Table Of ContentALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT
Author
Christian Kennig
This edition is published by Chronicle City
Publisher Production Manager
Angus Abranson Simon Emmins
German Publisher
Uhrwerk Verlag, Erkrath, Germany
www.uhrwerk-verlag.de
Cover Cover Design
Alan Lathwell Ralf Berszuck
Interior Illustrations
Thomas “Brotkopp” Trapp
English Translation German Version
Translation DTP and Maps
Andreas Bösche Christian Kennig
Kristel Dierickx
Rolf Elak Helping Hands, Beta Test
and Proofreading
DTP Andreas Bösche, Dominik Cenia, Tim
Kristel Dierickx Charzinski, Alexander Chirkoch, Tan
Cron,Rolf Elak, Stefan Falabu, Marc
Maps Kretschmer, Fabian Mauruschat,
Christian Kennig Andreas Melhorn, Benjamin “Kharand”
Müller, Simay Özdogan, Vedran
Proofreading Pilipović, Christian “Njoltis” Renkel,
Jack “Game Hermit” Berberette Michael Rieger, René Swiecik, Murat
Logan L. Godfrey Torunlar, Thomas Trapp, Pascal
Bruce Hill “Phönix” Walter, Françoise De Weerdt
Michael Langford and Michael “Stargazer” Wolf
Jon Sparks
Special Thanks to
Special Thanks To Andreas Bösche, Dominik Dießlin,
Luca “Wildboar” Volpino Rolf Elak, Thomas Trapp and
Françoise De Weerdt
Races Tool Kit Firearms
Marc Kretschmer Michael “Stargazer” Wolf
Visit us on the net:
http://www.Dungeonslayers.com
You are encouraged to create non-commercial, digital content or expansions for
Dungeonslayers. To do so, feel free to use the text, rule mechanics, maps and iconic
symbols in this PDF under the license stated below. However, this license expressly
does not apply to the cover motive, any of the logos and the interior illustrations.
Your creations shall be governed by the following Creative Commons license:
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Germany
(CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
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Reproduction in whole or in part, processing or dis-
tribution of the work in any form, particularly for
purposes of reproduction by electronic, photome-
chanical or similar means is prohibited without the
written permission by Christan Kennig, Uhrwerk
Verlag and Chronicle City.
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When I put this small set of rules online The new Dungeonslayers features a lot
in late 2008 for my players and I, no more: Dungeonslayers always stood for
one could have anticipated that within exiting combat, fast paced action, clear
a short time numerous translations and rules and lively adventures.
supplements would be created. Less
than two years later, these humble be- Dungeonslayers can now be more than
ginnings grew into a printed volume of just beer-and-pretzels Hack’n’Slay type
rules with over 150 pages of content. of game. It was not widely known (due
What you now see before you is the in part to the games title) that epic
English translation of these rules. campaigns full of dramatic turns, fate-
ful conspiracies and dark machinations
Without the friendly, active can be run with Dungeonslayers. Hero
community which has formed around classes have been created for long term
Dungeonslayers and their important play, and other features to customize
contributions to the fourth edition, characters emphasize this aspect of
the old-fashioned roleplaying game game play.
wouldn’t be where it is today. More than
1.000 work hours were contributed to The included Caera setting contains
this edition - this Dungeonslayers is numerous secrets and possibilities for
their Dungeonslayers. It is my hope that adventurers. Game masters will find a
a similar community will arise around playing field large enough for months or
the English version. years of gaming.
The fourth edition adds many useful Regardless if you are a roleplaying new-
details to our old-fashioned roleplaying bie or a weathered veteran, familiar with
game. Those details were often Dungeonslayers or not: This rule book
requested, but previously required to will give you everything but a 20-sided
much room to be included. But do not die to make your first characters and
fear - this is still Dungeonslayers, even send them on the road to adventure.
at its vastly expanded size. The core set
of rules is still at a measly ten pages. Regardless whether the players are
Instead of inflating the streamlined sneaking through dark sewers under
system, the surrounding was gently Storm Bluff, wandering the scorching
enhanced without touching the core deserts of Shan’Zasar or exploring the
mechanics of the system. If you already legendary mines of Shimmerstone:
know Dungeonslayers, you will feel at
home quite quickly. Endless adventures await you.
As a little extra, answers for common
questions are finally supplied. Further- I do wish
more, you will find tools, optional rules - as always -
and pages full of slayer talents, mighty a lot of fun to all of you.
spells and - of course - monsters. Nasty
monsters.
Christian Kennig, June 2012
As usual, the rules get right to the point,
no unnecessary fluff added.
1. CHARACTERS 1
Attributes & Traits ............ 1
Combat Values .................. 2
Character Creation ........... 3
Experience ........................ 8
Hero Classes ................... 10
2. TALENTS 17
3. RULES 36
Checks .......................... 36
Combat .......................... 38
Damage & Healing .......... 40
Combat Details ................ 41
Optional Combat Rules ... 43
Magic .......................... 44
4. SPELLS 46
List of Spells .................... 48
5. EQUIPMENT 76
6. GAMEMASTERING 79 7. ADVENTURES 126 ADDENDUM 148
Dungeons ....................... 79 The Caera Campaign .... 126 A: Treasure Tables ....... 148
Slayer Hazards ................ 82 Lord of the Rats ............ 127 B: Minis & Battle Maps 153
Travel & Transport .......... 84 Treacherous Travels ..... 130 C: Races Tool Kit .......... 154
Languages & Alphabets .. 86 Fortress of Doom ......... 134 D: Fire Arms ................. 156
Manufacturing Goods .... 86 Index ........................ 157
Awarding XP ................... 86
Extended Checks ............. 87 8. CAERA 142
Treasure ......................... 93 Visit us on the web at
Bestiary ........................ 102
www.dungeonslayers.com
Setting Options ............ 143
for character sheets,
About Caera .................. 143
adventures and more!
The Free Lands ............. 144
The Almanac ................ 144
Map of the Free Lands . 146
In a role-playing game, players assume long ago, overgrown debris is scattered
the roles of so-called ‘characters’ who among the surrounding trees and bush-
venture forth together in search of ad- es. From the shadows of what remains
venture. They are guided by a Game of the archway it does, however, appear
Master (GM), a sort of moderator. as if it is still possible to enter into the
Dungeonslayers is set in your classic first floor.
fantasy world. The players personify the On a sheet of paper, the Game Master
inhabitants of this world - they may be draws a quick sketch of the clearing
sword wielding fighters, elven archers and the tower ruins and hands the map
or mysterious mages. Because players over to the players.
act together as a group, there is no real ES: “I signal to the others to take cover
winner - the goal is to experience the for the time being. I then have a look
mysteries and challenges that were pre- around.”
pared in advance by the GM. DF: “Uh, c’mon. If there’s anyone in
The Game Master’s task is not only to there I’m sure they’ve already noticed
develop the adventure plot ahead of the us... let’s go!” (To the GM:) “Belga draws
actual role-playing session. He also as- her axe and walks towards the tower.”
sumes the roles of the other inhabitants ES: (sighs)
and beings of the fantasy world during HW: “The Dwarf is right. We follow, I
the actual game - maybe that of the grim go last.”
necromancer, a friendly merchant, ser- ES: “But first I ready my bow and
vile stable boy or even that of a mighty arrow.”
dragon - and through vivid descriptions
DF: “I stop at the entrance and take a
brings the world that surrounds the
careful look into the tower.”
players’ characters to life. The actual
GM: “You look through the archway
game story develops through the dialog
and see what must have once been a sin-
between Game Master and players and
gle, large room. Now, however, it rather
thus the adventure unfolds.
resembles a sunny, overgrown, inner
courtyard. Debris from the upper sto-
EXAMPLE OF A ROLE-PLAYING SESSION ries is scattered among the knee-high
bushes, thick shrubs and gnarled trees.
”(The GM rolls the dice - a Perception
The following dialog gives you a pretty Check for Belga in order to find out
good idea of how a role-playing ses- whether the Dwarf can see the stairs
sion works. The game takes place in a at the back of the room. But the check
relaxed atmosphere - snacks and drinks fails): “You see nothing unusual.”
are already on the table, as are the play-
DF: “Hmmm...”
ers’ character sheets. The following per-
HW: “What are you waiting for?
sons take part:
Go-Go-Go.”
ES: “After you, Miss Belga. I will cover
The Game Master (GM)
you.”
Player 1: Dwarf Fighter (DF)
DF: “Don’t shoot me in the back! (To
Player 2: Elf Scout (ES)
the GM) I go in, my axe ready.”
Player 3: Human Wizard (HW)
GM: “As you enter, a startled bird flies
up through the open roof then every-
GM: “It is late afternoon as you emerge thing goes quiet again. Somewhere in
from the forest. Ahead of you, on a the distance you hear a woodpecker.”
small hill, you can now see the weath-
DF: “Are there any tracks? You, Elf,
ered ruins of an old, square stone tower.
come on over and check out the ground.”
The upper levels must have collapsed
ES: “I stroll over to her and check for us away. Let’s take a careful look first,
tracks.” it’s probably just a small cellar.”
GM: “Do a Check +4.” DF: “Let me us my Dark Vision to take
ES: (throws a die to Read Tracks) a look. That way we won’t have to worry
“Yes, successful!” about our light stirring up trouble. (To
GM: “You indeed discover what are the GM) Belga sneaks down the stairs
clearly tracks. The grass is trampled, carefully and looks if she sees anything.”
there appears to be a highly frequent- GM: “Check on Sneaking.”
ed path running past the debris and DF: (rolls dice) “Hey, success, a nice
through the grass and bushes.” change!”
HW: “From animals maybe?” GM: “Cool. Belga is as quiet as a mouse
ES: “What sort of tracks are they?” and sneaks down the stairs. The stairs
GM: “Roll the dice again - but this time lead into a small, dark cellar room - 4
without the +4 bonus.” by 4 meters maybe. The room appears
ES: (rolls the dice again to Read Tracks to be empty with the exception of some
but this time the check is failed) “Nope.” old, moldy barrels beside the base of the
GM: “Okay. Nothing then. But the bent stairs. An opening on the opposite wall,
branches on the bushes and the flat- leads to a passageway that ends at a
tened grass tell you at least that some- wooden door. The passageway is about
thing seems to be passing frequently 3 meters long. Everything looks pretty
and that it doesn’t care much. But you deserted.”
don’t have a clue what it could be.” DF: “I signal to the others that every-
ES: “It’s hardly a deer.” thing is okay and take position in the
HW: “Maybe a bear or something like middle of the room.”
that?” ES: “I light my torch then follow the
DF: “Or a bunch of dumb oafs.” Dwarf.”
HW: “We should be careful. Is there HW: “Me too. But first I prepare my
anything else unusual?” magic spell ‘Blessing’.”
GM: “Indeed there is. From where you DF: “Good idea!”
are at the entrance you can see that ES: “What’s inside the barrels?”
at the rear there are old, coarse stone DF: “Dunno. Didn’t look.”
stairs leading down. The path that the ES: “Once I am downstairs, I head over
Elf discovered appears to be leading ex- to the barrels. What sort of barrels are
actly towards it.” they?”
(The GM draws the path and the stairs GM: “They are very old, large, rotten
into the players’ map). timber barrels. Maybe they contained
DF: “Okay. Let’s go and find out what’s beer in the past.”
down there.” DF: “Dwarven beer?”
HW: “What sort of a tower was this GM: “Who knows.”
once?” HW: “Can we please keep going? What
GM: “Roll Mind plus Intellect plus your about the door over there in the small
rank in Education - if you have that passageway?”
talent.” ES: “I look into one or two barrels.”
HW: (rolls the dice) “Success!” GM: “There is nothing in them. Only
GM: “This is definitely not the work of dust and rotten timber.”
Dwarves. Your wizard rather suspects DF: “Okay - the passageway, the door.
that this tower was once built by human Goin’ there.”
hands. Perhaps one of the old border ES: “We follow. Is it possible to stand
towers of Gorma, the Fallen Realm.” side by side?”
HW: “That would be at least 400 years GM: “Nope.”
ago!” HW: “I’m in the back.”
DF: “Can we go down now?” DF: “A wooden door, right? Is there a
ES: “I light a torch.” keyhole, bolt or latch?”
HW: “No, wait! If there is something or GM: “Nothing. But it’s rickety and rid-
someone down there, the light will give dled with holes.”
HW: “Uh - does that mean that all the DF: (rolls Defense) “Successful - a 13.”
time it would have been possible to see GM: “It doesn’t penetrate - the arrow
our torch light from the other side ...?” just bounces off Belga’s armor without
GM: “If there is somebody there, yes.” causing any harm.”
DF: “Oh great. I kick the door in!” HW: “It’s my turn now - I cast Blessing
ES: “No, wait ...!” on us.”
GM: “Too late. Belga kicks the door ES: “And I shoot over Belga’s head at
open.” the Goblin on the left (rolls dice) - yes,
ES: (sighs) successful! A Coup! 19 points damage.”
DF: “What do I see?” GM: (rolls dice) “Through the eye and
GM: “Behind the door is another cel- into the brain. With an unnatural jerk,
lar similar in size to the room you just the Goblin goes down. Now Belga.”
came from. The floor is littered with DF: “I run over to them and hit the first
filthy blankets and leftover foodstuffs. guy I can get at.”
You face four small creatures with their GM: “That’s no problem for Belga. Roll
short bows pointed directly at you - your dice.”
Goblins! They have obviously been DF: (rolls dice) “Uh, damn it - only a 6.”
waiting for you to open the door.” GM: (rolls dice) “But the Goblin fum-
ES: “Bingo.” bles: the force of Belga’s axe throws him
DF: “I smash their heads!” to the ground and he suffers 6 points
GM: “In the correct order of Initiative, damage.”
please. You are surprised. Therefore the DF: “Ha!”
Goblins go first with +10. And they be-
We will leave this game session now.
gin to shoot right away.”
Having gained a bit of insight into how
DF: “Yeah, sure.”
the game is played, it is now time to find
GM: (rolls the dice a few times) “Belga
out more about the actual Dungeon-
is lucky! Only one arrow is on target -
slayers rules.
make a Defense roll.”
