A list of alternative or out of ordinary melee weapons and their statistics for RuneQuest play.
Pilum
The pilum was actually a heavy javelin used by the Roman legions. Later on, variants were developed for melee use. The melee pilum was made out of wood and was shorter (1,83 meters) that the missile pilum. Its primary use was to thrust at the enemy from ramparts and to create pickets. Some versions were sharpened on both ends. For ease of play, the melee versions statistics have not been altered here.
Ikilwa
A short hafted stabbing spear invented by Shaka Zulu. It has a broad iron blade and short wooden haft. Similar in purpose to a gladius, vis-à-vis, to get in close to ones enemy and draw him into single combat, thereby forcing him away from his formation. The broad blade leaves a nasty wound but, being made of iron, is not too strong against metal armour.
Cestus Maximus
A combination of the heavy cestus and the fighting claw. Allows the wearer to pack more weight behind their fighting claw, thereby doing more damage. Also gives the user the advantage of their melee weapon having armour points.
Chompers
A set of oversize metal jaws inset with steel canines. Fitted tight over the jaws of the wearer and secured with leather straps around the back of the head, the real and metal jaws move in sequence. A biting action will produce an exaggerated mirror action from the chompers. Chompers have no practical every day use, but can have great intimidation value in battle, especially when forming part of an imposing helm or mask. Chompers are mostly used in the fighting pit.
Spatha
A roman cavalry sword, similar to the gladius but longer.
Jawbone Sword
Inspired by a Dark Ages Miniature. This sword is a partially modified jawbone of some great reptile or fish. It bristles with razor sharp teeth down its curved length and can be deadly when used against an unarmoured/soft armoured foe.
Dark Ages Miniatures – Crocodile Warrior with Jaw Sword
Razor Nails
Razor sharp steel blades, manufactured to look like a cats claws. They are usually half a centimeter high at the base and half again as wide, narrowing down to a needle point over their 3 centimeter length. Blunt down their convex back, their concave inner is usually extremely sharp. Inferior quality versions come as uniform rings which slip over the end of the wearers fingers, or embedded into a leather glove. Razor nails of a high craftsmanship have been known to come in many forms, the most exquisite being set into a series of rings, one for between each finger joint. The blades (blunt for areas that ride against the finger) have stretched all the way across the back of the hand where they have proceeded to merge into a jeweled, but sturdy bracelet. Each blade has been tailored for the finger it is to slip on, with the thumb blade being thicker and stronger, to allow for an effective scissoring effect with the finger blades. Clearly these items are not meant for battle against armoured foes, but rather as subtle but effective weapons for high ranking ladies, sorcerers and other people who would cringe from having to carry a dagger or sword. Due to the small amount of damage that razor nails can inflict, they are often poisoned to enhance their lethality.
Toe Ring
Originating from India, this device slips over the big toe. A sharp, 5 centimeter barb protrudes from the ring at an angle. A practiced kick can have the often poisoned barb strike an enemy with all the force of the wearers leg. toe rings were often used in gladiatorial type combat, where the combatants did not have much protection in the way of armour.
Trident
A heavy three pronged fork, used as a two handed weapon.. Similar to a spear in that it can be thrown, but is usually used in melee situations. Looks like I should read my RQ material more closely. just realized they have stats for Trident and Combat Net in the Monster Coliseum supplement. The Monster Coliseum Trident is a one handed weapon. For the sake of RQ rules consistency, the tridents are listed under the spear weapon category.
Combat Net
From the Monster Coliseum supplement. Full rules for ensnaring etc are given in the Monster Coliseum.
Category
Weapon
Damage
STR/DEX
ENC
BS%
Armour
SR
Price
Spear, 1H
Pilum
1D6 + 1
9/7
2.0
05
10
2
125
Spear, 1H
Ikilwa
1D8
6/8
1.5
07
6
2
60
Spear, 1H
Trident
1D6+1
9/7
2.0
05
9
2
125
Spear, 2H
Trident
1D12+2
9/11
2.0
05
13
1
175
Fist
Cestus Maximus
1D4+2
11/9
1.5
15
–
3
170
Fist
Razor Nails
1D2
4/5
0.1
15
–
3
100+
Foot
Toe Ring
1D3
5/11
0.1
15
–
3
70
Head
Chompers
1D4+1
8/9
0.2
10
–
3
150
Sword
Spatha
1D6+1
7/10
1.0
10
10
2
150
Sword
Jawbone Sword
1D12
7/13
1.0
10
5
2
40
Net
Combat Net
1D4*
12/10
3.0
0.5
6
1
150
* A successful attack will ensnare the target, as long as targets SIZ is 20 or less. Ensnared targets can escape by Ripping Free (match STR vs. Nets STR {usually 2D6 +14, depends on quality and purpose}), Cutting Free (awkward, GM’s discretion to be used), or Burning the Net (if it can be set alight – the target may also get burned in the process). Dodging vs. Net is done at a -10 due to the Nets effective area. Successful parries will lead to the parrying weapon/shield and the arm using it becoming ensnared.
This article lists a few shields that were not defined in the original RuneQuest 3rd Edition rules.
Scutum
The RQ III rules refer to the large, heavy rectangular shield used by Roman legionaries as a hoplite shield. This is incorrect, the shields name is a scutum.
Soldiers bearing pre Marian scutum
Thebe/Isihlangu
A large cow hide shield favored by many Southern African tribes. Thebe is the Sotho word for this shield, Isihlangu the Zulu version.
These are not a one size fits all shield style. Each nation has its own distinct design and usage. Only two of many nations’ signature shields are mentioned here, more by way of evidencing the differences, rather than similarities.
The thebe shield is quite small and would act much like a target shield in terms of RuneQuest rules. It has an interesting shape with a broad upper portion to provide torso coverage form missiles.
Sotho warrior with thebe shield
The isihlangu shield is possibly more universally familiar due to the well published accounts of Zulu warriors and their battles with other tribes and later with the British. This oval shaped shield is often as tall or sometimes even taller than the warrior that carries it. Widest at the middle, it tapers to a point at each end. It is usually slightly convex, to allow missiles and poorly thrust weapons to glance off. The concavity on the bearers side can be used to store items such as weapons and rations. They are made by stretching cow hide over a light wooden frame. Due to their size and relatively light weight, the shields can be used to form shield walls, testudo or phalanxes. They will effectively cover the legs, torso and shield arm in combat. In fact it will cover the whole body if the user crouches behind it, but the combatant will have to expose head, part of chest and weapon arm to strike. As a result it is very effective when seeking cover from missile weapons.
In terms of RuneQuest rules, coverage may be best likened to a kite or scutum shield, although due to size perhaps more body areas may be covered. The shield would still be relatively light, not carry too many AP, but at the same time create a degree of encumbrance due to its size.
Many new skills can be thought up. Some are suggested in the Deluxe rules, such as Scout (Terrain). Vis-à-vis a character who served as a soldier in mainly forest areas, may have learned how to scout in forest terrain. Thus his scout skill would be pretty useful for a party sneaking through the forest, but of little use in the desert. New skills are listed here as they are thought up.
Acrobatics
CATEGORY: Agility BASE: 05%
Acrobatics Agility 05% The special ability to perform and acrobatic feat. Acrobatics is more advanced than simply jumping or dodging, it is a skill that takes a large amount of training to learn. Acrobatic feats can be used for entertainment (tumbling), in other, more stealthier activities (burglary) or even in combat. It should be the GMs discretion to call for an Acrobatics roll where a situation dictates that a simpler skill (such as Jump) may not suffice.
Insult
CATEGORY: Communication BASE: 05%
In times gone by, a good insult was a prerequisite to any battle. No warrior worth his salt would deign to enter battle without severely insulting his enemies. A skilled insulter need not speak the language of the person he is insulting – body language and crude gestures can convey much. A successful insult roll can demoralize a foe (He only attacks at half his normal skill – See Demoralize Spririt Magic spell). Of course, a taunted foe can resist using his own Insult skill – A skilled insulter will be able to take what he gets.
Rope Tricks
CATEGORY: Agility BASE: 10%
Rope tricks refers to the ability to work with rope, twine or similar items. This includes tasks such as tying knots as well as performing certain tasks with a rope – for example: tying a knot in one end of a rope and throwing it to hook a prison guards keys. Clearly this must be an agility skill, rather than manipulation as tying knots would otherwise work under a boat skill and most rope tricks involve some sort of throwing. This skill does not surmount specialist rope skills, such as using a net or rope lasso.
Row
CATEGORY:Agility BASE: 00%
Row referrs to the ability to handle an oar on a large oar powered ship, such as on of the many configurations of galley or a viking long ship. A rower has to work in unison with other rowers and thus the skill is much more involved than that of handling a simple boat or canoe. Rowing is a profession that can pay well at times. On a galley, the crew and marines rely on rowers to keep them afloat and bring them in range of enemy shipping. A row check will usually be made when a specific skilled task is performed, such as ramming, or in other high stress situations.
Meditate
CATEGORY: Knowledge BASE: 00%
This ability allows a character to increase the number of Fatigue Points gained during a period of rest by mentally blocking out all stress-causing factors. A successful roll means 1d3+1 Fatigue Points will be regained per round. One round, during which no roll is allowed, is required to obtain the proper frame of mind. A new roll is required each time the character wishes to ignore an interruption. Coming out of meditation is instantaneous. While meditating, all Perception rolls receive a 20% penalty. Note: This skill is published with thanks to David Smart from the RuneQuest Rules List. It is a house rule he has used for a long time so cannot vouch entirely for whether it is original or based on an idea from elsewhere.
The RuneQuest III rules assume that a character starts working at 15 years of age. Therefore his or her skills are based on the years in an occupation after that age.
Herewith a quick reference for rolling up new characters:
Decide what Age, Sex and Culture you character will be.
Decide what the characters parent’s occupation is.
Decide if your character remained in his parents occupation until his current age, or whether he tried other occupations
If your character tried other occupations, decide the periods in each. Remember at least a year must be spent to accumulate the skills allocated by that occupation. Remember that equipment obtained in occupations is not cumulative
Apply the formula: Age x Multiplier + Base + Modifier. Where Age is Age – 15 years (if you stayed in your parents occupation), or the number of years in an occupation (per occupation), Multiplier is the multiplier given by an occupation, e.g.: Throw x 3, Base is your base ability, e.g.: Agility = 3 and Modifier is the skill modifier if applicable, e.g.: First Aid (10) vis add 10. NB: Check the cultural weapons table when allocating weapon skills as the modifier’s can differ from the standard weapons table.
Modifiers Character skills are split up between several self-explanatory categories:
Agility
Communications
Knowledge
Perception
Manipulation
Stealth
Magic
Each of these categories is used to modify a skill within that category. This modifier can be increase or decrease an overall skill and is worked out from a character’s basic statistics as per the following formula: PRIMARY: Statistic minus 10. Thus if STR is 17 its PRIMARY will be +7. Note that negative results remain negative, vis-à-vis a STR of 8 will produce a PRIMARY of -2. SECONDARY: Statistic minus 10, divide the result by 2 and round total up. From the above; STR is 17, its SECONDARY would be 4 IE: (17-10)/2. Negative results will remain negative. NEGATIVE: Statistic minus 10. Insert a minus sign in front of result. From the above; STR is 17, its NEGATIVE would be -7. Note that is the result is already negative, adding a minus sign will make the result positive. From the above; STR is 8, its NEGATIVE would be +2.
Note: Try not to confuse NEGATIVE with its mathematical meaning, as the results of a formula may contradict its strict meaning. IE: A NEGATIVE formula may have a positive result.
These formula are applied for a reason; to create realistic characters. A huge (SIZ 18) clumsy (DEX 7) character will not have a decent Stealth modifier, in fact his Stealth will likely be a minus. thus a player should be careful with how characters statistics are applied. The best way is to have an even mix where a good statistic will negate any bad statistic while applying the formula.
Remember that a characters Agility modifier is applied to his or her weapons attack skill while the Manipulation modifier is applied to the Parry skill. Thus if a character plans to do any fighting (usually an unavoidable happening in Rune Quest), it would be helpful to have decent modifiers for these Categories. Remember too that Dodge (sometimes the last hope of savings a characters skin) is and Agility based skill.
Downloadable templates I created for RuneQuest 3rd edition some years ago.
CHARACTER SHEET
I have never been satisfied with the basic characters sheets offered by most old school RPG’s. A single page, while handy as a starting point, was never sufficient to contain all the details required for a decent three dimensional character.
This enhanced sheet is based on a friends basic design concept, which I subsequently re imagined to fit my own style.
This document provides a template for NPC cards. These tarot size items can be completed and then cut out, with the reverse folded back.
They can provide a useful way to have a pool of prepared NPC’s ready for any eventuality. It is also handy to have some blanks available for NPC’s who crop up on the fly.
A bit old school, but can be a useful resource. Six pages of RQ3 tables which can be printed and glued to a cardboard backing to create a handy quick reference for GM and players.
This spell was mentioned on page 18 of the Gamemaster Book (RQIII AH version) but was never published in the Magic Book. Details are transcribed from Heroes Magazine Vol 1 No 6 . Republished here as a service to RuneQuesters who do not have access to the magazine in question.
Avalon Hill Heroes Magazine. volume 1 Number 6 cover
Sever Spirit
3 points Ranged Instant, non-stackable, reusable War God
This spell acts as a sword to cut the bond between body and spirit of the target. The user must make a successful magic points verses magic points roll. If successful, the target dies. If unsuccessful, the target takes 1D6 damage to his general hit points, with effects similar to poison damage.
This spell works only when the moon is directly visible. When cast, an icy moonbeam freezes one caster-designated target.
The target must be visible to the caster and the moon must be in plain sight of the target. Without needing to overcome magic points, a 1-metre-diameter cylinder of damage descends on the target.
very living thing within the circle receives 1D6 damage per quarter phase of the moon. Hence 4D6 for full moon, 3D6 for three quarter moon etc. Only soft leather or cloth armour will protect against this damage; spells are ineffective. The number of moons visible and whether the same goddess has influence over them will further sway damage. Thus is two moons are full, visible and influenced by the same goddess, damage could potentially be 8D6.
Moonspear was initially published II September MMIV
Arthur Reyes compiled an interesting article detailing two new magic systems.
Introduction
This is the first draft of a magic system I am writing for my current work-in-progess. The setting is science-fantasy, influenced by a number of games, settings, and sci-fi/fan authors, so some of the details have a pseudo-scientific feel to them. Some details will seem strange or hopefully enticing, and I mention a few attributes/terms that are new to my setting. (My ruleset is a mix of RQ3, Stormbringer 1, HarnMaster 3) All of this, of course, could be changed pretty easily while still retaining the mechanic.
Magic
There are many unexplained phenomena in the universe, but two of these phenomena are so common and understood well enough, that they can be reproduced and taught. Evocation is the manipulation of ethereal matter. Psionics are incredible powers of the mind. Other types of magic exist as well. Verve effects, which are a natural form of exercising mental fortitude. Symbiosis, which is the strange practice of integrating one’s being with organic life forms found on the planet Vainu.
Evocation Magic
Magic in the Glittering Void is created via willful manipulation of the essence of ethereal pseudo-matter to produce matter and energy in various forms. The illithid manipulated essence using machines to produce matter for building their cities and slave-moons. Many of these machines are found through-out the glittering void, but are under strict control of various guilds and governments. When a new machine is discovered, there is usually an intensive struggle among existing guilds to acquire such devices.
Pseudo-matter can be extracted from the ethereal plane and stored within specially prepared vessels. If released into the Prime, pseudo matter will spontaneously take on random elemental forms resulting in sometimes spectacular displays. Once stored, a person can, with intense effort, will raw pseudo-matter to take on a desired element and form.
1 measure of pseudo-matter can affect or create up to six enc (1 SIZ) of real matter. Evoking any fraction of six enc of real matter uses the entire measure of pseudo-matter. Six measures of pseudo-matter weigh 1 enc.
Pseudo-matter remains under the mental control of the creature which last touched it.
Pseudo-Matter Pseudo-matter is a grey misty substance. It is the raw material of the universe from which all matter is created. It is sometimes referred to as ether or ethereal matter, named after the plane from which it is drawn. All evocations require a certain amount of pseudo-matter to be on hand. Unformed Pseudo-Matter is magical, meaning that an evoker can turn measures of pseudo-matter into magic points. One measure of pseudo-matter can be turned into one MP for free. In actuality, more magic points are created, but it costs magic points to manipulate pseudo-matter in the first place. The skill required to do so is based on the lowest skill of Earth, Fire, Air or Water. These magic points can be used immediately, in conjunction with another evocation, or placed in a nearby magic point matrix. If the magic points are to be used in combination with another evocation, roll against the lowest skill of all the elements and forms involved. If the roll fails, all the pseudo matter is expended. A critical failure can result in catastrophic results.
Evocation Skills The art of evocation requires the caster to have both INT and POW (or at least MP reserve). Each element requires its own skill in order to evoke the element properly. There are also Form Skills which measure the evoker’s ability to mold ether into a desired shape. Failing an evocation results in the loss of one magic point, and all pseudo matter involved in the evocation. A critical failure can result in catastrophic results.
Learning Evocation Skills Form skills are the only ones that are actually taught to an apprentice. Since an individual need only see a rainbow, experience heat, or drink water in order to get an inkling of various elements and forces, all element skills are immediately available to the apprentice. These skills are opened with a rating of the characters Magic Skill Modifier + d6.
Evocation Equipment Every evoker requires two pieces of equipment in order to apply their craft.
Gloves of Manipulation This dull gray hand gear, when primed, allows the evoker to reach into the pseudo-barrier of a vessel to extract ethereal matter. It costs 1 MP to prime a pair of gloves, which remains primed for as long as the evoker wears the gloves. It costs 1 point of POW to create the gloves, and this is the final lesson that every graduating journeyman learns before stepping forth into the world.
Vessel Vessels come in a variety of shapes. A typical vessel is made of a glass like material, in order to see its contents, and has 3 AP. One end has a pseudo-barrier which prevents ethereal matter from making contact with the physical world, but allowing primed gloves to reach through or interact with the vessel’s contents. A common hip vessel is typically 3 – 4 enc in size, holding 18 – 24 measures of pseudo-matter. Smaller amulets of size 1 hold 6 measures of pseudo-matter. Remember, an evoker can only draw essence from one vessel at a time. An evoker can create a vessel by expending 1 point of POW. If a vessel is broken, the contents will sudden react with the Prime Material Plane transforming into random amounts of various elements. This is rarely damaging in an of itself, but a GM may decide that a critical failure on a Simple Luck roll produces an extraordinary effect.
Staff of the Ethereal Eye These rare illithid artifacts are capped with tiny portals to the ethereal plane. By expending magic points, an evoker can open the eye releasing ethereal matter as needed. Some staves are limited by the amount of ether which can be released in a single melee round.
Goggles of Ethereal Sight These relatively common devices are used by most merchants to prevent them from being swindled by conmen. They allow the wearer to quickly determine whether an object is relatively permanent or under the effect of an evoker’s temporary pseudo-matter matrix.
Evocations Each evocation requires the caster to evoke One Element and One Form. The caster wills pseudo-matter to take on the quality of a certain element in the desired form. It costs 1 MP for each measure of pseudo-matter to be manipulated. Evoking an element will produce the most generic example of such an element. Evoking water will produce the liquid, but it is not guaranteed to be pure or drinkable. It costs one additional MP per measure to produce a specific example of an element. An evoker may attempt complex elemental compositions, such as a Radiant Ice Bolt, or Smoking Water for example. While such evocations do not require additional measures of pseudo-matter, they do require one addition MP per element evoked up to four points per measure. Evokers use the lowest skill among the evoked Elements or Form to determine success. They may not evoke complex forms.
Limits to Evocation
You cannot evoke living things, or the product of a living thing, such as a bird or a sandwich.
You cannot directly evoke Positive or Negative Energy.
You cannot evoke complex objects, such as moving parts.
You must be able to see your target. You can’t evoke into a closed box.
An evoker may only draw pseudo-matter from one source at a time.
Quality While it is possible to evoke Minerals into the shape of a sword, without knowledge of actual sword forging or metallurgy, the object will be a sword at least in appearance. It will not be sharp and will likely break on first use. In order to evoke an object of quality, the caster’s evocation skill roll must be equal to or lower than the appropriate knowledge or craft skill. For this reason, an artisan will typically evoke raw material, and then work it with more mundane skills.
Rule of Four If the GM cannot determine what the elemental composition of an object is, she is free to rule that it is a complex object requiring a base of 4 MP per measure of pseudo-matter being shaped, instead of one.
Forms Elements can be evoked into a variety of shapes and functions. The multiplier after the Form name is the additional cost in magic points to produce such an affect.
Antipathy/Sympathy Touch, Maintainable An existing object is touched and imbued with the desired element to make it more like the element in question. Objects can be granted luster with Radiance, grow hot with Fire, or become incorporeal with Air or Mist. Books can be made flame-retardant with Water, or a suit can become wrinkle free with Steam. An antipathic effect damages the object. A sympathetic effect enhances or makes the object resistant to the elemental effect. Causing paper to catch fire is an example of an antipathy effect. Making paper fire-retardant is sympathetic. The duration of Antipathy/Sympathy is instantaneous, and can be maintained by a number of time units equal to POW. The unit of time that this duration is measured in is subject to a magic point multiplier. To make the Antipathy/Sympathy effect permanent, sacrifice one point of POW.
Duration Time Unit Multiplier:
Rounds x2
Minutes x3
Hours x4
Days x5
Months x6
Years x7
Example Ki’rin is running down a hallway, trying to escape her beholder friend who has gone temporarily insane. She comes to a dead-end. She decides to make a nearby wall sympathetic to Air, thereby making it insubstantial long enough to slip through. Based on Ki’rin’s size of 9, the GM rules that she can barely squeeze through a hole of size 6. She doesn’t want to risk getting stuck in the wall once the effect ends, but she doesn’t want to maintain the spell in case her crazy friend catches up with her. Ki’rin decides to make a size 12 hole, using 2 measures of pseudo-matter. The wall will remain sympathetic to Air for less than 1 round, giving Ki’rin enough time to squeeze through the opening.
Imbuing living things with pseudo-matter is random, incredibly dangerous, and possibly fatal. First, the evoker requires one measure of pseudo-matter on hand for each point of the target’s SIZ. Secondly, the evoker must touch the target and overcome the targets POW on the resistance table, with his own magic points. If the target fails, they must make a Simple Luck roll. If the Luck roll succeeds, the target is sympathetically attuned to the element, regardless of the evoker’s intent. If the Luck roll fails, the target then must make an Integrity roll. Failing the integrity roll, the target explodes. Take the size of the target and look up the resultant damage from the Bolt Table. Now double the dice. The blast is increased by one hex for each 6 points of size the target had.
Bolt Throw, Instant The evoker wills pseudo-matter to remain unformed while held in the hand. She then throws the ether, wiling it to become a bolt as it is released. Not every bolt will do damage, but non-damaging affects are possible. Radiance can be used to blind. Vacuum could cause a singer to lose his breath. The table below can be used to determine how much damage is caused by the bolt, or a resistance the target must roll against to overcome its affects.
An evoker must succeed at a Throw attempt in order to successfully strike a target.
Measure
Roll
1
D3
2
D6
3
D8
4
D10
5
D12
6
2D8
7
2D10
8
2D12
9
3D8
Example If Ki’rin were to fire a d10 bolt at a rushing guard, she would need 4 measures of pseudo-matter.
Beam Line of Sight, Maintainable The evocation creates a beam of element force emanating from the caster in a straight line toward the target. The number of measures to create the beam; per the damage table for bolt; is the same number required for each hex the beam will travel through. Beams nearly always hit. The chance of missing might be adjusted if vision is impaired.
Example Later on, the beholder manages to corner Ki’rin in the mess hall. Ki’rin doesn’t really want to injure her friend, but she is seriously reconsidering their relationship. She is running low on both pseudo-matter and magic points, and decides to gamble it all. She informs the GM that she is going to invoke a beam of radiance, hoping to blind the beholder. The beholder is three hexes away. She decides on an d8 affect (3 measures), which would use up the last of her (3 x 3) 9 measures. She can’t afford to extend the duration, but she is guaranteed a successful strike in this well lit room. Since radiance doesn’t really damage non-photosensitive objects, the GM decides that the damage roll will be a resistance roll against the beholder’s CON. Since the thing is all eyes anyway, he decides to double whatever Ki’rin rolls. Luckily Ki’rin rolls an 8. 16 vs the beholders CON of 13 is just enough to blind the beholder who breaks down into a sobbing fit.
Ball Throw, Instant – Maintainable Like a bolt, unformed pseudo-matter is thrown toward a target. On impact, the element is released in a radius. The size of the blast costs a number of measures per the Bolt Table and 6 additional measures for each hex outward from the point of impact.
By imbuing the bolt with extra pseudo-matter, the blast can be maintained for a certain time. You could for example, throw a ball of shadow at a lamp, suppressing its luminosity for several minutes. The inner blast radius, being the point of impact and ½ the number of hexes in the radius receives full damage. The outer blast radius receives ½ damage.
Example Ki’rin wishes to throw a ball of fire that will do d8 damage on impact. She wants the radius of the blast to be two hexes in size. This will require 3 measures for damage, plus 12 for the increased radius for a total of 15 measures of pseudo-matter.
Emanation ~, Maintainable The element is evoked outward from the caster in all directions. Emanations require 6 measures of pseudo matter for each hex in the radius of the effect, after the first. See the description of blast for damaging effect. The evocation does not affect the caster.
Example Ki’rin is about to be grappled by several fortress guards. She decides to create a sudden emanation of Air in order to knock back her attackers. Using 11 measures of pseudo-matter, she can create a two hex emanation of air with a d12 intensity.
Form Touch, Permanent The evoker wills an element into being gradually, between his open hands, without explosion. An object created takes on the form desired by the caster but will retain its form only if the element is solid. Such an object is permanent. An evoker could, for example, evoke water in the shape of a column, but as soon as the evocation ends, the column will splash to the ground.
FIRE
AIR
EARTH
WATER
POS +
NEG –
FIRE
Fire
Smoke
Magma
Steam
Radiance
Ash
AIR
Smoke
Air
Dust
Mist
Lightning
Vacuum
EARTH
Magma
Dust
Earth
Ooze
Minerals
Grime
WATER
Steam
Mist
Ooze
Water
Rainbows
Ice
POS +
Radiance
Lightning
Minerals
Rainbows
Positve
Shadows
NEG –
Ash
Vacuum
Grime
Ice
Shadows
Negative
Verve Effects
Anyone with POW has the ability to prepare themselves in advance of a situation. This is like psyching yourself out before rushing into combat, or bracing yourself to look into a semi-opened coffin. Heroes and Villains can do this automatically, while NPCs can do this so infrequently that it isn’t worth determining its probability.
Verve effects are very much like a limited form of psionic ability. Many psionicists have attempted to prove or disprove Verve as being anything other than vague manifestations of latent psionic ability, but the results have, as yet, been inconclusive. Verve differ from psionics in that there is no philosophical body of knowledge, learning, or training involved in honing these skills.
A character can produce one Verve affect as an action in melee. The effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to the character’s POW. Only one effect may be in play at a time, and attempting a different effect ends the previous effect immediately. The cost is 1 – 3 MP.
Steel Mind This verve effect prepares your mind to see awful things, or to shut out distractions. The character gets a +5% boost to their Static SAN Score for each MP spent.
Steel Body Sometimes you know you’re going to get hurt. This Verve effect revs you up and prepares you for it so it doesn’t hurt so much when it happens. The character gets 1 HP for each MP spent.
Steel Being This verve effect prepares you to resist the corruption of Chaos. The character receives a +5% boost to their Integrity Score for each MP Spent.
Chris Robb developed this sorcery system of elemental magic. It uses standard sorcery skills (Intensity, duration, etc) and allows the sorcerer to use the forces of Air, Darkness, Earth, Fire, Light & Water.
ELEMENTAL SORCERy
Elemental Sorcerers use the same basic skills as Standard Sorcerers;
Ceremony, Enchantment & Ritual as well as the following:
Intensity, Duration. Range. Multi-Spell
They also have a new skills called Forms.
New Skill: FORMS Allows for shaping of effects
FORMS DEFINED
All FORMS are in 10′ units as a base, and doubles in size with each additional point of intensity. All FORMS (Except EARTH) require Duration to sustain it. (Earth forms are always permanent) CONE – (05) Closed end towards caster, 10′ long, 10′ wide at open end (Range for Cones is how far the cone extends from the caster.) SPHERE – (05) 10′ diameter. (Range for Spheres is a distance away from the caster that the sphere forms) WALL – (05) 10′ tall, 10′ long, 1′ thick. (Range for Walls is the distance away from the caster that the wall forms) CYLINDER – (05) 10′ tall, 10′ diameter RING – (05) 10′ tall, 10′ diameter, 1′ thick. (Range for Rings is how far the ring extends from the caster) CUBE – (05) 10′ tall, 10′ wide, 10′ deep. (Range for cubes is how far from the caster the cube forms) WAVE – (00) This is a special form of rings & walls. It will move from the caster to the end of its range.
Elemental forces are:
AIR
DARKNESS
EARTH
FIRE
LIGHT
WATER
AIR Air does 1pt of direct damage per point on Intensity. It does no static damage. When used as an assistive/resistive force 1pt of Intensity will move 2pts of size, or equal 2pts of strength.
DARKNESS Darkness does no damage, it is used for effects.
EARTH Earth does 1D6 Damage per point of Intensity. It causes no static damage. When used as an assistive/resistive force 1pt of Intensity will move 5pts of size, or equal 5pts of strength.
FIRE Fire does 1D8 damage per point of Intensity. It does 1pt damage per point as static damage. Fire cannot be used as an assistive or resistive force.
LIGHT Light does no damage, it is used for effects.
WATER/ICE Water does 1D6 damage per point of Intensity. It does no static damage. When used as an assistive/resistive force 1pt of Intensity will move 3pts of size, or equal 3pts of strength.
Elementals come in 4 sizes:
Small : 5pts
Medium : 10pts
Large : 15pts
Huge : 20pts
Normal Success : 1 Service Special Success : 2 Services Critical Success : 3 Services
Chris’ article was originally published II June MMX
Makes a weapon look and handle as if it were of superior material and craftsmanship.
Battle Blade (Battle Club)
2 Points Touch Instant, stackable, reusable War God
This spell must be cast on a melee weapon and will only last so long as the caster is holding the weapon. Battle blade will make the weapon look and behave as if it were made of an immediately superior material and quality. Thus a bronze gladius of good quality would behave as if I were an iron sword of excellent quality.
The weapons AP are adjusted to match the new quality for so long as the spell runs. AP lost only transfer to the weapons normal AP when the spells wears off if its original AP value was breached. Thus a bronze gladius with 10 normal AP which took on AP of 12 for the duration of the spell would: •Revert to 10 if 0, 1 or two AP were lost.
•Revert to 9 if 3 AP were lost, 8 if 4 AP lost etc.
Additional quality is simulated through an additional +5% to attack and parry rolls per 2 magic points spent. Superior material is simulated through an additional +1 point of damage per 2 magic points spent.
This spell was originally published XII October MMVI
This spell is detailed in Sandy Petersen’s The Big Hit adventure published in Heroes Magazine Vol 1 No 6. Republished here as a service to fellow RuneQuesters who do not have access to the magazine in question.
The death of King Harold
Attract Missile
Ranged Passive, temporal
If the caster overcomes the target’s magic points, this spell causes the next missile aimed at the target, or anyone touching the target, to strike the target. An individual standing between the target and a missile-user may be struck by happenstance. Even a missile that would normally miss will strike the target. Fumbles are determined normally.
Each additional point of Intensity increases the number of missiles drawn to the target by 1. Thus, if a target were hit by an Intensity 7 Attract Missiles spell, the next 7 missiles fired at him, or anyone touching him, will strike him. The spell has no effect on melee weapons.
Art from The Big Hit – Avalon Hill Heroes Magazine, Volume 1 number 6
