Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
rules:species [2025/06/22 23:46] – Ron Helwigrules:species [2025/06/23 11:07] (current) – Ron Helwig
Line 1: Line 1:
 << rules:character_creation ^ rules:start ^ rules:body_types >> << rules:character_creation ^ rules:start ^ rules:body_types >>
- 
 # Species # Species
  
 Since the basic definition of any species is tied to lore, it isn't appropriate for the system to have species defined by default. Since the basic definition of any species is tied to lore, it isn't appropriate for the system to have species defined by default.
  
-In this system the definition of a species consists of +In this system the definition of a species consists of: 
-  - A bit of lore for the species + 
-  - Two Species abilities+- A bit of lore for the species 
 +- Two Species abilities
  
 The game master should create a list of species available in the world or campaign that the players can choose from. It is suggested that players be allowed to help in this to ensure that they can play their desired character and make it fit into the game master's vision of the world. The game master should create a list of species available in the world or campaign that the players can choose from. It is suggested that players be allowed to help in this to ensure that they can play their desired character and make it fit into the game master's vision of the world.
Line 15: Line 15:
 Here are the features that are available. Game masters are encouraged to curate this list for their own worlds, creating new ones and removing others as they see fit. Here are the features that are available. Game masters are encouraged to curate this list for their own worlds, creating new ones and removing others as they see fit.
  
-Note that some things that are often seen as features can be portrayed as lore. One good example is that Elves have long lives - that is more appropriate as lore than as a feature since it rarely affects game mechanics.+Note that some things that are often seen as features can be portrayed as lore. One good example is that Elves have long lives – that is more appropriate as lore than as a feature since it rarely affects game mechanics. 
 + 
 +Mechanics like Darkvision could also be relegated to lore since so many groups either ignore it altogether or just assume that the lighting situation gets resolved somehow. Game masters might add Darkvision as a feature in campaigns where it makes the story and gameplay better. 
 + 
 +Each feature is marked with a **rarity tag**:   
 +- 🟢 **Common** – widely usable and balanced in most settings.   
 +- 🔵 **Uncommon** – adds strong mechanical power or thematic niche.   
 +- 🔴 **Rare** – GMs should review before allowing. 
 + 
 +When creating a Species it is highly suggested that at least one of the two features should be Common. Having a species with two Rare or Uncommon features might be unbalanced. 
 + 
 +### Adaptable Nature 🟢 
 +- Choose one Attribute. Increase it by +1. 
 +- Choose one resistance (common damage type or condition). 
 + 
 +### Amphibious 🟢 
 +- You can breathe underwater and can swim as quickly as you can run on land. 
 + 
 +### Aquatic Affinity 🔵 
 +- You have resistance to cold damage. 
 +- You have advantage on movement and Control checks made in or on water. 
 + 
 +### Breath Weapon 🔵 
 +- You may mark 1 Stress to breathe a 15-foot cone of elemental energy based on your heritage. 
 +- Roll a Fortitude Check to set the DC and roll 2d6 to set the damage. 
 +- Each target in the cone must make an Endurance Resistance Check. On success, they take half damage. 
 + 
 +### Climbing Adaptation 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on Aspect Checks related to climbing or grappling, and you ignore natural terrain penalties while climbing. 
 + 
 +### Construct Body 🔵 
 +- You do not need to eat or breathe. 
 +- You are immune to poison and disease. 
 + 
 +### Dark Resilience 🔵 
 +- When you deal at least 1 HP of damage, you may heal 1 HP or reduce Stress by 1. 
 +- Limit: Once per turn. 
 + 
 +### Enduring Focus 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on Endurance and Fortitude Aspect Checks, including any used to maintain concentration. 
 + 
 +### Fiendish Resistance 🟢 
 +- Choose at character creation: fire or necrotic damage. 
 +- You have resistance to the chosen damage type. 
 + 
 +### Flash Step 🔵 
 +- You may mark 1 Stress to teleport up to 30 feet to a space you can see **that is not adjacent to any hostile creature**. 
 +- When you arrive, a harmless burst of light, color, or elemental shimmer appears. This sensory effect is noticeable to those nearby but causes no damage or distraction. 
 + 
 +### Giantkin Resilience 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on Resistance Checks against exhaustion. 
 + 
 +### Graceful Movement 🟢 
 +- +1 to your Evasion score. 
 +- You have advantage on Finesse Aspect Checks. 
 + 
 +### Hidden Step 🔵 
 +- If you are behind cover, you may mark 1 Stress to teleport to another covered space within 30 feet. 
 +- If no creature can see you at either location, you do not need to spend Stress. 
 + 
 +### Hypnotic Gaze 🔴 
 +- For 1 Action Load, you may roll a Grit Check targeting a creature within 30 feet that can see your eyes. 
 +- That creature must make a Willpower Resistance Check. On failure, their Action Load increases by 5. 
 + 
 +### Infernal Legacy 🔵 
 +- You have advantage on damage rolls from fire or necrotic sources you use. 
 + 
 +### Innate Magic 🔵 
 +- At character creation, choose two spells with Action Load of 1 or less from a single source type (Arcane, Divine, or Nature). 
 +- The GM may restrict the type (e.g. "must be Illusion" or "Nature only"). 
 + 
 +### Integrated Plating 🔵 
 +- Your armor thresholds are increased by +1 each. 
 + 
 +### Keen Eyesight 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on Perception checks involving sight and on ranged weapon attacks. 
 + 
 +### Keen Senses 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on all Reflex and Poise checks, including Initiative rolls. 
 + 
 +### Lucky Footing 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on Resistance Checks against area-of-effect effects. 
 + 
 +### Martial Instinct 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on your first physical attack (melee or ranged) each round. 
 + 
 +### Nature Affinity 🟢 
 +- You may speak with natural beasts and plants. 
 +- Once per natural encounter, you may reroll a related Aspect Check. 
 + 
 +### Natural Weapons 🟢 
 +- You have claws, horns, teeth, or other built-in weapons. 
 +- Add a d6 damage die to unarmed attacks. 
 +- The GM may assign a damage type based on species lore, or allow the player to choose at character creation. 
 + 
 +### Necrotic Affinity 🟢 
 +- You have resistance to necrotic damage. 
 + 
 +### Powerful Build 🟢 
 +- You can lift, drag, and carry as if you were one size larger. 
 + 
 +### Scaled Resilience 🟢 
 +- You have resistance to your heritage’s damage type (e.g. fire, cold, acid). 
 + 
 +### Serpentine Resilience 🔵 
 +- You have resistance to poison damage. 
 +- You are immune to disease. 
 + 
 +### Small Frame 🟢 
 +- You have advantage on checks to hide or move through narrow spaces. 
 + 
 +### Stoneborn Toughness 🟢 
 +- You have +1 maximum HP. 
 + 
 +### Survival Instincts 🔵 
 +- When your action reduces a foe to 0 HP, recover 1 Stress. If you have no Stress, recover 1 HP instead. 
 + 
 +### Swift Stride 🔵 
 +- You ignore difficult terrain when walking or running. 
 +- For 1 Action Load, you may move an extra 30 feet on your turn. 
 + 
 +### Unliving Form 🔵 
 +- You do not continue to take ongoing damage from bleeding or similar effects. 
 +- You do not need to eat. 
 + 
 +### Wings 🔴 
 +- You can fly at low altitudes (up to 10 feet) as fast as you can run, unless wearing heavy armor. 
 +- Each round you fly without landing costs 1 Stress. 
 + 
 +## Feature Design Principles
  
-Mechanics like Darkvision could also be relegated to lore since so many groups either ignore it altogether or just assume that the lighting situation gets resolved somehow. Game masters might add Darkvision as a feature in campaigns where there are species and situations where it makes the story and gameplay better.+Species features should be **memorable**, **mechanically meaningful**, and **intuitively thematic**. This system encourages smooth pacing, flexibility, and consistency. Aim to follow these principles when designing or evaluating features:
  
-### Amphibious +1. **Use Metacurrencies, Not "Once per"** 
- - You can breathe underwater and can swim as quickly as you can run on land. +   - Favor Stress and Action Load over “once per rest/day” mechanics. 
-### Aquatic Affinity +2. **Stay Thematic** 
- - You have resistance to cold damage. +   - Features should match the species’ lore and identity. 
- - You have advantage on any actions that are water related. +3. **Support Gameplay** 
-### Breath Weapon +   - Every feature should matter during combat, travel, or roleplay. 
- - You may mark a stress to breathe a 15 foot cone of breath that does the same type of damage as your chosen heritage's damage type. +4. **Offer Flexible Options** 
- - Roll a Fortitude Check to set the DC and roll 2d6 to set the damage. +   - Let players choose (damage types, spells, etc.) at creation time when possible. 
- - Every creature or object in the cone must make an Endurance Resistance Check and if they succeed they only take half damage. +5. **Respect the Action Economy** 
-### Clinging Grip +   - Balance strong effects with costs in Stress, Action Load, or Aspects. 
- - You have advantage on actions involving climbing or grappling. +6. **Avoid Redundancy** 
-### Construct Body +   - Don’t repeat effects unless reworded for thematic uniqueness. 
- - You do not need to eat or breathe. +7. **Integrate with the Dice Pool** 
- - You are immune to poison and disease. +   - Focus on boosting rolls, managing resources, or adding tactical tools. 
-### Dark Resilience +8. **Tag Features by Rarity** 
- - When you inflict at least one HP of damage you may heal 1 HP or reduce Stress by 1. +   - Use 🟢 Common, 🔵 Uncommon, and 🔴 Rare to guide GM oversight.
-### Enduring Focus +
- - You have advantage on Endurance and Fortitude Aspect Checks. +
-### Fey Step +
- - You may mark one Stress to teleport up to 30 feet. +
-### Fiendish Resistance +
- - You have resistance to *either* fire or necrotic damage. Choose when you first get this feature. +
-### Giantkin Resilience +
- - You have advantage on Resistance Checks vs. exhaustion. +
-### Graceful Movement +
- - You have +1 to Evasion +
- - You have advantage on Finesse Checks. +
-### Hidden Step +
- - When you are behind cover you may mark a stress to instantly teleport to another covered location within 30 feet. If no one can see you in either location then you don't need to mark the stress. +
-### Hypnotic Gaze +
- - For a cost of one **Action Load** point you may roll a Grit Aspect Check, selecting one target that can see your eyes. They must roll a Willpower Resistance Check and if they fail their **Action Load** is increased by 5. +
-### Infernal Legacy +
- - You have advantage on features that do fire or necrotic damage. +
-### Innate Magic +
- - At character creation you may select two spell cards that do not have **Action Load** costs. +
-### Integrated Plating +
- - Your armor thresholds are increased by +1 each. +
-### Keen Eyesight +
- - You have advantage on sight checks or ranged attacks. +
-### Keen Senses +
- - You have advantage on all Reflex and Poise checks, including when determining Initiative. +
-### Lucky Footing +
- - You have advantage on all Resistance Checks vs Area of Effect occurrences (attacks or otherwise). +
-### Nature Affinity +
- - You may speak with natural creatures and plants. +
- - You may reroll any Aspect Check related to natural creatures and plants one time. +
-### Natural Weapons +
- - You have natural weapons (claws, teeth, horns, etc) and can add a D6 as weapon damage to your attack actions. +
-### Necrotic Affinity +
- - You have resistance to necrotic damage. +
-### Powerful Build +
- - You may lift and carry as if you were Large sized. +
-### Scaled Resilience +
- - You have resistance to damage of your chosen heritage's damage type. +
-### Serpentine Resilience +
- - You have resistance to poison damage. +
- - You are immune to disease. +
-### Small Frame +
- - You have advantage on Aspect Checks related to hiding or navigating small spaces. +
-### Stoneborn Toughness +
- - You have +1 to HP total. +
-### Survival Instincts +
- - When your action reduces an enemy to zero HP you may recover one Stress. If your Stress is all cleared you may recover one HP. +
-### Unliving Form +
- - You don't continue taking damage in succeeding turns from attacks that specify continued bleeding. +
- - You don't need to eat.  +
-### Wings +
- - You may fly at low altitudes as fast as you can run, if you aren't wearing heavy armor. +
- - For each round that you don't land you must mark a Stress.+
  
 +Note: these principles are a guideline to help you make your game as good as it can be. But if a player's vision cannot be made without violating one or more of these principles then violate them, but try to retain balance.