I put together a document for PCs starting with 16,000 experience points for a Dwellers of the Forbidden City mini-campaign I'm starting (I intend to run a campaign from scratch assuming this goes well). I thought I might as well share the text here in case someone else finds it useful. The below text assumes the conception of non-magical +1 armor and weapons. It also assumes that most permanent magic items have some sort of drawback.

Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea Starting Items

All AS&SH characters beginning with 16k experience points start play with the following items:

* Any one of the Premade Starting Equipment Lists By Class (see separate document).

* Items from any of the other “packs” from the provided Quick Start Equipment Menu lists purchasable from your 3d6x100 g.p. in coins, gems and jewelry

* Roll 1d6 to determine your special items according to your (sub-)class:


Fighter or Fighter Subclass Special Items *†
1-3: Potion of Healing, Fine Armor, a silver melee weapon OR an additional Potion of Healing.
4-5: Potion of Heroic Action, Fine Armor, any melee weapon of Hyperborean Steel‡ OR 20 “Arrows/Bolts of the Hawk” (+1)
6: Potion of Super-heroic Action, Fine Armor, Aodhán's +2 Hurling Hand Axe: this axe is composed of steel, perfectly balanced & razor-edged. It can be hurled to a range of 60' with no penalty to the attack roll; at its maximum range it halts in midair and drops to the ground. The bearer of Aodhán's Axe tends to become reckless over time & perhaps cursed to an early grave (-1 penalty to all Saving Throws)

Cleric or Cleric Subclass Special Items *
1-3: Antidote, Fine Armor, Scroll of Distinguish Alignment & Remove Curse
4-5: Potion of Cure Disease, Fine Armor, Scroll of Delay Poison & Locate Object
6: Potion of Extraordinary Healing, Fine Armor, Scroll of Speak with Dead, & Neutralize Poison, Staff of Healing (12 charges)

Magician or Magician Subclass Special Items **
1-3: Potion of Levitation, Copper Defensive Bracers (AC 8), Scroll of Identify, Gust of Wind & Phantasm
4-5: Potion of Fire Protection, Bronze Defensive Bracers (AC 7), Scroll of Sorcerer Lock, Dispel Magic & Ice Storm
6: Potion of Water Breathing, Iron Defensive Bracers (AC 6), Scroll of Extrasensory Perception, Infrared Vision, & Wall of Ice, Rod of Absorption (6 charges)

Thief or Thief Subclass Special Items *
1-3: Potion of Climbing 600, Fine Armor, Dust of Disappearance (3 doses), Penetrative II Poison (5 doses),
4-5: Potion of Gaseous Form, Fine Armor, Ring of Free Motion
6: Potion of Invisibility, Fine Armor, Redscaler: Dagger +2, +4 vs. Scaled, may cast Decipher Language 1/day and Detect Scaled (as Detect Undead) 1/day. Redscaler is loathe to shed human blood.

If a player rolls a parcel of special items another player has already received, take instead a package from a lower result. If no lower result package remains unclaimed, take a package of one rank higher. If all packages have been dispensed (likely only in the case of back-up characters), that PC has been unlucky recently and begins with no special items.

* Fine Armor is perfectly fitted to its wearer, made with expensive materials and functions as non-magical +1 armor. If the wearer receives a critical hit with a damage multiplier it no longer functions as +1 until it is repaired by an armourer specialist. Some time and coin will be required to restore it to “fine” status.
† Huntsmen also receive their 1d6 result in HD of well-trained hunting and/or war dogs.
‡ Any weapon made of the rare Hyperborean “steel” functions as a non-magical +1 weapon (+1 to hit and to damage but cannot harm creatures that can only be harmed by magical weapons)
** Some classes may begin with a few additional items, e.g. poisons or potions for witches, etc. Consult Judge.

Last edited by nemomeme (1/16/2018 12:06 am)