The Story So Far\ldots
The Story So Far\ldots
The world as we know it is a faded memory, a canvas torn by cataclysms and the fury of the gods. Legends, myths, and fantasy have overlapped in a cacophonous jumble with the reality of facts.
Somewhere in the third millennium of the old calendar, the unthinkable happened: something no one could ever have imagined or desired occurred. From one day to the next, Earth found itself involved in a war between entities of divine power that did nothing but destroy our poor world, with the collaboration of various nations.
Freten was a company that developed alternative energy systems based on the possibility of drawing energy from elsewhere or, as they said, from the cosmic void. It was never clarified what the origins of their experiments were. Most likely, they had actually found something (someone?) that could act as a portal to tap into this virtually unlimited form of energy.
On the day of the inauguration of their first reactor, powered by what they called Omniessence, a part of their invention, the impossible happened.
The accounts become very confused at this point; in fact, the Omniessence was actually something real and alive, a part of a greater energy. When the reactor was activated, it exploded with energy and force never seen on Earth, and a large part of what had been the central states of the USA was vaporized instantly.
At the point where the Freten headquarters once stood, a breach opened like a portal: a colossal flame divided into two tongues of fire of different colors.
A massive red dragon emerged from the flame. Its scales were impervious to any human weapon. His name was Tàhil, and within the first 24 hours he had destroyed what remained of the east coast of the United States.
At the dawn of the second day, a mystical energy enveloped Tàhil, and he transformed into a dragon with many heads of different colors. In his chest appeared another breach, and with each step, a multitude of other dragons, fortunately slightly smaller, began to emerge.
At the dawn of the third day, Tàhil pronounced the Edict of Forgetting, a magical wave that melted the components of every electrical device and erased all data. Knowledge itself became an enigma, the words of books mixed into incomprehensible chaos.
Tàhil settled in Medan Merdeka Square in Jakarta, a place sufficiently spacious to allow him to lie down and command his armies of dragons.
At the dawn of the fourth day, Tàhil unleashed the Edict of War, and for seven days humans waged war among themselves, destroying what remained of their civilization.
At the dawn of the twelfth day, Tàhil proclaimed the Edict of Anarchy, and peoples overthrew established forms of government. The world plunged into chaos, without laws or order.
At the dawn of the nineteenth day, the Edict of Sacrifice killed a third of the population in a ruthless demonstration of his power.
At the dawn of the thirtieth day, Tàhil proclaimed the Edict of Refoundation. New breaches opened, and other beings and powers manifested. The world was transformed, and new rules were written.
Meanwhile, for an entire year, the dragons destroyed and killed everything and everyone. No army survived, no government remained in office, no nation could still call itself such.
Earthlings had been punished for their affront; only 10\% of the population had survived.
These new beings destroyed, erased, sank, overturned, and altered entire cities; changed environments and animals; and caused new species to appear. Hordes of monsters described in children’ **s game books appeared out of nowhere. Reality was, for them, a whim to be manipulated according to their eccentric tastes.
Nations as we knew them no longer existed, and nature itself had changed into the most alien forms possible. Many areas were nuclear deserts, inhospitable and lethal to anyone, or almost so.
Then the entities, except for Tàhil and the dragons, disappeared into nothingness for six months. After six months, the dreams of the few remaining beings began to be assailed by visions of other beings and entities.
And so came the second wave of Patrons, as they collectively called themselves. Fortunately, these beings proved to be gentler and more human, or at least some of them were. They reclaimed much of the radioactive zones and taught those who accepted their Traits to draw on their energy to perform real magic! Some entities created or summoned other races, whether to dominate humans, guide them, or add chaos and entropy to the world.
Just over a hundred years have passed since the second coming, yet that has been enough for our Earth to return to a medieval period of fantastic origins.
Many of the darker Patrons have opened portals to realms of nightmare, some of them even demonic. Others have drawn from local folklore to amuse themselves with our suffering and death. As deities, the Patrons walk the Earth with the sole purpose of having more people worship them, follow their teachings, and bear their Traits.
You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Introduction
Welcome to OBSS, a world where the ordinary blends with the incredible, where ancient magic coexists with advanced technology, and where legends arise from the actions of ordinary individuals. In this narrative universe, your characters are not predestined heroes, but ordinary people, with their dreams, fears, and ambitions, catapulted into a whirlwind of events that will forever change their lives.
Prepare to face unexpected challenges, forge fragile alliances, and fight for survival in a chaotic and dangerous world.
The Game Master is the architect of this world, the one who shapes reality and weaves the threads of the story. They will present you with challenges, describe places, bring non-player characters to life, and interpret the consequences of your actions. In OBSS, collaboration between the players and the Game Master is essential to create an engaging and unforgettable gaming experience. The true rule that the Game Master must remember is that whatever rule is used, as long as it makes everyone have fun, is the right one!
Survival is the fundamental law of this world. In OBSS, there are no guarantees of success, and every step could be the last. But it is precisely in this struggle for survival that true heroes are forged. Through your actions, your cunning, and your courage, you can claim the Law of Reward, gaining experience, wealth, and the opportunity to influence the course of events.
Each character is defined by six fundamental Ability Scores that represent their innate attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. In addition, each character possesses five Traits, unique qualities that define them on a personal level and influence their gameplay style and interactions with the world. Your Traits are not simple background elements, but guides for your actions, influencing your decisions and determining your bond with the Patrons, mysterious entities that offer special powers in exchange for loyalty.
In this manual, you will find instructions for creating your characters, for interacting with the game world, for fighting, for using magic, and for facing the challenges you will encounter along your journey.
But before beginning your adventures, you must participate in Session Zero, a crucial moment to lay the foundations of your experience. During Session Zero, you will establish the rules and game options, define the group’ **s expectations, create your characters, and give life to their stories.
In OBSS, your imagination is the only limit. Don’ **t be afraid to experiment, to test your ideas, and to build characters that are unique and unforgettable. You are free to shape your destiny and leave your mark in this world, one dice roll at a time.
Character activities are measured in Actions, and success is based on dice rolls, proficiency, Feats, and tactical choices.
Remember: checks can be avoided with intelligence and strategy. Exploration, the ability to solve puzzles, and imagination are crucial components of this game. Don’ **t always look for the solution on the character sheet, use your ingenuity!
Now that you are ready, it’ **s time to embrace your destiny and write your legend. Be brave, be creative, and be ready for anything. Let your adventure begin!
Andres Zanzani
D&D originally contained misogynistic and racist elements that have been removed over time, thanks to the many people of all kinds who have played it. OBSS wants to continue along the path of an inclusive and free game. Each group is free to approach controversial topics as they see fit, but always with respect for every player and sensitivity. Don’ **t let OBSS be a cause for quarrel but for unity and fraternal spirit, a game that unites and never divides. (Andres Zanzani)
Common Terms
Here is a list of terms and concepts that you will find repeated throughout the book.
+1d6 or -1d6: A +1d6 or -1d6 modifier is a bonus or penalty to a check. Add or subtract a 6-sided die roll from the check. The maximum penalty brings the number of dice rolled to 0, and the maximum bonus to +3d6.
Ability scores: Ability scores, also called characteristics or stats, represent each character’ **s abilities. Each character has 6 Ability Scores: Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), Constitution (CON), Intelligence (INT), Wisdom (WIS), and Charisma (CHA). The higher the score, the greater the character’ **s ability in that specific area.
**Action**: An Action represents what a character does in a time interval. Everything the character does is measured in Actions. Fighting, casting Spells, picking locks, drinking potions, moving... In each round, you can take 3 Actions. An Action lasts about 3 seconds.
Attack Roll (AR): An Attack Roll is an attack check (Weapon Proficiency + Strength/Dexterity + Feats + capabilities given by the weapon list\ldots) against Defense (armor + shield + Feats + magic\ldots). An Attack Roll can be melee (for creatures close to your weapon) or ranged (for bows, crossbows, and thrown daggers\ldots). Read the combat chapter carefully.
Bonus: Any modifier due to external, environmental, magical, or circumstantial factors, or decided by the Game Master, is a bonus or penalty applied to the dice roll or the difficulty of the check.
Casting Spells while Distracted or after a Recent Wound: When a spellcaster wants to use Magic but is disturbed, has been wounded in the same round, or is otherwise severely distracted while casting a spell, they must make a Magic Check.
Check/Test: A check (or test) is the roll of 3d6 plus the value indicated by the involved Ability Score and Skill; modifiers from Feats and circumstances might be applied. If you don’ **t have the Skill, you roll 2d6 + the Ability Score modifier.
Class: In OBSS there are no classes. Each character is built based on what they can do; you won’ **t find the word Class in the manual. Each character is unique and defined by their choices.
Critical Success/Critical Failure on a Magic Check : If the player passes the Magic Check with a critical result, the spell may be spectacularly modified; conversely, bad things could happen to the spellcaster.
Damage Reduction (DR): Some creatures have an innate resistance to damage and wounds. This resistance is denoted as DR. Damage is reduced after all resistances and Saving Throws.
Defense: Defense means the total value obtained from 10 + Shield + Armor + Dexterity + various bonuses. It represents the ability to avoid being hit and wounded. An enemy with high Defense could be extremely agile or have thick skin that is highly resistant to injury.
Devotee: A character who voluntarily chooses formal allegiance to the claiming Patron and has at least 2 distinct Traits in common with them. A character cannot be both a Devotee and a Follower.
Difficulty Class (DC): The Difficulty Class indicates how difficult it is to succeed at a check. It can be used for skills (swimming\ldots) as well as knowledge (poisons\ldots). For spells, it is the difficulty of resisting the spell. It indicates the value that must be reached to succeed in the check.
Distance: Distance, as far as combat is concerned, is measured in 1-meter squares.
Experience Points/XP: Whenever difficulties and puzzles are solved, monsters are faced, or treasures are found, and the character is well played while everyone has fun, the character gains experience. These points accumulate over time, establishing the character’ **s level and abilities.
Explosion of 6: when you perform an Attack Roll, Saving Throw, Skill Check, Magic Check, or Initiative check, or whenever it is indicated that the Explosion of 6 applies, each die that rolls a 6 is noted and rolled again. The new result is also added, and if you roll another 6, you continue rolling until you stop rolling 6s.
Fate Points: Fate Points, or Beginner’ **s Luck, are points that a player can convert into d6s to add to Saving Throws, Attack Rolls, or Skill Checks. They are called Beginner’ **s Luck because their number decreases as the character’ **s level increases.
Feat: A Feat is a special ability that a character has learned to use. Often similar to magical abilities, Feats allow special actions, override rules, and grant bonuses to Saving Throws that stack with each other. They are gained when leveling up (see Feats, page ).
Follower: a character who voluntarily chooses formal allegiance to the claiming Patron and has at least 1 Trait in common with them. A character cannot be both a Follower and a Devotee.
Hit Points (HP): indicate vital energy, endurance, and the luck involved in resisting wounds. As long as a creature has at least 1 Hit Point, it fights at its best (though it might also decide to run away rather than die!). At each level, you gain a certain number of Hit Points established by the rules. Each wound is subtracted from this total, and when 0 (zero) Hit Points is reached, you faint and become unable to act.
If you are further injured and your Hit Points drop to -10 minus twice your Constitution score, then you die.
Initiative: Initiative is a Dexterity or Intelligence check. It establishes the order of actions in combat. Whoever has the highest check result acts first.
Level: Level indicates the proficiency and power attained by a character. It can also indicate how strong an enemy is.
Magic Check: the Magic Check may be required in particular situations, for example when the character is wounded or distracted, but it can also be requested by the player.
The Magic Check allows the character to push beyond their normal limits when casting a spell and try to draw on and use more magic.
Depending on the results, advantages or disadvantages might be obtained.
Magic Proficiency (MP): is your ability to use magic. The higher this value, the more effective your spells will be, the more spells you will have at your disposal, and the more you can cast.
Melee: Melee means close-quarters combat: hand-to-hand or sword-to-sword combat in which your character fights an opponent with a weapon that does not have range (unlike a bow, crossbow, or sling…). Any creature that the character can reach with their non-ranged weapon is considered in melee. A large-sized creature (or with a long weapon) might be in melee with the character but not vice versa.
Movement: Movement represents the ability to move around. A Movement Action represents the character moving. The higher the Movement value, the more meters a creature can move.
Narrator: The Narrator is the person who leads the adventure, establishes the rules, and controls the elements of the story. The duty of every Game Master is to entertain, be fair, and use common sense. The Game Master has the final word in every matter.
NPC: An NPC is a non-player character. These are characters, important or otherwise, whom the Game Master uses to guide the adventure.
Rolling a one brings bad luck: if you roll a 1 on a die, subtract 1 from the total result. This doesn’ **t mean that a rolled 6 becomes a 5; the exploding 6s still apply. Just subtract 1 from the final result. In other words, 1 is worth 0.
Optional: In OBSS, there are various Optional rules to diversify and personalize the game. Talk about them during Session Zero and decide what style to give your OBSS.
Patron: or deity. The Patron is a superior being who can grant powers and guarantee advantages.
Penalty/Malus : Like bonuses, penalties are values that indicate unfavorable circumstances, penalize spells, or make a check more difficult. Unlike bonuses, penalties always add together unless specified otherwise.
PC, Character: is the creature guided, managed, and role-played by the player.
Damage Resistance: : a creature might have a resistance to a type of damage. In this case, it is considered to automatically halve the damage taken before applying any Saving Throws.
Round: Combat and Actions are divided into rounds. A round represents a unit of time lasting about 10 seconds. During a round, each creature can act according to its initiative and perform up to 3 Actions.
Rounding: Always round down unless explicitly stated otherwise, with a minimum of 1. E.g., 7/2 = 3, 9/4 = 2, and 1/2 = 1.
Saving Throw (ST): When a creature is subjected to a particular effect, it often receives a Saving Throw to mitigate or nullify the effect. A Saving Throw is an action that does not occupy time or Actions.
Saving Throws concern reflexes and dodging (Reflex), resisting poisons/diseases or body changes (Fortitude), or resisting mental attacks and effects that act on judgment and will (Will).
Spell level: indicates the scale (from 1 to 9) of the magical power of the spell.
Trait: A Trait indicates one component of a character’ **s personality. Each character chooses 5 Traits to compose and build their personality.
Turn: is 10 minutes, that is, 60 rounds.
The D&D game has neither losers nor winners, it has only players who love to exercise their imagination. The players and the DM share in creating adventures in fantasy lands where heroes abound and magic actually works. In a certain sense, the D&D game has no rules, only rule suggestions. No rule is inviolate, particularly if a new or altered rule will encourage creativity and imagination. The important thing is to enjoy the adventure. (Tom Moldvay, 03/12/1980. And everything said also applies to OBSS! NdA)
In the Manual, you will find different types of boxes, each of which has a precise meaning:
Example of a box containing a quotation or motivational phrase
Information for the Player: Box containing indications and clarifications for the Player. Recognizable by the icon $\dagger$.
Information for the Narrator: Box containing indications and suggestions for the Game Master. Recognizable by the icon .