Epic Fantasy

In an epic fantasy game, you can expect a grand scale and a sweeping narrative that propels your (perhaps unlikely) character into a wider world where the struggle between good and evil is undecided. Prophecy, destiny, and ancient evils are common themes. The initial threats you face may seem more mundane, though still dangerous enough to toughen and prepare you and your comrades for what lies ahead: epic final struggles, potentially pitting you against shadow kings, dragons, evil gods, and/or demon lords.

If you've read or watched any Lord of the Rings novels or movies, or are familiar with various stories, myths, and movies regarding King Arthur, you already have some familiarity with epic fantasy. Skills: Refer to the Fantasy Skills table for a list of skills you can choose from when creating and advancing your character. Your choice of background skill, and possibly the extra skill you might getif you also choose a meaningfulinability, also come from the same list of genre skills. Character Species: Epic fantasy settings often feature Humans but could also include additional fantasy species.

Epic Fantasy Character Species Options

Dwarf Elf Halfling Human Orc

Foci: The suggested foci for an epicfantasy setting lie somewhere between the wide-open options of a dungeon fantasy and the severely magic-restrictedchoices of a swords & sorcery game. Viable prospects for your character include magical foci, but not some of the most extreme options.

Suggested Foci for an Epic Fantasy Game

Casts Spells Consorts With the Dead Controls Beasts Crafts Illusions Doesn’t Do Much Entertains Explores FightsDirty Fights Unarmed

Fights With Panache Howls at the Moon Hunts Infiltrates Leads Masters Weaponry MovesLike the Wind Never Says Die Performs Feats of Strength Quells Evil Reveres a Supernatural Force Sneaks Through the Shadows Speaks for the Land Strikes With Mystic Might Tends to the Wounded

Equipment: Refer to your type's suggested equipment bundle or theFantasy Equipment table for equipment you can choose from when creating yourcharacter and for options that might be available to yourcharacterwhenyouhavemorecurrencytospend. Manifest Cyphers: Manifest cyphers are rare in this setting because magic is rare, profound, and powerful, not fleeting or easily used.

Wound Treatment: Treatment to remove a wound in an epic fantasy setting takes ten minutes for aminorwound,onehourforamoderatewound,andoneweekforamajorwound.

Currency: The currency underlying price categories in an epic fantasy setting is usually silver and copper coins. Coins of other metals (gold, chiefly) exist but are not in common circulation. Background Options: Each type includes suggestions for your character’s background. Choose one or create your own. Genre Abilities for Your Fantasy Character: At tier 3, your fantasy character gains a mid-tier ability from the list of Fantasy Genre Abilities at the end of this chapter, and at tier 6 you gain a high-tier ability from the same list. In addition, at tier 6, you can replace one of your mid-tier genre abilities with a different mid-tier ability. See that section for additional stipulations that might affect your fantasy genre ability choice.

Epic Fantasy Types

Archer(from swords &sorcery) Burglar NobleWarrior Swashbuckler

Warrior Wizard

Creating Epic Fantasy Characters

Beforechoosing a type, create your core character,which (as a quick reminder) grants the following.

• 8 Might / 8 Speed / 8 Intellect
• 6 additional points to allocatein Might, Speed, and/or Intellect
• Capacity to take three minor / three moderate / threemajor wounds
• Effort: 1
• Cypher limit: 2
• Freely use light weapons
• Cannot freely use any armor
• Two genre skills
• One additional genre skill in exchange for an inability ina genreskill
• Starting equipment

Archer (Epic Fantasy)

ThestatsforanepicfantasyArcherarethesameasthoseforanArchermakingtheirwaythrougha swords & sorcery setting.

Burglar

Who would’ve thought that you’d one day be capablysneaking through goblin warrens and escaping dragons?Certainlynotyou.Butnecessityisthebestteacher,andyou’velearnedthatshadowsareyour friends when you need somewhere to hide, sneaking is more than its ownreward if you need to accomplish something quickly when no one’s watching, and escaping a foe is almost alwaysthe right choice, even if it’s so you can circlearound andattackthem by surprise. You prefer letting someone else in your group begin conflicts, allowing you to slip past unnoticed, possiblyso you can avoid the combat altogether. When danger isn’t imminent, you’re among the best suited to carefully examine a new location and, when possible, steal whatever isn’t spiked down.

Background Options

• Raised in a small village, you learnedtohide as away to stay alive when orcs, goblins, and evil men started to appear.
• Your former company of six disbanded a month ago after another member disappeared.
• You recently burgled a group of trolls, though you’ve already runthrough most of the gold.
• A map of a nearby barrow’s surprisingly large interior found its way to you two weeks ago.
• Your parents were sick and lame, so you learned to supplement the household with quick hands. Then, one terrible day, they paid the price for your pilfering.
• You won a drinking contest at a nearby inn and now get one freedrink a night if you wish.
• Everything was taken from you. Now you seek to reclaim your stolen heritage, one pilfered valuable at a time.
• Akeepsakeandgoodluckcharmyoufoundonyourveryfirstadventurewasstolenlast week.

Burglar Abilities

You gain all of the following benefits: Able to taketwo more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add+2 to Speed Pool Add+2 to Intellect Pool Add+1 Edge in Pool of your choice Freely use light weapons Freely use light armor Gain one weapon of your choice At tier 3and tier 6, choose anability fromthe Fantasy Genre Abilities list

Burgle (2 Speed):When you succeed on a stealth task, you can also undertake one of following tasks as an extra action on your turn, even if the taskis usually a Last action: attempt to pick a lock, grab a looseobject up to a fifth of yoursize and conceal it on your person, move up to a longdistance, or attack a target in immediate range with a light weapon. Enabler.

Escape (2+ Speed): When you roll to escape (such as slipping your restraints, squeezing through the bars, breaking the grip of acreature holding you, or pulling free from sucking quicksand) and your roll is lessthana9,treattherollasa9.(Thismeansyoudon’tgetaGMintrusionifyourolla1.) Effort: Increase the minimum number rolled for this ability by 3. At tier 3, the minimum number rolledfor this ability increases to 12. Action.

Slip Into Shadow: Even if in full view of a creature, your successful stealth task allows you to slip awayfromthatcreatureandhidefromviewinanearbyshadow,behindatreeorfurnishing,orinthe next room as your action. Effort: Attempt to slip away from one additional target looking directly at you (attempt a separate stealth task against each). At tier 3, you can attempt to hide from two additional creatures,whether or not you use Effort. Enabler.

[!example]

Burglar Equipment Bundle

Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment. Two daggers, appropriate clothing,a bag of light tools (including lockpicks),a backpack, a bedroll, 50 feet(16 m) of rope, a pipe and tobacco pouch, three torches, rations and water for three days, a tinderbox, and enough extra currencyto buy a moderately priced item.

Noble Warrior

Alifewell-lived,youbelieve,isalifeinservicetoothers.Shouldgloryandelevatedstatusonedayfind you, you’re confident you’ll use that office to bring peace and aid to all who are in need of a protector.

Until then, you’re satisfied defending one ally at a time, pledging your weapon to their defense if their need be true. You’re excellent in a fight but equally concerned with aiding your allies. You have on several previous occasionseven interceded,taking an attack that would’ve otherwise brought one of your fellows low. You’re also adept at using the confusion such a sacrifice elicits in foes, returning the favor with the edge of your swift blade.

Background Options

• One of the last direct descendants of a fallen kingdom, you hope to one day revive it.
• You tracked down a monstrous creature last year, but lost them in a cursed swamp.
• You grew up in a knightly order, advancing from squire to full knight, and now you are sustained by the oaths youswear.
• You successfully delivered important information last week, despite being hunted by undead.
• Last week you returned from one of your patrols protecting the area from encroaching shadows.
• Your sibling hopes to reclaim the throne from the rebels, and you pledged to help them so their claim can one day be made.
• Last year you learned you are heir to a kingdom lost and mostly forgotten during a previous age.
• You agreed to lead a company on aquest a month ago, but they still haven’t departed.

Noble Warrior Abilities

You gain all of the following benefits:

Able to takethree more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add+2toMightPool Add+2 to Speed Pool Add+1 Edge in Pool of your choice Freely use light and medium weapons Freely use light and medium armor Gain one weapon of your choice At tier 3and tier 6, choose anability fromthe Fantasy Genre Abilities list

Expert Combatant: You are trained in a specific weapon attack of your choice, such asswords, axes, or bows; or in a broader category of attacks such as light bashing weapons, light bladed weapons, light ranged weapons, medium bashing weapons, medium bladed weapons, medium ranged weapons, and so on. At tier 2, you can choose to become specialized in the same attack method you chose at tier 1, but you must gain the skill normally. At tier 6, you can become an expert in a specific attack method (either the one you chose at tier 1 or another weapon skill you're already specialized in),but you must gain the skill normally. Enabler.

Noble Defender (2Might orSpeed): Choose one character you can see. That character comes under your protection. You gain an asset on all tasks involving finding, healing, interacting with, and protecting them. When you use the help action to aid their block ordodge, you give them two assets instead of one.YoucanusethehelpactiontoaidtheirIntellectdefense(includingdirectattackslikefearandmind control and subtle influences like persuasion and intimidation) and give them two assets when you do

so. You can onlyprotect one character at a time. At tier 3, two charactersat a timecan be under yourprotection. First action.

Noble Sacrifice (2 Might or Speed): When you take the attack meant for another character, you gain a benefit for your selflessness. The attack automatically hitsyou and inflicts its normal damage (plus the additional minor wound for taking the attack). You can immediately retaliate with an attack against a foe within range. If you took the attack for a person you are protecting with Noble Defender, this attack is eased. Enabler.

[!example]

Noble Warrior Equipment Bundle

Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment. A sword, appropriate clothing plus an extra set of refined clothing, chainmailarmor, a backpack, a bedroll,50feet(16m)ofrope,afieldjournal(includingpenandink),threetorches,rationsandwater for three days, a tinderbox, and enough extra currency to buy a moderately priced item.

Swashbuckler

Your skill, daring, and flamboyant style outshine most others. When battle beckons, you rely on agile swordplay rather than brute force. You’re not afraid to leap onto tables, slide down bannisters, and otherwise gamble on using the environment toyour advantage. That same reckless confidence imbues your dashing grin, your witty banter, and your almost-theatrical charisma,allowing you to charm and beguile as you please. Among those in your company, you’re probably one of the most ostentatious. If a fight is in the offing, foes are likely to focus on you for as long as wish, thereby providing your allies a measure of protection. Of course, your fencingskills are amazing, so that’s no sacrifice on your part. In fact, combat is just another stage on which you can show off your style and wit, aiding in yourefforts to negotiate or woo.

Background Options

• Forsworn and ignored as a child, you are motivated by gaining the admiration and love of others (perhaps many others) through demonstrating your worthiness and skills.
• You wooed a lover with tales of stolen jewels, but last month theymade off with your valuables.
• After fleeing a vast gambling debt lastyear, you took another name and changed your look.
• You picked up your skills while touring as part of a troupe of entertainers and thieves. That troupesplinteredduetoamysteriousmurder,andyoustillseekanswersasyoucan.
• You briefly captained a privateer ship, butonly long enough to gain passage to where you

are now.

• You were part of a spectacular prison escape last week that’s still the talk of the town.
• Wanting to reinvent yourself, you continue to make changes through hard personalwork and constant training.
• You found a treasure map stitched into a coat, though deciphering it still lies beyond your skill.

Swashbuckler Abilities

You gain all of the following benefits: Able to takethree more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add+3 to Speed Pool Add+1 to Intellect Pool Add+1 Edge in Pool of your choice Freely use light and medium weapons Freely use light armor Gain one weapon of your choice At tier 3and tier 6, choose anability fromthe Fantasy Genre Abilities list

Attack Flourish: When youattack, you add stylish moves, entertaining quips, or a certain something thatentertainsorimpressesothers.Onecreatureyouchoosewithinshortrangewhocanseeyougains an asset to their next task if taken within a round or two. Enabler. Flamboyant Swordplay (1 Speed): You attack in a way that has a greaterrisk of making an error but gains an additionalbenefit. Your GM intrusion rangefor this attack increases by 2 (from 1 on a d20 to 1– 3 on a d20), but if you hit you can choose one of the following additionaleffects:

DaringLunge: The foe takes +2 damage. DisarmingAgility:Theattackinflicts1lessdamage,butyourfoedropssomethingtheyareholdingin one hand (such as a weapon or shield). To retrieve the dropped item, the foe must use an action. Action.

Romantic Flair (2+ Intellect): Your accompanying exuberant charm, bold confidence, perfectly timed bow, or suggestive wink means if your roll to persuade or impress is less than a 9, treat the roll as a 9. (This means you don’t get a GM intrusion if you roll a 1.) Effort: Increase the minimum number rolled for this ability by 3. At tier 3, the minimum number rolledfor this ability increases to 12. Action.

[!example]

Swashbuckler Equipment Bundle

Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment. A rapier, flamboyant clothing (for example, a ruffled shirt, a feathered hat, a long cape, ornate boots,finegloves,andanelaboratebelt,oftenvibrantincolor),abackpack,abedroll,ahandmirror,a writing set (quill, ink, and parchment paper), gaming dice,five candles, rations and water for three days,

a tinderbox,and enough extra currency to buy a moderately priced item.

Warrior

Strength. That’s whatyou have. The familiar, comfortingache in your muscles is the echo of countless training bouts and bloody skirmishes. You have made yourself into someone that stories are told about; you are a Warrior of the realm, a slayer of those who would bring it down, and someone who would do anything to achieve your goals. Strong and tough, you’re usually among the first in your company to bring weapons to bear. Doing so means those with less strength of arms will survivetofight another day. Of course, you’d probably fight regardless;for you, it’s as much about projecting power and buildinga legacy.

Background Options

• You apprenticed as a royal guard, and that training remains—you still want to protect others.

• Youwerepartofalargerforcethattookbackacityoverrunbymonsterslastyear.

• Your sibling always scraped through life with your help, but six months ago they died mysteriously.

• You survived a war, coming away with your scars, your weapons, and a need to fight.

• You received word of a powerful weapon having beenfound, but not where or by who.

• You descend from a long line of warriors, and everyoneexpects thesame of you. You’re not sosurethat’syourdestiny,butfornow,youfight.

• Though you have little use for it, you protected a library from burning two weeksago.

• You personally trained a soldier whorecently was promoted to captain of the guard.

Warrior Abilities

You gain all of the following benefits: Able to takethree more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add+3 to Might Pool Add+1 to Speed Pool Add+1 Edge in Pool of your choice Freely use all weapons Freely use all armor Gain one weapon of your choice At tier 3and tier 6, choose anability fromthe Fantasy Genre Abilities list

Combat Prowess: You add +1 damage to one type of weapon attack of your choice: melee weapon attacks or ranged weapon attacks. Enabler. Despite My Wounds: While you have two or more moderate wounds or one major wound, you get a free reroll on one action each round (as if you had spent 1 XP). Enabler. Expert Combatant: You are trained in a specific weapon attack of your choice, such asswords, axes, or bows; or in a broader category of attacks such as light bashing weapons, light bladed weapons, light rangedweapons,mediumbashingweapons,mediumbladedweapons,mediumrangedweapons,and so on.

At tier 2, you can choose to become specialized in the same attack method you chose at tier 1, but you must gain the skill normally. At tier 6, you can become an expert in a specific attack method (either the one you chose at tier 1 or another weapon skill you're already specialized in),but you must gain the skill normally. Enabler.

[!example]

Warrior Equipment Bundle

Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment. A sword, appropriate clothing, chainmail armor, ashield, a backpack, a bedroll, 50 feet (16 m) of rope, spikes (six) and a hammer, three torches,rations and water for three days, a tinderbox, and enough extra currency to buy a moderately priced item.

Wizard

Your conjured lightning, flashing displays, and wizardly spells are just part of what makes you a wizard. With your wisdom and knowledge, you have theopportunity to guide others to a larger goal, to learn ancient secrets, discover new truths, and maybeevenbecome a major figure as history unfolds.

You may see your role as the voice of wisdom and reason in your company.More tactically,your spellsaren’tasquickasaflashingswordorswift-flyingarrow,soyouappreciateothersinyour fellowship who have the physical presence to keep aggressors away from you afew extra moments while you prepare one of your magical effects. And anytime enemy magic is found, you have the best chance to deal with and perhaps even counter it.

Background Options

• As a child you were paid to clean the library of lore. You also snuck books to read, which awakened your gift for magic. Now you seek to find and preserve books of lore wherever you go.
• You provided magical displays to entertain guests at a friend’s party last week to good reviews.
• A powerful magical artifact bequeathed to you was stolen years ago, and you seek to find the identity of the thief as your other duties allow.
• When you went to consult with a fellow wizard last month, they were mysteriously gone.
• You number among a fewchosen who were granted magic by celestial beings, and theyhave chargedyou with keeping the world safe from evil.
• Rumors suggest that the evil that once resided in the old ruins has crept back in the last year.
• You’ve spent the last three months poring over ancient scrolls, seeking important magic lore.
• You recently received an invitation to visit allies who reside in asecret underground fortress.

WizardAbilities

You gain all of the following benefits:

Able to taketwo more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add+1 to Might Pool Add+3 to Intellect Pool Add+1 Edge in Pool of your choice Freely use all light and medium weapons Cannot freely use armor Gain one weapon of your choice At tier 3and tier 6, choose anability fromthe Fantasy Genre Abilities list

LightningBolt (1 Intellect): You unleash a bolt of lightning at a target within long range, inflicting6 damage with a successful attack roll. Alternatively, work with your GM if you want your bolt to be composed of a different kind of energyorusethe same energy type as that suggestedby your focus. For instance, if your focus is Blazes With Fire, this ability could produce aray of fire and be called Fiery Bolt. At tier 3, the bolt branchesand also attacks a second target in short range ofthe first target (make separate attack rolls for each). Lastaction.

PrepareSpell: Each day you can pick a different magical effect and cast it as a spell. Choose a low- powermanifestcypher.Afterspendingtenminutespreparing,yougainthatcypher’seffectasaspell (a character special ability). You can cast that spell as an action, costing 2 Intellect. This spell does not count toward your cypher limit. Unlike when using a cypher, you do not lose this spell after casting it. As part of making a ten-hour recovery, you can change which cypher you’ve taken as a spell.

At tier 3, you can use this ability to choose a low- or medium-power cypher as a spell. You can cast a medium-powercypherspellasanaction,costing4Intellect. At tier 6, you can use this ability to choose a low-, mid-, or advanced-power cypher as a spell. You can castan advanced-power cypher spell as an action, costing 6 Intellect. You can select this ability up to three times (allowing you to choose one, two, or three cyphers each day as spells). Ten minutes to prepare a cypher as a spell;actiontocast a cypher as a spell.

Wizard’s Cunning (2 Intellect): When you succeed on an Intellect roll for magic lore against a difficulty set by your GM, you identify and understand the purpose of something magical within short range (if any). In addition, you can attempt to immediately dispel one magical effect (such as an effect created by a character, creature, or item) within the same area by succeeding on another magic lore task against its level. Alternatively, you can attempt to create a small magical effect within short range. Theeffect might be to createa firework-like display of light and sound, permanently change the color or basic appearance of asmall mundane object, cause small objects to floatthrough the air, ask a moth or other small creature to carry a messagefor you, mend a broken object, urge a little more alacrity from a mount (lasting until you use a one-hour or longer recovery), and so on. Using this ability offensively is possible with some ingenuity, but isn’t capable of inflicting more than 1 or 2 damage. Lastaction.

[!example]

WizardEquipmentBundle

Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own

starting equipment. A quarterstaff, appropriate clothing,a spellbook (which also serves as a field journal for taking arcane notes), pen and ink, a backpack, a bedroll, 50feet (16 m) of rope, matchsticks (ten), a pipe and tobacco pouch, three torches, rations and water for threedays, a tinderbox, and enough extra currency to buy a moderately priced item.