Characters (Red Age)

Red Age > Rules > Characters

Basics

Character Generation

• Start with 0 XP at level 1.
  • If you are making a character to replace one who died, start with half the dead character's XP.
• Determine stats, rolling 4d6, summing the best 3, for each stat in order. Then swap any two stats of your choice.
  • If the sum of all your stat MODs is less than +1, you can scrap the character and roll again.
• Choose a class.
  • Gain its extra HP, combat proficiencies, attack, abilities, etc. Make any choices it offers.
• Choose 2 Saves to be proficient in (1 free choice and 1 choice from the options offered by your class).
• Describe your Background.
• Spend your Feat Points (and any Rogue or Mutation Points from your class).
• Determine your caster level (gaining Mana and Panoply) any starting spells.
• Determine starting weapons, armor (and defense), and gear.

Level

Base stats By Level Level XP PROF (HALF) Base HP Life Feat Points Attack High Mid Low 1 0 1 (0) 5 11 2 +2 +1 +0 2 2k 8 11 3 +3 +1 3 4k 2 (1) 11 12 +4 +2 4 8k 14 12 4 +5 +3 5 16k 3 (1) 17 13 +6 +2 6 32k 20 13 5 +7 +4 7 65k 4 (2) 23 14 +8 +5 8 130k 26 14 6 +9 +3 9 250k 5 (2) 29 15 +10 +6 10 370k 32 15 7 +11 +7 +1 +120k +1 +1

Stat Adjustment Cheatsheet HP: +(class bonus starting HP) + ((VIG + class bonus hp) x level) Life: +VIG + SPT Feat Points: +WIT Retiring Once you reach 5th level, any time you are in a place of safety, you can Retire to Safety. You take your personal share of money and items (some gifts to the party might be negotiated with the DM) and either head off into the sunset or settle down to a (probably) comfortable but not earthshaking position (perhaps running a popular tavern, becoming a civic official, etc). You're safe from personal peril, and might be in a position to offer some occasional support to your old companions. Once you reach 9th level, you can Rest on Your Laurels. You depart or settle down, becoming a person of influence and importance, perhaps becoming a local lord, court wizard, wealthy merchant, guildmaster, criminal boss, etc. You can even become a major leader as long as you do it somewhere comfortably far away from the rest of the adventure.

Stats

Vigor (VIG) Strength, toughness, stamina, health +VIG to forceful attack and damage (melee and thrown) +VIG to HP per level Vigor = encumbrance threshold Dexterity (DEX) Speed, agility, coordination, reflexes +DEX to defense (capped by armor) +DEX to finesse attacks and damage (melee, thrown, and ranged) +(DEX or WIT) to initiative Readied Items = (Dexterity or Wits) / 2, rounding up Wits (WIT) Craftsmanship, perception, memory, intuition, quick wits +(DEX or WIT) to initiative +WIT to feat points (can't be used for Growth) Readied Items = (Dexterity or Wits) / 2, rounding up Spirit (SPT) Force of personality, willpower, personal magnetism, spiritual power +SPT to reaction rolls +SPT to morale / loyalty rolls 1+SPT max number of Companions

Stat Bonus Stat Bonus = stat - 10 Stat Bonus shorthand: SB Static Stat DC = 11 + Stat Bonus Stat Modifier Modifier shorthand: MOD (but specific stat mods have their own shorthand, VIG, DEX, WIT, SPT) (stat / 3) - 3, rounding down Values 3-5) -2 6-8) -1 9-11) +0 12-14) +1 15-17) +2 18-20) +3 Personality and Intelligence A low Wits does not mean a character is necessarily stupid. They are less observant, less quick to react, and more methodical working through things, but they can come up with clever plans, be well-educated, etc. Or not. However you feel like portraying them. Similarly a low Spirit means you lack a certain magnetism and force of personality, but you can be as eloquent and social as you like.

Hit Points & Life

• HP (up to 10th) = 2 + class starting bonus hp + ((3+VIG+class bonus hp) x level)
  • Above 10th: +(1+heroic class bonus hp) per level
  • If multiclassing, use your single highest (class starting bonus hp) and the (class bonus hp) and /or (heroic class bonus hp) for the individual class levels gained.
• Reserve HP: equal to normal HP.
  • Reserve HP is converted into normal HP through rest, putting an upper limit on near-term natural recovery.
• Life (rounding down) = 10 + VIG + SPT + PROF

Attack, Defense, Saves, & Effect

Attack Players roll attack against a static NPC defense DC. Attack Bonus (up to 10th, rounding normally) High: MOD + Level + 1 Medium: MOD + 2 x (Level / 3) Low: MOD + (Level / 3) Static Attack DC: 12 + Attack Bonus Forceful attacks add VIG to attack and damage; Finesse attacks add DEX. If multiclassing, gain the partial benefits from each class level, summing and rounding normally. Defense Players roll defense against a static NPC attack DC. Defense Bonus: DEX (while mobile and aware) + Armor Defense Value You may use your Dexterity Save Bonus instead of your Defense Bonus while benefiting from a Dodge action. Static Defense DC: 11 + Defense Bonus Armor Light (+2 defense) Medium (+4 defense, Clumsy 15 / +2) Heavy (+6 defense, Clumsy 13 / +1) Shield (+2 defense) Clumsy limits your Dexterity and DEX to the listed values for all purposes (not just defense).

Saves Players roll saves against a static NPC effect DC. Vigor: used to resist poison, disease, fatigue, privation, magical manipulation of the body, and forced movement. Dexterity: used to avoid trouble by fast reactions, dodging, and taking cover from rays, explosions, falling into pits, etc. A shield (w/ proficiency) gives +2 Dexterity Save against blasts, bolts, beams, falling rocks, and other things you can use it to take cover from. Wits: used to spot incoming trouble, see through deceptions, illusions, and manipulations, and cope with ambushes or confusion. Spirit: used to resist mental, emotional, or spiritual influence by magical or social means, and the imposition of enchantments. Save Bonus Proficient: MOD + PROF Non-Proficient: MOD + HALF Static Save DC = 12 + Save Bonus Effect Players roll effect against a static NPC save DC. Effect Bonus = MOD + PROF Magic: Theurges use SPT. Sorcerers and Malisons may use their choice of WIT or SPT. Static Effect DC: 11 + Effect Bonus

Combat Proficienies

• Weapon: without weapon proficiency, take +D to attack rolls.
• Armor: without armor proficiency, gain only half the equipment's armor bonus, and take Clumsy 11 / +0.
• Shield: without shield proficiency, gain the shield's benefits only while taking a Dodge action.

Background

A brief description of your culture, upbringing, and previous life (e.g. escaped northern slave turned sailor).

• You may know how to play an instrument, sail a boat, herd animals, perform court etiquette, forge a plow, recite local history, etc. You aren't masterful, but you can be competent, or even professional (mastery or unique prowess requires a feat).
• You can perform actions using the knowledge and skills of your background. If the outcome is in doubt, make a check using the appropriate Stat Bonus.
• PCs are assumed to be competent adventurers as part of their background, able to handle pack animals, start campfires, forage and hunt a little, tie knots, make camp, etc.
• Through play and downtime actions, you can add to your background, learning new skills, languages, etc.

Feats

• Feats are unusual knacks or specialist training and knowledge.
• Feat Points
  • 1st to 10th: WIT + 2 + (level / 2, rounding down)
  • 11th and above: +1 per level
• Different Feats costs different amounts. Some Feats have prerequisites.
• Feat List

Classes

Fighter

Base Benefits

• High Attack
• Combat Proficiencies: all armor, shields, all weapons, dueling
• Save Proficiency Choice: Vigor or Dexterity
• +2 starting HP and +2 HP per level (+1 heroic)

Heroic Deeds

• Choose a number between 2 and 19. When you roll this number naturally on an attack, hit or miss, you may also follow up with a Force or Inflict Condition (rolled separately).
• Choose a second number at Fighter level 6.

Weapon Master

• Victories
  • Track your victories with each category of weapon. For each threshold (5, 15, 25, 35) passed, choose 1 benefit that now applies to that weapon category.
    • If you begin 1st level as a fighter, distribute 15 victories among your weapon categories.
    • To count a victory against a foe, you must land at least 1 hit against it in open battle (not by stealth, etc). It's defeat can be lethal or non-lethal (surrender, knock-out).
    • A friendly duel against a warrior close to your own skill can grant a victory if you win. You can't get more than one victory from a given person through friendly duels.
    • When you receive intensive training from or fight a serious duel with a master, or read a rare manual of techniques, you may gain 1 or more victories with the weapon(s) it focuses on.
  • When a weapon fits multiple categories, choose where to place a victory gained with it, as long as it was used that way in the battle (e.g. a thrown spear could be a pole weapon or thrown weapon victory).

• Benefits
  • Deadly: +PROF to weapon damage (if multiclassing, only count your PROF from Fighter levels).
  • Brutal: +1d damage at Fighter level 1. Critical on a 19-20 at Fighter level 5.
  • Cleave: if you fell an enemy, you may carry over any excess damage to another target your attack roll could have hit. With a ranged weapon, the follow-up target must be within 10'. You cannot cleave as part of an Opportunity Attack.
  • Flurry
    • When you use the Attack action, you can split your attack bonus (including MOD, magic weapon bonus, etc) among up to (PROF+1) targets, with a minimum of +1 per target.
    • You can draw fresh ammo and draw Readied throwing weapons, but can't reload a weapon with the Loading tag.
    • You may use Flurry with an Opportunity Attack as well, holding back some amount of attack bonus to use against subsequent OA targets this turn. You can only make OA attacks against those that provoke.

• Weapon Categories
  • Brawling (daggers, fists, grappling, broken bottles)
  • One-handed (swords, axes, maces, hammers)
  • Great (great axes, great swords, mauls)
  • Pole (staves, halberds, spears)
  • Thrown (knives, spears, javelins, axes)
  • Missile (bows, crossbows, slings)
  • Exotic (each is its own category)