TSR11629Teaniry’ Science Fictic Roleplaying Game ‘Campaign Setting Andy Collins and Jeff Grubb U.S., CANADA, EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS ASIA, PACIFIC, & LATIN AMERICA Wizards of the Coast, Belgium Wizards of the Coast, Inc. PB. 2031 P.O. Box 707 2600 Berchem Renton WA 98057-0707 ° Belgium (Questions?) 1-800-324-6496 $32-10-28-32-77 620-T11629 Ace Doncews & Dnasons, ADD, AuEeny,AuAz1Ns Ext, DED, Gemwa Won, Sra*Dant, and the Wiss oF THE Coast logo ate registered trademarks conned by Wizards ofthe Coat, Inc. DaneMaren and Meunorvoss ALP Gauna Kuso, GanaRAUBens are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Ine All Wizards characters, character names, andthe distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast nc. Distributed tothe hobby, toy, and comic trade in the United States and Canad by regional distributors. Distributed in the United States to the book trade ty St Martin's Press. Distributed in Conada tothe book trade by Fenn td. Distributed worldwide by Waards ofthe Coast, Inc. and regional distributors. This material is protected under the copyright laws ofthe United States of Ametia. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material orartwark contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards ofthe Coast, Ic. This product isa work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, ganization, places, or events is purely coincidental. ©2000 Wizards ofthe Coast, Ine. lights reserved. Made in the U.S.A Visit our website at wa. waged comCampaign Setting Credits ers: Andy Collins and Jeff Grubb Editors: Michele Carter and Thomas M. Reid Cover Artist: Monte M. Moore Interior Artist: Raven Mimura Cartographers: Rob Lazzoretti and Todd Gamble Typographer: Nancy Walker Creative Director: Richard Boker Art Director: Paul Hanchette Technical Advisor: William C. Collins, J.D. Project Management: Larry Weiner and Josh Fischer Production Manager: Chas DeLong Playtesters: Tim Adams, Richard Baker, Jim Bishop, Patricia Brooks, Michele Carter, Robert (Bob) Crichton, Tricia Crichton, Bryan Davis, Matthew DeBarger, Troy Ells, Robert N. Emerson, Ric Fitzgerald, Shannon Fiynn, Timothy Guim, Lyle H. Hale, M. Brock Harris, William €. Herrmann, William ‘Bil’ Hezeltine, Tyler Hurst, Brandon KcKee, Gwendolyn Kestrel, Jody Krout, Inhae Lee, Brian Lefferts, Scott Magner, Mark Metzner, Tammy R. Overstreet, Roland Perry, jon Pickens, Sean Reynolds, David Salomone, Mike Selinker, Ed Stark, Dan Thibadeau, Sandi Thibadeau, JD Wiker, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, James Wyatt, Keith Zoltek Based on the A.renuy® rules created by Bill Slavicsek and Richard Baker. Based on the original Gans WoRto design by James M. Ward and Gary Jacquet, with additional design over the years by David James Ritchie and Bruce Nesmith and contributions from too many people and sources to mentionINTRODUCTION Wetcome To My (Gamma) Wortp Peshaps the most daunting challenge in designing the Sth Edition of such a beloved campaign setting was determining just exactly lahat picture of Gans Wosto® to show, Should it be serious or hhumoraus? Dark and gritty oF wild and wahoo? Now, t have all fur previous editions of Gawwa WoR.o on my game shelf (and 've even played three of them!), but! knew! {couldn't make this decision alone, So | talked with lot of Gans ‘Wow fons, bath inside and outside the company, before starting to work. As expected, opinions varied dramatically an what Gann ‘Wor should and shouldn't be: "Mad Max with mutants!” "Bunnies with guns!” "Struggle for survival!” "ig monsters!” "More giant chickens!" (OK, nobody actually seid that last one, but | had to make sure you were paying attention.) Opinions were equely split on what simply "had from previous editions. For instance, for every rabid hoop fan, ‘there was another mho blanched atthe thought of humanoid, gun toting rabbits. (To find out if they made the cut, check out Chapter 7: Creatures of Gamma Terra.) In the end, we decided that it was our duty to put slightly dif- {erent spin onthe familiar post-apocalyptic setting. The inclusion ‘of the Ascent game rules meant that we could design a Ganna Wom that wos tough and hard-hitting, a world where survival was ‘echallenge and death-in the form of harible mutated monsttosi- tiee-lurked around every corner. Most ofthe old Favorites ore still here-though some have been upgraded to *this year’s model” and o Few new faces show up os well But enough ofthis. Is time to stcap on the armor, buckle on the sword and laser pistol, and head to town, Who knows? You might even get to shoot some hoops along the way. robe included Andy Collins October 31, 1999 ‘Aut My Gamma Wortps Or, e's the End of the World as We Know It (nd | feel fine). Gvow Won has been one ofthe foundation stones of modern ole- playing. One ofthe fst science-fiction RPGs, survived changing times and multiple game systems but never lost its attraction. What you holdin your hands is the most recent scion ofa grand old line The Fst Gowns Wok. was not Game Won at al. Instead, it was @ slender SF game from TSR called Manoarvsis AunA™, released in 1975, had onthe heels of the eriginal Dceons & Daasws® game. Jim ‘ards vision of the gome was a big F "dungeon in space"-a starship in which the inhabitants had fallen into savagery, andthe life on- board had mutated into new shapes. It held aot of similarities to its older sister, D&O, but was more compact, confined tothe environs of ‘the Starship Harden, Itwas a campaign setting at atime when the idea of campaign settings was stillnen The fist Gouna Womo game, by Jim Ward and Gary Jaquet, showed Up thre years later, in 1978. It showed great similarities to the earlier MA, but naw was spread on a global scale. Instead ofa single starship, the canvas for the campaign was an entice apocalyptic word. A civilization more advanced thon our own had fallen, and the heits to that radioactive world were mutants, humans, and mutated ‘animals. The powers were unbalanced, and random, there was alot ‘of sudden death and saving throws, and we had a blast playing with it fewas the first “wahoo,” anything goes kind of game, And those DMs who didnot play looted al its technology for thei DED Games. Dave Ritchie headlined the first revision of the game, in 1983, bringing it up to date withthe leading edge of gaming atthe time. We always called this the "Big Robot” edition from the clashing machines on the cover. As a native of Pittsburgh, this version wos “the” Guana Homo For many years, since Dave blew up my home- town to create Pitz Buk. Interestingly, some ofthe buildings that survived Dave's apocalypse have since been torn down in the “real worl.” Even the future changes 05 we go along: In 1986 we saw another change in Guns Wont, a5 the game rules underwent their own gamma-inspited metamorphosis, under Harald Johnson’ ever-watchful eye (this one was the "armored cyber-badger” edition). Yet despite the change in systems, the core of Guwet Hono remained tre te its postapacalyptic, radia tion-fueled heart. It was not ORD, but something much stronger. 11992 there was anathe revision, this one piloted by Bruce Nesmith, Here the box was shed in favor of a move easily handled book, and another new tule system, containing elements eventual ly shaved with Aueenny, was installed, ‘Gans WoKD even managed its own spin-offs, including 1992 armored battlesuie game called Guuns Kusits® and a goofy ver sion called GunneRasoexs® (wll claim responsibility forthe sili er elements of that one). GaunaRoens even got its own comic line fora while. And Meanoreosis A. itself made a brief return in 1994 as part of the Awazinc Eucn® Science Fiction engine. ‘Gana Wot has spawned ts own mutant progeny, and has thrived aver the years, despite changes in systems ond advance- aments in gaming in gener ‘hy has it survived? Part of it is because t's @ fun place to ‘edventurea haunting combination of the familiar and the strange, Por of tis that in all versions of Gans WoRio have a place for heroes with poners beyond the ken of the ordinary. And part of i is that me have a fascination with the future, anda fer vent hope that whatever comes, something we value will survive ‘the Black Yeas. And that something is the human spirit, Now it's the year 2000, and Gauva Won. is ready fort. Shaped by the careful hands of Andy Collins and using the flexible, power- ful gaming engine tht is Assn, we have a Gausa Won. forthe next millennium, Orunti the next Cataclysm, whichever eames frst. Jeff Grubb November 1, 1999 ( siaubisa TOPE eTPED Ce ene TABLE OF CONTENTS Designers’ Introduction Welcome to My (Gamma) World (Andy Collins) All My Gamma Worlds (Jeff Grubb) Excerpt, The Shadow Age. Chapter 1: Weleome to Gamma Terra What's The Game About? What Is Roleplaying? Who Can Play? How Do You Win?. It’s Al About Fun Key Concepts essen What Do |Do First... Where Can | Learn More? Chapter 2: Hero Creation What is a Hero? The Hero Sheet Step by Step 1 Develop a Hero Concept 2D Choose a Species... Humans . Androids Dabbers. Mutants Sasquatch. Sleeth .. filling Out the Hera Sheet Assign Ability Scores Determining Ability Scores Strength (STR) Dexterity (DEX) Constitution (CON). intelligence (INT), will (WIL). Personality (PER). Filling Out the Hero Sheet 4D Select Mutations 5D Pick a Profession Combat Spec. Diplomat 20 Free Agent 20 Tech Op. 20 4 Purchase Skills 20 Obtoining Skills 21 Filling Qut the Hero Sheet 21 Skil Points Spent and Stored 21 7D Choose attributes 22 Motivation 22 Moral Attitude 23 Character Traits 24 8D Complete the Hero Sheet oe 24 Hero's Name Player's Name Gender Last Resorts Setting Gomemaster Action Check: Actions Per Round Combat Movement Rates Situation Die Steps. Durability Attack Forms Weapons Armor Equipment, Personal Data Achievement Track... You're Done! ... Achievements... The Point System, Using Skill Points... Achieverent Benefits Chapter 3: Heroes In Action Playing Gana Wort. Campaigns, Adventures, and Scenes Time . Rolling Dice The Control Die and Situation Dice Situation Die Modifiers Other Dice Rolling Rules Action Rounds Who Goes First? Postponing an Action.. Assisting Actions Two Actions at Once. Combat... Setting Up.. Surprise. Combat Options... Special Weapon Effects Special Combat Conditions. Combat with Style Damage ... Stun Damage Wound Damage Mortal Damage. Fatigue Damage Recovery Armor Last Resort Points Effects of Last Resorts Movement. Combat Movement Strategic MovementEncumbrance... Vehicle Descriptions. eicemesoed dS Climbing . Chapter 7: Creatures of Gamma Terra 115 Jumping... Android. 115 Detection Aitken Sa 116 The Awareness Check - Attercop a nT Range of Vision Badder. . 118 Sound Bearcat. . 18 Encounter Skills Blaash . ug Hazards. - Blood Bird 120 The Endurance Challenge 55 Butorz.. 120 Disease 55 Carin... 2 Drowning & Suffocation 56 Dabber... 2 Falling 56 Fleshin 2 Fire 57 Hawkaid. as Poison.. 57 Hoop... a Radiation 58 Kamodo nls Temperature. 40 Mantid 126 Chapter 4: Mutations. 61 Menarl a. Determining Mutations . 1 Orlen zh Guided Randomization 61 Podog a — Pure Randomization 62 Rakox w Physical Mutations. 62 Sasquatch . fool Physical Mutations Descriptions. 62 Skeeter coll ie Mental Mutations . 68 Sleethaan. ui kd Mental Mutations Descriptions... $8 Spiny anna 2 132 Drawbacks 75 Thought Master 133 Drawback Descriptions inTS Thunderbird 134 Chapter 5: Skills cD Yexil a 135 Broad vs. Specialty Skills. 79 Cryptic Alliances... Skill Points 79 Followers of the Voice... Cost of Skills 80 Iron Society... Skill Scores 80 Knights of Genetic Purity Skill Checks and Situation Dice :80 —_Radioactivists... Single vs. Complex Skill Checks. :80_ Restorationists . Character vs. Character 81 Chapter 8; The Land of Settle... Trained or Untrained...... 81 Beyond Settle. 81 Area Descriptions. 83 Chapter 9: Adventures in Gamma WORD - 83 Part One: Young Heroes Constitution Sills Intelligence Skills Will Skills Personality Skills... Chapter 6: Equipment. Equipping a Starting Hero Gamemaster Discretion Starting Funds... Ages of History Weapons. Melee Weapons... Scene 1: The Badders of Blue - Scene 2: ABridge Too Near Scene 3: Blue Valley Ambush Scene 4: Flies and Spiders Scene §: Welcome to Redman. Scene é: — Falsely Accused Scene 7: Escape from Redman Scene 8 Death on the Water: Scene 9: ASafe Return Aftermath . Part Two: Storms of War... . Scene 1: ASpy Among Us... Ranged and Heavy Weapons Armor Scene 2: The interrogation .. Equipment. Scene 3: Council of War Vehicles Scene 4: Knights in Shining ArmorTable of Contents Scene §: Into the Ruins of Settle Scene 6: Lowland Marshes. Scene?: College of Dub Scene 8: Across the Lake. Scene 9: Council of War, Part Two Scene 10: The Battle Aftermath Part Three: Return of the Ancients. Scene 1: Rekindling the Fire Scene 2: Into the Rainy Mountains Scene 3: Snowbound.. Scene 4; Out of the Mountains. Scene 5: Battling the Dragon Scene 6: Orlens of Yakmah Scene 7: Investigating Usdoe Hanfer . Scene 8: Ruins of Try City Scene9: Bridge Guards... Scene 10: Fortress of Wall. Scene 11: Inside the Lab. Scene 12: The Discovery Aftermath Gana Woruo Hero Sheet Gawna Worto Skill Sheet . Guide to Important Sidebars Complete Hero Creation Process Summary Alternative Heroes nn. Nonhuman Abilities, Skills, and Characteristics Resistance Modifiers GM's Guide to Achievement Points. Phases in the Action Round... Surprise Modifiers. Attacking with Two Weapons.. Point Blank ‘Ammo Expenditure Scavenging. . Gauna WoRto Holistic Medicine... Medical Science Situation Modifiers... Gamma Money How to Read the Equipment Tables Armor Shapes and Sizes. Degrading Damage Optional Rule: Upgrading Damage Layering Armor Damage to Armor Shadow Age Materials Figuring Out How It Works Using Medical Equipment on Nonhumans Cybernetic Equipment Using Computers.. Other Cryptic Alliances Your Own Private Gamua Wor. 166 168 168 169 170 170 173 174 114 116 a7 mT WT 178 2179 179 180 182 186 188 189 190 2191 Tasve GW1 Tasve GW2 Tasve GW3: Taste G4: Taste GW: Taste GWE Taste G7: Taste GWE Taste G9 Taste G10: Taste GWA Taste G12: Taste GIS: Taste G14: Taoue GWIS: Trae G16: Trove GIT: Taaue GIB: Tnave GLY: Taaue GW20: Taste GW21. Tague GW22: Tnaue GW23: Taaue GW24: Taaue GW25: Taste GH26: Taste G27. Taste G28. Tao G29. Tasue G30. Tao G3 Taos G32 Tasue G33: Tao G34 Tosi G35: Taoue G36: Taste G37. Tass G38. Tass G39. Taste GAO: Taaue GW41 Taste GW2 Teste GW43 Taste Geld Taaue GWAS Taste Gh46 Teste Gd? Teste Gelda Taste G49. Ding 1: Ding 2: Compiled Tables ABUTY SCORE LIMTS .sccseeeesseeseeneseesee D8 RESISTANCE MODIFERS.e.cssceseenteneeeensses] Free Broan Skius for HEROES 22 Heno Staari Skiut Pons. 22 Last Resoar Poin... 25 Acvions Pee Rovao. 25 (Comsat Movesent Rates| 26 Sent & Damas 27 ‘Achrevenent Benefits 30 (Cone Mecuanic CHART 33 ‘Sms ano Resistance Mooi. 36 ‘Mopirens To UNARMED ano MELe® ATIACS ......40 (MoDIFERS TO RANGED ATTACKS .ssssees TwaoW SMUATION MODIFIERS... Accuracy ay RANGE TeRaiN in Cobar. Conant Movement Fes... (OveRLano Trav. Mouvreo Taavel ENCUMBRANE CCune Siruarion MoD IFRS. ScavENGING RESUUTS. Detection Mooi... VISUAL DeTEcTIOn RANGES... EncoUNTER Sku EFFECTS... Impact Dawace Fine DaMase Posow Raoiation RaoisTiOn Eres. Potent MUTATIONS... uous ano Murarion Murarion Por DisrreuTion Murarion Rawoowizs Physica Murano Manat MUTATIONS... Drawoacrs, LATED ABIUTIES Siruarioy Die Moose... CConpuex Ski Crecxs Base Sruamiow Dice. Sku. Lst Mexee WeaPoNs Rawceo ano Heavy WetPons Armor. . Agmifact ExxMinaTion MODIFIERS. 101 Euirmenr 105 Compurens. - m1 Venues ietnseneselS Scarer Diacran ARTIFACT EXXMINATION|THE SHADOW AGE The 2st century began with a sense of hope. Humanity hhad survived the millennium. East and West had a tenta~ tive peace. While the horrors of war still flared up, the superpowers themselves fought only in boardrooms and trade negotiations. The threat of nuclear devastation that had loomed so menacingly over the second half of the previous century now seemed dated and foolish. The world economy was flourishing as the concept of a "global marketplace” took hold among the governments and ‘megacorporations. Prosperous nations turned from build ing war machines to rebuilding infrastructures, We ruled the Earth, and no problem seemed too great to solve. No one knows exactly when the Invaders arrived, or from where—or when—they came. They said that they had been watching us, and that we were now “ready” for their gifts. Many among us believed them—as | said, it was an optimistic world—but there were those who didn’t trust these friendly newcomers. Political persuasion didn’t seem to matter—dissenting voices were heard from both ends of the political spectrum. Jadmit to being woefully naive. I saw the arrests, but thought little of them. After al, these were dissidents, ‘malcontents, and potential terrorists who didn’t seem to value the great advances in medicine, computer technol- ogy, and ecological reform that the newcomers promised us. Most of us believed that small sacrifices in personal liberty were worth the trade. Naturally, there were some ho felt strongly otherwise. Just as none among us knew the Invaders’ origin, it remains unknown who was responsible for what hap pened next. It could have been just about anyone; after all, there were still plenty of unaccounted-for nukes smuggled out of the former Soviet Union. Still, the sight of the Invaders’ mothership crashing into Central Park in 2 firestorm of mythic proportions won't soon be forgot- ten, At least, not by anyone who survived the cataclysm that followed. But just because we didn’t know who was responsible didn’t mean there wasn't plenty of blaming going on. ‘Americans blamed the Chinese, calling it the "frst step” toward the next world war. The Chinese blamed the Jopan- ese. The Japanese blamed Russian onticapitalist dissi~ dents. The Democrats blamed the fundamentalists. The Republicans blamed the leftist ecofreaks. The CIA blamed the Iragis. The rich blamed the poor. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. The remaining Invader ships disgorged thousands of armored troops with high- tech weaponry. It was as if we had just poked an anthill, ‘and the soldiers poured out to defend their masters. Thanks to the growing tide of disarmament, we were woe- fully unprepared for an incursion of this magnitude, They took over and declared martial faw in more than a dozen citiesineluding London, Paris, Singapore, New Delhi, Sydney, Houston, Seattle, Atlanta, and more—before someone panicked and pushed the button. The rockets flew, the bombs fell, and in a matter of hours we had struck a decisive blow toward regaining our freedom. But that wasn’t the end of it. Apparently, the Invaders had brought some weapons oftheir own: gravitic weapons that triggered fault lines, chemical weapons that poi- soned the air and water, and biological weapons that played havoc with the genetic structures of all life on Earth, Most humans simply died. They were the lucky ones: They didn’t have to watch civilization crumble as neither Earth’s natives nor its new conquerors were strong enough to restore order from the chaos. Instead, inthe years to come more armies would march, more bombs would fall, ‘more cities would collapse, and more people would die. But a few of us survived. As | pen these words, ten years after the Cataclysm, | hope that they will prove useful to those who come after me. |hope that we, as a people, can remember who we once were, and who we can be again. | hope that hope itself is not gone from the world in this ‘age of shadows, and that in the years to come, humanity will ise again Shadow Age, Author Unknown LO achapter : Welcome to Gamma Terra ‘The Ganva Worto® game is based in a dark future where humanity—and indeed, the Earth itself-struggles to survive. But thanks to the devastation unleashed by the Cataelysm and the many changes wrought during the Shadow Age, neither humanity nar Earth are quite the same. Strange mutations are common, and many animal species have ‘evolved to gain sentience and now walk alongside humans Many years have passed since the Cataclysm, and the cities of the Ancients lie in grass-choked ruins. But treasures beyond imagining stil lie hidden in these tombs of concrete, metal, and glass—treasures that might allow the bold ‘and opportunistic to pull themselves up from their primitive surroundings, or perhaps even regain the Ancients’ lofty position of world domination Itisa time or heroes, for those who'are strong of arm and heart and mind to tame the wild frontiers and bring orderto the chaos. Will you be one of those heroes? Wuat’s THE GAME ABOUT? The Ganita Wonto game is « postapocalyptic setting for roleplaying adventures, using the Aureaury® rules system. Its a campaign set na world aftera global holocaust, when the warld thatwe know today has been destroyed. New civi lization; new races, and new heroes arise from its.ashes, The Atreuiry tiles required to play Gave Worwo are included inthis book. No further purchases are necessary. The Atty rules system is a roleplaying game system of modem action to far-future adventure. It is a ruleset that allows players to enjoy heroic adventures in the worlds of science fiction, and in the case of Gama Horo, science fan- tasy. The Star*Dnive? and DanksMATTER” campaign settings use the Arrenuny game rules as well, and heroes from one set ting can be readily transplanted to another. ‘Aeawiy is also available as its own set of hardbound rulebooks—the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster Guide. The information within those nilebooks has been condensed for this campaign, concentrating on those elements that are applicable for the postapocalypse world of Gana Wom. If you enjoy this edition of Gunns WoRiD, you might want to check out the other worlds of Aueaiy. Finally, Guna WoRip is a campaign with a jong and varied history. Its original incarnation is almost as old as role~ playing itself, and it has seen no less than four previous incarnations. This edition combines the best of those edi- tions, bringing them into a new rules setting to create the definitive Gens Worto, « complete and dynamic roleplaying game. Wuat Is RouepLayine? If you're familiae with other roleplaying games (such as the Atrewiry or Avancco DUNGEons & DRAGONS” gales), you might want to ship ta themnext section, because we're about to provide a quick overview of what a roleplaying game is. If You're new to the hobby, get ready to enter an exciting new world. Remember when you Used to play Make Believe, when you pretended to be “Cops and Robbers” or "Cowboys and indi- ‘ans"? Fora few hourson a summer afternoon, you played the roe of a police officer, a cowboy, or some other hero from {omic books or television. You created props and settings from your imagination, and you and your friends made up stories that everyone contributed to. It was lots of fun, but it was also totaly free-form=there were novules to speak of, and sometimes disagreements cropped up that ended a game before a ful story could be toldMake Believe has come a long way. It has matured and developed into modern roleplaying games such as, this one. In a roleplaying game, every player takes on the role of an imaginary character. These player charac ters are the heroes of the story. One member of the group acts as the referee, or Gamemaster. This person uses the rules of the game along with his judgment to decide the outcome of every hero's actions, usually by applying the results of dice rolls ar by gauging the heroes’ reactions to specific situations. The Gamemaster (GH) sets up the overall plot of each story, also called an adventure. The GM's role includes cre~ ating the background, developing the characters who make up the supporting cast and villains, planning key events that propel the story forward, and establishing the opening scene that gets the action moving. From that point on, the Gamemaster acts much as the director of a movie or the narrator in a novel, showing the heroes the world around them and describing the action as it unfolds. ‘The Gamemaster is the person in charge of the game. He gets it started and keeps it going. When a simple game of Make Believe comes to a halt, it’s usually because the players couldn’t agree on what just hap pened or what was going to happen next. That disagree- ‘ment doesn't occur in a roleplaying game, because the Gamemaster has the final say in any situation that isn’t covered by the rules. However, the Gamemaster doesn’t dictate everything that happens. Unlike the characters in a novel or a movie, the players’ heroes don’t just do what an author decides they will do, The players take an active role, describing how their heroes react to the events going on ‘around them, When players, characters, plots, rules, and imagina~ tions get together, the resulting swirl of interaction and participation is called roleplaying. Through roleplaying, the group tells a story that’s started by the Gamemaster ‘and expanded on by the players—a group story. These group stories can be more fun and rewarding than the static stories found in books and on the big screen because they're interactive. Everyone participates in their creation, FS 5 a 5 E} 5 Ey cs By FI] EJ ES Ee, 5 BOe Who Can Play? Anyone can play in Gata WoRto, though the recommended starting age is 10. In addition to the Gamemaster, as few 1s one and as many as ten players can participate, but {game sessions work best with groups of four to six players. How Do You Win? Roleplaying games aren't about winning and losing. The goal of a roleplaying adventure is to create a group story. Inthe Ganwa Worio setting, the Gamemaster doesn't try to defeat the players’ heroes (although he will put chal- lenges before them), and the players don't try to outdo ‘one another. Instead, they interact to advance the story and to solve the problems or mysteries the Gamemaster sets up at the beginning of each adventure. Technically, a roleplaying game doesn’t have to end. As long as the participants are enjoying themselves, the game can continue over any number of playing sessions. ach of the Gamemaster’s adventures can be a story in itself, with no connection to other adventures. Or, the adventures can be tied together in an ongoing story, which is also referred to as a campaign. Ifa single episode of a TV show is an adventure, then the entire run of episodes is a campaign. During a campaign, characters grow and change. The players’ heroes learn from their experiences and become able to handle tougher challenges. ifthe heroes achieve some sort of ultimate success (defeating the archvillain and saving the world), that sue~ cess cauld mark the end ofthe current series of adven- tures—but it isn't the end of the game ifyou don’t want it tobe. IFeveryane in the group wants to keep playing, all you have to dois start fresh with a new series of adven- tures (and perhaps a group of newly created heroes, if you want to try roleplaying a different kind of character) It's All About Fun [Above all, the Avteany rules are designed so that you can have fun creating and playing adventures set in the Wasted Earth of Gamma Terra. Don’t become caught up in trying to play it exactly as it's written, if that gets in the way of having a good time. This isn't a college textbook, and there's no final exam waiting at the end of it. Take what's presented here, adapt it, make it work for your {group and your style of play. Have fun! That's what role- playing is all about, Key Concepts Let's take a look at the key concepts behind the AireRNiTy rules system. These concept include basic game mechan- ies, fundamental character information, and a few spe- cial terms that players need to know. Hero: An imaginary character created by a player. Rules for making your hero are found in Chapter 2: Hero Creation. © Gamemaster: The participant in the game who acts as the maderator, narrating adventures and representing other characters involved inthe adventures who aren't, controlled by the players. Supporting Cast: The aforementioned “other char- acters" controlled by the Gamemaster, including the heroes’ allies and enemies. It’s important to understand that while the heroes are the stars of the show, members of the supporting cast can be just as powerful. Adventure: A group story created by the heroes interacting with the supporting cast in a particular sce- nario or setting. Every adventure is built around a situation (typically a problem the heroes have to solve), and it ends when the heroes have either succeed in achieving their goal or failed to do so (in either case often leading to new adventures). Chapter 9: Adventures in Gunna WoRto contains three adventures for the GaN WoRto game. If you're planning on playing Gamma WoRtD, rather than being the Gamemaster, don’t read these adventures! Doing so will just spoil the fun and surprise of playing them. D Profession: Every hero in the Gavna WoRLo game is built around a profession. A profession is an general classification under which skills are grouped. The differ- ent professions—Combat Spec, Diplomat, Free Agent, and Tech Op-also grant additional benefits and are described in Chapter 2: Hero Creation. D> Abilities: All characters (both heroes and support ing cast) have six Abilities. These are Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Will, and Personality, and are ‘expressed by a number, known as the Ability Score. Chap- ter 2: Hero Creation has mare information on Abilities. D Skills: Skills are a measure of what your hero is good at. Every Ability and profession has skills elated to it, Ahero’s proficiency with o skill is expressed asa number, known as a skill score. Skills are detailed in Chapter 5: Sills. Mutations: Also known as mutant powers or mutant abilities, mutations are special inborn abilities of a hero or supporting character, and may be unique or a result of the characters’ species. These powers are fully described in Chapter 4: Mutations.Actions: When a hero wants to use one of his or her skills, mutant abilities, or other characteristics to accomplish something, the hero attempts an action. There are different types of actions, each involving the use of different skills and characteristics. Rules on adju- dicating the outcome of various actions are found in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. P Dice: When the outcome of an action ins doubt, or when the Gamemaster needs to measure a character's degree of success, dice are rolled. The ALteRNTY rules system uses two kinds of dice: a single control die and situation dice of various sizes. The control die anda situ- ation die are rolled together to determine the outcome of tan action. The lower the roll, the better the chance that the hero succeeds when attempting an action. Complete information on how to use the dice is found in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. What Do I Do First? If you're new to roleplaying games, you might be wonder- ing how things get started. Basically, it's pretty simple: After you've created a hero and gotten together with the rest of your group for your first adventure, your Game~ master presents a situation—maybe something like this: You're passing through the traders’ quarter, and the merchants are trying to entice you to buy their wares— irradiated fruit from the hinterlands, bits of mangled motherboards, bandoleers of bullets, and canisters of petrol. Suddenly there is guafire from one side of the plaza, and humans and mutants scatter as a large rab- bitlike humanoid on a huge horse rides into view, fires a pistol randomly into the crowd, and pulls a smoking grenade from its belt! or You have been waiting for your contact for three days on the rocky outcropping, swatting bugs and lying low. On the third day you hear people approach, but it’s not your contact. instead it’s the heavily armored form of a Knight of Genetic Purity. He seems to be searching for someone, After setting the scene, the Gamemaster asks, "What. do you want to do?” In game terms, doing something is known as taking an action. You might know right away what you hero's action will be, but don’t just call out an ‘answer. Wait for the Gamemaster to say it's your turn Then answer as your hero would, explaining what your hero is going to do. What can heroes do? Almost anything! A hero can say something, move, use a skill, use a piece of equipment, use a mutant power, duck behind cover, or anything else you can think of. The Gamemaster determines whether your hero succeeds at what he tries to do, either by assessing the situation and making a judgment, or by calling for dice rolls. After all the heroes have performed their actions and the Gamemaster has had the members ofthe supporting cast take their actions, the process starts again, Now the situation is different from what it was when the scene ‘opened, and the next actions the heroes attempt might also be different from what they just finished doing. Where Can I Learn More? The book you're holding has all the information you need to play the Gane WoRto game. However, if you're inter- ested in more complex rules for playing, or if you want to play in other science fiction roleplaying genres (such as ‘Space opera or science horror), pick up a copy of the Airenniy Player's Handbook (TSR02800). Gamemasters who want more tips on running o campaign can purchase the Gamemaster Guide (TSRO2801). These books, as well 4s other supplements and adventures for the ALeRity science fiction roleplaying game, are available at local hobby, game, and book stores as well as online at www.wizards.com. PP ee Eyt a ein Heeann, ‘and televibion seffes has heroes. They're the stars f the stories, the central charac~ éat events transpire. The hore Rs ctf ilahisrolein oleplaying games; servings protogo- nturés/the Gamemaster présents, lithe Wadi game, ae ecg epee hei ‘as “herges.” jot’s up toyou, becayse you're ‘create:the kind! of hera.you want to play. Aretl-¢ ied world? NOY butiMony havetthis iiclination; Like the heroes-of bopks » | jeate needs to be someone'who really matters. Your her Bet pet ested pth ‘ rethechargeters whom, ultimately; the beset oe 3 jpute or flawed, driven ty:duty orgreed, Béad or not Sa go0d-t doesn’t matter aslong’as you can eo era) i ite and.the hero doesn’t violnte-theltenets af the.Gamemaster’s world. Even the 0 aes aby ‘aswell as the abil sar tofeart, endta << f in its thot sludys seem to\whirl around t Huy a Gann ire play anability to cooperate with ath rtefes; havdigbot! odes mes bad, and de cece? iat Graifun to tied caré-about. Th silat makes you ch pueehaer weekto see whe herve: ssiand characteris thes Biber eae Anhieh you may photoco ae ibe Found athe ond oF his bo ee ‘be'o creation process, fill heappropriate space on theherosheat withthe d aA {ordecited. OF colts you can also use a separate sheet of paperty jot down even ction, or ven vrite'a short biography, When you'ce finished with the hero creation process, sof Infomation yOu need. Hagens Yourters TeGopiabat -adventure. < £ ed bela in enty-to-foon step eon ea Ee ial oiled the sidebar onthe e ie clear the you bale co bul ots Take eich stepone't nei ty1 > Devetop a Hero Concert Ahero concept is a general idea of the hero you want to create and play in the Gama WoRio campaign. A good concept starts with a few descriptive tags and then expands as much as you feel is necessary before you move on to the next step. (Note that the hero sheet does not have a place to write down a hero concept; instead, the concept of your hero will ultimately be defined by a collection of other entries on the hero sheet, such as “Profession,” "Species,” and “Attributes.” Start with a concept that revolves around what kind of hero you want to play. Pick a character from your favorite novel or movie to use as a basis, or start by deciding what your hero is going to be good at. Do you want to play a tough fighter-type or a stealthy agent, « respected negotiator ora juryrigger with a solution for every prob- lem? Forming a concept starts with answering the ques- tion "What does my hero do?” Another approach is to start with the question “What is my hero lke?” This sort of concept builds on a person- ality type instead of a job choice. Assign a descriptive term to your hero, such as brave, cautious, curious, rash, logical, aloof, or friendly. You can also develop a concept by answering both questions, so that you start with a brave warrior, a cowardly sleeth, a stubborn healer, or a curious sasquatch trader. The goal is to generate a concept for a hero who’s both fun and compelling to play. There's no strict formula for this. Some players have their characters well formed in theirminds right away, and those heroes’ concepts emerge almost fully fleshed out. Others need to think about it, asking questions such as “What does my hero do to survive?” and "How does my hero behave?” The answers form the basis of your hero concept. 2 Cuoose a SPECIES Your Gamemaster will let you know if all heroes in his or her Ginna WoRiD campaign must be human, ar if you ean choose to make your hero a member of one of the nonhu- man species—android, dabber, mutant, sieeth, or sasquatch—that are part of the Gamma Wont game. If any of the alien species are available, you may want to look over the following information before deciding what species your hero belongs to. Beyond that, it's a good idea to be generally familiar with the entire hero creation process before you "go mutant,” because you'll need to be aware of the ways in which alien heroes are different from human heroes in game terms (see the "Nonhuman Abilities, Skills, and Characteristics” sidebar below) 13 In addition, keep in mind as you read the descriptions of the nonhuman species that some of them are better suited for certain professions that make the best use of their abilities. For instance, sasquatch heroes are good candidates for character concepts that rely heavily on physical skills. On the other hand, android heroes are relatively better suited for concepts that emphasize mental skills. Humans Humans—also called “pure strain humans” because of their nonmutated state—are the genetic baseline of Gamma Terra, They were the former masters of the world inthe Ancient Age, now reduced to one of many sentient races attempting to survive. In appearance, pure strain humans look much ike modern humans, in a variety of shapes, shades, and sizes, though most are models of health. n a world with sentient snakes and intelligent badgers, small variances in weight, height, and skin color seem to be less important. TORE aE | Rovertarins Inthe Gene Worio game, pure strain humans are con- stantly reminded of the power of their ancestors. They are surrounded by the ruins oftheir past, reminders of how they have fallen as a race. Some swearto make anew beginning among the rubble, avoiding the perceived faults ofthe past. Others seek to reclaim their glory as the greatest of the sentient races. Still others choose nei- ther path, and seek only to survive the brave new world. ‘SPECIAL ABILITIES Skill Bonus: Human heroes begin the game with § more skill points than the number indi- cated on Table GW4: Hero Starting Skill Points. Starting human heroes may also learn one more broad skill than is indicated on that table. Improved Durability: Pure strain humans are particularly durable and healthy. Add +2 toa start- ing human hero’s Stun and Wound ratings. There is no effect on the hero's Mortal or Fatigue ratings. D DNA Fingerprint: Mony of the devices of the Shadow Age will work only for humans, and are equipped with DNA-locks that determine the user's race before ieen Complete Hero Creation Process Summary 1 Devo a Hero Concert Begin by asking yourself some questions that will help you define the srt of hero you want to create: What kind of campaign is my Gamemaster running? What does my hero do to survive in this twisted world? What sort of personality does my hero have? The answers will help you direct some of the choices you'll make during the rest of this process. 2» Cuoose a Species Any hero can be a human, but you may also be able to roleplay one of the species unique to Gamma Terra— android, dabber, mutant, sasquatch, or sleeth, depending on the type of campaign setting your Gamemaster uses. 3 b> Assion ABILITY Scores Divide 60 points among the six Abilities—STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIL, PER~and assign those Ability Scores to your hero. Make sure to arrange them so that your hero ‘abides by the minimum/maximum figures for Ability Seores forthe species af hero you create. The figures ‘re given in Taste GW: ABtiry Scone Ln. 4 > Stusct Mutations Certain species have mutant abilities as listed in their species description below. Mutants, and to some degree sleeth, have additional, individual abilities, while dab- bers, sasquatch, and sleeth have species mutations. 5 > Pick A Proression Select a profession—Combat Spec, Diplomat, Free Agent, or Tech Op-that logically encompasses your hero's character concept. Each profession provides special benefits to the heroes who belong to it. 6 > Purcuast Skitis Your hero gets six free broad skill, which vary depending on the hero's species. See Tass GAS: Fate Brouo Skis FoR HEROES. The number of additional broad skills your hero can start with, and the number of points he receives to pur- chase additional skills, depend on the hero's species tnd intelligence score. Tae GH42: Suu List in Chapter 5: Skills contains complete information on how much skills cost and what each one enables a hero to do. 7 > Cuoose ATTRIBUTES Choose one motivation, one moral attitude, and up to two character traits for your hero. 8 > Compuete Tue Hero Sueer As you've gone through this process, you've jotted down various entries on the hero sheet that describes, your reation. Now’s the time to fill in the rest of the blanks so that you can finish making your hero and get him going on his first adventure. 4 allowing the device to function. The detectors study a variety of factors, including a deep genetic scan. This is explained mare fully in Chapter 6: Equipment. Radiation Resistance: Humans native to this world have a-2 step bonus to ros on TaBue GW29: RaoitioN in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. In addition, pure strain humans do not mutate as a result of exposure to radia~ tion. However, they may still sicken and die of it. D Starting Money: Human heroes begin with 2 « the normal amount of starting cash. (See Chapter 6 to determine.) Androids Androids appear, on first glance, as humanoids, and can pass as a human or mutant. Upon closer examination, it is clear that they are artificial life forms. Veins of cir= cuitry weave through nonhuman flesh in spiderweb pat- terns, forming beings that are part organic and part lost, technology. Their bones are strengthened with flexible metal rods, and their hair is a combination of organic material and cable filaments. The origins of the androids are unknown, even to the androids themselves. Even the oldest androids are unaware of their creators or method of origin, ROLePLaNs Androids consider them- selves alive, os much as the pure strain human or mutat- ed buffalo, Others do not share that opinion, and con- sider androids tobe little more than machines to be ordered about, and if need be, disassembled. Since no one knows how to reassemble an Aroids (they are self-repairing, effectively the same as living creatures’ natural healing), this is akin to vivisection Androids eannot operate most modern weapons and tech. nology that require DNA Fingerprints—whatever their organic component, itis not suficiently human, How ever, they can repair these items, as well as benefit from the ability to communicate directly with ancient Als and computers Androids are rational and logical~they belive that every problem has a solution, and the challenge les in finding that solution They are not humarless, though theie humor (and other emotions) may be exaggerated. An android mayAlternative Heroes The Gana WoRLo game is designed primarily for use with heroes native to the campaign world. However, with the star-spanning (and dimension-hopping) possibilities of the AvreRNiTy game, other campaign styles are just as viable. For instance, Airey characters designed for a Tangents campaign (TSR11352) can travel from their home dimension to Gamma Terra. Or, time-traveling heroes from the Daak+Marrer campaign (TSR11433) setting might visit this “alternative future.” Depending on the core campaign, heroes may be human, fraal,t'sa, or any other Arteewry species. Such species won't be vulnerable to radiation-caused mutations, and even humans won't have the proper DNA Fingerprint to operate PL 6 and PL technology (unless the Gamemaster decides otherwise). If you're bringing heroes in from anather campaign setting, be sure to note the minor differences between the campaign settings, particularly in the area of skill selection and cost. In the case of a conflict between the Gunns WoRio rules and the rules specific to the campaign setting you use, the Gamemaster should arbitrate a fair and just solution. decide that “now is the time for humor” (or “sorrow,” or 3") and fing himself or herself whole-heartedly into the act, because is the rational thing to do Androids as a group tend to be protective of humans, though this is not universal. They often seek to help pure strain humans, and do not usually attack them unless the androids are threatened first. The reason for this fondness is nested somewhere in their program- ming, and the androids accept this as part of the “rightness of the universe ‘SPECIAL ABILITIES D Cybernetic Enhancements: Each android has an implanted nanocomputer, cyberopties, and optic screen (see Chapter é: Equipment). They need not spend the 10 skill pints normally required to learn how to operate the nanccomputer. These devices also don’t count against the android’s limitation on installed cybergear and don'tinflict ‘penalty on future installations of cybergear (see the sidebar "Cybernetic Equipment” in Chapter 6: Equipment) P Technological Understanding: Androids have a -1 step bonus to skill checks made to determine the func- tion of any artifact. See Chapter 6: Equipment for more information on how this skill check works. Radiation Resistance: Androids do not mutate as @ result of exposure to radiation. However, they may still sicken and die of it. D Tech Access: Androids may use some items of PL equipment despite the normal restriction listed under “Hiuman,” above. See Chapter 6: Equipment for more information. @ Dabbers Dabbers area diminutive (meter tall) race that resembles bipedal ver- sions of ancient raccoons, They have broad, masked faces, opposable thumbs, ‘and short, striped tails. Their fur is mostly brown with white and brown striations. Dabbers are known for their playful personalities and their total disregard of individual property rights. Despite their small size, they have powerful mental abilities. ROLEPLAYING Dabbers see themselves as the children of the new age, a better age, a more diverse and Nonhuman Abilities, Skills, and Characteristics Every nonhuman species differs from pure strain humans in a number of ways that have an immediate effect on hero creation: D Different limits on how low or high an Ability Score can be, as outlined on Teue GH1: ABiuty SCORE Ln. D> A different group of broad skills that the hero gets for free. See Tabut GW3: Fret BroAo Skits Fon HeRocs. D> A lower number of points than a starting pure strain human hero receives to spend on purchasing skills, and a lower maximum number of broad skills. See "Special Abilities” under the pure strain human entry, and refer to Taaue GW4: HERO StaRTING SkLL POINTS. P in addition, more advanced devices (Progress Level 6 and higher) only respond to the DNA finger- print of pure strain humans and androids, and are not usable by other species. See "Special Abilities” under the pure strain human and android entries. Before you make a commitment to create a nonhu- ‘man hero, examine those tables and sections to be sure you understand what you're getting, and what you're giving up, when you chose a species other than pure strain human. TORRE |pee exciting age. Let humans and the rest mull over the past. The future is now, and it should be the dabbers who are best equipped to seize the day. Dabbers are a genuinely curious species, interested in everything and everyone. In world full of things to be scav- cenged, the dabber feels right at home. To the dabbers, ‘anything that isnt nailed dawn can be scavenged, and ‘anything they can pry up isnot nailed down. Dabbers respect other, larger races and are willing to be tolerant of their attachment to things. They have a friendly rivalry withthe sleeth ‘SpeciaL Annes > Species Mutations: Dabbers as 0 species have the &mpathie Scan and Telekinetic Hand mutations > Individual Mutation: Each dabber has the choice of ane ofthe following mutations: Photokinesis or lilusion Generation or Kinetic Shield Mutants. Mutants (or mutated humans) are as diverse and indi- vidual as pure strain humans. They include men with scales and gills and women with wings, individuals with amazing mental powers and great physical prowess (though rarely both). They can range from I to 3 meters in height. The only certainty about mutants is that when you see one, you probably have never seen one like it before ROLEPLAYING Mutants ore Humanity's stepchildren, the dark sheep of the Ancients’ family tree. The old devices don’t work for them, the robots of the Ancients don't recog- nize them, and to them the buildings and vehicles of that age seem uncom- fortable and confining, built for alien creatures. Some choose to pass as pure strain among their human brethren, but most mutants are proud of who they are and what they can do. Most human and particularly multi- species communities are tolerant and even encouraging of their ‘mutant kin, while others, such as the Knights of Genetic Purity, seek to wipe out any mutants they encounter. Mutants do not feel any responsibility to band togeth- erin communities, since they are all diverse individuals. AAs a result they can often be found with other species, particularly within open-minded communities. SheciaL ABmuTES D Mutations: Mutants are blessed and cursed with a variety of mutant abilities. Starting mutant characters receive a number of mutation and drawback points, which ‘are used to determine mutations of different ranks. These mutations are semirandam, and the player of a mutant hera may be cursed with unwanted or inappropriate powers. Chapter 4: Mutations has more on this topic. Morphic Genetics: Mutants are particularly likely to receive additional mutations or drawbacks from expo~ sure to radiation (see “Radiation” in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action). Sasquatch Huge (2.2 meters tall) and lumbering, the typical sasquatch weighs 180, kilograms and every pound seems to be either muscle or hair. Towering above most other sentient races, they present imposing, threatening figures. Their fur and long manes range from blacks and browns through shades of gray to individuals with pure white hair Sasquatch are deadly oppo- nents even when unarmed, as their fingers end in huge, wicked talons, Unfortunately for their foes, sasquatch are rarely unarmed. ROLEPLAYING Sasquatch embrace life and death with a fearsome tensity. They do not do things in half-measures; they embrace concepts wholeheartedly, pursue foes relent- \essly, and give their loyalty unflinchingly. Seemingly born to combat, the sasquatch also enjoy debate and conversation, bringing the same fiery passion to this, ‘rena as they do to the battlefield. Sasquatch are fierce warriors and adhere to o code of honor that they apply among themselves and toward ther sentient species. Creatures smaller and weaker than sasquatch should not be harmed, without good reason. Ambush is considered dishonorable, without i ie on, =agood reason. An opponent should be challenged to combat and given a chance to surrender, unless there is a good reason otherwise. The definition of "good reason” is, cited as the cause for the sasquatch to enjoy debate as well as conversation. Sasquatch tend to think of the world as itis as its “natural” state, and many see little productive value in trying to change it. In particular, the technology of the ancients seems to be beyond them, and they have a hard time wrapping their brains around the concepts of higher technology. In the end, this often leads to “sasquatch” solutions to problems. Such solutions usually involve shouting and expending a lot of brute force. ‘SPECIAL ABILITIES Species Mutation: All sasquatch have the Improved Natural Attack (clans) mutation. Superior Durability: When determining @ sasquatch's durability rating, use the character's Consti- tution score x 1.5 (rounding down fractions). Suspicion of Technology: Sasquatch culture is prim- itive even by Gamma Terra standards, and they are less adept with Ancient technology. They receive a +2 step penalty when using any device of Ancient or Shadow Age technology. Sleeth Sleeth are 2-meter-tall bipedal lizards. They have an erect, humanoid stance, muscular tail, long snouts, and dexter- ous hands. Seer lizards (as the sleeth are often called) range in eolor through a variety of greens. Sleeth grow throughout their lifetimes, and the elder leaders oftheir clans ean reach 3 meters in height. They are known both for their thoughtful nature and their mental mutations ROLEPLAYING Seer lizards think of themselves as a dignified, refined, and civilized people, and secretly believe in their three- valved heart that they are more civilized than most of the other species around them. However, they want to help these species reach their level of understanding, and as such sleeth may often be found in other communities as diplomats, negotiators, and teachers. Sleeth communities are organized in the manner of Golden Age learning centers. The leader of a sleeth village iscalled the dean, who rules with the aid of a faculty. Respected sleeth go by the sobriquet professor, while lesser ones are regarded as teachers and students. Asleeth away from his native village is said to be on sabbatical Seer lizards value truth and honesty, but have learned that most other species are unable to handle the truth, so decorum often overrides candor. Among friends, they expect to be able to tell truths, even unpleasant ones, and still be accepted. Itis said that when you are insulted by asleeth, hes either being very friendly or very hostile Sleeth heroes et along well with other races, usu- ally finding. common ground, Like the humans they are civilized. Like the mutants they have their own individual muta- tions. Like the androids they appreciate logic. And like the dabbers okay, so the sleeth don’t get along well with everybody. SheciaL ABILITIES P Species Mutations: Sleeth as @ race have the fol~ lowing mutations: Battle Sense, Contact, Psychic Percep- tion, and Rejuvenation. P Personal Mutation: In addition to their species mutations, sleeth have one additional random mental mutation of Ordinary strength, > Immunity to illusions: Sleeth are absolute literal~ ists, such that they are unaffected by illusions. Indeed, visual and audio illusions do not even appear to the sleeth. Filling Out the Hero Sheet After you've decide what species your hero belongs to, ‘ite that name in the appropriate place near the top of the hero sheet. If your hero is © member of a nonhuman species, move down to the "Game Data” box near the bottom of the sheet and jot down your hero's special abilities in the space provided. (Just the names of the abilities wil do, asa reminder.) 3 > Assign Apiuity Scores Every hero (and every other character in the campaign setting) has six Abilities, Three of these~Strength, Dex- terity, and Constitution-represent a hero's physical nature, and the other three-Intelligence, Will, and Personality—describe his or her mental makeup. TOE RETee In this step of the hero creation process, you will assign a number to each Ability. The higher the Ability Score, the more proficient a hero is when using that Ability or when using skills associated with it. Determining Ability Scores To determine your hero's Ability Scores, you assign points to each Ability. You have a total of 60 points to divide among the six scores. For human and mutant heroes, every Ability Score must be assigned a value no lower than 4 and no higher than 14, The minimums and maximums for nonhumans often differ from this range. In creating a nonhuman hero, you must abide by the ranges given for that species on Taste GH: ABity Scone Lins. Note that certain mutations may raise or lower your hero's ability scores beyond the limits noted in this table. That's okay; mutations tend to “break the rules” lke this, Taste GWI: Asnuty Score Limits Hero's Species ———— Ability Score ———— STR DEX CON INT WIL PER Human 4-14 4-14 41d 4-14 41d 4-14 Android B14 4-14 6-14 7-15 6-12 4-12 Dabber 4-11 8-15 4-12 4-15 6-14 4-12, Mutant 4-14 4-14 4-14 4-14 4-14 4-14 Sasquatch 9-16 412 B16 #13 412 4-12 Sleeth 4-14 4-12 5-14 5-15 6-16 7-16 Strength (STR) Strength measures a hero's physical power. This score serves as the basis forall Strength-based shills, A high Strength score provides a bonus to the damage a hero inflicts when making an unarmed attack, using a melee weapon, or using a thrown weapon. (See Tasue GW8: SrencTH & Damace.) A hero's Strength resistance modifier (see Tas GW2 Resistance Moos) is applied to the action of an oppo nent who tries to target @hero with a melee weapon or an unarmed attack. Strength, along with Dexterity, determines a hero's combat movement rate. (See Tass GW7: Comaar MovemeNT fares and the accompanying text.) Also, a hero's Strength scare has a direct bearing on how far he can throw objects; see Chapter 3: Heroes in Action Dexterity (DEX) Dexterity indicates a hero's physical agility, coordina tion, and reflexes. This score serves as the basis for all Dexterity-based skills. Dexterity, along with Intelligence, affects a hero's action check score, (See “Action Check,” below.) Dexterity, along with Strength, determines a hero's combat movement rate. (See Taste GW7: Comaar Movenent Rares and the accompanying text.) Ahero's Dexterity resistance modifier (se Tae GH: Resisance Mooiixs) is applied to the action of an oppo- nent who tres to attack a hero with a heavy weapon or a ranged weapon Constitution (CON) Constitution is an indication of a hero’s physical fitness and general health. This score serves as the basis for all Constitution-based skills. Constitution, along with Will, determines the number of actions a hero can perform in a round. (See Taste GN6: ‘Actions péR Rouno and the accompanying text.) This score also indicates a hero's durability: A hero can withstand a number of points of stun and wound damage equal to his Constitution score, and a number of points of mortal and fatigue damage equal to half his Constitution score, rounded up. Constitution doesn’t have a resistance modifier, as most other Ability Scores do. Instead, Constitution is used actively, allowing heroes to make feat checks and skill checks to resist harmful effects. Intelligence (INT) Intelligence isan indicator of a hero's mental quickness and learning ability. This score serves as the basis forall Intelligence-based shill. Intelligence i particularly important to every hero because it determines the number of broad skills and specialty skills he begins his career with, and how many points he receives with which to purchase those skills. (See Step 6, "Purchase Skills.”) Intelligence, along with Dexterity, affects a hero's action check score. (See “Action Check,” below.) hero's intelligence resistance modifier (see Taste GW2: Resistance MoDines) is applied to the action of an ‘opponent who tries to deceive or trick the hero (by using the Deception skill or one ofits specialties, or an appli- cable mutation). Will (WIL) Will measures a hero's mental fortitude and intuitive capacity. This score serves as the basis forall Wll- based skills Will, along with Constitution, determines the number of actions @ hero can perform in a round. (See Taste G6: Acrios re Rouno and the accompanying text.)Resistance Modifiers When your hero is the target of an attempt by another character to harm or hinder him, one of your hero's resistance modifiers may come into play. Most Ability Scores have an automatic resistance modifier of a certain amount. (See Taste GW2: Resis- ‘ance Mooiriens.) This modifier affects an opponent's ability to succeed at what he is trying to do; for an Ability Score of 11 or higher, it translates into a penalty on the attempt. A particular resistance modifiers applied only on certain kinds of actions. For instance, if your hero has @ high Dexterity score, his Dexterity resistance modifier ‘makes it more difficult for someone using a ranged weapon to hit him. (See Taste GW11: Skits & Resistance Mooireas and the accompanying text in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action.) Resistance modifiers are always in effect unless the situation (or the Gamemaster) dictates other- wise. For example, a hero who's targeted by an energy blast won't get the benefit of his Dexterity resistance modifier if he's immobilized, orifhe's unaware that he's about to be shot at. When you've made your final decisions on assigning Ability Scores, find your hero's resistance modifiers by using Taste GW2: Resistance Mooiriees and enter them on your hero sheet. ‘Table GW2: Resistance MODIFIERS Ability Seore Resistance Modifier Aorless -2 steps 56 -1step 7-10 0 Mle +l step 15-14 +2steps 15-16 +3 steps 7-18 +A steps 19 +S steps Ahero’s Will resistance modifier (see Taste GW2: Resis~ "ance Mopifess) is applied to the action of an opponent. who tries to use a mental attack against him or who tries to employ certain Personality-based skills such as Enter- tainment, Interaction, and Leadership. This resistance modifier also helps a hero foil attempts to use the Stealth skill against him. Personality (PER) Personality indicates a hero's social abilities and charis~ ima, This score serves as the basis forall Personality based skills. Personality determines how many last resort points a hero starts play with, and how many he can have at any time thereafter. (See Taste GWS: Last Reson Pow and the accompanying text on "Last Resort Points” in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action.) Personality doesn’t have a resistance modifier, as most other Ability Scores do. Instead, Personality is used actively, perhaps in an attempt to befriend a would-be enemy before that character can harm or hinder hero. Filling Out the Hero Sheet After you've decided what all of your hero's Ability Scores are, write down the numbers in the “Score” column Divide each score in half (rounding down if need be) and write that number in the “Untrained” space. Find the resistance modifier for each of your original scores on Taste GH2: Resistance Mooiias and put that in the appro- priate space beneath "Res, Mod.” 4 > Seuect Mutations Most species on Gamma Terra have one or more muta~ tions. In the case of mutated humans, these mutations are purely random, making each mutant a unique individual. In other species—such as dabbers, sas~ quatch, and sleeth—mutations are largely or wholly predetermined. Methods for determining random mutations, as well as descriptions of all mutations in the game, are found in Chapter 4: Mutations. 5 PD Pick A PROFESSION Heroes fall into four basic categories: Combat Spec, Diplomat, Free Agent, and Tech Op. These professions are explained below. Each profession offers special benefits to its mem 4 bers. In most cases, you will need to refer back to the descriptions of these benefits at some later point in the hero creation process; for instance, your hero's action check score increase is taken into account after the action check score is determined. When you've decided what profession your hero = belongs to, write that information in the appropriate space near the top of the hero sheet. TOE ED Combat Spec Combat Specs rely on physical power and endurance to supplement their training in battle techniques. These warriors are walking arsenals who employ both salvaged technology and their own bodies as weapons in the pur- suit of their chosen profession, ‘Hero Creation ‘Combat Spec should have good scores in Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, since most of the profes sion's skills rely on these ability scores. ‘Shectat Benerts D Action Check Score Increase: 4 Combat Spec's action check scare is increased by 3 points P Situation Bonus: Choose one specialty skill from amang those listed under these broad skills: Melee Weapons, Heavy Weapons, Unarmed Attack, and Ranged Weapons. That specialty sill's base situation die improves from +d0 to ~d Diplomat Diplomats are negotiators, political figures, managers, dealmakers, and any others who use interaction skills and personal resolve to aecomplish their jobs. They specialize in getting things done through bargaining, discussion, and guile ‘ Diplomat should have a high Personality score, along with average to above-average scores in the pre ferred abilities of his or her “secondary profession” (see “Special Benefits” below). ‘Spécial BENEFrIs > Action Check Score Inerease: A Diplomat's action check score is increased by I point. D Contacts or Resources: A Diplomat starts with a contact of the player's choice. This can be a high-rank- ing town official, «friendly merchant, a grizaled town guard, or just about anything else the player can think of. As long as the hero doesn’t abuse the trust between the two characters, he can count on the contact’s sup- port (in the way of resources or information) as appro- priate to the situation. > Secondary Profession: All Diplomats have « knack for learning other skills to fall back on when discussion nd negotiation fall Select a second profession. Your hero can purchase skills from that profession fr list price -1 instead of list price. (See “Purchase Skills” for ‘more information.) Free Agent Free Agents are troubleshooters or Field operatives who rely on agility, intuition, and their natural resolve to get a job done, They may have tis toa specific community or organization, but they work better alone or in small sr0ups than they dos units in a large force. Free agents should have high Dexterity and Will scores, Intelligence and Personality can also be very useful, depending on the hero's area of expertise ‘Speciat Benerris Action Check Score Increase: h Free Agent's action check score is increased by 2 points. Resistance Banus: Choose one Ability and improve its resistance modifier by 1 step. For example, ifyou choose Will for your hero who has a Will score of 11, that Ability’ resistance modifier improves from +1 step to +2 steps. D Last Resort Bonus: Free Agent heroes start play with a number of last resort points based on their Personality scores, but their maximum is increased by 1 Therefore, Free Agent hero with a PER score of 12 has a maximum of 3 last resort points instead of 2. Also, a Free Agent can spend 2 last resort points to alter an action instead of the usual 1 point. Tech Op Tech Ops are operatives (or “ops" for short) accom- plished inthe use of high-tech equipment, or specialists trained to create of maintain high-tech equipment. They rely on natutel genius, agility, and expert training, as well as the benefits of thelr technological devices. Examples of Tech Ops include technicians, scientists, and doctors. Tech Ops need a high Intelligence above all else, since the majority of their skill rely on that ability. & good Dexterity core is also useful Sorcial Benerts D Action Check Score increase: A Tech Op's action check score is increased by 1 point. D Accelerated Learning: Everytime o Tech Op hero reaches anew achievement level, he receives the usual ruumber of sill points plus extra skill points depending on the level he just reached Level Extra Attained Skill Points 2-5 1 6-10 2 N-15 3 16-20 4 2s 5 6 D> Purcuase SKILLS This is the most time-consuming step in the hero cre~ ation process, and in many ways the most important fone. As you go through this step, you will need to refer often to Chapter 5: Skills, where you'll find full infor- mation on how skills are used, what sorts of skills a beginning hero can obtain, and how many points your hero must pay to acquire a certain skill. This is also the chapter where the skills are described, so you can read about the benefits a skill provides before deciding whether to acquire it for your hero.The character sheet has o selection of skills printed on it. There are two kinds of skills, broad sills and specialty skills. Specialty skills are always noted in italic type. A character must possess a broad still to also have any specialty skill associated with it. fa hero wants to try something but doesn’t have the proper skill, he must use his untrained score for the associated Abil Broad skills have scores equal to their associated Ability Scores. Each specialty skill has a rank (a number representing a measure of improvement) which is added to the broad shill score to get the score for the specialty skill. The three numbers for each entry in the "Score” column on the character sheet represent the full score for the skill in question, half that score, and one-quarter that score. This represents the numbers needed to ‘achieve Ordinary, Good, or Amazing successes. © Example: A skill score of 12/6/3 means that a roll of 12 or lower is an Ordinary success, 6 or lower a Good success, and 3 or lower an Amazing success. Obtaining Skills All heroes receive six broad stills for free; these are list- ced on Tas. GW: Free Broao Suis For HeRoes for each type of hero, human or otherwise, you can create. To determine how many points your hero receives to purchase additional skills, find your hero’s Intelligence score on Taate GWA: HeRo Staarins Sktt Points, This table shows the number of skill points a starting hero is allowed to spend and the maximum number of broad skills a starting hero may purchase, based on his Intelligence score. (He can purchase fewer broad skills than the maximum number if desired. Free broad skills don’t count against this maximum.) Other rules concerning the purchase of skills for a starting hero are as follows: D Ahuman hero receives 5 more skill points than the number given on Taste GHA, and is allowed to purchase one more broad skill than the stated maximum. D A hero must purchase o broad skill before he can select any of the specialty skills related to it. (Free broad skills are considered to have been purchased, so a hero can select any of the specialty skills related to them.) D The purchase of a specialty skill gives @ hero a rank of Lin that skill. fo determine a specialty skill score, add the skill rank to the associated Ability Score (Ability Score + skill rank = skill score) DAs shown on Tasut GW42: Ski List in Chapter 5, every skill has a profession code that identifies which profes- sion(s) the skill is most closely related to, and defines how many points a hero of a certain profession must pay to purchase it. ive profession codes are used on the skill list: one for each of the four basic professions, plus an y. Open category. Some sills have more than one profes- sion code; for example, the Survival broad sills related to both the Combat Spec and Free Agent professions D> The cost of a skill in the Open category, ofa sill that's not related to your hero's profession, is the number shown on the skill list. This is referred to as the list price. D The cost of a skill that is related to your hero's pro- fession is equal to 1 point less than the number shown on the skill ist. Ths is referced to asthe list price -1 D A starting hero can purchase as many as three ranks in a specialty skill, The cost for the second rank is equol to the list price or the list price -1 plus the skill’s current rank. So, the cost to purchase a second rank in a skill is the rank 1 price (list price or list price 1) plus | (the skill's current rank). The cost to pur- chase a third rank in a skills the rank 2 price plus 2 (the skills current rank) D A beginning hero may choose to “cash in” one or more of her free broad skills, receiving 3 more skill points for each broad skill she chooses to forego. (This "cashing in” may only be dane when creating ahero.) Filling Out the Hero Sheet Initially, it's « good idea to use a separate sheet of paper to jot down the skills you want to purchase and th cost of each one, because you may find yourself chang ing your mind a few times during this step. When you're finished deciding everything, use the back side of the hero sheet to record your hero's sll scores and the rank he possesses in each specialty skill hhe has acquired. (Note that the “Rank” column only contains spaces to be filled in for specialty skills, because broad skills don’t have ranks.) The space inside brackets opposite each skill is meant to hold three numbers. From left to right, these are: D The hero's skill score. For a broad skill, this number is equal to the associated Ability Score. For a specialty skill, this number is the sum of the associated Ability Score and the hero’s rank in that skill D> The skill score divided by 2 (rounded down). D> The skill score divided by 4 (rounded down). Information on how these three numbers are used is detailed at the beginning of Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. Skill Points Spent and Stored Two places are provided on the front of the hero sheet for you to record the number of skill points you've spent in creating or improving your hero, and the number of skill points your hero has earned that haven't yet been spent. TOE ETaa ee) It’s not necessary for you to immediately use every skill point that your hero is entitled to spend. Be aware, however, that you can only spend stored skill points ‘Tapte GW3: Free Broan Sxiuis ror HEROES Hero's. Species STR Dex Human Athletics - Stamina Mutant Athletics - Stamina Survival Android Athletics. - Stamina Dabber Athletics Manipulation - Stealth Sasquatch Athletics - Stamina Unarmed Attack Sleeth - - Stamina Table GW4: Hero StaRtiNG SxiLL Poms” INT Skill Broad Score Pts, Skills 4 15 2 5 20 2 6 25 3 r 30 3 8 35 4 9 40 4 10 45 iN u 50 5 2 55 6 13 60 6 4 65 7 15 70 7 16 af 8 Ww 80 8 * Humans add 5 extra skill points and 1 extra broad skill 7 > Cxoose ATTRIBUTES Roleplaying attributes help further define and develop a hero, providing plenty of inspiration for good roleplaying. Good roleplaying of these attributes should be a goal of every Aurenwity player, and such play can even earn bonus: achievement points from time to time (see "Achieve- ments," below). The categories and types of attributes are described below between adventures; you can't decide to give your hero a new skill while an adventure is going on Wik PER Knowiedge Animal Handling Interaction Awareness Knowledge Awareness ‘Interaction Knowledge Awareness Interaction Tech. Science Knowledge Awareness—_‘Interaction Knowledge Awareness—_‘Interaction Knowledge Awareness Culture Resolve Interaction Motivation Motivation is a hero's defining purpose, the reason he does what he does. A hero may have any number of lesser motivations, and other motivations will certainly develop 4 a campaign progresses, but every hero needs a pri- ‘mary motivation to build upon Think of your hero's primary motivation as the purpose he's dedicated his life to, or an incident in his past that has shaped his outlook and behavior to this point. If you can incorporate this motivation into the play of your hero, the Gamemaster may award your hero bonus achievement points at the end of an adventure. Every hero should select a motivation during the cre~ ation process. There's no cost, but only one should be chosen Here are some basic motivations. This is not an exclu~ sive list, and the players may come up with their own "reason for being.” All for Love—The hero's actions are dictated by his or her romance with another individual. That romance may be mutual, or the hero’s love might be unacknowledged or even spurned, Can’t Get Enough—The hero's motivation is greed, per- haps greed for its own sake, or greed to fund some higher purpose, Deeper Meaning—The hero is interested in root causes, ‘and comprehending that which is strange and unfamiliar, whether it be another culture or the vagaries of human nature.Discovery—The hero seeks some physical revelation, ‘an understanding of the Ancients or the modern world. Find the Truth—Gamma Earth is filled with mysteries. Who were the Ancients? How did they wipe themselves cout? Who built the androids? Where do mutations come from? The hero with this motivation desires to come to grips with any one of these questions, or others. Fun First—It’s the end of the world as we know it (and | feel fine). Life is now, and it should be enjoyed Helping Others—The strong have an obligation to pro- tect, and the wise to teach. This hero feels that his or her abilities should be used to help others with their struggle against the worid. Loose End—The hero has unfinished business, some thing from out of his or her past that is still bothersome. It could be a lost love, an old rival, or an ancient enemy, at the player's option: On a Mission—The hero has a specific goal in his or her life. It should be a lofty goa! that is not easily attained, such as avenging a village slain by hostile raiders, or dis~ covering a rumored artifact of the Ancients. Personal Power-in the future, power is up for grabs, and more than a few want to tear off a chunk for them- selves. Like greed, a hero with this motivation may desire power for its own sake, or for some supposedly greater end Staying Alive—Survival is a big concern for everyone in the Gaus Worto campaign, but the hero with this moti~ vation may feel it more than most. The hero may be hunted by a Cryptic Alliance, or is aware of some genetic weakness within him that threatens his life. Trust in Higher Power—There are greater forces in the world than even the Ancients, and the hero with this motivation puts his faith in one such power. This may be 4 remnant of the faiths held by the Ancients, or a new faith, The individual with this motivation feels the need both to discover more and to spread the good news. among others. Vengeance—Someone did this hero wrong, and that someone is going to pay. A particular villain, a certain place, or a tribe or nation was responsible for some great pain in the hero’s past, and now the hero seeks payback. Winning is Everything-Its tough when you're the best— you have to keep proving yourself. The world is filled with challenges, tests, and conflicts, and the only way the hero can feel superior it to beat them at their own yearn to Laorn—The greater los ofthe Gamma Ages the loss of knowledge. The time of the Ancients was a golden age, and itis the hero's duty and obligation to try to recover the past and, if possible, to go further than those great individuals and build a new, golden world. Moral Attitude Moral attitude reflects a hero's personal values—what he believes and the way in which he tries to live his life. & ‘moral attitude isn’t (usually) a rigid code of conduct; it's a benchmark for play. Because a hero represents a person with free will, a moral attitude can sometimes be bent or set aside as the situation demands. However, a hero who never follows his moral attitude or blatantly and constantly acts against it risks losing achievement points that otherwise would have been earned during an adventure. Conversely, incorporating this roleplaying attribute into the play of your hero can earn you bonus achievement points at the end of some adventures. Every hero should select a moral attitude during the character creation process. There's no cost, but only one should be chosen. Anti-Authority—An individual with this moral attitude believes in freedom, and most of all freedom for himself or herself. The power of the individual is supreme, and the various forces of authority, be they cryptic alliances, warlords, or village elders, had better think twice before putting their demands on the hero. ‘Apathetie—The hero doesn't care. The world is at the end ofits rope, so why really bother? The hero can be indifferent, or cynical, or emotionless, but for the moment it doesn’t really matter. Conformist—The hero is a follower. it’s more important to get along than to make waves. He's agreeable, ‘accommodating, and seeks to conform to the rules of his group. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but it’s also the first one to be replaced. Corrupt—This character has his own agenda which others might consider unpleasant or even evil. He has his own personal moral code, which the hero adheres strictly to and often demands in others. This code often is created to specifically bolster the hero's own posi- | tion, wealth, or power, but the hero feels virtuous for “4 adhering to it Despicable—The individual with this attitude has no moral code, corrupt or otherwise. He or she is unpre- dictable, random, and perhaps insane, determining what is best on the situation of the moment. Allies are to.used, friends are to be discarded, and those who profess any sort of authority or higher purpose are to be sneered at Ethical—An ethical hero lives by generally recog- nized principles of “good” and “right.” The hero strives to embody that goodness, and connects that with honesty and hard work. An ethical hero can be strict tand demanding of others, or understanding and encouraging Gallant—In the old days the good guys wore white power armor and rode cybersteeds with names like CO CER PETeee Silver and Flicka. The gallant hero believes in those days, and the virtues they represent~protecting the weak, smiting the foe, and doing it all with verve and daring, Honorable—The hero takes pride in the trust that oth ers place in him or her, and strives to follow a code of dignity and integrity. A promise given should be kept, ‘and a good turn given should be so returned. The honor- able hero has little patience with those who work against the common good, and none at all for those motivated by their own base desires. Just—in this dangerous world individuals must band together in order to defend themselves, and for any organization to survive there must be rules. The rules are important and must be obeyed (whether they are good rules or not). The just hero is fair and law-abiding, and expects others to obey the law as well Selfish—The selfish hero stands at the center of his or her own little universe, and everything therein is judged as to how it affects the hero. Such an individual will always have their own personal “angle” in any deal, and seek to come out the best. In other words, it's all about ME Unserupulous—An unscrupulous individual is ruthless and unencumbered by the notions of conscience and common goad. More so than a selfish individual, the unscrupulous one will stop at nothing to attain his or her goals, with little gard forthe ethies involved. Virtwous—In these dark times, heroes should be leaders by example, exuding moral excellence in their word and deeds. Virtuous characters are courageous in their convictions and unburdened by guilt as long as they work for the good of others and by their moral code ‘WorldlyThe worldly character is materialistic and seeks out things that he or she can touch and control. ‘laser rifle is much better than a dream of a better tomorrow. Mercenaries and merchants tend to be worldly, in that they are concerned with the here and now as opposed to greater concepts of morals and ethics, Character Traits Character traits further define a hero's personality through the use of descriptive labels. These labels are meant to provide direction as to how the hero is role played, notto limit a hero's actions. Incorporating a hero's traits into play can earn bonus achievement points at the end of some adventures. Every hero may select up to two character traits dur~ ing the creation process. There's no cost for selecting character traits. You can use the character traits to help refine and support your moral attitude and motivation, or offer some depth. Talk with your Gamemaster to see how a Cowardly Gallant would work, ora Flippant char- acter with the motivation of Vengeance. Some combina tions work less well than others (Hateful, Corrupt, and Helping Others, as one example). Some suggested traits inelude the following Aggressive Amora Calm Cheerful Compassionate Confident Courageous Cowardly Curious Dependent Egotistical Energetic Flippant Follower Foppish Friendly Frivolous Generous, Hateful Helpful Honest Humble Humorless Humorous Mlogieal Independent kind Lary Leader Logical Mysterious Ominous Optimistic Passive Peaceful Pessimistic Precise Quiet Rash Religious Romantic Rude Selfish Skeptical Suspicious Talkative Thoughtless Trusting 8 > Compete THE HERO SHEET The important decisionmaking is out of the way at this, point, but your hero sheet still has a lot of places that need to be filled in, Proceeding roughly fram top to bot- tom and left to right, here are guidelines and instrue- tions for the spaces that remain, Hero's Name What's ina name? In fiction, a character's name tells a lot about the character and helps establish a mental picture of him. For example, naming a hero "Snake” makes you think of adjectives associated with such creatures—quick, deadly, emotionless, slimy, sneaky, untrustworthy, scary. Naming a hero “Wolf” has different connotations—noble, hunter, wild, feral, swift ‘The name you apply to your hero might tell others something about that character. However, your hera’s name doesn’t have to be a descriptive term. A “normal” ‘name, handed down through generations from the Time of the Ancients, is perfectly fine, if that's what you prefer. Player's Name Your name goes on this line, so that everyone knows who this hero belongs to. You dan’t have to give this one much thought, since you're probably stuck with the name you were born with,Gender Is your hero male or female? Write your chaice on this line. Last Resorts hero's Personality score dictates how many last resort points he has at the start of his career, as shown on Taste GINS: Last Reson Pow. (On the table, the "Max" column gives the highest umber of last resort points o character with a certain Personality score can have at any time, This is also the number of free last resort points that « hero begins with. The “Cost” column lists the number of skill points a hero can spend between adventures to buy a last resort point to replace one he has used. On the hero sheet, write the maximum number for your hero in the space immediately following "Lost Resorts.” The small boxes to the right are meant to indicate how many last resort points your hero currently has available. (Five boxes are provided, because it’s possible fora Free Agent hero to have that many last resort points.) Blacken any boxes that don’t apply, and put check marks in the open boxes whenever your hero uses a last resort point; use a pencil here, so you can erase a check mark when a new last resort point is purchased. “Last Resort Cost," of course, is where your hera’s cost number is meant to go. Basically, last resort points are used when a hero wants to try to avoid a bad event or make it more likely that something good for him will occur. See "Last Resort Points” in Chapter 5: Heroes in Action for mare information Taste GW5: Last Resort Powts PER Max Cost Torless 90 9 — 8-10 1 3 n-l2 2 2 13-14 3 1 15+ 4 1 Setting The Gamemaster determines what setting your hero plays in, The setting is Guta Woaio, though your Gamemaster ‘may want to put the campaign in the Settle area or in a ‘campaign of his own devising. Gamemaster Write in the name of the Gamemaster who runs the cam paign your hero is a part of. 25 Action Check Every situation a hero finds himself in is made up of rounds (see Chapter 3: Heroes in Action for Full details). The result of an action check determines when o hero gets to act in a round. The higher a hero's action check score, the greater his potential to act, quickly. To figure out your hero's action check score, follow these steps: D> Add your hero's Dexterity and Intelligence scores cand divide by 2 (rounding down). D> Add the action score increase for your hero's pro- fession to the result. Tis is your hero's action check score. D on the hero sheet, write this number in the “Ordinary” space beneath the words "Action Check Score.” In the “Good” space, write the number divided by 2, and in the “Amazing” space, write the number divided by 4 (rounding down in both cases). To the left of the plus sign in the “Marginal” space, write the number that’s 1 greater than your hero's action check score. the space labeled "Die," write "+d0.” What these numbers mean is covered in detail in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. Actions per Round hero's numberof actions per round is an indicator of how often he can attempt to do different things in a given period of time, To determine this number, add your hero's Constitution and Will scores. Find the result on Taste GW6: Actions Pex Round and write the number shown inthe appropriate space on the hero sheet. How to use this number is covered in detail in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. Table GW6: Actions PER ROUND CON+WIL Actions per Round #15 16-23 24-31 32+ Combat Movement Rates When a hero is engaged in combat or in any other activity when time is measured in rounds, he uses combat ‘movement to get around. There are seven different modes of combat movement, as shown on Tasit GW7: CCousar Movewexr RATE. To determine your hero's movement rates, add his Strength and Dexterity scores together and find the appropriate line on the table. Enter those numbers into = cg e oo eS 4 lo itea ee the appropriate spaces on the hero sheet. If your hero doesn’t have the ability to fly, leave the “Glide” and “Fly” spaces blank. If your hero does have the ability to fly (such as from a mutation) see the applicable mutation. ‘Taatt GW7: Compat Movement Rares SiR + DEX Sprint Run Walk 21 ‘ 4 2 ao 8 6 2 wn 6 2 12-13 pt 8 2 wis 4 10 4 wir 6 10 ‘ wy 8 2 4 wz 2 4 22-23 22 4 4 22 6 ‘ wt 6 ‘ 28-29 38 18 6 30-31 30 20 8 3 x 2 8 Situation Die Steps This section of the hero sheet doesn't have spaces that need to be filled in. It's a graphic illustration of the pro gression of situation die steps that makes up the founda- tion of the basic Aunty game mechanic. How to use this information is fully detailed in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. Durability How tough is your hero? How much punishment can he suffer before he falls unconscious? How much damage does it take to kil him? These are important questions for any hero. ‘hero can suffer Four types of damage during the course cf an adventure: stun, wound, mortal, and fatigue. Al damage is assessed in points, which are subtracted from the number of points your character has availabe. (See Chapter 3: Heroes in Action for full details on damage and healing.) Also note that pure strain human and sasquatch heroes differ slightly from the below descriptions; see their entries earlier in tis chapter. D Stun: § hero's number of stun points, also known as his stun rating, is equal to his Constitution score. Write that number in the space next to “Stun.” The boxes beside this number are used to record damage suffered during an adventure. See "How to Record Durability,” above, and blacken the unneeded boxes on the stun line. D> Wound: & hero's number of wound points (his wound rating) is also equal to his Constitution score. De Easy ‘Swim Combat movement is further detailed in Chapter 3: Heroes in Action. Also see the descriptions of the swim and flight specialty skills in Chapter 5: Skills for more information on those modes of movement. Fly 2 16 20 rz 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 Write that number in the space and blacken the un- needed boxes. P Mortal: 4 hero's number of mortal points (his mor- tal rating) is equal to haf of his Constitution score (rounded up). Write that number in the space next to “Mortal” and blacken the unneeded boxes. D Fatigue: ' hero's number of fatigue points (his fatigue rating) is also equal to half of his Constitution score (rounded up). Write that number in the space next to “Fatigue” and blacken the unneeded boxes. Attack Forms This is the space that contains basic information on the weapons your hero is carrying, as well as the figures you'll use when your hero decides (or is forced) to make an attack using only his fists. The first line has been allocated to your hero's “Unarmed” attack form, because all heroes have the ability to make an attack without using a weapon. In the “Score” column on the “Unarmed” line, write down three numbers: P If your hero has the Unarmed Attack broad skill and either of the specialty skills related to it (braw! or power martial arts), use this space to record your hero's scores in the specialty kil, just as they are written on the back side of the hero sheet. DIF your hero has the Unarmed Attack broad skill but doesn’t have either of the specialty skills, put his Unarmed fttack scores in this space.P If yourhero has neither of those skis, put his untrained Strength score here and finish the line as you did earlier for skill scores. Inthe "Base Die” column, write one of three entries D if your hero has either of the Unarmed Attack spe~ cialty skills or the Aerobatics—defensive martial arts specialty skill, "+d0” goes here > If your hero is a Combat Spee with an Unarmed Attack specialty skill, and he has chosen that skill to receive his special situation bonus, "-d4” goes here. D If neither of the above conditions is true, “+44” goes here The “Type” column contains the entry "L1/0." "LI" stands for “low impact.” This fact is used in conjunction with armor ratings (see below) to determine whether a target's armor absorbs any of the damage that’s caused by a successful attack, “O” stands for “Ordinary,” which is a description of how effective the attack form is against objects that have a certain amount of durability (More information is given in Chapter 6: Equipment.) To fill in the "Damage Rating” column, first refer to ‘Tate GW8: Srrenot# & Damace. Find the number that corre- sponds to your hero's Strength score and keep it in mind. Then write down one of three sets of figures: D if your hero has the power martial arts specialty skill, the base figures that go here are “dés,” "d6+2s,” and "déw," reading from left to right. To these figures, add or subtract the appropriate number from Taste GW: Staeuars & Danae. For example, the damage rating for a hero with a Strength score of 13 who has this specialty Shill is d6+2s/d6+4s/d4+2w. D> Ifhe doesn't have that specialty skill, the base fig- ures are “dds,” "d4+ls," and “d4+252" Again, add or sub- tract the appropriate number from Taste GHS to get your hero's damage rating if your hero has the Natural Attack mutation, the base figures are "d6+2s,” “daw,” and “d+2w.” If your hero has the Improved Natural Attack mutation, the base figures are "dw" “dd2w," and "a¢m,” In both cases, add or subtract the appropriate number from Taste G8 to get your hero's damage rating, ‘Taste GW8: STRENGTH & DAMAGE STRScore Damage Adjustment +6 -I* 710 0 1-12 a 13-14 2 15-16 3 17-18 4 19+ 5 To a minimum of 1 point Weapons As part of the process of outfitting your hero, you will most likely want to provide him with at least one weapon. The rules for acquiring equipment and game statistics for the various weapons available in Gamma Terra appear in Chapter 6: Equipment. After examining this information and obtaining a weapon, write the name of the weapon in the “Attack Forms” column and fill in the appropriate information for the item. If your hero's weapan is one that uses ammunition, use the line near the bottom of the “Game Data” box to keep track of the number of clips, bullets, charges your hero has. Armor Ina world where most of a hero's opponents are likely to have weapons, it’s almost essential to wear some sort of armor. Available types of armor and their benefits are described in Chapter 6: Equipment. If your hero is outfit- ted with armor, write the name of the armor here and fill inthe "L,” “HI,” and "En” spaces with the appropriate figures for that armor. Equipment In addition to weapons and armor (if he possesses such things), your hera starts his career with some equipment that enables him to do his job (or perhaps simply enable him to stay alive). Full information on how your hero acquires equipment is given in Chapter 6: Equipment, along with descriptions of available gear. Use the appro- priate space on the hero sheet to list the items that belong to your hero As your hero pursues his career, he will obtain more equipment, and sooner or later you'll need a separate sheet of paper to keep track ofall his stuf, In such a case, this space on the hero sheet might best be used to hold a list of only those items he has on his person at any given time. Personal Data Space is provided inthis section for recording some briet bits of personal information about your hero. The labels here are more or less self-explanatory (ask your Gamemaster if you need clarification). Achievement Track Your hero earns achievement points for every adventure he porticipates in, This s where you keep track of how many Achievement points he has earned, and what achievement TOE ET |eon level he has attained. Details about the Achievement: Track ate provided under “Achievements,” below. You'Re Done! Now your hero sheet i filled out and your hero is ready for the Guna Wonin game. As the game progresses, some af the entries you've made will become obsolete, os your hero improves or adds skills, changes equipment, or develops new and colorful mutations. As a result of such changes, you might want to fil outa fresh character sheet every so often. You have permission to capy the character sheet at the end ofthis book-use the photo- copy instead of writing in the book Now that you have your hero, it’s time to find out what he or she ean do with all those abilities, skills, and powers. Turn to Chapter 3: Heroes in Action, and prepare to enter Gamma Terra ACHIEVEMENTS (One might think that just surviving the world is enough Avoiding the mutant hordes, cryptic alliances, radiation zones, and slavering monstrosities lurking in the wilder- ness might be considered a victory, right? Nah. What's really important is improving a hero's abilities as he or she goes along, This section contains information on improving your hera’s ability to survive in Gamma Terra. If you've just started playing, dan't worry about this information except to look forward to the kinds of things your hero can aspire to achieve The Point System At the conclusion of an adventure, the Gamemaster wards achievement points. These are a measure of a hero's (ond a player’) performance in the adventure that just ended. A hero earns from 1 to 3 achievement points for each adventure he completes. Good roleplay- ing and other bonuses might inrease these points by 1 or? more. (The sidebar "A GM's Guide to Achievement Points” has more information on the awarding of achievement points.) A hero's achievement level isan indication both of the hero's overall performance and of his longevity. A new achievement level is gained every time the hero earns a certain number of achievement points. The points earned are recorded on the achievement track portion of the hero sheet, a portion of which looks Tike this: as a 28 ACHIEVEMENT TRACK gaggoogga Hero's Level 7 Asstarting hero circles the "1," indicating that he’s a level 1 hero. The empty box above the “1” denotes the hero's achievement goal: Counting from the left of the track, this box represents the number of achievement points he needs to earn before he can spend those points to improve his skills or give himself some other benefit. Achievement points are equivalent to skill points—every achievement point earned by a hero represents one skill point that can be spent at some later time. Points can only be spent between adventures. When a hero earns an achievement point, mark one box on the achievement track. Be sure to use a pencil~ you'll be erasing and marking boxes on this track often during a hero's career. When the box above the circled number ("1” in this case) is marked, the hero receives a riumber of skill pints equal to the number of boxes marked. These points can be stored, used to improve existing skill, or used to purchase new skills or abilities. ‘After that, erase the marks and the circle, then cir- cle the next number in sequence. That number repre- sents the achievement level the hero has just attained The process of earning achievement points begins again, and continues until the box over the new circled number is marked. Note: If a hero needs to mark off just one or two more boxes to reach his achievement goal, he might wind up earning more achievement points than he needs. In this case, the excess achievement points are applied to the hero's next achievement goal. Using Skill Points What do you do with the skill points you receive when’ your hero attains a new achievement level? You have several options, as outlined below. ‘Store Skitt Pots You can store skill points you receive so that you can purchase an expensive skill or benefit at a later time. Improve Skius You can spend the skill points to improve one or more of your hero's existing specialty skills. Note that you can't improve a specialty skill more than one rank at a time, even if you have enough skill points to buy two ranks at once.Purcuase New Skits You can spend the skill points to buy new broad or spe- cialty skills for your hero. If you purchase a new specialty skill, you must buy it at rank 1 Purcuase Last Resort PIs You can purchase last resort points for your hero between adventures if the following conditions are met: D> Your hero has a Personality score of 8 or higher. D Your hero currently has fewer last resort points than his maximum. Taste GW: Last Resost Pons earlier in this chapter summarizes the number of last resort paints a hero is entitled to and the cost of each last resort point. PurcHAse ACHIEVEMENT BENEFITS Achievement benefits are tied to a hero's achievement level. They can only be purchased once a hero attains a certain level. Achievement benefits are described below. Achievement Benefits Heroes get better in two ways. Fist, they show improve- ment in skills by the skill ranks they've accumulated. Second, they demonstrate overall experience by the achievement level they've earned. In addition, as a hero's level goes up, special achievement benefits become available to him. These benefits provide a hero with improvements or bonuses that affect areas of a hero's persona other than his skills. The costs for achievement benefits and when they can be purchased depend on a hero's profession, as shown on Taste GH9: Achivenenr Benees. “Cost” lists the purchase price in skill pints for the benefit in question; “Level” gives the achievement level the hero must reach before he can purchase the benefit ‘Action Cueck Bonus This benefit can be purchased once. It provides the hero with a -1 step bonus when he makes action checks. So, a hero with a +d0 action check madifier wha purchases this benefit improves his modifier to -d4. ‘Action Cec INCREASE This benefit can be purchased up to three times, start- ing at the achievement level shown on Table G9. This benefit increases a hero’s action check score by 1 point. Extra Action This benefit can be purchased once. It increases the hero's actions per round by 1, to a maximum of 4 “ABILITY ScoRE INCREASE This benefit can be purchased up to two times for each of the six Abilities—but not if the purchase would raise tan Ability Scare abave the hera’s species maximum. The benefit becomes available for the first time when a hero attains the level given on Table GW9 under “Ability Score Increase #1,” and for the second time at the level given under “Ability Score Increase #2.” hen a hero purchases this benefit, he increases the specified Ability Score by 1 point. Skill scores and other characteristics associated with the Ability are also increased. ‘Fatigue RATING INCREASE This benefit can be purchased once. It increases a hero's fatigue rating by 1 point. AGM's Guipe to AcureveMent Ponts The number of achievement points you award to hheroes—and the time when you award them-is under your control. It's up to you to decide just how quickly heroes will advance in your campaign. If you give out too few achievement points, heroes will advance too slowly, and some players may became bored. Ifyou give aut too many, heroes will quickly become high-level heavyweights without ‘much of a story to justify their ascent in power. When the game is too hard or too easy, the players become dissatisfied. Here are some guidelines for what's ‘appropriate: D 1 to 3 achievement points per adventure is fair 1s an award for each hero in the group; ifthe adven- ture is long or especially dramatic, award 1 point per two or three game sessions. D> Award an individual bonus of 1 point if a player depicts his hero's motivation, moral attitude, and character traits particularly well D> Award an individual bonus of 1 point if a hero did something truly spectacular, noble, self- sacrificing, or heroic. While you are free to award achievement points ‘at any time during an adventure or game session, you should wait until an adventure is completed before allowing « hero to gain a level. A hero learn- ing new skills or improving old ones needs training ‘or study time. Of course, if the hero spends a lot of time in an extended interlude of travel or some other long period of waiting, you can decide that the hero’s free time is sufficient to allow advancement. Es 6 & Go eo es 5 =‘Mortat RATING INCREASE Woun Raving INCREASE This benefit can be purchased once. It increases ahero's This benefit can be purchased up to two times. It raises a mortal rating by 1 point. hero's wound rating by 1 each time it's selected. ‘STUN RATING INCREASE ‘Acouine Contact This benefit can be purchased up to three times. It This benefit can be purchased as many times as the increases a hero's stun rating by 1 each time it’s Gamemaster allows. It provides a hero with some form of selected. ‘new acquaintance who has knowledge or influence that can be advantageous to the hero and his friends. Taste GW9: Acuievement BENEFITS = Combat Spec Diplomat Free Agent Tech Op E) benefit Cost Level ~—=Cost-—=—sLevel ©=—= Cost. «Level © Cost «Level Bes] ction Check Bonus 10 3rd 12 sth 10 ard 10 3rd Pa] Action Check Increase 4 3rd 4 3rd 3 3rd 4 Bed PA] Extra Action 6 oth 6 eth 5 4th 6 5th FA Ability Score Increase #1 re) Strength 10 iid 15 eth 15 eth 15 5th a Dexterity 15 sth 15 7th 10 ard 10 ied | Constitution 10 rd 15 5th 15 5th 186 6th oy Intelligence 15 6th 10 sth 15 ath 10 ied = will 15 7th 10 ied 10 3rd 10 5th Personality 10 ath 10 ied 10 sth 18 7th Ability Score Increase #2 Strength 20 6th 30 5th 30 5th 30 12th Dexterity 30 8th 30 10th 20 6th 20 6th Constitution 20 oth 30 12th 30 ath 30 5th f Intelligence 30 9th 20 8th 30 7th 20 6th will 30 10th 20 6th 20 6th 20 ath Personality 20 Tth 20 6th 20 ath 30 10th Fatigue Rating Increase 4 ind 5 4th 10 3rd 10 4th Mortal Rating Increase a ind 10 6th 20 sth 20 éth > Stun Rating Increase 4 4th 4 4th 4 3rd 4 sth Wound Rating Increase ‘ sth 7 Sth 7 ath 7 ath Acquire Contact 5 ath 3 and 4 ied 5 athHeroes in Action Great. You have your hero. Now what do you DO with him? Ptayinc GAMMA WorLD Atypical Gauwa WoRuo game session begins with the Gamemaster describing a scene or a situation. Sometimes the description is all set up, with hintsof dangers and excitement to come. In these scenes, heroesiean make almost any’ decision as to what to do first. Other times the Gamemaster starts in the middle of the action, dropping heroes into a scene where events are already rushing fast and furiously around them. In this case, heroes usually have to react to a specific threat or problem before going in their own diections. Whichever method a Gamemaster uses ta begin a game session (and a good Gamemaster mixes and matches these techniques tolkeep players on their toes), it all Boils down tothe moment he says, “That's the situation. What do you do?” The question "What do you do?" is the Gamemaster's way of calling the heroes to action, to let them know that it's their turn to influence the group story in some clever, interesting, or unusual manner. Heroes in roleplaying games perform actions that have meaning, advance the plot, and get things done. So, how do you answer the Gamemaster’s question? The quick response is: Any way you want to, Ahero can do almost anything you can imagine. Depending on the sit- uation, it might be desirable to have your hero tally move, use a skill, operate o piece of equipment, use a special ability, or do anything else you can think of that seems appropriate at the time. The imitations are the nature of your hero and the situation, and your own imagination. CAMPAIGNS, ADVENTURES, AND SCENES The Gana Woaio game creates an imaginary world of Northwestern America after a great holocaust. The universe is ‘changed, and the old ways are gone forever. Within this book are the rules for running a game set in this world, plus information on the Gaana Wont itselfcreatures, mutations, equipment, and a small adventure. When the Gamemaster starts running one or more sessions of the game, he is.creating a campaign of Gaawa WoniD. That campaign is a joint effort of the Gamemaster and the players of the game. It can be relatively short, running a Single evening or aver several evenings, or open-ended. A campaign-can consist of the adventures presented in this took, oF ones of the Gamemaster’s own devising. The Gta Horio campaign does not have to be set in the Old Pacific Northwest-an industrious Gamemaster-can use the materials from this book to set up his or her own campaigns. ‘The character's actions within the campaign, the stories that they spell out, are adventures. Often adventures consist of a single evening of play, though it may take several sessions to reach a particular goa! of an adventure. Usually adventures have some sort of goal, determined by the players or offered by the Gamemaster, even ifthat goal isno more than “Hey, let's go out and see if there’s any cool stuff in the ruins.” The component parts of an adventure are its scenes. A scene isa particular set of actions in the larger adventure, like a chapter in abook. A'scene iso distinct actin the adventure that has its own beginning and ending. A short adventure, for ‘example, might consist of three scenes. Longer adventures can be made up of as many scenes as necessary to reach the conclusion. Most scenes start by presenting the heroes with a situation that requires some sort of decision, What you deter~ ‘mine that your hero decides affects the course of the story, sending it down one path instead of another possiblepath. In general terms, there are three types of scenes: challenge, encounter, and combat. Challenge scenes usually represent the heroes’ strug- gle against their environment. Outracing a landslide, jumping a ravine, defusing an ancient bomb, or under- standing a dangerous artifact are all examples of chal- lenge scenes. The player chooses for his hero to take cer- tain actions, and often die rolls such as skill checks determine whether they succeed or not. Encounter scenes usually represent conversation and nonviolent interaction with others. Talking to a merchant, conning your way past an intelligent security checkpoint, or getting information from a distraught dabber ina tavern are all examples of encounter scenes. Often an encounter sequence invalves no de rolls at all-only an exchange of information as the players (through their heroes) ask questions and the Gamemaster (through his or her non: player characters) provides answers. Sometimes particular skills such as bluff, bargain, or intimidate may require die rolls, and the result of those die rolls may send the story in ‘one direction or another. See “Encounter Skis” later in this chapter for mare on the way such skills are used. Combat scenes are easy and direct. They represent violent interaction with others. Fighting with a pack of arks, turning a table over in a ballroom brawl, or smash- ing security bot are all examples of combat scenes. Combat uses various attack-based broad and specialty skills including Heavy Weapons, Melee Weapons, Unarmed Attack, Ancient Ranged Weapons, Ranged Weapons, and ‘Animal Handling, often against other characters (usually members ofthe supporting cast). Combat scenes are the most rigidly structured scenes in an adventure—nhen lives are at stake, it's critical to know exactly when everyone is performing actions and what the immediate consequences of those actions are. See “Combat” in this chapter for mare on how to run these scenes. Any particular scene may include challenge, encounter, or combat elements, and may swing from one type of scene to another according to how the players. Taken together, scenes make up an adventure and adventures make up a campaign Time Time in the game, like everything else, is imaginary. I's likely to take the GM and players 5 or 10 minutes to resolve everything that happens ina single action round. When you play out a scene in a roleplaying game, you're watching everything in slow motion. ‘Tite AND ADVENTURES Keeping track of days, weeks, and months is easy. Here are a couple of measuring sticks for keeping track of time in fast-moving situations. Action rounds fit tactical situations such as com- bt or fast-moving challenges. There are five action rounds in a minute. D Minutes are useful for noncombat searches in small areas, challenges of moderate duration, and brief encounter scenes, P Hours are appropriate for strategic movement, long challenges, or lengthy negotiations. The Gamemaster can routinely switch time scales to reflect the conditions surrounding the heroes. & long overland march to an Ancient dig site might take hours; searching the wreckage would be handled in minutes; and any challenge or combat scenes involving the still active Al and its automated defenses are resalved using action rounds. OF course, time isn’t always an important factor, and in such cases exact precision is not required. For exam- ple, you usually don’t need to know whether 35 or 36, ‘minutes have elapsed since the heroes entered the ruins. Keep track of time when it's important, and ignore it when it’s not a consideration in the story. Routine Dice The basic rule at the foundation of the AueRNiy game is a simple one. Each hero has some important statistics, including Ability Scores, skill scores, and an action check score. When the Gamemaster wants to determine if a hero can successfully accomplish an action ina certain situation, or how well the hero is able to per- form, he calls for a dice roll. Dice provide a method for measuring a hero's success and for determining random ‘outcomes when success is not guaranteed. The player ties to roll a number that’s equa! to or less than the ‘appropriate score. ifthe roll is higher than the hero's score, the hero fails. The Most Important Rule: Not every action requires adie roll The Gamemaster should only call for dice rolls in dra~ ‘matic situations to determine the success of an action whose outcome is in doubt, or when he or she needs to judge the degree of an action’s success. Ordinary activities don’t require dice rolls. But when these actions go beyond the call of duty and lives hang in the balance (or at least during dramatic situations), dice should be rolled. The Control Die and Situation Dice The Alternity game uses two kinds of dice: a control die ‘and a situation die. Whenever the GM calls for a roll, the player rolls one control die and one situation die. The numbers that come up combine to indicate a success or failure. In game terms this is making a check for thehero; in effect, “checking” to see how the dice roll com- pared to the hero's score. IF you're comparing the roll to your here's action check score to see how soon he gets to attempt his next action, the roll is an action check D if your hero uses a shill (comparing the roll to his shill score), this rol is a skill check. P if you're checking against one of his Ability Scores, the roll is a feat check. In any case, you're looking to get as low a result as possiblethe lower the roll, the better the chance that ‘your hero succeeds at what he’s trying to do. D> The control die is always a 20-sided die (420). > The situation die for ony particular check is one of the following: a four-sided die (44), a six-sided die (d6), an eight-sided die (48), a 12-sided die (d12), ora 20-sided die (420). There's also a.d0, a place-holder to represent the situation dice in a case where success is determined by only the all of the control die. Further, the situation die on any check is designated as either a plus or minus die. Aplus die, such as +44, is bad for the roller, because it tends to produce a higher result. Aminus die, such as -d6, is good because it tends to produce a lower result. Add or subtract the situation die from the control die as instructed by the GM Ifthe result is equal to or less than the score related to the hero's action, the action succeeds. IF the result is greater than the score, the action fails. The degrees of success are discussed in the Following sections. ‘Twe Bast Srruation Die So how do you know what situation die to use with the control die? To determine that, you need to know the hero's base chance of success. That starting point is, called the base situation di. D For asl check involving o broad sill, or fora feat check, the base situation die is d4—roll the control die and the situation die, adding the results together. For a skill check involving a specialty skill, or for an action check, the base situation die is +d0—just rol the situation die. IF the Gamemaster tells you to apply a bonus or a penalty to the hero's situation die, start at the base location and move the proper number or steps in the right direction to find which type of die to roll (see the next section). Situation Die Modifiers Because every action in every situation is different, the game system uses a sliding scale to determine which sit- uation die you roll with the control die. This scale uses steps, as shown on “Situation Die Steps” below Taste GIO: Core Mecuanic Chast. The steps are also printed on your hero sheet. Here's how to read the chart The arrow pointing down shows that you count steps in that direction when the Gamemaster gives you a “Penalty” modifier. Remember, penalties are positive numbers (+1 step, for example). The arrow pointing up shows that you count “steps” in that direction when the Gamemaster gives you a "Bonus” modifier. Remember, bonuses are negative numbers (-2 steps, for example) All of the possible situation dice are displayed in order ‘on the chart, ranging from +3d20 (an extremely high penalty) to -420 (a very favorable bonus). Each line on the chart represents a step. As you identify the factors that affect your hero's ability to succeed in a certain action, you move up and down along the steps as the situ- ation modifiers direct you until you determine the actual situation die to all. Twit GW1O: Cort Mechanic CHART Control Die + Modifier Difficulty Average Situation Die Level Average Roll 420+3d20 Nearly Impossible a5 sT steps 2 202420 Gorgantuan a 6 steps as 20-420 Grueling 105 +5 steps a. a2adedi2 Formidable 65 +4 steps uv 20-d8 Challenging 45 +3:steps 15 20+d6 Hard 35 +2steps M4 a20ed4 Tough 25 slstep 1B 20-d0 Average 0 None 105 d20-d4 Easy -25 =1step a d20-d6 Very Easy 35 -2 steps 7 d20-a8 Extremely Easy 45 3 steps 6 d20-dl2 Cakewalk -65 ~4 steps 4 20-420 No Sweat =10.5 5 steps o SITUATION ou TEP SALE ww [0 [ oo | oe | oe [ aa [ oz | ea0 | zen = ary 33 TO EyCae How do you do this? Start by Finding the base situation die forthe action your hero is attempting. Then count the steps for each situation modifier, either in the “penalty” or “bonus” direction, that the Gamemaster assigns to the action, Where you end up indicates the situation die you need to roll to attempt the action. For instance, if your hero's base situation die for an action is «d4, then a -2 step situation bonus moves the situation die down two steps to -d4. Much more detail about the different types of situa tion modifiers is contained within the next Few pages. By the time you finish reading about the types of actions a hero can attempt, you should have a clear picture of how to handle any situation that may arise during the game. The average roll shows the median result of each par- ticular combination of dice. f you consider that a tal- ented hero has a skill score of 14 to 18, you can get a {00d idea of the odds of success. The Gamemaster can use the core mechanic in one of ‘mo distinct ways: either eyeballing itor Figuring the odds. EVEBALLING The core mechanic is the basic Ganwa WoRio mechanic for task resolution. It's that simple. Whenever a player attempts a task, the GM assigns a situation die that seems appropriate to the situation. Use the definitions of each difficulty level as a guideline. For example, a Grueling action has a +420 situation die, an Average action has a +d0, and a Cakewalk has a ~d12. It’s noth- ing more than a gut reaction on the Gamemaster's part, and that’s often enough to handle most situations. &yeballing allows the GM to keep the flow of the adven- ture rolling. ‘Figure 1He Oops The other method, Figuring the odds, is alittle more pre- cise. Instead of arbitrarily assigning a difficulty level, the Gamemaster applies individual step modifiers, con- sidering each condition that applies. It's not as fluid or off-the-cuff as the first method, but it’s alittle more ‘accurate and realistic. In time, this method can be almost as fast. Start with a base situation die. A feat check, an untrained skill check, and a broad skill check have a +d4 base situation die. A specialty skill check uses 0 +d0 base situation die The base situation die is just that: a base. From this starting point, you'll count bonuses or penalties to reflect the exact situation. Specific actions and situa tions may impose, for example, a +1, +2, or +3 step penalty. Others may apply a -1, -2, or ~3 step bonus. Bonuses and penalties larger than this are rare. Firing a pistol at short range gives a -1 step bonus, so the hero's roll goes from 420+d0 (Average) to d20-d4 (Easy). The target's resistance modifier may make the shot tougher; if the hero's shooting at a villain with a +2 resistance modifier, now the player must roll the d20 and add d4. The Gamemaster can take into account any additional modifiers he wishes. The room is pitch black? Add another +5 steps. The hero's firing an accurate laser pistol? Take a -1 step bonus. Most Gamemasters use a combination of figuring the odds and eyeballing. In scenes involving combat, preci- sion is more important. In other scenes, especially during intense roleplaying, game mechanics can be minimized by a Gamemaster who eyeballs the situation and moves on. Other Dice Rolling Rules In addition to the basic rules covering the use of the control die and the situation die, there are a few more rules to keep in mind when playing Gams Worto: D> Sometimes the degree of success is important to the task-the better you do, the greater the payoff (even if it’s only that you look real coo! doing it). D> There are cases where the heroes cannot fail utter ly (it may just take ther a while to succeed). These are Marginal successes. D when you rol dice, some results indicate automat ic success or automatic failure, regardless of the com- bined result of the contral die and the situation die D it’s possible to have a situation die that goes beyond the extremes at either end ofthe situation die steps scale. Decrees oF Success Every dice roll has one of five possible results: Critical Failure, Failure, Ordinary success, Good success, or Amazing success. The lower the roll, the greater the degree of success the hero achieves. The three numbers associated with every skill score ‘and action check score (the base score and two smaller sumbers) represent the dividing points between the degrees of success. The degree of success on a skill check or feat check is almost as important as whether the check is simply a success ora failure. Regardless of the result of the situation die, a rall of 20 on the control die produces a Critical Failure. This means that bad luck has befallen the hero, and no mat- ter how high his skill score or Ability Score is, this action doesn’t succeed. (See “Critical Failure and the Bad Luck Rule,” below.) Aresult greater than the score is a Failure; equal to or less than the skill seore is an Ordinary success; equal to or less than one-half the hero’s skill score (rounded down) is a Good success; and a result equal to or less than one-quarter of the hero's skill score produces an Amazing success.MareINal Success Inmany game situations, a hero doesn’t have a chance to fail outright. When this is the case, a Marginal success is possible. The heroes will eventually succeed in opening a stuck door, for example When do Marginal successes come into play? They shouldn't be used in combat scenes ar important chal: lenge scenes. Even using a noncombative skill such as, computer operation becomes difficult for a hero when bullets are fying. Marginal successes shouldn't be used for resolving an all-or-nothing situation such as jumping a chasm. There's no chance of anything other than failure or ‘Automaric Success No matter the odds, a hero usually has chance to succeed at an action. Therefore, in most situations, if a 1 comes up on the control die, the hero succeeds, Even if the combined result of the control die and the situation die would normally indicate a Failure, the 1 on the control die turns « Failure result into an Ordinary success. The Gamemaster always has the option to declare a situation too difficult to allow an automatic success. Fa hero attempts an action with a situation die of +420 or higher, the automatic success rule doesn’t apply. Remember, not every action requires the roll of dice. When something is so easy or routine that it doesn’t require a skill check, then that’s considered an auto- matic success, too. ‘Crrmicat FAILURE AND THE Bap Luck Rutt Sometimes, no matter how skilled a hero is, things don’t work out. There's always a chance for an action to fail or for something negative to occur whenever a hero tries to do something beyond the scope of the routine. In the AvreRuiTy game, this possibility is repre- sented by the “bad luck” rule: When a player rolls for his hero and the control die comes up 20, something bad happens. When this occurs on an attempted action that can be failed, the 20 indicates a Critical Failure result. This means that the attempt fails in the worst possible man- ‘era gun jams, a key breaks, a friend wanders into a hero's hail of bullets, a computer program freezes, and so forth. If Failure result can’t happen on this attempt, then the 20 indicates bad luck. The attempt succeeds, but it’s tainted by something negative. This negative conse quence doesn’t have to occur immediately, but cn inci dent of bad luck should come into play in the near future and be at least indirectly associated with the action that spawned it. The mishap should be connected with the task the hero was attempting. The Critical Failure shouldn't nec essarily couse damage to any character, but it could result in the possibility of damage. If the hero was hanging on a rope that suddenly breaks, he should get a Dexterity feat check or Athleties-climb sill check to catch himself before he falls into the rocky gorge. Ifa hero's errant shot endangers a comrade, the unintended target can make a Dexterity feat check to dodge the attack. Making the "bad luck” rule work requires a bit of roleplaying on the part of players. You know that a con- trol die roll of 20 indicates that bad luck is on the hori~ zon, but your hero doesn't. Until the incident of bad luck has passed, you need to raleplay your hero with ‘out making decisions for him based on knowledge he doesn’t have. In certain situations, the Gamemaster can decide to roll the dice in secret to determine degrees of success, so that iF « 20 does come up, the players don’t know it. ‘BEYOND THE EXTREMES In most cases, heroes roll situation dice that fall between the two extremes of -d20 and +3420. What hap- pens when modifiers build up that take the situation die beyond these extremes? On the bonus side, a -d20 situation die should help most heroes succeed at the task at hand, and that's the most favorable situation die a Gamemaster should allow. When a situation die bonus becomes greater than ~d20, don't roll the dice; the hero simply succeeds. You should rall the dice in any event when the exact degree of suc- cess—Amazing, Good, or Ordinary—might make a differ- ence. Attack rolls and similar combat actions are an example. In such @ case, the situation die never gets better than -d20, At the other extreme, modifiers that push a situation die beyond +3420 indicate that the task at hand is get- ting about as close to impossible as it can get—but for a hero, no action that can be resolved by a dice roll is ‘automatically impossible. So, for every penalty step beyond this, another +420 is added. It’s conceivable for ‘a character to have to roll a control die plus a penalty of +4d20 or more to accomplish a really difficult task. AResistANce MODIFIERS AND THE CoRE MECHANIC When a character attempts an action that affects nother hero, a standard modifier applies: the resist- ‘ance modifier. This number represents innate resistance to.a specific form of attack. Resistance modifiers are based on Ability Scores. Different skills use different resistance modifiers, as shown on Tasue GWL1: Skis & Resistance MODInERS. TOE ey5 4 a o| ° cS =| ‘Taste GWit: Skitis & ResistaNce MODIFIERS. ‘Acting Hero's Skill Resisting Abi Deception Intelligence Entertainment Intelligence or Will Heavy Weapons Dexterity Interaction will Leadership will Melee Weapons Strength Ancient Ranged Weapons Dexterity Ranged Weapons Dexterity Stealth will Unarmed Attack Strength Action Rounps When it’s important to know who is doing what and when, scenes are broken into action rounds. The goal of these rules is not to present an utterly realistic simulation oF heroes in action-it's to provide a tool that you can use to see how a scene turns out. Not every scene needs action rounds; ifthe heroes are questioning a contact or trying to bribe their way past a gate guard, there's no need to keep track of events round by round When should the GM call for action checks and treat the scene as a tactical situation? The moment one char- acter involved in the scene starts to do something that someone else would vigorously oppase—such as running ‘away, pulling out a gun, or setting a bomb—you should call for action checks to see which ofthe characters involved in the scene gets the drop on the others. The fist step in sorting out a scene is determining the ‘order in which heroes, villains, and other characters act. Every character involved, hero or villain, can take at least one action during the course of an action round. Depending on a character's speed, luck, and situation, hhe may be able to take several actions during a round ‘An action round is broken into four phases: Amazing, Good, Ordinary, and Marginal. Anything that occurs in the Amazing phase takes place before events in the Good phase, Good phase events take place before Ordinary phase events, and Ordinary events happen before Marginal events The action check (a 20 roll) determines in which of the four phases a character can act. The degree of success that a hero or villain achieves on his action check corresponds to the phase in which the character can take his or her first action of the round. The chat acter can act in this phase, or decide to wait until a later phase ‘A character can act in a number of phases equal to his actions per round. But if an action check result indicates that the hero can’t act until the Marginal phase, then he can only act once in the round (in the Marginal phase). © Example: Your hero has an action check score of 11 cand two actions per round. At the beginning of the round, the Gamemaster calls for action checks. If you rall a 5 (a Good success fora score of 11), the earliest phase in which the hero can act is the Good phase. Since he has two actions, he can act once in the Good phase and once in the Ordinary phase, or he can save his sec cond action for the Marginal phase. if you rll a 13 (a Marginal result), you can't act until, the Marginal phase (the last phase of the round). In this case he can only act once, losing his second action because he didn’t react quickly enough Who Goes First? When two characters act in the same phase, they're assumed to be acting simultaneously. So, the effects of any action—such as damage—aren’t applied until the end of the phase. If t's absolutely necessary to know who acts first in a phase, characters who haven't taken any actions in the round act before characters who have taken one or more actions. Characters who achieve the same degree of suc- cess act im the order of their action check scores, highest score first. Finally, a character who achieves a Critical Failure result on his action check takes his action las in ‘the Marginal phase. No Action Cuecx? Every character involved in a fight is entitled to an action check each round, but at times a character might not be able to make a check. Unconscious characters don’t make action checks, although they may be able to roll each round to try to wake up. Characters who are hopelessly ‘trapped or restrained might not be allowed action checks. Finally, heroes who choose to use all-out movement forfeit, ‘the ability to make action checks until the round after they decide to stop. ACTION CHECKS AND THE SuPPORTING Cast In busy combat scene filled with heroes and supporting cast members, it can be difficult to keep track of action checks for everyone. Instead of rolling for every support- ing cast member, the GM can try one of these options. Use the supporting cast member's reaction score This gives the phase during which the character or crea ture first acts (its automatic action check result) and the number of actions it can take in a round. The reac- tion score is derived from the character's action check score: a score of 10 or less has a base reaction score of Marginal, 11-15 is Ordinary, and 16 or above is Good, (Amazing is reserved for the most powerful, fastest, and ‘most dangerous opponents.) This method is quick, but can become predictable for players.D Select a single member ofthe supporting cast dur ing the scene (either a leader or simply a representative member of the group). Roll a single action check for the entire group using this individual's action check score. This method is less predictable, but can lead to some unusual events (such as an entire group of thugs acting in the Amazing phase) Postponing an Action A character is not required to take an action in the phase that he is able to. Often a character may want to wait to see another character's action, and be able to react ‘accordingly. There is no bonus or penalty, but actions that are not “spent” during the round are lost. Another way to postpone an action is to do nothing in the round except make at least an Ordinary action check. By sacrificing all actions of this round, the hero is guaranteed to act in the Amazing phase of the next round, even ahead of those who rolled an Amazing action check Assisting Actions Sometimes two heads are better than one (even if you're not an orlens). One hero may want to assist another in performing an action. If the Gamemaster agrees that the task is one that would benefit from such assistance, the characters may combine their actions into a single skill check. ne hero will be the lead character in an assisted action, usually the one with the best score (though cir- cumstances may dictate otherwise). All the helpers make skill checks, and the results of those checks provide bonuses or penalties to the lead character's skill check as follows: Critical Failure Failure Ordinary Success Good Success Amazing Success +2 step penalty +1 step penalty =1 step bonus -2 step bonus ~B step bonus Only trained characters (those with at least the broad skin the skill being checked) may assist an action. & trained character may assist an untrained character (only the dabber can reach the bomb, so the sleeth bomb expert shouts advice down the burrow to him) Two Actions at Once Generally, « character can only perform one action in 0 single phase. However, the Gamemaster may rule thot @ heto may perform two related actions in the same phase. PHASES IN THE AcTiON ROUND Each action round lasts about 12 seconds. Each of the four phases of the round takes up about 3 sec- onds. Here's a short description of things that « hero could do in a single phase: D> Attempt an unarmed or melee attack D Make a single-shot, burst, or autofire attack with a ranged weapon. Throw a grenade or other thrown weapon, D> Attempt an athletic or acrobatic feat (such as jump, climb, or daredevil). P Use Stealth to set up a sneak attack, D> Attempt to use any encounter skill that could reasonably be pulled off with a few words of dialogue. D Use a mutation or cybernetic enhancement P Draw or change weapons. Open a door with caution, or barge through recklessly and attack. P Get into or out of a vehicle. D Find and ready an object or device not carried in the character's hands. D Sprint, fly, or swim. D> Use medical skills to aid an injured character. In such a case, the primary action (player's choice as to which is more important) receives a #2 step penalty, wile the secondary action receives a +4 step penalty Separate action checks are rolled ta resolve each attempt. Other modifiers still apply. Some examples of doing two things at once include: D> Attacking with a weapon in each hand. D Attacking while performing some other stunt, like leaping through a window. D Balancing on a precarious perch while attacking Dragging a wounded character to safety with both stealth while stanching the flow of blood. ComBat Many heroes live for that noble moment when the oppor tunity arises to face the evil villain in atrial by combat. Heroes brawl with ruffians in sleazy bars, shoot it out with armed guards in secret bases, and blast their way through hordes of mutated monstrosities combat is one of the most exciting and spectacular features of heroic fiction. On the other hand, you may ask yourself why the game should include combat at all. It's your game, after all, ‘and if you want to stress roleplaying and cooperation over confrontation, you should do that. Before you make that decision, you should consider a few reasons for including combat in the game. Fits, it gives the players a way to directly confront and defeat TOE SED |Pe ag the bad guys. Blowing an iredeemable mutant threat into smoking ashes with a righteous fury isa clear way to get to the bottom of things. Maybe t's « simplification, But that's okay. Combat carries the threat of injury oF death, giving a vicarious thrill to the player whose hero defies danger and lives to tell the tale. Consciously or subconsciously, players want to be as courageous and valorous asthe heroes they create The Gomemaster's job inthe course of a combat scene is to decide what the opposition does. wll they surender meekly, or defy the heroes with guns blazing? Can they flee to fight another doy, or will they stand their ground? What else might be going on to complicate the situa~ tion-damage tothe local area, weather or natural phe- nomena, the arrival of other characters? Above all, ke a combat scene moving. Don't let it bog down into bouts of rolling dice. Encourage the play- ers to try to find an edge by having theirheroes maneu ver for position, use technical sist juryrig weapons or defenses, or trick their opponents. Use active descrip tions and keep the players aware of what's going on around their characters Setting Up When the heroes become embroiled in a combat scene, it's your job to run the opposition. You make the tactical decisions for the villains, roll any attacks they direct at the heroes, and keep track of the damage each villain or creature suffers ot the hands of the heroes. Because you'll need to know the combat-oriented abilities, skills, and equipment ofthe villains, prepara- tion is @ key ingredient in setting up a fight. You should also give thought to the type of fight, the surroundings, the likelihood of reinforcements or hazards affecting the course ofthe battle, and other such details. Fighting on top of a moving train is coo!—but what are the chances of knocking someone off the side? You'll present a much more interesting and exciting combat scene if you don't have to stop and look things up. Don't hesitate to eyeball the situation and improvise. ‘Tue Compar Scate Weapon ranges, areas of effect, and combat movement are expressed in meters. A typical combat scene mightinvolve a hero engaged ina shootout with a villain at a range of 10 meters. By specifying a range, you know how ‘quickly characters can close for hand-to-hand combat, whether they're caught in the area of effect from a heavy weapon, and what range modifiers apply for thelr weapons. Surprise The effect of surprise may allow one side to win a free phase of actions for attack, retreat, or even a quick sur- render. Naturally, if there's no physical threat to the heroes, or a threat that can’t possibly sneak up on them, then there's na reason to see if anyone was surprised— just proceed to the first action round or open the encounter normally. Tit Surprise CHECK The defense against surprise isthe Awareness skil. The specialty skills of intuition and perception reflect the hero's ability to detect danger before it strikes. Perception is the appropriate specialty skll when the character has a chance to observe or notice the enemy. Hidden traps and ambushes require perception checks. Intuition represents an ability to sense danger when no obvious signs are evident. Enemies using decoys, and misdirection and unexpected attacks call for intuition checks. Every character who stands a chance of being sur- prised at the beginning of a scene must make an Awareness check. It's best if you roll these checks for both heroes and villain. It ruins much of the suspense of a scene if the players know their heroes are about to be surprised. The GM can always decide that the heroes are sur- prised without the need for a roll. Maybe they were dis~ tracted, or maybe they weren't paying attention ‘Surprise Cueck MODIFIERS The subject’s Awareness check may be modified to reflect the quality of the surprise attempt=the skill with which the surprise was set up. It can also be affected by the conditions at the time. An ambush expert with favorable terrain could conceivably set up an attack that inflicts a +5 or +6 step penalty on the heroes’ Awareness checks to detect it. See the "Surprise Modifiers” sidebar fora ist of factors that may affect a surprise check Bun MeeTiNes When two groups blunder into each other, ar one group barges into a room without knowing what might be waiting for them, it’s a blind meeting. Characters from both sides make Awareness checks with the standard modifiers. The group in motion suffers a penalty for terrain, if any; if both groups are moving, there is no terrain adjustment. Errects oF Surprise At the beginning of a combat scene in which at least one character or creature is surprised, a special procedure is added to the combat sequence: the surprise phase. It takes place before any action checks are made. A sur- prised character cannot do anything in the surprise phase, Any character who avoided surprise is permitted to take an action. For example, the heroes set up an ambush for two badder sentries patrolling the ruins of an Ancient base The badders both fail their Awareness checks to ovoid surprise. The heroes open fire in the surprise phase, starting the ambush. Afterall unsurprised characters have taken their actions, the surprise phase ends, and it's time for the first action check of the scene. In the following round, the surprised guards can act whenever their action checks dictate—if they survived. Combat Options Heroes and villains have more options than just stand- ing still and blasting away with their weapons. The best ‘Surerist MopiFiers Stealth skill check Critical Failure . 2 2 No cover. a Light cover a Medium cover. a Heavy cover . 3 Mlumination “Amazing (bright sunlight) Good (well-lit room). ... ‘Ordinary (average day) Hmgial lousy doy) Slight (twilight)... <0. Moderate... Sxtreme Numbers One attacker... Few attackers (1-3) Several attackers (4~6) . Multiple attackers (7+) Aa cD 5 lo en = ca lo 5 =eee) defense against getting shot is placing something large and sturdy between you and the enemy. Heroes can enjoy any advantage of position they can find Naturally, a hero has to have an action available in order to movea hero with a Marginal action check can’t move a meter until the Marginal phase comes up. In one phase a hero can, for example: D Valk a number of meters equal to his walk rating, with no penalty to other actions. Run at his listed rate, suffering a +2 step penalty to any other actions he attempts D Sprint at his listed rate, with a +3 step penalty to ‘ny other actions he attempts P Swim or engage in all-out movement at his listed rate but take no other actions while moving The Gamemaster should be generous with movement. For example, if a hero has to stretch | extra meter to reach the protective cover of a rock pile, it’s not a big deal to let him reach it. Even in combat, the game is, bout fun and roleplaying, not computation of dis- tances, Exact precision isn’t necessary. ATTACKING An attack uses one of the following broad or specialty skis: Athleties—throw, Heavy Weapons, Melee Weapons, Unarmed Attack, Acrobatics-defensive martial ats, Ranged Weapons, or Ancient Ranged Weapons. To deter- imine what situation die to use for an attack D Find the base situation die for the attack skill being used. fa specialty sill is used, the base situation de is, +40; if a broad skills used, the base situation dieis «4, Add ony penalties for damage the attacker has received D Apply the target's resistance modifier. D Apply modifiers for the target’s range and cover D Account for special defensive devices or tactics, such as a force field or dodging P Account for offensive tactics, position, advan- tage, or devices, such as aiming, accuracy of the weapon, or stealth. That may seem like along list of things to take into account, but it’s unusual for more than two or three of these circumstances to be in play. In many cases, the defender might add +2 or +3 steps to the attack, while the attacker's advantages counter this by -3 or ~4 steps You only need to determine the net modifier to the roll and apply it to the base situation die CharGe common tactic for entering a hand-to-hand fight is a charge. A charging hero ignores the penalties associated with attacking while running and gains a -2 step bonus to his skill check. On the downside, his opponents gain a -2 step bonus to strike him during his heroic dash. Once Taste GW12: Mopiriers To UNARMED AMD MELEE ATTACKS Situation Modif Attacker... Makes rear attack 2 Makes flank attack - Is off-balance 2 On higher ground = Is prone 2 Is running 2 Is sprinting 8 Is wounded varies Defender. Is prone 2 Is sitting/kneeling = Resistance modifier varies Parries or dodges varies Mlumination Twilight/poor visibility a Moonlight 2 Total darkness 8 a characteris engaged in melee combat with the enemy, it’s impossible to charge again until the hero is free and clear of the fight: ‘Sweax ATTACK Ifa hero succeeds in using the Stealth—sneak skill to move adjacent to an opponent (or to get within short range, if the hero is using a ranged weapon), she can make an attack in the same phase that the successful sneak took place. The hero receives a situation die bonus to that attack, since she has surprised her opponent. The bonus is determined by the level of success achieved in the sneak skill check: Ordinary, -1 step; Good, -2 steps; Amazing, ~8 steps. OverroweRiNé Sometimes, the best move is to grab and restrain the enemy. To overpower, a hero makes an attack skill check with a +1 step penalty Each ally who joins in an overpower attempt in the same phase provides a -1 step bonus to the hero's skill check. For example, ia trio of thugs are trying to take down a hero, the attack roll is based on the toughest thug’s Unarmed Attack-brawl score with a +1 step penal- ty, but the other two thugs move that to a -1 step bonus, The GM can choose to set « realistic limit on the number of attackers who can surround a single target, given limitations of space and the size of the target and his attackers. If the overpower attack is successful, the attacker or attackers have a hold on the target equal to the degree‘Taste GWI3: Mopiriers FoR RANGED ATTACKS Situation Modifier Attacker Makes rear attack 2 Males flank attack -1 Is off-balance 2 On higher ground -1 Is prone 2 Is running 2 Is sprinting 3 Is wounded varies Target Is prone 2 Is sitting/kneeling “l Resistance modifier varies Dodges varies Cover Light al Medium 2 Heavy 3 Illumination Twilight/poor visibility al Moonlight 2 Total darkness 3 Weapons Mode Fire 0 Burst -1 Autofire 102/53 Bow, Crossbow, or Sling Short range 1 Medium range + Long range 2 Pistol or SMG Short range 4 Medium range a Long range 3 Rifle or Heavy Weapon Within melee range + Short range -1 Medium range 0 Long range a Heavy Weapons (direct) Within melee range “4 Short range 2 Medium range 2 Long range 0 of success of the attack, The held character suffers a +1, +2, or #3 step penalty to skill checks while held, For ‘example, a Good attack result indicates a Good hold— the held character has a +2 step penalty to all actions. Artackine wir Two WEaPons A character can arm his~ or herself with two weapons, so long as each weapon is an object that can be wielded with one hand. These weapons can be of any type. Ifa character tries to attack with both weapons at the same time, the penalties described earlier in “Two Actions at Once” apply to the attempt. Any attack a character makes with the weapon in his off hand (the one he normally doesn’t use) receives a +4 step penalty, and any attack with the weapon in his skilled hand receives a +2 step penalty Attacks with two weapons are considered simultaneous—that is, they both occur in the same phase. Once a target is held, the attacker or attackers have a few choices af what to do next. D Improve the Hold: The holding character can attempt to get a better holdin later phases, but he risks losing his hold altogether with a failed attack. An improved hald result in an increased penalty to the target, as noted above. D> bums Rush: With a second overpower attack, a held character can be dragged, pushed into a cell, or generally moved from where he stands. D Maul: A held character can be strangled or struck with @ normal skill check for normal unarmed damage; if the attack fails, the hold is lst. D Takedown: & second successful overpower attack maintains the hold and puts the held character on the ground, where he'll also have penalties for being prone (+2 step penalty to his attacks; -2 step bonus to attackers). Characters with the defensive martial arts skill ean attempt a takedown without first gaining a hold. D Pin: & held character on the ground can be pinned with a third overpower attack. These three overpower attacks must be made in consecutive phas- es in which the attacker can act. A pinned character can’t get free until the attacker or attackers choose to allow it. In order to break a hold, the victim must make a skill check using Unarmed Attack-brawl or power martial arts, or Acrobatics-defensive martial arts ot « feat ccheck using Strength or Dexterity. IF successful, the hero escapes the hold; on an Amazing success, the hero can immediately act in the same phase. ‘BuocKing ‘A character with rank 2 or higher in Acrobatics~defensive ‘martial arts can attempt a block. Blocking requires the character to make an Acrobatics-defensive martial arts ES 3 lo es 0 = a lo 5 =Pe eC skill check and compare his result to the attacker's result. The blocking character must achieve a degree of suecess equal to or better than the attacker's degree of success. Ifthe attacker achieves a worse result, no dam- ‘ge is inflicted by the attack ‘A character can only block in a phase when he has an action available; « character who achieves a Good action check result can’t attempt to block an attack directed ‘against him in the Amazing phase. Only one attack is countered, and no other actions can be attempted in the ‘same phase in which a character attempts to block, When a character reaches rank 4 in defensive martial arts, he can attempt a reaction block whenever an unarmed attack is directed against him. The block attempt uses up the character's next available action For example, a hero who achieves an Ordinary action check result and has two actions per round could attempt to block attacks directed against him in the ‘Amazing and Good phases. Ifa hero who attempts to block an attack has no actions remaining in the current round, he can still make the attempt. As a result, he loses his first available action in the next round. After this point, no further blocks can be attempted. Doveins A hero may attempt to tumble, rll, duck, dive or other wise get out ofthe way on an attack. One skill check (cequiring an action) is made atthe beginning of the first phase in which the hero can act. The result ofthat check is applied in that phase and all other phases of that round. Any other actions taken by the hero that round receive a +l step penalty as the hero is concen- trating on other matters. When using a dodge, the hero gains the following adjustments to the hero's Strength or Dexterity resist- tance modifier (as applicable in the combat), depending cn the suecess ofthe dodge skill check Grtical Failure -2 steps Failure None Ordinary +Istep Good +2 steps Amazing +3 steps Dodging cannot be combined with parrying. PaRRYING Melee weapons prove their value through parrying. A character with a melee weapon or a shield can attempt to parry a Melee Weapons or Unarmed Attack skill used. ‘ogainst him (not a ranged attack). When parrying with o weapon such as a sword or a club, a character makes a Melee Weapons skill check using the appropriate specialty skill for the weapon being used to parry. When parrying with a shield, a ‘character makes an Armor Operation-combat armor skill Pow BLAKK You may allow characters to receive a bonus to ‘attacks from extremely close range. Point-blank shots occur at a range of less than 1 meter. Pistols, rifles, SMGs, and heavy weapons (direct fire) receive ‘a3 step bonus for shooting at this range. check. A character who is untrained or has just the broad skill can attempt to parry, but thase with ranks in an ‘appropriate specialty skill have a better chance of suc~ cessfully parrying an attack Compare the check result of the parrying character to the attacker's result. The parrying character must achieve a success that’s equal to or greater than the attacker's success. If the attacker gets a worse result, then no damage is inflicted by the attack ‘A character can only party in a phase when he has an action available; a character who achieves a Good action check result can’t attempt to parry an attack directed against him in the Amazing phase. Only one attack is deflected, and no other actions can be attempted in the same phase in which a character attempts to parry. ‘When a character reaches rank 4 in a Melee Weapons specialty skill, he can attempt a reaction parry whenever a melee attack or unarmed attack is used against him (assuming the defending hero is wielding a weapon appropriate to that specialty skill). The parry attempt uses up the character's next available action. For exam~ ple, a hero who achieves an Ordinary action check result and has two actions per round could attempt to parry attacks directed against him in the Amazing and Good phases, but then he'd have no actions remaining for the Ordinary and Marginal phases. If a hero who attempts to parry an attack has no actions remaining in the current round, he can still make the attempt. As a result, he loses his first available action in the next round. After this point, no further parries can be attempted. ‘A character can use his off-hand weapon or a shield to parry; apply the normal penalties associated with using two weapons at the same time (+2/+4). The char- acter uses the parry rules described above, though he ‘can make an attack in the same phase in which he par- ries. Ifa character using two weapons or a weapon and a shield makes a reaction parry, he must wait until the phase indicated by his action check comes up to actually make his attack, though both shill checks receive the ‘appropriate two-weapon penalties. Characters with large ranged weapons and the ‘appropriate ranks of Melee Neapons~Bludgeon or biade skill can attempt a parry in times of desperation. Since most rifles aren't intended for close-quarters combat, it’s reasonable to apply a + step penalty to the attemptSpecial Weapon Effects Some weapons, such as machine gun, explosives, and thrown weapons, have effects beyond those applicable to other weapons. ‘Automatic Wearons Some ranged weapons have the ability to fire in burst or autofire mode. A burst is treated like a normal ranged attack, except that the firing character gains a -1 step bonus to his skill check to reflect the greater likelihood. of hitting his target. The disadvantage is that the weapon uses ammo faster. Autofire, on the other hand, can be spectacular. Using a single control die, the hero makes three attacks using three situation dice, The first attack is at a +1 step penalty, the second at a +2 step penalty, and the third at a +3 step penalty. Autofire may strike three different tar- gets, or hammer one opponent for as many as three hits. Each hit in an autofire attack is treated separately for the purpose of determining damage. Don’t add the dam- age together before making armor rolls. A common tactic with autofire is hitting several ene: mies at once. The targets must be within 6 meters of each other, and the firing character must have a clear line of sight on each. The attacker always computes the situation die of the first shot on the most difficult target, he's firing at, and then adds the penalties for the second and third shot from there. In ather words, if a hero ‘Aveo ExpenDiTure Players should keep track of how much ammo their heroes use up. Normal fire expends a single round for ‘each attack; burst fire expends one burst, or three rounds; and autofire three bursts, or nine rounds, ‘every phase. All firearms have a clip size as noted in ‘Chapter 6: Equipment. For example, an 1mm charge fife holds enough ammunition for 30 single shots or 10 bursts before its magazine is emptied. When a clip or charge cartridge is emptied, it takes one action for the hero to replace it. Optionally, the hero can change a clip and shoot in the same phase at a +2 step penalty. Characters who have achieved rank 3 in Ancient Ranged Weapons-SMG can change a clip and fire a submachine gun in the same round without penalty. Revolvers don’t have clips—each bullet must be loaded by hand. Reloading the weapon requires a phase, and no shots are allowed. Finally, some weapons, such as flintlocks and crossbows, must be reloaded after every shot. Reloading a crossbow requires one action, while reloading aflintlock requires two actions. shoots at one target with a +4 resistance modifier and another with a +1 resistance modifier, he has to base the burst on the hard-to-hit guy (first shot at a +5 step penalty) and roll the second and third shots accordingly (at a +6 anda +7 step penalty, respectively). Heroes who have achieved rank 6 in Ancient Ranged Weapons—rfle or SM6 reduce autofire penalties to 0/+1/+2. A hero with rank 9 in SMG can expend a fourth burst to gain one additional attack (at a +3 step penalty), Anen-Errect ATTACKS Another special type of ranged attack is the area-effect attack. Weapons that deliver explosive warheads don't damage only the point of impact, but can also injure creatures in the general vicinity. When a character attacks with an area-effect weapon, he first chooses an aiming point. This can be aan enemy, oF a point on the ground. If the hero aims at a character, the target's resistance modifier applies. IF he lobs the attack at a point on the ground, no resistance modifier applies. Aiming at the ground has the disadvantage that targets may move out of the area of effect during the phase. The result of the skill check determines how close to this aiming point the weapon lands or strikes—ground zero for the area-effect attack Most area-effect weapons miss by a distance deter- mined by the range and the attack roll indicated on Taste GGWIS: ACCURACY 8y RANGE. For example, a hero who throws a grenade at medium range and gets an Ordinary TOE eyae ae success still misses his target by 2 meters. Usually, the ‘exact fall of the weapon is a random result determined by use of the scatter diagram. Under unusual circumstances the Gamemaster can select the impact point of the weapon. For instance, if a hero is trying to throw a grenade into the narrow firing slit of a reinforced bunker, you might decide that any miss bounces off the bunker’s face and blows up just ‘outside. Firing a guided missile into a forest is likely to result in the destruction of a tree, not the target ‘Once you've determined how far from the target the weapon lands, and in what direction, you can see if any other characters or objects beside the actual aiming point might be affected by the attack. The damage caused by an area-effect weapon is determined by the specific weapon and the distance from the detonation point. Therefore, all area-effect weapons have a damage rating graded on the number of meters they mis by. For example, the fragmentation grenade inflicts Amazing damage (d6+2n) to any target within 2 meters, Good damage (d4+2u) to any target within 6 meters, and Ordinary damage (d4w) to any target within 10 meters ofits detonation point. This damage is not cumulative; only the highest damage value is applied. Any character caught within the blast of an area effect weapon may attempt an Acrobatics-dodge skill check to dive behind cover or throw himself flat when the weapon goes off. If the hero succeeds, lessen the dam- age by one category—Amazing to Good, Good to Ordinary, or Ordinary to none. Like any dodge, hitting the deck costs an action. Tuown Wearoxs How far a hero can throw an abject depends on his, Strength score. Short range is equal to the hero's Strength score in meters; medium range is STR x 2 meters; and long range is STR x 4 meters, These dis- tances apply for throwing small, ight objects, such as balls, grenades, rocks, oF similar items. Objects that are significantly larger or heavier can’t be thrown as far. ‘Weapons designed to be thrown include knives, dag- gers, spears, hand axes, javelins, and shuriken. (Descriptions of these weapons can be found in Chapter & Equipment.) In addition, heroes might try to hur bolls, ball-sized rocks, bricks, or even empty guns ot opponents. Damage adjustments for Strength apply to any attack made witha thrown weapon. Traut GW14: Throw Srarion Moo\ias summarizes the difficulty of using a thrown weapon based on the type of object and the range of the target. As shown on that, table, a hero actually gets a situation die bonus when trying to hita target at short range with an object that is designed to be thrown, Objects that are small and relatively light (weighing up to 3 kg) but aren't designed for throwing cause the hero to receive a penalty, even at short range. For heavy objects (weigh ing more than 3 kg but no more than one-half of a character's Strength score in kilograms, rounded down), the penalty is +4 steps, and no heavy object can be tossed beyond short range. ‘Taste GW14: Turow Situation MopiFtERs Type of Object s ” L Designed for Throwing 4 4 2 Not for throwing 4 2 3 Heavy 4 No No Grewanes Grenades need to be treated a little differently from other thrown objects due to their explosive radius. In other words, you need to know exactly where a grenade lands, since it doesn’t have to hit its target to inflict damage. There are two types of grenades in the ALreRNIY ame system: standard and gun-launched grenades. {Ehcpter& Equipment hos descriptions and statistics for all available grenades.) Standard grenades are any of the normal fragmen: tation, concussion, or energy grenades that are manu: ally tossed at a target. A hero can toss a standard grenade a distance equal to his normal throwing dis tance, using his Athleties—throw skill. Treat a grenade as an object designed to be thrawn for purposes of determining situation modifiers. Cover modifiers are applied to the throw situation die if such cover pro~ tects from the blast. Gun-lounched grenades are fired out of grenade launchers. This requires the use of the Heavy Weapons—indirect fire shill. Ranges depend on the grenade launcher being used. Refer to Tabue GALS: Accunécy ay RaNGé to determine how far a grenade lands from its intended target. Use the scatter diagram above to determine where it lands. Taste GWI5: Accuracy By RANGE stance from Target Result Short Medium Long CF 4m Bm lem F 2m 4m 6m 0 on target 2m 4m 6 on target on target 2m A always on target Special Combat Conditions Fighting in chest-deep water is a lot different from fight- ing in a boxing ring. Heroes routinely find the strangest places to get into combat, with numerous hazards, restricted spaces, and lousy footing hindering them.Poor TeRRAIM Heroes are efficient all-terrain vehicles, able to scale 490° slopes, swim wide rivers, and leap from boulder to boulder in a jumbled rackfall. Even so, terrain conditions can slow even the most determined athlete Varied terrain (sand, light forest, or jungle) reduces a character's movement rates—sprint, run, or walkby 50%. A hero with a sprint of 20 could only sprint at a rate of 10 meters per ection in Varied terrain. Rugged terrain reduces movement even more. See Test: GWI6: Tenaain wm Comsat. Taste GWI6: Terrain in ComBar Movement Terrain Effect Examples Smooth None firm sand, eatth, light brush, open farmland Varied 1/2o1mal knee-deep water, loose sand, overgrowth, moving uphil, rubble Rugged 1/4normal waist-deep water, deep snow or mud, thick overgrowth and brias, moving up steep slopes Loire Visieiury You can’t shoot at something you con't see. On a moonless, night, « human ean make out large objects such as houses and trees at 50 meters owoy. With abit of light, visibility can extend to a kilometer under such circumstances. Total darkness, on the other hand, features @ cloudy, moonless, night with rain or blowing snow, or an interior room with no lights on. Penalties for imited visibility in combat are shown on Tove 13: Moons FoR Ranseo ATACKS. Combat With Style The basics of the combat system are easy, but advanced players may want more choices for special situations, The Gamemaster has complete discretion over whether or ‘ot any special tactics can be used. ‘AIAING A character making an attack with a ranged weapon of @ direct fire heavy weapon can spend an action aiming to increase his chance of success. This provides a -1 step bonus to his next attack, provided he makes the attack in the next phase in which he is entitled to act. For example, a hero who gets two actions per round makes a Good action check. He uses one action in the Good phase to aim at his target. In the Ordinary phase, he uses his second action to make the ranged attack, with a -1 step bonus for aiming. If the hero spends the Marginal phase aiming, the -1 step bonus is applied in the next phase in which the hero can act (depending on the action check he makes in the next round). OF course ifthe target moves out of sight before the hero can act, the aiming bonus is lost. Its not possible to aim when using burst or autofire modes. Catteo Snor hero who wants to hit a very precise target can declare a called shot before he makes his skill check, adding 0 +4 step penalty. Called shots can be used for a variety of special purposes, detailed below. It's nat possible to use burst or autofire with a called shot D Disorm: A called shot can strike a weapon out of an opponent's hand in melee combat or in ranged combat. Ifthe shot is successful, the target is disormed but suf- fers no damage. Usually, a disarmed character can retrieve his weapon with his next action P Dead-Eye Shot: A called shot can place a shot ora melee strike exactly where it hurts the most. The dead-eye shot automatically increases the degree of success by one grade, fit its: An Ordinary success becomes Good, and ‘Good becomes Amazing. Amazing results are unaffected, ‘and a miss is stil a miss. Dead-eye shots are particularly useful for getting solid hits on heavily armored enemies. D Style Shot: A called shot can strike an opponent with an attack that inflicts no damage except humilia~ tion, Itsinges clothing with a laser beam, cuts hair with a sword, removes a button from a suit, or performs some ather obnoxious display of superiority. Usualy ths gets people mad~or scared. A Failure on a style shot embar- asses the attacker instead, without doing physical damage to anyone P Trick Shot: The hero attempts some outlandish feat of marksmanship, lke severing a rope at 100 meters, throwing a knife to knock a car into gear, or any similar feat, Ifthe shot is really ludicrous, increase the penalty to +6 steps or more TO ae | ‘SuPpRESSIVE FIRE 4 Suppressive fire is intended to force the enemy to keep his head down and ruin any shots he's taking, It's espe~ cially useful for protecting an ally who's trying to cross, ‘open ground. When a character declares that he's using suppressive fire, he makes a normal skill check, but instead of inflicting damage, the result of the check inflicts a +1, +2, or +3 step penalty to any ranged attacks that the target makes during this phase. Suppressive fire with an automatic weapon is particu~ larly effective, since the character laying down the cov- ering fire can affect the attacks of up to three enemy characters. The effects of suppressive fire aren't cumulative, The enemy's skill check is only affected by the best sup- pressive fire result used against him, not the sum of all suppressive fireBe represents injuries thar cause lasting hrm to the body, hs Suppressive fire has a different effect on targets that ‘aren't aware of, or don’t care about, the threat. Many animals won't be deterred unless they are injured, and ‘an enemy in a superior position (such as inside a body tank) is unlikely to keep his head down because some- one’s shooting at him with a pistol. For targets such as these who opt to ignore suppressive fire, normal damage is rolled for the result indicated. DAMAGE Damage represents injury to an object (such as a char- ‘acter’s body) from an attack or some other occurrence that weakens the object. The four types of damage are stun damage, wound damage, mortal damage, and fatigue damage. Most forms of attack (weapons, fists, grenade explo- sions, and so forth) have damage ratings, indicating that they are capable of inflicting three possible degrees of damage: Ordinary, Good, or Amazing. The degree of damage is usually tied to the degree of success the attacker achieves on his skill check For example, a weapon has this damage rating, d4s/d4w/d4m. ifthe check for the attack results in an Amazing success, the third part of the rating (44m) is used. Ifthe result is Ordinary, then only the first part of the rating (d4s) applies Stun Damage Stun damage isthe lightest type of damage a hero can sustain. It represents bumps and bruises and mild abra- sions that can rattle a character but don’t result in last ing injuries. For every point of stun damage your hero receives, mark off one box on the stun rating line of your hero sheet. ‘Kwockout If all of your hero's stun boxes are marked off, he is immediately knocked out. Your hero is unconscious and ‘can’t perform any actions until he regains consciousness. Heavy Stun After al of a hero's stun boxes have been marked off, ‘additional stun damage becomes wound damage. For every 2 additional points of stun damage a knocked-out hero suffers in a single attack, he or she suffers 1 point ‘of wound damage (disregard the leftover point of stun damage, if applicable). Wound Damage Wound damage is more serious than stun damage. It ‘such as severe lacerations and broken bones. (Note, however, that the system doesn’t take into account the effects of diferent types of wound damage.) For every point of wound damage your hero receives, mark off one box on the wound rating line of your hero sheet Seoowoaky DAMAGE Damage that inflicts wounds also results in secondary stun damage. For every 2 points of wound damage a hero suffers in a single attack, he also suffers 1 point of stun damage (disregard the leftover point of wound damage, if applicable). ‘Kwockout If all of your hero's wound boxes are marked off, he is. knocked out. Your hero is unconscious and can’t perform «ny actions until he regains consciousness. Heavy Wouno After all of a hero's wound boxes have been marked off, additional wounds are applied as mortal damage. For every 2 additional points of wound damage suffered in a single attack by a hero with no remaining wound boxes, he or she suffers 1 point of mortal damage (disregard the leftover point of wound damage, if applicable). Mortal Damage Mortal damage is the most severe form of trauma a body can endure. It represents such injuries as a severed artery or the rupture of o major organ (although the game system does not distinguish between the effects of different types of mortal damage). For every point of mortal damage your hero receives, mark off one box on the mortal rating line of your hero sheet. ‘Seconpart DAMAGE For every 2 points of mortal damage a hero suffers ina single attack, he also takes 1 point of wound damage and 1 point of stun damage (disregard the leftover point ‘of mortal damage, if applicable). This wound damage does not also cause secondary stun damage, as. described in the "Wound Damage” section. Dazeo Mortal damage takes a toll on a hero immediately. For every point of mortal damage your hero suffers, he receives a +1 step penalty to all subsequent actions he ‘attempts. (This penalty is cumulative—o penalty of +2 steps for 2 points of mortal damage, and so forth.) Dying ano DeaTH A character who suffers any amount of mortal damage is, considered to be dying. At the end of any scene in whicha character has suffered mortal damage, the mortally wounded character must make a Stamina-endurance check. The result of this check determines ifthe victim's condition worsens: On a Critical Failure result, he or she suffers 2 additional points of mortal damage; on a Failure, the character suffers 1 additional point of mor- tal damage; on any success result, the vietim’s condition remains unchanged. Until the victim receives medical treatment, he or she ‘must make a new Stamina-endurance check every hour, with effects as described above. Ifthe victim is helped by the application of Knowledge-first aid or Medical Science-treatment, the interval between Stamina— endurance checks is increased from one per hour to one per day IFall of a victim's mortal boxes are marked off, the character dies. Fatigue Damage Fatigue damage represents the exhaustion « hero suffers due to extreme exertion. This may consist of hours of hiking, heavy labor or exercise over an extended period of time (10 minutes +), use of a mutation, or suffering wound or mortal damage in a scene (even if the damage was healed during the course of that scene). When a hero engages in fatigue-causing activity, he must make a Stamina-endurance check. On a Critical Failure, he suffers 2 points of fatigue damage; a Failure indicates he suffers I point of fatigue damage. Any success means that no fatigue damage occurs as a result of the activity. The fatigue check is made immediately after the activ- ity, oF once per hour of activity. Every check ofa continu ous activity after the first receives a cumulative +1 step penalty, in addition to any other penalties or bonuses Daze Fatigue damage takes a toll on a hero immediately. For every fatigue box marked, a character receives a +1 step penalty to all subsequent actions he attempts Kvockour When all of a hero’s fatigue boxes are marked off, he or she must immediately make a successful Resolve-physi- cal resolve skill check to avoid falling unconscious due to exhaustion (Characters without this skill use their untrained Will score). If the check succeeds, the hero may continue to engage in activity until the next fatigue check. But the next time the hero suffers any fatigue damage, the hera is knocked out and cannot perform any actions until he or she regains consciousness. Recovery How your hero recovers from damage depends on his condition (conscious or knocked out) and the type of damage the character has suffered. ‘Stun Recovery All stun damage is fleeting. It disappears at the end of @ scene, regardless of how much stun damage a character has suffered. A conscious character with stun damage can be healed during a scene by the use of Knowledge-first aid, Medical Science-treatment, or some other form of med~ ical treatment. A successful first aid or treatment skill check restores 2, 3, or4 stun points, depending on the degree of success. ‘Ahero who is knocked out (all stun boxes filled) can be revived by medical aid or may be able to recover nat- urally. A successful first aid or treatment skill check restores 1, 2, or 3 stun points to an unconscious charac~ ter, depending on the degree of success. Without access to a healer, the character remains unconscious for the remainder of the round in which he or she was knocked out and all of the next round. Starting in the round after that, when all conscious characters are making action checks, an unconscious f character begins making Resolve-physical resolve checks. On a Critical Failure or a Failure result, the char- acter stays unconscious. On an Ordinary success, the character regains 2 stun points; on a Good success, the character gets back 4 stun points; on an Amazing suc cess, the hero recovers 6 stun points (but can't recover more than his or her maximum number of stun points) On any success, the character becomes conscious but can't attempt any other actions in the upcoming round, = > e es 0 = ca a 5 — Wouno Recoverr Wound damage doesn't go away by itself. It affects a ‘ character until that character receives medical aid or until the character rests long enough to heal the damage naturally (see "Natural Healing,” below). The Knowledge-first aid or Medical Science-treat- ment skill, along with a first aid kit or trauma pack, can restore lost wound points with a successful complex sill 7 check. The task is one of Good complexity with afirst aid kit, or Ordinary if a trauma pack is used. On a Critical Failure, the hero suffers 1 wound point instead of being healed. Otherwise, a successful check heals 1 wound if a first aid kit was used, or 2 wounds with a trauma pack. Any wounds that remain after a use of either skill must be healed naturally or via Medical Science-surgery (see Mortal Recovery, below). Ifa characteris unconscious because all wound boxes have been marked off, the character can’t regain ».\y iaHeroes in Action consciousness until at least 1 point of that wound damage is healed. Mortat Recovery Not even a long rest can help a character who has suf- fered mortal damage-in fact, esting without being treated eventually causes the hero's condition to Mortal damage can only be repaired through the use of the Medical Science-surgery skill A dying character (one who has atleast 1 point of mortal damage) remains in that condition until the damage is repaired or until the character dies, Surgery requires a complex sill check with one check made per hour of the procedure. For every success achieved, the injured hero recavers 2 wound paints ond 1 mortal paint. (A patient with § or more points of mortal damage is completely healed ifthe surgeon achieves 10 successes during a single surgical procedure.) A Critical Failure ends the skill check and inflicts 1 point of mortal damage to the patient. Remember to apply the modifiers for the condition of the surroundings to the complex skill check; most environments in Ganws Won incur Moderate ar Slight penalties, and situations better than Ordinary are rare in the extreme. Fanoue Recovery Fatigue damage can only be recovered by rest~sleeping, sitting quietly, and not moving about. The amount of damage recovered is tied to the result ofa character's Resolve-physical resolve shill check. On a Marginal, Ordinary, Good, or Amazing success, the hero recovers 1, 2, 3, ord fatigue points, respectively. Ona Critical Failure, no fatigue points are recovered. The Gamemaster may, at his or her option, chose to restore all lost Fatigue points after a day's rest ora dra~ ‘matic interlude of sufficient time ‘Knockout Recover’ Ifa hero is knocked out from stun damage, he remains unconscious for the rest of the round in which he was knocked out and all ofthe following round. At the start of the round after that, he recovers I stun point and awakens lf the character was knocked out from wound dam- age, he can’t awaken until at least 1 point of his would damage is healed. Natural Heating A character who has suffered damage may have to heal naturally due to a lack of medical assistance or because ‘medical science has done all it can for the patient. Natura! healing of stun damage occurs automati~ cally and (more or less) immediately; at the end of a 48 scene, all stun damage disappears, and characters who were knocked out because of stun damage regain consciousness In the case of wounds, a character naturally recovers a certain number of wound boxes according to the result of a Resolve-physical resolve check. & check is made once per week (at the end of the week), with ‘these results applying: Critical Failure, patient some how aggravates his or her condition and suffers 1 addi tional wound; Marginal, character recovers 1 wound box; Ordinary, character recovers 2 wound boxes; Good, character recovers 3 wound boxes; Amazing, character recovers 4 wound boxes. A character without the Resolve broad skill makes an untrained Will check with a +d4 situation die, Mortal damage can’t be healed naturally; only the application of the Medical Science-surgery sill can repair mortal damage. During natural healing, all checks ore considered to bbe made while the character engages in minimal activ ty. Ifthe character confines himself to a hospital bed or otherwise remains in a state of total rest for the period, the check receives a -2 step bonus. If the char ‘acter engages in normal activity, the check receives a #2 step penalty Armor In simplest terms, armor protects its wearer from dam- age that he would have otherwise suffered as the result of a successful attack or some other damage-causing event (such as « fall). Every type of armor is rated for its ability to protect its wearer from the three kinds of damage: low impact (U), high impact (HI), and energy (En). When a charac- ters hit by a damage-causing event, the amount of damage his armor absorbs is determined by rolling the appropriate die and adding or subtracting a constant (if applicable). The result is the amount of primary damage that did not get through to affect the character. It's important to remember that armor does not pro- vide protection against secondary damage—which means that even if a character is protected from all of the primary damage directed at him during an attack, he may still be worn down by an accumulation of sec ondary damage Many types of armor are so cumbersome that they hinder their wearer, which is reflected by a penalty to the wearer's action check. A character who has the Armor Operation broad skill (and perhaps also one or bath of its specialty skills) can lessen or eliminate this penalty. See the skill descriptions in Chapter 5: Skills. Characteristics of the various types of armor in Gania Wont are given in Chapter 6: EquipmentFirepower & TouGHNEss Firepower and toughness present a means to compare the damage resistance of large and armored targets with the damaging capability of powerful weaponry. Chapter 6: Equipment has rules on downgrading and. upgrading damage based on the firepower of a weapon and the toughness of a target. Last Resort Points When a hero faces extreme danger, when great injury or even death seem inevitable, or when a hero just has to pull a miracle out of thin air in order to save the day, he may have the opportunity to use a last resort point. Like shill points, last resort points can be stored and spent. The rules for how many last resort points a char- acter ean have appear in Chapter 2: Hero Creation Effects of Last Resorts Alast resort point can be spent to alter the result of any shill or action check, changing the degree of success by tone grade. A hero who wants to improve his success can spend a point to change a Good result into an Amazing result, oF a hero who wants to hinder an opponent can change the opponent's Good result into an Ordinary resutt. utes FoR Usin6 Last ResoRTs D Only one last resort point can be spent to alter a skill check or action check. (Members of the Free Agent profession can spend two points to alter the degree of success by two grades, # they so‘chioose:) D Lost resorts can’t be used to offset each other. Once a ast resort is declared on an action, no other last resorts can be used on that action, P The use of last resort points is declared in order, starting with the character who got the best action check. Inthe case ofa tie, use die ros to see who goes first. P The use of a last resort point must be declared after dice are rolled but before any results are applied. for example, ifa villain rolls an Amazing attack, the hero must declare his last resort use to change it to a Good result before the villain calculates damage. D Only « character directly involved in an action can spend a last resort point on that action. For example, @ heto can spend a last resort to alter his own skill or action check, or to alter a skill check whose result directly affects him. D Last resorts can't be used to accomplish what vould otherwise be impossible. Ifthe Gamemaster determines that there's no way to succeed at a particu- lar action, then a last resort can’t be used to turn 0 Failure into an Ordinary success. D A lastresort spent on a Critical Failure alters the 4g outcome toa Failure. Bad luck is averted, but the action stil doesn’t succeed. (A Free Agent, able to spend two last resort paints at once, can change a Critical Foilure into an Ordinary sucess.) D Last resort points can be purchased with stored skill pints. A hero can buy last resort points between adventures, up to the character's maximum, MOVEMENT Heroes get around, even in the wreckage of the old Knighted States. They visit widespread towns and villages. They explore numerous Pre-evastation sites. And they are always on hand to strike against any villain that threatens their world. This is a brief discussion about getting there. Combat Movement Ine combat scene, mast characters move by walking or running. Ifa character has the ability to fy (either naturally o artificially), that option might be avail- able. Ifthe scene takes place in water, a character might have to swim to move around. In some cases, a character might try to sprint. Combat movement (as opposed to all-out movement, described below) works essentially like any other action During a ound, whenever a character has an available ‘action, he can move for a single phase at his listed rate. However, it's also possible for him to move and perform ‘some other action in the same phase. That additional action usualy receives a situation die penalty, as shown cn Taste GH1T: Comsat Moveneu Eres. Note that a char acter who is using his swim mavement rate can't move and attempt another action in the same phase, and a character who moves at a walk can perform another action mith no penalty. The movement rates For easy swim and glide are pro- vided for those times when a hero is in water or airborne and simply wants to travel without covering distance as quickly as possible. The speed of one's characteris determined when gen- erating the character, on Taste G7: Cowes Movenext Ries in Chapter 2: Hero Creation TOE Ey Taste GWI7: Comeat Movement Errects Type of Move Restrictions & Penalties All-out No actions Sprint +3 steps Run +2 steps Walk No penalty Easy swim +2 steps Swimm No actions Glide +lstep Fly +2 steps ”Heroes in Action ‘Au-Out Movewenr A character in combat can just concentrate on getting someplace, whether closing the gap with a foe or running ‘away from a hideously mutated creature. A character using all-out movement can move in every phase by any mode he is capable of. However, the hero can make no other actions in that round. A hero may choose to per- form an action earlier in the phase, then switch to all- cout movement, but cannot take any actions afterward until the next round Strategic Movement Strategic movement occurs when the characters are get- ting from here to there, and are concentrating on cover- ing distance. Other types of scenes may occur while ‘moving along, in the form of fellow-travelers on the road, ambushes, creature attacks, and other unexpected ‘occurrences, but the basics of strategic movement is to provide a rough time frame for the story. ‘WALKING. Walking is the most common way of getting around in the ‘Gama WomtD. With the thick overgrowth, the rubble of fallen civilizations, and the precarious nature of any trails between civilizations, hiking is often the easiest method of getting from point A to B The speed of a march determines how often a hero must make a Stamina-endurance check to avoid fatigue damage. Taaus GWI8: OveRtano Trav shows the distances that may be covered and the requirements for Fatigue checks for each mode of travel For characters with the Movement broad skill, the frequency is reduced by 1 hour per category. The results of the fatigue check is detailed in the "Fatigue Damage.” Section. The nature of the terrain and situation may affect the Stamina-endurance checks. Smooth terrain, such as plains, farmland, scrubland, rocky desert, and trails have no effect. Varied terrain, including dunes, hill, light veg ‘tation overgrown trails, and most rubble applies a +2 penalty to the skill check, Rough terrain, including thick vegetation, swamps, heavy rubble, mountains, and snow applies a +3 step penalty. The Movement-trailblazing skill can reduce or negate these effects. Finally, dark ness, inclement weather, and ice or dampness may add ‘an additional +1 step penalty, cumulative Aso rule of thumb, a typical hero with the Movement broad skill can hike 1012 hours maximum (usually in daylight) in clear terrain before exhaustion sets in ‘Taaut GWI8: OveRLAND TraveL Mode of Kilometers irs per Travel Fatigue Check Stroll 3 March 2 Forced March 1 ‘Mounreo Traver Mounts offer several advantages to walking-they are often faster, they save their riders from fatigue, and they carry more gear. Inthe Gana Womio, mounts can take a number of forms, but mast adhere to Taste GW19: Mounreo Travel. Assume that most common mounts of the Gunwa Wor. have the Stamina-endurance skill Taste GWI9: Mounted TraveL Mount Quality ———Kilometers/Hour —— [Constitution] Stroll March Forced March Marginal [CON 10] 3 $ 8 Ordinary [CON 12] 4 6 10 Good [CON] 4 8 2 Amazing [CON16] 4 10 4 Vewicuvar TRavEL Experienced or fortunate adventurers may have access to artificial mounts—relics of the Ancients that have been carefully preserved, lovingly rebuilt, or desperately juryrigged together. The details of these pieces of‘equipment may be found in Chapter 6: Equipment, including their speeds. Encumbrance While it might seem like a good idea for your character to be able to carry everything from a black sphere gun to a portable workshop, most people can't put up with such a huge load for long. If your Gamemaster chooses to enforce a more realistie game, she may require you to keep track of your character's encumbrance-the total weight of all gear at one time Keeping track of encumbrance isn't always necessary. | your character owns a bubble car, its reasonable to assume that he leaves a lot of his personal possessions stowed in the trunk and only retrieves items as he needs them. On the other hand, if your character has just been abandoned in the midst of the Settle rubble and has to hike out, it's quite reasonable for the Gamemaster to ask you to decide which items your character wants to take Errects oF ENCUMBRANCE Any character can carry a load equal to twice his Strength score in kilograms without feeling any adverse affects, For example, a human with a Strength of 10 can carry 20 kg worth of equipment without losing a step. ‘A character toting equipment that weighs more than twice his Strength score in kilograms suffers penalties; see TasLe GW20: Encumarance. The reduction in movement rate applies both to combat movement and overland movement. The penalty applies to all actions related to Strength- and Dexterity-based skils, as well as the char- acters Strength and Dexterity resistance modifiers. (For cample, a character with a +1 step Dexterity resistance modifier whois laaded down with gear weighing five times his Steength score has his resistance modifier ceduced to =I for as lang ashe remains encumbered.) Although it's possible for «hero to lift more weight than sx times his Strength score in kilograms, STR x 6 is the limit that a character can carry while stil retaining the ability to move at an appreciable speed Taote GW20: ENCUMBRANCE Load Move Penalty STR? 100% a STR 75% +1 steps STR«S 50% +2steps STR 25% 3 steps Climbing Climbing involves the scaling of vertical and near- vertical surfaces, and is affected by the Athletics-climb specialty skill. Climb modifiers affect the level of success of a particular climb. In general, a Critical fail- ure results in a fall (if possible), a Marginal results in no progress for the round, an Ordinary result 1 meter trav- led, a Good result 2 meters, and an Amazing result 3 meters. Modifiers to the situation are provided below: Taste GW2t: Cure Srruation MooiFiers Sheer surface 8 Iey or slippery surface 2 Darkness +l Wet Surface +1 Surface with some hand- or footholds. © =I Surface with many hand-or footholds 2 Minimal Climbing Gear “1 Partial Climbing Gear 2 Fall Climbing Gear 3 Jumping Jumping involving leaping or springing across obstacles, orupward. There are three types of jumping: a standing jump (a horizontal jump from in place), a unning jump (requiring about 4 meters of running room), or a vertical leap (straight up). The Athletics—jump skill aids in jump- ing. TOE Sy Standing Running Vertical Jump Jump Leap Ordinary 1 2 1 Good 2 4 15 Amazing 3 ‘ 2 (all values in meters) DETECTION The heroes react to threats they perceive in the world ‘around them. This section provides information to help the Gamemaster determine exactly what they see, hear, 4 smell, and detect. A group of characters with an advan- tage in firepower might be picked off if they find them~ selves in a position where they can’t see an enemy who can see them just fine The Awareness Check The measuring stick for whether a hero can see, heat, or spot something is the Awareness check. Awareness-per- ception is the proper skill check when it’s possible for a character to notice something by sight or sound. Awareness—intuition represents the ability to sense dan- {ger when no signs are available to the five senses. Finally if @ hero undertakes a conscious and thorough search for a hidden creature or object, Investigate— search is used instead of Awareness.Heroes in Action Many factors can modify @ hero's chance to spot some- thing. How far away isthe object? What time of day is it? What kind of ground covers available? How big is the object or creature? How well camouflaged is it? See Tae ‘GH28: Derecnow Mores. Choose a condition from each column and add the modifiers together to produce the total modifier. These broad categories can be modified to reflect a hero's chance to detect events or objects using other senses. For example, a sound might be described in terms of size (how loud it is), distance, and how much it stands out from the background noise that surrounds it. Range of Vision Humans (and most of the other player character species) are visual creatures, relying on eyesight as their primary source of gathering information. Heroes have a number of devices available that can augment their Vision, including binoculars, imaging goggles, and infrared goggles Most encounter scenes or combat scenes begin when the heroes spat their potential adversaries. They may be within weapons range or may have to close the distance. As a rough measure of the distance at which someone or something might be spotted, classify the prevailing visi- bility and illumination as Amazing (Full sunlight in open country), Good (a brightly lit room), Ordinary (an aver- age day or moderately lit room), Marginal (a cloudy day), Slight (light rain or twilight), Moderate (moonlight or fog), or Extreme (total darkness). Taste GH24: VisuAL Dereciow Rens lists the distances at which a person, a vehicle, and a terrain feature can be seen in certain con- ditions of visibility. The ranges on Table G2 are approximations. Use common sense to take into account local conditions. For example, the heroes might be standing only 500 meters from the ocean, but if there’s a sand dune between them and the beach, they won't see any water. Sound Like illumination, sound can be rated Marginal, Ordinary, Good, or Amazing. Marginal noises are at the volume of a whisper, and Awareness checks suffer a +2 step penalty. Ordinary sound is equivalent to a conver- sation at normal volume; no penalty is applied. Good sound includes screams, car backfires, and the like; Awareness checks receive a -2 step bonus. Prolonged exposure is annoying but not harmful. Amazing sounds are deafening, at or above 100 decibels. Characters forced to endure prolonged exposure to Amazing sound may need to make Stamina-endurance skill checks to avoid stun damage Scavenging Though this term has a bad connotation in our modern society, it’s a staple of Gamma World existence. Loot- ing the ruins of the Ancients is a reasonable (and profitable) undertaking, and it’ likely that the heroes will resort to it with some frequency. For that reason, the Tasue GH22: Scaveycine Resus is designed to let the Gamemaster determine quickly ‘and easily what kinds of loot the heroes find on such ‘search. In general, an Investigate-search skill check is used to determine the number of items found (and thus the number of rolls made on Table GN22):, ‘an Ordinary success finds one item, Good two, and Amazing three. The interval between checks depends ‘on the Gamemaster’s opinion of the concentration of treasures in the areaanything from one check per 10 minutes to one check per hour is reasonable. The Street Smart-ruins knowledge skill can be used to ‘assist the search skill check—an Ordinary, Good, or Amazing result grants a -1, -2, or—3 step bonus to the search check. A Critical Failure on the search check generally indicates an unwanted result—the searchers encounter dangerous creatures, meet hos- tile treasure seekers, or suffer a mishap (such as a collapsing floor. Obviously, these tables can’t possibly encompass all the variety of items that heroes might find in their search—they’re only intended to give the Gamemaster some help when he needs to determine quickly what is found. A simple look around the GM's home, school, or workplace could easily produce several dozen additional items appropriate for inclusion. ‘These tables should not replace the Gamemaster's ‘own discretion and common sense. Ifa rll produces «an item that doesn’t make sense (given the area or ‘building the heroes are searching), feel free to reroll or choose a specific item. Particularly valuable or rare items (especially Shadow Age equipment) should always be placed specifically by the Gamemaster, rather than randomly discovered by the heroes. In ‘addition, the Gamemaster can roll a few times on the Trinket or Small list to spice up the possessions of viduals encountered by the heroes in the wild. After all, not all of the Ancients’ creations are still moldering away in ruined buildings! To obtain a result on Table GW22, first roll dé to determine the subtable used (or select a subtable based on the area being searched): 1~2=Trinket, $-4sSmall, 5=Medium, 6=Large. Then roll a 420 along with a dé to figure out which item is found.Hero nA Taste GW22: Scavenain Resuuts dz) Trinket Small 4 20 ediam Large 2 1 Action Figure Adjustable wench 12 1 Birmottress ‘Arplane propelor 2 Ballpoint pen Baseball bat 2 Baby stoler Atte Cistmas ree 3 Barometer Baseball cap 3 Backpackwithframe ‘Bed frame 4 Baseball Baseball glove 4 Basketball hoop Bicycle 1-speed 5 Gotteres (44) fathtoom scale 5 Beachumbrela Car 6 Blank computer disk Bicycle pump Bicycle, he’s Cash ister 7 Boxofthumbtacks Bike helmet 1 Blender Chaie 8 Brass nameplate Bike lock (wth hey) % —Boxofscrensandnalls Coffe table 9 Camed food Binoculars 9 Briefease Desk 10 CO, musie Blow dryer 10 Carmatfler Drum set 11 Ceramic mug Box of matches 11 Caseataropened acon figures File cabinet 12 Gireuitboord Boel of emmunition 12 Ceiling fon Fish tank 33 Combination ock —_Bulhorn 13 Coin collection Floor amp 14 Computer mouse Con of motor ol 44 Computer CPU Forklt 15 Costumejenelry Canteen, empty 15 Computer monitor Gos-ponered berbecue 16 Dog whistle Computer keyboard 16 Cooler Golfeart 37 Doorknob {Cowboy hat XT Crutches, pair Grandfather cock 18 ducttape uring ron 18 DvD play Gumball machine 19 Earting Electric 889 coal starter 19 Endtable Helium tank 20 Electric razor Electric earving hte 20° Faxmachine Hospital gurney 54 1 Electric toothbrush Extension cord B41 Fieextinguisher Human skeleton 2 Empty spray bottle ‘First oid it 2 Fishing rod Jackhanmer 3 Engraved bele buckle Flashlight 3 Fve-dise 0 ployer Kitehen sink 4 Filmcan (ith film) Four sifter 4 Folding metal chair Kitehen table 5 Garage door opener Forti 5 "Footbal shoulder pads Loserprinter & Headphones Foreign lang. dctionory 6 Footstool {ann mower 7 Hearing cid Garden water sprinkler 7 Fromes pointing Mattress 8 Instant glue Halloneen costume 3 Globe Microwave oven 9 Joybuzer Handheld vdeo game 9 Golfbog (withclubs) ——_Matareyele 10 keys High heeled shoes 10 {nflatable beach ball fice char 1 Locket Kaleidoscope AL Inflatable raft Photocopier 12 Manual can opener Label maker 12 Lawngnome Prana 1 Miercassete recorder Metal cheese slicer 13 Musica instrument Pinball machine 14 Military medal Notebook computer 14 ylonrope (Sim oil) Pool table 1S Multipurpose knife Paintball un 15 Paper shredder Portable generator 16 hailfile Pair of jeans 16 Plastic houseplant, large Powerboat AT Pack of trading cards Paperback novel 17 Pogo stick Reciing chair 18 Paalck (no key) Pork 8 Political compaign sign Refrigerator 19 Pager Personal CD player 19 Portable heater Riding lawn mower 20 Pharm. Anesthetic Personal radio 20 fle, hunting Rototiller $6 1 Pharm. Antibiotic “Pistol, S2 revolvers S-L_‘Rollofcarpet Rouboat 2 Pharm. Antivenam Pistol, 38 revolver 2 Scuba geat Safe w/combination lock 3 Pharm. Sedative Pistol, 44 magnum 3 Shotgun, 12 gauge Sailboat 4 Phaim., Stimulant Pistol 4 revolver 4 Shomer curtain Shopping crt 5 Pocket coleulator ‘Pista, mm 5 Skipoles, pair Skis, pair & Pocket cellphone Pistol, starter’ & Sledgehammer Sofa 7 Road flare Plastic sword 7 Sieeping bag Sports utility vehicle 4B Sereudeiver Price tog gun 4 Stereo spear Stuffed animal head 9 Smallmachine parts Radar gun 9 Street sign Tobie saw 10 Spork plug fleam of paper 10 Suitcase Television 11 Stpier Running shoes 11 Toble omp Toilet 12 Steak knife Sports trophy 12 Tockiebox Tractor trailer 15 Stopwatch Suir gun 13 Tent Truck 14 Sunglasses Street map Mo Tie Upright video game 15 Swim gogees Sweatshit 18 Toy rain set Vacuum cleaner 16 Wremote control T-shirt 16 Trading card collection Vending machine 17 Wallthermometer Talking dol 11 Weycle Water cooler 18 Watch Toolkit 18 Typewriter Wheelbarrow 19 Wedding ting Toy space un 19 Videorecorder iheetehair 20 Wind-up toy Toy tuted animal 20 Wetsuit Wood stove as ig 53 a 6 lo es 0 =} ea Gf SF =Heroes in Action Taate GW23: Derection MopiFiers Size Distance Background Tiny Very far Camouflaged Small For Obscured Average Medium Indistinet Large Close Contrasting Huge Very close Clashing ‘Taste GW24: Visual DerecTion RANGES Visibiti Individual Vehicle Amazing 2000 m 10km Good 1000 m Skm Ordinary 500m 2500 m Marginal 100m 500m Slight 50m 200 m Moderate 20m 50m Extreme 2m 5m ENCOUNTER SKILLS Most of the skills associated with Personality, as well as 4 few tied to Intelligence or Will, also belong to enother special category known as encounter skills. An encounter skill is one for which the outcome of a Skill heck depends in part on the attitude of ane char- acter or group (the target) toward the character using the skill, Encounter skills are typically used during encounter scenes (as described earlier in this chapter), but they can come into play at any time. ‘target that a hero is interacting with for the first time starts with one of three possible attitudes toward the hero: Hostile, Neutra, or Friendly. (To randomly determine, the hero makes a Personality Feat check when first meeting the target. On a Failure, the target begins with a Hostile attitude; an Ordinary result indicates a Neutral attitude, while a Good or Amazing result indi- cates a Friendly starting attitude.) The starting attitude applies a modifier to the encounter skill check as indi- cated on Taste GH25: Evcouvren Sku FES. The hero's encounter skill check, when cross~ indexed with the target's starting attitude on Table GW25, indicates the target's new attitude. In all cases, 4 Critical Failure results in an immediate end to the interaction—the target becomes beligerent or decides to leave, and nothing the hero does at this time makes any difference. The attitude categories are generally defined as follows: Combative: The target believes that he is under attack or that an attack is imminent and responds accordingly (Fight or Flight, as appropriate to the situation). Hostile: The target is inclined to take action to count erthe hero, but avoids direct confrontation unless he's prepared or thinks it's the best option. Light Modifier Total darkness +3 step penalty Moonlight +1 step penalty Twilight None Daylight =I step bonus Bright sun ~3 step bonus Terrain Feature 100 km 50km 25km 5km 2km 500m 10m Neutral: The target responds as he is normally inclined to do, neither liking nor disliking the hero, giv- ing no undue breaks to nor trying to toke undue advan- tage of the hero. Friendly: The target is inclined to take action to help the hero, as long as this action doesn’t inconvenience him or place him at risk. Charmed: The target is completely swayed to the hero's point of view. Fanatie: The target is so won over by the hero that he does almost anything the hero asks, remaining loyal until the hero does something to change this condition, Whenever possible, a scene involving the use of encounter skills should be roleplayed (by players repre- senting their heroes, and by the Gamemaster represent ing members of the supporting cast), so that dice ralls aren't the only arbiters of success. Tame GW25: Encounter Skm Errects Skill Check ©———Target's Starting Attitude Result Hostile Neutral Friendly Charmed. Failure Combative Hostile Neutral Friendly Ordinary Hostile Neutral Friendly Charmed Good Neutral Friendly Charmed Fanatic ‘Amazing friendly Charmed Fanatic Fanatic Attitude Modifiers: Encounter include Combative +3 steps Law (INT) Hostile +2steps Street Smart (WIL) Neutral = 0 Culture (PER) Friendly -1 steps Deception (PER) (brite, bluff only) Charmed -2steps Entertainment (PER) Fanatic -3 steps Interaction (PER) Leadership (PER)HAZARDS The previous sections of this chapter have concentrat- ed on what your hero can do to the world around you. This section deals with what the world can do to your hero. This includes the dangers of exposure, Falling, and drowning, as well as more esoteric risks such as radiation. The Endurance Challenge Anytime a hero faces the threat of freezing, heat exhaustion, suffocation, drowning, or death by the forces of nature, have the player make Stamina endurance checks for his hero. This is a special kind of challenge that comes into play anytime a hero is trying to hold up against something that can exhaust or kill him overtime. There are two basic kinds of endurance challenges: the exposure challenge and the exhaustion challenge. ‘Exposure CHALLENGE This first challenge deals with forces that inflict direct harm to a hero—such as extremes of heat or cold, or mildly totic atmospheres. For these challenges, a Stamina— endurance check determines how many points of stun damage the hero suffers while exposed. Endurance Check Result Gritical Failure 4 stun points Failure 3 stun points Ordinary 2 stun points Good 1 stun point Amazing no damage The interval between checks depends on the severity of the environment and the degree of exhaustion. These intervals can occuras frequently as once per phase, or as slow as once per hour. Some exposure checks may impose a cumulative step penalty. In this case, the first exposure check suffers a +1 step penalty, the second check suffers a +2 step penalty, the third a +3 step penalty, and so on. Once a character runs out of stun points, he begins to take wound damage at the same rate he suffered stun damage. Treat these wounds just like normal injuries You may choose to allow a hera who loses all of his stun points to remain conscious~provided he makes a suc~ cessful Resolve-physical resolve check for each time interval hen a hero runs out of wound points, he collapses and begins to die. Dying characters must make a Stamina-endurance check as per “Damage” earlier in this damage. ‘EXHAUSTION CHALLENGE Other challenges test how well heroes fight against exhaustion. Some environments, such as the overly thick and muggy atmosphere of a toxic swamp, require « hero to make Stamina—endurance checks as though partici~ pating in a forced march or heavy labor. The result of the check determines any fatigue damage inflicted by the hero's strenuous efforts: Critical Failure, 2 points of fatigue damage; Failure, 1 point of fatigue damage; any success, no damage. The interval between checks depends on the severity of the environment and the degree of exhaustion. Such intervals may occur as frequently as once per phase, or as slow as once per hour. Once a character runs out of fatigue points, he col- lapses in a state of utter exhaustion. He's conscious, but his body simply won't take more abuse. ifthe hero attempts to forge on, heedless of his body's limits, he must first deal with the hefty penalty from the accumu~ lation of fatigue points. In addition, the character suf- fers stun damage at the same rate he suffered fatigue damage while taxing his body in such o way. Don't forget that penalties for fatigue—+! per point—apply to both Stamina and Resolve skill checks. TOES BET | Recovery f Heroes can’t recover stun points lost to environmental ‘exposure until they remove themselves from the danger- ‘ous environment. Similarly, heroes only recover fatigue points when they rest. At your discretion, you can allow a hero to recover all of his lost stun points when he escapes the damaging situation, or he automatically recovers at the end of the scene. Disease Mutations in the Gauna Woo extend all the way down to j viruses and germs, and new strains are emerging from 4 the rubble al the time. For the most part, natives of Gana Won (wel, surviving natives) have some natural resistance to these bugs, but there is always a chance ‘that the heroes may stumble upon some cache of Ancient bioplague or confront a rabid mutant. When a hero is exposed to a disease, make a Constitution feat check, with the following results: . Check Result Effect Critical Failure Terminally Ii y Foilure Extremely Il Ordinary ii Good No Effect Amazing No Effect Diseases have their own strength ar virulence, and this may modify the roll:Se a Strength Modifier Marginal =I step bonus Ordinary no modifier Good +1 step penalty Amazing +3 step penalty Diseases also have an incubation period. During the incubation period the disease is detectable and treat- able with the Medicine-treatment skill, without ill effect to the individual. Incubation Onset Marginal 1d6 weeks Ordinary 24 days Good 1d4 days Amazing 3d4 hours Disease Errects If the disease is not caught and treated, the victim suf- fers the effects of the sickness Ill characters suffer a +2 step penalty to all actions. Each day, the character must attempt a Constitution fear check: Critical Failure or Failure, worsen to extremely ill; ordinary, rno change; Good or Amazing, the character recovers. Extremely Ili characters are almost completely inca~ pacitated, Such a character may attempt a Resolve-physical resolve check to move around, but all actions are at a +3 step penalty. Each day the character must make a Constitution feat check: Critical Failure or Failure, worsen to terminally ill; Ordinary; no change, Good, improve to ill; Amazing, complete recovery Terminally ili characters are almost comatose, and. must attempt a Resolve-physical resolve check even to speak. Every six hours, the character must attempt a Constitution fear check: Critical Failure, suffer 2 points of mortal damage; Failure, suffer 1 point of mortal damage; Ordinary, na change, Good or Amazing, improve to Extremely Ill. When the hero sustains mortal damage, the hero must make a Stamina-endurance check as if suffering mortal damage in combat. Drowning & Suffocation A character robbed of breathable air (whether by sub- mersion in liquid or an unbreathable atmosphere or by strangulation) can hold his breath for at least a number ‘of rounds equal to one-half of his Constitution seore (round down). (If the character didn’t get a chance to take a breath, he has only one round of breath remain- ing.) If he tries to keep holding his breath longer than that, he must make a Stamina~endurance check at the start of every subsequent round, with @ cumulative +1 step penalty on each check after the first one. On a Critical Failure result, he suffers 4 points of stun damage, on a Failure result 3 points, on an Ordinary suc~ Gamma Wort Houstic MEDICINE Healers, medics, and others trained in the arts of medicine are uncommon on Gamma Terra, ond the tools of their trade, in particular medicine, are very rare. One common method of dealing with unknown plagues isto cart the afflicted individuals into a known radiation site and abandon them. Those involved either walk out or are eventually eaten by creatures that live among the ruins. Diseased individuals in « radiation area make a Constitution feat check in addition to all other checks for the radiation. If the result of the feat check is higher than the strength of the disease, then the dis- ‘ease is cured (and fades within d4 hours). OF course, the hero must still survive the rest of the effects of the radiation. Ilinesses created by radiation cannot be cured by radiation. cess 2 points, and on a Good success 1 point. If he gets o Failure ora Critical Failure result ona Stamina-endurance check, or if he loses all his stun points, he is unconscious and in danger of drowning or being stran- gled. He makes a Stamina-endurance check in every round thereafter, marking off wound points afterall his stun points are gone and then marking off mortal points when all his wound points are used up. If he isn’t rescued before his last mortal point is lost, the character dies. ‘Table GW26: IMpact DAMAGE Cheek ——4 Result & Ss T Critical Failure dow d6e2w dbs2m d8vém_ dl2+8m Failure daw d4s2n dde2m d8e2m d12+6m Ordinary dés_— dd del d6s2m_ diem Good d4s d4+2s d8+2w d4+2m dé+4m Amazing — 4-25 dév2u dBedw d12s6u Falling Heroes have a habit of getting to very high places, engaging in some kind of breathtaking fight scene, and then falling off. This usualy results in a miraculous rescue or a plunge tothe ground below. As the old saying goes, "It isnt the fall that gets you, but the sudden stop at the end.” If a hero winds up falling from a high place, he suffers damage when he hits the ground or some other hard object, as described below. The hero also takes damage when something relatively large (like o skycar) hits the hero. Thisis called impact damage. When a falling hero finally hits bottom, his player makes an Acrobatics-fall skill check (or a Dexterity feat check, if he doesn’t have the fall specialty sill. Damage, as shown on Table GH26: Inpact Denace, isdetermined by the result of the shill check or feat check and the distance fallen: D> Ex refers to an extremely short fall (a distance of less than 3 meters) or a collision with vehicle (or other large abject) traveling no more than 20 kilome- ters per hour. Sis for a short fall (3 to 10 meters), or the equiva lent of a colision with o vehicle traveling 21 to 60 kph Mis for a medium fall (11 to 30 meters) ora coli- sion with a vehicle traveling 61 to 120 kph. P Lis fora long fall (31 to 60 meters) ora collision with vehicle traveling 121 to 300 kph. D> Tis fora fallin which the vietim’s body approaches terminal velocity (a distance of 61 meters or greater), or a collision with a vehicle traveling at more than 300 kph. (On the table, cross-reference the success achieved with the proper category to determine what kind of dam ‘age the victim suffers The Gamemaster can apply other modifiers based on the situation and the actions of the characters, as well ag on the substance fallen upon (spikes, rocks) Fire As c keystone of civilization, fire is invaluable to survival in Ghusk Hono, Unfortunately, it also has the capability of inflicting extraordinary damage an the ineautious Ifa hero is neara fire he can suffer stun damage from heat and smoke inhalation. A character exposed to direct flame can suffer severe wound damage. In either case, the character mist make a Constitution eat check during each round of exposure and compare the result to TWoie G27; Fine Dance to determine the extent of the injury. The Gamemaster may add bonuses or penalties to the check as appropriate ‘A burning character can spend an action to drop to the ground or take similar measures to extinguish the fre. In this case, any successful result on the Constitution feat check indicates that the fire has been extinguished. ‘Taste GW27: Fine Damace CON Feat Check Result Heat/smoke Flame Gitical Failure 2d6s* 3d6w Failure 2dbs 2d6w Ordinary és dow Good ds dés Amazing nodamage no damage** “Treat as on fire in following rounds. **if a character has caught fire, this result indicates the fires extinguished. Poison One of the most common and deadly hazards heroes face is the threat of poison. Many living creatures manufac- ture deadly compounds for immobilizing prey or for self defense. Humans and other madern races often use poi~ son in hunting and pest-removal. And the Ancients excelled at the art of creating a plethora of toxic sub- stances. Poisons are described by type and vector. Poison Tree Regardless of the origin ofthe toxin, poisons have one of sixbasic effects. Hemotoxins attack the blood, causing unacceptable thinning, clotting, or interfering withthe blood’s ability to carty oxygen. An average hemotoxin has an onset time of 10 minutes and an attack duration of 4 hours. Neurotoxins interfere with the chemical signals ofthe nervous system, causing the victim's body to shut down. An average neurotoxin has an anset time of | minute and ‘an attack duration of 10 minutes. Necrotoxins Kill or dissolve living tissue in the vicinity of the injury. An average necratoxin has an onset time of, Thour and on attack duration of 12 hours Caustic agents destroy vulnerable tissues through chemical burns, and can kill inhaled. An average caustic has an onset time of 5 minutes and a duration of 4 hours Paralytic venoms immobilize the victim for some peri- od of time. An average venom has an onset time of 1 minute and a duration that depends on the vietim’s Constitution feat check result. Finally, iritants can briefly incapacitate a person by inducing nausea, coughing and sneezing, or other unpleasant symptoms. An average irritant has an onset time of I round and a duration of 10 minutes after expo- sure has ended. Porson Vectors Poison can be delivered by several different mechanisms Insinvative poison is injected into the bloodstream by fangs, stingers, or envenomed weapons. In order to poi son a character with an insinuative venom, a successful attack that inflicts at least 1 point of primary damage— after any armor roll—is required. Inhaled poisons are gas, dust, or aerosol mixtures that affect any creature that breathes them in. Each round in which the character remeins in an orea contain ing a poison gas, he must attempt a Constitution feat check until he either becomes poisoned or leaves the area. A gas mask, respirator, or sealed suit of armor pro- tects against inhaled poisons. Ifa hero knows there's poison in the air or anticipates the attack, he is allowed ta hold his breath to avoid taking n poison gas, TOE EyPS re ao Table GW28: Poison CON Feat Hem Neuro- Neero- Check Result tox toxin toxin Critical Failure dam 61m dam Failure dm ddim daw Ordinary déelw d8+lw dow Good daw dés1w daw Amazing 6s doels ds Contact poisons inflict their damage by making con- tact with the victim's skin and are most often used in combat. The poisoner needs a successful attack roll Any hit, regardless of the damage inflicted, brings the venom in contact with the target's skin and allows it to do its work. These can be either gases, liquids, or pow- ders, The hero requires 0 completely sealed suit with a filter mask or independent breathing device to be safe, IFa contact poison is smeared onto a weapon, treat it like an insinuative attack Ingestive poisons must be consumed. As long as the hero doesn't eat or drink such a substance, it has no effect. Poisons may vary in lethality depending on how the victim is exposed. For example, mustard gas is powerful ifinhaled, but fairly weak if contacts the vector. Poison EFFECTS When a character is poisoned by insinuative, inhaled, or contact poisons, the effects are felt almost immediate- ly. Ingestive poisons may not be noticed for several hours. During the onset time, the victim feels progres- sively worse. The exact symptoms depend on the poison involved, but nausea, seizures, blindness, numbness, paralysis, bleeding, elevated heart rate, and difficulty in breathing are all possible At the end of the onset time, the poison runs its course over the duration of attack. Roll the damage and divide its effects over the duration. This is when the vie tim actually suffers any damage the poison inflicts. When the attack ends, the hero suffers no more damage. Heroes with the Medical Science-treatment skill can attempt to aid poisoned characters. In the absence of a specific antidote, the treatment check provides a -1, -2, or 3 step bonus to the victim’s Constitution feat check, which may be rerolled after medical attention. If the medic has the specific antidote at hand, the vietim may shift the result of his Constitution feat check by two grades. For example, a Critical Failure result becomes an Ordinary success. At the end of onset time, the vietim begins to suffers the listed damage or the listed penalty to all actions, or is paralyzed for the listed duration. Caustie Agent Irritant dévlm 4 days +3 step penalty 3d4w 644 hours +2 step penalty 2ddw 4 hours +1 step penalty daw +1 step penalty no effect none no effect no effect Radiation One of the well known and common hazards of the Gamma Wom future is radiation. OF all the ways to die, radia~ tion poisoning probably evokes the greatest terror. It's silent, undetectable, and potentially lethal; even if a hero survives the initial exposure, the long-term health effects are devastating. On the other hand, it may grant the hero new abilities Radiation is everywhere in Gamma Terra, the last legacy of the ancients, In mast areas i is at the Low ranking, and the natives of Guwws Wor.o have adapted to it. For game purposes, only the immediate and near- immediate effects of radiation appear below. Radiation exposure has a lot in common with battling through a serious illness: The victim may become mildly ill and pull through ina few days, he could become seri- ‘ously ill and require weeks to get better, or he could become terminally ill from radiation sickness. The longer and more intense the exposure, the more likely it is that the hapless character won't survive Heroes use Constitution feat checks to resist radia~ tion, Test: GH2: RaDumion shows the penalties and fre- quency for making Constitution feat checks at each radiation level. (These modifiers apply to rolls made on Tables 30-82.) The results of the Constitution feat check are then defined on Taste G30: RADIATION Erfcrs Radiation may cause a character to become ill, extreme- Iyill or terminally ill, These effects of radiation sickness use the rules presented under "Disease" in the previous section. Note that pure strain humans make Constitution feat checks to resist radiation with a -2 step bonus. Characters affected by radiation sickness don't succumb immediately. The onset time describes haw long it takes the victim to reach each stoge of sickness. For exomple, a hero who rolls a Failure on his Constitution feat check becomes, illafterL hour, and extremely ill after 3 hours. Radiation is measured in by the ancient units of rems, ‘a unit of measurement that's equivalent to the biologi cal effect of one roentgen of X-ray of gamma-ray expo- sure. In Auresuity, radiation levels are rated from RO (no. radiation) to RS (Iethal radiation).RO: Zero RADIATION Environments with zero radiation, like those with zero gravity, are rare and usually artificial. Controlled and shielded laboratories are the most common sources of zero radiation environments. Natives of Gamma Terra don’t need to make endur- ance checks in RO environments. If anything, they feel alittle uncomfortable, but are unable to determine why. : Low RADIATION Low radiation is common to terrestrial planets with a magnetic field. This field shields €arth—and perhaps similar planets—fram the worst of stellar radiation. Other minor sources of radiation include heavy metals in the soil and artificial sources. Low radiation doesn't exceed 10 rems over a year. Low radiation presents no immediate threat. Heroes and supporting cast members don't need to make Constitution feat checks and can't contract radiation sickness. Ris the status of most of the civilized areas af the Gama Wor. 2: Monerate RADIATION Noderate radiation is found in most ruins and causes harm to unprotected characters. It doesn't exceed 20 rems over a single week. Short exposure to the irradiated environment can minimize damage. Heroes must make a Constitution feat check for every full week spent in this environment. ‘An enviro-suit provides shielding to defend against moderate radiation. Protected characters aren't required tomake Constitution feat checks. The best defense against Moderate radiation is to not spend a lat of time around it. RS: Hit RADIATION high radiation can be found near the center of ancient tities and is best noted for its soft greenish-white glow. High radiation doesn’t exceed 100 rems in a single day. Heroes must make Constitution feat checks for each day (or portion thereof) spent in the environment. Soft enviro-suits cannot fully protect against high radi~ ation, but allow the equipped hero to make checks as ifn an RZ environment. Hard enviro-armor offer complete protection. Rd: Exrkewe RADIATION {Extreme radiation occurs in particular sites ofthe Gama Woruo-usually the softly glowing, glassy ground zero of ‘eaplosion deserts, Extreme radiation doesn’t exceed 500 tems ina single hour. Heroes must make Constitution Feat checks for every hour (or portion thereof) spent in this environment. Enviro-suits and enviro-armor provide limited protec~ tion against extreme radiation; equipped heroes make Constitution checks as if in an AS or R2 environment, RS: LeTHAL RADIATION Lethal radiation is usually obvious—glowing a sickly green both day and night. Open and operating nuclear reactors have lethal radiation. Lethal radiation includes radiation ‘over $00 rems/hour, Heroes must make Constitution feat checks every minute spent in this environment. Enviro-suits allow the wearer to make checks as if in an Ré environment; enviro-armor, as if in an R3 envi~ ronment. The Gamemaster may rule that particular domes and force fields may negate the effects of such radiation. Tue Gamma Races axo Murarions In addition to potential illness, radiation can have a dra- matic effect on the unstable genetic physiques of many Gaus Wort species. Whenever a Constitution feat check to resist radiation is called for, the hero must also make a Constitution feat check and compare the result to Taste 31: Pores Mutations. Mutant characters have a+1 step penalty to this feat check (meaning that mutations are mare likely to occur), while the other mutated humanoid species of Grats Worto—such as dabbers, sasquatch, and sleeth—have 4-2 step bonus. Pure strain human and android characters cannot be mutated and need not make this check {fa possible mutation is indicated, the hero must make an additional Constitution feat check and compare the result to Taaue GW32: RADIATION aNO MuranioN to deter- mine the type and strength of the mutation (or draw- back). Such mutations or drawbacks manifest over the time frame indicated by Table 31. Table GW29: RADIATION Radiation CON Feat Level Check Modifier RO no checks RL no checks Re 1 step bonus RS no modifier Ra +1 step penalty RS +3 step penalty Vminute Taste GW30: RADIATION Erfects CON Feat Check Effects Onset Critical Failure Terminally ll 10/20/30 minutes Failure Extremely il V/Shours Ordinary tt hours Good None - Amazing None - TOE EyOe ag Taste GW31: PoreNTiaL MUTATIONS CON Feat Check Possible Mutation? _——Onset Critical Failure Yes** 10d6 minutes Failure Yes 24 hours Ordinary No - Good No = Amazing No **hpply a2 step penalty to the roll on Tate GH AOATION AND MUTATION. Table GW32: RADIATION AND MUTATION CON Feat Check Mutational Changes Gitical Failure Random Good-rank mutation drawback Failure Random Ordinary-rank mutation drawback Ordinary No mutation Good Random Ordinary-rank advantageous mutation Amazing Random Good-rank advantageous mutation Temperature Temperatures from -50° C (-58° F) to 50°C (125° F) are not unusual in extreme areas. Neither of these extremes is immediately lethal to an unprotected human— although the colder extremes can incapacitate a person ina matter of minutes. In certain rare situations, tem- peratures may range from « hair above absolute zero (275° C) to several thousand degrees. Temperature hazards are rated from HO (coldest) to H5 (hottest). ‘HO: Assowwre Zero Environments this cold (-200° Cand below) have almost no atmasphere—most gaseous elements and compounds condense into rain or snow. Hence, independent supplies of oxygen are needed for survival. The outer planets and moons of Earth's solar system have surface temperatures near absolute zero, This situation may exist in certain Ancient fab conditions. Exposed characters without protection must make exposure checks every phase. Enviro-suits provide only partial protection; they reduce the check frequency to ‘once every hour. Enviro-armor, given its ability to pro- vide heat, offers complete protection. He: Fricio Temperatures of lower than ~50° C (-58° F) fall into this category. Temperatures this extreme do not occur com- manly on €arth, but polar regions might get this col. Characters require breathing apparatus, since their lungs freeze upon exposure Exposed characters without protection must make exposure checks every round. With extremely heavy, bun- dled clothing or a makeshift shelter, the frequency of the exposure checks drops to once every hour. Enviro-suits provide complete protection. H2: Tear Temperate environments fil the range between -50° ¢ (-58° F) and 50° (125° F). Generally, no checks are required for survival ina temperate environment, at least in the short term. At both their hot and cold extremes, these environ— ments pose no threat to humans. However, without prop- er supplies of water, clothing, and shelter, prolonged contact with these extremes requires exposure checks ance every hour or day. In extreme hot or cold, heroes undergoing forced marches or heavy exertion may suffer a1 or«2 step penclty to their exhaustion checks. HS: Toru Unprotected heroes can no better tolerate torrid condi~ tions than frigid ones. Torid environments include areas in the 50°C (125° F) range and foreign environments with temperatures near the baling pont of water. Temperatures up to about 100°C are tolerable fora very shot time Heroes caught near fire or inthe vicinity of volcanic axtivity ight be exposed to temperatures like this. Unprotected characters make exposure checks once every minute, Enviro-suts and specialized firefighting gear can provide partial protection, reducing the fre~ quency of exposure checks to once every 10 minutes. Thanks to its temperature control units, enviro-armor provides complete protection. H4: Super Torro Temperatures over the boiling point of water, from 100° C to 500° C, demand extreme precautions. Super torrid envi ronments are likely to occur only in Ancient Laboratories, or in the midst of volcanic eruptions or hot conflagrations. Unprotected characters make exposure checks once every phase. Enviro-suits and specialized firefighting gear provide only minimal protection, reducing the fre- quency of checks to once every minute. Characters in enviro-armor make exposure checks once every 10 min- utes. Vehicles and tailored habitat domes are the only source of permanent and lasting protection HS: INFERNO Heroes caught near a sun must deal with this type of environment. Temperatures may range from $00° C up to 1000 Cand higher. In addition to some form of protec tion from the heat, independent breathing apparatus is absolutely necessary; the airs too hot to breathe. Short ‘ofa starship or a teleporter, itis unlikely that heroes of ‘Gena Wor. will experience a full HS condition. Only shielded vehicles or specialized habitat domes offer total safety against inferno environments Unprotected characters must make exposure checks ‘once every phase with a cumulative +1 step penalty. Even enviro-armor can’t offer protection against infer- no temperatures. SOit See tions the erin iptotesses), and drawbacks (general- inig=nbich measures both the potency of the ow extensively it varies th i ry mutations are law-powered alterations or minor hat don’t result in substantial p Good mutations are mid-powered alterations or nts that push the body.to its maximum poter ee rire indetectabl alterations EAM EP ot tremendous poner. Drawbacks ‘Pern Astana or Activated) and a related on's. irre manent mutations are always in sdrawbacks ond same physical or mental muta- jecttdtherightienditions. He doesnot need to miltation, For example, Improved c oft tion (Ordinory, Good, and Amazing versions), m(omshoerctnia dthelmrove (mtzng)verson. 2 a eee rete tule. = rd to the species itself. Such species ‘rom individual to individual, dividual represents unique comExample: & player could choose to place 4 of his ‘mutant’ points into physical mutations, designating them as tao Ordinary mutations and one Good mutation, and the remaining 3 points os one Ordinary and one Good mental mutation. Then he might decide to distribute his 4 points of drawbacks as two Ordinary and one Good drawback. Another player might decide to spend the 7 points on an Ordinary, a Good, and an Amazing mental mutation and place all 4 points of drawbacks into a sin- gle Amazing dranback Pure Randomization IF you choose this method, first roll d8 and compare the result to Taste GH3S: Mursrion Poikt DISTRIBUTION. The number in the row marked "P” is how many mutation points of physi~ cal mutations the hero has, while the number in the °M” row notes the number of mental mutation points he has. Now find the number of Physical mutation points on Tate G34: Mutarion RaxoomzeR and roll the indicated die. This tells you the specific power level of each of the hero's physical mutations. Then, do the same for his mental mutations. Finally, roll 420 on the appropriate column of Taste GW35: Physica MUTATIONS or Taate G34: Mewrat MuraTions, oF 12 on the appropriate column of Taste GW37: Dawsacks to determine the exact mutations and drawbacks pos sessed by the hero, ‘Taste GW33: Mutation Pot DistaieuTiON ei 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 OD M6 5 4 3 2 1 0 7 Table GW34: Mutation RANDOMIZER “Points Die Roll Distribution O(a) any none 1 (any re 10 2 (any) odd 20 even 16 3 (any) odd 30 even 10,16 4 (48) 12 20,16 4 26 5-6 1A 3) 12 30,16 ray 10,26 56 10,18 6 (d6) 4 20,26 M4 20,18 56 16,14 1 (46) 12 30,26 rm 30,18 5 62 ‘DupLicaTeD MUTATIONS ‘Amutant can't have more than one of the same mutation (ineluding those mutations that have versions at multiple power levels). Ifthe same mutation is rolled a second time (ora lomer- or higher-powered version of the same muta~ tion i tolled), distegord the second result and roll again. PHYSICAL MUTATIONS As their name suggests, physical mutations alter a mutant's physical form—onything from granting gills or wings to allowing control over the hero's biological processes. Toucu-Deuvene> Murarions Some physical mutations note that their damage can be conveyed by a touch. Ifthe mutant simply wants to touch an unwilling target (say, as opposed to striking with punch), he receives a =I step bonus to the Unarmed Attack skill check Physical Mutation Descriptions ‘Aci Touct Good, Activated, CON Once per day the mutant can secrete a corrosive sub- stance from his fingertips that lasts for 1 round (4 phas- ¢s). The mutation is activated on demand and does not require an action. Any target struck by the acid secretion suffers damage based on a Constitution feat check made by the mutant: Marginal, d4s; Ordinary, d4w; Good, d4+2n; Amazing, dé+2w (En/0). Note that this damage is in addition to any incurred by the attack. On a Critical Failure, the mutant suffers d4w instead. Bioruytam ConTRoL Ordinary, Permanent, WIL The mutant is more capable of fighting off adverse phys~ ical effects. He gains a -1 step bonus to Stamina or Resolve-physical resolve skill checks. (ChaMELEON FLesH ‘Amazing, Activated, CON The mutant ean alter his skin color and texture to blend. into the background. One full round of concentration is required (any other actions during this round suffer a +2 step penalty). Once complete, opponents suffer a +1 to +4 step penalty to attempts to spot or target the mutant (including Awareness-perception, Investigate-search, and any Ranged Weapons skill), depending on visibility and background. Ifthe mutant moves or is more than half-covered by clothing (which doesn’t blend), reduce the penalty by I step.Demat REIroRcEMENT/ARMOR/PLATING Ordinary/Good/Amazing, Permanent, CON This encompasses three varieties of natural armor. A mutant with Dermal Reinforcement has layers of tough tissue just beneath his skin that grant armor of dé (U), d4 (HI), d4-1 (En). These tissue layers are unde- tectable to the eye or touch ‘A mutant with Dermal Armor has tough organic plates just beneath his skin (obvious to the touch, but not visi- je) that grant armor of déel (LI), d4+1 (Hi), d4 (En). With Dermal Plating, the mutant has large sections of chitinous plating growing over his skin (which may appear reptilian, insectoid, or crustacean, at the play ers whim). This grants armor of dé? (Li), d6+1 (H!), d6+1 (En), but also reduces the mutant’s Dexterity by point If this mutation is used in conjunction with actual armor, the character rolls for each type and uses the more favorable result. Duxt Beam Amazing, Automatic, INT The mutant has a secondary brain located inthe head or torso atthe players choice. The hero's mental mutations are confined to the primary brain, though the second brain has 2 additional mental mutation points. Should the hero's primary brain be affected by an empathic or telepathic power, the secondary brain automatically takes overall bodily functions (though any mental rutations controlled by the primary Brain will be Table GW35: PuysicaL MUTATIONS. unavailable). The secondary brain (which othermise remains dormant) has the same Intelligence, Will, and Personality scores, as well as all skill ranks possessed by the primary brain Euscrnic Aura Good, Activated, WIL This mutation gives a hero special capacitorlike organs in his nervous system that produce an electrical field. When activated, the mutant can inflict extra damage in 420° Ordinary Good Amazing 1 Biorhythm Control Acid Touch Chameleon Flesh 2 Dermal Reinforcement Dermal Armor Dermal Plating i Environmental Adaptation Electric Aura Dual Brain 4 Gills Enhanced Durability Energy Absorption ‘4 5 Improved Durability Enhanced Healing Energy Metamorphosis 6 Improved Healing Enhanced Immunity Energy Reflection 7 Improved Immunity Enhanced Metabolism Hyper Durability 8 Improved Metabolism Enhanced Physical Ability Hyper Healing 9 Improved Physical Ability Enhanced Reflexes Hyper Immunity 10 Improved Reflexes Enhanced Senses Hyper Metabolism > n Improved Senses, Extra Body Parts Hyper Physical Ability 12 Increased Balance Gliding Hyper Reflexes 13 Increased Speed Increased Precision Hyper Senses 4 Night Vision Metamorphosis Natural Attack, improved 15, Oversized Limbs Natural Attack Photogeneration 16 Pheromones New Body Parts Photosynthetic Skin W Radiation Tolerance Redundant Vital Organs Poison Attack 18 Sonar Rejuvenation Radiating Eyes 9 Toxin Tolerance Size Change Skeletal Enhancement 20 Vascular Control Thermal Vision Wingsunarmed combat or when wielding a metallic (ferrous) weapon. This damage is based on the result ofa Will Feat check made by the mutant: Marginal, d4s; Ordinary, d4+2s; Good, d8+2s; Amazing, d4elw (En/0). Note that this damage isin addition to any incurred by the attack. Each activation lasts for 2 full rounds (8 phases), after which the mutant suffers I point of fatigue damage. This power will also short out most electronic equipment, including any worn by the mutant while itis active. Evexsr Aasorerion Amazing, hutomatic, CON This power allons the mutant to act as something like @ lightning rod” for energy attacks. Any time the mutant is struck by an energy (En) attack, subtract 2d from the primary damage inflicted, Secondary damage is caleu- lated using tis reduced result Everer METAMORPHOSIS Amazing, Automatic, CON The mutant uses incoming energy damage to heal. This mutation negates d4+1 points of primary damage from any energy (En) attack and immediately restores an equal number of lost stun, wound, or mortal points (the type of damage restored is the same as the type of pri- mary damage coming in). Extra points of healing are converted from mortal to wound to stun (4:2:1). Any excess damage not negated is then applied (roll armor effects normally). © Example: 4 mutant with this power has 4s and éw remaining (from 8 each) when he is hit for Sw from an energy attack. Rolling d4+1 for the mutation, the player gets a total of 3. Thus, the mutant first heals his two lost points of wound damage, then the remaining point of wound healing is converted into 2s of healing. Next, the leftover 2w of damage is applied as normal. Assuming the mutant wears no armor, he'll suffer 2w of primary damage and Is of secondary damage. After the attack, the mutant is still down 2w but has a net gain of Is. Enerey REFLECTION Amazing, Automatic, CON Similar to Energy Absorption, this mutation allows @ hero toneutralize dé! points of primary damage from any energy (En) attack, Secondary damage is calculated using the reduced result. In addition, the neutralized damage is reflected back at the attacker, automatically hitting. If the mutant is wearing armor, energy can be neutrlized but not reflected. ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTATION Ordinary, Permanent, CON Changes in the mutant’s physiology make him comfort: able in an inhospitable environment. The player may 64 choose one of the following adaptations: hot climate, arid climate, cold climate, or thin atmosphere. The mutant can function comfortably in the selected cli- mate as long as conditions stay within that within which a human could survive. Any penalties associated with functioning in the selected environment are reduced by 2 steps. Extra Bopy Paats Good, Permanent, CON The mutant has double the normal number of o specific body part. Roll dé to determine the body part: I=arms, 2slegs, S=eyes, 4=e0rs, S=mouth, 6=player’s choice or other. In most cases, these body parts will be found at useful locations (arms attached to the torso, eyes in the head, and so forth). ‘An extra pair of arms allows the hero to take an addi- tional action at no penalty to either action, but only if both actions are essentially identical (Firing similar guns or swinging similar weapons at the same target, for instance). An extra pair of legs increases the hero's sprint, run, walk, easy swim, and swim movement rates by 25%. A second pair of eyes or ears grants the hero a -2 step bonus to Awareness-perception and similar skill checks relying on that sense. An extra mouth allows a hero to talk and eat at the same time, or to perform two bite attacks on the same target (assuming the hero's bite inflicts any damage). Other versions of this mutation should be adjudicated by the Gamemaster. For instance, having ten fingers on each hand might grant a bonus to Manipulation skill checks, while having an extra pair of wings (for those heroes who already have wings via a mutation) could increase the hero's fly movement rate. Giuis Ordinary, Permanent, CON The mutant has gills which allow him to breathe water as, easily as ait. The mutant’s body is also somewhat better adapted to movement through water; increase swim and easy shim movement rates by 50% Guoixe Good, Permanent, DEX The mutant has larg flaps of skin (like fying squirrel) or other body parts that allow him to use the glide move- ment rate, The hero is incapable of gaining altitude with- out a substantial updraft. The mutant’s body is also somewhat lighter than normal; he permanently loses 1 point of Constitution, IMproveo/EWHANcED/HyPER DURABILITY Ordinary/Good/Amazing, Permanent, CON This description includes three separate mutations.Improved Durability increases the mutant's stun rating by 3 points, Enhanced Durability increases the mutant's wound rating by 3 points, and Hyper Durability increases the mutant’s mortal rating by 3 points. In the case of Enhanced and Hyper Durability, this comes with slight or substantial alterations in body form (such as thicker hide or inereased bulk) which can be spotted by an Awareness-perception check (with a -1 or -2 step bonus, respectively). Ivpeovco/Exuanceo/Hrtr HEALNS Ordinary/Good/Amazing, Activated, CON This description includes three separate mutations. In each case, the mutation may be consciously activated once per day, requiring a full und. (Ifthe mutant is rendered unconscious, the mutation automatically acti vates if it has nat yet been used in that 24-hour period.) The mutant then makes a Resolve-physical resolve skill check. With Improved Healing, the mutant recovers 1s/25/3 & Iw (Ordinary, Good, or Amazing success) Enhanced Healing restores 25/38 & lw/4s, 2w, & Im, while Hyper Healing restores 3s & lw/4s & 2w/4s, 3m, & Im, Inaddition, when activated Enhanced and Hyper Healing grant a’-1 or -2 step bonus (respectively) to Stamina-endurance skill checks elated to mortal dam- age for one hour. Isproven/ENHANCED/HYPER IMMUNITY Ordinary/Good/Amazing, Permanent, CON ‘This description includes three separate mutations. A mutant with Improved Immunity gains a ~2 step bonus to Constitution feat checks to counter the effects of dis- ease, infection, or biological agents. When being treated to heal damage from these causes, the hero providing the treatment receives a2 step bonus. Enhanced Immunity increases these to a -3 step bonus, while Hyper Immunity increases them to a ~4 step bonus. IpRoveo/ENHANCED/HYPER METABOLISM Ordinary/Good/Amazing, Activated, CON The mutant can boost metabolic rate to grant bursts of strength and speed. When boosted, the hero receives a 1, -2, or -3 step bonus (for the Improved, Enhanced, or Hyper version) to the following sill checks: Athletics, Nelee Weapons, Unarmed Attack, Rerobatics, and Novement. He also gains @ 1-, 2-, or 3-point increase to any damage inflicted by a successful Unarmed Attack or Nelee Weapons skill check. In addition, Hyper NNetabolism grants a -1 step bonus to the mutant's action check ach adrenaline boost lasts for d4+1, d6+1, or 46+2 rounds; at the end of this time, the hero suffers fatigue damage (1 point, d4+1 points, or 44+2 points, respectively) IoMProveD/ENWANCED/HYPER PHYSICAL ABILITY ScoRE Ordinary/Goad/Amazing, Permanent, STR/DEX/CON When this mutation appears, the player rolls dé to determine which ability score is increased: 1-2, Strength; 34, Dexterity; 5-8, Constitution. The Improved version of this mutation increases the ability score by I point, the Enhanced versian by 2 points, and the Hyper version by 3 points Ietproven/ENHANCED/HYPER REFLEXES Ordinary/Good/Amazing, Permanent, DEX The mutant gains a -1, 2, or ~3 step bonus (for the Improved, Enhanced, or Hyper version) to her action check Improven/ENWAaNceD/HyPeR Senses Ordinary/Goad/Amazing, Permanent, WiL The mutant gains « -1, -2, or -3 step bonus (For the Improved, Enhanced or Hyper version) to Awareness— perception checks or Investigate skill checks in which touch, taste, smell, sight, or hearing play a part Increased BALANCE Ordinary, Permanent, DEX The mutant’s improved equilibrium grants her a -2 step bonus to Acrobatics skill checks. Increase Precision Good, Permanent, DEX The mutant gains a -1 step bonus to hit with any attack (melee or ranged), and any penalty for ronge is decreased by | step. Increase Speen Ordinary, Permanent/Activated, CON The mutant’s movement rates increase by 25%. In addi- tion, he may trigger a burst of speed that doubles his movement rate for one minute (5 rounds). This inflicts 1. point of fatigue damage. 4 MeramonPuosis Good, Activated, CON The mutant can reshape his bodily features to match any being he has viewed. The mutant doesn’t actually gain or lose mass, so he can’t change his apparent size by more than a few centimeters. When used as a disguise, those attempting to see through it suffer a +4 step penalty to Awareness-perception skill checks. The mutant may keep the new form indefinitely, though he returns to normal if he falls asleep, is rendered unconscious, or is killed Natural ATTACK/IMPROVED Good/Amazing, Permanent, STR The mutant gains a natural attack form, such as claws, fangs, spikes, or horns. Replace the hera’s normalunarmed damage with d6~2s/d4w/d4s2w (LI), or d4n/d4+2w/d4m (L) for the Improved version. Ifthe slayer chooses to make the natural weapon retractable, reduce damage figures by 2 (to a minimum of l point). New Boor Paris Good, Permanent, CON The mutant has one or more body parts nat nérmally found on hs species. The specific body part(s) are up to the player (with Gamemaster approval); examples include a pair of tentacles, « trunk, a prehensile tail, marsupial pouch, or a set of antennae. The player is encouraged to be creative in his choice. The specific effect ofthis mutation will vary widely depending on the body part selected. In most cases it should result in a minor added ability, a-1 step bonus to a broad skill, a - 2 step bonus to a specialty skill, or a minor improvement to an existing ability. For instance, a prehensile tail might let the hero take an additional action (at the nor- mal penalties) while stil having a free hand, while a pair of antennae might grant a -1 step bonus to Awareness skill checks. Note that this mutation may not duplicate the effects of any Amazing-quality mutation (such as Flight), though it may be similar to Ordinary or Good mutations. Nici Vision Ordinary, Permanent, WIL The mutant has eyes that are extraordinarily sensitive to ambient light (like a cat's), which reduces obscurity penalties she would otherwise suffer by 2 steps. This ‘mutation provides no help in total darkness. Oversizeo Lins Ordinary, Permanent, CON The mutant’s arms or legs (player's choice) are 150% their normal length. Longer arms allow for greater reach, while longer legs add 25% to sprint, run, and walk move~ ment rates. Purzonones Ordinary, Activated, WIL The mutant can release pheromones that sap the willpower of creatures within 10 meters, Each creature that can be affected (see below) must make a Resolve-mental resolve skill check to determine the effect: Critical Failure, reduce intelligence and Will resistance modifiers by 5; Failure, reduce by 3; Ordinary, reduce by 2; Good, reduce by 1; Amazing, no effect. The effects last for as lang as the mutant maintains the pheromones and remains within 10 meters of the affect ed creature. Note that while this mutation is active, creatures tracking the mutant by scent goin a -2 step bonus to Investigate-track skill checks. Pheromones are only effective on creatures of the same general type as the mutant (mammalian, reptilian, avian, and so forth). Thus, the pheromones of a mutated human would have no effect on a sleeth, but would. affect « human, sasquatch, or hoop. PHOTOGENERATION Amazing, Activated, WIL The mutant can generate light from his body. Whenever desired, the mutant can cause his body to glow, provid- ing light equivalent to daylight in a 5-meter radius. Alternatively, he can generate a tremendously bright light. This flash forces everyone within 10 meters who is facing the mutant to make a Constitution feat check, the results of which indicate the duration of blindness: Critical Failure, d4 hours; Failure, d& minutes; Ordinary, dé rounds; Good, d4 rounds; Amazing, no blindness. After this flash, the mutant cannot generate light (nor- mal or bright) for 4 hours. Puorosvwrueric Skin Amazing, Automatic, CON The mutant does not need to eat if he spends at least three hours each day in bright sunlight (or twice that in dim sunlight). In addition, the mutant gains a -2 step bonus to Resolve-physical resolve skill checks made to heal damage if he spends the time resting in bright sun- light, Unfortunately, the mutant suffers 150% normal damage from light-based attacks (such as lasers) due to the oversensitivity of his skin Poiso ATTACK Amazing, Activated, STR ‘The mutant has the ability to produce a toxin, as well as a method of delivering the poison to a victim. Roll d4 to determine the type of poison and delivery system: 1, hemotoxin (insinuative); 2, neurotoxin (insinuative or inhaled, player's choice); 3, irritant (inhaled); 4, play- er’s choice. (See the guidelines under “Poison” in Chapter 3.) ‘An insinuative delivery system injects the poison directly into the target’s bloodstream through the use of a natural weapon, such as Fangs, claws, or a stinger (the hero must have the Natural Attack or Improved Natural Attack mutation, or @ similar natural ability, to have this delivery system). A successful Unarmed Attack-braw! sill check is required to deliver this poison. Inhaled poisons are delivered via a sharp exhalation of breath or a burst of gas released from an internal bladder. The spray affects all targets within 4 meters in the direction the mutant is facing, and the poison remains airborne for | round after it’s released, The mutant may only have a single dose of poison ‘available at any given time. Every hour after using thismutation, the hero may make a Resolve-physical resolve skill check to produce a new dose (+2 step penalty if the mutant produces hemotoxin, +l step penalty if neuro toxin, no penalty if irritant) Rapiatng Eves Amazing, Activated, WIL The mutant can project dangerous radiation from his eyes, affecting all targets in a cone-shaped area 10 meters long and § meters wide at its base. Each target inthis area must make a Constitution feat check with the following results: Critical Failure, Terminally ill (10/20/30 minutes); Failure, Extremely ill (1/3 hours); Ordinary tl (6 hours); Good, Il (12 hours); Amazing, No effect. The mutant must also make this Constitution feat check, though he gains a -3 step bonus RADIATION TOLERANCE Ordinary, Permanent, CON The mutant has a -3 step bonus to Constitution feat checks for purposes of resisting radiation. Repunpant ViTAL ORGANS Good, Permanent, CON This mutation protects a character's vital life sys- tems-cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and diges~ tive-by providing backup organs that can function and maintain life if the primary systems are damaged. All mortal damage inflicted on the mutant is reduced by half (though the mutant suffers secondary damage based on the full amount), and the mutant gains a -3 step bonus to Stamina—endurance skill checks related to mortal damage. REJUVENATION Good, Activation, WiL The mutant can consciously restore lost stun or fatigue points. Once per hour, he may make a Resolve-physical resolve skill check, the result of which provides 2, 4, or 6 “ejuvenation points” (For an Ordinary, Good, or Amazing success). It costs 2 rejuvenation points to restore a lost fatigue point or I point to restore a lost stun point; the hero can "mix and match” to restore both fatigue and stun points if desired. Excess rejuvenation points are lost. Note that this healing isin addition to any normally afforded the hero by the passage of time. ‘Size CHANGE Good, Permanent, STR or DEX The mutant’s body has been permanently increased (a STR-based mutation) or decreased (OEX-based) in height (roll d4: 1-2 increased, 34 decreased) by 50%. Note that because mass increases or decreases by the cube of the change in height, a larger hero weighs just ‘over 3 times normal while a smaller hero weighs only ‘one-eighth normal Larger heroes gain 50% to movement rates, gain 1 point to Strength, and subtract 1 point from Dexterity. Smaller heroes reduce their movement rates by 50%, lose 1 point from Strength, and add I point to Dexterity Heroes with this mutation may be incapable of using or wearing normal-sized equipment, and may encounter other difficulties at the Gamemaster’s option. SeetaL ENHANCEMENT Amazing, Permanent, CON The mutants skeleton is fr stronger than normal Unarmed attacks, blunt attacks, and falls inflict only halF damage (both primary and secondary). The mutant inflicts +2 damage in unarmed combat, and permanently gains +1 to his Constitution. ‘SoMAR Ordinary, Permanent, WIL The mutant can “see” by emitting high-pitched squeaks and listening to them reflect off surfaces (like a bat). This negates all but 1 step of penalty due to darkness or poor visibility, though fine or two-dimensional details (such as writing) cannot be determined. The range ofthe sonar is limited to 100 meters THERMAL Vision Good, Permanent, WIL The mutant can see into the infrared spectrum, spotting, objects by the heat they radiate. As long as objects and other characters aren't the same temperature as the surrounding area, the hero receives a -3 step reduction to penalties relating to obscured situations, including total darkness. Toxin ToveRaNce Ordinary, Permanent, CON The mutant's body can process toxic substances with great efficiency, reducing their effects. He gains a -2 step bonus to Constitution feat checks made to resist poisons or drugs ‘Vascutar ConTrot Ordinary, Permanent, WIL The majar blood vessels in the mutant’s body can limit, blood loss due to injury by constricting and then rerouting blood around damaged areas. This reduces primary mortal damage suffered by I point (but does not affect secondary damage), and provides a -1 step bonus to Stamina-endurance skill checks related to mortal damage.Amazing, Permanent, DEX The mutant has large wings (feathered, gossamer, bat, or whatever the player desires). This allows her to use the fly and glide movement rates. By purchasing ranks in the Aerobatics-flight skill, she can improve her abil ity to move through the air. Without this skill, the success of any attempt to fly is determined by an untrained skill check (one-half Dexterity with a +1 step penalty). The mutants body is also light-framed, with hollow bones and efficient musculature; she permanently loses point from her Strength score and 2 points from her Constitution score, while adding 1 point to her Dexterity score. The mutant’s wingspan is about 6 meters, so it's neatly impossible to conceal her wings MENTAL MUTATIONS In their descriptions, many mental mutations are classi- fied as empathic, telekinetic, or telepathic. Tis is sig nificant because certain defensive mutations provide protection against one of these types of powers. The following mutations are considered empathic: Empathic Blast, Empathic Burst, Empathic Scan, and Empathic Symbiosis. The following mutations are considered telekinetic Cryokinesis, Fight, Levitation, Photokinesis, Pyrokinesis, Telekinesis, Telekinetic Blast, and Telekinetic Hand. The following mutations are considered telepathic: Confusion, Contact, Fatigue Generation, Illusion Generation, Induce Phobia, Invisibility (Improved), Mental Domination, Mental Paralysis, Mindwipe, Suggestion, Telepathic Blast, Telepathic Scan, and Translation. Mental Mutation Descriptions Bare Sewse/IMPRoveD Ordinary/Good, Permanent, INT The mutant has an intuitive sense of combat that grants him a -1 step bonus to action checks (-2 step bonus for Improved version). ‘CLArRAUDIENCE Good, Activated, INT The hero can project her mind to a selected location (up to 1 kilometer away) and hear sounds as if she were there. Each use of this mutation lasts § rounds (1 minute). If the mutant uses this power a second time before an hour has passed, she suffers 1 point of fatigue damage. CuaIRVOWANCE Good, Activated, INT The mutant can project his mind to a selected loca- tion (up to 1 kilometer away) and see as if he were there. Each use of this mutation lasts 5 rounds (1 minute). If the mutant uses this power a second time before an hour has passed, he suffers 1 point of fatigue damage. Conrusion Ordinary, Activated, PER The mutant can telepathically confuse the mental processes of a single visible target within 30 meters. The target suffers a +1 step penalty to all actions, and may attempt a Resolve-mental resolve skill check to resist further effects; failure indicates the target acts as indicated by the roll of a dé: 1 = stands still; 2 = wonders away; 3 = attacks nearest creature; 4 attacks nearest inanimate object; 5 = repeats last action taken; 6 = performs nonsensical noncombat action such as hopping up and down or giggling uncon- trollably. This power can be used once per round, and. its effects last for § rounds (1 minute). Contact. Ordinary, Activated, PER The mutant can send and receive thoughts to and from another character within 1 kilometer, as ifthe two were standing next to one another having a conversa. tion, Note that this does not allow the mutant to read another's thoughts (unless those thoughts are specifi- cally sent to the mutant by a willing target). Since the communication is on a telepathic level, the individuals need not share a language. If desired, the mutant can instead create a mental link between any number of characters within 10 meters of him. This allows all individuals to communicate with each other telepathically as noted above (though itis impossible to “filter out” any of the conversation, thus, all characters hear all sent thoughts as if they stood together in a room), Crvoxinesis: Amazing, Activated, WL The mutant can telekineticaly slow the movement of molecules in an object or even air to decrease its tem- perature. This mutation requires one full phase of con- centration before it takes effect. When used on a tar- get, the victim must make a Constitution feat check, the result of which indicates the damage suffered Critical Failure: the target suffers déw and is rendered unconscious for dé rounds; Failure: d6+2s; Ordinary: 44s; Good: d4-2s; Amazing: no effect. Alternatively, the mutant can coo! a 5-meter-radius area, which i 6 Mage 3, pa eS RR er.Taste GW36: MENTAL MUTATIONS: 420 Ordinary Good ‘Amazing 1 Battle Sense Battle Sense, improved Gryokinesis 2 Confusion Cloiraudience Death Field Generation 3 Contact Clairvoyance Empathic Symbiosis 4 Danger Sense Duality Flight 5 Directional Sense Empathic Burst Hyper Mental Ability ‘ Empathic Blast Empathic Reflection Life Leech ? Empathic Sean Enhanced Mental Ability Magnetic Control 8 Empathic Shield Fatigue Generation Mental Domination 9 Improved Mental Ability Illusion Generation Mental Paralysis 0 lnvisibility Induce Phobia Mindwipe u Life Detection Invisibility, improved Precognition 2 Mental Enhancement Kinetic Shield Psychic Projection 5 Mind Over Body Levitation Paychic Void 4 Natural Learner Mental Enhancement, improved Psychometry 15 Photographic Memory Photokinesis Pyrokinesis 1 Psychic Perception Posteognition Telekinetic Blast v Quick Thinking Suggestion Telekinetic Hand 18 Telekinesis Telepathic Blast Telekinetic Reflection Vv Telepathic Resistance Telepathic Sean Telepathic Reflection a0 Translation Telepathic Shield Transfusion inflicts the same damage to all targets within the area, but grants a -2 step bonus to the Constitution feat check. In either case, the range is 30 meters and the mutation can be used once per hour. Danger SENSE Ordinary, Permanent, WIL The mutant's heightened intuitive powers grant a ~2 step bonus to Awarenessintuition skill checks. DeaTi Frewo GENERATION Amazing, Activated, WIL when the mutant uses this power, all ving creatures (including the mutant) within 20 meters must make a Resolve-physical resolve skill check. Ifit succeeds, the creature suffers dds. If it fails, the creature suffers 2d4w (no secondary damage is inflicted). Armor does not protect against this damage, as it represents a gure oss of life force. Those damaged by this mutation may make a physical resolve skill check each hour; any success indicates that all damage suffered by Death Field Generation disappears. This power may be used anly once per week. Directional Sense Ordinary, Permanent, INT ‘The mutant has an instinctive sense of direction and is ‘almost incapable of becoming last. She gains a -3 step bonus to any Navigation skill checks. Ce ff k tee Duaury Good, Permanent, WiL The mutant can perform two related actions (such as attacking with a weapon in each hand) at no penalty, and can perform two unrelated actions (such a firing a gun while picking a lock) with no penalty tothe First action and a +2 step penalty to the second. The mutant is also considered to be ambidextrous and can use a weapon in either hand normally. Emearuic BLAST Ordinary, Activated, PER The mutant can implant a strong emotion in the mind of a single visible target within 30 meters. Typical emotions 4 (and their effects) are as follows: Courage: -2 step bonus to Resolve skill checks Fear: +2 step penalty to Resolve skill checks Love: -2to target's Intelligence and Will resistance modifiers > Hatred: +2 to target's Intelligence and Will modifiers Anger: #1 step penalty to all actions Happiness: -1 step bonus to all actions . An unwilling target is allowed a Resolve-mental resolve skill check to resist the effects of Empathic Blast. The mutant cannot affect himself with this muta: tion, The effects last for 1 minute (5 rounds), and the power can be used once per round.Exparuic Burst Good, Activated, PER This duplicates the effects of Empathic Blast except that it affects déel targets within 30 meters of the mutant. The player may select which targets are affected by this muta~ tion; al targets are allowed a Resolve-mental resolve skill check to resist. The mutant cannot affect himself with this mutation. It may be used once per minute. Ematiic REFLECTION Good, Automatic, WIL The mutant automatically reflects empathic attacks made against him. The user of the empathic power is affected as if the target had used the power on her. Empathic scans made against the mutant read the scan- ning character's emotions instead. Empariic Scan Ordinary, Activated, INT The hero can “read!” the surface emotions of another character within sight. In addition to the obvious advan- tages this grants, the mutant also gains a -1 step bonus when using encounter skills against that target. The mutant can scan one target per round. Ewariic SHIELD Ordinary, Permanent, WL The mutant gains +1 to his Intelligence and Will resist~ ance modifiers and a -1 step bonus to Resolve shill checks. He is immune to empathic scans. -Empatiic SyMiosis Amazing, Activated, PER This powerful mutation allows the hero to form a long- lasting empathic link with another character. This sym- biosis permanently connects the emotional states of the two creatures. What one feels, the other also feels. (though at a lesser intensity). The sharing of emotions is automatic and instantaneous; thus, each individual always knows the emotional state of the other, but is never overwhelmed by it. Consciously withholding feel- ings from a linked individual requires Will feat check every round. In addition, the Intelligence and Will resistance modi- fiers of each individual in the symbiosis become equal to the sum of all inked individuals. Thus, if three individu- als with intelligence 11 (+1 INT resistance modifier) were empathically linked, they would each have a new Intelligence resistance modifier of +3 (the sum of the Intelligence resistance modifiers of all individuals). To create this empathic link, the mutant must make a Personality feat check. IF used on a unwilling target, ‘apply the target's Will resistance modifier to the feat ccheck. However, if used on a willing target, apply the reverse ofthe Will resistance modifier (a stronger Will in- creases, rather than decreases, the chance of success). In addition, apply a +1 step penalty for each individual already empathically linked to the mutant. Ifthe feat check fails, the mutant can never again attempt to use Empathic Symbiosis on that target. ‘An Empathie Symbiosis shouldn't be entered into light, but only with individuals who are trusted by the mutant. The Gamemaster should reinforce the loss of privacy ereated by this mutation, as well as the incredi- bly strong emotional bond it forges. FATIGUE GENERATION Good, Activated, WIL The mutant can induce fatigue in a visible target within 30 meters. This inflicts 1 point of fatigue damage to the target, but the mutant also suffers 1 point of stun dam- tage. The power can be used once per round. Fueut Amazing, Activated, WIL The mutant can telekinetically fly at her fly movement rate. She may carry up to 10 kg per point of Will while flying. The mutant suffers a +2 step penalty to any actions taken while flying (except when hovering). Each minute of continuous flight after the frst forces the mutant to make a Will eat check or suffer I point of fatigue damage. If the mutant runs out of fatigue points while flying, she immediately drops to the ground (suf- fering impact damage) Tuwusion GeneRaTion Good, Activated, PER The mutant can telepathically implant an illusion in the mind of a visible target within 30 meters. The illusion has ‘no substance, so it can fool only the eyes and ears. A successful Awareness—intuition skill check (at a +1 step penalty) will allow the target to “see through” the illu- sion. Maintaining the illusion requires some concentra~ tion on the part of the mutant; she suffers a +1 step penalty to all other actions while doing so. Each minute (5 rounds) or fraction thereof after the first minute that the illusion is maintained costs the mutant 1 point of fatigue damage. Improveo/EnWaNceD/HyPeR MENTAL ABILITY SCORE Ordinary/Good/Amazing, Permanent, INT/WIL/PER When rolled or selected, the player should roll d6 to determine which Ability Score is increased: 1-2, Intelligence; 3-4, Wil; 5~6, Personality. The Improved version of this mutation increases the Ability Score by 1 point, the Enhanced version by 2 points, and the Hyper version by 3 points.Inpuce PHOBIA Good, Activated, PER The mutant can telepathically induce a severe phobia in a visible target within 30 meters. This can be anything the mutant desires, from birds to people to guns to open spaces. Assuming that the object of the phobia is present, the target must immediately make a Will feat check; failure indicates that he freezes or flees the scene, as appropriate. Even if the target succeeds, he suffers a +1 step penalty to all actions while the object of his phobia is present. This mutation may be used once per hour, but only once per day an any given target. Its effects last for 10 minutes Invisienuty/ImMPRovED Ordinary/Good, Activated, PER The mutant can implant a limited form of telepathic illu~ sion that prevents a single visible target within 30 meters from perceiving his presence. The mutant simply doesn’t register to the target's senses, though an Awareness— intuition skill check (with a +1 step penalty) may note that something is amiss. The Improved version ofthis mutation allows the mutant to affect up to six targets, or to mask up to six individuals from a single target. All targets to be affect- ed, or all individuals to be masked, must be within 10 meters ofall other targets or individuals The invisibility created by either version of this muta- tion lasts for 5 rounds (1 minute), and may be used once per hour. Kenic Suveuo Good, Activated, WIL The mutant can create an invisible barrier that protects him from physical attacks. Damage from Li attacks is reduced by 2 points, while damage from HI attacks is reduced by 1 point (before checking armor). The mutant can use this power once per hour, and each use lasts § rounds (1 minute). Levitation Good, Activated, WIL The mutant can telekineticaly levitate herself (plus 10 kg per point of Will) into the air at a rate of 2 meters per phase. This mutation allows only vertical movement; the mutant cannot move horizontally (except by pushing off of bjects, which grants horizontal movement ata rate of 1 meter per phase). The mutant can ascend, descend, or hover at will while the mutation is active. The hero suffers al step penalty to any action while levitating (except when hovering). Each round of continuous levitation after the first forces the mutant to make a hill eat check or suffer 1 point of fatigue damage. If the mutant runs out of fatigue points while levitating, she immediately drops to the ground (suffering impact damage), (Ure Detection Ordinary, Activated, INT When this mutation is activated, the character can detect al living creatures in a 30-meter radius. If desired, the player may narrow the criteria to detect only ‘a specific type of creature (such as mammals, reptiles, sentient beings) ora specific species (such as humans, sieeth, or sasquatch). This mutation may be used once per hour and lasts for 1 round. ‘Lire Leecu Amazing, Activated, WIL When life leech is activated, the mutant drains d4 stun points from all animals within 10 meters. These points ‘re added to the mutant’s stun rating (though it cannot exceed 3x the mutant’s normal maximum stun rating) Stun damage inflicted on the mutant is taken from the extra stun points first, which otherwise fade after 4 hours. Note that wound or mortal points cannot be drained with this power. The mutant may use this power once per hour at no risk to himself. However, each additional activation in the same hour inflicts 1 point of Fatigue damage to the mutant, Masnenic Controt i Amazing, Activated, WIL This mutation allows the hero to control lines of magnet- ie force. Ths is similar to Telekinesis, although the mutant can move only iron, steel, or other ferrous ‘objects within 30 meters of himself. The mutant can ‘move objects up to 200 kg at a rate of 4 meters per phase in any direction. For every additional 50 kg oF ‘mass, the movement rate decreases by one-half meter Any other actions taken while the mutant is using this power suffer a +2 step penalty This power can also damage electronic equipment. 1] When used in such a manner, a successful Will feat check 4 by the mutant disables the device unti it can be repaired, The mutant can use this power for up to $ rounds (1 minute) without tiring. However, after this period the ‘mutant must rest the mutation for one hour or he suf- fers 1 point of fatigue damage for each additional a round of use. ‘ ‘Mental DoMiNAriON ‘Amazing, Activated, PER The mutant can telepathically take control of another 7 being’s mind and command the target to do her bidding. 2 The result of a Personality feat check by the mutant applies a +1, +2, or +3 step penalty to the target's Resolve~mental resolve skill check made to resist the 4 effect. The target must be within sight when thedomination attempt is made, but can be commanded at any range after that. The duration of the domination is L hour. Any commands specifically against the target's nature grant a new mental resolve skill check to break free (with the same penalty that was applied to the orig inal check). This mutation is physically tiring to the hero using it When the effect ends, she suffers I point of fatigue damage. Only one target can be dominated at atime. (MENTAL ENHANCEMENT/IMPROVED Ordinary/Good, Permanent, WIL The mutant's mental mutations are mare powerful than normal. if the mutation requires a skill or feat check to use, the mutant gains a -1 step bonus; if it forces a tar get to make a skill or feat check to resist, that check suffers a +1 step penalty. If neither of these apply, men tal enhancement has no effect on that mutation. Improved Mental Enhancement increases the bonus or penalty to 2 steps. MENTAL PaRaQrsis Amazing, Activated, PER The mutant can telepathically paralyze a target's motor control, causing him to drop to the ground like a puppet whose strings have been cut, The target (who must be visible and within 30 meters) is allowed a Resolve-men- tal resolve skill check to resist; otherwise, she is inca- pable of movement for d41 rounds. Of course, mental mutations and other abilities which don't rely on move~ ment may be used while under the effect of this muta~ tion, The mutant may use this power once per hour. ‘Mivo Over Boor Ordinary, Activated, PER The mutant can consciously override his own body's physiological response to fatigue or injury. Once per hour, the hero may make a Will feat check. On an Ordinary result, he can ignore 1 step of penalties result- ing from fatigue or mortal damage. A Good result allows him to ignore 2 steps of penalties, while an Amazing result lets him ignore 3 steps of penalties. The duration of the effect lasts for one hour (but may be extended by another activation of the mutation). Note that this mutation can only negate penalties, never grant a bonus Mixpwirt Amazing, Activated, PER ‘The mutant can telepathically erase a portion of a tar- get's memory. The target must be visible and within 30, meters, and she gets a Resolve~mental resolve skill check to resist. Failure indicates that the mutant can erase up to 1 hour of the target's memory. This action 72 GS 4 ‘may be repeated to erase larger portions; however, each additional attempt by the mutant against the same tar- get grants the target a cumulative -1 step bonus to resist, and any successful mental resolve skill check negates all memory erasure by the mutant, NATURAL LEARNER Ordinary, Automatic, INT When this mutation is rolled, the player must select an Ability Score. When learning a skill or increasing the rank of any skill based on that score, the hera may attempt an Intelligence feat check. If successful, the skill point cost for that skill or skill rank is decreased by one point. This reduction is cumulative with profession dis- counts, but not with any reduction gained from the Teach skill. The cost of any skill or skill rank can’t be reduced below 1 point The player must commit to purchasing the skill before attempting the feat check, and the hero must have sufficient skill points available to purchase the skill even if the feat check fails. Puotocraruic Memory Ordinary, Permanent, INT The mutant has a flawless memory, remembering every- thing she has ever experienced. PHOTOKINESIS Good, Activated, WIL The mutant can telekineticaly excite the molecules in an object so that they give off illumination. After one phase of concentration, the abject begins to glow, illuminating a 5-meter-radius area with light equivalent to normal daylight, The effect lasts for I minute (5 rounds) and may be used once per hour Posicosurrion Good, Activated, WiL The mutant can “see” flashes of events that occurred in an area in the past. The result of an Awareness-intuition feat check by the mutant indicates the clarity of the sight: Ordinary, the hero senses general emotions left in the area; Good, she also receives brief flashes of events that may or may not make sense to her; Amazing, she experiences a brief encounter as if she were at the scene hen the events occurred. With Posteognition, the mutant generally taps into the ‘most significant or emotional event of an area, though this mutation only rarely allows sight beyond one day per point of the mutant’s Will. This mutation may be used only once per day, and only one success is allowed in any given area (thus, if the mutant gets an Ordinary success, she can’t come back the next day to try for a better success). aPrEcoGHITiON Amazing, Automatic/Activated, WIL With this mutation, the character can receive impressions about possible future events. A mutant usually doesn’t consciously employ this mutation Instead, the Gamemaster can call for the mutant to make an Awareness—intuition skill check when a precognitive lash might occur. On an Ordinary success, the mutant per- ceives vague images of a future event. On a Good suc- cess, she receives brief flashes of coming events that may ‘or may not make sense to her. On an Amazing success, she actually experiences a brief encounter as though she isat the scene when the events transpire. Precognition generally allows a mutant to see events up to one day in the future per point of Will, though the Gamemaster can adjust this for story purposes. Forcing a precognitive flash applies a +3 step penalty to the skill check and costs the hero I point of fatigue damage. Furthermore, regardless of the success of the sttempt the power is “exhausted” and can't be used for 246 days. Psvcwic PERCEPTION Ordinary, Automatic, INT The mutant automatically detects the activation of any mental mutation within 100 meters, and may make an Awareness-intuition skill check to determine the source. ife character with an inactive or permanent mental ‘mutation mental mutation passes within 30 meters of the mutant, the Gamemaster may make a secret Awareness-intuition skill heck to see ifthe hero detects the character. Psyciic PROJECTION Amazing, Retivated, INT The mutant can project his consciousness to any point within L Kilometer This psychic projection is invisible and an travel at the speed of thought, penetrating ony bar- ‘erat wil, The mutant’ consciousness can perceive its tnvironment as ifthe mutant were there (though he can't employ any physical or mental mutations through this ghostly presence). While projecting, the mutant’s body lies insensate and helpless. This mutation is physi- cally taxing; for every minute (or fraction thereof) that the mutant psychically projects, he suffers 1 point of fatigue damage. Psrcac Voro Amazing, Permanent, WIL ‘The mutant’s mind is completely undetectable by empathic or telepathic scans, registering as only a blank slate. He is immune to empathic and telepathic attacks. Mutations that contact the character's mind, such as Contact or Translation, fail to function on him. PsycHomerrY Amaring, Activated, INT The mutant can read psychic impressions from inani- mate objects. The mutant must touch or wear the object to gain insight into who has used it and in what context. What the hero senses depends on the result of an Intelligence feat check. On an Ordinary success, the mutant receives simple emotions associated with the object. A Good success allows the mutant to see simple images associated with the object. On an Amazing suc~ cess, the mutant experiences a brief encounter as if she were the person using the object or its owner. Generally, psychic residues of this nature last fora few hours, though residues related to particularly emo- tional events (such as a murder) may last for days or weeks, at the Gamemaster’s discretion This power may be used only once on any given object, and only ance per day at any rate. The Gamemaster can automatically activate this skill to provide a clue or oth~ emvise direct a story. PrroxiNesis Amazing, Activated, WiL The mutant can telekinetically excite the molecules of an object or the air to increase its temperature. This muta tion requires one full phase of concentration before it takes effect. When used on a living target, the victim must make a Constitution feat check, the result of which indicates the damage suffered: Critical Failure, the tar- get suffers déw and ignites, suffering equal damage each round until the fire is extinguished; Failure, d6w; Ordinary, d4s; Good, dé-2s; Amazing, no effect. Alternatively, the mutant can heat up a 5-meter-radius area, which inflicts the same damage to all targets in the area but grants o -2 step bonus to the Constitution feat check. In either case, the range is 30 meters and the mutation can be used once per hour. Quick THinking Ordinary, Permanent, INT The hero's mind works more quickly than others. This results in a -1 step bonus to all Intelligence-based skill checks, ‘Sussestio Good, Activated, PER The mutant can telepathically implant a suggestion inthe mind ofa visible target within 30 meters that the target believes tobe its own. The target may make a Resolve-mental resolve sill check to resist, the result of which determines the duration ofthe suggestion: Critical Failure, $hours; Failure, 1 hour; Ordinary, 1 round; Good ot Amazing, no effect. A reasonable suggestion incurs @ +1 of +2 step penalty to the mental resolve skill check, while«suggestion of something opposed to the target's nature grants a -1 to -3 step bonus, Most targets will not realize aftermard that the idea was not their own, although the Gamemaster could allow a Will feat check to recognize that fact. Suggestion may be used once per 10 minutes. Teuexnesis Ordinary, Activated, WIL The mutant can move objects using only her mind. She can lift up to 100 kg at a rate of 1 meter per phase or push up to 200 kg at 2 meters per phase. Normal impact damage rules apply to an object dropped from a height ora target struck by « moving object. A mutant cannot use this power on herself TRLEKINETIC BLAST Amazing, Activated, WIL Once per round, the mutant can unleash a blast of pure telekinetic force, inflicting d6+2s (LI) to a single visible target within 10 meters Teuexweric HAND Amazing, Activated, WIL The mutant can manipulate small objects ata distance of 30 meters using only her mind. Tis allows her to wield a weapan, fire a gun, push a button, pick a lock, disarm a bomb, or perform any similar action (though the attempt suffers a +1 step penalty). The hero uses her normal skill rank for such an action, but the skill score is determined by adding the rank to her Will, rather than the normal ability used by the sill. Thus, if a mutant with Dexterity 12, Will 10, and rank 4 in Manipulation-lackpick attempt ed to pick alock telekinetically, the skill score would be 14 (10+4) rather than 16 (12+4). Normal penalties apply for attempting multiple actions simultaneously. This power can be maintained for up to 1 minute (§ rounds). A second use ofthis mutation before 1 hour has passed inflicts 1 point of fatigue damage to the mutant. Teuexinetic REFLECTION Amazing, Automatic, WIL The mutant automatically reflects any telekinetic attacks made against him (such as Telekinesis or Telekinetic blast). The user of such a power is affected as ifthe protected mutant had initiated the power against her. Teveparuic Buast Good, Activated, PER The mutant can direct a powerful blast of mental energy into the mind of a visible target within 30 meters. The blast inflicts d4vls, and armor provides no protection. The [power may be used once per round. TeaepaTiic REFLECTION Amazing, Automatic, WIL The mutant is immune to and automatically reflects any telepathic attack made against him (including Confusion, Telepathic Blast, Telepathic Suggestion, Mental Domination, Mental Paralysis, and Mindwipe). The user of such a power is affected as ifthe protected mutant had initiated the power against her. Telepathic powers that don't represent an attack (such as Illusion Generation, Translation, Telepathic Contact, Telepathic Invisibility, and Telepathic Sean) simply fail to function against the mutant Texaruc Resistance Ordinary, Permanent, HL The mutant hasan innate resistance to telepathic pow- ers (including Confusion, Illusion Generation, Telepathic Blast, Telepathic Invisibility, Telepathie Scan, Telepathic Suggestion, Mental Domination, Mental Paralysis, and Mindwipe). He gains a -1 step bonus on any skill or feat check made to resist such abilities. Tearpatiic Scan Good, Activated, PER The mutant can telepathically read the surface thoughts of avisible target. Each use of this ability lasts 1 round (phases). The mutant may use this power once per hour at no risk to himself; however, each additional use (or Gash cdiditional round sean leewten ded) ctiuses 1 paint of fatigue damage to the mutant. ‘TevePariic SHIELD Good, Activated, WiL The mutant can render himself immune to telepathic powers, as noted under "Mental Mutations,” above. The mutation can be activated ance per hour and lasts for 10 minutes. TRANSFUSION Amazing, Activated, WIL The mutant can transfer his life force to another by touch. This mutation requires a successful Resolve-physical resolve sill check, the success of ‘which indicates the maximum amount of wound or mor- tal points the mutant transfers to the target: Critical Failure, the mutant suffers lw but heals no damage in the target; Failure, no effect; Ordinary, IW; Good, 24; Amazing, 3w or Im. The mutant may use this ability once per raund ‘TRANSLATION Ordinary, Permanent, INT The mutant’s brain automatically translates the spoken words of any sentient creature. The mutant can alsochoose to have her brain translate words before she speaks them, allowing such creatures to understand her Note that the mutant technically doesn’t know any extra languages-she couldn't speak an unknown lan- fuoge unless she was actually communicating with a speaker of that language—nor can the mutant translate written or audio-recorded documents. The mutation grants no ability to communicate with nonsentient ani- mmals or plants. Since this mutation relies on a low-level telepathic ability, it is blocked by the Telepathie Shield and Telepathic Reflection mutations. DRAWBACKS Unfortunately, the great power afforded by mutations doesn’t come for free. As stated earlier, every mutant has 4 points of drawbacks. The poner of these draw- backs can be assigned randomly or by choice, using the same rules noted above for selecting mutations Simply replace any reference to a Ordinary, Good, or Amazing mutation with a Slight, Moderate, or Extreme dranback Slight drawbacks aren't readily apparent to the casual observer, but manifest in weaknesses that can hinder a mutant in some situations. Moderate draw- backs often have a visible sign of their presence and can greatly hinder a mutant in certain situations. Extreme drawbacks have a clearly visible appearance or severe effect on the mutant’s capability to act unhindered, As with mutations, a mutant can't have more than one version of the same drawback. Ifthe same drawback is rolled twice, or a lower- or higher-ponered version of the same drawback is rolled, disregard the second roll and roll again. Taste GW37: Drawsacks 12 Slight 1 Attraction Odor Diminished Senses, slight Moderate Diminished Senses, moderate Environmental Sensitivity, moderate Drawback Descriptions Below are descriptions of the various drawbacks. Note that in many cases, multiple versions of the same draw- back (such as Slight, Moderate, or Extreme cases of the drawback) are listed together. ‘ArTRACTION ODOR Slight, Permanent, CON The mutant emits a musky scent that tends to attract predators. Those tracking the mutant by scent gain a -3 step bonus to Investigate-track skill checks. The Gamemaster should also increase the likelihood of pred- tors stalking and attacking the mutant. DiministeD Sexses Slight/Moderate/Extreme, Permanent, WIL The mutant is less perceptive than normal. This results in a +l, #2, or +3 step penalty to Awareness-perception and investigate-search or track skill checks (For the Slight, Maderate, ar Extreme version of this drawbach), as well as to any other skill checks that rely on sensory input. The mutant also has a +1, +2, or +3 step penalty to any attack at long range. Deapty IMMUNITY Extreme, Automatic, CON The mutant’s immune system works to attack organisms outside the mutant’ body. Once per day, the mutant makes a Constitution feat check with a -2 step bonus. The result determines the potency of the infectious dis ease the mutant produces that day: Critical Failure, the disease affects only the mutant himself, inflicting a +2 step bonus to all actions for 24 hours; Failure, potential victims receive a -1 step bonus to Constitution feat checks to resist the disease; Ordinary, «1 step penalty to the victim’s check; Good, +2 step penalty; Amazing, +3 step penalty. Extreme Deadly Immunity Diminished Senses, extreme Environmental Sensitivity, slight Fadeout Environmental Sensitivity, extreme Light Sensitivity Hostility Field Physical Change, Major Photodependent Poor Dual Brain Reduced Ability Score, slight Sound Sensitivity Temporary Weakness, slight Thermal Intolerance 10 Toxin Intolerance LL Weak immunity 1 Reduced Ability Severe Phobia 2 5 4 5 Radiation Sensitivity ‘ 1 8 4 Slow Reflexes 2 Weak Metabolism, slight Physical Change, Minor Susceptible to Damage Temporary Weakness, moderate Weak Metabolism, moderate Poor Memory Reduced Ability Score, Extreme Seizures Susceptible to Damage, Highly Temporary Weakness, extreme Weak Metabolism, extreme Wild Mutation Score, moderate ce SOME‘At some point during the day (determined by the Gamemaster) and lasting for dé hours, the mutant becomes contagious. During that period, the mutant’s body changes grotesquely, developing boils, oozing pus, and becoming generally disgusting to look at. Anyone who comes within 2 meters of the mutant during this time must make a Constitution feat check to resist the disease (with the modifier noted above) The disease takes 24 hours to take effect in a victim, after which the victim suffers a +2 step penalty to all actions for 24 hours, At the start ofthe third day (and each suceessive day until the illness breaks), the victim makes a Constitution feat check to determine any fur- ther effects: Critical Failure, increase penalty by 1 step; Failure, no change; Ordinary or better, the illness ends and the victim is back to normal EwvinonMeNTAL SENSITIVITY Slight/Moderate/Extreme, Permanent, CON Select one ofthe following environments: hot, cold, wet, arid In that particular environment, the mutant oper- ‘ates with a +2, +3, or +4 step penalty to all actions (for the slight, moderate, or extreme version ofthis draw- back). This penalty is cumulative with any other penal- ties that may apply. Faoeour Moderate, Automatic, WIL The mutant has a tendency to fall unconscious during times of high stress. On the first round of any combat or other high-stress situation, the mutant must make a Resolve-physical resolve skill check (with a 2 step bonus) or lose all remaining stun points. Normal rules for recovering from loss of stun points apply. Hosmury Frew Moderate, Permanent, PER The mutant constantly projects a telepathic field that makes everyone within 30 meters irritable and quarrelsome. This inflicts a +3 step penalty to any Personality-based skill checks (or other encounter skill checks) made against such targets. In addition, these targets! inital attitudes are automatically Hostile. Those aware of the drawback and who have spent at least a week in the mutant’s company are immune to its effects. cut Sevsinviry Slight, Permanent, CON The mutant’s eyes are abnormally sensitive to light. In narmal daylight, the mutant suffers a +1 step penalty to any action. In a well-lit oom or bright sunlight, the penalty increases to +2 steps, ar to +3 steps if silhouet- ted ina spotlight or other high-intensity beam. Protective goggles can reduce this penalty by one step (but never below a +1 step penalty). PuorooereNoENT Moderate, Permanent, CON The mutant requires constant light to remain conscious. Each hour spent in darkness inflicts 1 point of Fatigue damage (which is restored by 30 minutes exposure to light, or § minutes in bright sunlight). Puysicat. CHANGE (MINOR/MAJOR) Moderate/Extreme, Permanent, CON With the minor version of this drawback, the mutant hhas an obvious though minor physical alteration that marks him as not quite human. Examples include strange skin color, strange eye color or shape, strange skin texture, tapered ears, webbed fingers, and so forth. This change inflicts a +2 step penalty to all Personality-based skill checks, as well as any other skill check made to interact with those who might find such deformities distasteful With the major version, the mutant has an obvious, major physical alteration that marks him as distinctly different from humans. Examples include rocky skin, feathers, fur, a beak instead of a mouth, flipperlike arms, or @ tail. This inflicts a +4 step penalty to the skill checks noted above. This drawback cannot grant the hero any physical benefit. For instance, scaly skin cannot act as armor, and large ears grant no Awareness-perception skill check bonus. Pook DuAL Bra Extreme, Automatic, INT The mutant has a secondary brain and an alternate personality controlling it. On the first round of any combat or other high-stress situation, the mutant must make a successful Resolve-mental resolve skill check (with a -3 step bonus) or the secondary brain takes control. The personality of the second brain hates the dominant personality (but not necessarily any of the rmutant's allies). An hour after the stressful period has ended, the dominant brain regains control of the rmutant’s body. The secondaty brain has 2 points of mental muta- tions, and any mental mutations controlled by the pri~ ‘mary brain cannot be used while the secondary brain is in control. The secondary brain has full access to the hero's skills and has the same Ability Scores as the pri- mary brain This mutation is only allowed if the player agrees to roleplay the second personality. Let the player deter- rine the personality of his hero's alter ego, within reasonPoor MeMorY xtreme, Automatic, WIL In times of stress, the mutant has a tendency to forget recent events. On the frst round of any combat or other high-stress situation, the mutant must make a Resolve-mental resolve skill check (with a -2 step bonus). The result ofthe skill check indicates the lost memory: Critical Failure, 24 hours; Failure, 4 hours; Ordinary, 10 minutes; Good or Amazing, no effect. If memory loss occurs, the hero is automatically confused for full round as he takes stock of his current situation. RADIATION SENSITIVITY Slight, Permanent, CON ‘The mutant’s body has a significantly lower tolerance for harmful radiation. She suffers a +2 step penalty to Consti- tution feat checks made to resist the effects of radiation. Repuceo ABiuTy Score Slight/Moderate/Extreme, Permanent, any One of the mutant’ ability scores is reduced by 1,2, or 3 point (For the Slight, Moderate, or Extreme version of the drawback). Determine which ability score is linked to the majority of the hero's mutations, then consult Taste M38: Retareo Anis to Find the ability to be reduced. ‘Tabi GW38: RewareD ABILITIES Mutation Ability Reduce This Score STR INT DEX sR CON DEX INT PER wit con PER wit ‘Suizures Extreme, Automatic, WIL On the first round of any combat or other high-stress sit- uation, the mutant must make a Resolve-physical resolve skill check (with a -2 step bonus). The result of the skill check indicates the duration of the seizure. Gritial Failure, 2d4 rounds; Failure, 144 rounds; Ordinary, 1 round; Good or Amazing, no effect. During a seizure the muscles of the character's body spasm and twitch uncontrollably, causing him to fall to the ground helpless. The mutant remembers nothing that occurs during the seizure Severe PHOBIA Moderate, Automatic, WIL The mutant has an overwhelming fear of something that isrelatively common in the campaign. Examples include birds (or birdlike creatures), snakes (or snakelike crea= tures), moving vehicles, enclosed spaces, heights, and so forth, Whenever confronted with the object (or situa~ tion) of his phobia, the mutant must make a Will feat check; failure indicates that he freezes or flees the scene, as appropriate. Even ifthe mutant succeeds, he suffers a +1 step penalty to all actions while the object of his phobia is present. Stow Rertexes Moderate, Permanent, DEX ‘The mutant’s decreased natural reflexes inflict @ +1 step penalty to her action checks. Sour Seasmvy Slight, Permanent, CON The mutant’s ears are abnormally sensitive to sound Normal background noise inflicts a +1 step penalty to the mutont’s actions, loud conversations or similar noise inflicts a +2 step penalty, while siren, explosions, or ather extremely loud noises inflict a +3 step penalty Protective earplugs can reduce the penalty by one step (but never below a +1 step penalty). Suscerrise 10 Damace/Hicntr Moderate/Extreme, Permanent, CON Select a type of damage by rolling dé: 1-3 LI; 4-5 Hl; 6 En. Whenever the mutant is hit by that type of damage, increase the primary damage by 1 point (or by 3 points for the Highly Susceptible version). Secondary damage is ‘not affected by this drawback Teeporary WEAKNESS (SLIGHT/MODERATE/EXTREME) Automatic, ony Whenever the mutant uses any mutation, he suffers a temporary loss of 2, 3, or 4 points (For the Slight, Moderate, or Extreme version of the drawback) from the ability noted on Taste GW3B: Retareo ABiumits. For ‘example, ifthe mutant uses Telekinesis (a Will-based mutation), his Constitution would be reduced. This loss lasts dé, 244, or 2d6 hours (depending on the severity of the drawback). Mutations which are not consciously activated but function only in specific circumstances (such as Energy Reflection) inflict the loss each time they function. Mutations which have no activation (such as Dermal Plating) do not activate this draw- back, IF the mutant has no activated mutations, reall this drawback THERMAL INTOLERANCE Slight, Permanent, CON The mutant has a poor temperature-regulating system, suffering o +2 step penalty to Stamina or Survival skill checks made in hot or cold conditions.