... so I’ll just say that the section on religion is 16 pages and only barely covers the basics (there are also some particulars in the species section; ex. the nearby Orc empire worships a variation of the Via Praetorum that includes their deified emperor who claimed descent from the last Praetorian Emperor… the orcs of the setting are humans mutated by the Cataclysm so this claim might even be true).
A game with such robust and game provoking lore is quite enticing after wasted time spent in the parched wilderness of one-page rpgs and zines.
Lol. Then I might have the game for you. The overall project including the Player's Guide and Game Master's Guide is just a hair over 250,000 words.
For those interested, shoot me a private message and I'll get you the links to the finished beta-test documents.
Here's the Player's Guide Table of Contents;
Chapter 1: Game Rules .......................... 6Three Important Rules ........................... 12
Basic Glossary ........................................... 13
Initiative and Turns ................................. 14
Action Layout ............................................ 16
Action Use Types ..................................... 17
Distance, Space & Size........................... 18
Targets & Range ....................................... 20
Line of Sight & Effect .............................. 22
The Action Check .................................... 24
Modifiers .................................................... 26
Action Effects & Keywords ................... 28
Duration ..................................................... 30
Movement .................................................. 32
Chapter 2: Actions & Resources ....... 38Edge, Focus & Heroic Surges................ 38
Basic Actions ............................................. 40
Abilities ....................................................... 42
-Acrobatics (REF) ..................................... 46
-Arcana (INT) ............................................ 48
-Culture (INT) ........................................... 49
-Deceit (PRE) ............................................ 50
-Engineering (INT) ................................... 52
-Fitness (END) .......................................... 54
-Insight (WIT) ........................................... 56
-Intimidate (PRE) ..................................... 57
-Medicine (WIT) ...................................... 58
-Nature (WIT) ........................................... 59
-Persuade (PRE) ....................................... 60
-Stealth (REF)............................................ 61
Chapter 3: Creating a Character ....... 62Player Motivations .................................. 64
Heroic Virtues........................................... 66
Basic Player Character Traits ............... 68
Improving your Character .................... 69
Picking Options as you Level ............... 70
Chapter 4: Player Species .................. 72Species Entries ......................................... 76
Beastman ................................................... 78
Dwarf........................................................... 86
Eldritch........................................................ 92
Elf ................................................................102
Fetch ..........................................................110
Gnome ......................................................116
Golem........................................................122
Human ......................................................128
Malfean .....................................................136
Mutant.......................................................148
Chapter 5: Classes ............................. 156Weapon & Implement Attacks ......... 158
Fighter ....................................................... 160
Gadgeteer ................................................ 162
Mastermind ............................................. 164
Mystic ........................................................ 166
Theurge .................................................... 168
Wizard ...................................................... 170
Fighter Paths ........................................... 172
-Brigand (slayer) .................................... 172
-Captain (enabler) ................................ 172
-Defender (guardian) ........................... 174
-Disabler (controller) ........................... 176
-Ravager (slayer) ................................... 177
-Sentinel (guardian) ............................. 177
-Sharpshooter (controller) ................. 178
-Striker (slayer) ...................................... 178
Spellcasting Paths ................................. 180
-Abjurer (guardian) .............................. 180
-Benedictor (enabler) .......................... 182
-Empowered (slayer) ........................... 182
-Interdictor (controller) ...................... 183
-Maledictor (slayer) .............................. 183
-Summoner (controller) ...................... 184
Aspects ..................................................... 186
Clever Tricks ........................................... 188
Dweomers ............................................... 190
Minor Spells ............................................ 191
Talents ...................................................... 192
-Basic Talents......................................... 192
-Casting Talents .................................... 194
-Infliction Talents ................................. 198
-Martial Talents ..................................... 206
-Stance Talents...................................... 210
Chapter 6: Backgrounds................... 212Background Elements .......................... 215
Languages .............................................. 215
Skilled Abilities .................................... 216
Boons ...................................................... 216
Basic Boons ............................................. 217
Arcanist .................................................... 218
Aristocrat ................................................. 220
Artisan ...................................................... 224
Barbarian ................................................. 228
Commoner .............................................. 232
Entertainer .............................................. 236
Military ..................................................... 240
Outlaw ...................................................... 244
Religious ...................................................248
Traveler .....................................................250
Cantrips ....................................................254
Physical Adept Boons ..........................255
Primal Boons ...........................................256
Utility Spells ............................................258
Shift Form ................................................260
Background Companions ...................262
-Bodyguard .............................................263
-Enforcer ..................................................265
-Familiar...................................................266
-Followers................................................267
-Loyal Beast ............................................268
-Medic ......................................................270
-Warriors .................................................271
Chapter 7: Equipment....................... 272Wealth and Money .............................272
Starting Equipment.............................272
Equipment Quality .............................274
Damaging Equipment ........................274
Selling Equipment ...............................275
Trade Goods .........................................275
Armor ........................................................276
Weapons ..................................................278
-Weapon Qualities ...............................280
-Weapons Statistics Tables................282
Spellcasting Implements .....................284
Adventuring Gear ..................................288
Food, Lodging & Services ....................292
Beasts & Tack .........................................294
Vehicles ....................................................302
-Designing a Vehicle ............................302
-Vehicle Features ..................................303
-Vehicle Layout......................................306
-Vehicle Equipment .............................306
-Vehicle Examples ................................307
Siege Engines ..........................................308
Land and Structures ..............................310
Hazards & Traps .....................................313
Magic Items .............................................318
-Permanent Item Limits......................320
-Magic Consumables ...........................320
-Magic Rituals ........................................322
-Teleportation Circles .........................329
-Permanent Magic Items ....................330
Appendix 1: Keyword Glossary ...... 336Appendix 2: The Count of Time...... 341Appendix 3: The Cosmos ................. 342Appendix 4: Praetorian Religion .... 344-The Old Faith.......................................... 344
-The Via Praetorum ............................... 350
-Bestianism ............................................... 354
-The Astral Court .................................... 356
Appendix 5: Common Hirelings ..... 360Character Sheet ................................. 362
Here's the GM's Guide Contents;
Chapter 1: Setting up the Game .......... 6You are the Narrator ................................. 6
You’re Not Alone ........................................ 7
Engaging Your Players .............................. 8
Using the Heroic Virtues ....................... 10
Setting the Tone ...................................... 12
Making the Setting Your Own............. 16
Solving the Mysteries ............................. 18
Integrating the Player’s Characters ... 20
Optional Rules .......................................... 22
-Character Creation & Leveling ............ 22
-Combat Rules .......................................... 26
Chapter 2: Creating Your Setting ..... 28Step One: Region Basics ........................ 30
-The Climate ............................................ 30
-The Terrain .............................................. 32
-Regional Boundaries ............................ 33
-Unusual Features................................... 34
Step Two: Realms .................................... 36
-Realm Numbers and Locations ......... 36
-Population Size ...................................... 38
-Demographics ........................................ 38
-Population Distribution ...................... 39
-Species Integration ............................... 40
-Realm Government .............................. 42
-Realm Suffrage ....................................... 43
-Legal Systems ......................................... 44
-Religious Tolerance .............................. 46
-Military Force.......................................... 47
-Realm Resources ................................... 48
Step Three: Settlements ........................ 50
-Settlement Numbers and Size .......... 50
-Settlement Confluences ..................... 52
-Settlement Advantages ....................... 53
-Points of Interest ................................... 54
-Settlement Services .............................. 55
-Settlement Obstacles .......................... 56
Step Four: Names and Integration ..... 58
-Basic Naming Advice ........................... 58
-Integration ............................................... 60
-A Step at a Time .................................... 60
Step Five: Ruins ........................................ 64
-Ruin Distance ......................................... 66
-Ruin Size .................................................. 66
-Ruin Purpose .......................................... 67
-Ruin Condition ....................................... 68
-Ruin Importance .................................... 70
-Ruin Threats............................................ 72
-Threat Relations ..................................... 73
-Ruin Danger ............................................ 74
-Location Contents ................................. 76
Step Six: Events ......................................... 78
-Historical Events .................................... 78
-Current Events ........................................ 80
-Foreshadowed Events .......................... 81
-Notable Events Table ............................ 82
Chapter 3: Populating Your World ... 84Creating NPCs ........................................... 84
Death and NPCs ...................................... 84
Non-Combat NPCs ................................ 86
Allied Combat NPCs ............................. 86
Normal Creatures .................................. 87
Custom Creatures.................................. 87
Re-fluff ....................................................... 87
Re-Level .................................................... 88
Standard Build ........................................ 90
PC-Light Build ...................................... 100
Astral Servitors (optional species).... 102
Diabolist (optional class) ..................... 106
Necromancer (optional class) ............ 110
Chapter 4: Adventures & Conflicts 114Conflict CP Budgets ............................. 116
Three "Rules" of Battle Design .......... 116
Improvised Actions ............................... 118
Afflictions ................................................. 120
Managing Larger Battles ..................... 124
The Environment................................... 126
-Constructed Terrain ........................... 128
-Natural Terrain .................................... 132
-Supernatural Terrain ......................... 134
-Lighting .................................................. 134
-Weather and Atmosphere ............... 136
Forest Environments .......................... 138
Plains Environments .......................... 139
Hills Environments ............................. 140
Mountain Environments ................... 141
Swamp/Marsh Environments.......... 142
Desert Environments ......................... 143
The Deep ............................................... 144
Chapter 5: Campaign Rewards ....... 146Types of Rewards ................................ 146
Growth Rewards ................................. 146
Renown Awards .................................. 149
Wealth Rewards ................................. 151
Magic Rewards .................................... 152
Artifacts.................................................. 154
Chapter 6: Standard Opponents ..... 158Opponent Master List & CP Values.....162Men ............................................................166
-Centaurs .................................................168
-Crocodin ................................................170
-Dracosi ...................................................172
-Dwarves .................................................174
-Goblins ...................................................178
-Golems ...................................................180
-Humans ..................................................184
-Kobolds ..................................................192
-Malfeans .................................................194
-Minotaurs...............................................198
-Myrmidons ............................................200
-Orcs & Ogres ........................................202
-Trolls........................................................208
-Troglodytes ...........................................210
-Wolfen ....................................................212
Beasts ........................................................214
-Bears .......................................................215
-Chimera .................................................216
-Crocodiles..............................................218
-Drakes ....................................................220
-Great Cats..............................................222
-Griffins ....................................................224
-Hell Hounds ..........................................226
-Hell Horse..............................................228
-Hellcats...................................................229
-Hydra ......................................................230
-Leviathans..............................................233
-Manticores .............................................234
-Rams, Dire .............................................235
-Rocs .........................................................236
-Rustwyrms .............................................237
-Snakes .....................................................238
-Swarms ...................................................240
-Wolves ....................................................242
-Wyverns .................................................244
Astral Servitors .......................................246
-Banshees & Barghests .......................247
-Elves ........................................................248
-Fetches ...................................................252
-The Furies ..............................................254
-Kar-Taxsu, God of War ......................255
-Nightmare/Night Hag ........................256
-Sphinx .....................................................257
-Succubus ................................................258
Eldritch ..................................................... 260
-Elemental Presence .............................. 260-Briar Beast............................................. 262
-Brownies ................................................ 263
-Dragons.................................................. 264
-Dryad & Drus ....................................... 280
-Elementals............................................. 282
-Giants ..................................................... 288
-Sprites..................................................... 296
-Sylph ....................................................... 299
-Undine.................................................... 300
-Unicorn .................................................. 301
-Werebeasts ........................................... 302
-Winter Wolf ......................................... 304
-Wycks ..................................................... 305
Demons .................................................... 306
-Demonic Possession ............................. 308
-Demonic Presence ................................ 309-Abyssal Dragons .................................. 310
-Cambions .............................................. 312
-Demonlings .......................................... 316
-Ifrit – Ember Demons ........................ 318
-Jinn – Miasma Demons ..................... 323
-Kul’ul – Brine Demons ...................... 328
-Shedim – Dust Demons .................... 334
Horrors ..................................................... 338
-Anathema of all Life ............................. 338
-The Shadow of Death .......................... 339-Animated Dead ................................... 340
-Gallu........................................................ 342
-Ghouls .................................................... 344
-Horrid Masses ...................................... 346
-Lich .......................................................... 348
-Shades .................................................... 351
-Skeletal Horde ..................................... 352
-Wights .................................................... 354
-Wraiths .................................................. 359
Appendix: Keyword Glossary .......... 362