TM Game Design by ALEXANDER MACRIS with TAVIS ALLISON and GREG TITO RULES FOR ROLEPLAYING IN A WORLD OF SWORDS, SORCERY, AND STRONGHOLDS FIRST EDITION Adventurer Conqueror King System © 2011–2012 Autarch. The Auran Empire™ and all proper names, dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, and characters relating thereto are copyright 2011 by Alexander Macris and used by Autarch™ under license. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the written permission of the copyright owners. Autarch™, Adventure Conqueror King™, Adventurer Conqueror King System™, and ACKS™ are trademarks of Autarch™. Auran Empire™ is a trademark of Alexander Macris and used by Autarch™ under license. Adventurer Conqueror King System is distributed to the hobby, toy, and comic trade in the United States by Game Salute LLC. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental. Printed in the USA. ISBN 978-0-9849832-0-9 AUT1003.20120131.431 www.autarch.co CREDITS Lead Designer: Alexander Macris Graphic Design: Carrie Keymel Greg Lincoln Additional Design: Tavis Allison Greg Tito Intern: Chris Newman Development: Alexander Macris Kickstarter Support: Chris Hagerty Tavis Allison Timothy Hutchings Greg Tito Event Support: Tavis Allison Editing: Tshilaba Verite Ryan Browning Jonathan Steinhauer Ezra Claverie Paul Vermeren Chris Hagerty Paul Hughes Art: Ryan Browning Jason Hurst Chris Hagerty Timothy Hutchings Johnathan Bingham Alexander Macris Greg Tito Webmaster: Tim Turner Playtesting: The Bloody Band (Janelle Bonanno, Justin Clouse, Greg Tito, Kelly Helder, Nick Haines, Carrie Keymel, Erik Jacobson, John Moulton, Josh Vanderwall); and the characters of the Grey Company (John Fighter, Ookla the Mok, Chrystos, Lotur the Scurrying Cur, Jarri the Stonebeard, Edward Nathan “EN” Lightenment, Tobias the Awkward, Xeno, Caswin of Aeschlepius, Obscura the Illusionist, Emurak, Fostra, Arnold Littleworth (d/b/a Zolobachai of the Nine Visions), Ivan the Terrible, Martain of Thracia, Maldoor, Darwin of Drumthwacket, Snoedis Sturmdottr, Thisilyn, Copernicus Quinn, Lucky the Marksman, Theos, Sans Sobriquet, Smash, Dugdale, Into, the Mystic, Garrett the Scout, Orb (and his spider), Barbarossa, Oscar the Swamp-Seer, Drella the Elf, Oxnard the Bear, Onk the Dwarf, Morrisey, Grodhai the Orc, Bartholomew Honeytongue, Boddin the Enchanter, Lydio the Spider-Dwarf, Father Wonder, Bloodgrave, Gond the Hipolyte Captian, Thales the Faun, Myrtle the Priest, Merselon the Magnificent, Thorsten Skullsplitter, Garrett Nailo, 23, Colin, Tommy, Elston, Chance, Brother Gao, Wolfrey, Balint the Sapper, Mallo Beer-bane, Tiburon, Argus the Rat Knight, Garrock the Alchemist, Morena, David Carradine, Narcissus, Nicholas, Bluto, Doghead the Magic User, Janape, Axum Maldoran, Sir Hendrik the Halfling, Fletcher, Dr. Meridian Kaine, Tusk, Billy the Rat, Mariano, Renaldo, Florin the Dwarf, Oban, Wallace the Caged, Mungar, Fark the Dwarf, Rebmik the Cleric, B’Va, Obamabiden the Druid, Dirk, and Goo.) The Adventurer Conqueror King System Table of Contents Foreword 5 6: Adventures 91 The Combat Round 257 Dungeon Adventures . 92 Wilderness Adventures. 93 Character Worksheets 260 Sea Adventures. 95 Indexes 266 Encounters . 96 Surprise . 97 1: Introduction 9 Reactions . 99 About the Game . 10 Evasion and Pursuit . 99 How To Use This Book . 10 Initiative . 100 The Basics of the Game . 10 Movement . 101 Dice . 12 How To Attack . 102 Common Abbreviations . 14 Damage . 104 Saving Throws . 105 2: Characters 15 Mortal Wounds. 106 Creating a Character. 16 Tampering with Mortality. 107 Character Abilities . 16 Special Maneuvers . 109 Hit Points. 18 Morale Rolls. 110 Character Classes . 18 Mounted Combat. 110 Core Classes. 18 Sea Combat . 112 Campaign Classes. 25 Experience from Adventures. 113 Demi-Human Classes . 30 Alignment. 37 7: Campaigns 116 Adventuring Parties . 37 Magic Research . 117 Ritual Spells. 119 3: Equipment 38 Constructs . 120 The Basics of Equipment . 39 Crossbreeds . 121 Coins and Money . 39 Necromancy . 123 Purchasing Equipment . 39 Divine Power . 123 Equipment Descriptions . 42 Strongholds and Domains. 125 Encumbrance . 48 Sanctums and Dungeons . 141 Hirelings, Henchmen, . 49 Mercantile Ventures . 142 Mercenaries, and Specialists Merchandise Tables . 145 Experience from Campaigns. 146 4: Proficiencies 55 The Basics of Proficiencies . 56 8: Monsters 148 Starting Proficiencies . 56 Monster Characteristics . 149 Gaining Proficiencies . 56 Monster Types . 151 Proficiency Descriptions . 56 Abbreviations . 153 Proficiencies of Normal. 64 Monster Listings . 153 Humans and Demi-Humans 9: Treasure 204 5: Spells 65 Random Treasure Generation . 205 Spells and Spellcasters . 66 Planned Treasure Generation . 205 Casting Spells . 66 Scavenging Treasure. 209 Spell Repertoire . 66 Magic Items . 210 Reversible Spells . 69 Buying & Selling Magic Items . 227 Spell Signatures . 69 Spell Index . 71 10: Secrets 228 Constructing the Campaign Setting . 229 Constructing the Region . 235 Constructing the Starting City . 236 Constructing the Dungeons . 238 Wandering Monsters. 242 Additional Rules For Judges. 248 Playing With Advanced Characters . 253 Recommended Reading For Judges . 254 3 SPECIAL THANK YOU To Amy Macris, the first bladedancer, who fights real battles every day. Thank you for your support and inspiration. TO THE VISIONARIES The creators of theAdventurer Conqueror King System are grateful to the many designers and visionaries who inspired us, including (but not limited to) Peter Adkison, Jason Alexander, Aaron Allston, Dave Arneson, Jim Bambra, Mario and Guido Barbati, Bob Bledsaw, David Cook, Monte Cook, Greg Costikyan, Ryan Dancey, Jeff Easley, Larry Elmore, Ed Greenwood, Chris Gonnerman, Ernie Gygax, Gary Gygax, Luke Gygax, Scott Haring, Bruce Heard, J. Eric Holmes, Leonard Lakofka, Dyson Logos, Tim Kask, Don Kaye, Rob Kuntz, Paul Jaquays, James Maliszewksi, Steve Marsh, Stuart Marshall, Mike Mearls, Frank Mentzer, Tom Moldvay, Michael Mornard, Roger Moore, Erol Otus, Bill Owen, Steve Perrin, Clark Peterson, Daniel Proctor, James Edward Raggi III, Ken Rolston, Lawrence Schick, Warren Spector, Kirk Stone, Dennis Sustare, David Sutherland, Jonathan Tweet, Allen Varney, Jim Ward, Bill Webb, Jean Wells, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. THANK YOU The initial production of Adventurer Conquerer King was made possible in large part by the support of the following backers: PATRON DEITY Cain Gillespie S. Gregory Boyd GOD-EMPEROR LEGEND VISIONARY KING OF KINGS Jason Azze Rob Allison Stephen Andrews Brian Blakley Newton Grant Adam Easterday Benjamin J Armintor Chris Brandon Morgan Hazel Nick Haines Peter Banks Zeb Doyle Steve Hyatt Jed McClure Johnathan Bingham Herman Duyker Johnstone Metzger Artus Nemati Justin Clouse Brett Easterbrook Kyle Pinches Eric Gall Damon English jim pinto Chris Kutalik Allan Grohe Clinton R Nixon Anastasia Macris Zachary Hoefler Jason Smith Chris McNeil Tom Hudson Jonathan Steinhauer Mark Nagel Greg Lincoln Daniel Trujillo Grandy Peace William Macris Tshilaba Kedar Ananta Adrian M Ryan John Moulton Kenna Verite Paul Vermeren Christian Nord David Wellington Sean Wills Michael R Bolam Bret Woods Ken Rokos Martin Young James A Rose VI Warren Schultz Keith Spears erik stiene Jason Verbitsky Bo Williams The Adventurer Conqueror King System Foreword “Ay e .” “What’s in it for us?” he asked, swirling the wine in his cup. I stifled the urge to slap the vessel from his greedy hand. “Ay e .” “We discussed this already, Inthorn,” Quintus replied. He “Nay. The Theocrat is too powerful,” said Bishop Drusus. reached an arm up from beneath his robes to gesture at the “Aye,” said Valanna, the castellan of Türos Drav, giving map on the stone table. “The Theocrat in Aura has declared Marcus Odysios a sidelong glance. himself Tarkaun of the Empire, demanding both religious and temporal authority over the realm. He demands that I could hear the leather straps of Marcus’ black enameled we not only pay him taxes as due the Empire, but also plate armor creak as he stood. “Aye.” tithes to the Church, and that we send troops from our own “Nay.” The thin castellan from Türos Aurë rubbed the day’s strongholds to fight his rivals thousands of miles away… growth of hair on his chin. He looked nervous. Perhaps the He is a mad man.” A redundant notion… All humans are Exarch had already bought his loyalty. mad. I glanced back at Viktir, his face split in a grin. Humans. They stole the lands of Southern Argollë from “What about accepting Drakomir as Tarkaun? The deal his my brethren years ago, and now our ancient capitals lay brat offered didn’t seem so bad,” said Inthorn. in ruins beneath what men call the borderlands. Humans “Save the fact that his name is Drakomir,” intoned Patriarch failed to protect their own from the beasts hatched by Balbus. His face was grim beneath his miter. “You forget Zahar, and would be overrun again if it wasn’t for my help. that I hear the whispers of the divine. How can we strike a Now petty men sit here, afraid to challenge the will of false bargain with the man who murdered the blessed Tarkaun Tarkauns, not realizing that the only way to be free is to of Aura and now seeks the throne for himself?” simply declare that you are. I nodded in response to Balbus’ wise words. Those I rose, my movements noiseless despite my golden assembled were aware of the long rumored association reticulated armor. “The Elven fastness of Aldalon does not of the Drakomir family with the chthonic gods of Zahar. recognize the power of Aura in any matter.” My voice rang These people needed to accept that speaking with the young across the large wooden table, resonating like a bell. “But I Drakomir was no better than bargaining with Iskara, Lady vote to form a new nation together with my comrades.” of Serpents. Welcome to the Adventurer Conqueror King System, or ACKS (pronounced “axe”). This narrative is to provide an example The names of places, people, and factions are taken from the of play – not the kind that transcribes what players say to one Auran Empire, the implied setting of ACKS.