- 1

Children of the
Arc

A Victus Role-Playing Game

2 - Table of Contents

Put publication and copyright info here.

 Table of Contents - 3

Children of the Arc

Table of Contents
Table of Contents • 3
Introduction • 4
Character Creation • 6
Making Your Character • 8
Advancing Your Character • 33
The Rules • 34
Making Rolls and Checks • 34
Combat • 36
Movement • 39
Space Travel • 39
Equipment • 41
General Equipment • 42
Weapons and Armor • 44
Planetary Vehicles • 48
Space Vehicles • 48
People, Creatures, and Races • 55
Agents of the Council • 55
Alien Races • 56
Other Sentients • 57
4 - Introduction
Introduction
Welcome
Welcome to Children of the Ark - A Victus role-playing
game.
In this version of the Victus Roleplaying System, you
get to play the part of explorers from the not-too-
distant future; explorers who were the unwilling
victims of corporate genetic tampering in the
early twenty-first century. After being unlawfully
experimented on, you were forced into an ages-long
cryo-sleep and sent out to explore the far reaches of
the galaxy in a slow, sub-light speed spaceship. Fate
has left you alone and stuck in the deep void of space
ten thousand years from the time you were born into.
The world you will wake into is far different from the
one you were forced from.
There is a good side to things, though; the torturous
experimentation you went through has left you
immortal, and gifted. The things you can do are
astounding, and would awe and inspire people, if you
were anywhere near them, instead of lost in the deep
void of space.
Do not worry overlong about being lost, though. Soon
enough, one of the dreaded Council warships that
roam human space will respond to the archaic beacon
in your ship that activated when you awoke, and with
the help of its feared Angels and their heavy plasma
cannons, bring you ancient travelers back to its home
base.
Whether you want to go or not.
About the Setting
The game of Children of the Ark is set in the far future,
where humanity has spread over the vastness of the
galaxy. Humankind is nominally ruled over by a
mysterious group known as The Council, which almost
never interferes in the general affairs of the galaxy.
When they do choose to intervene, their presence is
immediately felt, and is nigh unstoppable.
Strange alien races abound, although humanity is
dominant. Armies of creatures from the Warp rampage
forth to feast upon humankind, and are fought back
in vicious battles. AI’s help humanity manage affairs,
although the occasional AI rebellion makes for
difficult times.
There are other powerful beings out there. The Council
are the ultimate bogeymen; incredibly bizarre,
amazing, and sometimes horrifying things have been
attributed to them. The aliens from the Warp are
strange creatures with odd powers and frightening
habits. You yourself have some reality-defying abilities,
and there are a thousand others like you out there.
 Introduction - 5

How to Play
What is a role-playing game?

How do you play a role-playing game?

What you need to play this role-playing game

To play Children of the Ark, you need the following:

• A d20 (20-sided dice)
• Strong liquor, a super computer, and
an iron lung (all of these are optional, but highly
recommended for no good reason).

What characters do in Children of the Ark

Characters in Children of the Ark (referred to as
COTA’s in short) are immortals with strange powers
over reality. They can manipulate energy and gravity,
influence minds, create things out of nowhere, travel
vast distances in the blink of an eye, and do many
other things.
You’ll quickly discover that while your immortal
characters are capable of almost anything, there are
others out there who are capable of the same feats,
and some who are vastly more powerful, and don’t
look too kindly on disruptions in the galaxy they’ve
carefully nurtured. Your characters will want to
develop their skills and abilities, and do so while
staying out of the probing eye of the Council for as
long as possible.
Characters will carve out an enclave for them to
manage or rule over in their local area of space. Or
they will become a police or mercenary force, helping
out their locality or the highest bidder. They can go on
the warpath, or become adept politicians. They can
become masterful tradesman or craftsman, or fulfill
almost any other role in galactic civilization. The only
thing COTAs tend to have in common is that they rise
to the top of whatever ladder they choose to climb in
life.
6 - Character Creation
Character Creation
Before you can begin play, you need to define the
abilities of your character in a way that allows the
character to work with the rules of the game. This
section will show you how to do that.
If you are already familiar with the Victus game
system, feel free to just use the Character Quick
Reference section to build your character. If this is
your first time making a COTA, you may want to read
through the sections following the Quick Reference
for a detailed description of each step in the character
generation process.
Before moving on to the Quick Reference section,
though, the form on the previous page should be
printed out or copied for use. This is the Character
Sheet, which will be used to record the various
abilities of the character you will create.
Quick Reference
Immortal power level
• Every character starts with an Immortal Power
Level (IPL) of 12.
Attributes
Every Character has 6 main attributes:
• Strength (STR) - The ability to push, pull slice,
dice, chop, and carry.
• Agility (AGI) - The ability to move and maneuver.
• Durability (DUR) - A character’s toughness and
endurance.
• Thought (THT) - A character’s intelligence,
learning ability, speed of thought, and ability to
react.
• Will (WIL) - The ability to resist mental attacks,
perform well under pressure, general focus, and
perception.
• Presence (PRS) - The ability to react well socially,
and to manipulate others.
Attributes values are determined by distributing 56
points amongst the 6 attributes, with a minimum of 1
and a maximum of 12. Human average for an attribute
is 4.
Powers
Characters start out with 1 level in Body
Reconstruction, and 1 free power level to spend where
they wish.
List of powers:
• Body Reconstruction - Regeneration and the
ability to return to life after death.
• Matter Creation - The ability to create anything
material.
• Life Creation - The ability to create living creatures
of all sorts.
• Energy Control - The ability to create and
manipulate various forms of energy.
• Warp Control - The ability to survive, thrive
within, and manipulate the warp.
• Gravity Control - The ability to create and
manipulate gravity fields.
• Continuum Control - The ability to perceive, and
to create teleportation portals to different places.
• Electrokinesis - The ability to manipulate
technology and to transfer into technological
devices.
• Shapeshift - The ability to transform your body
into various forms.
• Influence - the ability to mentally probe, attack,
control, and manipulate others.
• Illusion - the ability to alter other’s perception of
reality, and construct illusionary phantasms.
• Martial Warfare - The ability to excel in battle.
 Character Creation - 7

Subpowers • Cooking (Food Coma)

Characters start out with 3 picks from the subpowers • Engineering (MasterCrafter, Pinnacle of Structural
list. If they wish, they may trade their free power level Design, Enhanced Shields, Warp Power)
from above for an additional 3 subpowers. • Gambling (Bluff)
List of subpowers: • Literacy (Linguist)
• The Chef • Lore (Sage)
• Contingency Man • Medical (Mad Surgeon)
• Educated • Melee (Hurled Weapon, Quickdraw, Weapon
• Evil Eye Barrier, Reflexive Deflection, Counterattack,
Ambidexterity)
• Grit
• Missile (Quickshot, Gun Kata, Point Defense,
• Immunity to Poisons and Diseases
Ambidexterity, Blind shot, Disarm, Death Blossom)
• Innate Pilot
• Pilfer (Stage Magician)
• Mojo
• Pilot Planetary (Professional Driver, Stunt Driver,
• Photographic Memory Defensive Maneuvering)
• Sharpened Senses • Pilot Starship (Defensive Maneuvering)
• Sustained • Research (Sponsored, Genius)
• Telepath • Rope Use (Hard Rope)
• Thick skinned • Running (Speed of the Fury)
• Tinkerer • Security Systems (EagleEye, Catburgler)
• Warlord • Stealth (Backstab)
• Swimming (Aquatikhan)
Skills • Trade Skills (Master)
Characters have their THT x 2 in skill points to spend. • Example: Woodworking (Mastercarver)
They get 1 free level in Literacy and Pilot - Land. • Example: Glassblowing (Artisan, Glass Sword)
Masteries are listed in parenthesis behind each skill. • Tactics (Aura of Command)
Skills list: • Weapon Systems (Quickshot, Point Defense)
• Acrobatica (Anime Leap, Arboreal Movement,
Autododge, Roll with Impact)
• Alertness (Panoramic Vision, Danger Sense) Calculated Values:
• Artistic Ability (Masterpiece) • Hit bonus: AGI+Melee, AGI+Missile
• Example: Music (Calm/Engross, Master • Parry: AGI + Melee + 11
Musician) • Evade: AGI + Acrobatica + 11
• Example: Storytelling (Enthrall) • DR:
• Astronavigation (Absolute Direction Sense, Linear • Skin: DUR / 3 (rounded down)
Algebra)
• Physical: Skin DR + Armor DR + Field DR
• Bargaining (Hagglorious)
• Mental: WIL / 3 (rounded down)
• Bio-Engineering (Genisis Device)
• Hit Points:
• Climbing (Spider-climb)
• Physical: DUR + (DUR * Grit)
• Computer Systems (Create/Control AI,
• Mental: INT
Armageddon Virus)
 8 - Character Creation

Making Your Attributes for COTA’s are generated by spreading 54

points across the 6 attributes, with a minimum of 1,
and a maximum of 12 in any given attribute.
Character
Strength (STR)
The following sections will cover the various aspects
The physical ability to push, pull, slice, dice, chop,
of making your character in much greater detail.
and carry. Strength determines the base amount of
damage done with a punch, or adds to the damage
done with a hand-held melee weapon. The amount of
IPL damage bonus is equal to the strength rating.
IPL Stands for Immortal Power Level and is a special
attribute distinct the other Other functions of strength, such as the Maximum
IPL Ability Gained attributes listed below. lifting capacity (defined as being able to lift something
1 Body Reconstruction This attribute sets the above your head), and jump distances are determined
maximum value of any by the table below.
4 Subpower
other attribute, and for
8 Subpower all Power levels. It also
Max Horizontal Standing Running
10 Power determines the number
of powers an Immortal Strength Lift(lbs) Jump Jump Jump
12 Subpower
has. Only Immortals or 1 28 .5 1 1/2
16 Subpower specially created creatures 2 40 1 2 2/4
20 Power, Subpower (see the Life Creation
power) have the IPL 3 57 1.5 3 3/6
24 Subpower
attribute. Humans that 4 80 2 4 4/8
28 Subpower don’t have an IPL attribute 5 113 2.5 5 5/10
30 Power (non-immortals, in other
words) have an effective 6 160 3 6 6/12
IPL of 10 for the purpose of attribute and power limits. 7 226 3.5 7 7/14
Characters get 1 power for every 10 IPL points, plus 8 320 4 8 8/16
the base power of Body Reconstruction. Characters 9 453 4.5 9 9/18
also get a subpower for every 4 IPL points they have.
10 640 5 10 10/20
Starting characters always have IPL 12, which gives
them Body Reconstruction, one other power, and 3 11 905 5.5 11 11/22
subpowers. 12 1280 6 12 12/24
13 1810 6.5 13 13/26
Attributes 14 2560 7 14 14/28
Characters have 6 basic attributes in the Victus game 15 3620 7.5 15 15/30
system: Strength, Agility, Durability, Thought, Will,
and Presence. An average human has a score of 4 in 16 5120 8 16 16/32
every attribute. The maximum a normal person can 17 7241 8.5 17 17/34
have in an attribute is 10, although realistically, 99% 18 10240 9 18 18/36
of the population never reaches above a 8. Immortals
can exceed these values, although they are limited by 19 14482 9.5 19 19/38
their IPL attribute, which starts the game at a value of 20 20480 10 20 20/40
12. and increases by one for each successful mission
(awarded by the council representative/gm).
 Character Creation - 9

Agility (AGI) Durability HP DR

Represents manual dexterity, speed, and 1 1 0
maneuverability, as well as the ability to avoid
2 2 0
something. This score is used in conjunction with
skills to strike at an opponent or to dodge out of the 3 3 1
way of their blows. All Speeds are all in yrds/sec. 4 4 1
5 5 1
Walking Jogging Sprinting # Actions
6 6 2
Agility Speed Speed Speed / round
7 7 2
1 .5 1 1.5 1
8 8 2
2 1 2 3 1
9 9 3
3 1.5 3 4.5 1
10 10 3
4 2 4 6 1
11 11 3
5 2.5 5 7.5 1
12 12 4
6 3 6 9 1
13 13 4
7 3.5 7 10.5 1
14 14 4
8 4 8 12 2
15 15 5
9 4.5 9 13.5 2
16 16 5
10 5 10 15 2
17 17 5
11 5.5 11 16.5 2
18 18 6
12 6 12 18 3
19 19 6
13 6.5 13 19.5 3
20 20 6
14 7 14 21 3
Memory is also represented by this attribute, but only
15 7.5 15 22.5 3
to a lesser extent. Thought is the attribute associated
16 8 16 24 4 with most skills, and also determines the starting
17 8.5 17 25.5 4 number of skill points (THT x 2). It is also used for
determining base initiative, and as the base attribute
18 9 18 27 4
for determining attacks in dataspace (see section for
19 9.5 19 28.5 4 Computer Combat).
20 10 20 30 5
Will (WIL)
Durability (DUR) Willpower. Resisting mental attacks, performing well
A characters overall toughness and endurance, and under pressure. This stat is also necessary for difficult
lets you survive not managing to avoid someone or drawn out tasks, and also represents the character’s
with a lot of strength.This stat is used to determine perception and attention to detail. Will is also used to
a characters resistance to damage. The number of determine your health in dataspace (See section on
Hit points (HP) a character begins with is equal to Computer Combat).
their durability. (The Grit sub-power can increase hit Presence (PRS)
points over this amount). Durability also determines a
character’s Damage Resistance, or DR. Deals with all social situations. A high presence
allows a character to influence others around him or
Thought (THT) her. Presence also determines your ability to withstand
Intelligence, learning ability, analytical skills, speed social attacks (See section on Social Combat).
of thought, ability to react well to new situations.
10 - Character Creation - Powers

Powers to your skill rating to create an Effective Skill Level,

which is the value you use when you need to roll that
skill.
Effective Strength: How much you can create, how
damaging you
Vector Permanent
are, etc, per
Strength Area Of Effect Movement Movement Effects: Some
action. Also
Power & Base Range (sphere of yards Rate (yards/ Rate powers that only
limits maximum
Level Damage (yards) radius) second) (miles/sec) have temporary
mass/max lift).
1 2 4000 200 1000 5000 effects can make
So with matter
those effects
creation you 2 4 8000 400 2000 10,000 permanent
might fill up
3 6 12000 600 3000 15,000 by using the
the maximum
4 8 16000 800 4000 20,000 power as if it
available
were 10 levels
volume with 5 10 20000 1000 5000 25,000 lower. So, an
whip cream, but
6 12 24000 1200 6000 30,000 immortal with
you’d limited to
Gravity Control
a much smaller 7 14 28000 1400 7000 35,000
at 11 can create
volume of gold. 8 16 32000 1600 8000 40,000 a permanent
9 18 36000 1800 9000 45,000 localized gravity
Range: How far 10 20 40000 2000 10000 50,000 effect with an
from you you effective Power
11 22 44000 2200 11000 55,000 Level of 1.
can invoke your
power. 12 24 48000 2400 12000 60,000
Area of Effect: 13 26 52000 2600 13000 65,000 Power
The area 14 28 56000 2800 14000 70,000 specialties: As
covered by the you get more
15 30 60000 3000 15000 75,000
effect of the proficient in
power. 16 32 64000 3200 16000 80,000 a power, you
17 34 68000 3400 17000 85,000 may specialize
to gain bonus
Movement Rate: 18 36 72000 3600 18000 90,000
abilities, or to
Your speed in 19 38 76000 3800 19000 95,000
gain certain
combat. It takes
20 40 80000 4000 20000 100,000 abilities faster
5 rounds to
than others.
accelerate to full
Details on individual power specialties are in each
speed. Not all powers grant movement abilities.
power’s section. Some common specialties (specialties
that may be taken with many different powers) are
Vector Movement Rate: Your speed out of combat. It listed here:
takes 5 minutes to accelerate to full speed.
• Skilled - Each level of this specialization adds one
Line of Sight: Almost all powers require line of sight to to a bonus skill level awarded by the power.
effectively use. Exceptions will be noted. • Juggernaut - When determining effective strength
of the power, add 2 per level of this specialty (or
Bonus skill levels: Due to the innate understanding one to the effective strength when added to an
and mastery over fundamental universal forces that Immortal’s base strength for damage). Some powers
you get from powers, certain powers grant what is have specialized variants of this specialty which are
known as bonus skill levels. Bonus skill levels add described in their respective power descriptions.
 Character Creation - Powers - 11
• Permanence - When determining the power level per level of body reconstruction for every action
of permanent applications of a power, add 1 per spent in healing.
level in this specialty to determine the effective • Creating a new body is much harder than
power level. healing, and takes much longer (see the table).
• Area of Effect boost - When determining the area Immortals with completely destroyed bodies are
of effect of a power, add 1 for each level in this thrown into Ghost Form (see below) while their
specialty to determine the effective power level. bodies are reconstructing. Reconstructing bodies
stay incorporeal until fully formed, at which
point they simply appear wherever the Immortal’s
Ghost happens to be at that moment. The Ghost is
automatically attached to the body at this point.
Body Reconstruction
• Body Reconstruction also
(Immortality) makes your body more resistant
Body Reconstruction Time to create to damage, with is represented by
Every Immortal has 1 free level in
Level a new body increased hit points. Multiply your
this power.
1 32 days Body Reconstruction times your
Body Reconstruction is the
DUR to calculate the amount of
power that makes a being an 2 16 days
hit points your character has.
Immortal. It allows them to heal 3 8 days
at unbelievable rates, re-grow lost
4 4 days
limbs and organs, and even create Ghost Form
a new body from scratch if the old 5 2 days
When the body of an Immortal is
one is destroyed. 6 1 day completely destroyed, or damaged
7 12 hours beyond repair (i.e. Hit Points are
Things to note: reduced past negative Durability),
8 6 hours
the Immortal goes into their Ghost
• It takes 32 days to create a 9 3 hours Form. Their consciousness is
new body at power level 1. This
10 1 hour transferred out of their body, and
time is halved for each increase
floats around in a free form state,
in power level (see the table 11 32 minutes
able to see into the real world,
below). The new body can have 12 16 minutes but unable to affect it. They are
any appearance the Immortal
13 8 minutes also able to see and communicate
desires; it does not have to
14 4 minutes with other Ghosts floating about, if
reflect the old body. However,
there happen to be any.
unless the Immortal makes a 15 2 minutes
successful geneticist skill check, While in Ghost Form, an Immortal
16 1 minute can move about as they wish at a
with a difficulty dependent on
how different the new body is 17 32 seconds speed of 10 feet per second. They
from his original, he is restricted 18 16 seconds are pretty much unaffected by
to his own species. anything in the real world, able to
19 8 seconds move through matter, energy, and
• Regeneration (including
20 4 seconds void with equal ease. They can see
regeneration of lost body parts)
and hear into the real world, but
occurs at a rate of healing 1
all other sense (touch, taste, sense) are useless. They
point of damage per round per power level (meaning
see into the world as if they had a body with eyes at
that an Immortal with a Body Reconstruction of 4
their current location (which means that if they are
could heal 4 points of damage per round).
located inside a wall, they aren’t going to be seeing
• Concentrated healing (spending an action much of anything). Also, in Ghost Form, everything is
for healing) lets you heal at an accelerated rate lit as if the ambient lighting is that of dusk. This applies
even compared to standard Body Reconstruction to brightly lit areas as well as regions of absolute
healing - gain an extra 1 point of health back darkness.
12 - Character Creation - Powers
When in Ghost Form, the Immortal automatically
begins the process for the construction of a new body.
This process does not require any concentration on
the Immortal’s part, leaving them free to wander
around and do whatever they wish during this time.
The Immortal can pause the creation at any time if
they wish, allowing them to hold back on joining a
new body until they are ready.
New bodies are created in Ghost Space, and do not
exist in the real world until the Immortal transfers
it over after completion. Ghosts can see the semi-
completed bodies of other Ghosts floating over their
heads, and generally can tell how much longer it will
take for those bodies to complete. Once the body is
completed, the Immortal can leave it in Ghost space
indefinitely. When he is ready to reform in real space,
the body is instantly transferred over, and the Ghost
joins with the new body.
As a note, only Immortals form Ghosts. Normal
humans, or creatures of other species, do not form
Ghosts; this is a function of the Body Reconstruction
power.
Specialties
• Body Energy Knitting - Each level of this specialty
adds to the Body Reconstruction level when
determining how long it will take to reform a new
body.
• Fast Healing - Each level of this specialty adds to
the Body Reconstruction level when determining
how many hit points automatically heal per round,
or per action spent concentrating on healing.
Matter Creation (Mass)
Duration: Permanent
Immortals with Matter Creation have the power to
create something out of nothing, despite the fact that
reality says it can not be done. Using Matter Creation,
an Immortal can create anything from a lump of gold,
to air for breathing in space, to complex machinery.
Complex items require both knowledge (in the form of
the appropriate skills) and time to create. The difficulty
varies depending on the object; a toaster is much
easier to create than a spaceship. The object can be
made anywhere in the Area of Effect, centered on the
Immortal (giving this power an effective range equal to
the Area of Effect, instead of the default range).
Things to note:
• Living matter cannot be created with Matter
Creation. Food can be created; however, provided
that it is dead.
• The amount of mass that can be created is limited
by the effective strength of the power (use the
maximum lift column on the strength table).
• Cronium, the primary ingredient in the fuel for
long range hyper-drive engines, can not be created,
as part of it exists outside of real space.
• It is possible to make many different types of
matter simultaneously, though this may require skill
checks.
• Matter Creation adds 1 bonus skill level per level
of the power to the Engineering skill.
• Impromptu barriers have a strength and durability
equal to 2 points of DR and 2 HP for each level of
Matter Creation.
Items can not be created inside solid objects (line
of sight), with the exception that objects can be
generated inside an atmosphere (gas is displaced). This
does allow for actions such as poisoning a target by
creating poisons all around them, but does not allow
one to do things such as creating a ball of rubber
cement inside someone’s chest cavity. Matter can not
be created inside a living creature at all unless line
of sight is possible (if you are inside a living ship,
swallowed whole, etc).
When using Matter Creation as an attack (such as
the poison example described above, or creating an
anvil above someone’s head), use the missile skill
to determine whether or not the attack is successful.
The damage from the attack is the power’s effective

strength plus any accuracy successes.
Specialties
• Enhanced Memory - Each level purchased of this
specialty adds two to the maximum number of item
types you can create instantly and stacks with the
photographic memory subpower.
• Fast Creator - Each specialty level purchased
is added to the Matter Creation level when
determining item creation times.
• Prolific Creator - For each specialty level
purchased, the Matter Creationist can construct
an additional copy an object in the time it takes to
construct one such object. So, with Prolific Creator
at 1, you can create 2 objects at once, with Prolific
Creator at 2, you create 3 copies of the object
simultaneously, etc. This can’t be combined with
an attack to make an attack more lethal (attacks
always do damage based on effective strength), or
cover more area, as this specialty is still subject to
effective strength limitations on how much mass can
be created at once. This specialty is perfect for mass
producing weaponry to outfit an army… of robots
that you mass produce!
Quick Item Creation Rules
Matter creation and all required skills to create an
item must be at the minimum level required for that
item. No skill check is required for standard items
that aren’t rushed (i.e. That you take the full length
of time required to create the item). To rush an item,
make the appropriate skill checks, and each success
over the required difficulty number reduces the time
required by 10%, to a minimum of 10% of the base
construction time. A failed roll means that a non-
functional item was created.
Quick item creation rules are to allow a Matter
Creationist to easily mass produce average grade
equipment. Customized equipment can not be made
with the quick creation rules - see Equipment section
in the Core rulebook for details on how to create
customized equipment.
Character Creation - Powers - 13
Life Creation (Life)
Duration: Permanent
Immortals with Life Creation are gods amongst men.
They can create any creature that their mind can
imagine. They can take their followers and grant them
powers, heal their armies, create armies out of thin air,
and summon hideous monsters to do their bidding.
Some very complicated life forms can be generated
with this power.
Creatures can be created with powers or sub-powers,
if the Life creator so desires, allowing for some truly
unique minions.
If intelligent creatures are created, they have their
own will. Although they are inclined to be obedient
towards their creator when first created, this can
rapidly change. Influence or Presence can help
immensely with controlling intelligent creations.
Things to note:
• Life Creationists can heal 2 points of damage per
power level for every action they spend in healing.
They can heal any living target (including themselves
and other immortals).
• Recently fallen creatures can be revived using
this power. This is only doable with mortals; other
Immortals have an essence that is beyond the scope
of this power. See the table to determine how long
after death a creature can be revived.
• Each level of Life creation grants a bonus skill
level to the Bio-Engineer skill.
• New creations are created with up to 6 x Life
Creation level in creature points.
• It takes 1 second per creature point to create a
new life form.
• Each Power Level given to a creature costs 2
creature points. The creator must possess the
power to be granted. Creatures have maximum
power levels equal to 2 less than their Creator’s
power level in that power at the time of creation.
• Each attribute rating costs one creature point.
Creatures have maximum attributes equal to the
effective strength of the creator’s Life Creation.
• If creations have STR 0, they are paralyzed.
Creatures can not have DUR 0; they must have some
hit points in order to live. If they have AGI 0, they
can only flail around sadly - coherent locomotion is
beyond them. (And yes… the shame of AGI 0 means
14 - Character Creation - Powers
they will never be happy). THT 0 creatures are Bio-Engineer skill check when modifying an
purely instinctual, and have trouble following orders. existing mortal creature. In addition, when doing
WIL 0 creatures are very malleable and obedient, modifications to existing mortal creatures, reduce
but will not follow orders for long…t hey are easily the time taken by up to 12 seconds per specialty
distracted by shiny things and candy. And especially level, although each modification takes atleast 1
by shiny candy. PRS 0 creatures are hideously ugly action.
and freaky things by any race’s standards, even their • Symbiosis - Create bio-organic equipment to be
own. grafted onto organisms. Each level in this specialty
• Creatures get starting skill points equal to their allows the Life Creationist to amalgamate an
THT x 2, and can raise skills additional living creature onto
normally as an NPC after that Revival Time Limit an existing creature (mortal
(see Advancing your character Life Creation Level Days since death or immortal). The benefit of
section). Newly created this symbiosis over creating
1 2
creatures have no knowledge something like bio-organic
base, although they can be 2 4 armor (which can be done
created with very strong 3 8 with the base power) is that
instincts. This limits starting creatures can use the best
4 16
skill points to physical areas. of their attributes and power
The exceptions are neural 5 32 levels when acting in unison.
jacks or telepathy which 6 64 When symbiotic creatures
can be used to assist in the 7 128 are damaged, that damage is
teaching of desired skills. Jacks divided evenly amongst the
must be bought or constructed 8 256 merged creatures, rounding up.
with Engineering or Matter 9 512 • Psycho Doc - Each level of
Creation. 10 1024 this specialty adds to the Life
• Modifications to existing 11 2048 Creation level when determining
mortal creatures is possible the total amount that can be
as well. This can only be 12 4096 healed per action.
done on willing targets. 13 8192 • Healing Aura - This
The difficulty is Damn Near 14 16,384 specialization allows the
Impossible, and failure immortal to heal all targets (that
results in an excruciating 15 32,768
they desire to heal) within the
death for the victim. If a 14 65,536 area of effect (as determined by
creature is given the Body 15 131,072 the level of the specialization,
Reconstruction power, they are not the level of Life creation).
no longer mortal, and further 16 252,144
modifications are impossible. 17 524,288 • Minion Master - For each
It takes the standard time of level in this specialty, an extra
18 1,048,576 creature (identical to the initial
1 second per creature point
to do modifications. New 19 2,097,152 creature created) can be created
attribute values are determined 20 1,194,304 in the time it takes to create one
based on the amount of creature. So, with Minion Master
creature points the Life Creator has to spend, not the at 1, you can create 2 creatures at once, with Minion
old values. Master at 2, you create 3 creatures simultaneously,
etc. This specialty is perfect for cackling evilly while
Specialties shouting “Rise up, my minions!” as you create your
• Fast Creator - Each level of Fast Creator allows the evil henchmen army.
creation of creatures 12 seconds faster than normal,
to a minimum of 1 action per creature created.
• Mutator - Each level of Mutator adds 2 to the
 Character Creation - Powers - 15

Energy Control (Energy) Immortal as long as the source’s power rating is

less than the immortal’s Energy Control level. This
Duration: Concentration
requires the following roll: Energy Control+WIL+d20
Immortals with Energy Control are living dynamos. vs. 11+(total rating of all power sources to be shut
They can be walking pillars of destruction at higher down). The controller may choose which power
levels. They are capable of tasks such as blasting sources within the area of effect to shut down.
targets with beams of annihilation, protecting The power sources remain disabled as long as the
themselves with force fields and energy absorption controller concentrates (sacrifices 1 action/round).
fields, or flying by launching energy out of their body
Specialties
as a form of thrust.
Things to note:
Sources Power Ratings
• Attack damage is determined by effective strength.
Smaller Energy Weapons & Items Weapon
• As Energy Control immortals launch energy (pistols, rifles, heavy rifles) Damage
missiles almost constantly, they gain a bonus skill
Hover car fusion engine, power
level to the missile skill per level of Energy Control. 14
armor, cannon
• Melee attacks can be made with Energy Control.
Heavy robot armor, tank, cronium
The damage is the greater of Effective Strength or 20
weaponry
STR+Energy Control. Examples of this attack would
include hitting opponents with a charged fist, using Starship engines 16 + 7*SizeClass
a coherent beam of energy as a plasma sword, etc. Space Station or City 58
• Area of Effect attacks can be made. The damage Planetary power source 64
is equivalent to half of the effective strength of the
power, and no extra damage is made for additional • Controller - When attempting to shut down power
successes on the attack roll. sources, this specialty level may be added to the skill
• After reaching Energy Control level 5, the check.
controller can mimic the effects of Chronium power, • Field Specialist - Each level of Field specialist adds
empowering starship engines and allowing them to 2 points of damage absorption on top of the normal
travel up to 1000 light years per day without using energy absorption ability.
up any Chronium fuel.
• Blaster - Each level of this specialty adds one to
• Energy Absorption, an innate ability of this power, the effective strength of the power when determining
soaks damage equal to the effective strength of the damage (this is similar to the Juggernaut common
power automatically every round (the player can specialty, and replaces it).
choose which attack to have this come into play.
• Speed Freak - Each level of this specialty adds
If desired, it occurs after other forms of damage
to the energy control level when determining
resistance and mitigation). The absorbed energy is
movement rate.
dissipated harmlessly into the surrounding region
by the Immortal. Kinetic, potential, and pure
energy attacks can all be absorbed, though mental
energy attacks can not. In addition to the 1 free
absorption per round, additional energy equivalent
to the effective strength can be absorbed per action
sacrificed.
• Permanent energy sources can be created with
an effective strength of power level - 10. Check the
power ratings table below to determine what this
effective strength corresponds to in terms of power.
• Energy controllers may shut down all power Warp Control (Warp)
sources within the area of effect centered at the
Duration: Concentration
16 - Character Creation - Powers
The immortal with this power has an innate • Tendril specialist - Each level of this specialization
understanding and control of the adjacent dimension adds on to the Warp controller level when
where time/space is compressed. This chaotic alternate determining the effective strength of the tendrils
universe can be very dangerous for the uninitiated. An created by the Warp controller. (This replaces the
immortal with this power can survive in the vacuum of Juggernaut common specialty).
space or in the horror of warp space indefinitely. They • Summoner - This specialization allows the
can also protect others within their area or effect from Warp Control to summon friendly warp creatures
the ravages of space or warp space.They can open (including Xelomites). The number of creatures
fractures into warp space at will, and communicate summoned is equal to Summoner level x 3.
with the denizens of that bizarre realm.
• If desired, and if the Summoner level is high
Things to note: enough, a Xelomite Lord can be summoned
• Warp Control provides bonus levels equal to the instead of 15 xelomites.
level of warp control to the Astronavigation skill and • If desired, a bio-ship can be summoned instead
the melee skill. In addition, a Warp controller will of 9 normal xelomites. The bio-ship will have the
never critically fail an astronavigation check. stats of an average Heavy Warship.
• Warp controllers can fully communicate with, • Gate Specialist - Each level of this specialization
and are initially viewed as friendly by the denizens adds to the Warp Control level when determining
of warp space. By default, Xelomites won’t attack the area of effect for the size of a gate created, or for
them, seeing them as one of their own; living ships protecting others in the void of real or warp space.
will respond positively to them, although no special
control is granted.
• Warp controllers can create rifts between real and
warp space. The size of this rift is determined by the
area of effect.
• Once a rift is opened, Warp controllers can create
pseudopods, or tendrils of warp space bio-mass
stretching out from the rift. These tendrils act as
directed by the Warp controller, and function as
an extension of him. The tendrils can extend out
into real space or jump space, up to a distance
determined by the area of effect.
• Tendrils have the standard effective strength as
determined by the level of Warp Control.
• A sensory node that the Immortal can see/hear/
touch/taste/talk normally though exists at the end
of each tendril.
• Any damage a tendril takes is effectively taken
by the immortal, and will deplete his hit points
accordingly. The tendril has the same dodge, hit
rolls, armor, DR, etc as the immortal, and counts
as line of sight for remote attacks.
• Warp controllers can shield those that they choose
to protect from the ravages of both real and warp
space, as long as they are within the area of effect,
centered on the Immortal. This means they won’t
freeze or suffer radiation burns, or asphyxiate.
Specialties

Gravity Control (Gravity)
Duration: Concentration/permananent
This power grants Immortals the ability to control the
force of gravity. They can use gravity to achieve many
different effects, such as bringing remote objects to
themselves, manipulating objects at a range, making
themselves attracted to remote points (as a form
of flight), changing the effects of gravity within the
internal structure of an object (increasing its mass and
density as a result), and creating areas and paths of
altered gravitation.
Things to note:
• Due to their constant manipulation of objects
and themselves, Gravity controllers gain bonus skill
levels to their Acrobatica skill equal to their level in
Gravity control.
• Gravitic attraction can be controlled on a fine
enough level to effectively grant the user telekinesis
(by making an object attracted to your hand, making
a sudden change in attraction along someone’s
face, telekinetically punching them, etc). Effective
strength of the power controls the amount of weight
moved or damage done. When fine motor control
is required (such as for wielding a knife remotely, or
picking a lock, or operating a computer) the effective
strength is halved.
• Gravitic blasts allow the Gravity controller to hurt
his opponents at a range. Damage is determined by
the effective strength, and the missile skill is used to
determine whether or not you hit your target.
• Gravitic Lock Downs are a form of telekinetic
grapple, allowing the Gravity controller to bind their
opponents. A successful ranged attack must be made
to initiate the lockdown, at which point, the grapple
rules (in the Combat section) come into effect.
Note: Gravitic Lock Downs function at half effective
strength. However, they can be used against multiple
targets at once, if so desired, provided they are all
within the area of effect.
• Density Manipulation - The Gravity controller,
can, by increasing or decreasing the gravitic
attraction of the internal atoms and molecules of
an object, change its density. This has the effect of
making an object more durable, and heavier; or
weaker and lighter. Only non-living matter can be
affected by this power, with the exception of the
immortal, who can affect himself as he desires.
• The maximum change that can be affected
Character Creation - Powers - 17
by density manipulation creates an increase
or decrease of 2 DUR per gravity control level
compared to the base DUR of the object.
• Mass is increased by the maximum lift value,
with the change in DUR as the effective strength.
• Density changes are permanent. They can,
however, be modified again by gravity control,
but the density change can’t exceed the
maximum change as determined by the original
DUR of the object, not the current DUR.
• To modify a material, roll Gravity Control +
d20 vs. DUR (of the target) + 11.
• When increasing your own DUR, it is
suggested that you increase it to 1 less than the
maximum, to allow you to move. At maximum
density, you can just counter your additional
mass with your gravity movement power.
• Gravitic flight can be achieved by making yourself
gravitationally attracted to a point in the direction
you wish to travel.
• Gravitic attraction can be set up between any two
points (no mass needs to be present at either point).
Entire objects can be defined as one point.
• Gravitic pathways can be established, allowing for
things like rivers doing loops in the sky, or upside
down walkways. Effective strength determines the
maximum load that can be carried by the pathway at
any given moment.
• It is more difficult to control the gravity in an area
as opposed to for a single object. When doing area
effects with Gravity Control, halve effective strength.
• Permanent gravity effects can be made using an
effective Gravity Control level 10 below your actual
level.
Specialties
• Gravitic Strength - Each level of this specialty
adds on to the Gravity Control level when
determining Effective Strength.
• Monstrous - You are a density monster! Each level
of this specialization adds on to the Gravity Control
level when determining the maximum change in
DUR a Gravity controller may increase their own
density by. These bonus levels do not increase the
Gravity Controller’s mass or weight, and so do not
add to encumbrance.
Continuum Control (Space)
18 - Character Creation - Powers
Duration: Instantaneous / Concentration
Through sheer force of will alone, an Immortal with
this power can bend the space-time continuum.
Continuum controllers are completely aware of
everything in their target area, no matter how well
shielded by technology. Immortals with this power
may take themselves to a remote area instantly by
creating a portal through space-time. This empowers
them to traverse vast reaches of space with a single
flicker of thought. At higher levels, they can create
permanent portals between locations (moving or
fixed), allowing anyone to cross through them at any
time.
Things to note:
• Each level of continuum control provides bonus
skill level to the Alertness skill.
• One scan of any area within range may be made
for free each round, and before the creation of each
portal.
• Technological cloaking fields are immediately
scanned through. Cloaking fields created by the
Illusion power require a contested power role to see
through.
• The range determines how far away you can scan,
or how far away you can teleport; the area of effect
determines the area scanned with one action, and
the maximum size of the teleportation portal. The
minimum size of a portal is 1 foot in diameter.
• Scans do not count as line of sight for other
powers, or for missile attacks. Portals do.
• Opening a portal to a remote area gives the user
a free scan of the area around the remote end of the
portal just before the portal is opened. This allows
the Immortal to not open a portal into a solid object,
as they can choose to port anywhere within the area
of effect about a chosen location.
• Portals can be created in the exact physical outline
of the Immortal if desired, allowing them to teleport
themselves under any circumstances. In this case,
the Immortal doesn’t have to move, either - they
are instantly sent through the portal to the remote
destination.
•  Teleported objects maintain their momentum from
before they traversed the portal.
• Portals are created with the opening facing the
immortal, and the exit point facing away from the
immortal.
• Permanent portals are created at an effective
power level of Continuum Control - 10.
• Objects that do not pass completely through a
portal are not transferred. Gates are made in the
same intertial frame as the creator, so if they were
created on a ship, they move with the ship; if they
were created on a planet, they move with the planet.
• There is no mass limit to what can be teleported
- if it can be fit through the portal, it will be
transferred. If the Continuum controller could make
a portal large enough, he could teleport a planet.
• To teleport an unwilling person or object (such as
a spaceship or vehicle that is attempting to dodge)
the Continuum controller must align themselves so
the gate will open correctly (if the vehicle is fleeing
the controller, for example, the gate will function
correctly. If they are charging the controller, then
it won’t). A hit roll is needed using the missile
skill vs. the target’s evade to create a gate in the
right position, close enough that they can’t dodge
it. Alternatively, unwilling victims can be hurled
through a gate, if grappled.
• All gates are 2-way portals.
Specialties
• Omniscience - Add Omniscience to Continuum
Control to determine the effective power level when
determining the area of effect to be scanned.
• Portal Master - This specialty adds to Continuum
Control when determining the maximum size of a
portal.
• Farcaster - This specialty adds to the Continuum
control level when determining the maximum range
of a portal or personal teleport.
 Character Creation - Powers - 19

Electrokinesis (Machine) shut down at will as a free action.

Duration: Concentration • Controlled objects must remain within the range
specified by the Electrokinesis power level to remain
Immortals with this power are supernaturally gifted
controlled.
at manipulating machines and technological devices.
They are able to bypass computer security systems, Specialties
generate new programs at will, control vehicles and • Machine Command - When taking control of
starships by thought alone, overload weaponry, or remote systems, add Machine Command level to
even hijack an army of robots. They can transfer the Electrokinesis level to determine the value of the
themselves into machines, or travel via conductive contested roll.
materials and even energy waves, after shifting into an
• AI Empathy - Each level of this specialty adds
electronic form.
2 to Presence when dealing with AIs. Having this
Things to note: specialty will generally ensure that AIs are non-
• Effective Strength determines how much mass hostile to the Immortal when initially meeting them,
(specifically, inanimate objects) can be converted to unless external circumstances are involved.
electrical form along with the Electrokinetic. • Electronic Form Mastery - Each level of this
• Electrokinetics get +1 THT per level. specialty increases maximum speed when in
Electronic Form, as well as adding to THT and WILL
• Electrokinesis levels are added as bonus levels to
when in Hacking Combat.
the Computer Systems skill.
• Movement in electronic form is determined by the
Movement Rate of the Electrokinesis power level.
• To take control of an object, the following
requirements must be met:
• The object must be within the Area of Effect of
the power, centered on the Immortal.
• A contested roll must be won by the
Electrokinetic. The roll would be:
• If the target object has security software

Power level + Will + d20

vs.
Strength(target object) + 11

installed, then Hacking combat may be necessary

to bypass the security system.
• Control will be maintained for as long as the
Immortal concentrates.
• Multiple objects can be controlled. In such
situations, the highest object strength is used for the
contested roll, with an additional difficulty modifier
of +1 for every doubling in the number of targets (+1
for 2 targets, +2 for 4 targets, +3 for 8 targets, etc).
When controlling multiple objects, the controlled
objects can act in unison for a single action on the
part of the Electrokinetic. Controlled objects can be
20 - Character Creation - Powers
• The Immortal gains +1 DR per level of shapeshift
as they strengthen their physical form, and learn
Shapeshift (Body) tricks like doubling vital organs, etc. This DR is not
Duration: Permanent effective against mental attacks, but does add to all
forms of armor and other power-based defenses for
Shapeshifting Immortals have the ability to transform
physical attacks.
their physical selves into a virtually unlimited range
of different shapes. They can re-form themselves into • A shapeshifter can encapsulate other willing
metallo-organic structures, shift into blob-like beings, vehicles or characters if desired, and if they fit within
change their facial features to make themselves look the area of effect. This allows the encapsulated
like someone else, cover themselves in chitinous body object or person to add the shapeshifter’s bonus DR.
armor, etc. However, when the combined form is attacked and
hit, both suffer the full damage, though each gets to
Things to note:
use their DR.
• The Immortal can shapeshift into forms that allow
Specialties
him to fly at normal movement rates. Shifting into a
form that can propel itself in the vacuum of space • Tough - Each level of this specialization causes the
may require the study of other life-forms (such as Shapeshifter’s immortal form to be much tougher,
Xelomite bioships) that can do this before it can be adding +1 DR per level.
replicated by the Immortal. • Grit Master - Through the judicious use of
• Shapeshifters can shift their items and equipment duplicate organs, each level of this specialization
with them into their various forms, generally adds one bonus level to the Grit subpower when
retaining the armor and DR functionality of such determining hit points.
objects. The amount of mass they can shift with • Inconceivable - This specialty adds levels to the
them is determined by the Maximum Lift capacity of Shapeshifter level when used to determine the
the Effective Strength of their Shapeshift power. maximum speed and area of effect.
• Forms that don’t require breathing and are resistant
to temperature fluctuations and decompression may
be used to survive in space indefinitely.
• Any form can be assumed, even partial changes
for different body parts, as long as the mass of the
body remains constant, and the final size fits within
the area of effect of the power. This can allow for an
incredibly dense insect, or a hollow gaseous giant
form.
• Matter unwillingly separated from the shifter
quickly revers to its original form and dissolves in a
number of rounds equal to the Effective Strength of
the power.
• Matter willingly separated from the shifter will
remain indefinitely, but will inflict damage on the
shifter proportional to the amount of mass shifted.
This matter can be shaped as a simple object (no
moving parts) made of the appropriate organic
materials, if desired.
• For forms or partial body shifts that involve
creating a melee attack mode (biting, claws, blades,
etc), the damage done is the Immortal’s strength +1
per level of shapeshifting, or the Effective Strength of
the power, whichever is greater.

Influence (Mind)
Duration: 1 round, + 1 additional round for each extra
success / Permanent for psychic surgeries.
Influence is the ability to manipulate the mind and
memories of others. An Immortal with Influence is
capable of picking up the thoughts of others, changing
their memories of past events, affecting their emotions
and judgements, mentally blasting someone’s brain
to do damage, and even control the autonomous and
voluntary body functions of their targets.
They can mentally reprogram their targets with hidden
“sleeper” commands, alter their personalities in subtle
or blatant ways, or shut down their ability to heal.
Things to note:
• Mental blasts cause actual permanent brain
damage, and attempt to lobotomize the target.
Damage is ½ effective strength, and is resisted as
Specialties
social combat (use WIL for DR). Attack is rolled as a
missile attack.
• Opponents can be Knocked Out. To do this, roll
Influence + d20 vs. Target’s WIL + 11. The duration
of the knock out is 1 round + 1 round per success.
• When attacking someone with Influence, the
target will know what direction the attack is coming
from.
• Each level of Influence grants +1 PRS.
• To have an effect that lasts longer than the
standard duration, mental surgery is required.
• Mental Surgery
• Mental Surgery is a difficult procedure that
permanently changes the mental structure of the
target, if they are mortal. Immortals will recover
from involuntary mental surgery within an hour
or so.
• It can only be performed on unconscious or
physically restrained targets.
• It requires at least 1 minute to complete. This
time can be longer if multiple changes are to be
performed.
• To successfully complete a mental surgery, roll:
• Influence + d20 vs. The target’s Will + 11
• This roll must be made for each change.
Character Creation - Powers - 21
• Influence allows an Immortal to pick up surface
thoughts. To pick up simple thoughts, or what a
target is actually thinking at any given moment, no
roll is required. To get detailed information from a
target, roll:
Influence + WIL + d20 vs.
Target’s WIL + Influence 11.
• Implanting surface thoughts, or using the power of
suggestion, can be accomplished with a roll of:
Influence + WIL + d20 vs.
Target’s WIL + Influence + 11.
•  Implanted suggestions have a duration of 1 round
+ 1 round for each success.
• Permanent changes can be done via psychic
surgery, OR via using the power as if it were 10
levels lower.
• Precise Lobotomy - This grants the ability to erase
memories, including the memories of how to use
powers, skills, photographic memory slots, etc. The
game effect of this is to grant back XP. Each level
of this specialty allows the Influence Immortal to
wipe the memories from another willing creature,
including another Immortal, freeing 1 skill level per
specialty level. The mental toll is severe, and this can
only be done once per game session per target.
• Mind Flayer - Add 2 to the effective strength of
Influence when calculating the mental blast damage.
Also, add 1 to the Knock Out roll for each level of
Mind Flayer posessed. This replaces the Juggernaut
common specialty.
• Coolness Field - Each level of this specialization
grants 2 bonus PRS to the Immortal.
• Puppetry - This specialization allows a special
Puppetry attack which grants complete control of
a target for a few moments, if successful. In effect,
this is a temporary transfer of conciousness; the
Immortal’s body goes limp while controlling another
via Puppetry. This power has the standard duration
for Influence. The roll required is:
Influence + Puppetry + d20
vs. WIL + Influence + 11
22 - Character Creation - Subpowers

• When a group of people are trying to detect

Illusion (Senses) (such as a group of guards standing sentry), use
Duration: Concentration the highest WIL and Alertness in the group, and
add +1 for each doubling of the group size (so +!
This power lets Immortals control what others can see For 2 people, +2 for 4, +3 for 8, etc).
and sense. They can make completely believable, and
incredibly complex illusions, fooling not only people • No skill or attribute imitated by the Illusionist via
but machines, cameras, and sensors as well. They can an illusion can be greater than the effective strength
even use this power to make themselves and others of the Illusion power.
disappear, effectively cloaking them. Specialties
Things to note: • Houdini - Add 2 to the effective strength of the
• The illusion can occupy the full area of effect, and Illusion power, when using an illusion to imitate
can occur anywhere within the range. Illusions can a skill or attribute. This replaces the Juggernaut
cover any and all senses. There is a chance that an common specialty.
illusion may be detected (see below). • Hidden Master - Each level of this specialty adds
• Each level in Illusion grants a bonus level to the +1 to Stealth, Parry, and Evade.
stealth skill. • Mysterio - Each level of this specialty add +1 to
• Illusions can be attached to a mass object, such the difficulty to see through the illusions created.
as a rock, or a ship. In such cases, the Illusion will
move with the object. If the object is destroyed, then
so is the Illusion.
• Characters with the Illusion ability are able to
conceal their presence from others. In combat,
this gives a +1 bonus per level of Illusion (with a
minimum of +4) to their Evade and Parry abilities,
due to them being hard to spot. This makes them
atleast as difficult to spot as someone with the best
cloaking devices available on the market.
• To detect a person or item hidden with Illusion,
a successful check must be made, except in cases
where the hidden person gives away their presence
(by falling into something, or attacking someone,
etc). Note - succeeding on the check only lets the
detector know that something is there; they do not
see through the illusion, and the hidden person/
object still has the bonuses that come from being
hidden. The roll needed for a successful check is the
following:

Detector’s Alertness + WIL + d20

vs. Object’s Stealth + AGI + 11

• To see through an illusion, the detector must roll:

Alertness + WIL +d20 vs.

Illusionist’s THT + Stealth + 11

Martial Warfare (Battle)
Duration: Continuous
For those players who are not easily impressed with
the glittery showboating of other powers, there is
an answer: Martial Warfare! This power makes an
Immortal the ultimate military fighting machine.
Martial Warfare Immortals are nimble, quick, and
lethal. They are also strong-willed, savvy, and tough.
Things to note:
• Each level in Martial Warfare grants one bonus
level in Acrobatica, Alertness, Melee, Missile, and
Tactics.
• Martial Warfare grants a one-time bonus of +3 to
AGI. This does not increase with level.
• Each even level in Martial Warfare (levels 2, 4, 6,
8, etc), grants a bonus point in DUR and WIL.
Specialties
• Super skilled - Each level of this specialization
adds one bonus skill level to two of the following
skills: Acrobatica, Alertness, Melee, Missile, Tactics.
This specialty replaces the Skilled common specialty.
• Ultimate Agility - For every level of this
specialization, a bonus point in AGI is granted.
• Enhanced Toughness - For every level of this
specialization, a bonus point is WIL and DUR is
granted.
Subpowers
Character Creation - Subpowers - 23
Starting Immortals may choose 3 sub-powers in
addition to their primary power. Additional sub-
powers are gained after every 4 IPL. When creating
new characters, you may sacrifice 6 THT, and lose the
ability to raise your character’s THT in the future, in
exchange for 3 additional sub-powers.
• Aquatic Affinity - This sub-power yields +4 bonus
levels to the swimming skill, the ability to breathe
underwater, and innate friendliness with undersea
life. You receive no penalties when in a liquid
environment.
• The Chef - You were trained at the HL Culinary
Institute and Martial Arts school. Get a +2 bonus to
the Melee, Acrobatica, and Cooking skills.
• Contingency Man - The Immortal with this power
can mysteriously summon up random non-chronium
based items as needed. They can use this power for
up to 5 items a week worth 500 sands each, or 1
item worth up to 2500 sands. Beginning characters
start off with up to 10,000 sands worth of items that
they may have created in the past. This sub-power
(like the Matter Creation power) can defy the laws of
physics and is explained by the Immortal’s ability to
subconsciously create needed items
• Educated - Characters start out with 8 extra skill
points. Also, they can raise one starting skill up to
level 8, if desired.
• Evil Eye - The Immortal can give their target
a baleful glare of such intensity and filled with
such hatred that the target will fall to the ground,
quivering in fear and stunned, rendered unable to
act. If desired, the intensity of the Evil Eye can be
so overpowering that the targets will suffer actual
damage from coming under its gaze. The Evil Eye
can be used once per day per point of WIL. Attacks
are rolled using:
Successful attacks will render the target prone and
inactive for 1 action, plus an additional action per
PRS + d20 vs. WIL + 11
success.
• Grit - (Durability) - Characters with Grit are tough
bastards. This power is incredibly useful for those
Immortals that often engage in dangerous activities
such as melee combat, absorbing plasma bolts with
their faces, and leaping off of tall cliffs without a
24 - Character Creation - Skills
safe way to arrive at the bottom unhurt. Grit grants a
character their DUR x GRIT in extra hit points (i.e. A
character with a Grit of 1 has double his DUR in hit
points). Unlike most other sub-powers Grit can be
raised with XP, in the same manner as a power.
• Grit 5 - Not Dead Yet - Characters strong
in Grit become ridiculously tough, refusing
to feel wounds that would drop other people.
Characters with this specialty do not pass into
unconsciousness when going below 0 hit points;
they may stand and fight until they die. Also, they
gain the unique ability to strangle opponents
with their own dangling innards. When fighting
after Not Dead Yet is activated, characters have a
skill penalty equal to their negative hit points.
• Immunity to Poisons and Disease - You are
immune to poisons and diseases of all sorts.
• The Mojo - Characters with the Mojo tend to be
very well spoken, or incredibly attractive, or both.
Characters get +4 to PRS when dealing with people
who would be attracted to people of their gender.
• Ninja - A master of stealth, acrobatics, and scaling
sheer surfaces. Ninjas get a +2 bonus levels to their
Stealth, Acrobatica, and Climbing skills.
• Innate Pilot - These characters are masters of
piloting all forms of vehicular transports. Innate
pilots get +4 bonus skill levels to all pilot-related
skills. As a result, Innate Pilots are NEVER unskilled
at a piloting roll, even if they haven’t bought the skill
in question.
• Photographic Memory - You don’t ever forget
anything. You remember every detail about every
little experience you have ever had; everything you
have ever read or seen remains clearly in your mind.
This power is invaluable for those Immortals with
powers such as Matter Creation or Life Creation; it
allows them to hold the structures of their creations
clearly in their mind, allowing for rapid, instant
recreation of certain pre-memorized objects.
• Immortals with the Matter Creation power and
Photographic Memory can learn how to instantly
create a number of different types of items
(within the power’s area of effect and mass limits)
equal to the Immortal’s THT+Matter Creation
level.
• Immortals with the Life Creation power and
Photographic Memory can learn how to instantly
create a number of different types of items
(within the power’s area of effect and mass limits)
equal to the Immortal’s THT+Life Creation level.
• Immortals can re-choose which items they
have pre-memorized whenever they raise their
power’s level.
• Sustained - Sustained Immortals don’t need to eat,
drink, breathe, or sleep. Ever.
• Thick Skinned - These Immortals were abused by
pigmy alligators as children, and as a result, get +2
to their DR. This is cumulative with DR gained from
Shapeshift, DUR, and armor.
• Sharpened Senses - You are constantly aware of
your surroundings. Get +2 bonus levels added to the
Alertness skill. Your sharpened vision also grants +2
bonus levels to the Missile skill. And since a major
aspect of stealth is knowing where your opponents
are looking, and not being there, your enhanced
perception gives you +2 bonus levels to your stealth
skill as well.
• Telepath - You are sensitive to the minds of others.
Once per day per WIL point, you get to make an
opposed WIL check of
to successfully pick up surface thoughts. For every
extra success rolled, additional information may be
gained, including information that the target may be
d20 + WIL vs. Target’s WIL + 11
concealing. Telepath also confers +2 bonus levels to
the Bargaining skill.
• Tinkerer - Immortals with this subpower are
masters of building , creating, and engineering.
Tinkerers get +2 bonus levels to their Computer
Systems, Engineering, and Bio-Engineer skills.
This means that the Tinkerer is never unskilled at
constructing items, even if they don’t have the skills
needed.
• Warlord - You are a master of combat and strategy.
Warlords get +2 bonus levels to the Melee, Missile,
and Tactics skills. This means that a Warlord is never
unskilled at combat, even if he doesn’t have the
appropriate skills.
Skills

In addition to attributes, characters have skills to help
round out their abilities. Starting characters get THT
x 2 in skill points for character creation. Each skill
point can be used to buy 1 level in a skill. Starting
characters can buy a skill up to a maximum of level 6.
Skills are listed in Bold in the list below. Following
each skill is the attribute it is most commonly rolled
in conjunction with (in parenthesis), along with any
masteries that skill may have, in italics.
Having a skill at Level 1 means that you are a
novice in that skill. In the case of a trade skill, such
as woodworking, this means you can hold down a
very basic job performing that trade, working under
another skilled craftsman. Levels 4-6 are what are
possessed by most professionals of that skill. Having
a skill at levels 7-9 indicate you are a true expert in
that field, and at level 10+, you are a renowned and
recognized master.
Skill masteries - Once a skill reaches level 10, your
character gains a mastery in that skill. Additional
masteries are gained every 4 levels after level 10, if
one is available for that skill. Masteries help show that
you are truly a legendary master at that skill. A master
of Computer Systems, for example, can create Sentient
AI’s; master gunmen can shoot incoming attacks out of
the air, etc.
All characters have 1 free level in the skills Literacy
and Pilot Land.
Skills List
• Literacy [1 FREE SKILL LEVEL] - (THT) - Every
character gets this at Level 1 at no cost. This skill
gives the ability to speak, read, and write the
character’s native language.
• Linguist - By making a Very Difficult skill
check, you can speak, understand, and read
fragments of any language you happen to
encounter.
• Pilot Land [1 FREE SKILL LEVEL] - (AGI) - Every
character gets this at Level 1 at no cost. This skill
gives the ability to pilot land vehicles (car, hovercar,
hover tank, etc) in addition to high tech surface
seafaring vehicles.
• Professional Driver - The ability to move at 2-3
times the speed of the rest of the traffic, take part
in high speed chases, spin out and crash without
Character Creation - Skills - 25
killing yourself and your passengers, etc.
• Stunt Driver - The ability to do insane moves
in a land-based vehicle like leaping across an
opening drawbridge, drive a vehicle with almost
no functional parts, etc. Add +4 to skill checks
made in such situations.
• Defensive maneuvering - The pilot’s skill in
evading hostile drivers gives +4 to the Vehicle’s
evade. This can go above and beyond the
maximum evade of the vehicle.
• Acrobatica - (AGI) - Acrobatica is the skill you
use to jump, flip about, do crazy acrobatic moves
such as running across tightropes, etc. It is also
the primary skill used in avoiding getting hit by
incoming attacks.
• Anime Leap - This mastery lets you jump to
crazy heights or distances, allowing you to leap
over charging tanks, jump high up, flip around,
and come down sword first for a death from
above attack, etc. For standing jumps, add 10 +
Acrobatica level to the jump distance. Horizontal
distances are increased by 3 x ( 10 + Acrobatica).
Having a running start will let you double these
increases.
• Arboreal Movement - Much like Tarzan or a
Ninja, you can travel through the trees with this
mastery. Your maximum speed while performing
Arboreal Movement is 6 x your base movement
rate.
• Auto-Dodge - You are so nimble that once per
round, you may attempt to dodge an attack that
would normally have hit you as a free action.
This includes attacks that critically strike you, as
well as Area of Effect attacks, provided you have
enough movement speed to escape the area of
effect. The success of your dodge is determined
by a roll of AGI + Acrobatica + d20, vs the initial
hit value of the attack (or 30, in the case of an
Area of Effect attack).
• Roll with Impact - Your insane agility allows
you to minimize the effect of any attack as long
as you are conscious, including surprise attacks.
Effectively, this mastery grants you additional
DR equivalent to your Acrobatica divided by 3,
rounded down.
• Alertness - (WIL) - This skill determines how
aware you are of your surroundings, and how much
attention you pay to the things that are going on
26 - Character Creation - Skills
around you. It is the primary skill used in making
perception checks.
• Panoramic Vision - Your extraordinary spatial
awareness allows you to have 360 vision.
• Danger Sense - In case you are about to fall
into an ambush, or be the victim of a surprise
attack or trap, the council representative gives
you one action (not a full round of actions) to
react. This action occurs before the surprise
happens, and you get to perform it knowing what
the intended surprise will be. As a result, when
you have the Danger Sense mastery, you are
never surprised; in combat situations, you will
always get your full evade/parry in such cases.
• Artistic Ability - (PRS) - Characters with this
skill can create any type of art. They can also use
their skills and training to judge the value of art, or
objects of beauty.
• Masterpiece - You are able to produce
masterpieces of art, earning amazing wealth and
fame as well as the envy and respect of your
peers. Each month the master can earn 1 billion
* (Artistic ability - 9) in sands.
• Astro-Navigation - (THT) - Space travel is
incredibly treacherous for those that don’t know
where they are going; this skill allows a character to
calculate a safe path to navigate to their destination.
Also, this skill represents knowledge in higher level
mathematics.
• Absolute Direction Sense - Your character has
an innate feel for where he is in in the universe,
and can chart his way to the nearest inhabited (if
desired) or life-sustaining world without any special
instrumentation.
• Linear Algebra - Your mastery of this strange
and bizarre “magic” math lets you play with
probabilities for a limited time. If the check
succeeds (a standard skill roll at crack-trip
difficulty), you can not be knocked unconscious
(reduced to 0 hit points) for your Astro-
Navigation level in rounds. This check may only
successfully be made once per day, although
you can keep trying until you do succeed. Also,
if you are about to be knocked unconscious or
killed, you can attempt to make the roll as a free
action, just as you are taking the damage. Many
have wondered why this mastery is called Linear
Algebra, but the masters are not telling; all that
is known is that they are so good at rotating
matrices and calculating eigenvectors that
somehow, they are rendered invincible, at least
for a time.
• Bargaining - (PRS) - This is the skill of negotiating
in any situation, whether it is haggling to reduce the
price of an item, negotiating a good business deal, or
convincing others to go along with your plan. When
attempting to haggle over the price of something,
each side may roll a bargaining check. Each success
grants a 10% shift in price in the winner’s favor, up
to 50% of the base price being negotiated.
• Hagglorious - You never have to pay more
than the base price, no matter how badly you
negotiate. Likewise, you will always get at least
the base price when attempting to sell, as long as
there is an interested buyer available. In addition,
once per session you can talk one non-player
character out of some incredible gear for free,
and they’ll be thankful for the chance to have
helped you out.
• Bio-Engineer - (THT) - This skill allows the
character to understand the building blocks of
life, and enables the character to do research in
genetic engineering. It grants basic first aid abilities,
allowing you to heal one point of damage to a
target, within 10 minutes of their being wounded.
It also trains you to perform surgery, prescribe
medications, get employment at a hospital, use
advanced medical equipment, etc. As a note, high
levels of genetic engineering is illegal in most of the
galaxy; Bio-engineers with a skill level of 6 or higher
are outlawed by the edict of the Council. In all of
Linked Space, and the majority of Free Space (who
generally fear the Council), such characters will be
hunted down and destroyed if discovered.
• Genesis Device - You understand the
technology of terraforming a planet rapidly
and violently, and can create a world-changing
Genesis Device. All existing life on a single
planet where such a device is deployed suffers
20 damage per round for 5 rounds, as the initial
biological forces manifest by recycling existing
matter. Using normal laboratory facilities, it takes
one year to construct such a device, at a skill
difficulty of 30.
• Ancient Immortal Secret - You have re-
discovered the very knowledge that the
council once developed. Through incredible
breakthroughs you can now turn normal beings

into Immortals. While this particular mastery isn’t
very useful to a COTA directly, normal humans
would sacrifice much for such knowledge,
or to be the recipient of such a gift. It takes
approximately 1 incredibly painful year for the
process to be completed on an individual, and
close to 10 million sands worth of supplies and
equipment. The immortal created will have
a randomly determined starting power and
attributes (use the character generation rules, if
applicable).
• Medico - The specialist gains the ability to graft
foreign body parts onto any biological entity. The
parts must be grafted into an appropriate area
(a dark vision eye from a cave crawler can go
into a human eye socket, for example, or a claw
can replace a hand). You can even do full body
replacements (putting a human’s head onto a
monkey body, a monkey head onto a giraffe body,
etc).
• Climbing - (AGI/STR) - Allows a character to
climb scalable surfaces, or any surface using
appropriate climbing gear.
• Spiderclimb - Allows a character to climb
any surface (including being upside down on
a ceiling) without equipment, and even while
appearing to be casually walking along.
• Computer Systems - (THT) - The ability to use any
computer system, write useful programs, and hack
into computer systems. Hacking is described in the
computer combat section. Creating programs works
as follows: computer programs are created with
skills. So, to create a program, first figure out what
skill is being emulated. Programs require 1 day per
skill point to be emulated; the programmer of such
a program must possess the skill to be emulated at
a level 1 higher than the desired value. So, in order
to write a level 5 Astro-navigation program, the
programmer must possess Astro-navigation at level
6. The difficulty to create a program is 14+skill level
desired.
• Create and manipulate AI - Masters with this
ability can create a sentient AI with a THT, WIL,
and max skill up to their Computer Systems level
- 1. The time required to create an AI is 1 week
per THT + WIL of the AI. See the AI section in the
Galactic Populous chapter of the Core Rule Book
for more details.
• Armageddon Virus - Masters with this ability
Character Creation - Skills - 27
can create the king of all computer viruses. This
self-replicating, rapidly mutating, devastatingly
offensive virus acts as an extension of the master
himself, so finely tuned is his creation. Use the
character’s THT and WIL as the basis for the
computer combat stats for attack upon every
computer in a network of the master’s choosing,
no matter how vast.
• Cooking - (THT) - you know how to prepare
amazing meals of incredible taste and visual appeal.
• Food Coma - You can completely satiate
anyone who eats one of your meals. They no
longer wish to do anything other than sit there
and digest. You can calm down entire hordes of
people this way. In-game effect: Anyone eating a
food coma meal is limited to 1 action per round
for the next 2 hours.
• Engineering - (THT) - This skill covers the various
fields of engineering (power systems, mechanical
engineering, electrical engineering, chemical
engineering, etc). Players can construct a variety
of technological items, ranging from chemicals,
drugs, explosives, electrical systems, engines, armor,
weapons, space ships, etc. The time required for
construction depends on the materials, workers, and
facilities available.
• Master Crafter - The engineer can create
masterly crafted items. Any such item gives a +2
bonus to Hit, or to one other skill or value for
which the item might be appropriate.
• Pinnacle of Structural Design - Any
items crafted by a master with this specialty
automatically have a DR 4 higher than it
normally would. Also, they have 50% more hit
points (rounded down) than normal.
• Souped Up - Any items crafted by a master
with this specialty which have their own agility
(i.e. Vehicles, space ships, robotic armor, etc)
have a base agility 4 higher than they normally
would.
• Enhanced Shields - Any items crafted by a
master with this specialty may be created with
built in force fields that grant 4 points of shield
DR.
• Gambling - (PRS) - With this skill, you are
proficient with all sorts of betting games. This
extends to knowing the rules of the game, as well
as the appropriate behaviors (such as maintaining a
28 - Character Creation - Skills
good poker face).
• Bluff - You are such a good talker that in the
face of certain doom, you can convince your
opponents that you have a superior position.
With a successful role of:
you get one extra free action (Bluff itself counts
as a free action) as your opponent pauses, unsure
PRS+Gambling+d20
vs. WIL+Gambling+11
of what to do in the face of your certainty. Bluff
can only be used once per round. If there is
no opponent available to bluff, the gambling
master may attempt to bluff the universe itself,
with a crack-trip difficulty roll. Example: As Ace
plummeted off the mountain, he made a final
attempt to curse the very planet itself, denying
gravity in the process, which allowed him
another chance to grasp a nearby tree root as he
hurtled past.
• Herb Lore - (THT) - Your knowledge of strange
plants and serums lets you perform first aid similar
to the Bio-engineer skill. It also grants you +2 bonus
levels to your cooking skill (this is +2 total bonus,
not +2 per level of Herb Lore).
• Medicine Man - You can create poisons that
do 1 point of damage per round (bypassing all
DR) for Herb Lore level in rounds. Each round,
a DUR check can be made by the victim with a
difficulty of Herb Lore + 11 to resist the damage.
“Now shut up and take your medicine! Yes, it’s
good for you! No, it does NOT burn!”
• Lore - (THT) - Characters with this skill have a
comprehensive base in a basic area of knowledge.
This can cover subjects like like History, Galactic
Lore, Technology, Alien Cultures, etc. To recall
information, make a standard Lore skill check,
with a difficulty depending on how obscure the
knowledge is.
• Sage - You KNOW. About everything. You can
make a lore skill check about any topic to have
heard something about it, regardless of whether
or not you have a specialty in it.
• Melee - (AGI) - This skill represents practice and
training in unarmed combat as well as combat
using weapons without a range (which includes
anything that stabs, pokes, slashes, and smashes).
Melee also grants the ability to parry melee attacks
(using AGI+Melee+11 for the parry value). Parry can
only be used against melee attacks that have a base
damage of +5 or less as compared to the defender’s
base damage. Note that this allows incredibly
strong creatures to parry something as powerful as
an energy sword with their bare hands, due to their
incredible strength being able to turn aside even
such a vicious blow.
• Lethal Targeting - Anything is lethal in your
hands, and most weapons are even more
effective than normal. Add +3 base damage to
any melee weapon damage, including unarmed
damage.
• Hurled Weapon - Masters of this ability can
throw melee weapons up to 10+STR yards away
from them as an attack.
• Quick Draw - Add your melee skill to your
initiative. This initiative bonus is applicable to all
situations, and is cumulative with other initiative
bonuses.
• Weapon Barrier - Lets you attempt to stop an
attack after it penetrates your Evade or Parry.
To use the Weapon Barrier, make a To Hit roll.
If your roll is equal to or greater than the roll
that hit you, you successfully knock the attack
aside with your weapon barrier. Weapon Barrier
can be used as a free action once per round;
additional uses require an action per use.
Weapon Barrier can only be used against attacks
that have a base damage of +5 or less compared
to the weapon used in the barrier.
• Reflexive Deflection - Add +2 to your parry
and evade against all attacks (both melee and
missile).
• Counter-Attack - This mastery allows you to
attempt to strike back at an opponent if their
melee attack misses you. This ability can be used
once per round per attacker that uses a melee
attack on you. To Hit rolls made using Counter
Attack are made with a -2 penalty. This counts as
a free action.
• Ambidexterity - This mastery allows a
character to fight using a weapon in each hand.
The second weapon can be a melee or missile
weapon. Having the extra weapon grants an
extra attack (not an extra action) per round.
This extra attack is at a +2 penalty To Hit, and
is executed simultaneously with one of the
character’s normal attacks. This allows it to be

used in situations where characters normally
only get one action (such as an ambush or a
surprise round attack).
• Missile - (AGI) - This skill grants proficiency with
all ranged weaponry, with the exception of ship
based weapons and artillery.
• Lethal Targeting - Anything is lethal in your
hands, and most weapons are even more
effective. Add +3 base damage to any missile
weapons you use.
• Quick Shot - Add your missile skill to your
initiative. This initiative bonus is applicable to all
situations, and is cumulative with other initiative
bonuses.
• Gun Kata - Your combat skills in missile
weapons have progressed to the level that you
ideally place yourself in order to avoid incoming
attacks of all varieties. Add +2 to parry and evade
against both missile and melee attacks.
• Point Defense - You can attempt to counter
any missile attack (even after it would normally
penetrate your evade, parry, or other defenses)
by shooting it down before it can strike you.
This may be done once per round for free;
additional point defense actions require the use
of one action each. You do not have to beat the
opponent’s initiative, as you are reacting to their
attack. After their attack roll is made, make a
To-Hit roll. If your roll is equal to or better than
your opponent’s roll, you successfully shoot
their attack down. Ammunition is used up in a
Point Defense. Ammunition must be thrown or
shot; you can’t use point defense with a melee
weapon in your hand. Lastly, Point Defense can
only be used against attacks that have a base
damage of at most +5 compared to that of the
weapon being used for Point Defense.
• Ambidexterity - This mastery allows a
character to fight using a weapon in each hand.
The second weapon can be a melee or missile
weapon. Having the extra weapon grants an
extra attack (not an extra action) per round.
This extra attack is at a +2 penalty To Hit, and
is executed simultaneously with one of the
character’s normal attacks. This allows it to be
used in situations where characters normally
only get one action (such as an ambush or a
surprise round attack).
• Blind Shot - Masters of this specialty can target
Character Creation - Skills - 29
opponents even when their vision is impaired
or blocked, with no penalty. They do need to
be aware of the targets (have seen them once,
detected them with danger sense, etc).
• Disarm - If your target is holding a weapon,
you can make a To Hit roll with a -4 penalty,
and either disarm them or damage their weapon
(your choice) on a successful roll.
• Death Blossom - You can fire a missile attack
at every opponent within the range of your
weapon, and to whom you have line of sight to.
This is limited by the amount of ammunition in
your weapon, of course. Also, this takes a full
round, not just a single action.
• Music - (PRS/AGI) - Characters with this skill can
read music, play an instrument, and create new
music. They need to pick a specific instrument to be
proficient at when buying this skill.
• Calm/Engross - The ability to so involve
an audience into listening to your music that
they no longer pay attention to what is going
on around them while you are playing. This
can even be done if the target audience is not
listening to you when you start playing. The in-
game effect is that anyone within hearing range
looses 1 action/round while you concentrate
on playing (requires the sacrifice of one action/
round).
• Master Musician - Masters with this ability can
automatically play any instrument they pick up.
• Pilfer - (AGI) - This skill represents training
in sleight of hand, looting, picking pockets, etc.
In order to successfully pull off a pilfer, make a
standard skill check vs. the opponent’s Awareness.
• Stage Magician - Master stage magicians can
perform completely impossible acts of sleight of
hand, such as removing other people’s clothing
unnoticed at a distance of 10 feet, or other
equally unlikely tasks.
• Pilot Starship - (AGI) - The ability to pilot any
starship or fighter out there, given a few minutes
of time to familiarize yourself with potentially
unfamiliar control systems. This may take slightly
longer for alien ships. The Pilot Starship skill also
covers piloting of aircraft limited to atmospheres.
• Defensive Maneuvering - The pilot’s skill in
evading attacks gives the starship a +4 to Evade.
This can go above the maximum Evade of the
30 - Character Creation - Skills
vehicle.
• Research - (THT) - Useful for inventing new
technologies or for replicating existing knowledge
that you do not possess. Things researchers can
do include designing new technology, upgrading
existing technology (increasing the AGI of a starship,
for example, or adding a +2 skill bonus to an
item), etc. The difficulty in researching an item is
equivalent to the difficulty in creating the item +2.
The required to do the research is equivalent to
twice as long as what it would take to create an
equivalent item once knowledge on how to create
it is available. For each success over the minimum
required, the research time is reduced by 1 week, to
a minimum of 1 week.
• Sponsored - The character has become a
master at finding money from various grants,
and has gained an incredible amount of
flexible spending as a result. The character has
at their disposal a monthly research budget of
(Research-9) billion sands.
• Genius - The character halves all research
times.
• Running - (DUR) - This skill covers the training
involved with jogging for more than a few minutes.
Characters with Running double the amount of time
they can move at jogging or sprinting speeds for
each level of running.
• Speed of the Fury - Double all land movement
rates (walking, jogging, sprinting).
• Security Systems - (THT/AGI) - The ability to find,
neutralize, and bypass security systems. Security
systems can range from simple mechanical traps
such as trip wires and sensor plates to complex
electronic systems such as laser beam triggers,
motion sensors, and analytic cameras, but does not
cover things like security software, such as firewalls
and black ice AIs. To detect a security system, make
a perception check. Disabling a system is a standard
skill roll using either THT or AGI (depending on the
type of system) vs. a target number determined by
the complexity of the system.
• Eagle Eye - Security systems are automatically
detected - no roll necessary.
• CatBurgler - You have the ability to bypass any
security lock, passing through while leaving no
trace.
• Stealth - (AGI) - The ability to hide, sneak around,
and generally avoid detection when you wish to do
so.
• Ambush - This mastery gives +1 to base
damage per level of stealth when attacking a
target that is surprised.
• Backstab - This mastery gives +1 to base
damage per level of stealth when attacking
a target that is being attacked this round by
someone that is on the opposite side of them
than the backstabber.
• Storytelling - (PRS) - The ability to tell good
stories, and to entertain an audience, possibly for
money.
• Enthrall - Gain the ability to so engross an
audience in your story that you can start to
implant subtle suggestions in their minds. Use a
storytelling roll of:
to determine if you succeed in planting your
suggestion. Suggestions must be worded as a
single sentence of 10 words or less, and can’t be
d20 + Storytelling + Influence
vs. WIL + Storytelling + 11
used to do something that would directly harm
the listener or someone they truly care about.
• Swimming - (AGI/STR) - Characters with this skill
know how to swim, and can do so at AGI/2 yards
per second, for DUR*10 mintutes.
• Aquatikhan - The character has the ability to
summon to him several local species of fish to
him when he is underwater, although he can
not speak to them or command them. Also, the
character can swim at his normal movement
rates.
• Trade skills - (Varied) - This ability covers skills
such as those used by Merchants, Dancers, Bankers,
Electricians, Carpenters, Glassblowers, etc. When
choosing this skill, the player must choose one craft
that their character will now.
• Master - The character has become a master of
their trade, and can now make items renowned
for their quality and workmanship. In game
terms, these items can convey a +2 bonus to an
appropriate skill, value, or roll.
• Tactics - (THT) - Characters with this skill are able
to cohesively direct groups of attackers, increasing
their ability and effect. If a character with Tactics is
 Character Creation - Skills - 31
directing an attack or defense, all combatants on
the side of the tactician gain a +3 to all Hit rolls as
Calculated Values
well as to their Initiative. If two tacticians are battling
against each other, a contested skill roll is made,
with the winner’s side getting the bonus.
• Aura of Command - The strategic master now
adds +6 to the Hit and Initiative rolls of all allied
combatants, and is always successful at this -
two opposing masters, both of whom have Aura
of Command, will grant both sides a +6 bonus.
They can not fail to inspire their troops and
create a masterful strategy that should lead them
to victory. Such masters may even engage in a
land war in Asia and win.
• Legendary General - The leadership of this
tactics master is legendary! Enemies quake
in fear of the mention of their name. Troops
from opposing forces will abandon their posts
when they learn who they are up against. Any
organized force that is known to have this
tactics master as their general gains additional
volunteers who flock to their cause. A percentage
of troops equal to the General’s tactics skill will
leave the enemy and join up with the Legendary
General.
• Weapons Systems - (AGI) - Characters with this
skill are trained to be able to use starship-based
weapons and artillery.
• Quick Shot - This mastery grants a +1 to
Initiative for each weapon systems level. This
initiative bonus is applicable to all situations, and
is cumulative with other initiative bonuses.
• Point Defense - You can attempt to counter
any missile attack (even after it would normally
penetrate your ship’s evade, shields, or other
defenses) by shooting it down before it can strike
you. This may be done once per round for free;
additional point defense actions require the use
of one action each. You do not have to beat the
opponent’s initiative, as you are reacting to their
attack. After their attack roll is made, make a
To-Hit roll. If your roll is equal to or better than
your opponent’s roll, you successfully shoot their
attack down. Ammunition is used up in a Point
Defense. Point Defense can only be used against
attacks that have a base damage of at most +5
compared to that of the weapon being used for
Point Defense.
32 - Character Creation - Advancing Your Character
The last step in creating your character is to calculate
some basic values that you will be using often while
playing the game.
Hit Bonus
Your hit bonus is what you will add to a d20 roll in
order to attack in combat situations. There are several
different Hit bonuses that may be applicable to your
character, depending on what you use to attack, and
whether the attack is in the physical realm, or in the
computer realm. Use the list below to calculate the
various Hit bonuses which may be applicable to you:
• Melee: AGI + Melee • Physical DR: DUR / 3 (rounded down)
(Hand to hand combat, melee weapons, Shape-
Shift/Warp Control based attacks)
• Missile: AGI + Missile • Hacking DR: WIL / 3 (rounded down)
(Ranged weapons, Influence/Energy Control/
Gravity Control based attacks)
• Computer: THT + Computer Systems
(Computer-space, AI, Electrokinesis based
attacks)
• Social: PRS + Bargaining
(Convincing others against their will)
If you do not possess a given skill, then your HIT
bonus using that skill will be the appropriate attribute
- 2 (for the standard unskilled penalty).
Evade
Evade is what you use to not get hit by someone
determined to make good use of their Hit bonus.
Evade is a static value, and represents the difficulty
number that your opponent must roll against to
successfully hit you. Your evade can be calculated as
follows:
• Physical Evade: AGI + Acrobatica + 11
• Computer Evade: THT + Computer Systems + 11
• Social Evade: PRS + Bargaining + 11
DR
DR is your Damage Resistance, and it represents how
much damage your body can ignore before getting
injured, in cases where you fail at Evading or Parrying
your opponent’s attack. Characters have two types
of natural DR in COTA - Physical and Mental. In
addition, certain powers, sub-powers, and equipment
give DR as well. As a general rule, abilities that
modifies the COTA’s body to increase DR (usually
designated as Skin DR) will stack on top of natural DR.
DR from equipment such as armor, or from abilities
such as forcefields do not stack on top of natural DR.
(Used in the case of almost all attacks in the
physical realm).
(Used for computer-based attacks).
• Social DR: WIL / 3 (rounded down)
(Used for social and mental attacks).
Hit Points
Lastly, damage that makes it through your DR will
start to deduct from your Hit Points. This represents
actual injury to your body (or mind). Hit points are
calculated as follows:
• Physical Hit Points: DUR + (DUR * Grit)
• Social / Mental Hit Points: WIL
• Data Space Hit Points: WIL + (WIL * Computer
Science)
Number of Actions
This value determines how often you can act in a
round, or how many different things you can do.
The number of actions that a character can take is
determined by:
• Number of actions: AGI / 4 (rounding down).

Parry
Those who are skilled in melee weapons have another
option to avoid getting hit - they can parry using
their weapon (even if their weapons are their fists, or
fist-like equivalents). Parry can only be used against
other melee-based attacks. To calculate parry, use the
following:
• Parry: AGI + Melee + 11
 Character Creation - Advancing Your Character - 33

Advancing Your maximum of one-half (rounded down) of your power

level. Buying a new specialty costs 2 XP, and may be
purchased once a power reaches level 2.
Character New powers and sub-powers can only be acquired by
an appropriate increase in IPL. When such an increase
grants you a new power or sub-power, the first level is
Gaining XP automatically gained for free.
On average, a game session of COTA will earn a
character 15-20 XP, depending on how much was
accomplished. Non-player characters, such as
hirelings and henchmen will earn 5XP per game
session.

Gaining IPL
IPL is usually awarded at the end of a story arc. There
is no set schedule for awarding IPL’s; rather, it is up to
the Council Representative as to when to hand them
out.

Spending Experience
Points

Attributes and Skills

To raise an attribute or skill to the next level, it costs
the value of the next base level (not effective level!) in
XP. So, to raise DUR from a 3 to a 4 costs 4 XP.
Every level must be purchased; you can not raise
something from level 2 directly to level 4, for
example. Attributes can be raised to 10 in this manner
for a normal human, and up to the IPL for a COTA.
Skills have no maximum level limits.
Buying a new skill (one in which you don’t possess
any levels) costs 1 XP.

Powers and Sub-powers

Raising a sub-power (for those that can be raised, such
as Grit) or an Immortal power is more expensive - it
costs twice the next level in XP to increase. So, to
raise something like Continuum Control from level 4
to level 5 costs 10 XP.
Purchasing specialty ranks in a power is just like
purchasing power levels - each level costs twice the
next level in XP. Specialties can only be raised up to a
34 - The Rules

The Rules
Making Rolls and that that is the only attribute that can be associated
with using the skill; merely the most common one. As
an example, with the trade skill Smithing, it would be
Checks a STR + Smithing + d20 roll to make an item that you
have already learned how to make, but to determine
how to create a new item, it would be an INT +
Smithing + d20 roll.
Making Basic Checks Difficulty Numbers
A basic check is performed by rolling: Skill /Action
Where ATT is the appropriate attribute, and the target Check Difficulty Situation
number is determined by the difficulty table, or by the Something attainable by
taking the target’s appropriate attribute + 11, in the Easy 8
an unskilled person
ATT+d20 vs. Target number Something that a hobbyist
Sub-Par 14
would attempt.
case of an actual opponent. Something a skilled
Average 18 professional would
attempt.
Power Checks Tough 22
Something that would be
If a power is involved in the contested situation then a challenge for an expert.
use the power value instead of the attribute. Something only ever
Very Difficult 26 attempted by a true
Power + d20 vs. master.
ATT + SKILL(if appropriate) + 11 Something so amazing
Damn-Near
30 one human in a
Impossible
In certain cases, the COTA using the power can add in generation could do it.
an appropriate skill as well. Something not generally
Crack-Trip 34+ possible by the rules of
reality.
Skill Checks You need to be a master (level 10+) in a skill before
When a skill you possess is applicable to a situation you can even attempt something that is of crack-trip
calling for a role, you can make a skill check instead difficulty.
of a basic check. This allows you to add your skill
level to appropriate attribute, making the roll
Situational Penalties
ATT + SKILL + d20 • Being underwater: -4 to hit and base damage
vs. Target number • Unskilled: -2 Penalty
• Blind: -4 penalty
Where the target number is determined by the
Difficulty table, or in the case of an opponent, by the • Cloaked target: varies based on cloaking
opponent’s ATT + SKILL + 11. technology used, up to -4 penalty.
As a note, while most skills have an appropriate
attribute listed in their description, this does not mean

Social Interaction Situational Penalties
• Target angered: -4
• Target happy: +4
Making the Actual
Roll
The attribute involved in a given roll is not always
fixed; different situations call for different attributes.
The Council Representative will decide what is
appropriate in a given situation.
Once the appropriate attribute (or power) and skill
have been determined, the Council Representative
will assign a difficulty, either based on the difficulty
table, or the skills and attributes of the opponent. At
this point, the person making the attempt rolls a d20
- this represents the randomness in any attempt you
may make. A roll of a 1 is an automatic failure unless
the character is a master of the skill (level 10+). A roll
of 20 is an automatic success except in the case of a
crack trip difficulty. Also, a 20 lets you to re-roll and
add on to the original roll, allowing you to achieve
exceptionally high target numbers. Often, this is the
only way to succeed at a crack-trip difficulty roll.
The last thing to note is that an extra success is
given for every 2 over the target number. In combat
situations, this turns into extra damage. In other skill
checks, this has varying effects, usually making your
success more spectacular, or your task happening
more quickly, or resulting in a much better final
product.
For social interactions, roll a
PRS + SKILL + d20
vs. Target’s WIL + SKILL + 11
Where SKL represents the appropriate social skill.
Additional situational modifiers [neutral 0, target
angered +4 difficulty, target happy -4 difficulty, +skill
bonus if applicable]) may apply; these are up to the
Council Representative. There are times when this
form of interaction is inapplicable (when arguing with
your mother, or in most action sequences for instance,
although intimidation or a demand to surrender may
be possible when used in unison with an impressive
act).
The Rules - 35
Example of a roll: Bob Rica wants to leap off of a
moving bus traveling at 50 mph and grab onto the
roof of a car going the opposite direction, during a
torrential hail storm. Once he lands on the car, he
wants to open the passenger door, and sit down inside
before his hair gets too wet. For his roll, Bob takes his
AGI (a 5) and his Acrobatica (a 2) to get his bonus of
7. His roll will be:
5 (att:agi) + 2 (skill:acrobatica) + d20
The Council Representative decides that this is Damn
Near Impossible (and rightly so - how is he going to
keep his hair dry in such a storm?). This gives Bob a
target number of 30. This means that Bob must roll
a 20 in order to succeed, since that will grant him
an automatic success. It is conceivable that with the
add-on roll from the 20, Bob could actually make
the target number of 30, since he would only need
to roll higher than a 3 on the add-on die, but that is
not necessary to succeed. A good roll on the add-on
would add to his successes, though, allowing him to
succeed more spectacularly.
Bob thinks it over quickly, and decides that the odds
of rolling the 20 are too high for him. So instead
he decides to just leap on top of the car, which the
Council Representative decides is something of
average difficulty, or a target number of 18. This only
requires Bob to roll an 11, which he decides is far
more reasonable, and makes the attempt.
Some common rolls
• Perception checks: WIL + Alertness + d20
• Shooting a target: AGI + Missile + d20
• Picking someone’s pocket: AGI + Pilfer + d20
• Opening a lock: AGI + Security Systems + d20
• Navigating a spaceship: THT + Astrogation + d20
36 - Rules - Combat
Combat
Rounds, Initiative and
Actions
Rounds
Combat is fast and vicious in the Victus Game system.
Rounds are 1 second long, which means that most
battles are over in 3 to 5 seconds; it doesnt take that
long to have a sword thrust through you, or to shoot
your opponent in the face and blow out their brains.
Initiative
A character’s Initiative determines when in the round
they get to go. To determine a character’s Initiative,
roll the following:
THT + d20
Note: Certain skill masteries, such as Quick Shot
may add to the initiative roll.
THT is used to determine initiative even for actions
requiring other attributes, as Initiative represents how
quickly a character decides what course of action to
take in any given situation.
A character takes all of his actions on his initiative. In
the event that two individuals have the same initiative,
have them roll a d20 to settle the order that the two of
them act in, with the higher roll getting to go first.
If they wish, instead of acting on their initiative, they
may hold one action as an interrupt triggered by
another event, “I blaze away with my harpoon gun at
the first target through the door”. Or they may delay
all their actions until after an event happens, “I delay
my initiative until the first guy comes into the room”.
Initiative is re-rolled at the beginning of every round.
Actions
An action is either a movement or attack (so if you
want to move and attack it requires 2 actions). A
movement action allows a character to move a
distance equal to their movement rate in that one
action. Attacks can be Physical, Social, or Hacking
attacks, all of which are resolved in the same basic
way - you roll your Hit as a skill check (d20 + AGI
+ Missile if you’re shooting a gun, for example) vs
the target’s Evade. Calculating Evade is covered in
the Character Creation section, under “Calculated
Values”.
Attacks and Damage
Attacking
An attack succeeds if the attacker’s HIT roll is equal to
or greater than the opposing character’s TARGET value
(which can be determined by using their EVADE or
PARRY value, depending on what they choose to do).
The HIT roll is determined by:
(See the Calculated Values section for the
appropriate Hit Bonus for different kinds of attacks).
HIT Bonus + d20 vs. Target’s Evade or Parry
For every 2 (rounded down) that you exceed the target
number by, you gain an extra success, which helps
increase the damage done.
Attack Roll modifiers
• Underwater: -4 to attack, -4 to damage (unless
weapon is modified for underwater).
• Foreign Environment: -4 to attack.
• Unable to see target: up to -4 to attack.
Damage
Damage from a successful attack is calculated as
follows:
So, if your weapon has a base damage of 6, and you
exceed your target number by 8, you do 10 damage (6
+ 4 from successes). The maximum damage you can
Base Damage + Extra Successes
do is twice the base damage of the weapon, no matter
how many successes you get.
Once you determine how much damage you do,
subtract your opponent’s DR from that value. So, if
you did 10 damage, and your opponent has 2 DR,
then you do 8 Hit Points (10 - 2) of actual damage to
your target.

You can have DR from armor, skin, and fields, but
only one of each type.
Automatic Successes (when the attacker rolls a 20)
always do at least 1 point of damage to the opponent,
no matter how good they are at evading, or how much
DR they have.
Effects of Damage
When a character is reduced to 0 Hit Points or lower,
they are knocked unconscious. When they have taken
enough damage to reduce them past their -DUR
(negative Durability) value (i.e. down to -5 if they have
4 DUR), they are killed. Certain powers and abilities
may modify these values.
When a vehicle, device, or mechanical construct
(such as a robot or android) is damaged to 0 hit points,
they rendered inoperable, and lose all functionality.
When such items are reduced past their -HP (i.e.
to -25 if they have 24 hit points), they are utterly
annihilated; they can no longer be repaired, but must
be rebuilt from scratch.
Special Situations
Surprise
In some situations, attackers may attempt to catch
their targets unawares. This is usually accomplished
via a successful stealth roll, although other methods of
accomplishing a surprise are also possible.
When a target is surprised, they get no attribute or
skill bonus to their EVADE, and are unable to PARRY.
The target number for the attacks becomes the default
of 11. Attackers get to make only 1 attack as a surprise
attack; they do not get their full round of actions.
Once this one attack happens, everyone gets to roll
Initiative, and then the new combat round progresses
as normal.
Grapple
An attacker can attempt to grapple a single opponent,
effectively grabbing them and holding them in place.
Initiating a grapple takes 1 action, even though two
rolls are involved. First you roll to hit the target; then,
if successful, you can roll an opposed strength check
Rules - Combat - 37
to lock your opponent in your grapple. So, the rolls
you need to make are:
In the second roll, the STR represents effective
strength; you can use your actual strength, or in
cases where powers are applicable, you can use
1) - AGI + Melee + d20 vs. Evade or Parry
2) - STR + d20 vs. STR + 11
the effective strength of the power. Situations where
powers can be used are as follows:
Power Use
Energy Control Defensive - Can fly away
Offensive - Can use tendrils to
Warp Control
grapple
Offensive - Can use gravitic lock
Gravity Control downs
Defensive - Can Fly Away
Offensive / Defensive - Can use
Shapeshift
shape-shifted limbs / fly away
Vehicles have an effective strength (usually based on
their engine type and size class), and can be grappled.
Victims of successful grapples have their evade
reduced to the default of 11. They can only make
restricted movements, giving them a -10 modifier
to attacks and any relevant skill checks. The grapple
continues until the victim successfully breaks free
(they may attempt to break free once per action;
these attempts are not subject to the -10 penalty). The
grappler must use all their actions to maintain the
grapple.
While a grapple is being maintained, the grappler may
squeeze the target once per round for their maximum
strength damage (2 x STR).
Concentration
Abilities that require concentration require the
sacrifice of one action a round. If a character has
additional actions, they can use those as they wish
without breaking concentration.
Line of Sight
Line of sight involves actually seeing the target with
38 - Rules - Combat
your own eyes; cameras or scans do not count for line cannons do not have this capability). Unloading a
of sight. Vision through a Continuum Control portal auto burst at a target not only gives the shooter a
does count as line of sight, however. better chance of hitting a target but can increase the
damage caused. Unfortunately in a round where
burst fire is used no other actions may be taken as the
Vehicle Combat weapon takes the full attention of the shooter.
For vehicle combat, the attack SKL used to calculate There are two modes of auto fire: targeted burst and
the HIT bonus is usually Weapon Systems for the spray. A targeted burst gives a +2 to hit modifier,
larger vehicle mounted weapons. Small turret takes 6 shots of ammo, and hits the target 1d6 times.
mounted weapons (Heavy Rifles or lighter) are fired A spray gives a -2 to hit modifier, and a single attack
using the Missile skill. Evade is calculated using the roll is applied separately to each target chosen. It also
appropriate piloting skill. takes 6 shots worth of ammo and may hit 1d6 targets
within a 180 arc in front of the shooter.
Lastly, in Vehicle Combat, the AGI used for calculating
the HIT of hull mounted weapons is that of the
gunner, and the AGI for the EVADE is that of the pilot,
but both are limited to a maximum AGI matching
that of the vehicle. Turret mounted weapons are not
Structural DR
limited in this manner, but have other draw backs (see
the Vehicle Construction section in the COTA Main
Reference Table
Rulebook).
Listed below are some standard DR and HP for
Example: So, using a Vehicle with 8 AGI, and a pilot/
structures:
gunner with a 10 AGI, a 4 Piloting and a 4 Weapon
Systems skill, the best EVADE possible is 23 (8 + 4 Structure DR HP
+ 11). The best HIT bonus with any hull mounted Normal Building 10 24
weapon is 12 + d20 (8 + 4 + d20). If the pilot has Large Building (10 floors) 12 40
an AGI of 4, on the other, hand, these values are as
follows: Giant tower (100 floors) 16 60
• Hit: 8 + d20 (4 + 4 + d20) Military base 20 60
• Evade: 19 (4 + 4 + 11) Military Fortress 28 80
Moon/Space Station w/Shields 36 160
Earth Sized Planet 44 400
Matter Creation attacks
Creative matter creators can find ways to use their
ostensibly non-combat ability in decidedly offensive
ways. If Matter Creation is used in an attack, the
damage is equal to the effective strength, regardless of
the form the attack takes.
Hacking Combat
Poisons created with matter creation will generally
have an onset time of 1 round. Poisons ignore armor, Hacking combat works identically to standard combat,
but do not ignore DR from Durability. Unless a tough using the hacking Hit Bonus, DR, HP, and Evade
will check is made, the target loses 1 action a round values. WIL also serves as STR and DUR in Data
from debilitating effects (coughing, hacking, etc) in Space. THT serves as PRS and AGI. Computer Systems
addition to the damage sustained per round. skill functions as Grit. Security systems have their own
THT, WIL, and Computer Systems skill, representing
their strength in Data Space.
Automatic fire Once a security system is defeated, the hacker has
broken in. They may then rifle through the contents of
that data space, or attempt to make changes. Making
All rifles and pistols may be fired in auto mode. (Most

changes requires a Computer Systems check vs. The
target system’s THT + 11 to avoid the changes being
noticed by any users or guardian AIs. If the hacker
is defeated (his hacking hit points are reduced to 0),
he has failed to penetrate the system defenses. In
addition, he is identified as an intruder attempting
to break in, and his system entry point is also
determined.
Listed below are the ratings for some standard
computer systems that may be encountered.
In most cases, a system rating serves as the value for
THT, WIL, and Computer Systems.
Rules - Combat - 39
100 light years per point failed by. A critical failure
will often result in re-entering space inside a star,
which will inflict 30 points of damage a round to a
ship.
Note - some large ships have enough DR to be able
to survive this.
Note - Masters of the Warp will never critically fail an
Astro-navigation check.
Note - NavComputers will never critically fail an
Astro-navigation check.

Computer System Rating

Small company 6
Planetary Corporation 8
Local Bank 10
Planetary Bank 11
Galactic Corporation 12
Military AI 14
Free rebel AI 16

Movement
Combat Movement
During combat, a character can move at his normal
movement rate at the cost of one action. Movement
occurs at the same time as all other actions (usually on
Initiative, unless actions are held for some reason).

Non-combat movement
A character can move at their jogging speed for 5
x DUR minutes. Sprinting can be performed for 5 x
DUR in seconds. The running skill will extend both
these times.
Walking can be maintained indefinitely.

Space Travel
The difficulty for traveling more than 10 light years
per jump requires an Astro-Navigation check, with a
difficulty number of 21 + 1 per 100 light years to be
travelled. Failure indicates an error in destination of
40 - Rules - Combat

Equipment
Now we get to the good stuff... What you can buy to
make your travels across the galaxy more interesting.
The equipment section is divided into 3 different
equipment lists (General Gear, Combat Gear, and
Vehicles and Space ships) followed by a section on
how to make custom equipment. Before we get to the
lists, though, we’ll cover a few basic terms used to
describe the equipment.
Cost: How much it costs to buy the item in question
on the standard market. Various areas that you may
travel through have different restrictions on what is
legal or not, and so not every item you may desire
may be available via legal means. In this case, the
thriving galactic underground black market is there to
meet your needs. However, buying items via the black
market is often substantially more expensive, and the
availability of what you want can’t be relied on.
Sands: Currency in the COTA universe is measured
in Sands. 1 Sand has approximately the same buying
power as 1 US doller. Sands are generally exchanged
via electronic transactions, and are represented using
the symbol ⧗. Sands got their name because the
current economic standard is back by stores of the
special metal Chronium, with 1 sand equal to 1 small
grain of Chronium. For more detail on the history
and usage of Chronium, see the relevent part of the
settings section in the COTA Core book.
Weight: How much the item weighs, in pounds.
The Council, which established most of the rules,
regulations, and standards of human space, came
from the old United States of America region of Earth,
which used the English system of measurements,
and forced them into general use across human
civilization. Note - under this system, 1 ton = 2000
pounds.
Tech Level: What the technology rating of a planet
(or other region in question) must be in order for the
item in question to be readily available on that planet.
This is for the standard market availability; higher tech
level items may be available on the black market, for
an exorbitant amount of Sands. Also, a lab facility or
workshop must also be at the Tech Level requirement
in order to make the item.
DR: How tough the item is, and how much damage it
Equipment - 41
absorbs without effect (in the case of armors).
HP: Certain items (usually Vehicles and Starships)
have a HP rating as well. This represents how much
damage the item can take (after DR). When an item’s
HP is reduced to 0, it is no longer function. When it’s
HP is reduced past the negative starting HP, the item is
completely annihilated.
Required Skills: What skills are needed in order to
create the item. This applies for both craftsmanship
as well as Matter Creation methods of making items.
It also applies when upgrading an existing item,
though generally, you use the skills required for the
upgrade, not for the base item. (I.E. Adding shields to
a Dreadnought only requires level 8 in Engineering,
not the 10 that is required to make a Dreadnought.
However, changing the Dreadnought’s Agility would
require level 10).
Difficulty: The difficulty check number for making the
item. This is rolled using the skill with the lowest level
out of all those necessary to make the item.
Time: The time required to construct the item, using
normal means and production schedules.
Vehicle Agility: Most vehicles that move have an AGI
attribute. This determines not only the maneuverability
of the vehicle, but also it’s ability to aim devices
attached to it, or held by it. It also limits the Vehicles
maximum real-space speed. The maximum To Hit
bonus that can be achieved by a vehicle is 2*AGI
(before modifiers for autofire or situation).
Other things of note:
• Technologically cloaked items get a +4 bonus to
their Evade and Parry values if they are detected and
attacked. They are not normally visible at all, except
for a slight rippling effect at the edges of one’s
vision. Machines do not sense this at all.
42 - Equipment - General Equipment

General Tech Level: 1

Time: 1 day

Equipment Programs: Computer software, which mimics skills.

Antigrav Backpack / Hoverboard: A large, camping
sized, waterproof and durable back pack. Can also
come in the form of a small hoverting cart. Removes
all encumbrance for items stored within it, up to
1200 pounds. A charge on an Antigrav pack will last
for about a week.
Cost: 1200 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 0 lbs.
Difficulty: 20
Tech Level: 4
Time: 4 days
Booster Pack: A large rocket pack that can carry up
to 640 lbs. at high velocity (effective strength 10).
The speed is 10 yards per vehicle agility point per
second. Vehicle agility is 10 (can be raised up to
20 bumping difficulty by 1 and cost by +50% per
point, yielding a max speed of 200 yards/sec which
is pretty damaging to an unprotected passenger).
Use the Pilot starship skill. Raise the construction
difficulty by 1 point per vehicle agility point over 10,
and +1 week of construction time per point. The cost
increases by +50% per difficulty point over the base.
per point.
Cost: 2000 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 20 lbs.
Difficulty: 22
Tech Level: 4
Time: 1 week
Portable Washer: A sterilizing beam, which can also
shake out dust and dirt with an ultrasound emission.
Cost: 400 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 1 lb.
Difficulty: 20
Cost: (10 * skill level mimicked) ⧗
Required Skills: Computer Systems, skill being
mimicked
Weight: N/A
Difficulty: 14 + skill level mimicked
Tech Level: 2
Time: 1 day per skill point
Food Replicator: A device that is about the size
of a microwave oven but colored bright purple
(cannot be recolored or painted over). Replicated
preprogrammed meals. Takes about 2 sands worth of
power per replication.
Cost: 1500 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering, Chemistry
Weight: 5 lbs.
Difficulty: 16
Tech Level: 4
Time: 8 hours
AI-Artificial Intelligence: An AI with THT, WIL and
Max skill equal to characters Comp Systems 1 can
be created. The time to create an AI is 1 week per
the THT + WIL. Starting skill points equal 2XTHT
as per normal characters although instead of level
6 the maximum starting skill level is Comp Systems
skillCreator -1. As an example a bank AI with 8 THT,
8 WIL requires 8+8 or 16 weeks (and the AI begins
with 16 skill points).
Electrokinesis immortals can do this in 1/60th the
time at power level 1, 1/120th the time at power
level 2 etc. (similar to Matter creation table). AIs can
also create/manipulate AIs in 1/60th the time. The
difficulty is Thought+Will+11. The cost for an AI is
10(THT + WIL)/2. So an elite military grade AI with
12 THT and WIL costs 1e12 or 1 trillion sands. AIs
with a 11 or higher THT or WIL are outlawed in the
private sector and require special permits. AIs with
THT, WIL in the 4-6 range are prevalent throughout
free space and link space. The have a default
 Equipment - General Equipment - 43
presence of one. can be up to a mile or more. Nearly indestructible.
Cost: 10 * (THT+WIL)/2 ⧗ Battery life is 1 month.
Required Skills: Computer Systems (mimimum Cost: 1000 ⧗
level 10) Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: N/A Weight: 1 lb.
Difficulty: THT+WIL+11 Difficulty: 20
Tech Level: 6 Tech Level: 4
Time: 4 weeks Time: 5 days

Android: Completely loyal. Self-repairing, can Power Boots: Increases base (walking) movement
store a lot of facts and useless trivia, and can learn rate by 4. Built in thrusters propel the wearer at up
up to 2*THT levels of skills. STR:10 AGI:10 INT:AI to 50 yards/sec for 3 hours. Magnetics available for
Dependent WIL:AI Dependent PRS:4 DUR:12. More Zero-G environments. Effective strength of 10.
powerful android frames have been constructed (for Cost: 100 ⧗
each point of STR, AGI and/or DUR up to 6 above
the listed values add 1 to the difficulty and +50% to Required Skills: Engineering
the price). Weight: 2 lb.
Cost: 500,000 ⧗ (plus a separately purchased AI) Difficulty: 21
and the ridicule of all your neighbors. Tech Level: 6
Required Skills: Engineering, Chemistry Time: 4 days
Weight: 500 lbs.
Difficulty: 26 Cloak Suit: Envelops the wearer in an invisibility
Tech Level: 6 field, completely undetectable (although
Time: 4 weeks occasionally a slight rippling might be seen). Grants
+4 deflection bonus in combat. Generally illegal.
Battery life of 8 hours.
Robot: Basic humanoid or otherwise. These are Cost: 1,000,000 ⧗
simple bots with simple programming. They can
perform duties such as cleaning, simple combat, and Required Skills: Engineering
monitoring. They have the following stats - STR:4 Weight: 3 lbs.
AGI:4 INT:0 WIL:0 PRS:0 DUR:4 Difficulty: 26
Cost: 1000 ⧗ Tech Level: 8
Required Skills: Engineering, Chemistry, Time: 4 weeks
Computer Systems
Weight: 100 lbs. +
Shielded Briefcase: Prevents scans from seeing the
Difficulty: 20 contents of the briefcase. Also can be configured to
Tech Level: 2 reflect back an image of clothing or papers, etc.
Time: 1 week Cost: 6000 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Neoglasses: Multi-spectrum goggles. Looks like a Weight: 5 lbs.
cool pair of sunglasses, and enables the wearer to Difficulty: 22
see in visible, UV, Infrared, X-ray, and Magnetic
Tech Level: 4
spectrums. Can also function as a microscope (400x)
or telescope (400x), note that normal visual range Time: 4 days
44 - Equipment - Weapons and Armor
Weapons and
Armor
Plasti-Steele Ceramic plate armor: This kind of
body armor is usually work by law enforcement
types and military ground troops. It is fairly flexible,
strong, and highly impact resistant. For every point
of damage over the DR (of the armor and any shields
the wearer may have, or Energy Control absorption
expended) the plate takes 1 point of damage in
addition to the wearer possibly getting injured. The
# of these durability representing Hit points is 24
before the suit is made useless.
Cost: 500 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 15 lbs.
Difficulty: 21
Tech Level: 4
Time: 2 days
Armor DR: +6
Stealth Suit: A resilient and comfortable light armor.
This armor is cumulative with skin-based DRs. For
every point of damage over the DR (of the armor
and any shields the wearer may have, or Energy
Control absorption expended) the suit takes 1 point
of damage in addition to the wearer possibly getting
injured. The # of these durability representing Hit
points is 40 before the suit is made useless.
Cost: 500,000 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 8 lbs.
Difficulty: 24
Tech Level: 6
Time: 4 days
Armor DR: +6
Personal Shields: This armor takes the form of a
waist belt with straps that reach over the shoulders,
and a small pad at the small of your back attached to
the belt. It generates an invisible force field around
your body, and can be worn under your normal
clothing, making it practically undetectable without
special equipment. Very popular amongst the rich
and the corporate elite, as well as space traders
involved in shady businesses. Shielding is effective
against all physical and energy attacks.
Cost: 1,000,000 per DR ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 2 lbs.
Difficulty: 24
Tech Level: 8
Time: 4 weeks
Field DR: Up to +4 (or +8 with certain masteries)
Full Body Armor: A Powered Armor suit. Used by
extraction teams and for special missions. Some of
the more expensive models can have shields built in,
personal shields may be extended beyond this close
fitting armor if stronger than any built in shields.
They have an assisted STR of 10 and Vehicle Agility
of 10 (This can be increased for the more expensive
suits to a normal max of 20 or a max of 28 with
power systems mastery). Max running speed is 1
yard/sec per vehicle agility point. To build enhanced
suits, it costs an additional week and 1 extra points
of difficulty for each vehicle agility point.
Variants have been known to exist with
transformation abilities, so that they can also take
forms such as hover bikes or other small vehicles.
All of these armor suits have a base of 12DR and 12
hit points. Up to 4 points of shields may be added
but they lower the armor agility by 1 point per
(although they dont affect the maximum). The cost
increases by +50% per difficulty point over the base.
Cost: 1,000,000 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 200 lbs.
Difficulty: 24
Tech Level: 6 (8 with shields)
Time: 2 weeks
Armor DR: 12 (up to 16 with shields)
HP: 12
Heavy Robot Armor: A large powered armor robot
 Equipment - Weapons and Armor - 45
standing about 7-10 yards tall. Used by extraction multiplied by 8 and the construction difficulty is 6
teams and for special missions. Some of the more greater than normal.
expensive models can have shields built in. They Chronium Weaponry
have an effective STR of 20 and an vehicle Agility of
9. STR can be increased up to 26, add +1 difficulty
per point and +50% of the base cost per point. Weapon Difficulty Time Cost / shot
Agility can be increased for the more expensive suits Pistol 30 16 days 10 million
to a normal max of 18 (2x9) or 26(2x13) with the Rifle 30 16 days 10 million
Souped Up mastery for Engineering. Max running
speed is 5 yards/sec per vehicle agility point. Heavy Rifle 30 16 days 10 million

To build enhanced suits, it costs an additional week Cannon 34 1 month 100 million
and 1 extra points of difficulty for each vehicle Assault
agility point. Variants have been known to exist with 38 5 months 1 billion
Cannon
multi-functions such as star fighters or hover tanks
(increase difficulty by 2 and add 4 weeks to the Demolitions: Grenades with timers and directed
construction time). All of these armor suits have a blast. Voice or key pad activated. Optionally
base of 16 hit points. Up to 6 points of shields may explodes if tampered with. Generally restricted or
be added. The cost increases is +50% per difficulty black market purchase. Where legal, price is twice
point over the base. that of an equivelant grenade.
Cost: 1 billion ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering Laser, Plasma, and Chronium Melee variants: These
Weight: 30 tons are battery powered charged weapon hilts that
Difficulty: 25 become full weapons when activated. The Base
damage for one of these weapons is either a Small
Tech Level: 6 (8 for shields) Weapon (Str+1), a One-Handed Weapon (Str+2) or
Time: 4 weeks a Two-Handed Weapon(Str+4), i.e. a knife, sword,
Armor DR: 16 (22 max with Shields) and two-handed sword respectively. The battery life
is listed at 1 hour of continuous use. The minimum
HP: 16
charge for activation is a ten minute period so a
single battery can be used a maximum of 6 times
before it needs to be recharged/refueled( for cronium
Weapons weapons). Normally these items can be plugged
into any wall socket or outlet to recharge, but Mag
Chronium Items: Besides being the key ingredient weaponry requires ammo. Amunition cost is 1⧗ per
to ultra powered energy systems, cronium is 20 slugs.
an incredibly durably substance (its the weight
of adamantium but much stronger). While
outrageously expensive, items can be made out of
cronium in lieu of the standard materials (cronium
plates for plasti-steel armor, cronium threaded
stealth suit, or even cronium Heavy Robot Armor).
In this way almost any item can be made using
cronium. The additional cost is 1e9 credits per
100lbs (so cronium plate armor costs .15 * 1e9
= +1.5e8). The additional labor cost for working
cronium is 10 times this (for the plate armor
example its +1.5e9 for the labor). Cronium items
have +6 DR, as well as an additional 40 hit points
or durability points. The base creation time is
46 - Equipment - Weapons and Armor

Tech Difficulty
Level to Effective Time to
Weapon Damage Ammunition Cost Required Construct Mass Range build
Mag Pistol
10 20 slugs 100 2 17 3lbs 100 yards 2 days
(Base Weapon)
Laser Pistol 12 25 beams 1000 4 20 3lbs 500 yards 4 days
Plasma Pistol 14 20 blasts 5000 6 24 3lbs 200 yards 4 days
Chronium 100
20 20 blasts 10 32 3lbs 500 yards 4 days
Pistol million
One-Handed
Str+2 - 100 2 17 4lbs 1 yard 1 days
Melee Weapon
Two-Handed
Str+4 - 200 2 19 8lbs 1 yard 1 days
Melee Weapon
Small Weapon
Str+1 - 20 1 16 1lbs 1 yard * 4 hours
(knife)
Str (stun
Punch/Kick - - - - - 1 yard -
damage)
Battery:1hr same
Laser Weapon
Base+2 minimum 500 4 20 as 1 yard 2 days
(melee)
10min weapon
Plasma Battery:1hr same
Weapon Base+4 minimum 2000 6 24 as 1 yard 4 days
(melee) 10min weapon
Chronium Battery:1hr same
100 2
Weapon Base+10 minimum 10 32 as 1 yard
million weeks
(melee) 10min weapon
Concussive 5 yard
10 1 per 50 2 20 2lbs 1 day
Grenade radius *
Photon 5 yard
12 1 per 250 4 22 2lbs 2 days
Grenade radius *
Plasma 5 yard
14 1 per 500 6 24 2lbs 2 days
Grenade radius *
Nuclear 5 yard 2
20 1 per 1 million 4 26 2lbs
Grenade radius * weeks
Tactical
200 yard 4
Nuclear 30 1 per 10 million 4 28 50lbs
radius weeks
Explosive
Full Nuclear 100 2000 yard 16
40 1 per 4 28 500lbs
Blast million radius weeks
Anti-Matter 1000 mile 52
60 1 per 100 billion 10 32
Bomb 1000lbs radius weeks

* Weapons thrown by hand have a range of 10+STR in yards.


Planetary
Vehicles
Unless otherwise noted the maximum vehicle agility
is 2 times their listed base or starting vehicle agility
(most vehicles in COTA have a base vehicle agility of
8 with a max vehicle agility of 16).
HoverTank: Effective strength of 20. Single Cannon
depending on tank type and a heavy rifle usually of
the same type, which is attached to the top for anti-
personnel. Both weapons are aimed internally by
one pilot and 2 gunners, but a single pilot may also
man both guns. Speed is 10 yards/sec per vehicle
agility point. Add 1 week construction time for each
shield point.
Cost: 50 million ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems
Weight: 20 tons
Difficulty: 19
Tech Level: 4 (8 with Shields)
Time: 4 weeks
Armor DR: 16 (20 with Shields)
HP: 16
Vehicle Agility: 9
Patrol Hover Car: Lightly armored hover car
commonly used by security forces for riot
suppression and by police forces. Often equipped
with heavy mounted weaponry.
Cost: 20,000 ⧗
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems
Weight: 2,000 lbs.
Difficulty: 18
Tech Level: 2 (8 with Shields)
Time: 1 week
Armor DR: 8 (12 with Shields)
HP: 12
Vehicle Agility: 10
Equipment - Weapons and Armor - 47
Space Vehicles
The adamantium based hardened space vehicles are
designed to take the rigors of jump space and the
occasional Plasma Cannon Blast. They are structural
wonders and juggernauts. Inertial dampers and sub-
space communicators and gravitational simulators are
standard. Subspace communicators use signals that
travel at light speed through jump space, allowing
for almost instantaneous communication. Specially
designed hull mounted forcefield modifications allow
starships in COTA to travel through atmospheres with
diminished air friction. The hull phase modulator that
allows frictionless atmospheric travel was discovered
in the year 11,232 by Dr. Hans Ludencreinz, an
immortal working for the council, while he was
working on a new method for cooking and freeze
drying entire crops of chickens upon reaching
maturity.
Most standard non-Chronium drives can only provide
the energy necessary to remain in jump space for a
few minutes.They make short 10 light year jumps and
require a 24 hour period to recharge their batteries
and rest the ships engines. Cronium drive systems
can maintain jump space for much longer and may
re-enter jump space many times in the same day.
Supplying Cronium fuel for a jumpspace engine costs
1 billion credits per day.
In combat, ships move at a thousand yards per second
per agility point.
The required skills to build space faring vessels are
Enigneering and Computer Systems. Starship docking
bays, for ships large enough to have them, allow
room for additional vehicles that must be obtained
independently (either purchased separately, or by
more questionable means). The skeleton crew to
keep a ship at full functionality is 10% of the listed
crew size (minimum 1). The maximum amount of
personnel on a ship is equal to double the listed
crew (for short periods of time. A huge number of
people can reside in the docking bay and other empty
ship compartments for short, highly uncomfortable
durations. Active AI’s may take the role of multiple
crew personel (up to 10 crew members per AI THT
point). The ultra fast quantum computers can complete
most tasks before you finished considering them. AIs
usually require bots (simple robots) to perform many
of the more manual functions.
48 - Equipment - Weapons and Armor
All of the listed warships are assumed to have Slots: 14/15
cronium drive systems. The cronium drives are
capable of 10 light year jumps without the noticable
expenditure of fuel. For full speed travel of a1000 Destroyer: Chromium Drive System
light years/day, Chronium is consumed at the rate of 1 Cost: 10 billion ⧗
billion sands per day. Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems
Ship hit points refer to hull damage and vital systems. Weight: 1000 tons
Once a ship reaches 0 hit points, internal damage
Difficulty: 22
starts to occur and the ship is a sitting duck.
Tech Level: 6 (8 with shields)
Time: 16 weeks
Space Fighter: Cronium drive systems
Armor DR: 20 (+4 Field DR with shields)
Cost: 1 billion ⧗
HP: 40
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems
Vehicle Agility: 8
Weight: 10 tons
Size: 100 yards
Difficulty: 21
Size Class: 2. docking bay suitable for 2 fighters /
Tech Level: 6 (8 with Shields)
1 cutter
Time: 4 weeks
Weapons: 2 cannons, 4 batteries
Armor DR: 14 (+4 Field DR with Shields)
Crew: 50
HP: 16
Slots: 37/45
Vehicle Agility: 10
Size Class: 0
Cruiser: Chromium Drive System
Weapons: 2 mounted heavy rifles
Cost: 20 billion ⧗
Crew: 1-3
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems
Size: 7-10 yards
Weight: 10,000 tons
Slots: 5/5
Difficulty: 22
Tech Level: 4
Scout / Cutter / Corvette: Chronium Drive Systems
Time: 32 weeks
Cost: 5 billion ⧗
Armor DR: 20 (+4 Field DR with shields)
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems
HP: 60
Weight: 100 tons
Vehicle Agility: 8
Difficulty: 21
Size: 200 yards
Tech Level: 6 (8 with shields)
Size Class: 3, docking for 4 fighters or 2 cutters
Time: 8 weeks
Weapons: 4 canons, 6 batteries
Armor DR: 16 (+4 Field DR with shields)
Crew: 150
HP: 16
Slots: 64/75
Vehicle Agility: 10
Size: 20 yards
Stellar Warship: Chromium Drive Systems
Size Class: 1
Cost: 40 billion ⧗
Weapons: 2 batteries of 4 heavy rifles each
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems
Crew: 10
Weight: 100,000 tons
 Equipment - Weapons and Armor - 49
Difficulty: 24 Size Class: 0
Tech Level: 4 (8 with shields) Weapons: 1 assault cannon, 12 annons, 16
Time: 64 weeks batteries
Armor DR: 20 (+8 Field DR with shields) Crew: 1000+
HP: 80 Size: 2000 yards
Vehicle Agility: 8 Slots: 312/350
Size Class: 4
Weapons: 6 cannons, 8 batteries Assault Pod: Speed is 1000 yards*Vehicle agility.
Once attached to a ship, it can not be detached,
Crew: 300-500 except from inside the pod (unless it is blown off).
Size: 400 yards It has space equivelant for 40 human sized crew
Slots: 95/100 (determines carrying capacity). To attach to a ship,
roll to hit using the fighter pilot skill. Once attached,
it burns a access hole into the ship, dissolving the
Heavy Warship: Chromium Drive System armor at a rate of 1d6 DR/round.
Cost: 80 billion ⧗ Cost: 1 million ⧗ (5 million with cloaking)
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems Required Skills: Engineering
Weight: 1 million tons Flight Agility: 8
Difficulty: 24 Armor DR: 14
Tech Level: 8 HP: 16
Time: 128 weeks
Armor DR: 22 (+10 Field DR with shields)
HP: 100
Vehicle Agility: 8 Designing Space Ships
Size Class: 5
Weapons: 8 canons, 12 batteries Size Classes
Crew: 500-600
Size: 800 yards There are 7 basic size classes for ships in the COTA
Slots: 162/180 universe. Each size class contains both military and
civilian ships. The size classes are as follows:
Slots represent space inside ships. Engines and shields
each take up 1 slot per size class of the vehicle. Heavy
Dreadnought: Chromium Drive System rifles take up 1 slot each (4 for a battery), cannons
Cost: 150 billion ⧗ take up 5 slots, the huge assault cannons take up 100
Required Skills: Engineering, Computer Systems slots. Life support takes up 1 slot per 20 people. Other
rooms take up 1 slot each (recreation rooms, kitchens,
Weight: 10 million tons
holorooms, bridge, cargo).
Difficulty: 26
The weight is calculated assuming a roughly
Tech Level: 10 rectangular (1x1x3) shape for ships, which is the
Time: 256 weeks standard through most of the COTA universe. A ship
of this shape and configuration should be able to dock
Armor DR: 24 (+12 Field DR with Shields)
at pretty much any facility encountered. It is possible,
HP: 100 and even common to have custom built ships of
Vehicle Agility: 8 various shapes and sizes; however, they may have
50 - Equipment - Weapons and Armor
to provide their own docking facilities or ferry over Light engines (referred to as Insys), Stellar class Super-
their passengers to various ports of transit via various Light engines (referred to as C-Class), and Cronium
shuttlecraft. drives.
Modern COTA Size Length Weight Out of combat, all
maximum ship Class Ship Type (yrds) (Tons) Slots spaceships have a
speeds are 1000 1 Fighter/Shuttle 10 10 5 cruising velocity
yards/second per maximum of 10 million
vehicle agility 2 Scout/Corvette/Cutter 20 100 15 yards/second per vehicle
point, yielding a 3 Destroyer/Transport 100 1000 45 agility point. This is
maximum vehicle 4 Cruiser/Freighter 200 10000 75 while in normal space;
velocity of 2800 maximum speed in
yards/second for 5 Warship/Hauler 400 100,000 110 jumpspace is limited to
a vehicle with 28 Heavy Warship/ Combat speeds. When
6 800 1,000,000 180
Agility (fighter Transliner trying to achieve cruising
starship made with Dreadnought/ velocity, acceleration
the Engineering 7 2000+ 10,000,000 350 is 200 yards/sec2.
Metroliner/Metroplex
Mastery Souped No real maneuvering
Up (10 base besides accelerating or
+4 (for souped up)) x 2 (extra time for maximum deccelerating is possible during this mode of travel.
agility)). This is also the maximum engagement or Insys engines are by far the most common types. They
combat speed, as well as the maximum speed while are present in most low-grade fighters and shuttles,
in jumpspace. At any greater speeds maneuverability interplanetary craft, many transports and freighters,
becomes lethal and self destructive to the ships hull, mining vessels, and many other types of craft. Insys
the inertial dampners cannot handle even the slightest engines are fission or fusion powered, and have no
course correction at this speed causing flight path to maintenance cost (running off of interstellar hydrogen
be exceptionally limited and trajectory estimation near and other free particlaes that are scooped up during
perfect (making ships easy targets to vehicles that can flight). They are not capable of creating a tear and
match their speed). It takes a single round to enter entering Jump Space without other means (perhaps a
jump space. Ship acceleration takes five rounds to go willing Electro-Nav computer or other Warp Master).
from zero velocity to maximum velocity. All space
faring vessels have a special vector engine fire mode C-Class engines are what most people think of as
of transport which allows a maximum of 1e7 yards/ Hyper Drive engines. That is a misnomer, technically
second per vehicle agility point in full-thrust mode in they are Jump Drives Hyperspace was proven to be
normal space. No maneuvering besides slowing down a mathematical myth in 2124. C-class engines get
is possible in this railroad method of travel. thier power from matter-antimatter reactions. They
are used in almost all Starships, even though they
are far less efficient, and effectively far slower than
cronium drives. Their popularity is primarily due to the
Engines huge difference in operational cost involved. C-Class
engines require no fuel cost. C-Class engines will
Engines are often the most complex part of a starship. allow a ship to travel at speeds up to 10 light years a
Due to advances in technology and the presence day when utilizing jump space.Their standard space
of high-energy fuels such as Chronium, the engines speeds are the same as Insys engines (see above).
take up a small percentage of the volume of the Cronium drives are the pinnacle of engine technology.
ship. Unless you are dealing with exceptionally low The drive may utilize Chronium to provide thrust for
tech (Lvl 2 or less), using 1/5th of a ships total slots the ship, and while doing so is capable of propelling
for propulsion is sufficient to propel the ship at the the ship at a rate of up to 1000 light years a day at a
maximum speed the engine is capable of, and to cost of 1 billion sands in Chronium fuel. They are not
accelerate to combat speeds in 5 seconds. seen all that often outside of military ships due to this
There are three basic classes of engines: In-System fact. All of the ships listed in the equipment section

are equipped with Chronium drives unless otherwise
noted, though normally, non-Chronum versions are
also available.. Note that almost all of these ships are
equipped with an Electro-Nav ComputeR.
Life Support Systems
The life support systems on a spaceship take up the
most volume out of all of the mechanics and gadgetry
that a ship contains. The life support systems consist
of three major components: Gravity Generators,
Atmospherics Units, and Maintenance Conduits.
Gravity Generators are what allow modern spaceships
to exist. Without them, the inertial forces involved
would crush any living creatures. Gravity Generators
damp this effect to sustainable (and often negligible)
levels, and as a side effect are able to provide
an ambient gravity field within the ship. Gravity
Generator nodes must be spread at small intervals
throughout the ship in order for the dampening/
artificial gravity effect to be uniform and smooth. In
ship design terms, they will usually take up around
20% of the total ship volume.
Atmospheric units are vital for some species, and
not for others. Most modern atmospheric units are
capable of providing a sustained atmosphere of one
type. Unlike gravity generators, the atmospheric unit is
in a single location, not diffused throughout the ship.
Atmosphere can be piped to every location on board
through the Maintenance Conduits.
Maintenance Conduits are pervasive tunnels that
travel throughout the ship. They are used for funneling
atmosphere, heat, power, water, and whatever other
materials are needed throughout the ship. They are
generally located under floorboards and within wall
gaps.
Many ships often contain redundant gravity generators
and atmospherics, as the loss of either one of those
units usually has catastrophic effects for all of the
ships crew and passengers.
The Bridge and Ship Command
Although the Bridge is not absolutely necessary,
almost every single ship possesses one. In addition to
something just not being right about a ship without
a bridge, the presence of a centralized command
location for vital functions allows the size of a
ship’s necessary crew to be drastically reduced. In
emergencies, a single AI or captain can handle almost
all tasks. For normal ship maintenance at least 1/3 of
Equipment - Weapons and Armor - 51
the ideal number of crew is required. Traditionally, 1
slot of the ship’s volume is given over to the bridge.
Quite often, ship owners will splurge on the bridge,
making it a fairly ostentatious and spacious area, to
impress others and improve the ships stature.
If a ship possesses an AI, the computer systems that
house it tend to be located within the bridge structure,
to easily provide a thorough interface to the rest of the
ship.
Many times, the ships bridge is also an emergency
life support vessel, fully capable of detaching/ejecting
from the ship, and providing life support for everyone
within it, as well as minimal engines. Such bridges
will take up double the volume (2 slots), to account
for the extra mechanics and gadgetry needed.
Other Units
Other units involved in ship construction include
Habitat Units, Weapons Systems, and Cargo Units.
They are usually added to single slot increments,
although that is not necessary.
Habitat Units: Include plumbing systems, recycler
units, barracks/cabins, and common areas. They take
up 1 slot each, and provide space for 5 to 10 crew,
depending on how much space they need. They
come equipped with airlocks.
Cargo Units: Basically large empty spaces for storing
stuff. Come equipped with one external hatch/cargo
bay doors. They weigh in at 1 ton per 100 cubic yards.
Weapon Systems: These are present in various types
and sizes.
Making Equipment
It takes a craftsman 20% of the real market cost of an
item to make it using raw materials and circuits.
To make an item, a skill check is required at the end of
the construction time using the item’s difficulty value.
Items may be constructed more effectively by taking
one’s time. For every multiple of the final construction
time, add 1 point per interval to the construction roll.
When multiple skills are required to make an item,
one skill roll is made using the constructor’s lowest
level out of the required skills.
For each point the roll exceeds the difficulty, 10% of
the total construction time is reduced. The minimum
of time is 10% of the initial construction time.
52 - Equipment - Weapons and Armor

Making Equipment with Matter construction roll. Then use the table below to convert
the original creation time to how long it takes to
Creation create the item using matter creation.
Matter Creationists have wonderous advantages when
making items.They don’t need any materials besides
Chronium as they can fabricate what is needed. They
gain bonus skill level to Engineering.
Matter creationists also drastically reduce the time
required to complete construction. The following table
describes the reduction in construction time. This
reduction is still limited by the raw matter creationrate
of your power. The minimum time it takes to create
any object is 1 action.
Repairing existing items that arent destroyed take
1/10th of the creation time.
In general each level of Matter Creation power halves
the time for the previous level rounding down until
the value is less than one.
Calculate the final construction time after making the

Matter Creation Power Level Construction Times

1 second 1 minute 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year
1 1act 1sec 64sec 32min 4hrs 16hrs 8days
2 1act 1act 32sec 16min 2hrs 8hrs 4days
3 1act 1act 16sec 8min 1hr 4hrs 2day
4 1act 1sec 8sec 4min 15min 2hrs 1day
5 1act 1act 4sec 2min 7min 1hr 12hrs
6 1act 1act 2sec 1min 3min 32min 6hrs
7 1act 1act 1sec 32sec 1min 16min 3hrs
8 1act 1act 1act 16sec 32sec 8min 1hr
9 1act 1act 1act 8sec 16sec 4min 32min
10 1act 1act 1act 4sec 8sec 2min 16min
11 1act 1act 1act 2sec 4sec 1min 8min
12 1act 1act 1act 1sec 2sec 32sec 4min
13 1act 1act 1act 1act 1sec 16sec 2min
14 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 8sec 1min
15 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 4sec 32sec
16 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 2sec 16sec
17 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 1sec 8sec
18 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 4sec
19 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 2sec
20 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 1act 1sec
 Equipment - Weapons and Armor - 53

People, Creatures, and

Races
Agents of the Subpowers: Thick Skinned, Grit 4, Winged Flight
(move X2 speed)

Council Equip: Pinnacle of Structural Design Angelic Plate

(golden, +10DR), Masterwork Plasma Sword,
Masterwork Plasma Rifle
Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre
Angels 12 12 12 12 12 12
Angels form the brunt of the Councils troops. They are Skills: Melee, Missile, Acrobatica, Awareness, Climb,
genetically manipulated human beings, bred to be Stealth, Flight:10
stronger, faster, tougher, and incredibly awe-inspiring.
They attack in large groups, as squads or as an army. Masteries: Melee(Quickdraw), Missile(Gun Kata),
Though they have no Immortal powers, they are often Acrobatica(Anime Leap), Alertness(Panoramic Vision),
used to hunt down and capture rougue Immortals. Climb(SpiderClimb), Stealth(Backstab)
They have been modified to have huge angelic wings, Parry/ # of DR/
and often use flying tactics to confuse and capture Init Hit Evade Dam actions HP Move

their opponents. 22 24/24 35/35 18/16 3 16/60

12
24 - Flight
Angels
Description: Winged Angelic forms, these are the
shock troops of the Council of Time. Awe Inspiring
bringers of death and destruction.
Agents
Subpowers: Thick Skinned, Grit 2, Winged Flight
(move X2 speed)
Equipment: Angelic Plate (golden, +6DR), Plasma Shadow Agents
Sword + 1 battery, Plasma Rifle + 4 clips Shadow Agents are the feared elite of the Council
enforcement team. They tend to operate on a more
Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre
individual basis, tending to hit the undercover
10 10 12 10 10 10 assignments, rather than going in as an armed
Skills: Melee, Missile, Acrobatica, Alertness, Climb, enforcement division as the angels do. They function
Stealth: 8 as an intelligence agency for the Council, spreading
throughout most of human space. They have a
Parry/ # of DR/
Init Hit Evade Dam actions HP Move few of the Immortals powers, though they are not
10
Immortal themselves, making them incredibly fierce
10 18/18 29/29 16 2 12/36
20 - Flight
superhuman opponents. They have a strong form of
regeneration (but not body reconstruction they can
still be killed), they can alter their shape, distort the
perception of reality around them, see into distant
Arch-Angels places, and teleport. They dont need to breath, and
Description: Winged Angelic forms, these are the elite can survive unprotected in almost any environment.
troops and troop leaders of the Council of Time. Awe- They can pull weapons out of nowhere, and can
Inspiring bringers of death and destruction. be completely undetectable when they wish. They
54 - Equipment - Weapons and Armor
operate singly or in groups, depending on the Parry/ # of DR/
Init Hit Evade Dam actions HP Move
situation, and are very diligent about tracking down
those the Council sends them to hunt. 22 33/30 46/43
STR+9, 4+1
31/96
16
16 offhand (6 Shapeshift)
Description: The MIB Superhuman undercover agents
working for The Council of Time.
Powers: Shapeshift 2, Cloak & Illusion 2, Body
Regeneration 2,Contiuum Control 2 Alien Races
Subpowers: Grit 3, Contingency Man
Equip: 2 Plasma Pistols,Armored stealth suit +6DR
Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre Xelomites
10 12 10 10 10 10
Skills: Melee, Missile, Acrobatica:10 They were more than the demons and devils of
legend, over seven foot tall with and extra foot of
Pilot Starship, Alertness, Climb, Stealth:8 spikes and horns. Their humanoid bodies scaled, and
Masteries: Melee (Quickdraw), Missile muscled almost beyond imagination. The automatic
(Ambidexterity), Acrobatica (Anime Leap) plasma bursts fired by the troopers did nothing more
than slow the first Xelomite as they were later called
Parry/ # of DR/
Init Hit Evade Dam actions HP Move down. As the plasma burnt at it’s scales new flesh
3+1 10 appeared. Dark green ooze that emitted a haunting
20 22/22 33/33 12/14 11/40
offhand (20 Flight) scream was the only sign that the creature had been
harmed. The Xelomites tower over 7 feet tall and their
extraordinarily muscled frames cause their mass to be
Elite Agents 500+lbs. Their home dimension is jump space where
they randomly attack or grab onto ships traveling
Description: These are the best of the best. by. Xelomites value Cronium, a multidimensional
Superhuman undercover agents working for The material that humans use to power their ships that
Council of Time. travel through Jumpspace. The use of Cronium by
Powers: Shapeshift: 6 - specialist: Vicous:3,Tough:3,G humans and other star faring races has been thought
ritMaster:3,Skilled Melee:3, Cloak & Illusion 4, Body to be the original motivation for Xelomites enmity
Regeneration 2,Contiuum Control 6 - specialist Range with humanity. Xelomites are feared not only for their
Mastery:3,Skilled Alertness:3 attacks but for what they do to their victims. Only a
Subpowers: Grit 4(7) small number are devoured; the rest are transformed
into Xelomite offspring within large organic sacs.
Equip: Plasma Pistol, Pinnacle of Structural Design
When a Xelomite is destroyed it is merely banished
Stealth Suit +10DR, Enhanced Personal shields +8 DR
to jump space and may reform a new physical body
Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre in 24 hours. A Xelomite destroyed in jump space is
forced to create a new physical body using standard
10 16 12 12 12 10
Body Reconstruction rules (4 weeks base).
Skills: Melee:14(17),
Alertness, Missile, Acrobatica:14,
Pilot Starship, Climb, Stealth:10 Xelomites
Masteries: Melee (Quickdraw, Lethal Targeting), Description: 7ft tall Demonic humanoids.
Missile (Ambidexterity, Gun Kata), Acrobatica (Anime Superhuman creatures that attack space travellers.
Leap, Arboreal Movement), Alertness (Panoramic Powers: Shapeshift 6 - specialist:
Vision, Danger Sense), Pilot Starship (Defensive Vicous:3,Tough:3,GritMaster:3, Skilled Melee:3, Warp
Maneuvering) Climb (SpiderClimb), Stealth (Backstab) Control 2, Body Reconstruction 1
Subpowers: Grit 2(5), Thick Skin
 Equipment - Weapons and Armor - 55
Equip: none Powers: None
Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre Subpowers: None
12 12 12 12 12 12 Equip: Stun Baton: Str+2 damage stun, Mag Pistol
(Dam: 10+), Ceramic Armor (+6 DR)
Skills: Melee:4(15),
Alertness, Acrobatica, Climb, Stealth:10 Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre
Masteries: Melee(Ambidexterity) 4 4 4 4 4 4

Parry/ # of DR/
Skills: Melee, Missile, Alertness, Acrobatica: 4
Init Hit Evade Damage actions HP Move Climb, Stealth:4
STR+9, 3 +1 12
12 27/12 38/33 15/72
STR+weapon offhand (6 Shapeshift)
Parry/ # of DR/
Xelomite Lords Init Hit Evade Damage actions HP Move
4+weapon
Description: 9ft tall Demonic humanoids. 3 8/8 19/19 1 7/4 4
10
Superhuman creatures that attack space travellers.
Powers: Shapeshift 10 - specialist: Vicous:5, Tough:5,
GritMaster: 5,Skilled Melee:3,Warp Control 6, Body Elite Battle Armor Troopers
Reconstruction 4,Contiuum Control 6
Description: Elite soldiers trained to combat in Full
Subpowers: Grit 4(9),Thick Skin Body Armor
Equip: none Powers: None
Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre Subpowers: None
14 16 18 12 14 12 Equip: Mag Pistol (Dam: 10+),Full Body
Skills: Melee:2(21), Armor(Powered Armor) (12DR+4 Shields, 12HP), veh
agility:16, Built in Heavy Laser Rifle:(Dam: 16+)
Alertness, Astrogation:4(10),
Acrobatica, Climb, Stealth:10 Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre
Masteries: Melee (Quick Draw, Ambidexterity, Lethal 4(10) 8 8 4 4 4
Targeting,Reflexive Deflection), Astrogation (Linear Skills: Melee, Missile, Alertness: 8
Algebra), Alertness (Panoramic Vision), Acrobatica Acrobatica, Climb, Stealth:8
(Anime Leap) Climb (SpiderClimb), Stealth (Backstab)
Parry/ # of DR/
Parry/ # of Init Hit Evade Damage actions HP Move
Init Hit Evade Damage actions DR/HP Move
10+weapon 8
30 16 8 16/16 27/27 2 16/12
4+1 16 (16 in armor)
33 37/16 50/39 23/180
14+Weapon offhand (10 Shapeshift)

Other Sentients
Security Forces
Description: One of the most common encounters
will be with various security forces across the galaxy.
For the most part, they are pretty uniform in their
abilities. They are often found patrolling in hover
vehicles, or stationed as guards.
Electro-Immortal Nav
Computers
Price: 50 billion sands
Description: These beings were sentients from
various races that were lobotomized before they
were turned into immortals by the council. They are
created in ultra secret labs that are controlled and
heavily monitored by council members. They are
ElectroKinetics and Warp Controllers, and are skilled
at Astrogation. They perform basic functions, but their
personalities have been wiped.
56 - Equipment - Weapons and Armor
Knowledge of the electro-immortals is completely
secret as the nav computers are believed to be
advanced Council technology. Expendable (without
Body Reconstruction) variants were constructed but
often weren’t up to the capabilities of the immortal
versions (standard). Either way it is said that these sad
individuals are in a permanent dreaming state as a
ghost of their former selves; this pseudo consciousness
allows them to construct potent AI’s and integrate
well with computer systems, as well as going beyond
by using the potent mastery of Linear Algebra. Entire
ships that have been destroyed by Xelomites have left
only floating sarcophagi containing Nav Computers.
Electro-Immortal Nav Computers rarely open up gates
to Jump space themselves, but in dire circumstances
have been know to do so to save the vessel they
navigate for.
Powers: Electrokinesis: 6, Warp Control: 6, Body
Reconstruction:1.
Subpowers: None
Equip: Sarcophagus (apparatus that houses their
physical form)
Str Agi Dur Tht Wil Pre
NA NA 12 12 12 0
Skills: AstroNavigation 8(14), Computer Systems: 8(14)
Masteries: AstroNavigation (Linear Algebra), Computer
Systems (Create AI)
Parry/ # of DR/
Init Hit Evade Dam actions HP Move
12 N/A N/A N/A N/A 4/12 N/A