Masterfinder

Masterfinder is a mash-up of Mutants & Masterminds, Pathfinder, and Masterbook/TORG, as can be seen from the name. It uses Pathfinder classes, skill, exp, advancement, and most other rules except it attempts to normalize BAB and hitpoints to allow characters of all levels to compete to an extent. It does this by reading most game measures through the Rank chart to determine the actual number added to the d20 roll. In general the system pushes numbers under 10 towards 10, and numbers (especially very large ones) over 10 down towards 10. Hitpoints now determine your damage save (DMS) which is compared to damage to determine injury. As you take injury you become more susceptible to further injury, and conditions can be inflicted to represent normal Pathfinder's status conditions.

Getting Started

The game is Pathfinder with a different expectation of level and what level means, a different damage system, and a modified resolution system. That's it.

Low & High End Rolls

  • When a roll of the d20 is low ended, roll 1d20 but treat 11-20 as 1-10; a 20 still counts as a natural 20 for all purposes; 11 just adds 1, it is not considered a natural 1
  • When a d20 roll is high ended, treat 1-10 as 11-20; a 10 just adds 20, it is not considered a natural 20; a natural 1 (a roll of a 1 on the die) adds 11 but still has all the effects of a natural 1.

Ranks & Measures

A measure is a real world value of quantity, such as distance, time, or speed. It can also be a game function with quantity such as to-hit total, hitpoints, or AC. The key to making the game playable across large level gaps is always adding the rank of a measure to the d20.

The listed measure is the maximum for that rank. So, a measure of 3 gets you to rank 5, while a measure of 4 gets you to rank 6. A measure of 11 or 12 is rank 11, while the measure of 13 is rank 12. Adding ranks acts like multiplication (+3 ranks is x2, +10 ranks is x10); subtracting ranks functions like dividing (-3 ranks is x1/2, -10 ranks is x1/10); and multiplying or dividing ranks acts like exponents (positive/negative respectively) (x2 ranks is squaring, 1/3 ranks gives the cube root).

Rank Measure Rank Measure
0 1 21 125
1 1.25 22 160
2 1.6 23 200
3 2 24 250
4 2.5 25 320
5 3.2 26 400
6 4 27 500
7 5 28 640
8 6.4 29 800
9 8 30 1,000
10 10 31 1,250
11 12.5 32 1,600
12 16 33 2,000
13 20 34 2,500
14 25 35 3,200
15 32 36 4,000
16 40 37 5,000
17 50 38 6,400
18 64 39 8,000
19 80 40 10,000
20 100 41 12,500

Situational,Rank, and Difficulty Modifiers

Certain abilities (class features, feats, etc) are added to the d20 roll as the case arises, rather than re-figuring the skill rank and are called rank modifiers as they directly add to the rank for making the d20 roll. Situational modifiers include modifiers from attack options, flanking, position, and many feats and abilities and are also added to the roll as the situation arises. Difficulty modifiers are standard Pathfinder DC modifiers for skills and saving throws, and are used to determine the base DC before the modified DC is determined.

Rank Modifier Limits

A character gets the benefit of their highest rank mod up to +5 for constant abilities or abilities usable more than 3/day; for very limited use abilities (max 3/day or costing limited resources), the RM can be up to +10. The bonuses from other rank modifiers are just added to the measure (which may or may not increase the rank) as normal. Any modifier that adds more than these values should not be considered straight rank modifiers as that would be too powerful, however, .

If a modifier has the potential to exceed +5 at ~lvl 20, consider using half the modifier as a RM (unchained Rogue debilitating strikes, etc).

As a general rule, if the modifier is already added into the check (say by Herolab) halve the modifier before applying it as a RM.

Class Abilities

Many classes have features and abilities that add to rolls based on increasing level. Most such modifiers are considered rank modifiers regardless of the type of bonus (sacred, profane, etc).

Complications

Choose at least two complications: motivation and one other. In play, you receive hero points/RP points when your complication comes into play and restricts or determines your actions.

The GM can also arbitrarily decide activities and story results but when doing so awards hero points; i.e, should the villain suddenly recover and make his escape to keep the plot on track, despite the fact that the heroes just beat him down fair-and-square, the GM awards a hero point to all involved.

Races

Classes

Character Advancement

Starting Level

A character may choose an NPC class for Youth and Adolescence (typically based on background). His first heroic class level is for at least his minimum starting age. If a character is willing to be the maximum starting age for his heroic class, he may choose an additional NPC class for Adult as well.

Experience Chart

Characters level by earning ranks, each costing 500 exp up to level 20 and 1000 exp beyond 20. Experience points are earned for completing adventure goals and overcoming challenges. They can also be earned in downtime. Players also earn RP & AP which, in addition to allowing draws from the hero chip pot, count 1:1 as exp.

Ranks

Character levels are grouped by Rank:

  • Novice - level 1-5
  • Seasoned - level 6-10
  • Veteran - 11-15
  • Heroic - 16-20
  • Legendary - 20+

Starting Level

Most adults are assumed to be 3rd level or higher. Children typically have NPC class levels defined by their upbringing as do adolescents. Characters who want to start as children or adolescents may choose a heroic class for that age level instead. Further levels must be NPC classes. It should be noted that a full party of NPC classed characters is typically 2 APL less.

Retraining NPC Classes

A character may retrain one level of the free NPC background class per Rank they achieve past Novice (so 1 level per 5 levels gained). The cost is half the cost of retraining all his class levels.

NPC Class Limits by Rank

The total of all NPC classes may only go to 10 (Seasoned). Beyond level 10 (seasoned) require heroic class levels.

Heroic Class Limits by Rank

  • All - Legendary

Class Features

BAB, Saves, Hitpoints, AC

Determine these values normally, then read them through the Rank Table. For defenses (Save DC's, AC, CMD) read them without the base 10 before adding them back to 10.

Iterative Attacks

Iterative attacks simply do not work as separate attacks under this system. A character adds +3, +5, or +6 (or more) (the measure of the rank of hits) to their DMG based on the number of iterative attacks that hit the same target when making a Full attack. Flurrying, gang-up, and other multiple attacks works in a similar fashion. Each critical hit counts as the number of hits of its multiple, rather than a single hit. Iterative attack penalties are: +0/-1/-3/-6

DEF

1/2 BAB as a dodge bonus to AC (but not to CMD)

Damage Save (DMS)

Read the Rank of target's HP-8

Cavalier

  • The challenge ability does not treat the damage bonus (cavalier level) as a RM bonus

Fighter

  • Fighter weapon training (to-hit) are RM bonuses, damage is not (and never should be) a RM

Inquisitor

  • Judgments (saves, DMG, to-hit, AC, etc) are RM bonuses
  • The Destruction Judgement is limited to +1 per 5 levels as a Rank modifier
  • Bane & Greater Bane can be treated as RM bonuses (Bane adds +2/+2; Greater Bane adds +3/+3)

Paladin

  • None of the bonuses from Smite are RM bonuses.

Skills

Maximum Skill Ranks

Skill DCs are modified by the Rank Chart and NPC's skills are also read through the Rank Chart. Many modifiers can be considered a RM to a skill check, but only use the best and halve anything with the potential to exceed +5, except for Skill Focus (+6).

Graded Results

When it is important to know how well an attempt succeeded or failed, use Graded Results to determine the degree of success/failure. You get one degree of success for making the roll, plus one more per full 5 points. You get one degree of failure for each 5 points or fraction you fail the roll (so 6+ is two degrees which is failure by 5 or more in the PF rules).

Check Result Degree
15+ +1 degree of success per 5
10-14 3 degrees of success
5-9 2 degrees of success
0-4 1 degree of success
-1 to -5 1 degree of failure
-6 to -10 2 degrees of failure (usually has negative repercussions)
-11 or worse +1 degree of failure per 5 (usually not tracked or used but here it is)

Untrained checks

Assuming the GM allows it (and he should, unless it is obviously not applicable), an untrained check is made using a low-ended d20 roll.

Skill Challenges

Per -5 a character accepts to skill check results in a +1 degree of success or reduction in time (full -> standard -> move -> swift -> free -> immediate) (as per Iron Heroes

Natural Rolls

On a d20, typically, a 1 or a 20 are considered natural rolls. In combat, a 20 threatens a critical hit (which does extra damage) and is handled in the Combat rules; while a 1 threatens a critical failure. For skill use, a 1 or a 20 are treated as rolls of -5 & +25, respectively.

For saving throws a 1 is an automatic failure while a 20 an automatic success (normal rules). In addition, any two degree failure can result in damaged items, as per the normal rules on damaging items (not just on a 1).

For DMS, which is a save, when rolling a 1, determine the result normally, but at least 1 condition track step and a D/O result is always inflicted; when rolling a 20, determine the result normally, and if it is worse than one condition track step and a D/O, inflict that instead.

For DMG checks, reverse the above DMS rules.

Team Checks

The party must succeed on at least half their checks to succeed. For NPC groups, roll 2d20 and take the better to represent the odds that some will roll well. NPC "groups" should be a minimum of 1/2 the party size and a max of party size, perhaps modified by minion level.

Advantage & Disadvantaged Rolls

When a character has advantage on a roll, 2d20 are rolled, taking the higher. When a disadvantaged character rolls, the lower of 2d20 is taken.

Skill Foci

When a skill covers more than one possible use of the skill using foci, a character can typically make an untrained roll (low d20) adding his modifiers to use a related untrained focus. Unrelated foci should get 1/2 or none of the rank (Performance (stringed) has little to do with Performance (Comedy), thjough an arguement could be made for stage presence/familiarity).

For each time a character selects the SAME EXACT focus, add +1 to the skill total. A character could, for instance, only take Craft (smithing) and effectively have half again the ranks to apply (a +2 RM), but no ranks to apply to other uses.

Skill List

Acrobatics

When jumping, add the d20 roll and all distance modifiers to the measure, then figure the Rank (if needed). Covers personal flight as well, through wings, jetpacks, magic, etc.

Appraise

This skill uses the 3.5 edition rules which lower the DC's and make the skill more varied. Also, to make the skill have some utility, it is used as the base value of re-selling loot: use double the result as the percentage of value paid (or use graded results as 5% each to a base of 20%).

Athletics

Includes riding animals; trick riding might fall under acrobatics, but should be limited by this skill.

Attunement

This is the Use Magic Device skill renamed. It allows the operation of any item based on operating principles the character does not understand/have the prerequisites for, such as computer hacking or prayer.

Crafting (INT)

Gain a focus at rank 1 plus additional focuses of rank/2. Some foci:

  • Armorcrafting (combines with a material focus)
  • Carving
  • Carpentry (wood)
  • Chemistry (alchemical items)
  • Cooking (food items)
  • Gemcutting
  • Inscription
  • Jeweler
  • Leatherworking (leather)
  • Metalworking (metal)
  • Pharmacy (medical & poisons)
  • Pottery (ceramic & clay)
  • Stonecutting (stone)
  • Tailoring (cloth)
  • Weaponcrafting (combines with a material focus)

Fly

Directly piloting vehicles such as directly controlled air- and space- borne vehicles, but not typically capital ships. Perhaps add Foci

Investigation

  • Canvassing
  • Decipher
  • IDENTIFY (VARIES)
  • RESEARCH (VARIES)
  • Search

Occultism

New name for Spellcraft; applies to psionics and psychic powers/spells as well as nano-tech, computer viruses, etc. Any understanding, in the moment, of practical application of knowledge. Limited by actual Knowledge skills, like Arcana, Engineering, etc.

Performance (CHA)

Gain a focus at rank 1 plus additional focuses of rank/2. Some example foci:

  • Singing
  • Dancing
  • Comedy
  • Woodwinds
  • Percussion
  • Keyboards
  • Stringed
  • Acting
  • Oratory
  • Literary
  • Music Composition
  • Visual Arts

Professional (WIS)

Gain a focus at rank 1 plus additional focuses of rank/2

Ride

Allows operation of directly controlled ground vehicles as well.

Feats

With the new system some feats have changed the way they have to operate, while others have been outmoded. Remember that you only get your highest applicable rank modifier.

  • Ability Focus
  • Accurate Attack - (Con 13+) perform All-out & Precise Attack options at -2/+2 (instead of -4/+2) (these options may be combined for a +4/-2/-2)
  • Acrobatic - RM of +2/+4 as Skill Focus
  • Advanced Ranger Trap**
  • Alertness
  • Animal Affinity
  • Arcane Shield - AC
  • Combat Expertise - perform Defensive & Cautious Attack options as -2/+2 (instead of -4/+2)(these options may be combined for a +4/-2/-2)
  • Devastating Strike - +1 DMG to any Vital Strike/Improved vital Strike/Greater Vital Strike
  • Furious Finish - maximize (high-ended DMG or low-ended DMS) an Improved/Greater or regular Vital Strike
  • Greater Vital Strike - standard action for +4 DMG
  • Improved Vital Strike - standard action for +3 DMG
  • Maximize Spell - DMG check is high-ended, DMS check is low-ended
  • Power Attack - perform Wild & Committed Attacks at -2/+2 rather than -4/+2 (these options may be combined for a +4/-2/-2). The total bonus is +1 (so +3 or +5) when using a 2 handed weapon, a 1 handed weapon 2 handed, or strong primary natural attack; and -1 (so +1 or +3) when using an offhand or secondary natural attack.
  • Skill Focus - rank modifier of +3 (+6 for 10 ranks)
  • Toughness - this is not a rank modifier, and simply adds to the measure of hitpoints
  • Two-Weapon Fighting - see chart
  • Vital Strike - standard action for +2 DMG
  • Weapon Focus - Rank modifier to-hit
  • Weapon Specialization & Greater - not a Rank modifier to DMG rolls

Equipment

Scroll and spellbook options

Weapons

Additional Rules

Character Types

A character is heroic, standard or a minion. Heroic characters are player characters or special GM characters with full access to Fate Chips. Standard characters use the normal damage system of DMS vs DMG and track steps and conditions. Minions are fodder characters meant to be scythed through. They have a limited amount of results of damage they will take before being removed from combat (where a result is a graded result of the DMG vs DMS roll on the damage chart), they cannot confirm criticals except in Dramatic Scenes, and non-minions can take 10 when attacking them (though any rolled hit doubles the critical range against them).

Combat

Combat Modifiers

Situational

Situational modifiers are added to the d20 roll, do not re-figure skill rank. Situational modifiers include modifiers from attack options (below), flanking, position, and many feats and abilities.

Rank Modifiers

A character gets the benefit of their highest rank modifier (up to +10). Additional rank modifiers are ignored or added to the measure (depending on the complexity desired).

Iterative Attacks

Iterative attacks do not work as separate attacks under this system. A character adds +3, +5, or +6 (or more) to their DMG based on the number of iterative attacks that hit the same target when making a Full attack. Flurrying and other multiple attacks works in a similar fashion.

Creatures with multiple different attacks, or attacks that do different damage, get to roll them separately, but must use the same rules for iterative attacks when using a given attack with multiple uses (such as claw x2 or tentacle x6) on the same target.

DR operates against the base single attack DMG before modifying based on multiple attacks (so a DR that can block any one attack, will stop them all when applied iteratively)

Iterative attacks are 0/-1/-3/-6 from highest figured Rank, do not figure each iterative attack's attack rank.

Using Two Weapons

Method Main Hand Penalty Offhand Penalty
2 weapons -5 -3
2 weapons, one light -4 -2
Two-Weapon Fighting Feat -2 -2
Two-Weapon Fighting Feat, one light -1 -1
Imp. Two-Weapon Fighting Feat -2 -2/-3
Imp. Two-Weapon Fighting Feat, one light -1 -1/-2
Greater Two-Weapon Fighting Feat -2 -2/-3/-5
Greater Two-Weapon Fighting Feat, one light -1 -1/-2/-4

Actions in Combat

Attack

In addition to choosing to Fight Defensively (called Defensive Attack now), a combatant may use any (or all) the following options (which add directly to the vales, do not re-figure):

  • All-out Attack: +2 hit/-4 AC
  • Cautious Attack: +2 AC/-4 DMG
  • Committed Attack: +2 DMG/-4 AC
  • Defensive Attack: +2 AC/-4 hit
  • Precise Attack: +2 hit/-4 DMG
  • Wild Attack: +2 DMG/-4 hit

The feats Combat Expertise, Power Attack, Accurate Attack, and other feats which behave like these feats modify these maneuvers to +2/-2 or +4/-2/-2 if both options are chosen.

When using Committed and/or Wild Attack, the Power Attack feat modifies the total DMG bonus +1 if using a 2 handed weapon, a 1 handed weapon 2 handed, or a strong natural attack; and by -1 if using a light weapon, an offhand weapon, or a secondary natural attack.

When using Cautious and/or Defensive Attack, having 3 or more skill ranks in Acrobatics gives a +1 to the total AC bonus.

Coup-de-grace/Attacking Helpless Characters

A strike against a helpless character may be made as a routine check. If a normal attack is made, treat it as a crit and the DMS is made as a low roll (or DMG Check as a high roll).

Range Increments

Figure the rank of the measure of the listed range increment (should be listed with weapons). When shooting at a target, figure the rank of the range, subtract the weapon's rank and double the remainder, this equals the to-hit penalty. Figure thrown weapons max at +7 and projectile weapons max at +10. For weapons (firearms mostly) that have effects out to 5 increments, add +7.

Critical Hits

When a critical hit is confirmed add the weapon's critical multiple as additional successful hits to the iterative attack value (cards can increase crit multiples). So a confirmed critical with a single hit of a battle axe (x3) would result in the equivalent of 4 successful attacks against the target which is a +6 (the Rank of 4) to the DMG. The same single confirmed critical with a longsword (x2) results in the equivalent of 3 successful attacks whic is a +5 (the Rank of 3) to the DMG. Multiple confirmed criticals and multiple hits from iterative attacks are lumped together against a given target to determine the DMG bonus.

When overcoming DR, add the Rank of the critical multiplier to the base DMG

Combat Maneuvers

Injury and Death

DMG Check

  • Players make DMG Checks when they hit (DMG + 1d20 vs 6 + DMS).
  • The maximum possible amount of rolled damage plus modifiers is read as a measure to determine a DMG Rank. This should be determined in advance for all possible combinations (crits, power attacks, sneak attack, elemental damage, etc).
  • Rolling a 20 on a damage check always results in a step on the condition track
Degree of Success Roll DMG Check Result
5 degrees of success 20 or better -1 DMS step & dead
4 degrees of success 15 or better -1 DMS step & dying/KO
3 degrees of success 10 or better -1 DMS step & wounded/staggered
2 degrees of success 5 or better -1 DMS step & disoriented
1 degree of success 0 or better -1 DMS step
1 degree of failure or worse -1 or lower no effect

Damage Results

  • DMS steps - this causes a reduction in the character's DMS, increasing the chance and severity of future damage. Note that the DMS penalty from the step track is effectively subtracted from the result first, though a minimum of one step is always inflicted
  • Disoriented (D/O) - the character is momentarily off-balance/in pain/dazed (1 round) and can only take a single standard action as for staggered
  • Staggered - the character can only take a single standard action (plus swift, immediate, and free actions); if already wounded/staggered, the character is KO'd
  • Wounded - as staggered, but taking any standard or strenuous action causes the character to take a DMG check of +0 (remember to add in the condition penalty); if already wounded, the character is dying; if already dying, the character is dead
  • KO - a non-lethal result; also, a wounded/staggered character who takes another disabled result from non-lethal damage is also KO'd
  • Dying - a lethal damage result; also, a wounded/staggered character who takes another wounded result from lethal damage is rendered dying
  • Dead - a lethal damage result; also, a KO'd/dying character is killed by taking another wounded or worse result from lethal damage

The Condition Track

The DMS penalty makes it more and more likely to suffer worse results on the damage table.

Recovery (out of Combat)

Natural healing occurs after a long rest. Roll unmodified DMS vs DC 2+hit dice, gain a RM of CON, regaining 1 condition or step per DoS, worst to least.

Magic Healing

Spells generate a Healing Rank (HR) based on the max HP it can heal. This is rolled vs a DC 15 and each DoS reduces a condition or DMS penalty by 1, starting worst to least.

Second Wind (in Combat)

By spending a Full Round action, that provokes, a character may make a Determination check/FOR save against DC 15. The character may remove one condition step or damage step plus another for each DoS. Damage must be healed before condition steps.

Damage Reduction (DR) & Energy Resistance

DR (and Energy Resistance) are converted to a DR rank and compared to the DMG rank of successful attacks which results in the following:

  • DMG < DR: no TOU/DMG check is made, all damage is stopped, no TOU save is made (so no automatic failure applies)
  • DMG = DR: DMG 0, TOU save is made (so even with a minor hit, automatic failure can occur)
  • DMG = DR +1 or more: varying DMG based on DR vs DMG, TOU save is made
  • DMG = +8 or more: this always results in DR having no effect on the incoming damage
DR DR Rank DMG Rank
< DR = DR +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 or more
1 2 < 1 0 1 2 4 5 6 7 full DMG
2 3 < 3 0 0 1 3 5 7 8 9 full DMG
3 5 < 5 0 0 3 6 7 9 10 full DMG
4 6 < 6 0 0 4 6 8 10 11 12 full DMG
5 7 < 7 0 2 5 7 9 11 12 13 full DMG
6 8 < 8 0 3 6 9 10 12 13 full DMG
7-8 9 < 9 0 3 7 9 11 13 14 15 full DMG
9-10 10 < 10 0 4 8 10 12 14 15 16 full DMG
11-12 11 < 11 0 6 9 12 13 15 16 full DMG
13-16 12 < 12 0 6 10 12 14 16 17 18 full DMG
17-20 13 < 13 0 7 11 13 15 17 18 19 full DMG
21-25 14 < 14 0 9 12 14 16 18 19 20 full DMG
26-32 15 < 15 0 9 13 15 17 19 20 full DMG
33-40 16 < 16 0 10 14 16 18 20 21 22 Full
41-50 17 < 17 0 12 15 17 19 21 22 23 Full
51-64 18 < 18 0 12 16 18 20 22 23 full DMG
65-80 19 < 19 0 13 17 19 21 23 24 25 full DMG
81-100 20 < 20 0 14 18 20 22 24 25 26 full DMG
no DMG roll New DMG

Temporary Hit Points

Temporary hit points (THP) function as ablative DR. DMG is applied after DR/ER is taken into account. On any DMG check equal to or over THP, the THP are completely removed. Otherwise consult the following table for the new value.

THP THP Rank DMG Rank
>=THP -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 or more
1 2 removed 2 2 x x x x x x x
2 3 removed 2 2 3 x x x x x x
3 5 removed 2 2 3 3 5 x x x x
4 6 removed 2 2 3 4 5 5 x x x
5 7 removed 2 3 5 5 6 6 6 x x
6 8 removed 2 3 5 6 6 7 7 8 x
7-8 9 removed 3 5 6 8 8 8 8 9 9
9-10 10 removed 3 6 7 8 9 9 9 10 10
11-12 11 removed 3 6 8 9 9 10 10 10 11
13-16 12 removed 6 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 12
17-20 13 removed 6 9 10 11 12 12 12 13 13
21-25 14 removed 7 10 12 12 13 13 13 14 14
26-32 15 removed 9 11 12 13 14 14 15 15 15
33-40 16 removed 9 12 13 14 15 15 15 16 16
41-50 17 removed 10 13 14 15 16 16 16 17 17
51-64 18 removed 12 14 15 16 17 17 18 18 18
65-80 19 removed 12 15 16 17 18 18 18 19 19
81-100 20 removed 13 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 20
THP removed New THP Rank

DMG Modifiers and DR

  • Iterative Attacks - the DMG bonus for multiple attacks does not increase base DMG for DR penetration (if any one attack cannot penetrate, none can), but critical and precision damage can.
  • Power Attack - this does increase effective DMG
  • Vital Strike (and all others) - these do increase effective DMG
  • Attack Options (cautious, committed, precise, or wild attack) - do modify DMG for DR penetration

Magic

Saving Throws

When a save allowing half (or less) damage is made, reduce DMG by -3.

Overcasting

A spellcaster may spend a swift action when casting a spell to overpower it making a Spellcraft roll of DC 15+spell level+min caster level for that spell level for their class. Doing so results in either a +2 caster level or +2 DC to the save.

Spell Attack

A caster may roll DC12+opponent's save using ability modifier+spell level instead of allowing the target to save. 1 is a failure, 20 automatic.

Spells

Prestige Classes

Gamemastering

Environmental Hazards

Falling

For falling DMG, read the number of feet fallen as a DMG rank (to a max of 27) and add a modifier for size (Fine -24, Diminutive -12, Tiny -6, Small -3, Medium +0, Large +3, Huge +6, Gargantuan +12, Colossal +24) and drag (minimum drag +2 (diving, cannonballing, etc), uncontrolled fall +0, controlled fall -2).

Extra Effort

Using extra effort is a free action usable once per turn. Gain one of the following benefits:

  • Extra standard action
  • +2 bonus (or shift existing +2 bonus to +5; or shift a -5 to -2; or shift -2 to 0)
  • Add +2 manifester/caster levels
  • Power Stunt - gain and use an Alternate Effect until the end of the scene or duration expires
  • Resistance - extra saving throw against an ongoing effect
  • Retry - certain powers/skills require extra effort to retry (especially after a certain degree of failure)
  • Speed - double your Move until the start of next turn
  • +2 Strength

Cost of Extra Effort

The turn after using extra effort, the hero is fatigued. Using extra effort again causes exhaustion. Using it again causes KO'd.

Fate Chips

Fate chips are spent to perform extraordinary feats. Each is a draw of a poker chip from the (fate) pot of (5:3:1) 50 white, 30 red, 10 blue, 1 arcane and 9 black. Players receive draws from the pot when they accrue 5 points, and are limited to how many chips they can hold during play. A player who earns a draw they cannot take, instead places it in the fate pool. After a session, all chips are returned to the pot and a new (full) draw is made at the start of play next session.

Fate Pool

The GM does not draw chips for general use, instead he places tokens into a fate pool 1:1 as the cost of spending chips. These chips can be spent by the GM/players to help the group as a whole and to replenish individual player's draws. Players below their limit may take a chip from the pool only when a chip is placed in the pool and when there are at least enough chips in the pool that every player present could draw one. The pool carries over from session to session. The GM may only take chips from the pool with a majority consent and only to benefit the party (such as to roll for an NPC, edit a scene, give a hint, or add a campaign quality)

Fate Chip Uses

Each color represents a level in order of rarity, white, red, blue, and arcane. Only one chip can be spent on any one action, but the level of effect is based on the chip color. A fate chip can be used for any of the following:

Act Out of Turn
Shift your initiative to immediately before the acting character and take the listed action, losing your normal actions
White - swift
Red - move
Blue - standard
Arcane - full

Edit scene
The level of chip determines maximum amount and effect of the editing (serendipity effects)

  • White - +/-2 to a check or an item/event that would allow a normally disallowed check at -5
  • Red - +/-5 to a check or an item/event that would allow a normally disallowed check at -2
  • Blue - stop a check or action, or an item/event allowing a normally disallowed check
  • Arcane - improbable events; an event/item allowing a normally disallowed check at +2

Heroic Feat
White - gain the benefits of a feat for which you normally qualify
Red - gain the benefits of a feat for which you are missing only one prerequisite feat or ability score
Blue -gain the benefits of a feat for which you are missing up to two prerequisite feats or ability score
Arcane - gain the benefits of any feat which is not limited by class or race

Improve Roll

  • White -reroll any check just made as a High-ended roll, taking the better of the two rolls
  • Red - as white +2
  • Blue - as white +5
  • Arcane - natural 20

Inspiration
Receive a hint from the GM, this is usually paid from the pool so does not have a color requirement

Instant Counter
attempt to counter an effect as a reaction (roll defense (as high-ended), counterspell, etc)

  • White -
  • Red -
  • Blue -
  • Arcane -

Recall
Regain use of an ability with daily limitations. A "use" is considered the equivalent of what a feat would grant or a single use if no feat applies. For spells and other leveled abilities, the color determines the maximum rank of the spell (1) regained.

  • White - half a use (always at least 1); novice rank spells (level 1-5 casters (so, 1st to 3rd level spells for a wizard))
  • Red - a full use; seasoned rank spells (level 6-10 casters (4th & 5th level wizard spells))
  • Blue - 1.5 uses (at least 2); veteran rank spells (level 11-15 casters (6th & 7th level wizard spells))
  • Arcane - double uses (at least 2); heroic rank spells (level 16+ casters (8th level and up spells))

Recover
The character recovers a step on the condition track or shifts a condition one step better at some point after taking the damage.

  • White - as a move action
  • Red - as a swift action
  • Blue - as a free action
  • Arcane - as an immediate action

Arcane Chips

Players earn arcane chips for completing adventures/objectives of high menace. An arcane chip has a value of 4 and can be used to re-roll random results on a chart and other effects not normally allowed (such as concealment miss chance). Once earned, the chip remains in the pot for that campaign.

Black Chips

Black chips are placed into the pot based on the Menace level of the adventure. Black chips function against the player, allowing the GM to inflict a condition, worsen results by one degree, or purchase a temporary campaign quality. Black chips are spent by the player as normal, but the GM decides the effect. Until spent the black chip counts against the player's chip limit.

Initiative Deck

  • Each round of combat draw a card from a normal poker deck with the jokers.
  • Players and their allies are black, enemies are red.
  • Each standard or heroic character has a bonus card equal to their base initiative modifier, dropping minus signs, with zero being ten, and using only the ones digit.
  • When a character's bonus card in their color comes up they gain inspiration (bonus second wind, chip draw, and flurry)
  • When a King card is drawn, the side whose color it is receives a flurry
  • When a Queen card is drawn, the side whose color it is up
  • When a Jack card is drawn, the side whose color it is receives a second wind
  • When a joker is drawn, the side whose color it is receives inspiration and the deck is reshuffled for the following round

Optional Rule Sets

  • Kingdom Building - this ties in with the Dominion and From the Shadow of Karavokos campaigns but has broad uses elsewhere
  • Mass Combat - ties in with the above rules
  • Downtime - not sure how often these will actually be used, but they are good rules
  • Investments - these tie into the Downtime rules
  • Reputation - I am unsure of the usefulness of these rules as several of the Adventure Paths have their own systems for prestige/infamy/etc, but the basic structure seems useful
  • Retraining - solid rules and highly useful
  • Contacts - dubious rule-set but has some utility
  • Relationships - again, dubious but some utility

RP & Appreciation Points

Each award of 5 points also earns a draw from the pot of hero chips. Each also counts as 1 exp.

Cost of Living

May be paid with Capital.

Standard of Living

Bonus listed are used on appropriate skills checks and may be spilt up as desired and combined with other Capital spent (max +5). Pets list non-familiar or animal companions (such as mounts or pets) the character can take care of (1 large=2 medium, etc)

Lifestyle daily tenday monthly Notes
Wretched "free" exhausted; check disease per tenday; 1 piece of gear broken per tenday (can be destroyed); 1 Small common pet only (fatigued)
Squalid 1sp 1gp 3gp fatigued; check disease monthly; 1 piece of gear broken per month (can be destroyed); 1 Medium common pet only (fatigued)
Poor 2sp 2gp 6gp 50% 1 piece of gear is broken per month (cannot be destroyed); 1 Large common pet (fatigued)
Modest 1gp 10gp 30gp 1 Large common pet; +1/month
Comfortable 2gp 20gp 60gp 2 Large common, or 1 Medium exotic pet; +1/tenday
Wealthy 4gp 40gp 120gp 1 Large exotic; +2/tenday
Aristocratic 10gp 100gp 300gp 1 Huge exotic; +5/tenday

Maintenance

In addition, characters pay 10% of the value of all their gear, weapons, and armor monthly (including magic). If unable to pay, non-consumable equipment must be discarded/sold/broken to cover the costs. Discarded/destroyed gear removes it from the calculations and earns "cash value" towards other costs. Sold gear earns real cash which can then be used to cover costs (but the item still counts in those costs). Broken gear earns "cash value" towards paying debts as for sold, but gains the broken condition.

Prizes

Items classified as prizes are exempt from maintenance. A character can claim one prize per character level.

Environment

Creating NPCs

Magic Items

Weapon Qualities

Vorpral - does not automatically sever heads. Change to: auto confirm crits + double the critical multiplier

Bestiary

Universal Monster Rules

Regeneration - recover 1 step then 1 condition per time period given below

  • Regeneration 1 (1/every 10 rounds [10])
  • Regeneration 2 (1/every 5 rounds [5, 10])
  • Regeneration 3 (3/every 10 rounds [3, 7, 10])
  • Regeneration 4 (4/every 10 rounds [2, 5, 8, 10])
  • Regeneration 5 (1/every other round [2, 4, 6, 8, 10])
  • Regeneration 6 (6/every 10 rounds [2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
  • Regeneration 7 (7/every 10 rounds [2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10])
  • Regeneration 8 (8/every 10 rounds [2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10])
  • Regeneration 9 (9/every 10 rounds [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10])
  • Regeneration 10 (1/every round)

Rend - treat as a separate attack

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License