~ ZWEIHANDER CONCISE RULES

REFERENCE ~
Compiled by Rob Alexander and Sándor Gebei

T
he Zweihander core book is long of text, full of atmosphere and detail and tuition and advice. At the table, however,
you need speed. This rules reference captures the core Zweihander rules in a minimum of words, giving you fluidity
at the table and possibly joy.

~ CREDITS ~
Text: Rob Alexander, Sándor Gebei
Border Artwork: Dejan Mandic
Publisher: Medium Quality Products

This game product is powered by ZWEIHANDER Grim & Perilous RPG ™, a trademark of Grim & Perilous Studios LLC, in the USA and
other countries. Used with permission. Original text content of ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. ZWEIHÄNDER Logo, content and original artwork are
copyright © 2009–2018, Grim & Perilous Studios, LLC unless otherwise specified.
This page is deliberately left blank for the benefit of spreads. You may make notes here, if you wish, or perhaps a sketch.

2

SKILL TESTS
Dice and target number
• Peril Condition track may reduce your effective
Skill Rank
o Unless have relevant Focus
• Base Chance = Attribute + 10 per Skill Rank,
plus any modifiers from Talents or Traits.
Capped at +-30 of Attribute value.
• Difficulty set by GM; player can lobby for:
o Taking extra time (GM call)
o Skill synergy (+10)
• Total Chance = Base Chance + Difficulty
• If assisted (must have ranks in the same skill),
take an Assist Die
• If a special skill you don’t have, set flip to fail
Dice results
• If have an Assist Die, pick best
o Unless your die leads to Critical Failure
• If flip to X applies, and you didn’t get X, swap
dice order
• Match means a Critical
• Opposed test — winner is highest Degree of
Success (tens die roll + attribute bonus) or
whoever is better on CS-S-F-CF axis
NON-TEST DICE
• Fury Dice (most damage dice) explode on 6
• Chaos Dice cause terrible things on 6
FORTUNE AND
MISFORTUNE
• Start of session — [number of players]+1
Fortune Points
• Players can spend for benefit:
o Reroll a failed Skill Test (but not a
Critical Failure)
o Gain 1 Action Point (in combat)
o Swap a Chaos or Fury Die to a 6
• Spent Fortune Points → Misfortune Points
• GM can spend Misfortune Points for same
benefits (discard spent points)
1
•
Gain Fortune Points thus:
o +1 for Critical Success on a Social
Tactic Test during a Complex
Exchange
o +1 for Critical Success on a Resolve
Test against Stress, Fear, or Terror
o +[number of surviving characters] at the
end of a Perilous Journey
o +1 for employing Order/Chaos
Alignment in a dramatic moment
• End of session — discard all points
ALIGNMENT
Using your alignment
• Use your alignment poles to guide your
character’s actions. GM may award Fortune if
you do this at critical moments.
Changing your alignment
• During a session —
o Get Corruption for doing things that are
“morally questionable, reprehensible, or
violent”. GM’s judgement of when and
how much. Some examples —
▪ Bullying the innocent — 1–3
▪ Murdering another in a crime of
passion — 4–6
▪ Premeditated murder — 7–9
o GM should always warn of Corruption
and its amount before the PC acts
• At the end of a session —
o First
▪ No Corruption → gain 1 Order
▪ <11 Corruption → roll d10. If
exceeds corruption, gain 1 Order,
else gain 1 Chaos
▪ >=11 Corruption → gain 1 Chaos
per 10, then roll against
remainder (can’t get Order)
o Then
▪ 10 Order ranks → 1 Fate Point,
erase all Alignment ranks
▪ 10 Chaos ranks → gain a
Disorder, erase all Alignment
ranks.
o Finally, discard all Corruption points
 CONCISE RULES REFERENCE
COMBAT
Turns
• A Turn is ten seconds, and 3 AP per character
• Can start with a Surprise Turn:
o Surprising side get +20 to attacks and
stunts, and +d6 Fury on melee and
ranged damage
o Surprised side can’t act, not even to use
Reactions
• Participants roll 1d10 + Initiative; act in
descending order
o Ties are broken by PB
o Special events roll 2D10+2
• On your turn, reset AP to 3, then spend right
away or save for defense
o Max 1 Attack action
o Max 1 Stunt action
o Any number of other actions
o Some Reactions are zero-AP
▪ Resist a Stunt
▪ Opportunity Attack
o Movement out of Engagement
provokes opportunity attack unless
spend 2 AP to Maneuver
Attack Actions
• Test weapon skill
• CS → target Defenseless for this attack
• CF → attacker takes 2d10+2 Peril
• Target can defend as a Reaction for 1 AP
o Melee can be Parried (roll weapon skill)
o Ranged can be Dodged (roll
Coordination), or Parried (with shield or
Protective weapon)
o Gunpowder can’t be defended against
o Difficulty = inverse of attack difficulty
• Damage is d6 Fury + CB or
o Pummeling = BB
o Finesse = AB
DAMAGE
Taking
• Damage vs Damage Threshold (BB + armor)
o D > DT → 1 step on track
o D > DT+6 → 2 steps on track
o D > DT+12 → 3 steps on track
o D > DT+18 → killed (or Fate Point)
• Damage Condition Track — may have to roll
Chaos dice for Injury
o Unharmed
o Lightly Wounded
o Moderately Wounded — 1d6 moderate
o Seriously Wounded — 2d6 serious
o Grievously Wounded — 3d6 grievous
o Slain! — killed (or Fate Point)
• Injuries are assigned by the GM (roll on tables
p367–368, choose if makes no sense)
o Burn 1 Fate to avoid
o Get 3/6/9 Corruption by level of injury
o No armor → Bleeding (can’t heal
Damage or Peril, die after BB turns)
Recovering
• Stopping Bleeding
o Can stop with 1 Fate
o Can Stem Bleeding (3 AP, no test)
▪ Consume 1 Bandage
▪ or cauterize (drop 3 Peril
Condition)
• Getting back up the damage track
o Can’t do if untreated Injuries
o Can Bind Wounds —
▪ Once per target per day
▪ Need 1 rank in Heal
▪ Costs 10 minutes and a bandage
▪ Difficulty by track position
(auto, +10, 0, -10)
▪ Results
▪ CS — 2 steps
▪ S — 1 step
▪ CF → Infected
o Can use Laudanum (recover 1 step and
gain 1 Corruption; only once per day)
2
• Recovering from Injuries
o Tincture → ignore for 24 hours (1
Corruption)
o Treat each injury + Recuperate →
permanent heal
o Treatment is a Heal test, modified by #
current injuries (+10/0/-10)
▪ Must have Heal skill
o Moderate and Serious Injuries —
▪ One try a day
▪ 10 minutes, 1 Opium
▪ CS — recuperation -3 days
▪ CF — Infected
o Grievous Injuries —
▪ Must be within BB hours
▪ Need surgical tools
▪ 1 hour, 1 Opium, 1 Bandage
▪ CS — recuperation -3 days
▪ F — permanent
▪ CF — permanent, Infected
o Recuperation days by severity —
▪ 1D10+1 for Moderate
▪ 2D10+2 for Serious
▪ 3D10+3 for Grievous Injuries
▪ Days in bed count double
▪ Multiple injuries in parallel
• Having an Infection
o Cannot recover Damage or Peril
o Cannot recuperate
o Each 24 hours → Lose 1 permanent
Brawn
• Treat infection by Bloodletting
o Must have Heal, surgical tools
o 1 hour, 1 leeches, 1 bandage
o One try a day
o Heal test with difficulty:
▪ +20 for Unharmed
▪ +10 for Lightly Wounded
▪ 0 for Moderately Wounded
▪ -10 for Seriously Wounded
▪ -20 for Grievously Wounded
▪ CS — recover 1 Damage
▪ CF — lose 6 Brawn
3
PERIL
Suffering
• Check Peril against Peril Threshold (WB + 3)
o D > DT → 1 step on track
o D > DT+6 → 2 steps on track
o D > DT+12 → 3 steps on track
o D > DT+18 → incapacitated
• Peril Condition Track — applies penalties
o Unhindered
o Imperiled
o Ignore 1 Skill Rank
o Ignore 2 Skill Ranks
o Ignore 3 Skill Ranks
o Incapacitated! — cannot succeed at
Skill Tests, gain 6 Corruption
Recovering
• Sleep six hours
o in safe place (recover to Unhindered)
o in unsafe place (recover to Imperiled)
• Use smelling salts (recover 1 step; only once per
day)
MADNESS
• Risk of Stress, Fear, or Terror when a trait causes it
or character encounters...
• Stress — serious risk that things could go
horribly awry
• Fear — terrible danger, sickening horror, or
“things that should not be”
• Terror — violations of basic assumptions of
reality, or revelations that fundamental aspects of
such are far worse than imagined
• (see examples p422-423)
• if and only if character perceives situation as a
threat
• Resolve test at (+20, 0, -20 by S,F,T)
• CS — Fortune Point
• F—
o 1D10+1, 2d10+2 or 3d10+3 Peril
o 3, 6 or 9 Corruption
• CF — Incapacitated by Peril + Corruption as F
 CONCISE RULES REFERENCE

MAGICK Sustaining
• Concentrate while casting, or to sustain (one)
Learning spell that requires it
• Test Resolve if Damage, Peril, Resist,
1. Check limit — IB spells of each level, 9 total Counterspell, Dodge or Parry
2. Access new spell • Unfetter a spell to increase its duration by the
3. Commit to learning it (only one spell at a time) same again — 1 Peril Track level per spell level
4. Create a sacred scroll (1 hour per level, must not
be interrupted)
5. Practice (1 day per level, each day must not be Counterspells
interrupted)
6. Finalize research; test Incantations (+10 Petty, 1. Must
−10 Greater, bonuses possible for good study a. Be the spell’s target
environment) b. Know Dispel Magic
7. Must have Tome to write in c. Be eligible to perform a Reaction
o CS — learn for zero RP d. Have free hand, eye, voice
o S — learn for 100 RP/level e. Have Incantation equal to spell level
o F — start process again f. Not be Defenseless or Helpless
o CF — may never learn it g. Not be an Instantaneous spell
h. Not be a CS on casting roll
2. Spend a 1 AP Reaction
Casting 3. Roll Incantation Test at inverse of casting
difficulty
1. Check armor — can’t be Heavy 4. CS → Keep that 1 AP
2. If in combat, 1 AP per level 5. F → Can still Resist as normal
o Can cast over multiple turns
6. CF → Can’t Resist, 2d10+2 mental Peril
3. Check you’ve got the Reagents
4. Can Channel Power for 1 extra AP
o Must have Tome in hand
o Each +10 to Difficulty costs Chaos Die SOCIAL INTRIGUE
for Chaos Manifestation and 1
Corruption (max +30)
5. Test Incantation (+10 Petty, -10 Greater, GM is Simple Exchanges
invited to make up some situation factors)
o CS, CF — see spell description • GM chooses skill
o CS also — can’t Resist or Counterspell • NPC alignment and social class → Difficulty
6. If Resist allowed, test skill as spell desc says
(Difficulty = inverse of casting difficulty, GM NPC IS ORDER- SAME SOCIAL DIFFERENT
invited to adjust by situation) ALIGNED CLASS SOCIAL CLASS
o Can’t resist if Defenseless or Helpless PC’s Order Ranks Higher +20 +10
o Can’t change your mind now if it’s a CF PC’s Ranks Are Equal +10 0
for a friend’s spell PC’s Chaos Ranks Higher 0 -20
7. Spell takes effect
8. If Channeled Power, roll Chaos Dice now, GM NPC IS CHAOS- SAME SOCIAL DIFFERENT
consults table p398-400 (by level) ALIGNED CLASS SOCIAL CLASS
PC’s Order Ranks Higher +0 -20
PC’s Ranks Are Equal +10 0
PC’s Chaos Ranks Higher +20 +10

4
Complex Exchanges Running Each Stretch
1. Players & GM agree 1. Set Terrain Difficulty by terrain type vs list
a. Participants p385
b. Upside Objectives of each PC 2. Set Threat Level — No/Mild/Moderate/High
c. Downside Stakes Danger
2. GM picks 3. Each character picks a Role, or agrees to assist
a. Favorable skill another in theirs
b. Unfavorable skill ▪ Guide (Navigation)
c. NPC’s Disposition (Helpful–Hostile) ▪ Survivalist (Survival)
3. Each PC chooses a Social Tactic (skill) ▪ Scout (Stealth)
4. Players make Social Tactic test 4. Make Role Checks in order
a. Difficulty as Simple Exchange ▪ Guide (Navigation)
b. Burn 1 Reputation for an Assist Die ▪ CS → +10 Terrain Difficulty
c. Result: ▪ F → Double provision costs
i. CS, or S at Favorable skill — 1 ▪ CF → F, and -10 Terrain Difficulty
Fortune Point, NPC Disposition ▪ Survivalist (Survival)
→ Helpful ▪ CS → -1 Toughness Test
ii. CF, or F at Unfavorable skill — ▪ F → Strike Camp will only restore
1 Corruption, NPC Disposition to Imperiled
→ Hostile ▪ CF → F, and +1 Toughness Test
d. GM derives NPC’s Temperaments ▪ Scout (Stealth)
i. Look up on table p418 ▪ CS → -1 Threat Level; Surprise
5. Everyone roleplays the exchange Turn in any encounter
a. GM uses Temperaments as guide ▪ S → -1 Threat Level
b. If player is inconsistent with tactic, GM ▪ F → +1 Threat Level (can take to
warns, then resets NPC Temperament as Very High)
if had failed Social Tactic test ▪ CF → F, and enemies get Surprise
c. Players can use perception-type tests Turn in any encounter
assess honesty & similar 5. Each PC makes a Toughness Test with terrain
Overall, GM freeform adjudicates the result modifier
▪ Short/Medium/Long → 1/2/3 tests
WILDERNESS TRAVEL ▪ In narration, spread over stretch
length
Use when travelling more than a day. ▪ CS → Can recover to Unhindered if they
Strike Camp
▪ F → 2D10+2 Peril
Running a Journey ▪ CF → 3D10+3 Peri
6. If temperature is extreme and a character is
1. Players plan route
Incapacitated by the Toughness Test, GM may
2. GM divides route into Stretches
inflict Frostbite or Heatstroke (p262-263)
a. Short — up to a week, 1 Leg
7. GM rolls for a Wilderness Encounter
b. Medium — 1 or 2 weeks, 2 Legs
▪ Roll Chaos Dice by Threat Level
c. Long — 3 weeks+, 3 Legs
(0/1/2/3/4)
3. Run each Stretch in turn
▪ No 6s → no encounter
4. PCs may not, at any time
▪ 6 → when they break camp
a. Improve Peril Condition
▪ 6,6 → afternoon
b. Improve Damage Condition
▪ 6,6,6 → dead of night
c. Recuperate from Injuries
8. If Medium or Long stretch, each PC makes
5. .... unless they Strike Camp
remaining Toughness Tests
a. Spend 1 or more days (provisions etc)
b. Perform tasks like healing, hunting
c. Sleep → Imperiled
6. At end of journey, if particularly difficult
a. Award 1 Fortune Point per surviving PC

5
 CONCISE RULES REFERENCE

CHASES
1. Pick a distance unit e.g. Yards, Furlongs, or Miles
2. Pick a corresponding time unit e.g. Combat
Turns, Minutes, or Hours
3. GM secretly sets Escape Condition in Rounds
▪ 3–9 for 5+—2 players involved
4. Establish Initiative Ladder
▪ Escapees go at top, ranked by AB
▪ Pursuers follow, by Initiative Roll
5. Escape or Pursuit per character → zero
6. GM may award some 3 point head starts
7. Each Round, initiative order:
a. If duration is over BB rounds, roll
Toughness Test at -10
▪ F → 2d10+2 Peril
▪ CF → 3d10+3 Peril
b. Gain 1d10+Movement Rate
c. If Pursuer and ahead of an Escapee, can try
to Capture
▪ Coordination Test, difficulties as
p379
▪ Resist with Coordination test of
inverse difficulty
▪ CS → S, can’t resist
▪ S → captured, both drop from
chase
▪ F → Pursuer’s score = Escapee’s -1
▪ CF → Pursuer’s score = Escapee’s
-3
d. Roll Chaos die for Complication
▪ Roll on tables p666-667
▪ Affects character(s) with fewest
points
8. If we’ve had the Escape Condition’s worth of
Rounds, Escapee(s) get away