Core Rule Changes

[Jaster]

Ramblings of the Mad Man - Comments from the Writer

Numbers and Exacting Math
This game uses very high amounts of numbers and math. Don't use all of them every time without fault. You'll hate the game and yourself. Many of the formula and timing events are set if they are needed. Stamina, P.P.E and I.S.P regeneration rates defined as per Second are there so they can be applied in the most exact way possible in relation to the rules IF NEEDED. GMs and players should not be counting the seconds between fights to determine their exact Stamina rates, and a bit of rounding will not break the game, and rounding to a near 10 or 5 shouldn't be seen as a horrific event. Every player group should find a collective comfort level with the numbers and how to apply them.

The Basics - Terms and Definitions

Ranks and Level
The words Rank and Level appear often in this game, both are an indicator of experience and skill with a particular thing, weather their class, racial abilities, or skills. Every Rank or Level of an ability or skill increases it's effectiveness by the abilities indicated amount (i.e Skills gain +5% per Rank, 1 Level of a Class grants a Focus Point and any abilities and bonuses listed for that class). Some things require several ranks or Levels before improvement is gained, displayed as +1 per 5 Levels, or Gains +1 to Strike/5 Levels, both mean it gains +1 every 5th level (so levels 5, 10, 15, 20, etc). Things without a listed number of levels are assumed to advance every level. Always ignore level 1 when increasing, it is already factored into the listed starting amount. For example, a spell that gives +10 to P.S (+1 to P.S/1 Level), will give 10 P.S at level 1, 11 at Level 2, and so on. The two words do indicate different things, when the word "Level" is used, the ability has a cap, can cannot progress past Level 15 without something to allow it (sometimes a class will increase the allowed level for a WP, also, 'True Masters' of skill exist in the game, and with GM discretion, can be found and teach the characters how to break the cap for anything to an extent, such as a master warrior teaching a student, increasing Warrior Level Cap by +4). While Ranks mean the ability has no innate cut off point, and may be increased as far as the character desires. Keep in mind however, the experience cost to increase both Levels and ranks increases as it progresses, making it harder to increase past a point.

Turn Order and Ticks
Combat follows the Melee Grid (See Melee Grid, Page XXX), their actions spread across 15 Second Seconds known as a Round. At the start of Every Round, Resolve Initiative and Entering Combat conditions before the first turn begins. Every Second is considered 1 Second of time (thus every Round is 15 Seconds). At the Start of every Second, resolve any timing issues and effect Ticks. Ticks is a term for periodic damage, such as Wounds, which 'tick' every 3 Seconds (so on Seconds 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15, all characters suffer the effects of Wounds).

Buffs and Debuffs
All Characters should have a section of their character sheet devoted to recording and tracking their current buffs and debuffs. All buffs and debuffs have a name, and effects with the same name (even if they have differing abilities) cannot stack onto each other, if it is a debuff, the caster of the effect chooses which is replaced, if it is a buff, the target gets to choose. Buffs are always considered to be in control of the target, while debuffs are under the control of the Caster, Debuffs caused by the game are not controlled by anyone (Well, they are, but they're controlled by Tabo and good luck trying to get him to dispel them!). Characters may spend a Free Action during their turn to remove any Effect they control. Buffs and Debuffs are checked during application, and at the start of every Second for triggering effects.

Costs and Payment
Any ability which lists something as a Cost must be payed by the using Character. If the character cannot pay the cost in full, reduce all amounts possible, and then the ability has no effect, known as a Fizzle or Fizzling (Creative GMs may allow partial effects to occur). Abilities with a P.P.E Cost of 10, for example, the player must have 10 P.P.E available to them to use the ability. Similarly, a Character which must Pay 10 S.D.C for an ability must be able to reduce their Current S.D.C by 10 (if S.D.C is noted, not S.D.C/H.P, then ONLY S.D.C could be used for the payment). Costs cannot be reduced by abilities that do not specifically state them as a cost, and Costs are not considered Damage or Restoration. For Example, an ability that says "Pay 10 S.D.C and 5 Stamina" is not effected by abilities that would reduce Damage (Paying S.D.C isn't Damage), and an ability that would reduce Stamina reductions would be ignored when paying 5 Stamina. Only abilities which specifically state it reduces a Cost are applied.

Threshold Rule
Numbers and rolls cannot cross the 0 Threshold on any check or roll, regardless of offsetting bonuses or penalties. If an attack that deals 3D6 -10 Damage rolls a 7, it still deals 0 Damage (not -3). Similarly, an ability that makes a Character lose 1D4 - 2 Morale cannot gain Morale from the ability. Any ability which states it Ignores Threshold ignores this rule.

Negative Damage, Healing and Restoration
Restoration is considered Negative Damage values and anything that deals "Negative" damage some how instead adds the 'damage' to the targets health. Restoration and Restore are terms used to indicate that any additions made may not go beyond a stated Max. For example, a character with a Base of 100 S.D.C suffers 25 Damage (Thus putting them to 75 S.D.C), later has 50 S.D.C Restored from a spell. They then revert to 100 S.D.C, their Max since they cannot be Restored pasted a Maximum. However, if the ability would cause them to Gain 50 S.D.C, they would be placed to 125 S.D.C (They could still have their missing 25 Restored to them and put to 150). Healing that is turned Positive some how can deal damage, as long as it can bypass the Threshold Rule (see above).

Actions and Flow
Combat (and any event which requires exact timing) runs off the Melee Grid (See Turn Order and Ticks) based on the characters number of Actions. Actions is treated as a currency (i.e some abilities require them to "Pay 1 Action" showing how many of their turns must be sacrificed to preform an action. Actions are only completed after ALL of the spent actions have passed, at the end of the turn. If the character disrupts this by making any other payments that require actions, they must first abandon their initial action (lost actions are lost). However, abilities that are listed as a Free Action may be preformed without spending their turn or disrupting other actions.

Special Abilities and Grey Space
As should go without statement, all abilities given to a class, race, magic item or other randomness that counters the rules is correct on that class, race, etc. Special abilities are of course intended to provide exceptions to the rules and modifications to them. Any unclear statements to a player group are left for their GM and ruling body to choose the best alternative when no source can be found to solve the problem (weather a perceived balance problem or poor clarity of function), in addition the original writer will do his best to provide rules support (Questions and comments can be sent to [e-mail])


Core Statistics

Attributes
All characters will have a listing for the 8 Core Attributes, Mental Intelligence, Mental Endurance, Mental Affinity, Physical Strength, Physical Endurance, Physical Prowess, Physical Movement, and Physical Beauty. Any time a characters attribute changes, any bonuses that attribute offers are instantly changed to match their new attribute. Characters without an attribute cannot interact with that attribute whatsoever. Meaning a Character without a Physical Beauty cannot be seen as Ugly or Attractive, no one is able to form an opinion for or against, generally for beings without a defined shape, or without a visible form entirely. Characters without a Physical Endurance score cannot be affected by Poison, Magic, have no stamina, H.P or similar. Beings without these attributes are generally limited to pseudo-magical beings, constructs and animated beings.

Health
Health is split into two types, S.D.C and H.P (Short for Structural Damage Capacity and Hit Points). Objects and non-living things or characters do not have H.P. When a character suffers damage, first deduct the damage from S.D.C, and then from H.P. When H.P is reduced to 0, the character enters a Coma and is unable to preform any actions, move, use skills or powers and is completely disabled. H.P may cross the Threshold and become a negative Value. Once reduced to a Negative equal or below the characters Base H.P, the Character is dead and cannot be healed. All Buffs and Debuffs remain active on a Coma Character, and all of their controlled effects remain active. Buffs and Debuffs are Dispelled when a Character dies, and all Controlled Effects are Removed.
All Races have a listed Natural Healing ability, indicating how much S.D.C or H.P they restore while resting. Races.s without this ability cannot restore health through rest.

Wounds
Many attacks can cause Wounds, and all characters should have a spot on their sheet to record their current total. Wounds deal 1 Physical Damage every 3 Seconds. Do not count duration ticks when the wound is applied, all wounds are checked at the same interval for all characters.

Stamina
Characters have a Stamina total equal to their P.E x 2. Stamina can be spent for special abilities given from any source which lists them as a cost. Characters may spend 1 Action and X Stamina, up to 5, to gain "Closing Wounds", a Physical Buff Effect, which lasts for 3 Seconds, reducing All Combat Rolls by 100% and removing X Wounds every Second before Wound Damage is dealt. Characters pay Spend 1 Action and X Stamina, up to 5, to gain "Power Draw", a Magic Buff Effect, which lasts for 3 Seconds, reducing All Combat Rolls by 100% and restores X P.P.E every Second. When Reduced to 50% or less of their Stamina total, the Character gains "Exhaustion", a Physical Debuff Effect which lasts until their Stamina is restored above 50%, reducing all Combat Bonuses by 25% and all Skills by 10%. When reduced to 25% or Less of Stamina, the Character gains "Fatigued", a Non-Dispellable Physical Debuff Effect, which lasts until their Stamina is Restored above 25%, reducing all Combat Bonuses by an extra 25% and All Skills by 15%. Characters restore 1D4 Stamina every 5 Seconds of Rest, 1 Stamina every 4 Rounds of Light Work (i.e walking an easy pace), and none for anything greater then that. GM's may decree characters being an event with less then Max Stamina based on events prior to combat / events (I.e character has been traveling the wilderness and is ambushed, the GM feels that since that the character has been struggling with walking through a forest, the character starts the fight with -10 Stamina).

Morale
Morale is the characters current reserve of Willpower and gumption, and the total is equal to M.E x 2. The Morale Stat may drop below 0. When Morale is above 0, Morale can be spent at any time before making a roll to gain +2 to any Combat Roll or Save for 1 Roll, or subtract -5% from the Base Roll of a Skill Check. When Morale is above 0, Morale can be spent at any time after making a roll, and being informed of Degree of Failure or Success to gain +1 to any Combat Roll or Save for 1 Roll, or subtract -2% from the Base Roll of a Skill Check.

If Morale is below 10% of the Characters Base, the Character gains "Depression", a Mental Debuff Effect which lasts until Morale is restored, gaining -5% to All Combat Rolls and Saves, -10% to All Skills for every 1 Morale under the Marker. If Morale is below 50% of the Characters Base, the Character gains an additional -5% to Save vs Insanity for every 1 Morale under the Marker. Characters may spend 1 Morale to restore 5% of their I.S.P Total as a Free Action.

Eldritch Energy
All characters begin the game with a Eldritch Energy (or E.E) amount, as listed with their Race. E.E is used to cast spells and some special abilities, but E.E does nothing on it's own, it is only a pool used for other abilities.

Sentient Energy
Some Characters have an Inner Sentient Energy (or S.E). These are used to pay for some powers, but by themselves, have no use.

Deific Energy
Some characters have Deific Energy (or D.E), which are used to pay for some special abilities, but have no innate worth.

Social Standing
Social Standing represents the characters general liking and influence within a particular area or group. Due to it's nature, this is kept very free form; the character may have Standing in Caer Itomas, but not in Shakanesa, or they could have standing with the Church of Light, or the Jassinaries, or the Kighfallen Military, just a particular band of thieves. Any group or location the character becomes known and liked in should have it's own Social Standing ranking. This level of standing begins at 0 for an Unknown or Neutrally liked person (No reason to stick their neck out, but no reason to make things harder for them), and Social Standing may become Negative from reductions (i.e hated by that group or location), and it has no inherent max. Characters should generally start with 50% of their MA and 25% of their PB for their Social Standing when inducted welcomed into a new group or area (this is again, at GM discretion, since some groups won't care, and some may be more cautious to outsiders, or some may be more welcoming and relaxed and willing to help). By itself, Social Standing does little, if anything, though GMs should use it as a gauge for how much the people generally like the person, and how well known they are (which can be good or bad, being high profile can lead to jealousy, usurpers of that position and outside enemies are more likely to target the high ranking and well loved people of a group). However, Social Standing acts like a form of currency and can be spent for favors from the group or area (Of course a specific group or person will need to 'loan' or 'gift' the items and thus, have it accessible to them, though this does not necessarily have to be RPed out, it is suggested players be made to be). Some example are;

Characters may spend 1 Social Standing to take up to a 100 Gold Loan (this is a loan, and expected to be returned at some point, failure to do so would result in three times standing loss, or worse, such as collection agents).
Characters may spend 1 Social Standing to gain 10 Gold (This is a gift, not expected to be repaid).
Characters may spend 1 Social Standing to increase 5% Public Speaking or Streetwise for 1 Check.
Characters may spend 10 Social Standing to gain an assistant (generally a low level character, weather a squire, street thug, etc, they are Level 1 with poor skills), every level the player wishes to add to the assistant, they must increase the cost by 100%. The assistant will remain for 2 Days, +1 Day per 25% Social Standing spent.

Of course, these are mostly examples for jumping off points, the use of Social Standing, and it's importance is up to the group as a whole, along with what can be gotten for it at any given time depending on the situation (of course, it's useless in the middle of no where, characters might not be able to call in money favors during hard financial times of the area, but may still get assistance in other-ways). Characters should also gain Social Standing over time, whenever they provide useful acts to the group or area. Successful mercenary jobs should provide around 1D4+1 for low key, 1D8+2 for valued jobs, +100% if they did them for free, helping a farmer raise his barn might garner 1-2 locally, while with a guild, bringing fame and notoriety, as well as time served to the guild (paying dues, etc) will grow it slowly. Formal and notable rank does not come with Social Standing innately, even leaders need to earn the trust of their followers and superiors before they can call in willing favors (though leaders can still threaten their subordinates of course), but the more high profile jobs do come with a modifier to Social Standing changes (simple things cause more standing, but so do mistakes), with a modifier based on their poison (minor land owning Lords may have a 25% change, House Heads may have a 100%, Emperors and Kings might have 500%). Keep in mind that Social Standing is largely reflective of Alignments, Good Aligned groups are more likely to look favorably on good acts and look down on crimes (i.e caught being bad will drop Social Standing, too far down and people will turn their nose on the character), Selfish Characters look better upon acts that help that character more specifically, and evil characters tend to enjoy acts which cause suffering, advance their plans or show great willpower / determination. Also bear in mind underground groups are likely to have an inverse relationship with say, the local militia, as one likes you, the other will dislike the character (if their actions are known of course), or helping the local guard will sour the characters relationship with the thief guilds of the town, helping one wizards guild may make a rival guild refuse to help the character (unless they switch payrolls and bring information about their rivals of course!).

While it has no max levels, Social Standing has a 'gauge', to give GMs and Players a logical jumping point of reference. Also, some tasks should develop to become "below" a person (i.e someone repeatedly doing the same task to help an area will fade into the background and that task simply be expected after a while, in effect, some less notable Social Standing actions should count for less or nothing after a while, for example, someone sings at a bar every night to generate Social Standing, after 2-3 weeks of singing every night, it stops being an unusual pleasure and just an expectation, GMs may even want to apply a negative to Social Standing for nights they miss).

-1,000 Social Standing: Kin killers and mass murderers, people you don't want to be around if you're not of like mind.
-200 Social Standing: Witch, necromancer and all sorts of black art practitioners are thrown into this lot, often even by criminal elements.
-100 Social Standing: A small crime boss or witch practitioner, someone not to be trusted and turned to the church if possible (Suspected Witches and necromancers are around here).
-50 Social Standing: In polite communities, someone who is a clear criminal, pick pocket, mugger or the like, in underworlds, a snitch (Most known Summoners are labeled this).
-25 Social Standing: Someone you'd expect to trade you up for a better reward if it came along, watch your coin purse around this one.
-10 Social Standing: An untrustworthy person, unreliable at best, generally a weirdo or foreigner.
10 Social Standing: Somewhat known, more of a "Yeah, he seems like a good guy."
25 Social Standing: Known in the area by at least some people (either 1-2 people of note, or a lot of villagers) as a useful and helpful person.
50 Social Standing: Known well in the area as a go to guy and problem solver, probably known by key individuals in a group.
100 Social Standing: Well known and liked, and able to find help whenever it's needed locally.
200 Social Standing: Very well known and liked, able to find free houses to stay in, rarely pays for meals or drinks and is known by all.
1,000 Social Standing: How don't you know this guy? Living in a cave are you?

Melee Timing
When combat begins, all combatants roll for Initiative. Initiative is found by each person finding <Initiative Bonus Total + 1D20 = Initiative Total>. All members then take actions in that order. If two or more members tie, these re-check to decide their placement amongst each other. Once turn order is established, combat moves on a grid based on each combatants melee Actions. Time progression in combat is fractured in two ways; The first is Melee Rounds, which is a 15 Second segment of time. At the end of every melee round (the declared end of the 15th Second of the round), all combatants lose their initiative placement, regain all spent actions. At the beginning of every Melee Round, all combatants check for Initiative as described above. These Rounds are split into 15 separate Seconds (Second 1 to Second 15), each being 1 Second in time. A Melee Cycle is the duration from the first person of the Second starts their turn, until the last person of the Second ends theirs. At the end of every Second, the game applies all in effect Damage over Time effects, checks all spell durations, and Exhaustion and other state based effects.

Below is the segments a person may act in based on their number of Actions. They may not alter these positions. Those with Actions in excess of 15 will take two actions on the remaining values (i.e those with 17 Actions will take two Actions on Second 1 and 15).

1 Melee Action: Second 1
2 Actions: Second 1 and 15
3 Actions: Second 1, 7 and 15
4 Actions: Seconds 1, 5, 10 and 15
5 Actions: Seconds 1, 4, 8, 11 and 15
6 Actions: Seconds 1, 3, 7, 10, 13 and 15
7 Actions: Seconds 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, and 15
8 Actions: Seconds 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15
9 Actions: Seconds 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15
10 Actions: Seconds 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15
11 Actions: Seconds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15
12 Actions: Seconds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15
13 Actions: Seconds 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15
14 Actions: Seconds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. 13, 14 and 15
15 Actions: Seconds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

If attackers attack from an ambush, Initiative is made as normal, but only the ambushers, and those who successfully detected at least one attacker may make an action during the first Second.

[jaymz]

Some very interesting stuff to be sure. Not the way i would go but interesting all the same

[Jaster]

Yeah I've seen the way you go.

Man, innuendos are a lot less effective and clear without tone of voice. . . .

What's funny is the only thing that has meaningful change in this is the segmented actions and addition of stamina (Since "oh you get tired after like 5 or 10 minutes" is so awful and vague that it's fucking meaningless). Otherwise it's me putting down hard clarifications on stuff and setting up framework rules that can be interacted with later.

[jaymz]

I use s egmented system myself but not so detailed. I go with 3 turns per melee, each approximately 5 seconds.

[Jaster]

Overall segmenting works really well, and really helps a faster character feel faster, since you can get moments where you'll get two turns back to back when fighting slower opponents (more common the higher up you go). However, I am having fits finalizing movement rules that don't make you move faster for more actions that run smoothly.

Also, there's a handy little document I made just in word using tabs and pre-setting all the segments at the ready you can save, then copy / paste and add names in blank spaces that basically sets up the grid for you. I plan on making a better version in Exceel some day, makes it really easy. Sadly that chart does not work very well in forum spaces.

[Jaster]

General Rules

Suffocation
If the character is unable to breath longer then 10 Seconds, every 5 Seconds, they lose 1 Stamina, and gain "Suffocation", a Non-Dispelable Physical Debuff Effect, which lasts for 5 Seconds and may stack any number of times, and, gaining -5% to Combat Rolls and Skills, and increasing Stamina Costs and Losses by 25%. This debuff ignores reductions that do not state it as allowed, but Immunity to Physical Effects still prevents its application. While this Buff is Active, every time they would lose or pay Stamina and be unable to pay it, they must make a Save vs Coma / Death check at -15% for every previous successful attempt or die. GMs should use common sense with the application of this rule, characters who suddenly started to choke should gain the debuff more quickly (no time for a deep breath).

Climbing and Falling
There are many things in the game in which a character cannot walk on, but may climb on, including walls, defensive towers, trees, things too thin to get real footing, cliff faces and similar. To climb, the character must use the Climb skill (weather learned or through granted skill bonuses such as ropes). Please see the Climbing Skill under Palladium Skills for direct rules on how to climb.

If a character is knocked over, jumps off, or is pushed off a high vantage point, they may make a Balance check equal to 0.75 per Foot Fallen. If successful, reduce the Total Damage by 50%, and they never roll on the Critical Table. Either way, falls deal 1D8 Physical Damage every 5 Feet fallen. Characters cannot Reduce or Prevent this other then by Physical Resistance, and Armor and Damage Shields will also suffer 50% of the damage. Anything the character (or object) falls on from a dead drop will suffer the damage as well. Every 10 Feet fallen, the character must roll on the Evocation Critical table. GMs should show discretion when dealing with falls in relation to dead drops or rolling falls (i.e slips and bounces on rocks the entire way down).

Swimming and Drowning
When in a liquid, generally water (and refereed to from here out as water), the character may attempt to Swim via the Swimming skill. Swimming has the normal rules of movement, but costs an extra 1 Stamina while swimming. Characters lose Massive Blow while attacking in water with a Melee Weapon, and reduce Melee Damage by 50%. Ranged weapons fired into water suffer -25% to Damage and -3 to Strike attempts base roll. If a character makes a failed swim check, they do not move beyond required moves from currents or other factors, and two consecutive swim checks indicate the character is drowning as per suffocation rules, and must make a successful Swim check to resurface. When swimming, GMs should assign a current to the water, and its direction, light currents should be around 1-3, moderates 4-7, while a heavy current can be from 8 to 14 or higher. This should be applied as a bonus if swimming with the current, or a penalty if swimming against to the characters base Speed. Penalize it if attempting to make a directly straight swim across the current.

Taunt and Distract
All characters may make Taunt and Distract checks against a target, which gets a Save vs Insanity (Distract or Taunt).

If the Attacker is Successful on a Distract, the target gains "Distract", a Mental Debuff Effect which may stack any number of times, and lasts for 1 Round, causing all attacks at the user to have a 2% Chance to be forced to select a new target. Nest Stacks of Distract refresh the Duration of all Stacks of Distract. For every 2 Points the Defender Failed by, they gain an extra 1 Stack of Distract. Every time the Attacker makes an Attack, or applies a Restoration, Alteration or Abjuration Spell, remove 1 Stack of Distract from the Target.

If the Attacker is Successful on a Taunt, the target gains "Taunt", a Mental Debuff Effect which may stack any number of times, and lasts for 1 Round, causing all attacks to another target to have a 1% Chance to be forced to select the user as its target if allowed. For every 2 Points the Defender Failed by, they gain an extra 1 Stack of Taunt. Every time the Attacker is successful struck, or affected by an Evocation or Affliction Spell by anyone other then the Caster, remove 1 Stack of Taunt from the Target.

Zones of Control
All Characters exert a Zone of Control around them, based on the weapon they are using There are several layers of Zone of Control, Grappling, Close Range, Medium Range, and Reach Range. When determining a Zone of Control, measure from the persons torso, not their arms (the extended arms reach is factored into the calculations). During Combat, if an attacker is attempting to move into an opponents Zone of Control, they must make an Opposed Maneuver Check with the target. If successful, the character may move up to 1 Zone per 5 they beat their opponent by. When any two opponents move while in the others zone of control, their zones remain the same, and both will move at the slowest max pace for the movement. The mover may not move past the stationary without their consent. A character may choose to abandon zones away from a target, but for every zone they do so, the stationary character may choose to make 1 Attack against them with any action or spell with a cost of 1 Action or less, treating the mover as Unaware. Being Engaged with opponents also makes it more difficult for other characters to make Ranged Attacks at a character within the melee, gaining a penalty to strike for every character within the Melee (friendly or enemy), and missed attacks have a chance to re-target to any character within the melee (chosen at random). When an attack is reselected this way, make a new Strike roll, using only the Natural Roll. If this attacks misses, do not reselect a target.

Grappling Range: This is up close, and is 1 Foot around the Character (or 10% of the Characters Height), and is the distance ideal for close quarters combat and wrestling maneuvers. At this range, most weapons are highly ineffective, only short bladed weapons have any use, and even they are often in a reduced capacity. When a third party is making a Ranged Attack at a target in Grappling with another Character, they gain -75% to Strike for every Character in the Melee, and attacks that miss have a 75% Chance to Re-target to another Target in that Melee.

Close Range: This distance is common for most small weapons, daggers, short swords and fist weapons. Larger weapons have poor room to swing properly, and are less effective, while grapples are still out of idea reach. This Range is 2 Feet in Size (or 35% of the characters Height), generally the zone starts near the end of the persons arms when outstretched. When a third party is making a Ranged Attack at a target in Grappling with another Character, they gain -25% to Strike for every Character in the Melee, and attacks that miss have a 60% Chance to Re-target to another Target in that Melee.

Medium Range: This is the ideal distance for most weapons, axes, maces, swords, and so on are generally built to be used at this distance, equaling 6 Feet in Size (Equal to 100% of the Characters Height). When a third party is making a Ranged Attack at a target in Grappling with another Character, they gain -10% to Strike for every Character in the Melee, and attacks that miss have a 10% Chance to Re-target to another Target in that Melee.

Reach Range: This is a far distance in which pole-arms and spears are built for, well beyond the reach of most opponents, making the fighter able to strike safely and with impunity. This zone is begins at about 12 Feet away from the Character (Equal to 200% of the Characters Height). When a third party is making a Ranged Attack at a target in Grappling with another Character, they gain -1% to Strike for every Character in the Melee, and attacks that miss have a 1% Chance to Re-target to another Target in that Melee.

Striking
During their turn, the character may choose to make a strike. They may use any natural weapon, or equipped weapon to attack with, and must be within the attacks range and pay all required costs for the attack. The defender may choose to Parry, Dodge, or make a Reaction. The character makes a Roll to Strike, their total equaling 1D20 + Total Strike Bonus. If this total is equal to 1 or less for any reason, the attack will miss the target. If a ranged attack, any total equal to 4 or less will miss the target. Successful Strike rolls deal damage and effect dictated by the attack.

Parrying
When attacked, the defender may attempt to Parry by spending 1 Stamina as a Free Action. To parry, the Defender makes a Parry Roll, their total equaling 1D20 x Total Parry Bonus. This reduces the attackers Strike roll after hit or miss is applied. If this roll exceeds the attackers initial Strike Total, then the attack has its Damage and Effect reduced by the Characters Parry Mitigation, and the Defender may dictate to which layer of Armor the attack is applied to.

Dodging
When attacked, the defender may attempt to Dodge by Spending 1 Action and 1 Stamina. To Dodge, the Defender makes a Dodge Roll, their total equaling 1D20 x Total Dodge Bonus. This reduces the attackers Strike roll before hit or miss is applied.

A character may choose to a Multi-Dodge, where they spend the time until their next active turn, applying the roll to all attacks against them. To Multi-Dodge, the Character must spend their Action and 3 Stamina. In addition, the Character moves up to (P.M x 0.5) at the end of the first Attack.

Dealing Damage
If an attack is successful, it deals damage to the hit target. All values listed in Red are increased by the Characters Damage Modifyer as below;
<<Damage Value x Damage Modifier x End Damage Modifier>> x Total Damage Modifier
Overall, after a character has successful caused a damage dealing event (successful strike, spell, etc), or any Caused Effect, first roll its initial damage. Take that total, and increase it by the character's Damage bonus. Then, if the attack was a Critical, increase the Total by their Critical Modifier. Lastly, if the character has any End Damage bonuses, they increase the total to that. This is their "Total Damage". The final alteration is Total Damage Modifier, typically reserved for reductions and resistances, apply it before applying the remainder to the target. Note that all damage increases will state exactly where it goes in this process, something that provides +1 to Damage provides that into Initial, any +5% to Damage is the initial modifier, +25% to Critical Damage clearly is applied during Critical, the same for End or Total. If an ability reads "Reduce Damage by 50%", reduce the total bonus to the attackers Damage Modifier by 50%.

Critical Strikes
All attacks and powers which require a contest roll may have a Critical Strike, on the characters Normal Critical Strike Range. If a critical strike is done, the attack has it's Damage or Healing increased by the Characters Critical Bonus, and has their Effects and Duration increased by 50% of their Critical Bonus, as well as a roll on the following table.

Evocation and Attacks
01 - 25% Vital Wound: Deals 10% of the Attack Damage to be Death Damage.

26 - 35% Blood Gush: Every Wound on the Target deals 1 Damage.

36 - 43% Crippling Leg - Right: Target gains "Crippled Leg - Right", a Physical Debuff Effect, which lasts for 7 Days and may Stack up to 15 Times, reducing their Movement by -5% and their Dodge and Balance by -20%. Also, reduce the target's S.D.C and H.P by 5% for its Duration, up to 15%. For every stack of this effect, increase its Duration by 100%.

44 - 51% Crippling Arm - Left: Target gains "Crippled Arm - Left", a Physical Debuff Effect, which lasts for 7 Days and may Stack any number of times, reducing their Damage with the Left Hand by -10%, and their End Damage by -5%, and reducing their Strike, Parry and Disarm by -15%. Reduce its effect on Two Handed Weapons by 50%. Also, reduce the targets S.D.C and H.P by 5% for its Duration, up to 15%. For every stack of this effect, increase its Duration by 100%.

52 - 59% Crippling Arm - Right: Target gains "Crippled Arm - Right", a Physical Debuff Effect, which lasts for 7 Days and may Stack any number of times, reducing their Damage with the Right Hand by -10%, and their End Damage by -5%, and reducing their Strike, Parry and Disarm by -15%. Reduce its effect on Two Handed Weapons by 50%. Also, reduce the targets S.D.C and H.P by 5% for its Duration, up to 15%. For every stack of this effect, increase its Duration by 100%.

60 - 67% Crippling Leg - Left: Target gains "Crippled Leg -Left", a Physical Debuff Effect, which lasts for 7 Days and may Stack up to 15 Times, reducing their Movement by -5% and their Dodge and Balance by -20%. Also, reduce the target's S.D.C and H.P by 5% for its Duration, up to 15%. For every stack of this effect, increase its Duration by 100%.

68 - 80% Head Wound: The target gains "Concussion", a Mental Debuff Effect, which lasts for 3 Days, and may Stack any Number of times, gaining -5% to All Combat Rolls, -10% to Save vs Insanity (Stun), Save vs Insanity (Control) and Reduce all Skills by 1%. For every stack of this effect, increase its Duration by 100%.

81 - 90% Skull Smash: The target gains "Dazed", a Mental Debuff Effect, which lasts for 6 Hours and may Stack any number of times, gaining -15% to Spell Power, Psionic Power, Initiative, and reduce all Skills by 1%. For every stack of this effect, increase its duration by 100%.

91 - 100% Internal Bleeding: The target gains 1D4 Wounds and gains "Internal Bleeding", a Physical Debuff Effect which lasts for 3 Days, causing all Actions other then Rest, or Search to generate 1D4 Wounds. Also, reduce any Wounds Removed by 50%. For every stack of this effect, increase its Duration by 100%.

Affliction and Stuns
01 - 25% Lung Crush: Target gains "Lung Crush", a Physical Debuff Effect, reducing their Movement by 10% and gaining -15% to Maneuver, and lose 1D6 Stamina. Lasts until 50 Points of Healing is done that is not Restored to the characters S.D.C. Reset this counter any time a character gains a new Stack.

26 - 35% Head Wound: The target gains "Concussion", a Mental Debuff Effect, which lasts for 3 Days, and may Stack any Number of times, gaining -5% to All Combat Rolls, -10% to Save vs Insanity (Stun), Save vs Insanity (Control) and Reduce all Skills by 1%. For every stack of this effect, increase its Duration by 100%.

36 - 43% Stamina Exhaust: Target loses 2D8 Stamina.

44 - 51% Soul Exhaust: Target loses 2D6 P.P.E and 1D4 Morale.

52 - 59% Resistance Peirce: Increase the Duration and Effect of the attack by 50%. The target also gains "Broken Resistance", a Debuff Effect for 3 Seconds, gaining -10% to Save vs Insanity and Save vs Magic.

60 - 67% Brow Cut: The target gains "Blood Vision", a Physical Debuff Effect which may Stack any number of Times, gaining -20% to Perception, -10% to Initiative, and an extra -5% to Strike per Range Increment for 7 Seconds. Lasts until 15 Points of Healing is done that is not Restored to the characters S.D.C.

68 - 80% Racing Heart: Target gains "Racing Heart", a Physical Debuff Effect which may Stack any number of times. Every time the character spends 1 Action other then for Wait, Defend or Search, they gain "Heartbeat", a Physical Debuff Effect that lasts for 5 Seconds, increasing the Damage and Effect of Poison and Affliction effects by 5%, and loses 1 Stamina. This effect lasts until 25 Points of Healing is done that is not Restored to the characters S.D.C. Reset this counter any time the Character gains a new Stack.

81 - 90% Exposure: Target gains "Exposure", a Physical Debuff Effect which lasts for 5 Seconds, increasing the Damage and Effect of all Affliction and Poison effects by 15%.

91 - 100% Vital Blow: Target gains "Vital Blow", a Physical Debuff Effect which lasts for 15 Seconds and may Stack any number of times, losing 1D4 Stamina and reducing all Restoration Effects on them by 10%.

Healing Effects
01 - 25% Empowered Body: Target gains "Empowered Body", a Physical Buff Effect which lasts for 10 Seconds, gaining a Damage Shield equal to 5% of their S.D.C.

26 - 35% Consuming Healing: Target may dispel any number of Restoration or Abjuration effects on them to Restore 2% of their H.P/S.D.C and Stamina per Effect Removed, and remove 2D6 Wounds.

36 - 43% Focused Healing: Target gains "Focused Healing", a Physical Buff Effect which lasts for 5 Seconds, increasing all Restoration Damage and Effects by 10%. This Effect may Stack any Number of Times and Renews the Duration each stack.

44 - 51% Recovery: Target gains "Recovery", a Physical Buff Effect that lasts for 5 Days and may Stack any number of times, increasing Natural Healing by 100%.

52 - 59% Aura of Recovery: All Friendly targets within 50 Feet restore 25% of the effects of the spell.

60 - 67% Healing Dispel: The affected may select any one Magic, Mental, Poison or Physical Debuff and Attempt to Dispel it with the casters Spell Power.

68 - 80% Enduring Heal: The target gains "Enduring Heal", a Magic Buff Effect, Restoring 5% of the spells Damage ever 3 Seconds for 15 Seconds.

81 - 90% Burst Heal: Increase the Damage and End Damage of this Effect by +100%.

91 - 100% Revitalization: Remove 25% of the targets Wounds and restore 2D6 Stamina.

Perception and Awareness
Perception represents the characters awareness, keen senses, mental discipline for observation, as well as commonsense values like knowing where to look. If a prowling character remains hidden the the guards won't know where they are, but as their degree of success shrinks, guards should narrow down and become closer to the mark and be more sure someone is there.

In some cases, characters will need to avoid notice in some regards, in this chase, the guards mental status and awareness is very important and there are 5 types;

Actively Aware: The highest level of awareness, the character under this awareness level has great reason to suspect a hiding character and is actively looking for one. This can include a militia officer seeing a suspect dash into a warehouse and now trying to find them amid the crates, soldiers running to the scene as alarms are going off, slavers searching houses for loot, or a psychic who's Sixth Sense or Sensing abilities are triggering. Characters at this state spending Morale for Perception rolls, gain an extra +5% to Perception per Morale Spent, and automatically make a Perception check against all hidden characters and objects every 5 Seconds. Characters remain in this state for 3 Seconds per M.E Point before dropping to a lower level of Awareness, and may spend 1 Morale to Increase Duration by +5 Seconds.

Aware: A heightened level of awareness, it is the common level of most on duty guards and shop-keeps in tense settings, such as key installations with quality guards, guards who know there is currently a risk of espionage, guild guards protecting library's form opposing guilds or stray researchers trying to avoid guild dues, shopkeepers watching their wares in cities known for thieves and pick pockets. Characters in this state gain +25% to Perception, and may make an automatic Perception check against any relevant events (Someone trying to sneak by or pilfer something), as well as a new one every 5 Seconds if the hidden disturbance remains. Characters must spend 1 Morale every 1 Hour they remain in this state.

Watch: A moderate level of watch, common for most guards and shop-keeps without a reason to be on their guard. They may make a Perception check against all new events or ones passing through their area of awareness (i.e someone trying to sneak by), but are at no additional bonus, and do not automatically re-check Perception rolls over time, only during new events or large changes (twig snapping, door ajar, and the like). Characters must spend 1 Morale every 3 Hours in this state.

Passive: A low level of watch, the character is not attempting to be aware or watch, and is more or less preoccupied or just going about their day to day events. This would be expected of most off-duty personnel, soldiers and the like. They may make a Perception check against Concealment and Prowl, but do so at -25% and cannot spend Morale after the Roll. Characters are defaulted to this setting, and no morale is required.

Dulled: The lowest level of awareness, the character is either too preoccupied with something important (Combat, deep research, clever conversation, looking for something else), or is just too incapacitated to care (Tired, wounded, hypnotized). Characters in this state may only make one Perception check against concealment and Prowl, and are -25% and may not spend Morale on the roll. Characters are defaulted to this setting any time their Stamina or Morale are at 25% or Less, have 20 or More Wounds, during Combat and other situations decreed by the GM.

[jaymz]

Easiest way is just meters per turn.

As for the segments I agree. I my version you get whatever actions you have for that turn all at once. So in the case of a juicer at first level he/she will have 2 attacks every turn (6 attacks, 3 turns per melee). None of this go back and forthtill you run out. They get both attackson thier turn. The average shmo has only 1 attack per turn while a 1st level grunt get 1/2/1 over the 3 turns. now your typical juicer has a spd of 50 (1000m per minute) so he can move up to 83m per turn, however that is a full run. I would have that cost one of his attacks but he cna move half of that for free so he can move upto 42 meters (approximately half of 83.3333) as well as take 2 actions/attcks

[Jaster]

The problem is with distance per turn, is that characters with more actions inflate their speed by that which gives me the old eye twitch, trying to find a decent medium. It's what I use now, but I'm just not completely happy with it since I want to take as much benefit away from having more actions since having more actions is already a huge benefit.

[jaymz]

That is if a turn equals an action. In mine it does not. A turn is a measure of time not of actions.

[Jaster]

But with distance per turn, you're punished far greater for needing to run with additional actions, forcing you to find ways to inflate your speed so your free movements are up to par. Though I could have everyone simply move per segment now that I think about it, which also removes the some what odd physics of how per character movement works to begin with, so it all flows together rather then each part moving separately.

[jaymz]

well without a set of movement rules ( ie walking speed, jogging speed, sprinting speed and what actions each may take) you wont come up with anything. Making half movment a "free" action while full movement cost and action is simple and makes more sense than some abstract system.

[Jaster]

I'm not saying it's a bad system, but I'd have to trade off a Melee segment system, which I don't want to do, to use it. Distance per turn is far better then whatever the default is, which is hardly clear as to how fast you can even go.

Also random tangent, Pretty sure I want to do away with the terms Inner Strength Points and Potential Psiconic Energy for something that makes more sense to me and isn't named so inline with a Psi Power, and cut them both down to either a single word (to fall in line with Wounds and Stamina), or a two letter abbreviation (to fall in line with everything else). S.D.C too I suppose, but that one seems to bother me less.

[jaymz]

Just call it Mana. It is all the same crap just used for different things.

as for the movement. A lot of games specify you can only go so far in a "round" adn that you can only go so far for "free" so if you can figure somthing like that out then you;re good to go.

[Jaster]

Well I have a frame work for that, but now working out the dirty details. And Mana is too typical, going to brew out something that's less over used, I'd just as soon take "Energy" over Mana to be honest. I've seen mana brandied about so often it's lost every fucking drop of meaning and spark of creativity. ISP is easy enough to re-label Will or Will Points / Will Power if I go the two letter route, SDC / HP needs some thought though to get away from old terms.

[Jaster]

Common Effects
Ignite: If an ability causes a target to Ignite, the target gains "Ignite", a Physical (Fire) Debuff Effect which lasts for 5 Seconds, dealing 10% of the Original Hit Damage every Second, and the target gains -25% to Combat Rolls for that Duration. Characters may spend 1 Action to reduce the Duration by 2 Seconds, and may destroy 1 Quart of Water at hand to reduce the Duration by 4 Seconds. Characters who would gain Ignite while effected by "Soak" instead have 1 Stack of Soak removed per second of Fire they would have suffered. Characters who gain Ignite remove all stacks of Numbing. Characters submerged in water cannot gain Ignite.

Numbing: If an ability causes a target to gain numbing, the target gains "Numbing", a Physical (Cold) Debuff Effect which may stack up to 15 Times, and lasts for 7 Seconds, gaining -10% to Strike, Dodge, Maneuver, and -5% to Movement for the Duration, and suffer 1 Cold Damage every 2 Seconds. Characters who gain Numbing also cause all Stacks of Soak to dispel and gain 1 Stack of Numbing per stack of Soak dispelled.

Soak: If an ability causes a target to gain Soaked, the target gains "Soaked", a Physical (Water) Debuff Effect which may stack up to 10 Times, and lasts for 1 Minute per stack, gaining -5% to Balance and Perception, -5% to Movement and all Abilities which require Exhaustion as a cost require an additional 50% Exhaustion.

Stunned: If an ability causes a target to gain Stunned, the target gains "Stunned", a Mental Debuff Effect which may stack up to 20 Times, and lasts for 7 Seconds, gaining -5% to Combat Rolls and Skills. Any time a character attempts to use a Spell, Psionic Power or Ability, there is a 4% chance for it to fizzle.

Knocked Down: If an ability causes a target to be knocked down, the target gains "Prone", a Physical Debuff Effect which lasts until removed. While affected, the Character gains -200% to Strike, -100% to Dodge, +100% to Balance, -300% to Parry Mitigation, down to 50%, cannot make Movement, Attack Actions other than Attack, Attacks with Two Handed Weapons, or Maneuvers. Characters who become Knocked Down have any action they where making Interrupted. Characters may Remove "Prone" during their Turn by making a Free Action, but cannot make a Full Move, or Attack after they Stand.

Uncommon Effects
At times, there are bizarre events that can create similar results, like getting teleported into objects or people, or Temporal Magic gone horribly wrong. And this is the place the rules convene to create a single printing of the results of those effects. These are mostly a guide, uncommon effects are just that, uncommon, making it imposable to create cut and dry. This is where GMing must take over for rules, and these should be treated as a path to follow to help provide clarity to resolve these odd events.

Merging into Objects: Any time a Character ends up teleported into an object, be it solid ground, a tree, their own armor, or becomes corporal after being ethereal or otherwise allowed to move through an object while still within that object. The Character suffers Damage equal to 15% of their total S.D.C and H.P for every AR Point covering that part of the body is worth, and 30% of that entire area is fused with an object. This damage ignores Damage Shields, Immunities and reductions to damage, but is Physical Damage. They also gain 10 Wounds per AR Point fused, and make a Painful Check of 15 per AR Point every 5 Seconds, or lose all Actions during the next 5 Seconds, and gain -50% to Combat Rolls for that Duration. The object is completely fused into them, and generally must be removed by force, or surgery, depending on the object (i.e appearing on something thin, like a metal rod, will be fairly easily be pulled from the body, while a jagged stone, or one's leg completely fused with stone might need to be severed completely).