Parts Per Million

Credits
Written By: Peter Rudin-Burgess
Editing: Todd Zircher
Cover Design: Peter Rudin-Burgess & Todd Zircher

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Rights:
References to intellectual property such as Star Wars and Star Trek
are only illustrative. There is no challenge to existing trademarks or
copyrights intended or implied. All such terms remain the properties
of their owners.

Where applicable, the contents of these rules are Copyright 2017-

2023 by Parts Per Million Limited.

Additional Art:
Publisher’s Choice Quality Stock Art © Rick Hershey / Fat Goblin
Games

1
3DEEP - Contents
3DEEP - Introduction 3
Character Creation 9
Character Stats 10
Strength (Str) 10
Endurance (End) 10
Agility (Agl) 10
Logic (Log) 10
Empathy (Emp) 10
Rolling Stats 10
Stat Bonuses 11
Below Average Stats: 11
Above Average Stats: 11
Exceptionally High and Low Stats: 11
What is Normal? 11
Character Skills 12
How Skills Work 12
How Skills are Used 12
Proficiency 13
Difficulty Factors 13
Making Progress 13
Failing a Skill Roll 14
Opposing Skills 14
Outside factors 14
The Ones and Sixes Rule 14
Cultural Background 15
List of Skills 16
Animal 16
Athletic 16
Awareness 16
Combat 16
Communications 16
Crafts 17
Crew Member 17
Influence 17
General Knowledge 17
Outdoor 17
Science/Analytic 17
Magic 17
Medical 17
Subterfuge 17
Technical/Trade 18
Urban 18
2
Weapon (melee) 18
Weapon (bow) 18
Weapon (firearm) 18
Weapon (energy) 18
Skill Specialisms 18
Character Ancestry 19
Humans 19
Elves 19
Dwarves 19
Halflings 19
Romulans 19
Vulcans 19
Mixed Ancestries 19
Non-Humanoid Ancestries 19
Bringing a Character to Life 21
Appearance 21
Friends, Family, and Affiliations 21
Motivations and Drivers 21
Equipping Your Character 21
Equipment 23
Money 23
Fantasy Equipment 24
Fantasy Weapons 26
Modern Equipment 28
Sci-Fi Armor 30
Special Damage 30
Character Creation Example 31
Magic 33
Alternative Damage & Healing 33
Special Effects 33
No Effect Magic 33
Invisibility 33
Cantrips 34
Magical Effects (Duration) 34
Stacking Magical Effects 34
Magical Effects 34
Casting Times 34
Listing Spells 34
Magical Attacks 34
The Nature of Magic 34
Special Effects 35
Recovering Mana 35
 Failing a Magic Skill Roll 35
Drawing Mana from Others 35
Working Magic with Others 36
Creating Magical Items 36
Spells 36
Air Flow 36
Amnesia 37
Anticipate the Future 37
Armor 37
Barriers 37
Clairvoyance 37
Curse 37
Deafen 37
Detect Magic (Stuff) 37
Grow/Shrink 37
Speed 38
Heat Object/Cool Object 38
Light 38
Lock 38
Night vision 38
Pass-Through Solid 38
Resurrection 38
Shape Shift 38
Sleep 38
Summon Creature/Monster 38
Difficulty Factors 38
Learning from Experience 39
Time and Speed 39
Turns 39
Rounds 39
Speed 39
Natural Hazards 41
Explosions 41
Fire 41
Poison 41
Limiting Effects 41
Antidotes 41
Poison Bites and Stings 41
Ingested Poisons 42
Poison Weapons 42
Combat 43
1. Initiative 43
2. Attack Roll 43
3. Hit Location 43
4. Roll Damage 43
3
5. Assess Special Damage 44
6. Roll Knockback 45
7. Roll for Shield Activation 45
8. Subtract Any Armor from Damage 45
9. Apply Damage 46
Combat Example 46
A Gun in Each Hand 47
Can I Move and Fire In A Round? 47
Do weapons Break, Jam or Fail? 47
Combat Difficulty Factors 48
Creatures & Monsters 49
Innate Magical Abilities 49
Innate Non-magical Abilities 49
Build Your Own Monster 49
Normal Creatures 50
Giant Animals 53
Fantastic Monsters 55
Monstrous Ancestries 56
Dragon Kind 60
Supernatural 61
Prehistoric 63
Vehicles & Movement 65
The Ones and Sixes Rule 65
Damaging Objects 65
Vehicle Armor 65
V.Strength 66
V.Integrity 66
V.Speed 66
V.Logic 66
V.Control 66
Damaging a Vehicle 66
Driving Vehicles in Combat 66
Being Hit by a Vehicle 67
Killing Vehicles 67
Effects of Damage 67
Building Vehicles with Points 67
Special Damage 68
Vehicles hitting Vehicles 68
Control Rolls 68
Healing 69
Natural Healing 69
Medical Healing 69
Magical Healing 69
Healing Special Damage 69
3Deep Solo Engine 70
 Random Events Explained 72
Interpreting Results 73
Too Many Questions 73
Questions or Skill Rolls? 73
Impossible and Improbable Questions 73
What the heck does that mean? 73
Creating Story Arcs 74
Truly Random Beginnings 74
Solo Quick Reference 78
Rules Reference 79
Advanced Solo Rules 81
Appendix 1 Art Credits 84
Appendix 2 License 85
Content 85
Branding 85
House Rules 86

4
3DEEP - Introduction
3Deep is a fast and straightforward
role-playing game. 3Deep allows play
in any world setting but was designed
to emulate the episode structure
of classic TV and movie Sci-Fi and
Fantasy. It does this by making even
starting characters capable of handling
the great variety of situations that the
plot lines and story arcs can throw at
a character or team of characters.
3Deep’s flexibility means that you
can play in any genre from medieval
fantasy through the modern age to
Sci-Fi.
One of the design criteria for 3Deep is
that all the rules needed to play should
be contained on a single side of paper
and only require standard dice. These
single sheets can be found at the back
of this book. One sheet covers regular
play’s core rules, and the second is for
the solo RPG rules.
The game uses a combination of 1, 2,
or 3 six-sided dice (referred to as 1d6,
2d6, or 3d6) to simulate the chances
of events taking place. For example,
if you swing a punch in a wild west
bar brawl, then there is a chance you
will hit or miss. That is where the dice
come in.
What is a role-playing game?
A role-playing game (RPG) is like an
improv story jam and a computer
adventure game. But at the same
time, it is greater than either of
these activities. One person creates
the story’s setting while the other
players take on the role of the central
characters or the story’s heroes. The
one that makes the plot is commonly
known as the Game Master (GM). Not
only do they create the plot for the
story they also get to play every other
role from the lowliest bit part to the
mad scientist behind an evil scheme.
How to play a role-playing game.
The actual play takes the form of
verbally describing the situation to the
other players. Then they explain their
actions, what they are doing, what they
will say to other people, and how they
are saying it. The Game Master then
takes their reactions and moves the
story on a little, either by replying to
what the players’ characters said or
describing the consequences of their
actions. Unlike a computer adventure
game, players are not limited to what
they can do by what someone has
programmed into it. You can do nearly
anything your imagination says would
be possible in the world the Game
Master is creating for you.
Here is a brief example. The GM describes
a medieval marketplace; it is a fine
day, and stalls are set out with a range
of wares from farmers selling fruits and
bakers displaying bread through to tailors
and dress makers showing off their
garments and a blacksmith sharpening
housewives’ knives and shears. The
players describe how they drift amongst
the stalls and examine some of the goods.
The GM then describes how the town
guard riding barded horses galloped into
the marketplace, chasing a youth wearing
little more than pauper’s rags. The young
man stops for a second, looking for a way
to escape before thrusting a pouch into
the hand of one of the players’ characters.
He gasps out, “Keep this safe!” before
ducking behind the stall and sprinting
into a dark alley. The soldiers wheel their
horses around, looking for their quarry.
5
How do the players react? What is in
the pouch? Do they point to where the
youth fled? This is just one possible
start to an adventure. Each player can
give their character any personality and
quirks they like, and almost like acting.
But then use that personality to color
their character’s actions.
Role-playing games are not just a two-
way conversation between players
and Game Master. Not everything that
the players will attempt will succeed.
Sometimes failures can
advance the story just as much as
successes.
When a situation or an attempt to do
something is uncertain, dice are rolled,
so a chance of success or failure can be
set.
Characters, monsters, and even vehicles
and buildings can be simply described
using a few numbers. High numbers are
generally good, and low numbers are
usually bad. If the story you are playing
out includes that fist fight in the western
saloon bar, not every punch will knock
the evil cattle rustler out cold. You need
to roll dice, and if you are big and strong,
you may get to add a small bonus to
your dice roll. If you are an experienced
fist-fighter, this may give you a bonus
for your dice roll. In this way, fights and
challenges are not purely random, but
characters can play to their strengths
(or weaknesses). Characters can learn
from their experiences, so the more fist
fights you are in, the better at fighting
you become.
Before play starts, you need to create
a character you want to play by using
numbers to describe their physical
& mental attributes. The character’s
education and training are defined
using a list of skills they possess. They
will get bonuses on dice rolls if they
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have some skill in a task and penalties
for trying tasks they have no skill at.
It is not all about numbers. In creating
a character, you also have to think
about how they look, what motivates
them, and how they are connected to
the world the game takes place in. This
could include a short back story about
some great wrong they are trying to
right or being accused of a crime they
never committed. This role-playing
game is not tied to any one genre. The
same rules can be used for playing
prospectors in the wild west, the crew
of a star ship, magic-wielding fantasy
heroes, or pulp fiction detectives.
The Game Master creates the world
for the players. This world may be
identical to ours or drawn from their
own imagination. The GM also makes
the plot or story be played out. Of
course, the GM does not know what the
player’s characters will do, and the GM
needs to be flexible. The players (and
thus their characters) may miss a vital
clue that seemed evident to the GM
when they came up with the idea. A
couple of guards meant to be an almost
incidental encounter could capture all
the heroes by a fluke of the dice. In
this way, the GM doesn’t know what
will happen. In the last case, the story
may resume with the characters being
revived in a holding cell with a bucket
of cold water thrown over them. In the
case of the missed clue, by listening
to the players’ thought processes, a
second clue could be improvised that
is more likely to be recognized but still
fits in with the villain’s actions. The GM
is neither actively working against the
characters nor are you there to think for
them. Both GM and players are playing
to have fun, and RPGs are meant to be
fun & exciting. The characters should
face peril with the outcomes unknown.
A GM may create a single adventure
with a single plot thread or story arc
played out in a single sitting or maybe
a few sittings. The GM may also create
a sequence of stories for the same
characters, which may or may not build
up into a greater story. Many TV shows
work with a story for each episode and
a story arc that spans an entire season.
This is then called a campaign. 3Deep
was created to emulate this TV show
style. However, it is equally at home
with playing fantasy, modern-day or
futuristic games.
3Deep can also be played as a solo
game. In that mode, the player asks a
question about the world, and the dice
answer like the classic Magic 8 Ball toy.
The player then interprets that answer
in the most logical (or entertaining)
way so that the story can continue. Of
course, the answers given by the dice
are more suited to stories and gaming
rather than the vagaries of the toy.
The dice can take the story in new,
unexpected, and exciting directions.
When starting a solo game, the person
is playing both roles of GM and player,
so it would seem like they would always
know precisely what is going on, but this
is not the case. The best place to start is
with as much information as you would
find on a movie poster. That will tell you
the title of the game. The tagline gives
you a clue about the sort of story to
expect. The poster itself provides many
clues as to the game world; genre, the
style of dress, available technology,
etc. That should be enough to create
the character and get the adventure
started.
The way a solo game unfolds is through
the questions you ask. You know the
character you want to play and the sort
of adventures that you want to have.
So, you create your character and
imagine the opening scene. That will
start the adventure, and you can play
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out that scene in your own imagination.
Then, you can stop and ask a yes/no
question at any time. The solo rules
then give you an answer that goes from
‘no, and the situation is worse than you
imagined’ though some ‘maybe’ results
to ‘yes, and it is even better...’. The rules
will also throw twists in the story that
you have to interpret subject to how
you imagine the game world works and
what would make sense for your story.
For example, it can tell you to introduce
a new character, but it will not tell you if
they are on your side or not. It may tell
you to add a complication that makes
your life harder or the opposite thing
that helps the character along. How
you work these into the story depends
entirely on what is in your own head.
Many players find it a little awkward at
first, but it is not difficult. Solo role-play
is also a valuable writing tool if you like
the idea of writing a book where even
the author does not really know what is
going to happen.
Solo gaming is also very helpful in
learning how to be a Game Master and
gain system mastery. There are times
when a skill roll is required and times
when a Game Master makes a choice,
which is true in both solo play and group
play. When that sort of choice normally
presents itself, the question takes
priority as it guides the reality. The skill
results follow because it is interacting
with that reality. For example, take the
question ‘Are there any guards?’. You
could make an observation skill check,
but that will tell you only if you can
see the guards. The solo rules will help
with telling you whether there are any
guards. Depending on the setting you
are playing and the dice roll, maybe
there are there, but they are hidden, or
maybe there are present with dogs
as well, or perhaps they just left on
patrol. You need an answer and any
possible complications before making
the observation check.
You can quickly end up in a situation
where there are guards, and they have
dogs, but the character simply does
not know that because they were on
the wrong side of a building just as the
character looked. You then should play
the character as if they do not know the
danger. Solo play benefits from taking
notes of essential facts as the world
unfolds. As you play, you want it to
remain consistent and coherent from
session to session. You could quickly
come back past the same guard post on
your way out, and even if you managed
to sneak past them the first time, they
may well still be there the second! You
can read a lot more and see actual play
examples in the chapter on solo play.
Each player needs a character, and the
GM will need to create characters for
important people in their game world.
These are called Non-Player Characters
(NPCs), and player-owned characters
8
are called Player Characters (PC). Most
NPCs in the world are little more than
a name and a basic description. That is
all that is needed to flag down a taxi or
buy a beer in the tavern. The GM’s job
is to handle the NPCs, speaking as they
would (accents are optional!). If the
PCs are rude and abrupt, then the NPCs
around them may take offense and
treat them similarly. NPCs can grow and
evolve as they gain more detail when
interacting with the PCs and may play
important roles in the unfolding story.
A good story is more than names,
dialogues, and descriptions. These rules
will give you all the tools you need to
model any world. You can also create
the myriad of threats that the PCs need
to overcome, from monsters to falling
from rooftops to trying to launch a
missile down an exhaust port.
As with almost every RPG, the starting
point is creating your first character.
Character Creation
Characters can be described using
numbers as well as words. This makes
it easier to compare which opponent
is stronger or faster. For example, in
an arm-wrestling contest, you can
compare the strength of a PC vs. an
NPC. Characters have numbers to
describe their physical attributes and
their mental attributes, a bit like having
an IQ score. These are all on a scale of
2 to 12 and are found by rolling two six-
sided dice (2d6) and adding the result
together. There are five attributes,
called Stats, three physical and two
mental.
High stats, those with a 9 or more,
represent much better than the average
person. They can lift more, run faster,
jump further and think more quickly
than most people.
Stats that are well below average, 5 or
below, represent weaker, slower, and
less able individuals. The very young,
the elderly, and the sick may have very
low stats compared to the players’
characters.
they all work the same way. Characters
will find it easier to complete tasks they
are skilled in and harder for things they
are not skilled in. Skills are represented
as bonuses added to dice rolls making
them more likely to succeed.
Over time, the skills and stats that a
player character has will improve as
they learn, train, and accomplish their
goals. (See the section Learning from
Experience for how.)
The process for creating a character is:
1. Generate the character’s stats
2. Choose the character’s skills
3. Choose the character’s cultural
background
4. Choose the characters Race/Species
5. Choose the characters Appearance
6. Create the characters Friends, Family,
and Affiliations
7. Describe the characters starting
Drives and Motivations

There is a comparative example for each

stat, such as how each point relates to
lifting weights, endurance with holding
one’s breath, etc.

In addition to their Stats, characters

have a set of skills. For example, some
may be adept at picking locks while
others will be better at surviving in
the wilds. You choose which skills you
want the character to have from a list
of available skills. The skills will vary
from game setting to game setting, but

9
Character
Stats
Characters have five stats. They are:
Strength (Str)
This represents the physical strength
that a character possesses. You could
think of it as a person could bench press
about 5kg for every point of strength
they have. Whenever a character
attempts a strength-based action that
may succeed or fail, such as ripping a
door off its hinges, their Strength stat
bonus is added to the dice roll. Strength
is frequently used for the following
skills: Athletic, Combat, Crafts [like
blacksmithing], Weapon (Melee), and
Weapon (Firearms).
Endurance (End)
Endurance represents the character’s
stamina and, to some extent, their self-
control. If you need to hold your breath
underwater, you will make dice rolls
and add your Endurance stat bonus to
the roll. For each point of Endurance, a
character could hold their breath for 6
seconds before it becomes problematic.
Endurance is frequently used for the
following skills: Athletic and Outdoors
Agility (Agl)
Agility includes speed, flexibility,
nimbleness and governs actions
requiring fine control. For example,
diving for cover comes under Agility, as
does sleight of hand and picking locks.
Agility also relates to speed. Each point
of speed equates to a sprinting rate of
1m per second. On this scale, Usain Bolt
would have an Agility of 11 or 12. Agility
is frequently used for the following
skills: Artistic, Athletic, Combat, Craft,
Outdoor, Subterfuge, and Weapons that
don’t require brute strength.
10
Logic (Log)
Logic is the closest to our IQ score. If
you need to solve puzzles or understand
complex challenges, you will add your
Logic stat bonus to the dice roll. Each
point of Logic equates to something like
15 points of IQ. An average character
has a 7 Logic and so a 105 IQ. Logic is
frequently used for the following skills:
Artistic, Communications, Influence,
General Knowledge, Outdoor, Science/
Analytic, Magic, Medical, Subterfuge,
and Technical/Trade.
Empathy (Emp)
Empathy covers one’s emotional
intelligence rather than the cold
reasoning represented by the Logic
stat. If you were trying to train an
animal or calm a person on the edge
of panic, then Empathy would be the
stat being applied. Empathy also covers
attempting to influence people with
emotional arguments or inspire crowds.
Empathy is the hardest to describe, but
tricksters and entertainers all value a
very high Empathy Stat. Empathy is
frequently used for Artistic, Animal,
Awareness, Communication, Influence,
Outdoor, Magic, and Urban skills.
Rolling Stats
Typically, the heroes of a story are above
average or outstanding individuals. To
reflect this, many role-playing games
have a method of stacking the odds
in the character’s favor when creating
their characters.
We have five options for generating
stats:
• Strict: You roll five sets of 2d6, which
are the PC’s stats. The player may
choose which dice roll is assigned to
each stat.
• Skewed: Roll 3d6 and discard the
 lowest die. The player can still assign Stat Description Bonus
the stats in the order they want them. Very weak, feeble, or
1-2 -2
• Slanted: You roll two pairs of 2d6 for infirm
each stat and keep the highest result 3-5 Weak, below average -1
of each pair. You can then still assign Average, for a normal
6-8 +0
the results to whichever stat you want. human
• Standard Array. You assign the Above Average,
9-11 +1
following numbers to your stats 11, 9, superior
8, 7, 5 in any order you want. 12 Exceptional ability +2
Beyond normal human
13+ +2
If you do not want to roll stats, the max.
players should be given 40 points
What is Normal?
to assign to their stats with no stat
There is no modification for stats in the
lower than 2 or over 12. This provides
‘normal’ range of 6 to 8.
the player with the flexibility to have
precisely the strengths and weaknesses
While playing the game, the character’s
that they envision for their character.
stats will go up and down. A character
with a stat reduced to zero may blackout
IMPORTANT: Based on the tone and
or fall unconscious. A character that has
setting of the game, the Game Master
all their stats reduced to zero is dead. In
should choose which method the players
addition, stats may end up negative; this
use for rolling.
usually results from a severe wound and
reflects the seriousness of the injury.

Stat Bonuses Stats can be increased above their starting

Below Average Stats:
Stats 5 or lower are considered low and
make some skill rolls harder. Therefore,
when that stat is used with a skill, apply
a -1 to the roll.
Above Average Stats:
Stats 9 or higher are considered high
and make some skill rolls easier. When
that stat is used with a skill, apply a +1
bonus.
Exceptionally High and Low Stats:
Stats of 1 or 2 will give a -2 on related
skill rolls. Stats of 12 or greater will give
a +2 to related skill rolls.
values as the characters live and learn
about the world they are in.
For example, let’s roll up a character.
Lauren uses the first method with the
following rolls
9, 2, 3, 11, and 5.
Using the skewed method, she gets rolls
3d6 and keeps 9, 10, 10, 8, and 9.
Using the slanted method, she gets:
(12 or 6), (6 or 7), (7 or 10), (10 or 4),
(10 or 3) the result 12, 7, 10, 10, 10
In this case, we are using the slanted
method, so Lauren’s stats are 12, 7,
10, 10, 10, and as the player imagines
Lauren as a thief or a rogue, she assigns
her stats like this and records the stat
bonuses: Strength 10 (+1), Endurance 7
(+0), Agility 12 (+2), Logic 10 (+1), and
Empathy 10 (+1).

11
Character adds their stat and skill bonuses. The
Game Master may then add or subtract
any situational modifiers. If the result

Skills is 8 or greater, the task was successful.

How Skills are Used

The character’s skills really define the
Each skill is very broadly interpreted.
role they play and what they are good
The Awareness skill, for example, can be
at in the story that is the roleplaying
used to search a room, guess if someone
game. In 3Deep, there are 20 skills to
is lying, or get an uncomfortable feeling
pick from. The player can choose seven
that you are being watched. Each skill
of those at the start of the game. A
can only be used once in any given
character may end up with more than
round. Time in many role-playing
seven skills as additional skills can be
games is measured in rounds. Each one
gained from their background (see
is a few seconds long to make it easier
below).
to manage combat situations.
Some skills appear to be more valuable
For example, Lauren wants to search a
than others. Nearly every game has
room for clues about who the occupant
some combat element, so the combat
was. She is looking for documents,
and weapon skills will be premium.
letters, or anything with names and
People get hurt, so the medical skill
addresses on it. Outside, the police
is popular; likewise, all magic-using
are pulled up in the street, blue
characters need to have the magical
lights flashing, and the officers are
skill and develop that to the highest
approaching the front door. Lauren
level they can.
doesn’t have much time!
It is a personal choice by the Games
Because Lauren is under some time
Master as to how much emphasis is
pressure and there is a chance of failure,
placed upon the different skills. For
the Game Master decides that Lauren’s
example, some GMs are happy to
player needs to roll an Awareness check
use General Knowledge for ‘does my
with the Logic stat. Lauren has a +1 in
character know X’ skill rolls, whereas
Awareness skill and +1 from her Logic
others emphasize the other knowledge
stat. The Game Master gives a -1 for
skills, Artistic, Animal, Crafts, Outdoor,
searching in the dark and -2 for rushing
Scientific/Analytic, Medical, and
in the search. The GM could have
Technical/Trade.
given out a bonus or even offered an
automatic success if she had plenty of
For a more realistic and granular game,
time.
greater use of the difficulty factors can
make a big difference.
The total roll will be 2d6 +1 (Logic) +1
skill and -3 for difficulty. Lauren rolls
How Skills Work 9 -1 (+1 +1 -3), and an 8 or higher
The player says to the Game Master is a success! If there is anything to be
that they want to perform an action found, Lauren found it before the police
that has a chance of success or failure. arrived.
The Game Master then decides which
stat should be used and which skill Another example, a Viking has a +3
applies. The player then rolls 2d6 and combat skill. The combat skill can be

12
used to increase your initiative (rolling knowledge of first aid and common
to see who goes first in a fight), to sense.
improve your aim, or if you are using
a shield to give you more protection. There is intentionally a lot of cross-
It can also be used to help you dodge. over between skills. For example, the
With a +3 skill, it can be split up in Animal skill and Outdoor skills cover the
any combination, such as adding +1 to care of animals, but someone trained in
three rolls, +2 and +1 to two rolls, or outdoor skills will only have a passing
putting all of the +3 into a single roll or working knowledge of the care for
each round. animals familiar to them. On the other
hand, someone with the Animal skill can
handle more detailed questions. Using
Proficiency
Outdoors for thorough animal care
The seven skills you are proficient in at
should be at least one difficulty factor
the start of the game, plus the three
harder than using the specific skill.
skills you gain from your culture, all
start as a +1. Conversely, the skills you
are not proficient in start at -1. Making Progress
Not all skill challenges are all or nothing
Difficulty Factors
actions. If you are leaping a chasm,
Difficulty factors such as extremes of
then yes, you make it, or you don’t.
heat and cold, environment, visibility,
Some things can take time, and you will
stress, and position [hanging upside
eventually succeed at any skill level.
down from a wire or sneaking up from
A skilled worker would get it all done
behind] can add or subtract anything
faster, but ultimately anyone could do
from +2 to -7 to a roll.
it. An example of this would be climbing
out of a chasm. The GM still assigns a
A skill roll clearly within the scope of one
difficulty factor and skill, but the success
skill should be more difficult if you are
roll represents progress towards task
using a different and less appropriate
completion. The Game Master may say
skill.
that the climb requires a total roll of 60
or more to complete. In the first round,
The symptoms of measles are pretty
Lauren rolls an 11+1 for agility +1 for
common knowledge. But, it can also be
skill but -5 for the cramped space and
mistaken for other skin issues or a more
difficulty of the climb. The total is 8. She
severe condition. Diagnosing measles
is now just over a tenth of the way up
using the Medical skill under optimal
the side of the chasm. It will take a few
conditions, such as good lighting and
more successful rolls to get out of the
plenty of time to make the diagnosis
chasm. If the climbing roll was a failure
and a coherent patient that can answer
(a total of less than 8), no progress was
questions, is a standard medical roll
made.
with no penalty. Using a skill like General
Knowledge in the same situation should
If success is automatic given time, why
be a -2 difficulty. In less than optimal
roll? Because the amount of time taken
conditions, the difficulty for a general
may have an impact on current events.
skill can escalate quickly up to the
Maybe you’re doing damage control in
maximum of -7. Preventing someone
the middle of a space battle, or climbing
from bleeding to death on a battlefield
out of that chasm is allowing your
may be a -2 for a medic but definitely
suspect to escape.
a -7 for someone trying to use basic

13
If there are no consequences of failure,
you do not need to roll.
Failing a Skill Roll
A skill roll fails when the total of the dice
and all the modifiers comes to less than 8.
Mostly this means that whatever you were
trying to do didn’t work. For example, if
you were trying to leap a chasm, you could
fall into it. If you were trying to climb out,
then no progress was made. If you were
shooting at a target, then you missed.
Sometimes the total roll is negative. In this
situation, the result leaves the character
in a worse situation. For example, if you
shoot a gun and roll a negative result,
the weapon will likely jam. Swords get
wedged in a piece of furniture, muscles get
torn, concentration gives you a splitting
headache, and so on. If the assigned task
is very mentally or physically demanding,
then the most appropriate stat could be
temporarily reduced by one.
For example, poor Lauren has been
hanging off the side of a chasm wall
for a while now. Her agility could be
reduced by one on a poor roll as her
muscles start to spasm from hanging
on for so long.
Opposing Skills
Sometimes opposing skills are involved
in a skill roll. For example, one person
is trying to hide using their Outdoor
skill in some undergrowth while another
character is trying to spot them. If the
hiding character successfully rolls their
Outdoor skill, they may apply their
stat bonus as a penalty to the seeking
character’s Awareness roll.
When faced with opposing skills, such
as several people sneaking past a dozen
guards, you should roll the awareness
skill for the best guard vs. the weakest
skill used for hiding.
Outside factors
The situation above of one character
14
hiding and another seeking both rolls
may be adjusted by outside factors such
as lighting, weather, and available cover.
These will accumulate, so trying to hide
in the dark (+2) during a pouring rain
(+2) and in dense undergrowth (+2)
will give those hiding a +6 bonus and a
-6 to those seeking.
Under normal circumstances, no factor
should provide any more than a +/-2,
and all the factors taken totaled should
not exceed +/-7.
The Ones and Sixes Rule
When a player makes a skill roll, the
number of ones and sixes they roll can
have an effect.
Each one rolled has a negative effect.
But, conversely, each six gives a positive
effect. For example, A character is trying
to interrogate a suspect using their
Influence Skill. They have +1 for their
skill and +1 for their Empathy as they
play ‘good cop’. If the player rolled a 1
and a 5 for a total of 6 +2 for skill and stat
is a success. Because they rolled a 1, the
subject of the interrogation may either
resist for longer or not give up all their
information.
Sometimes the roll will be a 7 with a one,
and a six rolled together. It is the Game
Master’s choice whether they cancel out
or have different effects on the aspects
of the skill roll. Using the above example,
the subject may resist for longer because
of the one but when they break, give
more information than the interrogator
asked for because of the six.
Other examples could be:
• Tasks take more or less time.
• Leaving evidence behind, such as
marks or scratches on a surface or
making evidence particularly hard to
discern.
• First aid is more or less effective.
Cultural
Background
Where a character comes from has an
impact on what they know. These are
learned during childhood and include
exposure to outside influences and the
environment.The six basic cultures are:
Urban
This background represents towns and
cities. Here, people get exposure to the
latest learning, discoveries, and social
investments. In addition, you can meet
a far greater variety of people as cities
draw in people from far away looking
for work or to trade.
Skills: +1 Technical/trade, +1 Urban,
+1 General Knowledge
Barren
Barren represents icy tundra,
wastelands, and deserts. Here people
are more likely to be hunter-gatherers
than farmers. Those who manage to
grow something tend to be subsistence
farmers. As a result, barren cultures are
very self-sufficient.
Skills: +1 Combat, +1 Technical/trade,
+1 Outdoor
Coastal
Coastal cultures are often fishing
settlements or larger ports. People that
make their living from the sea; fishing,
whaling, or via trade.
Skills: +1 Driving/Piloting & Navigation,
+1 Awareness, +1 Technical/trade
Mountainous
People living in mountain valleys and
passes, mining communities, or wholly
underground.
Skills: +1 Medical, +1 Athletic, +1
Outdoor
15
Nomadic
Nomads move from place to place, often
following herds of animals. As a result,
many Nomadic people live in very harsh
environments.
Skills: +1 Crafts, +1 Outdoor, +1 Animal
Sylvan
Sylvan people live in forests, woods, and
jungles. Elves are a classic example,
but it also applies equally to tribes that
live in the Amazon.
Skills: +1 Outdoor, +1 General
Knowledge, +1 Subterfuge
A character gets to choose seven skills
from the 20 broad skills to be proficient
in. In addition to this, the character
also gets 3 skills from their cultural
background. This means that some
characters may have as many as ten
skills at +1 while others may end up
with three skills at +2 and four at +1.
Lauren’s player decides that Lauren is
from an Urban background. So, Lauren
gains a +1 in Technical/Trade, General
Knowledge, and Urban. The player then
chooses the additional 7 skill picks and
chooses Awareness, General Knowledge,
Subterfuge, Combat, Weapon (melee),
Influence, and Urban.
Lauren now has +2 in General
Knowledge and Urban, +1 in Awareness,
Subterfuge, Combat, Influence, and
Weapons (melee). Lauren has a -1 in all
other skills.
List of Skills
The skills should be considered very
broad, with the stat mod being used
on the roll as is appropriate. Some
activities can fall into two or more skills
such as stalking, an Outdoor skill, and
a Subterfuge skill, both based upon
Agility. For example, sleight of hand
may be a Subterfuge skill based on
agility, but disarming a trap could be a
Subterfuge skill based on logic.
Artistic
This skill covers acting, dancing, playing
musical instruments, and singing, but
not painting and sculpture which are
considered crafts. The act of playing an
intricate piece may be tested against
Agility while singing to lull a child to
sleep would be tested against Empathy.
Recalling a tune may be tested against
Logic.
Animal
This skill includes controlling, training,
and riding animals. The less familiar the
character is with an animal, the greater
the difficulty factor. For example, if you
ever see a camel the first time you try
and get on one that is untrained and
ride it, then you are looking at a -7 to
your skill roll. On the other hand, a well-
trained riding horse to someone who
grew up around horses may be a +2
to the roll. Animal skill rolls are often
tested against Empathy.
Athletic
The skill covers all physical activities
from acrobatics and tumbling to climbing
and contortions to swimming, diving,
and rowing. Acrobatic moves should be
tested against
Agility, holding your breath, or balance for
long periods are tested against Endurance.
Strength is often used for tests of moving
or lifting weights. Athletic maneuvers may
16
be used in combat to dodge with any sixes
rolled, adding to the difficulty of attacks
rolls to hit. Any ones rolled would make
the character easier to hit, so this would
be a gamble! A successful athletic skill roll
would always give a -1 to the attackers
to-hit roll regardless of the ones and sixes
rule.
Awareness
This covers general observation rolls, lip-
reading, tracking, or trying to identify if
someone is lying to you. Awareness rolls
that are purely observational such as
spotting a person or hearing a noise are
tested using logic those about feelings
should be made with Empathy.
Combat
Combat skills include using a shield,
dodging, or attempting to react
before your opponent. Combat is also
used as a weapon skill for unarmed
combat, including brawling, wrestling,
and martial arts. Strength and Agility
are often used with the Combat skill
depending on the attempted action.
Communications
This skill covers trying to read languages
(Empathy or Logic), signaling (Agility),
and deciphering codes (Logic).
Crafts
Crafting covers any skill or craft that
involves highly skilled fine detail such as
painting, carving, smithing, or applying
a body of knowledge intuitively, such as
matching ingredients when cooking. It
can also be applied to building traps and
snares and securing knots. Different
stats may be used at various stages of a
crafting task depending on the medium
being used. For example, a blacksmith
may rely on strength initially, but as the
nature of the work becomes subtler, then
agility may become more appropriate.
Crew Member Science/Analytic
This skill covers all the tasks that a This includes accounting, alchemy,
tight-knit crew member would possess. higher mathematics, chemistry,
For example, if the character is a logistics, and engineering. Researching
member of a ship’s crew, they could with this skill is often tested against
climb and rig the sails, operate the Logic, while architecture would involve
helm, fire and aim cannon, and scrape Empathy for making designs.
barnacles from the hull. A crew member
Magic
of the Millennium Falcon could enter a
This skill allows the character to wield
hyperspace course, jump into a turret,
more Mana (see below) and control their
shoot down Tie fighters, and operate all
magic more easily. Magic encompasses
the ship’s systems. A tank crew member
fantasy magic, psionics, oriental Chi,
could load and aim the main gun, help
and the Force. The nature of the magic
replace a thrown track, and carry out
cast will decide whether to use Logic or
day-to-day maintenance. Crew Member
Empathy.
is a combat skill used for heavy/crew-
served weapons. Medical
Medical skills include first aid, long-
Influence
term care for the sick, to surgery.
This skill covers public speaking,
The difficulty factor should reflect
seduction, trading, and gambling.
the character’s knowledge and the
Depending on the type of argument or
operation’s complexity. For example,
persuasion, it can be either Empathy or
the first time you encounter a new
Logic-based.
species, the difficulty should be 2 or 3
General Knowledge steps more difficult than treating your
General knowledge of the world within own species. Diagnosis is a Scientific/
which the character lives. It covers Analytic skill roll. Delicate operations
everything from geography to current would use Logic and Agility as part of a
affairs to knowing local myths and legends. skill challenge.
The GM should use difficulty factors (+2 to
Subterfuge
-7) to reflect how specialized a question
Subterfuge includes cracking locks and
is. The ones and sixes rule may yield an
picking pockets, sleight of hand tricks,
additional piece of information or mean
moving silently, or sneaking around.
that some information is missing or not
It also can be used for disarming
totally accurate. A successful skill check
traps and defusing bombs. Stealthy
would represent a pass in an exam, but
maneuvers are generally tested against
the ones and sixes could determine the
Agility, whereas precision work such
grade. Logic is usually used with this skill.
as disarming and lock picking is tested
Outdoor against Logic.
Practical uses of the Outdoor skill
Technical/Trade
include hiding in the brush noiselessly
This includes knowledge-based
(Endurance), stalking prey (Agility),
vocational skills such as navigation
foraging for food (Logic), herding
and sailing and more hands-on skills
animals (Empathy), basic animal care,
such as electrician and plumber. Where
fire making, and identifying animal
Science/Analytics may be used to figure
tracks. More intellectual uses include
out how to make something Technical/
weather watching/prediction and
Trade is used to do it. This skill most
tracking.
often uses Logic.

17
Urban
Urban skills include haggling, trading,
gambling, and knowledge of specific
Skill
areas of cities and towns known to the
character as to which areas are no-go
at night and which are safe. Urban most
Specialisms
The GM may use skill specialisms for a
often uses the Empathy stat. more detailed feel to characters. A skill is
broad and has many uses. A specialism
Weapon (melee)
is very specific. For each +1 in a skill,
Weapon skills are learned by broad
a character may choose one specialism.
categories. Once learned, a character
Specialisms are written after the skill
can quickly adapt their technique to new
name and separated by a colon. For
weapons. For example, melee weapons
example, Technical/Trades:Navigator or
include anything used in direct hand-
Firearms:Sniper.
to-hand combat, from daggers to axes,
All tasks that fall under the specialism
swords to bullwhips. Light, fast weapons
are one level of difficulty easier if the
such as rapiers and flick knives may use
character has the matching specialism.
Agility, whereas heavy weapons rely on
All specialisms must be approved by the
Strength.
Game Master.
Weapon (bow)
This group covers bows, crossbows,
slings, and blowpipes. This is most often
used with Agility.
Weapon (firearm)
From muskets to magnums to assault
rifles, this skill covers all firearms that
fire solid projectiles. This is most often
used with Agility, although a heavy
machine gun may rely on Strength to
maintain its aim.
Weapon (energy)
This is for science fiction weapons,
including lasers, blasters, phasors,
and repulsors. The only exceptions are
energy weapons that emulate other
weapon forms, such as the lightsaber,
which uses the melee skill. This is most
often used with Agility.

18
Character Ancestry
Traditional fantasy games have
particular non-human ancestries in
common; elves, dwarves, halflings, etc.
And, Science Fiction settings can have
an even greater variety.
The way ancestries are treated in 3Deep
is by adjusting the character stats. For
every increase, there is also a matching
decrease. Each race has two +1s or a
single +2 and two -1s or a single -2.
These are applied directly to the stats
themselves. No stat can be less than 1,
and no stat can go above 14. If a racial
modifier would reduce a stat below 1,
you must swap two stats values to stop
it from dropping to zero.
Below is a selection of ancestries, but
the GM can create bloodlines to suit
their world.
Humans
Humans are considered the default race.
Therefore, they get no plus or minus to
their stats.
Elves
Elves are thought of as slightly built
but nimble. Therefore, elven characters
must apply a -2 to strength and a +2 to
Agility.
Dwarves
Dwarves are solid and rugged people
but are also considered slow to trust and
stubborn. Dwarves get +1 Strength, +1
Endurance, and -2 Empathy.
Halflings
Halflings are known for their hardiness
and
nimbleness, so they gain +1 Agility and
+1 Endurance. Due to their small size,
they get a -1 to strength and a -1 to
Empathy, as they can be considered
self-serving.
19
Romulans
Romulans, as featured in StarTrek™, are
considered very hardy but unemotional.
So you would apply +2 to Endurance
and -2 to Empathy to emulate that.
Vulcans
Vulcans have highly valued logic and
suppression of emotions. Therefore, a
Vulcan character would get +2 Logic, -2
Empathy.
Mixed Ancestries
Sometimes a character’s parentage
spans two ancestries, such as a half-
human half-elf. In this case, the
character only takes one +1 and one
-1 from each race. So, for example, a
half-Elf/half-Vulcan would choose -1 to
strength, +1 Agility from one parent,
and +1 Logic, -1 Empathy from the
second parent.
Lauren’s player wants her to be an
Elf, so her Strength is reduced by 2,
and her Agility is increased by 2 to
make Lauren’s final stats: Strength 8,
Endurance 7, Agility 14 (+2), Logic 10
(+1), Empathy 10 (+1).
Non-Humanoid Ancestries
Any Game Master may define their own
non-humanoid ancestries. To balance
these, entire dice can be moved from
one stat to another. No race may have
more than 3d6 in a stat or less than
1d6. In addition, you may also apply
stat adjustments of up to 2 x +1 or a
single +2 balanced with either 2 -1s or
a single -2. Under this rule, the highest
possible stat becomes 3d6+2, and the
lowest is 1d6-2.
The core rule of no character can
have a stat below 1 still holds true.
For example, I want to have a snake- Agility. A player choosing to play an
like race known as ‘The Asp’ that is Asp character rolls 1d6 for Empathy,
extremely fast and dexterous. To create 2d6 for Strength, Endurance, and Logic,
this, I move one dice from Empathy to and 3d6 for Agility.

20
Bringing a Character
to Life
Appearance
Some games make you roll for a physical
beauty stat. That is not necessary
for 3Deep. You can choose your own
appearance, height, weight, build, and
so on. Some of these may be influenced
by the story setting. For example, elves
are smaller and lighter than humans in
some lands. In J.R.R.Tolkien’s world,
they were significantly taller and solidly
built. Elves in the world of Harry Potter
were tiny by comparison. There is no
advantage to being very attractive or
ugly in the game system.
For example, Lauren’s player describes
her as being slightly on the small side,
for an elf, with long nimble fingers. Her
hair is short, tousled, and sandy in color.
Her eyes are large and liquid green. She
has a small upturned pointed nose that
gives her a mischievous look.
Friends, Family, and Affiliations
No character is truly without some sort
of family. Even if they are an orphan,
someone taught them their skills,
shaped their world view and supported
them up until they stepped out into the
world. Each character should list one
to three affiliations on their character
sheet. These could be an order of
knights, magical tutors, or friends
and family. These should be agreed
with the Game Master before play.
The players should not create a global
organization like the Mafia without the
Game Master’s consent. These give the
player something to help shape their
character’s reactions in game terms. For
21
example, a villain’s threat against the
character’s family has more meaning if
they have a family. It also allows the
Game Master to entwine the character’s
pasts into future adventures.
Lauren’s player decides that Lauren
comes from a rather large extended
family of well-to-do elves and is
generally a disappointment to both her
parents. She is also an active member
of the thieves guild and takes on paid
work whenever offered.
Motivations and Drivers
Every character has a reason for
adventuring. Common motivations are
revenge, clearing one’s name after
being convicted of a crime they did not
commit, wealth, and so on. The better
developed the character’s motivations,
the more the Game Master can work
with when creating adventures.
The character’s motivators should be
listed on their character sheet.
Lauren’s player decides that Lauren holds
a grudge against her family’s attitude
towards her and her accomplishments
and now breaks the law just to spite
them. She also has ambitions to rise up
the chain of command within the guild.
Equipping Your Character
At the start of the game, your character
has the clothes they stand up in, plus
typical personal effects. Depending on
the style of the game you are playing,
this may or may not include weapons
and armor.
In addition, players should choose one
object on which the character places
great sentimental value. It could be
a lucky charm or a gift from someone
important to the character.
Lauren’s player describes wearing an
ordinary tunic and leggings of human
make despite her background, which
22
helps her blend in. He also asks the
GM for a dagger and a set of lock picks
that the GM allows. Lauren’s personal
item is a locket given to her by her
grandmother. These should be noted on
the character sheet and where they are
carried.
Equipment
In most roleplaying games, characters
come with a character sheet with an
equipment list or inventory. In fantasy
settings, the adventurers’ backpack is
the defacto carry-all.
You can, of course, add an equipment
list to your character’s character sheet if
you want to play a traditional campaign
where the characters progress from one
adventure to another, all building to a
grand showdown at the end. TV and
Movie franchises do not work that way.
If you think of your favorite teenage
vampire slayer, she doesn’t walk around
town with a backpack of crossbows,
axes, and stakes. Instead, when she
needs an arsenal, she reaches into her
closet and pulls out a hold-all stuffed
with weapons. She has the showdown,
and the weapons go away until needed
next time. Jedi are rarely burdened
with copious amounts of hardware;
fighter pilots aboard a Battlestar
usually wear flight suits but scavenge
survival equipment from their downed
ships when shot down. An away team
on the frontiers of space is issued with
equipment suitable for each mission.
Whichever way you, as the GM, want to
play the game is up to you.
Below is a list of common equipment
that impacts the game in terms of how
it interacts with skills.
For example, laser sight for a sniper’s
rifle will give a +1 to the attack roll
when used at anything over point-blank
range.
23
Money
As 3Deep is a generic system and can
be played in any setting. No monetary
system can cover all eventualities. For
the following lists of goods, an arbitrary
system of Bits is used. These could be
silver or copper coins or anything else
that a culture uses. It is helpful to think
of 2 Bits for a character would
be on a par with a US Dollar or a Euro
or British Pound. This is not intended to
be an exact exchange rate but rather
a benchmark for how much to tip a
barkeep or bribe a guard or information.
As GM, you can introduce other coins,
so the characters do not have to carry
around thousands of bits. For example,
you may decide that a Gold Sovereign is
worth 100 silver bits. In another world,
30 pieces of silver may be a small
fortune, and a Bit is an almost paper-
thin copper coin.
Prices are presented here for a selection
of low-tech and futuristic items. For
contemporary items, you can use actual
prices and coinage.
Fantasy Equipment

Clothes Price Weight Notes

Cloak 70 bits 1.1 Kg
Coat 130 bits 3.2 Kg
Boots 120 bits 1.6 Kg
Dress, Plain 30 bits 1.4 Kg
Gloves 20 bits .2 Kg
Hat 50 bits .5 Kg
Hood 10 bits .2 Kg
Padded Undercoat 50 bits 1.4 Kg Light Flexible Armor
Shirt 20 bits .5 Kg
Surcoat 80 bits .7 Kg
Trousers 20 bits .7 Kg
Weapon belt 60 bits .5 Kg

Camping Gear Price Weight Notes

Bedroll, light 70 bits 2.3 Kg
Bedroll, heavy 60 bits 4.5 Kg
Framepack 30 bits 1.6 Kg
Firestarter bow 5 bits 1.4 Kg Make with Outdoor Skill
for free
Flint & Steel 10 bits .2 Kg
Hammock 10 bits .5 Kg
Pot, cooking 80 bits .2 Kg
Rope 50 bits 1.4 Kg
Rope, superior 150 bits .5 Kg
Tarp 10 bits .7 Kg
Tent 250 bits .7 Kg
Tinderbox 1 bit .5 Kg
Waterskin 1 bit

Containers Price Weight Notes

Backpack 20 bits 1.1 Kg
Bucket 50 bits 1.1 Kg
Case 300 bits .5 Kg
Cask 200 bits 2.3 Kg
Sack 1 bit 1.1 Kg 25 kg max
Vial 20 bits .1 Kg
Lighting Price Weight Notes
Lighting Price Weight Notes
Candle 5 bits .1 Kg
Lantern 140 bits .7 Kg
Oil flask 40 bits .5 Kg
Torch 1 bit .5 Kg
Military Price Weight Notes

24
 Military Price Weight Notes
Arrows 3 bits 1.4 Kg One each
Caltrops 15 bits 1.1 Kg One each
Crossbow bolts 8 bits .5 Kg One each
Quiver 10 bits 2.3 Kg
Scabbard belt 300 bits .5 Kg
Scabbard back 370 bits .7 Kg
Riding & Climbing Price Weight Notes
Travel Gear Price Weight Notes
Harness 90 bits 1.8 Kg
Oar or paddle 5 bits 2.0 Kg
Pole 5 bits 3.4 Kg
Saddle 600 bits 5.0 Kg
Saddle bag 90 bits 2.3 Kg
Climbing pick 300 bits .1 Kg
Pegs (10) 1 bit .9 Kg
Pitons 2 bits 1.1 Kg One each

Special Price Weight Notes

Lockpicks 200 bits .2 Kg
Mirror 400 bits .2 Kg
Padlock 300 bits .5 Kg
Sundial 500 bits .5 Kg
Whistle 250 bits .2 Kg

Tools Price Weight Notes

Chain 70 bits 4.1 Kg
Grappling hook 120 bits .5 Kg
Hammer & Chisel 130 bits 1.0 Kg .5 Kg each
Ladder 30 bits 6.8 Kg
Nails (20) 1 bit .2 Kg
Plank 1 bit 5.2 Kg
Rope, hemp 50 bits 2.5 Kg 15 meters
Rope, silk 150 bits 1.5 Kg 15 meters
Saw 200 bits 1.1 Kg
Spade 200 bits 1.6 Kg
Wedge 1 bit .5 Kg
Wire 100 bits 1.4 Kg 10 gauge

Writing Price Weight Notes

Brush, fine 5 bits .1 Kg
Chalk 3 bits .1 Kg One each
Charcoal, fine 250 bits .5 Kg
Ink 20 bits .1 Kg
Paper, sheet 16 bits .1 Kg One each
Parchment 28 bits .1 Kg One each
Quill pen 1 bit .1 Kg

25
Fantasy Weapons

Weapon Price Damage Type Notes

Bastard sword 200 bits 3d6/2d6 Slash Does 3d6 when used
2-handed, 2d6 when used
1-handed.
Takes a round to
change the grip.
Battle axe 130 bits 3d6 Slash
Blackjack 2 bits 1d6 Concussion
Blowpipe 120 bits 1d6 Pierce It may be used with
poisons. Use Outdoor
skill to make darts.
Boar spear 25 bits 2d6 Pierce
Broadsword 100 bits 2d6 Slash
Cat-o’-nine tails 10 bits 1d6 Slash
Claymore 200 bits 3d6 Slash
Club 1 bit 2d6 Concussion If spiked, the secondary
damage type is pierce.
Composite bow 170 bits 2d6 Pierce Use 1d6 if the arrowhead
is not a broadhead or war
design.
Crossbow, heavy 250 bits 3d6 Pierce
Crossbow, light 110 bits 2d6 Pierce
Cudgel 5 bits 1d6 Concussion
Cutlass 90 bits 2d6 Slash
Dagger 30 bits 1d6 Pierce Or use slash damage at
the player’s choice.
Dart 10 bits 1d6 Pierce These are thrown
weapons and not used
with a blowpipe.
Dirk 40 bits 1d6 Pierce
Falchion 150 bits 2d6 Slash
Flail 190 bits 2d6 Concussion
Foil 210 bits 1d6 Pierce
Gauntlet 200 bits 1d6 Concussion
Halberd 140 bits 3d6 Pierce
Handaxe 50 bits 2d6 Slash
Harpoon 25 bits 3d6 Pierce
Javelin 30 bits 2d6 Pierce
Jo 3 bits 1d6 Concussion
Katana 230 bits 2d6 Slash
Lance 50 bits 3d6 Pierce This is from horseback;
otherwise, the damage
is 2d6. The attacker
may choose to use a
secondary damage
type of Concussion
if trying to dismount
their opponent
Long bow 100 bits 2d6 Pierce

26
Longsword 180 bits 2d6 Slash
Mace 60 bits 2d6 Concussion Counts as a target
shield when not used
to attack.
Main gauche 120 bits 1d6 Pierce
Morningstar 160 bits 2d6 Piece Secondary damage
type is concussion.
No-dachi 250 bits 3d6 Slash
Nunchaku 4 bits 2d6 Concussion
Pick 40 bits 1d6 Pierce The military version
does 2d6 damage.
Pilum 100 bits 2d6 Pierce
Quarterstaff 5 bits 2d6 Concussion
Rapier 220 bits 1d6 Pierce
Sabre 90 bits 2d6 Slash Or use pierce damage
at the player’s choice.
Sai 130 bits 1d6 Pierce Counts as a target
shield when not used
to attack.
Scimitar 100 bits 2d6 Slash
Short bow 60 bits 2d6 Pierce
Short sword 70 bits 1d6 Pierce
Shuriken 40 bits 1d6 Pierce
Sling 9 bits 1d6 Concussion Use Outdoor skill
to find appropriate
stones as ammo.
Spear 23 bits 2d6 Pierce
Tomahawk 4 bits 1d6 Slash
Tonfa 1 bits 1d6 Concussion
Trident 40 bits 2d6 Pierce
Two-hand sword 200 bits 3d6 Slash
War hammer 230 bits 2d6 Concussion
War mattock 150 bits 3d6 Concussion
Whip, barbed 20 bits 1d6 Slash

27
Modern Equipment
The same monetary system is used here for the modern equipment suggestions.
Again, the standard Dollar/Euro/Pound equivalence is suggested, but we are now
talking about hard cash and electronic payments.

It is strongly recommended that you use readily available websites or catalogs for
modern equipment rather than relying on these lists. Just remember the default
exchange rate of 2Bits to the Dollar/Euro/ Pound if you use fictional currency. Oh
course, local laws might make some items harder to find or expensive to acquire.
Camping Gear
Camping Gear Price Weight Notes
Blanket, foil 3 bits .1 Kg
Blanket, small 15 bits 2.0 Kg
Flashlight 5 bits .1 Kg With spare batteries
Hiking staff 10 bits 2.5 Kg 1.5 meters
Insect repellent 5 bits .1 Kg Small can
First aid kit 25 bits 2.0 Kg
Flares, road 50 bits 2.0 Kg 6x 20 min.
Flare gun kit 150 bits .5 Kg 4x flares
Knife, utility 10 bits .1 Kg
Lighter 15 bits .1 Kg windproof
Magnesium fire starter 5 bits .1 Kg
Compass 5 bits .1 Kg
Map, outdoor 20 bits .1 Kg
topographical
Water bottle 5 bits .1 Kg (1.1 if full)

Containers Price Weight Notes

Backpack 250 bits 3.0 Kg
Beltpack 90 bits 1.0 Kg
Rucksack 60 bits 2.0 Kg
Gym bag 20 bits 1.0 Kg
Bag, zip-loc 1 bit .1 Kg Waterproof
Bag, evidence 1 bit .1 Kg Waterproof
Containers Price Weight Notes
Recording Price Weight Notes
Candles 5 bits .1 Kg
Camera, digital 160 bits .3 Kg Basic model
Camera, pro 900 bits 1.0 Kg Accessories
Cell phone 800 bits .5 Kg With spare batteries
Chalk 2 bits .1 Kg Four colors
Marker pen 2 bits .1 Kg Permanent
Tape recorder 20 bits .5 Kg
Waterproof notebook 5 bits .1 Kg Small size
Weight Notes

Other Price Weight Notes

28
 Other Price Weight Notes
Magnifying lens 5 bits .1 Kg
marbles 2 bits .1 Kg assorted
Marker tape 5 bits .5 Kg Orange 20m
Matches, box 2 bits .1 Kg waterproof
Nylon cord 10 bits .5 Kg 75m (550#)
Pins, safety 2 bits .1 Kg
Thread, black 1 bit .1 Kg Heavy duty
Trash bags 2 bits .1 Kg 60-liter cap.
Whistle, panic 2 bits .1 Kg

Futuristic Equipment Repulsor Concussion force, low

The very nature of 3Deep as a setting recoil
agnostic rules system means it is Laser A laser pulse vaporizes
impossible to include a detailed set the surface and is
of science fiction specific equipment. concussive. A continuous
Science fiction represents way too many beam laser will ‘dig
different things to too many people. in’ and inflict piercing
The technology of every popular Sci- damage.
Fi program is different from the next. Phaser Concussion (stun), Fire
What they have in common is that you (kill)
don’t see anyone buying their starting Sonic Concussion (stun), Pierce
equipment. The closest I am aware of is (kill)
the scene in the first Terminator movie. Disruptor Slash aka a Ripper
It did not end well for the shopkeeper. Shotgun Concussion (stun bag),
Slash
As long as you keep the exchange rate The weapon description indicates its
of bits to credits, new dollars, or cyber- weight and power rating. That helps to
bucks in mind when characters order determine its damage potential.
drinks, check into hotels or buy gear,
you should be good. As the GM, you will Small 1d6 Medium 2d6 Large 3d6
need to decide if the setting is relatively
expensive or cheap. Hand Carbine Support
Light Assault Heavy
Modern and Sci-Fi Weapons Snub Rifle Mounted
For advanced weapons, it is often the Pistol Military Vehicle
special damage you need to assign to
Personal Bullpup
retain the flavor of the weapon system.
The following are some suggestions: Hold out
Damage Type
Ballistic Normal bullets pierce For example, a Plasma Blaster Pistol
archaic armor; rubber will do 1d6 damage with a point of
bullets are concussion fire damage when a ‘6’ is rolled on the
damage. damage dice. An Assault Disruptor does
Blaster Plasma inflicts Fire 2d6 of damage with one point of slash
damage while Ion is damage done for every 6 rolled. Apply
concussive (stun) versus common sense when needed, an LMG
organics and machines. is a light machine gun, but it really is a
heavy support weapon.

29
Characters that would normally possess
a weapon should be given a weapon as
part of their starting equipment. Some
cultures will openly sell weapons, and
in that case, you should assign a price.
If the weapon is being bought illicitly,
no standardized price list will suit every
situation.
Sci-Fi Armor
As materials get lighter and stronger,
body armor will most likely overcome
the strength and weight considerations
that make archaic armors such a
compromise.
No armor should be allowed to offer
greater damage absorption than the
standard 5pts assigned to heavy armor
in the standard rules. But in the same
way that a padded under garment can
be worn under plate armor to offer
some concussion protection, high-tech
armor can be worn in layers to absorb
different types of special damage.
The feared powered armor is probably
the most powerful personal armor in
science fiction. That would absorb 5pts
of damage plus 3 points of all types of
30
special damage rendering the wearer
virtually impervious to small arms fire.
Special Damage
The core rules define three types of
special physical damage concussion,
slash and pierce that in turn stun a
person for a turn, give minuses to skill
rolls, or cause added damage each turn.
In addition, there are other possible
types of special damage Fire is a damage
type that does additional damage per
turn. Other types of special damage are
possible and should be identified by the
effect on the victim’s body rather than
the cause of the wound. Whether you
are pierced by a lance, a bullet, or a
laser beam, there is still a hole in you,
and blood will leak out. If you are hit by
a wrecking ball, a baseball bat, or war
hammer, you will probably have trouble
thinking straight for a few seconds
immediately after.
Once you identify a new type of damage,
it should be recorded with how the effect
is applied so that all future instances of
that kind of damage will always behave
the same.
Character Creation
Example
We will now create Kellan. Kellan is a Note how the player chose General
private investigator living in modern- Knowledge twice to give the character
day New York. an advantage at the cost of having less
skill coverage. Kellan is human, so there
Using the Slanted method, we get these is no penalty or bonus to stats.
rolls (9 or 3), (6 or 10), (9 or 4), (7 or Gender does not impact the stats or
5), (9 or 3), and we assign them to the skills, and the player decides that Kellan
five stats and record any stat penalty or is a male.
bonus:
Strength 9 (+1), Endurance 10 (+1), Next, we need some friends and family
Agility 9 (+1), Logic 7 (+0), and and his motivation. Kellan is in his
Empathy 9 (+1). twenties, ruggedly handsome, and
speaks with a soft Scottish accent.
Kellan is from an Urban background, so He has an elderly aunt still living in
the character gains the following skills: Edinburgh. He used to have a partner in
• Technical/trade +1 his detective agency called Zoë Eltern,
• General Knowledge +1 but they split up recently after a failed
• Urban +1 relationship. They sometimes pass
cases to each other when they have too
Kellan can now assign 7 skills and much or too little work.
chooses:
• Athletic +1 His aunt raised Kellan after his parents
• Awareness +1 were killed by some American gangsters.
He came to New York to one day bring
• Combat +1
them to justice.
• General Knowledge +1
• Influence +1 So, that is it. Kellan is complete. On the
• Subterfuge +1 next page is a simple character sheet
• Weapon (firearms) +1 recording all these details.

The final skill totals are:

• Athletic +1
• Awareness +1
• Combat +1
• General Knowledge +2
• Influence +1
• Urban +1
• Subterfuge +1
• Technical/Trade +1
• Weapon (firearms) +1

31
Name: Kellan
Strength (Str) 9 (+1) current
Endurance (End) 10 (+1) current
Agility (Agl) 9 (+1) current
Logic (Log) 7 (+0) current
Empathy (Emp) 9 (+1) current
Speed (1/2 Agl) 5 current
Mana (Log x Emp x Magic) 0 current
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )

Skills +/- Hit Location & Armor

Artistic ( -1 ) Roll Location Stat Armor
Animal ( -1 ) 3-4 Head Logic ______________
Athletic ( +1 ) 5 Neck Empathy ______________
Awareness ( +1 ) 6 Hand Empathy ______________
Combat ( +1 ) 7-8 Shoulder Strength ______________
Communications ( -1 ) 9 Arm Endurance ______________
Crafts ( -1 ) 10-11 Chest/torso Agility ______________
Influence ( +1 ) 12 Stomach (back) Agility ______________
General Knowledge ( +2 ) 13 Vital organ Endurance ______________
Outdoor ( -1 ) 14-15 Thigh Strength ______________
Science/Analytic ( -1 ) 16-17 Calf/lower leg Endurance ______________
Magic ( -1 ) 18 Foot Agility ______________
Medical ( -1 )
Subterfuge ( +1 )
Technical/Trade ( +1 ) Description:
Urban ( +1 ) Kellan is in his mid-twenties, ruggedly
Weapon (melee) ( -1 ) handsome and speaks with a soft
Weapon (bow) ( -1 ) Scottish accent.
Weapon (firearm) ( +1 )
Weapon (energy) ( -1 ) Gear and Notes:
_________________________________
Family Friends and Affiliation: _________________________________
Elderly aunt still living in Edinburgh. Former _________________________________
partner in detective agency, called Zoë Eltern. _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
_________________________________
Motivations: _________________________________
Kellan was raised by his aunt after his parents _________________________________
were killed by American gangsters. He came _________________________________
to New York to one day bring them to justice _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ _________________________________
__________________________________ 32 _________________________________
Magic
Magic is based around a reserve of of damage, you can use 4 Man per
Mana. A character has an amount of D6. Of course, this makes magic more
Mana calculated as Logic Stat x Empathy unreliable, but you also get the benefit
Stat x Magic Skill. If your magic skill is of rolling damage and rolling a 6 to get
negative or zero, you cannot use magic. a bonus effect such as burning, piercing
from magical arrows, slash from magic
It is intentional that characters for blades, and so on.
whom Logic and Empathy are nearly
in balance will have the most Mana to
Special Effects
wield. So, a character with a 7 Logic
Sometimes, a character may want a
and 7 Empathy and a Magic Skill of +1
magical effect that appears much more
will have 49 Mana to use. On the other
potent in pure Mana than an equal
hand, a character with a 2 Logic and a
costing weaker effect. This includes
12 Empathy and a Magic Skill of +1 will
things like Teleporting 100kg of mass
only have 24 Mana to use.
50m costs the same as Flying 100kg
of mass 50m. In this case, the Game
A spell must be defined by describing
Master will assign a special multiple
all of its effects. Each effect has a cost,
depending on the game world. So,
and the cost of each effect is multiplied
for example, if in the game world
together to find the cost of the spell.
teleporting is a common occurrence,
Each effect has a basic price and unit.
but flying isn’t, then flying should have
a difficulty multiplier applied to it.
1 5 10
Mana Mana Mana No Effect Magic
Damage/
1 5 10
Some spells have no physical effect on
Healing the world around them, such as illusions.
Effecting In this case, the cost is 1 Mana per round
1 5 10
Stats times the Special multiplier. So, a simple
Moving/
10 Kg 50 Kg 100 Kg illusion like a coin in your hand would
Change Mass just cost a single Mana point per round
Range & with a special default multiplier of 1. On
5m 25m 50m
Distance
the other hand, a complex illusion (like
Radius 1m2 3m2 5m2
a complete sensory animated illusion of
Volume .5m3 1.75m3 3m3
a dancing girl in your hand) may cost 7
x.5 to x.5 to
Special*
x7 x7
x.5 to x7 (1 Mana x 7 for Special) per round. If an
illusion takes up significant space, it will
For example, Khell the Mage wants have a radius or a volume, which should
to fire a lightning bolt at an enemy. be paid for.
He wants the spell to do 10 points of
Invisibility
damage and have a range of 25m. The
To make something invisible, you need
cost in Mana will be 10 for the damage
to pay for the entire mass of the object
and 5 for the 25m range. The total cost
or person to be made invisible. The
is then 50 Mana (10x5).
invisibility then takes 1 Mana per round
Alternative Damage & Healing to maintain. It is a type of visual illusion.
As an alternative to 1 Mana for 1 point To make it soundless, odorless, or work

33
in the rain and puddles, increase the
Special multiplier to cast and maintain
the spell.
Cantrips
Cantrips are minor magical effects such
as snuffing out a candle, changing the
color of a flower’s petals, laundering
your clothes. All cantrips cost 1 Mana to
cast and maintain.
Maintaining Magical Effects
(Duration)
Once a spell has been cast, it can be
maintained for a single Mana point per
round (see below) as long as it does
no further damage or has no additional
effect.
For example, flying 100kg up to 10m
per round costs 20 Mana (10 for 100kg
x 2 for 10m distance). On the other
hand, to stay airborne (hover) requires
just 1 Mana per round.
Outside of combat without the effect of
adrenaline, then magical effects can be
maintained at 1 Mana per minute.
Stacking Magical Effects
Magic is intended to be stacked. Stacking
is when one magical effect is applied
on top of another magical effect. This
has the effect of making some spells
cheaper to maintain if you take multiple
rounds to ‘build’ the spell.
Magical Effects
Common effects such as “Charming”
a person so that they follow your
commands are achieved by reducing
their Logic to 0 for
the duration of the spell.
Changing one material into another,
such as Flesh to Stone or Rock to Mud,
is achieved by enchanting enough mass
for the amount you want to change. The
change will last for as long as the magic
is in effect.
34
Casting Times
A spellcaster can output Mana equal
to their Logic + Empathy + Endurance
per round. Therefore, if a spell requires
more Mana than the total of those three
stats, then the spell will take more than
one round to cast.
Listing Spells
It is recommended that once a player
has developed a recipe for a spell that
is approved by the Game Master that
they record it on their character sheet
for quick reference.
Magical Attacks
If a character makes a direct attack such
as throwing a lightning bolt, then a 2d6
skill roll is made with the character’s
Agility stat to aim the bolt and the
character’s Magic skill. The defender
may subtract their Agility, and any
combat skill applied to dodging if they
are aware of the attack. If the attack
is an area of effect (radius or volume),
then a 2d6 skill roll is made, plus the
Agility stat and Magic skill. If the roll
is successful, the effect is centered
precisely where the caster aims. There
is no counter stat or skill as the location
is the target.
Magical attacks that attempt to directly
affect a character, such as Charm or
Sleep spells, require a skill roll using the
casters Empathy stat plus magic skill.
The defender can defend using their
Endurance Stat plus their own magic
skill, if any. If the defender has a magic
skill of -1, it counts as a 0 for defending
purposes.
The Nature of Magic
Every game world is different. In
middle earth, magic is nearly always
tied to objects such as sting glowing
when there is danger near, the one ring
granting invisibility, and the Simaril’s
clairvoyance power. In the Starwars
universe, the Force is much subtler,
requires just tiny hand movements,
and is limited to mental control and
telekinetic effects. The Game Master
should tell the players the nature of
magic, and all spells need to be approved
by the GM before they are used. It is
strongly recommended that spells, as
they are developed and added to the
game, are listed by both the Player and
the Game Master, so they do not need
to be recalculated every time.
Special Effects
Imagine four characters each cast a fly
spell to cross a 100m chasm. One blasts
into the air with fire coming from the
soles of his boots and lands on the other
side. A second has white feathered
wings with a span of 5m or 6m appear
on his shoulders and flies across the
gap. The third, she calls down a winged
horse, swings into the saddle, and flies
across, and the third, she creates a
cloud around her feet that wafts her up
and across.
How magic looks to the outside world
really has two effects. It sets the tone
of the game setting, and it lends itself
to naming spells. The player can say
if they want to cast “Spectral Horse”
rather than telling you how much
Mana is spent on flying. The special
effects do not have an impact on the
game mechanics. If you try and cast a
lightning bolt into a puddle to hit more
than one foe at once, the bolt will draw
enough Mana from you to cover the area
of effect, the size of the puddle. Either
that or the damage done is spread out
amongst those affected. Just because
water conducts electricity does not
grant free bonuses for choosing that
special effect. It is only to add flavor to
the game world and help visualize what
is happening.
Recovering Mana
You recover all your Mana over 24 hours.
If you divide your current maximum
Mana (Logic x Empathy x Magic Skill)
35
and divide this by 24, you will recover
each hour. If you have more Mana than
your current maximum, you will not
recover any Mana until it drops below
your maximum. This can happen if you
take
a wound that reduces your Empathy
or Logic before expending any Mana.
Resting or Sleeping is not required to
recover Mana.
For example, a wizard normally has
90 Mana due to a Logic of 10 and an
Empathy of 9 with a Magic Skill of +1.
In the first round of combat, someone
clubs him on the back of the head and
does 5 points of damage to his Logic
stat. Now his maximum Mana is 5 x 9
x 1 = 45. This wizard will not recover
any Mana until his current Mana drops
below 45. At that point, he will recover
2 points an hour.
Failing a Magic Skill Roll
If a Magic skill roll is failed, then the
Mana used for the spell is not lost. The
spell casting failed, so the caster still
has the power available. Using the ones
and sixes rule, each
one rolled may steal one mana point
from the caster. This lost point can be
canceled out by any sixes rolled. You
cannot gain Mana from failing a Magic
skill roll.
For example, if you fail your skill roll
by rolling 2, a double 1, you will lose 2
points of Mana. If you failed by rolling
7, a 1, and a 6, the two cancel out, and
you have no ill effects. If you failed a
difficult skill roll, having rolled an 8, 2,
and a 6, you do not gain a Mana point
from rolling the 6.
Drawing Mana from Others
You can draw Mana from other willing
people if you are in physical contact
with them. However, they will need to
project Mana, and you need to receive
it. You cannot draw Mana from someone
who has no magical skill nor can you to have is described using the standard
draw it from an unwilling person. magic rules. You then need to make a
Magic skill roll to push that amount of
It costs you nothing to receive Mana from Mana into the item to be enchanted.
someone else, but it costs the sender Multiple skill rolls may be required to
1 Mana to send 1 Mana. This means charge up the item. The total Mana to be
that you cannot send more than half pushed into the item must be declared
your total Mana, which would leave you to the GM when the process is started.
completely drained. The Mana received For every multiple over one that the
is NOT multiplied by the receiver’s skill. total Mana of the item is over the Mana
of the caster, the difficulty increases by
Working Magic with Others
-1.
On a successful Magic skill roll by
everyone involved, a spell effect may
For example, to enchant a sword (2kg
be created by casters working together.
mass) to flame on command doing 5
The total cost of the effect is calculated
pts of damage costs 10 Mana. To give
and then shared out evenly between all
this effect 100 uses cost 1,000 Mana.
the casters. This joining of forces creates
Umberto has an 11 Logic and 10
a coven. A coven with two members is
Empathy, so he has 110 Mana and a
easy to create, so it has a +2 bonus
Magic skill of +3 for a total Mana of 330.
on the skill roll. It is easier to work
However, the Mana of the item is more
together than on one’s own. For each
than 3 times Umburto’s total Mana, so
additional person added to the coven,
Umberto has to make a Magic skill roll
the bonus decreases by one so that a
at -3 every day until he has charged the
4-person coven has no bonus. As more
item.
people join in, the difficulty increases.
If there were 11 or more people in a
Once the 100th use of the weapon has
coven, each would have a -7 to their
been used up, the sword will return to
magic skill roll. A coven with more than
being a normal weapon. Attacking and
13 members automatically fails.
missing does not count as a use. Over its
life, it will deliver a total of 500 points of
Once in a coven, every member needs to
damage (even if many of those points
make a successful Magic skill roll every
are absorbed by armor).
time Mana is used with the total coven
difficulty factor. If any member fails,
then the entire spell fails. Obviously,
large groups need to improve their
Spells
odds of success by preparation, props,
The following list are some common
rituals, singing/chanting, and the like.
spells found in many fantasy settings
A crafty GM might have some McGuffin
and how to construct them. You should
that needs to be found (or stolen.)
look at each spell effect and decide if it
Creating Magical Items is available in your world setting. If it is,
Magical items are stores of magical the GM should assign it a difficulty value
power. All magical items have a limited (the default is one.) The mana costs will
number of uses. Magic items do not then be multiplied by that value when
last forever, and there are no constant someone tries to cast that spell.
effects.
Air Flow
The caster wants to either move a
The magical effect you want the item
volume of air or stop a volume of air. This

36
could prevent a poison gas cloud from
approaching or driving the same cloud
elsewhere. The cost is the air volume to
move times the range the spell is cast to
times the distance to move the air. So, if
a gas grenade goes off 5m away, instantly
filling 10m3 of air with gas, the cost would
be 20 for volume x5 for range. That would
stop the gas approach; to move it 5m
further back would cost a further x5 Mana.
This is a very versatile spell. It can
be used to move a ship, breathe
underwater, or steal the air from an
opponent in battle.
Amnesia
The intention is to make the target
forget a period of time or an event. The
cost would be the value of the Logic stat
of the target to be overcome. The caster
does not know the logic of the target, so
they will have to guess how much mana
to put in. The spell will require 1 mana
a minute outside of combat to maintain.
(1 mana a round during combat to
counter the effects of adrenaline).
Anticipate the Future
The caster wants to see into the future.
The cost is based upon how far into the
future the caster wants to see. 1 Mana
per second of forward projection times
any distance if they’re going to see what
will happen elsewhere in the future.
Armor
The caster wants to protect someone or
something. This is done by adding a pool
of healing to the target. Effectively these
points are chipped away by attacks before
they harm the target. Spend 1 Mana per
point of ‘healing’ times the range if you
are protecting someone else. It costs 1
Mana per round to maintain. There is no
range if you are protecting yourself, so
the cost is just the points in the healing
pool plus the duration.
Barriers
The caster wants to create a wall
37
between them and something else.
The cost is the volume of material x
the distance away that the barrier is
created. The barrier will then cost 1
mana to maintain per minute out of
combat or per round during combat.
Clairvoyance
The caster wants to see or hear what
is happening in a different place.
The caster just pays the volume of
space they want to observe times
the distance away. The effect costs 1
Mana to maintain per round or minute.
Create Food/Water
This is dependent on the volume of food
created. Creating real objects is very
powerful, so the GM must set a difficulty
factor depending on their world.
Curse
The caster wants to put a curse on a
person. Depending on the effect, stats
may be affected, in which case they
need to be paid for. The most important
element is the duration.
Deafen
This falls into the same category as
Illusions and spells with no physical
effect. The cost is 1 x difficulty x
duration.
Detect Magic (Stuff)
This only requires a range (if any),
radius, and duration. The effect would
then detect any active magic at that
point and at that time. Variations of this
spell can detect traps, gold, monsters,
the undead, etc. The object of the spell
must be a thing; it can’t detect a lie.
Grow/Shrink
The caster wants to grow or shrink their
body. The caster pays 1 Mana for every
10kg of mass created or destroyed for
the spell’s duration. For ease of math,
halving your height quarters your mass,
so an 80 Kg person (about 14 stone and
6 ft tall) shrinking to 3 ft tall would then
weigh about 20 Kg, and the cost would
be 6 Mana per round or minute.
Speed
This is the cost of the increase in Agility
Stat x difficulty x duration. A total Agility
of 24 would give a character two moves
every second during combat. If the caster
is hasted, then all duration expenses are
also doubled.
Heat Object/Cool Object
As long as no damage is being done, just
the volume of material to be heated needs
to be paid for. The item will then return
to the background temperature naturally.
You cannot melt your way through a plate
armor door using this as the door has
armor and a strength value that has to be
overcome.
Light
The caster wants to light an area. The
light can be very small, so the cost is only
1 Mana. The radius parameter signifies
the brightness. To light a room about 10ft
along each wall is about 3m2, so it costs 5
Mana per round or minute.
Lock
The caster wants to lock or unlock a door.
The cost is 1 for the mass of the tumblers
etc., inside the lock x difficulty.
Night vision
The cost is just 1 x difficulty x duration.
To add infrared or ultraviolet vision will
increase the difficulty.
Pass-Through Solid
The caster can now go through solid
objects like a ghost. The cost is their
mass x difficulty x duration.
Resurrection
The total cost of the stats to be healed to
get all of them above zero x a difficulty
factor. I suggest this is quite high. This
spell does not restore lost gear.
Shape Shift
This is the same effect as Grow/Shrink,
but the caster may add or remove some
stat values to better reflect the new form,
38
such as added agility to emulate becoming
a cat or added strength to become an
elephant. The cost is the cost in stats x
change in mass x difficulty x duration.
Sleep
The caster needs to reduce one of the
target stats to zero (the same as knocking
them unconscious). If no duration is
applied, they will recover at the normal
rate.
Summon Creature/Monster
The total stat cost of the creature must be
paid for times the difficulty times duration.
At the end of the spell, what happens to the
creature will be down to the GM’s world.
If the creature created is real, then the
duration represents the caster’s control
over the creature. If the creature is a
thing of magic, then it may well dissipate.
Factors such as the distance the caster is
away from the natural environment of the
creature to be summoned may impact the
difficulty and the familiarity of the caster
with the creature. It could be harder to
summon something you have never seen.
Many of the spell effects listed here
will be very hard to cast or maintain for
beginning characters. This is intentional.
If a character is going down the route of
spell casting, it will often have to be at
the expense of other skills.
Difficulty Factors
The most important thing in all magical
effects is the difficulty factor. It needs
to be set for each spell effect to allow or
disallow effects. With nothing, in theory,
being impossible but it can be made
prohibitively expensive. This is a critical
element of world-building and game
setting. If you think about the sort of
magic one would expect from a Roman
setting it is probably more divination and
mind control than hurling firebolts and
flying. In contrast, in a world based in a
traditional fantasy setting, firebolts are
certainly par for the course. In show like
Charmed, a fireball is perfectly normal.
Learning from
Experience
At the end of each scene, the Game
Master can award each character up
to 5 experience points (XP). Once the
character has earned 100 points, they
can exchange them for an additional +1
to any stat or skill they have used or
received training in.
Some GMs may prefer to accumulate
these points and award them at a
convenient time rather than at the end
of each scene.
First example, Kellan P.I. has been
very active recently and has survived
dozens of firefights against a crime
lord’s thugs. He has earned 100 points.
Kellan chooses to increase his Weapon
(Firearms) skill from +2 to +3.
Second example, sometime later, Kellan
has again accumulated another 100 XP.
Recently he feels he has been doing a
lot of physical work, so this time, he
chooses to increase his Endurance stat
from 10 to 11.
Some guidelines are attempting a skill
that would impact the story; whether it
succeeds or fails should typically earn a
point, surviving combat should earn a
point, and playing in character.
Completing a scene and advancing the
story should give one or two points
depending on the importance of the
scene, and finishing a story arc should be
worth a point as well. So, for example, if
completing a major scene and finishing
a story arc happen together, that would
be worth three points and represent
39
something like the season finale in a
TV series or the final climatic scene in
a movie.
Time and
Speed
Most of the time, time in 3Deep is
measured in days, hours and minutes,
etc. When it becomes important to know
exactly what sequence events happen,
we move to combat time.
Turns
A turn is 6 seconds long. There are 10
turns in each minute. When characters
take special damage such as bleeding
or burning, the damage is applied once
per turn, at the very end of the turn.
When a character is stunned, they are
stunned for entire turns.
Rounds
A round is one second long. There are
six rounds in turn. Depending on their
combat speed, a character can move on
some or all of the rounds in the turn.
Speed
A character’s combat speed is half of
their current Agility stat rounded up in
the players’ favor. Speed is calculated
on Round 1 of each turn and remains
fixed for the entire turn.
 Speed 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 X
2 X X
3 X X X
4 X X X X
5 X X X X X
6 X X X X X X
7 X X X X X X+X
8 X X X+X X X X+X
9 X X+X X X+X X X+X
10 X+X X X+X X X+X X+X
11 X+X X+X X+X X+X X+X
12 X+X X+X X+X X+X X+X X+X

Wherever an X appears on the table,
the character can take an action. The
base movement rate is 2m/round for
walking and 6m/round when running.
Where there are two Xs in a round,
the character may take two actions. A
move may be an attack, a skill roll, or a
movement like walking or running.
For example, Kellan has an Agility of 9,
so he has a speed of 5. Therefore, he
can move on seconds 2 through to 6.
During the turn, Kellan takes a wound
that reduces his Agility to 7. In the
second turn, his speed becomes 4, so
he moves on rounds 1, 3, 5, and 6.
The rounds you move on should be
noted down each turn. As the Game
Master calls out each round, the player’s
responsibility is to call their actions.
Some magical effects and some
creatures will have a speed greater
than 6. Dragons, for example, use 3d6
for their Agility stat so they could have
a natural Speed of 9. A character or
creature can move more than once per
second when this happens. They can
treat it as if they had two full rounds
to use for each one you would normally
have. In this case, they would move
before anyone slower than them for one
round’s worth of action and then again
at the end of the same round after the
others have moved.
For example, the fastest combatant in a
fight has a Speed of 8. Therefore, they
move first in rounds 1, 2, and 3. They
then move again at the end of round
3 before moving first in rounds 4, 5,
and 6. Finally, they will move last again
in round 6 to give a total of 8 moves
during the turn.
A character may hold their move to a
second later in the turn. For example,
a character with a Speed of 3 should
move on rounds 2, 4, and 6. They could
choose to hold their action from round
2 and take it on round 3. If a character
has not moved when their next move
comes around, they lose the saved
action. No one can create a round with
two moves by holding a move from an
earlier round.

40
Natural Hazards
Explosions
Explosions do more damage at the
explosion’s heart than at the periphery.
As with all attacks, the size determines
the number of damage dice (1d6-3d6).
The blast size equals the total amount
of damage done in meters, so a car
exploding would be a large explosion for
3d6 and may scatter debris up to 18m in
every direction. Damage is delivered in
rings moving away from the epicenter.
You start with all three dice and put
them in order, highest to lowest. Using
the highest dice, people within that
number of meters radius take all three
damage dice. People in the next radius
take only the second and third dice of
damage, and people in the third radius
will only take the third dice of damage.
For example, a car explodes for 3d6
damage and does 13 damage being a
6, 4, and 3. Anyone within a 6m radius
of the car takes all 13 points of damage
and 1 point of special Fire damage (see
below). People within 7m-10m of the car
(6+4) take 7 (4+3) points of damage.
People within 11m-13m take 3 points of
burning damage.
Sometimes the explosion will not be
a fiery ball of flame. Maybe a bomb
is placed next to a wall, and it is the
exploding rubble and debris that does
the damage, or a bomb maker may
have packed an explosive with shrapnel.
The special damage type should be
changed to the most appropriate type
in these cases. To build such a device is
a Technical/Trade skill, with the device’s
sophistication adding to the difficulty
factor.
Fire
Sometimes a character will catch
fire. For example, they may be hit
41
by a magical bolt of fire or caught in
an explosion. In this case the special
damage rule will apply. If the character
is flammable in any way on the location
hit, that location will be burning and the
fire will need to be put out to stop the
continuing damage. If the character is
not flammable, for example, they are
wearing plate armor then the special
damage is treated as concussive and
the character is stunned.
Poison
Poisons fall into a few different
categories, poisonous bites from snakes
and the like, natural poisons that the
characters may ingest or poison added
to weapons.
Limiting Effects
Some poisons are only intended to cause
paralysis, some put the victim in a coma
and some are lethal. The GM can place
limits on a given poison so that it can
do a maximum amount of damage or
only effect a single stat. A nerve poison
for example may only affect the victims
Agility. Another poison might only do a
maximum of 20 points of damage. That
would knock most people out for a day
or so but could kill someone who was
very young, elderly or weak.
Antidotes
Some poisons can only be treated if
the correct antidote is applied using a
successful Medical skill roll. Without the
antidote the full effect of the poison will
run its course even it that results in the
character’s death.
Poison Bites and Stings
The effects of poison should use the
special damage rules. Armor that
stops piercing damage would prevent
the venom from being injected. If the
venom is injected then the normal
damage per turn rules apply but the GM
can limit the effect. The GM may also
require antidotes to be used to treat the
damage or prevent further damage.
Ingested Poisons
These are best treated as weapon
damage without the need for an
attack roll. A mild poison does 1d6,
medium 2d6 and extremely poisonous
substances 3d6 with the normal special
damage rules. The GM may limit the
effect and antidotes may be required.
Poison Weapons
Weapons may be poisoned. First the
poison needs to be in a viable form.
This may require special bullets to be
prepared, hollowed out and the poison
injected or a blade may need to be
42
dipped in the poison before the combat.
A skill roll should be made using Medical
or Combat skills to apply the poison.
The Ones and Sixes rule can be used to
determine how many uses or doses of
poison are actually on the weapon?
A successful attack needs to be
completed to deliver the poison and
actual damage needs to be done that
is either piercing or slashing so that the
skin is broken and the poison can enter
the victim’s system.
The effect of the poison will then be to
apply the secondary special damage
rule so at least two points of special
damage needs to be delivered for the
poison to take effect.
The first will be slashing or piercing and
the second would be the poison. As with
all poisons the GM may limit the effect.
Combat unobserved position or with surprise
The combat sequence is: then the attacker rolls 2d6 + Stat +
skill less any difficulty factors.
1. (All characters) If two characters
can move at the same time, roll In the event of an unmodified roll of
initiative. 12 on the dice the attack always hits
regardless of the defender’s agility, skill
2. (Attacker) Roll a skill roll to see if
or other factors if it is possible for the
the attack hits.
attack to make a hit.
3. (Attacker) Roll the hit location.
3. Hit Location
4. (Attacker) Roll damage. Roll 3d6 and look up the result on the
5. (Attacker) Assess special damage. following table.
Roll Location Stat
6. (Attacker) Roll Knockback.
3-4 Head Logic
7. (Defender) Roll for shield activation. 5 Neck Empathy
8. (Defender) Subtract any armor from 6 Hand Empathy
damage. 7-8 Shoulder Strength
9 Arm Endurance
9. (Defender) Apply damage.
10-11 Chest/Torso Agility
1. Initiative Stomach (lower
12 Agility
Over the course of a turn, characters back)
move on different rounds depending 13 Vital Organ Endurance
on their speed. When two characters 14-15 Thigh Strength
move in the same round they should 16-17 Calf/Lower Leg Endurance
roll 2d6 + their current Agility + any 18 Foot Agility
Combat Skill applied to initiative. The
highest score goes first and in the The location of where the hit occurs
event of a dead tie then the actions is important for two reasons; armor
are considered simultaneous. may not be uniform all over the
defender’s body, and the hit location
2. Attack Roll
also specifies which stat the damage
In the case of direct close quarters
is applied to.
combat the attack roll is an opposing
skill roll with the defenders Agility and
• If the target is covered from the
any combat skills subtracted from the
ground up, then a negative modifier
skill roll.
should be applied.
The Attacker rolls 2d6 + their Stat bonus
• If the target is covered from the head
+ skill less the defenders Agility stat
down, then a positive modifier should
bonus, Combat skill and any difficulty
be applied.
factors (such as hard cover). A roll of 8
or higher indicates a hit. 4. Roll Damage
The damage done by a weapon is
In the case of an unopposed attack dependent on the size and weight of
either with the attacker firing from an the weapon, not by the technology.

43
 Class Ancient Modern Future
Light (1d6) Dagger Hunting Knife Pulse Laser
Short Sword Baseball Bat Phaser set on Stun
Hand Small and Medium Pistols
Crossbow
Club

Medium(2d6) Broadsword Shotgun Beam Laser

Hand Axe Heavy Pistol Phaser set to kill
Short bow SMG/Uzi
Mace Chainsaw
Assault Rifle
Hunting Rifle
Heavy (3d6) Great sword Elephant Rifle Blaster Rifle
Battle axe Shotgun, slug Phaser Rifle
Lance .30 cal LMG Light Sabre
Heavy .50 cal BMG
Crossbow

Light weapons do 1d6 damage, medium
2d6 and heavy 3d6. That is consistent
through historical, modern, and science
fiction weapons.
The total damage is the sum of all
the dice. Take note that automatic
fire increases the damage class. For
example, a light pistol is only 1d6, but
an SMG with the same ammo is 2d6.
This logic also applies to a hunting rifle
doing 2d6 and an LMG which does 3d6.
5. Assess Special Damage
With each dice rolled for the total
damage can inflict 0-2 points of special
damage. If the value rolled is a one,
that adds zero points of special damage.
If the result is 2-5, count that as one
point, and each six as two points. This
total count is the special damage.
Weapons do additional damage effects
based on the damage type of the attack.
• Slashing weapons cut muscles and
tendons. Every point of special damage
done by a slashing weapon is a -1 to all
maneuvers until the wound is treated.
• Crushing weapons can ‘wind’ or
concuss. Each point of special damage
can stun the defender. Stunned
characters cannot apply their skill
bonuses to any rolls until they recover.
(Skill penalties still apply when stunned.)
• Piercing weapons such as bullets
and arrows cause bleeding wounds.
For every point of special damage, the
victim will take one additional point of
damage on round 6 of each turn until
the wound is treated with some sort of
bandage or tourniquet.
• Some weapons do multiple types of
damage, war arrows pierce and slash,
spiked maces or morning stars pierce
and crush. In this case the special
damage is applied alternately between
the two types with the first being the
type that would make first contact so
in the case of a war arrow the tip of
the arrow pierces before the broad head
gets to slash. With a morning star the
spikes would make contact before the
mass of the head impacts. In both those
cases, the first point of special damage
would be piercing then the second would
be slash (arrow) or stunning (morning
star).
• Burning damage does additional
damage equal to the special damage
each turn until it is extinguished.

44
• Magical effects can do other special
damage such as freezing damage. The
GM should rule on how this is applied
but normally it only be applied each
turn and should affect a stat.
6. Roll Knockback
The force of an attack may send the
defender back, knock them off a wall,
or over a cliff.
• The default number of knockback dice
is 2d6. But, this can change based
on footing, actions of the players and
enemies, and the environment.
• If the defender is in the air (flying)
or on a low friction surface or unsure
footing such as ice or a stream, use one
knockback die.
• If the defender is standing in still water
or thick mud, use three knockback dice.
• Take the allotted knockback dice and
subtract the sum from the total damage
done. If the result is positive, that is the
amount of knockback inflicted.
If the defender has been hit by a missile
weapon, projectile or explosion then
the knockback is automatically applied,
and the defender is thrown away from
the attacker 1m for every point of
knockback.
With melee attacks it is the attacker’s
choice as to whether the defender is
knocked back or not. If Kellan grabbed
his opponent by the shirt while stabbing
him in the stomach with a knife the
defender is unlikely to go flying metres
back.
For example, Kellan shoots a zombie in
the head using a .44 Magnum doing 12
points of damage. Kellan rolls 2d6 for
knockback and rolls a 7. The Zombie
is thrown 5m back by the force of the
shot. Because it is a ranged attack,
45
Kellan does not have the option to not
apply it.
If the defender is knocked back and
hits a solid object before traveling the
full distance, then they are stunned
and have to recover for the rest of this
turn or the following turn if the attack
happened on round 6.
7. Roll for Shield Activation
If the defender is carrying a shield,
then they can roll to see if the shield
intercepts the blow. The larger the shield
the greater the chance of success. The
defender rolls 3d6 and compares the
results below:
Shield Type Activation Roll
Target 7 or less
Small 8 or less
Medium/Standard 9 or less
Large/Kite 10 or less
Wall Shield 13 or less
The defender may allocate some of their
combat skill to the shield activation roll
to make the shield more effective.
If the shield is activated, then the
defender takes no damage from the
attack but the activation roll is reduced
by the amount of special damage the
attack would have done. This reflects
the damage done to the shield.
8. Subtract Any Armor from
Damage
Armor works by absorbing some or all
of the damage. Light armors absorb
the first 3 points of damage; medium
armors absorb 4 points and heavy 5
points. The nature of the armor also
has an effect so padded armors can
absorb rounds of stun, light padded
armor absorbs up to 1 round per attack,
medium, 2 rounds and so on. The same
is true for armors designed to prevent
slashing and puncturing wounds such
as your chain and plate armors.
So, a heavy knight with plate over
a padded surcoat would reduce any • All the damage take is taken from the
damage taken by 5 points and can same stat even if that puts the stat into
ignore the first 3 points of bleeding a negative figure.
damage and the first round of stun from
each attack. • A character that has all their stats
reduce to zero or below is dead.
Damage
Armor Spec. Absorb Combat Example
Absorbed
An assassin is using a crossbow (2d6
Light Padded 3 1 turn of Stun
puncturing) and rolls to attack a
Light Flexible 3 1 point of Slash
noble and his bodyguard. The noble is
Light Rigid 3 1 point of Pierce
unaware of the assassin. The assassin
Med. Padded 4 2 turns of Stun rolls 2d6 getting a 10 to attack, 16 for
2 points of location (lower leg) and 11 for damage
Med. Flexible 4
Slash
2 points of (6, 5) and rolls 7 for knockback. To hit
Med. Rigid 4 the assassin adds his Agility stat bonus
Pierce
Heavy
5 3 turns of Stun +1 (Agility 9 gives a +1), +2 for skill
Padded and +1 for close range. The noble is
Heavy 3 points of
Flexible
5
Slash
unaware so cannot apply any stat or
3 points of skill for dodging. The total attack is 14
Heavy Rigid 5
Pierce (10+1+2+1) so hits, it does 11 damage
and 3 additional point of bleeding
Which armor can be worn over or under damage each turn afterwards. The
other types of armor is at the Game noble is thrown 4m back by the force of
Master’s discretion. Different types of the impact.
armor may be work on different body
parts. The Hit Location will then decide The lower leg wound means that the
which armor to apply to the attack damage is taken from the nobles
damage. Endurance Stat. Our noble has an
9. Apply Damage Endurance of 8 so that is reduced to -1.
The final amount of damage after He must roll greater than 8 with 2d6 -1
shields and armor is then sustained by to remain conscious. He rolls a 6(-1),
the defender. The Hit Location chart the 5 is not enough to stop him passing
gives a stat alongside the location. The out so he is out cold and bleeding three
damage is taken off stat points per turn.
the indicated stat.
The bodyguard draws his broadsword (a
• If a stat is reduced to zero, then medium 2d6 weapon) and he is wearing
the defender must make a 2d6 + chain armour (protects as 4 damage
Endurance Stat bonus roll each round and -2 slashing) the assassin is wearing
to remain conscious. Failing the roll medium padded leather and has a small
(less than 8) means that the character shield. He also draws a shorts word to
blacks out. finish off the bodyguard.

• Bleeding damage may be subtracted

from any stat (player’s choice). You
cannot apply bleeding damage to a stat
that is already zero or below.

46

It is intentional that some rolls in
combat need to be high (to hit and
damage) and others need to be low
(such as shields and knockback). Each
player should use the same set of dice
for all of their rolls so no statistical
advantage is gained from having a
dice that are in any way biased to
above or below average rolls.
A Gun in Each Hand
Can you fight with two swords or two
guns and can a dragon pick up two
adventures whilst deciding which one to
bite the head off first? Yes, you can. The
important thing to remember is that
each point in a skill can only be applied
to one dice roll each round so if you
only have +1 in Weapon (melee) then
the sword in the other hand’s attack will
be at -1 for unskilled. If you have +2 in
Weapon (melee) then you can make a
single +2 attack, or two +1 attacks.
So, can I use a sword and a Gun?
Yes, you can as long as they are using
different skills.
There are many examples of this is
history and popular culture such as
gladiators with tridents and nets to
adventurers with pistols and bull whips.
The disadvantage is that you cannot use
a shield or easily open doors etc. with
both hands occupied and with only 7
skills to apply to a character dedicating
two of them to weapon skills will mean
the character may be lacking in other
areas.
Can I Move and Fire In A Round?
No, you can do one action each round
but keep in mind that each round
is only a second long. Although the
actions are discrete individual actions,
to the characters rounds and turns are
a continuum and although what we see
is a character with a speed of 4 going
47
Move, Fire, Move, Fire in the turn the
other characters see him or her running
across the room blazing away with only
a slight pause for aiming and the recoil.
Do weapons Break, Jam or Fail?
There are no explicit rules for weapons
or equipment failure except to say if
the total roll for a skill ends up as a
negative then the character should end
up in a worse situation than at the start
and suffer a penalty. See the chapter on
skills and the example Lauren struggling
to climb out of a chasm. If you apply
the ones and sixes rule and combine
it with the negative skill roll total then
you have the worst possible situation
and that could indicate a weapon or
equipment failure.
A weapons skill roll of less than zero
should indicate a dropped weapon or a
jam that is easily cleared. A negative
roll and a one on the dice would indicate
a more serious failure or some more
significant damage to the weapon such
as a broken bow string. The weapon
certainly would not be useable for the
rest of this combat. A negative score
and two ones on the dice would probably
render the weapon non-functioning
until major repairs are made. We are
talking about broken blades, snapped
bow limbs and completely mangled
firing mechanisms.
Combat Difficulty Factors
There are certain situations that make
fighting or hitting your target easier or
harder, things like shooting from behind
or at someone hidden by cover. The
table below shows some sample combat
difficulty factors.
Difficulty Reason
+1 Attacking from the side.
+2 Attacking from the rear
+2 Target surprised
48
+1 Target is prone
+2 Target is conscious but
immobile such as tied to a
chair
-1 Quarter covered by soft
cover such as foliage
-2 Half covered by soft cover
-4 Fully covered by soft cover
-2 Quarter covered by hard
cover such a rock or stone.
-4 Half covered by hard cover
-7 Fully covered by hard cover
Creatures &
Monsters
Not everything that the character’s
meet will be a human or humanoid.
Sometimes they must fight or evade
monsters, aliens, zombies and wild
beasts. 3Deep has a simple method for
creating any creature.
There are two steps; stats and
experience. All creatures have the
same five stats as characters have but
they are not all based upon 2d6. With
creatures, you do not have to use the
same number of dice for all stats. You
can vary the dice to best model your
idea of the creature.
• Tiny creatures have only a point or
two in their stats.
• Small creatures use 1d6
• Medium Creatures use 2d6
• Large creatures 3d6
In addition to their species dice creatures
learn from experience. You can give
a creature a +1 for every 3 years of
its life up to a maximum of +36. This
can be added to stats or to skills. Most
creatures will only have Combat and
Outdoor skills allowing them to hunt
prey and kill it. Magical creatures may
also have the Magic skill allowing them
to cast spells or use innate magical
abilities.
To quickly generate the amount of
experience a creature has roll 2d6 and
multiply the results together to get a
number between 1 and 36. If the result
is more than three times the age you
expected the creature to be then either
re-roll or just pick another number.
49
Innate Magical Abilities
Some magical beasts have magical
abilities such as medusa turning people
to stone and dragons’ breathing fire.
The standard magic rules should be
used for these effects.
Innate Non-magical Abilities
Some creatures have abilities that their
stat rolls do not reflect but are not
magical. These include natural armors,
the ability to fly or a chameleon’s ability
to change its coloration and hide. If you
feel a creature has natural armor you
should just assign that corresponding
armour to the creature. This would be
true for a rhinoceros’s skin and other
naturally armoured creatures.
Other creatures are best described by
‘balancing’ the dice so they are neither
better nor worse, just different. A
zombie, for example, would have only
1d6 in Log and EMP but 3d6 in STR and
END.
Build Your Own Monster
One question that I have been asked is
why don’t any creatures have more than
3d6 in a stat? Surely a Brontosaurus that
is 22m long and weighed 15 tons should
have more than 3d6 in Strength? The
problem with going to 4d6 or 5d6 is that
you can still roll a 4 or a 5. Regardless
of how many dice you roll they could all
come up ones. By giving a creature a
pool of pluses to be applied to stats or
skills you can model the creature more
like the way a character is built. If we
take the Brontosaur, it is a fairly placid
herbivore but also pretty massive. Give
it +20 points to spend and drop +10
to its strength and +10 to endurance endurance is not its strong suit. Short
suddenly you have a beast that is pretty bursts of speed are ideal for catching
hard to kill. With some natural armor, I prey. Likewise it does not have to be
would say heavy flexible and it will take particularly strong; its forearms are
a lot to put one down. A swipe of its tail somewhat limited. Where the T. Rex
would be a heavy club doing 3d6 but excels is its speed. I am giving the T.
not especially skilled with it. Rex 3d6 +10 to Agility but also +10
to Combat skill to use with its natural
On the other hand, let’s take a look at weaponry. Now that is a fearsome
a Tyrannosaurus Rex. It is 12m long Tyrant Lizard.
and weighs 10tons. That still puts it in
3d6 territories but like most predators
Normal Creatures
These are genuinely normal creatures as you would find in our world on any
normal day. This is just a small selection but they can be used as starting points
to model others.

Creature Notes and Armor STR END AGL LOG EMP

Medium Dog Natural medium padded 1d6 2d6 2d6 1d6 2d6
Horse Natural medium padded 3d6 2d6 2d6 1d6 1d6
Elephant Natural heavy flexible 3d6 3d6 1d6 2d6 2d6
Hawk None 2 1d6 3d6 2 2
Wild Boar Natural medium padded 2d6 2d6 1d6 1d6 1
Snake None 1d6 2d6 3d6 1d6 1
Large Cat Natural medium padded 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6
Great White Shark Natural medium flexible 3d6 3d6 3d6 1d6 3d6
Wolf Natural medium padded 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6

Medium Dog Horse

This is your typical “Release the Horses come in a great number of sizes
hounds!” type of guard dog and covers and shapes. The typical horse here is a
such breeds as Doberman, Alsatian and powerful working horse or war horse.
Husky type dogs. For larger dogs, such
as Rottweilers you can
add an additional 1d6 strength.

50
Elephant
Elephants are encounter both wild, as
working animals and as war beasts.
When used for war then additional
armor can be added.

Hawk
Frequently used as both as a status
Great White Shark
symbol and for sport. A hawk would
For a truly monstrous shark max out its
almost never attack a person without
stats rather than roll them. For smaller
being trained to do so or coerced by
sharks you can reduce the strength
magic.
and/or endurance.
Wild Boar
The wild boar was the most feared of
the game animal in the medieval hunt.
They would fight to the death often
killing the hounds set upon them and
special boar spears were used with a
crossbar to stop an impaled boar from
pushing up the length of the spear to
the man on the other end!

Big Cats
These include tigers, the largest cat,
lions, panthers, cheetahs and leopards.
In some cultures, big cats can be
trained as war or hunting beasts and
in the case of tigers even as mounts.
In these cases, some additional armor
may be added.
Snake
The largest snakes tend to be
constrictors, the move slower and you
can add 1d6 to the strength attribute.

Venomous snakes rely more on speed

than strength. See the rules on Poison
bites above for more on how to use
poison.

51
Wolf
Wolves hunt in packs with great
intelligence and cunning. They will
herd fleeing prey towards waiting pack
members in an ambush or will encircle
prey that does not run attacking from
all sides.

52
Giant Animals
These are frequently the stars of science fiction adventures, alternative realities,
created by mad scientist, secret government organizations, found in lost valleys,
or the deepest jungles.

Creature Notes and Armor STR END AGL LOG EMP

Natural medium
Giant Ant 2d6 3d6 2d6 1d6 2d6
flexible
Giant Ape Natural heavy padded 3d6 3d6 2d6+2 2d6 2d6
Giant Beetle Natural medium rigid 3d6+4 3d6 2d6 1d6 2d6
Giant Rat None 1d6 2d6 3d6 3d6 2d6
Giant Scorpion Natural heavy rigid 2d6 3d6 2d6 2d6 2d6
Giant Spider,
Natural heavy rigid 3d6 3d6+4 2d6 3d6 2d6
Greater
Giant Spider Natural medium rigid 2d6 3d6 3d6 2d6 2d6
Giant Spider,
Natural light rigid 2d6 2d6 2d6 3d6 3d6
Lesser
Natural medium
Giant Wasp 2d6 2d6 3d6+2 2d6 2d6
flexible

Giant Ant
Giant ants can form huge armies with
tens of thousands of soldiers protecting
their queen. The stats given are for
the soldier ants. The queen is a huge
bloated thing incapable of defending
herself.

Giant Beetle
These beetles tower over humans and
can rip a person to pieces with their
mandibles. Their bodies are covered
with a rigid carapace.

Giant Ape
This is your classic King Kong giant.
When they attack they are as likely to
hurl items as they are to strike out with
their fists or use primitive weapons and
tools.

53
Giant Rat
Giant rats can easily reach the size of
dog. Whilst one on its own may not
be too much of a threat they are still
fast and devious. A pack of rats on the
other hand are an extremely dangerous
threat.
Giant Scorpion
Giant scorpions combine the threat
of the giant beetle along with the
poison of the giant snake (see poisons
above). Thankfully they are normally
encountered individually or in small
numbers.
Giant Spider. Greater
These can have a leg span of 5m to 10m
across and a body the size of a horse.
54
Giant Spider
The Giant spider has a leg span of
maybe 2m across. Although they are
not as strong as greater giant spiders
they are faster.
Giant Spider, Lessor
These arachnids are the size of a dog
and can be found in nests numbering
hundreds of individuals or singly in their
own web.
Giant Wasp
Giant wasps are like the other giant
insects but with the addition of both
a poison sting and the ability to fly.
Normally encountered individually
except near a giant wasps’ nest in which
case there can swarms of hundreds.
Fantastic Monsters
Mythological creatures, especially those from our ancient past, fall into this
category.

Creature Notes and Armor STR END AGL LOG EMP

Centaur Natural medium padded 3d6 2d6 2d6 2d6 2d6
Gargoyle Natural heavy rigid 2d6 2d6 1d6 3d6 2d6
Harpy None 2d6 2d6 2d6 3d6 2d6
Hippogriff Natural medium padded 2d6 3d6 2d6 2d6 2d6
Centaur Harpy
A centaur is an intelligent race with In Greek mythology and Roman
the torso and upper body of a human mythology, a harpy was a female
and the lower half of a horse. They are monster in the form of a bird with a
mostly warlike and aggressive and take human face. They steal food from their
great offense at people using horses as victims while they are eating and carry
beasts of burden or as mounts. evildoers (especially those who have
killed their family) to the hell. They
seem originally to have been wind
spirits. Their name means “snatchers”

Gargoyle
These demonic looking creatures are
also known as a chimera is a fabulous
monster in Greek mythology. According Hippogriff
to Homer it has a lion’s head, a goat’s The hippogriff is a legendary creature
body, and a dragon’s tail. which has the front half of an eagle and
the hind half of a horse.

55
Monstrous Ancestries
While some monsters are solitary, there are a number of them that form tribes,
warrens, and other communities. Depending on the setting, they may even be a
source of exotic NPCs.

Creature Notes and Armor STR END AGL LOG EMP

Natural heavy
Giant, Greater 3d6+3 3d6+4 1d6 3d6 3d6
padded
Natural heavy
Giant, Lesser 3d6 3d6 1d6 3d6 2d6
padded
Natural medium
Goblin 2d6 2d6 1d6 2d6 1d6
padded
Natural medium
Hobgoblin 2d6 2d6 1d6 2d6 1d6
padded
Natural medium
Kobold 1d6 1d6 2d6 2d6 1d6
padded
Lizardmen Natural light rigid 2d6 2d6 1d6 2d6 1d6
Natural medium
Ogre 3d6 2d6 2d6 3d6 2d6
flexible
Natural medium
Orc 2d6 2d6 1d6 2d6 1d6
padded
Can breathe air/
Merfolk 2d6 3d6 3d6 3d6 2d6
water, None
Minotaur None 3d6+3 3d6 2d6 2d6 2d6
Natural heavy
Troll, Greater 3d6+4 3d6 1d6 3d6 2d6
flexible
Natural heavy
Troll, Lesser 3d6 3d6 1d6 3d6 2d6
flexible
Greater and Lesser Giants
Greater Giants 7m to 10m tall and look
like oversized humans although their
great size can make them slow to react
and clumsy. Lesser giants are often 4m
to 5m tall and not as strong as their
greater cousins.

56
Goblin give them clothing will often banish
A goblin is a monstrous creature from them forever, though whether they take
European folklore, first attested in offense to such gifts or are simply too
stories from the Middle Ages. They are proud to work in new clothes differs
ascribed various and conflicting abilities, from teller to teller.
moods and appearances depending on
the story and country of origin. They
are almost always small and grotesque,
mischievous or outright evil, and greedy,
especially for gold and jewels.

Kobold
Although usually invisible, a kobold can
materialize in the form of an animal,
fire, a human being, and a candle.

Hobgoblin
Hobgoblins seem to be small, hairy
little men who—like their close relative,
brownies—are often found within human
dwellings, doing odd jobs around the
house while the family is lost in sleep.
Such chores are typically small deeds,
like dusting and ironing. Often, the only
compensation necessary in return for
these is food.
T h e
While brownies are more peaceful
most common depictions of kobolds
creatures, hobgoblins are fonder of
show them as humanlike figures the
practical jokes. They also seem to be
size of small children. Kobolds who live
able to shape-shift, as seen in one of
in human homes wear the clothing of
Puck’s monologues in A Midsummer
peasants; those who live in mines are
Night’s Dream. Like all the fairy folk,
hunched and ugly; and kobolds who live
hobs can be easily annoyed. Additionally,
on ships smoke pipes and wear sailor
they can be mischievous, frightening,
and even bit dangerous. Attempts to clothing.

57
Lizardmen Ogre
Lizardfolk are primitive reptilian Ogres are often depicted as
humanoids typically standing from inhumanly large and tall and having a
six to seven feet tall. Their scales are disproportionately large head, abundant
normally dull, earthy colors such as hair, unusually colored skin, a voracious
green, brown or grey. appetite and are immensely strong.
Ogres are closely linked with giants and
They have a tail for balance, which with human cannibals in mythology.
measures three to four feet long. Typical
weight is between 200 and 300 pounds
(90 and 136 kg). There are several
species of lizardfolk however, and
these can range from 0.91 m pygmies
to 2.7 m giants. Lizardfolk society is
primarily patriarchal, with the strongest
member normally in charge. Shamans
are typically counsellors, and normally
do not lead tribes. Wherever they make
their home, survival is the main priority
for any lizardfolk.

Orc
They are of approximately human
shape (with bowed legs and long arms)
and of varying size. Orcs are generally
ugly and filthy, with prominent fangs
and facial features tending toward the
grotesque (generally a mixture of the
ape-like and pig-like). Their skin is
typically a shade of green, grey, black,
brown, or sometimes red.

58

Merfolk
Merfolk have the form of a human from
the waist up and are fish-like from
the waist down, having scaly fish tails
in place of legs. By human standards,
human portions of mermaids are often
considered very beautiful while mermen
are considered ugly and brutish.
Minotaur
The minotaur was a creature with the
head of a bull and the body of a man.
59
Greater and Lesser Troll
Trolls appear ugly and slow-witted due
to their moss and lichen hued rough skin
but this is a misconception. They have an
animal cunning and can easily outsmart
most people. They are exceptionally
strong and resilient although tend to be
slow and somewhat clumsy.
Dragon Kind

Creature Notes and Armor STR END AGL LOG EMP

Hydra Natural heavy rigid 3d6+2 3d6 2d6 3d6 3d6
Wyvern Natural heavy rigid 3d6+7 3d6 3d6 3d6 3d6
Natural heavy all types,
Dragon 3d6 3d6 3d6 3d6 3d6
Ancients have +36 to stats
Hydra
A hydra is a giant multiple-headed Dragon
dragon-like water serpent with the Dragons are huge six limbed reptiles
ability to regrow both its heads if with four legs ending in clawed feet
severed or its tail. When first met they and two wings. The Dragon’s fore
may have any number of heads or tails limbs are dextrous and can manipulate
depending on the number of battles objects easily even turning pages of a
the hydra has survived in the past. The book. Many dragons are accomplished
most recorded heads for a hydra is fifty spell casters and use it to deceive and
and six tails. misdirect.

Wyvern
A wyvern is a legendary creature with
a dragon’s head and wings, a reptilian
body, two legs, and a tail. A sea-dwelling
variant dubbed the sea-wyvern has a
fish tail in place of a barbed dragon’s
tail.

60
Supernatural
A selection of demonic, necromantic, and lycanthropic monsters.

Creature Notes and Armor STR END AGL LOG EMP

Hell Hound Natural heavy padded 2d6 3d6 2d6 3d6 3d6

Skeleton Natural light rigid 2d6 3d6 1d6 1d6 2d6

Natural medium padded,
Werewolf 2d6 2d6 3d6 2d6 2d6
supernatural healing
Zombie Natural medium padded 3d6 3d6 1d6 1d6 2d6
None, +2 magic skill for
Vampire mind control, supernatural 3d6 3d6 2d6 3d6 1d6
invulnerability, bat form
Hell Hound
A Hell Hound is a monstrous three
headed dog with a serpent-like tail.
The hound is roughly the size of a small
horse.

Skeleton
A skeleton is the reanimated bones of
any vertebrate creature although most
often those of humans. They frequently
either act as they did when alive or can
follow simple orders given to them by
their creator. Very few show any real
self-awareness or initiative.

61
Werewolf
Whilst not actually undead, Werewolves
fit into the horror genre. A werewolf,
man-wolf, or lycanthrope is a
mythological or folkloric human with
the ability to shape-shift into a wolf or
a hybrid wolf creature, either purposely
or after being placed under a curse or
affliction (e.g. via a bite or scratch from
another werewolf).

Vampire
A vampire is an undead creature that
feeds on blood, normally that of their
own species. Various legends give them
the ability to transform into a bat,
disperse into a gaseous cloud or to use
magic to mesmerize their victims.

Zombie Legends also say they cannot cross

There are many types of zombie. Some running water, enter a home without
are living people held in thrall though being invited in and are killed by direct
drugs or hypnosis so that their will and sunlight. All, some or none of these
personality is suppressed. Others are traits may be true.
the reanimated corpses of the recently
dead raised through magic or dark ritual
and others are resulting state following
a viral or chemical attack than has
changed living people into the zombie
state.

62
Prehistoric
Popular, if chronologically mixed up, prehistoric mammals and dinosaurs are
typically found on lost islands, hollow Earth, or as a stand in for some alien beastie.

Creature Notes and Armor STR END AGL LOG EMP

Natural medium
Sabretooth Tiger 2d6 3d6 3d6 2d6 3d6
padded
Natural heavy
Mammoth 3d6 3d6 3d6 2d6 3d6
padded+flex
Natural heavy
flexible,
Apatosaurus 3d6 3d6 1d6 2 2d6
+30 points to
spend
Natural heavy
Triceratops rigid, +20 points to 3d6 3d6 2d6 2d6 3d6
spend
Natural heavy
Tyrannosaurus
flexible, 3d6 2d6 3d6+10 1d6 1d6
Rex
+10 combat skill
Sabretooth Tiger
The Sabretooth Tiger is an iconic
prehistoric predator weighing 300kg
and over 2m long they are formidable
creatures to have on your trail.

Mammoth
The largest known species of Mammoth
reached heights in the region of 4m
at the shoulder and weights of up to
8 tonnes, while exceptionally large
males may have exceeded 12 tonnes.
Both sexes have tusks. Mammoths are
covered with a coarse thick fur hide.

63
Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus was one of the largest
animals that ever lived. The earth shakes
when this dinosaur walks. It could grow
to over 28m long and over 5m tall at
the hips. Apatosaurus is known for its
very long neck, which made it easier to
eat greens from trees.
Triceratops
Triceratops is a large four-legged
herbivore dinosaur with a massive
skill adorned with three horn spikes
used for self-defense. A Triceratops is
approximately 9m in length and 3m tall
and can weight up to 12 tonnes.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Tyrannosaurus Rex was 15m long, 6m
high, with sharp 20cm long teeth. It can
prey across an open field at speeds of
60km per hour. When a Tyrannosaurus
Rex catches his prey it took only one
bite from his massive jaws to snap their
backbones.
64
Monster Damage
Creatures generally do damage based
upon their size or weight or strength.
Use whatever their Strength dice is as
their damage dice and the damage type
will be down to their natural attacks. So,
a Brontosaurus will bash with its tail, a
sabretooth tiger is going to pierce with
its tusks and a gargoyle will probably
slash with its claws. You as GM are free
to change this.
Monster Experience Points
All monsters earn experience points and
already have some. Some creatures
have pluses applied to some its dice.
These are down to experience. The GM
can and should allocate other points to
its combat skill or other skills such as
outdoor skills to big cats and hell hound
so they can track. The amount of points
is on a scale of 1 to 36 and represents 3
years of learning per point. Long- lived
creatures should be allocated more
points than a short-lived animals.
Intelligence
Some creatures such as Centaurs, orcs,
goblins and lizard men are intelligent
and can wield weapons and don armor
if they have it available and it is to their
advantage.
Vehicles &
Movement
Driving vehicles are a staple of action
movies. Each round that the driver is in
a stressful situation the Game Master
should ask the driver to make a skill
roll. Driving cars and riding motorbikes
and their counterparts is a Technical/
trade skill.
The difficulty should be based upon the
maneuver the driver wants to perform,
other traffic on the road, and the road
conditions themselves. A vehicle moving
at 80kph (50mph) is covering 20m per
round and that should be a factor for
how often maneuvers need to be made.
If a roll is failed then for every one point
it was failed by the vehicle should drift
by 1m in the direction it was originally
traveling in. This can
mean that a bad driver will tend to
overshoot corners, break too late or
mount the curb.
Furthermore, the amount a roll was
failed by becomes the minimum penalty
for the next following skill check to
represent the driver trying to get control
of the vehicle again.
The Ones and Sixes Rule
Even if a skill check was successful
for each ‘1’ rolled the following skill
check takes a -1 on the roll. For each
‘6’ rolled there is a corresponding +1.
This does not necessarily mean the
next driving skill check. It could be
an awareness roll to spot a following
vehicle or a combat attack roll to shoot
through the passenger window at the
driver alongside. How busy the driver is
65
keeping control has an impact on these
rolls.
Being hit by a vehicle is a 1d6 per 15kph
(10mph) of speed attack up to 3d6
after that each speed increment adds
+1 to each die. You cannot use a shield
against an oncoming vehicle.
Damaging
Objects
Vehicle Armor
Vehicle armor is three times as effective
as personal armor but is described in
the same way. An old biplane was
covered by a skin of fabric and dubbing
but can be described as light flexible,
despite being pulled taut. With the triple
protection rule it would protect the pilot
from three points of damage but could
easily ripped through with a dagger.
Heavy Rigid Armor by contrast protects
against 15pts of damage so only heavy
weapons are likely to affect it.
Vehicles have five stats like characters
but they are V.Strength, V.Integrity,
V.Speed, V.Logic and V.Control.
The stats are used to absorb damage
in the same way as characters do but
should be chosen to reflect the nature
of the vehicle. You do not need to roll
vehicle stats.
V.Strength
This measures the physical strength of
the vehicle regards torque or pulling
power. A haulage lorry will have a
V.Strength of 12, a bicycle a 1.
V.Integrity
What is the vehicle made of and how
does it hold together under extremes
of pressure? A carbon fibre racing car
can disintegrate into a cloud of debris in
seconds during an accident. Carbon fibre
vehicles have a very low V.Integrity.
Wooden vehicles by contrast that can
flex have very high integrity values. A
wood battle ship will have a V.Integrity
of 12 or more. The International Space
Station has integrity of 1, Microlights
and hang gliders would also have an
V.Integrity of 1.
V.Speed
The speed of the vehicle. Each point
gives about 30kph (20mph) of top
speed. That equates to about 8m/s to
10m/s in combat time. Horse and cart
combinations have a speed of about 1,
Fighter aircraft have speeds of up to 30.
Vehicles can accelerate by 2points per
second (60kph/40mph) and brake by 4
points per second (120kph/80mph) on
a successful driving or piloting roll. Once
the breaks are applied the vehicle will
continue to brake or accelerate until the
characters next round. Faster reactions
do make for better drivers.
V.Logic
Most vehicles have a V.Logic of 0 and
are dumb machines but increasingly
smart systems can assist the pilot or
driver.
These represent things like ABS brakes,
HUD information to full blown AI
systems. A vehicle with V.Logic can have
skills programmed into it that it can
employ on its own judgement. A self-
driving car could have a V.Logic of 2 and
66
+2 in Driving/sailing/navigation skill.
A fighter aircraft with a sophisticated
HUD may have a V.Logic of 1 and a +1
combat skill that can be added to the
Pilots own skill.
V.Control
How easy is the vehicle to control?
This stat is on the regular 2-12 scale.
Vehicles with 9+ give a +1 to skill rolls
for driving or piloting them. Those with
5 or less are hard to control and give a
-1 to skill rolls.
Damaging a
Vehicle
With stats and armour, you can now
fight and kill vehicles. When any stat is
reduced to 0 then all control rolls are
made at -1. If there are features that
are dependent on stats such as V.Logic
and V.Control, as soon as the stat is
reduced the benefit from that stat is
lost if it no longer supported.
For example, a car with a V.Control of 10
takes 7 points of damage from a rocket
propelled grenade. It used to have +1
to all driving rolls but now it gives -1 to
all rolls.
Driving
Vehicles in
Combat
Vehicles move on all 6 seconds of a
combat. Vehicles that move during
seconds that the driver has no action
will continue on the same path as they
had the previous round(s).
Being Hit by a Vehicle
This hurts. For every 15kph (10mph that
a vehicle is moving will do 1d6 damage
up to 3d6 after which each 15kph will
do a +1 damage.
Example
A run away stagecoach is rolling down
the hill at 30kph (20mph) before
hitting a little old lady who cannot see
it coming. The coach does 2d6 damage
rolls a 10 (5+5).
The coach knocks her unconscious but
causes no lasting injury, she is lucky
this time.
The coach carries on building up speed.
Bouncing down the hill it is now doing
60km (40mph) before hitting some
farmers trying to get their cattle out of
the way. The coach now does 3d6+1 to
each farmer.
Killing Vehicles
As they say “if it has stats, we can kill it.”
Obviously, a vehicle cannot pass out or
bleed to death. The individual stats for
a vehicle should be treated individually.
If the vehicles armour does not protect
it then roll 1d6 to choose which stat is
damaged.
Roll Vehicle Stat Damaged
1 V.Strength
2 V.Integrity
3 V.Speed
4 V.Logic/V.Control
5 V.Control
6 V.Strength
A lot of vehicles will have a V.Logic of zero
so if that stat is hit and the vehicle has
no V.Logic then it should be considered
V.Control. The game’s thinking is that
the vehicles logic hardware is most
likely to be concentrated around the
cockpit or driver’s compartment.
67
Effects of Damage
V.Strength
A vehicle with a V.Strength of zero has
lost its main power source or engine
and is dead.
V.Integirty
A vehicle with a V.Integrity of zero will
start to break up. The greater the minus
this stat goes into the faster and more
dramatic it is.
V.Speed
As V.Speed is reduced so is the top
speed of the vehicle. If it is travelling
at more than its new top speed, the
vehicle will slow down.
V.Logic
If a vehicle has built in skills, these will
be lost or reduced. If it has more than
one skill then roll randomly to see which
skill is impacted.
V.Control
As this stat is damaged then any benefits
are lost and if the stat is reduced it can
induce a penalty to driving or control
skill rolls. A vehicle with a V.Control
of zero or less is out of control and no
longer responds to anything the driver
or pilot does until repaired.
Building Vehicles with Points
Vehicles commonly fall into three
categories; light, medium and heavy.
Light vehicles are built using 10 points
spread between all the stats, the
majority normally spent in V.Control or
to mitigate penalties. Medium vehicles
have 30 points and heavy vehicles get
50 points.
 Medium Heavy Example 2
Light 10pts A biplane is hit with heavy machine gun
30pts 50pts
Bicycle Fighter Jet Armored Car fire. It has light flexible armor protecting
Biplane Longship Battleship it from 3 points of special damage. A
Buckboard Motorcycle Cruiser lucky damage roll delivers 4 points of
Chariot Schooner Dreadnought (bleeding) piercing damage. In this
Hang Glider Sedan/Car Galley case the pilot is hit by shards of glass
Microlight Sloop Space Ship as the bullets rip through the aircraft.
Scooter Space Submarine
Segway Shuttle Tank
X-Wing
Example 3
A hang glider is doused in petrol and set
on fire. The hang glider has no armor
The objective in limited points is to force and can burn so the special damage
compromises. A high-performance would be applied as an additional point
sports car may have a high speed and of damage to a random vehicle stat
control, maybe 10 in each but that every turn.
leaves just 10 points spread between
strength, integrity and logic. Vehicles hitting Vehicles
There is no need for special rules here,
Some vehicles do not need points, they just apply the normal damage rules (1d6
simply exist as scenery or plot devices to 3d6 damage depending on speed
and they are only killed if the story calls then +1 damage per 15kph/10mph
for it. Examples include strange police thereafter. Both vehicles take the same
boxes and weapons the size of planets. damage and the relative speeds should
be calculated for damage purposes. Any
Special Damage special damage that is applied to the
Most vehicles, most of the time are not vehicle occupants uses concussion as
affected by special damage, they do not the damage type.
bleed, they cannot be stunned and so
on. Normally, vehicle armor is heavy When calculating relative the speed of
enough to negate special damage. an impact, vehicles striking from behind
There are two logical exceptions to subtract the speed of the slower vehicle
this; vehicles that have no armor and from the faster one. For side impacts,
vehicles that can burn. use the ramming vehicle’s current
speed. And for head-on collisions, add
1. If the damage makes no sense, the speeds of both vehicles.
ignore it.
2. If the damage could apply to the Control Rolls
pilot or driver then apply it there. If a vehicle takes any damage, the driver
3. If the damage is feasible then or pilot must make a vehicle control roll
apply it as normal additional damage. in the next round.

Example 1
A protestor throws a Molotov cocktail
at a heavy industrial bulldozer, the
bulldozer is not technically armored.
The bottle of petrol bursts into flames
and the bulldozer doesn’t really care.

68
Healing
As damage is applied to the character’s
stats there must be a way of restoring
stats. There are three methods provided,
natural, medical and magical.
Natural Healing
Stats that are below their full value but
more than half their full value (rounded
in the players favor) will heal at 1 point
every 10 minutes.
Stats that are below half value but above
zero heal at a rate of one point per hour
until they are at half value and then one
point per 10 minutes from then on. So, a
character with a 7 Strength that has been
reduced to 1 Strength will take 2hrs to get
back up to 3 Strength (which is half of 7
when rounded in the players favor) and
then 40 minutes to get from 4 to 7.
Stats at zero or below take one day to
heal per point until they reach a value of
1. A character whose strength have been
reduced from 7 to -3 will take 4 days to
regain consciousness.
All stats will heal concurrently so if you
have lost one point from each of three
stats then 10 minutes will see you fully
recovered.
69
Medical Healing
If your healing is being supervised by a
trained medic, then all healing times are
halved on a successful Medical skill roll.
One skill roll is required for each stat. A
disastrous Medical skill roll (final roll is
below zero) will inflict an additional point
of damage to the stat being rolled for.
Magical Healing
Magic can heal wounds instantly by
spending 1 mana per point healed per
stat or 4 Mana for 1d6. Magical healing
takes if the spell takes to cast.
Healing Special Damage
Concussion type damage has no lasting
effects beyond the number of turns the
character was concussed for.
Bleeding and slashing damage requires a
Medical skill roll. For every point above 8
of the final roll one point of bleeding or
slashing damage can be alleviated. This
does not heal any points of stat damage it
just prevents further loss though bleeding
or removes some of the minuses caused
by slashing wounds. One roll is required
for each type of damage treated and a
disastrous roll will increase the bleeding
or penalty by one point.
 3Deep Solo Engine
3Deep can be played with or without a Game Master. As with most solo rpg engines
you do not need a prepared adventure, just an idea of where the adventure will
start and a reason for the adventure, the reason is called the story arc. This
opening scene is like the all-important opening sentence or paragraph in a novel.

The 3Deep Solo Engine is derived from several other solo engines available online.
The rules here are inspired by Tiny Solitary Soldiers by Spacejacker, which is a
simplification of the Mythic GM Emulator by Tom Pigeon. 3Deep also uses parts
influenced by ABS12 by Ken Wickham. By using anything from a single 2d6 roll to
a sequence of 4 additional 1d6 rolls a great many possible answers to a character’s
question can be generated. Most of the time only a single 2d6 roll is needed. If
you have not used a Solo Engine before there is an extended example at the end
of this chapter.

The opening scene should prompt the first questions from the player. The player
should then ask yes/no type questions. The player decides how probable the
question is to be yes and then 2d6 are rolled. The result is adjusted for the
probability and the result looked up on Table 1.
Table Yes/
Table 2 Random Events
1 No
1 2 3 4 5 6
Move away
Remote PC Close a PC
-3-2 No, and NPC Negative from story
Event Negative story arc Negative
arc
Move away
Remote PC NPC PC
3-5 No NPC Negative from story
Event Negative Negative Negative
arc
Move away
Remote PC Close a Introduce
6 No, but NPC Negative from story
Event Negative story arc NPC
arc

7 Yes, but - - - - - -

PC Move towards Introduce Remote

8-11 Yes NPC Action NPC Positive
Positive story arc NPC Event

PC Move towards Introduce PC

12-17 Yes, and NPC Action NPC Positive
Positive story arc NPC Positive

Probability modifiers for a Yes/No question: Impossible -5, Very unlikely -4, Unlikely -2,
Likely +2, Very likely +4, Sure thing +5

70
This will give you one of six possible
results.
“No, and” This is the worst possible
result. If the character just opened a
chest and asked “Is there anything in
it?” not only is there no treasure in it but
in fact there is a nest of vipers, a ticking
bomb, a gloating note from the villain
and any such thing that would make
the situation worse for the character. If
the “No and” does not make sense, the
situation could not be worse than it is
then just treat this as a “No” result.
“No” The answer to the question was
simply No. in the above example the
chest would simply be empty.
“No, but” This option gives a negative
result, the chest is empty, but suggests
there may be more to learn with a
follow up question such as “Does it look
like there is a secret compartment?” A
second dice roll is made, and the process
continues. Alternatively, this gives the
least bad option. “Is the car fuel tank
full? No, but there isn’t much in it.”
“Yes, but” This is a positive result but
not that positive. “Is the anything in the
chest? Yes, but it looks like worthless
junk.” “Is there petrol in the car? Yes,
but only quarter of a
tank.”
“Yes” This is a positive result. The result
should be what the character would
expect. If the chest was in a bank vault
it would contain gold coins, if it was at
the foot of a soldier’s bunk then it would
contain uniforms and personal effects.
“Yes, and” This is the best possible
result the character could look for.
“Is there petrol in the tank? Yes, and
the keys are in the ignition” “Is there
anything in the chest? Yes, and it
appears to be a golden amulet that is
71
giving off a dull red glow from a central
ruby cut in the shape of an eye.”
Of course, if you asked a negative
question then a “Yes” or “Yes, and” could
be very bad for the characters. “Is the
dragon awake?” is a prime example!
It is important that you keep the number
of
questions down to a minimum, maybe
one or two at the start of a scene. This
is not a game of 20 questions. You
should use the most logical answer and
the context provided by the setting and
the reason for the adventure.
With only yes and no answers the
adventures
would become rather predictable so
there is always an option for a twist.
If the 2d6 roll on Table 1 was a double,
two 1’s or two 2’s etc. then there is a
twist to the plot. If there is a twist, then
another set of dice is rolled. Roll 1d6
and read across from the corresponding
line in Table 1 for the doubled roll (not
the modified result after the probability
adjustment).
Example 1
A character asks if the clock in the hall
of a ruined house is keeping time. This
is a very unlikely event as there have
been no signs of habitation so far. The
character rolls double 4 for a total of 8.
Minus 4 for Very unlikely gives
a result of 4 – “No, and” but with a
twist. The Twist roll is a 5 which says
(on the row corresponding to the 8
rolled) “Introduce NPC”.
Reflected in the glass of the clock face
the character sees a glimpse of someone
ducking back into another room along
the hall.
Example 2
The character’s horse has gone lame
during a thunder storm in the middle
of the night. The only shelter is a house
about half a mile off the road. As the
character approaches, they ask “Are
there any lights on?” This is probably a
50/50 question so there is no modifier.
Roll 2d6 and the result is two 2’s for
a total of 4. The result is another 2.
Reading across the row from the ‘4’ we
get “NPC negative”. We can now find
out a bit more about what this means
with some additional dice rolls.
We now need three pieces of information
for our twist. Roll 1d6 three times (once
for each column) and read down the
following table to build a sentence.
Table 3 Resulting Twist
1 Weak NPC Appears
2 Strong Organization Disappears
Change of
3 Friendly PC
Location
Physical
4 Hostile Helps
event
Emotional
5 Needy Hinders
event
6 Competent Object Ends scene
The Resulting Twist rolls are 2, 5, 2 so we
get “Strong emotional event disappears”.
All together we have the result of “No”
resulting in a NPC negative, so we know
there are no lights on and “Strong
emotional event disappears.” So, what
does that all mean?
Character: “Are there any lights on?”
Solo: “No,” We roll randomly to see which
NPC is affected negatively (if there are
not any here then roll randomly amongst
the PCs friends and family list on their
character sheet). In this case, it is the
holy order that raised the character from
his background. We find that the house
used to belong to the holy order and
should bring back childhood memories
(the emotional event). The chapter
house is now abandoned (disappeared).
72
The important thing to remember is that
if the dice do not give an immediately
obvious twist to the story then they
should be ignored. Typically, you should
go with the first thing that comes into
your head once all the parts are known.
Unused parts of the phrase should be
jotted down in the game list (notes)
and if an opportunity presents itself
within the scene to apply them then
they should be used then.
Random Events Explained
Remote Event
Something happened while the
characters were not here. Maybe they
find a body or evidence that someone
else has been here. It might have no
impact on the scene or the current
adventure, but subsequent questions
may make it more important.
NPC Negative
Something bad is going to happen to
an NPC. Depending on the outcome of
the subsequent rolls and the situation
the characters are in. If there are more
than one NPC, then roll randomly to
choose which. If there is only one or no
NPCs then include the friends, family
and affiliations from the PCs character
sheets.
PC Negative
Something bad is going to happen to
the PC. If there is more than one PC,
roll randomly to choose which one is
affected.
Move away from story arc
This adds a complication to the story
that makes it harder to the characters
to achieve their task. In the above
example of the house in the storm the
tracks they were following could be
washed away by the storm or a map
spoiled by the rain.
Close a story arc
An event ends one of the story arcs in
the story. If the characters were trying
to find someone then they may discover
their dead body. This is not always a
bad thing.
The characters may find the person
they were looking for and complete that
story arc. If there is more than one open
story arc, then you should roll randomly
to see which story arc is closed. If there
is only one, you should include the story
arc in the character’s motivations and
drivers from their character sheet.
Introduce NPC
A new character enters the story. This
does not need to be an actual individual.
A by stander may call the police for
example and in that case the police force
itself would be considered as an NPC,
the same would be true for an entire
Orcish nation or a tribe of goblins. If you
can come up with a logical reason as to
how or why the NPC could be there then
add them to the story.
NPC Action
An NPC, either one that was with the
characters right from the start or
one that has been added to the story
during the adventure does something
independently that has an impact on
the story
Interpreting Results
The most important thing to remember
is to choose the most logical and
appropriate result suggested by the
tables.
If you are fighting Black Network
Agents in their mountain top base, you
can make certain assumptions about
the base, the environment and whether
they are happy to see you or not.
Too Many Questions
Do not get tempted to ask too many
73
questions. Normally, one or possibly two
questions should be enough to give you
sufficient cues to roleplay the scene.
Questions or Skill Rolls?
The questions table is not designed to
replace the character’s skills and skill
rolls. If you are playing solo and there
is a locked door then do not ask “Do
I pick the lock?”, you roll the skill and
that tells you if you have picked the lock
or not. You could ask “Is the lock really
sophisticated?” and that will give you
an idea of the difficulty factor to apply
to the skill roll.
Impossible and Improbable
Questions
Try not to ask game breaking questions
such as “Has someone left me
$1,000,000 in cash on the doorstep
during the night?” You will notice on
the question table that Impossible
things can happen (the best result for
an impossible result is “Yes, but”). The
worst possible result for a Sure thing is
“No, but”. In both these cases the result
comes with a twist as they require a
roll or 2 or 12 to happen. This allows
for completely unexpected results such
as NPCs the characters thought was
dead to reappear or some completely
unforeseen event to disrupt an infallible
plan.
If you ask enough impossible questions
eventually one of them will be a yes.
You should avoid this by asking logical
questions about the world and situation
the characters are in.
What the heck does that mean?
If the random results make no sense
at all then just ignore them. If you can
use part of them then do that and the
other part add it to a list of game notes.
You should also keep a note of the
World defining questions, if you end up
in a small central African country and
someone asks “Are the police armed?”
That will have a long-lasting impact on
the character’s experience. Lists should
also be kept of the NPCs and story arcs
in the game.
Creating Story Arcs
Anyone in the game can create a
story arc. If the character approaches
a farmer and asks the game “Is he
pleased to see me?” there should be a
roleplayed reason for the result. Maybe
he is because his daughter has been
carried off by an evil noble! Does he
need the characters help or does he
suspect the character’s involvement in
the crime?
Truly Random Beginnings
You do not need to have any
preconceptions at all. As creating a
character takes just a couple of minutes
they can be made after the game has
started. What this means is starting
with a totally blank canvas imagine you
asked these questions and what kind of
world the character would be in?
Is there magic in the world?
Am I on earth?
Are there monsters?
Am I a criminal?
Am I wealthy?
You may need to ask a few follow up
questions to clarify some things but
whatever the answers to the above
questions your character wakes up on
the floor with a splitting headache and
a dead body sprawled out next to them.
Now create your character and roleplay.

74
Solo Play
Example
Opening Scene
Kellan is in his office at the detective
agency when his phone rings, number
unrecognized. The initial story arc
relates to Kellan trying to find the gang
that killed his parents.
Play starts
Player: Is it a new client?
Solo: Probability 50/50 roll 2+6 = 8 –
Yes
Kellan: Kellan speaking, what can I do
for you?
Player: is the caller a man?
Solo: Probability 50/50 Roll 2+2 = 4
‘No’ plus twist Move away from story
arc. Needy NPC changes location.
Taking these into account the obvious
solution is that a new client wants to
meet Kellan down town (changing
location) to talk about a new case
(moving away from the original story
arc). She is asking for urgent help.
Caller: Mr Kellan can you meet me at
the corner of 71st and York, as soon as
possible?
Kellan: Aye but do you want to tell me
what it is about, Miss?
Caller: It is Mrs and I can tell you more
when we meet, until then…
The caller hangs up. Grabbing his jacket
and gun, Kellan quits this office and
heads down town.
75
<End of Scene>
NPCs Story Arcs
Anonymous Caller
The New Case: Scene 2
Arriving at the corner of 71st and York
there is a queue at a hotdog cart. Kellan
gets out of a yellow cab, throwing the
driver some cash. The detective looks
up and around…
Player: Is the client obvious? (Roll
Awareness 9(dice)+1(skill)-1
(difficulty)=9 success). Kellan will see
her if she is obvious.
Solo: Probability 50/50. (6+2) =8 Yes
A woman approaches, Mr Kellan I
assume?
Player: Is she wealthy looking?
Solo (4+4) = 8 Yes plus twist Introduce
NPC, hostile organization changes
location.
The mysterious, and wealthy Mrs X needs
Kellan to rescue her daughter from a
criminal gang (hostile organization) who
are holding her at the secret hide out
(change location). Mrs X has been told
not to involve the police or anyone else
but is prepared to put her daughter’s
life in Kellan’s hands to rescue her.
Kellan: Aye, and now may I ask who I
am dealing with?
Mrs X: Please forgive me; I am Mrs
Johnson, Mary. I didn’t want to say too
much on the phone as this is a delicate
matter and I have no one else to turn
to. You see my daughter has been
kidnapped and I understand you are
the man doing the most in this city to
bring down the gangs.
Kellan: A gang matter? Why not go to
the police?
Mrs Johnson: It is all very clichéd I
know but the kidnappers told me not
to involve them and I didn’t know what
else to do.
Kellan: What are they asking for, this
gang?
Player: Is the gang after money?
Solo probability 50/50 (1+6) =7 Yes
but. Money but not cash? Logically the
next best thing to money is gold or
jewels a random roll picks jewels.
Player: Can they pay?
Solo: Probability likely +2 (1+3) +2 = 6
No, but. No, they don’t have the money,
but the diamond would cover it.
Mrs Johnson: My family owns a large
princess cut diamond. That is what they
want.
Kellan: Can you not give it to them?
Mrs Johnson: I would if we had it but it
is on loan to the Morgan Memorial Hall.
Kellan: Sorry, I don’t…
Mrs Johnson: The American Natural
History Museum, the Morgan Memorial
Hall of Gems, here in town.
Kellan: You can’t get it back?
Mrs Johnson: If I could I would do Mr
Kellan. It is impossible. We have agreed
to loan it to the museum for a year.
Kellan: I see. So, you want me to get
your daughter back. Let’s start at the
beginning. What’s her name? How did
they take her?
Mrs Johnson: Alice was at home
yesterday morning, she is on a break
from college, when they came to the
76
house, forced their way in and grabbed
her.
Player: Was there a struggle?
Solo: Probability 50/50 (6+4) = 10 Yes.
Mrs Johnson: When I came home the
house was in turmoil, at first I thought it
was a burglary but then I realized Alice
was missing. They phoned me shortly
afterwards. It was like something from
a movie, “We have your daughter, don’t
contact the police, we want the Johnson
Diamond.”
Kellan: How long do you have before
you must hand over the diamond?
Mrs Johnson: I have until Midday
tomorrow.
Kellan: Do you know where and how to
make the exchange?
Mrs Johnson: No, they haven’t said
anything about that yet.
Kellan: That is good. They are going to
have to contact you again. It also means
that Alice is almost certainly safe and
well as it is normal for people to want
to speak to their loved one before any
exchange takes place.
Mrs Johnson: So, can you help?
Kellan: That depends on what you are
asking me. Do you want me to handle
the exchange or to rescue your daughter
instead of paying?
Mrs Johnson: As I said Mr Kellan,
we cannot pay as we don’t have the
diamond.
Kellan: Aye, I will take your case. I just
have a few more questions. May I ask
about your husband? Where is he in all
of this?
Player: Are they divorced?
Solo: Likely +2 (1+4) +2 = 7 Yes but.
Yes, they are divorced but they are still
friends and involved in each other’s
lives.
Mrs Johnson: My ex-husband, Brad, is
very supportive. He would hand over
the diamond right now if we had it. He
is at the museum right now to see if we
can get the stone back.
Kellan: Okay, may I take a contact
number? The sooner I start the better
progress I can make. Thank you. I’ll be
in touch.
<End of Scene>
NPCs Story Arcs
Mrs Mary Johnson
Miss Alice Johnson
Mr Brad Johnson
Criminal Gang
The Museum Management
The New Case continues…
And so, the story continues. You can
see, the NPC list grows as the adventure
develops.
Experience is awarded like this; For the
first scene Kellan earns two points. He
earned one for completing the scene
77
and a second for role play. Kellan’s
background has him as of Scottish
descent and we had a bit of a Scottish
accent during the phone call and he
also advanced the story. The scene was
so short it did not warrant a third point.
In scene two he gained four points. One
for roleplay, the character interacted
with his own back story and played
the part of the private detective. He
made relevant skill rolls, awareness in
this case, advancing the story as his
interactions added more details and
NPCs to the story and finally one for
completing the scene. Kellan now has
six experience points.
If we continued the game, then Kellan
would have tried to track down Brad
and see if he really was at the museum
and trying to get the diamond back or
was he involved with the crime. Maybe
Kellan has a friend in the police who can
try and find car details and track down
Brad’s whereabouts?
 Solo Quick
Reference
Table 1: roll 2d6. If the result is
doubles, roll 1d6 and cross reference
on Table 2.
Table Yes/
Table 2 Random Events
1 No
1 2 3 4 5 6
Move away
Remote PC Close a PC
-3-2 No, and NPC Negative from story
Event Negative story arc Negative
arc
Move away
Remote PC NPC PC
3-5 No NPC Negative from story
Event Negative Negative Negative
arc
Move away
Remote PC Close a Introduce
6 No, but NPC Negative from story
Event Negative story arc NPC
arc

7 Yes, but - - - - - -

PC Move towards Introduce Remote

8-11 Yes NPC Action NPC Positive
Positive story arc NPC Event

PC Move towards Introduce PC

12-17 Yes, and NPC Action NPC Positive
Positive story arc NPC Positive

Probability modifiers for a Yes/No question: Impossible -5, Very unlikely -4, Unlikely -2,
Likely +2, Very likely +4, Sure thing +5
Table 3: Roll 1d6 three times and build
a sentence.

Table 3 Resulting Twist

1 Weak NPC Appears

2 Strong Organization Disappears
Change of
3 Friendly PC
Location
Physical
4 Hostile Helps
event
Emotional
5 Needy Hinders
event
6 Competent object Ends scene

78
Rules Reference
Speed: Agility/2 rounded up. Speed Mana costs:
only changes once per turn. 1 5 10
Mana Mana Mana
Damage/
Speed 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 5 10
Healing
1 x Effecting Stats 1 5 10
2 x x Moving/Change 100
10 Kg 50 Kg
3 x x x Mass Kg
Range &
4 x x x x 5m 25m 50m
Distance
5 x x x x x
Radius 1m2 3m2 5m2
6 x x x x x x
Volume .5m3 1.75m3 3m3
7 x x x x x x+x x.5 to x.5 to x.5 to
Special*
8 x x x+x x x x+x x7 x7 x7
9 x x+x x x+x x x+x
10 x+x x x+x x x+x x+x Skills Rolls:
11 x+x x+x x+x x+x x+x Unopposed 2d6+(Skill + Stat
12 x+x x+x x+x x+x x+x x+x
Bonus)
- Difficulty
Opposed 2d6+(Skill + Stat
Bonus)
- Opposed Skill -
Difficulty
Success 8+
Roll of 1 per die Negative effect
Roll of 6 per die Positive effect
Special Damage ‘1’ = 0, ‘2-5’ = 1, ‘6’
=2

Stats: Available Skills:

Artistic Animal
Stat Description Bonus
Athletic Awareness
1-2 Very weak, feeble or -2 Combat
infirm Communications
3-5 Weak, below average -1 Crafts Crew Member
6-8 Average, for a normal +0 Influence General
human Knowledge
9-11 Above Average, superior +1 Outdoor Science/
Analytic
12 Exceptional ability +2
Medical Subterfuge
13+ Beyond normal human +2 Technical/Trade Urban
max. Weapon (melee) Weapon (bow)
Weapon (energy)

79
Combat Sequence: Damage Classes:
1. (All characters) If two characters Class Ancient Modern Future
can move at the same time, roll Light Dagger Hunting Knife Pulse Laser
initiative. (1d6) Short Sword Baseball Bat Phaser set
Hand Small and on Stun
2. (Attacker) Roll a skill roll to see if Crossbow Medium Pistols
the attack hits. Club
3. (Attacker) Roll the hit location. Medium Broadsword Shotgun Beam
(2d6) Hand Axe Heavy Pistol Laser
4. (Attacker) Roll damage. Short bow SMG/Uzi Phaser set
5. (Attacker) Assess special damage. Mace Chainsaw to kill
6. (Attacker) Roll Knockback. Assault Rifle
7. (Defender) Roll for shield activation. Hunting Rifle
Heavy Great sword Elephant Rifle Blaster
8. (Defender) Subtract any armor from (3d6) Battle axe Shotgun, slug Rifle
damage. Lance .30 cal LMG Phaser
9. (Defender) Apply damage. Heavy .50 cal BMG Rifle
Crossbow Light
Sabre
Combat Difficulty Factors:
Difficulty Reason Armor Types:
+1 Attacking from the side.
Armor Dam. Absorb Spec. Absorb
+2 Attacking from the rear
+2 Target surprised Light Padded 3 1 turn of Stun
+1 Target is prone Light Flexible 3 1 point of Slash
+2 Target is conscious but
Light Rigid 3 1 point of Pierce
immobile
such as tied to a chair Med. Padded 4 2 turns of Stun
-1 Quarter covered by soft Med. Flexible 4 2 points of Slash
cover such as foliage Med. Rigid 4 2 points of Pierce
-2 Half covered by soft cover
Heavy Padded 5 3 turns of Stun
-4 Fully covered by soft cover
-2 Quarter covered by hard Heavy Flexible 5 3 points of Slash
cover such a rock or stone. Heavy Rigid 5 3 points of Pierce
-4 Half covered by hard cover
-7 Fully covered by hard cover Hit Locations:
Shield Activation:
Roll Location Stat
Shield Type Activation Roll
Target 7 or less 3-4 Head Logic
Small 8 or less 5 Neck Empathy
Medium/Standard 9 or less 6 Hand Empathy
Large/Kite 10 or less
Wall Shield 13 or less 7-8 Shoulder Strength
9 Arm Endurance
10-11 Chest/Torso Agility
Stomach (lower
12 Agility
back)
13 Vital Organ Endurance
14-15 Thigh Strength
16-17 Calf/Lower Leg Endurance
18 Foot Agility

80
Advanced Solo
Rules
The standard solo engine provides a
quick and easy way of running games
but there are more options and solo
engines available. This section contains
some add-on features that can either
help inspire your imagination and take
stories in different directions.
Challenge Rating
This is a simple rule that makes each
scene initially more challenging. When
you start a new scene all question
rolls take a -3 modifier. Every time a
question results in any of the three
possible No results, one is added to the
Challenge Rating reducing it to -2 then
-1 and eventually it will end up positive
and help the character get a yes result.
Every time a ‘Yes and’ result is achieved
then the Challenge Rating goes back to
-3.
What this does is make the beginning
of story more challenging. Often the
character assumptions are proved
81
wrong and things take a turn for the
worse. But, as the story unfolds, the
bias is reversed, and the CR helps the
character with more yes results.
Imagination Prompts
One common use of Solo Engines is as
a writing tool. Sometimes it is useful
to be ‘forced’ into including something
that you would not normally have
considered or the significance of which
is not obvious.
As with any random result if it does
not fit with the story, you can discard
it but it is better to keep a list of them
along with your list of NPCs and Story
Threads as there may be a time when
the prompt does make sense.
There are five tables in the Imagination
Prompt and they require pairs of 2d6
rolls. Do not add the results of the two
dice but rather use them as a cross
reference to find the results.
Imagination Prompts Table:
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Object Sense Emotion Emotion Sense Object
2 Emotion Object Object Emotion Change Emotion
3 Change Change Object Sense Object Emotion
4 Sense Change Emotion Change Object Object
5 Sense Object Sense Change Change Sense
6 Change Emotion Sense Sense Emotion Change

Object Table:
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Colour Object Person Creature Location Recognise
2 Contrast Shadow Highlight Perception View Long
3 Short Wide Narrow Medium Big Small
4 Round Square Oval Linear Curved Stationary
5 Creep Move Walk Run Flow Squirm
6 Fly Roll Ride Action Reaction Structure

Sense Table:
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Sweet Sour Bitter Tasteless Salty Bad
2 Breathe Eat Drink Bite Speak Suck
3 Quiet Roar Bang Screech Clunk Shout
4 Ring Loud Voice Scream Whisper Background
5 Musky Putrid Pungent Floral Oily Woody
6 Citrus Fresh Oriental Fruity Smoke Scent

Emotion Table:
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Decision Choice Divide Join Merge Relate
2 Commit Ignore Delegate Resource Technique Mechanism
3 Joy Sadness Fear Anger Surprise Anticipation
4 Trust Disgust Goal Secret Motivation Personality
5 Apply Analyze Evaluate Create Understand Remember
6 Measure Observe Guess Idea Confused Imagine

Change Table:
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Surface Host Cold Smooth Rough Brush
2 Vibrate Soft Hard Build Destroy Manipulate
3 Increase Decrease Reform Transform Closer Further
4 Rapid Shift Develop Gradual Top-down Bottom-up
5 Stop Slow Fast Wait Hurry Age
6 New Old Past Present Future Date

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Using the Imagination Prompts
Imagination prompts work best in pairs
to give you results like ‘Hard’ + ‘Drink’
or ‘Cold’ + ‘Run’.
Roll two dice and cross reference the
rolls on Table 1, so a roll of a 2 and a 5
would give a result of ‘Change’. You then
repeat the process looking up the result
on the Change Table. So, if the second
pair of rolls were a 3 and a 4, that would
be ‘Transform’. You then repeat this to
get the second prompt and put them
together in which ever order appeals to
you or makes the most sense.
It is useful to keep a list of the imagination
prompts that have not been used. Keep
them as word pairs. Often what didn’t
fit at the time suddenly fits into a later
scene.
Do not take the imagination prompts too
literally. They may refer to an object or to
a person or groups attitudes, ambitions.
They could be as insignificant as the
headline on a discarded newspaper
blowing down the street or the core
of the evil masterminds plans for the
world. Your imagination is limitless and
the prompts are nothing more than just
nudges to include something in the story
that you may not have considered.
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Interrupted Scenes
Sometimes the characters will want to
go from one location to the another to
achieve a specific task. That change of
location will often prompt the end of
the scene and the start of the next. So
the characters may decide they have
done enough research and now they
want to go to the haunted castle to
start their investigation or they need to
get a wounded companion to hospital.
Both of these would prompt a change
of scene. With interrupted Scenes there
is a chance that something happens
that changes the characters plans. In
the first example above, maybe the
characters are attacked before they can
get to the castle, in the second example
maybe the ambulance is involved in a
traffic accident and overturned on the
way.
At the change of a scene roll 1d6 and
if the result is a 1 then the scene is
interrupted. One a result of 2 to 6 the
story advances to the next logical scene
as expected.
As with all Solo Engine results if you get
an interrupted scene then the first thing
that pops into your head that could
logically deflect the characters from
their course is probably the best option.
Appendix 1
Artwork Credits
ww.farmerownia.pl) (www.faun-forge.com), CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
The Hydra: by Andrew Jiang, CC-BY 2.0
Hell Hound: by Tretinville, CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by-sa/3.0)
Vampire: by Thecount68, public domain
Troll: by JL G, public domain
Merfolk: by Unknown Russian folk artist, 1866, public domain

Other images courtesy of Pixabay (www.pixabay.com)

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Appendix 2 License
This license allows anyone to make stuff for 3Deep and either publish it for free or sell it, without me
taking a cut. Adventures, hacks, modules, anything goes. Just a few basic rules:

CONTENT
1. If you adhere to these terms, you are allowed to publish free or commercial material based
upon and/or declaring compatibility with 3DEEP without express permission from Parts Per
Million Limited.

2. Art and text from our books may not be reused or translated unless you have our explicit
permission. You can also use the names of creatures, locations, and entities from any
settings Published by Parts Per Million Limited.

3. The mechanics and game rules of 3DEEP may be reused and referenced freely.

BRANDING
4. Your product cannot use the regular 3DEEP logo unless you have our explicit permission.

5. You are allowed and encouraged (but not required) to use the 3DEEP compatibility logo.

6. You’re not allowed to give the impression that this is an official 3DEEP product or that we
endorse or sponsor you in any way unless we’ve made special arrangements with you.

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House Rules
Every game and every setting is different and unique to the GM and players
taking part. You can use these pages to record any unique custom or ‘house’
rules that you have introduced to make the game better fit your setting, things
such as new race specifications, new cultures and new skills.

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