A Kingdom Divided : Rules and game mechanics

Besides numbers, your character will need a background and some traits. As mentioned before, most of these are qualitative: they serve to give you a solid reason to roleplay what you roleplay. It also makes evident to others how your character's personality is perceived.

Backgrounds

- Backgrounds are not classes. They are the most relevant background on which your character was raised. They have shaped your character's personality to some extent, and
- They are not balanced, and they will remain that way. Choose what you find best, no one will judge you. Consider this your difficulty slider.

This is how your character was raised and what he was doing before starting his training at his respective order. One may also create other "professions" if needed. This background helps by giving us a loose personality to RP and develop upon. It also gives the character a specific set of skills that can be used when the opportunity arises. Our current list is as follows, with the explanation of their effects right after, in italics:


Adventurer: you are a free spirit and have decided to take control of your own destiny. You quested for a long time, and have learned a lot from the world. In your journeys you have found quite a number of quality items and equipment, but sold most of them, keeping only a few. Your weapon specialization varies.

Warlord: you were a man-at-arms, either independent or a king’s army, and eventually became the leader of a small warband, until the time you joined your order. You know how to handle all weapons, and, being part of many battles you also don’t lack the practical experience of battlefield.

Scholar: you know a lot about a lot of things. You speak most of the known languages, and you have memorized castle designs, Pendorian geography, and history books, and you know well the lore of the kingdom. Your martial skills, however, are severely lacking, and you must do a lot of effort in order to become competent on the field.

Ranger: you have lived in the wilderness for a long time. If you did not undergo Silvermist education, you may even seem a bit uncivilized for the townsfolk, eating with your hands and such. You are an excellent hunter and trapper, and in the wilderness you often see what other people cannot. You are highly skilled in the use of bows or crossbows, but your real advantage over the others lies in your knowledge of the wilderness, its beasts and its dangers.

Scout: similar to the ranger, but on horseback and on open terrain. You are among the fastest riders in Pendor, and in this category fit both Windriders and Clarion Rangers.

Priest: you are the priest of a goddess. You may perform blessings on people (thus improving your relation with them in that context), make curses (works well on the illiterate), and act as a minor representative of the respective church. Commoners often follow your suggestions, instead of that of the local authorities.

Noble: you know how to deal with nobles. You have memorized every banner of every major Pendorian lord - and of some respectable foreign lords too. You know how to ride, how to fight with gentlemen’s weapons, and you have your own family signet ring and banner – even if it flies only over a small estate in Pendor’s countryside. Nobles are usually more pleased with your presence, but commoners fell a bit uneasy. Swords, crossbows and horseback fighting are natural to use.

Commoner: you speak the tongue of the people and will be able to mingle easier among them, possibly making a good agent, preacher or merchant. Your manners, however, greatly displease the nobles. You also know the basics of farming, woodworking, fishing and hunting, and has learned how to use bows and polearms.

Alchemist: a general physician. You know how to heal people, and may have moonlighted as warrior, merchant, or even healer-for-hire.

Shaman: same as alchemist, but only in the North. You know the traditions of Ravenstern and the Mystmountains, and you can use local flora with much more efficiency. You don’t know anything about the medicines and ailments from other regions.

Medic: same as alchemist, but only in the East. You know the traditions of the East, and can use Empire flora with much more efficiency. You don’t know anything about ailments and plants from other regions.

Outlaw: whether your order knows it or not, you were once an outlaw. You know how bandits think, where they would like hide, and how they fight. You also know where rich people like to store their valuables. As the ranger in his forest, you can find your way and survive well in any urban environment. Knows where to hide, where to find food, and where to ambush his enemies. Knows “people” in nearly every city. You may or may not have redeemed yourself and work against your former brothers in crime.

Merchant: before becoming a knight, you were once a merchant, and thus part of the blooming and wealthy Pendorian merchant class. You are the best at creating caravan routes or offering trade agreements. You may or may not have become a fighter to defend your goods, or a politician to gamble at higher stakes. You may also have bought your way into the nobility, becoming a lesser noble yourself.

Seaman: you were a man of the sea. You know how to sail, and can identify ship designs and flaw at a distance.


Adventurer: basically the most generic class. You can specialize in up to three weapons, instead of only one, as happens with all the other Backgrounds (except the warlord). You may forsake three free traits for one free quality item (a super keen sword, a rare piece of armor, an expensive cloak, a good horse, etc.).

Warlord: “good” proficiency in all weapons (thus granting him an overall +1 Skill).

Scholar: Has “good” proficiency only the order’s weapons of choice (is allowed to learn others during the RP, though). Can succeed in most engineering, medical or strategic problems, and grants the order a metagame bonus in these areas. Has two three extra mental traits. I doubt anyone will choose this one, but here is is.

Ranger: “Exceptional” in bow or crossbow. Knowledge of trapmaking, hunting, foraging, and hiding. Can predict the weather fairly well, and can track parties and detail their nubers and composition.

Scout: “Exceptional” in bow, crossbow, or spear. Extremely fast rider. Can track, forage.

Noble: “good” proficiency with one-handed swords and crossbows; horseback fighting, noble benefits.

Commoner: “good proficiency” with bows and simple polearms. Commoner skills.

Priest: “good” proficiency in any weapon of choice.

Alchemist: can treat a wide variety of wounds and illnesses. Cannot treat serious wounds.

Shaman: Extremely skilled in Northern illnesses. Know the effects of every single herb of old Ravenstern. Some say they can even cure serious wounds.

Medic: Extremely skilled in Eastern illnesses. Know the effects of every single herb of old Empire. Some say they can even cure serious wounds.

Outlaw: is the ranger of the city. Has combat bonuses in sieges or in any urban battles. If not redeemed, may contact Red Brothers and get espionage bonuses as well.

Merchant: Instead of the free traits, the player can choose the trait “noble background”, symbolizing that the character has spent all his resources to become part of the nobility, while also retaining his merchantile skills.

Seaman: Knows everything about ships, boats, Vanskerries and pirates.



Examples of background adaptations. At the right side of the background is what the character has become during the RP, not the name of his class (let’s keep this simple and avoid that kind of thing. It's too limiting.).


Warlord ---> master horseman
---> legendary footsoldier
---> commander

Noble ---> Advisor/steward
---> Diplomat
---> High officer at an order

Priest ---> Frontline preacher (battle cleric)
---> Inquisitor/ high priest

Outlaw ---> Counteragent (works against the outlaws)
---> Agent (secretly works for the outlaws)
---> Independent outlaw
---> Survivalist

Ranger ---> Trapmaster
---> Assassin
---> Pendorian ambassador at Elacrai

Alchemist ---> Healer
---> Multitasking knight


Further examples of regular order members (not players):

Radiant Cross would fighters with alchemist background.
Ravenspear would be fighters with scholar background.
Dawn knights would be fighters with priest background, or priests with fighter background.
Clarion rangers would be fighters with noble background.
Silvermists are rangers. Alternatively, they could be fighters with commoners, outlaws or nobles.


Traits

- Everyone can pick three. Adventurers can pick five. Some Backgrounds offer the possibility of choosing something else instead of These free points.

Not all traits must have evident effects. Some may work as guidelines for our RP – both the PC and the other players. I, for example, would like to know when my character is talking to someone who has the manners of a commoner (Commoner) or of a lord (Noble), or wheter he is maimed, intimidating, or slave-marked. It would certainly affect my RP, and enrich the IC scenes in general.


Initial suggestion of traits, just to get the idea:

- General traits

Foreigner : his manners and accent give away his foreign descent. (Free when applicable)

Slave marked : he was a slave once, and the typical owner brand in his face or back is evidence of that.

Quick hands : the character's hands and fingers are very quick and nimble, a trait that can be used for good or evil.

Keen senses : the character is able to see, hear and smell better than most Pendorians. He also receives lower penalties in situations that deprive him of one of his senses.

Finesse : his high agility allows him to use small weapons better.

Strong : he is strong, and get all benefits that come from that.

Basher : after a long time of practice, he becomes skilled in bashing with his shield.

Charger : the character is skilled in riding heavy horses, and is quite efficient in leading or conducting charges.

Horse archer : he is able to use a bow or crossbow on horseback as if he were on foot.

Horseman : he can ride most horses.

Diplomat : he knows how to handle politics.

Survivalist : knows how to survive in the wilderness.

Good Swordsman (or Spearman/axeman/maceman/etc.) : is as skilled as most knights in swordfighting.

Exceptional Swordsman (or etc.) : is more skilled than the average Pendorian in swordfighting. Good Swordsman trait required.

Master Swordsman (or Spearman/axeman/maceman/etc.) : is much more skilled than the average Pendorian in swordfighting. The character can use complex sword techniques. Exceptional Swordsman trait required.

Legendary Swordsman (or etc.) : is much more skilled than the average order knight in swordfighting. The character has created a personal fighting style, and is deadly in the battlefield, doing feats deemed impossible by most. "Master Swordsman (or etc.)" trait required.

Martial artist : despite the name, this trait means that the character is skilled in unarmed combat.

Sharpshooter : this character rarely misses a bolt or an arrow. "Master Archer" trait required.

Skilled weaponsmith (or craftsman/armorer/jewelcrafter/librarian/healer) : has expertise in an specific field.

Tactician : character has insights (meaning GM tips) about tactical matters during a battle.

Command 1-10: character receives command points according to the command rules.

Stealth : character is stealthier than the average.

Wealthy : the character has a huge amount of gold stored somewhere.

Tracking : tracker.

Trapping : trapper.

Siege engineering : siege engineer. Knows fortifications and their weaknesses, as well as how to build them.

Hardy : the characters is more resistant to pain and injury than most. Injuries that would maim a regular knight become simple wounds on him.

Unflappable : the character is able to keep a steady mind under stress, and thus avoids psychological scars and traumas that would crush the lesser soldier (i.e. amnesia; afraid of death, etc. traits that a character may get after being knocked down or seeing terrifying things).


Battle wounds (unless otherwise specified, they last for only one season):

- This is what you character may get after being knocked down in a fight. Mind you that, besides getting the wound, he will most probably be made prisoner as well.


Amnesia : player has memory lapses.

Twisted ankle : becomes slower and less agile.

Broken arm : attacks and actions that use one arm fail more often.

Broken leg : player cannot run (horseback riding is ok, though).

Scarred 1 to 10: each level means a new major scar in one’s body. They are permanent. Characters with scars receive relation bonus with military NPCs (symbolizing the prestige of surviving a death wound) and proportional negative relations in diplomatic affairs, and also towards most nobles.

Maimed (limb): during one of his battles the character has lost a limb. Permanent and cannot be cured.

Blind : one of the player’s eyes was damaged during a fight. Permanent.

Lost an ear : lost an ear. Keen senses become regular senses. Permanent.

Demonic curse : he was hit by a demonic weapon and survived. The strike has left a scar that has a faint red glow. Its effects are unknown, but religious NPCs tend to consider the character’s survival a miracle.

Afraid of dying : he has survived a brutal attack and is now afraid of dying. Penalties during life-or-death situations for one season. Can be cured before that.

Ill : battlefields are a great way of transmitting diseases. After falling on a puddle of blood and dirt, the character has contracted a debilitating disease. Can be cured (this one also by lesser skilled healers).

*. Most of these wounds can be cured by master healers (or any medic or shaman).

For the sake of fairness, character creation has to follow rules. This is what we essentially have in mind:

- Characters have stats, but they are more qualitative than quantitative. The traits were designed to give you a basis for you roleplay.
- There is no levelling up. As your character becomes more experienced, he will gain either more skills or more scars.
- If you don't understand the meaning of the stats, take a look at the "Combat" section of the rules. Or ask a GM.


Wound points (WP): health, hardiness and armor rating.
Skill: skill, experience and equipment quality.
Speed: speed and agility.

WP

Each player has 2 WP. Each successful hit cuts down one WP (so you can take two). 0 WP means knockdown.
Hardier orders have 3 WP (Dragons, Legion, Gauntlets)
Silvermists, Clarion Call and Radiant Cross have 1 WP.

Skill

Players start with 0 in most cases.
Training and quality of the weapon increases that number.

Weapons
Improvised: -2 Skill
Regular: +0 Skill
Balanced: +1 Skill, solves to-hit ties (i.e. rolls that would otherwise end in a "parry")
Keen: +1 Skill, +1 WP damage.
Masterwork: +2 Skill, +1 WP damage.
Poisoned: +0 Skill, additional 10% killed enemies after the battle.
Crushing: -1 Skill for the enemy during the entire battle [this weapon may breaks the enemies'.]

The last five characteristics are cumulative. “Crushing” and “poisonous” should fit the weapon’s design (don’t try to poison a hammer).

Weapon modifiers
Swords, 1H maces, 1H axes, 1H pickaxes, 1H hammers, etc.: nothing, they are the standard.
Sword-and-shield (or maces, axes, hammers, etc.): roll defense one more time.
Bows: ranged, 1 WP damage.
Crossbows: ranged, 2 WP damage. Double to-hit Skill against unshielded opponents. 1 round cooldown.
Javelins, throwing axes, etc: ranged, 2 WP damage, destroys shields with one hit.
Polearms: get double Skill points against cavalry, triple if they are charging.
2H Axes: cause 2 WP damage instead of only 1 WP. -1 Speed.
2H Maces and hammers: ignore enemy’s armor rating. -2 Speed.

Armour

Light Armour (+1 WP, +1 Speed) .
Medium Armour (+2 WP)
Heavy Armour (+3 WP, -1 Speed)
Armour Special (Mettenheim) - (+2 WP, -1 Speed). May be purchased as light, Medium, or Heavy.
Armour Special (Barclay) - (+1 Speed). May be purchased as Light, Medium, or Heavy.
Armour Upgrade (Thick) - (+1 WP) - Does not stack with Lordly Upgrade
Armour Upgrade (Lordly) - (+1 WP, +1 Speed, + 1 Command Level) - Does not stack with Thick Upgrade



Horse: can charge (= adds horse value to Skill value).
Horseback ranged weapons: 2x Skill against unshielded opponents.

Horses
Charge value:
Hunters +1
Light Warhorses +2
Heavy Warhorses +3
Dragon Destrier + 3
Ironbred +4
Netherworld Chargers +5

Special modifiers:
Destrier +1 WP
Ironbred +1 WP
Netherwords +1 WP
Hunters +1 mobility

Speed

Its most common use is to determine the number of attacks that a characte has per combat round. This is made
proportionally to the enemy's mobility value. A character with high speed, for instance, can attack three times while his heavily armored opponed do it only once (3:1 ratio).