Class and Race Compendium

This page serves as a reference of all the classes & races that are available to you. You should use this to reference when making a new character using the character guide.

Certain classes have [class] skills. These are skills which your class can do better than everyone else. We are using the d6 thief skills method, to simplify the process of using skills. Every skill starts at a 1-in-6 chance and can be improved by spending expertise points. Each expertise point spent to upgrade a skill makes the chances 1 better (e.g. 1-in-6 to 2-in-6). Each class starts with a certain number of expertise points to use, and gains an amount every level to upgrade these skills. Skills cannot go above 5-in-6.

Class List:

• Bard - (PR: CHA & DEX) Musicians and poets drawn to a life of wandering and adventure.
• Cleric - (PR: WIS) Holy warriors in the service of the church.
• Druid - (PR: WIS) Sages who commune closely with the spirits of nature.
• Fighter - (PR: STR) Mercenaries, soldiers, and ruffians who turn their talents to the adventuring life.
• Hunter - (PR: CON & DEX) Expert trackers, stalkers, and killers, at home in the wild woods.
• Knight - (PR: STR) Warriors who serve a noble, doing their bidding and upholding their honor.
• Magic-User - (PR: INT) Connoisseurs of secret arcane lore who wield powerful magic.
• Thief - (PR: DEX) Rogues who live by skills of deception and stealth.

Race List:

• Dwarf - (PR: CHA & DEX) Bards use their various skills and enchanting music to live freely.
• Elf - (PR: WIS) Clerics use their faith to channel the power of their deity.
• Gnome - (PR: WIS) Druids use their special connection to spirits to cast nature spells.
• Halflings - (PR: STR) Fighters use their combat skills to battle monsters.
• Tall-man - (PR: CON & DEX) Rangers are fighters who serve nature, gaining druid spells and tracking abilities.

Bard

While the bard plays music and sings, allies within 30' are immune to song-based magical effects and the beguiling powers of sylvan creatures or fairies. Allies already under the effect of such magic may make another saving throw with a +4 bonus.

Restrictions: A bard can use counter charm once per Turn. While playing, the bard may move at half Speed, but cannot attack or perform other actions.

Duration: The counter charm lasts as long as the bard keeps playing.

Disrupting: If the bard is harmed or fails a Saving Throw, the counter charm ends.

Bard Skills

As they advance in level, bards improve their chance of success with the Listen skill. They also have three additional, specialized skills.

Decipher Document:

A successful check allows a bard to understand the gist of a non-magical text in a language they do not speak, unravel a cypher, or identify cryptically labelled landmarks on a map.

Retrying: The bard may only attempt to read the same document again after gaining a Level.

Legerdemain

A successful check allows a bard to pilfer a small item in the possession of another creature or perform a trick of sleight of hand, such as palming a small object or slipping a poison into a drink.

Difficulty: -1 penalty per three Levels of the victim or observer (e.g. a Level 6 target incurs a -2 penalty).

Natural 1: On a roll of natural 1, the bard must Save Versus Doom to avoid being noticed. The Referee determines the victim's reaction.

Monster Lore

A successful check allows a bard to identify monsters and their basic powers and vulnerabilities, based on their appearances in myth and folklore.

Retrying: The bard may only attempt to identify the same kind of monster again after gaining a Level.

Listen

Rolled when a character presses their ear to a door to detect the presence of creatures on the other side.

Improving Skills

Base chance of success: All skills begin with a 1-in-6 chance of success.

Expertise points: bards gain expertise points to improve their chance of success with their skills. Each point allocated to a skill improves the chance of success by 1-in-6. Multiple points may be allocated to a skill, further increasing the chance of success. For example, if 2 points are allocated to a skill, the chance of success is raised to 3-in-6 (from the base 1-in-6 chance of success).

At 1st level: At character creation, a bard has 2 expertise points to allocate.

Gaining levels: A bard gains 1 additional expertise point to allocate.

Maximum chance of success: No skill may be raised above 5-in-6

Enchantment

By playing music and singing, the bard can fascinate subjects in a 30' radius.

Restrictions: A bard may use enchantment once a day per Level, and it cannot be used in combat. While playing, the bard may move at half Speed, but cannot attack or perform other actions.

Selecting subjects: One or more creatures whose Levels total up to twice the bard's Level can be affected. If a group is targeted, the Referee selects the subjects randomly, summing their Levels until the maximum is reached.

Types of subjects: At Level 1, the bard can affect humanoids. From Level 4, animals can also be affected. From Level 7, sylvan creatures or fairies can also be affected.

Resisting: Each subject must Save Versus Spell or be fascinated (see Fascinated Subjects).

Fascinated Subjects

Rapt: Fascinated subjects' attention is fully bent on the bard's performance.

Follow: If the bard walks while playing, fascinated subjects follow.

Interruptions: If the performance is interrupted (e.g. by loud noise or violence), the fascination ends immediately.

Duration: The fascination lasts for as long as the bard’s performance continues. Afterwards, fascinated subjects may come under a stronger charm (see When the Performance Ends).

When the Performance Ends

If the performance lasted for at least 1 Turn and ended without interruption, each fascinated subject must make another Save Versus Spell (with a +2 bonus) or be charmed as follows.

Friendship: Charmed subjects regard the bard as a trusted friend and ally, coming to the bard's defense.

Commands: If they share a language, charmed subjects obey the bard's commands.

Resisting commands: The subject may resist commands that contradict their habits or Alignment. Suicidal or clearly harmful commands are always refused.

Duration: 1 Turn per Level of the bard.

Cleric

Magical research: A cleric of any level may spend time and money on magical research. This allows them to create magical effects associated with their deity. When a cleric reaches 9th level, they are also able to create magic items.

Spell casting: Once a cleric has proven their faith (from 2nd level), the character may pray to receive spells. The power and number of spells available to a cleric are determined by the character's experience level. The list of spells available to clerics is found on p128 of the advanced player's handbook.

Using magic items: As spell casters, clerics can use magic scrolls of spells on their spell list. They can also use items that may only be used by divine spell casters (e.g. some magic staves).

Turning the Undead

Clerics can invoke the power of their deity to repel undead monsters encountered. To turn the undead, the player rolls 2d6. The referee then consults the table, comparing the roll against the HD of the type of undead monsters targeted.

Successful Turning

If the turning attempt succeeds, the player must roll 2d6 again to determine the number of HD affected (turned or destroyed).

Turned undead: Will leave the area, if possible, and will not harm or make contact with the cleric.

Destroyed undead (result of D): Are instantly and permanently annihilated.

Excess: Rolled Hit Dice that are not sufficient to affect a monster are wasted.

Minimum effect: At least one undead monster will always be affected on a successful turning.

Mixed Groups: If turn undead is used against a mixed group of undead monsters of different types, those with the lowest HD are affected first.

* 2 HD monsters with a special ability (i.e. with an asterisk next to their HD rating, in the monster description).

Turning Table Results

-: The turning fails

Number: If the 2d6 turning roll is higher or equal, the turning attempt succeeds.

T: The turning succeeds.

D: The turning succeeds; the monsters are destroyed, not simply caused to flee.

Druid

Holy Symbol: A druid must carry a staff that they have cultivated from a tree branch over time.

Disfavor of the spirits: Druids must be faithful to the wellbeing of the spirits that exist within all things. Druids who fall from favor will the spirits may incur penalties.

Magical research: A druid of any level may spend time and money on magical research. This allows them to create magical effects associated with nature. When a druid reaches 9th level, they are also able to create magic items.

Spell casting: A druid may pray to receive spells from nature. The power and number of spells available to a cleric are determined by the character's experience level. The list of spells available to druids is found on p129 of the advanced player's handbook.

Using magic items: As spell casters, druids can use magic scrolls of spells on their spell list. They can also use items that may only be used by divine spell casters (e.g. some magic staves).

Identification

Druids can identify all plants and animals and can discern pure water.

Languages

Druids speak a secret tongue known only to their sect. At each level above 2nd, a druid also learns to speak a language used by creatures of Sylvan forests (e.g. dryads, green dragons, pixies, treants).

Pass Without Trace

From 3rd level, a druid can pass through natural environments without leaving any tracks. The character is also able to move through overgrown areas at normal speed and without impediment.

Path-Finding

A party with a druid has only a 1-in-6 chance of getting lost in woodlands.

Communing with Nature

Druids have the ability to commune directly with the spirits that exist within all things in nature. This allows them to relay information or simple commands to animals and plants. These commands do not have to be followed. At 4th level, a druid gains the ability to commune with spirits of nature, including those within other natural elements such as rocks and sources of water. At 7th level, a druid gains the ability to commune with animal-like monsters.

Druids also gain +2 to reaction rolls of ghosts or other spirits

Fighter

• Battle rage: When in melee, the fighter can choose to enter a berserk rage that lasts until the end of combat. While in the rage, the fighter gains a +2 bonus to Attack and Damage Rolls, but suffers a -4 penalty to armor Class and is unable to flee.
• Cleave: When in melee with multiple foes, if the fighter strikes a killing blow, they may immediately make another attack against a second foe. The second Attack Roll is penalised at -2.
• Defender: When the fighter is in melee with a foe, any Attack Rolls the foe makes against characters other than the fighter are penalised at -2.
• Last stand: If the fighter is killed by being reduced to 0 Hit Points, they can continue to act for up to 5 additional Rounds before dying. Each time the fighter suffers further damage during this period, they must Save Versus Doom or die. Magical healing is effective during this period, but the fighter must still Save Versus Doom when damaged, even if healed to above 0 HP.
• Leader: Mercenaries or retainers under the fighter's command and within 60′ gain a +1 bonus to Morale or Loyalty. All the fighter's allies within 60′ gain a +2 bonus to Saving Throws against fear effects.
• Main gauche: When fighting with a Small melee weapon (e.g. a dagger or hand axe) in the off hand (in place of a shield), the fighter may choose each Round to gain either a +1 armor Class bonus or a +1 Attack bonus.
• Slayer: The fighter gains a +1 bonus to Attack and Damage Rolls when in combat with foes of a specific type. The type of enemy must be chosen when this talent is selected (examples: bears, crookhorns, undead, wyrms, etc.). This talent may be chosen multiple times, each time for a different type of foe.
• Weapon specialist: The fighter is an expert with a specific type of weapon chosen by the player (e.g. maces, two-handed swords, longbows, etc.). They gain a +1 bonus to Attack and Damage Rolls using this type of weapon. This talent may be chosen multiple times, each time for a different type of weapon.

Hunter

A hunter may attempt to forge a bond with an animal. If the bond is successfully established, the animal becomes the hunter's loyal companion.

Requirements

One companion: A hunter may have but a single animal companion. If a companion dies or is dismissed, the hunter may attempt to forge a connection with a new animal.

Type of animal: Both wild and domestic animals may be companions. Giant or magical animals may become a hunter's companion at the Referee's discretion. Sentient animal species are not suitable.

Level: An animal companion may not exceed the hunter's Level.

Establishing a Connection

The hunter must approach the animal and interact in a peaceful manner for 1 Turn. On a successful Charisma Check, the animal becomes the hunter's companion.

Companion's Behavior

Once a connection is successfully established, the animal companion follows the hunter everywhere. It understands basic commands from the hunter (even if its species would not normally do so). The companion fights to defend the hunter, never checking Morale.

Hunter Skills

As they advance in Level, hunters improve their chance of success with the Survival skill. They also have three additional, specialized skills.

Alertness

If a hunter's party is surprised, the hunter may make an Alertness Check to act normally in the Surprise Round.

Stalking

Hiding: A hunter may make a Stalking Check to remain undetected when the only cover available is light brush (see Hiding and Ambushes under Stealth, p154).

Sneaking: If a Surprise Roll indicates that a hunter's party has been detected, the hunter may make a Stalking Check to remain undetected.

Wilderness only: Hunters can only use Stalking in the wilds (i.e. not in settlements, indoors, or in subterranean space).

Tracking

A successful check allows a hunter to find tracks left by creatures in a 30' x 30' area. The hunter knows the type of creatures that made the tracks and may follow the tracks.

Time: An attempt to find tracks takes 1 Turn.

Retrying: The hunter may not attempt to find tracks again in the same location.

Following tracks: The hunter can follow discovered tracks until conditions worsen (see Modifiers, below). Another Tracking Check is then required.

Modifiers: The Referee may specify situational modifiers depending on the conditions, for example: +1 for soft ground, -1 for hard; +1 for tracks made by a group of 10 or more creatures; -2 for active attempts to cover tracks; -1 per day since the tracks were made, -1 per hour of rain or covering snow; -1 for poor lighting.

Wilderness only: Hunters can only use Tracking in the wilds (i.e. not in settlements, indoors, or in subterranean space).

Survival

Rolled when trying to find food in the wild.

Improving Skills

Base chance of success: All skills begin with a 1-in-6 chance of success.

Expertise points: Thieves gain expertise points to improve their chance of success with their skills. Each point allocated to a skill improves the chance of success by 1-in-6. Multiple points may be allocated to a skill, further increasing the chance of success. For example, if 2 points are allocated to a skill, the chance of success is raised to 3-in-6 (from the base 1-in-6 chance of success).

At 1st level: At character creation, a thief has 4 expertise points to allocate.

Gaining levels: A thief gains 2 additional expertise points to allocate.

Maximum chance of success: No skill may be raised above 5-in-6

Missile Attacks

Hunters gain a +1 Attack bonus with all missile weapons.

Trophies

After hunting down (i.e. tracking, ambushing, or chasing) and slaying a creature, a hunter may take a trophy from it—for example, a stag's antlers, a wyrm's tooth, etc. Size: Trophies must be sizeable items (weighing at least 50 coins).

Boon: If a trophy is either on the hunter's person or mounted in their home, it acts as a charm: the hunter gains a +1 bonus to Attack Rolls against other creatures of the same type and a +1 bonus to Saving Throws against their special attacks.

Wayfinding

If the Referee determines that the hunter's party has become lost, there is a 3-in-6 chance that the hunter can find the path again.

Knight

Social class: Knights are often members of the noble classes, but a person of lowlier origin may be initiated as a knight as a reward for noble deeds.

Weapons: Knights can use all melee weapons (preferring the lance) but cannot use missile weapons, which they regard as dishonorable.

Armor: Knights regard armor as a symbol of prowess and status, always favoring the most impressive and impervious-looking armor available. They scorn Light armor as suitable only for peasants and villains.

Starting Equipment

Armor (roll 1d6): 1. Chainmail. 2-3. Chainmail + shield. 4. Plate mail. 5-6. Plate mail + shield.

Weapons (roll 1d6 twice): 1. Dagger. 2-4. Lance (spear for Small characters). 5. Longsword. 6. Mace.

Chivalric Code

Knights strive to uphold a stringent code of honor which binds all decision and deed. See The Code of Chivalry. The repercussions of performing acts at odds with the code of chivalry depend on the Alignment of the knight and their liege.

Lawful or Neutral: The knight brings dishonor upon their liege, thus risking Disfavor.

Chaotic: The knight is unlikely to bring dishonor upon their liege, whose reputation is already villainous. Unchivalrous deeds are, however, perceived as besmirching the institution of knighthood. Other knights hunt the Chaotic knight and attempt to bring them to justice.

Horsemanship

Assessing steeds: Knights are expert riders and can assess the worth of any steed. This allows a knight to determine whether an animal has low, average, or high Hit Points for its type.

Urging great speed: From Level 5, a knight can urge their steed to great haste once a day, increasing its Speed by 10 for up to 6 Turns.

Knighthood

Knights of Levels 1-2 are known as squires and are not yet regarded as true knights. Upon reaching Level 3, the character is knighted by their liege and gains the right to bear a coat of arms, typically emblazoned upon the knight's shield.

Hospitality: Once knighted, the character earns rights of hospitality and aid from nobles and other knights of the same Alignment. Hospitality extends to any companions the knight is willing to vouch for. The knight is expected to extend such hospitality in kind.

Monster Slayer

From Level 5, a knight gains a +2 bonus to Attack and Damage Rolls against Large creatures.

Mounted combat

Knights gain a +1 Attack bonus when mounted.

Strength of Will

Knights gain a +2 bonus to Saving Throws against effects that cause fear.

The Code of Chivalry

Honor: A knight must behave honorably in all deeds. A knight's honor is of utmost importance. Death is preferable to dishonor.

Service: Service to one's liege is the greatest honor.

Glory: A knight must seek glory in battle—especially in single combat.

Protecting the weak: Any person in the knight's charge must be defended to the death.

Hierarchy: The hierarchy that binds society is to be upheld. Superiors must be honored, equals respected, inferiors commanded, and the ignoble scorned.

Magic-User

Magical research: A magic-user of any level may spend time and money on magical research. This allows them to add new spells to their spell book and to research other magical effects. When a magic-user reaches 9th level, they are also able to create magic items.

Spell casting: Magic-users carry spell books containing the formulae for arcane spells. The level progression table shows the number of spells that can be memorized each day determined by the character's level. A first level magic-user has a number of spells in their spell book based on their Intelligence. The list of spells available to magic-users is found on p131 of the Advanced Player's Handbook.

Using magic items: As spell casters, magic-users are able to use magic scrolls of spells on their spell list. They can also use items that may only be used by arcane spell casters (e.g. magic wands).

Combat

Magic-users can only use daggers, staffs and are unable to use shields or wear any kind of armor. This makes them very vulnerable in combat.

Detect Magic

A magician can attempt to detect the subtle resonances woven into an enchanted object, place, or creature. If the attempt succeeds, the magician knows if the object, place, or creature in question is magical—i.e. enchanted, affected by a spell, or possessed of innate magic of some kind.

Requirements: The magician must touch the object, place, or creature to be analyzed and concentrate without distraction.

Time: Each attempt to detect magic requires 1 Turn. Retrying: The magician may retry failed attempts as often as they wish, each attempt requiring an additional 1 Turn.

Referee rolls: The Referee rolls all Detect Magic Checks, so that players do not know if the roll failed or if there is no magic present.

Downtime: Given an hour of solitude in a safe location, a magician automatically detects magic on an object, place, or creature.

Thief

Conditions: The thief must be positioned behind the target, and the target must be unaware of the thief's presence. If the thief successfully used their Stealth skill to hide or sneak, the target is considered unaware.

Bonuses: The thief gains a +4 Attack bonus and inflicts 3d4 damage (modified by Strength Bonus) on a successful strike.

Thief Skills

As they advance in level, thieves improve their chance of success with the Listen and Search skills. They also have six additional, specialized skills.

Climb Wall

A successful check allows a thief to climb vertical or very steep surfaces with only minimal handholds. The thief does not require any special climbing equipment.

Easier circumstances: Thieves make easier climbs without a roll.

Long climbs: For climbs of over 100', a Climb Wall Check is required for each stretch of up to 100'. For example, a climb of 150' requires two checks.

Failure: The thief is unable to find suitable handholds and makes no progress with the climb.

Natural 1: On a roll of natural 1, the thief must Save Versus Doom or fall from the half way point, suffering 1d6 damage per 10' of the fall.

Retrying: The thief may retry failed attempts as often as they wish, each subsequent attempt requiring 1 Turn.

Decipher Document:

A successful check allows a thief to understand the gist of a non-magical text in a language they do not speak, unravel a cypher, or identify cryptically labelled landmarks on a map.

Retrying: The thief may only attempt to read the same document again after gaining a Level.

Disarm Mechanism

A successful check allows a thief to disarm complex, clockwork-like trap mechanisms hidden in a lock, lid, door handle, or similar. Thieves' tools are required for disarming mechanism traps.

Time: Each attempt to disarm a trap requires 1 Turn.

Retrying: The thief may retry failed attempts as often as they wish, each attempt requiring an additional 1 Turn.

Natural 1: On a roll of natural 1, the thief must Save Versus Doom or accidentally spring the trap.

Legerdemain

A successful check allows a thief to pilfer a small item in the possession of another creature or perform a trick of sleight of hand, such as palming a small object or slipping a poison into a drink.

Difficulty: -1 penalty per three Levels of the victim or observer (e.g. a Level 6 target incurs a -2 penalty).

Natural 1: On a roll of natural 1, the thief must Save Versus Doom to avoid being noticed. The Referee determines the victim's reaction.

Pick Lock

A successful check allows a thief to open a lock without the key. Thieves' tools are required for picking locks.

Time: Each attempt to pick a lock requires 1 Turn.

Retrying: The thief may retry failed attempts as often as they wish, each attempt requiring an additional 1 Turn.

Difficult locks: The Referee may rule that certain locks are more difficult. Advanced locks incur a penalty to the Pick Lock Check or only allow a fixed number of attempts, after which the thief is stymied and may only try again after gaining a Level.

Stealth

Hiding: A thief may make a Stealth Check to remain undetected when shadows are the only cover available.

Sneaking: If a Surprise Roll indicates that a thief's party has been detected, the thief may make a Stealth Check to remain undetected.

Listen

Rolled when a character presses their ear to a door to detect the presence of creatures on the other side.

Search

Rolled when searching for secret doors or traps.

Improving Skills

Base chance of success: All skills begin with a 1-in-6 chance of success.

Expertise points: Thieves gain expertise points to improve their chance of success with their skills. Each point allocated to a skill improves the chance of success by 1-in-6. Multiple points may be allocated to a skill, further increasing the chance of success. For example, if 2 points are allocated to a skill, the chance of success is raised to 3-in-6 (from the base 1-in-6 chance of success).

At 1st level: At character creation, a thief has 4 expertise points to allocate.

Gaining levels: A thief gains 2 additional expertise points to allocate.

Maximum chance of success: No skill may be raised above 5-in-6

Thieves' Cant

In addition to their native languages, thieves learn a secret language of gestures and code words that allows them to hide messages in seemingly normal conversations.