The Full Rules

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

The Changing of the Guard

Chapter 1 – Crashing Heavens Abdicates (Introduction and Character Generation)

Chapter 2 – Census of the New Guard (Races and Classes)

Chapter 3 – Encyclopedia Heroica (Paranormal Abilities, Equipment, Skills, Merits, Traits)

Chapter 4 – Guardian’s Atlas (The World Summary)

Chapter 5 – Narrator’s Notes (GM Guide)
Crashing Heavens Abdicates

It has been merely a few years since the destruction of the All-Monster. Thrash Ranari, Badcat Xiang, Xenocratis Venificum Secutor, Fred Lumina-Weise, Firebrand the Red Blaze, Dragon Lancer, Ebony of the White Heart, Sylphana Rossis, and untold numbers more have passed into fame and fortune. With the ringing of the Golden Knight’s final words, “Let this be the final battle”, has passed an old age, and into a new. People reminesce over the rapid change: the United States’ Cryo program coming to an end, attempts at world peace and revolutionary change finally becoming plausible, demons and humans living in harmony, Hell itself becoming a place for redemption and not for punishment.
Unfortunately, the Old Guard, the term coined by Badcat himself regarding him and his colleagues, is now so in demand throughout the universe and through untold time periods that they can do very little. Too much of their time is spent managing, preserving the current gains, defending, and preparing the world for hope and happiness. And all new eras are won, regrettably, partially in blood.
For political and economic change, heroes have no place. Now the Old Guard has become bureaucrats, administrators, instead of riding out in the glorious Ranger’s Wings, preparing to save the universe from they who seek to control Fate. Crashing Heavens is almost officially disbanded – the Rangers almost becoming a charity organization. But there is still work for heroes to do. Not all is well in the transition to the new age, and the vacuum left by the departing Old Guard has made an exciting new time for heroines and heroes of all ilks.
Needless to say, your characters belong in this time period. Now a name can be made for oneself. You have been selected by the original Crashing Heavens to fill their shoes and help to create a new world. You are the clichéd best and brightest.
In the words of Badcat, now a premier quipster, “Go out and kick some new ass.”

Initial Comments

The most important thing to note at first is that this will be a party game, unlike many of my current games, and teamwork will be essential. Even more important, I want everything to be entirely new. Why? This is the era of new heroes, and new stories need to be written. So don’t try to convert your favorite character – chances are they fought with the Old Guard and are now enjoying a cushy retirement.

This will be a mostly freeform game. I obviously am the final arbiter, but I’m creating a world with tremendous possibilities to do what you wish in, as long as it’s reasonably in character. There will be missions so as to provide a guiding framework, but besides that, it’s your game. I’m simply the editor and scriptwriter for a play you improv on.

So, weigh all your options. I’ve made the variety of abilities pretty staggering, but you always have me to offer suggestions and to guide.

Story Background

Eons ago, an ancient force known as the Creator helped to form and guide the planet that Thrash, Badcat, Xenocratis, etc. hail from, Hael. It decided to create two offspring to assist in the process and form a triad, a stable allegiance, but the two children became diametrically opposed, and waged war all over the planet. The ostensibly good one, the Golden Knight, was trapped in a dimensional prison and guarded by her friend, the Crystal Knight. The evil one was trapped in a mysterious dimension that was somehow tremendously powerful. This son, the All-Monster, discovered that the dimension next to his was where universal forces conflagrated, where all the lost possibilities came to rest. This was, in short, where Fate was kept. The All-Monster worked and worked to burrow a hole through the dimensions, slowly recruiting a number of Avatars, orindividuals who agreed to gain much power in exchange for unity with him.
The All-Monster opened the hole 1000 years ago. Four impromptu Councils, of Ancients, Warriors, Magicians and Beasts, formed to destroy it. Among them was O'Tengu, a Universal Future Magi of the Ateng race, a natural magical being representing the possibilities of the future who had formed a unique body for martial arts. Another was Ranari, an ancestor of Thrash who wielded the Neutral Excalibur. Two others were Merlin and King Arthur, representatives from the distant Earth. The Councils met to destroy the Avatars and the All-Monster, but were too few and too exhausted to do so, and could only seal them away, then themselves get sealed away. Again, the Final Battle was prolonged.
Recently, a young human Power Magi named Fred Bourgault-Weise was found by Crashing Heavens, three of the greatest demon hunters ever seen. When he was brought to the planet, it and countless other worlds formed into a tenuous dimensional unity.
The boy went on his own, found out about the All-Monster, and arrayed an army of the greatest heroes and heroines to destroy the All-Monster. He won the Dark Tournament, helped Firebrand unleash the Red Blaze, and even became a Universal Magi, being revealed to be the reincarnation of O'Tengu. The Final Battle finally occured, and the Golden Knight and the All-Monster locked away.

A Note on Augmentation

In even recent days, personal augmentation through various artificial means was considered a joke, a crutch for fighters. Zeru mocked Hiei for his artificial Jagan Eye; cyborgs were never given the same respect as golems; and so on. This, in part, stemmed from the simple fact that augmentation usually was inferior. For example, while an ordinary third eye would simultaneously broaden the array of psychic abilities available and the level and efficiency of ki available to the user, the Jagan Eye would net-subtract from this.

But Old Guard members blew this conception to pieces. Remember: Even in areas of the Universe where people don’t perceive the threat the All-Monster did pose, the Old Guard continues to help them, assisting in terraforming planets for the increasing immortal population, restructuring health systems and industries with amazing technology, facilitating trade and scientific development, and handling crises. The Old Guard are respected, and due to the need to quickly fight against the All-Monster, several of them used augmentations. Fred, for example, submitted to a Magi Cyborg procedure.

As the state of the art advanced, however, personal augmentation began to be considered serious. Perhaps the first indication was the growing role of symbiotes. Where a person like Spiderman feared symbiotes, an ordinary person like Eddie Brock did not fear to tread, and reaped the rewards. It turned out that some, like the Daemonix, benefited uniquely from new augmentations. At the same time, Hiei’s creation of a Ja Ou En Satsu Ken technique that surpassed all others convinced people that even false third eyes could allow unique and powerful abilities to be seen.

This is not to say that all personal augmentation is accepted. A person with no affinities who simply spends money on augmentation is known as anything from a “Golden Claw” (the name of a group of billionaires who augmented themselves and performed crimes, then defeated by Fred early on in his career) to a “Gee-Wiz” (a combination of “Gee-gaw” and a silly name for a wizard) to an “M&M” (Machine and Man, or Modified Man). Even less accepted among many are immoral and destructive augmentation: for example, transformation into the undead or bio-wizardry that takes parts from living creatures and even lobotomizes Zembahk and Eyes of Eylor so as to create items.

However, in cases where the augmentation (whether it be cybernetic, chemical, supernatural, or whatever) is used creatively and to bolster a good fighter, it is considered the same as training or a training supplement. There are some holdout purists, but success is its own advertisement, and quickly it is becoming accepted. Even some countries are putting chemicals in the water demonstrated to raise the chance of mutation and supernatural occurrence. (Of course, the populace often takes up arms, and often rightly, arguing both that the practice is unsafe and immoral; but many times, governments are able to assuage these concerns, usually with a scathing and grueling examination by a trusted Old Guard member).

At this point, augmentation can be purchased with only trade-offs, no true penalties. Cybernetics can be put into place that only changes, not harms, personal paranormal energy; chemicals can be used in ways that do not shorten the lifespan such as the old Juicer, and so on.

So, player characters should not be surprised that it is considered acceptable, even admirable, to submit the body to experiments and enhancements. But this should nonetheless be played up. A purist should mock a member of the party with an artificial Sharingen or a Jagan; someone should make a crack about a character’s cybernetic arm; and so on.

Steps for Character Creation

1. Flesh Out an Idea
Come up with an idea of what you’re trying to create at first. Look through Races and Classes and Traits and consider how they interplay.
2. Pick a Race, Assign Attributes
3. Pick A Class, Assign Attributes, Choose Abilities
4. Choose Skills, Merits

Alignments

It is tempting to say that the Grand Cosmos system has no Alignments. It only has personalities. After all, someone committing themselves abstractly to a notion of Good could commit tremendous evil and a lowlife scum could momentarily do quite a bit of good, maybe intentionally, maybe not. But I don't wish to suggest that ethical judgments are not made in any Grand Cosmos setting, CotG or otherwise. Clearly relationships of right and wrong govern and interplay with personality: The two are connected but somewhat distinct. So, instead of categorizing into Good/Evil or Lawful/Chaotic or other dichotomies, I will list a number of ethical outlooks PCs and NPCs might take, as well as noting some axes and philosophical debates.

One may note that I'm not including religious archetypes in here. That's an intentional omission, but one of scale, not philosophy: listing all the permutations of theologies and their associated ethical outlooks would take years to properly enumerate, especially if fictional ones are included. If someone wants to make a devout character, they can either fit them into an existing Archetype or append that religious devotion to another Archetype and note in what situations which part of the character will win over which other part. GMs will have the final say on how they treat matters of faith, spirituality and religion generally. If your GM wants to avoid the matter, run with it and simply choose the closest available Archetype. I prefer to include it because it artificially places a stop sign over a whole realm of human behavior, but do attempt to keep any conflicts that emerge in game.

Ethical Archetypes

The Ascetic: These are extreme religious or philosophical viewpoints. One could even argue that they are not ethical viewpoints at all. These individuals view a life of contemplation, meditation, thought, or similar as a high or the highest goal. Whether they be seeking nirvana, heaven, philosophy in the Aristotelian sense or just peace with themselves, they refuse to be involved in the matters of the world, to the point that they do not even make judgments about it and in general are irked by its being mentioned. Some view the real world as an illusion or distraction and refuse to have anything to do with it. If everyone else did the same, they reason, ethics wouldn't matter. They are distinct from Pacifists in that many Pacifists are quite concerned with the real world and from Scientists in that Scientists demand to interact with the existing universe, though they agree with both on the matter of leaving others alone and suspending ones judgment in favor of compassion (or, for some ascetics, dispassion). Ascetic PCs are quite difficult to play in most any setting: They want above all to be somewhere else but having an adventure. Nonetheless, some of the less extreme forms might work.

The Pacifist: Pacifists are what they sound like: People who have committed themselves to not harming other creatures. Some may only refuse to harm other sentient beings, some all animals and even plant life. (Note that a bare minimum is not to attack any sentients within a very broad definition of that term: Someone who is unwilling to harm humans but willing to harm elves is a racist, not a pacifist). Even in self-defense they will rarely if ever raise a finger to help themselves, let alone others. This is not to say they are necessarily non-confrontational. Some are additionally Ascetic and withdraw into their cocoons, but most are quite spirited individuals, holding onto beliefs about the betterment of life and of the spirit. They just go about this without resorting to violence. For them, the risk that seemingly justified violence will turn out to be wrong (and worse, that they may never see it) is so great that they refuse to even enter the arena. Pacifist PCs, like Ascetics, may have some problems in some campaigns, especially ones like CotG, but again some of the less extreme forms (say, some that refuse simply to kill but are fine with limited and sensible degrees of physical force like Vash the Stampede or some who are fine with defending themselves with abilities like Aikido or some who commit to healing and assistance roles exclusively) should work.

The Activist: Activists are first and foremost idealists. They have some notion about the way things should work: it might be very broad or very narrow, but they do have it. Usually this is an outlook that believes in the sanctity of life, avoiding killing and harm, compassion, etc. They are passionate and driven about their ideals. Some may be quite self-righteous, but most Activists try to moderate and tolerate to some degree. However, they are distinct from Pacifists in that, while they generally abhor and avoid violence, they are willing to use it as a tactic of last resort to accomplish something they view as a greater good if necessary.

The Anarchist (or Libertarian): Those of this ilk may not even speak in terms of good and evil but rather in terms of rights, rights conflicts, tyranny, domination, oppression, etc. To them, a murderer is not (or not just, or not primarily) a bad person, but someone violating another one's right to security and life. To them, interventions to stop rights conflicts are okay. Anything else is verboten and in turn must be stopped (i.e. paternalistic state intervention against drug usage, or possibly abortion, or...) Their view may be wholly negative (i.e. “I'm going to stop this”) or they may expound a positive alternative or vision, but in any respect their focus is liberty, not good. This isn't to say all anarchist or libertarian characters are amoral: not even close. In fact, many have a quite lofty personal ethic, even espousing it as the alternative to domination. They just feel that others can make decisions differently and they don't have the right to stop them. They feel that if they are indeed right they will convince others through appeals not force. Note that the Anarchist is not simply a modern or a political character. Ancient Tricksters can be represented by this archetype too, undermining social convention and accepted habits and norms to introduce a sense of freedom and even chaos back into life.

The Honorable: Instead of (or perhaps because of) a set of lofty dreams, the Honorable character has a strict code, sometimes quite archaic, that they follow. Depending on how self-righteous the character is, they may have absolutely no qualms about doing things outside of their honor code's purview, or simply view the honor code as the bare minimum and have additional ethical beliefs and outlooks. At least within the realm of the code, their beliefs tend to be quite black and white: one either follows the prescriptions and proscriptions or does not. These usually include tenets such as “Give to the needy”, “Do not harm the innocent”, “Do not torture”, “

The Vigilante: Vigilantes usually have a code of justice and ethics as stringent as the Activist's. However, their focus is far less upon what should be done rather than what shouldn't. A vigilante as a practical matter must in the vast majority of cases have a higher reference system that allows them to make judgments: Whether it be the law, religious tenets or commandments, or a set of principles, they must have something to determine who falls within their realm of corruption. Vigilantes are common anti-heroes and range from The Boondock Saints to The Punisher. Vigilantes often have quite dark outlooks on life: whereas an Activist might see the best in people, a Vigilante inerrantly identifies the worst. A vigilante is almost always violent to some degree.

The Intuitive: Badcat Xiang defines this archetype to a tee. These women and men distinguish themselves from The Unprincipled in that they have not eschewed ethics or ethical understanding. Make no mistake, these are people who are concerned with doing the right thing. But they do not define the right thing by hard and fast categories. They see far more gray than even The Activist or The Pacifist (see Tolerance v. Ethics) and are quick to bring up different feelings or perspectives. This isn't to say that they can't ever feel their ethics trump others': some may be thieves stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. But the general way that they view whether an action is wrong or not is based on an instinctive (but not necessarily thoughtless) reaction to each individual circumstance and not based on application of an overarching rule.

The Martyr: The Martyr is so committed to their idea of good that they are willing to sacrifice their wealth, health and even life for it. They tend to be driven by inner demons that seek them to make such sacrifices.

The Saint: This is perfect for a doctor-type character. These are compassionate individuals who focus less on changing the world and more on fixing the people within it.
The Unprincipled: There are many in this world who concern themselves primarily with their well-being and possibly of a few close friends (think Han Solo in the beginning of Episode IV). These characters are fundamentally good and are likely to oppose injustice... sometimes only because it hurts the bottom line, but sometimes out of a genuine desire to see people do better. They may not go out of their way to help other people, and their ethical opinions may be shortsighted or minimal in scope, but they usually have them somewhere. They also often have an honor code, not as inflexible as the Honorable Archetype, but with a few core rules that they accept as easily as a horse accepts water. Cowboy codes or outlaw codes are perfect examples.

The Gung Ho:

The Scientist: A relatively rare ethical archetype; even most scientists don't actually follow this belief, though most try to do so in their role as scientists. A Scientist character concerns themselves exclusively with what is actually out “there”. They demand rigorous standards of logic, testing and adherence to scientific convention. They either have an explanation for something or do not: “Belief” is not within their philosophical universe. They in general view learning and discovery as a high end, if not the highest end, and avoid making ethical judgments about others, even refusing to proffer opinions when asked. They view themselves as providing options and information, not judgment and polemics.

The Helper: This guy mostly sleeps through the high-flying lectures on morality and righteousness issued by their allies of the above Archetypes. They are usually fundamentally good people, but their ethical lens is mostly focused on helping their teammates and friends. They tend to think in concretes rather than abstracts: they will refuse to donate to charity but give money generously to a bum they find on the street. This is perfect for a team mechanic, doctor or so on.

The Naturalist:

The Hedonist: Oh, girls just want to have fun. The Hedonist is concerned with pleasure, first and foremost. All this ethical stuff is boring. Just do what makes you happy! Go with the flow! Hedonists differ from Anarchists in that they not only support the right to do activities (say, controversial sexual acts or relationships, or usage of drugs) that some call unethical but also say that doing so is for the greater good. Hedonists are not always villains or amoral pigs, and some are deontological (i.e. if one person's time is ruined, it doesn't matter how many people are made happy by it). Some are, of course, but many just feel that pleasure of all kinds is the highest good and that depriving oneself of fun out of guilt is misplaced and stupid. If all people just watched out for each other and made sure everyone was having a good time, they reason, there wouldn't be a need for the other Archetypes. Some are fairly pacific, but some will fight very hard for their right to party (for a humorous example, see Austin Powers).

The Insane: Every one of these classes can have psychoses, neuroses, obsessions, etc. But the Insane takes this to another level. The way they relate to the world and think about right and wrong is heavily modified by their insanity.

The True Neutral:

The Nihilist: This character simply doesn't believe actions are right or wrong. They may be villains or heroes, or just handle their own affairs, but their concerns are not with justice, ethics, etc., and they typically love to undermine mealymouths who talk about those things.

The Sporting Villain: The villains we know and love, who on occasion are quite heroic. Whatever ends these villains have chosen to commit themselves to, they do so with an uncanny ruthlessness. But there are certain boundaries they do not cross. For many this takes the form of not victimizing certain groups (perhaps a culture or group they belong to – this is a great archetype for many military men; or women or children or other groups they view was defenseless). Many are generous and even compassionate in the right circumstances. However, at the end of the day (barring their growth as characters) they are still villains. The heroes may end up calling one of them ally, and in rare cases even friend, but the Sporting Villain will always be at best a justiciar who makes even the Vigilante of a team cringe.

The Powermonger: Powermongers are not necessarily evil, but they usually are or have lost a lot of their soul to get what they want. For whatever reason, a Powermonger believes that the way to achieve her highest goals (whether those be emotional, physical, spiritual, etc.) is the amassing of power over the world at all costs. Pacts with demons, deals with unsavory political, economic or criminal forces, and learning abilities and practices that are of questionable character at best are all their forte. Some less extreme versions of the character will, for example, learn necromancy and justify it by the logic that the lesser crime of violating the sanctity of the dead is a minor crime compared to the benefit that employing the dead might have.

The Dark Spiritualist: These people have found some strange code of behavior that seems to give them license to commit horrific atrocities, or pursue horrible hedonisms, or exercise black magic and abilities. These are very difficult for most good-aligned people to deal with, for they seem like a bodhisattva yet are complete inversions of such values. It can be hard to pull this character off successfully. Some can be even more difficult than Diabolic Archetypes to integrate with PCs.

The Diabolic: This person is simply, well, evil. Whether they think of themselves as amoral or are proud of their immorality, these miscreants will kill, rape, torture, assault, steal, and attempt to dominate the world, whether for some kind of broader “goal” (rarely a lofty one) or just for the fun of it. Unless the character is very strange or not very extreme, it is unlikely that most campaigns can tolerate her. Even Powermongers, Dark Spiritualists or Sporting Villains rarely kill their teammates for the fun of it. However, the more rational of them will work within an organization to accomplish their ends. Ironically, they can be among the most trustworthy of all people: when their ends require cooperation, they are enthusiastic allies and sometimes even friends.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

The Alien: This is a sort of catch-all category. Some races or classes are so different from the norm that humans can comprehend that their behavior would seem amoral or even inscrutable. For example: A fire elemental might set fires in a town filled with thatched roof houses, not out of any kind of malice but just a simple lack of understanding about what this does to the people.


Axes and Debates

Tolerance v. Ethics: There is at least theoretically a tension between tolerating another group's or person's behavior and committing oneself to a code of ethics. Few either stick to the norm of complete non-interference and non-judgment about others or complete intolerance for any lifestyle even infinitesimally distinct from their own. Most occupy some space. They accept some behavior as okay though possibly not optimal, and they accept a larger range as not good but something that is not their business. Note that even Pacifists can be quite self-righteous about the ethics they hold and thus intolerant, even though they do not let this manifest as violence. They will, for example, not be amenable to explanations that a General is just trying to serve his country: to them, he is doing something wrong, period. There are tolerant and intolerant Pacifists.

Freedom v. Control: Another possible and related tension is between respecting rights, freedoms and privacies versus wanting to see justice done no matter how much that restricts others' mobility.

Forgiveness v. Punishment:

Deontology/Categorical Ethics versus Pragmatism/Consequentialist Ethics: Is something always wrong no matter the possible good that may be drawn from it? Or do the ends sometimes justify the means? Again, few believe that all actions are acceptable as long as the world is slightly better at the end of a convoluted chain or that there should be no reference to consequence and context. One reasonable balance is that people are responsible for the predictable consequences of their actions. Subsidiary debates include the degree to which either outlook paralyzes or corrupts an individual, the relationship between rights and ethics/justice, the way that allowing certain exceptions to overarching rules can slowly undermine the rule or other “slippery slope” debates, and what actions are categorically verboten or what standards one can use to evaluate consequences.


Attributes

All attributes are ranked in seven ranks: Crippled, Human, Superhuman, Supernatural, Legendary, Deific, and Forbidden. Classifications are "very low", "low", "moderate", "high", and "very high", plus what is considered to be a "very high 1/2" or alternately a "very low 1/2". When raising attribute ranks through Godlike and Forbidden, it costs 2 ranks, and when raising inbetween classes (i.e. between Human and Superhuman), it costs the following additional amount: 0 for Crippled, 1 for Human, 2 for Superhuman, 3 for Supernatural, 4 for Legendary, 5 for Godlike, and 10 for Forbidden.

Strength: This is raw muscular strength, the capacity to carry, throw, punch, kick, and so on. High strengths offer bonus to speed and to leaping distance, but too high of a strength proportional to Reflex offers a ponderous frame.

Reflex: Reflex bundles the capacity to quickly see events and respond to them. It helps to determine running and leaping speed, initiative, dodging/parrying/striking, and so on. Too high of a Reflex without a high enough Precision makes a very antsy and imprecise character, capable of moving quickly but with little control.

Precision/Keenness: The flipside of Reflex. This involves the perceptual and muscular/reflexive prowess necessary to be balanced, graceful, delicate, and capable of seeing precise data. A marksman would need a high Precision.

Intelligence: Raw mental computing ability. Intelligence does get factored into some psychic resistances (though it may be more of a penalty than a boon), into breadth of skills (it requires a high Intelligence to multi-class), capacity to design machinery and new enchantments, etc.

Paranormal Ability: Describes the character’s potency of magic/psionics/natural skills/ki and helps to determine the reservoir of energy involved. (In most cases, Willpower, Paranormal Ability and Endurance will constitute MP/ISP/Ki/TP, to varying degrees).

Affinities: Affinities are a subset of Paranormal Ability, so note it as such. Affinities describe the character’s orientation to which they put their Paranormal Ability. A zero affinity means no skill as of now. There are negative Affinities, which indicate that that race or class is so untalented with the form of energy that they suffer penalties. The four types of Affinities are:
Ki: The Oriental energy source, based off of either the positive/abundant/lively energy forces and the negative/desolate/decaying energy forces. Martial artists, certain rarer spell casters, Eastern geomancers, and others use this energy type. The universal form of ki is ki lines.
Magic: The mystic energy, that which powers spells, enchantments, dweomers, and so on. This is the energy of faeries, dragons, phoenixes, and gods. The universal, ambient form of ki lies in ley lines.
Psionic: The mental energy, that of the intelligent mind projecting its will outwards through various means. The universal form has been titled the Force by some philosophers.
Technique: “Other”, that which powers most non-ki based techniques, superpowers, etc. There is no universal form of this energy. This is probably the most science-based of techniques, and thus those who use it are considered to be doing non-paranormal attacks for most purposes.

Willpower: Someone’s capacity to continue fighting, to resist, etc. While Willpower will not often form a large part of HP, it will allow someone to fight below 0 HP and also allow them to resist pain, making their HP be that much more meaningful.

Endurance: Your ability to exert effort and endure damage. Endurance factors into Hit Points and your paranormal energy supplies.

Charisma: Your natural ability to cajole, intimidate, convince, haggle, and so on. This is largely unrelated to alignment - someone who does horrendous things can nonetheless be very convincing and articulate. It's also hard to make someone hate you, even with a low Charisma - you'll simply be uninteresting, bland, etc. It does, however, make it easier to dislike you if you've already performed a number of faux pas or are of a discriminated group, so be careful. Many checks for skills like Singing or Leadership are based off of Charisma, so don't underplay it.

Rank Boosts:

Your character will get rank boosts to push him along here.

A Rank Boost can indeed be gained by lowering your starting stats

Races

1.Aarden Tek
2.Aasimar
3.Abyssin
4.Adarian
5.Adarok
6.Agerus
7.Agogwe
8.Aleena
9.Algor
10.Altess
11.Amaki
12.Amanin
13.Amorph
14.Amphib
15.Ananasi
16.Andalite
17.Andorian (Star Trek)
18.Angel
19.Angtar
20.Annis Hag
21.Ansionian
22.Anomid
23.Anx
24.Anzati
25.Aqualish
26.Arachnor
27.Aramandi
28.Aranea (shape-shifting spider humanoids)
29.Arcona
30.Arkanian
31.Arkhon
32.Armored Slayer
33.Asama-Tatsu Dragon
34.Ashada
35.Askajian
36.Assembler
37.Astral Builders
38.Astral Deva
39.Ateng
40.Athach
41.Atorian
42.Auto-G
43.Avoral (bird-like celestials)
44.Azer (fire dwarves)
45.Bajoran
46.Balosar
47.Bangaa
48.Barabel
49.Barghest
50.Barauder
51.Bastet
52.Belangialz
53.Belker (evil smoky air elemental)
54.Benzite
55.Besalisk
56.Betazoid
57.Bhlaze
58.Bimm
59.Bio-Freak
60.Bith
61.Black-Winged Monster-Men
62.Blood Carver
63.Blood Lizard
64.Blood Rider
65.Borg
66.Bothan
67.Bouncer
68.Branx
69.Brodkil
70.Buckaneer (Archspace)
71.Buti-fa
72.Cactus People
73.Cardassian
74.Cathar
75.Catyr
76.Celegian
77.Centaur
78.Cerean
79.Cernun Mystic
80.Chadra-Fan
81.Chagrian
82.Chahabahko
83.Changeling
84.Chazrach
85.Chiang-ku
86.Chiss
87.Chistori
88.Cihuacoatlians/Verulians
89.Clawdite
90.Contemplator
91.Corax
92.Coway
93.Coyle
94.Crocodilians
95.Croke
96.Croval
97.Cyclops
98.Cyden (Skraypers)
99.D-Ghoul (Dimensional Ghoul)
100.Dabuggh
101.Daemonix
102.Daitya
103.Dakini
104.Dandilion Warrior
105.Dantari
106.dar Nass
107.Dashade
108.Defel (aka Wraiths)
109.Demigod
110.Demi-Animals
111.Demonic Cannibal
112.Demon-Dragonmage
113.Dentrassi
114.Devaronian
115.D'norr Devilman
116.Dolphin Pneuma-Biform
117.Domovoi
118.Drach'nam
119.Draconoid
120.Draethos
121.Dragon
122.Dragon Tribesman
123.Dragon Wolf
124.Drall
125.Dreadlor (Tarlok Mutant)
126.Drider (spawn of Lolth)
127.Dug
128.Dulok
129.Duros
130.Durosk
131.Dwarf
132.Dybbuk
133.Dysasha
134.Eandroth
135.Earth Eaters (Mole Tribe)
136.Echani
137.Eldar
138.Elemental
139.Elf
140.Elom (not the symbiote, but from Star Wars)
141.Elomin
142.Emirin
143.Entan
144.Erta

1.Ettercap
2.Evintos
3.Evocii
4.Ewaipanoma
5.Ewok
6.Fallam
7.Falleen
8.Faustian
9.Feeorin
10.Fennodi
11.Ferengi
12.Fire Giant
13.Flamebrother Salamander
14.Flooper
15.Fomorian
16.Forosa
17.Fosh
18.Fox Demon
19.Fox Spirit/Kitsune
20.Frost Giant
21.Frozarn
22.Frozian
23.Gamorrean
24.Gand
25.Gargoyle
26.Garou
27.Gatherer
28.Gen'Dai
29.Gene-Splicer
30.Gene-Tech
31.Geonosian
32.Geoplant
33.Gerb
34.Ghaele (Celestial)
35.Ghost
36.Ghoul
37.Gigante
38.Givin
39.Glinerach (Skraypers, create a hallucinogenic secretion)
40.Goblin
41.Golem
42.Golgan
43.Goloth
44.Gorax
45.Gorith
46.Gorog
47.Gossam
48.Gotal
49.Grackle Tooth
50.Graei
51.Gran
52.Great Little Ones
53.Green Hag
54.Green Martian (DC)
55.Greot Hunter
56.Grig (Sprite subtype)
57.Grimbor
58.Grizmallt
59.Gromek
60.Gryphon
61.Guardian
62.Gungan
63.Gwurran
64.Habassa
65.Hagunennon
66.Half-elf
67.Half-ogre
68.Half-orc
69.Half-Sith
70.Halfling/Hobbit
71.Hamatula (Devil)
72.Harpy
73.Hawrk-duhk
74.Hawrk-ka
75.Hawrk-ohl
76.High Lord
77.Hill Giant
78.H'nemthe
79.Holy Terror
80.Hork-Bajir
81.Horune
82.Hoojib
83.Hound Archon (Celestial)
84.Huk
85.Human
86.Hutt
87.Hytril
88.Iborian (natural healer)
89.Ice Changeling (Frieza's race)
90.Iktochi
91.Illithid
92.Immeckian (Dragon Ball Z)
93.Imp
94.Irda
95.Iridorian
96.Ishi Tib
97.Ithorian
98.Janian
99.Jawa
100.Jem'Hadar (Star Trek)
101.Jeridu
102.Jotan
103.Kaejor
104.Kaleesh
105.Kaminoan
106.Kankoran
107.Kappa
108.Kazon
109.Kel Dor
110.Kelesh
111.Kiffar
112.Kildred
113.Kilin
114.Kitsune
115.Kitonak
116.Kittani
117.Klatooinian
118.Klied
119.Klingon
120.Kobali
121.Kobok
122.Konatsa (Tapion and Minosha's race)
123.Kongamato Giant Bat People
124.Koschei the Deathless
125.Kreel-Lok
126.Kremin
127.Kryggorth Hunter
128.Kryggorth's Lesson
129.Kryggorth Pegasus
130.Kurtzen
131.Kushiban
132.Kwarla (Rifts Australia)
133.Kydian
134.Kyton (Devil)
135.Kzin
136.Lanotaur Psi-Hunter
137.Larhold
138.Larmac
139.Lashreg (Skraypers)
140.Latter
141.Lepi
142.Leprechaun
143.Leshii
144.Lillend
145.Lurgess
146.Lycanmorph
147.Lyn-Srial
148.Lyvvorkian
149.Machine Person
150.Magmin
151.Makyo-Jin (Garlic Jr's and henchmans' species)
152.Maledon
153.Man-Eagle
154.Man-Wolf
155.Mantaz Sectle
156.Massassi
157.Mastadonoid
158.Maxpary
159.Mechanoid
160.Medusa
161.Men-Rall
162.Merpeople
163.Metzla
164.Mii-Tar
165.Mimbanite
166.Mindolar
167.Minotaur
168.Miraluka
169.Mirialan
170.Mirror People
171.Mogg
172.Mokole (World of Darkness)
173.Molokoi
174.Mon Calimari
175.Moogle
176.Morozko Frost Demons
177.Mountain Giant
178.Mustafarian
179.Mutant Animals
180.Muun
181.Mynyrsh
182.Naga
183.Nagai
184.Namek
185.Napean (Star Trek)
186.Nautolan
187.Naut'yll
188.Nazeer (Skraypers)
189.Nebruyin
190.Necron (Rifts)
191.Necron (WH40K)
192.Neimoidian
193.Nelvaanian
194.Neti
195.Neuro-Troll
196.Neuron Beast
197.Nightbane
198.Nikari
199.Nikto
200.Nixie
201.Noghri
202.Noli
203.Noro
204.Nu Mou
205.Nunnehi
206.Nurilian Plant People
207.Nym
208.N'ymbr Gorilla Man
209.Ocampa
210.Octoman
211.Ogre
212.Ogre Mage (Japanese Ogre)
213.Ojahee
214.Omwati
215.Ongree
216.Oni
217.Orc
218.Ork (WH40K, distinct due to their algal structure instead of semi-fae)
219.Orion (Star Trek)
220.Ortoloan
221.Oswaft
222.Overlord (Arthur C. Clarke)
223.Pa'lowick
224.Pandaren
225.Pau'an
226.Pegasus
227.Phantom
228.Phlog
229.Pincer Warrior
230.Pleasurer
231.Plumed Serpent
232.Pogtal
233.Polevoi (Russian Spirit)
234.Power Leech
235.Promethean
236.Priapulin
237.Protoss
238.Psadan
239.Psi-Pony
240.Psi-X Alien
241.Pucara
242.P'w'eck
243.Pythonan
244.Q
245.Qidian
246.Quarren
247.Quermian
248.Quick-Flex Alien
249.Rabbler
250.Raddan
251.Rahu-Man
252.Rakata
253.Raksasha
254.Ramen
255.Ranat
256.Red Martian (DC)
257.Renn-Mitte
258.Rithe (Skraypers Psychics)
259.Rodian
260.Rulian Translator
261.Rurlel Eel Person
262.Rusalka (Russian Spirit)
263.Ryn
264.Saffa
265.Sahuagin
266.Saiyan
267.Sasquatch
268.Sat
269.Satyr
270.Saurin
271.Scorpion Person
272.Seeker
273.Sekhmet
274.Seleniak
275.Selkath
276.Selonian
277.Seerman (Skraypers)
278.Shadow Person
279.Shaper
280.Sharu
281.Shastivanen
282.Shaydor Intel
283.Shaydor Spherian
284.Shrilt (Girder Rat, monkey-like species of Talavera)
285.Simvan
286.Sinestrian
287.Sinistral
288.Sith (the ancient and dead race)
289.Skage
290.Skairbcee
291.Skakoan
292.Skaven
293.Skrull
294.Slaad
295.Snivvian
296.Somnium
297.Sorini (slave race of Toogarth)
298.Soulhunter
299.Sowki
300.Sphinx
301.Spirit of Light
302.Splugorth Slaver
303.Squib
304.Ssi-Ruuk
305.Staphra
306.Stone Giant
307.Storm Giant
308.Struthio
309.Suhenkans (Roger Blaster's race)
310.Sullustan
311.Syvan
312.Talz
313.Tarlok
314.Talaxian
315.Talos (Skraypers)
316.Talosians (Star Trek)
317.Tameranian (DC)
318.Tandori
319.Tauton
320.Tecanoid
321.Teek
322.Teevan
323.Telbun
324.Temporal Raider
325.Tengu
326.Tentata
327.Thakwaash
328.Thennqora
329.Thisspiasian
330.Thrella
331.Thropo
332.Titan
333.Tirrvol Sword Fist
334.t'landa Til
335.Toadstool
336.Tof
337.Togorian
338.Togruta
339.Tokanii
340.Tomodo
341.Toogarth
342.Toydarian
343.Trandoshan
344.Treant
345.Tree People (Africa)
346.Trianii
347.Trimadore Mechanic
348.Triton (Water Outsider)
349.Troll
350.Trumpet Archon
351.Tuffle
352.Tusken
353.Twi'lek
354.Two-Faced Star People/Erishiks
355.Tyberian
356.T'Zee
357.Ubese
358.Ugakwa
359.Ugnaught
360.Ukt Water Serpents
361.Ultrovian
362.Umbaran
363.Umber Hulk
364.Unu
365.Utai
366.Utapaun
367.Uteni
368.Vaathkree
369.Vallax
370.Valkyrie
371.Vampire
372.Vanguard Brawler
373.Vashau
374.Veknoid
375.Verpine
376.Viera
377.Vodianoi
378.Vodran
379.Vogon
380.Vor
381.Vorloc
382.Vratix
383.Vrock
384.Vulcan/Romulan
385.Vurk
386.Weequay
387.Were-dragon
388.Werewolf
389.Whale Pneuma-Biform
390.Whill
391.Whiphid
392.Whitelighter
393.Whirlwind Demon
394.Wirutid
395.Wolfen
396.Wookiee
397.Wroonian
398.Xexto
399.X'ting
400.Yaka
401.Yardrati
402.Yautja/Predator
403.Yeerk
404.Yevetha
405.Yeno
406.Yhabbayar
407.Yuuzhan Vong (unaffected by force powers)
408.Yuzzem
409.Yuzzumi
410.Xeloss
411.Xerusian
412.Xesperados (any one of the confederacy races)
413.Xibalban
414.Xiticix
415.Zaayr Crystal Dragon
416.Zabrak
417.Zaranceti
418.Zavor
419.Zebuloid
420.Zeltron
421.Zembahk
422.Zengz
423.Zenith Moon Warper
424.Zllyphan (energy being)

Dragon Subtypes:
1.Asama-Tatsu
2.Black
3.Cockatrice
4.Gold
5.Great Horned
6.Hydra
7.Kumo-Mi
8.Kukulcan
9.Platinum
10.Purple
11.Red
12.Woolly

Human Ethnicities or Sub-Races:
1.Achilles Neo-Human
2.African or African-American
3.Amazon
4.Banbar
5.Caucasian
6.Cavepeople (in many continuities these are less intelligent but more endurant people)
7.Chinese
8.Gongamamnien
9.Gorogian
10.Hylian
11.Korean
12.Ishbalan
13.Jorochim
14.Italian
15.Native American
16.Pacific Islander
17.Rautelander
18.Venecian
19.Twanchen
20.Wormwood Humans
21.Zeal Inhabitants

Golem Subtypes:
1.Clay
2.Flame
3.Flesh/Blood
4.Mythril

Mutant Animals:
1.Amoeboid
2.Behemoth
3.Condoroid
4.Constrictor
5.Crab
6.Dog Boy
7.Dwarf
8.Equinoid
9.Falconoid
10.Flydragon
11.Loylan
12.Manta Ray
13.Mutant Capybara
14.Pistolpine
15.Sasquatchi
16.Serpentoid
17.Shark
18.Stone Lion
19.Ursa-Warrior
20.Whale

Undead Types:
1.Lich
2.Mummy
3.The Ancient (Incan)
4.True Zombie
5.Zombie

A General Note: Most races have mutations, tribes, ethnicities, etc. Further, through the miracles of magic and modern technology, half-species can be made far more easily, i.e. it is possible to create a half-Mastadonoid half-mutant spider. This is simply a list of distinct races.

1: Mutant animals and demi-animals are similar in that both are “furres” or humanoids with an animal theme, but mutant animals tend to be either deliberately or accidentally mutated (think TMNT, Dog Boys, etc.) and demi-animals tend to be actual races. Some noteworthy ones are listed as well, e.g. the Wolfen/Coyles/Kankoran. In addition, many alien races look like

2: “Vampire” includes Blade-style virally-created vampires, Kuei-Jin, all clans listed in the Masquerade, etc.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Human

You may wonder why anyone would want to be a human. Many other races have natural abilities and higher statistics. However, humans have few Classes that they cannot access, start with 12 Class Points, learn Classes faster, as well as having a lot of base attribute boosts. They have few internal weaknesses, and they grow faster than other classes, having more potential. Humans require a little work, but they can be excellent.

Subraces:

Amazon:

Banbar:

Twanchen:

Default Attributes:

All attributes start at Moderate Human.
Rank Boosts: The character can distribute 12 rank boosts. From this alone, one attribute can be boosted to Low Supernatural (1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3).
Affinities are all 10.
Class Points: 12.



Zengz

Zengz are natural martial artists born on the light side of a planet in solosynchronous orbit. They are intuitive masters of combat, biologically capable of learning new martial arts in a fraction of the time it takes humans.

Str: Low Superhuman
Reflex: Low Superhuman
Keenness: Low Superhuman
Endurance: Very High Human
Intelligence: Low Human
Charisma: Moderate Human
Paranormal Ability: High Human
Willpower: Moderate Human
Affinities: Ki: 30
Magic: -10
Psi: -10
Technique: 20

Rank Boosts: 8.
Class Points: 4! The Zengz are pretty much martial artists.

Traits:
Intuitive Combat: Zengz are amazing fighters, capable of learning martial arts within a small fraction of the normal time, spontaneously responding to opponent’s techniques with their own, and so on. However, this means that they rarely are able to go very far into an art. A Zengz player character can pick a certain number of martial arts or ki/technique based Classes (my call) as the knowledge they have taken, but they are always at the minimum in those Classes.
Demon Form: When infected by negative ki/cursed, Zengz lose control of their bodies and transform into a horrific demon form. Every Zengz’s form is uniquely chosen, and when transformed, they become insane marauders, almost incapable of differentiating between friend and foe. There is a school of Zengz that intentionally infect themselves with negative ki so as to transform into their demon form, and they practice alongside the Skairbcee in learning the techniques.
Attention Deficit: Zengz suffer a –20% to all non-combat oriented skills, and –10% to all skills that are somewhat related to combat (such as demolitions). Zengz also have a distaste for automatic weaponry, explosives, etc.

dar Nass

The dar Nass are natural pilots and mechanics. They are from an aquatic planet, and have a heavy coral armor plating. Their tentacles are essentially a massive toolpack, as they are capable of molecular transformation at the tips.

Sasquatch

Lycanthrope

This character is a beast usually capable of transforming most anytime, but nonetheless affected in temperament and power by astrological effects (mostly the phases of the moon, but also equinoxes/solstices, alignment of planets, the works). Available are:

Weredragons: The character will transform into some sort of draconic creature. Stages include normal human or slightly pale blue-skinned alien, half-dragon, dragon standing on two legs and dragon on four legs. Weredragons can either emphasize bestial fury or ancient wisdom, sometimes both.
Weremollusk/crustaceans:
Wererats: Wererats are surprisingly one of the most direct combat oriented lycanthrope types, and also happen to work well in groups.
Werereptiles:
Weresharks:
Werewolf: The classic.

Forosa

The Forosa are of a planet that was naturally infused with magic. They are an herbivorous race that eats a plant that is a biological catalyst and storage unit for magic. They are heavy set scholarly individuals with phenomenal paranormal abilities and a very sagely attitude.

Intelligence: Very Low Superhuman
Willpower: High Human
Charisma: Moderate Human
Endurance: Moderate Human
Keen: Low Human
Reflex: Low Human
Strength: Moderate Human
Paranormal Ability: Low Superhuman
Affinities: Magic 30
Ki 0
Psychic 10
Technique –10

Rank Boosts: 10
Class Points: 10

Traits:
Magic Focus: Forosa understand magical skills with a +10%, but are somewhat alien to technology, suffering a –10%. Technological classes cost an additional Class Point to garner.
Innate Magic: All Forosa can attempt a Wild Cantrip as if they were a Wild Mage, unleashing a random effect of the type desired. They also choose a spell college to gain spells from.
Herbivorous: The Forosa’s ponderous body only can chew and digest plant matter.

Entan

The Entan are a strange race indeed. They are naturally gaseous, forming into pseudo-solid facsimiles of various races in order to do business. They rely on quick talking, charm, beauty and glamour to get them by. They are capable of speaking a language that relies upon a combination of pheromones, subtle motions, gestures, voice modulations, and a slight paranormal touch to communicate with most any sentient creature.

Strength: Very Low Human
Charisma: High Superhuman
Reflex: Moderate Human
Intelligence: High Human

Mutant Animal

Skairbcee

The Skairbcee are lycanthropic beetles. They come from the planet of the Zengz, Vashau and Entan, a planet with a solosynchronous orbit in which one side is almost always in the sun and one almost always in the dark. The other side of the planet was populated by creatures from the Shadow Realm, including the Vashau. The Skairbcee learned to survive by becoming slow and ponderous and hiding in various quicksand pits or antlion-style nests. They would then attack when an animal was in close enough sight, killing them. However, the Skairbcee might have been butchered by the various Shadow Beasts if they had not developed another evolutionary counterbalance. Every year on the Zengzi Planet, the sun does strike the entire shadowy side, while darkness strikes the bright side. At this time, the Shadow Beasts are in hiding, and the Skairbcee transform into winged, light-manipulating warriors. The process is painful, but it allowed them to butcher untold numbers of Shadow Beasts.

Of course, Skairbcee living anywhere else nowadays must contend with the frequent sunlight. They thus have learned to avoid transforming, though sudden flashes of intensely bright light or radiation (a flashbang, for example) could transform them. Skairbcee are massive creatures, and are thus much in demand for physical labor and combat. They do have a wry intelligence and humor, a calm counteract to the brash and energetic Zengz.

Vashau

Vashau are shadow beings who evolved on the planet of the Zengz, having to compete with various sophisticated organisms. They evolved psionics and intelligence and became one of the dominant predators. Later, the Entan brokered a deal between the Zengz, Skairbcee and Vashau, and the four races formed Zengz Corp, later adding the Tentata.

Str: Very High Human
Keen: Very Low Superhuman
Int: Low Human
Cha: Very Low Human
Willpower: Very High Human
Reflex: High Human
Endurance: Moderate Human
Paranormal Ability: Very High Human
Affinities: Psychic: 30
Magic: 0
Technique: 0
Ki: 0

Rank Boosts: 8. This is relatively low due to their supernatural nature.

Class Points: 8. This is due to their innate psionics.

Traits/Flaws:
Shadow Self: In shadows, Vashau are very hard to detect, and have an ambient source of psychic power. However, in bright light, their attributes suffer (losing two classes in Keenness, one in Strength, -10% to skills). When overcast but still light, they simply suffer a loss of a class in Keenness.
Supernatural Vulnerability: Any weapons or abilities that harm Shadow Beasts, the supernatural, etc. can work against the Vashau. They also suffer additional damage from gold or silver weapons.
Innate Psychic: The character naturally picks two psionic abilities from any three categories, as well as getting Telekinesis, Telepathy, Sense Evil, and Sense Magic. They can pick two psionics from Legendary if they choose none from any lesser categories.

Dwarf

Elf

P. Ability: High Human
Charisma: Mod Human
End: Low Human
Str: Low Human
Keen: High Human
Will: Mod Human
Reflex: High Human
Int: Mod Human
Affinities:
Magic – 20
Psi – 10
Tech – 10
Ki - 0
Class Points: 11
Rank Boosts: 11

Tentata

The Tentata are a rare oddity indeed: an entire race of living cyborgs!

Branx

The Branx are alien parasitic creatures, capable of interstellar travel and survival. They are partnered with a race of symbiotes that allow them to drain energy, feasting on ambient sunlight, passing merchant ships, and so on.

Ateng

Ateng are related to the tengu of Japanese mythology. They are usually white to beige feathered/skinned, with a variety of wing colors (black, red, blue, etc.) The Ateng live on a distant gaseous planet with a small metallic core. The planet is prone to electromagnetic disturbance and high gravity. The Ateng have adapted to their harsh environment through stringent Oriental-style philosophy and through letting themselves get possessed by transcendental forces through complex motions (known as “dances”).

Stormdance: The character will be capable of calling down lightning, attacking with a shocking grasp, and eventually using powerful abilities such as the Stormdancer’s Enrapture (which turns an opponent’s paranormal energies into an effective tesla cannon under the control of the Ateng).
Fabricdance: The character will be capable of manipulating

Neuro-Troll

Neuro-Trolls resembles ordinary trolls fairly well. Some look like Cave Trolls, with hideous, pale skin and hairless faces. Other more resemble the traditional troll, with massive tusks and a giant body. All Neuro-Trolls are huge and ponderous, yet intensely strong. Yet their true strength lies in their tremendous intelligence and paranormal ability.

They did strike a limit of brainpower. The Troll brain is very small, and even with evolutionary increases in size, the Neuro-Troll still must contend with a substantially reduced mass. In order to solve this problem, they create small essence projections that house their paranormal energies and some of their paranormal abilities and intelligence. These essence projections may resemble teddy bears, eyes or small Grim Reaper statuettes.

Affinities: All 10.

Tomodo

The Tomodo are a black-skinned, frail looking race. They are typically meditating in a lotus position, and yet quite aware of their surroundings. Natural magicians and psychics, they have applied their innate intelligence and quiet charisma to mediation and diplomacy. Tomodo are frequently asked the difference between them and the Entan. “A ship salesman, no matter how fast he may speak, is still a ship salesman. A diplomat, no matter how fast he may speak, is still a diplomat.” This is not to say that Entan and Tomodo don’t cross into each other’s respective fields, but that the disposition of a Tomodo is less to convince and more to placate, less to choose appealing words and more to not offend. They are masters of ascertaining interests and coming up with an acceptable deal.

Nebruyin

The Nebruyin are meek-looking beings of all shapes and sizes, with a purple-pinkish body, a prehensile tail, soft skin, mostly vegetarian teeth, and so on. They were renowned as a peaceful race who mostly kept to their own affairs, masters of architecture, agriculture and the other civilized arts. However, they were besieged by the X’lklek, a race similar to the Zerg in many respects, and were almost wiped out. A famous Nebruyin, Deynar, sacrificed his life to channel a portion of the sun’s energy, upgrade it to a transcendental destructive force, and wipe out a massive portion of the invading X’lklek.

All Nebruyin have an ability, such as channeling destructive energy (Deynar), transforming into a massive abomination (Bufo), or creating ghostly blades of energy imbued with ancient warriors and with pure elements (Nijrik). Aside from this, Nebruyin are capable of learning combat abilities like any other race, but their focus is upon peaceful arts.

Renn-Mitte

The Renn-Mitte are master theoretical scientists and mathematicians. While other races (Grackle Tooths, dar Nass, etc.) may outshine the Renn-Mitte in the actual construction of devices, very few can match their knack for science. They are tall, lanky, blue-skinned creatures with green and black speckles and brightly colored hair. They have vestigal claws and sharp teeth from when they were omnivorous predators.

Mirror People

The Mirror People were some of the premier soldiers of the All Monster. They retained the capacity to not precisely invert or mimic an opponent, but rather to selectively do both, producing a new and unique fighter. When the All Monster was destroyed, some Mirror People survived, though they did remain a relatively rare race. The Mirror People are usually silvery beings with the appearance of liquid glass. They flow and float, and will arrange themselves to be vague humanoid facsimiles. The best they can accomplish are translucent glass-skinned humanoid shapes.

A player character may have mimicked virtually any combination of people, anything from Old Guard Members (at appropriate Positive Trait costs) to random warriors. The Mirror Person may have one identity that she prefers, or a few. The Mirror Person does not get the same power level as the person they copy; they can be drastically stronger or weaker.

The transformation process does require a few props or preparation. Special spheres, known as Mirror Spheres, can be broken on the ground, and when the target steps upon them, they form into spheres, capturing the essence, and then rocket back into the awaiting body of the Mirror Person. They can also carefully observe someone, copying them after a goodly time. The Mirror Person must spend time in their new transformation to gain anything resembling mastery of the abilities.

Treants/Ents

The classic massive tree people, Treants stand anywhere from 8 to 30 feet tall, sometimes larger. The Old Guard used several Treants, and thus they achieved a level of respectability. “City-dweller” Treants tend to buy a plot of land in the suburbs and essentially turn said plot into a garden which they’ll take care of. They also are employed as Rangers for public parks. They tend to be fiercely environmentalist, and several are sufficiently articulate and well-informed that they have become Nader-esque public policy advocates.

Treants tend to be Druids, Rangers, magicians of various types, and sometimes martial artists (Aikido and similar tend to be quite popular).

Classes

Natural

Natural Classes

Magi

Magis are listed as a class, even though they are technically a mutation. Why? One will choose the race of the Magi first, to determine biological abilities, later access to Jobs, etc. Then the person will be a Magi. Being a Magi requires developing one’s natural abilities. It comes at the cost of having little formal occupational training like the rest of the classes. Magis are, needless to say, one-in-a-billion mutations – of the entire human race on Earth, under ten were natural Magis, and four were at least partially from the same genetic structure.

Magi are natural magic beings, often touted as the next level of evolution. Whatever the lifeform that becomes a Magi, whether natural or artificial (though most often natural), its ki signature/aura is linked with and some argue replaced by a magic aura. The paranormal force that regulates their body is magic, not lifeforce. There are many terrifying results, not least that in the mystic terminology they more closely resemble fae or the strongest devils and dragons than humans.

Procedure: This is fairly simple. Choose an Idea that your character mystically represents. Fred was Power, DF was Blood, the two fused are Hope, Fonnie is Science, Varian is Reality, Sylphana is Nature, Naksarab is Cosmos, Whitie is Rage, and Blackie is Harmony, to list some of the existing ones.

Advantages:
Supernatural physical attributes.
Natural magical abilities that develop with experience. Most begin with flight, the capacity to Etherealize for brief moments, a minor form of manipulating telekinesis, enhanced regeneration, invisibility, and energy expulsion.
The eventual ability to become a Universal Magi.

Disadvantages:
Limited formal magic skills. If you were naturally able to perform ten-digit calculations, would you master arithmetic or a calculator? No. But if you needed those basics to do algebra, would you be crippled? Yes. Magis are so in tune with magic naturally that they have only limited abilities to learn it formally. Of course, when they do learn, they are phenomenally talented and varied.
Vulnerability to certain attacks that harm creatures of magic. This used to not be too much of a problem, but after the Magis did so much harm to evil during the period of the Old Guard, every serious opponent developed some way of neutralizing the Magis.
Can’t step very far outside of the basic idea chosen at the start.
Advancing to Universal Magi-hood is tremendously difficult.


Psychic

Superpowered

Occupational

Moogle Gadgeteer

Governing Affinity: Tech AND Magic

The Gadgeteer is an odd class. It does design gadgets for usage and use claws for weapons, but more importantly, it uses special little items out of a small chest that affect entire battles. Unfortunately, the low cost of most of the techniques comes at a price: there is a 50/50 chance for either a negative spell to strike every ally or a positive spell to strike every foe. Gadgeteers try to find ways of limiting this effect and pushing the odds in their favor, but it is best if they are working with someone who can manipulate probability in some way (or if they themselves have the Blessed Trait).

Blado Randce

The Blado Randce are the swordsmen and weapon masters of the Banbar. Ever since Thrash Ranari made the Banbar martial arts popular, many have begun to train under Banbar masters for various disciplines (including Thrash himself). An initial investment of 3 Class Points garners two schools, and each school thereafter costs 2.

Thrash’s Ahmoqa: This is for someone who wants to have a smattering of all the techniques, as well as access to Thrash’s own techniques.
Requirements: At least three requirements met for the other classes.
Optional Skills: 3.
Irfry Ahmoqa: A phenomenal offensive art, involving thrusts and slashes, along with some fire skills and utilization of friction. The Irfry Ahmoqa
Requirements: Willpower of at least Very High Human, because it involves training with metal practice swords that are burning hot.
Available Abilities: Irfry Ahmoqa Techniques,
Optional Skills: 2
Waer Ahmoqa: A art with good mixes of defense and offense, capable of piercing defenses and glancing blows aside like water. It also teaches phenomenal underwater combat skills, including the ability to move through water as if it were air or solid, alternately!
Requirements: Precision of at least High Human.
Available Abilities: Waer Ahmoqa Techniques
Optional Skills: 2.
Ayrt Ahmoqa: A class that more closely favors offense than the Waer Ahmoqa. It focuses upon sound, vibrations, and so on. Some of the abilities turn the impact of metal upon metal into a boon for the Blado Randce and a bane for her opponent; others unleash powerful attacks, such as the Vacuum Chakra.
Rath Ahmoqa: The most defensive of the schools, the Rath Ahmoqa uses the earth as a weapon, discharging shockwaves and conjuring the power of stone to serve as defense.
Thrum Ahmoqa: The Thrum Ahmoqa is the anti-magic school. It involves causing magic to leak from targets, breaking certain locations necessary to magical flow, etc.
Dowsha Ahmoqa: The Dowsha Ahmoqa is a multi-weapon school. It involves creating a shadow copy of whatever blade is being held, as well as juggling weapons in a complex manner of combat and making shadow arms. It also does delve somewhat in the realm of the Dowsha Limbce.
Felsch Ahmoqa: The Felsch Ahmoqa is the pure technique school. It combines the ability to break weapons and limbs, shatter abilities, and lower attributes.

Martial Arts

Martial Arts cost various amounts of Class Points. Why aren't they considered a normal skill? Because they involve attribute bonuses, requirements, and because they require a good amount of investment to be truly worth it. You can choose a martial art as a Skill, but it accrues no attribute bonuses or unique techniques. Martial Arts use Ki or Technique as their Governing Affinity.

Aikido: 1-3.

Commando: 2-3.

Fencing: 1-2.

Boxing: 1-2.

Wrestling: 1-2.

Jeet Kune Do: 1-3.

Futae no Kiwami: 2-5. This is a rarer art, taught only in its earliest forms by Sanosuke Sagara and Anji, the Bodhisattva of the Shining King. It involves rolling one’s knuckles to inflict multiple consecutive strikes so as to fully transmit force into an object and reduce its resistance to something close to zero. An advanced Futae no Kiwami expert encounters no resistance from ever harder materials – the only upward limit for breaking them is her Strength.
Accessible Abilities: Any Futae no Kiwami technique (obviously being the only class able to learn it), Body Hardening, Martial Arts Techniques

Siprt Limbce

Governing Affinity: Magic, Ki, Psi

The Siprt Limbce is a venerated name of Banbar culture. They are the resident shamans, fitting the role of all-purpose spell caster, medicine doctor, fetish keeper, loreholder, combat magician, explorer of the realm of spirits, and untold other tasks, all in one. Siprt Limbce gain their most formidable powers by seeking out powerful spirits, everything from ancestors to the essences of the great beasts of the Banbar Mountain (the Blade Dragons, Bulwark Tortoises, Carrion Tigers, Holy Firebirds, etc.) Siprt Limbce can summon and/or transform into the spirits they have gained the blessing of!

Atlas Dragon (responsibility, duty)
Blyt-Dzrail (martial honor,
Carrion Tiger (betrayal, viciousness, plundering the dead)
Wuldrak Ortise (energy, quiet strength, defensiveness)
Skyimsth
Holy Firebird/Sanctum Firebird (speed, short life, sacrifice)
Dworl Maymon (World Demon, science, psionics, temptation of worldly knowledge)
Zale Maymon (Zeal Demon,
Impral Ortise (Primal Tortoise, defends that which the world is built on, master of the Primal Steel, incarnation of the primal world)



Skince Spaker

Governing Affinity: Tech, Psi, Magic

The worldly equivalent to the Siprt Limbce, the Skince Spaker is combination technologist, theoretical mathematician, philosopher, scholar, scientist, librarian, and similar. Their spell and psychic limitations are a bit more stringent, keeping them firmly within magic useful for their work, but their mastery of the supposed spirit of science makes them in high demand among universities.

Cryo

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Mech Dreamer

Mech Dreamers are psychics who use a combination of reality manipulation, telekinesis and telemechanics to spontaneously build robots out of junk! Their formal skills are a little to be desired, however, and thus they frequently take training as a Skince Spaker or similar.

Jistis Spaker

Psi-Druid

Blaster

Booster

Burster

Freezer

Soaker

Psi-Nullifier

Cyber-Knight

Cosmo-Knight

Blado Forjta

Governing Affinity: Magic or Ki or Tech

The Blado Forjta are the resident smithies and weapon enchanters of the Banbar. They can make normal weapons like a master, but in order to make their paranormally good weapons, they must use three of their tricks of the trade.

Blado Forjtas can simply cast a spell into their Forging Flame or have a fellow weapon enchanter do it during the process, but in order to gain truly powerful buffs to place on their weapons, they must make spirit journeys, usually with Siprt Limbces as guides.

Abilities:
Forging Flame: This quicksilvery-hot metal is a beauty of the spirit world’s blessings. It can be thawed and turned to solid metal and then back again in a moment’s notice, it can stick together as if gelatin to make flails or whips of pure flame, and the Blado Forjta and his allies are immune to its flame! This induces the element of fire into weapons, which is believed to be necessary in order to allow it to feel natural in the hands of hot-blooded warriors. Forging Flame can be conjured virtually anywhere. Some Banbar will drink a swig of rum or vodka, imbue it with the Forging Flame, and spit the combination as a thick spray of napalm.
Heaven’s Forge: The second technique of the Blado Forjta is to call down heavenly lightning. This lightning is used to finally seal the Forging Flame when the Forjta has finished hammering it into place with his hammer. The lightning will contain the last code that defines the unfinished abilities of the weapon, and this code is written in the Siprt Sicrpt, the Banbar holy language which resembles ornate calligraphic cursive.
Skyimsth’s Hammer: Reputed to be a moral copy of the hammer used by the forging god Skyimsth, this hammer is formed out of what appears to be a soft cloud. When it is used, it will alternately glow white, red, black, or whatever other color, depending on what the Blado Forjta is adding.

Taing Stif

The Taing Stif are the Giant Fists, the wrestlers and brawlers of the Banbar. The Taing Stif is a remarkably capable art. It combines grappling, effective parries, ki manipulation, defense, soft and hard attacks, etc.

Abilities:
Lal Rabrak Stif: The All Breaking Fist is capable of breaking virtually anything. The Taing Stif learns how to turn the unique weaknesses of the object under assault against it. For example: Metal, while being hard, is frequently brittle. The Taing Stif thus discharges force to make the metal warp and bend rather than break.

Dragoon

Governing Affinities: Magic AND Tech

The classic class, Dragoons have leaping abilities virtually unparalleled anywhere else. They also learn to channel the spirit of dragons into magic, use various dragon breaths, and gain attacks to harm, kill and tame dragons. A well-balanced class, they do tend to come a little weak in support abilities, and their strongest attack leaves them mostly incapable of assisting allies. A Dragoon meat-shield is not being used for her best abilities.

Maymon Slaytker

The Banbar demon hunters, Maymon Slaytkers practice a number of arts to enhance themselves and debilitate their demonic foes, before stepping in for the kill.

Maymon Stif: Effectively Demon Wrestling.
Ahmoqa of the Mask: The Maymon Slaytker uses specially designed masks to add onto her abilities
Ahmoqa of the Needle: The Maymon Slaytker uses acupuncture needles and blow-gun darts, often poisoned, often not. They will add pinpricks of their blood to energize the needles, strike at pressure points to induce pain, etc.
Ahmoqa of Sun, Smoke and Fire: The Maymon Slaytker uses things associated with the sun and fire to strike at enemies.
Ahmoqa of Shadow, Mirrors and Water:
Ahmoqa of Music:
Ahmoqa of the Mind:
Ahmoqa of Magic:
Thrum Ahmoqa: The same as the Blado Randce school.

Samurai

Mystic Gambler

Slot:
Coin Toss:
Dice:

Contadora Samurai

Iglesia Contadora was a Jorochim Islander who wanted to bring his homeland more glory. He decided to take the responsive rhythm of the dancing of the islands and turn it into a deadly sword art. Contadoras become very attuned to the movement of physical force, following it with equal and opposite force. This effectively makes it among the ultimate defensive arts. The body subconsciously moves to precisely the location the opponent does. Harder and harder strikes by the opponent are absorbed by taking the resultant movement and force in the air and turning it into muscular strength. Contadora Samurai do have a few weaknesses. For one, they are highly defensive – they rely upon the opponent running out of energy or making a mistake. An opponent, such as a Blado Randce, who can turn ever-more prolonged fights into an advantage, can defeat Contadora Samurais. (Indeed, Iglesia’s first loss was to Thrash Ranari). They also tend to be anti-swordsman, and more importantly, anti-one swordsman. They are thus used to defeat the opponent’s best melee fighters and not to hold the battle. Iglesia taught his students to garner an offensive art as well to augment their phenomenal defense.

Rasmusson Adept

Tobias Rasmusson was sick of pure elemental magic. Being a scientist by disposition, he was tired of the archaic Oriental and Grecian notions of the universe being composed of four or five elements. He thus decided to combine a number of other magical principles and create an art based around manipulating the true universal forces: electromagnetism (carried by photons and manifesting in all forms of radiation, from heat to light), gravity (carried by gravitons), negative gravity (the force posited to explain for universal expansion), the strong force (that which keeps protons and neutrons in a nucleus together), and the weak force. His school gained a name for itself, being capable of causing spontaneous fission, fusion, manipulating gravity, and wreaking havoc with technology. His work as an Old Guard member sealed his role as the founder of a new school of magic.

Ninja

Ninja are of such

Cryo

Death Walker

Governing Affinity: Magic

Death Walkers are the basic Necromancer type. They are resistant to the effects of creatures of the night, making them harder to transform into zombies, werewolves, vampires, etc. They get access to an array of summoning, harm-inflicting, curing, animating, decay-inducing, and umbramantic spells. This comes at the cost of virtually no non-magical combat skill, however.

Abilities:
Power through Numbers: The Death Walker forms a power-sharing matrix between him and his summoned monsters, making him and his monsters stronger the more of them there are.
Animate the Dead: The ability to animate the dead has reached such a level of mastery that the Death Walker can use it as a cantrip, creating a horde out of readily available bodies quickly.
Create Mummies and Zombies: The Death Walker has experience in creating more advanced hordes of the undead than simply animating whatever happens to be in his way.
Night of Vengeance: By utilizing the grief and torment of an unjustly killed corpse, the Death Walker can bring a victim of foul play back to life for one night of vengeance. While he does not control this undead, he can misdirect and misguide the victim, who may not have a clear knowledge of what precisely happened to her. When the undead perceives that she has been avenged, she returns to the earth, and this spell will no longer work to revive her (unless the Death Walker can, through using means to commune with spirits, convince her that she has been misled.)
Affinity with the Night (Merit): The Death Walker is immune to transforming bites from creatures such as werewolves, zombies, etc., and these creatures extract little to no nourishment from him. He also can recognize these beasts instantly under ordinary circumstances.
Bind Limbs and Body Parts: The Death Walker can expend a minor amount of magic to keep a dead body part (arm, leg, skull, brain, etc.) on the character for long periods of time. Death Walkers will do this to appear intimidating, even if they do not use the advantages garnered by an extra pair of limbs to make somatic incantions, an extra head to cast spells, a skull to gain knowledge, etc.

Available Schools: Summoning, Necromancy,

Gladiamori/Warborn

Class Points: 4-7
Governing Affinities: Tech and Magic

Gladiamori are battle necromancers. They combine a deadly martial art, abilities reminiscent of the Horseman of War, warcries, and necromancy for a destructive combination.

Abilities:
Union with Weapons – The character can unite with a weapon, the flesh undulating and oozing to surround the armament. For example: A Warborn could pick up an AK-47, grab the handle, and let the handle and stock ooze into his hand. An AK-47 barrel would then stick out in lieu of a hand.
Bodily Payload – The flipside of Union with Weapons. By expending either a minor amount of health or magic, the character can essentially have a permanent supply of bullets, E-clips and missiles.
Bind Limbs and Body Parts – Identical to Death Walkers. Warborn will often keep two hands open for somatic gestures and for weapons not appropriate to unite with, then have two to four extra limbs to hold guns.
Warcry – The beginning Warcry invigorates the spell caster and allies and induces fear in opponents. The ability is done as a check vs. Charisma and Paranormal Ability.
Weapon Mastery – The Warborn’s unity with the essence of War allows him to feasibly operate any weapon, even alien weapons.
Steal Art – The Warborn can, after an appropriate victory, perform a ritual (often involving eating the body parts of a target) to learn their martial skills!

Skills:
Gladiamori Art: The martial art of the Gladiamori. It involves pressure points, bodily locks (using the character’s knowledge of bones and often magic), and brutal slashes. It is either designed to let the character hold his own against larger opponents or brutally assault.




Dearthbringer/Cursebringer

Governing Affinities: Ki and Magic

The Deathbringers are identified with the Horseman of Famine. They conjure blistering waves of heat, cutting frost storms, and similar to destroy crops. Against humans, they inflict curses and direct damage. The Cursebringer requires more preparation and planning, and they are best against organic targets, but with the proper application and assisting Classes, they can greatly assist a team. Some of their Famine Magic is effective direct combat magic.

Abilities:
Evil Eye: The Cursebringer can induce debilitation through a mere glance, usually accompanied with a blackening of the eyes, a response to the magical energy unleashed. Effects from muting to blinding to reduction of luck can be inflicted.
Induce Fear: Through a minor dweomer, the character can induce fear in an array of targets within close range.
Immunity to Bio-Manipulation: The character is highly defended against neurological attacks and low-power curses such as the Evil Eye.
Resistance to Curses and Disease: The character is resistant to mystic disease and to Famine and Curse Magic.
Recognize Curses: The character can ascertain whether or not an affliction is due to a curse and, if so, the likely treatments. This is not a substitute for proper medical analysis if a curse is not present.

Plague Monk/Murder Mage

Governing Affinities: Psi and Magic

The Plague Monks are associated with Pestilence, and they conjure decay, swarms of insects (everything from locusts to bees to hornets),

Twanchen Soul Smith

Whereas the Banbar Blado Randce focus on producing beautiful weapons as art

Quicksilver Master

Nitro. Godspeed. Runaway. Just a few of those who mastered combining an element or type of assault with the essence of speed itself. This induction has a number of effects. First, the character gains bonuses to Reflex and Keen and a further bonus to actual running speed. Second, the character can expel his unique effects. For example: Nitro’s Quicksilver Flame was capable of spreading in a particular area literally instantly, as well as magnetizing after fast-moving targets with speeds proportional to the target’s speed.

Trickster Mage

Living Fire Sorceror

Oni School Master

Wild Mage

Clown/Ludic Mage

Legion Hunter

Legion Hunters are trained by devotees of Damien Legion, an inheritor of the famous Legion name. Damien’s ancestor succeeded in capturing the great demon Legion

Punisher Disciple

Protoss Vindicator

Protoss Dark Templar

Protoss High Templar

Matrix Warrior

Matrix Agent

Wu Shih

Governing Affinities: Ki AND Magic

The Wu Shihs are the Chinese equivalent of magicians. They are a unique class in that they can access Ki Arcanism as well as ordinary spells. Of course

Tao Shih

Twanchen Breathreaver

Utilized Attributes: Paranormal Ability
Governing Affinities: All!

The Twanchen philosophy regarding magic and other paranormal forces is similar to Oriental philosophies. They believe that there are four paranormal elements: magic, ki, psionics, and technique (the scientific force). Each of these are symbolized by a dragon. The Dragon of the East dominates over magic, the technique of wisdom and of the soul. The Dragon of the West dominates over psionics, the technique of will and of the mind. The Dragon of the North dominates over technique, the exemplification of the cold hard facts of the universe. And the Dragon of the South dominates over ki, the exemplification of life and unlife and their interplay. The Rising Dragon is the dragon that rises from these endless conflagrations of the four breaths. It is the creative force that is found in those who have a healthy combination of the four, whereas the Falling Dragon is found in those who abuse the four. Twanchen Breathreavers believe in balancing and controlling the four breaths. The foul ones deliberately induce imbalances in order to enhance their powers, even to the point of tearing away literal breath! (DF’s technique of consuming an organism’s spirit breath is considered to be a Breathreaver technique). The more benign ones use a subtle control to store up ambient energy.

Breathreavers make excellent secondary or support classes, having tremendous capacity to assist allies and manipulate forces. They can access virtually all paranormal Merits and can facilitate the mastery of new colleges of magic.

Class Skills:
Maximal Cantrip: The Breathreaver can produce any minor Cantrip (detect evil, make a light sphere, etc.) or perform most metaparanormal functions (negate, dispel, amplify, reflect, etc.) with the appropriate skill check. They can do so for any of the four Affinity types. This ability is of near infinite utility
Available Merits:


Twanchen Dragon Thief

The Dragon Thief is the Twanchen combination of a professional thief and conman, mystic bandit, treasure hunter, and ninja. They are allowed in Twanchen society because they often are similar to Robin Hoods, serving as a balance to the ambition of the rich and being an outlet for the ambition of the poor. Most Twanchen Dragon Thieves now model themselves after the legendary Badcat: sardonic, pragmatic, creative, friendly, skilled, artistic, generous, etc. Badcat has reluctantly stepped into this leadership role and has established numerous schools to teach Dragon Thieves the other Twanchen Arts, as well as the Blado Randce techniques he knows. Per usual, Xenocratis, Thrash and Badcat coordinate their training.

Twanchen Chakra Spear Enbutsu

Twanchen Chakra Spear Enbutsu (enbutsu being the word for “practitioner”) learn a number of abilities that involve either releasing energy from their own chakra points or striking the energy within others, often to some debilitating effect.

Twanchen Mighty Singularity

The Twanchen Mighty Singularity is the art for those of less bulk. It transforms the character into almost a literal singularity, turning their small amount of mass into a dense and powerful mass.

Abilities:
Reverse Strength (Unique Merit): The character is capable of, in every attack, reversing his opponent’s strength, turning it into a bane rather than a boon.
Hyper Density (Unique Merit): The character concentrates in body hardening on making his body ultra dense and strong, boosting its effective Strength and Endurance for combat and facilitating powerful low-lying strikes.

Twanchen “No-Mirror” Enbutsu

The Twanchen “No-Mirror” Enbutsus are known for precisely what their name implies: precisely inverting their opponent’s abilities, not simply mimicking them. If an opponent fights with an offensive style, the Enbutsu will switch to an appropriate defensive style. No-Mirrors also use mirror based attacks and illusions, and learn how to reverse other things (for example, defense/offense).

Twanchen Black Puppeteer


Utilized Attributes: Charisma, Keenness, Paranormal Ability
Governing Affinity: Tech; Ki or Magic

Black Puppeteers are similar to the puppetmasters of Japan: clad in black, behind the scenes, directing plays and activities. They are combination engineers, stage magicians, showmen, conmen, manipulators, and actors. They design puppets, which can include automata and even golems and similar magical constructions; they use wires in combat, which can include monofilament or charged wires

Twanchen Master Novice

The Twanchen Master Novice utilizes the principle that a talented novice in a field of martial combat is a deadly opponent to even the best masters, because he is unconventional and does actions outside of orthodoxy. Master Novices train in the style of novices, learning and grasping for new techniques along the way. They cultivate the feeling that each new battle is the first battle. Though emotionally harrowing (because the technique involves an adrenaline rush, which can be achieved at first only through panic), the art is truly unpredictable. Even “no-style”, “super-conscious” or “no-mind” practitioners can only draw upon techniques learned or within their style, but the Master Novice gains a much greater understanding of the principles of motion and combat, without obfuscation from martial principles added in over millennia. Master Novices are, due to this combination of events, unpredictable, quick, cultivated, and entirely innovative.

Tiny Atlas

Twanchen Vagrant Doctor

Governing Affinities: Tech, Ki, Magic

In Twanchen society, with a massive population and few doctors about, doctors often found it necessary to travel abroad. Bandits were an ever present danger, as they may hold a doctor ransom, steal his expensive medical equipment, etc. Doctors thus became vagrants, essentially traveling as if bums, storing their medical equipment in sanitized knapsacks, backpacks, or on cheaply made saddlebags for various tired-looking steeds. An expression, “Always give alms – it may be your doctor” entered the Twanchen vocabulary. The Doctors also crafted another way of dealing with bandits: namely, martial arts using their acupuncture needles, scalpels and knives, etc.

Twanchen Serene Desolation

This martial series of techniques was developed by the nobility, the vassals of the Four Dragon Emperor, in order to be subtle, fitting of the rising bourgeoisie

Twanchen Battling Butcher

Utilized Attributes: Strength, Keenness, Endurance
Governing Affinity: Ki, Tech

Battling Butchers are quite literally what the name implies: a combination of butcher, hunter and mercenary. In order to defend themselves from the rough-and-tumble life that was a matter of course in Twanchen, they learned to apply their technique to martial combat.

Art of No Thickness: The

Twanchen Principles of Steel Enbutsu

The Principles of Steel Enbutsus attempt to understand melee weaponry as such, eventually uniting with the principle of steel and wood to master virtually all such armaments. These are the quintessential weapon masters of the Twanchen culture.

Later on, Principles of Steel Enbutsus can master Axis Techniques, in which they add on other elemental or primal forces to their technique.

Axis of Wood: The Enbutsu becomes attuned with the principles of nature and ki, allowing them to block energetic assaults and use weapons of nature such as brambles, wooden staff, etc.
Axis of

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Twanchen Prism Eye Castala

The

Twanchen Dizzying Array Castala

The Dizzying Array Castala is a formidable and unique spellcasting type. Castalas focus all their efforts on conjuring a quick barrage of spells that effectively become one spell, tailor-made for the circumstance. At first, these spells are merely low-level cantrips, but with a little experience, Castalas can weave impromptu barrages of elemental assaults, mystic defense matrices, etc. It is recommended to combine Castala with another spell-casting class.

Abilities:
Planned Components: Dizzying Array Castalas find ways of making their spell components accommodate the vast variety of spells they are using. This ranges from finding components that boost all of a particular type of spell to designing incense sticks that unleash a bevy of aromas at precisely designed intervals.
Controlled Motions: Dizzying Array Castalas use subtle hand motions and even the basic motions of their body (from respiration, for example) at very high speeds to help make their cantrip barrages more efficient.
Word Spew: DACs practice speaking very quickly and enunciating very precisely.

Twanchen Spell Sphere Castala

Twanchen Endless Kata Insen

Twanchen Flesh Arsenal Enbutsu

Twanchen One Shot Enbutsu

Twanchen Many Minds Enbutsu

Twanchen Harrier Enbutsu

Twanchen Hypnosis Kata

Twanchen Dermal Flame

Twanchen Mind Harp (Psychic Class)

Twanchen Gate of Suffering

Veneficium Mentalist

Ilwil Worot

Aysyhte Haichkce (Eyesight Warrior)

Eyesight Warriors are the Blado Randce equivalent

Art of the String: This technique focuses on the principles of string harmonics and of the application of the mechanics of the bow to most ranged attacks.
Merits:
Tension Induction (Unique): The character learns how to add the principles of the tension that channels muscular strength into projectile speed into any ranged attack! This enhances the strength bonus for throwing weapons, bows, etc. plus allows a strength modifier to be added to guns and crossbows.
Catch Arrows
Fast Reload

Art of the Powder:
Art of the Throw:

Haichkce Ifchtor (War “Chief”)

Pbet Irdce (Animal Rider)

Trapping Elements Specialist

This is a rare technique, similar to the Axis School, but of more variety and immediate use. The character learns how to trap elemental forces, including opponent's

Genkai School Student

Note: Taken from Yu Yu Hakusho.
Utilized Attributes: Willpower, Paranormal Ability, Keenness, Reflex
Governing Affinity: Ki, Magic, Tech or Psi

Genkai is a famous martial artist who, years ago, along with the two Toguro brothers and a few others, won the Dark Tournament. She

Unique Abilities:

Legendary Unique Abilities:

Forbidden Unique Abilities:

Spirit Doomsday
Spirit Chakra Homing Shotgun

Metamira School Student

Note: Taken from Yu Yu Hakusho.
Governing Affinity: Ki, Magic, Tech or Psi

Metamira was a contemporary of Genkai’s, who was known for a keen sense of morality. His students are very spiritually aware, and their offensive and defensive abilities usually are very stealthy. Examples include Kai’s Angel Blades, which appeared to launch multiple chakram-shaped wheels of cutting light, but in fact one launched one, using the rest as diversions. Metamira Students tend to be down-to-earth, humble and loving due to the influence of their teacher (who is either Metamira, one of Metamira’s second generation students, or one of Metamira’s third generation students – the former two require Trained by an Old Guard Member).

Sensui School Student

Territory Masters

Psychohistorian

Note: Ripped unapologetically from Isaac Asimov’s Foundation novels – if you haven’t read them, do so.
Class Points: 4-7
Utilized Statistics: Intelligence, Charisma, Willpower (for mentalics)
Governing Affinity: Psi and/or Tech

In the waning days of a future Galactic Empire, a man named Hari Seldon developed a technique known as psychohistory that allowed people to predict human behavior based upon three principles: first, that it be only humans (since then, psychohistorians have worked diligently in that regard); second, that there be sufficient masses of people; third, that the people involved do not know the predictions. Hari Seldon established two Foundations, one of technological might that would conquer the Galaxy, and one of mental might, one that would direct and control the first. When the Old Guard plumbed space and time for allies, they found many Psychohistorians willing to carry their study into modern times. Psychohistory is now coming into vogue in Universities everywhere.

Modern psychohistory works under similar precepts as previous Psychohistory, but with a few important changes. First, psychohistory is being expanded to deal with the wide array of alien and fantastical races. Due to psychohistory’s founding principles, it erects humans as the proverbial “zero point” and measures other races’ variables of interest on grand averages based upon this. Psychohistory does require tremendous interest, but it yields a number of useful developments. First of all, it helps to unlock mentalic powers of tremendous precision and power! All psychohistorians are at least major psychics, if not masters. Second, it allows cogent analysis of past history as well as good predictions of the future (though, of course, the predictions do lose some of their weight when they become known).

Characters will likely have at least an honorary Professorship. So few survive the training process that the remaining ones are in tremendous demand in political science, economics, anthropology and history departments. The character may be asked to appear on nightly news programs as a pundit. Characters will appear to be tremendously

Interestingly enough, many Grammaton Clerics have also become Psychohistorians. Their interest in people causes them to want to view them from a more bird’s eye view, and the mentalics enhances their katas, as well as allows them to compensate for the weakness of the Grammaton technique vs. experienced single attackers and when disarmed. Of course, the Psychohistorian benefits from such training by having conventional skills. Storyfishers often become Psychohistorians as well.

Merits:
Psychohistorical Charisma Modifier: The character’s in-depth analysis of all sorts of races on a biological and sociological level has allowed her to deliver precisely tuned messages, offering bonuses to charisma rolls to intimidate, seduce, convince, finagle, bluff, etc. The character rolls a D100 to determine if they have accessed the bonus (I determine the relevant threshold, higher is always better). If so, the character will gain a substantial percentile bonus to every subsequent Charisma check against the same person. If the character fails, they simply don’t know about this person.

Psionics Accessible: Any Mentalic or Sensitive ability. The character always begins with
Telepathy, Empathy, Empathic Transmission, Hypnosis, Mentalic Charisma and Hypnotic Suggestion. If they expend 5 Class Points, they gain Telepathic Mental Overflow, Mind Blast and Mind Lash. If they expend 6 Class Points, they gain Ultrawave Telepathic Communication and Intuitive Combat.

Legendary Unique Abilities:
Micropsychohistory – This technique applies the principles of macropsychohistory to smaller groups of people. The problem is that the chaos factors that are essentially eliminated by large sample sizes in the case of macropsychohistory suddenly become formidable. In order to master micropsychohistory, chaos equations must be used to counter the greatly enhanced margin of error. There is no way to completely eliminate the difference, but micropsychohistory can nonetheless be used to add tremendous credence to a hunch for the way individual groups can behave. It therefore becomes very useful in combat. Micropsychohistory also allows detailed analysis of particular small groups that become movers and shakers.

Forbidden Unique Abilities:
Eternity’s History – The Psychohistorian becomes essentially a god of history. They are able to view the past, present and future and possibilities of interactions as if standing on a cliff high above all of accumulated knowledge. However, like any other prognosticator, they cannot predict the future absolutely. Rather, they are essentially capable of playing Minesweeper with probabilities. They can see where a certain event has so much inertia that it is not likely to be stopped, and they can also see where events are still capable of changing. The important thing is that they can see data scientifically and mathematically, subject it to their theorems, and even use long-distance mentalics to muddle with certain events to change the playing field.

Combination Class: Grammaton Historian (7-12 points; Psychohistorian + Grammaton Cleric). In addition to the abilities gained from the previous classes, they gain
Combat Psychohistory: The Grammaton Cleric applies her knowledge of human interaction to the statistical models, thereby gaining a combat-exclusive form of micro-psychohistory!
Mentalic Guns: When the character is out of weapons, they can produce guns made of pure mentalic force. It is costly, but as a last resort, phenomenally useful.

Dowsha Limbce

Governing Affinity: Magic

The Banbar believe that shadows are residues of the nasty dark side of objects when struck by the light. They believe that this shadow is the essence of decay and death. Dowsha Limbces thus tap into this power, learning to manipulate shadows, poison, necromantic energies, and so on.

Grammaton Cleric

Note: Ripped straight from Equilibrium ­– excellent sleeper hit, superior to the latter two Matrix films.
Class Points: 4-7
Utilized Statistics: Keenness, Charisma, Reflex, Willpower
Governing Affinity: Tech and/or Ki

In a dystopian future, all emotions were outlawed after catastrophic war. A band of police known as the Grammaton Clerics were created in order to detect those who felt emotion and to destroy materials known to inspire emotion: for example, art, music and toys. However, one Cleric, John Preston, was inspired by a similar turncoat Cleric, a woman he fell in love with, and the beauty of art, poetry and music, to destroy the totalitarian regime that dispensed the emotion-suppressing drugs, and then helped to establish a new regime. The Old Guard recruited him for his services, and he ended up becoming a world-class art collector and museum operator. However, he also taught people the art he had inherited, in hope that they could use it responsibly.

Grammaton Clerics of John Preston’s school are taught not to suppress their emotion, but to use it to empower them and to guide their reason. They are capable of being tremendously convincing and of bluffing at a moment’s notice. They are taught how to suppress all unnecessary feeling in battle or during other important time periods. They are also taught to be extraordinarily sensitive to the mental makeup of all they come into contact with. Second Generation Clerics (that is, Clerics not trained by Father but by John Preston and those who sympathize with him) are thus tremendously affable, charismatic, and persuasive.

The combat training of a Grammaton Cleric is exhaustive. They systematically study the statistical probability of any arrangement of multiple attackers, harden their body and mind through rigorous training, study anatomical diagrams and research the general movements of countless other arts. Their most formidable ability are their Gun Katas (and Gun Ki for those who stay with the program for longer than average). They master an array of preset moves with their guns, allowing them to quickly choose the right series of moves and decimate their opposition. Clerics are excellent against multiple-attackers, but while certainly not being deficient against one opponent, they tend to not have too many edges. Their training was to deal adequately with numerous well-armed but untrained opponents. A Cleric without any weapons facing off against an experienced opponent is in a bad position indeed.

Interestingly enough, many Grammaton Clerics have also become Psychohistorians. Their interest in people causes them to want to view them from a more bird’s eye view, and the mentalics enhances their katas, as well as allows them to compensate for the weakness of the Grammaton technique vs. experienced single attackers and when disarmed. Of course, the Psychohistorian benefits from such training by having conventional skills.

Abilities:
Mind Block (passive): The Cleric’s complex inner exploration and strong willpower makes them resistant to external mentalic or illusory influences.
Empathy and Minor Object Read (passive): Due to the Clerics’ expertise in detecting emotion, they are adequately able to identify what others are feeling. Further, they can detect sources of emotion: for example, they can locate pieces of art or sources of music within a few moments, and can even gleam information about the past of an object through contact with it. This ability does offer a bonus to Charisma checks,.
Combat Empathy (passive): A Clerics’ training lets them ascertain an opponent’s feelings, weaknesses, and even somewhat anticipate their actions.

Gun Katas: Pick 4 beginning “Aspects”, plus two per investment of a Class Point. Each Class Point above 3 allows one Gun Kata Element in a Gun Kata.

Merits:
Gun Ki (6 point investment only)
Automatic Dodge
Multiple Dodge

Combination Class: Grammaton Historian (7-12 points; Psychohistorian + Grammaton Cleric). In addition to the abilities gained from the previous classes, they gain
Combat Psychohistory: The Grammaton Cleric applies her knowledge of human interaction to the statistical models, thereby gaining a combat-exclusive form of micro-psychohistory!
Mentalic Guns: When the character is out of weapons, they can produce guns made of pure mentalic force. It is costly, but as a last resort, phenomenally useful.

Storyfisher

Nu Mou Morpher

Viera Fencer

Red Mage

Psi-Slinger

Fire Baylan

Water Baylan

Blood Baylan

Psi-Gizmoteer

Rain Maker

Inuit Ankaqoq (Shaman)

Inuit Suilarniqeq (Sorrow Fighter)

Inuit Qivigtog (Blizzard Mystic)

Inuit

Clockworks Magician

Turtle School Master

Lord Magus

Catalyst/Dweomershielder

A Catalyst is a metamagic assistant tout de force. The Catalyst itself only gains access to metamagic and pure magic spells, making them a useful support class. However, more importantly, a well-placed Catalyst can turn a group of mages into a well-coordinated and effective squad.

Feral Ork Trappa

Feral Ork Pigdok

Messes with Boars and wild animals

Feral Ork Wyrdboy

Draws upon the Waaaaagh!, capable of manifesting Gork and Mork,

Eldar Fire Dragon

Eldar Warlock

Eldar Spiritseer

Splicer Outrider

Splicer Packmaster

Splicer Archangel

Splicer Dreadguard

Splicer Saint

Splicer Scarecrow

Splicer Skinjob

Splicer Technojacker

Venecian Coal Dancer

Coal Dancers, rather counter-intuitively, are not known particularly for dancing on coals, particularly dancing on coals with no harm to themselves. Rather, Venecian society venerated at all levels those who hardened their bodies. Coal Dancers do precisely one thing: get tougher. They put themselves through horrific body hardening and experiments to get stronger. This is not just restricted to martial artists. Lawyers, doctors, noblemen, even housewives will sometimes be Coal Dancers.

To advance as a Coal Dancer, the character must deliberately step into harm's way. For example: If during a quest a thief character detects a trap, the Coal Dancer may trip the trap deliberately.

Coal Dancer is an excellent secondary or augmentation class. No character can't use more HP, resistance, Body Hardening and toughness. In addition, Coal Dancers cultivate large stores of spiritual energy and can use their hardships to get additional spiritual abilities.

Singh Rager

Lion rager.

Tattooed Monk

D&D Oriental Adventures class – learns tattoos from levels.
Traits

Traits are the way to round out your character. There are three classes: Positive, Negative and Neutral. Neutral Traits can be purchased within a sensible limit. They are balanced to have an equal amount of advantages and disadvantages.

Positive Traits, on the other hand, while perhaps containing disadvantages (everything does), are overwhelmingly positive. Negative Traits are the opposite. Positive and Negative Traits must be purchased so that the sum of the noted values is 0.

Internal Disadvantages and Advantages are entirely optional. They are ways of at least partially paying for a Positive Trait by relying upon the logic of the Positive Trait. So, while being a supersoldier is generally overwhelmingly advantageous, if it was an excruciating procedure, there may be some psychological trauma and burning resentment.

It is possible to take enough Internal D/As or As that you more than pay for the Trait. In that case,

Positive Traits:

Related to An Old Guard Member (3 or 5): Simple: the character is the clone, son, daughter, etc. of an Old Guard member. This is as close to a direct character conversion as can be made. 3 Trait Points purchases one relation. The character gets some of the abilities of that one family member. 5 purchases two. The character has left to make his own way and discover his own heroism. People, be imaginative about the combinations – Supergirl and Spiderman, maybe? While Mom or Dad may make an occasional appearance, they are as busy as the rest of the Old Guard, and won’t always be able to bail out the team.
Internal Negative:
Accusations of Nepotism/In Mom or Dad’s Shadow (Automatic): While the character will obviously get advantages from his relation (“Look at that tough guy, just like his old man”), there will always also be unfair comparisons to the mother and/or father (“Xenocratis would never have pussied out so early.”), and the character will have to prove that he’s not just the son of a famous person.
Power Limitation (Automatic): The Natural powers chosen must be within the classes of the parents, as must the Race. (This is sort of the point, so it’s not too much of a problem.)
Youthful (-1): This is a fairly likely Internal Negative. The character has only recently left his parent’s house to go out on his own. They may even be underage, simply a talented young’un who couldn’t tolerate home anymore! The brief time period elapsed has made most sons and daughters of the Old Guard rather youthful.

Unbelievably Tough (4): This Trait offers one a qualitative difference in hit points. They can be a full class above what they should be based on Endurance, Strength and Willpower. Something about the character, whether it be an unusual will for combat, a unique body frame, or any number of things animates the character beyond mortal limits.
Examples: Sanosuke Sagara, Xenocratis, Kazuma Kuwabara, Anji the Shining King
Internal Negatives:
Scarring (-1): The character’s toughness has been purchased through rough treatment, and the character has the scars to show it. The scars should be treated gingerly, and they will change the reaction of others.
Chronic Pains (-2): The character’s body has taken such a pummeling that they suffer from various aches and pains throughout the body. The problem is fixable by medical treatment, but it’s very difficult and the pains are likely to return. The body is simply not designed to take this kind of abuse.
Stubbornness (-1): Much like Sanosuke and Kuwabara, the character is a stubborn ox who will continue to fight stupidly even when there is no point to doing so. This character will be tough but reckless, accepting challenges and dares frequently.
Haunted/Something to Prove (-1 or –2): The character has had something happen to him that makes him want to prove something to the world. It animates him, but it is also a source of suffering and misery.

Renaissance Man (X): This person is very multifaceted in her interests. She is able to choose one additional Class to start, with a cost in Positive Trait points equal to the points of the Class she wishes to invest in.
Internal Negatives:
Master of None (-X): The character suffers from a –10X% to all skills they’ve accrued.

Fast Learner (3): The character gains Class or Rank Boosts at 150% the rate of the normal character. They also start with an additional 3 Class Points.
Internal Disadvantages:


Supersoldier (X): The character has been through some form of experimental program that has yielded a supersoldier. This is a chance to flesh out the character’s history. The character picks some of the following:
Chemical augmentation. Whether it be ancient alchemy or modern chemical concoctions, the character has been subjected to an array of chemicals. This may require a Juicer-style bio-monitor/computer (treat this as an Internal Negative) or periodic refills (also an Internal Negative).
Genetic augmentation. The character may have been bred for generations, be a planned mutant, or be a person whose genes have been tweaked and modified.
Intense training. The character will get an array of military skills, including some paranormal level abilities. Attributes will also gain bonuses from various forms of training.
Symbiotes. The character has been bonded to some other organism to enhance his or her power.
The character will go through the character creation process as normal, but will essentially purchase a new Class at the cost of Negative Traits. The character should determine whether she was a pure scientific experiment (i.e. the first batch of an experimental design, never designed to fight for the organization) or an actual attempt at making and recruiting a new soldier.
Internal Negatives:
Hunted (X): The character is hunted by the organization that created her. The value of X is determined by the organization’s zeal and its capacities. A small organization with tremendous desire to recapture the character will get a few points, a large one that puts it at a low priority will get a similar amount, and the combination of the two may pay for the Supersoldier class.
Scarred/Damaged (X): The experiments had side effects. The character may have insanities from trauma, horrible addictions or side effects from chemical augmentation, etc. The degree of mental or physical scarring determines the cost.
Reliant (X): The character is somehow reliant on the sponsoring organization. It may be anti-rejection medicines, refills on chemicals, a cranial detonator, etc.

Sharingen Eye (3): The Mirror Wheel Eye is an eye that allows the character tremendous capacity to mimic her opponents. It manifests itself as a spiral-shaped eye

Trained by an Old Guard Member (2):

Blessed (X): The converse of X: the character can reroll critical misses, has a higher critical chance, etc. Again, the X is proportional to the degree of blessing.

Immortal (5): The character is literally immortal. No natural result of aging will occur, making a thousand year old as spritely and limber as a twenty year old. The character can be killed by nefarious means, but has high resistances to heat, cold, poison, blood loss, etc.

Rare Ki (4): Every person has a unique ki frequency with tremendous capacity to improve. However, there are some rare types of
Examples: Sojiro, Kenshin (Shuku Chi)

Pet (X):
Examples: Shadow from FF3.

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Neutral Traits

Diamond in the Rough: The character is tremendously talented and has huge stores of energy, but can only access them under a stressor. Pick any of the following:
Collapse of the conscious mind (i.e. Fred)
Anger, desperation, frustration (i.e. Gohan, Bruno)
Love or concern over friends/family (i.e. Kuwabara)
Severe pain
The character will have all relevant attributes and skills halved normally, but they’ll be doubled past normal when the character fully unleashes his or her power. They’ll have less abilities normally, but even more than usual when in the rage. And so on.

Jagan Eye: The character has had a surgically implanted third eye known as the Jagan, literally the “Evil Eye”. The eye allows viewing through dimensional barriers and through walls and obstructions. It also allows the user to access legendary and forbidden magics normally not available. However, it reduces the user’s paranormal energies a full three ranks and reduces the amount of abilities they start with.

Hell Eye: This is a very rare mutation that has only appeared in the guise of Astar Reeves.

Negative Traits:

Allergy (1-4): Allergies are worth negative Trait Points based upon two variables: first, how ubiquitous the allergen is; second, how severe the reaction is. A reaction to pollen that yields the sniffles is a 1 or 2, a reaction to aluminum that yields nasty rashes is a 1 or 2; the first is due to pollen’s being common but the symptoms being mild, while the latter is due to aluminum not being a very common allergen but the symptoms being nastier. Combining the two

Spontaneous Release (1-3): The character’s powers (only applicable with Ki, Psionics, and some Magic and Techniques, particular superpowers and intuitive magic – ask me) spontaneously release at various times. Pick one of the following:
When under severe stress or pain
When asleep and dreaming
When under any hallucinogenic or mind-altering influence
During these times, the character will randomly use one power to randomly do one thing. While the result will almost never be positive, it may be mostly benign, or it may be extremely dangerous.

Sensory Difficulty (1-3): The character has a deficiency in sight, hearing, etc. This must be a sensory capacity the race normally has, so a race with no eyes cannot eliminate sight and gain the points.

Energy Leak (3): The character leaks a substantial amount of energy when using her paranormal abilities. This has the following results:
Raises the cost for an ability to operate at equal potency
Makes the character more vulnerable to energy drain abilities
Offers any energy vampire an ample source right after an ability is used
The energy leaked has a chance of unleashing a nasty chaos effect, hurting the character or allies!
Internal Positive:
Energy Boost (1-2): The character has compensated for the loss of energy by simply getting more of it. The energy leak is related to a flaw in their technique.
Energy Cloud (2): The character has learned to manipulate the cloud that forms about them. After a certain number of usages, the cloud has achieved a mass that can be used to fire wispy energy bolts or transform into an energy grenade, among other ingenious uses.

Scarred Childhood (X): The character has had a tremendously blighted past. The actual results will vary, but the character is emotionally injured in some way. Perhaps they are broken and thus have lower Willpowers; perhaps they have some insanity; perhaps they are determined to survive and thus are pathological loners but with a higher Willpower.

Cursed (X): The fates don’t smile on this character. She is likely to trip at the worst times, get misfires at critical moments, etc. The value of X is determined by how substantial this jinx is.

Pathologically Neat (1-3):

Phobia (1-3):

Addicted (1-5): The character is addicted to some chemical substance.

Penniless (2): The character begins with no starting money, whatsoever. Whatever they have is from their years of saving and is purely class equipment.
Psionics

Due to the rushed nature of this Beta, I’m going to list relevant abilities under each and not describe.

Contra-Paranormal/Metapsychic:
Mind Block

Energetic:
Psi-Sword
Psi-Claws
Mental Lash
Psi-Bolt
Ridaction

Healing/Infliction:
Psychic Surgery
Psychic Diagnosis
Induce Healing
Induce Sleep

Mentalic:
Mind Block
Telepathic Mental Overflow
Mind Lash
Mind Blast
Invisible Haze

Psychokinetic:
Telekinesis
TK Super Bomb
Super TK Barrage
Levitation
TK Flight
TK Barrier
Pyrokinesis
PK Super Bomb

Reality Manipulation:
Molecular Transmutation
Molecular Velocitation (heat/cold)
Molecular Bonding (strengthen/weaken)
Molecular Refractivity (make more opaque/more transparent)
Teleport
Astral Projection
Diffusion Cloak

Self-Enhancement:
Intuitive Combat
Resist Hunger
Resist Fatigue
Resist Thirst
Impervious to Fire
Impervious to Cold
Impervious to Poison
TK Exoskeleton
Ectoplasmic Battle Suit
Alter Aura

Sensitive:
Astral Projection
Commune with Spirits
Detect Alignment
Presence Sense
See Aura
Sense Evil
Sense Magic
Sixth Sense
Ultrawave Telepathic Communication: The character is literally able to project telepathic and empathic information through a

In addition, there are Legendary and Forbidden psychic powers that begin to defy categorization, just as there are Legendary and Forbidden spells. Certain classes will gain access to these Legendary and Forbidden psionics, but normally, a 150 Affinity is required for Legendary and a 300 for Forbidden. Those who can use Forbidden Psionics are known as Omega Mentalists.

Legendary:

Force and Mind: A combination of telekinetic and telepathic energy.
Ego Tower: The Ego forms a defensive shield around the user.
Id Razors: The fury of the Id formed into telepathic blades. It can either be turned into an offensive weapon or a defensive shield, the latter cleaving apart attacks and attackers that enter. However, the unleashing of the Id
Persona Shield: This shield is unique in that it only blocks against those who the user can perceive. The shield uses Charisma to help determine its power, and it has a chance of making opponents not see the user, as per Invisible Haze.
Chronokinesis:
Chemokinesis:
Astral Intangibility: The character has the capacity to almost instantly become astral and then return.
Entropic Destruction Blade:
Cutting Force: This moves beyond TK Cut and becomes an infinitesimal blade of cleaving force that can strike wherever the user can see.


Forbidden:

Genocide Mind: An attack that strikes at the collective unconscious of an entire species!
Brain Soul: Telepathic assaults that are able to strike at the very soul, beleaguering, ensorcelling, and beguiling in every way.
TK Super Bomb 3
PK Super Bomb 3
EK Super Bomb 3

Magic

Axis: This school plays off the interplay between a base element and another element. For example: An Axis Mage who begins with fire could add poison, making a licking green flame; or ice, making Blue Flame.

Four Forces: Mostly available only to Rasmusson Adepts, this class manipulates the four forces of the universe: gravity, electromagnetism, the weak force (that which prevents electrons from sucking into the nucleus) and the strong force (that which keeps protons in the nucleus together).

Elementalist: Elementalists are able to manipulate the four traditional elements (fire, water, air and earth), as well as the Oriental elements of wood and steel.

Healing

Holy:

Metamagic/Pure Magic: These spells either affect magic and paranormal forces, or conjure pure magic for some purposes. This art seems to be of little use at first, but it does yield the dreaded Ultima and the forbidden Ultima 2, making it worth it.

Necromancy

Shadow/Umbramancy

Space Magic:

Time Magic




Superpowers

Superpowers ala Superman or Spiderman are usually governed by Technique Affinities. They can be induced by:

Mystical Object: Whether it be a magical weapon or an enchanted object, part of the weapon’s capacities is to give the character powers. The Green Lanterns are good examples of these characters.


Martial Arts

Katas:
Flying Sword, Striking Scabbard: This technique is a useful intimidation tactic, surprise move, and initiative-gainer all in one. The character tosses her sword up high in the air, then strikes with her scabbard until the sword comes down. The beauty is that a sword ki expert can launch the sword into the air, where it will become energized, discharge the ki in her scabbard, and then catch the blade and use it.


Class Unique

Futae No Kiwami
Starting:
FnK (0)
Water Shield (10)
Shockwave
Weapon FnK (40)
Neutralize Energy (80)
Legendary:
Sanpuu no Kiwami (150)
Full Body FnK (150)
Air Shield (160)
Redirect Energy (160)
FnK Destablize (180)
FnK Permanent Weakening (190)
FnK Gashing Trench (200)
Forbidden:
FnK Infinite Chain (300)
FnK Organic Disruption (310)
FnK Infinite Render (320)
FnK World Nova (330)

Felsch Ahmoqa:
Regular
Cripple Shatter
Forbidden
Armor of Techniques (300)
Impale Ability (320)
Affinity Crush

Irfry Ahmoqa: The Irfry Ahmoqa is
Regular
Piercing FlameBlame
Falling Flame
Legendary
Endless Rings
Forbidden
Infinite Friction (300; surpasses the limit set by physics for heat)
Supernova Stance
Nova Chariot
Mirage Randce
Nuclear Sword Ignition
Friction Blade Body

Ayrt
Regular
Corkscrew Beam (a tight corkscrew of air that inflicts a hammering blow)
Trembling Blades
Ringing Blades
Vacuum Chakra
Forbidden
Humming Saber

Chakra Storm
Forbidden
Decimation Chakras
Symbol of Air: Forces opponent to block, making patterns of vacuum that unleash paranormal effects

Waer Ahmoqa
Regular
Water Snake’s Fang
Water Snake’s Poison
Dance the Thin Air
Legendary
Possess the Thin Air
Vacuum
Parch Self (can create water from the
Forbidden
God of the Thin Air
Wield the Water Snake
Torrents of Blades

Dowsha Ahmoqa:
Regular
Shadow Limb
Shadow Mirror
Legendary
Shadow Defender (character’s shadow defends her)
Shadow Copy (character’s shadow mimics offensive movements)
Shadow Prism (creates multiple shadows to do certain tasks)
Forbidden
Delayed Shadow
Shadow Mirror (shadow blades/shadows become
Infinite Shadow

Art of the String:
Regular
Taut Projectiles: Adds a Strength modifier to all projectile attacks, including crossbows and firearms

Grammaton Cleric: The Grammaton Clerics are unique in that they construct their Katas on the spot through means of a number of Elements tailored for the specific situation.
Regular
Blind: If the Cleric has no optical methods of perception available, he may design a Gun Kata using this Element. The Cleric uses other perceptions, is a little more careful with his movement, and relies more on his statistical data.

Sensui School:
Forbidden
Demi-Armor Kata: The Sensui School Student creates an Offensive Armor for his legs, automatically unleashing various energy attacks along with an array of Angel Light-powered leg attacks. The upper body is covered with a Defensive Armor and protected by a Reppa Fujinken shield. The Sensui School Student fights as normal: block with the arms, attack with the legs.

Merits

Merits are similar to Feats in D&D and Perks in Fallout II. They tend to be passive capacities the character has required that cannot be expressed in terms of a percentage, but are simply pieces of knowledge or some form of expertise that offers a bonus.

Just like Paranormal Abilities, Merits come in regular, Legendary and Forbidden flavors. Unlike Paranormal Abilities, there is not necessarily one type of requirement

Perception Merits

Nightvision:

Thermal Vision/Sense:

Ultravision:

Motion Detection

Awareness: Automatic scans of the following type:
HP
Class
Elemental weakness
Weapon type

Vulnerability Detection:

See the Invisible:

Spirit Sight:

Blind Flight:

Multiple Blind Flight:

Absolute Blind Flight: The character can fight with no perceptions whatsoever! This means none of the conventional five senses, any magic analog (i.e. mage eye),

Stuntmaster: -10% from explosives, +20% to piloting skills.



Bluff Master: Recoup after failed steal, haggle, negotiate, etc.

Bluff God: As Bluff Master, but can also bluff and haggle those of supernatural proficiency and with psychic abilities.

Flexible: Change stances, katas, etc. in 1/2 the time. Additional Merits boost by a fraction each (1/3, 1/4, 1/5, etc.)

Legendary Flexible: No transition time.

Forbidden Flexible: Offers a slight “kicker” during transition.

Hit the Deck: 1/2 damage from most radius effects, bonus to roll vs. impact.


Scan the (X): Choose a type of terrain (sea, water, dimensions, etc.) You get a bonus in initiative vs. opponents in those terrains.

Favored Enemies:

Extended Lifespan:

Vampiric Attacks: A certain % of the character's attack damage is also transferred into health for her. This can put her over max health, but the health will slowly decrease.

Permanent Emanation: Certain self-enhancing spells can be set for Permanent Emanation, meaning they can either be used costlessly at will (except for Endurance limitations, per usual) or

Self-Concealment:

Spectral Strike:

[Frederic Bourgault-Christie]

Spellcaster Harrier: When attacking a spellcaster or other paranormal ability user, the target suffer concentration penalties.

Stored Turns: The character
Seize the Initiative:
Random Bonus: Choose a type of ability. A random bonus to checks is added every time.

Paranormal Merits

Affinity to Resistance: Turns higher Affinity into higher regular damage resistances.

Improvised Counterspell: The mage may use a Normal-level spell not ordinarily intended as a Counterspell to attempt a Counterspell action.

Legendary Improvised Counterspell: Same as Improvised Counterspell, but Normal level Improvised Counterspells are more effective and the character may now use Legendary spells.

Forbidden Improvised Counterspell: Same as Improvised Counterspell, but Normal and Legendary Improvised Counterspells are more effective and the character may now use Forbidden spells.

Double Bounce:

Power Surge: When critical with a spell, certain amount of MP is restored.

Power Recompense: When critical failure with a spell, certain amount of MP is restored.

Spell Penetration: Spells have a higher chance of breaking through opponent’s paranormal defenses. This will even apply to magic resistances and invulnerabilities.

Legendary Spell Penetration: Gets an opportunity to reroll for reduced effect if an opponent saves, plus even more improved Spell Penetration modifiers.

Forbidden Spell Penetration: Indefinite opportunities to reroll for reduced effect. Bear in mind that the reducing of effect begins to add up quickly.

Status Mimic: Positive abilities casted on opponents within a certain range are automatically replicated on the holder of the Merit. Legendary and Forbidden abilities are not allowed.

Status Mimic – Legendary:

Status Mimic – Forbidden:

Spell Charge:

Spell Charge – Legendary: Multiplicative progression.

Spell Charge – Forbidden: Exponential progression.

Enhance Spell – Normal:

Enhance Spell – Legendary:

Enhance Spell – Forbidden:

Widen Spell – Normal:

Widen Spell – Legendary:

Widen Spell – Forbidden:



Martial Arts Merits

Tamashiwara:

Battoujutsu:

Automatic Battoujutsu (Legendary):

Battoujutsu Edge (Forbidden)

Stunning Criticals:

Crippling Criticals (Legendary):
Prerequisites: Stunning Criticals

Deathly Criticals (Forbidden):
Prerequisites: Stunning Criticals, Crippling Criticals

Attribute Shatter Critical: Pick one attribute (or Luck, alternately). When criticaling, the character reduces the chosen attribute in the opponent.
Prerequisites: Stunning Criticals

Aggravating Criticals (Forbidden):

Attribute Cripple Critical (Legendary): Pick one attribute (or Luck, alternately). The character reduces this attribute

Automatic Aggravating Criticals (Forbidden):

Attribute Feedback Critical (Forbidden):

Perpetual Aggravating Critical (Forbidden):

Affinity Shatter Critical (Forbidden):
Prerequisites: Stunning Criticals, Crippling Criticals, Deathly Criticals, Attribute Shatter Critical, Attribute Cripple Critical, Attribute Feedback Critical

Sword Ki: The character is able to store some of his ki in either her scabbard or her sword.

Sprinter: Bonus to Reflex for purposes of running.

Track Star: Bonus to Endurance for purposes of athletic activity.

Gunmanship and Ranged Combat Merits

Quickdraw:

Automatic Quickdraw:

Quickdraw Edge:

Gun Ki:

Bolster: A bonus to Strength for firing weapons.

‘Slinger: A bonus to Reflex and Keen for

Utility Merits

Fortune Finder:

Break the Rules:

Level-Headed: Operate on the best of two combat rolls. Critical misses still do affect turn (though reduced), not applicable in all circumstances.

Legendary Level Headed: Operate on the best of three combat rolls.

Initial Skill Boost (X): Boosts a type of skill’s efficacy for the first few rounds of a battle.
Night Preference: The character operates better at night and can take advantage of the night’s advantages.
Day Preference:
Harmless Appearance: The character can cultivate an innocuous persona. This is great for assassins, thieves, and similar.
Etiquette: The character gains a bonus to Charisma around the genteel, the elite.
First Strike (M:TG):
Rampage (M:TG):

Lingering Damage: Pick an appropriate style of attack. This attack does damage into the next turn, usually less than a quarter of the original damage (certain modifiers will not come into play for this). For example: A punch could inflict bruises and pain; a stab attack could gain aggravated wounds, etc. Appropriate saving throws, strike conditions, etc. should be applied liberally by the GM.

Legendary Lingering Damage (Legendary): Similar to Lingering Damage, but the damage is now less than half the original attack and the damage lasts the whole battle.

Crippling Lingering Damage (Forbidden): Similar to Lingering Damage, but the damage is now less than 75% the original attack (as usual, minus some modifiers, the type of modifiers usually present in Forbidden attacks) and lasts even outside of the battle.

Round out the Edge: Slight bonus for poor rolls,
Reduced Enemy Criticals
Salvage Mistake: Can reroll skill checks at penalties.
Legendary Salvage Mistake: Can accept later penalties to be able to add on another roll now.
Forbidden Salvage Mistake:
Reputation:
Legendary Reputation:
Godlike Reputation:
Hasten Turn: A character with this Merit can take her turn earlier in the turn cycle. Roll a Turn Prolongation check as normal and use the result to indicate how long her new turn should be. A potential general rule of thumb could be 100 – ((1-1D100) +/- X) % turn left, i.e. roll a 68 and have 100 – ((100-68) +/- 0), or (100-32), or 68. X would be based on how far the character wanted to move up in the order, Reflex, Keen, Merits and Abilities; the lower, the better. This is used most often in Combination Abilities.
Elongate Turn: A character with this Merit can wait to take her turn and thus take a longer turn later. The longer they wait, the longer a turn they get. Ordinarily, someone can skip their turn and take it later, but the turn is either scarcely elongated or is the same length.

Attribute-Affecting Merits

Initial Boost (X): The player chooses one attribute or Affinity. That Attribute or Affinity gains a boost in the first few rounds of combat.

Critical Boost (X): Similar to Initial Boost, but the attribute is boosted when the person is at critically low levels of health.

Combat Boost (X): Similar to Initial Boost, but the attribute is boosted by a smaller amount when the character is in combat.

Learned Merits

Language Affinity: The character learns languages faster and is very quickly capable of engaging in basic conversation.
Omniglot (Legendary): The ability to speak all mortal languages! Through combining complex linguistics work to determine panlingual rules of grammar, study of several languages as heuristics, numerous means of empathy, and a minor supernatural element, those with this skill can speak any language that is not extensively designed to be secret, or is a language forbidden to mortals.
Living Anatomy:


Rogue Merits

Automatic Critical Backstab:

Legendary Backstab:

Forbidden Backstab:

Body Hardening Merits

Leather Skin

Iron Skin (Legendary)

Adamant Skin (Forbidden)

Die Hard: Massive bonuses to resistances when at 20% of health.

Iron Hand:

Kangeiko:

Shochu Geiko:

Dam Sum Sing:

Resistant to X:

Resistant to X – Legendary:

Resistant to X – Forbidden:

Impervious to X:

Impervious to X –Legendary:

Impervious to X – Forbidden:

X Absorbant:

X Absorbant – Legendary:

X Absorbant – Forbidden:



Leadership Merits

Tactics Initiative: One turn per 10, can pick a round to greatly boost allies.

Strategic Initiative: Entire battle, slight bonuses.

Vicious Leadership: Higher damage and strike bonuses.

Cautious Leadership: Higher defense and dodge bonuses.

Merit Application: Give allies slight benefit of merits.

Affinity Application: Give allies slight benefits of Affinities.

Skill Application: Give allies slight benefits of Skills.

Attribute Application:

Dominating Leadership: Raise Allies' saving throw and willpower checks.

Vulnerability Warning: Inform allies of vulnerabilities.

Cover: Automatically defend allies.

Power in Numbers: Each player benefits from each other.

Sharing Matrix: All players share whatever the Leader can share.

Team Player: +10% to stats when working with a team

Awards

How do characters develop in the game? After every mission, Class Points or Rank Boosts are assigned. In addition, however, good play garners special awards that can be traded in for boosts.

Innovative Usage of Abilities: This is rewarded when the character does something unique and polished with his abilities. Using a fireball to blow up a tank doesn’t count; using it to detonate a gas tank may; using it as a signal flare has a very high chance of getting this.

Team Player: The character coordinates well with the team. Donating money so an ally can purchase a necessary spell, buying restorative equipment in lieu of new toys, or similar can garner this award.
2 purchase a Leadership Merit

Karma’s Blessing: If the player is a good sport OOC despite a number of unlucky events, the character will get this award. It allows:
An automatic critical
Swapping rolls with an enemy
Boosting an ally’s rolls
5 purchase Blessed (or eliminate Cursed)

Mystical Items

Mystical and legendary items are divvied up into a number of categories, quite important in their distinctions. If you’re creating an item, go through this list and ascertain the general properties of the object.

1.Governing Affinity: Magic, Tech, Ki, and/or Psi

All important items channel one of the four Affinities. Magic is fairly simplistic. Its powerful ambient existence allows magic items to operate most everywhere. Some magic items are enchanted and thus have a permanent dweomer (advanced ones will have self-replicating enchantments); others are powered by ambient magic, a slight input from the user, a connection to the spirit world, or a trapped spirit.

Tech “mystical items” are either a type of hyper-advanced technology that serves to magnify the user’s innate techniques or legendary items with no explicit enchantment, ki enhancement, or psionic improvement. A well-crafted weapon can be dynamic without using any of the other three forces, but often, there is trace elements of magic or ki.

Psi items are relatively new. The most common are technological items activated by mentalics or psychokinetic abilities. In this case, the only difference is that the activation switch or trigger is psychic, rather than physical. The ambient psychic force, appropriately called The Force by the Jedi Order, is more responsive to organics and less to machines. Nonetheless, it is possible for appropriately designed weapons to use technological energy, the energy of the user, ambient mentalic power, psychic entities, or similar to power items that have psychic effects.

Surprisingly, while technology such as Feng Shui, ki healing through acupuncture and sword ki has existed for a long time, high technology seems to be averse to ki. Technology seems to create either null or negative ki. Very advanced engineering has begun to overcome this problem, though. Ki items are about as likely as psi items to be magnifiers or augmenters, but in some cases ki can be stored in the item itself. For example, there are printers that have a special “cord” that must be attached to a high-ki flow area and used to print Celestial Calligraphy for Taoist magic.

On a side note: New technologies, known as Axis Technologies, use amassed energy of one type to simulate another. For example, Technological Dweomer Emulation Programs create huge stockpiles of Tech that can be used to order the universe in ways similar to magic. Techno-Wizardry is another prime example.

2.Power Source: Enchanted or Imbued, Fetish or Sanctified, Technological, Channeler, or Trapped Entity

The second categorization describes what exactly powers the abilities of the item.

Enchanted or imbued items have energy codified in a particular form and made permanent or even self-replicating. A sword that bursts into flames of its own volition when drawn would be enchanted. Enchanted items can have limited amounts of charges, set restoration periods, or similar limitations, but the energy source is internal to the device. Enchantment rituals or procedures generally require first making the temporary version of the desired spell, then sealing and making permanent. An array of methods can be used to do this. Drawing upon the power of the Scribe, some enchanters use marks (runes, phrases, or similar) to simultaneously mark the item and seal the magical power. Gemstones or other precious items with the power of Wealth can be used to store and amplify energy as well. Special building materials may be used.

Fetish items are a little different. They require receiving the blessing of a spirit (or, in the case of sanctified items, a god or philosophy). Sometimes the spirit’s emanations or evocation is sufficient to power the fetish; other times, the spirit or an aspect of the spirit must be captured. The power source for fetish or sanctified items is not primarily the user. Rather, the spirit, god, demon, philosophy, etc. that is being channeled powers the device. This can mean that the item can only be used by those loyal to the powering entity or Idea. There may be taboos or limitations placed on the usage of the item.

Technological items, such as Techno-Wizardry, use the interplay with paranormal forces and technology to partially or completely power the item. Often, the battery for TW weapons is either externally purchased like a conventional clip or is the user herself. TW items are unique in that, with relatively mundane spells and technology, very innovative designs can be made.

Channeling items channel the power of the user(s). They can either be amplifiers of the user’s existing abilities or simply opportunistically use the wielder as a power source.

Trapped Entity items have may have the soul or essence of a powerful hero or creature, a trapped demon or spirit, etc. Alternatively, they may drain power from a living creature (a fairie or symbiote). They differ from fetishes a few ways:
The spirit is always in the item itself
The entity is rarely voluntarily offering its energy
The limitations on usage are different from the fetish
Fetishes tend to have abilities related to the spirit powering them, while trapped entity items simply use what’s inside as a battery

3. Dynamic, Semi-Dynamic, Non-Dynamic

Dynamic weapons are weapons that grow over time. In general, dynamic items grow abilities over time irrespective of their user (though they often interface with their user) and are effectively a character with their own classes and abilities; semi-dynamic items are far more reliant on the interplay between the user and the weapon but still can achieve plateaus beyond the scope of the original design; and non-dynamic items are what the majority of player characters will be utilizing, items that do not grow over time and can only be made more useful through increased skill in their application.

Forbidden Attributes

Hopefully, you won't ever be put into the position I've been put into and allow your characters to get Forbidden attributes. Nonetheless, if you wish, you may allow your players to be this powerful. You may wish to logically explore the implications of such preponderances of abilities. Here are some suggestions.

A Forbidden Attribute differs from the other stages of attributes in two ways. For one, internal to itself it violates many laws of physics; for another, the mere fact of having such a hugely developed attribute gives abilities.

Strength:
The character can use the sheer muscular power that has been developed in his body to augment his running speed.
Mere flexing causes shockwaves to be carried either by the ground or by the air. Even in a vacuum, trace particles can be accelerated.
The character's lungs are so powerful that they can make booming, sonic attacks by yelling and can make powerful wind rushes by breathing.

Reflexes:
The character can move past lightspeed. This allows them to do all sorts of things: affect other people's perceptions by appearing to move backwards; run directly away from light-speed energy blasts; automatically gain Speed Doppelganger II;
The character can move his body so fast that he can make a high-pitched whine in air or step through molecules and thus effectively become intangible.
This speed demon can make his body vibrate to either blur or become totally invisible to anyone with below-Godlike Keen.
The speedster can spin at incredible speeds (though without other skills or good enough Keen they might still get dizzy)

Keen:
The character's complex of perceptions include automatically “seeing” into the past and future: that is, being able to so accurately extrapolate the past and the present from the future that they effectively are living within an extended, non-singular “present”.
The character automatically gains Gliding from their superior balance.
The character automatically gains all Normal, Legendary and Forbidden Perception Merits.


Charisma:
The character can convince inanimate objects, abstract concepts, automata or enemies to obey his whims!

Intelligence:
The character can postulate new rules of reality or constructs and have them appear!
Certain functions, like typing, occur at absolutely incredible speeds.
The character has natural Forbidden Speed Reading, Total Recall, Machine Ghost/Mechano-Link, Telemechanics, etc., even without mechanical abilities!