated Healing Special Ability — her arms could be blown there is sufficient provocation, such as brushing against others
off, her abdomen eviscerated, or whatever. She may perform or removing something in a crowded area.
only the most minimal of physical actions, such as squirming, The invisibility covers the character’s basic clothes only —
and some actions may be impossible. She may rely on her not any gear she’s carrying, or anything she picks up. Also,
Reflexes for initiative purposes only. remember that the character is transparent when invisible —
There should be one particular set of circumstances whereby she can’t hide things behind his back.
the character will die forever. These sets of circumstances
should not be too unusual — killed directly by magic, drowned, Iron Will (2)
decapitated, etc. are all good examples. The character is highly resistant to all interaction attempts
A character may not have this ability more than once. and mental attacks. The character gains a +1D per rank to all
willpower rolls and +2 to the default difficulty of any attempts
Immunity (1) against this character.
The character is highly resistant to disease and poisons and
receives a +1D per rank to Physique or stamina checks when Life Drain (5)
determining whether he has contracted an illness or suffering This ability allows the character to drain attribute pips or
from ingested poisons. Body Points from his target.
The character must choose one set of attributes to target,
Increased Attribute (2) either physical (Reflexes, Coordination, Physique), mental (Knowl-
Some strange ability (or his species) allows the character to edge, Perception, Presence), or Body Points. For example, most
gain +1 pip per rank to one attribute of the player’s choice. vampires drink blood, and thus lower Body Points, while succubi
(Remember that there are three pips in one die.) This bonus target the soul and so weaken mental attributes. The player
also affects the normal maximum (5D) for the attribute value. must specify in what manner the character drains these at-
So, if a character had a 5D Physique (the normal max), this tributes (biting the neck, hypnosis, etc.) It should involve some
would increase the value to 5D+1 and the maximum value for sort of successful attack result (either physical or mental).
the character would also be 5D+1. If the same character took When the character wishes to employ Life Drain, he makes
three ranks of this Special Ability, the cost would be 6 Charac- an attack on his target using the relevant skill. For every four
ter Points, the attribute would rise to 6D, and the maximum points over the target’s defense roll, the character drains one
value would be 6D. pip per rank off each of the target’s relevant attributes or three
Note: To gain another rank in this Special Ability after points per rank from the character’s Body Points. (Remember
character creation costs 10 times the number in front of the “D” that there are three pips in each die.)
of the attribute that it affects. (This is instead of the normal If any of the target’s attributes or Body Points ever go to
cost to increase Special Abilities.) zero, the target dies. If the target survives, she regains one
attribute point (to each attribute affected) every hour after the
Infravision/Ultravision (3) attack. Body Points return at the normal rate.
The character gains the ability to either see in the dark For each attribute pip the character drains, he may add one
using infravision or ultravision. Infravision allows the charac- pip to any attribute in his chosen category, while he would get
ter to see changes in heat, while ultravision enables the one Body Point for each Body Point drained.
character to the most of the available light. Each provides a Life Drained attributes and Body Points disappear at a rate
+2D per rank in a single version of this Special Ability to sight- of one pip or point per hour.
based rolls while in dim or dark conditions. Obviously, extreme A character may have multiple ranks of Special Ability, as
heat or light prevent this Special Ability from working. well as multiple versions of it.

Intangibility (5) Long Life Span (3)

The character can reduce his physical density to virtually The character lives longer than the average Human. Often,
zero for one minute per rank. During that time, his damage this Special Ability has a Flaw attached that governs what the
resistance score against physical and energy attacks is +3D character must do to maintain his life. The character should
per rank, but his movement rate is halved. An intangible gain peripheral bonuses during game play because of his
character can pass through solid objects, providing they do not “longer outlook.” A character may not have this ability more
contain wards or other spells of protection designed to repel than once.
passage of this nature. While intangible, the character cannot
carry any object along (including clothing), nor can he attempt Luck, Good (2)
any physical attack. It takes a full round for a character to The character is blessed with unusually good luck. Once per
become intangible or solid, during which he can do nothing adventure, a character with Good Luck can receive one of the
else. The character must spend at least one minute solid before following benefits just by asking for it: haste, second chance,
attempting intangibility again. breakthrough, or action. See the “Luck Benefits” sidebar for
details on each of these options. Calling upon one’s luck does
Invisibility (2) not count as an action.
The character can become transparent. This adds +1 per rank Good Luck can only be declared once per rank during a
to the character’s dodge, sneak, and hide totals, as well as +1 per particular adventure, but it may be declared at any time, and
rank to all default search, tracking, investigation, and attack it cannot be cancelled by any other effect. A character may have
difficulties against the character that the invisible character is up to two ranks of this Special Ability. This Special Ability can
not actively trying to defeat. Additionally, no character may take be taken with the Bad Luck Disadvantage — sometimes really
an action to “spot” the character unless the gamemaster feels good things happen, sometimes really bad things happen.
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 28

meltdown procedure instead of exploding. In any case, the

• Luck Benefits • character’s Good Luck is gone for this adventure (his luck ran
out), but he has a chance of averting disaster. This is a “last
action: Add +2 to all skill or attribute totals for the round. ditch,” gamemaster-controlled effort when circumstances get
alertness: When this benefit is called upon, the character out of control. It is also a nice thing for inexperienced roleplayers
has a special “sixth sense” outside of all other rules and to have — just in case they do something they really shouldn’t
roleplaying situations that will help him to spot a previ- have, they get another chance.
ously unseen item, character, or clue selected by the game- As with Good Luck, the character may have up to two ranks
master. The benefit does not confer omniscient, however — of this Special Ability. Also, this Special Ability can be taken
and the gamemaster can select her own time for having it with the Bad Luck Disadvantage — sometimes really good
come into effect. It is normally used to allow a character to things happen, sometimes really bad things happen.
spot something he missed in a previous search, something
that is important to the adventure. Master of Disguise (3)
breakthrough: Add +1D to any one skill die code in which The character has a natural talent for disguise. She gains a
the character has no additional pips or dice (in other words, +5 per rank bonus to all disguise totals and a +1D bonus per
a skill in which the character is untrained). The benefit also rank to any Presence-based actions while in that disguise.
eliminates the unskilled modifier for using that skill.
Multiple Abilities (1)
haste: Gain one additional action for one round.
A character might have multiple “minor” abilities that are
hero: Receive one bonus Fate Point, which must be used increased by a Special Ability. All bonuses are added to the skill
on action immediately after requesting it. or attribute total, not to the die code. For example, a character
opponent fails: After an opponent or enemy has com- could have “eyestalks” that give him a +1 bonus to Perception or
pleted an action against the character, this benefit may be search totals that would negate surprise, the ability to focus his
called upon to cancel the effects entirely. The opponent’s ears on particular types of noises (+1 bonus when listening for
action is then wasted, and play continues. This benefit may particular sounds), and fingers that are sensitive to subdermal
not be used to cancel an action that is not directed at least motion (+1 bonus to lockpicking against safes with moving
partially at the cardholder’s character. tumblers). All the bonuses should be fairly limited in their
applications, pertaining to only specific uses of particular skills
second chance: Using this benefit allows the character to (like specializations do), but there can be several of them for each
attempt any action she has just tried again, from the very selection of this Special Ability. The maximum total bonus for
beginning. Relying on this benefit, however, may not be each rank of this Special Ability is +4.
used to negate “bad choices” — the action performed must
be performed again — nor does it allow the character to “get
back” Fate Points, Character Points, or cards spent on the
Natural Armor (3)
original action. The character merely gets another chance, The character has plates, toughened skin, scales, etc. His
immediately following the first attempt, to perform the own surface adds +1D per rank to his damage resistance total
action again. All effects from the first attempt are negated. to physical (not energy) attacks and contact poisons, corro-
sives, or similar materials.

Luck, Great (3) Natural Hand-to-Hand Weapons (3)

The character has some sort of natural weapon — claws,
A character with Great Luck can call on one of the following pincers, bone sword, stinger, etc. — that adds +2D per rank to his
benefits once per adventure per rank: haste, second chance, Physique when determining his damage (if he attacks using the
breakthrough, action, hero, opponent fails, or alertness. See the natural weapon). The character uses brawling to attack.
“Luck Benefits” sidebar for details on each of these options.
Calling upon one’s luck does not count as an action.
If the character has not used his Great Luck during an
Natural Magick (see description)
adventure and something really disastrous happens (prob- The character can use a magic spell as a natural ability. An
ably to the character or because the character did something example of this would be a character who can sense the
stupid), the gamemaster may choose to counteract the effects presence of undead by his nature, rather than through the use
and temporarily “burn out” the character’s Special Ability — of a sense undead spell. The cost of the ability equals the
i.e., the character’s Great Luck has been used up for the difficulty of the spell. (See Chapter 7, “Magic,” for details on
adventure. Usually, this is used when the character does creating spells, plus some sample spells.) The chosen spell may
something stupid or the player is the victim of incredibly bad not be charged (that is, have a fixed limit to the number of times
luck — die rolling, not the Disadvantage — and something it can be cast).
“stops” the effect. The character must adhere to the requirements of the spell,
For example, the character’s mission is to turn off the power including its gestures, incantations, components, and so on.
at a nuclear plant or it will explode and destroy the city that’s The casting of the spell is automatic (there is no need to roll a
conveniently downwind. Unfortunately, the character takes Magic skill to perform it), but the character does need to
too long fighting the minions of the bad guy who set the plant attempt any targeting skill or skill required by the casting
to overload, and, according to the rules, the whole city should (such as one needed to perform the gesture). If any of these fail,
go up in a radioactive fireball. The character is too late. The the spell does not work.
gamemaster might choose to have the character be really lucky The player and the gamemaster need to sit down and
— the villain was bluffing, and there’s really more time on the discuss what spell the character will have, and what the range,
clock than anyone thought, or the power plant begins a long duration, and so on will be. It’s suggested that some limitations
 Character Options ❖ Page 29

ing character must generate a successful investigation total

• Possession Knowledge Chart • against the target’s Knowledge roll (this does not count as an
action for the target). Information gained is dependent upon
Result Points* success rank achieved.
Needed Knowledge Attained With Limited Possession, the character does not gain con-
0 Basic information: target’s name, age, ad- trol of the new form. Instead, he must use persuasion, intimi-
dress dation and other interaction skills to convince his host to do
1-4 More personal information: target’s job, what he wishes.
financial status, any current schedule Exiting a host body is commonly a simple action. As long as
5-8 More in-depth personal information: iden- the possessing character exits before the host dies, he simply
tities and backgrounds of family, friends, moves on to his own or another form. Killing a possessing spirit
lovers usually involves taking it completely by surprise with a killing
blow to the host form or using binding spells to force it to
9-12 Very personal information: secrets, pri-
remain in the body until it can be slain.
vate likes and dislikes, etc.
13 Everything there is to know Possession, Full (10)
*Result points equal the difference between the investi- The character can possess the body of a living creature or a
gation total and the target’s Knowledge roll. corpse. This works in the same way as Limited Possession, save
that the possessing character gains her new form’s physical
attributes (Reflexes, Coordination, Physique), retains her own
be placed on the use of this ability to maintain game balance — mental attributes, and gains complete control over the new form.
for example, a character who can toss fireballs as a natural
ability might have to recharge for a certain number of rounds Omnivorousness (2)
between doing so.
A character may have this Special Ability once each for The character can gain nourishment from any organic
different spells. substance (though he is not immune to poisons). She can also
chew threw just about any organic substance with no adverse
Natural Ranged Weapons (3) effects to her teeth or jaws. A character may not have this
ability more than once.
The character has some sort of natural ranged weapon,
using missile weapons (for solid objects) or marksmanship (for
energy or chemical projection) to target it. Long range equals Sense of Direction (2)
20 times the number of ranks in this Special Ability times the The character has a good sense of direction. He gains +1D
character’s Physique in meters. The damage for solid projec- per rank to navigation and tracking rolls.
tions is Physique plus 1D per rank, while the damage for
nonsolid projections is 3D per rank. The projection must have Shapeshifting (3)
a visible effect (such as a ray that glows or bone spikes) and it The character can manipulate the shape, color, and overall
may not do mental damage. Note that, regardless of the nature appearance of her body, though mass and body compositions
of the projection, there are no additional effects from this type
of Special Ability.

Paralyzing Touch (4)

The character can freeze her target with the merest touch. • Shapeshifting Example •
When she makes a brawling attack, she may, instead of
doing damage, paralyze her victim, who remains that way Mark is playing a wereleopard. He chooses Shapeshift-
until he makes a successful Presence or willpower roll against ing, specifying that he will only change from Human to
the brawling skill total. He may attempt to do so once per leopard and back again. The gamemaster decides he’ll gain
round; the only other actions he may take are mental-based one level of the Speed Special Ability (+2 to the movement
ones and Extranormal or Special Ability ones that do not rate) and +2 to all search and tracking totals that require
require movement. Note: Characters who are heavily armored smell.
or covered will be harder to hit. The gamemaster needs to Mark’s character has 18 attribute dice arranged thusly:
decide how much skin is exposed and adjust the attack diffi- REFLEXES 2D+2
culty accordingly. COORDINATION 3D+1
A character may not have this ability more than once. PHYSIQUE 3D
KNOWLEDGE 2D+2
Possession, Limited (8) PERCEPTION 2D+2
The character can possess the body of a living creature or a PRESENCE 3D+2
corpse. The character must be within three times the rank of this When he changes into Wereleopard form, Mark’s charac-
Special Ability in meters of the target in order to possess it. ter will have the following attribute values, which have
Possessing a corpse is a simple action. Possessing a living been lowered by 2D because of the bonuses:
being involves making a Presence or willpower check by the REFLEXES 3D+1
possessor versus a standard interaction difficulty. Success COORDINATION 2D
means the target has been possessed. The target can actively PHYSIQUE 3D
KNOWLEDGE 2D+2
defend. PERCEPTION 3D
To gather knowledge about its host body’s life, the possess- PRESENCE 1D
 Chapter 2 ❖ Page 30

remain the same. The character must chose a specific creature Ranged Combat: Marksmanship, missile weapons, and
to emulate, gaining one form for every three additional points dodge
spent on this Special Ability. At 18 points devoted to this Note that players may substitute certain skills for the ones
ability, the gamemaster may allow shifting among one class of listed in the groups above, or create their own groups as long
creatures, as long as all forms chosen for previous ranks were as there is a common thread and the gamemaster approves the
within the same class. grouping.
Body Points and the Knowledge attribute remain unaf- Three specializations may replace one general skill, getting
fected by this Special Ability, but the dice in the Reflexes, a +1 for three different specializations. For example, in the
Coordination, Physique, Perception, and Presence (although “Investigative Skills” group, a character might take out inves-
the die code in the willpower skill remains the same regardless tigation and replace it with three specializations — investiga-
of the change in form) are redistributed to match the new form. tion: eavesdropping, investigation: evidence analysis, and in-
Additional dice in skills above the base attribute score remain vestigation: reconnaissance. While this means the character
the same, though the total dice in each skill changes to reflect gains no bonus for “general” investigation activities (such as a
the adjustments in the base attribute. Likewise, not all skills roll to research a project), he does have a more “detailed” group.
will be usable in the new form. This may be done for all three skills in the group; i.e., choose
Attribute dice can also be used to included Special Abilities in nine specializations instead of three skills.
the new form. One attribute die can be spent to gain one rank in Additionally, the character acts as if trained in these skills
one Special Ability or to get a +2 skill total bonus (split among up even if he doesn’t have any additional pips in them, and so does
to two skills). The gamemaster may allow a larger skill total not get the unskilled modifier. This Advantage does not affect
bonus or more skills to fall under the bonus if the desired effect the cost of improving the related skills.
is particularly narrow (such as a bonus for a single sense). Skills under the Extranormal attribute may not be taken
Shapeshifting may be done at will, though a Limitation may with this Advantage.
force it to be triggered by stress or environmental factors. Finally, characters must have reasons that justify these
If shifting voluntarily, the character must generate a dis- skill bonuses.
guise total of 11 to bring about the change, and a second total
to turn back again. Each change takes one full round in which At each additional rank, the player may increase the bonus
the character may do nothing else. Failure at the check means by +1 for three of the skills affected by this Special Ability. A
the transformation does not occur, and the character cannot character may have different versions of this ability for differ-
try again for at least an hour. ent groups of skills, though the skills in each group may not
It is highly recommended that the hero comes up with some overlap.
typical forms and their stats and difficulties before beginning
play. The new form need not exactly resemble a “typical” Skill Minimum (4)
version of the emulated creature.
The character can select three related skills unaffected by
Silence (3) any other sort of Advantage and the character will always gain
a minimum total of 3 times the number before the “D.” This
The character can move in complete silence. He gains +2D means, if the character selects persuasion, charm, and interro-
per rank to all sneak checks and a +1D per rank when attacking gation (all interaction skills), all of which he has at 4D, and he
from behind. generates a less than 12, the total automatically becomes 12.
That is the character’s minimum total. The player may not
Skill Bonus (1) select Skill Minimum for any skill that has any other Advan-
The Skill Bonus represents a natural talent (a character tage or Special Ability tied to it. Also, the skills must be related
with the Charismatic group might be “friendly and outgoing”) in some way (see the Skill Bonus Special Ability for informa-
or a particular knack (a character with the Animal Friendship tion on related skills). The character may only select general
group has a “way with animals”). skills, but the specializations underneath that general skill
are affected as well. This Special Ability may be selected only
The character may choose a group of three related skills in once for each group of skills.
which he gains +1 to the skill total of any action performed with
those skills (or specializations of that skill). The character may
or may not actually have adds in those skills, and the game- Speed (1)
master must approve the fact that they are “related.” Some The character is extremely fast, adding +2 meters per round
examples of skill groups include: per rank to each of her base Move rates.
Acting: Charm, con, and disguise
Acute Balance: Acrobatics, climbing, and sneak Uncanny Aptitude (3)
Animal Friendship: Animal handling, riding, and survival This Special Ability is similar to the Skill Bonus Special
Athletics: Lifting, running, and throwing Ability in that some sort of bizarre ability gives the character
Charismatic: Charm, con, and persuasion added bonuses to certain actions. However, instead of selecting
Close Combat: Brawling, melee combat, and dodge a group of skills that the character gains a bonus to, the player
Investigative: Investigation, search, and streetwise and the gamemaster should work out circumstances where
Leadership: Command, intimidation, and persuasion these abilities come into play. For instance, a character might
Mechanical Aptitude: Lockpicking, demolitions, and re- gain a +1 bonus to all Reflex-related skills totals when in
pair sunlight.
Photographic Memory: Languages, scholar, and investi- A character may have this several variations of this ability,
gation reflecting different bonuses, and each variation could have
Observant: Investigation, search, and tracking several ranks, with the bonuses adding to each other.
 Character Options ❖ Page 31

Teleportation (3) Limitation for changing environments so quickly. The damage

may not be negated due to any other Special Ability or armor;
The character can move instantly to another place up to 10 it must heal naturally. Alternatively, there could be Character
meters per rank away. The character must be able to see her or Fate Point fee of three Character Points per rank or one Fate
destination clearly. In combat, this action takes an entire Point per rank.
round. The character may take whatever she can carry along.
Burn-out (3): See the Disadvantage by this name for
suggestions that could also be applied to a Special Ability. A
Transmutation (5) Special Ability may only have one rank in this Limitation,
The character can alter his substance to something else, though it may have several different triggers for the Burn-out.
while retaining his form (i.e., a man who turns to stone). Debt (3): Someone (or, more likely, some entity) gave the
Characters with this ability may only shift into one specific character the Special Ability. See the Debt (III) Disadvantage
substance, which must be specified when the Special Ability is for suggestions. A Special Ability may only have one rank in
purchased. Generally, this substance gives them distinct ad- this Limitation.
vantages. The player may select up to 4 points (not ranks) in
Ability Loss (3): The character temporarily loses his Spe-
other Special Abilities that relate to the chosen form, per rank
cial Ability at a regular interval or, when the Special Ability is
in this Special Ability. (Thus, two Transmutation ranks means
used, he loses the ability to use a common skill. Examples
8 points in other Special Abilities.) Natural Armor, Hardiness,
include: a character who cannot shapeshift when the sun is
and Environmental Resistance are common ones.
out; a character who cannot use his natural weapons on a
particular day of the month or during a certain phase of the
Ventriloquism (3) moon; a character who can’t pick locks while he is invisible. The
The character can throw her voice up to three meters away character is aware of what the circumstances are that will
per rank . No skill roll is required to do this, but if it is part of cause this. For an additional point, the character must un-
a trick attempt, she receives a +2D bonus per rank to con and dergo some sort of (fairly simple) procedure to regain his ability
charm rolls. or skill use. A Special Ability may only have one rank in this
Limitation, but a character may have it multiple times for
Water Breathing (2) different Special Abilities and skills.
The character can breathe water and will not drown in Allergy (3): The character has a fairly minor allergy but to
water. She gains +1D per rank to all swimming rolls because something rather common. Exposure to a fairly common sub-
she doesn’t need to worry about drowning. stance (smoke, sunlight, particular food, etc.) causes the char-
acter to lose Critical Success rerolls until the condition is
Youthful Appearance (1) removed. A Special Ability may only have one rank in this
The character looks much younger than she actually is and Limitation, though it may have several different Allergies.
receives a +1D per rank to charm, con, or disguise attempts Minor Stigma (3): There is something that the character
that involve posing as someone youthful. (In general, charac- cannot do without performing the “proper rituals” before or
ters should not look more than 10 to 20 years younger than they after (a creature who must sketch an image of his intended
are, regardless of the number of ranks, and gamemaster victim before hunting him down; a shapeshifter who must be
discretion and common sense should be the rule here). “purified” by his cult after killing someone). A Special Ability
may only have one rank in this Limitation.
Special Ability Limitations Severe Allergy (4): Similar to the Allergy Limitation, the
These Limitations can be associated with Special Abilities, effects are worse, and the character loses all actions due to
reducing their total cost (the number of ranks times the base coughing fits, watering eyes, or similar discomfort.
cost — not the per rank cost). For example, the total cost of two
Singularity (1 per Special Ability): The character may
ranks of Iron Will is 4.
use only one of a group of two or more Special Ability each round.
No Special Ability total cost may be lowered below 1, and all It does not take an action to switch Special Abilities. He may
Limitations must have some sort of effect on play — just like change the Special Ability in use at the beginning of his turn in
Disadvantages. Each Limitation may be taken more than once a round, and he may rely on the chosen Special Ability until the
for each Special Ability, either stacking the effects or describ- next time he changes it. For a second rank (and an additional 1
ing similar but distinct negative situations. point per Special Ability), it does take an action to switch Special
Abilities. A Special Ability may not have more than two ranks in
Flaw (1): All difficulties associated with using the Special
this Limitation and all Special Abilities in the same group must
Ability are increased by +2 per rank, or the Special Ability
have this Limitation at the same rank. Not all of a character’s
doesn’t work under particular circumstances, or there is some
Special Abilities need be in the same Singularity group.
sort of side effect when using the Special Ability. The greater
the rank associated with this Flaw, the greater the difficulty Side Effect (2): One of the character’s Special Abilities has
modifier, the more restrictive the circumstances, or the more some sort of annoying side effect, such as constant whistling
inconvenient the side effect. when its in use, a continuous glow, or a terrible stench. Add +4
per rank to the difficulty of all stealth attempts, as everyone
Price (1): The character must fulfill certain obligations in
can figure out she’s coming. This will also affect interaction
order to use the Special Ability. Perhaps when using Water
attempts, giving them at least a +1 per rank to the difficulty.
Breathing, the character must remain in the water for at least
twenty-four hours or suffer 1D damage per rank in this
 CHAPTER THREE

• Game Basics •
2. Add the dice results normally, but a complication occurs.
Rolling Dice The gamemaster gauges the significance of the complication
Most game mechanics in D6 involve rolling dice. A die code by the total generated — from a funny, “nearly didn’t do it”
associated with each attribute and skill represents how good result for a high total to a serious, “we have a problem” obstacle
the character is. A die code associated with a weapon shows for a low total.
how much harm it can cause. Each die code (also known as a If the gamemaster decides to go with the Wild Die Critical
value) indicates the number of six-sided dice you roll (1D, 2D, Failure option of creating complications, make certain the com-
3D, 4D, 5D, etc.), and sometimes an added bonus of “+1” or “+2” plications chosen relate to the tasks attempted. They should
you add to the total result you roll on the dice. (This bonus is serve as extra, minor obstacles the characters must now deal
sometimes referred to as pips.) with or as places to insert a bit of comic relief. Only on rare
An Advantage, Special Ability, or piece of equipment may occasions (such as numerous poor decisions by the players)
provide a bonus to the roll. If the bonus is in the form of a die should the complications be without solutions or even deadly.
code (such as +1D), then you add the listed number of regular The complications can also serve as opportunities to bring nearly
dice to the amount you would roll. If the bonus is in the form invincible characters down to a more reasonable level.
of a number (such as +2), then you add the amount to the total
that you rolled on the dice. Improving a Roll
Example: A shovel adds +1D to digging attempts. A character The average person fails at average activities nearly half of
who decides to dig a hole uses her lifting skill. If your character the time. Characters aren’t average people, so they need ways
has a lifting skill of 4D, you would roll five dice to determine how to beat those odds. Thus, they have Character and Fate Points,
well your character dug the hole with the shovel. which represent those surges of adrenaline, sudden insights,
and other unexplained helpful acts of chance.
Wild Die Character Points may not be traded for Fate Points, nor
Whenever any player, including the gamemaster, makes may Fate Points be traded for Character Points. A player may
any roll, one of the dice must be different from the rest (in size only spend her Character and Fate Points on her character’s
or color). This odd die is designated as the Wild Die; it rolls. She may not spend more Character or Fate Points than
represents the vagaries of life — like the direction of the wind the character has listed on her sheet. Except when allowed by
affecting the flight of bullet — that are too small to warrant the gamemaster for exceptionally cinematic situations, Char-
their own difficulty modifiers. acter Points and Fate Points may not be spent on the same roll.
Example: Your character’s Reflexes attribute is 3D+1, so if Character Points
your character tried to jump onto a table, you would roll two
regular dice and one Wild Die. Whenever a player makes any roll (attribute, skill, damage,
power, and so on), he has the option to spend Character Points
If the player has only 1D to roll, then that one die is always to increase the total rolled. He may spend one Character Point
the Wild Die. for each extra Wild Die rolled, to a maximum decided upon by
If the player rolls a 6 on the Wild Die, this is called a the gamemaster and based on the challenge level of the
Critical Success and she may add the 6 to her total and roll the adventure. (For adventures with easy challenges, the maxi-
Wild Die again. As long as she turns up Critical Successes on
that die, she may continue to add them to her total and
continue to roll. If she rolls anything other than a 6, she adds
that number to the total and stops rolling. (Note that, unlike • Straight Values Option •
rolling a Critical Failure initially on the Wild Die, no compli-
cations occur when it shows up on later tosses of the Wild Die Some gamemasters prefer rolling fewer dice. To get
in the same roll.) straight values for weapons, armor, Special Abilities that
If the player rolls a 1 on the initial toss of the Wild Die, this do damage, and Special Abilities that offer protection,
is called a Critical Failure, and the gamemaster may chose one multiply the die code listed by 3 and add the pips. For
of two options for the result, depending on the gravity of the example, a weapon that does 3D+2 damage has a straight
situation. value of 11. Gamemasters may wish to write the value in the
margin near the die code being converted so that they don’t
1. The Critical Failure cancels out the highest roll. Then the have to crunch the numbers again.
player adds the remaining values, and the roll is determined
normally.
 Game Basics ❖ Page 33

mum is two; for more cinematic adventures, the maximum is only. However, once per game session, a player may choose to
five; for dimension-shaking ones, the maximum is unlimited.) spend a Fate Point climactically, which doubles all of the
A player may choose to spend Character Points before or character’s rolls for that round. The gamemaster also may
after he makes a roll — or both — but before the gamemaster allow players to spend Fate Point climactically during the
determines the result. The gamemaster need not tell the highest point of the adventure (the climax), even if it takes
player whether he should spend more points to improve a roll. place over several game sessions.
Extra Wild Dice gained from spending Character Points Fate Points may only be spent before making a roll. Fur-
each work like a normal Wild Die except that a Critical Failure thermore, all die code penalties and bonuses are applied after
counts as a 1; it does not adversely affect the roll. Because of the doubling the initial number.
special nature of Character Point Wild Dice, the player may Once used, the character loses the Fate Point — but he may
wish to roll these dice separately from her normal Wild Die. earn it back at the end of the game if it was used for a deed that
Players get Character Points for their characters by over- supported his moral code. However, if the character used a
coming obstacles, roleplaying well, and having fun. Character Fate Point to go against his moral code, the gamemaster may
Points can also be used to improve skills. decide that it costs an additional Fate Point.
As characters become more experienced, the gamemaster
Fate Points may include further restrictions on Fate Point use. Moderately
Each players’ character has a personal moral code, gener- experienced characters (those with a minimum of 6D in several
ally involving a sense of honor and justice. The devotion to this skills) might be allowed only to spend Fate Points on actions
code is represented by Fate Points. Violating that code takes a that promote the storyline, while highly experienced charac-
little bit away from that nature, which is represented by a loss ters (those with a minimum of 9D in several skills) might be
of Fate Points. Heroic characters, for example, receive Fate permitted only to use Fate Points during climactic moments in
Points for doing good, such as protecting innocents, bringing the campaign.
an evil character to justice (regardless of justice system’s final
decision), preventing damage, and saving a life (except the
character’s own.) Heroic characters lose Fate Points for per-
Using Skills
forming evil actions, such as stealing, maliciously destroying At those times when there’s a chance that a character may
property, taking a life, and other terrible acts, especially if they fail at an action, that character must make a skill check. The
use Fate Points to accomplish that harm. Individual ethical player decides what she wants her character to do and which
codes may differ from the heroic code, but the more well- skill is best for accomplishing the task (sometimes with the
defined the code is, the easier it is for the gamemaster to help of the gamemaster). The gamemaster determines a suit-
determine when to reward Fate Points — and when to take able difficulty number, which the player must meet or beat by
them away. rolling the number of dice in the skill and adding the results.
When a player feels she needs even greater help for her roll,
she may spend a Fate Point to double the number of dice she Untrained Skill Use
normally gets for that roll. However, the player only rolls one If a character doesn’t have dice in the skill required to
Wild Die. attempt an action, she may use the die code of the attribute
Example: Your character has a demolitions skill with a die under which that skill falls. This is sometimes referred to as
code of 4D. Normally, you would roll three regular dice and one defaulting to the attribute or using the skill untrained. The
Wild Die. But this time, you want to make sure the villain’s car gamemaster may include an unskilled modifier to the diffi-
doesn’t ever move, so you spend a Fate Point. This allows you culty. This modifier takes into account that people who aren’t
to roll seven regular dice and one Wild Die (for a total of eight trained or don’t have experience in certain tasks usually have
dice, or twice what you’d normally roll). a harder time doing them. Typically, this modifier is +5, but it
could be as low as +1 for simple tasks or much higher for
Usually, only one Fate Point may be spent per roll per complex plans.
round, though a character may improve several different
actions in a round with Fate Points. Particularly beneficial or
malicious deeds presented and roleplayed well by the player or Rounds and Initiative
gamemaster may permit additional Fate Point expenditures. Generally, time in a roleplaying game doesn’t matter too
In the general course of play, a Fate Point is useful for one roll much. A character may spend several hours searching a
library, though only a minute passes as far as the players and
gamemaster are concerned. To keep the storyline moving,
sometimes it’s necessary to skip the tedious parts.
• Gamemaster’s Characters • More intense scenes require more detail. In these cases, time
slows to units of five seconds called rounds. Each character may
Gamemasters should rarely treat their characters, some-
take one action in the round with no penalty. Unless the
times called nonplayer characters or NPCs, the same way
character has special skills or abilities, additional actions in-
as the players’ characters. The players’ characters are the
crease the difficulty of performing each task; this concept is dealt
heroes of the story and thus can outperform the average
with later, in the “Multiple Actions” section. Once a round ends,
Human (or, with the help of Character and Fate Points,
the next one begins, continuing until the scene ends (with the
have the chance). The gamemaster’s characters serve as
task completed, the opponent subdued, and so on).
interactive elements in the story. The less important the
Since all characters in a scene are making actions in the
character, the fewer skills, Body Points, Character Points,
same five-second round, the actual length of game time taken
and Fate Points he or she should have. Only the major
up by an action will usually be less than five seconds. This is
antagonists deserve the same care (and rules) in creation as
obviously the case when a single character is performing
the players’ characters.
multiple actions, but it is also true when one character reacts
 Chapter 3 ❖ Page 34

to what another character is doing. Actions in rounds are not be decided by comparing attribute and skill die codes. The
simultaneous (actions out of rounds sometimes are). character with the highest value in the characteristic goes
Determining initiative does not count as an action. first, and so on. Once a character has an spot in the order, it
Once rounds have been declared and depending on the doesn’t change, regardless of how other characteristics com-
situation, the gamemaster applies one of three methods to pare. Ties are broken by moving to the next factor and looking
determine in what order everyone goes. at those values. The order: (1) ability or talent that allows the
character to go first, (2) Perception, (3) search, (4) Reflexes, (5)
Method 1 dodge, (6) special equipment or situation that allows the
The first method is to allow whoever makes the first signifi- character to go before another character.
cant action (such as those surprising other characters in an
ambush) to act first in the rounds. The characters retain the Performing Actions in Rounds
same order until the scene ends. A character does not need to declare what she intends to do
until it is her turn in the round. Once the character decides to
Methods 2 and 3 take her turn, she may use as many actions as she wants, but
The other two ways start out the same, by requiring the waiting again counts as an action (once per each time the
characters involved to make Perception rolls to generate initia- character wishes to wait) and the multi-action penalty must be
tive totals. The gamemaster makes one Perception roll for each determined for the total number of actions that the character
character or group of characters he controls, depending on the wishes to take in that round. Note that the character does not
number and how important each character is to the adventure. need to declare when figuring the multi-action penalty what
The character with the highest roll takes her action first. The she intends to do with all of her actions. No additional actions
character with the second highest roll then takes his action, may be taken once the multi-action penalty is figured. Any
and so on. After the last character performs her action, the actions that were figured into the multi-action penalty but
round ends and a new one begins. Note that a character were not used by the end of the round are lost.
rendered unconscious, immobile, or otherwise unable to act A character may only interrupt another character’s action
loses her action for that round if she hasn’t taken it already. after that character has made the skill roll and spent any
The gamemaster may chose then to have everyone roll points but before the gamemaster declares the result.
initiative once for the entire scene (the faster method) or roll at Example: A character surprises a thug. Because she got the
the beginning of each round (the more realistic yet slower way). jump on him, the gamemaster decides the character may act
The gamemaster and players may use Character Points, first in this round. The character decides to wait and see what
but not Fate Points, to increase their initiative rolls if they the thug will do. The thug takes a swing at her, so the character
want. Spending one Character Point, for example, allows the decides to dodge. If the character has no ability that gives her
player or gamemaster to add the result of one extra Wild Die extra actions, she may only take one action without penalty.
roll to the initiative roll. She used that one action on waiting. When she makes her
dodge roll, it’s at –1D, because it’s the second action she’s
Ties/No Rolls taking this round.
In the event of ties, or if the gamemaster chooses not to have Only a few instances exist in which the gamemaster may
the players roll to determine initiative, the order of actions can permit a character to “move up” her turn and react to another
character’s actions. These include catching a thrown object,
resisting certain mental attempts, and other situations that
• Game-Enhancing Cards • the gamemaster deems appropriate. These do take the
character’s action, though the player can declare that her
In this rulebook, you’ll occasionally find a reference to character is performing multiple actions in the round. For the
“card use.” One of the unique features of certain West End most part, having a turn later in the round than another’s
Games systems is their game-enhancing card decks. These simply means that another character could take advantage of
cards can help players and gamemasters alter outcomes, the situation faster.
influence initiative, and make dramatic scenes even more
dramatic. You can include one of these decks in your D6 Rolled Actions
Adventure games with a little tweaking. The Torg card
decks is available as a printed deck on standard playing Each entry on this nonexhaustive list counts as one action
card stock and (as of this printing) is still sold directly by taking no more than five seconds to perform. The gamemaster
West End Games. Check the West End Games Web site, may decide that certain types of actions offer some kind of
www.westendgames.com, for details and conversions. bonus or special effect and, thus, have requirements to per-
The Shatterzone card deck was converted to a PDF form. The suggested skill to use with each action is included at
format with D6 Space Opera game mechanics included; it is the end of the task’s description.
for sale on RPGNow.com. There are only three cards that Bash: Hit an opponent with a blunt weapon. (melee combat)
need any kind of conversion. Catch: Stop the movement of a thrown or dropped object or
Adrenaline: Add +1D to one Reflexes, Coordination, or person. (The catcher must act later in the round than the
Physique attribute or skill die code. person doing the throwing or dropping. This is one of the few
Presence: Add +1 to any one Presence attribute or skill cases where a character may “move up” his turn.) (throwing)
die code. Choke: Grab a person’s neck and gripping tightly. (brawling)
Willpower: Add +1 to one Knowledge or Perception skill Communicate: Relay plans or exchange complex ideas
or attribute die code. and information with other characters (more than a few words
or one sentence). (an interaction skill or only roleplaying)
 Game Basics ❖ Page 35

Karl Waller
Disarm: Remove an object from an opponent’s hand. This a rifle, and similar actions. This generally does not require a
action is treated as a called shot. (brawling, marksmanship, skill roll, but the gamemaster may chose to require one related
melee combat, missile weapons, throwing) to the weapon in question for particularly stressful situations.
Dodge: Actively evade an attack. (dodge) Run Away: Flee from the scene. (running)
Entangle: Throw an entangling weapon at an opponent. Shoot. Fire a missile or projectile weapon. (marksmanship,
(throwing) missile weapons)
Escape: Break a hold. (lifting) Slash: Swing an edged weapon. (melee combat)
Grab: Latch onto an opponent. Depending on where the Switch a Weapon or Equipment’s Setting: Although
opponent was grabbed, he can take other actions. (brawling) rare in most D6 Adventure settings, some weapons and equip-
Kick: Strike out at an opponent with a foot. (brawling) ment have more than one damage or effect setting. It takes an
Leap: Jump over an opponent or onto a table or any other action to change the setting. This generally does not require a
such maneuver. (jumping) skill roll, but the gamemaster may chose to require one related
Lunge: Stab forward with a pointed weapon, such as a to the item in question for particularly stressful situations.
sword or a knife. (melee combat) Tackle: Bodily overcome an opponent. Once tackled, the
Move: Maneuvering of 51% of the character’s Move or more opponent can do no other physical actions other than speak or
around the area. The gamemaster should call only for a roll if attempt to break the attacker’s grip. (brawling)
the terrain is challenging or the maneuvering complex. During Throw a Weapon or Object: Toss something at an oppo-
some rounds, the gamemaster may decide that existing factors nent. (throwing)
dictate all movement, regardless of length, require an action. Trip: Quickly force one or both of an opponent’s legs
(running, swimming) upward. (brawling)
Parry: Block an opponent’s blow. (brawling, melee combat) Use a Skill or Ability: Perform a quick action related to a
Pin: Pin an opponent by either holding him to the ground special ability the character possesses or a skill he wants to
or tacking a piece of his clothing to a wall or other nearby object. use. A character may not use a special ability he does not have,
When pinning the whole opponent, this is the same concept as though he may use a skill he has no experience in (though
tackling. Pinning prevents the victim from using the fastened possibly at a penalty). Note that some skills and special
part. (brawling, melee combat, missile weapons, throwing) abilities take longer than one action or one round to perform,
Punch: Strike out at an opponent with a fist. (brawling) so trying to do them in five seconds will incur penalties.
Push: Forcibly move an opponent. (brawling) Vehicle Maneuver: Perform a stunt in a moving vehicle.
Ready a Weapon: Draw a gun, unsheathe a knife, reload (piloting)
 Chapter 3 ❖ Page 36

Free Actions Preparing

Free actions are anything a character can automatically A character willing to spend twice as much time to complete
perform except under the most extreme conditions. They don’t a task receives a +1D bonus for the die roll for every doubling
require a skill roll or much effort. If the gamemaster thinks a of time, up to a maximum bonus of +3D. However, the charac-
task requires concentration (and has a possibility of failure, ter can do nothing else or be otherwise distracted (such as
thus requiring a skill roll), it’s not a free action. getting shot at) during this time.
A few examples of free actions include:
• determining initiative Aiming
• speaking a few words to someone nearby One of the most common types of preparation is aiming a
• a quick glance around a room weapon. Each consecutive round of uninterrupted aiming adds
• moving 50% or less of the character’s Move over an easy +1D to the characters’s marksmanship, missile weapons, or
area or up to a meter over more challenging terrain throwing skill, up to a maximum bonus of +3D.
• rolling to resist damage
Rushing
Multiple Actions A character can also attempt to perform an action that
Characters may attempt to perform several tasks in a single normally requires two or more rounds (10 seconds or more) in
round, or, if the action takes longer than one round to complete, less time. The difficulty increases depending on how much less
in the same minimum time period. The more they try to do, time the character puts into the task: +5 for 25% less time, +10
however, the less care and concentration they can apply to each for 50% less time, and +20 for 75% less time. A character may
action. It becomes more difficult to succeed at all of the tasks. not perform any task in less than 75% of the normally needed
Thus, for most characters, for each action taken beyond the time. Thus, to rush an hour-long surgery into 30 minutes, the
first, 1D must be subtracted from all skill or attribute rolls (but difficulty increases by +10.
not damage or initiative rolls). Thus, trying to do four actions Of course, not every task can be rushed. If in doubt, the
in one round gives the character a -3D modifier to each roll. For gamemaster should ask the player to justify how the task could
characters with an ability that increases their base number of be rushed.
actions, the multi-action penalty doesn’t take effect until the
character uses up his allotment of actions. For example, if a
character with an action allotment of eight per round wants to
Choosing Difficulties,
do nine actions, each of the nine actions is at -1D Determining Success
A character may not rely on any skill or attribute reduced to zero.
There are two possibilities for assigning difficulties to a
Related Skills specific action: a difficulty number or an opposed roll. Gener-
ally, the adventure specifies the difficulty and what skill is
In some situations, two or more skills may be appropriate needed, but the gamemaster may come across circumstances
for the task at hand. The gamemaster chooses the primary one that were not foreseen. In such cases, use these guidelines to
and decides which, if any, other skills are appropriate second- decide what to do.
ary, or related, skills that the character can use to improve his Certain circumstances (typically involving a character at-
chances with the primary skill. The gamemaster sets difficul- tempting a task without a force actively opposing her, such as
ties for each skill. The character first performs the related climbing a wall or piloting a boat) may call for a static difficulty
skills, and then he attempts the primary one. number. In these cases, select a standard difficulty or use a
To determine the related skill’s modifier to the primary special difficulty. Circumstances involving an actively oppos-
skill, the gamemaster subtracts the difficulty from the total ing force call for an opposed difficulty.
rolled with the related skill. Then he divides that number by 2,
rounding up, to get the modifier to the total rolled with the Standard Difficulties
primary skill. The minimum related skill modifier is 1. If the
skill total was less than the difficulty, the modifier is sub- A standard difficulty is a number that the gamemaster
tracted from the primary skill total. If the skill total was equal assigns to an action based on how challenging the gamemaster
to or greater than the difficulty, the modifier is added to the thinks it should be. Existing conditions can change the diffi-
primary skill total. culty of an action. For example, walking has an Automatic
The character may perform the related skills and the primary
skill successively, but the related skill modifier is only good for
the one initially intended attempt and that attempt must be • Generic Standard Difficulties •
made within a short time of using the other skills. Should the
character decide to perform the primary skill and the related Level Number
skill at the same time, he takes the multi-action penalty. Automatic 0
Example: Your character has to carefully place some charges Very Easy 1–5
on a wall. You decide that the character will examine the wall for Easy 6–10
weaknesses (using the search skill). Once examination has been Moderate 11–15
completed and the search roll has been made, you must apply the Difficult 16–20
modifier to your demolitions roll, which must take place imme-
diately after your character’s examination of the wall. Very Difficult 21–25
Heroic 26–30
Gamemasters also can use the related-skills guidelines for
deciding how well one person can help another person. Legendary 31 or more
 Game Basics ❖ Page 37

• Generic Difficulty Modifiers •

Modifier Situational Example
+16+ Overpowering Disadvantage: Something affects the skill use in an almost crippling fashion (repairing
a vehicle without any proper tools).
+11-15 Decisive Disadvantage: The skill use is very limited by circumstance (trying to find someone in
complete darkness).
+6-10 Significant Disadvantage: The skill use is affected negatively (tracking someone through drizzling rain).
+1-5 Slight Disadvantage: There is an annoying problem (picking a lock by flashlight).
-1-5 Slight Advantage: A tool or modification that makes the skill use a little easier (really good athletic
shoes for jumping).
-6-10 Significant Advantage: A tool or modification that makes the skill use much easier (rope with knots in
it used for climbing).
-11-15 Decisive Advantage: A tool specifically designed to make the job easier (complete language database
used for languages).
-16+ Overpowering Advantage: An exceptional tool or modification that specifically makes the skill use
much easier (wilderness tools and equipment specially designed to help with survival).

difficulty for most characters, but someone who is just regain- up actions. This means that the resisting character can only
ing the use of his legs may be required to make a Very Heroic participate in an opposed task either if he waited for the
running roll to move even a few steps. initiating character to make a move or if he was actively
The numbers in parentheses indicate the range of difficulty preparing for the attempt. Otherwise, the gamemaster may
numbers for that level. allow a reaction roll of the appropriate skill as a free action in
Automatic (0): Almost anyone can perform this action; there some circumstances, or he may derive a difficulty equal to two
is no need to roll. (Generally, this difficulty is not listed in a pre- times the target’s appropriate opposing skill.
generated adventure; it is included here for reference purposes.)
Generic Modifiers
Very Easy (1-5): Nearly everyone can accomplish this task.
Typically, only tasks with such a low difficulty that are crucial The modifiers offered in a skill’s list or a pre-generated
to the scenario are rolled. adventure may not cover all the gamemaster’s needs. When
conditions arise for which there aren’t pre-established modifi-
Easy (6-10): Although characters usually have no difficulty ers, use the chart herein to help at those times. These modifiers
with these tasks, a normal adult may find them challenging. may be added to opposed, standard, or derived difficulty values.
Moderate (11-15): There is a fair chance that the average
character will fail at this type of task. Tasks of this type require Good Roleplaying Modifier
skill, effort, and concentration. Gamemasters should reward good roleplaying by lowering
Difficult (16-20): Those with little experience in the task the difficulty a few points. The better the roleplaying — and the
will have to be quite lucky to accomplish these actions. A little more entertaining the player makes the story — the higher the
luck wouldn’t hurt either. modifier the gamemaster should include.
Very Difficult (21-25): The average character will only Unskilled Attempts
rarely succeed at these kinds of task. Only the most talented
regularly succeed. Remember that someone without training or experience
might, with blind luck, do better than someone with experience
Heroic (26–30), Legendary (31 or more): These kinds of — but generally only that one time. There is no guarantee of
tasks are nearly impossible, though there’s still that possibil- future of success. When a character defaults to the attribute,
ity that lucky average or highly experienced characters will figure in not only a difficulty modifier of +1, +5, or more, but
accomplish them. also adjust the result accordingly: it won’t be as precise or
stylish as someone with skill.
Opposed Difficulties
An opposed difficulty (also called an opposed roll) only Second Chances
applies when a character’s action is being resisted by another. As characters tackle obstacles, they’ll find ones that they
In this case, both characters generate skill totals and compare can’t overcome initially. Gamemasters will have to rely on
them. The character with the higher value wins, and ties go to their judgment to decide whether and when a character may
the initiator of the action. try an action again. For some actions, such as marksmanship
In an opposed task, since both characters are actively doing or running, the character may try the action again the next
something, both the initiator and the resisting character use turn, even if she failed. For other actions, such as tech or con,
 Chapter 3 ❖ Page 38

failing the roll should have serious consequences, depending

on how bad the failure was. A small difference between the • Example Difficulties •
difficulty number and the success total means the character
may try again next round at a higher difficulty. A large Information Difficulties
difference means that the character has made the situation
significantly worse. She will need to spend more time thinking Amount of Information Difficulty
through the problem or find someone or something to assist her Basic or common information;
in her endeavor. A large difference plus a critical failure could unconfirmed rumors 5
mean that the character has created a disaster. She can’t try Theories; generalities 10
that specific task for a long time — perhaps ever. This is
especially true with locks and computer programs. Complex concepts; moderately
detailed information 15
Gamemaster’s Fiat Professional level; extensive
The rules are a framework upon which you and your friends (though not complete) information 20
build stories set in fantastic and dynamic worlds. As with most Cutting-edge topics; extensive
frameworks, the rules work best when they show the least, and information, including peripheral
when they can bend under stress. Keeping to the letter of the details and extrapolations 30
rules is almost certainly counterproductive to the whole idea of
making an engaging story and having fun. To keep a story Condition Modifier
flowing with a nice dramatic beat, gamemasters might need to Age of information +5 per century
bend the rules, such as ruling a modifier to be less significant in the past
in this situation than in another one, or allowing a character Closely guarded secret +15
to travel a meter or two beyond what the movement rules
suggest. Observation Difficulties
Example Difficulties and Modifiers Situation Difficulty
Noticing obvious, generic facts;
Here are a few of the more commonly used noncombat skills
and attributes. More, and more detailed, difficulties are in- casual glance 5
cluded in Chapter 5, “More Example Difficulties.” Chapter 4 Noticing obvious details
discusses combat. (ex. number of people) 10
Noticing a few less obvious details
Information Difficulties
(ex. gist of conversation) 15
The Knowledge attribute assists characters in finding out
how much they know about a certain field, modified depending Spotting a few specific details
on the situation. For this reason, one chart of general difficul- (ex., identities of individuals) 20
ties can serve most uses of Knowledge, business, and scholar, Spotting a few obscure details
as well as uses of investigation to research a topic. (ex. specifics of conversation) 25
This chart can be employed in one of two ways: by picking Noticing many obscure details 30 or more
a difficulty based on what the character seeks or wants to
recall, or by comparing the skill total rolled to the difficulties Repair Difficulty Modifiers
(whichever level the character meets or beats is the amount
and type of information collected or recollected). Base Difficulty: 10
One high roll in any of these skills does not necessarily Situation Modifier
make the character an expert in that field. The roll represents Light repairs/modifications 0
only what the character recalls at the time. A high roll could Heavy repairs/modifications +5
reveal a specific detail of the information sought, as well as
some hints for discovering more of what the character seeks. Extensive repairs/modifications +10 or more
Built or modified item -10
Observation Difficulties Has item’s designs -5
To see if a character notices details of a scene or situation, Common item 0
the gamemaster may have the player make a Perception roll. Has seen but not used item +5
Unless the characters are actively eavesdropping, searching,
Has never seen item +10
tracking or similar activity (and thus using the search, or
tracking skills), this passive observance of a scene does not All parts available 0
count as an action. Use this chart as a guideline for how much Some parts available +10
the character notices. If the skill total meets or beats the No parts available +20
difficulty, the character gains that much information. Correct tools* 0
Interaction Difficulties Makeshift tools +15
Several skills are interaction skills, including animal han- *Tool kits might provide their own bonuses instead of
dling, business, charm, command, con, intimidation, and per- this one.
suasion. Character use them to influence other people that they
meet. The typical difficulty is 10, modified based on the disposi-
 Game Basics ❖ Page 39

Example: A character with a Move of 10 meters per round

• Mental Defenses • who wants to move 20 meters in one round has a running
difficulty of 5, while a character who wants to move 40 meters
In general, the resistance difficulty for any Psionics or has a difficulty of 15. A character who fails his running roll
interaction skill equals 10. The target cannot actively resist covers only his Move or may even trip.
unless he knows that a psychic or interaction skill is being
used on him by another character. If the gamemaster Flying
decides that the target suspects but does not know for Characters who fly travel at the base rate designated in the
certain that someone is attempting to influence him, the Special Ability or equipment description. To increase this rate,
gamemaster may allow the character to take an action use the same rules as for running, except that the character
earlier than his turn in the round and roll his willpower or relies on the flying skill. Characters may not use this skill
Presence to generate a new resistance difficulty. Should the unless they have a means of propelling themselves through the
character be on the active defense against mental intrusion air.
or personal interaction, he may devote all of his actions for
the round to that task and roll his willpower or Presence,
Swimming
adding +10 to the score to get the new resistance difficulty. A hero’s swimming Move equals half his normal Move
However the resistance difficulty is determined, gamemas- (rounded up). One movement while swimming equals the
ter may further modify the resistance difficulty as the swimming Move, two movements equals twice the swimming
situation warrants (such as stress, surprise, or character Move, and so on. Increasing this rate likewise increases the
relationship). base difficulty of 5 by +5 for each movement beyond the first.
Thus, the difficulty for a hero to move two times his swimming
Interaction Difficulty Modifiers speed is 10 (5 for the base difficulty plus 5 for the additional
Base Difficulty: 10 or target’s Presence or willpower movement).
Situation Modifier Climbing
Target is friendly or trusting -5
Target is neutral toward character Characters who have the climbing skill can move up a
or of equal standing 0 surface at their normal Move (barring adverse environmental
Target is hostile or has superior standing +5 factors) with a base difficulty of 5. Those without such a skill
Target is an enemy +10 move at half their normal movement rate. Increasing the rate
Target is in weakened position -10 increases the difficulty by +10 for each additional one-half of
Request is something target would do the base climbing Move (rounded up).
anyway or target feels is of minor importance 0 Example: A character with a running Move of 10 meters and
Request is illegal or highly dangerous +10 without the climbing skill wants to move quickly up a tree. His
Target is on guard or actively resisting* +10 base climbing Move is 5. To increase this to 7 meters per round
*Do not include this modifier if you are using the active means a difficulty of 20 (10 to climb the tree plus +10 to
mental defense described above. increase the movement by one-half, or 3 meters, of his base
climbing Move).
Jumping
tions of the characters involved, but it can also be based on a skill A character’s total leaping distance (vertically and horizon-
roll. See the Mental Defenses sidebar for more information on tally) from a standing position equals one-quarter of his Move
this, as well as some suggested difficulty modifiers. in meters (rounded up). The base difficulty is 5 to move this
Interaction between player and gamemaster characters distance, plus +10 for each additional two meters (vertically
shouldn’t be determined only by the die roll. Gamemasters and horizontally) the character hopes to cover. If there is
should have their players detail what their characters say and enough room, the character may try running before jumping.
do to before rolling the dice. The better the player acts the role The character may add +5 to his skill total per round of the
of her character, the greater her chance of success should be, running start, up to a maximum of +10 (two rounds). The
which could be reflected by allowing up to a +1D modifier to the character must have beat the running difficulty in both rounds
skill roll. in order to get the full bonus.

Repair Difficulties Short Distances

Characters can rely on the repair skill to fix and modify A character may move 50% of his movement rate (swim-
various equipment and vehicles. See the table for some sug- ming, flying, or base Move) without this counting as an action.
gested modifiers to the base difficulty of 10. Thus, a character with a base Move of 10 could move five
meters on land or 2.5 meters in the water with no action
penalty.
Movement Difficulties
Maximum Movement
Running Characters may perform only one movement action of each
The difficulty to cover rapidly a distance on foot is type per round, unless a Special Ability allows them to do
determined by the number of extra movements the charac- otherwise.
ter takes. One movement equals the character’s Move Gamemasters may choose to limit the speed at which
value; two movements equals twice the Move value, and so characters may travel to four times the Move rate for each type
on. For each movement beyond the first, add 5 to the base of movement.
difficulty of zero.
 Chapter 3 ❖ Page 40

Accelerating and Decelerating

When it becomes important to the scenario, such as a race Movement Difficulty Modifiers
or a chase scene, the gamemaster may choose to include
acceleration and deceleration maximums. Base Difficulty: 5
A character may increase or decrease his current movement Situation Modifier
rate by up to two times that rate, regardless of whether his Easy terrain (flat surface, smooth water,
movement roll would allow him to travel a greater distance.
The minimum increase or decrease is two times the character’s using a ladder, light breeze, light rain
base Move for that type of movement. or fog) 0
Example: A character with a base walking Move of 10 has Moderate terrain (uneven surface, small
minimum swimming change of 10 — two times his swimming obstacles, choppy water, climbing a tree,
move of 5. strong winds, heavy rain or fog) +5
Example: A character with a Move of 10 is chasing a thief, Rough terrain (large but negotiable
who just swiped her pocket book. In the first round, she may obstacles, strong undercurrent,
move up to 20 meters, which has a running difficulty of 5. In the climbing a rough wall, unyielding
second round, she can increase her speed to 40 meters, which obstacles — pillars, trees — to flight) +10
has a running difficulty of 15. If, in the second round, the player
generates a running total of 20, by the acceleration rules, she Very rough terrain (dense and large
may only move 40 meters, even though her running total meets obstacles, stormy weather, a few
the difficulty to move 50 meters. airborne hazards, hail) +15
Similarly, if a character does not make a movement roll that Hazardous terrain (minefield, narrow
would allow him to move at the previous round’s rate, that walkway, many airborne hazards,
character automatically slows by two times his base Move. In large waves, climbing a smooth surface,
other words, subtract two times the base Move from the complete darkness) +20
current movement rate to get the new movement rate. If this
makes the current movement zero, then the character stops. If Very hazardous terrain (corridor filled
it’s less than zero, the character trips. with falling debris and explosions,
Example: The character chasing the thief increased her swimming or flying in a hurricane) +25 or more
speed to a rate of 40 meters per round. To maintain this speed, Character is fatigued +3 per round
her player needs to continue generating a total of 15 with the
character’s running skill. If the player gets less than 15, then
her character’s speed drops to 20 meters per round (40 minus
two times her base Move of 10). one round beyond the maximum is –5, two rounds is –10, and
so on.
Fatigue The gamemaster may use the fatigue modifier for any
Keep in mind that most characters cannot move rapidly for repetitive action performed for an extended period of time.
long periods of time. Determine a suitable length of time
depending on existing conditions, the Physique of the charac- Other Movement Options
ter, and any relevant Special Abilities she has. Any additional The gamemaster may include additional modifiers or re-
fast movement beyond that predetermined length requires a quire an additional related skill roll for any form of movement,
fatigue modifier of -5 to the skill total for each additional round depending on surrounding conditions, such as high winds,
that she continues running. The modifier is cumulative. Thus, numerous obstacles, slick surfaces, sharp turns, and so on.
 CHAPTER FOUR

• Combat •
When a situation must be resolved with force, time becomes melee combat (if he has something in his hands) to block it. If
broken into rounds, which have been already described. Within the character uses a sharp or energized weapon (sword or
these rounds, three steps occur: (1) generating initiative; (2) dagger, for example) to parry an unarmed blow and is success-
attacking and defending; (3) determining damage; (4) repeat- ful at the block, the attacker takes damage from the weapon.
ing the steps, if necessary. However, do not add the defender’s Physique to the listed value
when determining damage inflicted this way.
Step 1: Generating Initiative If the opponent strikes at the character with bladed or
As discussed in the last chapter, determine initiative based energized hand weapon and the character uses any part of his
on the first significant action or on initiative rolls. Then go on
to Step 2.

Step 2: Attacking and Defending

This is where the action starts. The person whose turn it is
gets to decide what type of action her character is going to do.
Once she chooses, she makes a skill roll.
Base Combat Difficulty
The base difficulty to attack someone is 10 or the target’s
active defense total, modified by range and other factors.
Active Defense
The target character can opt to use an “active defense,”
which affects all attacks that occur after the defender’s turn in
the current round but before the defender’s turn the next
round. Active defenses are defensive maneuvers that the
target consciously exercises, such as dodging or parrying
attacks. Each of these is represented by a skill and counts as
an action.
Active defenses only can be made when it is the character’s
turn as determined by initiative, but the total for the roll is
effective for all relevant attacks made against the character
that occur after the character’s current turn but before his turn
in the next round.
Remember: if a character acts later in a round than the
character attempting to hit him, he cannot take his turn sooner
and use an active defense to replace the combat difficulty — his
reactions just weren’t fast enough.
If the roll is lower than the base combat difficulty, the
character has succeeded in making himself easier to hit—by
miscalculating where the attack would be placed and actually
getting in its way.
The new combat difficulty is modified as usual.
Dodge: The character attempts to anticipate the final
location of any attack and be in another place when it comes.
Attack types include energy beams, melee and projectile weap-
ons, unarmed attacks, and so on. This is done by rolling the
dodge skill .
Paul Daly

Parry: The character attempts to stop his opponent’s at-

tack by intercepting it. The character may roll his brawling or
 Chapter 4 ❖ Page 42

aware of an impending attack, yet not aware enough to prepare

for it.
• Defense Combat •
Difficulty Modifiers Combat Difficulty Modifiers
The accompanying Attack Modifiers and Defense Modifiers
Range charts list a few popular combat situations — some of which
Range Distance to Target Modifier are explained below — that can alter the base combat diffi-
culty. Regardless of the number of modifiers used, the total
Point Blank 0 –3 feet -5
combat difficulty may never go below 3.
Short 3 feet to first value* 0 The gamemaster rolls the indicated modifier and adds it to
Medium First to second value* +5 the combat situation. A standard modifier is included in
Long Second to third value* +10 parentheses after the die modifier, should the gamemaster
prefer not to roll.
* Values refer to values given in the weapon ’s range listing.
Range: The effectiveness of a punch, weapon, or power
Cover depends on its range. All range modifiers are added or sub-
Situation Modifier tracted from the combat difficulty.
Note that, unless a special maneuver allows otherwise,
Light smoke/fog +1D (+3) unarmed close combat attacks may only be made at Point
Thick smoke/fog +2D (+6) Blank range. In most cases, this is true for using various melee
Very thick smoke/fog +4D (+12) weapons as well, though the distance can be increased to Short
Poor light, twilight +1D (+3) range if the weapon is longer than one meter. For example, a
Moonlit night +2D (+6) character with a support beam can whack an opponent at Point
Blank or Short range.
Complete darkness +4D (+12)
Object hides 25% of target +1D (+3) Cover: When a target is protected by something — poor
lighting, smoke, fog, a table — it makes her harder to hit. This
Object hides 50% of target +2D (+6) is represented by a cover modifier, which is added to the
Object hides 75% of target +4D (+12) combat difficulty.
Object hides 100% of target * Burst fire as single: This attack can only be performed
* If cover provides protection, the attacker cannot hit the with a weapon that is capable of burst fire (like an assault rifle)
target directly, but damage done to the cover might exceed and that can be switched to single fire. The firer fires only one
the armor value it gives the target, and, indirectly, the target shot instead of a burst; it is primarily used to conserve ammu-
receives damage. Most of the time, the attacker must eliminate nition.
the cover before having a chance to hit the target. Full auto: This attack is only possible with weapons that
can fire at fully automatic settings (such as assault rifles,
submachine guns, and machine guns). Since the character is
body to parry the attack, the defender always takes the taking quite a bit of time to “hold down the trigger” and pump
weapon’s damage value. If the block was successful, then the ammo into the air, the extra “to hit” and “damage” bonuses are
attacker’s Physique is not added to the listed value. If the block somewhat compensated for by the modifier to the character’s
was unsuccessful, then the target character takes damage as defensive value during the round he is performing a full auto
normal. The character may avoid this aspect by having armor, attack.
a special ability, or a suitable close combat specialization in Single fire as multi: The character fires a weapon several
melee parry. times in a round at the same target. The most common example
Full Defense is when someone fires a pistol several times in a row at the
same target. This option can only be used when a weapon
A character who foregoes all of her actions for a round to automatically reloads itself after firing a single shot or when
completely protect herself from attacks makes a full defense. it is fairly easy to ready it for firing again (such as a .45
The total rolled by the skill plus +10 takes the place of the base automatic, which puts a new cartridge in the slide as soon as
combat difficulty from the time the character makes the full the first one clears the barrel). It increases the character’s
defense on her turn to her turn in the next round. chance to hit a target, as well as the damage. It does not count
Full active defense total = any active defense roll + 10 as a multi-action as long as the shot is taken at the same target.
One target, one die roll, one damage value.
Partial Defense
A character who chooses to do something else in addition to
guarding against attacks may take a partial active defense. In
this case, the active defense roll replaces the base combat • Combat and NPCs •
difficulty from the time the character takes his turn in one To reflect the average nonplayer character’s relative
round to his turn in the next round. unimportance to the universe, gamemasters may wish to
Partial active defense total = any active defense roll lower the NPC’s Body Points. Pure cannon fodder might
take a roll of their Physique in damage before keeling over,
Since the character is taking multiple actions, the multi- while the main villain and her most important henchwomen
action penalty applies. should get the full compliment.
The gamemaster may call for a partial defense roll (as a free
action) if he decides that the character might be somewhat
 Combat ❖ Page 43

Sweep (ranged): The character wants to “spray an area”

with ammo. This can only be done by characters with weapons
• Attack Combat • that go full auto, burst, or single fire as multi (in general, just
Difficulty Modifiers about any automatic weapon). The gun uses the amount of
ammunition needed by whichever setting is used. They gain
Difficulty Damage a positive modifier to hit (because of the sheer volume of
Option Modifier Modifier shots), but this “non-targeted” attack results in a lower
damage value.
Marksmanship
Sweep (close combat): These attacks, usually foot sweeps
Burst fire as single 0 -2D or roundhouses, are used when the character wants to make
Full auto -2D (-6) +2D certain she hits the target — regardless of how much injury is
Single fire as multi -1D (-3)* +1D* caused.
Sweep -2D (-6) -3D Grab: The attacker physically grasps a target. Few melee
* Modifiers are per additional round of ammunition, up weapons allow this option, so it is used generally only in
brawling attacks. The character does less damage with the
to maximum that the weapon holds.
grab, but she has hold of the target with a successful attack.
Brawling, Melee Combat All-out: The character attacks with no thought to the
Sweep -3D (-10) -3D consequences. The target has a better chance of being hit, but,
Grab +2D (+6) -3D in that round, the attacker cannot actively defend — or per-
form any other action — at all!
All-out -2D (-6) +1D
Unwieldy weapon* +5 or more 0 Called shot: The character chooses a specific target, like a
gun in a thug’s hand, and aims for that. This is represented by
*For melee weapons longer than 30 centimeters. a called-shot modifier, which is added to the combat difficulty.
All Attacks On a successful attack, he knocks the item out of the target’s
hand, grabs the limb, pins the target to a wall, or does +1D (or
Low Gravity -1D (-4) 0 more, at the gamemaster’s discretion) to the damage. The
No Gravity -2D (-6) 0 exact result depends on the situation and the player’s intent.
Heavy Gravity +3D (+10) 0 Hit locations: Hit locations are a special kind of called shot
Called Shot that allows a character to shoot a specific point on his target’s
body. The table is used to determine the modifiers for hitting
Target is... a target of Human proportions in different areas of his body.
10 to 50 centimeters long +1D (+5) * Note that aiming at an arm or leg actually causes less damage
1 to 10 centimeters long +4D (+15) * — this is because the character took extra care to shoot an area
Less than a centimeter long +8D (+30) * that is “less vital.”
* See text for options. Weapon difficulty: Melee weapons longer than 30 centi-
meters, objects that are hard to throw or grasp, ones relying on
Hit Locations technology with which the user is unfamiliar, or any weapons
Difficulty Damage otherwise difficult to wield incur a +5 or more modifier to the
Hit Location Modifier Modifier combat difficulty.
Head +1D (+5) +12
Heart +4D (+15) +12 Step 3: Determining Damage
Chest, abdomen 0 0 If a character successfully hits his target, he may have done
Left or right arm +1D (+5) -2 damage to it. To determine the damage done, roll the damage
Left or right leg +1D (+5) -1
Left or right hand +4D (+15) -2
Other Modifiers • Optional Damage Bonus •
• The attacker is blind or blinded: +4D (+12) to the The combat skill roll is supposed to reflect the accuracy
combat difficulty. of an attack. Therefore, gamemasters may reward high rolls
• The target is blind or blinded or attacked from for player characters and significant gamemaster charac-
behind: -4D (-12) to the combat difficulty. ters with a bonus to damage. Subtract the difficulty of the
• The target is crouched on the ground: +1D (+3) successful attack from the skill total and divide this number
to the combat difficulty. by 5, rounding up. Add this damage bonus to the damage
• The target is prone: –2D (-6) to the combat diffi- total before comparing it to the resistance total. If the
culty (Point Blank or Short range); +2D (+6) to combat gamemaster uses the damage bonus in combination with a
difficulty (Medium or Long range). called shot hit location, the bonus is in addition to the
• Weapon is difficult to use (character unfamiliar damage modifier except for attempts on an arm, leg, or
with technology, object is hard to throw or grasp, etc.): +5 hand. In those cases, ignore the damage bonus.
or more to the combat difficulty; do not combine with the For Special Abilities and Extranormal skills that require
unwieldy melee weapon modifier. a combat roll to target them, the gamemaster may allow the
combat roll’s damage bonus to apply to the ability’s roll.
 Chapter 4 ❖ Page 44

die code for the weapon. Some weapons list their value as a die
code with a plus sign (“+”) in front of it; in this case, add to the
damage rolled the attacker’s Strength Damage die code. If the
• Miscellaneous Damage •
gamemaster chooses to use the optional damage bonus, this is Here is a small selection of various other harmful things
added to the total at this time. that players may encounter during their adventures. Gen-
To figure the Strength Damage value, drop the pips from your erally, no attack roll is necessary for any of these to affect a
character’s Physique or lifting value (including any Disadvan- character, though a roll would be required if a person could
tages or Special Abilities), divide the number by 2, and round up. somehow attack with it. The gamemaster determines what,
The damage total is then compared to the target’s resis- if any, benefit armor and similar protection provides. Some
tance total and subtracted from the total Body Points the equipment may even increase the damage! Damage is
character has remaining. otherwise determined as per the combat rules.
If the damage resistance total is greater than or equal to the Except falling, all damage is done per round of close
damage total, the defender incurs no injuries (beyond an contact. The gamemaster may decide that certain types in
annoying bruise, a shallow scrape, a light burn, or dinged certain situation also affect characters at a distance.
protective gear).
Type Damage
Damage Resistance Total Botulism (severe case) 4D
The damage resistance total equals a roll of the target Cold (extreme) 1D
character’s die codes from armor or Special Abilities minus any Cyanide (fatal dose) 8D+2
modifiers from disease or ingested poisons. Electricity (standard wall outlet) 1D
If the character has no armor or special abilities, then the Electricity (major power line) 9D
character has a damage resistance total of zero, and the player
Falling 1D per
makes no roll. A player may improve his character’s resistance
total by spending Character Points or a Fate Point on this roll. (for fall of 3 meters or more) 1.5 meters
Characters who would make no roll can still spend Charac- Fire (torch-size) 1D
ter Points, using them as a base damage resistance total. Hydrochloric acid
Spending a Fate Point allows the player to roll his character’s (undiluted, any amount) 2D+1
Physique. Totals determined from spending points are modi-
Radiation (intense) 3D
fied as normal, including negative and positive damage resis-
tance modifiers.
Unconsciousness and Death
If the character’s Body Points reach zero but the character
• Optional Wound Levels • wasn’t instantly killed by massive damage, he is still gravely
injured and falls unconscious. (A killing blow by massive
Body Points Left Effect damage entails a damage total equal to 90% of the character’s
80% - 60% Stunned maximum Body Points in one blow or 100% of the character’s
maximum Body Points in a single round. Use the damage total
59% - 40% Wounded after subtracting damage modifiers, including Character Points,
39% - 20% Severely Wounded to determine whether the attack delivered a killing blow.)
19% - 10% Incapacitated The gamemaster then decides how serious the wounds are.
1% - 9% Mortally Wounded A character with deep gashes, gaping wounds, or similarly
0 Killed traumatic injuries will most likely die from them. Sufficient
medical aid to bring the character to 1 Body Point can possibly
Note: Body Points Left is based on the character’s starting rescue the imperiled character. If suitable medical aid is
Body Points. Round up when determining level for Body administered within four minutes, the character recovers
Points remaining. Penalties imposed by each level are not without undue harm. If the medical aid is given within four to
cumulative and they are not included when determining the 10 minutes, the player rolls his character’s Physique or
stun resistance total or any total not involving a skill or stamina against a difficulty equal to the number of minutes
attribute. he was dead. If the roll succeeds, the character revives but he
Stunned: –1D for all remaining actions this round and loses 1D from all of his skills, but the skill cannot go below the
next round. attribute’s value. If the medical aid is given within 10 to 15
Wounded: –1D to all actions until healed. minutes, the player rolls his character’s Physique or stamina
Severely Wounded: –2D on all actions until healed. against a difficulty equal to the number of minutes he was
Incapacitated: The character is severely injured. As a dead. If the roll succeeds, the character revives but he loses
free action before losing consciousness, he may try to stay 2D from all of his skills, though no skill can be reduced below
up with a Moderate (15) stamina roll. If the character the attribute’s value. In either case, should the roll fail, the
succeeds, he may continue to act, but all actions have a –3D character dies.
penalty. If he fails, he is knocked out for 10D minutes. A character can survive injuries sustained primarily from
Mortally Wounded: The character is near death and blunt weapons (such as fists or sticks), pulled punches, or
knocked unconscious with no chance to keep up. Roll the carefully placed attacks. When the character’s Body Points
character’s Strength each round, the character finally dying reach zero, she falls unconscious. She’ll wake up in a few hours
if the roll is less than the number of rounds a character’s with a horrendous headache, unless she gets aid sooner, but
been mortally wounded. otherwise heals normally. If the character receives up to one-half
Killed: The character is toast. Sorry. of her total Body Point in damage after she’s unconscious, the
 Combat ❖ Page 45

wounds become serious (and the recommendations in the previ-

ous paragraph take effect).
Characters who receive their total Body Points in addi-
• Assisted Healing •
tional damage after reaching zero Body Points cannot be Medicine Body Points
revived (by normal means, anyway).
Total Recovered
Stun Damage 0 0
For weapons that do stun damage, after the damage total is 1–5 2
determined but before applying it, subtract a roll of the target’s 6–10 1D
Physique or stamina from the damage total. If the victim 11–15 2D
suffers at least one point of damage, that character is also 16–20 3D
knocked out for a number of minutes equal to the difference
between the resistance total and the original damage total. 21–25 4D
26–30 5D
Step 4: Repeat 30+ 6D
If the fight isn’t finished after one round, then return to Step
1 and do it all over again. Repeat these steps until the fight is
resolved in favor of one side or the other.
Healing
There are many different ways that characters can regain
their health. Characters may never get back more than their
• Descriptive Damage • starting number of Body Points.
So a character is down by a few Body Points — so what? Natural Healing
What does that mean in descriptive terms?
Well, it depends on what was done to cause the wounds. The body heals naturally during the course of the day. The
The following chart supplies some general guidelines for more rest the character gets, the faster her wounds heal. A
describing what might have happened to the character’s character can restore a roll of her Physique +1D in Body Points
body when he was hurt. Use the “Optional Wound Levels” per full day of rest (sleeping, reading, or other sedentary
chart to decide on the character’s current wound level. activities). If she is involved in light activity, such as walking
or singing, she may restore up to a roll in her Physique in Body
Wound Level Description Points per day. However, if most of the day is spent fighting
Stunned Moderate bruise or minor sprain; lac- and running, she only gains back a roll of her Physique -1D in
eration; muscle tear; minor disloca- Body Points per day. The character receives the Body Points
tion of joint back at the beginning of the day.
Wounded Severe abrasion or sprain; deep lac- Skill
eration; torn ligaments; major dislo-
Characters can heal others or themselves with some basic
cation or minor break
field procedures for treating wounds. Such attempts don’t
Severely wounded Broken bone; gaping wound; ripped require a medical kit. Simply roll medicine (or Knowledge) to
cartilage and muscle; concussion help an injured comrade, and find the results on the Assisted
Incapacitated Multiple fracture; laceration in vital Healing chart. A successful roll heals the character the listed
area; heavy concussion amount. A character using a medical kit may add its bonus to
the roll.
Mortally wounded Above options combined with mul- A character may only attempt to heal a patient once per
tiple internal injuries day, although the patient may be stabilized by that character
Dead Broken neck; punctured lung; eviscer- any number of times. Other characters may also try to help the
ated patient, adding their expertise to the first healer’s.
These are just a few examples. Really interested game-
masters can come up with charts, tables, or really detailed Wounds System
descriptions of damage for those gamers who “really want to Those who prefer the wounds system over the Body Point
know.” The gamemaster may also want to assign different system may import those rules from any D6 Space Opera
modifiers than the ones listed in the “Optional Wound rulebook. The Shatterzone Universe Guide PDF combat section
Levels” sidebar to more appropriately indicate the type of is set up much like this chapter; you merely need to import the
injury that was suffered. “Determining Damage” and “Healing” parts of that section.
Everything else works the same.
 CHAPTER FIVE

• More Example Difficulties •

They are useful for many situations involving Presence-
Using the Difficulties and Modifiers based skills. The base difficulty is 10 or the target’s Presence or
Unless otherwise stated, all listed modifiers are to the willpower. See the “Mental Defenses” sidebar on page 39 in
difficulty. Modifiers may be cumulative, depending on the Chapter 3 for further details on using interaction skills. These
situation — the tenser they are, the more important the difficulty modifiers are repeated from Chapter 3.
minutia become.
Interaction Difficulty Modifiers
Knowledge-Based Skills Situation Modifier
Skills covered: business, scholar, tech Target is friendly or trusting -5
They are useful for many situations involving Knowledge- Target is neutral toward character
based skills. These difficulties are repeated from Chapter 3. or of equal standing 0
Target is hostile or has superior standing +5
Information Difficulties Target is an enemy +10
Target is in weakened position -10
Amount of Information Difficulty Request is something target would do
Basic or common information; anyway or target feels is of minor importance 0
unconfirmed rumors 5 Request is illegal or highly dangerous; +10
Theories; generalities 10 Target is on guard or actively resisting* +10
Complex concepts; moderately
detailed information 15 *Do not include this modifier if you are using the active
Professional level; extensive mental defense described in the “Mental Defenses” sidebar.
(though not complete) information 20
Cutting-edge topics; extensive information, Interrogation Attempts
including peripheral details and extrapolations 30 Characters may use intimidation or persuasion to get infor-
Condition Modifier mation out of someone. Use the difficulties listed under “Pres-
Age of information +5 per century ence-Based Skills” and further modified by how important the
in the past information is to the target. A separate intimidation roll to scare
Closely guarded secret +15 the target can compliment an interrogation session.
Target... Modifier
Perception-Based Skills Feels information is unimportant
Feels information is of minor importance
-10
0
Skills covered: investigation, search, tracking Feels information is important +5
They are useful for many situations involving Perception- Feels information is very important +10
based skills. These difficulties are repeated from Chapter 3. Would rather die than reveal information +10 or more
Observation Difficulties Combat Skills
Situation Difficulty
Noticing obvious, generic facts; casual glance 5 Skills covered: brawling, dodge, marksmanship, melee com-
Noticing obvious details (ex. number of people) 10 bat, missile weapons, throwing
Noticing a few less obvious details Difficulties for these skills are included in the “Combat”
(ex. gist of conversation) 15 chapter. For throwing, see also that skill’s entry in this chapter.
Spotting a few specific details
(ex., identities of individuals) 20 Charm, Intimidation
Spotting a few obscure details Charm and intimidation can enhance a character’s attacks
(ex. specifics of conversation) 25 and defenses. The player adds the difference (positive or
Noticing many obscure details 30 or more negative) between the difficulty and the charm or intimidation
roll to any one attack or defense attempt (not both) made at
Presence-Based Skills Point Blank or Short range. The character must use the benefit
Skills covered: charm, con, intimidation, persuasion
 More Example Difficulties ❖ Page 47

from scaring the target on the same turn as or on the round Maneuver Difficulty
after the charm or intimidation endeavor. Somersault; pirouette 5
See also “Presence-Based Skills” for other difficulties and Handspring; cartwheel; handstand 10
modifiers. Swing over a obstacle 10
Round-off; backflip 15
Flying, Running, Swimming Vaulting over an obstacle
Bouncing off a surface to reach
15
Difficulties for these skills are included in the “Movement” a specific destination 20
section in the “General Skill Use” chapter. Walking up a wall* 30
* The character may walk a maximum of her Move in one
Hide, Sneak round; she must have flat surface to stop on at the end of her
The difficulty for a hide or sneak attempt is usually the turn or she falls and takes damage from the fall.
opponent’s Perception, search (for hide), or tracking (for sneak), Condition Modifier
either as a die roll (if the opponent is actively trying to find the Flat surface to flat surface 0
object or person) or as a straight value equal to the die code in Unlimited landing area -3
the attribute or skill times 2 and add the pips. Limited landing area +3
Condition Modifier Almost no landing area +6
Heavy rain or snow -3 Rough or unsteady landing area +3 or more
Dawn, dusk, fog, many trees, large crowd, etc. -2 High surface to low surface +3
Night -5 Low surface to high surface +6
Inattentive observer -5 Slippery surface +3
Dense concealment (thick jungle, Strong wind +3
crowd of people in costume) -5 Add a twist of the body (per twist) +3
Many distractions (party, parade, combat) -5 Performing the maneuver underwater
Attentive observer +6 or backwards +3
Open terrain +6 Performing the maneuver in the air
Good lighting +6 (such as on a trapeze or bars) +9
Several observers +9 Performing the maneuver on a narrow surface +6
Note: Characters may combine one or more maneuvers in
Acrobatics the same action. In this case, use the difficulty of the most
challenging maneuver, add +3 for each additional maneuver
Using acrobatics can also improve many of a character’s (up to five additional maneuvers), and include modifiers as if
climbing, jumping, and running attempts. The gamemaster the complex stunt was one maneuver.
determines the difficulty of the acrobatics stunt. The one-half
of the difference (rounded up) between the difficulty and the
acrobatics roll is added to the complimentary skill. The acro- Animal Handling
batics attempt and the climbing, jumping, or running try must When attempting to get the beast to do a trick, the character
be done on the same turn. must also roll against its willpower roll (the gamemaster
Instead of adding a modifier to the running or swimming generates this). Examples of tricks include rolling over, get-
difficulty for particularly challenging obstacle courses, the ting into a cage, jumping up, and obeying commands. (The
gamemaster may have the hero make an acrobatics roll in success of tricks are determined by a roll of the animal’s
addition to a running or swimming roll. attributes or skills.)
Acrobatics can also enhance brawling and melee combat
attacks. The acrobatics trick and the attack must be performed Willpower >
on the same turn. The gamemaster determines the exact Animal
difficulty of the acrobatics attempt. The player may add one- Handling Result
half of the difference (rounded up) between the difficulty and 1-2 Beast looks at the handler in a confused way
the successful acrobatics roll to the amount of damage done 3-6 Beast lies down for one round
(not to the combat skill roll). One acrobatics trick roll can affect 7-11 Beast lies down for two rounds
one attack only. 12+ Beast snaps at the handler; if hit, the beast will
Similarly, acrobatics can make a character appear more attack the handler until subdued
intimidating. The player may add one-half of the difference
(rounded up) between the difficulty and the successful acrobat- Artist
ics roll to her intimidation attempt. The intimidating attempt Quality of Piece Difficulty
may be made on the same turn as the acrobatics roll or on the Amateur 9
next round. Time required: A few minutes to half hour
During a fall, acrobatics may be used to reduce bodily harm. Professional 15
If the character has not already used his turn for the round, he Time required: Minimum one day
may use acrobatics in an attempt to land properly as soon as Emotionally moving 18
he’s thrown. The hero generates an acrobatics total. For every Time required: Minimum one day
5 points over the base difficulty number of 10, the hero reduces Prize-winning 24
the damage by 1 point, in addition to a base reduction of 1 point. Time required: Minimum one week
The damage total, however, cannot be lower than zero.
 Chapter 5 ❖ Page 48

Complexity of Piece Modifier

Simple; has one or two parts -5
Moderate; has a few parts 0
Complex; has many parts +10

Climbing
Difficulties for this skills are included in the “Movement”
section in the “General Skill Use” chapter. Note that taking
care in climbing and carrying 50% or more of the character’s
body weight slows the character down by two meters or more
per round.
Condition Modifier
Taking care in climbing -5
Less than a 90-degree angle -3
Less than a 60-degree angle -6
Less than a 45-degree angle -9
Prepared for climbing -6
Carrying 25% of body weight +3
Carrying 50% of body weight +6
Carrying 100% of body weight +15
Many handholds -10

Command
The command skill governs the act of convincing individu-
als to comply with specific directions, as well as maintaining
morale during group undertakings (such as combat or building
large pieces of equipment). This skill is typically used only with
the gamemaster’s characters, though it can be sometimes
attempted with the players’ characters (such situations should
be roleplayed first, with a bonus or penalty to the command roll
based on how well the group participated in the activity
together). A high command roll can compliment individual
participants’ rolls in a group activity, while a low command roll
can impose negative modifiers.
Complexity Difficulty
Uncomplicated; imprecise 3
Easy; minimal precision required 7
Requires effort or precision 12
Difficult; requires high degree of precision 17
Requires much effort or extreme precision 22
Requires care and thoughtfulness,
or exacting precision 28
Team Modifier
All members willing to follow leader’s orders
no matter what -20
All members willing to sacrifice life for others -15
Trained together frequently to work as unit -10 Paul Daly
Trained together briefly to work as unit -5
Work together regularly, or willing to work together 0
Worked together on a few occasions +5
Seldom work together +10
Never worked together before, or more than Result Desired Modifier
half of the members hate each other +15 Rigging a bomb so a car explodes
No interest in working together; all members the next time it starts 0
despise each other; or members can’t communicate Blowing something open without
with each other +20 leaving permanent marks or burns +5
Rigging an explosion so its force
goes in a specific direction +10
Demolitions Rigging an explosion so that only
The base difficulty is 5. For extra damage and special a certain, small piece of a much larger
effects, the character must spend one round per difficulty object is damaged +15
number setting up the explosives. Extra damage +5 per +1D
 More Example Difficulties ❖ Page 49

Object Construction Modifier

Flimsy (plywood door) 0
Gambling
Tough (hard wooden door) +5 Gambling doesn’t affect games that are purely random, but
Sturdy (bolted steel door) +10 does influence games with an element of strategy, like poker.
Very sturdy (a few layers of steel) +15 All characters make opposed gambling rolls, without spending
Reinforced (numerous layers of steel) +20 Character or Fate Points, and the highest roll wins. A charac-
ter may cheat by using Character or Fate Points on the roll, and
Disguise the gamemaster may give bonuses to rolls for people looking for
a cheater or helping the cheater. The gamemaster should
A character’s skill total in creating the disguise serves two consider as many “angles” as possible when using the gam-
purposes. First, the higher the roll, the less likely an observer bling skill, and add these as modifiers to one or more partici-
will be to question the disguise. Second, the total becomes the pants’ rolls.
difficulty number for Perception or investigation efforts to see
through it. If the investigation check is higher than the dis-
guise total, the disguise has been penetrated.
Investigation
If at any time while the character is disguised she performs When used to research a topic, a separate roll must be made
an action inconsistent with the disguise, any observer has a for each source checked.
chance to see through it. Research
Although one hero may use disguise on another character, Situation Difficulty
the disguised character must actively work at keeping up the Common knowledge 7
disguise using her own disguise skill or Presence. Requires searching through several sources;
Condition Modifier introductory theories 12
Specific person +15 Sources are of varying reliability; cutting-edge
Other sex +6 information; specific information about
Different race or species +3 harmless individual or event 18
Great age difference +3 Esoteric information; specific information
Much larger build +5 about dangerous individual or event 24
Much smaller build +10 Condition Modifier
Resembles the disguise already -5 Information closely guarded +5
Using skill on another character +6 Character unsure of information sought +5
Using skill unaided +3 Character knows exactly what information
is sought -5
Forgery When used to figure out clues from a scene, the base
Forger difficulty is 10. The character must use search first to find the
Item Forged Difficulty clues or evidence (or have them pointed out); investigation
Unofficial note or correspondence 6 helps the character figure out what they mean.
Time required: 10 minute or more Situation Modifier
Signature 12 Information about subject is sketchy +15
Time required: 5 minutes Information about subject is extensive -15
Official document 18 Evidence is fairly clear; many clues;
Time required: 20 minutes or more familiar objects with expected use -6 or more
Familiarity with Item Modifier Evidence is only partly clear; several clues;
Intimately familiar or has sample -10 familiar objects with uncommon use,
Somewhat familiar; has seen it quite often -5 or unfamiliar objects with common use 0
Passingly familiar 0 Evidence is obscure; few clues +3
Has only had it described +5 Evidence is unusual or with no apparent significance;
Guessing blindly +15 uncommon objects with uncommon use +6
Tools Modifier Repeatedly commits similar crimes -3 per crime
Have necessary tools and some special ones -10 Distance between crimes +3 per 50 miles
Have necessary tools -5 Time between crimes +3 per 6 months*
Have some tools 0 *While the crimes may have been committed over a greater
Missing important tools +10 time interval, the maximum value for this modifier is +30.
Forgery Inspector Roll >
Item Forged Difficulty Difficulty Result
Intimately familiar 6 0-2 Basic information about the situation (a rope
Moderately familiar 12 was used, type of gun).
Unfamiliar 18 3-6 Precise information about situation (probable
Completely unfamiliar 24 manufacturing origin of evidence, small de-
Tools Modifier tails about items in room).
Have sample -5 7-11 Previous results plus how all items in an area
Have special tools for detecting forgeries -5 were put to use.
12+ Reconstruction of events from the evidence.
 Chapter 5 ❖ Page 50

Know-how
To use this skill to help with an activity covered by another
skill (which the character does not have), the character spends
the round before examining the situation, performing no other
actions, and making a roll of this skill versus the difficulty set
for the action. The character gets neither the unskilled modi-
fier nor the preparing modifier. Within the next 30 seconds (six
rounds), the character may add the difference between the
difficulty and the know-how skill roll to total roll for the
attribute dictated by the actual skill required. The character
may not use this skill in place of a skill she already has. The
gamemaster may limit the number of times per hour this skill
may be used on the same action.

Languages
Situation Difficulty
Idea is very simple, consisting of a short phrase 3
Idea is simple; no slang; children’s book 7
Idea is of average complexity; most adult nonfiction 12
Idea is complex; slang involved; most adult fiction 18
Idea is very complex; technical jargon involved;
academic writing 24
Situation Modifier
One or two common, basic words -5
Has a translating aid (book, computer
program, electronic pocket device, hand signals)* -5
Different dialect of own language 0
Language is derived from common root
language (e.g., understanding Spanish
if you understand French) +5
Completely foreign language (e.g., Chinese
has nothing in common with English) +10
Obscure language; reading lips +15
Language is unique to an uncontacted
culture, from a dead culture, or unpronounceable
by the character trying to understand +20
Language includes many concepts nearly beyond
the character’s understanding or experience +25
Roll >
Difficulty Comprehension Level
0-2 Gist of idea; most words understood or con-
veyed properly; word usage seems stilted
3-6 Literal translation; slang expressed/translated
incorrectly
7+ Subtle connotations
Paul Daly

*Translation aids might provide their own bonuses, which

are used instead of this.

Jumping Lifting
Difficulties for this skills are included in the “Movement” At the gamemaster’s discretion, a player may make a lifting
section in the “General Skill Use” chapter. check when his character first picks up an object. (Generally,
if the object’s weight would give it a difficulty equal to or
Condition Modifier
greater than one-half of the character’s lifting, rounded up, or
Flat surface to flat surface 0
the object is being lifted hastily or under stress, the gamemas-
Unlimited landing area -5
ter should require a lifting roll.)
Limited landing area +5
For each round the object is carried, the character makes
Almost no landing area +10
another check to see if she can continue to carry the object. If
Rough, slick, or unsteady landing area +3 or more
she fails the roll, she is too exhausted and must put the object
Uphill (more than 30 degrees) +6
down. If the character is doing anything else at the time (other
Carrying 50% of own weight +6
than walking slowly or talking), continuing to carry the object
Carrying 75% of own weight +9
counts as a multiple action.
Carrying 100% of own weight +12
 More Example Difficulties ❖ Page 51

Abridged Lifting Table Determine cause 24

Weight Difficulty Time required: 1 day to 1 week
1 kg 1
10 kg
50 kg
3
7
Navigation
100 kg 12 The base difficulty is 10.
120 kg 13 Condition Modifier
200 kg 17 No idea which way is north +10
250 kg 18 General idea which way is north 0
500 kg 23 Familiar with terrain 0
750 kg 28 Terrain completely foreign +5
1000 kg (1 ton) 33 Completely lost +10
1100-2000 kg 34-43 Have a compass or similar navigational tools -5
(+1 to base of 33 per 100 kg over 1000 kg) Plotting a simple course 0
2500-10,000 kg 44-59 Plotting a complex course +6
(+1 to base of 43 per 500 kg over 2000 kg) Plotting a dangerous course +9
15,000-100,000 kg 60-77 Determine exact location +15
(+1 per to base of 59 per 5000 kg over 10,000 kg)
Condition Skill Modifier
The gamemaster may further subdivide the lifting chart if Have a poorly drawn map +1D
desired to include the weights for the difficulties not listed here. Have a sketchy but accurate map +2D
Lifting Fatigue Modifier Have a well-drawn map +3D
Time Success Modifier
1-6 rounds 0 Persuasion
7 rounds to 3 minutes -5
3-10 minutes -10 Persuasion can also be employed to “pay” another person to
10-30 minutes -15 behave dishonorably, such as through ignoring duty, looking
30-60 minutes -20 the other way, or divulging secret information. Success de-
pends greatly on the target. A target who is loyal or wealthy or
Note: After the first hour, the character must make a check fears being caught is less likely to accept bribes. Use the
once per hour at the same difficulty as one hour. If the difficulties listed under “Presence-Based Skills” and further
character fails the roll, then she must rest for twice as long as modified by such factors as the value of the money, goods, or
she was lifting the weight. information offered, the extent of favors given and received,
and the target’s attitude toward the bribe. See also “Presence-
Lockpicking Based Skills” for other difficulties and modifiers.
Characters may not attempt to pick locks without some Value of Bribe Modifier
kind of tools (hairpins, wire coat hanger, telekinesis, etc.). Less than 50% of what is reasonable +10
Improvised tools do not add to character’s skill roll, but 50% to 90% of what is reasonable +5
specialized tools will. Larger than expected -5
Significantly larger than expected -10
Type of Lock Difficulty
Simple key lock 6
Complex key lock 12 Piloting
Combination lock 18 Piloting can be used to give a vehicle an active defense total;
Lock Condition Modifier use it in the same way that a character’s dodge is used. The
Poorly constructed -6 active defense total remains in effect until the vehicle operator’s
Well constructed +2 next turn on the next round. Use the following tables when the
Military or security style +6 character wishes to perform stunts in the vehicle. Firing from
High security style +9 a vehicle while driving it incurs a multi-action penalty.
Lock blueprints and diagrams -4 Stunt Difficulty
Docking (water), parking (land) 6
Medicine Landing (air vehicles) 10
Moving on a straight way 0
For game mechanics on using medicine to heal damage, see Ram 10
the end of the “Combat” chapter. Regaining control (in situations other than
Medicine Diagnosing ramming or sideswiping) 15
Action Difficulty Sideswiping 10
Determine existence of disease or injury 7 Fast 45-degree turn 7
Time required: 1 round Fast 90-degree turn 15
Determine toxicity of substance 7 Fast 180-degree turn 25
Time required: 1 minute Condition Modifier
Determine type of disease, toxin, or injury 12 For All Vehicles
Time required: 1 minute Bad weather +3 or more
Determine medicine, procedure, or antidote required 18 Limited maneuverability area
Time required: 1 round to 1 hour (such as through trees or pillars) +3
 Chapter 5 ❖ Page 52

Moving in reverse +3
Riding
For Land and Water Vehicles
Moved or moving over curb or debris +3 When a character first mounts the animal, she must make
Rough road or water +3 a riding roll against the creature’s willpower roll (the game-
Limited parking or docking area +3 master generates this). The character stays in control if she
ties or beats the beast’s roll. If she fails, consult the table
For Land Vehicles Not Designed for Off-Road Conditions below for what occurs.
Off-road +6 When attempting to get the beast to perform a special
For Air Vehicles and Aerial Characters maneuver or during events that might frighten it, the character
Unlimited landing area -3 must also roll against its willpower. Examples of special maneu-
Limited landing area +3 vers include jumping a fence, crossing a raging river, moving
Almost no landing area +6 faster, or slowing down quickly. (The success of special maneu-
Rough or unsteady landing area +3 or more vers are determined with the animal’s attributes or skills.)
Moving through debris +3 Willpower >
Use the following table when a character is not familiar Riding Result
with the vehicle she needs to operate. If the character does not 1-2 Beast stops and refuses to move for 5 seconds
have the piloting skill at all, these difficulties are in addition 3-6 Beast stops and refuses to move for 10 seconds
to the untrained modifier. 7-11 Beast bolts in a random direction for 1D rounds
12+ Beast bucks rider; rider must make a Moderate
Vehicle Type Modifier riding roll to avoid being thrown off
Very common or simple +3
(car, pickup, bicycle)
Common +6 Search
(farm tractor, motorcycle, motorboat, snowmobile) When used to eavesdrop on or secretly watch an event or
Moderately common +8 another character, the skill total indicates the amount of
(speedboat, bus, semi tractor) information gained from the surveillance. Use the “Observa-
Uncommon +11 tion Difficulties” table. A Critical Failure indicates anything
(ultralight plane, tank, hang-glider, unicycle) from no information obtained to being immediately spotted by
Unusual +14 the character being observed, depending on the situation.
(prop plane, glider) When searching for hidden object, the difficulty is generally
Rare +17 the target’s hide roll. Otherwise, the base difficulty is 5,
(jet, submarine) modified by the table below.
Exotic +20 See also “Perception-Based Skills” for more difficulties and
(fighter plane, space shuttle) modifiers.
Has a manual for the vehicle in a language
the character can understand -3 Situation Modifier
Character knows object’s exact location 0
Character knows object’s approximate location +5
Repair Character has vague information about
The base difficulty is 10, with a +1 for each Body Points of the object or its location +15
damage. The hero’s familiarity with the item, availability of Character has only general idea of what she’s
parts, and complexity of the task can further modify the looking for; searching for small objects +20
difficulty. The gamemaster may require a separate tech roll to Character has no idea what he’s looking for;
determine whether the character can figure out how to repair searching for obscure or tiny objects +25
an unknown item. Destroyed parts must be replaced, which Searching for microscopic objects* +30
raises the difficulty. Additionally, if a hero rushes the job, not *Might not be possible without special equipment or abilities.
only is there an increased chance of failure, but the item could
also break again soon after its next use.
Security
Situation Modifier
Light repairs/modifications 0 Type of System Difficulty
Heavy repairs/modifications +5 No special protection 4
Extensive repairs/modifications +10 or more Regular security system 8
Built or modified item -10 High-quality system 14
Has item’s designs -5 Bank 20
Common item 0 High-security complex 25
Has seen but not used item +5 Cutting-edge security measures 30
Has never seen item +10
All parts available 0 Sleight of Hand
Some parts available +10 The difficulty for a sleight of hand attempt is usually the
No parts available +20 opponent’s Perception or investigation, either as a die roll (if
Correct tools* 0 the opponent is actively trying to find the object or person) or
Makeshift tools +15 as a straight value equal to the number in front of the “D” in the
*Tool kits might provide their own bonuses, which are used opponent’s attribute or skill times 2 and add the pips.
instead of this.
 More Example Difficulties ❖ Page 53

Situation Modifier Size of City Modifier

Watchful target; few distractions +9 Large city (e.g., one million or more citizens) 0
Observant target; light crowd +6 Small city (e.g., several hundred thousand citizens) +5
Suspicious target +3 Town (e.g., several thousand citizens) +10
Challenging act (such as palming a baseball) +6 or more Village (e.g., several hundred citizens) +15
Unobservant target; target constantly jostled; Amount of Law Enforcement Modifier
major distractions -9 Strict (e.g., martial law or no tolerance
Confused or distracted target; crowded for criminals) +15
conditions; minor distractions -6 Moderate (e.g., criminal activity overlooked
Simple act (such as palming a tiny object or as long as it’s discreet) +10
sliding a hand into one’s own pocket Light (e.g., criminal activity overlooked as
unnoticed) -6 or more long as it’s not dangerous to the general public) +5
Little (e.g., criminal activity overlooked as long
Stamina as it’s not dangerous to the local government) 0
Gamemasters may allow a character to make a multi-action None -10
stamina roll to compliment a strenuous activity, such as lifting Reputation of Seeker Modifier
or running. The difficulty equals 5 times the current fatigue Never been to the location; no contacts;
modifier. The character may add one-half (rounded up) of the not trusted by local underworld +10 or more
difference between the successful stamina roll and the diffi- Rarely visited; only passing knowledge of
culty. how the local underworld operates +1-9
Whenever a character fails a stamina roll, she is fatigued; Minor contacts; knows what to avoid;
all actions are at -1D for every stamina check failed until the criminals have no reason not to trust character 0
character rests for as long as she exerted herself. Known somewhat by local underworld;
Characters can still continue if they are fatigued, until they several contacts -1-9
fail a third stamina check. At this point, the character is Well-known and liked by underworld +10 or more
completely exhausted and must rest for twice the amount of
time that she exerted herself to remove the penalty.
To avoid the effects of a toxin (inhaled, ingested, or ab-
Survival
sorbed) or disease (encountered in any manner), a hero makes Survival can be rolled to figure what to eat, where to sleep,
a stamina roll. Several factors figure in to the difficulty of the how best to deal with native dangers, and other information
attempt, including the deadliness and dosage of the poison in needed to get out of wilderness situation alive. (Use streetwise
question. For example, a fatal bout of botulism has a difficulty for help in urban situations.)
of 9, while a killing dose of cyanide has a difficulty of 42. Situation Difficulty
Gamemasters might also call for stamina rolls against falling Woods 4
asleep or unconscious. Resisting sleep a difficulty of 5 per hour High mountains, ocean (near floor) 12
beyond the normal awake time, modified by environmental Desert, ocean (above) 15
factor (too warm or too cold, noise level, etc.). For unconscious- Polar region 18
ness caused by wounds, see the “Optional Wound Levels” table Different, non-Earth-like dimension or planet 25
in the “Combat” chapter. Space 35
Situation Skill Modifier
Streetwise Has been to this location frequently +1D
Seeking... Difficulty Has been to this location with the past 10 years 0
Things that are usually easy to find 4 Has never been to this location -1D
Things that require discretion or
careful investigation 7 Tech
Risky services; finding illegal and
well-regulated items 14 The base difficulty is 10. The difficulty charts for computers
Services of unusual skills; finding and programming can give gamemasters an idea of how to
dangerous or carefully controlled items 18 make tables for other complex pieces of technology.
A specific criminal in hiding; finding items who Complexity of Device Modifier
possession means immediate imprisonment 28 Simple 0
Type of Information/Service/Goods Modifier Average +4
Legal (e.g., directions to the nearest police station) -10 Complex +7
Semilegal (e.g., asking if the local law is Prototype +10
straight or crooked) -5 From a culture with a lower technological level -5
Illegal but generally inoffensive From a culture with a much higher
(e.g., asking how much it would cost to technological level +10
bribe a policeman) 0 Consists of many integrated systems +5
Highly illegal (e.g., seeking a fence) +5 Consists of hundreds of integrated systems +10
Prohibited (e.g., seeking a safecracker) +10 Has a manual for the device in a language
Extremely illegal (e.g., seeking an arms dealer) +15 the character can understand -3
 Chapter 5 ❖ Page 54

Roll >
Difficulty Result
Throwing
0-2 Basic idea of what the device can do, but not A character’s ability to grab projectiles out of the air is
how to operate it. enhanced by the throwing skill. The difficulty of catching an
3-6 Basic idea of what the device can do and how to object is typically the thrower’s throwing roll. If the thrower
operate it; may add one-half (rounded down) wants the catcher to get the object, and thus takes care to throw
the difficulty and the successful roll to using well, reduce the thrower’s throwing total by -9.
the device on the next round if the character Combat difficulties for this skill are included in the “Com-
does not have an appropriate skill to use the bat” chapter.
device.
7-11 Can repair the device, if proper tools are avail-
able.
Tracking
12+ Can design a similar device, if proper resources The base difficulty is 10 or the target’s sneak roll, the target
are available. is actively trying to hide her trail. Characters can also use
tracking to shadow a target.
Hacking Situation Modifier
Open-access personal computer or mainframe 0 Condition Modifier
Networked computer 0 Trail is a day old +3
Isolated computer +3 Trail is a few days old +6
Accessible by a few people +3 Trail is a week old +9
Accessible by owner only +6 Tracking during inclement weather +6
Password protected +3 Soft dirt, mud, snow -3
Firewall protection +6 Grassland 0
Files encrypted +3 or more Forest, thin crowd +3
Rain forest, dense crowd +6
Programming Situation Modifier Desert, arctic wasteland, hard surface +9
Simple programming language 0 Number of people being tracked -3 for
Complex programming language +3 every 2 people
Encrypting program +6 Tracking a wheeled vehicle -6
Number of tasks program designed Per additional vehicle -3
to accomplish +3 per task
Designed to work on multiple +6 per additional
operating systems operating system Willpower
Condition Modifier Willpower is generally used to resist interaction attempts
Character unsure of how to use and mentally damaging attacks. Characters may also use
the program’s language +3 willpower instead of stamina to resist fatigue, sleep, and
Character knows exactly how to unconsciousness. See the stamina entry in this chapter for
manipulate the program’s language -3 information on difficulties.

Paul Daly
 CHAPTER SIX

• Psionics •
This chapter covers the ability to manipulate the forces of A target can actively resist a Psionics skill attempt, assum-
the mind for extraordinary effects. The Psionics skills are ing the target is aware of it. See the “Mental Defenses” sidebar
available only to characters with the Psionics Extranormal on page 39 in Chapter 3 for more details.
attribute.
Gamemasters are discouraged from allowing characters to Delay
have dice in both Psionics and Magic, but it is possible, Few characters can use their psychic abilities repeatedly in a
especially if the character has several Disadvantages that short period. Should the character fail an attempt, the difference
show up frequently in each session. between the difficulty and the skill roll becomes the time in
A list of individual psychic skills is provided herein. While minutes before the psionicist can use that skill again. Delay is
many psychics have only one strong psychic talent, and most always a minimum of one minute, and it’s measured from the
will have no more than a few such talents, a character may moment a psionicist quits using his talent to the time he can try
select and develop as many of these skills as they desire and the once more. If it involved a Critical Failure, that is the number of
gamemaster will allow. Remember that the list below is not all- minutes before the character may employ that Psionics skill at
inclusive. Gamemasters should feel free to develop other all. This makes it difficult for a character to give someone the evil
psychic skills for use in their campaign. eye more than once during a combat, or to read the minds of
everyone in a meeting over the course of a few minutes.
Obtaining Access to Psionics
There are only two ways to get psionic abilities. The first is Psionics Modifiers
to put dice in the Psionics attribute at character creation. Difficulties and modifiers specific to each psychic skill are
The other way is to obtain your gamemaster’s permission included in each description. These generic and optional modi-
after play has begun. If you can come up with a “reason” for fiers can further affect the difficulty, generally trading a
your character to learn or gain psionic abilities (such as they negative effect on the character for a lower difficulty or a
were latent or were gained through a strange accident) and your higher skill total. Note that none of these modifiers are re-
gamemaster agrees, then you may acquire them. The cost to get quired to use any Psionics skill, but they can help.
the initial 1D in Psionics is 20 Character Points. After that, it is Community: Unless the gamemaster rules otherwise, psy-
10 times the number in front of the “D” to improve this attribute chic characters may help each other, using the game mechan-
by one pip. You must still purchase Psionics skill pips sepa- ics in the “Related Skills” section on page 36 of Chapter 3 as
rately. guidelines.
Components, Incantations, and Gestures: Psychic tal-
Learning Psionics Skills ents only require the power of the brain, although a person can
Psionics skills may be learned between adventures, like have a psychological dependency on a certain sort of item to use
regular skills. The cost for a Psionics skill, in Character Points, his gift more effectively. A dowser, for example, could require
equals twice the normal cost for gaining or improving a normal a dowsing rod to do his work. Someone else might feel a need
skill. This cost is doubled again if a teacher — simply another to have a crystal ball or read tea leaves or rub a lucky rabbit’s
psionic with the skill at a higher level — is not available to foot. This is a psychological crutch, which can be reflected in
instruct the character. A character may learn or improve one the character concept as the Advantage Flaw (III): Minor
Psionics skill after each adventure.

Using and Resisting Psionics • Other Psionics Systems •

If you’re allowing psionic characters made using other
The character rolls a skill attempt and if they beat the D6 rules sets to be transferred to this one, you and your
difficulty set by the gamemaster, she succeeds with all the players may find it easier to rely on the rules from that
concomitant benefits. Psionicists can also push their Psionics system for those characters rather than switching to the D6
attempts when times are rough, using Character Points and Adventure rules.
Fate Points; perform Psionics actions while multitasking (un- However, characters using other psionic rules may not
less they have to go into a trance); and anything else one might rely on the D6 Adventure rules — and vice versa. Consider
expect for any standard skill. It is even possible to specialize in each psionics rules set as a different and distinct way
a certain area of an Psionics skill, if the concept is well- special mental abilities manifest themselves.
explained and the gamemaster approves.
 Chapter 6 ❖ Page 56

ing chart lists modifiers to the Psionics skill difficulty.

• Countenance • Nothing unreal can happen here: eyes can’t glow red, or
flames billow forth from someone’s nostrils, except as a psychic
Difficulty illusion that only the victim can see. The drawback to an illusion
Change in Appearance Modifier is that, no matter what the victim’s perceptions and predisposi-
No change 0 tions were before the fact, after the image is seen, the victim is
Noticeable (gray pallor, foaming) -1 forever firmly convinced that the psychic is an inhuman mon-
Extreme (convulsions, psychic image) -2 ster. Only those already endowed with a psychic or magic ability
can accept that image for what it truly is.
Feedback: For every two points of physical harm the
Stigma Disadvantage, but it has no bearing on the difficulty of character chooses to take, the character receives a +1 to the
the psychic attempt. However, gamemasters may allow a +2 Psionics skill total. This damage may be cured only through
Psionics skill total modifier per type of additional part. (There natural healing. Neither armor nor any type of Special Ability
is a limit of one component, one incantation, and one gesture may defend against feedback.
per skill attempt.) The gamemaster may adjust it depending Link to Target: When an astral form, empath, or telepath
on how complex or rare the added part is. This can be combined wishes to seek out a specific person, the relationship of that
with a concentration modifier. person can affect how easy it is to get in touch with the person.
Concentration: The character spends time preparing her- Include the Link to Target Psionics skill total modifiers when
self before releasing her psionic ability. For each round in using the relevant skill (see accompanying table). Note that this
which the character concentrates strictly on her upcoming is different than an astral anchor in that the character and her
action (with or without performing related rituals), the player target need not have been in recent contact. The gamemaster can
may apply a bonus number to her skill total. This concentra- also use these modifiers for honing in on specific items (as with
tion bonus number is derived from the success of a willpower far-sensing) or extending the range of certain skills that other-
roll in each round. The minimum difficulty for this roll is 10, wise have a limited range (such as damage or healing).
modified based on how distracting the environment is. A Physical Contact: Close proximity to the target can en-
completely isolated chamber has modifies the difficulty by hance the Psionics use. Physical contact requires a successful
zero, while a tightly packed ballroom ups the difficulty by +20. grab attempt for an unwilling or moving target and no special
The bonus number equals one-half, rounded up, of the differ- action for a willing target. Physical contact adds +2 to the
ence between the difficulty and the successful willpower roll. Psionics skill total.
An unsuccessful skill roll, but without a Critical Failure and Reception: The target is aware (to some extent) that his
with a total greater than 10, adds nothing to the future psionic mind is being messed with. The corresponding chart lists the
skill attempt, though the character may keep concentrating. A modifier to the Psionics skill difficulty. Obviously, this does
Critical Failure on the willpower roll or a roll of less than 10 not apply to those dealing with dead or inanimate objects, but
means that the character was interrupted and loses all bo- it is a perfect handicap for a telepath.
nuses garnered to date. The player must specify, before having
her character concentrate, which Psionics skill the bonus will
affect and whether the bonus will be included only in the
activation roll or spread out among the activation and mainte-
• Reception •
nance rolls. (Activation and maintenance rolls do not apply to Difficulty
all Psionics skills.) The bonus cannot be transferred to another Target... Modifier
skill. The maximum bonus a character may get for concentrat- Gets a funny feeling -1
ing is 10 times the number dice (not including pips) the Can make an Perception roll to realize
character has in the Psionics attribute. what’s happening -2
Countenance: Psionicists’ bodies can undergo changes due Can make a search roll to realize what’s
to side effects of their psionic talents. Some go pale or even blue happening -3
with a lack of blood flow to their skin, others shake uncontrolla- Automatically realizes what’s happening -4
bly or foam at the mouth, still others get bulging eyes or swollen Identifies the psychic automatically upon
lolling tongues. The physical shell can react in unpredictable realization (in addition to other modifier) -1
ways to the effects of extrasensory perception. The correspond-

• Link to Target •
Skill Total
Relationship Years Known Modifier
Constant influence (parents, grandparents, spouse, old friends) 10+ years +5
Recent influence (friends, roommates, old enemies) 5–10 years +3
Newer influence (friends, acquaintances) 1–5 years +2
Sporadic influence (on-and-off relationships) variable +2
New acquaintances 2–6 months 0
New faces/only just met, but have talked for a while (at a party, etc.) -2
Personal sight and name recognition (have met in person briefly) -3
Distant sight and name recognition (celebrities never met in person, etc.) -5
Only a name or only a face -8
 Psionics ❖ Page 57

keep her spirit out of her body requires an Easy astral projec-
• Psionics Range • tion roll on subsequent rounds. Failing a roll means that the
spirit automatically shoots back to the body.
Unless otherwise noted in the skill’s description, use How well the character can see (and do other things, listed
this chart to determine the maximum distance to which herein) depends on the success level of the astral projection
the ability can reach. Ranges are given in kilometers. total when the psionic ability is first used — not when it is
For every +1 added to the skill difficulty, the range maintained.
may be increased by one kilometer. If the character rolled exactly the difficulty number, then
she may only perform simple actions (those that don’t require
Skill Adds* Max Range
a skill total) while using the astral projection.
0-2 pips 4 At 1 to 5 points over the difficulty, the character may perform
1D 10 search, investigation and other Knowledge and Perception ac-
2D 15 tions that do not require tools or character interaction at her
2D+1 25 normal skill value as a multi-action with maintaining the form.
At 6 to 9 points over the difficulty, the astral projection may
2D+2 40
perform any action (as a multi-action with maintaining the
3D 60 form) except Psionics that does not need physical contact with
For every +1 pip beyond +3D, add another 60 kilometers another person or thing, such as whispering, charm, con,
to the range. persuasion, dodge (if there is something that can hit the
character), or running.
* To determine the number of skill adds, subtract the
At 10 or more points over the difficulty, the character can do
Psionics die code from the skill die code. anything that she could normally do that does not involve
physical contact or one of the senses the character is deprived
of (taste and touch). This includes psionics that come from the
Basically, when the psionicist succeeds in penetrating the astral projection. Any actions are also at a multi-action with
target’s mind, the target feels funny. It may be something as maintaining the form. The character may also choose to appear
minor as an itch inside the ear, or the funny feeling you get that solid, as long as the form doesn’t move rapidly, but this adds +9
someone is watching you somewhere. It may be more direct, to the maintenance difficulty per round.
allowing the target to make a roll to realize his brain is being The range of an astral projection depends on two things: (1)
picked or even to identify the culprit psionicist. the skill adds of the character’s astral projection skill and (2)
Speed: As most psychic talents are instantaneous in effect, whether the character has an astral anchor or not. Use the
a Psionics skill does not generally take more than one round for “Psionics Range” chart to determine the range (without an
the victim to feel the effect. If a slower speed seems appropriate anchor).
(forcing the character to “reach out” with her mind), the A character with an astral anchor can further increase the
difficulty of the attempt is reduced by 1 for each additional range. An astral anchor is a character (or creature) with whom
round that it takes before the effect reaches the victim. After the character has experienced telepathy or empathy (see their
the initial skill activation, the psychic does not incur a multi- entries herein) within a time period in seconds equal to 50 times
action penalty for using other skills in subsequent rounds the psionic’s astral projection die code (ignoring the pips). For
between the Psionics skill use and its result. example, a character with an astral projection skill of 4D+1
Untrained: Many Psionics skills may be used (or should we would have a time frame of 200 seconds, or a little over 3.75
say “experienced”) even if the character has no dice in the minutes in game time. During that time period, the character
particular skill. As long as the character has at least one die in can project the astral form directly to that character no matter
Psionics, the skills represent latent potential in the character how far away he or she is. Range is ignored, and there is no
— potential that may manifest spontaneously from time to movement between the two places — it is instantaneous.
time. Stressful situations may jolt the character from one The astral projection power may even be maintained past
realm into the next. All actions taken by a character untrained the time limit of the last telepathy use, as long as the character
at the use of the Psionics skills are at +5 to the difficulty. continues to focus on the astral anchor. The form cannot lose
sight of the anchor for more than one round, or it will return to
Psionics Skills the body and contact will be broken.

Astral Projection Empathy

This psychic skill allows the empathic character to sense the
Psychics with astral projection may leave their bodies
emotional state of those around him, to catalogue and identify
behind, wandering the world in spirit form — travelling far
strong emotions. This skill can be useful in negotiation.
more rapidly than possible while confined within their bodies.
The “Mental Defenses” sidebar in the “General Skill Use”
Normally, the form travels from the psionic at a speed equal
chapter describes the difficulty to use this skill. Use the
to the character’s fastest movement rate. It may pass through
“Psionics Range” chart to determine the range. Reference the
walls and people with no impediments. The psionic can see and
“Information Difficulties” chart in the “General Skill Use”
possibly hear and smell (but not taste or touch) whatever is
chapter to figure out the depth of emotion the empath can
around the form. However, since the body is an empty vessel
determine from the target.
while the spirit is traveling, the character can sense nothing
There are many conditions that modify the difficulty of
around her physical form and will need to be protected. A spirit
tracking and identifying the emotions of a specific individual,
that has no body to come home to becomes a ghost.
especially when attempting to sense the emotions of one
To send her spirit out of her body requires a Moderate astral
individual in the midst of a crowd. The accompanying chart
projection roll and performing no other actions that round. To
provides some sample difficulty modifiers.
 Chapter 6 ❖ Page 58

If the character succeeds in the empathy skill attempt,

subtract the target’s resistance or the difficulty from the skill
roll, and modify the next empathy skill total against that target • Empathy and Telepathy •
by half of that number (rounded up). Once in touch with a
target, it becomes easier to go back. See also the interaction difficulty modifiers in the “Men-
Characters may also use this skill in an attempt to sense tal Defenses” sidebar in the “General Skill Use” chapter.
strong emotions even days after the person experiencing the Difficulty
emotion has left the area. Strong emotions sometimes leave Condition Modifier
psychic echoes, and a skilled empath may pick up on these. Target experiencing intense
This requires a Difficult skill total, with the difficulty number thoughts/emotions -3
increased by +2 for every day that passes following the emo- User experiencing intense thoughts/emotions +3
tional release. Target alone -3
People within 15 meters of the target:
Far-sensing A few people +5
This ability allows the psychic character to use his senses at A group +10
a range not normally possible, to hear, see, smell, taste, or feel A crowd +15
what is happening in distant places. Activating the skill for one A horde +25
sense calls for a Moderate skill total. Maintaining the skill People within 15 meters of the user:
requires a Very Easy skill total in each consecutive round. For A few people +5
each additional sense, add +5 to the activation and the main- A group +10
tenance difficulties. Lower the activation and maintenance A crowd +15
difficulties by -5 if a focus for the effort — such as a specific item A horde +25
or person known to the character — is present at the targeted Target(s) not visible to the naked eye +1
location. Surrounding conditions may also affect what the Read surface thoughts/emotions 0
character can perceive, from no modifier for an environment Read deeper thoughts/emotions +3
that does not hamper the senses in use to +20 for a completely Broadcasting/influencing a single thought/emotion to:
restrictive environment, such as trying to employ sight utter A few people +15
darkness. A group +20
Unlike with astral projection, the character is somewhat A crowd +25
aware of things that are happening around his body. Any A horde +35
harmful actions made against the far-sensing character imme- Points above
diately recalls him to his physical surroundings. Use the Amount of Information Difficulty
“Psionics Range” chart to determine the range. Strongest emotion; strongest
How much the character can sense depends on how well the surface thought 0
player rolled. Mixed strong emotions; several
Reference the “Observation Difficulties” chart in the “Gen- surface thoughts 1-5
eral Skill Use” chapter to decide how much information the Recent surface thoughts; plans for
character gleans from sending his senses out. The gamemaster near future; mixed strong emotions 6-10
should consider the observation difficulty level as the maximum Detect and distinguish strong and subtle
number of points over the difficulty that the character needs to emotions/thoughts 11-15
get that amount of detail in that round. If the skill total equals Guarded thoughts/emotions; plans for
the difficulty, the character only receives extremely distorted farther future; basic idea of causes for
and almost unusable information from his sense or senses. thoughts/emotions 16-20
Deep secrets; more details on causes for
Healing thoughts/emotions 21 or more
The character can soothe the injuries of herself and others.
The healer may not give back a target more his maximum Body
Points. A character may use this even on another already 25% to 90% (rounded up) of the target’s total Body Points.
healed with the medicine skill. (Take half of this total, rounded up, if the hero is only reattach-
The skill works automatically, but the character must be ing a limb.) The target gets the part back and 10% of the Body
able to see or touch and be within a few meters of the target. Point total generated with the skill. If the total is not met, the
The target receives back a number of Body Points equal to the target either gets just the Body Points back or gets part of a
healing total. Any general Psionics modifiers the character limb and 25% of the total generated. This skill cannot bring
wishes to add that reduce the difficulty instead add to the dead people back to life.
character’s healing total. If the psychic character rolls a Criti- Healing can be straining; the character must wait a number
cal Failure, the healing skill instead does the skill total (with of seconds equal to the amount of Body Points regained (not the
the Critical Failure and the highest roll taken away) in damage healing skill total) before using the skill again. Thus, if the
to the target, with a minimum of 1 point of damage. This healer returned 5 Body Points to a character, the healer would
damage may be healed in any way, though armor does not have to wait five seconds, or one round, before using the skill
protect against it. again. The healer may reduce this time by taking either
With a sufficiently high total rolled, which includes a damage herself or reducing the total Body Points she can heal,
Critical Success on the Wild Die, the healer may regenerate at a rate of 1 point for each second by which the time is reduced.
lost body parts. Depending on the size of the missing part, the The damage to the healer is in addition to any taken from
minimum total needed to regrow the part is anywhere from feedback, and it can only be healed naturally (not by the
 Psionics ❖ Page 59

• Medium • • Protection and Strike •

Difficulty
Target Size Difficulty
Condition Modifier
Person, mailbox 5
Psychic at former home of spirit
Few people, car 10
or at place of death -3
Group, bus 15
Psychic has a possession of the spirit -2
Crowd, airplane 20
Psychic knows spirit’s name -2
Horde, small cruise ship 30
Spirit dead less than one year -2
Spirit was murdered +2 Difficulty
Spirit has been contacted previously +2 Range Modifier
(per contact) Self 0
Spirit dead for several years +2 Up to a few meters +5
(for every 5 years in the past) Up to half a kilometer +10
Up to a kilometer +15
Up to several kilometers +20
healing or medicine skills, nor can armor, a special ability, or Difficulty
the defense skill protect against it). Duration of Defense Modifier
1 round 0
Medium Several rounds +5
This skill allows the psychic to attempt to contact the spirits 1 hour +10
of the dead. This skill is not easy to use, for the dead do not Several hours +15
enjoy being disturbed. Characters must make a Very Difficult 1 day +20
skill roll to contact the spirit in question. Although one round
devoted to this action is needed to activate the skill, no
get that amount of information in one minute spent with the
maintenance roll is required. Note that that first round does
spirit. If the skill total equals the difficulty, the medium only
not count towards the concentration or preparation modifier.
gets evasive answers.
There is no range for this skill.
The level of success achieved on the roll determines how
long the two may remain in communication. For every 5
Protection
points over the difficulty, the character may speak for one The character can defend herself and others against physi-
minute. The psychic may double this time limit with a +5 to cal injury. The difficulty depends on the number of people the
the base difficulty. The accompanying chart lists modifiers to character wishes to defend, how far away the character wants
the difficulty roll of the psychic character. Difficulty modifiers the defense, and how long the character wants the psychic
can be cumulative. armor, shield, or bubble up. See the accompanying table for
Refer to the “Information Difficulties” chart in the “General details. Any general Psionics modifiers the character wishes to
Skill Use” chapter to figure out how much information the add that reduce the difficulty instead add to the character’s
character can get from the spirit. The gamemaster should protection total. The psychic armor offers an armor value equal
consider the information difficulty level as the maximum to the protection skill value against all types of damage, except
number of points over the difficulty that the character needs to those that directly target the mind. The player adds one-half
(rounded up) of any points above
the difficulty as a bonus to the
protection armor value.

Psychometry
This ability allows the charac-
ter to sense information about a
person, place, or event by looking
at an object connected to it. This
skill can be a useful tool in inves-
tigations. It requires a successful
Moderate psychometry skill total
to activate it. After initiating the
skill, the psychic must focus on
the object; concentrate on the de-
sired location, event, or indi-
vidual; and make another skill
roll. The accompanying chart
shows sample results for various
focus skill totals.
Karl Waller

The object must be within sight

or touch of the psychometrician.
The gamemaster should increase
the activation difficulty for ob-
 Chapter 6 ❖ Page 60

determined as if the character was throwing the item with her

• Psychometry • hand, though she includes no bonus for Physique or lifting. The
gamemaster may add a bonus to damage for a particularly high
Result Skill Total telekinesis roll, as a reflection of an extra boost the character
Character receives vague, dreamlike imparted to the object. Long range for the throw is a roll of the
impressions of recent activities telekinesis skill in meters (or 3.5 times the telekinesis die code,
involving strong emotions 14 rounded up, in meters, for gamemasters who don’t want the
In addition to above, psychic receives a additional roll).
snapshot-quality image of the person The object must be in the psychic’s line of sight for the
most closely associated with object 16 psychic to pick it up, but need not remain in the line of sight
Can register the gist of an event and the afterwards. Use the “Psionics Range” chart to determine the
number of people involved. If concentrating distance a character can move the item.
on person, can learn general information
on subject, like age, emotional state, Telepathy
personality, etc. 18
Can clearly visualize event, or the actions of This skill grants the psychic the ability to read people’s
the individual for the last twenty-four hours 21 minds.
Psychic understands the context of all The “Mental Defenses” sidebar in the “General Skill Use”
interactions at the event, or into the plans chapter describes the difficulty to use this skill. Modifiers are
and motives of the person when last in also included in the “Empathy and Telepathy” and the “Finder
possession of the object. Also receives vague Modifiers” sidebars in this chapter. Use the “Psionics Range”
impression of owner’s whereabouts. 24 chart to determine the range. Refer to the “Information Diffi-
culties” chart in the “General Skill Use” chapter to figure out
how much information the character can get from the target.
jects that aren’t in the same room as the character — the Telepathy also can be employed to detect lies. The difficulty
farther away, the higher the increase. is the same as a normal telepathy attempt, but use the “Lie
Detecting” sidebar to determine the results.
Strike If the character succeeds in the telepathy skill attempt,
The character can cause others physical harm, which might subtract the target’s resistance or the difficulty from the skill
take the form of a searing blast or an ethereal sword. The roll, and modify the next telepathy skill total against that
difficulty depends on the number of targets or the size of the target by half of that number (rounded up). Once in touch with
target, and the range. It may also include any other normal a target, it becomes easier to go back.
combat modifiers the gamemaster wishes to add. See the
accompanying table for details. The amount of injury done
equals a separate roll of the strike skill. The player adds one-
half (rounded up) of any points above the difficulty as a bonus
• Telekinesis •
Difficulty
to the damage total.
Action Modifier
Levitate an item 0
Telekinesis Levitate multiple items +4
This ability allows the character to move things with her (per item)
mind simply by concentrating. This skill requires an Easy Simple control of a small object +3
telekinesis skill roll to initiate, modified depending on what the (bend a spoon, flip a switch)
character wants to do. The accompanying chart provides some Fine control of a small object +15
suggested difficulty modifiers. To keep an object elevated (type on a keyboard, pour a drink)
necessitates an additional skill roll at one-half, rounded up, of Small item (less than 5 kilograms) 0
the activation roll. To throw an object, the character first picks Larger items +1
it up and then, as a multi-action or in the next round, she uses (per 5 kilograms)
her throwing skill to direct the object at a target. Damage is

• Lie Detecting •
Points above
Difficulty Description
0–10 Can detect outright lies (“I didn’t kill him.” The subject did.)
11–15 Can detect half-truths or omissions (“I didn’t kill him with that knife.” The subject didn’t use this
particular knife; she used another one.)
16–20 Can weigh each fact for the truth (“He was threatening me, and I was afraid he was going to attack me.”
The subject was actually only intimidated slightly by him, not afraid of an attack at all.)
21+ Can figure out what really happened based on what the subject says.
 CHAPTER SEVEN

• Magic •
This chapter covers the ability to manipulate the paranor- Physique attribute would be an alteration spell, as would one
mal forces of the universe for extraordinary effects. The Magic that converts a simple flame into an exploding fireball.
skills are available only to characters with the Magic Extra- Alteration must work with things that are already there. An
normal attribute. alteration spell can only modify existing characteristics. It could
Gamemasters are discouraged from allowing characters to be used to change a person into a bat, but it would not give the
have dice in both Magic and Psionics, but it is possible, person the ability to fly; conjuration would also be necessary to
especially if the character has several Disadvantages that give the character the Flight Special Ability, something he didn’t
show up frequently in each session. have before. It could also enhance, reduce, or restrict a character’s
Although this chapter discusses guidelines for creating existing skills.
magical spells, gamemasters may still include unexplainable
magic. Since unexplainable magic doesn’t have to be explained Apportation
— it just is — its use is out of the players’ characters’ control Apportation governs magic involving movement. For ex-
— only the gamemaster knows how it works. ample, a telekinesis spell, by which a character could “grab” an
object and move it using magic, would be an apportation spell.
Obtaining Access to Magic Calling a dagger from a box at home to your hand is apporta-
There are only two ways to get magical abilities. The first is tion, as is teleporting yourself to another place. Apportation
to put dice in the Magic attribute at character creation. can also cause a person or creature to move from one place to
The second is to obtain your gamemaster’s permission after another under its own power. Spells that restrict movement
play has begun. If you can come up with a “reason” for your could also be apportation spells.
character to learn or gain psionic abilities (such as they were Apportation is not conjuration — the object or the creature
latent or were gained through a gift from a supernatural being) summoned is in existence at the time the spell is cast, the
and your gamemaster agrees, then you may purchase them for apportation spell simply “calls” the object or creature.
your character. The cost to get the initial 1D in Magic is 20 Characters or creatures may either be apported by compul-
Character Points. After that, it is 10 times the number in front sion (and come under their own power), moved, or teleported.
of the “D” to improve this attribute by one pip. You must still When the apportation spell uses compulsion, the skill total is
purchase Magic skill pips separately. compared to the target’s willpower or Presence in much the
same way a persuasion attempt would be used — the target’s
attitude toward being apported must be assessed, and the spell
Learning Magic Skills works as if it were “persuading” the target.
Magic skills may be learned between adventures, like When the target is apported, the summoning spell lifts up the
regular skills. The cost for a Magic skill, in Character Points, target and brings him to the caster. The target can try to avoid
equals twice the normal cost for gaining or improving a normal the effect of the spell (using his Physique or lifting against the
skill. This cost is doubled again if a teacher — simply another spell total to break free).
magic user with the skill at a higher level — is not available to
instruct the character. A character may learn or improve one
Magic skill after each adventure. • Untrained Magic •
Characters might have spurts of inspiration in areas in
Magic Skills which they have no training. For those who have some
All spells require one or more of these skills in order to cast training (that is, pips or dice in any Magic skill), the
them. When casting a spell, the character generates a Magic difficulty increases by +5 to cast a spell using a skill in which
skill total and tries to beat the spell’s difficulty. If the skill total they have no experience. For those who have no training
equals or exceeds the difficulty, then the spell works (to a (that is, no pips or dice in any Magic skill but they do have
greater or lesser extent). dice in the Magic attribute), the difficulty increases by +5
for all spell casting and the character must include one
Alteration additional Negative Spell Total Modifier (casting time in-
crease, gesture, community, etc.) worth 2 or more. This
Alteration governs magic involving change. Change means additional modifier does not reduce the difficulty of the
taking something that exists and modifying it or mutating it spell, regardless of its level.
into something else. A magic spell used to increase a character’s
 Chapter 7 ❖ Page 62

When the target is teleported, the skill total has to overcome use the spell at this range exactly. Ranges are given in meters
the target’s mass value. (Look up the target’s mass on the and in distance values (as read on the “Spell Measures” table).
“Spell Measures” table.) The target can resist by rolling her Cast Time: This value, given in both real time, is how long
Physique or lifting adding it to her mass value (theoretically, the character must spend creating the special effect. During
she is trying to make herself harder for the spell to grasp). If the the period of cast time, the character may be performing
skill total is higher than the mass value, the character is related actions (like concentrating, performing rituals, ar-
teleported. This goes for self-teleportation as well (though the ranging components, etc.), but no other skills can be used
character is not likely to resist). during the cast time.
Modifiers: Any other modifiers, including components and
Conjuration expanded effects, that influence the spell’s effect and adjust its
Conjuration magic involves producing something from noth- difficulty.
ing. A spell that produces gold out of thin air is conjuration, as Description: The description tells what skill is needed to
is one that imbues an inanimate object with animate features create the spell, what the spell does, what any success levels
(such as creating a stone man and giving it the attributes of a mean, etc. The description may be very short, or it may include
person). tables and descriptive effects.
Conjuration is used for only one purpose: creation of some-
thing out of nothing. For example, if you wanted to animate a Using Spells and Their Effects
plant and give it the power of speech, you would use conjura- Roll the spell skill for the spell in question to get a skill total.
tion — you would have to “create” in it the ability to talk and If the total is higher than the difficulty number, the spell has
the Knowledge and Perception necessary to speak. Conjuration succeeded and the caster may use the spell’s effect.
is not used to bring things from one place to another — that is Remember that players may spend Character and Fate
apportation. Points to make sure they have sufficiently high skill totals to
cast the spell.
Divination
Divination governs magic involving obtaining knowledge. Targeting the Spell
For example, scrying spells, “far-sight” spells, and “speak Many spell require separate skill totals when they are used.
with the dead” types of spells are all covered by divination. The most common of these are combat effects that act like
Spells that block the obtaining of knowledge are also divina- weapons.
tion spells. If the spell latches onto a target (such as a lightning bolt or
telekinesis spell), the player and gamemaster must decide
Characteristics of a Spell what skill (such as marksmanship or melee weapons) to use to
There are eight characteristics of a spell. hit, if it’s not already built into the spell, as well as the
Skill Used: The skill selected is the one necessary to cast appropriate defense, if any. Attack spells, for example, would
the spell. use standard combat difficulties and modifiers for their de-
Difficulty: The difficulty is the skill total a character must fense. Common sense should be used to determine which skill
generate to get a spell to work. and defense to use.
Effect: The effect describes briefly what the spell does For example, with an illusionary fireball spell, the game-
(amount of damage, amount of protection, distance moved, master decides that the caster has to generate a marksman-
etc.), plus the value of the effect. ship skill total to hit his target. Even though the fireball will
Duration: Duration specifies how long a special effect will go where he wants it to, there still has to be some way to
last. The duration is given in both “real” time (minutes, determine whether or not anybody is hit by it.
seconds, hours, etc.) and in a time value (as read on the “Time This keeps effects from being automatic “killers.” Granted,
and Distance” table). most spells won’t need this — a spell that a character uses to
Range: The maximum distance the effect travels from the take over a target’s mind needs no “to hit” total; it is just the
magic user’s casting location is called the range. (If the magic effect versus the target’s willpower or Presence.
user moves, the starting point of the range does not go with Casting a spell and using its targeting or activation skill is
her.) In most cases, the character using the spell can only use not considered a multi-action. However, if the character
it at this range or less. Often, the caster can choose the exact wishes to cast an attack spell, which requires a targeting skill
range when the effect is used. Sometimes, the character must roll, and fire a gun in the same round, then the multi-action
modifier of -1D (for taking two actions in the same round) is
applied to the casting roll, the spell targeting roll, and the
weapon targeting roll.
In general, any spell that works like a weapon requires this
• Other Magic Systems • kind of control, and a few others might. Gamemasters in doubt
If you’re allowing magic users created with another D6 may wish to assign a targeting skill check in addition to the
magic system to be transferred to this one, you and your spell skill difficulty.
players may find it easier to rely on the rules from that
version for those characters rather than switching to the D6 Applying the Effect
Adventure rules. The effect is applied differently depending on its purpose.
However, characters using other magic rules may not
Skill Simulations: Some spells provide the character with
rely on the D6 Adventure rules — and vice versa. Think of
skills or bonuses to skills or attributes. For example, a “heal-
each magic rules set as a different and distinct way people
ing” spell might give a character a certain number of dice in
manipulate the esoteric forces of the universe.
medicine, and the result of using the spell’s skill gift would be
 Magic ❖ Page 63

Just jot down the basics. Follow along with “Magister Mike”
(see the sidebar) for examples.
• Adjusting and Readjusting •
As you design a spell, remember that you may go back to Basic Aspects
the beginning and adjust any aspects you include, so that
Use the “Spell Worksheet” to keep track of the Spell Total
you can get the Spell Total (and the spell difficulty) that you
and all modifiers, aspects, and your own ideas.
want. So, if you decide that you want to add charges to your
wand of power but you don’t want the higher difficulty, you Starting Spell Total and
can go back and lower the range, increase the casting time,
or tinker with another aspect, until you have a Spell Total Starting Negative Spell Total Modifiers
you like. Most Spell Totals begin at zero, but gamemasters who want
magic less common and spells to be more difficult to cast should
have a greater starting Spell Total. Negative Spell Total
compared to the normal difficulty for using medicine on a Modifiers always start at zero.
target. Any attribute bonuses affect the skills and specializa- Effect
tions under them, and any skill bonuses add to the specializa-
tions under them (if the character has any). One you decide what the spell will do — damage, protection,
Damage: The damage from any spell that causes injury is skill bonus, etc. — determine its corresponding value using the
magical in nature, of course. Thus, creatures and beings that “Die Code” table or “Spell Measures” table — or both, if the
are not normally affected by standard weapons can be harmed. spell is intended to do more than one thing (such as create an
General Effects: When the spell offers a “general” effect, animated golem).
and thus has no skill associated with it, the gamemaster will Here are some guidelines: Damage spells affect Body Points.
have to make up levels of success for that spell. A solid success The average number of Body Points for a significant character is
of 1 to 5 points over the difficulty usually gets the spell to do around 30 (less for a minor nonplayer character; more for
exactly what the caster wants the spell to do. A minimal stronger characters). If you want to hurt someone, 6D (which has
success, with the roll equal to the difficulty, means that the a value of 18) is a safe bet. If you want to kill someone outright,
spell was slightly off or less than perfect. A superior success of 10D (which has a value of 30) is usually necessary. Protection
6 points over the difficulty reveals that the spell worked better spells work similarly, though, obviously, they reduce the amount
than usual; at this level, the gamemaster might even provide of damage taken. Checking out weapons damage values can help
a bonus to its use. you determine the number of dice you need for your spell.
Spells that are used to increase, decrease, create, or otherwise
affect attributes or skills are determined the same way. For
Artifacts and Legends example, a spell to take over someone’s mind would give the
Every once in a while, the gamemaster will come up with a caster a persuasion of +3D or more with a value of at least 14.
special effect that is either too powerful for game balance, or Some spells effects are best reflected by a Special Ability or
she just won’t want to explain how the special effect works for a Disadvantage. With a Special Ability, the spell effect’s value
some reason. In that case, the gamemaster should use the equals the Special Ability cost times the number of levels in
“artifacts and legends” rule. that Special Ability, minus the cost of any Limitations and
The gamemaster can simply assign values to a spell and state their levels. With a Disadvantage, the spell effect’s value
that the special effect is “legendary” or part of an “artifact.” It equals the cost of the Disadvantage.
only works the way it does because the gamemaster says it does. Spell effects that don’t fall into any category should be given
She can assign any side effects, rules, or whatever to the special a difficulty and the circumstance in which the difficulty can be
artifact because it is a truly special case. beat. The difficulty equals the effect’s value.

Precalculated Spells
Several common spells are included as examples at the end • Die Codes •
of this chapter. You can use them right away or as inspiration Values are cumulative, so, if the spell effect has a die code
for inventing your own. of 3D+1, the spell effect’s value is 10. The type of character-
istic the spell affects also modifies the spell effect’s value.
Building the Spell Round up fractions.
As you create each effect, you will keep track of a Spell Total Die Code Value
— certain elements, like the value and the range of the effect, 1 pip 1
cause the total to go up (i.e., make the effect harder to “cast”), 2 pips 2
while other elements, like a longer casting time, make the total 1 die 3 per whole die
go down (i.e., make the effect easier to “cast”). Characteristic Type Value Multiplier
You will need a paper and pencil and an active imagination Damage 0
for this part, so get ready. A calculator might also help. Protection 0
Stand-alone die code/skill/attribute 0
Determine the Desired Effect Non-Extranormal skill modifier x1.5
At this point, write out on paper what you want the effect to Non-Extranormal attribute modifier x2
do — basically. What sort of effect are you trying to create? What Extranormal skill modifier x2
range will you need? Will it need charges? How long will the Extranormal attribute modifier x3
effect last? All things along these lines should be considered.
 Chapter 7 ❖ Page 64

the range value, then the special effect travels from you to your
• Skills and Sample Effects • target in one second. Why? Because the speed value is a velocity
value.
Here are some typical effects associated with each of the You can select a lower speed value. Its corresponding
Magic skills. measure indicates how quickly the spell’s effect moves.
Alteration: modifier to a skill or attribute; additional To see how long it takes the effect to reach a given target,
levels of a Special Ability the target already has; new subtract the speed value from the range value to the target (not
Limitations on an existing Special Ability; damage modi- the range value of the spell). Read the result as a value on the
fier; armor value modifier; transmutation. This spell does “Spell Measures” table. The measurement is the number of
not affect movement skills. seconds it takes for the special effect to go from you to your target.
Apportation: weight of material moved; distance moved; Example: A spell called projective telepathy allows one
speed at which target moves; modifiers to movement skills character to send thoughts to another. The range value of the
and Move. special effect is an incredible 30 (one million meters, or one
Conjuration: amount of material created; new or stand- thousand kilometers). The speed value, however, is only 20
alone skills or attributes (skills or attributes that do not (10,000 meters per second, or 10 kilometers per second). The
modify an existing skill or attribute); Disadvantages; new target is 400 kilometers away (a value of 28). The range of 28
Special Abilities; skills and attributes included in conjured - 20 (the speed value) gives a result of 8 — it takes 40 seconds
items; damage or armor value not based on an existing for the effect to reach the target.
value. Sometimes, you’ll use a lower speed to keep the Spell Total
Divination: time in the past or future; stand-alone lower. However, quite often, especially with “attack” spells,
investigation, search, or tracking skills to discern specific you’ll need that instantaneous effect. If you build an “attack”
information. spell with a lower speed, you have to be aware that the special
effect will be less “accurate” — that is, the target will be able
to get out of the way much easier.
If the spell creates something, refer to the “Spell Measures” The difference between the speed value and the range value
table to determine the spell effect’s value for the desired of the target is added to the target’s dodge, Reflexes, or defense
amount of weight. Find the desired weight in kilograms, then difficulty when getting out of the way of a slow attack. So, in the
read over to the corresponding value under the Val. column. previous example, not only would it take a value of 8 (40
Most offensive and defensive spells have a weight value of zero, seconds) to reach the target, the target would get a bonus of +8
but the gamemaster may require exceptionally heavy-duty to dodge on the round that the spell’s effect reaches the area
spells to have a larger weight value. where the caster first believe the target to be.
The spell designer may chose to have certain characteristics Having a higher speed value than the range value is of no
of the spell (such as a golem’s Physique and Body Points) be benefit.
determined by the points by which the spell skill beats the spell Add the speed value onto the Spell Total and keep going.
difficulty. (Subtract the spell difficulty from the spell skill total
to determine the number of points.) Any attributes figured this
way have a die code equal to the points above the difficulty
Duration
(minimum of 1D), and the Body Points equal 10 plus the points Duration indicates how long the effect lasts or continues to act
above the difficulty. There is no cost for Body Points and the upon a target. To determine how long the duration is, find the
first attribute decided with this method; each additional at- time value on the “Spell Measures” table and add it to the Spell
tribute ups the Spell Total by 1. Total. List the time measure with the spell, leaving it as seconds
A spell may contain more than one effect. Each effect is
determined separately and added to the total.
Once you decide on an spell effect’s value, write it down.
This is the first element of your Spell Total.
• Using the Spell Measures Table •
To determine the value for a measure, find the amount
Range (in seconds, kilograms, meters, or meters per round) in the
Determine how far away you want the caster to be able to “Measure” column. Then read across to the number in the
affect things with the spell. Then read the measurement (in “Val.” (value) column.
meters) on the “Spell Measures” table to get a range value. Add If the desired amount is greater than one number but
the value to your Spell Total. less than another, either lower your amount or select the
Unless otherwise specified, you can use the spell to “target” bigger number.
anywhere within that range. You can “target” a spot or a Use the “Measure Conversions” chart if you have a
mobile target (i.e., a person, etc.). If the caster hit a moving measure in a different unit, would like to get it to seconds,
target within the range of the effect, and the target leaves the kilograms, meters, or meters per round, and you don’t want
range of the spell before it ends, the effect disappears (unless to do the math before using the “Spell Measures” table. For
you use the focus optional aspect, described herein). Even if the example, if you want a spell to last for one hour, you look up
target comes back into range, the spell has to be created again. the number of hours in the “Measure” column. This gives
you an hour value of 0. To convert this to seconds, which is
Speed what is needed for the spell duration value, add 18 to the
How fast does the special effect get from the caster to the hour value (which, in this case, is 0). If you look up the
target? The speed value determines this. corresponding measure for 18, you’ll see that it’s 4,000,
First, look at the range value (above). That is the maximum which is close enough to the number of seconds in one hour
distance the effect travels. If you select a speed value equal to (that is, 3,600 seconds).
 Magic ❖ Page 65

• Spell Measures • • Benchmark •

Val. Measure Val. Measure Val. Measure Value Time Weight Distance
0 1 35 10 million 70 100 trillion 0 Second 1 kilo 1 meter
1 1.5 36 15 million 71 150 trillion 2 Tallest Human
2 2.5 37 25 million 72 250 trillion 3 Human baby
3 3.5 38 40 million 73 400 trillion 4 Round
4 5 39 60 million 74 600 trillion 7 Stop sign
5 10 40 100 million 75 1 quadrillion 9 Minute Mailbox
6 15 41 150 million 76 1.5 quadrillion 10 Human Football field
7 25 42 250 million 77 2.5 quadrillion male
8 40 43 400 million 78 4 quadrillion 11 Lion City block
9 60 44 600 million 79 6 quadrillion 12 Brown bear
10 100 45 1 billion 80 10 quadrillion 13 Street light Empire State Blg.
11 150 46 1.5 billion 81 15 quadrillion 15 Small car Kilometer
12 250 47 2.5 billion 82 25 quadrillion 16 Large car Mile
13 400 48 4 billion 83 40 quadrillion 17 Elephant
14 600 49 6 billion 84 60 quadrillion 18 Hour
15 1,000 50 10 billion 85 100 quadrillion 20 Empty truck
16 1,500 51 15 billion 86 150 quadrillion 22 City bus
17 2,500 52 25 billion 87 250 quadrillion 23 Marathon race
18 4,000 53 40 billion 88 400 quadrillion 24 Loaded truck
19 6,000 54 60 billion 89 600 quadrillion 25 Day Blue whale
20 10,000 55 100 billion 90 1 quintillion 27 Boeing 747
21 15,000 56 150 billion 91 1.5 quintillion 28 C5A Galaxy
22 25,000 57 250 billion 92 2.5 quintillion 29 Week Tramp
23 40,000 58 400 billion 93 4 quintillion freighter
24 60,000 59 600 billion 94 6 quintillion 30 Destroyer Length of
25 100,000 60 1 trillion 95 10 quintillion Great Britain
26 150,000 61 1.5 trillion 96 15 quintillion 32 Month Six-flat Paris to Moscow
27 250,000 62 2.5 trillion 97 25 quintillion building
28 400,000 63 4 trillion 98 40 quintillion 33 Fully loaded New York to L.A.
29 600,000 64 6 trillion 99 60 quintillion train
30 1 million 65 10 trillion 100 100 quintillion 34 London to Tokyo
31 1.5 million 66 15 trillion 38 Year Loaded small Circumference
32 2.5 million 67 25 trillion oil tanker of Earth
33 4 million 68 40 trillion 39 Battleship
34 6 million 69 60 trillion 41 Aircraft
carrier
43 Empire State
Building

• Measure Conversions •
Measure is in units of Value Modifier Measure is in units of Value Modifier
Seconds 0 Meters per round (5 sec.) 0
Rounds (5 sec.) +4 MPH +2
Minutes +9 KMH +1
Hours +18 Meters 0
Days +25 Feet -3
Weeks +29 Kilometers +15
Months +32 Miles +16
Years +38 Kilograms 0
Pounds -2
Tons +15
Add the value modifier to the measure’s value to determine what it is in seconds, meters
per round, meters, or kilograms, as appropriate to the conversion.
 Chapter 7 ❖ Page 66

or converting it to rounds, minutes, hours, or whatever. Area Effect

The minimum duration for any spell is 1 second (or zero
The effect of the spell travels out from a target. Add the area
value). Since the duration begins from the moment the spell is
effect modifier to the Spell Total.
cast, the duration may have to be quite long, especially if it
Reduce the effect by -1 (pip, point of damage, etc.) per full
takes a while for the spell to travel to its target (determined by
meter for characters outside of ground zero (within two meters
a lower speed value than its range value, above).
of target). For example, a spell with a damaging effect and an
Many spells, especially combat spells, have the minimum
area effect with a four-meter radius would do the full damage
duration because their effects are permanent. For example, a
to between zero and two meters from the target, 1 point less to
damage effect may have a duration of one second, but if it
characters between two and three meters, and 2 points less to
actually causes damage: that damage lasts until healed. An
characters between three and four meters.
effect that is used to open a door opens the door and unless
Two-dimensional circle (a few centimeters thick): +1 per
someone or something closes the door at the end or the
half-meter radius.
duration, it stays open.
Three-dimensional sphere: +5 per meter radius.
Casting Time One alternate shape: +1 to area effect modifier.
Several alternate shapes (specific one chosen at cast time):
The last of the mandatory elements is casting time. This is the +3 to area effect modifier.
time the character must spend preparing the spell and perform- Fluid shape (shape may change any time during spell’s
ing any optional modifiers (such as rituals, concentration, and so duration): +6 to area effect modifier.
forth). This time must be spent every time the character casts the
spell. The casting time for a spell cannot be rushed. Change Target
The minimum casting time is zero (one second). Unlike the
The caster can move the spell’s effect to a new target. Add
other mandatory elements, casting time adds to the Negative
the change target modifier to the Spell Total.
Spell Total Modifiers.
Only spells with durations of 2.5 seconds or longer may
Some Notes Regarding Casting Time: For noncombat
include this modifier. Changing a target requires a new target-
spell, or for spell that will be built into charges (see the
ing roll and, if done within the same round, incurs a multi-
optional modifier “charges”), high casting times are good. The
action penalty. If the old target moves out of range before a new
character can spend some time during or between adventures
one is acquired, the spell ends.
preparing and casting the spell and then release it using an
Change target: +5 per target (including first).
activation.
Change target with multi-target (multi-target aspect pur-
If a character attempts to cast a spell over several days or
chased separately): the change target modifier applies to each
several weeks, the physical and mental strain will take their
multi-target (ex., three change targets with four multi-targets
toll on the magic user. When performing a lengthy ritual, the
is +60 — +5 x 3 changes x 4 targets).
caster must make a stamina roll against a difficulty of 5
increased by +2 for each day the character continues the Charges
casting time past the first day. The gamemaster may have the
character roll each day, or once at the end. Failure of a stamina The caster fixes the spell in his mind or in an object or
roll means that the character could not maintain the ritual or another person. Add the charges modifier (see below for deter-
concentration, and the casting of the spell fails. mining it) to the Spell Total.
The caster need only spend the time to cast the spell once,
Summary but if there is a targeting or activation spell or requirement,
then this must be done each time. The charge goes off in the
To this point, you have created a basic spell. It has a set round it was activated.
effect, a set duration, and a set casting time. It may be used at Charges: Look up the number of charges as a measure on
any range up to the maximum and can only affect one specific the “Spell Measures” table; the corresponding value is the cost
target (person, tree, car, spot of ground, etc.). There are no of putting the charges in.
other controls or modifications. Wards: If the charge is activated by a certain set of situa-
If you don’t wish to go any further, add the Negative Spell tions (specified at spell casting) — such a phrase, a condition,
Total Modifiers to the Spell Total and the divide the total by 2, or a time limit — then the charge costs an additional 10%
rounding up. This is the difficulty to cast the spell. See “Final (round up). Should a specific skill be able to circumvent the
Spell Total” later in this chapter for restrictions on the Spell ward, the reduction equals -1 for a difficulty of 20 and an
Total. Then decide which Magic skill is necessary to cast the additional -1 for each 1 point below the starting difficulty. (So
spell. Write these last few things on the Spell Worksheet, and a difficulty of 15 gives a reduction of -6.) Only spells that have
you’re done. a speed less than the range (and therefore take at least one
Of course, there’s so much else you can do with the spell... round before the effect occurs) may include wards that skills
can circumvent.
Optional Aspects
The caster may not care about having any options but Community
without optional aspects, the spell is pretty limited. The spell requires helpers in order for it to be created. Use
With all optional aspects, the caster must define exactly the accompanying tables to determine the amount to add to the
what that particular spell calls for. Negative Spell Total Modifiers.
For those optional aspects that include a special roll (such Gamemasters may allow magic users to call upon the aid of
as certain levels of gestures or incantations), the roll is made others to help them with particularly difficult pre-existing
at the end of the casting time and it does not count as a multi- spells (spells that the magic user herself did not come up with).
action, though the roll must be modified if the magic user is The number of helpers determines the basic community
attempting some other, non-casting-related action in the round. modifier. The “Number of Helpers” is a range of helpers the
 Magic ❖ Page 67

string of words correctly) using their average skill level (2D+2),

• Community • the actual difficulty would be 22 (11 + 14). For this reason, it
is best if large groups only participate by performing simple
Number Community Difficulty actions. If any community group or member of a community
of Helpers Modifier Modifier fails in his skill total, the entire special effect does not work.
1 -1 0 If the group is a small one (under six), or if the community role
2 -2 +2 is being performed by player characters or specific gamemaster-
3-4 -3 +4 controlled characters, however, the skill totals can be made
5-6 -4 +6 separately. No difficulty modifier should be added to the commu-
7-10 -5 +8 nity difficulty when the skill totals are figured separately.
11-15 -6 +10 The “Community” table is based on the “Spell Measures”
16-25 -7 +12 table, so you can extend the modifiers accordingly. To get the
26-40 -8 +14 difficulty modifier, multiply the “base modifier” by 2 and
41-60 -9 +16 subtract 2 from that. For example, a spell that use 1,000
61-100 -10 +18 apprentices would yield a bonus of +15. The difficulty modifier
would be +28 (15 x 2 = 30 -2 = 28).
• Helper Participation •
Participation Components
Helpers perform … Multiplier The spell requires one or more items in order for the effect
Simple actions 0.5 to go off. Use the accompanying table to determine the amount
Difficulty 11 action 1 to add to the Negative Spell Total Modifiers.
Difficulty 13 action 1.5
Difficulty 15 action 2 Concentration
Difficulty 17 action 2.5
The caster needs to devote his complete attention to the
Difficulty 21 action 3
creation of the spell in order for it to work. The length of
concentration must be equal to or less than the cast time. The
minimum concentration time is 1.5 seconds.
character has assisting him. The character must specify when Concentration: Use the “Spell Measures” table to determine
the spell is created exactly how many helpers are necessary the corresponding value for concentration time measure; di-
(along with what they must do and any skills associated with vide this value by 3 (round up) to determine the amount to add
those actions). to the Negative Spell Total Modifiers. Add the concentration
The participation of the helpers is determined by what the modifier to 6 to get the willpower difficulty, which the charac-
helper actually has to do during the cast time. Decide how ter rolls at the end of the concentration time. If the character
much help the helpers lend (that is, how difficult their tasks fails the willpower roll, the spell fails. A Critical Failure on the
are), and multiply the community modifier by the correspond-
ing participation multiplier.
The character creating the spell must declare what type of
actions the helpers must perform. Simple actions include
readying components, chanting mantras, passing tools, etc.
• Components •
A participation level with a difficulty means that the help- Component is... Modifier
ers actually have to perform some sort of complex action during Ordinary, easily obtained -1
the casting — performing a sacrifice, making a acrobatics skill (rock, dirt, tree branch)
total, or whatever. Different helpers can be doing different Very common, easily purchased or traded for -2
things — of the same different — for this purpose. Multiple (match, wooden board, candle)
groups of helpers might be performing different levels of Common, but must be purchased for
actions, for multiple community multipliers. reasonable cost -3
For example, a magic user casts a spell to summon a spirit. (lighter, inexpensive clothing, oil, incense)
There might be two communities involved. The minor appren- Uncommon
tice members of his guild (a group of 31) might be chanting (a (rare in some places, common in others) -4
simple action). This gives a community modifier of 4 points (8 (gun, computer chip, prescription medicine)
x 0.5), while a cadre of five senior apprentices perform the Very rare (rare in most places or expensive) -5
sacrifice of a lamb (difficulty 11, for a modifier of 2 times 1 for (valuable gem, precious metal, rare drug, exotic herb)
2 points). These are two separate optional modifiers worth four Extremely rare -6
and two points respectively, or a total of 6 points. (near-priceless gem, uranium, plutonium)
When the magic user finishes the cast time of a community- Unique -7
aided spell, the gamemaster generates a skill total for any (King Tut’s burial mask, a prototype weapon)
communities involved (when necessary). The skill of the com- Destroyed in casting x2
munity should be fairly average, unless the gamemaster has
reason to think differently (the minor apprentices, above, Number of Components Multiplier*
would probably have artist skills of around 2D+2, while the 1-3 x1
priests might have melee combat skill of 3D or so). 4-6 x0.75
Add the difficulty modifier to the difficulty to determine the 7 or more x0.5
chances of having the entire group succeed (in a mass skill *Multiply the total component modifier by this value and
total). So, if the 31 minor apprentices in the above example had round up.
to generate a artist total of 11 (because they had to chant a long
 Chapter 7 ❖ Page 68

• Countenance • • Incantations •
Countenance Shift Modifier Complexity Modifier
No change 0 One or two words or sounds -1
Noticeable (gray pallor, foaming) -1 A complete sentence -2
Extreme (convulsions, psychic illusion) -2 A complex incantation (action difficulty 11) -3
Litany (action difficulty 15) -4
Complex formula (action difficulty 19) -5
willpower roll indicates that the caster takes any feedback Extensive, complex elements (action difficulty 23) -6
associated with the spell, even though it didn’t work. Also in a foreign tongue and character must
have one pip in that language specialization -1
Countenance Also must be said very loudly -1
The caster’s body changes in response to the use of magic. Also will offend most hearing it -1
Some go pale or even blue with a lack of blood flow to their skin,
others shake uncontrollably or foam at the mouth, still others
get bulging eyes or swollen lolling tongues. This alteration in seconds (two rounds), so the duration has a value of 5. The cost
appearance lasts until the end of the spell’s duration. Use the of the focused optional aspect is (15+5)/5, or +4.
accompanying tables to determine the amount to add to the
Negative Spell Total Modifiers. Gestures
Nothing unreal can happen here: no glowing eyes, no flames The caster, a charge, or a ward requires that a gesture be
from nostrils, no unearthly aura, except as a psychic illusion made so that the spell will work. Use the accompanying tables
that only the target can see. The drawback to an illusary to determine the modifier to the Spell Total. If there is a difficulty
change is that, no matter what the victim’s perceptions and listed, the character must make an acrobatics or sleight of hand
predispositions were before the fact, after the image is seen, roll against that difficulty at the end of the cast time.
the victim is forever firmly convinced that the caster is an
inhuman monster. Only those already endowed with a psychic Incantations
or magic ability are capable of accepting that image for what it The caster, a charge, or a ward requires that a word or
truly is. Psychic illusions may be used only with living targets. phrase be said so that the spell will work. Use the accompany-
ing tables to determine the modifier to the Spell Total. If there
Feedback is a difficulty listed, the character must make an artist roll
The magic user takes damage when she casts the spell. This against that difficulty at the end of the cast time.
damage may not be defended by armor, Special Abilities, other
spells, or any other means. It may only be healed by natural Multiple Targets
means (resting, sufficient food, etc.). The spell can affect more than one target (but not the same
Feedback: -1 to the Negative Spell Total Modifiers for each target multiple times). Add the multiple targets modifier to the
1 point of feedback. Spell Total.
If a targeting skill roll is required by the spell, using it on
Focused multiple targets is not considered a multi-action.
When a spell is “focused” on a target, it stays with the target Multi-target: +3 per target (including first target; ex., three
until the duration has ended. Add the focused modifier to the targets is +9).
Spell Total. Multi-target with area effect modifier (area effect aspect
The range of the spell, then, only determines how far away purchased separately): +6 per target.
the target can be from the caster. Damage spells that are
focused on a target do the same damage each round. Unreal Effects
Focused: (value of effect + value of duration)/5, round down, When this optional aspect is used, it turns a heretofore real
minimum of +1, per target. Example: A spell’s effect is 5D in magic spell into an illusion. The effects are not real — they are
damage, so the effect has a value of 15, and a duration of 10 just perceived as real.
The special effect is automatically believed unless a target
or an observer actually states otherwise. Then, depending on
the “Disbelief Difficulty” (see the accompanying table), the
• Gestures • illusion may lose all of its effects. The easier an illusion is to
disbelieve, the more the modifier is worth (the “Modifier
Complexity Modifier Multiplier”).
Simple -1 Since the effect is what is being tampered with, the spell
(point finger, toss herbs, flip switch, etc.) effect’s value directly controls how much the modifier can be
Fairly simple -2 worth.
(make circles with finger, etc.) Start with the spell effect’s value, determined way back in
Complex (action difficulty 11) -3 “Spell Effect’s Value.” Then, when you decide how hard it is for
Very complex (action difficulty 15) -4 a character to disbelieve the illusion, multiply the effect’s
Extremely complex (action difficulty 19) -5 value by the modifier multiplier. Round up. The resulting
Challenging and extremely complex number is added to the Negative Spell Total Modifiers.
(action difficulty 23) -6 For example, you decide that your fireball with a damage of
10D, which has a value of 30, is an illusionary effect with a
 Magic ❖ Page 69

be healthy. But, a character who is “killed” by an illusion is

• Unreal Effects • dead unless another character, who does not believe the
illusion can, first, perform a medicine total equal to 21 and
Disbelief Difficulty Modifier Multiplier then, second, help him disbelieve the illusion. This has to be
0 0.75 done within a number of hours equal to three times the
9 0.5 character’s Perception attribute — otherwise, he slips into an
13 0.25 irreversible coma and dies.
Warning: do not overuse this modifier. Once your players
are clued into what you’re doing, you’ll never get another
disbelief difficulty of 0, you multiply 30 by the Modifier Mul- illusionary spell through on them. The best way to use this is
tiple of 0.75 for a result of 22.5 (rounds up to 23). to have your nasty gamemaster character mage research a
The guidelines for disbelief are as follows: number of spells two ways, as both “real” effect and “unreal.”
• Any player character can disbelieve at any time he sees a He then casts the illusionary versions (with the lower difficulty
special effect occur but, if the special effect was used during a number and feedback value) until someone figures out they’re
conflict round, this counts as an action. not real. Then, just for fun, he switches.
Imagine the look on your player’s faces when their charac-
• Gamemaster characters should only disbelieve when the ters charge through the “illusionary” wall of fiery death and
gamemaster thinks it is appropriate, or when the character find out it’s a bit more substantial than they first thought. It’ll
using the spell uses it quite often (and effectively). drive them nuts.
• When a character disbelieves, he generates a Perception There are a few things to remember when casting unreal
or investigation total. If the total is equal to or higher than the effects. The spell will never affect the caster. He knows it’s
disbelief difficulty, he is successful. The spell has no affect on illusionary. So you can’t make an unreal bridge over a ravine
him whatsoever — it does not disappear, but any effects it had and walk across it. Using the same example, if someone other
do not apply to him. than the caster believed in the bridge, they could walk across
it, maybe. They would unconsciously use any means at their
• If a character is encouraged to disbelieve by another
disposal to cross the chasm without realizing it. If there was no
character who has successfully disbelieved (and who he trusts
way for them to cross the chasm, they would find some reason
or who can persuade him), he gains +4 to his Perception or
that they could not cross the bridge. An illusionary bridge
investigation total.
doesn’t allow people to walk on air, nor will it cause people to
• A character who has disbelieved a spell will not believe in jump off a cliff and die without realizing it.
the effect later if it comes from the same source in the same way
(i.e., if the character disbelieves the effect of a particular ray Variable Duration
gun, that ray gun will never be effective against him again, but The caster may turn on and off the spell as many times as
he may or may not believe in other ray guns). desired before the duration expires. Add the variable duration
• The character who uses or creates the special effect knows modifier to the Spell Total.
it is an illusion and can never be affected by its effect. The duration lasts from the time the spell is cast until the
time is up, regardless of the number of times or how long the
• The gamemaster can, and should, apply difficulty modifi- spell is turned on or off.
ers to the disbelief difficulty based on how believable (or Off-only: +4.
ridiculous) the spell seems to be. On/off switch: +8.
• In the event a character takes damage or suffers some sort Extended duration (separate from off-only and switch; ex-
of debilitating effect from an illusion that would, logically, tended duration time measure — not value — added at spell
disappear after he disbelieves the illusion, it does. For ex- casting if desired): +1 per time value (ex., a spell with a base
ample, if a character falls into a “trap” and takes damage from duration of 60 seconds, which has a time value of 9; to add
falling, and then finds out the whole pit was an illusion, he’ll another 60 seconds is +9).

• Other Aspects •
Condition Modifier
The condition can be fulfilled most of the time or with simple preparations,
or requires a skill roll of difficulty 9 -1
The condition is not met normally, or at least without some preparation,
or requires a skill roll of difficulty 10 -2
The condition is out of the caster’s control, but is fairly frequent,
or the caster has to go to elaborate lengths to meet the condition,
or the condition requires a skill roll of difficulty 12 -3
The condition occurs very infrequently, or is very hard for the caster to obtain,
or requires a skill roll of difficulty 14 -4
The condition will not occur without the caster taking elaborate measures,
or requires a skill roll of difficulty 17 -5
The condition is rare and almost totally (or totally) out of the caster’s control,
or requires a skill roll of difficulty 20 -6
 Chapter 7 ❖ Page 70

Variable Effect
The caster may change the amount of the spell’s effect at
casting time. Add the variable effect modifier to the Spell Total.
Raising and lowering the effect’s amount (die code or bonus)
add to the Spell Total separately. Be sure to specify in the
spell’s description the maximum or minimum effect. If the
spell has multiple effects, each variable effect must be pur-
chased separately for each effect (though not all effects need
have the same variable effect aspect, if they have it at all).
Variable effect: +1 for every pip or point per direction per effect.
Variable Movement
The caster can control the movement of the spell’s effect.
Add the variable movement modifier to the Spell Total.
Accuracy bonus: +2 for each +1 bonus to the targeting skill
total.
Bending: +1 to bend around obstacles smaller than the target;
+3 to bend around obstacles the same size or smaller than the
target; +5 to send spell after a target the caster can’t see but the
target gets a +4D modifier to the targeting difficulty.
Movement of effect: To move a spell associated with a target
(such as a flight or telekinesis spell), or to make an otherwise
stationary effect move (such as an illusion), the spell needs this
optional aspect. Determine the desired speed measure (in
meters per round) and its corresponding value on the “Spell
Measures” table and add 1 to it; this is the cost of the movement
of effect aspect.
Other Aspects
There might be other circumstances the spell requires in
order to work.
Compare the condition concept to the accompanying table
to determine the amount to add to the Negative Spell Total
Modifiers.

Final Spell Total and Spell Difficulty

Once you have determined all of the factors involved with
casting the spell, add the Negative Spell Total Modifiers to the
Spell Total and the divide the total by 2, rounding up. This is
the difficulty the caster must meet or beat with the appropriate
Magic skill.
Minimum Spell Total
Negative Spell Total modifiers may not reduce the positive
Spell Total to lower than 20 for most spells, making the Final
Spell Total no less than 10.

Cantrips Paul Daly

Cantrips, also known as glamours, are small, simple, every-
day spells. They may have maximum Spell Totals of 10 and
minimum Final Spell Totals of 5. Their duration values must
be less than 9 (one minute), and their casting values must be
To figure out the base design time, look up the spell
4 (one round) or less.
difficulty in the “Val.” column of the “Spell Measures” table.
Read across to the “Measures” column to determine the num-
Design Time ber of seconds that the spell takes to design. (Divide this
A player who learns this magic system can probably come number by 5 to get the number of rounds, or 60 to get the
up with a basic spell in a matter of minutes. The gamemaster number of minutes, or 3600 to get the number of hours.) The
can review it quickly, and it can be used right away. character may rush the design, but this increases the difficulty
Well, not exactly. The character has to spend time working of casting the spell. See the rushing rules on page 36 in Chapter
out the spell, too. He has to experiment, do trial and error, and 3 for the modifier.
come up with the effect — or risk blowing himself up. The There is no roll to design a spell, though there certainly
amount of time it takes to design a spell has nothing to do with could be an adventure in finding the right components or the
the amount of time it takes to cast it. perfect location to cast the spell.
 Magic ❖ Page 71

Precalculated Spells Fear

Skill: Alteration
Difficulty: 18
Alteration Spells Effect: 30 (intimidation skill at 10D)
Range: 10 (100 yards)
Deadly Darts Speed: 10
Skill: Alteration Duration: 11 (2.5 minute)
Difficulty: 10 Cast Time: 9 (1 minute)
Effect: 18 (6D in damage) Modifiers:
Range: 10 (100 yards) Components (-7): Must have an item owned by the target
Speed: 10 (unique)
Duration: 7 (5 rounds) Incantations (-1): Anything as long as they’re frighten-
Cast Time: 18 (1 hour) ing (one or two words)
Modifiers: Unreal Effect (-8): Difficulty to disbelieve is 13
Component (-11): Black obsidian (uncommon, destroyed), Fear is a pretty powerful spell. First, the mage needs
dart (common) something belonging to her target — his comb, his watch, a lock
Feedback (-3): 3 points of damage of his hair. Mutter a few words of power, point the item at the
Focused (+5) target, and watch the fun. This spell gives the caster an
Gesture (-1): Rubbing the tip of the dart on the stone intimidation of 10D (this is not added to an attribute or skill).
(simple) Fear is an illusory spell. When the spell’s duration runs out,
Incantation (-1): “Darkness of death.” (a few words) the mage will have one hacked-off target on her hands. Casters
Variable Movement (+4): +2 accuracy bonus planning to toss this one around should put lots of adds in their
This spell requires a piece of black obsidian and a dart of dodge skill.
some sort. The mage utters dark arcane words while touching
the tip of the dart to the stone. The darkness travels into the Heighten Attribute (Template)
dart, draining the stone of its pigment. Skill: Alteration
To release the spell, the caster throws the dart at his target. Difficulty: 7
The mage must generate an throwing total, adding +2 bonus Effect: 6 (+1D bonus to one attribute)
for the increased accuracy of the spell, against the combat Range: 0 (1 meter or less)
difficulty for the target. The target takes 6D in damage in the Speed: 0
round the dart hits and for the next four rounds. The spell ends Duration: 7 (5 rounds)
if the target moves beyond the spell’s range. Cast Time: 4 (1 round)
Modifiers:
Drain Toughness Gesture (-3): Mage mimes an activity using a skill that
Skill: Alteration falls under the attribute to be heightened (complex, action
Difficulty: 12 difficulty of 11; examples: sleight of hand for Coordination,
Effect: 24 (8D damage) lifting for Physique )
Range: 8 (40 meters) This cantrip gives the target a bonus of +1D to one of his
Speed: 8 attributes for 25 seconds, or five rounds — as long as he doesn’t
Duration: 9 (1 minute) move more than a meter from the spot on which he received the
Cast Time: 6 (15 seconds) bonus. Note that this is only a template for a spell and not an
Modifiers: actual spell; the caster must specify which attribute and skill
Gesture (-1): Caster picks up items and pulls them closer to mime before learning the spell or scribing it in a book.
to himself (simple)
Incantation (-2): “Weaken and perish before my hand.” Water Spray
(sentence)
Skill: Alteration
Components (-16): Blood of a great cat (rare, destroyed),
Difficulty: 10
funnel (common, destroyed)
Effect: 12 (4D damage)
Caster focuses magical energies into a funnel, with the open Range: 6 (15 meters)
end facing the target. When activated, the funnel pulls energy Speed: 6
from the target, and sends it to the source of the spell. The spell Duration: 6 (3 rounds)
itself is not visible, but it can be felt. It requires a marksman- Cast Time: 4 (5 seconds)
ship roll to focus on a target. Modifiers:
The target loses one point from Body Points for each point Components (-6): Liter of water (ordinary, destroyed),
rolled with the spell’s damage of 8D. The caster receives half of squeezable container (uncommon)
this amount added to her Body Points. If the target’s Body
The mage needs a liter of water in a container that she can
Points hit zero, he falls unconscious. When he awakens, at
squeeze to produce a spray. As she casts the spell, the mage
least eight hours later, he’ll be fully restored.
squirts the water onto her hand, letting it run off in the
The caster keeps the enhanced Body Points for one minute,
direction of her target. The volume and force behind the water
and any damages comes off the extra Body Points first. When
spray increases dramatically. The spray lasts for three rounds
the spell wears off, the improved Body Points go with it.
of combat. The spell does 4D in damage per round and requires
a marksmanship roll each round to hit the target. The caster
may only select one target per spell duration.
 Chapter 7 ❖ Page 72

Apportation Spells Conjuration Spells

Carrying Wind Cage
Skill: Apportation Skill: Conjuration
Difficulty: 10 Difficulty: 28
Effect: 15 (wind with a lifting of 5D) Effect: 25 (resistance total of bars)
Range: 0 (self) Range: 7 (25 meters)
Speed: 0 Speed: 7
Duration: 18 (1 hour) Duration: 18 (1 hour)
Cast Time: 18 (1 hour) Cast Time: 9 (1 minute)
Modifiers: Modifiers:
Area Effect (+15): 3-meter sphere Area Effect (+15): Sphere with a radius of 3 meters
Charges (+4): 6 Gesture (-3): Mimic escaping from a cell, then point to
Component (-4): May only be cast outdoors, in a clear target (complex; acrobatics roll with difficulty of 11)
area (ordinary), mage wears loose clothes (common) Unreal Effect (-7): Disbelief difficulty of 13
Feedback (-8): points of damage Cage traps a target in a prison of magical energy. To cast it,
Gesture (-2): Mimic a fight (fairly simple) the wizard mimics trying to escape from a cell, then points at
Incantation (-2): “I subdue you and I command you, O her target. If a marksmanship total beats the combat difficulty
wind!” (sentence) for the target, the quarry is trapped. The cage is a sphere with
Variable Movement (+7): 25 meters per round a radius of three meters. Creatures larger than that can’t be
This is a charged spell. To cast it, the mage goes outside and confined by this spell.
starts running, jumping, and mimicking flight. The mage The effect’s value acts as the resistance total of the bars.
should be wearing something loose that can catch the wind. Only characters that can beat the resistance total in a single
One cast garners the mage six charges of the spell. attack (or combined attack) may break free. The character can
When released, the spell causes a wind to rise and lifts the disbelieve and thus free himself by generating a Perception or
mage into the air. The mage can control the direction of the investigation total of 13.
wind and its speed (up to 25 meters a round). The spell can
carry as if it had a lifting of 5D. Displacement
The wind forms a three-meter sphere around the mage’s Skill: Conjuration
body, and nothing can be carried that won’t fit in that sphere. Difficulty: 12
Effect: 22 (search difficulty of 20 and image transfer of 2.5
Retrieve meters)
Skill: Apportation Range: 0 (self or touch)
Difficulty: 11 Speed: 0
Effect: 5 (move an object of up to 10 kilograms) Duration: 10 (1 minute 40 seconds)
Range: 15 (1 kilometer) Cast Time: 4 (5 seconds)
Speed: 15 Modifiers:
Duration: 0 Gesture (-2): Caster stands up, turns around and then
Cast Time: 4 (5 seconds) starts hopping from one location to another, and looks back
Modifiers: at his previous spot before jumping again (fairly simple)
Gesture (-2): Standing on tiptoes, caster points out to Incantation (-2): “Hide my true location from sight.”
imaginary objects and then goes over and pick them up. (sentence)
(fairly simple) By bending the light around the target, an image of the
Incantation (-2): “I want to reach out beyond the bound- person or thing is transferred up
aries of the time and space. I to 2.5 meters away from his ac-
want that object to return with tual location. He becomes invis-
me.” (sentence) ible to normal sight at his true
Other (-5): May only be cast location, and his image appears
in conjunction with view (spell and copies all of his movements
described herein) and actions until the end of the
Through the use of this spell, duration. A character must beat a
the caster can target something difficulty of 20 with a Perception
he’s seen through a view spell and or search roll or location spells to
bring it to his current location find the displaced target.
(assuming he’s no more than one Anyone touching the image rec-
kilometer from the object). The ognizes it for what it really is. This
object can weigh no more than the does not give them the ability to
effect’s value (including bonuses) see where the target is standing.
as read on the “Spell Measures” Any area effect attacks and spells
table. One-half (rounded up) of will hit the target should he be in
difference between the skill total the radius. Otherwise, only using
Karl Waller

and the difficulty is applied to the items or other spells discloses the
effect’s base value of 5. true location of the target.
 Magic ❖ Page 73

Elemental Dagger for the spell to work (a lock of hair from a Human, fur or fangs
from an animal, etc.).
Skill: Conjuration
The caster sets the object on fire and inhales the smoke
Difficulty: 10
while concentrating. Once the casting is done, the mage can
Effect: 12 (4D in damage;1 kilogram of material)
detect the presence of any such being within a 10-meter radius
Range: 5 (10 meters)
for two rounds. The higher the search skill total is aboe the
Speed: 5
difficulty, the more information the caster knows about the
Duration: 3 (3.5 seconds)
beings she seeks (such as location, number, gender, etc.). The
Cast Time: 1 (1.5 seconds)
difficulty starts at 10 for a Human-sized creature, and goes
Modifiers:
down for larger creatures, up for smaller ones, and up for the
Components (-2): Small amount of desired element (ordi-
number of other types of creatures in the area.
nary, destroyed)
Gesture (-2): Caster traces a dagger shape in the air Sense Past
(fairly simple)
Skill: Divination
The mage creates a floating, dagger-like shape composed of Difficulty: 25
earth, air, fire, or water. The damage is 4D, and it has a range Effect: 38 (66 weeks)
of 10 meters. He must make a marksmanship roll to hit the Range: 0 (touch)
target. The dagger must be used in the same round that the Speed: 0
mage casts the spell. Duration: 18 (66 minutes)
Note: This spell can serve as a template for creating small Casting Time: 16 (25 minutes)
daggers from any common material, such as ice, wood, paper, Modifiers:
and so on. Area effect (+25): 5-meter radius bubble
Concentration (-5): 10 minutes with a willpower diffi-
Mystical Shield culty of 11
Skill: Conjuration Components (-9): Magnifying glass (uncommon), expen-
Difficulty: 10 sive pocket watch (very rare)
Effect: 18 (armor value of 6D) Countenance (-1): Skin turns sickly gray color for dura-
Range: 1 (1.5 meters) tion of spell
Speed: 1 Other (-1): Physical contact with target
Duration: 7 (5 rounds)
The mage can learn about the past of a single object he
Cast Time: 1 (1.5 seconds)
touches. He’ll see visions of events that occurred in a 10-meter
Modifiers:
radius around the object in the past. The mage can view events
Area effect (+2): 1-meter radius
that took place in a past period of time whose value (as read on
Components (-10): A simple ring (uncommon), handful of
the “Spell Measures” table) is less than or equal to the effect’s
colored sand (common, destroyed)
value. The mage can scan back to that period at a rate of one
Focused (+5): Focus on ring
week’s worth of images per minute of the spell.
Gesture (-2): Using colored sand, the caster scribes an
oval shape in front of her (fairly simple) View
Incantation (-1): “Protection!” (word)
Skill: Divination
By tossing some sand in a circle in front of her, the caster Difficulty: 19
creates a semi-transparent oval shield of the same color as the Effect: 9 (search skill of 3D)
sand. The shield, about 2 meters in diameter, appears up to 1.5 Range: 15 (1 kilometer)
meters away. It is focused on the ring, which the mage must Speed: 15
wear. It offers an armor value of 6D against all types of attacks. Duration: 14 (10 minutes)
Cast Time: 9 (1 minute)
Divination Spells Modifiers:
Feedback (-3): 3 points of damage
Detect the Living Gesture (-2): Caster makes swimming gestures with his
Skill: Divination hands (fairly simple)
Difficulty: 13 Incantation (-2): “Let me see beyond what I know to be.”
Effect: 24 (search of 8D to locate a single type of creature) (sentence)
Range: 0 (self) The caster opens a a tunnel of sorts in space. Nothing may
Speed: 0 pass through it, but the caster may look through it to the other
Duration: 5 (10 seconds) end. The tunnel starts with a range of one kilometer. This
Cast Time: 9 (1 minute) range is determined by the range value of the spell, and can be
Modifiers: much longer, depending on the success the caster has throwing
Area effect (+20): 10-meter radius circle the spell. Any bonus from casting goes to both range and speed,
Component (-12): Piece of the type of creature being being split evenly between them. (To determine the bonus,
detected (uncommon, destroyed); fire, such as a match or lit subtract the skill total from the spell difficulty. Divide by 2, and
coal (very common, destroyed) round up. Add this number to the range and look up the new
Concentration (-3): 25 seconds with a willpower diffi- value on the “Spell Measures” table.)
culty of 9 The effect of the spell takes the place of the character’s
Before throwing the spell, the caster should decide what search while using the spell, as it is hard to make out minute
sort of being she’s looking for, because she’ll need a piece of it details.
 Chapter 7 ❖ Page 74

Spell Worksheet
Name: Pot of Illusory Tendrils Spell Total Calculation
Skill: Conjuration Difficulty: 13 Total the values for each
aspect and put the number
1. Effect: 18 (tendrils with length of 3.5 meters, Reflexes of 4D, additional damage of 1D) in the correct box. If you do
not use a aspect, put 0 on
2. Range: 0 (the pot) 3. Speed: 0 its line.
4. Duration: 11 (2.5 minutes) 5. Casting Time: 18 (1 hour) (NM = Negative Spell To-
tal Modifiers)
6. Charges: +5 (5 charges, ward) 7. Focused: +4 (on pot) Starting Spell Total 0
8. Area Effect: +1 (half-meter circle) 1 + 18
2 +0
9. Change Target: No
3 +0
10. Multiple Targets: +12 (arms can attack 2 different targets)
4 + 11
11. Variable Duration: +8 (on-off switch) 6 +5

12. Variable Effect: +2 (+2 pip increase in damage) 7 +4

8 +2
13. Variable Movement: +4 (+2 accuracy bonus)
9 +0
14. Community: No 10 + 12

15. Components: -6 (cast iron pot (uncommon), 4 liters of material the arms will be 11 +8

composed of (ordinary, destroyed)) 12 +2

13 +4
16. Concentration: -3 (1 minute with willpower at difficulty of 9)
Spell Total = 65
17. Countenance: -1 (skin turns bright red)
Starting NM 0
18. Feedback: -2 (2 points) 5 + 18
19. Gestures: -3 (wave arms over pot while circling it slowly, acrobatics roll with 14 +0
difficulty of 11 (complex)) 15 +6
16 +3
20. Incantations: -1 (repeat “Arise!” (word))
17 +1
21. Unreal Effects: -4 (disbelief difficulty of 13) 18 +2
22. Other Aspects: -1 (may only be performed outside) 19 +3
20 +1
Description: After the mage casts the spell, whenever material is poured into the
21 +4
pot, the spell activates. Whoever pours material into the pot can, before pouring it in, decide
22 +1
to increase the damage of the tendrils auxiliary attack by +2. The pot sprouts two tendrils
(up to 3.5 meters long) that sprout up from the material and grab at anything the spell activator NM Total = 39
directs. The tendrils have a Reflexes of 4D, a Physique equal in die code to the points by
Spell Total 65
which the alteration total beat the spell difficulty, and Body Points equal to 10 plus the points
by which the alteration total beat the difficulty. Each tendril may attack one target separately, NM Total – 39
and they each have a +2 bonus to their attack accuracy. Anything within half of a meter of Final Spell Total = 26
either tendril takes 1D in damage. To grasp a foe or object, the arms must make a normal Difficulty = 13
attack on its target. The skin of the spell activator turns bright red. The spell activator may (Final Spell Total/2)
turn the tendrils off or on as many times as he wishes, until the duration expires. The pot may
be moved. The material poured into the pot is destroyed once the duration has expired.

Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use only.
 Spell Worksheet
Name: Spell Total Calculation
Total the values for each
Skill: Difficulty: aspect and put the number
in the correct box. If you do
1. Effect: not use a aspect, put 0 on
its line.
2. Range: 3. Speed: (NM = Negative Spell To-
tal Modifiers)
4. Duration: 5. Casting Time: Starting Spell Total ____
1 + ____
6. Charges: 7. Focused:
2 + ____

8. Area Effect: 3 + ____

4 + ____
9. Change Target: 6 + ____
7 + ____
10. Multiple Targets:
8 + ____

11. Variable Duration: 9 + ____

10 + ____
12. Variable Effect: 11 + ____
12 + ____
13. Variable Movement:
13 + ____
14. Community: Spell Total = ____

Starting NM 0
15. Components:
5 + ____
16. Concentration: 14 + ____
15 + ____
17. Countenance: 16 + ____
17 + ____
18. Feedback:
18 + ____
19. Gestures: 19 + ____
20 + ____
20. Incantations:
21 + ____

21. Unreal Effects: 22 + ____

NM Total = ____
22. Other Aspects:
Spell Total ____
NM Total – ____
Description:
Final Spell Total = ____
Difficulty = ____
(Final Spell Total/2)

Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use only.
 CHAPTER EIGHT

• Equipment •
This section briefly offers game mechanics for select equip- The price difficulties given in the equipment descriptions in
ment, not all of which is available in all genres or time periods. this chapter are for a U.S. pulp fiction setting, except where
All equipment described in this section is of the basic, noted otherwise. They do not take into account any modifiers
nonmagical variety. the gamemaster may wish to include.

Purchasing Equipment Gear

Each piece of equipment has a price difficulty associated Binoculars: +1D bonus to sight-based rolls for viewing
with it that expresses how challenging it is for a character to objects beyond seven feet in the daylight only.
obtain that item. If using Funds as an attribute, to purchase an Crowbar: Gives a +1D bonus to prying attempts, or does
item, the player rolls the attribute against the listed purchase Strength Damage +2 in damage with bashing attacks.
difficulty, adjusted by the gamemaster for the circumstances
around obtaining the item (such as seller’s stock, item quality, Flashlight: Large flashlights reduces darkness modifiers
general item availability, and so on). If the Funds total equals by 2D in a cone-shaped area up to five meters from the user.
or exceeds the price value, the character gets the item. Busi- Batteries have a price difficulty of 1 for two batteries.
ness, con, charm, and persuasion could all serve as complimen- Gas mask: When worn, the gas mask provides a +2D to
tary actions to the Funds roll, depending on the factors the stamina rolls against gas attacks or negates up to 1D in
gamemaster chooses to include (such as local law, relationship relevant modifiers. (Use the game mechanic appropriate for
of buyer and seller, and so on). the situation.)
Any item with a price difficulty equal to or less than the
number in front of the “D” in the character’s Funds attribute
is an automatic purchase. A character may make several
automatic purchases per day. • Price Difficulties •
Any item with a price difficulty greater than the number in
front of the “D” in the character’s Funds attribute but less than Cost of Item or Service Difficulty
or equal to three times that number is an average purchase. A Cheap (several dollars or less) Very Easy (VE)
character may make one average purchase per day. Inexpensive (less than $100) Easy (E)
Any item with a price difficulty greater than three times the Nominally expensive
number in front of the “D” in the character’s Funds attribute (a few hundred dollars) Moderate (M)
is a luxury purchase. A character may make one luxury Somewhat expensive
purchase every seven days. (several hundred dollars) Difficult (D)
When deciding on the type of purchase, include in the Expensive (a few thousand dollars) Very Difficult (VD)
difficulty breakdowns any modifiers due to an Advantage or Very Expensive
Disadvantage. (See the example, below.) (several thousand dollars) Heroic (H)
Failure on a Funds roll means that the character didn’t Costly (tens of thousands of dollars)* Legendary (L)
have the money for some reason (maxing out a credit card, * “Costly” is hardly the top end, and gamemasters should
forgetting to transfer money to the correct account, leaving the continuing adding to the difficulty for higher prices.
wallet at home, etc.). Except when the total is abysmal, the
character may roll again after a short period of time and Minimum
attempting to fix the problem (switching credit cards, moving Item or Service Is... Modifier
money, getting money from the safe, etc.). Common; average quality 0
Very common; local market is flooded -5
Example: A character has 3D+2 in her Funds attribute. Her In high demand; limited availability +5
automatic purchases have a difficulty of 3 or less. Her average Unusually high quality +5
purchases have a difficulty of 4 to 9. Her luxury purchases have Damaged or low quality -5
a difficulty of 10 or more. If the character also had Wealth (I),
she would add her bonus of +10 to each of these levels, giving Relationship with Seller Modifier
her automatic purchases at 13 or less, average purchases Has dealt with rarely or never 0
between 14 and 19, and luxury purchases at 20 or more. Pays on time; frequent customer;
no complaints by seller -1 or more
Unless the gamemaster decides otherwise, players may not Rarely pays on time; problem buyer +1 or more
spend Character and Fate Points on Funds rolls.
 Equipment ❖ Page 77

• Pulp Fiction Adventuring Gear •

Item (Availability*) Price Item (Availability*) Price Item (Availability*) Price
Archaeologist’s Tool Kit (U) E Gas Mask (U) E Personal Hygiene Kit (A) VE
Backpack (A) VE Gas Stove (C) E Phonograph (C) E
Basic Adventurer’s Geiger Counter (U) E Radio (A) VE
Clothing (A) E Handcuffs (U) E Rope, Hemp, 50 meters (A) VE
Basic Rations (A) VE Holster (C) VE Rope, Cotton, 50 meters (A) VE
Binoculars (C) E Jungle Adventurer’s Sewing Machine, small (A) VE
Blanket (A) VE Pack (U) E Shovel (A) VE
Daily Newspaper (A) VE Iron Spikes and Piton (A) Sleeping Bag (A) VE
Camera (C) E (8 spikes) VE Steamer Trunk (A) VE
Canoe (A) E Kerosene Heater (C) VE Telephone (A) VE
Carpenter’s/Construction Lantern (A) VE Telescope (U) E
Tool Kit (A) E Lighter (A) VE Tent — 1-man (A) VE
Crowbar (A) VE Lockpicking Tools (U/X) VE Tent — 3-man (A) E
Duffel Bag (A) VE Magazine (A) VE Typewriter (C) E
Eating Utensils (A) VE Marbles (A) VE Torch (A) VE
Electrician’s Tool Kit (C) E Mechanic’s Tool Kit (C) E Watch (A) VE
Field Radio (U) E First-aid Kit (U) VE Wind-up Alarm Clock (A) VE
Fishing Gear (A) VE Movie Camera (U) E Wire Cutters (A) VE
Flashlight, Large (C) VE Parachute (U) E Wood Stove (A) E
* Availability Key / A = almost anywhere / C = cities or mail order only / U = unusual or rare

Handcuffs: Requires the key or a Moderate lockpicking

roll to remove; 18 Body Points; resistance total 15. Key comes
Armor
with purchase of handcuffs. Type Armor Value Price
Jungle adventurer’s pack: Includes a pith helmet, insect Hides and Fur +2 —
repellant, and mosquito netting in a small knapsack. Provides Bone and Hide +3 —
a +2 to survival checks in the jungle or heavy forest. Soft Leather, Canvas, Heavy Khaki +2 VE, E
Padded Leather, Flying Jacket +1D E
Iron spikes and piton: +1D bonus to climbing attempts; Hard Leather +1D+1 E
must be used with a rope. Inflicts Strength Damage +1 in Chain Mail +2D E
damage. Plate Mail +3D M
Lockpicking tools: +1D bonus to lockpicking attempts Bulletproof Vest* +3D M
only if the user has the lockpicking skill. Flak Jacket +3D+1 M
Light Kevlar* +2D+1 D
Marbles: When stepped on, the victim makes Moderate Heavy Kevlar* +3D VD
Reflexes or dodge roll per foot (each counting as an action) he Ceramic Armor* +3D+1 H
wishes to move until he is out of the area of marbles.
* Not available in a pulp setting. Price difficulties are for a
First-aid kit: A small kit adds a +1D bonus to medicine U.S. modern setting.
attempts.
Rope, heavy (hemp): Inflicts Strength Damage +2 when
used in choking attacks; 10 Body Points; resistance total 5
Weapon Terminology
(cutting)/10 (other). Damage: Damage is the amount of harm a weapon does.
Melee, thrown, and those missile weapons relying a person’s
Rope, light (cotton): Inflicts Strength Damage +1 when strength to determine their power are enhanced by the
used in choking attacks; 6 Body Points; resistance total 3 characters’s Strength Damage (see page 7 in Chapter 1 for
(cutting)/8 (other). details on the value). Weapons that are affected by strength
Shovel: Adds +1D to digging attempts, or does Strength have a “+” in front of their damage value. Note that the damage
Damage +2 in damage with bashing attacks. is based on the rate of fire; most weapons have a rate of fire of
Telescope: Adds +2D to vision-based search rolls, though once per round. See pages 42-43 in Chapter 4 for guidelines on
the user must take one round (and getting no preparation other rates of fire.
bonus) to focus the telescope. Range: This factor takes into account that the weapon will
be less effective the farther it is from the target. The values
Tool kits: Adds +1D to relevant repair or construction given are the maximums, in meters, for Short, Medium, and
attempts only if the user has the appropriate skill. Long ranges.
Torch: Small, lit fire-torch has damage of 3D per round For generated values, roll the character’s Physique or
after the first when held in contact with a flammable surface lifting. The modifier after “PHYS” indicates the number to
for more than one round. take from or add onto the total. These totals, in meters,
 Chapter 8 ❖ Page 78

• Firearms •
Range
Damage Ammo Short Medium Long Price (Ammo Price)
Pistols
Colt .45 Peacemaker 4D 6 5 15 40 E (VE)
Luger P08 4D 8 10 25 40 E (VE)
Smith & Wesson .38 4D 6 10 25 40 E (VE)
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum 4D+2 6 10 25 50 E (VE)
Walther PP08 4D 8 10 25 40 E (VE)
Walther P38 4D 8 10 25 60 E (VE)
Webley Mark 6 4D+2 6 10 25 50 E (VE)

Rifles
Springfield Rifle 5D+1 1 15 50 150 E (VE)
Enfield .30 5D+1 5 20 75 175 E (VE)
Remington Mod 30 5D+1 6 20 75 200 E (VE)

Shotguns
Remington Mod 31 (20 gauge) 5D+2 5 5–20 30 75 E (VE)
Remington Mod 32 (12 gauge) 5D+1 2 5–10 20 40 E (VE)

Submachine Guns
Bergmann 4D+2 11 10 25 80 E (VE)
Schmeisser MP38 4D+2 32 10 20 50 E (VE)
Schmeisser MP40 4D+2 11 15 40 100 E (VE)
Thompson 5D+2 30 15 25 60 E (VE)

Machine Guns
Browning .50 7D+1 11 250 1k 2k M (VE)
Spandau 7.92 7D 15 100 500 1k M (VE)
Vickers MK.1 6D+2 20 100 500 1k M (VE)
Note: Range values given in meters. Ammo prices are for 50 rounds of ammunition.

• Explosives •
Range
Damage Short Medium Long Price
81mm mortar 5D 400 750 1k M
Dynamite 5D PHYS-3 PHYS-2 PHYS+1† VE
Fragmentation grenade 6D PHYS-4 PHYS-3 PHYS+3† E
Plastic explosive* 5D 1 — — E
Smoke grenade ‡ PHYS-4 PHYS-3 PHYS+3† E
Tear gas ‡ PHYS-4 PHYS-3 PHYS+3† E
* Not available in a pulp setting. Price difficulty is for a U.S. modern setting.
†
Range equals the total in meters. Modifier is added or subtracted from the total generated.
‡ Smoke grenades and tear gas give all within burst area a –1D penalty to all Reflexes, Coordination, and
sight-based Perception rolls.

Explosive Burst Radius

Range*
Short Medium Long
81mm mortar 3 8 16
Dynamite 2 5 10
Fragmentation grenade 3 8 16
Plastic explosive 3 – –
Smoke grenade ‡
Tear gas ‡
* All values given in meters.
‡ Smoke grenades and tear gas have a burst radius of 9.5 square meters.
 Equipment ❖ Page 79

Dynamite is commonly used in mining, road con-

struction, and other places where relatively cheap,
• Missile Weapons • quick destruction is needed. A blasting cap, fuse, or
Range timing device is needed to set off this nitroglycerin-
Damage Short Med. Long Price based explosive. Dynamite comes in sticks.
Blowgun & Dart 1D* 3–10 40 100 VE When fragmentation grenades explode, they send
Bow, shrapnel out in all directions. Fragmentation gre-
Composite & Arrow +3D+1 3–10 60 250 E nades weigh just under half a kilogram.
Long & Arrow +2D+2 3–10 100 250 VE Plastic explosives can be formed like putty. The
Short & Arrow +1D+2 3–10 100 250 VE explosive is inert until an electrical current runs
Crossbow, through it (which means that an electrical blasting cap
Light 4D 3–10 100 200 E is needed to set it off). Plastic explosives are small (and
Heavy 4D+1 3–10 100 300 E easily transportable), and can be used to open an
Wrist-Mounted 4D 3–10 25 50 E otherwise reluctant door (such as to a safe). About two
Gasoline Bomb 6D+2 PHYS-3PHYS-2PHYS-1 VE ounces generates the damage for plastic explosives.
Spear, Metal Tip +2D 3–5 25 40 VE Tear gas and smoke grenades do not explode.
Throwing Dagger +1D 3–5 10 15 VE Instead, they release their contents through holes in
Throwing Star +1D 3–15 10 15 VE a canister. The cloud they create quickly fills an area
of 86 square feet. Armor provides no protection
*Blowguns commonly shoot poison darts. Poison damage is in addi- against this kind of attack, though a gas mask will.
tion to damage listed above. Both tear gas and smoke grenades give all within the
blast area a –1D penalty to all Reflexes, Coordina-
tion, and sight-based Perception rolls.
determines the ranges the character can throw the item. If
the total becomes zero or less because of the modifier, then the
character cannot throw the item to that range. (Gamemaster Melee Weapons
who prefer straight values should multiply the die code in Type Damage Price
Physique or lifting by 3.5, round up, then add the pips to get Awl/Icepick/Screwdriver +2 VE
the “PHYS” value.) Axe, Large* +3D+1 E
Ammunition: The number of bullets or projectiles that the Ball and Chain* +2D E
weapon holds. This is not included in entries for explosives or Blackjack +2 VE
weapons used in close combat. Brass Knuckles +1D+1 VE
Bullwhip* +1D E
Explosives Club/Large Stick* +1D+1 VE
Explosives are one-use weapons. Because explosives, by Hatchet +1D+1 VE
definition, explode, they spread their destruction over a larger Hedge Clippers/Garden Shears +1D VE
area than a bullet or laser beam. They thus have an additional Katana* +3D M
game mechanic: the burst radius. Anyone caught within the Knife (Large)/Dagger +1D VE
burst radius must take damage; the farther a character is from Mace* +1D+1 E
the center of the blast, the less damage she takes. Machete* +1D+2 E
Three values, in meters, are given for each burst radius. Manrikigusari* +1D+2 E
Characters between zero and the first value take full damage. Nunchaku* +1D+2 VE
Those between the first and second values take half damage. Rapier* +2D E
Anyone between the second and third values take quarter Sai* +1D+1 E
damage. (Round all fractions up.) Characters farther away Sword, Broad* +2D+2 E
than the third value are relatively safe. Sword, Short* +1D+2 E
Ranges for explosives represent how far they can be thrown, Sword, Two-Handed * +3D+1 E
which is based on the Physique or lifting of the character plus Tonfa +1D+2 E
an additional value. As with other weapons, accuracy de- * Starred weapons are longer than 30 centimeters and thus
creases as the distance to the target increases. incur the unwieldy weapon modifier.

• More Weapons •
For additional weapons, including some ul-
tra-high-tech models, get the Torg: Kanawa Per-
sonal Weapons PDF, available on RPGNow.com.
 CHAPTER NINE

• Rewards •
Part of the fun of roleplaying is watching your character
improve and develop. Gamemasters have plenty of options for
Information
helping that along, though, of course, no single option should While not terribly tangible, information could be useful for
be overused or the players will have no reason to continue drawing the characters into another adventure or helping to
adventuring. fulfill a character’s goal (such as discovering details about her
mysterious past).
Advantages (and Disadvantages)
Look through the list of Advantages for some reward ideas.
Character and Fate Points
Typically, when a gamemaster allows access to an Advantage, Assuming that the players have really been trying and have
it’s a one-shot deal, especially for particularly powerful Advan- been sufficiently challenged by the adventure, each character
tages, such as being owed a favor by a multimillionaire. If the should receive enough Character Points to improve one skill,
characters want a more permanent access to this kind of plus a few extra for help in overcoming a low roll at an
Advantage, they will have pay for it (in Character Points). inconvenient time. Obviously, more experienced characters
Gamemasters might also give free Advantages to charac- will either have to experience more adventures, or they’ll need
ters — along with an equivalent amount of Disadvantages! bigger challenges.
Here are a few guidelines for distributing Character and
Equipment and Other Loot Fate Points for an adventure that lasts two or nights, several
hours per night. They are per character, not per group.
Depending on the circumstances of the present adventure Obstacle was easy to overcome (the difficulty numbers were
and the gamemaster’s ideas for future adventures, gamemas- about three times the die code in the skills required): No reward.
ters may allow the players’ characters to keep equipment, Obstacle was somewhat difficult to overcome (the difficulty
gear, and treasure that they find in abandoned temples or numbers were about three to four times the die code in the
acquire from a villain’s lair. Gamemasters may even want to skills required): 1 Character Point per low-difficulty obstacle
plant various items in the adventure for the players’ charac- in the adventure.
ters to locate, whether to fulfill a character’s dream or help the Obstacle was quite challenging to overcome (the difficulty
group in a future adventure. Should the equipment or other numbers were about five times the die code in the skills
loot cause the players’ characters to become too powerful, too required; generally reserved for the climactic scene): 2 or more
quickly, remember that things can break or get stolen. Character Points per high-difficulty obstacle in the adventure
(depending on how many Character Points the characters had
Funds to spend to beat the difficulties set).
Individual roleplaying (overcoming goals and playing in
Characters might choose to sell some of their loot and put character): 2 to 3 Character Points (awarded to each character,
the money into their bank account or investments. Depending not to the whole group).
on what character do with their money, gamemasters may Group roleplaying (teamwork and interacting with each
allow a permanent one-pip increase to their Funds attribute other in character): 3 to 4 Character Points.
(because of putting it into solid investments), or give the Everybody had fun (including the gamemaster): 1 to 2
characters a bonus to limited number of Funds rolls (because Character Points.
they kept the cash in a vault at their hideout). Accomplished the goal: 1 Fate Point.
 Templates ❖ Page 81

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Academic Journalist
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ________ 2D+2 Knowledge _________ 4D

climbing _______________ business ________________
brawling _______________ forgery __________________
dodge _________________ languages _______________
melee combat _________ medicine _______________
piloting ________________ navigation ______________
_______________________ scholar _________________ Advantages: Contacts (I), you have a
_______________________ tech ____________________ number of contacts in the academic com-
_______________________ ________________________ munity; Fame (I), you are well-known for
_______________________ ________________________ your groundbreaking historical tracts; Equip-
________________________ ment (II), a friend allows you to use her
Coordination ______ 2D personal airplane any weekend you’d like
marksmanship _________ Perception __________ 4D
Disadvantages: Employed (I), though you
_______________________ artist____________________
have a certain amount of freedom, you do
_______________________ hide ____________________
have to spend some time teaching your
_______________________ know-how _______________ class; Sense of Duty (I), you feel a great
_______________________ investigation ____________ deal of loyalty to your school; Advantage
_______________________ repair ___________________ Flaw (I), your academic contacts are reluc-
search __________________ tant to share information unless you let
Physique _______ 2D+1
streetwise _______________ them in on what you’re up to; Quirk (II),
lifting __________________
survival _________________ you are almost compulsively honest
running ________________
tracking _________________ Special Abilities: Skill Bonus: Observant
stamina ________________
________________________ (I), +1 to all investigation, search, and
swimming ______________
________________________ tracking totals
_______________________
Extranormal ________ 0D Description: You spent most of your
Presence __________ 3D early years exploring libraries. You’d
________________________
con ____________________ helped clean up after closing, and they let
________________________
charm _________________
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you stay a little longer. To this day, your

________________________
intimidation ____________ best friends are books, especially those
________________________
persuasion _____________ on history. Nowadays, you find you’ve
________________________ developed a love for actually getting out
willpower ______________
________________________ and seeing history close up. Your knowl-
_______________________
________________________ edge of history and geology and your
_______________________
_______________________ knack for finding things makes you of
Fate Points ____________ 1 value on expeditions.
Character Pts. ________ 5 Equipment: Glasses; radio; flashlight;
Funds ______________ 4D backpack; camera; journal and pens (or
Body Pts. ____________ 30 PDA, as appropriate for the setting)
Move _______________ 10
Phys. Dmg. _________ 1D
 Templates ❖ Page 82

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Archaeologist
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ________ 2D+2 Knowledge _________ 4D

climbing _______________ business ________________
brawling _______________ languages _______________
dodge _________________ medicine _______________
jumping _______________ navigation ______________
melee combat _________ scholar _________________
piloting ________________ tech ____________________ Advantages: Contacts (I), you know a black
riding __________________ ________________________ marketeer in a third-world city with access to
sneak __________________ ________________________ information and normally unavailable equip-
_______________________ ________________________ ment; Cultures (I), you are an expert on one
ancient culture, its rites and beliefs; Equip-
________________________
Coordination ___ 3D+1 ment (I), the museum has given you some
marksmanship _________ Perception ________ 3D+1 special equipment; Patron (III), your expedi-
tions are funded by a major museum
lockpicking ____________ hide ____________________
throwing _______________ know-how _______________ Disadvantages: Debt (I), your last expedition
was not a success and you owe the museum
_______________________ investigation ____________
for the expenses; Employed (I), your work for
_______________________ repair ___________________ the museum is extremely important to you;
_______________________ search __________________ Enemy (I), a rival archaeologist has it in for you;
streetwise _______________ Sense of Duty (II), you believe very strongly
Physique _______ 2D+2 that artifacts are part of history and should be
survival _________________
lifting __________________ in a museum where all can see them, not in
________________________
running ________________ private collections; Quirk (II) you are afraid of
________________________
stamina ________________ heights (major phobia)
________________________
swimming ______________ Special Abilities: None
________________________
_______________________ Description: You find the past fascinating.
Extranormal ________ 0D You taught a few classes while finishing your
Presence __________ 2D
________________________ doctorate, but you discovered that your real
animal hand. ___________ love was field work. You’re not happy unless
________________________
con ____________________
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

you’re on your knees in the dirt, brushing the

________________________
charm _________________ dust of centuries away from a shard of pottery
________________________ or an ancient tool. There have been so many
intimidation ____________
________________________ adventures along the way that you’re no longer
persuasion _____________
________________________ sure if it’s the work or the adventure you truly
willpower ______________ care for.
________________________
_______________________
Equipment: Leather jacket (armor value +1D);
_______________________
Fate Points ____________ 1 Colt .45 (damage 4D+1, ammo 7, range 3-10/
15/40); binoculars; jungle adventurer’s pack;
Character Pts. ________ 5 journal; pens; archaeologist’s kit
Funds ______________ 4D
Body Pts. ____________29
Move _______________ 10
Phys. Dmg. _________ 1D
 Templates ❖ Page 83

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Avenging Hero
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ___________ 3D Knowledge _______ 2D+2

brawling _______________ languages _______________
climbing _______________ medicine _______________
dodge _________________ navigation ______________
jumping _______________ scholar _________________
melee combat _________ ________________________
sneak __________________ ________________________ Advantages: Cultures (II), very familiar
_______________________ ________________________ the culture of the “Aquarians”
_______________________ ________________________
Disadvantages: Enemy (III), “The
_______________________ ________________________
Agency for the National Trust” (TANT)
________________________ desperately wants to capture and “ex-
Coordination ___ 2D+1
marksmanship _________ Perception ________ 3D+1 amine” to figure out how you breathe
missile weapons _______ artist____________________ water
throwing _______________ hide ____________________ Special Abilities: Water Breathing (I)
_______________________ gambling________________ [can breathe in water, +1D to swim-
_______________________ know-how _______________ ming; with Flaw (I), only works in salt
_______________________ investigation ____________ water]
repair ___________________ Description: Your parents believed you
Physique _______ 3D+2
search __________________ drowned when you fell overboard dur-
lifting __________________
streetwise _______________ ing the trans-Atlantic cruise. Instead,
running ________________
survival _________________ you were rescued by strange beings
stamina ________________
tracking _________________ who called themselves “Aquarians.”
swimming ______________
________________________ They gave you some sort of potion that
_______________________
Extranormal ________ 0D adapted your body to allow you to
Presence __________ 3D breathe water, and you were raised in
________________________
animal hand. ___________ their culture, at the bottom of the ocean.
________________________
command ______________ As you neared adulthood, those who
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

________________________
con ____________________ adopted you told you the truth: that your
________________________ kind, Human, was destroying their ocean
charm _________________
________________________ home. They have asked you to help stop
intimidation ____________
________________________ the destruction of their people. Unfortu-
persuasion _____________
________________________ nately, your first mission brought you to
willpower ______________
_______________________ the attention of TANT — a quasi-govern-
Fate Points ____________ 1 mental agency that has vowed to cap-
Character Pts. ________ 5 ture and dissect you so that they too can
Funds ______________ 2D master your water breathing abilties.
Body Pts. ____________ 32
Move _______________ 10 Equipment: Knife (+1D)
Phys. Dmg. _________ 2D
 Templates ❖ Page 84

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Dashing Adventurer
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ________ 3D+1 Knowledge ______ 2D+1

climbing _______________ business ________________
brawling _______________ forgery __________________
dodge _________________ languages _______________
jumping _______________ medicine _______________
melee combat _________ navigation ______________
piloting ________________ scholar _________________ Advantages: Contacts (I), you know several
riding __________________ security _________________ black marketers in various American cities
sneak __________________ tech ____________________ (New York, Boston, Chicago) who may help
_______________________ ________________________ you; you can’t trust them, but they might be of
assistance; Equipment (I), you have a trade-
________________________
Coordination ___ 3D+1 mark Ingram SMG; Fame (I), known within
marksmanship _________ Perception _______ 2D+2 criminal and law enforcement circles as some-
one who “always gets his man”
lockpicking ____________ hide ____________________
missile weapons _______ gambling ________________ Disadvantages: Enemy (I), a criminal organi-
zation known as “The Hand,” which has opera-
sleight of hand _________ know-how _______________
tives in most cities, has a long-standing grudge
throwing _______________ investigation ____________ against your character; Employed (II), you
_______________________ repair ___________________ work for “The Agency,” a secret para-military
search __________________ organization run by a wealthy financier; she
Physique __________ 3D has a tendency to send you on extremely
streetwise _______________
lifting __________________ dangerous missions
survival _________________
running ________________ Special Abilities: None
________________________
stamina ________________
________________________ Description: It’s not easy being a dashing
swimming ______________ adventurer, but someone has to do it! Early on,
________________________
_______________________ you had decided that you wanted to be a cop,
Extranormal ________ 0D but you washed out of the academy … because
Presence _______ 3D+1
________________________ someone set you up. With no future and no
animal hand. ___________ hope, you drifted off to a life of obscurity.
________________________
command ______________
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Then, she walked into your life. Offering you

________________________
con ____________________ money and training, she gave you the chance
________________________ to do something with your life and stop the
charm _________________
________________________ criminal gangs that were destroying your city.
intimidation ____________
________________________ You finished your training quickly, and now
persuasion _____________ you travel across the country, stopping crimi-
willpower ______________ nals and fighting for freedom and justice!
Fate Points ___________ 1
_______________________ Equipment: Ingram SMG (damage 5D, ammo
Character Pts. _______ 5 10, range 3-15/25/50), leather jacket (armor
Funds ______________ 4D Body Pts. ___________ 36 value +1D); extra clip; communication equip-
ment (such as a cellular phone or powerful
Move _______________ 10 Phys. Dmg. _________ 2D radio, depending on the game setting); chew-
ing gum (several flavors)
 Templates ❖ Page 85

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Doctor
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes _________ 2D+1 Knowledge _________ 4D

brawling _______________ business ________________
dodge _________________ languages _______________
melee combat _________ medicine _______________
piloting ________________ scholar _________________
_______________________ ________________________
_______________________ ________________________ Advantages: Contacts (I), you have some
_______________________ ________________________ low-level contacts in the black market
_______________________ ________________________ medicine business; Cultures (III), you have
_______________________ ________________________ extensive knowledge of the tribes of a
_______________________ ________________________ third-world jungle; Wealth (II)
Coordination ______ 2D Perception ________ 3D+2 Disadvantages: Advantage Flaw (I), al-
marksmanship _________ artist____________________ though you use them only to get medi-
cines for your patients, revelation of your
sleight of hand _________ hide ____________________
contacts would ruin you in society; Preju-
throwing _______________ know-how _______________ dice (I), you are regarded as an idealistic
_______________________ investigation ____________ wastrel by others in your profession; Handi-
_______________________ search __________________ cap (II), you are lame in one leg — add +2
_______________________ streetwise _______________ to the difficulty of all dodge, acrobatics,
survival _________________ running, jumping, and swimming actions;
Physique ________ 2D+2
tracking _________________ Sense of Duty (II), you believe very strongly
lifting __________________
________________________ in the principles of your Hippocratic Oath
running ________________ and will take risks to heal others
________________________
stamina ________________
________________________ Special Abilities: None
swimming ______________
_______________________ Extranormal ________ 0D Description: Your family made enough
________________________ money with their business transactions to
Presence ________ 3D+1 afford a medical school education for
________________________
command ______________
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

________________________ you. Rather than establish private prac-

charm _________________ tice, you began working with missionaries
________________________
persuasion _____________ to treat the natives of otherwise unspoiled
________________________ countries. You often go on expeditions to
willpower ______________
________________________ those areas, so that you can ferry badly
_______________________
________________________ needed medicines to remote areas, doing
_______________________
_______________________ whatever you can help make the natives’
Fate Points ____________ 1 lives more comfortable.
Character Pts. ________ 5 Equipment: Webley Mark 6 (damage
Funds ______________ 4D 4D+2, ammo 6, range 3–10/25/50); jungle
Body Pts. ____________28 adventurer’s pack; one-man tent; medical
Move _______________ 10
Phys. Dmg. _________ 1D kit
 Templates ❖ Page 86

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Magician
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes _________ 2D+1 Knowledge _______ 2D+1

brawling _______________ business ________________
dodge _________________ languages _______________
melee combat _________ scholar _________________
piloting ________________ tech ____________________
sneak __________________ ________________________
_______________________ ________________________ Advantages: Fame (I), you worked
_______________________ ________________________ the comedian/magician circuit for a
_______________________ ________________________ few years as an opening act
_______________________ ________________________
_______________________ ________________________ Disadvantages: Advantage Flaw (I),
if you don’t hold your rabbit’s foot
Coordination ____ 3D+1 Perception __________ 3D whenever you attempt any Psionics
sleight of hand _________ artist____________________ skill, you can’t reroll Critical Successes
_______________________ hide ____________________ either until the end of the scene or
_______________________ know-how _______________ until you succeed at the skill check;
_______________________ investigation ____________ Bad Luck (II); Quirk (I), you read phi-
_______________________ repair ___________________ losophy books voraciously; Quirk (I),
_______________________ search __________________ you have a mild fear of flying
streetwise _______________
Physique __________ 2D Special Abilities: None
________________________
stamina ________________
________________________ Description: You always had an inter-
_______________________
________________________ est in the paranormal, magic, and
_______________________
________________________ ghosts. When you couldn’t find a job
_______________________ with your psychology degree, you took
Psionics _____________ 2D an unremarkable position at an ac-
Presence __________ 4D
astral projection _________ counting office and spent your leisure
animal hand. ___________
empathy ________________ hours performing a magic act in local
command ______________
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

medium ________________ clubs. But recently you realized that

con ____________________
telekinesis ______________ you have certain psychic abilities — a
charm _________________
________________________ discovery you find both appealing and
disguise _______________
________________________ frightening.
intimidation ____________
________________________
persuasion _____________ Equipment: Leather jacket (armor
willpower ______________ value +1D), a rabbit’s foot, a few simple
Fate Points ____________ 1
magic tricks
Character Pts. ________ 5
Funds ______________ 2D
Body Pts. ____________ 25
Move _______________ 10
Phys. Dmg. _________ 1D
 Templates ❖ Page 87

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Occult Expert
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ___________ 2D Knowledge _________ 4D

brawling _______________ business ________________
dodge _________________ forgery __________________
piloting ________________ languages _______________
_______________________ medicine _______________
_______________________ scholar _________________
_______________________ security _________________ Advantages: Contacts (II), you are friends
_______________________ ________________________ with a journalist who specializes in stories
_______________________ ________________________ about the strange and bizarre; Fame (I),
_______________________ ________________________ you’ve been profiled on the radio as an
_______________________ ________________________ expert on the occult; Wealth (II)
Coordination ______ 2D Perception __________ 4D Disadvantages: Enemy (I), there is a
marksmanship _________ artist____________________ journalist who is constantly trying to ex-
pose you as a fraud; Infamy (I), some
missile weapons _______ hide ____________________
people regard your work as “mumbo-
sleight of hand _________ know-how _______________ jumbo” and treat you with hostility; En-
_______________________ investigation ____________ emy (II), a medium you once debunked
_______________________ repair ___________________ has vowed revenge, and he has some
_______________________ search __________________ powerful friends who were embarassed
tracking _________________ by your exposing him; Burn-out (III), your
Physique __________ 2D
________________________ reporter friend has powerful enemies of
stamina ________________
________________________ his own who would like to see him dead
_______________________
________________________ Special Abilities: None
_______________________
________________________ Description: You love the arcane and the
_______________________
Extranormal ________ 0D bizarre. You constantly seek to separate
Presence __________ 4D the truth from the fake. Thus, you have
________________________
command ______________ dedicated yourself to exposing fake medi-
________________________
con ____________________
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

________________________ ums and other frauds, while documenting

intimidation ____________ that which can’t be so easily explained
________________________
persuasion _____________ away. Your circle of friends remains a
________________________ relatively small one, but those you have
willpower ______________
________________________ are loyal.
_______________________
________________________
_______________________ Equipment: Knife (damage +1D); Smith
_______________________ & Wesson .38 (damage 4D, ammo 6,
Fate Points ____________ 1 range 3-10/25/40); flashlight
Character Pts. ________ 5 Note: This character starts with two addi-
Funds ______________ 5D
Body Pts. ____________ 27 tional dice to split among skills.
Move _______________ 10
Phys. Dmg. _________ 1D
 Templates ❖ Page 88

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Pulp Hero
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ___________ 3D Knowledge _________ 3D

climbing _______________ business ________________
brawling _______________ languages _______________
dodge _________________ medicine _______________
jumping _______________ scholar _________________
melee combat _________ security _________________
piloting ________________ tech ____________________ Advantages: Authority: Law Enforce-
sneak __________________ ________________________ ment (II), you enjoy “unofficial” status
_______________________ ________________________ with the police force; Equipment (II), you
_______________________ ________________________ invented a special gas gun; Fame (I), you
________________________ are known and feared by the underworld;
Coordination ______ 3D Wealth (II)
marksmanship _________ Perception __________ 3D
lockpicking ____________ hide ____________________ Disadvantages: Enemy (I), a number of
low-level gangsters have sworn revenge
throwing _______________ know-how _______________
on you for jailing them; Price (I), after
_______________________ investigation ____________ every six uses of your gas gun, you must
_______________________ repair ___________________ whip up a new batch of the chemical
_______________________ search __________________ formula it uses; Quirk (I), you are very
streetwise _______________ cold, as you fear getting too attached to
Physique __________ 3D
tracking _________________ anyone; Quirk (II), you have a secret iden-
lifting __________________
________________________ tity you must protect; Sense of Duty (III),
running ________________
________________________ you are willing to risk your life in the
stamina ________________ pursuit of justice.
________________________
_______________________
________________________
Special Abilities: Skill Bonus: Leader-
_______________________
ship (I), +1 to command, intimidation and
Extranormal ________ 0D
Presence __________ 3D persuasion checks
________________________
command ______________ Description: One tragic night, a gang of
________________________
con ____________________
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________________________ hoodlums shot and killed the only person

charm _________________ you ever loved. From that point, you
________________________
disguise _______________ devoted your life and your wealth to bat-
________________________ tling crime and criminals. Sacrificing your
intimidation ____________
________________________ chance to live a normal life has turned you
persuasion _____________
________________________ grim and single-minded.
willpower ______________
_______________________ Equipment: Dark suit; gloves; heavy over-
Fate Points ____________ 1 coat (armor value +2); mask; gas gun
Character Pts. ________ 5 (damage 5D+1, stun damage only, ammo
Funds ______________ 5D 6, range 3-10/25/50)
Body Pts. ____________35
Move _______________ 10
Phys. Dmg. _________ 2D
 Templates ❖ Page 89

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: Reluctant Thief
Species/Gender: Human/ ___________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ________ 3D+2 Knowledge _______ 2D+1

climbing _______________ business ________________
brawling _______________ demolitions _____________
dodge _________________ forgery __________________
jumping _______________ languages _______________
melee combat _________ scholar _________________
sneak __________________ security _________________ Advantages: None
_______________________ tech ____________________
Disadvantages: Debt (I), owes the city’s
_______________________ ________________________
main crime family an unspecified “fa-
_______________________ ________________________
vor”; Infamy (III), blamed by the city
________________________ police for the murder of the former
Coordination ___ 3D+2
marksmanship _________ Perception ________ 3D+2 chief; while it was an accident, you will
lockpicking ____________ hide ____________________ still be pursued and assaulted by any-
missile weapons _______ gambling________________ one who recognizes you
sleight of hand _________ know-how _______________ Special Abilities: None
throwing _______________ investigation ____________ Description: You grew up in a bad
_______________________ repair ___________________ neighborhood with no prospects and no
search __________________ future; the only people you ever saw
Physique _______ 2D+1
streetwise _______________ who “made it” were the crooks. You
lifting __________________
survival _________________ wanted to make something of your life,
running ________________
tracking _________________ so you learned how to burglarize; you
stamina ________________
________________________ fell in with some minor crime rings.
_______________________
________________________ When the shakeout happened, the city’s
_______________________
Extranormal ________ 0D main crime family spared you, but now
Presence _______ 2D+1 you owe them. For now, you’re trying to
________________________
con ____________________ go legit, but with the police after you on
________________________
charm _________________ one side of the law and the criminals
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

________________________
disguise _______________ watching your every move on the other,
________________________ it’s not going to be easy …
persuasion _____________
________________________
willpower ______________
________________________ Equipment: Lockpicking tools (+1D to
_______________________
________________________ lockpicking for simple mechanical
_______________________ locks), climbing tools (+1D to climbing),
_______________________ several “hot” goods (TVs, stereos, etc.)
Fate Points ____________ 1
Note: This character begins with an
Character Pts. ________ 5 additional three dice to split among
Funds ______________ 3D
Body Pts. ____________ 32 skills.
Move _______________ 10
Phys. Dmg. _________ 1D
 Templates ❖ Page 90

Adventure
Character Name: ___________________________________
Player Name: _______________________________________
Occupation: ________________________________________
Species/Gender: ___________________________________
Age: ________ Height: __________ Weight: ___________
Physical Description: _______________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Reflexes ______________ Knowledge ____________

climbing _______________ business ________________
brawling _______________ demolitions _____________
dodge _________________ forgery __________________
flying __________________ languages _______________
jumping _______________ medicine _______________
melee combat _________ navigation ______________ Advantages: ____________________
piloting ________________ scholar _________________ _________________________________
riding __________________ security _________________ _________________________________
sneak __________________ tech ____________________ _________________________________
_______________________ ________________________ _________________________________
Coordination _________ Perception _____________ Disadvantages: _________________
marksmanship _________ artist____________________ _________________________________
lockpicking ____________ hide ____________________ _________________________________
missile weapons _______ gambling ________________ _________________________________
sleight of hand _________ know-how _______________ _________________________________
throwing _______________ investigation ____________
Special Abilities: ________________
_______________________ repair ___________________
_________________________________
search __________________
Physique _____________ _________________________________
streetwise _______________
lifting __________________ _________________________________
survival _________________
running ________________ _________________________________
tracking _________________
stamina ________________ _________________________________
________________________
swimming ______________ Background: ____________________
Extranormal ___________ _________________________________
Presence _____________
________________________ _________________________________
animal hand. ___________
________________________ _________________________________
command ______________
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

________________________ _________________________________
con ____________________
________________________ _________________________________
charm _________________
________________________ _________________________________
disguise _______________
________________________
intimidation ____________
________________________ Wound Level Body Pts. Range
persuasion _____________
willpower ______________ Stunned __________
Fate Points _____________ Wounded __________
Character Pts. _________ Severely Wounded __________
Funds _________________ Incapacitated __________
Body Pts. ______________ Mortally Wounded __________
Move __________________
Phys. Dmg. ____________ Killed 0
 Templates ❖ Page 91

Adventure
Character Name: ____________________________________

Armor Magic Spells

Type AV Notes Name Difficulty Notes
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
Weapons _________________________________________
Type Dmg. Range: S/M/L _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ Personality: ____________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
Other Equipment _________________________________________
Type Notes Objectives: _____________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ Other Information: ______________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________
Permission is hereby granted to photocopy this page for personal use.

_________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
_________________________________________ _________________________________________
 • MasterBook/D6 Conversion •
These guidelines convert MasterBook characters and ad- Example: a character with a Dexterity of 9 and a vehicle
ventures to the D6 System rules. Of course, since the conver- piloting of 11 (2 adds) in MasterBook would have a D6
sion translates logarithmic values to linear values, you have to Coordination of 3D and a piloting of +2 (which is added to the
exercise good judgment. If something doesn’t look right after base Coordination score, since the skills falls beneath that
you convert it, alter the value or die code to what seems more attribute).
reasonable.
The conversion involves one simple formula: divide the
MasterBook value by three. The quotient becomes the D6 die
Difficulty Numbers
code and the remainder becomes the number of pips. For The simplest way to convert MasterBook difficulty num-
example, a MasterBook value of 14 becomes a D6 code of 4D+2 bers to D6 numbers is to add +3 to the MasterBook value. You
(14/3 = 4, remainder 2). Using this equation allows you to can also use the chart below to translate them between
convert statistics on the fly. You don’t have to convert all the systems.
numbers in a particular adventure beforehand. For example,
your characters encounter a thug who immediately opens Modifiers
fire. You convert the thug’s fire combat skill value of 8 to a die
code of 2D+2 and start rolling. If the modifier is to an attribute or skill score, divide the
To convert from D6 to MasterBook, simply multiply the die MasterBook modifier value by 2 to get the D6 die code
code by three and then add the pips. For example, a D6 dodge modifier. Treat the quotient as the die code and convert the
skill of 4D+2 has a MasterBook skill value of 14 (3 x 4 + 2). remainder to a pip bonus. For example, a MasterBook trick
The main sections of conversion are characters, difficulty shot has a modifier of -4, which translates to a D6 modifier of
numbers, modifiers, and damage values. -1D+1. For modifiers to difficulties or skill totals, add +1 to the
MasterBook modifier to get the D6 modifier.
Characters Damage
If you’d like to play a MasterBook game with the D6 rules, you
Since MasterBook damage values tend toward the high side,
can use this simple method for converting between the two.
you must first subtract 5 from the MasterBook value and then
Since D6 allows you to use whichever attributes and skills apply the conversion formula. For example, a light rifle in
you deem appropriate for a particular genre, you can use the MasterBook has a damage value of 16. In the D6 System, the
MasterBook attributes — Agility, Dexterity, Strength, En- damage value is 3D+2 ((16 - 5)/3 = 3, remainder 2).
durance, Intellect, Mind, Charisma, and Confidence (ignor-
ing Toughness) — and the MasterBook skills as defined by the
particular WorldBook. You need only convert the MasterBook Miscellaneous
values into D6 die codes using the formula given above. For Conversions for other areas of game play (vehicle and
example, a MasterBook attribute score of 13 would be a D6 die starship combat, magic, psionics, etc.) are left to the game-
code of 4D+1 (13/3 = 4 remainder 1). master. In each case, if something equivalent isn’t included in
Last, Skill Points become Character Points, and Life Points this book, the standard conversion formula should provide
become Fate Points. you with a basis for translation.
Converting MasterBook Characters
Use the following chart to convert attributes between • Difficulty Conversion •
MasterBook and D6 Adventure games.
MasterBook D6
D6 MasterBook Routine, Nearly Routine (1–2) Very Easy (1–5)
Reflexes Agility Very Easy, Easy (3–5) Easy (6–10)
Coordination Dexterity Average, Complicated (6–10) Moderate (11–15)
Physique Average of Endurance and Strength Difficult, Hard (11–13) Difficult (16–20)
Knowledge Intellect Very Hard,
Perception Mind Extremely Hard (14–18) Very Difficult (21–25)
Presence Average of Charisma and Confidence Incredible, Heroic (26–30),
To convert skills, apply the formula given above to the skill’s Nearly Impossible (19+) Legendary (31+)
skill adds and then add that to the base converted attribute.
 • Reference Sheet •
• Generic Difficulties • Interaction Difficulty Modifiers
Automatic (0): Almost anyone can perform this action; Base Difficulty: 10 or target’s Presence or willpower
there is no need to roll. (Generally, this difficulty is not listed Situation Modifier
in a pre-generated adventure; it is included here for reference Target is friendly or trusting -5
purposes.) Target is neutral toward character
Very Easy (1-5): Nearly everyone can accomplish this task. or of equal standing 0
Typically, only tasks with such a low difficulty that are crucial Target is hostile or has superior standing +5
to the scenario are rolled. Target is an enemy +10
Easy (6-10): Although characters usually have no difficulty Target is in weakened position -10
with these tasks, a normal adult may find them challenging. Request is something target would do anyway
Moderate (11-15): There is a fair chance that the average or target feels is of minor importance 0
character will fail at this type of task. Tasks of this type require Request is illegal or highly dangerous +10
skill, effort, and concentration. Target is on guard or actively resisting* +10
Difficult (16-20): Those with little experience in the task *Do not include this modifier if you are using the active
will have to be quite lucky to accomplish these actions. A little mental defense described in the Mental Defenses sidebar.
luck wouldn’t hurt either. Lifting Difficulties
Very Difficult (21-25): The average character will only
rarely succeed at these kinds of task. Only the most talented Weight Difficulty
regularly succeed. 1 kg 1
10 kg 3
Heroic (26–30), Legendary (31 or more): These kinds of
50 kg 7
tasks are nearly impossible, though there’s still that possibil- 100 kg 12
ity that lucky average or highly experienced characters will 120 kg 13
accomplish them. 200 kg 17
Information Difficulties 250 kg 18
500 kg 23
Amount of Information Difficulty 750 kg 28
Basic or common information; 1000 kg (1 ton) 33
unconfirmed rumors 5 1100-2000 kg 34-43
Theories; generalities 10 (+1 to base of 33 per 100 kg over 1000 kg)
Complex concepts; moderately 2500-10,000 kg 44-59
detailed information 15 (+1 to base of 43 per 500 kg over 2000 kg)
Professional level; extensive 15,000-100,000 kg 60-77
(though not complete) information 20 (+1 per to base of 59 per 5000 kg over 10,000 kg)
Cutting-edge topics; extensive Movement Difficulty Modifiers
information, including peripheral
details and extrapolations 30 Base Difficulty: 5
Situation Modifier
Condition Modifier
Easy terrain (flat surface, smooth water,
Age of information +5 per century
using a ladder) 0
in the past
Moderate terrain (uneven surface, small
Closely guarded secret +15
obstacles, choppy water, climbing a tree) +5
Observation Difficulties Rough terrain (large but negotiable
Situation Difficulty obstacles, strong undercurrent,
Noticing obvious, generic facts; casual glance 5 climbing a rough wall) +10
Noticing obvious details Very rough terrain (dense and large
(ex. number of people) 10 obstacles, stormy weather, a few
Noticing a few less obvious details airborne hazards) +15
(ex. gist of conversation) 15 Hazardous terrain (minefield, narrow
Spotting a few specific details walkway, many airborne hazards, large
(ex., identities of individuals) 20 waves, climbing a smooth surface) +20
Spotting a few obscure details Very hazardous terrain (corridor filled
(ex. specifics of conversation) 25 with falling debris and explosions,
Noticing many obscure details 30 or more swimming in a hurricane) +25 or more
 • Combat Difficulty • Defense Combat Difficulty Modifiers
Default Base Difficulty: 10 Range
Partial Defense: Defender’s active defense roll Range Distance to Target Modifier
Full Defense: Defender’s active defense roll + 10 Point Blank 0 –3 feet -5
Attack Combat Difficulty Modifiers Short 3 feet to first value* 0
Medium First to second value* +5
Difficulty Damage Long Second to third value* +10
Option Modifier Modifier
* Values refer to values given in the weapon ’s range listing.
Marksmanship Cover
Burst fire as single 0 -2D Situation Modifier
Full auto -2D (-6) +2D Light smoke/fog +1D (+3)
Single fire as multi -1D (-3)* +1D* Thick smoke/fog +2D (+6)
Sweep -2D (-6) -3D Very thick smoke/fog +4D (+12)
* Modifiers are per additional round of ammunition, up to Poor light, twilight +1D (+3)
maximum that the weapon holds. Moonlit night +2D (+6)
Brawling, Melee Combat Complete darkness +4D (+12)
Sweep -3D (-10) -3D Object hides 25% of target +1D (+3)
Grab +2D (+6) -3D Object hides 50% of target +2D (+6)
All-out -2D (-6) +1D Object hides 75% of target +4D (+12)
Unwieldy weapon* +5 or more 0 Object hides 100% of target *
*For melee weapons longer than 30 centimeters. * If cover provides protection, the attacker cannot hit the target
directly, but damage done to the cover might exceed the armor
All Attacks value it gives the target, and, indirectly, the target receives
Low Gravity -1D (-4) 0 damage. Most of the time, the attacker must eliminate the cover
No Gravity -2D (-6) 0 before having a chance to hit the target.
Heavy Gravity +3D (+10) 0
Called Shot • Strength Damage •
To figure the Strength Damage value, drop the pips from the
Target is... character’s Physique or lifting value (including any Disadvan-
10 to 50 centimeters long +1D (+5) * tages or Special Abilities), divide the number by 2, and round up.
1 to 10 centimeters long +4D (+15) *
Less than a centimeter long +8D (+30) * • Miscellaneous Damage •
* See page 44 for options.
Type Damage
Hit Locations Botulism (severe case) 4D
Difficulty Damage Cold (extreme) 1D
Hit Location Modifier Modifier Cyanide (fatal dose) 8D+2
Head +1D (+5) +12 Electricity (standard wall outlet) 1D
Heart +4D (+15) +12 Electricity (major power line) 9D
Chest, abdomen 0 0 Falling 1D per
Left or right arm +1D (+5) -2
(for fall of 3 meters or more) 1.5 meters
Left or right leg +1D (+5) -1
Fire (torch-size) 1D
Left or right hand +4D (+15) -2
Hydrochloric acid
Other Modifiers (undiluted, any amount) 2D+1
• The attacker is blind or blinded: +4D (+12) to the Radiation (intense) 3D
combat difficulty.
• The target is blind or blinded or attacked from • Assisted Healing •
behind: -4D (-12) to the combat difficulty. Medicine Body Points
• The target is crouched on the ground: +1D (+3) to the Total Recovered
combat difficulty. 0 0
• The target is prone: –2D (-6) to the combat difficulty 1–5 2
(Point Blank or Short range); +2D (+6) to combat difficulty 6–10 1D
(Medium or Long range). 11–15 2D
• Weapon is difficult to use (character unfamiliar with 16–20 3D
technology, object is hard to throw or grasp, etc.): +5 or more to 21–25 4D
the combat difficulty; do not combine with the unwieldy melee 26–30 5D
weapon modifier. 30+ 6D
 • Rulebook Index •
A page number in italics refers to Fate Point, 7 standard, 36–37 iron spikes and piton, 77
a sidebar on that page. Funds, 7 table, 36 jungle adventurer’s pack, 77
•A• make your own, 4 Disadvantages, 9, 15–25 lockpicking tools, 77
Move, 7 Achilles’ Heel (III), 15–16 marbles, 77
actions. See using skills
Skills, 5–6 Achilles’ Heel (IV), 16 rope, heavy (hemp), 77
Advantages, 9, 10–15
Strength Damage, 7 Advantage Flaw (I), 16 rope, light (cotton), 77
Authority (I), 10–11
templates, 4, 81–89 Advantage Flaw (II), 17 shovel, 77
Authority (II), 11
Character Points, 7, 32–33 Advantage Flaw (III), 17 table of costs, 77
Authority (III), 11
combat Age (I), 17 telescope, 77
Contacts, 10
active defense, 41–42 Age (II), 18 tool kits, 77
Contacts (I), 11
base difficulty, 41–43 Bad Luck (I), 18 torch, 77
Contacts (II), 11
block. See combat, parry Bad Luck (II), 18 machine guns, 78
Contacts (III), 11
descriptive damage, 45 Bad Luck (III), 18 melee weapons, 79
Contacts (IV), 11–12
determining damage, 43–45. See Bigotry (I), 18–19 missile weapons, 79
costs, 10
also healing Bigotry (II), 19 pistols, 78
Cultures (I), 12
miscellaneous types, 44 Burn-out, 19 purchasing, 76
Cultures (II), 12
wounds system, 45 costs, 10 price difficulties, 76
Cultures (III), 12
dodge, 41 Cultural Unfamiliarity (I), 19 rifles, 78
Cultures (IV), 12
full defense, 42 Cultural Unfamiliarity (II), 19 shotguns, 78
Equipment (I), 12–13
modifiers, 42, 42–43, 43 Cultural Unfamiliarity (III), 19 submachine guns, 78
Equipment (II), 13
all-out, 43, 43 Debt (I), 19 weapon terminology, 77–79
Equipment (III), 13
blind or blinded, 43 Debt (II), 19–20 •F•
Equipment (IV), 13
brawling, 43 Debt (III), 20
Fame (I), 13 Fate Points, 7, 33
burst fire as single, 42, 43 Employed (I), 20
Fame (II), 13 Funds, 7. See also equipment,
called shot, 43, 43 Employed (II), 20
Fame (III), 13–14 purchasing; rewards, Funds
cover, 42, 42 Employed (III), 21
losing, 10 determining, 7
crouching target, 43 Enemies, 10
Patron (I), 14 •G•
damage bonus, 43 Enemy (I), 21
Patron (II), 14
full auto, 42, 43 Enemy (II), 21 game-enhancing cards, 34
Patron (III), 14
grab, 43, 43 Enemy (III), 21 gamemaster’s characters
Patrons, 10
hit locations, 43, 43 getting rid of, 10 combat and, 42
Trademark Specialization (I), 14
marksmanship, 43 Handicap (I), 21 game mechanics and, 33
Wealth (I), 14
melee combat, 43 Handicap (II), 21–22
Wealth (II), 14–15 •H•
prone target, 43 Handicap (III), 22
Wealth (III), 15 healing, 45. See also Psionics,
range, 42, 42 Illiterate (II), 22
aliens/mutants/fantastic species, 9– skills, healing
single fire as multi, 42, 43 Infamy (I), 22
10 natural, 45
sweep (close combat), 43, 43 Infamy (II), 22
attributes, 4–5 skill, 44, 45
sweep (ranged), 43, 43 Infamy (III), 22
Coordination, 4
weapon difficulty, 43, 43 Language Problems (II), 22 •I•
Extranormal, 4
nonplayer characters and, 42 Negative Learning Curve (II), 22 initiative, 33–34
Magic, 6, 55–60
parry, 41 Poverty (I), 22 method 1, 34
Psionics, 6, 61–75
partial defense, 42 Prejudice (I), 23 methods 2 and 3, 34
improving, 8
resistance total (damage), 44 Prejudice (II), 23 ties/no rolls, 34
and character options, 8
stun damage, 45 Price (I), 23
Knowledge, 4
unconsciousness and death, 44– Price (II), 23
•M•
Perception, 4 Magic, 61–75
45 Quirk (I), 23–24
Physique, 4 artifacts and legends, 63
wound levels, 44 Quirk (II), 24
Presence, 4 learning skills, 61
creation points, 10 Quirk (III), 24
Reflexes, 4 obtaining access to, 61
and character creation, 11 Reduced Attribute (II), 24
•B• Sense of Duty (I), 24 skills, 61–62. See also specific
•D• skills under spells
Body Points, 7 Sense of Duty (II), 24
D6/MasterBook conversion, 92 Sense of Duty (III), 24 alteration, 61, 64
determining, 7
difficulties suggested maximum, 10 apportation, 61–62, 64
improving, 8
choosing and determining Uncoordinated (II), 24–25 conjuration, 62, 64
•C• success, 36–40 divination, 62, 64
gamemaster’s fiat, 38
•E• untrained, 60
character creation, 4–8
generic modifiers, 37 equipment, 76–79 using other systems, 62
attributes, 4–5
table, 37 armor, 77 MasterBook/D6 conversion, 92
background and character
good roleplaying modifier, 37 explosives, 78, 79 mental defenses, 39
features, 7
information, 38, 46 firearms, 78 Move, 7. See also movement
Body Points, 7
interaction, 38, 38–39, 46 gear, 76–77 movement. See also difficulties,
by points, 10
interrogation, 46 binoculars, 76 movement
character options, 6, 9–10. See
movement, 39–40, 40 crowbar, 76 accelerating and decelerating, 40
also Advantages; Disadvan-
observation, 38, 38, 46 first-aid kit, 77 fatigue, 40
tages; Special Abilities
opposed, 37 flashlight, 76 maximum, 39
Character Points, 7
second chances, 37–38 gas mask, 76 other modifiers, 40, 40
Equipment, 7
handcuffs, 77 short distances, 39
 Index ❖ Page 96

•N• empathy, 6, 57–58, 58 Immunity, 27 starting Spell Total, 63

nonplayer characters. See far-sensing, 6, 58 Increased Attribute, 27 cantrips, 70
gamemaster’s characters. flying, 5, 39 Infravision, 27 characteristics, 62
forgery, 6, 49 Intangibility, 27 conjuration, 72–73
•P• gambling, 6, 49 Invisibility, 27 Cage, 72
Psionics, 55–60 healing, 6, 58–59 Iron Will, 27 Displacement, 72
delay, 55 hide, 6, 47 Life Drain, 27 Elemental Dagger, 73
learning skills, 55 intimidation, 6, 46, 46–47 Limitations, 31 Mystical Shield, 73
modifiers, 55–57 investigation, 6, 46, 49 Ability Loss, 31 Pot of Illusory Tendrils, 74
community, 55 jumping, 5, 39, 50 Allergy, Minor, 31 design time, 70
components, 55–56 know-how, 6, 50 Allergy, Severe, 31 divination, 73
concentration, 56 languages, 6, 50 Burn-out, 31 Detect the Living, 73
countenance, 56, 56 learning and improving, 7–8 Debt, 31 Sense Past, 73
feedback, 56 and character options, 8 Flaw, 31 View, 73
gestures, 55–56 lifting, 6, 50–51 Minor Stigma, 31 optional aspects, 66–70
incantations, 55–56 lockpicking, 5, 51 Price, 31 area effect, 66
link to target, 56, 56 marksmanship, 5 Side Effect, 31 change target, 66
physical contact, 56 medicine, 6, 51. See also healing Singularity, 31 charges, 66
reception, 56, 56–57 medium, 6, 59, 59 Long Life Span, 27 community, 66–67, 67
speed, 57 melee combat, 5 Luck benefits, 28 components, 66, 66
untrained, 57 missile weapons, 5 Luck, Good, 27 concentration, 67–68
obtaining access to, 55 navigation, 6, 51 Luck, Great, 28 countenance, 68, 68
range, 57 persuasion, 6, 46, 51 Master of Disguise, 28 feedback, 68
skills, 57 piloting, 5, 51–52 Multiple Abilities, 28 focused, 68
astral projection, 57 protection, 6, 59, 59 Natural Armor, 28 gestures, 68, 68
empathy, 57–58, 58 psychometry, 6, 59–60, 60 Natural Hand-to-Hand incantations, 68, 68
far-sensing, 58 repair, 6, 39, 52 Weapons, 28 multiple targets, 68
healing, 58–59 riding, 5, 52 Natural Magick, 28–29 other aspects, 69, 70
medium, 59, 59 running, 6, 39 Natural Ranged Weapons, 29 unreal effects, 68–69, 69
protection, 59, 59 scholar, 6, 46 Omnivorousness, 29 variable duration, 69–70
psychometry, 59–60, 60 search, 6, 46, 52 Paralyzing Touch, 29 variable effect, 70
strike, 58, 60 security, 6, 52 Possession, Full, 29 variable movement, 70
telekinesis, 60, 60 sleight of hand, 5, 52–53 Possession knowledge, 29 precalculated, 71–73
telepathy, 58, 60 sneak, 5, 47 Possession, Limited, 29 samples. See spells, precalculated
lie detecting, 60 stamina, 6, 53 Sense of Direction, 29–30 Spell Measures (table), 65
using and resisting, 55 streetwise, 6, 53 Shapeshifting, 29, 29–30 benchmarks, 65
using other systems, 55 strike, 6, 59, 60 Silence, 30 conversions, 65
•R• survival, 6, 53 Skill Bonus, 30 using, 64
rewards, 80 swimming, 6, 39 Skill Minimum, 30 Spell Worksheet, 75
Advantages (and Disadvan- tech, 6, 46, 53–54 Speed, 30 targeting, 62
tages), 80 telekinesis, 6, 60, 60 Teleportation, 31 using, 62–63
Character and Fate Points, 80 telepathy, 6, 60, 60 Transmutation, 31 Strength Damage, 7
equipment and other loot, 80 throwing, 5–6, 54 Ultravision, 27 determining, 7, 44
Funds, 80 tracking, 6, 46, 54 Uncanny Aptitude, 30 improving, 8
information, 80 willpower, 6, 54 Ventriloquism, 31 system overview, 3
rolling dice, 32–33 Special Abilities, 9, 25–31 Water Breathing, 31 •T•
improving a roll, 32–33 Accelerated Healing, 25 Youthful Appearance, 31
templates
Character Points, 32–33 acquiring or improving after special points. See Character
academic journalist, 81
Fate Points, 33 character creation, 25 Points; Fate Points
archaeologist, 82
straight values, 32 Ambidextrous, 25 spells. See also Magic
avenging hero, 83
Wild Die, 32 Animal Control, 25 alteration, 71
blank sheet, 90
rounds, 33–34 Armor-Defeating Attack, 25 Deadly Darts, 71
dashing adventurer, 84
Atmospheric Tolerance, 25 Drain Toughness, 71
•S• Attack Resistance, 25 Fear, 71
doctor, 85
skills, 5–6. See also using skills magician, 86
Attribute Scramble, 25 Heighten Attribute, 71
acrobatics, 5, 47 occult expert, 87
Blur, 26 Water Spray, 71
alteration, 6, 61, 64 pulp hero, 88
Combat Sense, 26 applying the effect, 62–63
animal handling, 6, 47 reluctant thief, 89
Confusion, 26 apportation, 72
apportation, 6, 61–62, 64 costs, 10 Carrying Wind, 72 •U•
artist, 6, 47–48 Darkness, 26 Retrieve, 72 using skills, 33, 34–36. See also
astral projection, 6, 57 Elasticity, 26 basic aspects, 63–66 rolling dice
brawling, 5 Endurance, 26 cast time, 66 aiming, 36
business, 6, 46 Enhanced Senses, 26 duration, 64–66 free actions, 36
charm, 6, 46, 46–47 Enhancement, 26 effect, 63, 63–64, 64 multiple actions, 36
climbing, 5, 39, 48 Environmental Resistance, 26 range, 64 preparing, 36
command, 6, 48 Fast Reactions, 26 speed, 64 related skills, 36
con, 6, 46 Fear, 26 building, 63–70 rolled actions, 34–36
conjuration, 6, 62, 64 Flight, 26 Final Spell Total, 70 rushing, 36
demolitions, 6, 48–49 Gifted in Learning, 26 minimum Spell Total, 70 untrained, 33
disguise, 6, 49 Glider Wings, 26 spell difficulty, 70
divination, 6, 62, 64
•W•
Hardiness, 26–27 starting Negative Spell Total
dodge, 5 Immortality, 26–27 Modifiers, 63 Wild Die, 32. See also rolling dice