D12 RPG © 2014 Caleb Engelke
No part of this document may be reproduced without the express permission of the author.

 
  

D12 RPG is a universal role-playing game What you Need

designed to fit in whatever scenario the
game master creates. It is designed to be
easy to use regardless of how much
experience the players or game master has
with role-playing games.

Don’t think of the following as a rule set.

They are more like guidelines. If you want to There are various things you need in order
play without certain utility powers, ignoring to play D12 RPG properly. It is always good
the language rules, or scrapping the skill to have pencils and spare paper just in case.
system entirely that’s okay.
Character Sheets
This system is designed for you to easily Each player should have their own
tear apart and redefine so that you can tell Character Sheet or scratch piece of paper to
whatever story you would like. So delve into record their character on.
the mystery, marvel, and magic of D12
RPG. 12 Sided Die
This game requires a 12-sided die; also
called a D12. You can buy the die at any
Table of Contents local game store, online, or use an online
dice roller for free.
2 Character Creation
3 Utility Power List Game Master
This guy creates the story for the players to
5 Playing the Game interact with. He is the person that gives the
setting and is the final authority in the game.
5 Equipment
He is not playing against the players, but is
6 Skill Rolls instead creating the situations for his players
to develop. A game master plays all the
7 Combat Scenes monsters and non-player characters (NPCs)
8 Character Progress The characters interact with.

Players
These people play the main characters in
the world the game master creates. These
characters work together to complete the
challenges the game master conjures.

D12 Manual
It would be a good idea to have at least one
copy of this manual printed out to reference
throughout the game.

  1

Character Creation
As you go through the Character Creation
process fill in your character sheet or write
the character on a scratch sheet of paper.
Class
This is the character’s profession. This helps
determine what your character knows and
where their skills lie. A character’s class
provides a +2 to skill rolls when it is
applicable. It also defines what weapons
and armor they are proficient with.
Examples: Alchemist, Assassin, Barbarian,
Bard, Cavalier, Dragoon, Druid, Knight,
Librarian, Pilot, Pirate, Priest, Ranger,
Scientist, Shaman, Mercenary, Monk,
Nomad, Wizard
Talents
A character begins at 1st level with 3 talents
that they are particularly good at. Talents
provide a +2 to skill rolls when they are
applicable. It is impossible to create a
comprehensive list of all the possible talents,
but be creative and just make sure that your
game master checks them before play. He
may ask the player to make the talent more
specific.
Examples: Acrobatic, Break things, Charm,
Computer Hacking, Drive, Lying, Perception,
Perform, Robotics, Run, Stealth, Track
 
Traits
Traits allow characters to interact with the
game world in a unique way without the use
of an implement or item. Each trait reduces
the number of talents they have by 1. The
game master must verify the traits before
they are taken.
Examples: Aquatic, Burrowing, Construct,
Flight, Infravision, Natural Light Armor,
Natural Special Attack, Scent, Telepathy,
Undead
Languages
A first level character begins with 1
language from the list below. A character
can begin play with more than 1, but each
additional language reduces the character’s
number of talents by 1.
The game master may be using an
alternative language list for his game.
Example List of Languages
Common: (Dwarves, Halflings, and Humans)
Aetho: (Dragons, Elementals, and Magic)
Aklo: (Aberrations, Primordials, and Oozes)
Enochian: (Angels, Demons, and Djinn)
Fey: (Elves, Fairies, and Sprites)
Jotun: (Giants, Goblins, and Ogres)
2

 

Attributes Utility Power List

There are 2 attributes that define how your
character functions in combat. A player has
4 points to distribute between the two
attributes.

Normal
This improves your ability to hit a target and
avoid attacks from a physical force.
Ex. (sword, pistol, bow)
Special
This improves your ability to hit a target and
avoid attacks from a unique force.
Ex. (magic, flamethrower, psionics)
Hit Points (HP)
A character’s total HP is equal to
3 + Armor Bonus HP.
Utility Points (UP)
A character begins play at 1st level with 2
utility points per day. Each time a utility
power is used it consumes one of your daily
utility points. Only one utility point can be
spent per turn in a combat scene.
Utility Powers
These are the special abilities that set
characters apart from each other. A
character begins play with 1 utility power
from the utility power list. A single target
cannot benefit from duplicate uses of a utility
power.
Aid
Duration: 1 combat scene
Your character and all allies within 20’ add a
+1 bonus to their attack rolls.
Command
If you successfully hit the target, then your
character determines the target’s actions on
their next turn.
Defend
Duration: 1 combat scene
Your character and all allies within 20’ add a
+1 bonus to their defense rolls.
Disorient
Duration: 1 combat scene
If you successfully hit the target, then the
target has disadvantage on defense rolls.
Divination
You can ask your game master a yes/no
question. The Game Master rolls a D12 in
secret. On a 4-12 he is to give a truthful
answer. This utility power cannot be used in
combat.

Empower
Duration: 1 combat scene
Your character has advantage on attack
rolls.

Focus
You have 2 more action points this turn.

Fortify
Duration: 1 combat scene
Your character has advantage on defense
rolls.

Haste
Duration: 1 combat scene
Your character gets a free AP for a move
action each turn, and also receives a +2
bonus to Initiative.

  3
  

Heal Summon
Your character heals themself or a target Duration: 1 hour
they can touch 3 HP. When you select this Utility Power select a
trait and a kind of natural attack. You
Improvise summon a creature with the selected trait
Duration: 1 hour and natural attack that has 1 HP and 1
Your character gains a talent. action point that follows the summoner’s
instruction. The creature stays for the
Mist duration, or until the creature’s HP drops to
Your character heals all allies within 20’ 1 0. Only one summon can be active at a time.
HP.
Teleport
Scry Your character immediately teleports
Duration: 1 hour anywhere within line of sight.
You can remotely see and hear a location,
object, or person up to a mile away. You Tongues
must have seen the object or have an item Duration: 1 hour
associated with what you are trying to scry Your character can understand, read, and
on. This utility power cannot be used in speak all languages.
combat.
Transform
Snare Duration: 1 hour
Duration: 1 combat scene Your character gains a trait.
If you successfully hit the target, then the
target must spend 1 additional AP to move. Transmute
Your character can change up to 15 lbs. of
Stun inanimate material into something else of
Duration: 1 combat scene the same material. Examples would be
If you successfully hit the target, then the turning steel bars into weapons, or creating
target has disadvantage on their attack rolls. a ladder out of a log. This utility power
cannot be used in combat.

  4
  

Playing the Game Equipment

Advantage
Roll two D12 and take the higher result.

Disadvantage
Roll two D12 and take the lower result.

Injury and Death Weapons

Unconscious
A character falls unconscious when their HP
reaches zero or below. When a character is
unconscious, they are helpless and do not
regain consciousness until they are either
healed or after a rest.
Death
A character that falls into negative hit points
has a chance to die. Roll a D12. If they roll
7-12 they are unconscious instead. If they
are struck while unconscious they have to
roll to see if they die again.
Resting
Resting requires 8 hours of downtime.
During this time characters can read, sleep,
and perform light activities. After a long rest
characters heal 1 HP. They also regain all of
their Utility Points for the day.
Characters can use weapons they are
proficient with to defeat their opponents.
A character’s class determines which
weapons they are proficient with.
When a character uses a weapon in an
inappropriate manner or a weapon they are
not proficient with, they has disadvantage on
attack rolls.
Armor
HP: 3 + Armor Bonus HP
Armor provides Bonus HP and determines
initiative.
A character’s class determines what kind of
armor they are proficient with.

When a character wears armor they are not

proficient with they have disadvantage on
defense rolls.

When armor is removed the character keeps

the damage they have. If removing the
armor would result in the character’s HP
dropping to 0 or lower the character’s HP is
at 1 instead.

Armor Bonus HP Initiative

Unarmored 0 8

Light 1 6

Medium 2 4

Heavy 3 2

  5

Skill Rolls
Skill Roll: D12 + 2 for Class +2 for Talent
The game master will describe places and
events that the players will respond to.
Occasionally the players will attempt to do
something that has a chance to fail. When
this occurs either combat has begun, or a
skill roll is needed.
Opposed Skill Roll
If two individuals are challenging each in a
non-combat situation they roll opposed skill
rolls. The highest roll wins the challenge.
Ties are re-rolled.
Non-Opposed Skill Roll
When there is the possibility of failure and
there is no entity opposing the individual
then a non-opposed skill roll is needed. The
game master sets a difficult for the
attempted task and assigns a challenge
rating (CR). The player then makes a skill
roll which must be equal to or higher than
the CR to succeed at the task.
 
Easy (CR 4)
Just about anyone can accomplish this task
if they put their mind to it. Examples: Driving
a car in traffic, climbing a rock wall, acquire
knowledge from an intoxicated individual
Moderate (CR 6)
This represents either easy specialized work
or non-ideal simple tasks. Examples:
Swimming in moving water, disguising
yourself as a beggar, break an oak door.
Hard (CR 8)
It is difficult for most except those with a
knack for it or training. Examples: Make
money as a musician, basic programming,
pick a lock
Very Hard (CR 11)
Near impossible for most and definitely
requires some training. Examples: Hack into
a bank, bend prison bars, Intimidate the
colonel into giving up the codes
Impossible (CR 14)
No normal character can accomplish this.
Examples: knock over a truck, notice the
remnants of an invisible magical rune,
convince the king you’re his illegitimate son
6

Combat Scenes
Attack/Defense Roll: D12 + Attribute
2 Action Points Per Turn
Combat scenes use the character’s
attributes. A Normal attack is always rolled
against a Normal defense, and a Special
attack is always rolled against Special
defense.
Initiative and Combat Order
If anyone enters combat surprised they may
not act in the first round of combat.
The character’s armor determines their
initiative. Everyone acts in order with the
highest initiative going first.
Your Turn
Characters have 2 action points (AP) that
they can allocate each turn. They may also
choose to spend 1 utility point to activate a
utility power.
1. Declare What You Wish To Do
and Allocate Action Points
Block
Until the beginning of your next turn you can
ignore a total amount of damage equal to
the number of action points allotted.
Damage
If you successfully hit the target with an
attack roll, each action point allotted to
damage deals 1 point of damage to the
designated target.
Disarm
If you successfully hit the target with an
attack roll, the target drops their held item.
Natural attacks cannot be disarmed.
Guard
Until the beginning of your next turn the
target you are guarding can ignore a total
amount of damage equal to the number of
action points allotted.
 
Item
Your character withdraws, exchanges, or
picks up an item.
Move
You move 20’ or 10’ through difficult terrain.
Skill
There may be non-combat events occurring
during the combat scene. See Skill Rolls.
Slow
If you successfully hit the target with an
attack roll, the target must spend 1
additional AP to move.
Stagger
If you successfully hit the target with an
attack roll, the target has disadvantage on
their next armor roll.
Weaken
If you successfully hit the target with an
attack roll, the target has disadvantage on
their next attack roll.
2. Make Attack rolls against Defense
Rolls as needed.
Each target of your actions roll separate
defense rolls. If the defense roll is equal to
or higher than the attack roll then they avoid
the attack.
A Normal attack is always rolled against a
Normal defense and your Special attack is
always rolled against Special defense.
7

 

Character Progress

st
A character begins play at 1 level. They
level when they acquire a certain amount of
experience.

Lv 2 3
Lv 3 7
Lv 4 12
Lv 5 18
Lv 6 25
Lv 7 33
Lv 8 42
Lv 9 52
Lv 10 63

1 XP is given per session and an additional

1 XP is given whenever the game master
feels the player earned it.

Examples: Good roleplaying, reaching an

important milestone in the story, that player
bought pizza for the game master

When a character reaches a new level they

choose one of the following as a reward.

• +1 UP
• Select a new language
• Select a new utility power
• Select a new talent
• Select a new trait

  8