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A B O U T T H E D O O M S DAY C LO C K
The iconic Doomsday Clock is a trademark of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an independent, nonprofit media organization. All rights reserved. The Doomsday Clock, which has been called “the most powerful piece of information design of the 20th century,” was created in 1947 as a metaphor to communicate humanity’s proximity to self- destruction. The Bulletin mission is to equip the public, policymakers, and scientists with the information needed to reduce man-made threats to our existence. It was founded in 1945 by Manhattan Project scientists who “could not remain aloof to the consequences of their work.” For more information, visit https://thebulletin.org/
Neither Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists nor the Doomsday Clock are affiliated with ARC, momatoes, or Exalted Funeral, though the Bulletin recognizes their trademarks and intellectual property. Contents
Introduction 14 What is ARC? 15
Why play ARC? 16
What do I need to play ARC? 18
Who is the Guide? 19
How do I play ARC? 20
How do I read ARC? 22
Notes on Time, Lengths and Pronouns 23
Chapter One: Doom 24
A. Setting up the Apocalypse 26
B. Orchestrating the Omens 30
C. Building the Doomsday Clock 32
D. When Doom is Vanquished 35
E. When Doom Vanquishes All 36
Chapter Two: Hero Creation 38
Step 0: Inspect the Character Sheet 42
Step 1: Determine Approach Scores 43
Step 2: Assign Blood & Guts Modifiers 45
Step 3: Assign Skill Ranks 46
Knowledge Skills 46
Social Skills 47
Physical Skills 48
Pragmatic Skills 49
Prowess Skills 50
Step 4: Determine Inventory 52
List 1: Damage and Defense 54
List 2: Supplies and Sundries 55
List 3: Oddities and Valuables 56
List 4: Spells 58
List 5: Techniques 59
Step 5: Answer Character-Building Questions 60
Step 6: Determine Bonds 60
Chapter Three: Core Rules 64
Summary of Rules 66
A. Skill Checks 68
Difficulty Modifier 69
Assistance 70
Roll and Outcome 71
Upgrading the Outcome 72
Acting as a Group 72
B. Conflict 73
Turns and Rounds 73
Actions You Can Take 74
Initiative Category 77
C. Life, Death and Naps 80
Life and Death: Fallen Heroes 80
Rest and Recovery 81
D. Evolving Your Hero 81
Chapter Four: Spells & Techniques 84
A. Performing Spells & Techniques 86
B. Replenishing Spells & Techniques 86
C. Learning Spells & Techniques 87
List of Spells 88
List of Techniques 97
Chapter Five: Guide Toolkit 104
A. Ratings and Scales 106
B. Creating Custom Characters and Adversaries 109
C. Guide to Running ARC 110
Seven Principles 110
Running the Game 113
D. Other Considerations 120
Appendices Appendix 1: Sample Hero Creation 124
Appendix 2: Sample Scene and Skill Check 127
Appendix 3: Sample Conflict 130
Appendix 4: Sample Doom 134
Appendix 5: More Sample Heroes 135
Appendix 6: Codex of Astonishing Creatures 138
Index 167 NOTES
As the global landscape of tabletop RPG expands, the RPGSEA community is
proving that Southeast Asia is an exciting region for meaningful, delightful, and even provocative games. From the queer travails of coming out to Asian parents; to 1990s action heroes in bombastic Philippine cinema; to crocodile chieftains, mosquito witches, and patchwork-reality gods in a monsoon village; even to simpler things like the ordeal of Malaysian traffic—RPGSEA embodies the deep diversity of its creators’ perspectives and experiences.
The works of Pam Punzalan, Zedeck Siew, BJ Recio, Shao Han, Aaron Lim, Sin Posadas, Makapatag, Samuel Mui and many more nurture a rich archipelago of ideas and partnerships that defy monoliths and hegemonies.
ARC is decidedly an RPGSEA game not simply because I myself am Filipina,
but because it affirms the community's stance against the idea of a "default" narrative while encouraging the players—you—to create stories close to your lived experiences...close to the boundless ocean inside your heart.
I dedicate this game to RPGSEA and to all who infuse their unique perspectives and experiences into their stories. I also dedicate ARC to all starry-eyed game designers yearning for inspiration, collaboration, and community to guide them towards ever grander dreams. May you find your sea.
—momatoes Manila, June 2021 12 13 14
“ His hands shook. The sword had never felt heavier than this moment but the champion beside him didn’t seem to notice—or care. “Not to put too fine a point on it, but erm,” he stammered, “won’t our lives be in danger?”
She looked him dead in the eyes.
“The world is ending. It’s the least we can do.” 15
WHAT ISARC? ARC is a rules-light, tension-heavy fantasy tabletop role-playing game where anyone can create urgent stories ticking down to a seemingly inescapable apocalypse. 16
WHY PLAY ARC? Play ARC to:
Escape to a world filled with
1 MEMORABLE, HEART-RACING TALES. Challenge awaits you. Can you overcome looming obliteration?
2 BUILD A STORY together.
Support each other as heroes on a fantasy adventure creating narratives that alter the course of destiny.
HAVE FUN— even when you’ve never
3 played or run a tabletop RPG before.
It’s easy to feel anxious and uncertain with a new hobby. This game will guide you on becoming heroes immersed in adventure so that you worry about the Doom and not yourself. 17
Play
ARC IF YOU’RE READY to slay the Apocalypse 18
WHAT DO I NEED TO PLAY ARC? You will need:
PEOP L E • one player, called the GUIDE, to facilitate the game. • 2–6 other players to role-play as heroes. Simply referred to as ‘player.’
TOO L S • this book or an online source document for referencing game rules. • character sheets to track heroes’ stats and capabilities. Download digital copies at ARC-RPG.COM
• a stopwatch or timer—digital or otherwise.
• several six-sided dice. ARC can technically be played with one die but having at least three is nice.
AN D L A ST LY • a few hours of free time, respect for fellow players, and a willingness to save the world.
A NOTE ABOUT DICE
Throughout the book six-sided dice are referred to as “d6.” If there is a
number before that, you roll that many dice. A 2d6 roll, for example, means you roll 2 dice simultaneously. 19
WHO IS THE GUIDE? The GUIDE is a player who helps set up the story and world for the heroes. They conceptualize the plot and build a sandbox that reacts to what the others do.
The GUIDE does this by describing scenes, role-playing as non-hero
characters, and building challenges and situations that other players must tackle. The GUIDE also has the final say on rules.
Being a GUIDE is perfect if you
love planting story seeds for others and growing it with them to make a unique creation. For many, though, it can feel scary or intimidating to take on this role. It's easy to feel pressured to be "as good" as some popular game master or think that everyone's fun hinges on a perfect performance.
The GUIDE'S experience and comfort are important, too. Chapter 5 delves into this in more detail, but a welcoming game where mistakes are okay is a healthy target for anyone to aim for. ARC is also carefully designed and written to ease common burdens for GUIDES—so anyone regardless of experience level can focus on transforming imagination to adventure.
Ultimately, all you need is the desire to create stories with everyone. 20
HOW DO I PLAY ARC?
At its heart, ARC is a storymaking game. In this game the GUIDE narrates swim around her. What do you do?” story beats, plot hooks, set pieces and scenarios which players can interact The players then discuss and carry out with, moving the group’s story along. their next steps and the GUIDE narrates their action's result. The situation For example, the GUIDE could say, “You reflects this change prompting another come across a koi pond—no, a koi lake— response from the players. So it goes so huge it feels it can span over half your until the tale is made. village. Your eyes are caught by a giant, pale-haired woman lying in the lake and Stories are built atop a foundation of looking a little bored. Large, colorful fish collaboration and conversation.
PLAYER 1: OK, aside from the giant, what else do we see?
GUIDE: Three or four orange koi swim in the lake, they're about the size of a bus. There's some wildlife but they seem very tame; they look at you curiously. It's peaceful otherwise.
PLAYER 2: The giant...does she match the description that the innkeep gave us? If so then I
think she's the one we've been looking for...
You take actions building the story.
Each player role-plays a hero, a In our example above a player may say, character in the game. When a hero “OK, I’ll grab her attention.” The guide performs a risky action in the story may respond: “She’s a little far out— the deed’s outcome may be resolved you’re just a tiny speck in her vision—so using a SKILL CHECK. I want you to make a SKILL CHECK with IMPOSE.” 21
When SKILL CHECKS happen players manner: CREATIVELY, CAREFULLY or in
roll 1d6 hoping to roll lower than a a CONCERTED manner. These scores are THRESHOLD NUMBER (TN). The TN determined at the beginning of the game is usually the hero’s ranks in a relevant in Hero Creation. SKILL—in our example, it’s IMPOSE—
plus an applicable APPROACH SCORE. Other important rules such as CONFLICT,
APPROACH SCORES track how well staying alive and growing from a hero solves problems in a particular experience are discussed in Chapter 3.
PLAYER 3: My IMPOSE is 2. I think I'll use a CONCERTED approach to get her attention as
enthusiastically as I can. I have a 1 in CONCERTED, so my TN is 3. I roll...a 2!
GUIDE: Your 1d6 roll is lower than the TN, so you succeed in getting the giant's attention! She stands up to her full height. She's so massive she casts a shadow over you all and blocks the sun. She growls, "Who dares disturb my reverie?" What do you do next?
While heroes move through the shared world, the
Doomsday Clock ticks to its end. At set intervals the real-time DOOMSDAY CLOCK advances, heralding DOOM'S arrival. Heroes must address the impending dilemma within a time period or suffer its dire consequences.
GUIDE: Another hour passes, so the DOOMSDAY CLOCK advances by one. Two MOMENTS to go—two more hours—before DOOM arrives.
Read Appendices 2, 3 and 4 for more play samples
22
HOW DO I READ ARC? GUIDE, head to Chapter 1 to jump into setting up a story with everyone.
Everyone should also read this chapter to learn about DOOM and how it impacts the adventure. The sections on OMENS and the DOOMSDAY CLOCK, in particular, are important.
Players can make heroes by following Chapter 2.
Chapter 3 delves into the game’s core rules: your foundation for playing an adventure. The writing targets players, but the GUIDE should also read it so they can run the game.
Chapter 4 provides a handy reference for SPELLS & TECHNIQUES, including
details on enhancing and gaining further instances.
GUIDE, if you need help running a game, Chapter 5 is for you. It has guidance and principles applicable to any game. It also has a useful table for creating custom characters and adversaries.
Lastly, the Appendices have a plethora of sample heroes, scenes and even CONFLICT. The final appendix contains the CODEX OF 36 ASTONISHING
CREATURES that can appear or serve as inspiration in your adventure.
23
N O T E S O N
TIME, LENGTHS & PRONOUNS
TIME There are two types of time: IN-STORY TIME and REAL-TIME. In-story marks the passage of time within the narrative; real-time marks the passage of time in our real world. A rest taking 3 hours in-story, for example, can simply take up 2 minutes in real-time. These two types of time are labeled accordingly to avoid confusion.
LENGTHS & SHORT DISTANCES are indicated by HEIGHTS. This approximates
the average height of a person and is around 5–6 feet or 1.5–1.8 meters.
PRONOUNS In several cases, this book uses “you” to refer to either you as the player (or GUIDE) or your hero. Context clarifies which.
As for pronouns you should use for other heroes or players, it’s best to ask first as a sign of respect. 24
D CHAPTER ONE
O Om “ “It’s too late,” the princess whispered, voice cracking. The three held each other tightly, as if they could keep the cold away with what little heat they had. They’d failed to stop the Doom. Now the world would suffer with their mistake. 25
The Doom is a cataclysmic
event threatening to devastate the world of the heroes or their people. In ARC, the heroes’ goal is preventing this apocalypse.
The DOOM is determined by DOOMS ADVANCE AT
the GUIDE and players. It can A TERRIFYING PACE
CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
be large in scope—for example, EVEN WITHOUT PLAYER
a world-sundering earthquake INTERVENTION: WAITING
triggered by a goddess’ death—or FOR NO ONE AND ALWAYS
more intimate—the departure of MOVING FORWARD.
beloved spirits, a cruel heartbreak,
or the farewell of an era. 26
A. Setting up the APOCALYPSE GUIDE, any idea you have for the story and its DOOM may be refined further
with the players’ help. The following questions can help. You can be as loose or as specific as you'd like; you can even pull inspiration from favorite books or media. The only important detail is that this world must eventually be in peril.
1 | Which kind of setting resonates with 2 | What characters do you want to play or intrigues you? in this world and how did they meet?
—Magical realism in a Southeast Asian —Grand, larger than life heroes
context? who met in a world-spanning —A blend of 1920s' gangster culture and competition? competitive yet mystic alchemy? —A gathering of clerics from different —A war-torn world, where hulking faiths, united by a common cause? sentient weapons forcibly laid down —The archmage's only heirs, except their arms? none of you know each other? —A post-apocalyptic setting, where —A troupe of bards, all half-siblings? a Bad Thing has irreversibly occurred? —A family of werewolves avenging CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
—Medieval fantasy with frog wizards? their scions?
3 | Are there themes you want to see in the story?
—The dark side of anointed heroes? —The tender fragility of nostalgia?
—Court and chivalry? —Homecoming? —Cold revenge? —Something else entirely? 27
The following two questions are essential and must not be skipped.
4 | How long should the game last?
The DOOM is time-bound, encompassing a finite number of sessions. ARC works best with 1-3 session games, although you can also play for longer.
5 | Do we have the same understanding on playstyle and safety?
An important but often forgotten step is ensuring everyone is on the same page on playstyle and safety. Some are OK with sad endings; others hate combat; some want a punishing challenge. And when it comes to safety, everyone has unique needs and perspectives. Check in how as a group and as individuals you can be aware and empowered to stand up for safety. What can help everyone feel comfortable raising concerns? Should the group avoid certain topics? Everyone—not just the GUIDE— has a stake in creating and maintaining a welcome, supportive space.
GUIDE, once this is done, you must flesh it out further by asking yourself a few more
questions. You can read the questions now and answer them after the players have made their heroes (Chapter 2). This time, you don’t need to share your answers.
6 | What kind of Doom incorporates the setting's themes alongside heroes' rumors, bonds and personalities? Note each player’s answers to Hero Creation’s character building questions, and build bits of the story from there. Will the apocalypse be war? A cruel winter? A heartbreaking wedding? DOOMS manifest in different ways though the dread they inspire is universal. CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
Subplots are formalized 7 | What subplots can heroes discover and pursue? through game mechanics —The children have ceased laughing. and are called “OMENS”— —Books are being burned for blasphemous content. discussed in complete —The exiled prince returns, their eyes a strange blue. detail in the next section. —Something elese entirely? ...continued next page 28 8 | What memorable ideas, events or characters can support your story?
—A mysterious paladin on a flaming —A duel between angry dwarf boxers?
clockwork horse? —A salacious, talkative chili plant —A heist set in an impenetrable fortress? named Ronpepper?
Remember two things: your time limits and the plain fact that stories will and always change on the fly. So don’t bind yourself to an inflexible plan—it’s possible the cool scenario or character you envisioned won't even show up in the story. You can still reuse their aspects in other scenes or characters, however, so no effort is ever wasted.
So, GUIDE, you have a rough outline for a story, as well as a strong idea for the DOOM. Now it’s time to weave it into the gameplay mechanics by introducing
OMENS and the DOOMSDAY CLOCK.
D I V I S I O N O F TA S K S
While not related to story setup, it can be meaningful to discuss supporting tasks that add value to play. GUIDE, you have the power to bring up and delegate the following. You don't have to do these by yourself:
—Coordinating schedules —Checking if it's time to advance the
—Taking notes during sessions DOOMSDAY CLOCK
—Answering simple rules questions —Tracking who's next in a CONFLICT
CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
“ The meteor loomed closer and closer. Humanity could only watch and whimper as the Doom descended on them all. There had been warning signs, strange Omens—even a scorned prophetess—all ignored by a people desperate to blind their eyes against the truth. CHAPTER 1 | DOOM 29 30
B. Orchestrating the OMENS OMENS are story fronts contributing to the advancing
DOOM. While they may not directly cause the DOOM,
they speed its arrival. Think of them as mini story arcs
supporting and bringing dimension to the apocalypse. GUIDE, start the game with 3 OMENS.
If your DOOM is the Say your DOOM is about And if your DOOM is escape of a demon lord the local chieftain’s about children's laughter hungry to consume the wedding. The OMENS being stolen by a entire kingdom, the could be: miserable trickster god, OMENS could be: OMENS may include:
—The local cult is —The local bard practices —The trickster god's wife hoarding gold and gems a truly cursed harana. walks in the mortal for a secret ritual. —The Fairy Queen's realm, proclaiming CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
—The lords’ council has beloved flowers are herself divorced at last. disbanded, leaving being plucked for a —Strange plants sprout royal defenses scant wreath, earning her ire. throughout the village and uncoordinated. —The wedding planner and giggle at night. —The Grey Magus has is going around town, —The babaylan have disappeared, leaving inviting utterly ill- fallen deathly ill, one only a mysterious map. advised guests. by one. 31
Like the DOOM, OMENS are living
story arcs that progress without player intervention and do not wait for action.
Heroes can resolve OMENS to slow down the DOOM. Resolution happens when they’ve removed its cause or have rendered the subplot’s impact moot. In the above examples, they could resolve the “local cult is hoarding gold and gems” OMEN by defeating all cult members, stealing all valuables, convincing the cult to disarm, asking the local kawal to intervene or even burning down the cult’s headquarters.
GUIDE, while you do not need to inform players whether they’ve stumbled upon an
OMEN, you can use the setting to give clues. For example, the town crier can proclaim
that something is amiss or a villain killed the priestess and left a calling card. The same goes for resolving OMENS. Use the story to show that something has happened for the better. Say, the villain is shackled and imprisoned in the bowels of the keep.
Can an OMEN stay active even when heroes already attempted to address it? In our example above, perhaps the heroes informed the kawal about the situation but told a deeply incomplete story, resulting in the guards being ill-prepared to corral the cultists. The OMEN can still be unresolved in this case. If the heroes' approach is mismatched or significantly inadequate, the story should reflect a non-improvement.
This doesn’t mean the end of the world, however—
or does it? CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
A L T E R N AT I V E RU L I N G : S H O RT G A M E S
For games less than 3 hours long, you can play with just two OMENS instead of three to keep the story lean. 32
C. Building the Doomsday clock The DOOMSDAY CLOCK charts the The DOOMSDAY CLOCK is made up of apocalypse’s inevitable approach, discrete intervals called MOMENTS. Its advancing at set time intervals. Once it speed and number depend on how long reaches its end the DOOM is unleashed. you intend to run the game.
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF MOMENTS DOOMSDAY CLOCK
SESSIONS ADVANCES EVERY...
3 per hour of play 30 minutes
1 Example: for a 4-hour session, the DOOMSDAY CLOCK has 12 MOMENTS (4 x 3) and advances every 30 minutes.
2-3 1.5 per hour of play (round up) hour
CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
Example: for two 5-hour sessions, the DOOMSDAY CLOCK has
15 MOMENTS (10 x 1.5) and advances every hour.
4+ 1.5 per session (round up) session
Example: for 7 sessions, the DOOMSDAY CLOCK has 11 MOMENTS
(7 x 1.5) and advances every session. 33
Every time the DOOMSDAY CLOCK advances, one
MOMENT is consumed.
Then, roll d6 equal to the number of OMENS still in play,
consuming one more MOMENT for every 5 or 6.
When all MOMENTS are gone, the apocalypse arrives.
For example, say you’re playing a one-session game. After 30 minutes of play, you advance the DOOMSDAY CLOCK and consume one MOMENT. If there are 3 OMENS left you roll 3 dice, and if you roll 2 5 5, you consume two additional MOMENTS. If all MOMENTS are consumed...then prepare for the end. Start
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
A sample DOOMSDAY CLOCK for a single-session, 3-hour game.
END
Two MOMENTS have been consumed. Appendix 4: Sample Doom
shows another example. CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
A L T E R N AT I V E RU L I N G : S O F T E R R I S K S
The DOOMSDAY CLOCK has a level of unpredictability to incite a heart-racing
sense of rapidly lost time. However, if you seek a calmer and less fickle game, you can rule that OMENS die rolls only consume a max of one additional MOMENT each time. This may also be ideal for games less than 3 hours. 34 35
D. When Doom is VanQuished THROUGH SKILL AND TEAMWORK the heroes ascend as legends of the land THEIR NAMES FOREVER REMEMBERED.
What happens next
is up to everyone: BASK IN SUCCESS OR
Face ever GRANDER Dooms?
36
E. When Doom vanQuishes All
It is entirely possible for heroes to do their best and still
fail. The DOOM happens, the tears fall. Such is life.
Stories, however, can live on. The state of the world may have irreversibly darkened but it doesn’t mean the tale ends.
There are three choices. The table should decide which path to tread together.
1. Epilogue 2. New Beginnings
You choose to accept the world's end. The apocalypse may have happened, but Allow each player to say 2–3 sentences new beginnings can still flourish. Use describing their hero’s life after the ruins of the world to create a sequel apocalypse. Once they are done, narrate with heightened stakes. Because of the CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
an epilogue to the shared story. DOOM, something else happened...
something sinister. Create this new
Have a brief moment of silence to DOOM and ask the players whether grieve what once was. they’d like to continue as their heroes or create new ones. 37
3. Rewind You choose to rebel against destiny— perhaps there’s a second chance. Agree as a table up to what point in-story time will be rewound. All heroes retain their stats, inventory as well as Do not make this choice lightly. If you memories of the fallen future. rewind time, decide or roll:
The DOOMSDAY CLOCK goes back in 1 A beloved ally turns to dust.
time as well: 2 An innocent maiden kills her mother.
3 Three pale girls rise from the dead and
—If your game is a ONE-SHOT, restore snake their way towards the heroes. 2 MOMENTS per hour of play left. 4 A god dies, their body flung to the —If your game is 2–3 SESSIONS, restore world below. CHAPTER 1 | DOOM
1 MOMENT per total hour of play
5 A small, humble family becomes a left. new plague’s first victims. —If your game has MORE sessions, 6 A new OMEN comes to light. restore 1 MOMENT per session left.
Play the game as normal, forever burdened by visions of the alter-future.
38
Hero CReATIoN O CHAPTER TW
“ The child squirmed on her mother’s lap, staring wide-eyed at the thrice-tattooed wizard. “Can you make flowers bloom pretty?” the child asked, cheeks blushing. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
The wizard puffed on his pipe and gave a long,
languid nod. A spark of delight immediately lit the child's eyes. “I want to be like you,” she blurted. “I want to be magic.” The mother laughed but the wizard just shook his head. He could not ask the child to share the same, shadowed fate as him. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N 39 40
Player, you R A N D O M H E RO G E N E R AT O R
You may roll 1d6 on every list below to
move the story quickly create a random hero.
and explore the Your hero is a/an...
collective world 1 amphibious... 4 bureaucratic...
2 rebellious... 5 blue... through heroes. 3 nervous... 6 incandescent...
You can play any hero you want as long 1 ...lion 4 ...folk hero as it makes sense in the setting. You can 2 ...noblin 5 ...ball of fire be a human, an elf, a lesser tiger demon 3 ...engineer 6 ...witch doctor or a prince disguised as a pauper if it fits in the shared world. ...who... 1 believes in a vast conspiracy Your hero’s capabilities are expressed 2 claims to be royalty from the Fallen through several aspects. Hero Creation Kingdom of Majapahit fills in these details to build a well- 3 looks like they’ve seen better days rounded and adept personality. 4 is notorious among the transcendental lovers of Pasig 5 feuded with all four corners of the wind C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
6 perfected the recipe for capybara curry
...and... 1 speaks very softly. 2 is an amateur poet. 3 walks on tiptoes. 4 has an innocuous fourth eye. 5 has six fingers on both hands. 6 has white pupils. 41
Every step you have the option of with the rules, but each step in the randomly rolling instead of assigning Hero Creation process also mentions a value. Rolling randomly can result how it'll be relevant in the game. in powerful heroes but you have less control over how they turn out. To check out Hero Creation in action see Appendix 1: Sample Hero Creation. The "How to Play ARC" section in the More sample heroes are available in Introduction already gave an overview Appendix 5. of how your hero's aspects can interact
C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
W H AT I F I M A K E A T E R R I B L E H E RO ?
It’s natural to feel anxious about being “good enough,” especially if this is your first time playing a tabletop role-playing game. Focus on having fun—that’s how you win. Defeating the Doom is just one part of it; your enjoyment matters too. It’s easy to worry about whether your hero is strong, cool or interesting enough but what matters is that you look forward to playing as them. So long as they fit in the setting and want to save the world, there are no wrong decisions. 42
Step 0: Inspect the Character Sheet Before anything else, take a look at the character sheet which tracks essential details about your hero. The print version provides a summary of rules at the back, while the digital version displays these tips when hovering over certain words or phrases. The character sheet is your dear friend throughout the game; download copies at arc-rpg.com.
Step 1: Determine Approach Scores APPROACH SCORES represent the hero’s aptitude for solving problems and using
skills in particular ways. Do they tend towards creative solutions? Are they careful and detail-oriented? Or do they gravitate towards resolving challenges through sheer, concerted effort?
These are the three APPROACHES: CREATIVE, CAREFUL and CONCERTED.
Skills using a CREATIVE Skills using a CAREFUL Skills using a
APPROACH are APPROACH utilize close CONCERTED performed in interesting, attention to detail, APPROACH exemplify C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N unusual and surprising analyzing variables and effort, grit and ways. Cleverness also ensuring the action willpower. Any obstacle applies to CREATIVE does not trigger any is surmountable when SKILLS. unwanted consequences. you have the drive to succeed.
Each has a score ranging from +0 to + 3. +0 means no aptitude, +1 is average, +2 is
gifted and +3 is expert. 44
APPROACH SCORES determine how well your hero performs an action. Your hero’s
APPROACH SCORE plus their ranks in a relevantt SKILL set a THRESHOLD NUMBER
(TN) for a given task. You roll 1d6, hoping for a result under the threshold.
This means the higher the TN the easier it is to succeed. Consequently, higher APPROACH SCORES are better; if you have a +3 in an APPROACH, that means you'll
still succeed at a task half the time even if you have no aptitude in the SKILL.
APPROACH SCORES can also mean life or death for your hero. If all APPROACH
SCORES become zero your hero falls. See Chapter 3, Life, Death and Naps for what
happens next. APPROACH SCORES can also be increased during play; see Chapter 3, Evolving Your Hero.
TO DETERMINE YOUR HERO’S APPROACH SCORES
Assign each of the following scores to an APPROACH: +0, +1 and +2.
T O R A N D O M LY D E T E R M I N E Y O U R H E R O ’ S A P P R O A C H S C O R E S
Roll 1d6, distributing that many points to your APPROACH SCORES. For example, C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
rolling a 6 you can assign +3 to CREATIVITY, +2 to CAREFUL and +1 to CONCERTED.
If you want to completely randomize which APPROACH SCORES get a point, roll 1d6 and assign one point to the corresponding score.
1, 2—Creative. 3, 4—Careful. 5, 6—Concerted.
If the maximum number of points you have to distribute is only 1 don’t worry—you’ll receive extra inventory items as consolation. 45
Step 2: Assign Blood & Guts Modifiers
BLOOD is the hero’s ability to withstand physical harm. If BLOOD is reduced to
zero or less, the next damage it receives reduces APPROACH SCORES instead.
GUTS measures the hero’s ability to withstand mental or social harm. Similarly if
GUTS is reduced to zero or less, the next damage reduces APPROACH SCORES.
BLOOD & GUTS can vary from day to day. When your hero wakes up from a
LONG REST—a break taking 5 real-time minutes and up to 10 in-story hours—you
have the option of rolling for their new BLOOD & GUTS for the rest of the day: 2d6 C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
plus a modifier determined during HERO CREATION. If you choose not to roll, they simply gain a small amount of health back.
Say your hero has 15 BLOOD and 6 GUTS from the previous day. If you choose to reroll, you roll 2d6 each for BLOOD & GUTS then add their modifiers to the individual results. If you get a total of 12 and 10 for BLOOD & GUTS for example, it overwrites the current health and becomes your hero's new health stats. 46
Modifiers for BLOOD & GUTS do not have to be the same. They can be increased during play (see Chapter 3, Evolving Your Hero) but you'll set its starting value now.
TO DETERMINE YOUR BASE BLOOD & GUTS MODIFIER
Allocate modifiers to BLOOD & GUTS so their sum is 6 (minimum: +0).
T O R A N D O M LY D E T E R M I N E Y O U R B A S E B L O O D & G U T S
MODIFIER Roll 1d6 and record the result for BLOOD; roll again for GUTS. If the sum of both modifiers is ≤ 3 you’ll receive extra inventory items to make up for it.
Step 3: Assign Skill Ranks Heroes use their SKILLS to solve a wide array of challenges such as defeating tavern rats, talking to immense dragons and haggling the price of wares. There are a total of 18 SKILLS divided across 5 categories.
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
1. Academic 2. Culture The pursuit of formal knowledge, primarily Ability to attune with a community’s scientific or historical in nature. beliefs, customs and stories.
Sample applications: —Bowing perfectly in front of the
—Recalling precolonial orcish history. witch-warriors of legend. —Theorizing a scientific principle. —Noticing the elder’s coded folksong. —Understanding formal chemistry. —Realizing the truth behind a creature's folklore. 47
3. Observe 4. Tactics Aptitude in observing the world and Knowledge of battle and conflict. detecting the smallest details across all senses. —Leading the Rook Prince's troops —Detecting a strange whiff, a faint with sophisticated strategy. sound or a strange taste. —Knowing how to position oneself in a —Searching a murder scene for heated battle. physical clues. —Instructing other characters how —Recalling a scene’s details hours later. to field an oncoming attack.
SOCIAL SKILLS
5. Charisma Appealing or approachable charm, with a penchant for smooth talk, humor and wit.
—Convincing the witch to join your
cause through eloquent argument. —Flattering the errant knight's sense of justice. —Mediating between warring kings with a winning smile. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N 6. Guile Deception and manipulation through lies, bluffs or other chicanery and trickery.
—Lying to the tindero.
—Bluffing about possessing a weapon that vaporizes enemies. —Tricking misguided youth to plant false evidence on the blacksmith. 48
7. Impose 8. Insight Radiating a sense of authority and Attunement to others' emotional states; confidence that can enforce opinion, cut inner grace and maturity in interactions. down others, or tower over everyone. —Realizing the mambabarang is lying. —Intimidating the devil with a swagger. —Knowing how to comfort a grieving —Gaining the attention of the elitist bard. widow. —Distracting the guard captain with —Appearing calm and composed. a devastating remark.
PHYSICAL SKILLS
9. Acrobatics Dynamic balance, gymnastics, or other incredible and immediate feats of agility.
—Performing a somersault through the air. —Jumping from one tree to another. —Balancing on a precarious ledge.
10. Coordination C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
Delicate positioning and control of body,
hand and instincts for smooth or purposeful movements.
—Moving quietly and efficiently to avoid
detection. —Playing sleight of hand tricks. —Winning a sport requiring accurate hand- eye coordination. 49
11. Physique 12. Weaponry
Exertion of physical strength, stamina Proficiency in the use and maintenance of and constitution. weaponry.
—Striking an enemy with a hard punch. —Applying sword care and maintenance. —Smashing a door with a battering ram. —Mastering an unwieldy warhammer. —Holding breath deep underwater. —Knowing a weapon's weak points.
P R A G M AT I C S K I L L S
13. Artistry 15. Tinker
Crafting, design, painting or other Engineering expertise over mechanical or creative expressions. clockwork devices, schema and structures.
—Painting the moon duke's portrait. —Troubleshooting problems
—Writing an evocative love poem. with a jury-rigged setup. —Identifying intentional designs in —Understanding complex mechanical someone's cryptic artwork. diagrams. —Creating a contraption, such as a trap, 14. Survival on the spot from common materials. Aptitude for rugged living off the land; C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N self-reliant outdoorsmanship and survival 16. Trade
across the harshest seasons. Experience in commerce, animal handling
and other industrial or market pursuits.
—Scavenging safe food and water
in the perilous forest. —Intuitively knowing whether
—Skinning a deer. something is overpriced.
—Navigating wilderness. —Recalling processes for leather- and
metalworking. —Performing a quality check on mundane items. 50
PROWESS
17. Arcana 18. Focus
Recall lore, sense spirits, channel magic; Hone attention, concentrate mental spirit; required to perform enhanced SPELLS (see required to perform enhanced Chapter 4). TECHNIQUES (see Chapter 4).
—Detecting if magic was recently cast. —Resisting distraction and committing —Gathering ingredients for a ritual. to the present objective. —Pushing the body past its limits.
SKILLS have a rank from +0 to +3 similar to APPROACHES. +0 means no skill, +1 is
average, +2 is gifted and +3 is expert. SKILL RANKS directly correlate to how easy it is to succeed in an action; a hero with +3 SKILL will succeed half the time in a relevant task even they have zero in the relevant APPROACH.
SKILL RANKS can be increased during play; see Chapter 3, Evolving Your Hero.
TO DETERMINE YOUR HERO’S SKILLS
Allocate +2 to two SKILLS and +1 to three SKILLS.
C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
T O R A N D O M LY D E T E R M I N E Y O U R H E R O ’ S S K I L L S
Roll 2d6. Distribute that many SKILL RANKS to any SKILLS of your choice. You can also use the list on the next page to randomly assign SKILL RANKS by rolling 1d6 twice in order. If you roll a +2 SKILL when you only have one SKILL point remaining that SKILL becomes a +1 instead.
If the sum of your SKILL RANKS is ≤4 you’ll get some extra inventory items to make up for it. 51
R A N D O M S K I L L S TA B L E
l ol er co oll di Se ie r nd td rs Fi
1 1 +2 ACADEMIC 2 1 +2 IMPOSE 3 1 +2 ARTISTRY
1 2 +2 CULTURE 2 2 +2 INSIGHT 3 2 +2 SURVIVAL
1 3 +2 OBSERVE 2 3 +2 ACROBATICS 3 3 +2 TINKER
1 4 +2 TACTICS 2 4 +2 COORDINATION 3 4 +2 TRADE
1 5 +2 CHARISMA 2 5 +2 PHYSIQUE 3 5 +2 ARCANA
1 6 +2 GUILE 2 6 +2 WEAPONRY 3 6 +2 FOCUS
4 1 +1 ACADEMIC 5 1 +1 IMPOSE 6 1 +1 ARTISTRY
4 2 +1 CULTURE 5 2 +1 INSIGHT 6 2 +1 SURVIVAL C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N 4 3 +1 OBSERVE 5 3 +1 ACROBATICS 6 3 +1 TINKER
4 4 +1 TACTICS 5 4 +1 COORDINATION 6 4 +1 TRADE
4 5 +1 CHARISMA 5 5 +1 PHYSIQUE 6 5 +1 ARCANA
4 6 +1 GUILE 5 6 +1 WEAPONRY 6 6 +1 FOCUS 52
Step 4: Determine Inventory Your inventory contains useful items for creating opportunities and capabilities for your hero. Surviving a cold night in the wilderness, for example, is much easier with a tent and a flint & tinder to make fire. You may also have powerful abilities such as SPELLS & TECHNIQUES in your inventory.
There are 5 categories from which you may obtain starting items.
Each category is represented by a numbered list of items—the
number being that item's point value.
TO D E T E R M I N E YO U R H E RO ’ S I N V E N TO RY
Choose items from any of the lists totaling no more than 30 POINTS. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
T O R A N D O M LY D E T E R M I N E Y O U R H E R O ’ S I N V E N T O R Y
Pick a list and choose whether you roll 1d6, 2d6 or 3d6 on it. Add the resulting item to your inventory. Do this multiple times—you may roll on multiple lists—until you’ve rolled a total of 12d6.
You may roll more than once on a particular list. For example, you can roll 3d6 twice on the Techniques list and 2d6 thrice on the Oddities list as long as the total number of dice rolled is 12. 53
Other valid combinations:
—3d6 thrice on the SPELLS list, 2d6 once on the TECHNIQUES list and 1d6 once on the DAMAGE AND DEFENSE list for 5 total items. —3d6 once on the SUPPLIES AND SUNDRIES list, 2d6 twice on the ODDITIES AND VALUABLES list and 1d6 five times on the TECHNIQUES list for 8 total items.
—2d6 six times on the ODDITIES AND VALUABLES list for 6 total items.
You may have more than one instance of the same item with the exception of GUTS DAMAGE and GUTS DEFENSE items (see LIST 1, DAMAGE AND DEFENSE).
Extra Items Each time any of the following is true, add 9 points to your pool if you’re using point values or 3d6 to your dice pool if you’re rolling:
—The sum of your APPROACH SCORES is 1.
—The sum of your modifier for BLOOD & GUTS is ≤ 3. —The sum of your SKILL RANKS is ≤ 4.
C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N For example, if the sum of your hero’s APPROACH SCORES is 1 and the sum of their SKILL RANKS is 3 they have 18 additional points or 6d6 additional dice.
“ "A chicken?" the rogue asked incredulously. "What use do I have for a chicken?" "Let's just say it's very handy for dealing with a certain fowl-phobic baron," the stranger smiled. 54
LISTS OF ITEMS 1 A scowling face [+0 Guts Damage] 2 Pitchfork [+0 Blood Damage] LIST 1 DAMAGE AND DEFENSE 3 Memories of hardship [+1 Guts Defense]
DAMAGE ITEMS provide bonuses 4 Iron briefs [+1 Blood Defense]
to damage whenever you attack a 5 Booming voice [+1 Blood Damage] creature. Meanwhile, DEFENSE ITEMS 6 Well-rounded education reduce damage and also make it harder [+1 Guts Damage] for you to be hit. 7 8 darts [+1 Blood Damage each] 8 Dagger [+1 Blood Damage] and A +0 item is next to useless, a +1 is a toga [+1 Blood Defense] average, +2 is quite good and +3 is 9 Confidence [+1 Guts Damage] tremendously helpful. and personal growth [+1 Guts Defense] You may only have one instance of any 10 Studded leather armor particular GUTS DAMAGE or GUTS [+1 Blood Defense] and DEFENSE ITEMS—you can't have two stoicism [+1 Guts Defense] instances of Critical Thinking, for 11 Devastating vocabulary example. If you roll a repeat, reroll. [+2 Guts Damage] 12 Critical thinking C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
1 3 days’ rations 2 Artisan’s tools and playing cards 3 Crowbar and lantern 4 10-height rope, a rolled-up carpet and a bucket 5 Bedroll and local map 6 Large backpack and a blank book 7 Thieves’ tools, disguise kit and manacles 8 Mirror and fine clothes 9 Traps and animal bait 10 Board games and a gallon of beer 11 Fishing pole, kindling and beeswax 12 Two-person tent and a shovel C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N 13 Live hen; lays one egg every day 14 Alchemist’s tools and one dose of a rare drug 15 Complete encyclopedia set 16 Spyglass and magic reagents 17 Stack of coded letters, a signet ring and a wardrobe of noble clothes 18 Never-tiring horse and riding gear 56
LIST 3 ODDITIES AND VALUABLES
ODDITIES AND VALUABLES are exactly what it
says on the tin: strange, fantastical yet oftentimes high-value items. Some may be magical in nature.
1 A seashell horn good luck charm
2 The bottom half of a dead donkey 3 Shrunken monkey heads 4 A songbird in a cage 5 A pouch of human teeth 6 A hat that always keeps your head dry 7 An unidentifiable and unbreakable ring 8 A heavy crown with oppressive aura 9 Worn skin and scales of a giant serpent 10 A constantly-glowing silk dress 11 The pet turtle of a local tyrant 12 A mirror with shadowy beings in every reflection's background C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
13 A pair of glasses granting darkvision
14 A vial of a divine being’s blood
15 A fistful of seeds that when planted instantly become
6-height tall stalks 16 A Potion of Brawn that adds +2 to Blood Damage and +2 to Blood Defense for the next real-time hour 17 A handful of constantly-regenerating troll flesh. It’s edible but the flavor is atrocious. 18 A telepathic yak 57
LISTS 4 AND 5
SPELLS & TECHNIQUES are rare and times it may be cast. For example, priceless special powers beyond normal with 2 instances of a SPELL you can cast hero skill. it twice before needing replenishment.
Spells are directly linked to Replenishing requires a RITUAL
the ARCANA and represent the and restores all instances of a SPELL manipulation of unreality beyond or TECHNIQUE. For example, if at mortals’ comprehension. TECHNIQUES any point you’ve held a maximum of C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N are directly linked to FOCUS 3 instances of a TECHNIQUE and you representing the hero’s personal perform its RITUAL, all 3 instances are willpower and spirit. restored. RITUALS can be as mundane as sleeping all day or as strange as ARCANA manipulates the external burying fingernails. world, FOCUS channels the internal. Information about enhancements, Multiple instances of a SPELL or RITUALS plus details on each SPELL & TECHNIQUE indicate how many TECHNIQUE are found in Chapter 4. 58
LIST 4 SPELLS
1 TRINKET - Minor magical effects certain to delight anyone.
2 TRICK OF THE LIGHT - You mold light like water, creating auras and illusions. 3 SOUNDSHIFT - Sound is your plaything. You decide its shape. 4 LIFEBRINGER - Wounds can be healed through your hands' warm touch. 5 WHISPER - A message, spoken to the ear, like a siren’s song. 6 BIND WEAPON - Suddenly you feel it on your palm: the heft of a magical weapon. 7 UNMASK THE SELF - Know the name and hidden desire of any one being you see. 8 SECRET DOOR - A portal appears behind the next door. Where does it lead? 9 BURN THE PAST - Remove the past hour's events from someone's memory. 10 MASTER OF ELEMENTS Air, earth, water and fire manipulated by your will. 11 LITTLE ESCAPOLOGIST - Disappear from sight. 12 PIERCE THE VEIL - See any place, any time. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
13 MANIC HANDS Arms and hands burst forth from your face, allowing more actions. 14 SHADOWBIND - Restrain a target with their own shadow. 15 COMPEL - Compel someone to act in strange or chaotic manner. 16 WINDSTEP - Step out and appear elsewhere at will to chase or flee danger. 17 BLACKOUT - Make others fall asleep. 18 SPIRIT PACT - You summon a spirit as your ethereal servant. 21 FROM DUST TO DUST - Craft anything you’ve seen from a handful of dust. 24 TRUE MIRACLE - Bring your wish to reality. 59
LIST 5 TECHNIQUES
1 ONLY ONES WHO KNOW
Either everybody knows about your action or nobody does. 2 UNCANNY ALARM - Ask the fates about an action's consequences. 3 WEAVE THROUGH WATER - Walk or breathe through water. 4 MEMORY SEED - Implant a false memory in someone. 5 FLOWMOTION - Move fast—very fast. 6 SAVING GRACE - Protect your allies by redirecting all damage to you. 7 INSPIRATION Improve someone's next action by buoying them with inspiration. 8 BIND MAGIC - Prevent someone from using Spells & Techniques. 9 STONEWALL - Reduce all damage. Grow a thick skin—figuratively or literally. 10 HEARTPIERCER - Your damage ignores armor and defense. 11 DEADLY FOCUS - Double your damage. 12 REDO - Reroll the last Skill Check—whether yours or someone else's. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
13 TURN THE TIDE - Every action you take brings opportunity.
14 DISPEL - Nullify the effects of a Spell or Technique. 15 INTERDICTION - Bar an opponent from using one or multiple Approaches. 16 FLUORESCENT TRANSCENDENCE Enhance all Spells & Techniques for a brief moment. 17 NETHERWAVE - A pulse of energy so strong it knocks everyone off their feet. 18 BECOME ONE - Uncover and obtain the Spells & Techniques of another being. 21 DEFY THE FATES - Rewind time. 24 DOOMPAUSE - Hold off the Doom. 60
Step 5: Answer Character-Building Questions To flesh out your hero’s personality and backstory, answer:
—What makes them —There are three rumors —What was the most different from others? about them. What are painful lesson your hero they and who believes it? had to learn?
Share your answers with other players.
Step 6: Determine Bonds BONDS represent two heroes’ relationship, visualized “ Doom forges bonds through quadrants and boxes. Accruing BOND fills a of steel for those quadrant—also called a minor level. Every box that gets who have suffered filled represents a major level of BOND. its fire and fury. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
minor level
major level
All possible levels of BOND
Having deeper levels of BOND is helpful. However, they can be asymmetric: your hero might be willing to die for a character not so keen on reciprocity. 61
When you assist someone in their SKILL CHECK you make their roll easier by a number equal to your major levels of BOND with them. You may also sacrifice one or more minor levels to allow SKILL CHECK rerolls.
BONDS can be increased during play whenever your hero does any of the following:
+1 +2
ACCEPT INCONVENIENCE FOR AN ALLY ACCEPT HARM OR SERIOUS RISK
+1 minor level in the 1st box only. +2 minor levels in the 1st or 2nd box. For example, carrying out helpful favors; For example, jumping in front of a warlock's
offering a useful resource to an ally; standing eldritch blow; personally taking on a
ground to protect them in Conflict; or taking perilous risk for others; or giving up a crucial on some bother on their behalf. opportunity or resource to prioritize an ally.
MAKING A PERMANENTLY LIFE-CHANGING, GREATLY DIFFICULT PERSONAL
CHOICE, OR LIKELY FATAL SACRIFICE FOR OTHERS adds +4 minor levels of BOND. This is the only way to fill up the 3rd box.
TO DETERMINE YOUR HERO’S BONDS
Choose one hero with whom you have 6 minor levels of BOND. Choose a second C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N hero with whom you have 3 minor levels of BOND.
T O R A N D O M LY D E T E R M I N E Y O U R H E R O ’ S B O N D S
Roll 3d6. Distribute that many levels of BOND between your hero and all their allies.
Regardless of —Greatly admire the other? —Know them from before?
method, explain —Find the other hero intriguing? —Find themselves compelled to your bonds. Does —Become reminded of someone protect the other? your hero... else from their past? —Feel or know something else? 62
AND DONE ! That’s it—you’ve created a hero. Your last step is writing it all down on your character sheet.
Now your hero is ready for adventure.
STRONGER HEROES?
By default, Hero Creation results in ordinary, beginning adventurers, not world-
C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N
bending warriors. In other tabletop games this is called “low-level.” However, the GUIDE may choose to award heroes bonus EXPERIENCE POINTS (XP) so they
may have additional distinctions and capabilities.
If the GUIDE wishes the heroes to be experienced at adventuring they may
award 15 XP to each of them; for a game with veterans, 30 XP. See Chapter 3, Evolving Your Hero to learn about spending XP. C H A P T E R 2 | H E R O C R E AT I O N 63 64
e CHAPTER THREE
CORE RuL S “ He had journeyed far. Traveled unimaginable distances. Bore scars that still bleed. All to meet the Pale Witch...and destroy her with his own hands. At last he can claim revenge for his daughters. At last he can sleep without their voices haunting him. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
He readied his sword. He could feel the heat of its
flame through his gauntlet. The ember magic still worked: good. He would melt the Witch's face off if need be. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES 65 66
Rules Summary of
At set time intervals the Assisting someone helps their Skill
DOOMSDAY CLOCK Check. Before they roll, add major levels advances, heralding the end. of BOND to your ally's TN if you have an applicable SKILL. You can also sacrifice Skill Checks determine the success of minor levels any time to allow a reroll. risky actions with a chance of interesting success or failure. Conflicts are fights or altercations To succeed roll 1d6 and compare where action sequence matters and is to THRESHOLD NUMBER (TN) equal to determined by what each characters plan Skill Rank plus Approach Score; to do (Initiative Category). modified, if applicable, by Difficulty Modifier and/or Assist Bonus. 1 Characters standing ground. 2 Those taking non-harmful actions. Rolls below TN succeed and above 3 Those attacking others. fail. For ties, choose: succeed 4 Those using SPELLS or TECHNIQUES. with CONSEQUENCE or fail with 5 Those moving far (> 2 heights). OPPORTUNITY. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
Heroes can move up to 2 HEIGHTS freely
If you rolled 1 with a ranked skill, roll during their turn. Stacking ADVANTAGES another 1d6. If it's also a 1 your result helps improve others’ SKILL CHECK TN. is flawless and becomes a SUCCESS WITH If attacking others, damage equals the OPPORTUNITY. TN of the attack plus any BONUS from DAMAGE ITEMS. TN is reduced by the Sacrifice 3 BLOOD or 3 GUTS to upgrade DEFENSE BONUS of the target’s armor a tied or failed result. plus applicable DIFFICULTY MODIFIERS. 67
You can recover Blood & Guts.
Heroes can take breaks to recover
BLOOD & GUTS through:
—SHORT REST (one in-story hour) to
recover 1d6 BLOOD and 1d6 GUTS; or —LONG REST (up to 10 in-story hours) to either reroll 2d6 + modifier If Blood or Guts become zero or less BLOOD & GUTS or distribute 7 points CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
the hero still lives, though a subsequent of health.
hit will directly damage Approach Scores. Heroes can only rest in safe places Multiple APPROACH SCORES can be hit away from enemies. at once. If all APPROACH SCORES are 0 choose: die or live with randomly rolled, XP can be spent to improve Approach life-altering consequences. Scores, Blood, Guts, and Skills. 68
Rules help provide a consistent and rewarding experience for everyone. However, custom rulings can also create a more fulfilling experience for the group—ultimately, you are free to add, alter or even ignore rules. Every game of ARC is your own.
A. Skill Checks EXAMPLE
SNEAKING PAST A TROLL? WHAT DO Heroes in ARC move the story forward by interacting with YOU DO?
the world around them. However, actions often have an Creative+Tinker to
element of uncertainty...even peril. jury-rig clockwork distractions? Player, whenever you attempt a risky action with a chance for Careful+Coordination an interesting success or failure you may be asked to make a to move past with SKILL CHECK, declaring a SKILL and APPROACH based on the quiet, stealthy intended outcome. movement? You must narrate how the APPROACH applies to the SKILL. Concerted+Culture For example, “I try to deduce secret art motifs from the to recall trolls have markings on the altar” is ideal; “I observe creatively” is not. poor eyesight?
The SUM of your SKILL RANKS and APPROACH SCORE determines the THRESHOLD NUMBER (TN). A higher TN is better and reflects how achievable the task is for your
hero. Going over the threshold is bad—and means you're way in over your head.
DIFFICULTY MODIFIER Before you roll, the TN may be modified by the GUIDE reflecting the difficulty or favorability of your action and current circumstances.
+1 to TN [EASY] You have good tools or ample preparations; the target has poor resistance; or the circumstances favor the action. —Lying to an admirer. —Picking a lock with no time pressure. —Noticing a shady person.
+0 to TN [DIFFICULT] –2 to TN [STAGGERINGLY DIFFICULT]
The large majority of tasks. The situation is even worse: current conditions —Recalling obscure academic text. actively hinder the task; the target has resistances —Hitting an unarmored target. specifically against this type of action; or it's —Foraging for berries in the woods. completely mismatched against the circumstances.
–1 to TN [VERY DIFFICULT] —Convincing the grand inquisitor
to release high-profile prisoners. You have inadequate or incorrect tools, or CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
—Sneaking unprepared through the
poor preparations; target has effective defenses; heavily fortified guard’s barracks. or the action is high-risk in an unforgiving environment. –3 to TN [IMPOSSIBLY DIFFICULT] —Escaping the shadow guards. Well... you can certainly try. —Improvising artwork with popsicle —Asking a dragon out on a date. sticks for the artsnob prince. —Reverse-engineering a complex trap under intense time pressure. 70
“ The knight felt her knees give way. She sank to the ground and stared at the empty sky. With her right hand on her lance and her left hand with his bloodied shroud, she made a promise. “I will finish our quest,” she said, voice seeping grit. “Even through impossible odds. Even without you by my side.”
ASSISTANCE
Before the roll is made, one other player may declare if they'd like to assist in the SKILL CHECK. The assisting hero must have a relevant, helpful SKILL in this situation.
The target's SKILL CHECK’S TN then increases by the major levels of BOND the assisting hero has with them.
If the assisting hero does not have an applicable SKILL they cannot assist. Only one ally can assist at a time.
Alternatively, any ally may sacrifice any minor levels of BOND to allow an immediate reroll. Regardless of outcome, the assisting player narrates how their hero is helping. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
In summary, the TN is equal to the sum of:
the hero’s ranks in the relevant Skill + their chosen Approach Score + a Difficulty Modifier set by the Guide + the major levels of Bond with an assisting hero 71
ROLL AND OUTCOME
Player, once the TN is known roll 1d6 to determine outcome. If the roll is under the TN it’s a pure success—you succeed with no consequence.
F L AW L E S S S U C C E S S
If you rolled a 1 in a SKILL with at least one RANK, roll another 1d6. If it is also a 1 your result is flawless and becomes a SUCCESS WITH OPPORTUNITY.
If the roll is equal to the TN choose between the two:
You succeed with a CONSEQUENCE You fail but are presented with an complicating the hero and their allies’ OPPORTUNITY improving the hero and
situation, including: their allies’ situation, including:
—Delay or inefficiency, such as taking so —Risk reduction, such as deescalating
long that the guards are rounding the corner. tension in the negotiations. —Permanent or temporary loss of —Risk redirection, like putting someone resource, for example, having a weapon else on the spot. stuck in an enemy’s armor. —Gaining trust or respect, for example, —Discord and misunderstanding, like a impressing the elven queen. besmirched reputation with a merchant. —New knowledge, such as a secret CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
—Overkill, such as harming an innocent weakness of the enemy manananggal.
onlooker due to spillover effects. —???? UNKNOWN, to be revealed later. —???? UNKNOWN, to be revealed later.
The GUIDE makes the call, but you can suggest an appropriate choice.
If the roll exceeds the TN the action fails. Depending on the stakes at hand, the GUIDE may also introduce a complication as a result. 72
UPGRADING THE OUTCOME
You may sacrifice 3 BLOOD OR 3 GUTS, whichever is situationally appropriate, to upgrade a non-successful SKILL CHECK. The following upgrades may occur:
—A tied roll is upgraded to a pure success.
—A failed roll may be upgraded to a success with CONSEQUENCE or a failure with OPPORTUNITY.
NOTE: you can rest to recover your BLOOD & GUTS. See Chapter 3, Life, Death and
Naps to learn more.
CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
ACTING AS A GROUP If the heroes wish to tackle a task as a group (for example, scouring the unknown woods for supplies) the GUIDE can ask everyone to make individual SKILL CHECKS. Different APPROACHES and SKILLS may be used so long as they are relevant. If more than half of players succeed, the task is an overall success. However, each failed CHECK may incur unusual complications. 73
“ B. Conflict Her razor-sharp words hit hard. CONFLICTS are unique situations where characters The paladin tried are at odds, danger is imminent, and victory is on the line. Imagine a tavern fight, a showdown with the not to show it, boss or even a verbal beatdown from courtesans— though a small CONFLICTS don't have to be physical in nature. wince still escaped from his lips. All During a CONFLICT, anyone can make a difference and reactions shift on the fly. Every action can have eyes in court were an immediate effect on the situation, making their on him—and now, timing and sequence important. CONFLICT's special it was his turn to rules help manage this frenetic pace. speak. TURNS AND ROUNDS In CONFLICT, everyone gets one TURN in a ROUND, representing their opportunity to act and affect the situation. Rounds begin with players deciding what to do CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
individually or as a group, and end once everyone in the conflict has acted. Your choice of action, however, also decides when your turn happens within the round!
WHEN DOES CONFLICT END?
It ends when the threat of danger is over. Killing enemies doesn't have to be the "win" condition and may even incur consequences later on. Ending CONFLICT can be a matter of surviving until help arrives, carrying a valuable item across enemy lines or even distracting opponents until a ritual is complete. 74
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE
During your turn you may do any one action from below as well as freely move—but not flee—anywhere within 2 heights. Injured or immobilized characters may have limited or even zero movement.
1. STAND GROUND Any one attacking you or allies within a 2-height radius receive -1 to their attack’s TN. You may gain a minor level of BOND with the ally with every attack you foil this way, up to the first major level of BOND.
2. HARM OTHERS Attack an enemy with a relevant SKILL CHECK :
—PHYSIQUE or WEAPONRY to harm BLOOD.
—INSIGHT or IMPOSE to harm GUTS.
DIFFICULTY MODIFIERS may apply if the situation is stacked
against you or if the attack is done with inadequate tools, for
example using WEAPONRY without a weapon.
You can try attacking with a SKILL other than those
listed above, but it should only be doable if the SKILL is relevant, the enemy is vulnerable to its harm, and the CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
situation allows it.
DEFENSE ITEMS reduce the attack's TN by their bonus
rating. A +2 armor, for example, reduces TN by 2.
DAMAGE dealt in a successful attack is equal to TN plus
DAMAGE ITEM bonus. Thus, if a hero succeeds at a TN 4
attack with a +2 weapon, the total DAMAGE is 6. 75
3. NON-HARMFUL ACTIONS
A . C R E AT E A N A D VA N TA G E
ADVANTAGES give bonuses to the TN
of subsequent SKILL CHECKS by allies.
Most of the time you’ll need to ADVANTAGES from different allies
succeed at a SKILL CHECK to create an may stack and apply to more than ADVANTAGE. For example: distracting one opponent. If a hero throws sticky an enemy with GUILE, grappling an goo to restrain multiple enemies, for opponent with PHYSIQUE, or spotting example, attacks targeting any of and shouting the best ways of hitting them get a TN bonus. an enemy through TACTICS. Enemies may attempt to remove If you succeed at the SKILL CHECK ADVANTAGES on their turn.
you improve your allies' TN by the
SKILL RANKS used. C R E AT I N G A D VA N TA G E S
WITHOUT SKILL CHECKS
For example, if you have 2 RANKS in GUILE and deceived an enemy into If your action is basic or already
thinking you were the real threat, likely to succeed—like stringing
allies may get +2 to attacks’ TN. tripwire away from the scuffle— you can create the ADVANTAGE CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
without a SKILL CHECK. If so:
— ADVANTAGES impairing opponents' SKILLS or defenses give +1 TN bonus. —ADVANTAGES preventing or nullifying opponents' SKILLS or defenses give +2 TN bonus. 76
3. NON-HARMFUL ACTIONS 4. USE SPELL OR TECHNIQUE
(continued) You perform a SPELL or TECHNIQUE. Every time you are attacked before your B. ASSIST SOMEONE turn you must succeed at a random 1d6 You assist one ally's roll, adding your roll to maintain concentration. The TN major levels of BOND to their TN if starts at 6 and is reduced by 1 with each your hero has a relevant SKILL. This is subsequent attack. In other words, on especially useful if your major levels of the first attack you must roll under TN BOND results in higher bonuses than 6; on the second with TN 5; so on until creating an ADVANTAGE. your turn begins at which point your SPELL or TECHNIQUE takes effect.
For example, if you have 3 major levels of
BOND with someone you can add +3 to Like with SKILL CHECKS, if you roll their TN without requiring any SKILL above TN you fail. You cannot perform CHECK. the SPELL or TECHNIQUE, though no instance is consumed. C. DO SOMETHING ELSE
This may include attempting to convince Every attack, even if it misses, incurs an enemy to stand down, performing a this roll. ritual while the CONFLICT is ongoing, or taking time to carefully study the enemy. 5. MOVE FAR A SKILL CHECK may apply. If the hero isn’t being attacked or targeted they may move up to CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
5 additional heights. Otherwise, you
A NOTE ABOUT must succeed at a SKILL CHECK— SACRIFICING BONDS for example, with ACROBATICS or You may immediately sacrifice minor COORDINATION—to move. Alternately
levels of BOND with another hero to you can opt to move without the allow a SKILL CHECK reroll. This does SKILL CHECK, but all enemies within
not use up an action. 2 heights can roll to attack you as you
escape their grasp. 77
INITIATIVE CATEGORY
“ Every round, characters act in sequence based on intent. This is called INITIATIVE CATEGORY. Multiple characters can act in the same CATEGORY. Once everyone in that group has acted, the next takes place.
—First: characters and creatures standing ground.
The mendicant —Second: those taking non-harmful actions. —Third: those attacking or harming others. demon jumped over —Fourth: those using a SPELL or TECHNIQUE. the hordes of —Last: those moving far (more than 2 heights). roaring djinn, casting about Before every round begins, everyone has the opportunity to strategize and decide who goes in which INITIATIVE paper marked with CATEGORY, and how to sequence heroes within her special seal. each. Once you've decided as a party, the GUIDE or a Immediately the designated player can begin calling out each CATEGORY. slips of paper glowed CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
During the round, players can change their plan for and rose up to form their turn any time but can no longer take the same an impenetrable action covered by a past INITIATIVE CATEGORY. wall, protecting her as she hurriedly Hero actions always resolve before non-hero actions unless the party was taken by surprise, in which case opened the secret all non-hero actions resolve first in the first round. door. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES 78 CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES 79 80
C. Life, Death and Naps
LIFE & DEATH: FALLEN HEROES Whenever a hero's BLOOD or GUTS is reduced to zero or less, the hero still stands though the next damage to that stat is applied to APPROACH SCORES instead. Multiple APPROACH SCORES may be damaged at once. If all APPROACH SCORES become zero the hero FALLS.
For example, say a hero has +2 CREATIVE, +1 CAREFUL and +0 CONCERTED. If
their BLOOD is taken below zero in one hit, they can still act and move, but if their BLOOD is hit again with at least 3 damage, their APPROACH SCORES are depleted and they FALL.
If a hero falls you have the option of letting them live or die.
If you choose LIFE your hero becomes incapacitated and unconscious but fully revives after 5 real-time minutes and one in-story hour. Restore all your hero’s APPROACH SCORES to their last healthy value.
Roll 1d6 for an additional consequence below. Your hero...
1 can no longer verbally or visually 4 has a prophetic vision of three pale
CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
communicate but gains telepathy. girls clawing their way up from the soil. 2 bears a constantly bleeding wound 5 no longer blinks and must constantly that deals no damage. apply water to their eyes. 3 gains an unnerving presence; children 6 may now speak to the dead. and animals flee from them.
If you obtain a duplicate consequence, reroll. Whatever the result, narrate its effect on your hero. If a hero suffers all 6 consequences they die—permanently. 81
If you choose DEATH every other hero
W H AT H A P P E N S T O gains EXPERIENCE POINTS (discussed I N V E N TO RY ? in full next section) equal to thrice their Items held by a fallen hero remain on minor levels of BOND with the fallen hero. their body but all instances of SPELLS The DOOMSDAY CLOCK consumes one & TECHNIQUES are lost. MOMENT and you create a new hero.
REST AND RECOVERY
Heroes may replenish BLOOD & GUTS by resting in a safe place away from enemies. A SHORT REST (a nap lasting 2 real-time minutes and one in-story hour) recovers 1d6 BLOOD and 1d6 GUTS.
A LONG REST (5 real-time minutes and 10 in-story hours minus the lowest health modifier) lets you roll new values for BLOOD & GUTS—2d6 plus its modifier. If you reroll, roll both stats. If you do not reroll, your hero instead recovers 7 health points you can freely distribute between BLOOD & GUTS.
D. Evolving Your Hero
EXPERIENCE POINTS (XP) represent growing adventuring expertise. Players gain 3 XP each per real-time hour for games with 1-3 SESSIONS and 12 XP each per session for longer campaigns. Hourly XP is awarded immediately. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
SPENDING XP Players can spend XP anytime. Unspent XP does not expire. —Increasing an APPROACH SCORE by one costs 3x its next value XP. —Increasing a SKILL RANK by one costs 2x its next value XP. —Increasing a modifier for BLOOD or GUTS by one costs its new value XP.
BONDS are increased through hero interaction, not XP. See Chapter 2, Step 6: Determine Bonds. 82
“ The crow priest blessed the treefolk before him. He touched their faces, overcome with emotion at their unwavering sacrifice; sublime reverence at their final march to save the dying world.
"Will the ancestors
greet us in the aftergarden?" a young warrior asked tremulously. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES
The priest nodded.
"And many more blessings await," he said, with loving deception. CHAPTER 3 | CORE RULES 83 84 CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
CHAPTER FOUR
SpeLLs& Techniques 85
SPELLS & TECHNIQUES “ She wove magic into her are powerful, but very hair; manifested miracles with every rare—very rare. breath. An incarnate of They shape a hero’s arcane power itself—but humble, so very humble, life, forcing them that it was often difficult to believe she could end to perform strange life with a simple wink of rituals attempting her third eye.
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
to grasp infinitely Whether during or outside CONFLICT, heroes may perform
fickle and fragile SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
impacting the situation.
fragments of SPELLS & TECHNIQUES are
unreality and pure obtained during Hero Creation,
although it is possible to create will. new instances and custom ones. 86
A. PERFORMING Spells & Techniques When using SPELLS or TECHNIQUES you can perform either its base or enhanced version. Casting the base version immediately applies its effect, consuming one instance.
Enhanced versions, while significantly more powerful, require a SKILL CHECK and in many cases a reduction of GUTS. You cannot sacrifice more GUTS than what you currently have. If you succeed, an instance is consumed. If you fail nothing happens and the instance is still consumed. Additionally, you cannot perform the same SPELL or TECHNIQUE again for 15 real-time minutes.
B. REPLENISHING Spells & Techniques SPELLS & TECHNIQUES can be replenished even if you have spent every instance. All instances are restored at the end of a LONG REST if a related RITUAL is performed CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
by then. Failure to do so simply means it does not refresh.
Note: you only can gain as many instances as your maximum. For example, you cannot replenish 3 instances if the most you’ve ever had is one.
A L T E R N AT E RU L I N G : R E P L E N I S H T H RO U G H R E S T
If you do not wish to use rituals, recover one instance of a SPELL or
TECHNIQUE per five hours of long rest instead. 87
“ His eyes grew C. LEARNING Spells & Techniques It's possible to obtain additional instances, learn new SPELLS or TECHNIQUES or even create custom ones. with terror as the Your hero should have access to a source that can sorceress' knife-sharp teach them such as a spellbook, manual or mentor. bones surfaced from beneath her skin. He Every 15 real-time minutes you may roll a special SKILL CHECK with TN equal to pure ARCANA or FOCUS—do wanted to scream, not add APPROACH. The number of successes you but her strange smile need for a new SPELL or TECHNIQUE is equal to its transfixed and rooted COMPLEXITY: an estimate of how powerful it is. him in place. COMPLEXITY
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
1 2 3 4 Lowly but useful. Highly useful Critical and can Affect the entire in day-to-day turn the tide in world. situations and most situations and conflict. conflict.
In this chapter, this rating is listed next to the SPELL or TECHNIQUE name as daggers ( †††† its ). For custom COMPLEXITY . SPELLS & TECHNIQUES you and the GUIDE should decide on 88
List of For example, if you are trying to learn a COMPLEXITY 3 TECHNIQUE, you must have three successful SKILL CHECKS at least 15 real-time minutes Spells apart with TN equal to pure FOCUS. Bind Weapon †† Summon a +2 weapon. Its specific Succeeding the required number nature is up to your imagination— of SKILL CHECKS adds an instance to flaming swords are nice. This weapon your inventory and also increases the can neither be destroyed nor disarmed. maximum instances you can hold by one. ENHANCED VERSION
After learning the instance your body is Requirement: 5 Guts + Arcana
taxed. You cannot learn a new SPELL Effect: Summon a +5 weapon. or TECHNIQUE for 15 x the Complexity real-time minutes. RITUAL Break a non-magical weapon
gifted to you by someone else.
Blackout ††† A C RO N Y M S & P L AY E R R I T UA L S
For the rest of the book, SPELL & All creatures you see in a 2-height- CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
TECHNIQUE descriptions use the radius sphere of your choice fall into an acronyms REM for “Real-time Minutes” uninterruptible (save by magic) sleep and TIC for “Turns in Conflict”. for 15 REM or 5 TIC.
Descriptions also include the ritual, ENHANCED VERSION
which must be completed by the Requirement: 5 Guts + Arcana
hero by default. However, those Effect: Lasts 30 REM or 10 TIC instead. you must do as a player are labeled accordingly. You and the GUIDE RITUAL Sleep an entire in-story day.
may freely alter or replace these.
89
Burn the Past †††
Target a creature you see. Their memory RITUAL of the past in-story hour is erased. For 30 REM, always agree when asked.
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana
Effect: Erase the past 3 in-story hours. From Dust to Dust ENHANCED VERSION †††† RITUAL Burn a memento or letter from Requirement: 7 Guts + Arcana,
someone you dearly miss. 5 handfuls of dust
Effect: Create anything you’ve seen over
Compel ††† Target a creature you see. Roll 1d6 and the past in-story day. The creation is an exact replica. After an in-story hour
consult the list below. That creature is this object disintegrates.
compelled to the outcome for 10 REM
RITUAL or 3 TIC. They... Coat your body with the ashes of
1 laugh uncontrollably and cannot act someone you loved for at least an in-
nor speak but may move. story day.
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
2 attack their allies. 3 revel in nostalgia doing nothing. 4 are convinced they are a fugitive and may attempt to flee. 5 speak only the truth. 6 have a burning desire to eat dirt.
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 5 Guts + Arcana
Effect: Pick the outcome instead of rolling. 90
Lifebringer †† You or any creature you touch gain Manic Hands †† Four arms and hands appear out of 4 Blood and 4 Guts. nowhere, connected to your face for 10 REM or 3 TIC. You still see, ENHANCED VERSION speak and breathe normally. Requirement: Arcana only Effect: Heal 7 Blood and 7 Guts instead. You may perform 2 Skill Checks per TIC while this effect lasts. If used RITUAL outside Conflict you gain +1 to TN of Consume at least 1 handful of a Skill Checks for actions that benefit humanoid’s flesh. from extra hands like climbing. You also gain +1 to TN of Impose Skill Checks but -1 to Charisma Skill Checks. Little Escapologist † You turn completely invisible for ENHANCED VERSION
10 REM or 3 TIC. You generate Requirement: 5 Guts + Arcana
neither smell nor sound. Effect: 6 arms appear. You may now do 3 Skill Checks per TIC. Non-Conflict ENHANCED VERSION effects remain the same. Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
Effect: Lasts 15 REM or 5 TIC instead. RITUAL
Hack off all of someone else’s limbs.
RITUAL
Introduce yourself to at least 10
strangers. 91
Master of Elements †† Target 3 creatures you see standing within 2 heights of each other. They are beset by air, earth, water or fire. You may also damage them by up to 2d6 Blood.
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana
Effect: Choose: target 5 beings OR increase damage to 3d6.
RITUAL
Invent an original riddle or two-stanza
poem mentioning an element (as player).
Pierce the Veil ††
Choose a specific time and place no Secret Door †† The next door you encounter opens farther than an in-story hour in the to a random place you’ve never seen or past and a mile or 1.6 km away. You been, reverting back to normal once
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
must be able to visualize the location. shut. You may see what happened as if you were there. ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 7 Guts + Arcana
ENHANCED VERSION Effect: The portal opens to a location Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana where an Omen is taking place. If all Effect: See up to 3 in-story hours into the Omens are resolved it opens to where past and up to 3 miles or 4.8km away. the Doom is happening.
RITUAL RITUAL Keep eyes closed for 3 REM (as player). Consume a door. CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES 92 93
Shadowbind ††† Target a creature you see. Their shadow animates, becomes corporeal and immobilizes them. Attacks targeting them gain +2 to TN. Lasts 10 REM or 3 TIC. Spirit Pact ††† Summon a spirit as a loyal, ethereal servant. Their Approach Scores are 2 ENHANCED VERSION and they have 2 Ranks in three random Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana Skills. Their Blood & Guts are both 6. Effect: Lasts 15 REM or 5 TIC instead. They take direct orders only from you and disappear once dismissed or if all RITUAL their Approach Scores become zero or Stay in shadow for at least six less. This spirit can pass through walls continuous in-story hours. Time spent and other tangible materials but may asleep or unconscious does not count. also become corporeal on command.
ENHANCED VERSION Soundshift † Create an auditory illusion centered Requirement: 7 Guts + Arcana Effect: Choose the Skills.
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
anywhere within 2 heights from you and audible up to 3 heights. RITUAL
Permanently tattoo or mark a visible
ENHANCED VERSION part of your body with the name of a Requirement: 1 Guts + Arcana spirit or post-mortal creature. Effect: Increase the effect radius to 5 heights.
RITUAL
Speak with an altered pitch or cadence
for 3 REM (as player). 94 Trick of the Light † Choose: create a visual illusion RITUAL
no larger than 1 cubic height OR Craft a simple item with paper, clay, summon a sphere of light up to a height another physical material or even music in diameter. The illusion can be dynamic and light (as player). and move if commanded, while the light sticks annoyingly close to you and brightly illuminates everything up to thrice its diameter away. The light dims True Miracle ENHANCED VERSION †††† when covered. Both last until dismissed. Requirement: 7 Guts + Arcana
ENHANCED VERSION Effect: State a wish in-story. The Guide
Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana fulfills it though they are not bound to Effect: Increase the effect to 3 heights. follow its intent—only its wording. For example, if you say “I wish everyone RITUAL lived forever” the Guide can grant Convince a non-ally of a fabricated fact immortality to all but not eternal youth. OR bring someone's lies to light. On a different note you can say “I wish I had a loving pet” and the Guide Trinket † CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
can simply give you an adorable
You create a minor magical effect capybara. The simpler the wish the lasting 15 REM or 5 TIC on any more straightforward the fulfillment one item no bigger than two handfuls. should be; the more it attempts to bend It can float up to a height, change color, reality the more likely catastrophic create small sparks, become slightly consequences will occur. hotter or colder or have a different smell. RITUAL
Obtain a tooth or fingernail from seven
ENHANCED VERSION rare and auspicious creatures. Bury them Requirement: 1 Guts + Arcana under full moonlight in seven locations Effect: Lasts 30 REM or 7 TIC instead. that have seen bloodshed or tearshed. CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES 95 96
Unmask the Self ††
Target a creature you see. The Guide Windstep †† Teleport anywhere visible within tells you their true name and heart’s 10 heights (around 56 feet or 17 meters). deepest desire. Creatures holding or touching you also teleport with you. ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana ENHANCED VERSION
Effect: Target up to 3 creatures instead. Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana
Effect: Teleport within 25 heights RITUAL (around 140 feet or 42 meters) even if Write your name and heart’s desire you cannot see your destination so long on a piece of paper and crumple it (as as you have a visual in your mind. player). RITUAL
Jump over a newborn.
Whisper †
“ Choose a creature within 5 heights who hears a message from you (no “Is it possible to save ghosts longer than 25 words) as whispered in from death?" the crown their ear. The target may immediately CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
lich asked. Her disciple
respond back in a similar manner. scratched his head, confused. "No, ENHANCED VERSION master. They're already dead." Requirement: 3 Guts + Arcana Effect: The effect expands to 25 heights "Just as we ourselves are beyond (around 140 feet or 42 meters). saving from Doom," she smiled. RITUAL "The world's bitter truth. But Speak in a whisper for 3 REM (as still," she spoke, gliding above the player). bodies. "We fight regardless." 97
List of Deadly Focus †††
Techniques Double the damage you inflict for 10 REM or 3 TIC.
Become One ENHANCED VERSION ††† ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 5 Guts + Focus
Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus Effect: Choose: triple your damage OR Effect: Target a creature you see. Gain effect lasts 15 REM or 5 TIC. an instance of all their Spells & Techniques. RITUAL
Lose half or more Blood or Guts in one hit.
RITUAL
Sleep inside a wooden box with a dead
crow and a full-length mirror. The next day, bury the box and its contents. Defy the Fates ENHANCED VERSION †††† Requirement: 7 Guts + Focus Effect: Rewind time up to one in-story Bind Magic ††† Target a creature you see. They cannot hour in the past. You and your allies retain stats, inventory and memories. perform Spells or Techniques for 10 Everything and everyone else reverts.
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
REM or 3 TIC. RITUAL
ENHANCED VERSION Roll 2d6. Reduce the total of your
Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus Approach Scores and Skill Ranks by that Effect: Effect lasts 15 REM or 5 TIC. amount.
RITUAL
Burn a page from someone
else's book of Spells or Technique. 98
Dispel ††† Undo the effect of the last Spell ENHANCED VERSION or Technique performed. Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus
RITUAL Effect: Lasts for 15 REM or 5 TIC
Keep a magical artifact continuously instead.
close to you for an in-story day. The
RITUAL artifact can't be reused to replenish Dispel again afterwards. Don’t move for 1 REM (as player).
Fluorescent Transcendence Doompause †††† ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 7 Guts + Focus
††† Effect: The next time the Doomsday For the next 3 REM or TIC, you and
Clock would advance nothing happens. your allies’ Spells & Techniques are automatically enhanced; no Guts
RITUAL reduction or Skill Check required.
Watch an ally die.
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 5 Guts + Focus
Flowmotion †† Move twice as far for the next 10 REM Effect: Lasts 10 REM or 3 TIC instead.
RITUAL or 3 TIC. Your blurred motion imposes -1 TN to efforts to restrain or stop you. Dance with a corpse. You gain +1 to TN of Acrobatics and Coordination Skill Checks and act first in rounds of Conflict, regardless of your intended action. 99
Heartpiercer †† For the next 10 REM or 3 TIC ignore enemies’ defense bonuses.
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus
Effect: Lasts 15 REM or 5 TIC instead.
RITUAL
Refrain from bearing any weaponry or
wearing armor over an in-story day.
Inspiration †† Target a creature you see to receive +2 to the TN of their next Skill Check.
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
Effect: Target three beings.
RITUAL
Give an uplifting message to someone
in the table (as player; may be done privately). CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES 100 101
Interdiction ††† Target a creature you see within Netherwave ††† Enemies within 2 heights suffer 2 heights and pick an Approach. For a wave of overwhelming force dealing 15 REM or 5 TIC they cannot use that 8 damage, ignoring defense, to both Approach in Skill Checks, including Blood & Guts. They are knocked back attacks. 1 height.
Effect: Prevent target from using two Effect: You deal 12 damage instead. Approaches instead. RITUAL
RITUAL Land a non-magical killing blow.
Use only your lowest-scored Approach for 30 REM. Only Ones Who Know Choose: everybody within 5 heights † Memory Seed †† Through your charm and willpower, knows about your next Skill Check OR no one will.
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
plant the seeds of a false yet vivid memory in a target you see. ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus
ENHANCED VERSION Effect: Effect applies to 3 Skill Checks. Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus Effect: Choose three targets instead. RITUAL Write a recap of the past in-story RITUAL day and make a simple drawing to Permanently forget a memory accompany it (as player). important to you. 102
Redo ††† Redo the last roll, regardless of who Stonewall †† For the next 15 REM or 5 TIC made it. reduce all damage to you by 1. Choose: your skin grows stone, scales or leather ENHANCED VERSION for the Technique's duration. Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus Effect: Modify the reroll +/- 1 TN. ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: Focus only
RITUAL Effect: Reduce damage by 2. Intentionally fail a crucial Skill Check. RITUAL
Start a bare knuckle brawl with
unsuspecting strangers. Saving Grace †† Target an ally you see. Any Skill Check, Spell or Technique targeting them targets you instead for 15 REM or 5 Turn the Tide ††† All your Skill Checks have Opportunity TIC. for 10 REM or 3 TIC. If the Skill Check would have been a failure with CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
ENHANCED VERSION opportunity it becomes a pure success
Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus instead. Effect: Target all allies. ENHANCED VERSION
RITUAL Requirement: 3 Guts + Focus
Witness a creature's death. Effect: Effect lasts 15 REM or 5 TLC.
RITUAL
Make a difficult promise come true.
103
Uncanny Alarm † Describe an action you can take. The Guide will tell you what its consequences may be.
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: Focus only
Effect: The Guide tells you what action can help improve the current situation.
RITUAL
Sway a non-ally to adopt a genuinely
useful life advice.
Weave through Water
Choose: you can walk on water OR † breathe underwater for 10 REM
CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
or 3 TIC.
ENHANCED VERSION
Requirement: Focus only
Effect: Effect lasts 15 REM or 5 TLC.
RITUAL
Wash someone in a river or lake.
104
Gu e CHAPTER FIVE
ID TOOLKIT
“ She knelt over the stone pool. Her wizened arms gripped its sides as her eyes struggled to focus. The CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES
reflection staring back at her grinned and flashed its
fangs. It was younger, smoother, more beautiful—her exact face thirty years ago—but she was unaffected. She knew what she came for. She leaned in, lips almost touching the surface, whispering to her dread reflection, “I know you. I know your power. Tell me the Magus' weakness. I offer you my life in return.” CHAPTER 4 | SPELLS & TECHNIQUES 105 106
This chapter empowers the GUIDE to set SKILL CHECK
up and run a game of ARC. While most DIFFICULTY of the information help with specific MODIFIER tasks or details essential in a game, this Determines how challenging a SKILL toolkit also discusses principles for CHECK is. DIFFICULTY MODIFIERS can fulfilling and sustainable games. be applied based on the overall situation and the following criteria.
A. +1 to TN [Easy] Hero has good tools or
Ratings and ample preparations; the target has poor resistance; or the circumstances favor the
Scales action. Picking a lock with no time pressure.
+0 to TN [Difficult] The large majority of
The following section summarizes tasks—the default difficulty. Foraging for
and compiles various ratings and scales berries in the woods.
commonly used in this game. -1 to TN [Very difficult] Hero has
inadequate or incorrect tools, or poor APPROACH SCORES preparation; target has effective defenses; Higher is better; determines TN. or action is high-risk in an unforgiving +0 means no aptitude environment. Reverse-engineering a +1 is average complex trap under intense time pressure. CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT
+2 is gifted +3 is expert -2 to TN [Staggeringly difficult] The situation is even worse: current
SKILL RANKS conditions actively hinder the task; the
Higher is better; determines TN. target has resistances specifically against
+0 means no skill literacy this type of action; or it's completely
+1 is average mismatched against the circumstances.
+2 is gifted Sneaking unprepared through the heavily-
+3 is expert fortified guard’s barracks.
107
DAMAGE AND DEFENSE ITEMS Directly increases damage (for DAMAGE ITEMS) or reduces TN of an attack
(for DEFENSE).
+1 is average +2 is quite good +3 is tremendously helpful
+0 is still useful as the item still counts for
WEAPONRY SKILL CHECKS; otherwise
not having a weapon incurs DIFFICULTY.
-3 to TN [Impossibly difficult] SPELL & TECHNIQUE
As difficult as asking a dragon out on a COMPLEXITY date. Indicates power level and successful SKILL CHECKS (TN = PURE ARCANA or
When in doubt, you may also opt to FOCUS) needed to learn new instance or CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT
just reduce TN by 1 for each of the custom SPELL or TECHNIQUE; one SKILL conditions below: CHECK per 15 REM.
—the hero has insufficient tools, incorrect 1 — lowly but useful.
assumptions, or a relevant impairment. 2 — highly useful in day-to-day —the target of the action has resistances situations and conflict. or defenses against this type of action. 3 — critical and can turn the tide —the action or conditions are perilous, in situations and conflict. haphazard, or woefully inadequate. 4 — affect the entire world. CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT 108 109
B. Creating Custom Characters
and Adversaries To make a custom character or adversary use the table below to assign stats based on how powerful you think they are. Note these are only stats—you still have complete freedom regarding their motivation, personality and mannerisms.
A character can be weak in some aspects, strong in others. You can also create custom SPELLS or TECHNIQUES as stand-in for unique powers.
In general, a party of four new heroes can defeat up to 4 fully weak enemies or 2 fully average enemies within 3-4 turns but face tough challenge with one strong adversary plus a minion. Defeating more capable creatures is only possible after the party has spent considerable XP—around 18-21 XP for powerful creatures, or at least 36 for truly monstrous ones. Note that enemies rarely attack alone, or fairly. 110
C. Guide to PRINCIPLE ZERO
BE A RESPECTFUL, COMPASSIONATE
Running ARC HUMAN BEING
Enable a respectful, compassionate
playgroup by being one such person SEVEN yourself. This means, among other PRINCIPLES things, acknowledging diverse identities and ideas, checking in and listening Running fulfilling and sustainable to boundaries and concerns and taking games relies on much more than a stance against bigotry. There are many memorizing rules. other ways to be excellent, but it comes from a willingness to be a caring human Regardless of your experience level in being. running games, and whether you're at the start of Hero Creation or at Don’t be afraid to ask this of the other DOOM’S end, keep the following players as well. You can share this principles in mind. paragraph to set expectations.
PRINCIPLE 1
EVERYONE’S A PLAYER CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT
GUIDE, you help facilitate the game...but you’re also still a player. You’re not exempt
from having fun, and the other players are not exempt from contributing to the narrative. You have different roles but everybody’s here to make stories and enjoy.
This means other players aren't enemies or subordinates. Even if their actions accidentally topple your carefully laid-out plans, that’s okay. That’s because you should… 111
P R I N C I P L E 2 : LET IT GO
Give them a breathing world with leads to the main dilemma—but don’t succumb to the temptation of over-preparing for every contingency. Create beginnings. Don’t obsess over endings. Let it go.
P R I N C I P L E 3 : PLAYER AGENCY, MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE
Create opportunities for all players to impact the story; make it a priority to nourish a sense of meaning and significance in their actions. When heroes act, make sure the world responds; when players hatch a daring plan, reward their initiative with story development even if the plan itself goes off the rails.
P R I N C I P L E 4 : RULINGS OVER RULES
As the GUIDE your role involves making sure that rules are being followed. However, rulings take precedence over rules. This means if the rules need to be bent—for example, you want to subtly change an OMEN or even the nature of the DOOM mid- game—or decisions beyond the scope of the rules need made, you have the privilege of making a custom ruling that keeps the story interesting for everybody.
P R I N C I P L E 5 : SIMPLY COMMUNICATE
Honesty and open communication are better than suffering in silence alone. If you’re not sure what other players want, if somebody doesn't seem to be engaging, if you CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT need to take a 10-minute break, check in and ask—playing together as a group should be done atop a foundation of communication.
PRINCIPLE 6 : YOU GROW THROUGH INSPIRATION AND ACTION
Books, films, even comedy sketches and other media can be a fantastic source of inspiration for stories and plot points. However, while you can immerse yourself in ideas and tips on being a good GUIDE, the most effective way to grow is to just do it. But please remember that... CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT 112 113
PRINCIPLE 7 FOSTERING A COMPASSIONATE SPACE IT’S OK TO FAIL
Despite best well-meaning efforts,
Principle Zero—being a respectful, mistakes are inevitable. But stories can compassionate human being—seems still carry on, regardless of flaws. Your simple enough, but the most surprising storymaking journey will only continue thing is how difficult it can be in practice. to bloom as you learn from mistakes, continue to run stories and become Respect, compassion, and ultimately more comfortable building immersive safety can mean respecting each other's arcs with fellow players. identities and boundaries, being aware of and avoiding triggers, the willingness to listen and—perhaps the most
RUNNING difficult—the readiness to open difficult
conversations to uphold these values. THE GAME If someone makes you or others feel Every game is your own. Your role unsafe or disrespected, you have the as GUIDE evolves based on the players power to check in, reinforce boundaries, and the kind of story everybody wants or ultimately remove a problem player to to play. Regardless, there are a few protect the space. CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT universal guidelines on things you can do before, during and after a game. Raising these conversations for safety The section DURING THE GAME, can also be initiated by anyone, not just in particular, discusses typical decisions you. There's no need to wait for the you’d have to make during a session. situation to escalate...a small check-in, a quick heads-up early on can help These tips are not set in stone: you improve the group's safety even without have the freedom to adapt, amend, or waiting for someone to suffer. discard according to your needs. 114
1. BEFORE THE GAME 2. DURING THE GAME
REVIEW THE DOOM. Plot out a few rough GUIDE, your task during a game session
ideas for how it progresses—with or is generally threefold: set the scene,
without player involvement. Remember: respond to hero action (or inaction) the DOOM exists separately from the and adjust the story. heroes and can evolve in the background. A. SET THE SCENE REVIEW THE OMENS. These are your Describe the details necessary subplots and side quests. Think about to empower all players. How can they how you’ll integrate them into the talk to the brooding gentleman in the adventure and exploration. corner if they don’t know he’s there? If you want, add details that evoke: light, In an OMEN about missing children, for sound, atmosphere, even the dust and example, maybe they meet a mother or smell of mildew. a school teacher as non-hero characters. However, try to keep this organic and When describing the scene don’t natural. It helps if you... underestimate other players’ contributions. If you and the players IDENTIFY THE MOTIVATIONS OF KEY are willing, you can ask them for details CHARACTERS OR FACTIONS. You can about the world or their surroundings even flesh out a characters with stats, with questions such as: CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT
personality and even dialogue but be
prepared not to use them as is. —If you’ve been here before, what do you know about this place? LASTLY, CREATE A HOOK. The heroes —Your hero has a tie to this place, right? are called to adventure...how? Did What's the most memorable aspect someone hire them? Is there a shared here? concern they can't ignore? Will a —Does this relate to your hero’s revelation set events in motion—or a backstory? What do you remember as secret, curious mystery? a result of this situation? 115
You also roleplay non-hero characters. —What do you do now?
Non-hero characters can have —How will you investigate? interesting mannerisms like a raspy —What are you trying to accomplish? voice, an arm in a cast or a favorite expression. They can even mimic C. A D J U S T T H E S T O RY. characters from books, TV shows Review your factions and characters’ or movies—though oftentimes it's motivations. Have they changed? What a distinct, internally consistent does it lead them to do now? Look back personality that makes non-hero at the OMENS. Are they affected? Do characters more memorable than most. they intensify or become idle? Keep the story going. B. RESPOND TO HERO ACTION (OR INACTION) Once they’ve responded, what happens? If they punch the squire does he punch back? And if heroes aren't compelled to act are there ramifications?
Action and inaction should have
weight and consequence. Even a failed SKILL CHECK should move the story
forward. If a hero fails to sneak into CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT
the villain’s headquarter maybe guards appear and accost the party's noblin friend. Introduce complications.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and
nudge the other players into a more clearly articulated response if their action is too vague. 116
If you are at a loss for what to do next
you can try to tackle one (or both) of the questions below:
—What escalates the story’s risks
and threats? —Conversely, what resolution can make way for new plot points?
If you need time to think about where
the story should go, tell the table. It's okay.
Adjust the narrative and prepare for
the next scene.
If you’re not sure how these all work
you can read Appendices 2, 3 and 4 for sample gameplay.
GUIDE, while the rules lay out most of
CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT
the basics, there are also some things
left up to your deliberation beyond story decisions. Here are just some of the most common rulings you might make:
W H AT S U P P L I E S , S U N D R I E S A N D O D D I T E M S D O . Items on the Supplies and Sundries and the Oddities and Valuables inventory 117
lists lack description—how or why DIFFICULTY MODIFIERS.
they work is left to your imagination. You don’t always need to assign a Oddities can even act as ripe fodder for DIFFICULTY MODIFIER to a SKILL
new plot points or twists. CHECK. However, you may apply one if
the task is significantly easier or more
IF A SKILL CHECK IS difficult because of the hero's state, the N E C E S S A R Y. If the task is easy or target's resistances, or the nature of the inconsequential, like, say, reading a action and situation. regular book, the player doesn’t need to bother with a SKILL CHECK. Keep rulings over DIFFICULTY MODIFIERS consistent. If something is
Only call for a Skill Check when there roughly as difficult as another task the are stakes (reading the runes can open DIFFICULTY MODIFIER should be the
the portal!) and there’s a possibility of same.
an interesting outcome either way (their attempt may alert the vicious wizard!). CONSEQUENCES AND O P P O RT U N I T I E S . Allow players W H E T H E R T H E A P P ROAC H to pitch ideas first before making a call. O R S K I L L I S A P P RO P R I AT E . Sometimes players are tempted to CONSEQUENCES include delay,
propose an APPROACH that isn’t really permanent or temporary loss of
applicable to the task. resource, misunderstanding, overkill, or CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT something else...perhaps something not Like proposing to use a CREATIVE immediately known to players. APPROACH when the task is more
CAREFUL. Let the player explain why OPPORTUNITIES include risk reduction they think their choice applies. or redirection, gaining respect, new knowledge, or something else. If it’s good reasoning let them use it. But if their reasoning is a little sloppy Lastly, S T A T S , P O W E R S & don’t be afraid to say no. This also PERSONALITIES OF applies to SKILLS. N O N - H E RO C H A R AC T E RS . CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT 118 119
FINAL REMINDERS Keep your eye on the time. Don’t forget to advance the DOOMSDAY CLOCK. When the DOOMSDAY CLOCK
is nearing the end raise the stakes and make it more
tangible or apparent. Maybe the cult starts sacrificing humans in a demon-summoning ritual. Maybe the town settlement crumbles under the force of the waves. Maybe the goblins start singing a god-awful song.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: DON’T STRESS OVER
FACILITATING A PERFECT GAME.
Perfect games don’t exist. Guiding a
“ welcoming game where mistakes are okay, however, is a good target to aim for.
3. AFTER THE GAME The sun is
tired. Now dusk Congratulations! Thank the players, including approaches, CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT yourself, for making it possible. If you feel you didn’t bringing a do so well, that’s OK—it’s still a learning experience for next time. mournful remembrance After all, building a story with others is a valuable of the past’s achievement in its own right. You’ve completed an storied heroes. arc—and that’s truly wonderful. Their efforts were Thank you for playing. not in vain. 120
D. Other This is deliberate to harmonize with
Considerations any setting you wish to play. This means however that you should take it into consideration if players want ARC IS YOURS. Want to swap out to monetize their belongings. a SPELL or TECHNIQUE for something cooler? Go ahead. Feel like using YOU CAN USE PRE-MADE
mechanics from another game? Sure. ADVENTURES AND MODULES
ARC is a toolkit and you mold these FROM OTHER GAMES. However, tools so they best enable the story you you may need to re-engineer a few want to tell. things:
ARC WORKS WELL —Convert important plot points into
W I T H F A N TA S Y. On the other the DOOM and its OMENS. hand, using it for cyberpunk, steampunk or other genres requires —Use the stat table in Chapter 5, some work: you'll need to reskin Creating Custom Characters and SKILLS, SPELLS, TECHNIQUES and Adversaries to convert characters. Use INVENTORY to better fit the flavor of your best judgment translating their CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT
your setting. stats such as APPROACH SCORES, for
example. T H I S G A M E D O E S N O T H AV E
A B U I L T- I N E C O N O M Y. It does —If the module has characters with
not have gold, silver or currency. If unique actions or abilities (such players wish to trade they can barter. as a fireball attack or legendary resistances) you can convert it into a custom SPELL, TECHNIQUE, or trait. CHAPTER 5 | GUIDE TOOLKIT 121 122 123 124
Appendix One Sample Hero Creation Example 1: GUNTHER PANTZ
Sipnayan decides she wants to create a brawler—a no-nonsense hero who loves to punch and take trophies from his enemies: Gunther Pantz.
1. Approach Scores. She starts by assigning his APPROACH SCORES. She likes the certainty of the APPROACH SCORE default values, so she assigns the +2 and +1 to CONCERTED and CREATIVE respectively.
2. Blood & Guts. Next she decides to roll for BLOOD & GUTS modifiers getting a 4 and 5, respectively. That means after a long rest her hero gets 2d6+4 BLOOD and 2d6+5 GUTS. Nice!
3. Skill Ranks. She decides despite his punching nature, Gunther is actually more of an acrobatic nature buff, taking 2 ranks for ACROBATICS and SURVIVAL. Of course, PHYSIQUE gets 1 rank along with TACTICS and TINKER. APPENDICES
4. Inventory. Sipnayan has a clear item in mind: the telepathic yak. To ensure she gets it she opts to use the point-buy system, subsequently obtaining 30 points—the telepathic yak is worth 18, most of her available points. 125
Delighted regardless, Sipnayan names the yak “Dog.”
She spends her remaining 12 points on the Oddities and Valuables table for a pouch of teeth and an ancient and unbreakable ring, and the Supplies and Sundries table to obtain a 10-height rope and rolled-up carpet.
5. Background. Sipnayan decides that Gunther is a hulk of a man with a gentle voice. Local townsfolk gossip: he never hurts anyone without a very good reason. But they also whisper that when fighting he really hurts people. One rumor is a shockingly true revelation: Dog telepathically talks to everyone but him. Gunther’s most painful lesson learned was almost losing Dog in a herd of yaks.
6. Bonds. Sipnayan can assign 6 minor levels of BOND with one character and 3 minor levels with another. She asks the GUIDE, Talata, if she could give the 6 minor levels to Dog. Talata agrees. Sipnayan immediately does so and decides to use the 3 minor levels of BOND on Ankha, a fellow hero. Gunther and Ankha have been through some tough times together, although Gunther feels a little cool towards his comrade. The yak is nearer and dearer!
Example 2: ANKHA KASSAD
Kanta wants to port over a favorite hero she created for a different RPG. She already has the name: Ankha Kassad.
Ankha is an agent of chaos. Deciding to follow that personality trait, Kanta opts for random dice rolls for all of Ankha’s capabilities. APPENDICES
1. Approach Scores. Kanta rolls 1d6 determining Ankha’s APPROACH SCORES. It’s a 4! She assigns 3 to CREATIVE and 1 to CONCERTED. 126
2. Blood & Guts. She rolls 1d6 each for BLOOD & GUTS modifiers for a 3 and 2, respectively. Ankha’s total BLOOD is 2d6+3 and total GUTS is 2d6+2.
3. Skill Ranks. Kanta rolls 2d6 for Ankha’s total Skill Ranks. The result is… 3. Uh-oh! Kanta assigns 2 ranks to ARCANA and 1 to OBSERVE.
Because Ankha’s SKILL RANKS were ≤4 she gets more inventory items. Kanta opts for random inventory rolls, so she gets 12d6 plus 3d6 to spend on items (15d6 total).
4. Inventory. She wants Ankha to be a spellcaster and decides to spend the majority of her dice on the SPELL list. Kanta decides to roll 3d6 three times (9d6 total). The results are: 5, 8 and 12. Ankha gains an instance each of Whisper, Secret Door and Pierce the Veil. Nice! Kanta makes a mental note to check out the SPELLS’ details in Chapter 4.
That’s 9d6 down of 15d6, leaving 6d6. Kanta splits the dice into three 2d6 rolls on the Oddities and Valuables list and rolls: 7, 10 and 12. Ankha gains shrunken monkey heads, a constantly-glowing silk dress and the shadowy mirror. Neat!
5. Background Now it’s time for character-building questions. Ankha differs from other people with her frank outlook and words. People whisper Ankha fought a dragon once, that she is callous enough to betray her friends and flunked out of unibersidad. Her most painful lesson is the high cost of being alone.
6. Bonds. Kanta rolls 3d6 for her levels of BOND—a 9! She assigns 8 of it to Gunther— equivalent to 2 major levels of BOND—and assigns the remaining 1 to Dog the yak. Kanta and Sipnayan decide that maybe Gunther saved Ankha’s life once, making her feel indebted. As for Dog, well, he’s a very endearing yak, so even an agent of chaos APPENDICES
can’t help but appreciate him a tiny bit.
127
Appendix Two Sample Scene and Skill Check TALATA, GUIDE: You’re out in the wooded mountains when you hear a thunderous noise:
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, come nearer and nearer. The trees and rain obscure your sight so you’re not quite sure what is happening. What do you do?
The GUIDE sets the scenes and narrates important details that heroes can see, i hear, smell or otherwise sense. SIPNAYAN, PLAYER: Can my hero Gunther climb atop a boulder to gain vantage on
what’s happening?
TALATA: Yes—though the boulder is sharp, slippery from the rain, and climbing it is
dangerous. It’s very large, maybe about 2 heights tall. If you’re scrambling up the rock quickly I’ll have to ask you to make a COORDINATION or PHYSIQUE SKILL CHECK.
The GUIDE can ask a player for a SKILL CHECK if their hero will do a risky i action with potential for interesting success or failure. SIPNAYAN: OK, I can do PHYSIQUE. And because he’s pushing himself to really get APPENDICES
up there quickly, I’ll use the CONCERTED APPROACH.
Gunther’s SKILL in PHYSIQUE is 1. He also has a CONCERTED APPROACH
V SCORE of 1. The total TN is 2. Not very good odds. 128
KANTA, PLAYER: Oh hey, my hero Ankha has like 2 major levels of BOND with Gunther. I’d like to assist if that’s okay!
TALATA: Sure. Do you have an applicable SKILL for this assist?
KANTA: Let’s see... I have 1 rank in OBSERVE. I can look out for footholds that
Gunther can use?
i One fellow player can to add their major levels of
ASSIST
only if they have an applicable .SKILL
BOND to the TN, but
V Now, the climb’s is 2 plus the 2 major levels, for a total of 4. Sipnayan rolls TN
the d6. It’s a… 6! It exceeds the of 4 so the
TN SKILL CHECK fails. Gunther could not climb the boulder.
TALATA: The booming sounds get louder and louder…this action exposes you to the
wet stone, and you can feel your skin and armor get wet.
KANTA: Fudge. Can I help him again by sacrificing a minor level of BOND?
TALATA: OK! But...you have exactly 8 minor levels of BOND with Gunther. If you
take 1 off that’ll be 7 and that means you’ll only have 1 major level of BOND with him. Your TN increase for the next roll is only +1, not +2.
i An assisting player can sacrifice minor levels of BOND to allow for rerolls.
V Kanta nods and tells Talata she’s okay with it. Sipnayan gets a reroll, but the TN APPENDICES
now is only 2 plus 1 for a total of 3. Sipnayan rolls. It’s a 3—a tie! 129
TALATA: Sipnayan, you can either take that as a SUCCESS WITH CONSEQUENCE or a
FAILURE WITH OPPORTUNITY. Alternatively, you can spend 3 BLOOD or 3 GUTS for
a pure success. What would you like to do?
SIPNAYAN: Um... hmm. I want to go with SUCCESS WITH CONSEQUENCE.
TALATA: Do you have any consequence in mind or do you want me to narrate what
happens next?
In case of a tie, the player has options available: succeed or fail with a i corresponding side effect. They are free to suggest a CONSEQUENCE or
OPPORTUNITY that goes with their decision, or even spend BLOOD or GUTS
to upgrade the outcome.
SIPNAYAN: I’m thinking about it... maybe as a consequence Gunther’s backpack falls
down, so that he can’t get to his items while up on the rock. It falls on the ground. I won’t like it but it has some fragile items in it, so maybe they break on impact?
TALATA: OK, that sounds good. So Gunther: you scale up the boulder under Ankha’s
guidance, as the rain’s large wet drops hit your entire body. The backpack starts sliding off your shoulders and you can’t grab it because your hands are occupied. It lands on the ground with a very heavy thud. More worryingly, you hear something break. It’s very difficult to see far but luckily the height gives a great position to see what’s really happening: a Goliath, 3 heights tall, is heading straight towards you.
i Innarration. response to hero action or inaction, the advances the scene with GUIDE Now, it's up to the players to decide: what will they do next? APPENDICES 130
Appendix Three Sample Conflict V Sipnayan’s the hero Gunther and Kanta’s Ankha are interacting with a Goliath. Talata, , narrates. GUIDE
TALATA: You failed to come to an agreement with the Goliath and he is especially
offended at your clumsy friendship attempts. He stands up to his full height and roars. The sound fills the entire mountain! You are now in CONFLICT!
SIPNAYAN: Kanta, what do you think? We can’t really take on a Goliath on our own...
Oh! I have an idea. Let’s hold him off until your pet yak gets to town and alerts the local paladins telepathically! Talata, how long would that take?
TALATA: Let me think...if you survive for 3 rounds we’ll take it from there and see
what happens. We’ll assume the yak already fled when the Goliath stood and roared.
i Victory in CONFLICTcan be a matter of survival and doesn't necessarily require
enemies to die. In fact, that may not even be possible. APPENDICES
Because turn order is dependent on intended action, players can strategize every round on what to do. They must work together to sequence their actions and maximize their impact in CONFLICT. 131
SIPNAYAN: I don’t know what to do. I don’t really like fights...Maybe I just attack
with Gunther's fists.
KANTA: Sure. I can use up my turn assisting you. I’ll use my OBSERVE SKILL to create an ADVANTAGE for your attack.
TALATA: OK, so let's start the round. We'll start with characters standing ground.
Nobody is defending, so we head straight to characters doing non-harmful actions.
i covered by that Every round follows the same INITIATIVE CATEGORY. Once every character CATEGORY has acted, the next begins.
TALATA: Kanta, your hero Ankha is assisting Gunther. Can you tell me how she’ll help?
KANTA: She, uh, squints at the Goliath. She wants to investigate the weak points in his armor! That means my SKILL RANKS can increase Gunther’s TN right?
TALATA: Yes, but I’ll ask you to make an OBSERVE SKILL CHECK first. What’s your APPROACH and TN?
i Helping allies during
ADVANTAGE. may require a CONFLICT to create an SKILL CHECK
However, this benefit can be used by any ally and can greatly improve the chances of a subsequent SKILL CHECK success.
KANTA: I’ll be CREATIVE about it, so I’ll do some lateral thinking and look for the bits in his armor that look like they rub and chafe against each other. Surely there’ll be holes there, right? And ah, my TN will be my 3 CREATIVE plus 1 OBSERVE, so APPENDICES
that’s 4. Lemme roll.
V Kanta rolls her d6 and gets...a 2! Because it's under the TN, it succeeds! 132
TALATA: Nice! So you create an ADVANTAGE and add your 1 in OBSERVE to
Gunther’s TN!
i A successful ADVANTAGE adds the relevant SKILL RANK to allies' TN.
TALATA: And now that we’re done with non-harmful actions, we go to characters
who’d like to do damage. Let’s start off with you, Sipnayan.
SIPNAYAN: Yeah. I’ll try to punch with a... CREATIVE APPROACH. I’ll go for a really
flashy uppercut, straight to his groin. Goliaths hate that, right?
TALATA: Your TN is PHYSIQUE and CREATIVE APPROACH, the bonus from the
ADVANTAGE minus the Goliath’s defense from his +1 armor. What’s your total TN?
SIPNAYAN: I have 1 rank in PHYSIQUE and a 2 in CREATIVE... the ADVANTAGE from
Ankha adds +1 but the armor cancels that out... my total TN is 3,
V She rolls the dice. It’s a 1! A hit! Because she rolled a 1, Sipnayan must roll again for a chance of a FLAWLESS SUCCESS . Sipnayan makes a roll... it’s another 1! Kanta claps in joy.
TALATA: With grim determination flashing in Gunther's eyes you jump up, rotating
clockwise as your fist rises up and connects with his crotch. You deal 3 damage to his BLOOD.
i attack. Damage dealt with the
Total damage is equal to TN plus damage bonuses from the item used for the WEAPONRY or PHYSIQUE skill deals damage to APPENDICES
BLOOD; GUILE and IMPOSE deals damage to GUTS.
TALATA: Because you got a flawless success, you gain an OPPORTUNITY... how about dislodging some of the Goliath’s armor and making it easier to hit him next time? Alright, heroes have acted for this phase so it’s now the Goliath’s turn. 133
i After all heroes have acted for an INITIATIVE CATEGORY, it's non-heroes' turn.
TALATA: The Goliath, infuriated by the attack, looms over Gunther. “Fee fi fo fum,” his
voice booms. He takes out his heavy club and brings it down on you, Gunther.
V The Goliath’s. Heishasequala 1 into his
CONCERTED TN WEAPONRY SKILL and APPROACH, which is
WEAPONRY and a 3 in CONCERTED so the total TN
is 4. Talata makes the roll. It’s a 4, equal to the TN.
TALATA: Usually that’d give the Goliath a choice between success with CONSEQUENCE
or failure with OPPORTUNITY, but he’s really out for blood. He sacrifices 3 GUTS to upgrade the outcome of his SKILL CHECK, making his roll a pure success. He focuses all his willpower on you! The Goliath has a +1 heavy club, so he deals 5 damage to BLOOD!
SIPNAYAN: Oof!
TALATA: Everyone acted, so the round is now over. So, next round...what do you do?
KANTA: How about...we, er, tactically retreat. Let's make a run for it.
i action to move 5 additional heights. However, risky movements require a
Heroes can move 2 heights freely anytime during the round and spend their
successful SKILL CHECK. A player may choose to ignore this; if so, they still move away, but nearby enemies have a free attack SKILL CHECK against them.
TALATA: Ankha can move unimpeded because she isn't being targeted, but Gunther APPENDICES
is engaged by the Goliath. Moving away will require a SKILL CHECK.
SIPNAYAN: That's okay! I can use ACROBATICS. We just have to escape and survive until my yak returns! 134
Appendix fouR Sample Doom Talata, the GUIDE, checks the clock. Almost thirty minutes have passed.
The players are currently in CONFLICT with a Goliath. Talata pauses the action to announce, “The DOOMSDAY CLOCK advances. A MOMENT is consumed.”
She pulls the tracker sheet near her. Since they were expecting to play for 4 hours over one session the total number of MOMENTS on the page is 12. Three of the MOMENTS are already consumed. Talata crosses out another.
Because they haven’t resolved any of the 3 OMENS yet Talata rolls 3d6, one die for each OMEN. It’s a 3, 4 and 6. Oh no! Because a 6 appeared, Talata darkens one more MOMENT.
That’s two MOMENTS consumed in this one instance, plus the three from before, for a total of five MOMENTS down. Seven more before the DOOM! APPENDICES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
EN OM 135
Appendix five More Sample Heroes G I L A S ( H E / H I M ) , R A D I A N T D WA RV E N M O N K
Gilas, born and raised in the dwarven city of Lilim ng Bohol, has a life-long resolution to embody the anitos’ virtues of truth and justice. Unfortunately, this means he gets into trouble too frequently as the harsh realities of the world clashes unkindly with his thirst to do the right thing. He writes home religiously to his wife and six children, all of whom are named after various rocks.
—Studded leather armor [+1 Blood Defense] and stoicism [+1 Guts Defense] —Bedroll and local map —1 instance of Saving Grace APPENDICES
—1 instance of Flowmotion —2 instances of Uncanny Alarm 136
J U L I S E V E N ( T H E Y / T H E M ) , W I Z A R D AU T O M AT O N
Juli remembers emerging from a smoky machine to a world filled with strange sensations. The sight of their creator's happy smile filled their heart—is this what joy feels like? Later, as Juli fled from the burning lab, driven away by rioting villagers, they sought adventure to fill their need for purpose. They are immensely curious, if a bit naive, and hold grand aspirations of seeing all four corners of the world.
—A songbird in a cage —1 instance of Master of Elements
—2 instances of Secret Door
K ATA R I S R A E ( S H E / H E R ) , D R A G O N K I N F O L K H E RO
Kataris is known as the grand vanquisher of the dread lich queen. What people don’t know, however, is that the creature Kataris scared off...was actually just a lowly marsh hag. The lich queen lives on, which is terrible news for Kataris because she likes being a big-shot hero—and being alive. Kataris talks and dreams big, but has a few qualms about dying.
S A RT I S T H E B L A C K T E N TA C L E ( S H E / T H E Y ) ,
E N I G M AT I C O C T O P O D E C U L T I S T
Sartis is an ambulatory octopus serving an unknown cult. She’s chipper, friendly,
gregarious and extravagant, though disturbingly cavalier with death and violence. She’s a strong believer in fortunes and likes asking to read your palm with her eight tentacles. That said, it’s hard to tell whether she’s reaching out to befriend you...or to pull you in for a quick stab.
—The bottom half of a dead monkey —1 instance of Burn the Past
—Shrunken monkey heads —1 instance of Pierce the Veil
A N A S O R AYA ( H E / H I M ) , N E RV O U S H U M A N K N I G H T
Despite growing up in a secure and wealthy environment, Ana heard one too many horror stories and was severely affected by age six. He thought being a knight would solve things but it only made him more conscious about enemies he might encounter. Ana has a good head and a golden heart… if only he weren’t so nervous all the time.
—Sturdy sword [+2 Blood Damage] —Crowbar and lantern
—Iron briefs [+1 Blood Defense] —1 instance of Heartpiercer 138
Appendix Six Codex of Astonishing Creatures The following pages gather 36 fascinating creatures you may encounter during an adventure. Creatures live and thrive in an ecosystem of interactions with the world around them; their morals and values are often deeper than first impression. Just as importantly, these creatures can hold an astonishing variety of personality and principles among its individuals.
If the heroes DO need to fight them, you might find it useful how they’ve been organized according to a rough approximation of their power. In general:
— 4 WEAK creatures can be defeated by 4 new heroes
— 2 AVERAGE creatures can be defeated by 4 new heroes — 1 STRONG creature PLUS A MINION can be barely defeated by 4 new heroes — 1 POWERFUL creature can be defeated after the party has spent around 18-21 XP — 1 MONSTROUS creature can be defeated after the party has spent at least 36 XP APPENDICES
Creatures of various power levels can team up. Note that fights don’t need to be “fair”. A party of powerful creatures can prey upon weaker heroes, and vice versa. Creatures can also be smart, and stand ground or stack advantages before attacking. Heroes must decide whether it would be wise to engage them. 139
RELATIONS Usually wants to be alone, Potty mouth [+1 Guts Damage]
though they meet for tea once in a while. Mushroom head [+1 Blood Defense] Humanoids hunt down their delicious caps. ROLE & MOTIVE Tending the forest floor. SPECIAL
MODUS Torments others with sharp wit Split
and insults. Once per TIC or 5 REM, Amanita may split into two instances of itself with Blood & Guts equal to half, rounded up.
harm’s way to pay for the high cost of INVENTORY APPENDICES
subsistence. Vicious dagger [+1 Blood Damage]
MODUS Typically roams sketchy areas in
groups of four to five.
140
fAIRY BLOOD 5 / GUTS 6
CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 1 / CONCERTED 0
ARCANA 2 / COORDINATION 2
ORIGINS A realm of pure dreams and INSIGHT 2
wishes; fraying boundaries between
worlds, however, have resulted in fairies SPECIAL
far from home. Ray of Light
LOOKS & TRAITS Tiny, sparkling; naive. Once per TIC or 5 REM, a Fairy may RELATIONS Close friends, family in the fire small rays of light targeting up to fairy realm; all alone in the real. 3 creatures for 3 damage to Blood. ROLE & MOTIVE Going home.
everyone else a bit weird. TINKER 3 / OBSERVE 2 / SURVIVAL 2
ROLE & MOTIVE Explores the outside
world in scheduled expeditions; checks INVENTORY
if engineering projects are in good Pointy spear [+1 Blood Damage]
shape. Regularly dreams of being Various knick knacks APPENDICES
Pointiest Noblin. MODUS Prioritizes escape, but may
choose to fight back if their habitat or
cousins are threatened. 142
SkeLeton ORIGINS Excess necromancy in the soil BLOOD 5 / GUTS 7
or perhaps amateur wizards; some report CREATIVE 0 / CAREFUL 1 / CONCERTED 1
that a few animated of their own will. PHYSIQUE 2 / WEAPONRY 2
LOOKS & TRAITS Bony. Those willing to
talk tend to have a drier version of their INVENTORY
living personality. Knucklebones
RELATIONS Mostly forgotten by the
world. Uncertain about other undead. SPECIAL
ROLE & MOTIVE Unpopular philosophers Bone shiv
theorize they cling to undeath to escape A Skeleton may improvise any bone in total ego death in the afterlife. its body as a +1 Physical weapon. MODUS Makes ranged and close attacks
using their bones.
SKyhopper ORIGINS Any common village, it seems. BLOOD 6 / GUTS 5
LOOKS & TRAITS Has the head and body CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 0 / CONCERTED 0
of a bird, but wings and legs of an insect. ACROBATICS 2 / GUILE 1 / PHYSIQUE 1
RELATIONS Mates for life and builds
intricate, beautiful nests out of shiny INVENTORY
baubles as permanent homes. Shiny coins, some valuable APPENDICES
ROLE & MOTIVE Pests having fun. The local mayor's pearl necklace MODUS Swoops, steals, flees. 143
Thrall ORIGINS Humanoid servants of
malevolent mages. Oftentimes, they've
agreed to give a few years of their soul in exchange for a powerful favor. LOOKS & TRAITS Pale, numb and
mindless until the contract ends.
RELATIONS Strained among loved ones
who can't or refuse to understand.
ROLE & MOTIVE While the contract is
active, thralls are fully content simply
doing the bidding of their master. MODUS Establishes advantages for their
master or fellow thralls.
BLOOD 5 / GUTS 5
CREATIVE 0 / CAREFUL 0 / CONCERTED 1
PHYSIQUE 2
SPECIAL
Poison If a thrall successfully damages another creature, that creature is poisoned and suffers 1 damage to Blood every 5 REM or TIC until after their next APPENDICES
long rest. 144
AV E R AG E C R E AT U R E S AparitiK BLOOD 7 / GUTS 8
RELATIONS Keeps as far away from Black armor [+1 Blood Defense] the past as possible; prefers strangers' Memories of war [+1 Guts Defense] company. APPENDICES
ROLE & MOTIVE Claiming a destiny. SPECIAL
MODUS Protects high-value targets Techniques
where possible; otherwise, engages in One instance of a Complexity 2 physical combat. Technique 145
Emotion BLOOD 7 / GUTS 9
CREATIVE 1 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 1
Vampire GUILE 2 / IMPOSE 2
ORIGINS Unknown. SPECIAL
LOOKS & TRAITS Perfectly human Shapeshifter
appearance; never sleeps, has no smell. Emotion Vampires can freely alter their RELATIONS Craves and feeds off others' form and appearance, although many say emotions; creates parasitic or parasocial a disquieting air surrounds them. relationships to do so. Territorial against other vampires. Siphon ROLE & MOTIVE Filling an empty heart. Once every 10 REM or 3 TIC they can MODUS Takes on guise of last victim to gain Blood equal to the damage dealt wreak havoc, delight in turmoil of loved when attacking with Impose. ones. Siphons emotional reserves over days; if discovered, escapes with shapeshift.
Flesh BLOOD 7 / GUTS 7
CREATIVE 0 / CAREFUL 0 / CONCERTED 2
Slug COORDINATION 2 / PHYSIQUE 2
ORIGINS Humid regions. INVENTORY
LOOKS & TRAITS Fleshy like a fat child's Sharp teeth [+1 Blood Damage] arm; almost transparent until it latches Tough skin [+1 Blood Defense] onto a victim, at which point they suckle and their insides turn scarlet red. SPECIAL RELATIONS Usually reviled, avoided, Soporific APPENDICES
though many find them a tasty delicacy. On a successful attack, a Flesh Slug has a ROLE & MOTIVE Ceaseless egglaying. 1 in 36 chance of creating a new instance MODUS Tries to catch enemies unaware; of itself underneath a victim's skin. often targets sleeping victims. 146
ManananggaL
ORIGINS Rumor, hearsay, the night.
LOOKS & TRAITS Appears and acts
human during daytime; assumes true
vampiric form at sundown. Under cover of spreading darkness, separates their body at the waist, leaving their lower body behind as they fly into the night. Given their seamless daytime guise and BLOOD 11 / GUTS 8 / BLOOD 5 lower body
nighttime stealth, few know what a CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 0 / CONCERTED 1
rumored to feast on maidens, mothers and Once every 10 REM or 3 TIC they can children. gain Blood equal to the damage dealt ROLE & MOTIVE Unknown. when attacking with Physique. APPENDICES
MODUS Said to scope their victims during
daytime to feast on them at their most Spells
vulnerable at nightfall. Leaves their lower One instance of a Complexity 2 Spell body in a carefully hidden place. 147
though they claim to be worldly pilgrims. CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 0
LOOKS & TRAITS Bears an oversized red GUILE 2 / CHARISMA 1
mask carved from ivory-like material.
Speaks with smooth, jazzy voice. INVENTORY
RELATIONS Hitchhikes across lands, Five random items from the Oddities bears alluring trinkets. Solicits others to & Valuables List (see Chapter 2, Step 4: buy them but never with coin; they only Determine Inventory). trade in sense, memory, ideas. ROLE & MOTIVE Vendor, trinket-bearer;
in dungeons; inadvertently released CREATIVE 0 / CAREFUL 1 / CONCERTED 2
among villages and the general COORDINATION 3 / PHYSIQUE 1
population due to loose security.
LOOKS & TRAITS Appears like a mundane INVENTORY
item: a chest, a lamp, a book...until it bites. Bitter bite [+1 Blood Damage] RELATIONS People ask what they are, but never how they are. Pretty lonely. APPENDICES
LOOKS & TRAITS Has a marvelous flower CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 1 / CONCERTED 0
for a head, with petals centered around a CHARISMA 3 / GUILE 2 / IMPOSE 1
large eye. Charming and smooth, always
has a compliment for others...and ten SPECIAL
praises for themselves. Illusion
RELATIONS Has fingers in every pie; a Heroes must succeed on a TN -1 mainstay in courts, where they disguise Observe Skill Check to see through the themselves with magic to blend in. Likely Petal Ambassador's disguise. works for bigger, unknown causes. ROLE & MOTIVE Diplomats and spies. Spells MODUS Prefers making friends over One instance of Trick of the Light enemies; if all fails, lures people into One instance of Trinket social or political traps.
Young treefolk ORIGINS Curiosity in youth, the allure ROLE & MOTIVE Explorers, tourists.
of exploration, and alienating, stiff MODUS Prefers blending in or using the
traditions of homes set deep in forests. environment to their advantage.
LOOKS & TRAITS Mobile saplings and
young trees; some weave flowers and BLOOD 10 / GUTS 7
butterflies among their leafy foliage. CREATIVE 0 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 1 APPENDICES
RELATIONS While they are interested SURVIVAL 3 / PHYSIQUE 2 / ARCANA 1
in friendship, others are more interested in exploitation as their bark is ideal for INVENTORY magical items. Weird bark [+1 Blood Defense, odd item] APPENDICES 149 150
S T R O N G C R E AT U R E S AKromata BLOOD 20 / GUTS 15
CREATIVE 1 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 2
ORIGINS War and its ceaseless machinery. PHYSIQUE 2 / WEAPONRY 2 / TINKER 1
LOOKS & TRAITS Sentient, hulking
constructs, not all are humanoid in shape. INVENTORY
RELATIONS Decommissioned and deemed War munitions [+1 Blood Damage]
useless after the war's end. Despite this, Impenetrable shell [+1 Blood Defense] they remain a constant source of fear especially among survivors. Some scattered SPECIAL
reports say that they built their own Techniques
settlement, but none know where. Two instances of a Complexity 2 ROLE & MOTIVE Weapons without cause. Technique MODUS In war, violence. Today, unknown.
Aranae BLOOD 18 / GUTS 16
CREATIVE 1 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 1
ORIGINS Ancient forests. COORDINATION 3 / PHYSIQUE 2
LOOKS & TRAITS Immense spiders;
cunning and methodical. SPECIAL
RELATIONS Feared by settlements, Poison
adventurers as a ruthless predator. A successfully hit target is poisoned and ROLE & MOTIVE Survival of offspring. suffers 1 damage to Blood every 5 REM MODUS Bides time in the shadows, or TIC until after their next long rest. waiting for the slightest twitch in an APPENDICES
intricate network of webbing. Web
As an action, an Aranae may perform a Coordination Skill Check entrap enemies within 2 heights, preventing movement for 10 REM or 2 TIC. 151
Brute ORIGINS Unknown, though
rumors abound: some say they were borne
from evil experiments on elves, others believe they were cast from divine grace. LOOKS & TRAITS Imposing red figure,
terrifying physical presence.
RELATIONS Commonly thought of as
uncultured, violent creatures—hence
their moniker. Currently targeted by "brutekillers" often sponsored by a humanoid regime. ROLE & MOTIVE Unknown. BLOOD 20 / GUTS 18 APPENDICES
MODUS Scouts and maps humanoid CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 1 / CONCERTED 2
settlements to avoid; falls back on CULTURE 3 / PHYSIQUE 2 / INSIGHT 2
monstrous cunning when seeking their [+2 Blood Damage] next meal. Obsessed with feasting on the flesh of those in love. Experiences intermittent lucidity and humanity when satiated; longs to make amends but unable to undo what they did not deserve. RELATIONS Hides from human society,
unless feeding. May work for more
powerful forces in exchange for food. ROLE & MOTIVE For society, a morality
tale. For themselves, a desperate search
for an end to the curse. MODUS Strikes from hidden or
advantageous positions, but only after
making sure enemies are vulnerable. APPENDICES 153
nightwolf BLOOD 17 / GUTS 17
CREATIVE 1 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 2
OBSERVE 2 / SURVIVAL 2 / PHYSIQUE 1
ORIGINS The cruel wild.
LOOKS & TRAITS Larger-than-life wolves INVENTORY
with night-starry fur. Highly intelligent; Wicked fangs [+1 Blood Damage] understands others' motives, intent. RELATIONS Close familial ties with what SPECIAL
few nightwolves remain in the wild. Wary Darksight
truce with other creatures of the night. Nightwolves can see in darkness. ROLE & MOTIVE Avoiding extinction.
MODUS Plans any attack in advance;
strikes as a pack if possible.
Siren BLOOD 15 / GUTS 20
CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 0 / CONCERTED 1
ARTISTRY 2 / CHARISMA 2 / GUILE 2
ORIGINS Crags, islands set deep within ACROBATICS 1 / PHYSIQUE 1
wine-dark seas. LOOKS & TRAITS Sparrow body with SPECIAL
feminine human face. Utterly bewitching; Hypnotic Song
croons compliments and songs. As an action, a Siren can make an RELATIONS Competes among themselves Artistry Skill Check; on success, everyone to lure hapless sailors, shipfolk using within hearing range must immediately exquisite verses. Fated to live only make an Insight Skill Check. Those who while a mortal hears their voice; keeps fail are charmed and blindly trust the humanoid prisoners for this purpose. Siren. Charmed individuals may redo the ROLE & MOTIVE Perfecting their song, Insight Skill Check at the end of every 10 APPENDICES
finding true love. REM or TIC, adding +1 to TN with every
MODUS Lies, trickery, and song. subsequent attempt. On success, the effect ends and they are immune to the Siren's charm for an in-story day. 154
Praises the transcendent delights of CULTURE 1 / IMPOSE 1
flesh-eating and cannibalism.
RELATIONS Highly cordial amongst INVENTORY
themselves; those who break with Three handfuls of the flesh of their last ritualized tradition are marked for victim [Special item, restores 3 Blood feasting. Torments, controls populations when consumed as an action] in nearby settlements for fun. ROLE & MOTIVE Enduring the soul-
crushing ennui of their near-eternal lives.
MODUS Works together to entrap or
blackmail groups of people at a time.
TiKBalang BLOOD 15 / GUTS 18 ORIGINS What few virgin forests remain. CREATIVE 2 /CAREFUL 1 / CONCERTED 2 LOOKS & TRAITS Horse head, human COORDINATION 3 / PHYSIQUE 2 body, long limbs. SURVIVAL 2 / ARTISTRY 1 RELATIONS Loves pranking lost
explorers, though always lets them go.
INVENTORY ROLE & MOTIVE Some whisper they guard secret entrances to kingdoms of Powerful hooves [+2 Blood Damage] APPENDICES
wonder, but none have found the truth.
SPECIAL MODUS Prefers concealment over
confrontation. Spells Three instances of Trick of the Light APPENDICES 155 156
Vengeful Pocong ORIGINS A soul who died from a deeply BLOOD 16 / GUTS 16
LOOKS & TRAITS Bound in a full-body PHYSIQUE 2 / IMPOSE 2
burial shroud. The tightly wrapped cloth
allows very limited movement—hopping INVENTORY
Pocong are common, but like many Frightful visage [+2 Guts Damage] ghosts they can simply manifest. Their face White shroud, traditionally wrapped is unobstructed, revealing wide, terrifying eyes set within deep shadows. Whenever SPECIAL
they appear, an eerie atmosphere and Leap
terrible smell emanates. Vengeful Pocong can leap up to 3 heights RELATIONS Violent towards the living. freely during their turn. ROLE & MOTIVE Revenge.
MODUS Aggression.
Zoa PisceRor ORIGINS Sentient fish folk with BLOOD 16 / GUTS 16
LOOKS & TRAITS Fish that walk upright, ARCANA 3 / AN ILL-ADVISED SKILL 1
clad in swishing velvet cloaks, rich
clothing and jewelry. Obnoxious. Elitist. SPECIAL
RELATIONS Lives in extremely classicist Spells
undersea society based on arcane skill. Two instances of a Complexity 2 Spell Disdains everyone who has no magic. One instance each of three APPENDICES
ROLE & MOTIVE Become the very best Complexity 1 Spells
in magic, despite relative incompetence with everything else. MODUS Magic, really. And bodyguards. 157
P O W E R F U L C R E AT U R E S
Aurora ORIGINS An otherworldly...place.
LOOKS & TRAITS Glorious, winged,
transcends understanding. Oftentimes
bedecked in impossible geometry or ever-turning wheels of flames. BLOOD 27 / GUTS 32
RELATIONS Often bound to serve CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 2
rich offerings to Aurora, though it's PHYSIQUE 2 / TACTICS 2
hard to tell whether it's to appease the
masters or to accept Aurora as deities in SPECIAL APPENDICES
their own right. Spells
ROLE & MOTIVE Messengers, servants. Two instances of Manic Hands MODUS Coldly analytical in every step. One instance each of two Only takes calculated risks. Complexity 3 Spells 158
RELATIONS Wisely avoids the Hypercritical mind [+1 Guts Defense] predominantly ignorant world. Very rarely, works with mortals to pursue SPECIAL
complex goals. Unfurled wings
ROLE & MOTIVE Study and observation. A Crystal Drake has free movement up MODUS If forced into Conflict, will end to 4 heights and can move an additional it as quickly and decisively as possible. 9 heights as an action.
EVerbleeding WarlocK BLOOD 32 / GUTS 25
CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 2 / CONCERTED 2
ORIGINS A soul pact and a personal TACTICS 3 / FOCUS 2 / IMPOSE 2
sacrifice to the Everbleeding God. OBSERVE 2 / PHYSIQUE 2 / WEAPONRY 2
LOOKS & TRAITS Ruthless. Bears a
constantly weeping wound, usually hidden. INVENTORY
RELATIONS Permanently bound to their Savior sword [+2 Blood Damage]
cruel God in return for unrelenting Anointed armor [+2 Blood Defense] power. While they are the villains in Death rattle [+1 Guts Damage] most everyone's view, others see them as APPENDICES
rightful rulers, heroes even. SPECIAL
ROLE & MOTIVE Conquest. Techniques
MODUS Commands minions, sets up One instance each of two destructive attacks. Complexity 3 Techniques 159
in return for true arcane power. Two instances of a Complexity 3 Spell LOOKS & TRAITS A pale facsimile of Two instances each of three their former personality. Surrounded by Complexity 2 Spells dizzyingly magical aura. One instance of Spirit Pact RELATIONS Has servants, thralls to carry
out mundane tasks. Often enters into Undeath
pacts with settlements; in return for A slain Exalted Magus will revive after sustenance, materials, and a base, they seven in-story weeks unless all seven soul will be protected from harm. fragments are found and destroyed. ROLE & MOTIVE Differs wildly.
example, can appear as a tiny, oily sprite. Shapeshifter
An Incarnate for "I can never be loved" Incarnates can freely alter their form and appears as a suffocatingly immovable appearance. statue of ebony. RELATIONS Keeps mortals tied under Spells their influence. Competes with other One instances of Become One Incarnates. Two instance of Compel ROLE & MOTIVE Control, chaos.
MODUS Compels others to their bidding.
Mirror BLOOD 30 / GUTS 30
BaLL CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 3 / CONCERTED 2
OBSERVE 3 / INSIGHT 3
ORIGINS Unknown.
LOOKS & TRAITS Disjointed mirrors held SPECIAL
together in a loose shape. Reflect
RELATIONS A source of rare material for Anyone successfully damaging a Mirror memory magi; and fear from everyone Ball also receives that damage in turn. else. They say that gazing into its obsidian APPENDICES
facets reveals how the onlooker will die. Spells
ROLE & MOTIVE Seek and combine with One instance of Become One other Mirror Balls. One instance of Secret Door MODUS Deflect or reflect. APPENDICES 161 162
of bodies, minds and senses tied together Allskill
by the Paralich's consciousness. Hosts A Paralich has three Ranks in all Skills retain their personality and can almost its hosts possess. lead normal lives, though they are immutably bonded to their Paralich and Allsense unthinkingly obey their commands. A Paralich receives sensory input from ROLE & MOTIVE Expand, consume. all its hosts. MODUS Infects others through food
tainted with its essence; fully takes
hold of new bodies after a week-long sickness. In Conflict, coordinates its hosts together to easily overcome any enemy. APPENDICES 163
M O N S T R O U S C R E AT U R E S
BaKunawa The world once had seven beautiful INVENTORY
moons. Their light shone fairly across the Vicious fangs [+3 Blood Damage] land and in their wake entranced the sea Sea serpent scales [+2 Blood Defense] serpent known only as the Bakunawa. SPECIAL
She rose from the ocean and swallowed Size
them with her wide maw: one by one She is large enough that 5 humans can the moons' light snuffed out until only stand comfortably atop her. one was left. Angered, the gods fell into terrible battle to prevent the world from Plunge into darkness being plunged into darkness. The din of If fought at night, the Bakunawa has a war was heard and felt from seven times 1 in 36 chance of swallowing the moon at seven kingdoms away. the start of her turn. If she succeeds, she regains 20 Blood & Guts and the world is The Bakunawa held them off with wing plunged into darkness. and claw, but was so full from the six moons that she was soon chased back Greater unfurled wings into the sea. Now she sleeps, coiled in the The Bakunawa has free movement of dark, dreaming of the moon she could 7 heights and can move an additional not eat. 15 heights as an action.
BLOOD 45 / GUTS 36 Techniques APPENDICES
CREATIVE 2 / CAREFUL 3 / CONCERTED 3
One instance of Dispel OBSERVE 3 / PHYSIQUE 3 / IMPOSE 3 One instance each of three CULTURE 2 / FOCUS 2 / INSIGHT 2 Complexity 3 Techniques APPENDICES 164 165
KaLipsis INVENTORY
Oracular staff [+2 Blood Damage]
A powerful sorcerer-empress, long bound Blood robes [+1 Blood Defense] and shackled in the deepest dungeons Relentless ambition [+2 Guts Damage, of an ancient wizard-city. Kalipsis, out +2 Guts Defense] of love for this world, sought to delay the apocalypse with her own hands by SPECIAL
sacrificing hundreds of innocent souls in a Superior shapeshift
dread ritual. While she could not stop the Every other turn, Kalipsis can Doom in its entirety, she could delay it. redistribute her Blood & Guts and And so, she reasoned, she would only need assume a different form: a many-headed to kill hundreds and thousands more to dragon, a tentacled warbeast, even a keep the apocalypse at bay. clattering of limbs and insect wings. This does not use up an action. The rivers ran red with blood and it was only years later that a mysterious, Arcane nexus unnamed hero could rise up and bind There is a one in 36 chance at the start her. Now she lays in wait, biding her of each turn that Kalipsis can cast a time within her crystal prison, knowing Complexity 4 Spell. Once cast, she loses it weakens day by day. She's not alone: this ability indefinitely. embedded deep across the realm are those who would gladly rip her free. For only she Doom can singlehandedly save the world, and if If Kalipsis is killed, the Doomsday unworthy people need to die to make it Clock consumes one Moment. happen, then...let it happen. Spells BLOOD 40 / GUTS 40 One instance each of five APPENDICES
ARCANA 3 / CHARISMA 3 / IMPOSE 3 Two instances each of two ACADEMIC 2 / GUILE 2 / INSIGHT 2 Complexity 2 Spells OBSERVE 2 / ALL OTHER SKILLS 1 INDEX 166 167
Index
A Actions during Conflict See Conflict: Bonds 60 Actions Allocating Bonds 60 Advantage 75 See also Conflict: Assistance during Conflict 76 Actions: Create Advantage Assistance out of Conflict 70 Approach Scores 43 ADDING MAJOR LEVEL
Allocating Approach Scores 44 TO T N 70
SACRIFICING MINOR At Hero Creation 43 LEVEL 70 Increasing Approach Scores 81 Increasing Bonds 61 Skill Combinations 68 Major and minor levels 60 Assistance See Bonds Attack 74 C B Complexity 87
Conflict 73 Blood 45 Actions 74 Allocating modifiers 46 ASSIST 76 Increasing Blood 81 C R E AT E A DVA N TA G E 75 Recovering and rerolling 80 HARM OTHERS 74 Skills that damage Blood 74 See MOVE FAR 76 also Conflict: Actions: Harm S TA N D G R O U N D 74 INDEX
others USE SPELL OR
TECHNIQUE 76 168
Free movement 74 Recovering and rerolling 80
Initiative Category 77 Skills that damage Guts 74 See
Sacrificing Bonds 76 also Conflict: Actions: Harm others Consequence 71
H D Height (measurement for length Damage 54, 74 See also Conflict: and distance) 22 Actions: Harm others Items at Hero Creation 54 I Death 80 Initiative Category 77 Defense 54, 74 See also Conflict: Actions: Harm others L Items at Hero Creation 54
Difficulty Modifier 69 Long Rest 81
Doom 25
Doomsday Clock 32 M Movement during Conflict 74
E As an action 76
Experience Points See XP
O F Omen 30
Fallen heroes 80 Opportunity 71
G R Guts 45 Recovery See Rest
Allocating modifiers 46 REM 88 INDEX
Increasing Guts 81 Rest 81
Ritual (Spells & Techniques) 86
169
S Learning new instance or making
custom Spell 87 Short Rest 81 Replenishing Spells 86 Skill Checks 68 Short list at Hero Creation 58 Assistance See Bonds Stand ground 74 As a group 72
Consequence 71 T Difficulty Modifier 69 Techniques 57, 85 In Conflict Base vs enhanced 86 C R E AT E A DVA N TA G E 75 HARM OTHERS 74 Complexity 87
