Warning! Violence and the Supernatural The fantasy World of the Palladium Role-Playing Game is violent, deadly and filled with magic and mon-
sters. Other dimensional beings, demons, and sorcerers torment, stalk and enslave humans. Monsters, gods,
magic, insanity, cannibalism, war and heroic adventure are all elements of this book.
Some parents may find the violence and supernatural elements inappropriate for young readers/players. We
suggest parental discretion.
Please note that none of us at Palladium Books condone or encourage the occult, the practice of magic, the
use of drugs, or violence.
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A complete role-playing game. Compatible with the entire Palladium Books® Megaverse®!
1 Dedicated to the Defilers, each and every one of them, for an epic adventure that I will always remember. This one is for you; Thorn, Ken, Steve, Julius, Alex, Bill, Mark, Dave, Tony, Rusty, AI, Ziggy, Ron, Vince, Terry, Jeff, Kerry, and all the rest. years later and I remember the adventures like they were yesterday. Long 15 live Narabium (ha!) and the Nameless Lord!
- Kevin Siembieda, 1996
Special Thanks to Julius Rosenstein for introducing me to role-playing games - without Julius there would be no Palladium Books. Erick Wujcik for years of friendship and his ideas and suggestions during my devel 17 opment of concepts for the basic Palladium game system back in And for all those great experiences 1979-1981. at the Detroit Gaming Center (not to mention endless discussions to this day about storytelling, game theory and everything one can think of). Randi and Roger Cartier for all of their suggestions, ideas, encouragement and kindness over the years. To Maryann for her constant support, trust and faith in me. Thorn for investing in the original RPG edition which was pivotal in launching my company and the years of adventure that have followed. To Martin McKenna for his beautiful artwork. Alex, Steve, Jim, Kevin, Hank and all the Palladium wizards for helping to make my dreams a reality.
- Kevin Siembieda, 1996
PDF Edition - November 2017
1996
First Printing Second1983 Edition - April
Original Printing -
Copyright 1983, 1988, 1991, 1996 Palladium Books Inc. CopyrightAll rights 1983, reserved 1988, under 1991, the Universal1996 by KevinCopyright Siembieda Convention, World Wide. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews. All incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity, without satiric intent, of characters or persons living or dead, is strictly coincidental.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Garne®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Mega verse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. The Mind Mage, Diabolist, Summoner, Tristine Chronicles, Dragonwright, Wolfen, Baalgor Wastelands, Yin-Sloth Jungles, Adventures on the High Seas, Monsters Animals, Beyond the Supernatural, Heroes Unlimited, and other names and titles are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.
& PalladiumSample On-Line: www.palladiumbooks.com-alsoseeusatFacebook.comlPallad fileiumBooks
Palladium Fantasy RPG®: 2nd Edition is published by Palladium Books Inc., Webb Court, Westland, 39074 MI Printed in the USA. 48185. 2 THE BALLAD OF THE DEFILERS
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THE DEf'lURS � IM£J.Z£lIUB'''''_1'1'' _ """ .- :J0IfN, _.-&!Ii\Y BAM, RO"WrcC!<, aJU.'f 7lIE""J'Srl'1!:t!;, a_T�,M!11f'f.<5I1MJN FEANJI?, [;IW�, iV£XIf/£_""I,;P'"IIl�Xi. GiOfBAfII, f'lUtCt, /« ,P't1i'F 3 Palladium Books® Presents: a a ium anta� ® �e(ond Edition Created, Written Designed By: Kevin Siembieda & Senior Editor: Alex Marciniszyn Editors: james Osten Kevin Kirsten julius Rosenstein Cover Painting: Martin McKenna Pencil Artist: Kevin Siembieda Interior Artists: Martin McKenna Vince Martin Kevin Siembieda Scott johnson Michael Kucharski R.K. Post Maps: Kevin Siembieda Art Direction Keylining: Kevin Siembieda & Typography:Sample Maryann Siembieda file 4 Table of Contents The Game Master and the Art of Storytelling ...... 37 Telling the Story...... 37 Dice and Chance ...... 38 The World of Palladium ...... 11 Reactions and Consequences ...... 40 Crime and Punishment ...... 40 How to Play a Role-Playing Game ...... 12 Mercy in Combat ...... 41 What You Need to Play ...... 12 Combat Rules ...... 43 ...... Glossary of Role-Playing Terms ...... 13 Step 1: Determine Initiative ...... 43 Creating a Character ...... 14 Step 2: Attacker Rolls Strike ...... , 43 ...... Step I: The Eight Attributes Attribute Bonuses ...... 14 Step 3: Defender May Parry, Dodge, or Entangle . . 43 Attribute Bonus Chart ...... 16 Step 4: Attacker Rolls Damge ...... 43 Different Applications of Physical Strength...... 17 Step 5: Defender May Attempt to Roll with ImpactlPunch ...... 43 & . Throwing Objects ...... 17 Combat Sequence...... 44 Movement and Exertion ...... 17 Combat Terms and Moves ...... 44 No Hand to Hand Combat Skill ...... 46 Supernatural Strength Damage ...... 17 Saving Throws ...... 46 Speed Chart ...... 18 Step 2: Hit Points S.D.C...... 18 S.D.C. Values ...... 46 & Hand to Hand Combat ...... 47 Determining Hit Points ...... 18 Hand to Hand: Basic ...... 47 S.D.C. or Structural Damage Capacity ...... 18 & Hand to Hand: Expert ...... 47 Recovery of Hit Points S.D.C ...... 19 Hand to Hand: Martial Arts ...... 47 Surviving Coma and Death ...... 19 Hand to Hand: Assassin ...... 48 Optional Damage Rules ...... 20 & Step 3: How to Determine Psionics ...... 20 Psychic Combat ...... 48 Saving Throws against Psychic Attack ...... 48 Random Psionics Table ...... 21 Step 4: Selecting a Race and O.c.c...... 21 Inner Strength Points ...... 48 Horror Factor ...... 48 Skills and Skill Selection ...... 22 Skill Descriptions ...... 49 Skill Bonuses ...... 22 Skill List ...... 49 Multiple Character Classes ...... 22 Education and Skills 50 Step 5: Equipment and Money ...... 22 Skill Modifiers ...... 50 Step 6: Rounding Out One's Character ...... 22 Communication and Performing Arts Skills ...... 50 Alignments...... 23 Good Alignments ...... 23 Domestic Skills ...... 51 SelfishAlignments ...... 24 Espionage Skills ...... 51 Horsemanship Skills ...... 52 Evil Alignments ...... 24 Medical Skills ...... 53 Insanity ...... 25 Trauma ...... 25 Military Skills ...... 54 Physical Skills ...... , 55 Insanity Tables ...... 26 Rogue and Thief Skills...... 56 Random Insanity Table ...... 26 Science Skills ...... 57 Affective Disorders Table ...... 26 Scholar, Technical, and Noble Skills ...... 58 Neurosis Table ...... 26 Weapon Proficiencies ...... 59 Psychosis Table ...... 27 Wilderness Skills ...... 61 Phobia Table ...... 28 Player Characters ...... 62 Obsession Tables ...... 28 Money and Equipment ...... 62 Cures for Insanity ...... 29 List of O.C.C.s ...... 62 Addiction ...... 29 Clergy ...... 63 Alcoholism ...... 29 Priest of Light...... 63 Drug Withdrawal and Recovery...... 30 Armor and Combat ...... 64 Experience Points ...... 30 Allegiance to a God ...... 64 Why an Experience Point System ...... 30 Special Prayers ...... 64 Experience Points and Their Application ...... 31 Knowledge and Abilities ...... 66 Experience and Hit Points ...... 31 Travelling Priest O.C.C ...... 67 Experience Points Table ...... 31 Priests of Darkness ...... 68 Character Background ...... 32 Special Prayers ...... 68 Birth Order ...... 32 Powers ...... 69 Weight ...... 32 Height ...... 32 Priest of Darkness O.c.c...... , 70 Warrior Monk ...... 71 Age ...... 32 Special Training and Mastery...... 72 Disposition ...... 32 Warrior Monk O.c.c...... 73 Origin ...... 33 Druid ...... 73 Environment ...... 33 Druidic Animals ...... 74 Social BaSampleckground ...... 33 file The Five Laws ...... 74 Racial Biases ...... 33 Druids and Armor ...... 75 Notes on Aging ...... 33 Experience Levels and Powers ...... 75 Notes on Technology ...... 34 Druid O.C.C ...... , 77 Tips on Role-Playing ...... 35 Men of Arms ...... Game Sessions ...... 37 ...... 78 5 Mercenary Warrior ...... 78 List of Circles ...... 137 Soldier ...... 81 Circles of Protection ...... 137 Long Bowman ...... 83 Summoning Circles ...... 140 Knight ...... 85 Battle of Wills ...... 141 The Code of Chivalry ...... 87 Maintaining Control ...... 141 Palladin ...... 88 Subservient Creatures ...... 143 Ranger ...... 90 Releasing Circle Slaves ...... 144 Thief ...... 91 Summoning Circle Descriptions ...... 145 Thieves' Guilds ...... 91 Circles of Power ...... 148 Thieves' Guilds Services ...... 93 Power Circles Illustrated ...... 154 Assassin ...... 94 Psionic Powers ...... 155 Optional O.C.C.s ...... 96 Who has Psionic Powers ...... 155 Merchant ...... 96 Inner Strength Points (I.S.P.) ...... 155 Noble ...... 96 Meditation and Recovery of Inner Strength Points ...... 155 Scholar ...... 97 Saving Throws Against Psionic Attacks ...... 155 Squire ...... 98 Influence of Ley Line Energy ...... 155 VagabondlPeasant or Farmer ...... 99 Psionic Attacks Per Melee ...... 156 The Ways of Magic ...... 100 Psionic Abilities in Animals ...... 156 Magic Guilds ...... 100 Psychic Character Classes ...... 156 Magic Guilds Services...... 102 Psychic Sensitive...... 156 Wizard ...... 104 Psi-Healer ...... 158 Conversion of Spell Scrolls ...... 105 Psi-Mystic ...... 159 Warlock ...... 108 Mind Mage ...... 161 Notes about Elementals ...... 111 Psionic Descriptions ...... 162 Witch ...... 112 List of Psionic Powers ...... 162 Gifts ...... 113 Healing Psionic Powers ...... 163 The Pact ...... 114 Physical Psionic Powers ...... 164 Devil's Mark ...... 115 Sensitive Psionic Powers ...... 168 Demon Familiar...... 115 Super Psionic Powers ...... 172 Diabolist ...... 117 Magic ...... 179 Power Words ...... 117 How does Magic Work? ...... 179 Secrets of Runes ...... 117 The Mastery of Magic ...... 180 Knowledge and Abilities ...... 119 Other Sources of P.P.E ...... 180 Diabolist O.C.c...... 120 Ley Lines, Nexus Points and P.P.E ...... 181 Ward Magic ...... 120 Known Places of Magic ...... 182 Ward Size ...... 121 Random Ley Line Table ...... 182 Ward Placement...... 121 The Pursuit of Magic ...... 182 Affixing Wards ...... 121 Types of Magic ...... 182 Ward Energizing ...... 122 Learning Spells ...... 183 Immunity ...... 122 Magic Combat...... 184 Saving Throws...... 122 Saving Throws...... 184 Ward Duration ...... 122 Canceling Magic ...... 184 The Ward Phrase ...... 122 Magic Terms ...... 185 Ward Sequence ...... 123 Possession ...... 185 Multiple Wards ...... 123 Alphabetical Spell List by Level...... 187 Ward Components ...... 123 Alphabetical Spell List by Page Number ...... 188 Rune Symbols Table ...... 124 Wizard Spell Descriptions ...... 189 Ward Creation Time ...... 124 Spells of Legend ...... 217 Destroying Wards ...... 124 Elemental Magic ...... 218 The Ward Arsenal ...... 125 Alphabetical List by Level and Element...... 218 Ward Limitations and Reminders ...... 125 Alphabetical List by Page Number ...... 220 Ward Symbols and Descriptions ...... 126 Air Elemental Magic ...... 22 1 Alarms ...... 126 Earth Elemental Magic ...... 227 Area Affect Wards...... 126 Fire Elemental Magic ...... 233 Conditions ...... 126 Water Elemental Magic ...... 238 Ward Symbols ...... 127 More Water Magic ...... 244 Damage and Effects of Condition Wards ...... 128 Alchemy Magic Items ...... 245 Mystic Symbols ...... 130 The Alchemist ...... 245 Other Symbols ...... 131 Magic Services ...... 246 & InflictWards ...... 132 Wards ...... 246 PermanenceSample Ward ...... 132 Circles ...... file...... 247 Power Wards ...... 132 Spell Magic ...... 247 Protection Wards ...... 133 Magic Scrolls ...... 247 Trigger Alarm ...... 133 Price Notes for Magic Items ...... 248 Summoner ...... 135 Magic Armor...... 249 Summoner O.C.C...... 137 Magic Weapons ...... 249 6