MONOLITH

INTERSTELLAR SCIENCE-FICTION ADVENTURE

ADAM HENSLEY • CC-BY-SA 4.0 • 2022-2023

 M O N O L I T H

“THOSE WHO PLAY WITH THE DEVIL’S TOYS

WILL BE BROUGHT BY DEGREES TO WIELD HIS SWORD.”

—R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER

2
INTRO CONTENTS
Monolith is a Science fiction adventure game
Principles 4
for one Game Master (GM) and at least one
other player. Players act as daring adventurers Character Creation 6
exploring a vast & mysterious galaxy filled with
weird aliens, lost worlds, and ruthless factions. Backgrounds 7-31

Finishing Touches 32
NOTES
Group Debt & Complications 34
› Monolith is a sci-fi / science fantasy hack of
Cairn, by Yochai Gal. Vices 36
› Full credits at the back.
Gear Packs 38
› Monolith was written by Adam Hensley and
its text is licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0 Armory & Equipment 40-43
› Cover art created by Jacob Marks.
Core Rules 44
› This version of the game is designed to
be light on ink, low art, and compactly Combat Rules 48
designed for easier home printing.
Tactical Procedures 54
› Minor references to violence, drugs,
alcohol, and sex. Travel Procedures 56

Starships 58
INSPIRATIONS
Starship Combat 60
› Star Wars
› 2001: A Space Odyssey Space Travel 62
› The Expanse
Starship Parts 64
› Farscape
› Mass Effect Psionics 66
› Cowboy Bebop Astromancy 68
› Futurama
Corruption 70
› Firefly
› Guardians of the Galaxy Experimental Tech 74
› Classic Traveler Artifacts 76
› Stars Without Number
Augmentations 78

Talents 80

NPCs & Sample Bestiary 82-83

Planets 84-85

Faction Rules 86-87

Tables & Generators 88-89

Credits & Character Sheet 90-91

Version 1.1 | January 2023

3
PRINCIPLES
CLASSLESS
A character’s role or skills are not limited by a
single class. Instead, the equipment they carry
and their experiences defines their specialty.
They have a background, which tells you a bit
about their experiences before becoming an
adventurer, but it doesn’t define who they can
become.
MODULARITY
All rules are optional. Everything is designed to
be modular. You can pull whole parts out, slot
in optional rules, and add your own home brew
content.
NARRATIVE GROWTH
Characters are mostly changed through
in-world actions and consequences. Players
may acquire new skills and abilities by
surviving dangerous events or overcoming
obstacles. Dangerous and valuable technology
and artifacts will often change a character.
Characters also have the incentive of acquiring
experience points via credits recovered from
hunting rare objects or completing dangerous
jobs.
MINIMAL IMPLIED
SETTING
Some setting elements are implied, such
as alien species, psionics and space magic,
starships, cybernetics, etc. Most of the setting
was kept intentionally vague so you can
customize your galaxy and it contents. If you
don’t want aliens, psionics, or anything else,
they can be re-flavored or removed.
HACKABLE
Many of the effects of psionics, astromancy,
talents, experimental tech, artifacts, and
various augmentations can be shifted around.
Magic effects can be items instead. A piece
of tech could be an ability or talent instead.
There’s a lot of overlap, and that’s intentional.
Hack and re-flavor as needed.
4
COMPATIBILITY
This game is designed to be compatible with
other pre-written adventures (especially sci-fi)
with minimal and flexible conversion.
SPRAWLING ADVENTURE
While single sessions are a perfectly acceptable
ways to play, this game was designed with
several sessions to campaign length play in
mind. Characters may start out with a few more
advantages than in other games, but that’s by
design. The universe is still deadly enough to
impose serious challenges when needed.
DANGER &
CONSEQUENCES
Characters may be powerful, but they are also
vulnerable to danger. Death is always around
the corner, but it is never random or without
warning. Sometimes there are consequences
other than death that can change who you are,
or even alter the galaxy itself.
FICTION FIRST
Dice do not always reflect an obstacle’s
difficulty or its outcome. Instead, success and
failure are arbitrated by the GM in dialogue
with the players, based on in-world elements.
Always rule in favor of fun if everyone is in
agreement.
PLAYER CHOICE
Players should always understand the
reasons behind the choices they’ve made, and
information about potential risks. Give players a
lot of information.
SHARED OBJECTIVES
Players should trust one another to engage with
the shared setting, character goals, and party
challenges. Therefore, the party is typically
working together towards a common goal, as
a team.
GROWTH & PROGRESSION
EXPERIENCE GROWTH
Characters will gain XP and level up as a
measure of general toughness. They gain
heartiness and become more capable in a
general, non-specific sense.

NARRATIVE GROWTH
This is the kind of progression and change
that happens from in-world events via
gameplay. Narrative growth comes from
finding rare artifacts, evolving psionic abilities,
augmenting yourself with the latest black
market cyberware, NPC connections, and even
suffering losses. All of these contribute to a
character changing narratively.

APPLYING GROWTH
This is where the role of the GM really comes
into play. Some backgrounds provide implied
fiction to aid both the player as they navigate
who their character might be, and guide the GM
as they adjudicate narrative growth based on
player action.
If a PC rolls “Psionic” as their background, they
can lean into that element of their character
or completely disregard it. Find opportunities
for the them to engage in the aspects of their
character they find most interesting. For
example, reward the Psionic with things like
awakening new powers from stressful events,
learning from fellow psionics, and seeding
growth opportunities in your setting for them
to discover— like items, opportunities to train,
and other ways to help them grow and change
based on their choices in the fictional world.
If players forego their background in lieu of
wanting to become someone new, support that
in the same way.
Let the universe change the characters.

5
CHARACTER CREATION
ABILITY SCORES
Roll 3D6 for each ability score in order. The
player may swap any two of the results.
› Strength (STR)
Power, toughness, grit, & stamina.
› Dexterity (DEX)
Quickness, precision, agility, &
technological aptitude.
› Willpower (WIL)
Confidence, force of personality, mental
fortitude, & affinity for the weird.
BACKGROUND
› Roll 1D12 and consult the corresponding
background to see what your life has been
like up to this point.
› Next, roll on all the tables listed under that
background.
› All backgrounds will have three tables, one
corresponding to HP, and two other tables
to flesh out their history.
HIT PROTECTION (HP)
Rolling 1D6 determines your character’s
starting Hit Protection (HP), which reflects their
ability to avoid damage in combat. HP does not
indicate a character’s health or fortitude; nor
do they lose it for very long (see Healing). They
grow more grizzled over their experiences. If an
attack takes a PC’s HP exactly to 0, the player
must roll on the scars table.
VICES
With your Ability Scores in place, make a WIL
save. If you fail, roll on the vices table to start
with a vice. Consequently, characters may
develop vices through the fiction of play. See
the triggers listed in vices to learn more about
this. Optional but highly suggested.
STARTING GEAR
All PCs begin with:
› Three days of rations (one slot)
› Cheap Data-Comm (one slot): Data-comms
can communicate locally (planet wide) and
access local data networks. Higher quality
data-comms might have additional perks or
functionality.
› Glo-torch (one slot)
› 3D6 Credits (C)
GEAR PACKS
(Variant Character Creation Option)
If players prefer to create a character
without a background, reference the
chart on pages 38-39. Players will roll
their stats as normal, roll 1d6 HP, and
reference the chart according to their
highest stat and their HP. This will
give them a starting package that may
include weapons, powers, equipment,
and other character features.

FINISHING TOUCHES
Roll on any the additional tables (if you want) in
the finishing touches section (pg. 32) for extra
traits and character qualities.

SHARED DEBT
Roll on the shared debt table (pg. 34) for the
group’s shared debt. This will help facilitate
urgency for the players by prompting them to
search out jobs and make money, as well as
provide the GM with world building and story
hooks. Optional but highly suggested.

6
BACKGROUNDS
BACKGROUND DETAILS
You might have done other things in the past,
but your background represents your most
recent or most significant experience.
Some elements from your past might still be
relevant to who your character is or could
become, but their past doesn’t define them.
Backgrounds will also imply some specialized
knowledge, along with other details based on
the dossier tables.

01. MERCENARY
02. HUMAN EXPERIMENT
03. ENGINEER
04. SMUGGLER
05. PILOT
06. MACHINE
07. UNDERWORLD
08. PSIONIC
09. SCIENTIST
10. SOLDIER
11. STAR-TOUCHED
12. BOUNTY HUNTER

MORE TO COME...

7
01 — MERCENARY

PROFILE
Mercenary crews are guns for hire. They have experience in combat, insider
knowledge of the violence business, and are a little rougher around the edges than
others. You and your old crew fought for the highest bidder, not for any sort of
ideology. Unless that ideology was lots of creds.

STARTING GEAR
› Old Crew Emblem
› Combat Knife (D6) or 2 Flash Grenades
› Cigar

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Signature Weapon

Ifriti-9000 “Hell Spitter” (D10 Blast, Thermal, Bulky) and 2 tanks of fuel (spec-ammo)
1 HP A deluxe model flamethrower that sprays super-thermal plasma that can burn through
metal.

Folding Vibro-Shank (D6, Deadly, Shock, concealable) A five-inch blade that does
2 HP
absolutely devastating damage. Folds up for concealing. Very-illegal.

Supercharged Carbine Repeater (D8 Thermal and d6 Cryo, bulky) Custom modded to
3 HP
switch between thermal or sub-zero energy rounds. Switching takes 1 turn.

Jade-Iron Machete (D8, Deadly) 3 feet of marbled green metal with a wicked cutting
4 HP
edge. Expert craftsmanship and quite valuable.

“Trusty” (D6 Blaster) & “Rusty” (D6 Blaster, Cheap) These two guns have been with you
5 HP
through thick & thin.

6 HP “Rusty” (D6 Blaster, Cheap) You used to have two but lost the good one…

8
D6 Old Crew Specialty
Para-Military: Private sector
military for hire. You were, and
1 probably still are, an absolute
professional. Take holo-binocs
and a claymore.
Seedy Jobs: Hired muscle
contracted through criminal
syndicates, you are familiar
2 with the less savory parts of the
galaxy. Take a grimy outfit, a
pack of smokes, & 6d12 worth of
underworld trade goods.
Ghost Unit: Your crew
specialized in delicate matters
that needed doing discreetly and
3 3
without a trace. Take plasti-steel
armor (Armor 1, bulky) and a gas
mask.
Hit Squad: Assassinations were
your bread & butter. Take a
4 thermal detonator, a dark outfit,
and an infrared visor helm (Armor
1, heat vision)
Corp-Sec: Private megacorporate
security for a major faction.
5 Generate a faction and NPC and
determine what type of business.
Take the talent “Human Shield”.
Deep Cover: Specialists in
infiltration as double agents for
6 espionage and intel gathering.
Take an auto-lock slicer, drone
cam, and fake ID.
D6 What Happened?
Last Man Standing: Something
bad happened and everyone
1 turned on each other. It was a
bloodbath and you were the last
man standing...at least you think.
Betrayal: Were you the leader, or
were you a betrayer? Or was the
whole crew betrayed by someone
2
- inside or out? Either way, the
crew broke up and you have to
make your own way.
Things Just Change...: Or maybe
you changed. Either way, you
decided you didn’t want to do
what they did anymore, and
broke off on your own.
Splintered: The group splintered,
maybe from a disagreement in
4
leadership, or infighting, and
splinter groups broke off.
Kicked Out: Whether it was from
breaking the rules, or not seeing
5 eye-to-eye with the brass, you
were exiled from your crew on
bad terms.
Left Behind: Things went
sideways on your last mission
6 and you got left behind mission,
considered MIA or dead. Maybe
it’s time for a fresh start.
9
02 — HUMAN EXPERIMENT

PROFILE
You have been the subject of unethical and experimental scientific tinkering.
There were some side effects. You recently managed to escape.

STARTING GEAR
› Cloak (Hooded)
› Flashlight
› Tattoo (Serial Number or Bar Code)

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Side-Effects

Exothermic Lungs: Exhale a superheated spray of plasma (D10 blast, thermal).

1 HP
Costs 1 fatigue

2 HP Magnetism: Manipulate metal objects up to 100 lbs with your mind. Costs 1 fatigue.

3 HP Ghost Skin: Willingly phase through solid objects up to 3 feet thick. Costs 1 fatigue.

Elasticity: Your arms and hands can stretch and change form up to 20 sq feet or 60 feet
4 HP
in length.

5 HP Biomimicry: Change or alter your face and skin once a day.

Ultra-Conductive: You can discharge, locally disrupting all nearby computers and
6 HP
circuitry once a day. Immune to electricity and EMP damage.

10
D6 Type of Experiment
Grown in a Tube: You are the
product of scientific brilliance.
1 You’ve only seen the outside
world while floating inside a vat
of life-sustaining fluid.
Brain Stress: They hooked your
brain up with wires and pushed
2 black market and notes on how
your mind to the limits. You know
one random Psionic power.
Nanobot Infusion: Some type
of prototype serum was injected
3 into your bloodstream. Your
body can naturally heal 1D4 STR
damage a day.
Gene-Splicing: Bio-Engineering
via illegal methods made your
4 (Roll 1D4). 1-2: small melee, 3:
body more hardy and adaptable.
You naturally have 1 armor.
Ghost-Shell: You are a recently
re-animated or unwilling
consciousness implanted into
5 a synthetic body. You know one
random Astromancy from your
previous life. Your memory is
slowly returning in pieces...
6 Billion Credit Person: You
were a pet project of some
unknown billionaire. They were
6 attempting to create a perfect
specimen. The project was
considered a partial failure.
Increase one Ability Score to 16.
D6 How Did You Escape?
Violently, by turning your powers
1 on your captors. Take a bloody
scalpel (D6)
Furtively, you somehow
managed to sneak out in the
dead of night. Take stolen
2
records worth 4d8 credits on the
to find them.
Benevolently, an unknown figure
unlocked your restraints while
nobody was there. When you
3
woke up, your escape was wide
open. Take a mysterious business
card.
Inexplicably, incomprehensible
quantum displacement shifted
you somewhere completely
4
random. Take a random weapon
stun gun, 4: junky blaster.
Compliantly: You didn’t need to
escape, the experiment suddenly
ended and you were released
in the middle of nowhere, with
5
no way of knowing who had
experimented on you. Your
account now has 2,000 credits as
payment.
Cargo Mix-up: You were being
shipped somewhere and
the manifests got mixed up.
Someone found you and let you
6
go. The original experimenter is
still looking for you. Take 1D6
random drugs or contraband
items.
11
03 — ENGINEER

PROFILE
You’ve built a career around being handy. You’re skilled at repairing and maintaining
mechanical structures and devices.

STARTING GEAR
› Crowbar (D6)
› Duct Tape
› Grease-stained work clothes

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Pet Project

Dimension De-stabilizer: Tech belt that allows the wearer to slip in and out of reality.
1 HP
You cannot interact with anything in this reality but are still visible.

Division Multiplier: Harness that when activated splits you into two smaller versions of
2 HP yourself. HP & Ability Scores are halved. Inventory exists in a quantum state; items used
by one version are inaccessible to the other. Lasts 1 minute. Causes 1 fatigue.

Molecular Shield Generator: (+1 armor, 3 bonus HP a day) Swarm of fly-sized nanobots
3 HP orbit you, occasionally running scans on your biological makeup, providing you with
customized shielding and protection. Bonus HP takes a day to recharge.

Anti-Grav Boots: Activate to reduce your fall speed at the last second and land safely.
4 HP
Recharge via 100 credit worth of common battery parts in 1d6 hours.

Catherine: An A.I. chip you can implant into any basic device. Currently installed in your
5 HP personal comm unit. Catherine is very polite. Will warn you of any imminent danger you
might not notice. May run advanced diagnostics.

Spider-Wasp Drone: A spider-sized drone that can quietly fly, crawl on most surfaces,
6 HP
and transmit video footage up to 200ft.

12
D6 Technical Expertise
Cyberware: Take Smart-Eye
1 implants (Eye Socket.) 10x zoom,
recording & playback.
Starships: You can fix any part of
2 2
a ship, but it takes 2D12 hours.
Weapons: Take a Mass Untangler
(D8, illegal, critical damage
3 3
instantly disintegrates organics if
they fail a STR save)
Security Systems: You can get
through manually locked doors
4 4
and shut down surveillance with
minimal effort and tools.
Robotics: Take a chest harness
(1 slot) with a robotic arm on
it that can carry a weapon and
5 5
perform similar actions to your
own arms. Only works with your
DNA signature.
Software: You have increased
effect and reduced failure when
6 performing tasks related to
computers, hacking, and using
software or user-interfaces.
D6 Savant Specialty
Gearhead: You can spend 1 turn
(10 min) tinkering with most
1 fist-sized objects you’re familiar
with to get them at least partially
working.
0110101001: You’re oddly
persuasive to A.I. and computing
systems. +1 to reaction roll
results with machines and
synthetics.
MacGyver: You can fix almost
anything with duct tape, holding
anything broken together as if
undamaged for 1D6 hours. Also,
generally handier than almost
anyone else.
Fried Wires: You’ve tinkered with
enough electronic components
that shock damage and anything
electric only damages your
HP, completely ineffective at
damaging your Ability Scores.
Jack of All Trades: You’re
pretty good at everything. Once
a day you can take one fatigue
to accomplish something that
would otherwise require a Save.
Black Lung: Inhaling enough
machine smog has given you a
6 degree of immunity to inhaled
toxins and other harmful
breathable substances.
13
04 — SMUGGLER

PROFILE
Running contraband goods for underworld clients is a dangerous game, but you’ve
gotten good at staying under the radar.

STARTING GEAR
› Blaster (D6)
› Stylish Outfit
› Fake Clearance Codes (1)
› GM Optional, start with a small starship (stolen or indebted) with smuggling
holds. It’s currently impounded or stolen.

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Lucky Charm

Paired Sudo-Collars: Highly unethical metal collars with a subject-object relationship. If

1 HP you can get another living being to wear one, they pretty much do what you want. Make a
opposed WIL save every day to maintain control.

2 HP Hummingbird Knife: (D6, Vorpal) Vibrates at subsonic frequencies. Illegal.

Loyal Sidekick: Create a freelancer. You’ve been through thick and thin together. Think
3 HP
about how you met.

Hacking Sleeve: Mechanized gauntlet with tools to hack, slice, and infiltrate just about
4 HP
any system or mechanical device. 1 fatigue when successfully used.

Custom Cape: (Reaction rolls are always one category higher) Flamboyant design of your
5 HP
choice. Looking good is part of the job.

Moon Gum: Tastes great. Causes intense hallucinations for 1d6 hours and is effectively
6 HP
immobilizing. Pretty colors… (6 sticks left)

14
D6 Recent Entanglements
Botched Job: You had to dump
your cargo in space to escape
1 pursuit by authorities. Your client
is furious. You are trying to lay
low.
Early Retirement Gift: You
lifted the goods from a job for
yourself and said goodbye to the
2 2
smuggler life. Unfortunately you
are now wanted (alive) for 2000
creds by a major gang.
Busted: Mix-up with local system
authorities. Well, not so much as
3 a mix-up as...you’re blacklisted
from there. (Blacklisted in next
system you travel to)
Flawless Career: You were one
of the best and you’ve managed
to retire without incident. Your
4 4
reputation grants you 10%
discount from any underworld
dealers.
Jail Time: After getting caught,
you served some jail time. You’re
5 5
just now getting out and have
decided to try a change of career.
Criminal Elements: Your
smuggling services have recently
6 6
disrupted a local criminal
element’s business.
D6 Trick Up Your Sleeve
Nine Lives: Once daily, if an
attack does more damage than
your remaining HP, instead only
reduce your HP to 1 and avoid a
1
Save vs Critical Damage. (If this
happens a 10th time, Save vs
Corruption and add +10 to the
Hollowing roll if you fail.)
Shoot First: Don’t roll initiative
in the first round of any combat,
just go first.
Local Parlance: You instantly
pick up the common way of
speaking and know how to sound
3
like you belong. This carries
massive street cred, especially
with criminals.
Under the Radar: Any smuggler
worth their salt knows how to
keep their head down when
working - you have an especially
effective touch at dodging local
authorities.
Lovely Eyes: Once a day you may
persuade someone who would
feasibly find you attractive to do
you a favor or believe a lie.
Down But Not Out: When you
go down after failing a save vs
critical damage, you can still fire
a one handed gun. This may draw
unwanted attention.
15
05 — PILOT

PROFILE
You feel most comfortable behind the controls of a starship. Quick reflexes and
situational awareness make you an asset in many situations.

STARTING GEAR
› Mag-boots
› Junky blaster (D6, cheap, mid-range)
› GM Optional, start with a small Starship. Make it impounded or in need of
repairs.

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Suited Up

Deluxe Array: Holo-shades (improve visuals in darkness, look slick), armor-lined red
1 HP
jacket (1 Armor), and 2 blasters (D6), pack of alien cigars (blue smoke)

Alien Companion: Generate a retainer (merc) with one unique feature befitting an alien
2 HP
species (alternatively can be a droid or other non-human.)

Exo-Skin Suit: (1 armor) Nanotech morph suit, conforms to your body, wear under your
3 HP
regular clothes. Has a built in grappling gun and rebreather mask.

Stylin’: Take a dashing outfit and cloak, silver-plated blaster (d6, replace starting
4 HP
weapon) and a thermal detonator (d6, blast, thermal).

Committed to Flying: Take a datajack implant (Cerebral Socket). Installs the back of
5 HP your head with a jack that allows you to plug into vehicles to more rapidly access special
systems and data.

Just the Essentials: Take a leather jacket, a stun gun and a retractable baton (D6,
6 HP
concealable)

16
D6 Flying Expertise D6 Other Talents

Captain: You have experience

leading, and either through
1 admiration or fear, others find
your presence to be motivational
in dire circumstances.
Hot-Wiring: You know how
to cross the right wires to get
1
vehicles running that don’t
belong to you.

Astro-Navigator: You know your

Hard Turns: Gain an additional
way around space. You never
2 2 point of mobility in any starship
get lost in space and always get
you’re piloting.
around fast.

Ace: You always have a few fancy

moves when you’re in the pilot
Lead Foot: Gain an additional
seat. When you pull off a daring
3 3 point of movement in any
move the results tend to go in
starship you’re piloting.
your favor, at least on the first try
of the day.

Union Licensed: It was an

honest living. Other pilots respect
that. You get union discounts for
4 4
yourself and friends with starport
docking, lodging, and buying
anything starship related.
Energy Efficient: You know how
to turn dashboard systems on-
and-off in such a way that your
shields have an additional +1.

Syndicate Contractor:
Any reaction rolls or social Counter Tactics: If you lose
encounters with professional initiative at the start of starship
5 5
syndicates are one category combat, the first attack your ship
higher, or more favorable in makes will be enhanced.
another abstract way.

Test Pilot: You can pilot anything,
and are experienced at operating
vehicles that are damaged or
6 6
partially broken. If your ship
takes critical damage, delay the
negative effects for 1D4 rounds.
Witty Banter: During starship
combat, hilarious yelling or witty
banter with a co-pilot or onboard
A.I. allows you to automatically
succeed on a single critical
damage save a day.

17
06 — MACHINE

PROFILE
All machines have a purpose. What was yours, and what will it become? Machines
can only take cyberware augmentations. They must make sense for your model
type. You do not need to eat or breathe and cannot take damage from sources that
rely on those functions (breathing, poison, etc). You are immune to mind-altering
effects. You must sleep (re-boot/defrag/update) roughly as much as everyone else.
Shock does double damage.

STARTING GEAR
› Short Rifle (D6, bulky)
› Antivirus.EXE (1 use, removes 1 fatigue)

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Custom Hardware

1 HP Heat-Wave Optics: (D8, or D6 blast, thermal) Eye lasers. Take 1 fatigue.

2 HP Reinforced Casing: If you take max damage from an attack, half it.

3 HP Auto-Targeting Subroutine: Re-roll damage results of 1.

4 HP Overclocked Processors: Re-roll 1 DEX save a day.

5 HP Hidden Storage: Two extra inventory slots inside your chassis.

6 HP High-Speed Data Jack: Improved hacking into networked systems.

18
D6 Model Type D6 Manufacturer

Droid: Standard bi-pedal, Jury-Rigged: You are composed

humanoid robot. Explain your
1 original purpose and what you
look like. You have natural +1
armor.
of several lightly used parts
from various other machines
1
by an unknown builder. Some
components weren’t installed
correctly.

Android: You look mostly human.

You are not. Synthetic androids
2 are often discriminated against.
Your build quality is fluid and
graceful, take +1 DEX.
Military-Industrial: You
2 were built for tactical military
purposes.

Rogue A.I. Your chassis is

a bit unconventional, as you
are primarily an A.I. core that
escaped via hacking into and
3 commandeering another vessel.
Savant Engineer: You’re the
Explain how your frame is built. 3
creation of a genius inventor.
You can temporarily swap bodies
with other machines, taking them
over, for 1d4 hours (1 fatigue).

Lazarus Machine: You are the

last remains of an intelligent
organic being, and mostly
brain tissue at this point. Your
4 consciousness was uploaded into
this robotic body. Your chassis
was designed to be heavily
modded. 50% discount on all
cyberware.
Bio-Synth: You’re composed
of a mix of mechanical and
5 biological parts. You can use and
get a 50% discount on genetic
modifications.
Alien Society: An alien species
built you, and it shows in your
4
build. Explain your unusual
appearance.
Ancient Maker: This
manufacturer and all of their
5 creations are long gone. You’re
rare, incredibly antiquated, yet
still in immaculate condition.

Incomplete Prototype: You Megacorp: Your line has been

function well enough, but were 6 mass produced for a giant
6
never fully completed for the corporate entity.
original purpose of your build.

19
07 — UNDERWORLD

PROFILE
Just another low life trying to make a few creds. You likely have ties to other
criminals and criminal organizations, syndicates, and less reputable individuals.
Whether you worked for them, worked alone, or had some other arrangements
might depend.

STARTING GEAR
› Old Shotgun (D6 blast, bulky, cheap)
› Smart meds
› Bolt cutters

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 What Keeps You Safe on the Streets?

Ultraviolet Shotgun: (D8 blast, cryo, illegal). Black market weapon that emits sub-zero
1 HP
wavelengths. Particularly devastating to unarmored flesh.

Heart-Stopper Helmet: Face-mask that looks like a devil (+1 armor) and emits a low-
2 HP
frequency hum, unsettling others. Can discharge a 30’ sonic blast (D6 sonic) once a day.

“Brick”: Take a freelancer (merc) with 12 STR, 8 DEX, 6 WIL, 3 HP, Billhook (D6, bulky)
3 HP They’re not the brightest bulb, but they’re pretty large and intimidating. Rename if you
wish.

Red Hyena: (6 HP, 14 DEX, D6 bite, critical damage save vs STR or break a bone) A very
4 HP large, red coated hyena. Obeys you via a neural link, but some of its affection might be
natural.

5 HP Prototype Vibro-spear: (D8, bulky, shock) Considered a truly nasty weapon.

Synth-weave Duster: (1 armor, lots of pockets) It’s like a jacket only it’s longer, thicker,
6 HP
and far more bad-ass.

20
D6 Type of Scum
Thug: You are good at cheap
shots. Attacks are enhanced on
1 1
an enemy that has been hit in the
same round.
Fence: You always know
2 someone from whom to get more
creds from selling treasure.
Scoundrel: You worked for
3 yourself. +1 HP and take a lead
on a lucrative job.
Goon: You did the shakedowns.
You impose DIS on anyone
4 4
making a WIL save against your
intimidation efforts.
Ex-Syndicate Captain: You used
to be a top dog in a syndicate
until you were double crossed
5 5
and kicked out. Roll a random
Ex-Tech you “liberated” on the
way out.
Fixer: You were a fixer, setting up
jobs for the criminal underworld.
6 6
You can negotiate for higher pay
on jobs involving criminal activity.
D6 Criminal Knack
Know A Guy: You can figure out
how to contact someone seedy
in any city after an hour of asking
around.
Forging Documents: Can make
a fake ID for 50 creds, and
2
other similar forgeries of varying
quality depending on costs.
Cheating: If you’re gambling,
playing games of chance, or
making some sort of agreement
3
with someone, you’re especially
good at cheating and not getting
caught.
Talking Shop: Reaction roll
results are always one category
higher with others of the criminal
persuasion.
Politically Crooked: You know
how governments work and
just how corrupt politics can be.
Any factions of the government
variety deal favorably with you.
Sticky Fingers: Picking pockets,
lifting goods, and general larceny
comes quite easily to you,
granting you ADV if you take a
measured, intelligent approach
with the proper tools.
21
08 — PSIONIC

PROFILE
A power within you has awoken. Whether from trauma, an evolving mind, or some
other key, the locks have started to open on a deep seeded source of power.
When a psionic character undergoes major stress, trauma, or levels up, consider
letting them awaken a new power. Optionally, instead of new powers, consider
evolving the effects of their awakening ability.

STARTING GEAR
› Cheap blaster or small melee weapon
› Fake I.D.
› Adrenaline injection (1)
› Candy bar

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Psionic Awakening

You are Gifted. Shatter: Your voice echoes with the sound of an earthquake, causing d8
1 HP
damage (blast 20’) to creatures, and shatters delicate objects. Take 1 fatigue.

You are Psychic. Read Thoughts: You can hear the surface thoughts of nearby creatures
2 HP and can communicate telepathically, either clearly in languages you know, or a general
sense of emotions in languages you are unfamiliar with.

You are Telekinetic. Telekinesis: You may mentally move an item under 60lbs. Take 1
3 HP
fatigue.

You are a Mesmer. Spectacle: A clearly false but impressive illusion of your choice
4 HP appears, under your control. It may be up to the size of a palace and has full motion and
sound.

You are a Precog. Vision: Once a day, roll a 1d20 and keep that roll. You may substitute
5 HP that roll for any Save you, an ally, or an enemy makes after seeing the results. Gain 1
fatigue when you roll your vision and keep it in inventory until the dice is used.

You are an Esper. Calm: A creature you can see is soothed and treats you as a friend for
6 HP
1d6 hours. Take 1 fatigue.

22
D6 Old Cover Identity D6 Neural Ramifications

Ship Crewmate: You got by as

Draining: You are always so
a shiphand. You have technical
1 1 utterly tired. Permanently mark
know-how of starships. Take a
off one inventory slot.
blow torch and super glue.

Corporate Processor: Hiding in

plain sight, day to day, was quite
boring. You know the ins-and-
2 outs of bureaucracy, and usually
roll with ADV when making any
rolls involving corporations or
business.
Med-Addicted: You only recover
fatigue from staying at a hospital
2 or taking expensive stims (50 C).
Optionally you can heal normally
and Save vs. Corruption

Private Investigator: Your

powers are quite useful when it
3 comes to P.I. work. Take infrared
smart-binocs and an area
scanner. Oh, and a cool hat.
Paranoid: “Who’s there?!”
Whenever you are surprised or
3
ambushed, you always go last in
the first round.

Charlatan: A fool and his money,

as they say. Running scams Split Personality: It’s not you
4 are just easier when you have 4 who has these brain problems,
psionic. Take 10d6 credits and a it’s the other one in your head!
low level bounty for petty crimes.

Pilgrim: You lived a simple life

following the path inside. You
5 learned to open your mind and
attune to your gifts. Roll another
random psionic power.
Surly: You come across a little
coarse. People of higher social
5
standings naturally don’t like for
you.

Military Peon: The rigorous life

of a military grunt was a simple
Empathetic Overtuning: When
way to get by. Your service is up
6 6 an ally saves vs. corruption, you
now. Take a Shard-sprayer (D8
do too.
blast, bulky) and grunt armor
(Armor 1, bulky).

23
09 — SCIENTIST

PROFILE
You’ve spent most of your life dedicated to the advancement of science. Due to new
circumstances, you’ve decided to make the change from lab work to field work.

STARTING GEAR
› Lab coat
› Test tubes (6) & assorted medical tools
› Plasma-Knife (D6 thermal, concealable)

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Prized Lifetime Research

Skeletal Resonator: Attract or repel a single target that has a skeleton, unless they pass
1 HP
a STR save. No effect on cartilage.

Portal Generator: Create a portal between two flat sources that you can see. The gate
2 HP
closes if you pass through or break line of sight. Causes 1 fatigue.

Temporal Bomb: Time slows down 60 times in a 20 foot sphere (blast). Lasts for 1
3 HP
minute outside the sphere, or one second inside. One use.

4 HP Corpse Reviver #42: Brings back the dead if used within 1 minute of death. One use.

Particle-Mirror Array: (+1 Armor) A molecular shield generator. Once a day, make a DEX
5 HP
save to reflect energy weapon shots back at their source.

Creature in a Jar: A baby sludge creature with one eye. Upon release, it will eat a
corpse’s brain consuming its memories, effectively allowing the user to ask a corpse one
6 HP
question. The fresher the corpse, the better the memory. Needs a day to rest before it
will come back out.

24
D6 Field of Expertise
Medical Doctor: Take medical
1 supplies that can restore 1d4
STR a day.
Molecular Chemist: Take a
vial of universal solvent, which
2 dissolves anything it touches.
Enough for a brick-sized portion.
One use.
Experimental Physicist: Take
3 a can of de-friction spray. 3
charges.
Xeno Biology: Take a strange
alien Gecko-Fox as a pet. (3hp,
4 14 DEX, d6 bite, can climb sheer
surfaces, must be fed something
living once a week)
Toxicology: Years of
experimentation, immunity-
building & study have provided
5 you an immunity to all known
poisons, and reduced effect on
failed saves against unknown or
alien toxins and poisons.
Higher Dimensions: Prying
open the secrets of the universe
6 have exposed you to things you
can’t explain. Roll for a random
Astromancy.
D6 Why You Left Science
Uncouth Research: You dabbled
in things that are frowned upon
1
and were run out of academia.
Start with 3 corruption.
Malaise: You wanted new
challenges and life in the lab just
2
wasn’t cutting it anymore. Roll a
random talent.
Blackmail: A rival researcher,
competitor, or criminal
3 organization implied that if you
didn’t stop your current research,
they’d stop it for you.
Lab Accident: There’s a
corporate-sponsored bounty
4
on your head for damage to
company property.
Research De-funded: Due to
budgetary issues, your research
5
has been placed on permanent
hold. Sorry.
Field-Research: You wanted
6 more hands-on experience in
your field.
25
10 — SOLDIER

PROFILE
You’re ex-special ops. Having completed or parting with your duties, new
opportunities are calling your name.

STARTING GEAR
› Tactical fatigues
› Shotgun or Rifle
› Dog tags

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Special-Issue Equipment

Gate Cloak: Hooded cloak inscribed with nano-particle algebraic equations that allows
1 HP
the user to phase-shift 10’ in any direction instead of taking damage. One use a day.

Mark IV Executioner: (D8 blast, silencer) A combat shotgun created by a legendary

2 HP
weapons manufacturer - limited run. Replaces starting weapon.

Kinetic Katana: (D8, bulky, thermal) An alien weapon you recovered. Slender black
blade sheathed in a metal casing. Vibrates at subsonic levels producing an intense heat
3 HP
and orange glow. On a roll of maximum damage, the target must make a STR save or be
fatally severed in half.

RNA-Attuned Shield Generator: (+1 Armor, immune to bio damage) Gene-synthesized

4 HP
custom shield generator. Prevents illness. Take a few cigars too.

Dual-Oculus Hooded Mask: A hooded faceplate mask with two circular smart-display
5 HP goggles. Allows for perfect vision in darkness and other debris via A.I. aided image
sequencing.

Cockatrice Claymores: 3 remote-operated explosives that explode with a gray bio-

6 HP
synthetic dust. (blast 40’) Make a STR save or instantly be turned to stone.

26
D6 Spec-Ops Team D6 Squad Job

Infiltration: Stealth unit. Once a

Cook: Once a day you can
day you automatically succeed
stretch out a single ration to feed
when prompted to make a Save
1 1 the whole party if you spend
to move quietly, in shadows,
10-minutes preparing it with
balancing on precarious surfaces,
cooking tools.
or similar risky actions.

Negotiator: You can attempt to

Heavy Marine: Heavy unit, negotiate mid-combat. Make a
2 breach specialists. Increase STR 2 WIL save, on a success enemy
to 13 if not currently at 13. reaction is improved and the
fighting temporarily halts.

Flash Commando: Light unit,

Quartermaster: Two extra
3 worked in small teams. Re-roll 3
inventory slots in your backpack.
damage rolls of 1.

Shock Trooper: Special weapons Scout: You and your group can
4 drop troopers. Add shock 4 never be ambushed if you are at
damage to your starting weapon. full HP.

Counter-Insurgency: If fighting
in small, confined urban spaces, Demolitions: Take 2 thermal
your first attack roll in combat detonators. If you set up an
5 5
is enhanced if your weapon is ambush with explosives the
suited for close-range (melee, damage is enhanced.
shotgun)

Top Secret Project: You were

Point Man: You have an
part of an experimental top-
6 6 additional 2 HP when you’re at
secret project. Start with a bio-
the front of the marching order.
aug. Roll augment and re-flavor.

27
11 — STAR-TOUCHED

PROFILE
Thealiving
It’s slimy,
void
treacherous
and its myriad
worldaspects
out there,
reach
andout
youtohad
you.toYou
be just
nowas belong
nastytotosome
keep the
wolves from
greater purpose,
the door.
or vaster
You made
intelligence,
your living
and as
have
a licensed
been gifted
bounty
withhunter.
a sliver of that
power to wield as the envoy of forces you could not possibly comprehend.

STARTING GEAR
STARTING
› Simple Weapon GEAR
›› Nothing can
Old Armor truly be
(Armor 1, possessed.
Bulky) You start with nothing but your clothing.

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 What Gift Did the Stars Bring?

The Deplorable Word: Anyone you speak the word to must make a WIL save or take
1 HP
1d12 WIL damage. Use once a day. WIL save vs corruption.

2 HP Carried By the Wind: Fly: Can fly once a day for 2d6 seconds at your normal movement.

Puzzle Tongue: Comprehend Languages: Can speak to, understand, and be understood
3 HP
by all spoken languages of approximately human-level intelligence.

Warding Scriptures: Your body is covered in a glowing script. Once a day when an attack
4 HP is made against you for maximum damage, the damage is reverted back to the attacker.
Save vs corruption as the scriptures crawl further into you.

Sunder: You can attack with your mind and two free hands for D6 damage from up to 60
5 HP
ft. Does not cause fatigue.

Glittering Gate: Spend 10 minutes performing a ritual in a 10’ circular area. Star-blessed
spaces exist as a dyad, and only two can exist at once. Stepping into one space transfers
6 HP those who enter to the other space. When a new space is created, the creator mentally
chooses one of the existing two locations to dissipate. All who pass through this void
space must save vs corruption.

28
D6 Your Vision
A Thousand Burning Suns: Your
1 eyes smolder. Fire does not harm
you.
The Forever Deep: You can
2 breathe underwater and are
never cold.
Abhorrent Geometry: You are
3 3
immune to mind-altering effects.
Belly of a Black Hole: Your eyes
4 are pitch black. You can see in
the dark.
The Secret Truth: You cannot
5 understand or speak it. You can
sense any untruth you hear.
Perfect Symmetry: It was
almost too beautiful to behold.
Social encounters are much
6 6
easier for you. Reaction rolls in
social situations are always one
category higher than your result.
D6 What Was Taken?
Your Voice: You can speak, but at
1 a slow, strained crackle that sets
others on edge.
Your Memories: The past
before you touched the infinite
2 is insignificant, burned away to
ash. You remember nothing from
before.
Your Mind: Whenever you gain
fatigue, roll a d6. On a 1, you
spend the next round clutching
your head and babbling.
Addiction-inducing stims will
calm you.
Your Superego: Societal morality
4 must be relearned, or perhaps
simply left behind entirely.
Your Future: Once a week you
5 must make a save vs. corruption.
Slowly your future is rotting away.
Your Humanity: Roll on the
mutations table (pg. 89)
29
12 — BOUNTY HUNTER

PROFILE
It’s a slimy, treacherous world out there, and you had to be just as nasty to keep the
wolves from the door. You made your living as a licensed bounty hunter.

STARTING GEAR
› Rifle or two blasters.
› Old Armor (Armor 1, Bulky)
› Manacles
› Bounty Hunting License & Union Membership.

//:GENERATING SUBJECT DOSSIER...

D6 Specialty Tool

Visage of Dread: (+1 Armor, immune to mind-altering effects): Skull helmet (or
1 HP something intimidating). At the start of combat, enemies save vs WIL or cower in fear for
1 round.

Heat-Seeking Sniper Rifle: (D10) One mile range. 9-10 damage on the first shot of
2 HP
combat or from a hidden position is an instant kill.

Grave-Foam Gauntlet: Sprays a liquid cloud of gray dust, forming a 12 inch thick casing
around the target for 1d12 hours. Nothing inside can break out. The casing keeps its
3 HP
contents alive in a safe stasis until released. 1 cartridge of fuel (3 uses). Buy more fuel
from Bounty Hunters’ Union.

Shock Dart: (D6, spec ammo) Wrist mounted rocket dart. DEX save vs paralysis for 1d6
4 HP
minutes.

Wire Shot: (grappling) Wrist-mounted. Shoots a magnetic smart-wire that wraps around
5 HP
and ensnares targets. Dex save or completely grappled. No save if surprised.

6 HP Trick-Axe: (D8, bulky, sweep): Can retract down to 3 feet in length for (D6).

30
D6 How Did You Hunt? D6 A Past Complication

Like a True Hunter: You hunted

for trophies and glory, and by
Revenge: An old target escaped
any means necessary. Take a
1 1 from prison and is after you. The
notorious reputation and a war
hunter becomes the hunted...
dog companion (d6 bite, 2 HP, 12
STR, 60’ speed)

From the Shadows: If you

Wanted: You crossed the wrong
get the jump on someone
2 2 syndicate. You’re now a wanted
from hiding, your attacks are
(alive) individual in 16 systems.
enhanced.

With a Personal Code: Other

hunters and those in the
community respect you. You
3 3
can request an audience with
typically inaccessible underworld
leaders.
Radio Silence: Your old primary
fixer and contact went silent. You
worry they may be compromised,
or worse.

Old Dog: Injuries, a hard life, and

Loaded With Tech: Take 1d4
general wear and tear has taken
smart grenades (d6 blast,
4 4 its toll, and you’re not as spry as
thermal, grappling) an auto-saw,
you once were. Sometimes that
and binocs.
comes back to bite you.

By Any Means Necessary: It Imposter: After you left the

was sometimes dirty, or unfair,
but you got the job done. Any
5 5
damage from traps, snares, or
other preparations you make are
enhanced.
scene, someone else recently
appeared claiming to be you, and
they’re ruining your hard-earned
rep. Undealt with, it could have
some unpleasant consequences.

Just for the Money: It’s only a

One Last Job An old client really
job, after all. Negotiate for double
needs your help on one last job.
payouts on any bounty job. The
6 6 Word is the pay is high...high
NPC offering the job must pass
enough for a lot of other hunters
a WIL save to resist, otherwise
to also be on the hunt.
they’re persuaded to pay extra.

31
FINISHING TOUCHES
Optional tables to help flesh out what a character might look and behave like if a player would like
additional random elements or help fleshing out a character. There are extra tables in the back.

Physique Mannerisms

1 Athletic 6 Towering 1 Blunt 6 Precise

2 Stout 7 Lanky 2 Formal 7 Quiet

3 Brawny 8 Soft 3 Gravelly 8 Chatty

4 Statuesque 9 Burned 4 Cryptic 9 Loud

5 Rugged 10 Scarred 5 Whispery 10 On-Edge

Hair Clothing Style

1 Bald 6 Long 1 Antiquated 6 Obscuring

2 Buzzed 7 Slicked 2 Unstylish 7 Foreign

3 Braided 8 Luxurious 3 Smart 8 Outlandish

4 Curly 9 Mohawk 4 Practical 9 Tattered

5 Dirty 10 Dyed 5 Dirty 10 Flamboyant

Face

1 Boney 6 Haunted

2 Stern 7 Sharp

3 Chiseled 8 Square

4 Beautiful 9 Sunken

5 Broken 10 Friendly

32
Male Names

1 Goro 6 Rowen 11 Forest 16 Booker

2 Ezekiel 7 Hiro 12 Argus 17 Hamish

3 Alewolf 8 Gideon 13 Takeshi 18 Benedict

4 Cain 9 Andoras 14 Finnegan 19 Solomon

5 Ragnar 10 Septimus 15 Yeongsil 20 Zhao

Female Names

1 Minerva 6 Ffion 11 Shiva 16 Desdemona

2 Ivy 7 Plum 12 Ahn 17 Mithra

3 Ceres 8 Athena 13 Manaflora 18 Pearl

4 Naftali 9 Runa 14 Zenobia 19 Evelyn

5 Belladona 10 Eloise 15 Ozma 20 Saharis

Ambiguous Names

1 Dodger 6 Locke 11 Blank 16 Moon

2 Gray 7 Rainer 12 Juno 17 Sable

3 River 8 Ishin 13 Rake 18 Domino

4 Zero 9 Nemza 14 Lucky 19 Phoenix

5 Ender 10 Ryder 15 Duo 20 Juda

Last Names

1 Chapel 6 Blackwater 11 Graves 16 Yin

2 Barbosa 7 Ward 12 Ryker 17 Wesker

3 Drummer 8 Bancroft 13 Mayfield 18 Belmont

4 Stoppard 9 Vale 14 King 19 Ashford

5 Falkes 10 Tetsu 15 Pierce 20 Bones

33
GROUP DEBT
The group will start with a shared debt. This will help facilitate urgency for the players by prompting
them to search out jobs and make money, as well as provide the GM with world building and story
prompts. The debt is for 10k credits unless otherwise specified.

D12 Description

Black Carapace Syndicate: The insectoid crime lord, Narakata the Ninety-ninth, wants
1 you to repay an unpaid gambling debt, preferably in the form of illegal goods or rare
artifacts, which will count as double their value in repaying this debt.

Herod: Infamous slumlord and galactic realtor. You all own equal shares of a small,
2 habitable moon in a nearby system. Roll random qualities to determine what kind of
moon it is.

PEACHBOY™: Galactically-renown tech innovators. You are all decked out in the latest
3 chrome. Everyone gets a unique cyberware mod. Until the debt is paid, 50% of the
credits you earn are automatically deposited from your accounts to PEACHBOY™.

Mama Sook: The elderly, devious leader of the Broken Nail Club, a smuggling ring. You
4 unwittingly crossed paths with her operations and interfered with her business. She
requires restitution in the form of running contraband.

Libra Wasteworks: Indebted for disposing of illicit goods for you. They want repayment
5 in the form of questionable favors from time to time. Until the debt is paid, you will be
pressured into doing their bidding or else face problems with local governments.

6 Echo Collective: A workers’ union that charts unexplored systems.

Funeral Smoke: One of the most notorious merc squads in the known galaxy. They
7 purchased your old debt from a debt bond company. Until you pay your debt, you are
registered as low level contractors for doing some of the squad’s dirty jobs.

Mr. Hoodwink: Loan shark and bookie known for their cruelty and wide political
8
influence network. You can pay your debt off faster if you help with...collections.

Simulacrum: Biotech industry research collective. Your activities interrupted their

9 ongoing research. They seek repayment of those damages in the form of scientific data
or discoveries that might be valuable to their business.

Tigerjack & Rook: Major law firm known for representing less savory clientele. They’ve
10
taken care of some legal issues for your group and expect payment in cash. Soon.

The Crumbling Voice: A dread presence that communicates with you all through your
11 dreams. It desires a particular artifact to be placed in a specific location. Until the debt is
paid, save vs corruption at the start of every session.

Gray Pegasus Security Corp: You owe them for wiping all traces of your party from
public records. A clean slate. They want payment in the form of sensitive information
12
from a rival faction. If the debt isn’t paid within three months, they will leak all of your
sensitive information on all known public and criminal networks.

34
COMPLICATIONS
If you need to generate complications for chaotic actions, downtime mishaps, or just to introduce
dramatic tension, the table below offers some interpersonal complications for the PCs. Suggestions
and examples are in parentheses.

D12 Your Character D12 NPC

Owes a debt to... (for saving their Local governor or politician (Cruel/
1 1
life/losing badly at cards.) Easygoing/Inept/Greedy)

Is hated by... (for betrayal/an Local politician’s spouse (Addict/

2 2
offense/stealing from them) Pompous/Scheming)

Is rivals with... (embarrassed them Drug trader (Dangerous/Well known/

3 3
or by them/professional feud.) Sleazy/Professional)

Knows a secret about... (secretly Cantina owner (Involved in illegal

4 4
working for another/criminal activity.) activity/Best drinks around/dark past)

Psionic hermit (Trying to forget their

Has been framed by... (for murder
5 5 past/hiding from local authorities/
of/theft from a 2nd NPC)
seeking strange knowledge)

Is adored by... (and is stalking you/ Arena fighting champion (In their
6 6
friends or family want you gone) prime/past prime/up and comer)

Is drinking buddies with... (and

Pirate captain (Cocky corsair/
7 now they’re in trouble with the law/ 7
Murderous cutthroat/Quirky enigma)
creditors/criminals)

Promised to help... (open their new

Bounty hunter (Psychopath/Old-
8 business/do something illegal/kidnap 8
timer/Known professional.)
someone)

Is being extorted by... (they have

incriminating evidence and want you Wanted criminal (Forgery/Grand-theft
9 9
to recover an artifact/kill someone/ Starship/Murder of important persons)
smuggle them off-world)

Is suspicious that... (NPC is secretly

Notorious gambler (Card shark/Dice
10 a top bounty/political spy/person 10
Cheat/Famous savant)
from your past)

Is seeking revenge from... (for

Syndicate leader (Vindictive/
11 something from your past/robbing 11
champion of the people/Sleazeball)
you.)

Is being hunted by... (for killing their

Celebrity (Pop star/Lounge musician/
12 friend/unknowingly interfering with 12
racing champ/retired duelist)
their business/majorly offending)

35
VICES
ABOUT VICES
Vices serve as both character growth and a
way to pressure PC’s pockets and keep them
continuing to adventure & acquire wealth to
support their vice. A vice is a nice way to bleed
a player’s wealth as they begin to accumulate
more. A player typically shouldn’t have more
than 1-2 vices.
GAMBLING
Playing cards, throwing dice, or other forms of
risking money on games of chance.
ALCOHOL
Drinking ale, wine, spirits, or other alcoholic
beverages that intoxicate your senses.

GAINING A VICE DRUGS

Make a WIL Save after character creation.
Upon failure, roll a D10 and begin with that
vice.
Vices may also be acquired through the fiction
of play. Consult the triggers for suggestions
on what might trigger a character to develop
a vice. A character must pass a WIL save after
hitting a trigger or acquire that vice.
SATISFYING VICES
Vices must be satisfied once a week or the
PC must pass a WIL save. Failing a WIL Save
adds the deprived condition until they satisfy
their vice. Satisfying a vice should cost money
in some way, whether directly with money or
indirectly via resources.
Narcotic delights to smoke, snort, or consume
in search of oblivion.
LUST
Pleasures of the flesh such as dalliances with
strangers or paid sex workers.
LUXURY
Expensive clothing, decadent food, art, and
general opulence.
WEIRD
Consorting with ancient beings, contacting
unknown entities, and performing forgotten or
forbidden rituals.

OBLIGATION
Devotion to a cause, organization, charity, or
family.

VIOLENCE
Spectating extreme violence or participating in
the bloodshed yourself.

FAITH
Dedication to a power, deity, ancestry, or other
belief system.

AMBITION
Pursuing a personal goal, vendetta, or long-
term project.

36
D10 Vice Triggers Satisfying

Gamble with at least 10% of your

Major win or loss at a high stakes personal wealth, wager a unique/
1 Gambling
game or wager. useful/powerful item, put other
major stakes up.

Consuming large amounts of Binging heavily, buying rounds for

2 Alcohol booze, drinking heavily for the whole bar, brewing your own
multiple days. booze.

Indulging in addictive substances, Regularly indulging in your

3 Drugs overuse of stims/chemicals/ addiction, massive binges,
boosters. expensive synthetics or cures.

Indulging with new partners,

Regular visits to brothels, unique
4 Lust
or novel sexual experiences.
frequent copulation, finding lusty or
kinky novelties

Blowing your money on ostentatious

Experiencing massive decadence, displays, buying expensive clothes/
5 Luxury
acquiring rare forms of wealth. food/art, patronage of an artist or
savant.

Discovering forbidden knowledge/

Consorting with strange entities,
magic/items, growing weirder,
6 Weird exposure to forces beyond
gaining corruption, learning weird
comprehension.
secrets.

Experiencing charity or aid,

supporting another through Supporting your obligation through
7 Obligation
difficulty, developing a strong financial assistance or help.
sense of duty.

Regularly spectating or Watch or bet on bloodsports,

8 Violence participating extreme violence, participate in bloodsports, commit
especially as entertainment. an act of extreme violence.

Close encounter with a

Paying tribute, tithe, sacrifices with
supernatural being, near death
9 Faith
experience, discovering something
expensive materials, donations to
causes.
faith-related about your past.

Desiring something grand from

Making significant progress toward
being greatly impressed (building
10 Ambition
a keep, raising an army, attaining
your ambition. Spending money
towards your goal.
status.)

37
GEAR PACKS
As an alternative to rolling a background, players may choose to start with a starting gear pack.
Match your highest Ability Score against your HP to find your starting package. This can also be a
quick way to outfit a freelancer hireling. Weapons either have their damage listed or are common
equipment found on page 40. If not, GMs can make a call on how best to stat those items.

1 HP 2 HP 3 HP

Ex Tech #14, Plasma Laser Rifle, Ex-tech,

Backup Heart (aug), Talent,
<9 Shotgun, [Roboticist] Tech Immunity to extreme
any 2 weapons, Artifact
Suit (Armor 1) temperatures

Psionic #22, Ghostglass Astromancy, Energy Rifle, Hook-blade (D10), Merc

10 Sword (D8 Deadly), glowing Ancient Armor (Armor 1, lackey, Area scanner, Flare
tattoos bulky), 100 scars gun, Artifact

Ice Rifle (D8 cryo, bulky), Sonic Hatchet (D6,

Silenced Rifle, light armor,
Advanced armor (Armor 2, exploding) Bolt cutters,
11 Grappling gun, Auto-lock
environment protection), Blood Hawk (D6 claws),
slicer
Ex-Tech Gasmask, Artifact

Furnace-Pick (D8 thermal, Beam-axe (D8 thermal), Plasma carbine, claymore,

12 bulky), Manacles, Hound manacles, fiber rope, antivirus.EXE (2), you’re a
(D6 bite) Artifact droid

Two blasters, Thermal Blaster, Vibro-saw (D8 Laser pistol (D6), worn
13 detonator, Pack of exploding, bulky) Chrome cloak, Shield gen (+1 armor)
cigarettes, Rum Armor Suit (Armor 1, bulky) 4d6 credits

Crowbar (D6), thermal Infrared visor, Curved blade

Sniper Rifle, Area Scanner,
14 detonator (2), mask, (D8), Baggy synthweave
Binocs, Artifact
Astromancy blue outfit (Armor 1)

Titanium mace (D8), Photon Coilgun (D8, Bulky,

Junky rifle, ether, hacking
15 Strange mask, Ether, EMP), Service droid (4
tools, Seedy local contact
Persistent cough inventory slots, can’t fight)

Stun-Rod (D6, shock),

Knife, Electric Net (D4 Dueling sword (D8),
Infrared visor, Rubberized
16 shock), Auto-lock slicer, Pet crow, Fire Oil (D6 blast),
Armor (Armor 1, bulky,
Superglue Burnt Face
shock damage resistant)
Antique sword (D6
Astro-staff (D8, Sweep),
Serrating), armored cloak Sledgehammer, Drill, Duct
17 manacles, Cheap prosthetic
(+1 armor), Fake I.D., tape, Persistent Wheeze
leg
“Wanted Alive”
Cheap rifle, Electrical
tools, Severely Alcoholic Cheap blaster, Fugitive, Antique pistol (cheap), Gas
18
(deprived unless 1D4 daily Psionic mask, Acid, Burnt face
drinks)

38
OTHER NOTES
› If an entry says “artifact”, “ex-tech”, “psionic”, “astromancy”, “talent” or “mutation” without an
indicated number, roll randomly.

4 HP 5 HP 6 HP

Hail Blaster (D6 cryo), Machine gun, Crimson Battle

Arc Ray, Heavy Armor,
Enviro-suit (environmental Armor (Armor 2), Obscure
Immune to poison, Artifact
protection), Smart meds (2) royal status, Astromancy

Deluxe blaster (D8), Plasti- Plasma Carbine, Adrenaline

Energy Rifle, Robot Merc, Light
steel cuirass (Armor 1), Ex- Injection (3), Grappling Gun,
Armor, Lucrative job lead
Tech, Psionic #14 Ex-Tech

Omni-Helm (+1 Armor, breath Plasma Shotgun, Talen #11,

2 Knives (D6), Psionic #46,
all environments), Energy 1,000 credit downpayment on
Medkit, Talent #12
Rifle, Talent #18 cyberware

Repeater Cannon (heavy Plasma Maul (D8 thermal),

Duct Tape, Binocs, 2 Pistols
weapon), Shield Gen, Green Fiber Rope, Gasmask, Smoke
(D6), a pet cat
wolf with telepathic link Bomb (2)

Blast putty, Blowtorch, Soot-

Grappling gun, auto saw, Sledgehammer (D8, bulky),
stained heavy armor (Armor 2,
blaster, Rope Thermal Detonator (2), Drugs
bulky) Slag-club (D6)

Silenced Energy Rifle, Shock Collapsible baton (D6), the Sling blade (D6, Sweep),
trap (shock, blast), Binocs title to an occupied ship, drill Combat Stims, Duffel Bag

Laserblade Gauntlet (D6

Sniper Rifle, Drone Cam, Proto-Steel Saber (D8), Shield
Thermal), Auto-saw,
Smart meds (2) Gen (+1 Armor), Area Scanner
Compass, Gin

Brass knuckles (D6), Duct Stun Gun, Baton (D6), Fake Blaster, Shovel, Claymore,
tape, Cigars, Burns on face I.D., Missing eye Glowing Eyes

Alien Species (generate

Cheap rifle, Disfigured, Deck Rusty harpe (D8, Bulky),
your alien traits on pg. 82)
of cards Superglue, gum (fruity tootie)
Mutation, Engraved Spoon

Hook staff (D8, sweep), Cheap blaster, missing hand,

Cane (D6), Rat, Disfigured
Illiterate bad local reputation

39
ARMORY
STANDARD WEAPONS COST HIGH ENERGY WEAPONS COST

Unarmed (D4 melee, -1 if opponent High-Energy Blaster (2D4) 600

-
has armor)
High-Energy Uzi (2D4 blast) 1,600
Small Melee (D6) Dagger, club, fist
100
weapon. High-Energy Shotgun (2D4 blast,
1,000
Bulky)
Medium Melee (D8) Vibrablades,
200
plasma axes, shock staves. High-Energy Rifle (2D6, bulky) 1,000
Large Melee (D10, bulky) Energy High-Energy Repeater (2D6 or 2D4
300 2,000
glaives, chain-blades. blast, bulky)
Stun Gun (DEX Save vs Impaired 1 High-Energy Sniper Rifle (2D8, vs
100 2,000
round, S-R, recharges in 1 round) STR when hidden, bulky)
Tranquilizer Gun (STR Save vs
Arc-Ray (2D6 shock, bulky) 2,000
Impaired 1 round, S-R, must spend 100
a round reloading) Pulse Axe (2D4 Cryo) Melee handle
1,000
Junky Blaster (D6, Cheap, S-R) with torch-like energy blades.
100
Ballistic rounds, junky pulse rounds.
Junky Rifle (D8, Cheap, mid-range)
150
Ballistic rounds, junky pulse rounds. SMART WEAPONS COST
Blaster (D6, short/mid-range)
300 Add on price to Standard Weapons.
Particle beam energy bolts.
Rifle (D8, bulky, mid/long-range) Smart Blaster (D6+D6) +200
500
Particle beam energy bolts.
Smart Uzi (D6+D4 blast) +300
Uzi (D6 blast, mid-range) Particle
800
beam energy bolts. Smart Shotgun (D6+D6 blast,
+200
Bulky)
Shotgun (D6 Blast, bulky, close/
short range) Particle beam energy 500 Smart Rifle (D8+D8, bulky) +200
scatterbolts.
Smart Sniper Rifle (D10+D10,
Sniper Rifle (D10, STR damage +300
enhanced when hidden, bulky)
when hidden, bulky, long-range) 1,000
Particle beam energy bolts. Smart Repeater (D10+D10, or
+300
D8+D8 blast)
Repeater (D10 or D8 blast, bulky,
mid-range) Particle beam energy 1,200
bolts.
Flamethrower (D10 blast, thermal, AMMO COST
1,500
bulky, short-range) Fire!
Heavy Weapons (D10 or D8 blast, High-Energy Cells 200
1,500
bulky) Particle Beams, Mini Guns.
Smart-Cartridges 100
Stationary Weapons (D12 or D10
blast, stationary) Machinegun 2,000 Specialty Ammo/Fuel 1-300
Turrets, Cannons.

40
ARMOR COST

Vac-Suit (Armor 1, bulky) Allows for breathing in hostile environments. 200

Light Vest (Armor 1) 500

Combat Suit (Armor 2, bulky) 1,000

Heavy Combat Suit (Armor 3, bulky) 2,000

Shield Generator (+1 Armor) 500

Helm (+1 Armor) 500

Rebreather Helm (+1 Armor) Allows for breathing in hostile environments. 800

EXPLOSIVES COST

Flash Grenade (DEX save or stunned for 1D4 rounds) Ineffective against machines and
50
smart helmets or eye protection.

Thermal Detonator (d6, blast, thermal) Beep...beep...boom. 50

Claymore (d8 blast) Set the charge and stick to most solid surfaces. Anyone who
150
moves within 5’ will activate the explosive.

Blast Putty (d6 blast, thermal) Must be applied to a surface. Triggered by interaction. 100

CONSUMABLES COST

Adrenaline Injection: (1 use) Inject directly into heart. Clears 1 fatigue. Using more
200
than 1 a day may cause heart issues.

Combat Stims: (1 use) Gain 1D6 temporary HP for 10 minutes. 300

Smart Meds: (1 use) Heals 1D4 STR or 1 fatigue. Overuse may cause addiction. 300

Antivirus.Exe (1 use) Insert chip into machine to clear 1 fatigue. Using more than 1 a
300
day may cause operating system bugs.

41
EQUIPMENT
GEAR COST

Data-Comm: Handheld device that can make short range calls (planetary), access local
data networks, and perform basic everyday functions like analyzing data chips, making 100
transactions, and recording information.

Gasmask: Protection against breathable hazards. Filtration d8 usage. 250

TOOLS COST TOOLS COST

Flashlight (80’ light, directional) 200 Auto-saw (1D6 uses) 80

Glo-torch (40’ light/40’ dim light) 50 Grappling Gun 250

Rations (1 days worth, small) 10 Compass 25

Fiber Rope (50’) 25 Binocs 75

Drill 100 Drone Cam 125

Super Glue (3 charges, small) 50 Area Scanner 100

Auto Lock-Slicer (1D4 uses) 125 Duct Tape 10

Mag-Boots 150 Blowtorch (1D6 uses) 150

Rebreather (oxygen recycler) 100 Bolt Cutters 50

Medkit 50 Duffle Bag (4 inventory slots) 50

Electrical or Engineering Tools 100 Fake ID (small) 200

Flare Gun (3 uses, D6 thermal) 150 Manacles/Mag-Cuffs 40

Sledgehammer (D8, bulky) 50 Shovel 20

Infrared Visor 50 Starship Fuel (1 tank) 200

LAND VEHICLES (DAILY RENTING PRICE IS 1/1OTH COST) COST

Droid Cart: 4 Slots, automatically piloted. 300

Hover-Truck: 6 slots, requires driver. 1,000

Overland Trawler: 10 slots, requires driver, slow. Compartment for sleeping. 3,000

42
FOOD, DRINKS, & SERVICES COST

Cantina Meal (Poor): Synth-protein hash, nutrient rations, suspicious looking specials. 5

Cantina Meal (Good): Mostly real clone meat, hydroponic vegetables, local crop. 15

Cantina Meal (Excellent): Imported organic cuts of meat, cheeses, quality fruits. 40

Alcohol (Poor): Swill. Will get you drunk. 5

Alcohol (Good): Decent local brews, synthetic liquors, staple brands. 15

Alcohol (Excellent): Real aged liquors, organic ingredients, no fillers. 30

Cheap Motel (Minimal fleas, occasional gunshots) 10

Quality Lodging (Free meal provided) 20

Back-Alley Doctor (Recover from wounds/ability score damage in 5 days) 50

Hospital (Recover from wounds/ability score damage in 3 days) 100

Specialist Medicine/Surgery (Recover from serious wounds/ability score damage in 1

200
day, additional fees may be required)

Legal Entertainment (VR Arcade/Live Music/Arena Fights) Clears 1D4 fatigue. 50

Local Transit (Taxi/Train/Etc.) Travel inside a city or settlement. 20

Inter-System Transit: (Shuttles) Travel across a star system; planets, moons, stations. 100

SPECIALISTS (COST IS DAILY) COST

Tracker or Guide 50

Scientist or Medical Doctor 100

Engineer or Technician 75

Starship Pilot 75

Archaeologist or Historian 75

Smuggler or Criminal Expert 100

Computers/AI Expert 100

43
 CORE RULES
ABILITY SCORES
Each of the three abilities are used in
different circumstances.
› Strength (STR) Used for saves requiring
physical power, like lifting heavy things,
bending or breaking, resisting poison,
endurance, stamina, etc.
› Dexterity (DEX) Used for saves requiring
speed, reflexes, agility, and poise, like
dodging, sneaking, climbing, balancing,
using complex tech, etc.
› Willpower (WIL) Used for saves
to persuade, deceive, interrogate,
intimidate, charm, provoke, manipulate
alien technology, navigate star charts,
harness psionics, etc.
SAVES
A save is a roll to avoid bad outcomes from
risky choices and circumstances. PCs roll a
d20 for an appropriate ability score. If they
roll equal to or under that ability score, they
pass. Otherwise, they fail. A 1 is always
a success, and a 20 is always a failure.
Many risks that call for a save bypass HP
altogether. Communicate the risk clearly to
your players if they have a chance to decide
on a different course of action. If there is
a contested action, the party at most risk
makes the save.
Opposed Saves: Both parties roll and the
highest successful save wins.
LUCK
Sometimes you just need to let the fates
decide on an outcome. If you don’t know
about if something should be a save, or
you don’t quite know how to calculate if
something is good or bad, roll a d6. On a
1 the result is unfavorable, 2-3 the result
is mixed or uncertain, 4-5 is normal, 6 is
favorable.
44
ADVANTAGE &
DISADVANTAGE
When a character has some sort of leverage
or is at some sort of handicap, and a save
is required, give them enhanced success or
reduced failure for ADV and mixed success
or disastrous failure for DIS.
INVENTORY
Characters have a total of 10 inventory slots:
a backpack with six slots, and four slots for
their body (such as carried weapons, chest,
legs, feet, head, etc.)
Anyone carrying a full inventory (e.g. filling
all 10 slots) is reduced to 0 HP.
Most items take up one slot, and small items
may sometimes be bundled together. Slots
are abstract and can be rearranged per the
GM’s discretion.
› Bulky items take up two slots and are
typically two-handed or awkward to
carry.
› Heavy items and weapons can only be
used or moved within one round.
› Unwieldy items cannot be carried by one
person or in your inventory. Additional
means of transportation must be
conceived.
A PC cannot carry more items than their
inventory allows. Carriers (which must be
controlled with both hands), vehicles, droids,
or pack animals can increase inventory.
Hired mercenaries can also be paid to carry
equipment and also have 10 slots.
TASK RESOLUTION
When a player attempts to do something
such as pick a lock, drive a speeder, or hack
a computer, three task resolution factors
should be taken into consideration: training,
tools, and time.
If a player has all three: training (inferred
from background, a skill, etc.), appropriate
tools (an item), and enough time (usually 10
mins), they will alway succeed.
If a player is missing one of the above, a
Save might be appropriate, with a failed save
resulting in a consequence, such as getting
caught, breaking the tool, or not being able
to solve the problem.
If a player is missing two of the above, it
is usually impossible to resolve the task at
hand, or the results of failing a Save could
potentially be very dangerous.
HEALING
Resting for a few moments and having a
drink of water restores lost HP but leaves
the party exposed. Ability score loss (see
Critical Damage) can usually be restored
by recuperating for a few days facilitated
by a medic, doctor, ship med-bay, or other
appropriate source of expertise. Some of
these services are cheap, while experts,
unusual services, or more expedient means
of recovery may come at a higher cost or
favor.
DEPRIVATION &
FATIGUE
A PC deprived of a crucial need (such as
food, warmth, or rest) is unable to recover
HP or ability scores. Anyone deprived
for more than a day adds fatigue to their
inventory, one for each day. You can also
gain fatigue in other ways during play such
as from ability use and specific events. Each
fatigue occupies one slot and lasts until they
are able to recuperate (such as a full night’s
rest in a safe spot).
CONDITIONS
Conditions occupy inventory just like fatigue,
but have other effects and unique recovery
conditions.
ARMOR
Before calculating damage to HP, subtract
the target’s armor value from the result of
damage rolls. No one can have more than 3
points of armor.
Worn armor is usually listed as Armor 1,
Armor 2, etc. and will usually only benefit
from a secondary armor source if it is bonus
(+1 Armor) or it makes sense fictionally.
Shields and similar items provide bonus
defense (e.g. +1 armor), but only while the
item is held or worn.
SHIELD SHORTING
Players can opt to absorb all of the damage
from one attack in exchange for their shield
generator being destroyed.
COST OF LIVING
PCs can rest on their ship (for free) or at paid
lodgings, and will recover from most minor
and moderate wounds after 7 days of rest. If
players don’t sleep in a dedicated sleeping
location, they will be deprived until they are
properly rested.
WEALTH & TREASURE
The most common currency is the galactic
credit (cred or C). Regional currencies may
exist and have an exchange rate. Some
systems might only take a certain currency
depending on their government and territory.
Treasures are highly valuable items or
goods, usually bulky, and rarely useful
beyond their value. Treasure can be a lure,
taking PCs to exotic and even dangerous
locations, and is often under the protection
of intimidating foes. Space stations, trade
ports, and planetary cities barter and trade
based on the local rarity and value of an item
or commodity.
45
FREELANCERS & MERCS
PCs can hire freelancers and mercenaries to
help on missions or with other work. To create
a freelancer, roll 3D6 for each ability score,
then give them 1D6 HP and a standard weapon
(D6), then roll on the Finishing Touches tables
to further flesh them out. Freelancers cost
between 50–100 credits per day, or a share
of whatever rewards the party obtains. After
a freelancer completes a mission they can be
taken on as a crew member and gain levels like
the PCs. From then on they will always take an
equal share of pay.
TAGS
Tags are optional, simple descriptors that state
truths about a character. They don’t offer direct
mechanical bonuses, but can be used as a tool
when negotiating between the player and the
GM, or deciding an outcome.
Backgrounds also imply a non-specified
amount of traits, skills, knowledge, or training
and can also be leveraged as such.
Character qualities and skills may be listed
explicitly as tags, such as [Technical Savvy]
for an Engineer background. A PC could also
spend a significant amount of time or money
training (or via similar means) to learn various
skills. Using tags can be a helpful way to help
organize a character’s acquired knowledge and
expertise.
As characters interact with the setting, they
will acquire more capabilities, and more truths
about their character will be defined, either
as tags, or recorded as notes on the character
sheet.
46
EXPERIENCE POINTS
Experience points (XP) is gained from credits
recovered (returned to a “safe” location). XP
from treasure must be acquired by finding a
buyer for the treasure. XP can also be gained
from carousing (pg. 52-53)
LEVELING UP
Re-roll all three of your ability scores. If the
new result is higher, increase that score by 1.
Roll 1d6 and add to HP total. Each time you
level up, reset XP to zero.
Optional Adjustments
› Adjust HP gain to 1D4 for a slightly slower
progression.
› Adjust HP gain to gain +1 for rolling over
current HP with a 3D6 roll for a more
consistent, but even slower progression.
› For slower leveling, simply adjust the
experience needed to start with 1,000 and
either add +1,000 each level, or double it
every level.
Experience Needed Per Level
2 1,000
3 1,500
4 2,000
5 2,500
6 3,000
7+ +500 to previous requirement
ADVANCEMENT NOTES
› The maximum value any ability score or hit
protection can reach is 18.
› Players may acquire special abilities or
advanced capabilities by training with
experts, augmenting their mind via
technology or strange artifacts, or through
intense experiences. (see Talents, pg. 80)
REACTION ROLL
When the PCs encounter an NPC whose reaction to the party is not obvious, the GM may roll 2d6 and
consult the following table:

2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12

Hostile Wary Curious Friendly Helpful

NPC WANTS
NPCs always have desires and ongoing goals. Use this roll to help determine what those might
be. Hostile NPCs will usually make demands. Friendly NPCs might be open to bargains or favors.
Sometimes NPCs and monsters will be able to give you information about the location you’re in, and
might even offer their services as mercs.

D10 Want Description

You can distract them with rations, point them towards corpses, cast a
1 Food
food illusion.

2 Aid They could be hurt and need medical aid.

3 Money They want money. Extortion, toll, tax, tribute, or greed.

Rare or unique items. Excellent pairings can result in their friendship as

4 Valuables
allies.

This is their turf. They will defend it, ask you to leave, or to prove why you
5 Territory
should be able to pass through.

6 Info They want to know about a faction, nearby NPC, landmark, or location.

They need something from nearby, probably somewhere dangerous. Kill

7 Help
someone, clear an area out, retrieve something.

They have random equipment (from each category on equipment tables)

8 Trade and want to trade or sell. 1 in 6 chance they have something rare or
valuable. Good business means possible friendship.

They’re in service to another nearby NPC and are helping that NPC achieve
9 Mission
a goal.

They are lost and need directions somewhere or help being escorted there
10 Directions
safely.

47
COMBAT RULES
START OF COMBAT
At the Start of Combat, each PC must make
a DEX Save for a chance to act before their
adversaries. If PCs fail their DEX Save, they
don’t act in the first turn. Subsequent rounds
will always go PC Turn, then Enemy Turn.
If one side is surprised or ambushed, they
automatically go second at the start of combat.
ROUNDS
The game typically plays without strict time
accounting. In a fight or circumstance where
timing is helpful, use rounds to keep track of
when something occurs. A round is roughly ten
seconds of in-game time and consists of turns.
TURNS
› Each round, PCs all act together on the PC
turn, and enemies all act together on the
enemy turn. The only exception to this is
the start of combat, where passing a DEX
Save allows PCs to act before the enemy
turn.
› The GM should telegraph the most likely
actions taken by NPCs or monsters.
ACTIONS
On the PC’s turn, each character may move up
to 40ft and take up to one action. This could
be attacking, using a power or item, moving
another 40ft, or some other reasonable action.
Each round, the PCs declare what they are
doing before dice are rolled. If a character
attempts something risky, the GM calls for a
save for appropriate players or NPCs.
ATTACKING & DAMAGE
The attacker rolls their weapon’s damage dice
and subtracts the target’s armor, then deals
the remaining total to their opponent’s HP.
Any damage that exceeds HP is dealt to STR
(see Critical Damage.) When an attack reduces
a PC’s HP to exactly 0, they gain a scar (see
Scars).
48
ATTACK MODIFIERS
› If fighting from a position of weakness
(such as through cover or with bound
hands), the attack is impaired and the
attacker must roll 1d4 damage regardless
of the attack’s damage die.
› If fighting from a position of advantage
(such as against a helpless foe or through a
daring maneuver), the attack is enhanced,
allowing the attacker to roll 1d12 damage
instead of their normal die.
› Certain advantageous situations or tools
might call for enhanced damage, or bonus
damage. Use at your own discretion as a
reward for clever planning.
BONUS DAMAGE
Under certain circumstances, an attack may
recieve a bonus, noted as +D6, +D8 etc.
This is rolled as an extra attack against the
same target, following the same rules as dual
weapons. Remember that only the highest
single die result causes damage. Attacks
against a completely helpless target always
receive +d12.
MULTIPLE ATTACKERS
If multiple attackers target the same foe, roll all
damage dice and keep the single highest result
each round.
DUAL WEAPONS
If attacking with two weapons at the same
time, roll both damage dice and keep the single
highest result each round.
BLAST DAMAGE
Attacks with the blast quality affect all targets
in the noted area, rolling separately for each
affected character. Blast refers to anything
from explosions to huge cleaving onslaughts to
the impact of a meteorite. If unsure how many
targets can be affected, roll the related damage
die for a result.
CRITICAL DAMAGE
Damage that reduces a target’s HP below
zero decreases a target’s STR by the amount
remaining. They must then make a STR save
to avoid critical damage. Additionally, some
enemies will have special abilities or effects
that are triggered when their target fails a
critical damage save. Rare or exceptional items
and abilities may also give PCs special effects
on crits.
Any PC that suffers critical damage cannot do
anything but crawl weakly, grasping for life.
If given aid and rest, they will stabilize. If left
untreated, they die within the hour.
WEAPON RANGES
Weapons have one or more ranges for their
optimal use. Any time a weapon is used a
single increment outside of its listed range,
the damage is impaired. A weapon cannot be
used more than one increment outside of its
range. Range descriptions are rough estimates.
If a weapon in the armory doesn’t list a range,
make a call based on what seems appropriate.
› Close (C-R): Within melee & touch range.
› Short (S-R): In the same room.
› Mid (M-R): Across a yard or down a street.
› Long (F-R): Across a field or city block.
DETACHMENTS
Large groups of similar combatants fighting
together are treated as a single detachment.
When a detachment takes critical damage, it
is routed or significantly weakened. When it
reaches 0 STR, it is destroyed.
› Attacks against detachments by individuals
are impaired (excluding blast damage).
› Attacks against individuals by detachments
are enhanced and deal blast damage.
MORALE CHECKS
Enemies must pass a WIL save to avoid fleeing
when they take their first casualty and again
when they lose half their number. Some
groups may use their leader’s WIL in place of
their own. Lone foes must save when they’re
reduced to 0 HP. Morale does not affect PCs.
RETREAT
Running away from a dire situation always
requires a successful DEX save, as well as a
safe destination to run to.

ABILITY SCORE LOSS

If a PC’s STR is reduced to 0, they die. If their
DEX is reduced to 0, they are paralyzed. If
their WIL is reduced to 0, they are delirious
or catatonic. Complete DEX or WIL loss
renders the character unable to act until they
are restored through extended rest or by
extraordinary means.

CHARACTER DEATH
When a character dies, the player is free to
create a new character or take control of a
mercenary. They immediately join the party in
order to reduce downtime.

49
ADVANCED WEAPONRY RULES
RANGED PROPERTIES
› Cheap: Roll a D6 after any combat
encounter, or as fiction might dictate. A roll
of 1 and it breaks.
› Armor Piercing (AP): Ignore all armor
(damage rolls of 1 misfire)
› Exploding: Re-roll max damage dice and
add to total.
› Spec Ammo: Special ammo, charge, or fuel.
Max damage rolls require spending a turn
reloading/refueling and consume a unit of
spec ammo from your inventory.
› Overclocked: On max damage, upgrade
dice type. 6>8>10. 10 on a d10 will reset
the weapon to its base dice and the
weapon will need 2d6 hours to recharge.
Can manually re-set the battery outside of
combat for 1d6 hours recharge.
MELEE PROPERTIES
› Parry: Melee attacks of 2 damage or less
are harmlessly parried away.
› Grapple: (no damage) Entangle your
opponent. They will need to pass a STR
Save to break free.
› Sweep: (Bulky) Long weapons that allow a
second attack on an adjacent opponent.
› Brutal: (Bulky) Big enough to instantly kill
an opponent on max damage and force a
morale check on the target’s allies.
› Vorpal: (Small Blades) Damage
immediately bypasses HP, going straight
to STR and requiring a save against Critical
Damage. Typically illegal.
› Deadly: (Small or Medium Blades) Deadly
weapons are fast enough to roll again on
max damage and add to total.
50
DAMAGE TYPES
› Thermal: DEX Save or take 1D4 heat
damage for 1D4 rounds.
› Cryo: STR Save or do half damage on next
attack.
› Shock: DEX Save or lose turn for 1 round.
› EMP: (Only effective vs machines) STR save
or lose turn for 1 round.
› Biological: (Only effective vs organics) STR
save or 1D4 damage for 1D4 rounds.
› Serrating: (Only effective vs organics) STR
Save or 1D4 damage for 1D4 rounds.
› Sonic: (Only effective vs organics) WIL Save
or lose turn for 1 round.
› Disintegration: DEX Save vs instant
obliteration. Usually illegal.
SMART WEAPONS
Smart weapons fire A.I. guided rounds. Roll the
two dice indicated and take only the highest
single result. Must have smart weapon ammo in
your inventory to use smart weapons.
› When you roll doubles, no damage and the
weapon glitches. You must spend the next
round recalibrating.
HIGH-ENERGY WEAPONS
These weapons do higher damage at the risk
of possible malfunction. Roll 2 damage dice
instead of one (example, 2d6) and the total is
combined. High-energy weapons cannot have
other properties.
› When you roll doubles, no damage and the
weapon overheats. You must spend the
next round venting heat.
› When you roll max (on either dice) you
must spend the next round reloading. This
requires ammo in your inventory.
› High-energy ammo can be bundled in
stacks of 3.
SCARS
When an attack reduces a PC’s HP to exactly 0, they are uniquely impacted. Look up the result on the
table below based on the total damage taken.

Scars Table

Scarred: A part of you is violently marked. Roll 1D6 — 1: Eye, 2: Face, 3: Neck, 4: Chest, 5:
1
Hands, 6: Ear Roll 1D6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.

Shaken: You’re disoriented from a thunderous blow. After you take something to calm your
2
nerves, roll 1D6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.

Walloped: You’re sent flying from impact, and land in a heap. You are deprived until you
3
rest for a few hours, then roll 1D4 and add that amount to your max HP.

Broken Bones: Roll 1D6 | 1-2: Leg, 3-4: Arm, 5: Ribs, 6: Skull. Once healed, roll 2D6
4
against your maximum HP. If higher, take the new result.

Bloody Mess: You are deprived until you see a specialist for a lot of stitches. Once you do,
5
roll 2D6 and compare to your maximum HP. Keep the results if higher.

Scrambled Head: Roll 1D6 | 1-2: STR, 3-4: DEX, 5-6: WIL. Roll 3D6 against the consequent
6
attribute. If higher, take the new result.

System Shock: You can barely move until you get medical attention. After recovering, roll
7
3D6. If the total is higher than your max DEX, take the new result.

To Shreds, You Say?: Roll 1D6 | 1: Leg, 2: Arm, 3-4: Hand, 5: Jaw, 6: Eye. The body part is
8
torn off. Make a WIL save. If you pass, increase your max STR by 1D4.

Only Mostly Dead: That was harrowing. You are deprived until you get specialized
9
treatment. Once healed, make a will save. If you pass, increase your max WIL by 1D4.

Mortal Wound: You are deprived and out of action. You die in one hour unless healed. Upon
10
recovery, make a will save. If you pass, increase your max HP by 1D6

Cerebral Reorientation: You are knocked unconscious and need to see a specialist within
11 24 hrs for a week of healing. You feel like a slightly different person. Re-roll your WIL on
3D6.

Doomed: If your next save against critical damage is a fail, you die horribly. If you pass, roll
12
3D6. If the total is higher than your max HP, take the new result.

51
CAROUSING
You can spend your credits on experiences rather than on things. Carousing lets you double-dip your
XP gained at a 1-to-1 ratio by “wasting” it on carousing, partying, and having a good time. For each
credit you spend carousing, you gain 1 XP. Roll 2D6 to see what happens during carousing. If players
roll a mishap or fortune, roll 1D12 on the appropriate table.

D12 MISHAP

Brawl. You all are involved in a brawl that gets out of control. Start the next adventure with
1
a black eye and -1 HP per level. The local cantina owner is no longer quite as friendly.

Minor misunderstanding with local authorities that you’re unable to smooth over. You all
2
spend the next 1d6 days in jail. Now seen as local troublemakers.

One of you insulted a local person of rank. They will hold a grudge unless you all publicly
3
apologize and humiliate yourself before them.

Brutal hangover. The first 2d6 hours adventuring the next day are done with disadvantage
4
to all STR saves.

Gambling binge. Your party owe a collective debt equal to roughly half the amount spent
5
carousing to someone you’d rather not own money to.

You’ve ruined the local economy! Your excess spending means that all prices are now
6
doubled until the next session.

Major misunderstanding with the local authorities. All equipment is confiscated until
7
fines and bribes totaling 1d6 x 100 credits are paid.

While in a drunken stupor and a spot of trouble, you sought refuge in a temple (or with
8 another faction). They took care of you but now as repayment have begun hounding you to
perform a charitable act (or other favor).

Bad investment. Invest with a roll of d66% of your available creds in some smooth-
9
tongued merchant’s scheme. Turns out it’s a sham and they’ve gotten away.

Due to a streak of bad luck while gambling and some antagonistic remarks, you made
10
bitter enemies with a local rival adventuring party or criminal element.

Beaten and robbed. You are waylaid by a bunch of thugs during your drunken carousing.
11
Lose d100% of your available creds.

Everything is on fire! Accidentally start a conflagration Roll 1d6 twice, (1-2) burn down
your favorite place, (3-5) some other den of ill repute is reduced to ash, (6) a big chunk of
12 town goes up in smoke.
(1-2) no one knows it was you guys, (3-5) one other person knows you did it, (6) everybody
knows.

52
 2D6 CAROUSING RESULTS
Mishap! Experience is gained, but something has gone wrong or you’ve made fools of
2-5
yourself in some manner. Roll on the carousing mishaps table.
6-9 Experience is gained without incident.
Fortune! Experience is gained. You’ve all had a stroke of good fortune! Roll on the
10-12
carousing fortunes table!

FORTUNE

Jackpot! One of you strikes it rich at the gambling tables! Gain level x 200 credits.

Gain a local reputation as the life of the party! Those of ill repute are much more friendly and see
you as one of their own.

What was in that stuff? That strange powder you snorted revealed mystic truths about the
universe. Young people in the settlement see you as cool and not one of the squares. Optional:
Gain a random power or mutation.

Well fed, well rested, and ready to go! The next day of adventuring you start with 1D6 bonus HP
(doesn’t return after rest) your first save automatically succeeds.

Citizens arrest! You catch some criminal in the act and are able to restrain them until the
authorities arrive. You are seen as heroes by the settlement for a short time.

Due to your influx of cash, the local weapons or augmentations dealer has been able to order an
exquisite weapon that he’s willing to sell to you for a reduced price.

The local cultural or religious leaders see you guys as protectors of the settlement. They offer
you a blessing before your next adventure.

Impressed by your ability to drink for days and keep standing, a freelancer of high repute is
willing to join you on your next adventure if you wish, at no initial cost.

Killer investment! Invest all your spare cash in some smooth-tongued merchant’s scheme. Turns
out it’s real! It returns 50% profits next session.

Local celebrity. Your ability to carouse with the common folk has led them to see you as one of
their own. The locals are thankful to have you around. You receive free room and board in this
settlement of modest quality and possibly some new connections.

Hot Goss. Your time spent carousing has let you in on some juicy gossip. You learn one major
secret about a person in authority.

Heroic Carousing! It was a night of truly epic debauchery. Everyone roll a d6 to see how your
legend grew. (1) Re-roll HP for your level, take the new result if higher, increase by 1 if result is
lower. (2) Gain 1 STR, (3) Gain 1 DEX, (4) Gain 1 WIL, (5) Gain a random Astromancy, (6) Gain Ld6
x 100 creds.

53
TACTICAL PROCEDURES
TURNS
› When exploring a dangerous location such
as an ancient ruin, derelict starship, or
other adventure site, GMs have the option
of using turns.
› Each turn is roughly 10 minutes (10 combat
rounds equal 1 exploration turn).
› If you’re mapping on a grid, use 10-foot
squares.
SEQUENCE OF PLAY
1. Encounter Roll: GM makes encounter roll.
2. Actions: The party decides what action
to take (e.g. moving, searching, listening,
entering or exiting rooms).
3. Description: GM describes what happens. If
encounters were rolled, they happen here.
If (1) was rolled on the encounter die, follow
the subsequent procedures:

TACTICAL MOVEMENT › Roll 3d6 x 10 to determine how far the

NPCs are, distance is in feet.
› Characters can carefully explore about
120 feet (3-times their combat movement › Roll for NPC Reactions and NPC Wants.
of 40) per turn. This accounts for moving › Have the PCs make DEX saves to
at a quiet pace, mapping progress, and determine start of combat, but don’t
checking for traps, hazards, and secrets. engage in combat.
They will spot most traps and clues at this
› If NPCs go first, determine if they will
pace.
attack, wait, or do something else based
› Characters can quickly explore about 240
on their reaction and wants.
feet per turn. Players moving quickly may
get a chance to roll under WIL to notice › If PCs are first, determine if they will
dangers, otherwise they may trigger any attack or wait. If PCs ask to gauge the
hidden trap (2-in-6). NPCs disposition out of an interest to
› Characters can move recklessly about 600 negotiate or talk, be honest with them if
feet per turn. Characters running at a full it’s obvious.
sprint will see no signs of danger and their
4. End of turn: Update time. Manage light,
chance of triggering a hidden trap increases
food, need to rest, or any item usage and
to 4-in-6.
tracking.

TRAPS & DANGERS

› Traps should be designed to be disarmed
or subverted with ingenuity and creative
thinking using common sense and items,
not skills and rolls. If you design an old-
school trap, like a pressure plate with a 1 in
6 chance of discovering and 2 in 6 chance
of triggering, make it more interesting than
simply “gotcha” damage.
› Consider what might make exploration
more interesting. Could interacting with
something open up a new area? Are there
multiple factions at odds with each other
the players can use strategically?

54
ENCOUNTER ROLL TREASURE & LOOT
Roll a d6 encounter dice every 3 turns. Deadlier Most treasure should be more valuable than it
dungeons can be rolled every 2 turns. Only a is useful. It should generally hard to acquire,
roll of 1 will result in an encounter, and they big, heavy, and useless beyond its value. Make
won’t always be hostile. it something someone other than the players
1. Encounter: Roll on an encounter table, wants. If they don’t have a buyer or someone
then roll for NPC Reaction and NPC Wants. who hired them to find it, they should be
encouraged to go out and see who might want
2. Sign: Clue, track, abandoned lair, scent,
to buy it. Players can also loot cred sticks,
victim, droppings, etc. On the next
weapons, armor, items, and various powerful
Encounter Roll, consider encountering
artifacts and technology. Maps to other
whatever left the sign if applicable.
locations and valuable information are also
3. Locality: Context-dependent timer, water great sources of loot.
rising, ritual completing, environmental
occurrence.
4. Exhaustion: Rest next turn or deprived.
OTHER ACTIONS
5. Expiration: Resource expires, ongoing All of these actions will typically take one turn.
effects end, light usage devices glitch or › Hacking
fail, bellies rumble.
› Lock-picking
6. Discovery or Treasure: Players find
› Forcing a door
valuable information, location knowledge,
hidden feature, or loot. › Disabling traps
› Clearing an obstacle
SEARCHING › Deciphering symbols & languages
› A quick search takes 1 minute, covers › Setting up traps
roughly a 30x30’ space, and reveals only › Looking through a book
the most obvious information.
› Sorting through items
› A detailed search takes 10 minutes (1
round), covers roughly a 30x30’ space, and
reveals all hidden information.
› If players state they’re searching in the
exact spot of a hidden feature, or are
interacting specifically with a hidden
mechanism, they will succeed.

LIGHT
› Lanterns, glo-torches, and other radial
sources of light illuminate 40’ clearly and
provide dim outlines and shadows for a
further 40’.
› Flashlights have a range of about 80’ clearly
and another 40’ dimly, but only a width of a
few feet.
› In the dark, light sources are visible miles
away.

55
HEXCRAWL TRAVEL
HEX CRAWLING
Each hex represents 6 miles. An adventuring
day is divided into 6 turns of approximately
4 hours each. Two of these phases,
approximately 8 hours, must be spent sleeping
in order to avoid becoming deprived. In each
turn, the following procedure is followed:
1. Action: The party decides on one action
for that turn.
2. Event Roll: The GM rolls on the event dice
for encounters and other random events.
3. Resolve: The action and event rolls are
resolved.
EVENT ROLL
The GM rolls 1d6 and consults the table
appropriate to the party’s location.
1. Encounter: Roll on an encounter table for
that terrain type or location.
2. Sign: Clue, spoor, or indication of nearby
encounter, locality, hidden feature, or
information about a nearby hex.
3. Locality: Shifts in weather, terrain, or
other local changes.
4. Expiration: Exhaustion (Rest this turn or
add 1 fatigue), Hunger (Eat a ration or add
1 fatigue), or another resource is needed.
5. Discovery: Discover something useful
such as food, treasure, or other resources.
6. Hidden Feature: The main feature of
the hex is discovered, or, choose or roll
randomly for a unique hex feature from
a random table. Options could be small
dungeons, secret areas, factions, special
items, etc. If the hex doesn’t have a
hidden feature, consider an additional
discovery and be clear that the hex has
been fully explored.
56
EXPLORATION ACTIONS
The party may engage in one of the following
standard actions each turn:
› Travel: Passing through a hex and into
an adjacent one. On roads marked on the
map, the party travels through two hexes
(three if mounted). Off-road, one hex is
traversed. There is also a 2-in-6 chance,
when traveling off-road, of getting lost. This
is increased to 3-in-6 in hexes classified as
difficult terrain. An experienced survivalist
decreases the chance of getting lost by
1-in-6. If lost, PCs will need to spend the
next turn using the “search” action to
reorient themselves. The effects of getting
lost are rolling a D6, assigning a number
to each side of the hex, and moving the
players one hex off course in that direction.
› Explore: Looking for interesting features
within a hex. There is a 4-in-6 chance of
discovering the hidden location in the hex
description. Difficult terrain reduces this to
3-in-6. An experienced explorer increases
the chance by 1-in-6.
› Search: Looking for something which was
previously encountered in a hex. The basic
chance is 5-in-6 or 4-in-6 in difficult terrain.
An experienced woodsman, tracker, or
navigator increases the chance by 1-in-6.
› Interact: Staying in the current location
(e.g. exploring a dungeon, town, etc).
› Camp: Resting and/or sleeping.
› Forage: Hunt, fish, or forage for food. There
is a basic 3-in-6 chance of success. An
experienced hunter, angler, or woodsman
increases the chance.
POINTCRAWL TRAVEL
POINT CRAWLING
Points of Interest (POIs) are marked as
locations on the map with a number. Point of
interest can range from settlements, ruins,
natural landmarks, or anything that has
content for players to interact with. Lines of
travel between POIs indicate routes or paths.
The time and length of a path is different,
depending on distance, terrain, and other
factors.
ROUTES
Routes between two points are designated
by their two labels (e.g. 01/04 is the route
between points 01 and 04.) Typically they are
the same both directions, but in cases where
one direction might be different (such as uphill,
upriver, etc.) label it 01 to 04 to indicate
direction.
› Routes will indicate travel time, encounters,
hazards, and any other particulars.
› Encounters can include creatures, NPCs,
shifts in weather or terrain, exhaustion,
requiring resource expenditure, discovery,
and even finding treasure.
› The time a route takes to travel is a
combination of both distance and difficulty
or quality of terrain.
› A route that appears shorter than another
might take longer to traverse because of
difficult terrain or other factors.
01
04
02
05
06
03
MOVEMENT ACTIONS
› Travel: Move through an available route
from your current point to another
connected point. Refer to the route entry
for details on travel time and hazards. Roll
on the encounter table for that route.
› Camp: Make camp and rest for 8 hours.
› Forage: Hunt, fish, or forage for food. Every
attempt takes 1 hour. There is a base line
3-in-6 chance of success. An experienced
hunter, angler, or woodsman increases the
chance.
SURVIVAL
› Players must spend roughly 8 hours every
24 hours resting or become deprived.
› Players will need to eat 1 ration (or
equivalent) every 24 hours or become
deprived.
EXAMPLE ROUTE 01/04
› Travel Time: 4 hours
› Distance: ~8 miles
› Terrain: Forest and plains mix. Rocky but
level. Small streams and brooks.
Encounters (01/04)
2D4 Blue Jackals
1
(3 HP, 6 STR, 12 DEX, D6 Bite)
Thunderstorm (+1 fatigue to push
2
through or double your travel time)
3-5 No encounter
Discover 3 sweetgrass (ration, can
6
bundle)
57
STARSHIPS
STARSHIP SCORES
› Shields (SHI) Shields of energy protect the
hull of the ship from structural damage.
They take 10 mins to recharge after
combat.
› Hull (HUL) The hull of the ship is the
structural integrity and outer physical layer.
› Engines (ENG) Engines power the ship by
providing it with energy.
› Systems (SYS) Systems are the quality
of the ship’s wiring and technological
capability.
HOLDS
› Holds are a ship’s inventory capabilities.
› Most starship parts occupy 1 hold. Bulky
parts occupy 2 hold.
› A hold can contain quarters (rooms),
modules, or a single unit of trade goods.
› A ship’s size determines how many holds
it has.
QUARTERS
Quarters are rooms or areas on the ship. All
ships will have a cockpit or bridge by default,
along with anything else specified.
MODULES
Modules add features or increase Starship
Scores. Modules can be weapons, technology,
improvements to shields, armoring, hull,
engines, and systems. Modules can stack.
ARMORING
Before calculating damage to SHI, subtract
the target’s armoring value from the result of
damage rolls. No ship can have more than 3
armor.
58
MOVEMENT & MOBILITY
› Movement is the amount of hexes a ship
may move during their turn in combat.
Ships may change their direction using one
point of movement.
› Mobility is the amount of directions on
a hex they may rotate using one unit of
movement. One point of mobility allows a
ship to rotate for 60 degrees
CREW REQUIREMENT
Minimum individuals required to operate the
ship, maximum capacity. Ship size lists a range
from minimum crew needed for operation, all
the way to maximum capacity.
CREW MATES
Ships require a crew to operate. Hire a crew
mate for 50C a week. They will live on and help
operate the ship. If they need to be interacted
with individually, they will have Attribute
Scores of 10 and 3 HP. If crew mates come on
missions, treat them as freelancers.
BUILDING & UPGRADING
› A ship will cost 500C for each Hold.
Determine the size of ship you are creating
based on Holds and assign a price. (e.g.
a Medium Ship will have a base cost of
6,000C.)
› Any other modules or quarters will increase
the ship’s price based on cost of parts.
› You cannot buy individual holds. A ship
must be upgraded in size which takes
1D6 days and has a labor cost of 100C a
day. Upgrading a ship’s size also has an
additional cost of 2,000C, which is the
value of the increase in holds (increments
of 4).
SHIP SIZE SAMPLE STARSHIP
Starships come in 5 Sizes (Fighter, Small,
The Desdemona
Medium, Large, Giant). Each size has a fixed
number of holds, which will determine capacity Medium Ship
for ship upgrades and cargo.
Shields: 1D6 (Roll on recharge)
› All ships start with Starship Scores of 10.
Add modules to upgrade their scores. HUL: 12
› All ships come with a cockpit (Fighter- ENG: 10 (+4 Energy Reserves)
Medium) or bridge (Large & Giant). Doesn’t SYS: 14
fill a Hold.
› All ships come with an engine room Armoring: 1
(Fighters just have an engine.) Doesn’t fill Movement: 4
a Hold.
Mobility: 2
› All ships come freely equipped with an
Unstable Shield Gen (1 Hold) and a Flak Holds: 12
Cannon (1 Hold). 1. Flak Cannon (D4)
› Some starship parts can only fit certain 2. Unstable Shield-Gen (Roll 1D6 on recharge)
ship sizes (use your judgement), or have
minimum Ship Score requirements. 3. EMP Rockets (D8 to SHI only)
4. Afterburners
FIGHTER (1-2 Crew)
5. Power Reserve (+4 Energy Reserves)
MOVEMENT MOBILITY HOLDS 6. Crew Quarters
5 3 4 7. Mess Hall
8. Reinforced Plating (+2 HUL)
SMALL (2-6 Crew) 9. Nano-Relays (+4 SYS)

MOVEMENT MOBILITY HOLDS 10. Omni-Gel Coating (+1 Armoring)

11. Empty
5 2 8
12. Empty

MEDIUM (6-10 Crew)

MOVEMENT MOBILITY HOLDS

4 2 12

LARGE (10-20 Crew)

MOVEMENT MOBILITY HOLDS

3 1 16

GIANT (20-50 Crew)

MOVEMENT MOBILITY HOLDS

2 1 20

59
STARSHIP COMBAT
START OF COMBAT
At the Start of Combat, and each subsequent
round, the pilot makes a DEX Save to act first.
DEPARTMENT PHASES
On each round, every department will get
to perform a department action if at least
one player is operating that department.
The departments are Pilot, Engineering,
Weapons, Systems, and Command. These
phase can happen in any order and all occur
simultaneously during the player turn.
FACING
Unless otherwise noted, attacks from behind
go up one dice size, and from head-on they go
down one dice size.
ATTACKING & DAMAGE
› Damage is first done to a ship’s Shields,
then the remaining damage is done to the
Hull (see critical damage).
› Some weapons might have special
properties or specific damage types, and
some shields might specifically guard
against that type of damage.
ATTACK MODIFIERS
› If fighting from a position of weakness
(such as through cover, or with
malfunctioning systems or weapons), the
attack is impaired.
› If fighting from a position of advantage
(such as against a malfunctioning ship or
through a daring maneuver), the attack is
enhanced.
› Certain advantageous situations or systems
might call for enhanced damage or bonus
dice. GM may use at their own discretion as
a reward for players’ clever thinking.
60
SHIP SIZE IN COMBAT
Deals impaired damage to
medium ships, attacks to
Fighter
larger ships are typically
ignored.
Deals impaired damage to
Small large ships, attacks to giant
ships are typically ignored.
Deals enhanced damage to
Medium fighters, and impaired damage
to giant ships.
Large
Deals critical damage to
fighters, deals enhanced
damage to small ships.
Deals critical damage to
fighters and small ships, and
Giant
enhanced damage to medium
ships.
PILOTING ACTION
The pilot may either move or perform a
maneuver. Below is a list of piloting maneuvers.
› Spin: Use half of your movement then
attempt to turn up to 180 degrees. Make a
DEX save, upon failure you don’t make the
spin.
› Evade: Use half of your movement then
attempt some tricky moves and rolls. Make
a DEX save to impair damage taken that
round.
› Flee: Double your movement speed and
don’t make any weapon actions that turn.
You may attempt to jump to hyperspace via
a Systems Action after this maneuver.
ENGINEERING ACTION
The ship’s engineer can boost other stations on
the ship each turn.
If the ship has energy reserves, use those first
and don’t trigger an ENG Save. If no energy
reserves are available, this action will reduce
the ENG score by 1 and the ship must then
make an ENG Save vs critical damage.
Engines that malfunction from a failed ENG
Save can be repaired by a skilled mechanic
outside of combat. Repairs take 1D6 hours for
each point.
› Boost Piloting Station: Pilot may take a
second action.
› Boost Shields: Restore 1D6 shields. Cannot
be used on consecutive turns.
› Boost Weapons: One weapon module may
make two attacks and use the best result.
› Boost Systems: Use two systems in one
turn without needing to make a WIL Save.
WEAPONS ACTION
A PC operating the ship’s weapons may choose
a weapon module to operate and make an
attack each turn.
› Switching Weapons: Switching to a
different weapon takes one turn. A
character may attempt to change weapons
and attack in the same turn by making a
DEX Save. Failure results in being knocked
down for 1D4 turns.
› Multiple Weapons: Multiple PCs can
operate different weapons if your ship has
more than one. When multiple weapons are
being used, only apply the highest result.
SYSTEMS ACTION
A system operator may activate a system
module on their turn. Consult the particular
system module to see the effect. Only one
player may operate the ship’s systems array.
Attempting to use multiple systems in one turn
requires a WIL Save from the operator, failure
results in no systems being activated that turn
and the operator taking fatigue.
COMMAND ACTION
Encourage another department for 1 fatigue.
This allows one individual to attempt any single
roll a second time and keep the result if it’s
better.
CRITICAL DAMAGE
Damage that reduces a starship’s Shields below
zero decreases a target’s Score by the amount
remaining based on damage type. The ship
must then make a Save against the damage
type dealt to avoid taking critical damage.
Any starship that fails this save takes critical
damage.
› If a ship takes critical damage to the HUL,
it is breached. 1D20 minutes before oxygen
is depleted, which will result in death for
organic beings.
› If a ship takes critical damage to ENG, it
loses power cannot do anything but drift
helplessly and shield’s won’t recharge.
› If a ship takes critical damage to SYS, all
systems malfunction (including weapons
and hyperdrive.)
If a starship continues to take damage and a
Score is reduced to zero, see “Starship Score
Loss” below.
Some modules may include special abilities or
effects that are triggered when a target fails the
critical damage save.
STARSHIP SCORE LOSS
› If a ship’s HUL is reduced to 0, it is
destroyed. Vac-suits and escape pods on
the ship may prevent anyone onboard from
dying in space.
› If a ship’s ENG is reduced to 0, it is junked.
Engines are totally destroyed. The ship
cannont fly and will require replacement.
› If a ship’s SYS is reduced to 0, it is fried.
All modules (including the hyperdrive) are
inoperable. The ship’s entire systems must
be replaced.
REPAIRING DAMAGE
PCs may attempt to repair damage to Starship
Scores. During combat, one attempt per Score
may be made each round. If PCs have the
appropriate tools (welding torch, engineering
tools, electrical kit, etc.) and skill/training, they
will repair 1D4 damage each round and deplete
the tool. If a PC only has tools or skill, but not
both, they must pass a WIL Save to figure it out.
If multiple players attempt the same repair,
only the highest result applies. Fully repairing
damaged Scores will remove the effects critical
damage.
61
SPACE TRAVEL
LOCAL TRAVEL DOCKS & ORBITAL
Starships traveling within a star system rely STATIONS
on ship thrusters. Travel between planets in a
Most planets and moons will have dedicated
system takes about 1D6 hours on average.
docks for starships to land. Those that don’t
(due to limited space, environmental reasons,
LIGHTSPEED TRAVEL political reasons, etc.) will have orbital stations.
Interstellar travel is accomplished via These stations serve as hubs for starships to
hyperdrive technology that allows starships to dock, refuel, and repair.
travel at faster-than-light speeds.
Complex calculations are made based on
galactic mapping that can take anywhere from
a few minutes to a few hours depending on the
route and distance. Travel time is typically 1
day per hex. Adjust this if you want to suit your
setting and its technology.

HYPERLANES
Routed lanes for hypderdrive travel. Hyperlanes
are known coordinates a ship’s navigation
computer uses to plot routes. Ships can only
travel to systems it has routes for. Space is big
and you must have the coordinates to locate
destinations.

HYPERDRIVES
Hyperdrives are onboard systems that allow for
starships to make lightspeed jumps.
Hyperdrive travel still requires coordinates to
either be calculated based on ship mapping
of known systems, or manually entered by a
trained navigator.
Hyperdrives are engineered as to not make
jumps if calculations detect interference such
as planetary bodies or other ships in the way.

FUEL
A tank of fuel is considered a trade good and
occupies 1 hold. Each tank of fuel has 10 uses.
Each lightspeed jump via a hyperlane takes 1
use of fuel. This is to account for the complex
calculations involved in hyperspace travel. If
players want to travel off lanes via hexes, each
hex takes 1 use of fuel.

62
SAMPLE ASTRO-NAVIGATION CHART
The astro-navigation chart below shows the hyperlane routes this particular ship has plotted. The
numbers are systems (or other locations) and the lines are the hyperlanes. Most space stations,
major cities, and tech vendors will have nearby charts for sale if players want more direct routes to
locations they frequent.

SAMPLE STAR SYSTEM

Each of the above points represents a star system (or other major point of interest.) Once at those
“points”, the map view will zoom down into the next layer, which is usually the system view. Below is
an example of a horizontal perspective and a top-down perspective.

PLANET 3

PLANET 1
STAR PLANET 2
PL

PL

PL

PL

STAR
AN

AN

AN

AN
ET

ET

ET

ET
1

PLANET 4

63
STARSHIP PARTS
All starship parts listed here require a single hold (2 if listed as bulky.) If a part or starship
component of some sort is not listed here, make a call regarding if it needs a hold to install or not, if
it requires a certain starship score, the cost, and any other particulars about how it might be used.
Weapons do damage to SHI and HUL unless otherwise specified.

WEAPON MODULES COST

Flak Cannon (D4) Standard weapon, front-facing pilot use only. Free

Auto-Gun (D6) Most common starship weaponry. 500

C-Beam (D8) Glittering azure particle beam. 1,000

Fusion Cutter (D8 to HUL, no damage to SHI) 750

EMP Rockets (D8 to SHI, no damage to HUL) 750

Hellfire Turret (D8) Critical Effect: Overheat (Engineer loses next turn.) 1,500

Storm Lance (D8, req ENG 12) Critical Effect: Fried Wires (System loses next turn.) 1,500

Quake-Ray (D6) Pilot must pass a WIL save or lose next turn. 1,500

Emerald Star Particle Array (D10, bulky) Brilliant green beams. 2,000

Ultra-Hot Chaingun (D10, bulky) Damage rolls above 5 ignore armoring. 3,000

Disintegrator Beam (D10, bulky, req SYS 12) Damage rolls above 7 go through SHI
4,000
straight to HUL.

Radiowave Torpedos (1D6) Damages SHI and SYS. 2,000

Electromagnetic Railgun (1D6) Damages SHI and ENG. 2,000

Rogue-Bot Missiles (On a failed SYS Save, attaches to ship to steal data and track) 750

HULL MODULES COST

Omni-Gel Coating (+1 armor) 500

Gray Matter Hull Infusion (+2 armor) 2,000

Nanobot Veil Generator (+3 armor, bulky) 4,000

Reinforced Plating (+2 HUL) 500

Carapace Shell (+4 HUL) 2,000

Neutron Titanium Husk (+6 HUL, bulky) 4,000

Magnetic Dampeners (EMP damage is impaired, REQ 12 ENG) 500

Emergency Breach Regulator (Automatically pass first HUL save, breaks after use) 2,000

64
ENGINE MODULES COST

Unstable Shield-Gen (1D6 SHI, re-roll every time shields recharge.) Free

Quality Shield Gen (6 SHI) 500

Premium Shield Gen (8 SHI) 2,000

Fuel Compressor (Req ENG 14) Carry 3 units of compressed starship fuel per hold. 500

Resource Skimmer (Req ENG 12) Skim gas giants for 1 tank of fuel every 1D6 hours. 2,000

Engine Booster (+2 ENG) 500

Power Reserve (+4 Energy Reserves) 2,000

Condensed Power Supply (+10 Energy Reserves, Bulky) 5,000

SYSTEM MODULES COST

A.I. Module (Req SYS 12) A.I. can operate systems department or pilot the ship. 500

Afterburners (Req ENG 12) Burn half your fuel to make an immediate escape. 1,000

Cloaking Array (Invisible to radar) 1,000

Auto Smart-Shield (Activate to make next attack impaired, recharge in 1D6 hours) 1,000

Jammers (Activate to prevent all weapons systems in the vicinity from firing for 1D4
2,000
rounds, including yours. Recharge in 1D6 hours)

Subzero Coolant (+2 SYS) 500

Nano-Relays (+4 SYS) 2,000

Quantum Operating System (+6 SYS, bulky) 4,000

QUARTERS COST

Crew Quarters: Rest comfortably on the ship (6 persons per crew quarter) 300

Mess Hall: Standard daily rations for all crew. 500

Brig: Impound 4 prisoners. 550

Vault: Secure storage. 750

Workshop: (Req SYS 12) Advanced project work for technology. 750

Research Lab: (Req SYS 12) Advanced project work for science. 750

Auto Medbay: (Requires SYS 14) Advanced recovery (as hospital/specialist healing) 1,000

Cargo Bay: Carry 4 trade goods in a single hold. 1,000

Smuggling Compartments: Carry 4 trade goods in a single hold (hidden). 2,000

Escape Pods: Safely jettison up to 10 people to the nearest star system. 400

65

PSIONICS
ABOUT PSIONICS
Psionic powers come from within. The
awakening of an individual’s ultimate potential.
These powers are typically the result of
evolution or genetic mutation, but can also
come from other sources, such as stress,
trauma, or powerful insight.
USING PSIONICS
› Psionic powers must be channeled with
one hand free. For each use, take 1 fatigue.
› Characters can enhance a power’s impact
given time and safety (e.g., affecting
multiple targets, increasing its power,
etc.) at the risk of additional cost, such
as more fatigue, WIL damage, or other
consequences befitting the power.
› If the PC is deprived or in danger, the GM
may require a PC to make a WIL save to
avoid any ill-effects from using the ability.
Consequences of failure are on par with the
intended effect, and may result in added
fatigue, WIL damage, mutations, other
conditions, and even (rarely) death.
GAINING PSIONICS
Characters can develop or acquire psionics
through the fiction of play. Powerful
psychological experiences, hallucinogenics, or
experimental substances may unlock psionic
potential in the brain.
66
D66 PSIONIC POWERS
11 Astral Projection: Enter a trance for
up to 10 minutes, projecting your
conscious mind to a location you’ve
been to before.
12 Attract: Two objects are strongly
magnetically attracted to each other if
they come within 10 feet.
13 Augury: Ask the GM a simple yes or
no question to gain (sometimes fuzzy)
knowledge of the future.
14 Befuddle: A creature of your choice
is unable to form new short-term
memories for the duration of the spell.
15 Commune With Spirits: The spirit of
a nearby corpse manifests and will
answer 1 question.
16 Cryokinesis: Manifest a storm of ice
and snow in a 20ft area for 1D6 cryo
blast damage.
21 Displace: An object appears to be up
to 15ft from its actual position.
22 Echoing Voice: You can mentally
project your voice a great distance
away.
23 Filch: A visible item teleports to your
hands.
24 Force Field: A 20 foot dome or 60 foot
wide, 10 foot tall high wall is protected
from all mundane attacks for one
minute.
25 Force Shell: A creature you touch is
protected from mundane attacks for
one minute.
26 Hatred: A creature develops a deep
hatred of another creature or group
and wishes to destroy them.
31 Hypnotize: A creature enters a trance
and will truthfully answer one yes or
no question you ask it.
32 Knock: A nearby mundane or
technological lock unlocks.
33 Leap: You can make a single jump up
to 20 ft high.
34 Levitate Object: An object hovers, 56 Telepathy: Two creatures can hear
frictionless, 2ft above the ground. It each other’s thoughts, no matter how
can hold up to one humanoid. far apart.
35 Magnetic Reversal: Two objects are 61 Trace: An object you touch
strongly magnetically repelled from communicates to you the name of the
each other within 10 feet. previous owner along with a vague
visual clue and general location.
36 Mind Scream: Deal 1D10 mental
damage at up to 4 enemies within 60 62 Ward: An ally becomes immune to
feet. mundane attacks for 1D4 rounds.
41 Memory Manipulation: Alter a target’s 63 Warp Reality: Time in a 50ft bubble
memory of an event, person, place, slows down or increases by 50% for
etc. If the target fails a WIL save, the 10 seconds.
change is permanent, otherwise the
64 Whispers: You can hear faint sounds
manipulation lasts 10 minutes.
clearly.
42 Possession: Target’s spirit is caged
65 X-Ray Vision: You can see through
within their body and replaced with
walls, dirt, clothing, etc.
the caster’s. If the body is slain the
original soul departs, but the caster 66 Zero Sum: Invade an enemy mind.
must pass a WIL save to return to their Target must pass a WIL Save or their
body. attacks become impaired
43 Pyrokinesis: Manifest fire from your
own body heat in a 20ft area for 1D6
thermal blast damage.
44 Scry: You can see through the eyes of
a creature you touched earlier today.
45 Shimmering Wall: A straight wall of
shimmering, 50ft long and 10ft high,
appears at a location you can see.
46 Shroud: A creature you touch is
invisible until they move.
51 Shuffle: Two creatures you can see
instantly switch places.
52 Sleep: Target falls asleep for 1D4
hours.
53 Spectacle: A clearly false but
impressive illusion of your choice
appears, under your control. It may be
up to the size of a palace and has full
motion and sound.
54 Sympathetic Sense: Choose one kind
of object (keycard, cred-stick, weapon,
computer, etc). You can sense the
nearest example.
55 Telekinesis: You may mentally 1 move
item under 60lbs.

67

ASTROMANCY
ABOUT ASTROMANCY
Astromancy powers come from unknown
outer sources. Some call it the true power
of the stars. Others claim it’s the remains of
primordial dead gods. Ultimately, the universe
is full of strange and unfathomable forces, most
of it beyond our understanding.
USING ASTROMANCY
› Astromancy must be harnessed with one
hand free. For each use, add 1 fatigue or
make a WIL Save vs Corruption. A good
general rule is effects last 10 minutes.
› Characters can enhance a power’s impact
given time and safety (e.g., affecting
multiple targets, increasing its power, etc.)
at the risk of additional cost.
› If the PC is deprived or in danger, the
GM may require extra WIL saves against
corruption, or offer some other danger or
risk.
ACQUIRING ASTROMACY
Gaining these powers often involves knowingly
(or unknowingly) engaging with cosmic entities
and dangerous living forces, exchanging some
of your own life force and vitality for a drop of
their power. Characters can acquire astromancy
through the fiction of play.
68
D66 ASTROMANCIES
11 Alter Ally: A willing target takes on a
new form (keeping only their WIL), but
must pass a WIL save to shift out.
12 Blood Pact: Heal an ally for 1D6 STR
at the cost of 1 STR of your own.
13 Cellular Subtraction: A humanoid
creature you touch halves in size.
14 Chameleon: You become any
inanimate object between the size of a
grand piano and an apple.
15 Crippling Touch: Target must DEX
save or is paralyzed.
16 Dreamstalker: Sends a message to
anyone currently asleep. A malicious
command triggers a WIL save or the
target takes 1D12 WIL damage.
21 Displace: An object appears to be up
to 15ft from its actual position.
22 Disintegration Grasp: Attempt to
disintegrate an object you touch up to
human size. Living targets DEX save to
resist. Make a WIL save vs corruption.
Take 1 fatigue.
23 Eyeball: You can see through a
magical floating eyeball that flies
around at your command.
24 Fog: Create a 40ft area of thick fog.
You see through it normally.
25 Freezing Touch: A thick ice layer
spreads across a touched surface, up
to 10ft in radius.
26 Hideous Strength: Unarmed attacks
are briefly enhanced.
31 Horrible Gaze: Targets within eyesight
must pass a WIL save or flee.
32 Invisibility: Target is invisible until
they attempt harm.
33 Lightning: Electricity flings from your
fingertips doing 1D12 damage (blast)
in a straight line.
34 Lordly Voice: A target obeys a single
three-word command that does not
cause it harm.
35 Mend: You make minor repairs to a 63 Swarm: You become a swarm of
nonliving object. crows, rats, or piranhas. You can only
be harmed by blast attacks.
36 Metamorphosis: Caster takes on a
new form (keeping only their WIL), but 64 The Black Verses: An ancient, terrible
must pass a WIL save to shift out. script materialize on a surface you
choose. Anyone reading these words
41 Mime: Your appearance and voice
becomes immobilized unless they
becomes identical to those of a person
succeed a WIL save.
you touched that day.
65 Unravel: An organic targest must
42 Mind Trick: Creates a simple image
pass a WIL Save or take 1D12 STR
with sound. A cursory investigation will
damage. If they Save, you take 1D4
reveal the illusory image.
WIL damage.
43 Mystic Hand: You control a
66 Voidquake: Rattle the fabric of
phantasmal hand that can lift up to 5
reality around you in a 30 foot radius.
pounds.
Enemies take 1D6 damage and must
44 Obfuscation: Change your appearance Save vs DEX or be knocked down.
for 1D6 hours. Requires full movement to re-orient
and stand up.
45 Ooze: You become a living jelly.
46 Otherworldly Sense: You can see or
hear nearby magical auras and other
sources of strange or weird power.
51 Quantum Ego: Choose a second
persona, regardless of features, sex
and age. You can shapeshift to that
persona a number of hours equal to
your WIL per day.
52 Sculpt Matter: Inanimate material
behaves like clay in your hands.
53 Shattering Scream: A single phrase
from your lips does 1D12 blast
damage. Affected targets are also
deafened.
54 Shift: An object or person you can
see is transported from one place to
another in a 50ft radius.
55 Smoke: Your body becomes a living
smoke that you can control.
56 Speed: Your movement speed is
tripled.
61 Spider: You can climb surfaces like a
spider.
62 Star Frost: You can summon the
bone chilling cold of space, covering
a 40x40 foot area in frost and ice,
obscuring visibility and making terrain
treacherous.

69

CORRUPTION
GAINING CORRUPTION
Some powers are beyond our ability to control.
Corruption is the result of tampering with
forces beyond your comprehension and those
forces changing you. When dangerous powers
are manipulated or strange cosmic encounters
occur, there is a risk of those forces corrupting
you, hollowing you out and stealing away your
humanity.
Attempts to manipulate such forces require a
WIL Save vs Corruption. Upon failure, roll for
hollowing and then mark a point of corruption.
Corruption is permanent.
HOLLOWING
Roll a D20 + current corruption on the
Hollowing table to see how you are altered.
Example: You’ve failed two saves vs. corruption
in the past, so your current corruption is 2. You
again fail a save and roll a D20 for hollowing.
Your result is a 7 and you add +2 for the
result #9. Finally, add another point to your
corruption total, which is now 3.
THE THREE ASPECTS
There are three primal forces that work in
tandem to create universal balance. Tapping
into these powers risks upsetting that balance
as the wielder allows these forces to use their
body as a catalyst. Which forces you allow in
aren’t up to you. Sometimes the void of space
simply hollows you out a little more each time
you call to it. Other times, one particular aspect
crawls its way into you to claim a small part of
your humanity for its own inscrutable patterns.
70
Sacred Geometry
The binding force that holds the universe
together is imposing, immovable, and
uncompromising. Some call it order, others
harmonica universalis, the music of the
spheres, perfection, and life.
Entropy
The other face of order is utter oblivion. This
devouring chaos manifests as black holes,
destruction, and the inevitable unraveling to
come.
Non-Euclidean
Beyond the paradigm of order and chaos lies
another force, completely unknowable and
terrifying. Is it the inscrutable arithmetic
of alternate dimensions, or simply another
mystery that will consume everything?
ASPECT DISTORTION
After gaining a fifth aspect of the same kind,
you are changed into a non-player character,
pose an immediate threat to the party, and a
long-term threat to the universe.
Sacred Geometry
Balance and order is the only worthy calling.
You transcend your mortal shell and become
a being of pure stardust, and will destroy
anything that does not serve the sacred order
of the universe.
Entropy
Your mortal shell is claimed as an agent of
destruction. Your body becomes a mass of pure
black stardust and only the cruelest parts of
your personality remain.
Non-Euclidean
You explode into a mass of writhing shapes
and angles that drive others to madness. All
who behold your transformation must save
vs WIL or be rendered insane for 1d10 hours.
You now only exist for your own inscrutable
machinations as an impossible being of mind-
boggling contradictions.
D20 HOLLOWING

1 Your fingertips turn pitch black.

2 Peculiar symbols begin to appear on your body. Overtime they spread.

3 You can mimic the voice of anyone with whom you have conversed or heard speak.

4 You can sense nearby otherworldly beings and objects.

5 You can move small nearby objects with your mind.

6 Gain one Sacred Geometry Aspect

7 You only want, and can only eat, raw meat.

8 Gain one Entropy Aspect

9 Machinery and technology has a 1 in 6 change of malfunctioning around you.

10 Gain one Non-Euclidean Aspect

11 You are immune to electricity, but fire ignores all of your armor and hit protection.

12 Gain one Sacred Geometry Aspect

13 Roll a random Astromancy and reduce your STR by 1.

14 Gain one Entropy Aspect

15 Roll a random mutation (pg. 89)

16 Gain one Non-Euclidean Aspect

17 You emit a dread aura, and all reaction rolls made near you are one category lower.

18 Gain one Sacred Geometry Aspect

19 You are immune to ranged energy weapons but your HP is reduced by 1d6.

20 Gain one Entropy Aspect

21 You can no longer carry weapons in your hands. Increase your WIL by 1d4.

22 Gain one Non-Euclidean Aspect

23 You crave terrible power and are deprived if you don’t Save vs Corruption once a week.

24 Gain one Aspect of whichever category you have the most.

25 Gain one point of permanent fatigue as your body weakens.

26 Gain one Aspect of whichever category you have the most.

27 You must eat the flesh of humans once a day or become deprived.

28 Gain one Aspect of all three types.

You stand on the brink of oblivion. Your presence in the universe is considered a threat to
29
all living beings. Powerful forces are hunting you to end your threat.

The Jaws of the Cosmos Consume You. You are utterly destroyed. Every nearby
30
character gains 2 corruption and makes two rolls on this table.

71
 D12 Sacred Geometry Aspects

1 You can sense nearby abnormality or cosmic disorder.

2 You can communicate with living plants. They can only communicate vaguely.

3 You can communicate with animals in a capacity similar to talking to a 5 year old.

4 Your presence can soothe the anxious or confused.

5 You can spend 1 fatigue to heal broken bones, or mend other minor injuries.

6 Glow with faint starlight at will, resisting the effects of cold environments.

7 You continue to age normally but cannot die of old age.

8 You may remove 1 fatigue from yourself or an ally once a day.

9 You can restore 1d6 STR damage at the cost of 1d6 WIL once a day.

10 You are unaffected by WIL damage and WIL-based critical effects.

11 You can create a genetic mirror of yourself for one minute.

The Ancient Humming: You can emanate the music of the spheres (1d10 blast aura, 1
12
fatigue)

D12 Entropy Aspects

1 Your eyes turn pitch black. This is unsettling to those who look at you.

2 A chilling aura surrounds you, leaving traces of frost.

3 One of your limbs decays and falls off. Increase your WIL by 1.

4 You can sense nearby dying or recent death.

5 Inhaling smoke sustains you in the same way food and water does.

6 If someone dies in your presence, you restores any single ability score loss by 1d4.

7 You grow quite pale and develop a presence that easily intimidates the cowardly.

8 All fear your dread presence and obey your threats (1 fatigue)

9 Pale shadows follow you, speaking the secret fears or those nearby.

10 You do not need to eat, sleep, or breathe.

11 You can touch others and consume part of their vital life-force, dealing 1d8 DEX damage.

12 Oblivion Chrysalis: Any WIL damage done to you is reflected back upon the attacker.

72
D12 Non-Euclidean Aspects

1 You know someone’s location that you have encountered if they speak your name.

2 You can easily sway the weak minded, and influence stronger minds. (1 fatigue)

3 You grow a third eye on your forehead that can see the invisible or cloaked.

4 You no longer appear as a living creature on any technological scan or radar.

5 You no longer suffer the effects of poisonous or toxic atmospheres.

6 You can detect nearby artifacts and other abnormalities.

7 You move and breath in complete silence.

8 You can see through invisibility and cloaking.

9 You can walk inside the dreams of others.

10 You and your allies can trans-dimensionally skip to a previous location once a day.

11 You can speak in a terrible utterance and deal 1d8 WIL damage.

Forbidden Entanglement: You exist within such an unstable quantum state that fatigue
12
no longer effects you. But, lose 2 inventory and reduce STR by 1d4.

73
EXPERIMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
ABOUT EX-TECH
Experimental nanotech, illegal prototypes, underworld bio-tech, and black market software are just
a few types of experimental technology that players might encounter.
› Ex-tech can be an item, armor, weapon, or piece of software that alters other items.
› Ex-tech should either do something very specific, or cost fatigue for use if very useful.

D66 EX-TECH
Roll 1D6 for the first digit and then 1D6 for the second digit.

11. Cloaking Jacket: Can perfectly
imitate its surroundings for an hour.
Recharges in 48 hours.
12. Codescrambler Protocol: 3
charges. Small chip that inserts
into neural cyberware “brain jack”.
Wirelessly unlocks tech doors.
Recharge: Must defrag for 1D4 days on
ship.
13. Centurion Falcon: Cybernetic
falcon bound to you via mind-linking
A.I. (6 HP, 14 DEX, 7 WIL, D4+D4 claws)
14. Bluescreen Blade: Small blade of
faint light and static. Machines must
make a STR save or take 1D20 damage.
No effect on organics.
15. Spray Skin: Restores 1D6 STR
damage. One use. Causes 1 fatigue.
Color and texture of skin are random.
16. Hover-Mule: You activate a 3ft wide
floating disk that has 6 inventory slots
for carrying.
21. Shrink-House: Small cube, when
activated expands into a house that can
shelter up to 10 creatures, disappearing
after 24 hours.
22. Poseidon Shovel: Molecularly-
attuned rod. Raise, lower or part nearby
waters.
23. Atomic Displacement Array:
(Bulky) Spend 10 minutes attuning
to two nearby objects. Swaps their
material type. Unethical to use on living
beings, but...not impossible.
24. Dream-Slicer: (illegal) Scan target’s
dreams. Target makes a WIL save.
On a fail, allows for manipulation and
inception of target’s dreams.
25. Caduceus Cigars: (6 pack)
Emblazoned with twin coiled snakes.
Using clears any poisons, toxins, mind
altering conditions, or states of stupor.
Great for hangovers.
26. Greed-Calibrated Compass: Type
in an object or location. The compass
will navigate you in the general direction
and indicate vague distance.
31. Anti-Gravity Grenade (1 use): A
small black grenade. Disables the effect
of gravity on everything in a 30ft radius.
32. Mockingbird Gum: A pack of green
and blue speckled minty sticks of
bio-engineered chewing gum. Allows
anyone chewing it to emulate another
person’s voice for one hour.
33. Nano-Particle Shell: (+1 armor,
resistance to shock) Body armor made
of millions of microscopic particles.
Instantly assembles or disassembles
into belt via smart-word.
34. Mouser Bomb: (1 HP) Tiny robotic
mouse that taunts (WIL save) and
explodes for D12 blast on death.
35. Quicksilver Skeleton Key: (D6
usages) Liquid metal key that fits into
and opens any mechanical (non-
electronic) lock.

74
36. Smart-Wrench: Advanced multi-
tool. Can make minor repairs to a
nonliving object.
41. Shrink Ray: (Bulky) Can shrink an
object to one tenth its size. Recharge in
24 hours.
42. Microquake Rifle: (D6 Sonic, Bulky)
every hit, target makes a STR save, on a
fail their armor shatters.
43. Overload Protocol: Any smart
weapon can load a software update to
add the “overclocked” quality.
44. Sub-Space Tracking Kit: A small
magnetic censor can be placed and
tracked with the display device up to 3
sub-sectors away.
45. Gate-Drive: Small device. When
plugged into a digital screen it creates
a gateway to another screen that you
were within 10 feet of today.
46. Anti-illusion Lens: You see through
all nearby illusions. Can clip on to helm,
over the eye, or can simply be held.
51. Magnet Lance (grappling vs metal
armor, no save) Fires a hyper-magnetic
cube attached to a metal cable. Once
magnetically attached, the user can
re-fire the weapon to pull a target back
toward them at a rate of 20’ per second.
Target must make a save vs STR or be
knocked down.
52. “C4S-P3R”: Custom A.I. from a
famous robotics expert. Single run.
This A.I. is currently locked on a
small device. A massive databank of
knowledge and astral navigation data.
The personality of the A.I. is difficult
and often antagonistic, but usually
cooperative.
53. Cortex Eraser: Innocuous. Looks
like a pen. When flashed, up to 4 targets
temporarily lose sense of place and
time. WIL save to resist.
54. Eradicator Syringe: (1 use)
Prototype serum. Injecting causes 1d20
WIL damage.
55. Aegis Battery: Create a
shimmering, semi-transparent surface
that only you may pass through. Anyone
else that touches the wall is fried for
D12 damage. The field lasts until shut
down. Recharges for 500C at any large
spaceport.
56. Electron Uncoupler: Choose a
target and roll D12. If this is equal or
higher than their current hp they are
completely obliterated by subatomic
vibrations. Take 1 fatigue.
61. Nanobot Swarm: When activated
a 20ft swarm of nanobots moves 10ft
away from you each round. Anyone
within loses d6 STR every round. Does
not trigger save.
62. Omni-Phonic Earjack: Metal plate
covering the ears and back of the head.
Requires a data-jack augmentation.
Allows the wearer to directionally tune
their hearing to specific locations up to
100 feet. Extended use causes fatigue.
63. Emergency Mind-Cache: Store
your consciousness, memory, and
personality into a highly advanced
device. Upon death, it may be re-
uploaded (destroying it) into a new body
or other fitting receptacle. Ability scores
will be subject to change.
64. Hyperstar Coilgloves: (D8 shock
damage, bulky). Tech gauntlets. On
critical damage, STR save or damage
jumps to nearest target.
65. Quick-Cloner™: A perfect duplicate
of you is formed from your DNA. Acts
autonomously. Can only perform basic
tasks or obey simple commands.
The double lasts for 1d6 hours then
crumbles to dust. Take 1 fatigue.
66. Black Hole Generator: Create a
five-foot miniature black hole. Anything
entering it is utterly destroyed. Cannot
be moved or placed on top of an object
or opponent. Lasts 10 mins or until the
generator is turned off. Recharge by
exposing the generator to a scientific
anomaly.
75
ARTIFACTS
Strange or ancient objects imbued with mysterious powers, often found in dangerous places, such
as tombs, excavation sites, derelict ships, and the dwellings of powerful beings. Artifacts sometimes
display unusual properties or limitations. Artifacts will attract the attention of those who seek their
valuable power. It is dangerous to display them openly.

D66 ARTIFACTS
Roll 1D6 for the first digit and then 1D6 for the second digit.

11. Symbiotic Sludge: A translucent gray
slime that conforms to your arm like a glove.
Allows the wielder to extend their hand up to
10 feet. Only bonds with unmodified organic
tissue.
12. The Profane Orb: A sphere of black
quartz the size of a large grapefruit. The
swirling mists within whisper hideous secrets.
While held with both hands you can mentally
command animals. Save against corruption
when used.
13. The Dead Code: A small, gray cylinder,
this device is all that remains of an ancient
A.I. that self-destructed for unknown reasons.
Plays a recording of an auditory string of math
that transmits a virus. Forces any machine
that hears it to make a WIL save or shut down
for 2d12 hours.
14. Vial of Golden Light: Consuming grants a
random Astromancy and permanently lowers
WIL by 1d4.
15. Soothsayer’s Whetstone: Kindle violet
fire that allow for communication for 1d4
minutes to any other fire from a place you are
familiar with.
16. Hateful Mirror: Small mirror that causes
great pain to the viewer, who must WIL save
or scream until they pass out (1d4 WIL loss).
A successful save destroys the mirror.
21. Spoon of the Gourmand: Oversized
silvery-blue spoon. Allows you to eat anything
to gain a day’s worth of sustenance as if eating
a ration.
22. Odd Flask: Makes alcoholic drinks more
powerful; but, if you drink water from it, you
immediately become sober.
23. Mesmer’s Amethyst: Any creature within
10 feet of this violet, eye-like marble must
pass a WIL save or be distracted by it, losing
its next turn.
24. Lucky Feather: Magnificent gold and
green feather. When worn in a hat, survive
a normally fatal fall and land gracefully. The
feather is mysteriously lost afterwards.
25. Spirit Cube: (2 charges) Small sapphire
cube. Releases a vengeful spirit (4HP, 14 WIL,
d6) under the bearer’s control. Recharge by
killing in cold blood.
26. Indigo Fungus: Consuming changes your
skin a deep shade of indigo and increases your
WIL by 1.
31. Tyrant’s Collar: Black iron collar inscribed
with an ancient script. A target is compelled
to follow a stated course of action, without
understanding why.
32. Titans’ Brew: (1d4 uses) Bottle of ancient
grog. Target’s strength triples for 10 minutes;
unarmed attacks are enhanced.
33. Horrible Bell: Ringing this small, black
bell releases a painful sound that causes 1D6
STR damage to all nearby whom the wielder
deem their enemy, ignoring armor.
34. Necro-Canary: Small bird skeleton that
will follow you obediently. Crush it and scatter
its bones to scry on an object, or familiar
creature, indicating its precise location. The
bones will reform into the bird the next day.
35. Genesis Globe: (1 use) Smash this egg-
sized glass orb. Over an hour, one damaged
or ruined structure, ship or similar target is
repaired to peak condition without need for
materials.

76
36. Red-Gold Spectacles: While wearing 56. Hurricane Mantle: Tattered gray cloak.
these glasses you can visualize a general Allows the wearer to fly for 1d6 minutes a day,
sense of somebody’s honesty and sincerity or 2d6 minutes in stormy weather. Causes 1
while they speak. fatigue.
41. Devil-Fog Idol: Energy-absorbing fog 61. Blood Corrupting Blade: (D4) Small
surrounds you and everyone within 20ft. curved dagger. If a target damaged by this
Ranged weapons cannot pass through the weapon takes Critical Damage that day, they
smoke. Save vs corruption explode in a bloody mess.
42. Neutron Halo: (Helmet) Ring of swirling 62. Spear of Seven Suns: Golden spear with a
black space-stuff. Can emanate pure darkness glowing white blade. Functions as a spear (D8,
in a 10-foot radius. 1 Fatigue. Sweep) and fires a beam of white light (D6
Thermal, Exploding).
43. Unholy Feast: This black muck smells
irresistibly delicious. Eating it coats the inside 63. Star-Worshiper’s Mask: (bulky) Porcelain
of your mouth and teeth pitch black. You can mask with an unnerving expression. Raises
now consume anything safely. the wearer’s WIL by 1D4 and gifts them
with an intimate knowledge of the forbidden
44. Old God’s Hammer: (D8) Lost any other
secrets of star worship. Save against
powers it once may have had, but can still be
corruption once a week.
called to return to you, flying by the best route
possible. 64. Cobra God’s Bones: (unwieldy) Large
bundle of heavy bones. Offer a bit of blood to
45. Starbond Ichor: Pouring on a corpse
automatically succeed on your next STR or
causes it to return as a loyal companion that
DEX save, but save vs corruption when you
will serve as a freelancer.
use this artifact.
46. Lazarus Serum: Old syringe in a forgotten
65. The Book of Adrammelech: The
tongue. A corpse is miraculously restored to
inscrutable unholy verses of some precursor
life if they pass a WIL Save. If they fail the
entity. Daily study changes your mind, gifting
Save, the remains are utterly destroyed.
you 1 new random astromancy power a week
51. Red-Queen’s War Scepter: (D8 Cryo, (or every other session, GM’s call) at the cost
Brutal) This ancient war scepter contains the of losing 1 point of STR.
spirit of a millennium-old tyrant queen. She
66. Starlight Blade: (d10, thermal, vorpal)
audibly delights in wanton bloodshed.
Ancient metal sword hilt. Activating brings
52. Living Vortex: This small stone box can forth a blade of pure starlight (random color.)
direct a powerful wind in a straight line, strong Critical damage severs targets in half. The
enough to blow over boulders. weapon requires a WIL of 14+ or the wielder
must save vs corruption every day.
53. Octarine Egg: A scaled, fluorescent
greenish yellow-purple egg about the size off
a man’s head. Hatches in 1d20 days. Generate
NPC stats for a baby creature.
54. Ambrosia: Glowing golden liquid
found inside a bizarre flower that grows in
dangerous locations. Tastes like honey nectar
and increases max HP by 1D4, turns your
teeth to gold.
55. Soothsayer Bastet: (10 HP, 14 DEX,
D6+D6 claws, Horrible Gaze Astromancy)
Large black panther with bat wings. Can fly
short distances. Obeys the one who frees it
from its astral shackles.

77
AUGMENTATIONS
BODY SOCKETS
Characters have 12 Sockets available on
their body for installing upgrades: Cerebral,
Eyes, Lower Face, Skin, 2 Arms, 2 Legs, and 2
Internal, 2 torso. These Sockets can be filled
with cyberware & implants, gene-modding, or
other augmentations. Some upgrades will have
requirements. More powerful and complex
upgrades will often occupy multiple sockets
at once. Occupying 6 sockets or more reduces
your WIL by 1D6, and another 1D6 at 12. Most
augments have a price and can be purchased
from specialists, but they can also be acquired
as the result of in-game progress. Removing an
augment usually has a price.
ACQUIRING IN PLAY
If the cost says “play”, these sorts of
augmentations are likely to be gained from
strange encounters, monster attacks, gifts from
peculiar entities, or some other narrative hook.
CYBERWARE & IMPLANTS
These are wholesale pieces of machinery
grafted onto the body, often replacing the
original part, or hardware and software
installed inside the body.
GENETIC MODIFICATION
Gene-modding involves editing your DNA
and genetic structure at the molecular
level. Sometimes these are mutations
from interacting with alien materials or
consumables.
UNKNOWABLE CHANGES
Some things that exist might not fall neatly
into another category. Some things can’t yet
be explained by science or technology. These
can be mutations, interacting with strange
alien artifacts, or coming into contact with
otherworldly forces. Sometimes odd peddlers
will have these wonders for sale, but often the
price is interacting with something mysterious.

CYBERWARE & IMPLANTS COST

Standard Brain-Jack (Neural Socket) Installs advanced neural processor and external
500
hardware input. Allows for installation of cerebral software packages.

Auto-Babel Brainstem (Neural Socket) A brainstem implant and smart software to

1,000
understand all languages. Who knows what would happen if it malfunctioned…

Bionic Oculus (Eyes Socket) Computerized eyes overlaid with augmented reality
interface, including quick-referencing faces to local database searches, locating other 800
networked devices (such as security cameras), and limited zoom and camera features.
Backup Heart (Internal Socket) If you would die, automatically survive but this Augment
is destroyed and the socket is permanently disabled. Stabilize and restore all HP. Backup 1,750
heart will only keep you alive for 1D6 hours, so seek immediate medical attention.

Bionic Tendons (2 Leg Sockets) Allows you to fall from up to 50 feet and land gracefully
500
without any consequences. Falls up to 100 feet also get ADV on Saves.

Mag-Steel Arm (Arm Socket) Requires losing your entire arm, otherwise elective
replacement permanently removes 1 WIL score from the trauma. Advantage with STR 1,300
saves. Can effortlessly crush most small or medium objects.

Shiva Harness (Torso Socket) Back plate that connects to your sympathetic nervous
2,000
system. Can open to reveal a mechanical arm on each side.

78
GENETIC MODIFICATION COST

Plasti-Scale Skin Graft (Skin Socket, requires severe burn damage) Spray-on synthetic
skin from sea-creature DNA. Only adheres to burn wounds. +3 Armor vs Thermal/Heat/ 1,500
Fire.

Frog Tongue Mutation (Lower Face Socket) You have a long sticky tongue that extends
Play
20 feet. 1D6 damage and can grab small objects.

Edited Pheromones (Internal Socket) You have a pleasing fragrance to most other
900
humanoid species, giving you +2 to reaction rolls.

Self-Sterilizing Liver (Internal Socket) You are immune to all ingested poisons. 400

Basilisk Gland (Lower Face Socket) Spit acid in a cone once a day (1D8 biological, blast,
900
30 feet)

UNKNOWABLE CHANGES COST

Star Slug (Neural Socket) You are the symbiotic host to an alien slug. It crawls into your
ear and tells you things. The star slug lets you talk to any creature of animal intelligence.
3,000
Must eat something living every 7 days or the Star Slug will die, permanently lowering
your WIL by 1.
Servant of the Dead Moon (2 Internal Sockets) You willingly let an otherworldly force
enter your mind, sharing knowledge with your bones and blood. Under a full moon, your Play
skin glows with a soft light. You can project your voice into the minds of others up to 100’
Devil-Leopard Mutation (1 Internal & Skin Sockets) Exposure to alien bacteria has
mutated your skin crimson red with dark indigo spots. You can crack most metal and Play
bones with your teeth.

Mask of Pale Starlight (Eyes and Lower Face Socket) Splash your face with this silvery
Play
liquid. Your face can change at will. Save against corruption.

79
TALENTS
ABOUT TALENTS
Talents represent a particular skill or knack. In
most cases, talents may be awarded to players
by the GM when they have accomplished some
sort of in-game goal, found a particular source
of training, or have otherwise been influenced
by the world through the fiction of gameplay.
Listed here are some examples of talents. Be
encouraged to make your own. Talents can
often be made more interesting when they
focus less on numbers and modifiers and more
on in-world qualities. References to L means
character “Level”.

ACQUIRING TALENTS
› Training: Training with an NPC that can
teach the ability.
› Data Chips: If players have a neural port or
similar cyberware installed in their neural
socket, data chips with “programs” (a
particular talent) may be slotted in. More
expensive neural cyberware will have more
available ports for these “programs”.
› Encounters/Experiences: Particularly odd
encounters may imprint a character with
certain talents supernaturally (if it makes
sense.) Place these moments in the same
way you would place loot, and earning
the talent should require a hidden trigger
or a risky action to acquire. (example: If
a player makes a daring speech to draw
the attention of an enemy away from their
critical wounded ally, maybe you could
reward them with the “Taunt” talent as a
form of narrative advancement.)

80
D20 TALENT DESCRIPTION

You gain +1 effect on morale checks and reaction rolls when dealing
Inspiring
1 with the military, hirelings, and other law-abiding or honor-bound
Presence citizenry and creatures.

Adrenaline Any time you roll the maximum value for your damage die, you can
2
Rush make another attack on a different target.

Once per round, you can take the damage inflicted against any
3 Human Shield nearby ally by an enemy or effect in their place. Make a successful
STR save for half-damage.

When you kill an enemy with a melee weapon, you can make another
4 Butcher attack against another nearby enemy. This can occur as many times
per round equal to your level.

The first attack you make in combat is enhanced. This can occur as
5 Bloodthirsty
many times per day equal to your level.

6 Precise Re-roll damage rolls of 1.

7 Resilient The first attack made against you in combat is impaired.

Once per day, you can automatically wriggle free from a restraint
8 Escape Artist which allows some plausible escape, such as a chokehold, pinned
limb, or noose.

You always have a dagger hidden on you. You don’t reveal to anyone
Quantum
9 as to how they got there. You’re not sure, yourself. It does not occupy
Dagger inventory space.

When you deal maximum damage with a melee weapon, your

10 Paralyzing Blow
target’s next attack is impaired.

11 Cantina Scum You always act first in that break out in cantinas, bars, or casinos.

Once per day, you can automatically succeed on a single saving

12 Uncanny Knack
throw, regardless of context.

13 Gang Up +1 dmg per ally adjacent to target, capping at +3.

Taunt an enemy, forcing them to make a WIL Save. If they fail, their
14 Taunt
next attack is impaired if it’s against anyone other than you.

You have reduced effect on all failed saves related to sickness,

15 Hearty Frame
poison, and disease.

You have 4 extra inventory slots for rations, meds, rope, and other
16 Pack Rat
medium or small tools & gear.

You gain +1 effect on morale checks and reaction rolls against beasts
Natural
17 or unintelligent monsters encountered in wilderness or dungeon
Empathy environments

Restore 1d4 STR damage L-times daily with a medkit. This depletes
18 Field Medic
the medkit.

19 Mystic Link 1d4 chance to not gain fatigue when using Astromancy.

You’re good with “slightly used” equipment, and don’t have to roll
20 Junker
when using cheap weapons.

81
NPCS
NPC TEMPLATE
Use the following template to model any more
sophisticated Monster, Enemy, or NPC:
NPC Name
X HP, X Armor, X STR, X DEX, X WIL, Weapon
(dX, special items, qualities)
› Engaging description of appearance and
demeanor.
› Quirk, tactic, or peculiarity making the NPC
unique.
› Special effect or critical damage
consequence.
CONVERTING FROM
CLASSIC OSR GAMES
› Give 3 HP per HD for most creatures.
› Most humanoids have at least 4HP.
› WIL can be used as a baseline for morale.
CONVERTING FROM
MODERN SCI-FI GAMES
› Any sort of panic or stress condition can
be handled by making a WIL save vs.
corruption, fatigue, or deprivation.
› Generally the best way to convert any

GENERAL PRINCIPLES NPC is to describe them in fictional terms

(strong, slow, not armored, carries a large
Ability Scores: 3 is deficient, 6 is weak, 10 is gun) and then turn that description into
average, 14 is noteworthy, 18 is legendary. Any Monolith’s mechanics.
ability score not listed is treated as 10.
Hit Protection: Give average creatures 3 HP,
hardy ones 6 HP, and serious threats get 10+
HP. Remember that HP is Hit Protection, not Hit
Points. It’s a measure of resilience, luck, and
gumption, not health.
Other: Use flavor and style to help them stand
out. Use critical damage to lean into the threat
or strangeness of any aggressive NPC.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE
› Is it good at avoiding a hit? Give it HP.
› Does it soak up damage? Give it Armor.
› Is it strong? Give it a high STR.
› Is it nimble? Give it high DEX.
› Is it charismatic or mentally powerful? Give
it high WIL.
Damage dice are roughly the same, though
armed attacks do at least 1d6 damage.

82
SAMPLE BESTIARY
Street Scummer
3 HP, 8 STR, 12 DEX, 8 WIL, Shiv (D6)
› Avoids combat unless they have the
advantage (such as greater numbers).
› Usually running a scam or looking to steal.
› Will trade information for money or favors.

Gang Enforcer
7 HP, 13 STR, 8 DEX, 10 WIL, any simple
weapon.
› Description
› Tactic.
› Critical Damage:

Space Pirate Captain

10 HP, 10 STR, 12 DEX, 14 WIL, Laser Rifle (D8
thermal)
› Description
› Tactic.
› Critical Damage:

Large Battle Droid

12 HP, 2 Armor, 14 STR, 8 DEX, 4 WIL, plasma-
saw (D10 thermal) and blaster (D6 thermal)
› Description
› Tactic.
› Critical Damage:

Feathered Void-Squid
6 HP, 2 Armor, 16 STR, 5 DEX, 8 WIL, Tentacle
Swarm (d6 + d6), Dying Screech (WIL Save vs
1d4 DEX damage, only used near or at death)
› Elephant-sized squid covered in gray
feathers.
› Slow moving, often lays in wait for prey. Can
reach up to 20 feet with its tentacles.
› STR Save vs grappled on tentacle critical
damage. If grappled, Voidsquid’s beak will
sever a random limb.

83
PLANETS
PLANET ATTRIBUTES
All planets have the following attributes. Roll randomly or select. These attributes are only
suggestions, feel free to define planet quality with other metrics or descriptions.

2D6 TEMPERATURE 2D6 DOMINANT BIOME

Frozen: Requires exosuit with cryo 2 Oceans or Swamplands

2
protection.
Cold: +1 fatigue if not wearing warm 3 Deserts or Wastes
3
equipment.
4 Jungle or Forest
4 Variable Cool

5-8 Earth-Like Diversity

5-9 Temperate

9 Gas Giant, Moon, or other

10 Variable Warm

Hot: +1 fatigue if wearing anything 10 Bio-Engineered

11 warm or heavy (like armor or thick
clothes) 11 Strange/Anomaly or Alien
Burning: Requires exosuit with
12 Synthetic, Mechanical, or A.I.
thermal protection. 12
Dominated

2D6 ATMOSPHERE 2D6 TECH LEVEL

Corrosive: Requires exosuit and
2 2 T-0 Neolithic
oxygen supply.

3 Airless: Requires rebreather 3 T-1 Medieval

Thin: Rebreather or double fatigue 4 T-2 Industrial

4
gains.

5-10 Breathable: Earth-like oxygen. 5-6 T-3 Modern Earth

Thick: Rebreather or double fatigue 7-10 T-4 Advanced (Stellar)

11
gains.
Invasive: Requires exosuit and 11 T-5 Advanced + (Interstellar)
12
oxygen supply.
12 T-6 Hyper Advanced (Galactic)

T-X Optional. Unfathomable,

-
Godlike, Mythical.

84
 2D6 LAW LEVEL 2D6 POPULATION SIZE
Lawless: No noticeable authority 2 Failed Colony or Abandoned
or system of laws. It’s either
2
anarchy or the strong ruling the 3 Outpost (hundreds)
weak.
4-5 Small (thousands)
Vague: Laws are extremely
localized and barely enforced, 6-7 Medium (hundreds of thousands)
3-4
perhaps merely existing as a
custom or ritual. 8-9 Large (millions)

Lenient: Authority is decentralized 10-11 Billions/City-Planet

across multiple regions, states,
or corporations. Carrying military 12 Ruins or Disaster
5-7
weaponry in public is frowned
upon, but rarely enforced,
depending on where you are. FINALIZING PLANETS
Moderate: Authority is mostly Take the rolls for planet attributes. List out
centralized but somewhat relaxed. any additional qualities you want to include.
8-9
Carrying military weapons in public What’s listed for the planet doesn’t have to be
is still illegal and enforced. exclusively from the dice rolls.
Strict: Authority is centralized
and strict. Weapons are banned
10-11
for civilians except in certain SAMPLE WORLD
wilderness areas.
Attributes
Police State: Authority is ever- › Breathable
12 present. Surveillance is ubiquitous,
and laws are harshly enforced. › Variable Warm
› Desert
› Small Population
2D6 COMPLICATIONS
› Strict Laws
2 Civil War or Internal Conflict › Industrial Tech

3 Political Qualities
4 Criminal › Militaristic
› Low-tech
5-9 Social › Imperial Outpost
10 Nature › Gang Warfare
› Manufactures Nutrient Paste
11 Technological
› Diamond Mining
12 Weird or Mysterious › Illegal Drug Manufacture and Trade

Complications
INTERPRETING RESULTS › Customs Officials
Rolling (for example) hot, thick, wastes, › Military Police
industrial, lawless, technological complications, › Gangs
and small population might look like a volcanic
› Planetary Civil War
planet, post eruption, scavenger society and
heavy resource mining, bringing the big picture › Trade Embargo
together. › Drug Smuggling Ring
› Security Codes Needed

85
FACTION RULES
TYPES OF FACTIONS GOAL PROGRESSION
Factions generally fall into one of the below › Factions may have several goals, but can
categories, but there can be more, and often only be actively working toward one goal at
they’re blended: a time.
› Governments › Goals are indicated with boxes ranging from
2 to 10, depending on complexity.
› Corporations
› Between sessions or at certain intervals of
› Criminal (gangs, pirates, syndicates,
time based on the goal (weeks, months) roll
mafias, cartels)
2d6 and consult the chart below. Add +1
› Mercenary for relevant resources or help from players.
› Media & Entertainment (news, social Subtract -1 for interference from rival
media, etc.) factions or the players.
› Manufacturing (engineering, weapons,
starships, A.I., drugs) 2 3-6 7-11 12
› Services (transport, information, etc) Setback No Progress Windfall
› Cults (-1 box) progress (+1 box) (+2 box)
› Cultural Organizations (unions, clubs)
› When a faction completes a goal, it will
› Religions usually mean adding a new resource.
Goals can include reducing other factions
RESOURCES resources, power, or influence.

Faction resources can range from wealth,

manpower, technology, influence, reputation, or
other abstract sources of power.
GOALS
› Factions are always working towards some
kind of goal.
› The goal should be something the players
can get involved with, and those goals
will typically butt up against the goals of
opposing factions.
› Individuals inside a faction have their own
personal agendas.
FACTION QUALITIES
Some factions will be violent, diplomatic, crafty,
ambitious, underhanded, benevolent, peaceful,
hidden, famous, infamous, etc. Give each
faction a few descriptors to paint a picture, the
rest can be developed through play.
FACTION SIZE
Faction size determines their range of power
and influence. Feuding with a size above or
below usually results in some sort of bonus or
penalty. Faction size can fluctuate with major
gains or losses.
› Size 1: Local to planet
› Size 2: Local on multiple planets and
surrounding orbits
› Size 3: Large Influence over entire star
systems
› Size 4: Major influence over several systems
or whole sub-sectors
› Size 5: Grand influence extends from
multiple sub-sectors to several entire
sectors.

86
SAMPLE FACTIONS
THE RAZORCOATS
Size 1: A local, planet side underworld gang.

Notable members
Gaz the Younger, leader. A feared gangster
involved in racketeering and arms dealing.

Resources
› Gang Enforcers (detachment)
(stat individually like “Gang Brute”
› Underground Hideout (in slums)
› Local Weapon Trade Monopoly
(2d6 weekly income)

Goals
› Expand Control of Local Black market
Weapons Market
› Infiltrate Local Government
› Take down rival gang

JOYBIRD MEDIA GROUP

Size 4: A major news media outlet and social
media influence among youth demographics.

Notable members
Hamish Redd, CEO. Beloved celebrity icon.

Resources
› Lifestyle brand influence of youths.
› Massive wealth and media reach
› 1d4 chance to have blackmail “dirt” on
other factions in their area of influence. Re-
roll every week for new dirt.

Goals
› Controlling current political narrative
› Expand to nearby sectors
› Launch CEO’s political
campaign

87
TABLES & GENERATORS
ALIEN SPECIES GENERATOR
Roll once or multiple times on each table to generate alien species or other cultures.

D44 Quality D44 Physical Trait D44 Physiology

11 Indigo 11 Multi-Armed 11 Wolf or Canine

12 Crimson 12 Undead 12 Avian

13 Striped 13 Advanced Tech 13 Simian

14 Spotted 14 Shrouded Clothing 14 Swine

21 Golden 21 Armored or Tribal 21 Reptile

22 Pale 22 Long Neck or Limbs 22 Crustacean

23 Shadowy 23 Antennae or Tentacles 23 Insectoid or Arachnid

24 Green 24 Multi-Eyed 24 Ursine

31 Translucent 31 Synthetic 31 Rodent

32 Laughing 32 Horned or Winged 32 Feline

33 Royal 33 Spines or Spiked 33 Human-like

34 Warlike 34 Mechanical 34 Amphibian or Fish

41 Mystic 41 Crystalline or Plantlike 41 Dwarf

42 Filthy 42 Smoldering or Frozen 42 Giant

43 Nomadic Traders 43 Gelatinous 43 Amorphous

44 Inventors or Crafters 44 Psionic 44 Elephant or Rhino

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUNDS
A simple list of backgrounds for PCs or NPCs. If you use this list for players, let them roll for some
equipment or make a gear pack you think fits.

1. Spy 9. Syndicate 17. Military 25. Pirate

2. Dock Worker 10. Politician 18. Entertainer 26. Trader
3. Ship Hand 11. Bounty Hunter 19. Professor 27. Explorer
4. Mercenary 12. Fugitive 20. Scavenger 28. Cultist
5. Nomad 13. Farmer 21. Engineer 29. Law Enforcer
6. Gambler 14. Smuggler 22. Mystic 30. Corporate
7. Merchant 15. Nobility 23. Scientist
8. Pilot 16. Street Rat 24. Tribesperson

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D44 Mutations
11 Gills (water breathing)

12 Claws or Horns (D6 Unarmed)

13 Fur (cold resist)

Skin Color Shift (roll D8) 1. Red, 2. Silver, 3. Gold, 4. Green, 5. Blue, 6. Violet, 7. Iridescent
14
Black, 8. Patterned (re-roll 2 & mix)
21 Wings (D4) 1. Feathered, 2. Insect, 3. Leathery, 4. Spectral

22 Blood Craving (Once a day, heal 1D4 STR when you feed)

23 Devil Jaw (D6 damage) Sharp iron teeth and powerful crushing jaw that can unhinge.

24 Prehensile Tail (roll D4) 1-2. Reptilian, 3-4. Monkey

31 Scales or Mineral Growths (+1 armor)

32 Agility (double all speeds)

33 Perfect Memory (+1 WIL )

34 Evolved Mind (roll psionic power)

41 Gray Eel Skin (D6 Shock, Touch)

42 Molt (Can permanently change appearance once a month)

43 Dense Bones (+2 STR, -1 DEX)

44 Regenerative (heal 1D4 STR once a day)

D8 Drugs
Addiction: Must take addicted substance daily or be deprived. New WIL save each day to shake
off addiction. After 3 failed saves, take the “Drugs” vice.
Disposable vaporizer cartridge. Induces powerful euphoria. WIL save vs
1 Cloud Nine
blissful detachment for 2d6 hours.
Crystallized sugar tablet laced with hallucinogenics. STR save vs flying
2 R.A.G.E.
into a violent frenzy for an hour. Unarmed attacks do D8 damage.
White powder. Snort it to gain a burst of energy. STR save vs deprived for
3 Jet Fuel
2d12 hours.
4 Bliss Little blue pill. Consume to restore 1D4 fatigue, WIL save vs addiction.
A tacky, chewable compound. Mild buzz and turns your eyes bright green
5 Slimeball
for an hour.
Synthesized lab-grown molecules in the form of an arm patch. For 1D4
6 T-33B hours you have +3 armor. When the effects wear off you gain +1 fatigue
and are violently ill for 1D6 hours. Popular with militias and pirates.
Deep violet leaf-like moss that is dried and rolled in paper or used in
7 Shoosh communal tube-pipes for smoking. Has a casual, mood-boosting &
relaxing effect. Non-addictive.
Alcoholic liquid with microbial alien spores. Intoxicating and powerfully
8 Brain Drain
stimulating to the mind and senses.

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CREDITS & INSPIRATION
› Cairn by Yochai Gal
› Into the Odd & Electric Bastionland by Chris McDowell
› Mothership by Sean McCoy
› Knave & Maze Rats by Ben Milton
› Star Rats by Landon Kanillopoolos
› Mausritter by Isaac Williams
› Any Planet is Earth & Weird North by Jim Parkin
› Offworlders & Night Tripper by Chris P. Wolf
› Vaults of Vaarn by Leo Hunt
› Stars Without Number by Kevin Crawford
› The Black Hack by David Black
› Into the Archipelago by Harry Menear
› Goblin Punch blog by Arnold Kemp
› Skerples for procedures inspiration.
› Knock! Zine Issue #1
› Thank you to Crochet Lord (@crochet_lord) for editing help and Korean translation.

CC-BY-SA-4.0
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons,
PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.

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NAME LEVEL XP

HIT PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

MAX CURRENT BODY BODY

BODY BODY
STRENGTH
MAX CURRENT

BAG BAG

DEXTERITY
MAX CURRENT
BAG BAG

WILLPOWER BAG BAG

MAX CURRENT

AUGMENTATION SLOTS
ARMOR BRAIN EYES

FACE BODY (ANY)

ABILITIES

L. ARM R. ARM

L. LEG R. LEG

BODY (INTERNAL) BODY (INTERNAL)

BODY (EXTERNAL) BODY (EXTERNAL)

CORRUPTION (CIRCLE CURRENT VALUE)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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 THOSE WHO PLAY WITH THE DEVIL’S TOYS
WILL BE BROUGHT BY DEGREES TO WIELD HIS SWORD.

—R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER

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