Credits
Designer: Magnus Seter
Valuable assistance: Per Brodin
Special thanks to Nils-Erik Fahlvik, Anna Strindberg and Lisa Bydler,
for being there and putting up with my gamemastering for so long.
Foreword
Yes, it's true. It's yet another Unofficial Companion from the devious
minds of the chaps at UR Games. (The first was the widely acclaimed "The
Unofficial Cyperpunk Companion", for the original Cyberpunk game. And we
called ourselves Aut Vincere Aut Mori Games. Feature from The Unofficial
Cyberpunk Companion were later incorporated into Cyberpunk 2020). This time
the subject is a very well known and popular RPG, namely Warhammer Fantasy
Roleplay, the fantasy roleplaying game from Games Workshop (yeah, the company
that make those big boxes, you know).
Any material found within this supplement have not been read by Games
Workshop (ok, Carl Sargent once looked at it, and liked some of it), and
have as such not been approved of as official rules additions. All views
expressed in this publication are the views of the author only, and have
nothing to do with anything that Games Workshop may have said or done or
are doing (except for their creating the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay system,
that is). The same goes for Hogshead Publishing (they’ve got a copy, though).
The aim of this companion is to provide Warhammer players with extra
rules, careers and other hardware, as well as discussing some basic approaches
to campaign play in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. The rules found are mainly
meant to provide the individual gamemaster with new ideas, and to provide
the basis for individual rulesadditions and not to be a revision of the basic
game system.
Now, sit back and enjoy the show.
Ah, one more thing, I write this in 1997. Please note that these rules
were written in 1991. They might be a bit out of date.
Starting Careers
Any starter character will upon chosing his first career gain all
the skills associated with the chosen career. While this is very simple and
straightforward, gamemasters and players who are more familiar with the system
might chose a different approach by simply giving each starting character
a set amount of experience points which can be used to buy either skills
or advances, even career changes.
The suggested range of experience points is around 500 - 1000, the
higher value the better characters. If you're not sure how much experience
you wish to give the players, sit down and think about the overall campaign
role the characters are going to have from the beginning and check the table
below. If you find a role corresponding the ones in the table, then give
the players the amount listed, else use your imagination and extra-polate
the sums given.
Amateur: 200
Inexperienced: 400
Average: 600 (normal starting value for WFRP characters)
Minor adventurer: 800
Recognised adventurer: 1000
This will balance the amount of skills gained when choosing starting
careers, and the extremely unprofitable beginning careers, such as Roadwarden,
will not suffer from the more profitable careers, such as Outlaw. This means
that all players will have roughly the same amount of skills from the beginning.
The gamemaster should be careful when letting players change careers during
character generation though, and not let them go on to the advanced careers,
keeping them with the basic careers.
Some Career Modifications
Trollslayer +20 to WS instead of the +10 to BS.
Watchman extra skill, Specialist Weapon - Halberd.
Boatman extra skill, Swim.
Tunnelfighter extra skill, Spot Trap.
Templar extra skills, Ettiquette, R/W and Heraldry.
Elves
As stated in the description on elves (page 15 in the rulebook), they
are fine archers. So, instead of having them roll 2D10+20 for BS, let them
switch the rolls for WS and BS, thus ending up with WS 2D10+20 and BS 2D10+30.
One alternative is to let the player decide wether the switch should be made
or not, as elves also are considered some of the finest warriors in the Old
World.
New careers
Introduced here are a lot of new careers to follow, complete with
advance schemes and everything. Some of these are extensions or variations
of those found in the basic WFRP rulebook (such as Mercenary Veteran, Roadwarden
Sergeant and Pit Fighter Champion), and some are completely new, but all
have their roots either in the medieval timeperiod or in the traditional
fantasy setting found in most other role-playing games. In the basic careers
(noted with a (b) after the career name), the Career Entries can also function
as Career Exits. The Careers noted with an (a) are advanced Careers.
Conjurer (b)
Always looking for people to entertain, the Conjurer is the equvivalent
of the modern magician, having all kind of tricks up his sleeve. These people
travel the Empire and the Old World, never staying for long at one place,
always looking for new audiences to dazzle and entertain. Even though all
knows that a Conjurer can't be trusted, they are always welcome at fairs
and local holidays, to provide some colour and entertainment to the arrangement.
M ±0 WS +10 BS +10 S ±0 T +1 W +1 I +20 A ±0 Dex +20
Ld ±0 Int ±0 Cl +10 WP ±0 Fel +10
Skills: Cryptography, Palm Object, Wit
Trappings: Flashy Clothes, Pigeons, Decks of Card, Collapsible Flowers,
Nice-looking Assistant etc.
Career Entries: Gambler, Bunko Artist
Career Exits: Charlatan
Cook (b)
Even though being a Cook might not seem very adventurous, try working
at the local Inn for a while. And good Cooks are always in demand, adventurers
wanting someone to make their meals, households looking for someone to impress
their neighbours with and so on. A Cook often has a couple of Servants working
for him, running errands, cleaning the kitchen, washing up and such trivial
tasks. Many of the legendary Cooks have been halflings, most notably the
famous Maximilian Merriweather, the Master of Biscuits.
M ±0 WS ±0 BS ±0 S +1 T +1 W ±0 I ±0 A ±0
Dex +10 Ld +10 Int ±0 Cl ±0 WP ±0 Fel +10
Skills: Cook, Herb Lore
Trappings: Cooking Utensils, Basic ingredients
Career Entries: Servant
Career Exits: Innkeeper
Executioner (a)
One of the most despised occupations in the Empire, the Executioner
still enjoys some fear-induced respect from the loyal citizens. Always on
the move looking for work, the Executioner is a sorry sight, often having
had the choice of taking the job or having his head cut off. They are alcoholics
and most of them have homocidal tendencies.
M ±0 WS +20 BS ±0 S +2 T +1 W +3 I +10 A ±0 Dex ±0
Ld +10 Int ±0 Cl +30 WP +20 Fel ±0
Skills: Specialist Weapon - Two-handed weapon, Strike Mighty
Blow, Strike to Stun, Rope Mastery (new skill), Consume Alcohol, Strike to
Injure
Trappings: Two-handed Sword or Axe, Executioners Hood, Coil of Rope
Career Entries: Executioners Menial, Mercenary, Mercenary Veteran
Career Exits: Assassin, Judicial Champion, Torturer
Executioners Menial (b)
Often an Executioner takes on a little child to follow him around
and do the menial tasks the grown man can't be bothered with, such as buying
liqour, washing clothes and preparing dinner. As an Executioners idea of
raising a child consists mainly of good thrashings and the occasional kick
in the face, these young persons are often hushed, shy and terrified of any
human contact, and to scared of the Executioner to run away.
M ±0 WS +10 BS ±0 S +1 T ±0 W +1 I ±0 A ±0
Dex ±0 Ld ±0 Int ±0 Cl +10 WP +10 Fel ±0
Skills: Dodge Blow, Specialist Weapon - Fist Weapons, Street
Fighting
Trappings: Knuckledusters, Shortsword, Bottle of Spirit (for the
Executioner)
Career Entries: Thief, Beggar, Grave Robber, Tomb Robber, Labourer,
Slave
Career Exits: Excecutioner, Mercenary, Jailer
Innkeeper (a)
Many are the men who have dared the surronding lands and opened up
a Coaching Inn, or even a Tavern in one of the larger cities. These people
are often resourceful and competent, enjoying quite some respect in the emmidiate
neighbourhood. It's a hard job, and many Innkeepers find it useful to have
some fighting experience to lean back on.
M ±0 WS +20 BS +10 S +2 T +1 W +4 I +20 A +1 Dex +10 Ld +20 Int
±0 Cl +10 WP ±0 Fel +20
Skills: Blather, Brewing, Bribery, Charm, Consume Alcohol,
Cook, Disarm, Numismatics, Strike Mighty Blow, Specialist Weapon - Two Handed
Weapons, Strike To Stun
Trappings: Inn
Career Entries: Cook, Trader
Career Exits: Fence, Merchant
Inquisitor (a)
This is the most feared clerical official in the Empire. More devout
than most Witch-hunters, the Inquisitors are always on the lookout for heretics
and signs of chaos infiltrating the society and they are ruthless in their
effort to purge the world from chaos, often torturing the suspects horribly
and thereby making them confess to things so horrid people wonder if they
at all commited those crimes. Some have said that the Inquisitors have murdered
several thousands of innocents and that chaos itself is governing the head
of curch. Needless to say, those opinions are heretic. The Inquisitors are
based in Altdorf, the Imperial capital.
M ±0 WS +10 BS +10 S +1 T +1 W +4 I +30 A ±0 Dex +30 Ld
+40 Int +40 Cl +40 WP +40 Fel +40
Skills: Etiquette, Law, Public Order, Read/Write, Secret Language
- Classical, Torture, Speak Additional Language
Trappings: Country Mansion, Town House, 3000 Gold Crowns (for expenses),
D6 Scribes, Writing Equipment, D3 Torturers, Torturers Equipment, Executioner,
Executioners Menial, Coach and Horses, Coachman, 2D10 Mercenaries, Mercenary
Sergeant or Captain, D3 Clerics (level D4), Homing Pigeons, 10% chance of
Witch-hunter, Incredibly Fancy Clothes
Career Entries: Cleric (level 4)
Career Exits: Witch-hunter, Monk
Majestic Exciseman (a)
Wielding even more power than the local Excisemen, the Majestic Excisemen
collects taxes from all the local lords of the Empire. What is true of the
Exciseman is even more true concerning the Majestic Exciseman. All are hated
throughout the Empire and many are roumored to be corrupt, gaining personal
wealth on the behalf of the starving populace. The Majestic Exciseman relays
heavily on the authority presented in his military troops and his ability
to request more miliatry aid directly from the Emperor.
M ±0 WS +10 BS +10 S +1 T +1 W +3 I +10 A ±0 Dex ±0
Ld +40 Int +40 Cl +30 WP +40 Fel +20
Skills: Cartography, Embezzling, Etiquette, Evaluate, History,
Metallurgy, Numismatics, Public Speaking, Read/Write, Speak Additional Language,
Super Numerate
Trappings: Coach and Horses, Coachman, 3D10 Mercenaries, Mercenary
Sergeant or Captain, D2 Scribes, Writing Equipment, 500 Gold Crowns (for
exepenses)
Career Entries: Lawyer, Merchant, Exciseman
Career Exits: Explorer
Mercenary Veteran (a)
Many Mercenaries never achieves the rank of Sergeant or Captain, but
goes on fighting to make a living. Those who survive become expert warriors,
skilled in the art of survival on and around the battlefield. Often chosen
by officers to conduct raids on enemy lines and keep the not so experienced
Mercenaries in line. To become a Mercenary Veteran, one have to participate
in many campaigns and often fight against overwhelming odds. But those who
survive becomes the veterans of war, the experts even kings and generals
respect.
M ±0 WS +30 BS +30 S +2 T +2 W +6 I +20 A ±2 Dex +10 Ld
+10 Int +0 Cl +30 WP +0 Fel +10
Skills: Animal Care, Bribery, Concealment Rural, Consume Alcohol,
Disarm, Dodge Blow, Drive Cart, Follow Trail, Ride, Secret Language - Battle,
Silent Move Rural, Specialist Weapon - Polearm, Specialist Weapon - Two Handed
Weapons, Specialist Weapon - Flail, Specialist Weapon - Parrying, Specialist
Weapon - Fist Weapons, Street Fighter, Strike Mighty Blow, Strike To Injure,
Wrestling, Sixth Sense
Trappings: Full Helm, Mail Shirt, Shield, Hand Weapon, Crossbow,
Specialist Weapon
Career Entries: Mercenary, Marine
Career Exits: Mercenary Captain, Artillerist, Bounty Hunter, Judicial
Champion, Outlaw
Peasant (b)
Being a Peasant in the Old World is not an easy life. Trodden upon
and often upon the brink of starvation, many are the men who leaves this
hard and unrewarding life to seek their fortune elsewhere. Even so, they
are the backbone of the Old World as they produce a great deal of the food
and other material and pay the taxes the world needs to carry on their pursuit
for happiness. Most Peasants feel the strain of the world heavily on their
shoulders and trudge on in the same tracks year after year, as did their
fathers, and their fathers before them.
M ±0 WS ±0 BS ±0 S +1 T +1 W +1 I ±0 A ±0
Dex ±0 Ld ±0 Int ±0 Cl ±0 WP ±0 Fel ±0
Skills: Animal Care, Drive Cart, Identify Plants, 25% chance
of Very Resilient, Farming (new skill)
Trappings: Small Patch of Land, Cottage, Farming Equipment, Draft
Horse
Career Entries: Slave, Labourer
Career Exits: Agitator, Beggar, Footpad, Militiaman, Outlaw, Poacher,
Servant
Pit Fighter Champion (a)
The Pit Fighters that choose to remain at the arena after winning
their freedom soon become what is known as Pit Fighter Champions. Those that
survive, that is. Fearsome warriors and expert killers, these are the real
crowdpleasers, drawing thousands of spectators to the arena when they perform,
as they choose to call it. Highly paid, this is a profession that offers
more danger than rewards.
M ±0 WS +30 BS ±0 S +1 T +2 W +4 I +20 A +1 Dex +20 Ld ±0
Int ±0 Cl +10 WP ±0 Fel +10
Skills: Disarm, Dodge Blow, Specialist Weapon - Two Handed
Weapons, Specialist Weapon - Flail, Specialist Weapon - Parrying Weapons,
Specialist Weapon - Net, Specialist Weapon - Fist Weapons, Street Fighter,
Strike Mighty Blow, Strike To Injure, Strike To Stun, Wrestling
Trappings: Full Helm, Mail Shirt, Shield, Hand Weapon, Specialist
Weapon
Career Entries: Pit Fighter
Career Exits: Judicial Champion, Mercenary
Prostitue (b)
The oldest profession in the world, some say, the prostitute is a
person, male or female, selling sexual favours to other people. Often in
the hands of a Pimp (treat as Bawd) who functions as a sort of manager.
Unfortunately, many young boys and girls end up Prostitutes when coming to
the big city searching for fame and glory. Many are ill-treated, often beat
up by customers and protectors and always badly paid. The lucky ones might
get to work in a brothel, where they are relatively safe and welltreated.
M ±0 WS +10 BS ±0 S ±0 T +1 W +1 I +10 A ±0 Dex
+10 Ld ±0 Int ±0 Cl ±0 WP ±0 Fel +10
Skills: Seduction, Charm
Trappings: Fancy and Revealing Clothes, Make-up
Career Entries: Slave, Beggar, Peasant
Career Exits: Bawd, Entertainer, Thief
Roadwarden Sergeant (a)
After having spent time as a Roadwarden, some get the experience and
authority to become Roadwarden Sergeants. Commanding troops of several
Roadwardens, they patrol the roads and forests of the Empire and see to it
that the laws of the Empire are upheld.
M ±0 WS +20 BS +20 S +1 T +1 W +3 I +10 A ±0 Dex ±0
Ld +20 Int ±0 Cl +10 WP ±0 Fel ±0
Skills: Ride, Follow Trail, Strike Mighty Blow, Dodge Blow,
Drive Cart, Specialist Weapon - Firemarms
Trappings: Horse, Hand Weapon, Mail Shirt, Shield, Pistol, 2D10
Roadwardens
Career Entries: Roadwarden
Career Exits: Highwayman, Militiaman, Outlaw
Slave (b)
Well, the Slave is not a very popular Career, I promise you, but it's
a fate that can happen to anyone. Most Slaves come from the countries surronding
Araby, but many are the citizens of the Empire who have been kidnapped and
sold on foreign slave markets. In the Empire, most slaves are treated relatively
well, but there are always exceptions to this rule. Often, Peasants are forced
to sell their young sons and daughters into slavery to the local lord, or
to any passing strangers just to keep the children alive and to give them
a chance of escaping the parents grief.
M ±0 WS ±0 BS ±0 S +1 T +1 W +1 I ±0 A ±0
Dex ±10 Ld ±0 Int ±0 Cl ±0 WP ±0 Fel ±0
Skills: Dodge Blow, 25% chance of Animal Care, 25% chance of
Drive Cart
Trappings: None
Career Entries: Any
Career Exits: Servant, Peasant, Prostitute, Pit Fighter, Executioners
Menial (all at Gamemasters discretion)
Archetypal Careers (this section
is under construcion)
These careers are for the heroes of old, the stuff that legends are
made of, the shapers of our history. Any character having gained more than
1000 Reputation points (see that section) may choose any one of these
Archetypical Careers, providing he's got the necessary background and the
skills needed as well as the experience.
The advance schemes may seem outrageous at first, but remember that
we are dealing with Heroes here (or Villains for that matter). The Archetypal
Careers are provided so that even powerful characters have something to strive
for, and so that the gamemaster can easily create a Villain to match the
skills of the player characters.
As stated above, any character wishing to enter an Archetypal Career
must have at least 1000 Reputation points. He must also have the rudimentary
skills of the Archetypal Career (see the specific careers) and 100 experience
points to spend. If all these requirements are met, the player may spend
100 experience points, and move his character into the Archetypal Career.
All normal rules concerning skills and advances apply.
Dragonslyer (AT)
The Dragonslayers are a breed of their own. Intent upon the destruction
of the great wyrm and its minions, they seek all knowledge of dragons and
their dwellings.
M ±0 WS +50 BS +50 S +5 T +5 W +9 I +40 A +2 Dex +40 Ld +40 Int
+40 Cl +40 WP +40 Fel +40
Skills: Dragon Lore, Arcane Language - Dragon
Career Entries: Any advanced Warrior-type career
Paladin (AT)
M ±0 WS +50 BS +50 S +5 T +5 W +9 I +40 A +2 Dex +40 Ld +40 Int
+40 Cl +40 WP +40 Fel +40
Skills:
Career Entries: Cleric (level 4) or Templar
Archmage (AT)
M ±0 WS +30 BS +30 S +3 T +3 W +6 I +50 A ±0 Dex +50 Ld
+50 Int +50 Cl +50 WP +50 Fel +50
Skills: Cast spells - Archmage Magic
Career Entries: Magic-User (level 4)
New Skills
Two new skills are mentioned in the section covering the new careers.
They are presented here with additional new skills.
Antropology
This skill allows the character to identify humanoid creatures by
racial traits. This might mean that he can see what kind of orcs that's been
following the characters and where they come from, and possibly their outlook
on life (if it differs from other orcs). He can also make a guess as to how
the creatures culture functions.
Farming
The knowledge of how to make a living from the land by raising crops
and performing other farming activities.
Feint
By making a successful WS test, the character fools his opponent into
believing that he is making an attack, but a the last moment changes the
attack and strikes at a more unprotected area. If the test is successful,
the character receieves a +10% bonus to his attack roll (for that attack
only) and the opponent recieves a -10% penalty to any attempt to parry the
attack. If the Feint test should fail, or if the opponent makes a successful
Intelligence test, thereby not being fooled by the feint, the character is
at -10% to hit, and the lucky opponent is at +10% to parry.
Hanggliding
This skill gives the character a +10% bonus to any rolls to control
a hangglider, such as the ones described in the scenario Eureka (see White
Dwarf #93 or the Restless Dead supplement). After being developed by the
brilliant inventor Kugelschreiber in Nuln, these contraptions soon found
their way to Middenheim, were bored nobles made a sport out of it, jumping
from the citywalls of Middenheim and trying to glide as gracefully as possible,
preferably making some stunts, and then landing on a field outside the towering
city. Even though not all were able to control their gliding, so far all
have landed, one way or another.
Psychology
This skill allows the character to determine wheter a person is
psychologically unstable and discover some of the sypmtoms. After further
study, the psychologist might be able to find the reasons for the ailment,
and might be able to administer a cure.
Rope Mastery
This skill gives the character the knowledge of different types of
rope and their quality. It also gives the character intimate knowledge of
tying all kinds of knots.
Weather Prediction
By studying the current weather and signs in nature the character
may predict coming weather changes. A successful Intelligence test will give
a fairly accurate guess as to what kind of weather it will be the next day.
For every day after this the character tries to predict the weather, there
is a -10% penalty to the test.
Levels of skill
The system used in WFRP to handle skills and the effect of skills
when applied towards tasks is simple and straightfroward. If you've got the
skill, you can try a check versus one of your characteristics, often with
a +10% bonus. If you haven't got the skill, you can still try, but with a
considerable penalty.
A high characteristic enables a character a good grasp of the skill.
But what about the real masters, the virtouses. When you've reached 65 or
as high as 70 in a charcteristic, it won't matter if you practise every day
until your fingers bleed, you won't get any better. An elven minstrel who've
had one hundred years of extra practise, is no better than an upstart elven
charlatan, who've managed to buy the relevant skill and have a fairly high
value in the appropriate characteristic (that's the situation that occurred
in my campaign). Also, roleplaying gamers around the world delight in the
prospect of their characters getting better than anyone else, in any field
of expertise. The chance of being one of the worlds greatest swordsmen ever
is one of the basic motivations of roleplaying gamers. In the basic WFRP
game, the skills modify the situatiuon by perhaps +10%, and if you work hard,
you might get a characteristic score of 60, which results in a basic chance
of success of 70%. Not a very comforting figure for the elven minstrel who's
trying to impress the beautiful elven princess with a ballad.
Well, then, what to do about it?
My solution to the problem is the concept of skill-levels. A character
may attain higher levels of expertise in any skill, as long as he's got the
experience to pay for it. There are five levels of exepertise. Each level
is followed by the cost in experience points, to attain that level, starting
from the previous level of expertise (eg to attain the level of Veteran in
a skill, the player will have to use 700 experience points. The basic 100
to get the skill, another 200 to reach the level of Good and finally 400
points to reach the level of Veteran).
Normal 100
Good 200
Veteran 400
Master 800
Artist 1600
Now, you've got the option of specialising in any skill of your choosing.
The high costs for the higher levels assures that any one character can only
attain this level of expertise after several years of earning and saving
experience points (measured in gametime, normally), but a character can,
after some hard work reach a high enough level to stand above the rest of
the populace.
What's the effect of these skill levels
then?
This varies from skill to skill, but the basic idea is that the bonus
recieved from the skill (when applying it towards different tests) raises
by +10% for every level of skill (eg Veteran level gives +30% bonus). If
the skill haven't got any bonus at Normal level (such as Specialist Weapons),
the character gains +10% at Good level, and this bonus is then raised as
the character aquires further levels of expertise. If this general rule don't
fit a specific skill, the individual gamemaster should determine the effects
of levels of expertise based on that gamemasters concept of skills. If you
choose to adopt this rule, a new skill should also be added to the already
exisiting ones, namely Weapon Expertise. All characters are proficient to
Normal level with every weapon not requiring Specialist Weapon. If they want
to become better, they have to pay the cost to reach Good level, having to
choose a new Weapon Expertise for each non-specialist weapon they chose to
excel in.
Advantages/Disadvantages in
WFRP
A popular method of tailoring the player characters to suit the players
demands is the Advantages/Disadvantages method. This way of giving characters
strengths and then balance them with weaknesses gives the players and gamemaster
a guide to the past of a character and a more interesting character on the
whole. I will here provide you with a system for Advantages/Disadvantages
in WFRP.
The system rests upon the assumption that a character created according
to the basic rules in the rulebook and the advanced rules found in this booklet,
have a balance between Advantages and Disadvantages. In game terms, that
means that he has got 0 points to buy advantages with. To gain points to
buy Advantages with, the player must apply Disadvantages for his player,
thereby gaining points to spend on Advantages. All Disadvantages have a
corresponding points reward linked to it. The points gained must immedately
be spent on Advantages for the character. They may not be saved for later
use.
Below are listed the Disadvantages available, with the corresponding
points value for choosing that particular Disadvantage. After this, the available
Advantages are listed with the cost for gaining them. Later, I will discuss
some problems with using this system without supervision from the gamemaster,
but more on that, later on.
Disadvantages
-1/-10. The character looses 1/10 points to any charactertistic
score. Worth 100 points.
Arm or leg missing. One of the character's limbs is lost, resulting
in the following modifications to the basic profile: arm missing -10 Dex,
-10 Fel and -10 Ld, leg missing M 1, -10 Fel and -10 Ld. On top of this,
the loss of the limb may leed to many other difficult situations. Worth 500
points.
Loss of one eye. The sight on one eye have been lost. BS is
halved. Worth 100 points.
Blind. No eyesight at all. A lot of practical consequenses
follows. Modified WS, no BS, modified Dex, Observe tests and so on. These
modifications are left to the individual gamemaster to apply.But you can
live with it. Just look at Rutger Hauer in Blind Fury. Worth 500 points.
Hunted. The character is hunted by his enemies, who are constantly
tracking him down, demanding whatever rights they are persuing. Hunted by
one enemy is worth 50 points. Being hunted by several enemies is worth 100
points. Being sought after by Imperial law is worth 150 points and having
a Bounty Hunter dogging you is worth 200 points. The ultimate hunter, the
Witch-hunter is worth 500 points, but any character hunted by such an adversary
will not survive very long, and should he succeed in killing one of the
Witch-hunters, others will follow, even more persistent.
Hand or foot missing. Not quite as severe as the above, where
the whole limb is missing, there is still a modification to the basic profile.
Hand missing -10 Dex, foot missing - 1 M. Worth 100 points.
Loss of hearing. The loss of hearing on one ear leads to -10
to all Listen tests. Loss of one ear is worth 50 points, both ears 100 points.
Deaf from birth or from early childhood is worth 250 points, but also means
that the character does not understand people unaccustomed to the handicapp,
ie most of the exisiting populace. They will probaly not understand the character
either, if not presented with very simple signs and gestures.
Dumb. The loss of speaking can have very severe effects depending
upon the circumstances, but generally this must be decide by the individual
gamemaster. Worth 100 points. Being dumb from birth or ealry childhood is
worth 250 points.
Deaf and dumb. These two handicapps can be combined, and often
are. The problems of this are obvious. Worth 500 points.
Bloodoath. The character have made a bloodoath that cannot
be broken. Bloodoath to friend worth 50 points, a bloodoath to a lover 100
points and a bloodoath to secret society is worth 250 points. These bloodoaths
frequently involve promises of aid in difficult times or the pledge never
to reveal a secret. Don't let the player get away to easy on this one.
Family Supporter. The character is a family supporter having
to provide for others who cannot themselves earn their living. Every family
member supported (mother, father, grandmother, wife, children, sister, brother
and so on) is worth 50 points.
Pregnant. A clear Disadvantage if you're an adventurer. If
the character is pregnant and determined to go through the process, delivering
the child, this is worth 500 points. Note that only players aware of their
responsibilities and being able to correctly roleplay such a situation should
be given the opportunity to choose this Disadvantage.
Insanity. The character suffers from a mental disorder. Roll
once on the Disorder table (pages 83 and 84) to determine the exact nature
of his ailment. Worth 100 points.
Mutation. Suffering from a Chaos mutation is worth 500 points.
Roll once on the table for Personal Chaos Attributes (Slaves To Darkness
page 113). The gamemaster may wish to rule out certain results that would
unbalance his campaign setting, only allowing mutations that are concealable
one way or the other. Another option is to replace any major mutation with
two minor mutations.
Dependent. The character is dependent on one item or substance,
suffering psychological problems if withheld from the object of desire. Thelevel
of dependency varies. Slight, suffering nervous bouts if held from object
or substance is worth 50 points. Medium, suffering negative modifictions
to basic profile is worth 100 points. Heavy, suffering incapacitation in
case of shortage of or loss of object is worth 500 points.
Obsession. The character is attracted to another category of
the same race, or nearrelated races. This is not the normal attraction between
beings, but an obsession on the part of the character that results in an
exclusion of normal feelings for other beings. Minor obsession is worth 50
points, major 100 points. A really unnatural obsession might be worth 500
points. I refer from giving you any examples of what these obsessions might
be, since some people might find that offensive, but just use your twisted
imagination, and I'm sure you'll come up with something.
Allergic. Suffering physical adversities when in contact with
any given substance. Minor allergies, such as astma or simple foodallergy,
are unfortunately not worth anything. Severe astma and foodallergies, resulting
in more than temporary discomfort are worth 50 points. Allergies that
incapacitate the character is worth 100 points, and allergies that could
result in fatal attacks are worth 500 points. Note that the character must
choose a common substance to which he is oversensitive, as there is no point
of being allergic to dragon blood or other rare substances.
Advantages
+1/+10. The character takes any one advance. The basic profile
is not changed. 100 points cost.
Money or equipment. At the exchange rate of 1 GC per point
spent on money or equipment. The Gamemaster must rule what kind of equipment
is available.
Career skill. The character may buy any skill in his current
career or from previous careers. He may not advance into another career.
100 point cost.
Additional skill. The player may give his character any skill
desired, within the limitations set by the gamemaster. 500 points cost.
Contacts. Having good relations to interesting people is very
important if wishing to survive the hard life of the Old World. Use the following
as a guideline to the power of the contact, making your own interpretation
of the contact's position, based upon the character and his role in the campaign.
For 50 points, you'll have a friend in a larger city that can take you in
for a short time. 100 points gives you a contact that also can provide you
with money and clothing as well as simple jobs. For 250 points, you'll get
all the above, with the addition that your contact an influential position
within the city or region (eg a Sergeant Watchman, Minor Exisceman or an
Innkeeper). For 500 points, you'll have a relative or close friend working
within the court or the higher administration.
Supporting Family. A special case of Contacts. The character
have got a family who's supporting him with money and other special favours.
Every 1 point spent on this Advantage gives the character a yearly revenue
of 1 GC, recieved from his family. The character does not get the money unless
he goes to the family home to collect it. The character does not start with
the amount in question, but must wait one whole year to recieve the first
sum. This might also include certain obligations to the family, such as studying
hard, working hard and so on. A character not fulfilling his obligations
might loose the revenue.
Magic Item. Yeah, but it's gonna cost you. For 1000 points,
the player may make a roll on the Random Magic Items list on page 183 in
the basic rulebook or page 98 in the Restless Dead supplement. Alternatively,
the gamemaster may select one item appropriate to the campaign. The magic
item gained is a family heirloom and may not be sold or given away without
incurring the wrath of several family members, alive or dead. Beware!
Friend or lover. The character is always accompanied by a faithful
friend or lover. For 50 points you'll get a close friend, and if you spend
500 points you'll get a friend that would give his life for you. Then there
is a wide range of possibilities between those extremes.
Faithful companion. Trained from childhood by the character
or saved from certain death, a faithful companion is an animal trusting
completely in the character and willing to lay down its life for him. Trained
to obey simple commands. The cost is 100 points + GC cost for animal. The
gamemaster may wish to rule out animals not appropriate to the campaign setting.
Beware…
As you can see there are a lot more Disadvantages than Advantages,
but given the examples above there should be no problem inventing additional
Advantages, or Disadvantages for that matter.
Now to the problem with a system such as this.
Abuse.
The rules are wide-open for abusement and general powergaming arguments.
For example, if I choose to be Hunted by Witch-hunters (500 points) because
I've got a Mutation (500 points) at the same time as I'm deadly Allergic
to alcohocl (500 points) and have got an Obsession about dead people (500
points), I'll get 2000 points to spend on advantages. A character created
this way is obviously deranged and totaly unplayable. So it is up to the
gamemaster to draw the line. Let the rules covering Advantages/Disadvantages
be guidelines to help you create characters with an added depth, and as a
guide to their former doings. Be prepared to fight down players abusing the
spirit of the game and don't be afraid to hit them to hard on restrictions.
It's always easier to let up on restrictions that trying to control a game
gone wild. The gamemaster may choose to allow only one or at the most two
500 point Disadvantages per character, and only let those players that can
handle them take them on.
Consumer Guide, additions
Here are some additions to the consumer guides found in the rulebook
and in Warhammer City. Most are common household items and all follow the
same format as those in the rulebook (name/cost/enc./availability). If an
item of quality is desired, the buyer must be prepared to pay up to 10 times
the price listed here.
Table (4 persons)/15 GCs/600/Common
Dinner table (6 persons)/20 GCs/900/Average
Coffee Table/10 GCs/150/Average
Chair/5 GCs/50/Common
Armchair (flock)/10 GCs/200/Average
Armchair (feather)/12 GCs/200/Scarce
Bench (4 persons)/10 GCs/250/Plentiful
Bed/20 GCs/900/Common
Small Cupboard/15 GCs/250/Common
Large Cupboard/20 GCs/800/Average
Small Chest/5 GCs/100/Common
Large Chest/15 GCs/500/Average
Linen/10 Shillings/15/Average
Pillow (straw)/5 Shillings/5/Common
Cushion (feather)/2 GCs/5/Scarce
Cloth (1 sqr. feet)/5 Shillings/1/Common
Wool (one ball)/5 pennies/1/Common
Crockery
- Tea/Coffee plate/5 Shillings/2/Common
- Tea/Coffee cup/5 Shillings/2/Common
- Dinner plate/10 Shillings/5/Plentiful
- Serving plate/15 Shillings/10/Common
- Medium pot/20 Shillings/20/Common
Glassware
- Pane (1 sqr. feet)/5 GCs/15/Average
- Bottle/4 Shillings to 1 GC/5/Average
- Glass/ 5 to 10 Shillings/1/Average
- Wineglass/10 Shillings to 5 GCs/1/Scarce
Skates (strap on)/4 GCs/10/Scarce
Critical success and Spectacular
failure
If you, when trying to pass a standard skill test in WFRP, roll lower
than the number needed to succeed, you pass the test, if you fail to beat
the percentage, you fail your test. Now, I will add another dimension to
this, inspired by the article Oops! found in White Dwarf #90 concerning fumbles
in WFRP. The concept is that if you when making a skill check roll a double
(ie 11, 22, 33 and so on) something spectacular happens. If the roll is below
the percentage needed to succeed, then you have scored a Critical success.
If the double is higher than the percentage, you achieve a Specatacular failure.
The specific effects of these successes and failures are up to the individual
gamemaster who can add special flavour to any situation encountered. Critical
success in combat is detailed in the Combat section and tables for Spectacular
failures can be found in White Dwarf #90. That article, by the way, was written
by Ashley Dennison and Graeme Davis (see, he got mentioned here anyway. There
doesn't seem to be any way around it).
Tuition makes perfect
The article Practice makes perfect, found in White Dwarf #90 and in
the Restless dead supplement, details the changing of careers and learning
of new skills. I would like to make a few additions to that text.
The first is regarding tuition. If you, when trying to learn a new
skill which does not require tuition, still employ a tutor, you recieve a
+10% bonus to your intelligence check to see if you learned the skill or
not.
Secondly, if you fail the intelligence check when trying to learn
a skill, and get back on the horse immediately and try again (spending the
required time and money), you may add +10% to the next check. If that fail,
and you try again, you may add +20% to the intelligence check, and so on.
Experience points
When gamemastering a fullblown campaign, which is not based on any
of the modules published by Games Workshop, the problem of awarding experience
points is accentuated. Even though this problem was discussed in White Dwarf
some years ago, there don't seem to be any standard solution for the awarding
of experience points. If you follow the guidelines in the WFRP rulebook,
you'll quickly end up with characters that are very powerful, and the campaign
risks loosing it's integrity. After having gamemastered a WFRP campaign for
almost one year, me and my players defined a formula for awarding experience
points, which not only simplified the task of gamemastering, but also made
the players more involved in the game and the experience awards. It's very
simple, really.
For each hour of gaming, award the players 5 points of experience
each. Add to this sum 5-15 points for each objective achieved or for every
action or whatever that made that special session memorable. Let the players
suggest what was a good or memorable action. This way, the players go to
great pains to make the gamemaster aware of everything they did that deserves
experience points awards, and they will remember the events of the sessions
far more clearly than if the gamemaster simply states that "you recieve 145
EP".
Some warning is in place though. Do not let the players bully you
into giving them experience points, and don't ignore the players who don't
say much during the experience awards. If they can't find anything memorable
they did, then encourage the other players to suggest reasons for experience
awards. If all else fails, keep track of that player the next session and
make note of the good things he does and show him the note after the session.
Experienced WFRP gamemasters will notice that this system of awarding
experience points results in a total that's roughly two-thirds of the total
suggested in the WFRP rulebook (on the assumption that a session equals five
hours of gaming). The above formula have been tested for over a year, and
it has worked out so well that we are using it in other systems as well,
such as Call of Cthulhu and Cyberpunk 2020. Of course, if you choose to use
this approach to awarding experience, the characters will progress more slowly
through the ranks, and will have to work harder to get the skills they want.
But it also means that if the players are active, and use their roleplaying
skills to their utmost, they will get their experience points, and have a
lot of fun while earning them.
New Magik Rules
After testing the magic system in WFRP, one finds out that it is simple
and consistent, if somewhat sketchy. The system works well for the spell
included in the rulebook, but if you wish to add the spells detailed in this
publication, and I don't see any reason why you shouldn't, you'll have to
make some additions to the basic spellcasting rules. It is no revolutional
redesign of the rules, but rather additions to make spellcasting more exciting
and dynamic. Even if you don't use the new spells, and I don't see any reason
why you shouldn't, you could find these rules interesting.
Spellcasting
A spellcaster may from now on chose between three different ways of
casting his spells. The Normal Casting, which takes one round to complete
without any difficulties (except those mentioned in the rulebook), the Secret
Casting and the Quick Casting. These two additonal ways of casting spells
are described below.
Secret Casting - When trying to cast a spell unnoticed, the
magician have to make smaller gestures and use only whispered words. This
means that the spell takes twice as long to cast (normally two rounds) and
that the caster must make a WP test at -10% per level (no modification to
Petty Magic) to avoid having the spell canceled by the lack of magic energies.
Anyone observing the spellcaster is allowed an Observe test to notice the
spellcasters activities. Only discrete spells may be cast this way, not physical
attacks such as Magic Missiles.
Quick Casting - This enables the magician to immediately put
the effects of a spell into play. It requires wild gestures and fierce shouting
to enhance the flow of magic. Unfortunately there is a risk of the spell
backfiring. The magician must pass a WP test at -10% per level (no modification
for Pety Magic) not to loose control of the magic, resulting in a backfire.
These backfires are usually the worst effects the spell can have to the caster
(Fireballs exploding in his hands, Healing spells becomes Wounding spells
and so on). If the WP test is passed, the magicians spell takes effect
immediately in the beginning of the round. The spellcaster may, due to exhaustion
not perform any other activity during the round.
Rituals may only be performed using the Normal Casting
procedures.
Combined Spellcasting
With the addition of the spells in this companion, several interesting
options of spellcombinations are opened up for the players. The first one
that springs to mind is Blade of Fire and Shield, which if combined provides
the magician with a powerful weapon as well as a strong defense. Should this
be allowed? I think so, but within limits. The spells that after casting
needs constant refueling to remain active and still allows the magic-user
freedom of movement can be combined with other spells. This includes spells
such as Blade of Fire, Shield, Stonefist and Flee Footed, since they only
need the mental command to fuel the spells at the beginning of each round,
leaving the rest of the round open for further spellcasting. The gamemaster
migh on the other hand wish to rule that casting a spell while another is
being fueled disrupts the concentartion of the magic-user and thereby cancels
the fueled spell. In taht case he could consider uisng Combined Spellcasting,
ruling that any spells can be combined and cast in one round, adding all
costs and effects together and applying them to the caster or target. The
one drawback is that the caster must pass a WP test for every spell involved,
with a -10% penalty per spell level (no modifiers for Petty Magic). If he
fails any of these tests, all spells backfire or are canceled, causing a
lot of grief and frustration for the poor magic-user and his player. The
chosen way to approach this problem is up to the individual gamemaster.
I'll give you an example to show you how Combined Spellcasting works.
Let's say I wish to combine the spells Fleet Footed, Shield and Blade of
Fire. The total MP cost would be 6, and I would have to pass a Magic test
for each spell invoved for a total of three. All three tests are made with
a -10% modifier. If I pass all tests, all spells take effect. If I flunk
one, all hell breaks loose.
New Spells
While waiting for the Realms of Sorcery, if we'll ever see such a
supplement, here are some new spells for all Wizards and their like. The
style of the spells are standard fantasy, and you can, if you search hard
enough, find the equivalents of some of the listed spells in other role-playing
games (I won't tell you which role-playing games, you'll have to find that
out yourselves). The object of this section is to provide magic-using characters
and NPC's with a wide range of interesting spells that can be used outside
the combat environment. For this purpose, most spells have been labled Petty
Magic and Battle Magic, to make them accessible to all types of magicians.
I have, for playtesting purposes, designed the spells so that some have very
high Magic Point costs. This is because I think it is easier on the players
to lower the cost after testing the spell out, rather than raising it.
Animate Object
Spell Type: Battle magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 5
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 hour per level
Ingredients: Pulverised chicken bones
This spell allows the magician to animate one object, no larger than
the caster. Simple commands, like 'sweep the floor' and 'dust shelves', can
be given. The object will try to perform the commands for the duration of
the spell.
Aura of Cool
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 4
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 hour per level
Ingredients: Small piece of platina
An Aura is projected around the caster who, for the duration of the
spell, recieves a +10% bonus to any tests involving Cool. Also, any creature
wishing to attack the caster must make a WP test, at +10%. If this test is
failed, and the caster makes no offensive moves, the creature hesitates one
round. All other rules concerning Auras also applies.
Blade of Fire
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 2 per round
Range: Personal
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Small ball of sulphur
The caster wields a sword of fire, using his WP to determine wether
the attack hits. The blade may not be parried. If a hit is achieved the blade
causes D6+3 points of damage (only metal and magic armour protects). Flammable
targets suffer an additional D4 damage. The blade can be wielded as long
as the magician channels magic points into the spell. After the end of the
last round the caster may decide to throw the blade as a Fireball, doing
D6+3 points of damage to any single target (irrespective of any armour).
Flammable targets are caused an additional D6 points of damage.
Call Object
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 4
Magic Points: 10 (+5, see below)
Range: 100 yards
Duration: Instantaneous
Ingredients: Small vial of milk (preferably fresh)
The caster may target an object to be retrieved by the means of this
spell. To do this, the magic-user must touch the object for more than 10
minutes and give a mental command to the object, spending 5 MP. Later on,
when the caster casts tge spell, the object will instantly appear in his
hands or near his person. Objects to be retrieved can not be larger than
the magician himself.
Chalk
Spell Type: Petty Magic
Spell Level: P
Magic Points: 1
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 turn
Ingredients: Some dirt
This spell allows the caster to use his index finger as it were a
chalk of any desired colour for the duration of the spell.
Cleanse
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 3
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Ingredients: Pulverised crystal
The caster may, using this spell, cleanse one pint of any liquid or
any half pound of any food, so that it will not contain any foreign substances
not naturally inherent in the liquid or food. This means that poisoned food
and drink will become edible, but it also means that if cast upon a delicious
dinner, all spices and other ingredients will be purged from the food.
Clearsight
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 1 per 100 feet of sight
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 round per level
Ingredients: Eye of a wild eagle
For the duration of the spell the caster can percieve all details
within range as clearly as desired. Object must be in line of sight, with
no obstructions between caster and object.
Clot
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 2 per Wound
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Ingredients: Piece of clean cloth
When using this spell, the caster may staunch the flow of blood of
any victim. The bleeding stops by as many Wounds as the magician invests
Magic Points in the spell, at the rate of exchange given above.
Control Higher Mind
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 6 per round
Range: 10 feet
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Brain of humanoid
With this spell, the magician can control one higher mind (ie Humanoid
creatures) for as long as he maintains concentraiton and channels magic points
into the spell. The victim may make a Magic Test to avoid being controlled.
Any being controlled this way obeys the casters commands as long as those
actions does not put the victim or his friends in any immediate danger.
Control Lesser Mind
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 2 per round
Range: 10 feet
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Brain of lesser creature
With this spell, the magician can control one lesser mind (ie animal
creatures) for as long as he maintains concentration and channels magic points
into the spell. The victim may make a Magic Test to avoid being controlled.
Any being controlled this way obeys the casters commands as long as those
actions does not put the victim in any immediate danger.
Counting
Spell Type: Petty Magic
Spell Level: P
Magic Points: 1
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 round
Ingredients: Bead of pearls
Using this spell enables the magician to instantly determine the amount
of one type of object within sight. The caster might for example use this
spell to count coins in a purse (if the purse was open, that is) or the amount
of enemies in an opposing body of troops.
Delayed Fireball
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 5
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 turn/level
Ingredients: Ball of sulphur
A variant of the normal Fireball spell, this spell may be cast upon
any spot the magician desires. After any period of time not exceeding the
spells duration, a Fireball explodes upon the spot designated by the magic-user,
having the effects of a normal Fireball upon any objects and beings within
the range of explosion. Note that the caster must actually touch a spot to
place the Fireball, and that it therefore cannot be placed into thin air.
It can be placed upon an object which then is dropped from any heigth (a
leaf or a feather, for example), or thrown at an enemy (using a stone or
whatever).
Digest
Spell Type: Druid Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 2
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 turn/level
Ingredients: One straw of grass
While under the effect of this spell, the caster may digest any
vegetational substance not normally edible for the caster and gain nourishment
from the substance. Allows the druid to eat grass, leaves and other plants.
The taste of the substance will in no way be affected. Note that to gain
enough nourishment to survive from only eating grass, one would have to put
away quite an amount, and would have to spend a lot of time collecting it.
Electric Schock
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 1
Range: Touch
Duration: Instantaneous
Ingredients: Piece of catskin and a small glass rod
The caster charges himself with static electricity and will deliver
an electrical shock to the next being or object he touches. The shock is
quite powerful and delivers 1D3 Wounds, irrespective of target's Toughness
and Armour. Any victim failing a Toughness test is paralyzed for one round,
unable of any physical action.
Familiar
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 10
Range: Not applicable
Duration: Permanent
Ingredients: A drop a fresh blood
Bordering on Demon Magic, this spell summons a Familiar that is bound
to the caster. This Familiar functions quite different from the Druid Familiar
found in the rulebook. The magicians Familiar takes on a physical form, often
that of a cat or an owl, but always an animal that corresponds with the alignment
of the caster. The form may be no larger than the magician. The form will
have all the normal statistics for the corresponding animal, except for WP
and Int which will be equal to the caster's. The magician and the Familiar
are then in constant telepathic contact, and the caster can use the Familiar's
senses as he wishes. This contact remains as long as the magician and the
Familiar are no longer than 300 yards apart. The Familiar may learn skills
as any other character, within the physical limitations of it's chosen
appearence. If the Familiar is hurt, the magician suffers the same amount
of damage in Wounds. Criticals taken by the Familiar does not effect the
magician.
Firestorm
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 4
Magic Points: 10 per round
Range: 100 yards
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: ball of sulphur and a feather of a dove
One of the most devestating and fearsome spells ever discovered. The
spell allows the caster to control a raging storm of fire within 100 yards.
The storm follows the gestures of the magician and has an effective radius
of 48 yards. The storm lasts for as long as the magician fuels it with magic
points. All creatures and objects caught within the raging fire suffers 2D6
Wounds (Toughness and Armour protects). Flammable targets takes an additional
2D6 Wounds. All targets must also make a Toughness test to remain conscious
for every round they are caught in the storm.
Flame Arrow
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 5
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 round per level
Ingredients: Sulphur and oil mixed together
The caster smears some of the sulphur and oil on the tip of the arrow
or bolt, and then intones the spell. After the spell is completed, the arrow
must be shot within the duration of the spell, using either a bow or a crossbow.
When striking the target, the arrow explodes as a Fireball, causing 1D10+3
points of damage to anyone within 10 feet. Flammable targets takes an additional
1D8 points of damage. If the arrow or bolt has not struck any target at the
end of the duration, it explodes at the present location causing damage as
above.
Fleet Footed
Spell Type: Petty Magic
Spell Level: P
Magic Points: 1 per round
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 round per MP
Ingredients: Pair of miniature golden shoes
While under the influence of this spell the magician may add 1 to
his Move characteristic. The spell lasts for as long as the caster maintain
it with magic points.
Flip
Spell Type: Petty Magic
Spell Level: P
Magic Points: 1
Range: 10 feet
Duration: Instantaneous
Ingredients: Small coin
The magician may flip one object no heavier than a bottle of wine
. Often used to turn a page in a book, or flip a coin to impress friends
and relatives.
Greater Blade of Fire
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 5 per round
Range: Personal
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Small ball of sulphur
This greater version of Blade of Fire creates a two-handed sword of
fire. The magician still uses his WP to determine hits. The blade may not
be parried. If a hit is achieved the blade causes 2D6+3 points of damage
(only metal and magic armour protects). Flammable targets suffer an additional
2D4 damage. The blade can be wielded as long as the magician channels magic
points into the spell. After the end of the last round the caster may decide
to throw the blade as a Fireball, doing 2D6+3 points of damage to any single
target (irrespective of any armour). Flammable targets are caused an additional
D6+3 points of damage.
Hold
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 6
Range: 10 yards
Duration: 1 round
Ingredients: Small chain
A lesser variant of the Stand Still spell, when cast upon any target
no larger than the magician, the target is held by invisible hands, unable
to move, for the duration of the spell. The target is always allowed a Magic
Test to avoid the effects of this spell.
Killing Touch
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 4
Magic Points: 10
Range: Touch
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Pulverised human bone
When touching a living being after casting this spell, the magician
channels his power into the target, which suffers a fatal heart attack and
must make a Toughness test to survive the shock. The spell will only allow
one touch before having to be cast again. Other magicians may also make a
WP test to avoid the effect.
Locate Large Animal
Spell Type: Druid Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 4
Range: 100 yards
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Piece of fur from any large animal
With this spell, the Druid may determine the existence of any large
animal within 100 yards, and also its spieces, age and sex. The spell will
only detect one animal at a time.
Locate Small Animal
Spell Type: Druid Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 2
Range: 100 yards
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Piece of fur from any small animal
With this spell, the Druid may determine the existence of any small
animal within 100 yards, and also its spieces, age and sex. The spell will
only detect one animal at a time.
Magic Steed
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 4
Magic Points: 20
Range: Not applicable
Duration: 1 hour per level
Ingredients: Small silver horseshoes
The magician summons a magic steed, taking the form of a great white
or black stallion. The horse have got the statistics found below. For purposes
of combat, the Magic Steed is treated as if it were a Warhorse. If it encounters
a fog, the Magic Steed may ride on top of the fog as well as on the ground,
thereby gaining a sort of flight. It is limited to the fog and may not ride
through thin air.
Profile: M 10 WS 50 BS 0 S 7 T 5 W 13 I 40 A 1 Dex - Ld 10
Int 10 Cl 10 WP 10 Fel -
Measure
Spell Type: Petty Magic
Spell Level: P
Magic Points: 2
Range: 100 yards
Duration: Instantaneous
Ingredients: Small silver horseshoes
The caster may determine the distance betweem two points, accurate
down to one inch. Both the points must be within 100 yards of the magician.
Memorize
Spell Type: Petty Magic
Spell Level: P
Magic Points: 1
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 day per level
Ingredients: Small ribbon
For every 10 points of Intelligence possessed by the magician, he
may memorize one single thing, such as a name or a place, a picture or a
map. For the duration of the spell, he may recall the name or image to his
mind and see it as clearly as if it really were there. Often used to cheat
on exams, this way to good grades is frowned upon by the real academics,
who are learning just for the sake of learning.
Mend
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 8
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Ingredients: Piece of cloth and sticks
Using this spell, the caster may mend any one broken limb. The spell
must be applied at least within one hour of the accident, and does not stop
any bleeding or other related injuries.
Painful Touch
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 3
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 turn per level
Ingredients: Silver needle
For the duration of this spell, all living beings the caster touches
experiences an intense pain, like being burned by a redhot poker, where they
are touched. The targets must make a WP test not to let anything held go.
If the magician holds on to a target, the victim must make a WP test each
round not to pass out from the intense pain.
Penetrating Gaze
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 3 per inch
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 round per level
Ingredients: Small magnifying glass
By means of this spell, the caster may see through items no denser
than wood as if they were not there. For every 3 MP spent on the spell, one
inch of material can be seen through. This spell does not allow the magician
to see through metals or dense materials like granite or marble.
Read Mind
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 5 per round
Range: Touch
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Small pendulum
When casting this spell the magician may scan the mind of any creature.
This does not mean that the caster understands all thoughts, even though
he recieves all information as pictures and words. A dragon mind, for example,
is far from understandable for a simple human mind, and vice versa. The caster
can through this spell gain information locked away deep in the targets brain,
even things the target wishes to hide. Basic motivations, fears, loves, thoughts
about specific subjects, all are scanned by the magician. The target is allowed
one Magic Test per round the contact is upheld. If the magician looses his
physical grip on the target or a Magic Test is passed, the contact is immediately
broken.
Read Surface Thoughts
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 3 per round
Range: 3 feet
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Small pendulum
This weaker mind scan allows the caster to read the surface thoughts
of any creature within range. The target is allowed a Magic Test each round
the contact is upheld to aviod the probe. Contact is broken as soon as a
Magic Test is passed or the target moves out of range.
Restore Minor Object
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 3
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent
Ingredients: Pieces of broken object
Using this spell, the magician may restore broken objects to their
former shape. The caster must have all pieces of the object, or the mending
will be incomplete. The objects may be no larger than the average vase.
Send Thoughts
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 4 per round
Range: 10 yards per level
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Feather of a pigeon
The magician may by using this spell send any thoughts to whomever
he choses within range. If the reciever is not aware of the fact that he
is to recieve a message, he automatically try to defend himslef by making
a Magic Test, be it friend or foe of the caster. If the reciever does not
want to continue recieving messages after a link is established, he is allowed
one Magic Test each round the caster tries to uphold the link between them.
As soon as a Magic Test is passed, the contact is broken.
Shield
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 3 per round
Range: Personal
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Piece of broken shield
When casting this spell, the magician is, on any chosen arm, given
the protection of an invisible shield. The shield functions the same as a
normal shield, but will not interfere with further spellcasting. The shield
lasts as long as the magician continues to spend Magic Points to keep it
up.
Stairway
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 2
Magic Points: 4
Range: 10 yards per level
Duration: 1 turn per level
Ingredients: Piece of broken stair
The caster may at any place there is space enough, create a stairway,
leeding up or down, to a maximum of 10 yards in all directions per level.
Any obstructions in the stairs way, immediately cancels the spell.
Stonefist
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 2 per round
Range: Personal
Duration: See notes
Ingredients: Knuckledusters
While fueling this spell with Magic Points, the caster gains the skill
of Strike Mighty Blow, if using his fist as a weapon. Note that as the ingredient
is a knuckleduster, the damage is further modified.
Storm Blast
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 6 per round
Range: 48 yards
Duration: 1 round
Ingredients: Piece of charcoal
The caster throws a tremendous storm blast at his targets. All beings
and objects along a straight line chosen by the magician and within 48 yards
must make a Strength test to remain standing. No one may advance towards
the caster. If the caster choses, he may fuel the storm blast with Magic
Points for secveral rounds, requiring a Strength test each round for effected
creatures.
Warpstone Sense
Spell Type: Battle Magic
Spell Level: 3
Magic Points: 6
Range: 48 yards
Duration: 1 turn
Ingredients: Small Warpstone
The caster may while under the influence of this spell feel the presence,
or absence of any source of Warpstone within range. The general amount of
Warpstone is also felt, as is the direction and distance, in a straight line
to the source of chaos.
Wind Protection
Spell Type: Petty Magic
Spell Level: P
Magic Points: 1
Range: Personal
Duration: 1 hour
Ingredients: Small piece of fur
This spell negates any effects upon the character caused by breezes
and medium wind blasts. The effect lasts for 1 hour, or until dispelled by
the caster.
Reputation
When the characters perform their heroic deeds or cowardly runs away,
it's bound to get out. This is called reputation and is at the same time
a blessing and a curse. The good thing about it is that people will recognise
you and the bad thing is that people will recognise you. This is a coin with
two sides, so to say. If you have a favorable reputation amongst the general
populace, you will be well recieved and sought after for taking care of different
problems plauging the good citizens of the Empire. On the other hand, the
bad guys will hate you for it and try to stick a knife in your back at the
most inconvenient times. And the other way around. If you've got a reputation
for being cruel and evil, the common people will shun you but the evil ones
will welcome you as their own.
Whenever a character performs something out of the normal, he is awarded
with an amount of Reputation points, the total varying for different deeds.
When the Reputaion total reaches certain levels, this will have effect upon
the charcters standing in the society.
For every 100 points of Reputation, there is a flat 1% chance of the
character being recognised anywhere within the Empire. If the character is
presently at the location where he performed any Medium or Major deeds, the
chance rises to 10% per 100 Reputation points. Also the sum total of his
Reputation gives the character benefits as per the table below. All bonuses
are cumulative.
under 100 points - no special effect.
100 to 500 points - the character recieves +10% to any Cool
tests.
500 to 900 points - the character recieves +10% to any WP tests.
900 to 1000 points - the character recieves +10% to any Fel
and Ld tests.
over 1000 points - the character receives an additional +10%
to all Cool, WP, Fel and Ld tests.
If the repuation have been gained by cowardly behaviour, the bonuses
are treated as negative, thereby becoming penalties.
In addition to this, the character will be recieved in according to
his legend when dealing with other people.
Now what will I have to do to earn these Reputation points?
The answer is, of course, a lot.
For every brave deed the character performs, give him 1 Reputation
point. If the deed was one connected with danger and a lot of gallantry where
the character risked his life to save innocents, give him 10 points. If he
saved the Empire and all its inhabitants, reward the character with 100 points.
As you can see, it's not easy to become a hero, but if the players
keep on it, they'll get there eventually. Oh and by the way, it's far easier
to become a villain than a hero, just burn and pillage a lot, and your reputation
will soar sky high. Of course, you'll be the most wanted man in the Empire
with Witch-hunters and Bounty Hunters dogging your tarils, but if you can
take that, you'll become famous.
The value of money
Most adventurers live on what they can find while adventuring and
on what they are paid for carrying out different missions for other people.
The amount often is often an even sum, and always over 10 Gold Crowns, more
often over 100 Gold Crowns than under. But what is this money worth in the
long run. What can you get for it, and how does it relate to other people's
income? Here is given an account of what ordinary people in the Empire get
paid for working, and how much they'll have to spend on staying alive. It
is the meaning of this to provide the gamemaster and players with an insight
in just how much their money is worth, this way laying way for a reduction
in the standard adventuring fees, which, in my opinion, are grossly
overdimensioned.
In the WFRP rulebook, page 297, a list of wages for unskilled hirelings
is found. In the following text, I will use the example of an above average
paid unskilled labourer, which I choose to use because he would represent
an average inhabitant of the Empire, with a salary of 9 Shillings a day.
This would mean a weekly salary of 54 Shillings, or 2 Gold Crowns and 14
Shillings. According to the calender found in The Enemy Within, the year
have 400 days, of which about 75% can be used for working. This gives a yearly
income of 135 Gold Crowns. Indeed, not a very impressing sum for our average
adventurer. And I'm not finished yet.
The man probably have got a family to look after. Let's say he's married
and have got two children. His mother-in-law is also living with them. That
means that the money he earns must pay for the food and lodging for five
persons. Can that be done?
We'll have a look at his expenses. We deduct a straight 10% for taxes,
leving him with 121 Gold Crowns and 10 Shillings. The house will need repair
and maintenance and the loans must be paid off, taking an addtional 20 Gold
Crowns of the total. Now we're down to 101 Gold Crowns and 10 Shillings.
The family will need clothing, but we'll assume they do a lot of sewing
themselves, limiting this expense to the purchase of cloth for, let's say
10 Gold Crowns a year. That leaves 91 Gold Crowns and 10 Shillings to pay
for the food. Looking food up in the consumer guide found in the rulebook,
we easily deduct that the family cannot buy their food prepared. That leaves
us with having to resort to groceries. Trying to find out the costs for this
from looking in the consumer guide is not very easy, but if we take a look
at the livestock, we might find some clues. A chicken costs 1 Shilling. Let's
say two chickens and some extra vegetables provides us with a standard meal
for five persons, costing 3 Shillings. Then, the family will have to have
breakfast or an evening meal, costing, let's say 2 Shillings. They drink
mostly water, so they we only charge them 1 Shilling a day for drink. This
adds up to a total of 6 Shillings a day, or 120 Gold Crowns per year. Having
only 91 Gold Crowns and 10 Shillings left, the poor bloke can't afford to
feed his family. Either he takes another job, never seeing his kids or goes
into stealing probably ending up on a chain gang. Or his wife will have to
do some working on her own, letting her mother look after the children. She
takes up selling pies for a local Halfling, earning a scarce 4 Shillings
a day. Over the year she works 200 days, earning a total of 40 Gold Crowns.
Of this, 4 Gold Crowns are deducted for the taxes leaving the family with
36 Gold Crowns to add to the previous 91 Gold Crowns and 10 Shillings, reslulting
in agrand total of 127 Gold Crowns and 10 Shillings. After paying for the
food, the family have got 7 Gold Crowns and 10 Shillings to spend on anything
they like.
Now, you're probably wondering what all this have got to do with you,
being an adventurer and all. Well, it's not as much you but the rest of the
inhabitants in the campaign that should begin thinking about this. If 175
Gold Crowns is enough to keep five people with food and boarding for one
year, the people hiring adventurers will be very reluctant giving out fees
the size of that. Take for example The Oldenhammer Contract, the introductory
scenario found in the rulebook. The character's might get as much as 130
Gold Crowns each, meaning that for a normal size party, the poor Oldenhammer
would have to pay 520 Gold Crowns, or enough money to keep fifteen people
alive and with a roof over their head for one year. In Eureka, the charcters
are offered 100 Gold Crowns each for a mere couple of nights work! These
are only a few examples of where the expenses of the player characters have
been the basis for the rewards gained in a scenario, and not, as it should
be, the real value of the money for the major part of inhabitants in the
Empire, including the charcter's patrons.
And what should be done about this?
The expenses for the characters are not likely to become less grand,
because cutting down on the luxury is hard even for someone as tough as an
adventurer. Being on the road the average adventurer spends over 1000 Gold
Crowns a year on food and lodging, and that's not living it up. What needs
to be done is instead to reinforce the way of thinking about money I have
discussed above. The player characters should be aware of the value of money,
and not go around thinking that everyone can pay them 100 Gold Crowns a piece
for their services. The gamemaster should also go towards making his patrons
pay up more dearly, and providing smaller sums. No one would be interested
in paying up to five ordinary yearly incomes to have the characters perform
one small task for them, when they can get scores of unemployed to do the
same work for pennies. Also the characters should be aware that the prices
demanded in the average Coaching Inn are astronomically high, and that it
would be a really neat idea to buy sopme groceries in the next town and prepare
the food yourselves. A couple of nights under the sky once in a while
considerably cuts the expenses.
By applying this rationale, the characters become part of the world
instead of something floating on top of it. The style of play will become
more of the dark fantasy WFRP began as, as the characters will need to share
their lives and beds with the common populace, getting involved in the hard
life they lead.
Combat rules expanded
First out in this chapter are some modifications to the standard combat
rules found in the basic rulebook.
Dodge Blow
A very useful skill to know, it allows a character to completely avoid
the effects of any one melee attack by making an Initiative test. I suggest
that, because the dodge means that the character somehow moves out of the
range of the attack, and therefore somewhat looses contact with the attacker,
the dodging character recieves a -10% penalty to the next attack.
Specialist Weapon
Instead of the characters having a flat 10% chance of using a weapon
without the proper Specialist Weapon skill, there should be a -25% penalty
to Wepaon Skill when using that weapon. This way, a seasoned Mercenary Veteran
will be slightly better using an unfamiliar weapon than an untrained Peasant,
instead of them being of equal skill, as is the current situation.
Armour Modifications
A character wearing armplates or chain on his arms, is penalised by
-5% to attack and parry for every armourpoint worn (the arms are not counted
seperately). Thus, armourplating on both arms gives -5% and chain and
armourplating on both arms gives -10%, in addition to any Initiative penalties
you might be using already.
You might wish to rule that every armour point worn on the legs gives
-2 yards penalty to movement, in addition to any encumberance rules you might
be using.
Attack Types
The system presented below was designed to allow the players more
involvment in the melee situations, and try to get away from the boring "I
try to hit him with my sword and I rolled a 24 so I hit and he gets 5 points
of damage is he dead?" type of combats, trying to create an atmosphere of
speed and whirling death. The rules are not complicated, but applying them
might be. I suggest that the individual gamemaster read the rules, decides
whether he'll use them or not, and then use the rules given to create his
own set of combat procedures.
The breakdown of attacks into categories based upon the inherent abilities
of a weapon will complicate things both for gamemasters and players as they
will have to devote more time to accurately understand the flow of a melee
combat situation, but the degree of realism acheived is, for me, enough reason
to adopt a system such as follows. Don't be alarmed if you don't grasp the
spirit of the rules at first, but read it again and try to picture the situations
in your head as you encounter problems. The rules are meant to capture the
flavour of cinematic combat as well as trying to be realistic, and if anything
seems unclear to you, just think about how it would work in real life.
Attacks are from now on defined as either a Thrust, a Sweep, a Great
blow or a Punch. Not all weapons can perform all attacks, and some are more
restricted than others. In the following table, you'll find the weapons from
the WFRP rulebook and the attacks that are possible using those weapons and
the penalties applied if using the weapon for an awkward attack.
Furthermore, each attack type (except Great blow) is divided into
either a High, Normal or Low attack. Each of these attacks have their advantages
and disadvantages when used in combat. The following table shows the Initiative,
To Hit, Damage and Parry modifications used when applying that attack. All
modifications follow the same format as the weapon modifications.
Now, how does this affect our combats? Well, every round the combatant
must choose an attack type to perform. The weapon he uses must be able to
perform the attack, and the attacker must have room enough to make the attack
(no Swings or Great Blows in cramped spaces) and the combatant must apply
all modifiers to his Initiative, To Hit and his Damage roll and the defender
has to apply the Parry modification if he choses to Parry the attack (see
also below). The attacker must also be in such a position that he can carry
through the chosen attack. If the character achieves a hit, proceed to the
appropriate Hit Table to see where the attack landed.
The result of the hit, if a hit is achieved, may have other consequenses
than direct damage.
The basic result is the "winning" situation found in the rulebook.
If you score more damage than your opponent, you press him backwards, gaining
+10% to hit for the next round.
In addition to this, the following results apply.
If the resulting damage (ie the damage subtracted from the wounds)
is greater than the characters Strength (or Toughness, at the Gamemasters
discretion), he must make a Strength test (or Toughness) or be knocked back
1D6 feet, and falling down, only being able to attack standing opponents
with a Normal Thrust at -10% to hit and -1 to damage. The opponent may parry
these attacks at +10%. All parries for the character are at -10%. The character
remains on the ground until he "wins" a round or until he is left alone for
one complete round, when he can get up.
If a character is hit on a location not armoured, there is a precentage
chance equal to the resulting damage times 10 that superficial bleeding occurs.
If the head gets hit and superficial bleeding ocurrs, the character is at
-5% to hit and parry, until the bleeding is stopped. If three or more locations
have been struck and bleeding have occurred, the character is at -10% to
hit and parry (-15% if the head has been affected).
Wounds taken in the legs affect the Movement of the character. For
every two Wounds taken, the Movement score of the character is modified by
-1.
If a character is hit by a Great blow from an opponent of equal or
larger Strength, he must make an Initiative roll to avoid loosing his footing.
If this roll fails, the character will be knocked back 1D6 feet and loose
his next attack. He is able to parry normally though. If the attacker continues
attacking he will gain the +10% for winning, even if no damage was scored.
If a Great blow misses it's target completely, the attacker must make
an Initiative roll to regain his footing. If this roll fails, the attacker
will be unable to perform any other attack than a Low or Normal Sweep at
-20% when his next attack comes up, and is at -20% to parry for the remaining
of the combat round. When the character has spent either one attack regaining
his posture or making the described attack, he may again attack without any
special penalties. If a Great blow is parried the character is at -40% to
parry a riposte from his opponent, if the opponent is not struck back (see
above). This attack must be either Normal or Low if the defender is not larger
than the attacker, in which case any attack is possible. If an attacker chooses
a Great blow and recieves a hit from another Great blow before he can make
his attack, the attack is lost, completely.
And now for the parrying. A character may at the beginning of a combat
round state that he is making either a High, Normal or a Low parry. If he
manages to predict where the opponent is placing his blow, any penalties
to the parry for the attack type are ignored and the parrying character recieves
a +10% bonus to the parry roll. If a character goes for a High parry and
gets a Low attack, the parrying character recieves an additional -10% to
the parrying roll, and vice versa. A character may always choose a Normal
parry, thereby adopting a stance that allows quick reaction to any attacks
from the opponent, thereby negating the -10% mentioned above even if the
attack is Low or High.
But how in the world is a character going to predict where his opponent
is going to try and hit?
Well, in some cases that's rather obvious. For example, a snotling
fighting a human would probably only make Low or Normal attacks, and even
if it tried a Great blow, that would still land in the Normal area. A snotling
standing on a shelf, on the other hand, will make High attacks. A giant will
try Great blows most of the time with an occasional Low attack that uses
the High attack To Hit table. Use your common sense and your ability to improvise
when dealing with these situations.
If you use this system with the option of "double criticals" found
below you'll find that your melees will never be the same again. Watch your
footing. If you fall down, you might never get up again!
| Weapon |
Possible attacks |
| 2-Handed Flail |
Great blow, all Sweeps |
| 2-Handed Weapons |
Great blow, all Sweeps, 2H Sword may use Thrust -1 Dmg and -10
To Hit |
| Axe |
Great blow, all Sweeps |
| Bastard Sword |
Great blow, all Sweeps, all Thrusts at -1 Dmg |
| Buckler |
High Punch, Punch, if spiked all Thrusts |
| Fist Weapon |
High Punch, Punch |
| Flail |
Great blow, all Sweeps |
| Halberd |
all Thrusts |
| Improvised Weapon |
at GM's descretion |
| Kick |
High Kick, Kick |
| Knife/Dagger |
all Sweeps, all Thrusts |
| Lance |
High Thrust, Thrust |
| Left-hand Dagger |
all Sweeps, all Thrusts |
| Mace, Hammer |
Great blow, all Sweeps |
| Net |
Entangle |
| Quarter Staff |
Great blow, all Sweeps |
| Rapier |
all Sweeps, all Thrusts |
| Spear |
all Thrusts |
| Sword |
Great blow, all Sweeps, all Thrusts at -1 Dmg |
| Sword-breaker |
all Sweeps, all Thrusts |
| Whip |
all Sweeps, may Entangle |
The Great blow is an attack performed the same way as if you chop
some wood for your fire, using an axe, or if your prefer, the attack mode
chosen by an axe-wielding homicidal maniac. The other attacks are
self-explanatory.
| Attack Type |
I |
To Hit |
Dmg |
Parry |
| Great blow |
-20 |
-10 |
+2 |
+10 |
| High Sweep |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Sweep |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Low Sweep |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| High Thrust |
+10 |
- |
- |
+10 |
| Thrust |
+10 |
- |
- |
- |
| Low Thrust |
+10 |
- |
- |
+10 |
| High Punch |
+10 |
- |
- |
- |
| Punch |
+10 |
- |
- |
- |
| Kick |
+10 |
- |
- |
- |
Hit Tables
| High Attack |
01-40 Head, 41-55 Right arm, 56-70 Left arm, 71-00 Body
|
| Normal attack |
01-29 Body, 30-52 Right arm, 53-74 Left arm, 75-87 Right leg,
88-00 Left leg |
| Low attack |
01-35 Right leg, 36-70 Left leg, 71-00 Body |
Critical hits
Yes, I suggest yet another way of achieving critical hits without
having to bother beating the opponent to a bloody mass first. To speed up
your fights considerably, let every double success (11, 22 and so on as long
as it's below the number needed to hit) rolled result in a critical hit.
The level of the crit is the amount of damage rolled, no toughness subtracted.
Simple as that, and very deadly. It means that every character, no matter
how good, can be knocked over by a lucky score from a snotling. I'll give
you an example, to clarify the whole thing. Corl, leader of the famed mercenary
group the Grey Wolves, whips out his bastardsword, aiming at his opponents
head. The result is 33, and since this is less than the number needed to
hit, his attack succeds and he scores a critical hit. The location of the
hit is the head, and the critical is 10 (d6 roll of 2, S6, Strike Mighty
Blow and Bastardsword dmg modifier). Looking this up in the crit tables we
find that Corl have concussed his poor opponent.
Some last words
Ok, if you want to contact me, I’m on the WFRP mailinglist.
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