DragonQuest
Rulebook, version 2.0

A player assumes the role of a character. The player develops the personality of his character during adventures: the character's needs, foibles, and ethos are revealed through interaction with the other players' characters and the creatures represented by the GM. The manner in which the character's personality develops will undoubtedly be affected by that character's characteristics. A characteristic is a measure of a facet of the character's physical or mental makeup which the player does not invent.

Every human character begins play at the age of 18 years (if the GM's world revolves around its sun during a period of time not equal to 365 days, he should convert from earth years to his own). A non-human character begins play at a corresponding age for his race. At that age, the character's body has matured enough so that age will not alter his characteristics. The character does have some of his life already behind him; the memories of those times must be supplied by the player, but any monies and experience accumulated are the character's to spend.

A player must keep track of the statistical data (e.g., characteristics) concerning his character. A model Character Record, on which all pertinent information may be recorded, is provided with this rulebook (see Appendices). The GM may choose to use a different recording form, or modify the one provided to suit his tastes. Whichever the case, the GM must be provided with a complete and current character record for each player's character. The GM can then verify the information on each record, or make corrections where necessary. Each player should also have a copy of his own character's record, though as play goes on, the two records will differ (the GM will, in all probability, note something about a character that he does not want the player to know, such as a curse).

3. Description of Characteristics

The player must generate or assign values to each of his character's first eight characteristics (see rule 3.1 through rule 3.8). The GM may also choose to introduce optional characteristics, including Physical Beauty (described in these rules), Height, Weight, Sex Drive, and anything else that comes to mind. The proliferation of such indices, while providing a player with a clearer picture of his character, will require extra book keeping.

The first six characteristics are primary characteristics. Primary characteristics may be increased temporarily by magic or permanently by the expenditure of experience, and may be decreased temporarily by magic or permanently by injury to the character. All other characteristics, whether or not optional, are secondary characteristics. The manner in which a secondary characteristic may be changed will be covered in the appropriate rule. A temporary change indicates an increase or decrease of limited duration to the value of a characteristic; a permanent change indicates an increase or decrease of indefinite duration to the value of a characteristic. Adventurers in a world of magic can expect to be in a state of flux for most of the time.

Generally, a high characteristic value indicates a character's ability to perform a certain task well, while a low value indicates a relative lack of such ability. A characteristic's effect is almost always translated into numerical terms for the purposes of resolving action during play.

Though characteristics are relatively fixed, a player retains total freedom of choice for his character. When a player shapes the personality of his character, he will probably wish to account for some of the character's more extreme characteristics. For instance, if a character with an extremely low Physical Strength value decided to specialize in magic, he might compensate for an inferiority complex developed during adolescence (due to constant bullying) by choosing spells of destruction. The spells would, of course, allow that character to stand off the would-be Conans (refer to R.E. Howard's classic stories) of his world. A character with a high value in Agility might indulge in frivolous sports, because of his natural talent in such activities. Remember, the greater the care taken when characterizing, the more real that character becomes. The player should strive for consistency in developing facets of his character's emotional make-up.

4. Effects of Characteristics

The different characteristics do not cover every facet of a character's performance on an adventure.

The GM relies upon characteristics only when a player attempts a physical or magical action for which character-GM interaction will no longer help decide the outcome. If the character must exercise his intelligence or wisdom (to name a few facets of his personality not included in characteristics), the player must provide the action or conversation for his character.

[4.1] If a character attempts a feasible task not specifically explained in a rule, the GM derives a percentage chance of the character succeeding.

When a player declares that his character will attempt a task which the GM acknowledges as dependent upon a particular characteristic, the GM assigns the task a difficulty factor. This difficulty factor will be a number from .5 (one-half, most difficult) through 5 (least difficult). The greater the difficulty factor value, the easier a task will be to perform.

The GM multiplies the difficulty factor by the appropriate characteristic, arriving at the percentage chance of the character per-forming the task. He then rolls D100, and if the roll is less than the percentage, the character has successfully performed the task. If the roll is equal to that percentage, the character will succeed if immediately aided by another character (if applicable). If the roll is greater than the percentage, but not greater than the percentage plus the relevant characteristic, the character has failed without injury to himself (if injury is at all avoidable). If the roll is greater than the percentage plus the relevant characteristic, then the character has failed and may have injured himself. The GM may wish to determine the extent of the injury by how much the roll exceeds the percentage plus the characteristic.

When one character aids another (because the D100 roll was equal to the latter's characteristic times the difficulty factor), the aiding character's value in the relevant characteristic must be at least 15 or equal to or greater than the aided character's value.

The chance of failure is always equal to at least 30 minus the relevant characteristic, and a roll of 100 always causes failure.

Example: If the applicable value is 23, then a roll of 94 or greater (30−23=7; there is a 7% chance of a number from 94−100 being generated) will cause the character to fail at his task, regardless of what the percentage chance of success may be.

The following sample tasks are provided so that GMs may establish their own guidelines.

Physical Strength: Opening doors and lifting heavy objects will be the two most common tasks tied to Physical Strength. Consider the sturdiness of the door and the implement being used to open it for the former, and consider the weight and bulk of the object plus the purchase afforded the character for the latter.

Manual Dexterity: Consider the delicacy of the task when a character seeks the careful manipulation or removal of an object.

Agility: Consider the sturdiness of the structure being crossed or climbed and the ease with which the character may balance himself when attempting to cross or climb a poorly-anchored structure.

Endurance: Consider how tired the character already is and how exhausting the upcoming task if the character wishes to push his body to its limits. If more than one character is attempting a task which the GM will resolve using these rules, he may reduce the difficulty factor if their combined efforts surpass those of one. If the task requires a co-operative effort, the difficulty factor remains the same. In either case, the lowest-valued characteristic among the performing characters is the multiplier.

If more than one character is attempting a task which the GM will resolve using these rules, he may reduce the difficulty factor if their combined efforts surpass those of one. If the task requires a cooperative effort, the difficulty factor remains the same. In either case, the lowest-valued characteristic among the performing characters is the multiplier.

[4.2] The only magic task not described in the rules which may be attempted by a character is a feat of minor magic.

Minor magic is best performed by a member of a Magical College. Therefore, a character's ability to perform minor magic is governed by his Magic Aptitude value.

A feat of minor magic is generally performed to entertain rich, royal, or towns folk. Such a feat can also gull the credulous. Minor magic includes the tricks used by the prestidigitators and conjurors of fantasy literature.

Minor magic may be employed by any caster, regardless of his collegiate affiliation. No one may be directly harmed by the use of minor magic, although an adroit caster might conceive a trap making use of minor magic. If a being wishes to resist minor magic, his magic resistance is increased temporarily (see rule 47).

There are three types of minor magic. The glamour, a spell of minor illusion, can be used to create simple images that glow with faint luminescence. A caster could, for instance, appear to be juggling colored balls of light though use of a glamour. The cantrip, a spell of small transformation or apportation, can be used to recreate some of the spells ascribed to imps. A caster could sour beer, cause candle flames to gutter, or make small objects disappear down his sleeve to any other place on his person. The trance, a hypnotic spell, can be used to remove minor inhibitions temporarily or to cause a person to perform a harmless task. The caster of such a spell must engage his subject through traditional means; i.e., he must lull the subject into trance by engaging the subject's concentration upon the rhythmic movement of a small object. If, for instance, a woman with prim demeanor were rather attracted to a male caster, the caster could not cause the same woman to run naked through a deserted street at night, if the nudity taboo of her culture was as strong as that of most cultures.

The casting of a minor magic spell costs the Adept one Fatigue Point, whether the spell is successful or not. The procedure described in rule 4.1 is used to resolve the spell. Magic Aptitude is the relevant characteristic. The difficulty factor value should decrease as the spell becomes more ambitious. If the roll is greater than the sum of the success percentage plus the value of the character's Magic Aptitude, then the spell result should manifest itself in a manner decidedly different from the Adept's intention.

[4.3] The information given the players by the GM will sometimes depend upon a player's Perception characteristic.

A character will often have to rely upon his intuition and his powers of observation at crucial junctures during an adventure. The GM can recreate a character's interpretation of events or of a tableau in front of him by deriving a percentage chance (of the character understanding the situation properly) from one character's Perception value. The GM should use this procedure to dictate what he will tell the players only when the particular clue or piece of information is not deducible from verbally relayed data.

The GM should, for example, inform the players that the ellipsoid symbol on the robes of the tall man approaching them probably indicates that he is a priest, since the circle is a religious symbol used throughout his world. However, it would be up to the players to infer what happened when they see the vampire with which their necromancer friend was so recently talking come out the door, blood dripping from his mouth.

When the GM deems it appropriate to check a player's Perception before he answers a question, he either consults the Perception of the leader (see rule 153.1) or the character who is particularly suited to deduce information in the current situation. The obscurity of the information sought determines the difficulty factor. Multiply the character's Perception value by the difficulty factor, and roll D100.

If the roll is equal to or less than the percentage chance, the GM informs the appropriate player of the correct information. If the roll is greater than the percentage, but not greater than the percentage plus the character's Perception value, the GM will either inform the player that he is not sure or give him a part (but not all) of the information. If the roll is greater than the percentage plus the character's Perception value, the GM will mix fact with fiction; the greater the roll, the more erroneous the information.

The GM should not avail himself of this procedure constantly during an expedition. He should use it when the players request more information than he is willing to give them, when the characters venture into foreign places or lands or meet alien people or races, and when a decision is necessary to speed play. Remember that constant use of this procedure makes the outcome of the adventure increasingly luck-dependent. A judicious GM will use the procedure no more than once per hour (real time) during an expedition.

The GM will stint those players who constantly request use of the Perception roll when it comes time for experience awards (see rule 160). A player who allows dice rolls to usurp the responsibilities of his mind deserves no better.

[4.4] The effects of an optional characteristic must be determined by the GM.

Whenever the GM introduces a new characteristic, he must define what it represents and its effects. He may decide to change or add to the effects at a later date; since a fantasy roleplaying game evolves with each campaign, such adjustments are permissible as long as he informs the players.

Example: The GM requires each player to generate a Physical Beauty value for their character. He announces that the characteristic will come into play whenever the reaction of a humanoid non-player character must be gauged on the Reaction Table. The dice roll will be modified by one for every 3 points difference between 15 and the Physical Beauty value of the character with whom the humanoid is conversing. The primary purpose for creating new characteristics is to provide players with further reference points for their characters' personalities.

5. Characteristic Generation

The player randomly generates his character's total Characteristic Points. He assigns values, within specified limits, to each of his primary characteristics from this point pool. The secondary characteristics are generated either randomly or as a direct function of a primary characteristic, or they begin at a set number for all characters. Some of the characteristics will be modified if the character is of a non-human race. The player will not know the race of his character (unless human) until all of his characteristics have been generated.

The range of values for a characteristic will normally be between 5 and 25. A value of 5 represents the minimum performance possible by an adventuring character.

Example: A character with a Manual Dexterity of 5 would be extremely clumsy, but not so inept that he could not be entrusted with a simple, though essential, task.

A value of 25 represents the normal maximum performance, which may be achieved by a human; a value of 26 or greater befits a superman.

Example: A character with a Physical Strength of 25 may not be able to bend steel bars in his hands, but he does pretty well with bars of iron.

[5.1] Each player begins the game with a randomly determined number of Characteristic Points from which to assign values to his character's primary characteristics.

Each player rolls 2D10 and reads across the line on the Point Generation Table below corresponding to the two dice total. The number of Characteristic Points and Maximum value thereby obtained is noted on a piece of scrap paper.

[5.2] The minimum value that a player may assign to a primary characteristic is 5, and the maximum value is determined by the maximum for his characteristic point total (see rule 5.1).

Furthermore, a character may have only one characteristic equal to his maximum value if that value is greater than 20, or may have up to two characteristics equal to the maximum value if that value is 19 or 20. In either case, the character may have up to two characteristics equal to one less than his maximum value and up to three characteristics equal to two less than his maximum value. If a character does not have a characteristic equal to his maximum value, he may increase the limit of characteristics with a value one or two less than the maximum values by one.

Similarly, he may transfer an extra characteristic equal to two less than the maximum value for either or both of his two characteristics equal to one less than the maximum value; thus, if it were mathematically possible, a character could have six characteristics equal to two less than the maximum value for his group. Prior to dividing up his characteristic points, the player should give some thought to what kind of character he wishes to be and what weapons, spells, and skills he desires for this newly born individual. It is important to emphasize that in DragonQuest, any character can choose any combination of abilities. Certain weapons require a great deal of Physical Strength or Manual Dexterity and the player should be sure to allot enough points in those areas to use the weapons of his choice. All Magical Colleges require a minimum Magical Aptitude to join (see rule 50.7) and the player should be aware of these restrictions. Most Skills do not have any special requirements, but many give bonuses for exceeding a minimum value in certain characteristics. The choice of race will also alter the characteristic values, and the player must weigh all requirements and restrictions.

When the player has chosen the values for his character, he writes them down on his Character Record. The total value of the six primary characteristics must equal the amount received from the Point Generation Table; a player may not save Characteristic Points to assign to characteristics at a later date. The value of each of the six primary characteristics must be recorded before any secondary characteristics (see rule 5.3 through rule 5.6) are generated.

[5.3] The value of a character's Fatigue is a direct function of his Endurance.

The player enters the Fatigue value corresponding to his character's Endurance value.

Boldface Values: Bold Endurance and Fatigue values may be achieved only by members of certain non-human races.

Once the character has been completely generated, a change in the character's Endurance value will not affect his Fatigue value, and vice-versa.

[5.4] A character's Perception value begins at 8.

The value may be modified if the character is non-human (see rule 6).

[5.5] An optional characteristic is usually generated randomly.

The GM may decide on any method he wishes to generate a characteristic he introduces. The equal distribution method generates the value randomly, with every result having the same chance of occurrence. The bell curve method also generates the value randomly, though the average is more likely to occur than the extremes. The set value method either gives every character the same starting value, or derives the value directly from some characteristic. The GM should not interfere with the procedures for generating any of the mandatory eight characteristics when establishing a procedure for an optional characteristic.

Example: The value of the Physical Beauty characteristic is generated by rolling 4D5+3. A roll of 7 indicates an ugly character, while a 23 indicates a beautiful character. Characters are assumed not to be execrably horrible in appearance (5), or of surpassing loveliness (25), since such people would have great problems while adventuring. They were, in all likelihood, directed to other pursuits at an early age.

[5.6] A character's Tactical Movement Rate is a direct function of his Agility (see rule 21.1).

The player enters the Tactical Movement Rate (TMR) value corresponding to his modified Agility value.

Boldface Values: Bold Modified Agility and TMR values may be achieved only by members of certain non-human races.

The Tactical Movement Rate may be modified if the character is non-human. In addition, a character's normal Tactical Movement Rate may be reduced if he suffers an Agility penalty due to wearing armor, or becomes encumbered due to the amount of weight he carries (see rule 156.9). In normal play, a character's Agility value will not exceed 27.

6. Birthright

A character's genetic heritage will have great influence upon him throughout his adventures. First, there is the matter of gender. The worlds of DragonQuest closely parallel the Europe of medieval Earth, where women were largely relegated to secondary roles. However, the bias is not as great in a fantasy world, for the physically weak have recourse to magic. Generally, a female adventurer will be a determined soul, having surmounted cultural handicaps.

A character's race is just as important as his gender, if not more so. In this world, a person's race connotes the color of his skin. In a fantasy world, a character's race indicates that he is a member of a distinct humanoid species. Each race has a separate way of life, developed over millennia of co-existence with one another. Racial intolerance is just as prevalent in a fantasy world as it is in this world. Only the camaraderie and interdependence of adventurers have promoted interracial harmony, which may be why adventurers are often regarded as rogues and outcast among their comparatively staid brethren.

Practically, each race has its strengths and weaknesses. The human race is the most prevalent, probably because of its high birth rate and the flexibility of the individual human. The elves, dwarves and giants are races in their twilight years; human civilization will not treat them too kindly. The halflings seem to be adaptable to almost any way of life, and thrive because of their compatibility with humans. The orcs and shape-changers are nascent races, who may some day challenge human hegemony.

A truly sophisticated player will integrate the effects of his sex, culture, and race into the personality of his character. Most games-masters, while struggling to flesh out the cultures of their world, will settle for the character who is the product of his racial and sexual background.

[6.1] A player may always choose the gender of his character.

A character must be either male or female. Every race described in this section comprises only those two sexes. A character may only be hermaphroditic or asexual if his player receives special permission from the GM.

Each player should choose the sex of the character. It is recommended each character be the same sex as the player. Roleplaying a character whose entire gestalt is alien to the player is hard enough without a change of sex. If the player wishes a character of the opposite sex, the GM should warn him (or her) of the difficulties, and judge that player's characterization as closely as anyone else's.

The Physical Strength of a female character is decreased by two, but her Manual Dexterity and Fatigue are increased by one.

A character's gender may be changed only through deep magic, or by a deity.

[6.2] A player must determine whether his character's Primary Hand is his right or his left.

The player rolls D5 and D10. If the D10 result is greater, the character's Primary Hand is his right. If the D5 result is higher, the Primary Hand is the left. If the two results are identical, the character is ambidextrous. This determination affects which hand a weapon is held in during combat, and any penalties assessed for attacking with a weapon in a non-Primary Hand.

[6.3] A player may always choose to be a human character. If the player wishes his character to be non-human, he has three chances to roll within one of the indicated ranges.

If the player is a human character, none of his characteristics are modified. He gains no advantages and is subject to no restrictions.

When a player wishes to be a non-human character, he declares which race he is attempting to be, and rolls D100. If the roll is equal to or less than the percentage chance given for that race, the character is that type of non-human. If the roll is greater than the indicated percentage, the character may not be of that race.

A player may attempt up to three rolls (for separate races) to be a non-human. If he fails on all three rolls, his character is human. Conversely, if one of his rolls falls within the indicated span of numbers for a race, his character must be of that race. A player may forfeit his right to any further rolls to be a non-human if he has exhausted the races he wants to be.

When a character gains proficiency in an ability, it is represented in game terms by his player expending Experience Points. The cost, in terms of Experience Points, to advance in any one ability is affected by the character's race. Multiply the cost for any advancement in one ability (see rule 161.7) by the Racial Experience Multiplier.

[6.4] A dwarf is a stout, usually taciturn humanoid who frequents mountainous areas.

Traits: Dwarves are enamored of precious stones and metals, and of intricate work incorporating the same. They form strong community ties, and are distrustful of strangers, especially those of other races. Their strongest antipathies are towards orcs and elves. Though dwarves are greedy by nature, they are essentially honest. Dwarven warriors favor the axe as weapon. Pride matters as much to dwarves as face does to the Japanese.

Special Abilities:

1. A dwarf may see in the dark as a human does at dusk. His effective range of vision in the dark is 50 feet under the open sky, 100 feet inside artificial (man-made) structures, and 150 feet inside caves and tunnels.
2. A dwarf may assess the value of and deal in gems and metals as if he was a Merchant of Rank 5 (see rule 100). If a dwarf character progresses in the Merchant skill, his ability to assess the value of gems and metals is considered five Ranks greater than his current Merchant Rank (to a maximum of Rank 10).
3. If a dwarf character takes the Ranger skill, he expends 50% fewer Experience Points to progress Ranks if he specializes as a spelunker (i.e., mountain environment).
4. A dwarf's capacity for alcohol is twice that of a human.

Dwarf Racial Characteristics

[6.5] An elf is a lithe humanoid, of joyful demeanor, who frequents wooded areas.

Traits: Elves are great respecters of nature and learning. They are virtually immortal, and are, at the same time, repositories of great wisdom and highly enthusiastic merrymakers. Many elves cannot handle their dual natures, and become either frivolous wastrels or grim questers. The elves are ethical by nature, and, though they do not often interfere in the affairs of others, are traditionalists. Elven warriors favor bow weapons and disdain metal armor. Members of other races generally find elves attractive.

Special Abilities

1. An elf may see in the dark as a human does on a cloudy day. His effective range of vision in the dark is 150 feet under the open sky, and 75 feet elsewhere.
2. If an elf character takes the Ranger skill and specializes in a woods environment, he expends 50% fewer Experience Points to progress Ranks.
3. An elf receives a Magic Talent which functions in all respects as Witchsight (see rule 62.3, Talent T-1).
4. An elf makes little or no noise while walking and adds 10% to his chance to perform any activity requiring stealth.
5. If an elf character takes the Healer skill (see rule 98), he expends 25% fewer Experience Points to progress Ranks, though he may never resurrect the dead.
6. An elf is impervious to the special abilities of the lesser undead.
7. If an elf character takes the Courtesan skill (see rule 97), he expends 50% fewer Experience Points to progress Ranks.

Elf Racial Characteristics

[6.6] A giant is a huge, slightly prognathous humanoid, whose existence stems from deep elemental magic.

Type: The player must roll D10 to determine what type of giant his character is.

Traits: Giants have a good-natured respect for their own element, and a healthy respect for its opposite (Fire opposes Water, Air opposes Earth). Giants are lusty types, preferring nothing better than to go through life brawling, drinking, and wenching. They tend to gather together in a clan arrangement, building huge halls (or steadings) in out-of-the-way locations. They are not overly intelligent, and resent humans and elves particularly. Giants enjoy riddling and bartering. Giant warriors favor the club and sword (scaled to their size).

Special Abilities:

1. A giant possesses infravision, which allows him to see faint red shapes where living beings are located in the dark. His range of vision is 250 feet.
2. A giant's magic resistance is increased by 10%, except when a spell of the opposite elemental alignment is cast at him, in which case his magic resistance is reduced by 20%.
3. A giant spell caster whose college is identical to his element gains 5% to his chances to cast spells of that college. A giant may never be a caster of a college opposed to his element.
4. Whenever a giant attempts minor magic (see rule 4.2), the GM should increase the difficulty factor by 1, making it easier.

Cloud Giant Racial Characteristics

Fire Giant Racial Characteristics

Frost Giant Racial Characteristics

Stone Giant Racial Characteristics

[6.7] A halfling is a short, sleepy humanoid, who frequents halfling-constructed burrows.

Traits: Halflings appreciate the good life more than most; a successful halfling will arrange a schedule of much sleep, good food, and relaxed study or conversation. Halflings are a social folk, though are more inclined to keep intercourse among themselves. They greatly enjoy the telling of tales and exchange of gossip. Halflings take their responsibilities seriously. Halfling warriors use, for obvious reasons, smaller weapons, including maces and slings. Halflings usually go barefoot and are noted for their tough, hairy feet.

Special Abilities:

1. A halfling possesses infravision, which allows him to see solid red shapes where living beings are located in the dark. His range of vision is 100 feet.
2. A halfling adds 20% to his chance to perform any activity requiring stealth.
3. If a halfling takes the Thief skill, he expends 50% fewer Experience Points to progress Ranks.
4. A halfling may dispose of jewelry into large, semi-active volcanoes, without anyone thinking the worse of him.

Halfling Racial Characteristics

[6.8] An orc is a stoop-shouldered, surly humanoid who is nomadic by nature.

Traits: Orcs are a cruel, violent folk, liking nothing better than to rape and pillage. Individually, orcs are a cowardly lot, but a charismatic leader can turn a band of orcs into a conquering horde. Orcs enjoy the sensual pleasures of life, and reduce their already short life span through hard living. Orc warriors favor the scimitar. Orcs are generally considered unattractive by other humanoid races.

Special Abilities:

1. An orc possesses infravision, which allows him to see faint red shapes where living beings are located in the dark. His range of vision is 150 feet.
2. An orc's eyes are highly light sensitive. The GM should decrease an orc's chance of aiming at a target during daytime by 5%–15%, depending on the brightness of the sun.
3. An orc is not an Adept student. Increase the game time required to learn or improve upon any ability by one day per week normally required.
4. An orc's seed is highly fertile. The orc and hybrid orc population increase mitigates against the high orc fatality rate.

Orc Racial Characteristics

[6.9] A shape-changer is a separate genetic strain of human, with the ability to change into the form of a particular animal.

Type: The player must roll D10 to determine what type of shape-changer his character is.

Traits: Shape-changers are identical in appearance to humans when not in animal form. Shape-changers are somewhat bestial in nature, adopting traits one might expect from an anthropomorphized wolf, tiger, bear, or boar. There exists a love/hate relationship between humans and shape-changers: shape-changers possess some degree of animal magnetism, but, if discovered, can expect severe treatment at the hands of humans. Shape-changers are, on the whole, bitter towards humans, and are not above using humans to their advantage. There are very few ways to tell a shape-changer from a human (e.g., they will be discomforted by garlic), and these vary by shape-changer type. Shape-changers are a ruthless lot.

Special Abilities:

1. A shape-changer may change from human to animal form (or vice-versa) in 10 seconds (2 Pulses) during daytime and 5 seconds (1 Pulse) during the night-time.
2. A shape-changer possesses a dual nature. While in animal form, human inhibitions will be muted, and while in human form, animal instincts will be dulled.
3. A shape-changer cannot be harmed while in animal form, unless struck by a silvered weapon, magic, or by a being with a Physical Strength greater than 25 (5 Damage Points are automatically absorbed in the latter case).
4. The shape-changer will regenerate 1 Endurance Point every full minute while in animal form.
5. The shape-changer must devise a set of characteristics for his animal form. Take the difference between the average for each characteristic in animal and human form, and modify the human characteristics appropriately.
6. A shape-changer is automatically lunar aspected (see rule 7.3).
7. A shape-changer may remain in animal form for one-quarter of the night times the phase of the moon; thus, during the full moon the shape-changer could remain in animal form all night. A shape-changer may remain in animal form for one hour times the quarter of the moon during the day. A shape-changer may make one set of transformations times the quarter of the moon.
8. If a shape-changer is in animal form during the day, there is a +1% cumulative chance for each 5 minutes (or part thereof) he remains in animal form that he will never be able to change back into human form. Similarly, if the shape-changer exceeds the time limits given in ability 7., there is a +1% cumulative chance per 5 minutes (or part thereof) of his not being able to regain human form. Roll up a new character, or know an extremely powerful wizard.
9. A shape-changer will be inconvenienced by those wards which can be used against were-creatures.
10. A shape-changer's magic resistance is increased by 5%.
11. If a shape-changer takes the Courtesan skill (see rule 97.), he expends 25% fewer Experience Points necessary to advance Ranks.

Shape-Changer Racial Characteristics

7. Aspect

The date and time of birth of a character will have a small, but significant, effect upon the course of his life. Some mana is invested by one of the Great Powers into the soul, or life-force, of every being born into a DragonQuest world. A character will benefit during the time his Power is in full ascendancy, and will suffer when the opposite Power is in full ascendancy.

The GM is obliged to keep track of the passage of time for the purposes of character advancement in abilities (see rule 161.). If he is not willing to maintain a formalized calendar, then he should not use the ensuing rules. The work required is minimal, though, once the calendar is set up.

The times of high noon and midnight are extremely important when applying the effects of aspects. The GM should allow characters to perform actions at precisely those instants, though the passage of time must be properly monitored. The GM may wish to counter the players' timing with monsters or non-player characters who use their aspects to full advantage.

[7.1] Each player randomly determines the aspect of his character.

Each player rolls D100, and enters the result corresponding to his dice-roll on his Character Record.

[7.2] A character is affected by a seasonal aspect during the season of his aspect and during the season which does not share an equinox or solstice with the season of his aspect.

Stars are ascendant during the season for which they are named. The Vernal Stars are ascendant when the Autumnal Stars are descendant, and the Winter Stars are ascendant when the Summer Stars are descendant. The reverse is true in both cases.

Consult the following table to determine when to apply seasonal aspect effects, and what they are.

The effect is applied to any percentile roll (not success chance) for that character for 30 seconds before and after midnight. If the night is cloudy, reduce the effect to a minimum of 2 and 5, respectively, depending on how complete the cloud cover is.

[7.3] A character of solar or lunar aspect is affected by his aspect at high noon and midnight.

Consult the following table to determine when to apply solar aspect effects, and what they are.

Multiply the solar aspect effect by −1 to determine the effect for lunar-aspected characters. The effect is applied to any percentile roll (not success chance) for a solar or lunar aspect character for 10 seconds before and after high noon or midnight. If the sky is cloudy, reduce the effect to a minimum of 1 and 5, respectively, depending on how complete the cloud cover is.

[7.4] A character of life or death aspect is affected by a birth or death in his immediate vicinity.

Consult the following table to determine what events bring life or death aspect effects into play, the range at which they affect a character, and what they are.

*The relative may be no more distant than second cousin. A female life-aspected character will suffer no pain after giving birth, and will be as healthy and active as she was before she became pregnnt.

A life aspect effect is applied for 3 seconds times the range number (e.g., the birth of a humanoid mammal would cause an effect for 750 seconds). A death aspect effect is applied for 1 second times the range number. Death aspect effects are non-cumulative (only one may be in effect at a given time). Life aspect effects are cumulative.

A still-birth does not affect a life or death aspect character. A resurrection is treated as a birth.

8. Heritage

Most characters are of an age equal to approximately one-quarter of their normal life-span before players assume control of them. A human character, for instance, will begin with 18 of his 70 years already behind him. Elves are the proverbial exception to the rule; assume that an elf is between three hundred and one thousand years old, and even then the elapsed time may be on the low side.

The social position of the character's parents during the time of his adolescence is described in general terms.

The heritage rules are designed with a human character in mind. If a player has a non-human character, he will have to take part in the ongoing process of defining his character's p osition within his race. An elven character, for instance, might be classified as woods, sea, or high elf. The player and the GM then decide which was the forest of his character's birth, and the position of his parents in an elven community by comparing it to the human analogue given on one of the Heritage Tables. The experience and monies gained from these tables still hold, regardless of the history the player and GM sketch out for the character.

[8.1] The player must determine the social status of his character's parents.

The player rolls D100, and reads across on the line corresponding to the dice-roll and the column corresponding to his race to derive the status of his parentage and his money multiplier (see rule 8.5).

A character of lesser or greater noble birth will at all times have some sort of stigma attached to him: he may be a natural black sheep or a remittance man doing time until he will be forgiven for a disgraceful breach of conduct. In rare instances, a noble-born character will be naturally adventurous; his family will probably dismiss his departure from his proper station on some pretext or other. The young noble is certainly not performing the duties expected of him—ruling the people in fief to him, or learning to do so. A character will never be of royal birth in direct accession to the throne.

The character's social status also affects both his starting experience and starting monies (see rule 8.5). This reflects the impact that social status has on the character's upbringing.

[8.2] A player must determine his character's legitimacy, and his standing (if any) vis-à-vis his siblings.

The player rolls D100, and cross-indexes the roll with the social status of his parents.

[8.3] The character's birth standing modifies his initial allotment of experience and monies.

A bastard was born under dubious circumstances, but should be able to prove who is his less-favored parent. He will have had to fend for himself at an early age, and can handle himself better than most. A bastard receives 50% of the money normally due to him, but begins with 25% more Experience Points.

A legitimate child is the offspring of a couple in wedlock, at the time of his birth. Such a child will be the second or younger of the acknowledged children. His parents gave him as much attention as they could. A legitimate child's monies and experience are unmodified by his order of birth.

A first child is the first legitimate child born to his parents (though others less fortunate than he may have arrived earlier). He has received better treatment than his siblings, but has been shielded a little from some of the harsher realities of life. A first child receives a 50% increase to his initial monies, but a 25% decrease to his starting Experience Point total.

[8.4] A player may wish to know the exact order in which his character was born, if he is listed as legitimate.

The player rolls D10 to determine the order of birth.

[8.5] A player now determines his character's initial allotment of silver pennies and Experience Points.

The player rolls D100 twice: the first time for Experience Points, the second for silver pennies.

The Experience Point total may be modified by the character's Social Status (see rule 8.1) and Birth Standing (see rule 8.3). The Silver Penny total will be modified by Social Status (see rule 8.1), and may be modified by the character's Birth Standing (see rule 8.3).

[8.6] A character may spend his initial allotment of Experience Points and/or silver pennies before ever going on an adventure.

Goods that can be purchased are listed on the Basic Goods List and Experience Point costs are listed on the Experience Point Cost Chart.

Note: A character may expend only 100 Experience Points, rather than the normal cost (see rule 161.8), to acquire any one skill at Rank 0 (zero). He may exercise this option before his first, or at the conclusion of any adventure.

[8.7] The player has completely generated his character.

The player checks that every piece of relevant data has been entered on his Character Record, and then hands the completed record to the GM. The player may want to equip his character with armor, shield, and weapon (see rule 25.1, rule 24.5, and rule 27.2), choose a college of magic for his character (see rule 50), choose skills for the character (see rule 8.6 and section VIII.) and any abilities afforded by the adventure rules (see section X).

[8.8] The player should choose a name for his character.

A name gives a character a specific identity. It is much easier to recount the exploits of a character if the deeds can be attributed in his name. If the players in one campaign wish to cooperate, they can name their characters in a similar fashion (e.g., every character in world has a Tolkienian name). This will aid in fostering the belief that those characters exist in the same alternate universe.

[8.9] Noble characters can determine what title their character adopts within the noble hierarchy.

Characters with a noble social status (see rule 8.1) may wish to determine the title their character would adopt. Roll D10 against the following table and compare the result against the appropriate column to determine the character's title.