DUNGEON SOUL

Old School Roleplaying in 2400

Nakade
RULES
PLAY: Create mortals and describe their
actions. Roll only to avoid risk. One
player is the Referee. They set the scene
and control difficulty.
ROLLING: Start with your skill die
(default d6). Upgrade it based on the
relevant attribute (+: d6 -> d8 -> d10
etc., -: d6 -> d4 -> d4-1 etc.)*, then
roll and consult the chart below.
1-2 Disaster. Suffer the full risk. If
risking death, you die. If risking a
wound, become wounded.
3-5 Setback. A lesser consequence or
partial success. If risking death,
you’re downed. If risking a wound,
fail without the wound or succeed
with it.
6+ Success. The higher the roll, the
better.
DIFFICULTY: The Referee decides
whether an action is impossible, hard,
normal, easy, or basic. Impossible actions
fail and basic actions succeed
automatically. For hard actions roll 2
skill die and take the lower, for easy
actions take the higher. If you are
hindered, actions become harder. If you
are helped, actions become easier.
LOAD: Carry as much as you wish.
Too many heavy items (2+) may hinder
you at times.
HARM: Mortals can be hale, wounded,
down, or dead. Harm moves you down
the track, healing moves you up.
Wounded mortals find all rolls harder. If
you become downed, you are unconscious
and will die in an hour. Dead mortals
cannot be healed.
ADVICE: Set lines before play. Present
problems you can’t solve. Move the
spotlight. Test periodically for trouble (1)
or signs of trouble (2-3) using a d6.
Offer rulings to cover gaps in rules,
revise unsatisfactory rulings as a group.
Don’t shy away from consequences. The
world is a living place, not a backdrop.
*Dice Step Scale: d4 -> d6 -> d8 -> d10 -> d12. +1 for each step up past d12, -1 for each step down past d4.
MORTALS
ATTRIBUTES: Mortals have four
attributes - Strength (Str), Dexterity
(Dex), Intelligence (Int), and Charisma
(Cha). Assign the following scores to
each attribute: +2, +1, 0, -1.
CLASSES: Choose from the following
list of classes. Each class has a list of
starting skills and equipment.
• Fighter - Skilled in Simple Weapons
(Str/d8), Martial Weapons (Str/d8),
and either Intimidation (Cha/d8) or
Survival (Int/d8). Starts with a
weapon of choice and leather
armour.
• Wizard - Skilled in Spellcasting (Int/
d8), Lore (Int/d8), and either
Languages (Int/d8) or Persuasion
(Cha/d8). Starts with a heavy
spellbook and robes.
• Cleric - Skilled in Prayer (Cha/d8),
Simple Weapons (Str/d8), and either
Healing (Int/d8) or Religion (Int/
d8). Starts with a simple weapon,
leather armour and a holy symbol.
• Rogue - Skilled in Thievery (Dex/
d8), Simple Weapons (Str/d8), and
either Deception (Cha/d8) or Stealth
(Dex/d8). Starts with d8gp, a
simple weapon and simple clothing.
SKILLS: A non-exhaustive list of
learnable skills. Certain skills are innate
and cannot be learned. Skills can be used
with different attributes (E.g. an
Intimidating show of Strength).
• Strength - Simple Weapons, Martial
Weapons, Ranged Weapons, Endurance
(Test to prevent Hindrance when
overburdened)
• Dexterity - Evasion, Gaming,
Thievery, Stealth
• Intelligence - Crafting, Languages,
Lore, Healing, Religion, Survival
• Charisma - Deception, Intimidation,
Persuasion
GEAR
CURRENCY: The coin of the realm
is measured in Gilded Pieces (gp). 1 gp
buys a day’s worth of food and drink or
a night’s stay at an inn. In realms far
from the Kingdom’s control less
conventional currencies may be in use.
EQUIPMENT: A common list of
equipment and costs follow. Most items
cost 1d4gp unless specified.
• Heavy Tools (5gp, Wounds on 6+):
Shovels, pickaxes, rakes
• Simple Weapons (5gp, Wounds):
Daggers, maces, clubs, staves
• Martial Weapons (5gp, Downs):
Swords, polearms, spears, glaives
• Armour: Leather (50gp, 1 A.V.),
chain (100gp, 2 A.V.), plate
(300gp, 3 A.V., Heavy x2)
• Potions: Healing (Move up health
track, 25gp), poison (Test
Endurance or move down, 25gp),
alchemist’s fire (50gp)
COMBAT
BASICS: Leaders roll 1d6 and add Int
to determine initiative for each side.
Discuss, then act. Fighting is always a
choice. Consider surrender, negotiation,
disarming, fleeing, invoking authority, or
other forms of contest.
ROUNDS: Each round, move and take
an action (move, attack, use item etc).
WEAPONS: Either wound, down, or
kill on the first strike. If they wound,
the second strike downs. Unarmed strikes
wound on 8+.
ARMOUR: Armour Value (A.V.)
Allows you to ignore strikes each
combat. 1 A.V. = Ignore 1 strike, 2
A.V. = Ignore 2 etc. After each combat
roll 1d6. On a 1 or 2, Armour breaks
and must be repaired (Crafting).
SAVES: For particularly deadly attacks,
mortals should be allowed an Evasion
attempt before they suffer the full effect.
On setback, the attack is downgraded.
RESTING: Short rests take 8 hours in
a safe location. Long rests take a week
of light activity in a safe location.
During a short rest, make a Healing
check. On a success, you successfully
move up the health track. Helping
requires a successful Healing attempt from
the helper.
STABILISING: A downed mortal
requires a successful hard Healing attempt
to stabilise (become wounded instead). On
a setback, you become wounded but suffer
a scar reflecting your prior injury. Some
downed mortals cannot be stabilised
depending on the source of injury.
REACTION: When you first come
across other creatures, the Referee may
make a check to gauge their reaction.
Roll 1d12.
1-2 Hostile, attacks
3-5 Negative
6-7 Bored, uncertain
8-10 Positive
11-12 Friendly, assists
ENEMIES: What follows are a list of
sample enemies. Certain types of A.V.
may be bypassed. Attacks are listed as
(Attack name) (Wounds/downs/kills)
times per round (default 1).
• Lantern Wyrm (2 flesh A.V., bite
wounds, light-sensitive, easy to hit)
• Master of Blades (1 parry A.V. per
round, sword strike wounds 3/
round, hard to hit)
• Flame Beetle (1 carapace A.V., antler
gore ignites and wounds 2/round,
hard to hit)
• Spectral Emissary (0 A.V., invocation
downs, impossible to hit without
banishing ritual)
• Dragon (2 A.V. per round, claw
wounds 2/round, fire breath kills
with save)
MAGIC
SPELLS: Magic invocations that alter
the fabric of reality. Each spell has an
action, a level, and an element (consult
with your Referee for effects). Wizards
start with 3 in their spellbook, and can
generate a new spell when levelling up.
When using spells, roll Spellcasting. On
setback, a mishap occurs - the more
powerful the spell the greater the mishap.
Casting causes your Spellcasting skill die to
degrade for that day.
• Action (d6): Command, Alter,
Destroy, Create, Absorb, Repell
• Level (d4): Minor, Local, Controlled,
Major
• Elements (d8): Fire, Water, Air,
Earth, Life, Undeath, Force,
Illusion
PRAYERS: Direct communications to
gods or other elder forces. Clerics choose
up to three domains from the following:
Arcana, Death, Forge, Knowledge,
Nature, Harvest, Order, Trickery,
Change, War.
Each cleric has 1 minor prayer an hour,
1 moderate prayer a week, and 1 major
prayer a month. Every time a Cleric
prays, they make a prayer check. On a
failure, the target ignores you, and you
can no longer pray for that day. On a
mishap, the prayer is misinterpreted. On
a success, the prayer is granted. Discuss
with the Referee what result the prayer
provides, if appropriate. Example prayers:
• Minor (Death): Harm this foe (Foe is
downed)
• Moderate (Order): Show me what is
out of place in this room (Room is
organised, out of place objects
deposited near cleric)
• Major (Nature): Calm this pack of
wild beasts (Beasts become allies for
1d4 days)
The more powerful the prayer, the more
dangerous the misinterpretation.
PSIONICS: To determine a mortal’s
psionic aptitude, the Referee rolls 2d6
and notes aptitude on a 12. Uncovering
latent psionic aptitude requires either
communing with a psionic focus or
finding a master.
Psionic powers are not bound to any
attribute and may include Telepathy (d8,
sense surface thoughts) and Telekinesis (d8,
as strong as your arms), or pick one at
d10. Awakening latent psionic powers
requires losing 1 Str permanently as the
powers drain your physical capabilities.
WORLD
REALMS: A list of domains are
included for adventuring purposes.
1. The Eastern Wastes, cursed forests
and swamps crawling with beasts
2. The Old Capital, twisted haven of
ancient wealth and crime
3. The Scholar’s Ward, filled with
cathedrals and decaying libraries
4. The New Capital, home to the
King and the old Altar of Light
5. The Hidden Keep, cursed palace
that houses the true Throne
6. The Northern Cinders, scorched
plains that once fed the Kingdom
HIRELINGS: Assistants of various
stripes can be contracted by mortals
(10gp/week) or voluntarily engage after
the players provide some service. Unlike
mortals, hirelings have no attributes and
die if they are downed. Some example
hirelings are provided:
• Torchbearer (d8 Evasion, torch)
• Sellsword (d8 Martial Weapons, sword,
leather armour)
• Apothecarist (d10 Healing, healing
potion)
• Scholar (d8 Languages, d10 Lore)
Treat your retainers well, and they will
respond with loyalty and trust in combat.
QUESTS
The Kingdom was once the domain of
Light. Now, the Light has been lost for
centuries, and Darkness appears poised to
conquer all.
Without the Light to guide them, the Lesser
Gods descend into petty squabbles, fighting
over scraps of their domains. The Kingdom
fades into ruin, divided and weak.
Take up the word and the sword. Destroy
the Darkness. Bring hope to us all.
Roll 3d6.
1 A Lord demands...
2 A local priest requests...
3 The townsfolk ask...
4 The Court requires...
5 A Lesser God commands...
6 A debtor insists...
That...
1 An object be delivered...
2 A local meance be removed...
3 A vendetta be settled...
4 A person be deposed...
5 An artefact be retrieved...
6 A mystery be resolved...
Involving...
1 A cult of Darkness
2 A horde of Undead
3 A wealth of treasure
4 A heinous secret
5
6
A nefarious scheme
An ancient feud
Notable personages (d12):
1 The Saint, honoured Lord of Coin
2 The Devil, ancient keeper of arms
3 The Unworthy, Lord of Sanitation
4 The Just, ageless Royal Inquisitor
5 The Wise, cagey Lord of Letters
6 The Cold, first of the Heralds
7 The Mane, trickster horse-master
8 The Brutal, methodical schemer
9 The Mother, power behind the throne
10 The Speaker, old servant of Order
11 The Truth, blind arbiter of lies
12 The Maker, kindly nomad merchant
PROGRESS
Set campaign goals as a group and
individually. Whenever you achieve a
campaign goal, level up. Each level up to
4, upgrade a skill you own and consult
the list for a further benefit.
For level 1, learn a new skill.
For level 2, gain 1 natural A.V.
For level 3, increase an attribute by 1.
For level 4, gain a title based on your
deeds. All actions related to that title
become easier.
For every level afterwards, learn or
upgrade a skill.
The above is only one method of static
(pre-determined) progression. Mortals may
also progress by completing a set number
of expeditions or by accumulating Gilded
Pieces from adventures.
In addition to static progression,
characters may also grow dynamically.
To facilitate dynamic growth as a
Referee, present in-world methods of
growth over time. Allow characters to
learn unique skills or secret techniques by
seeking out and gaining unique
experiences. A changed character is often
more interesting than an improved
character.
CREDITS
Text and design (v1.2) by Nakade.
The following games helped inspire the
creation of Dungeon Soul:
• Soulsborne series (Atmosphere, world)
• Unknown Armies (Non-violence advice)
• 2400 by Jason Tocci (Base
mechanics)
• Old School RPGs - Five Torches
Deep, Maze Rats (Additional
mechanics)
 DUNGEON SOUL
Character Sheet

Name: ...........................................................

Class: ................................................. ( )

Health: .................... A.V.: ........./.........

STR: .......... INT: ..........

DEX: .......... CHA: ..........

Skills: Base: +Att:

................................ ( ) ( ) ................................ ( ) ( )
................................ ( ) ( ) ................................ ( ) ( )
................................ ( ) ( ) ................................ ( ) ( )
................................ ( ) ( ) ................................ ( ) ( )
................................ ( ) ( ) ................................ ( ) ( )
................................ ( ) ( ) ................................ ( ) ( )

Inventory: GP: ....................