d20 Malhavoc Press The Book of Experimental Might II.pdf

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BOOK OF EXPERIMENTAL MIGHT II

BLOODY, BOLD,

By Monte Cook

Requires use of the Dungeons & Dragons® Third Edition Core Books, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

This book utilizes updated material from the v. 3.5 revision.

Additional Credits

Editing and Production: Sue Weinlein Cook

Cover Illustration: Michael Komarck

Interior Illustrations: Caleb Cleveland, Kev Crossley, Scott Purdy,

Sam Wood, and Kieran Yanner

Cover Design: Peter Whitley and Caroline McKee

Interior Page Design: Peter Whitley

Playtesters: Sue Cook, Matt Filla, Jude Gagliano, Tod Gagliano,

Sarah Schneider, and Kent Wayson

For supplemental material, visit Monte Cook’s Website: < www.montecook.com >

reserved. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. This book is compatible

with 3rd Edition and Revised 3rd Edition rules. This edition of Book of Experimental Might II: Bloody, Bold, and Resolute is produced under version 1.0a and/or draft

versions of the Open Game License and the System Reference Document by permission of Wizards of the Coast. Subsequent versions of this product will incorporate

later versions of the license and document.

Designation of Product Identity: The following items are hereby designated as Product Identity in accordance with Section 1(e) of the Open Game License, version 1.0a:

Any and all Malhavoc Press logos and identifying marks and trade dress, such as all Malhavoc Press product and product line names including but not limited to The

Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Book of Experimental Might, and Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved; any specific characters, monsters, creatures, and places; capital-

ized names and names of places, artifacts, characters, countries, creatures, geographic locations, gods, historic events, magic items, organizations, and abilities; any

and all stories, storylines, histories, plots, thematic elements, and dialogue; and all artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, illustrations, maps, and cartography, like-

nesses, poses, logos, or graphic designs, except such elements that already appear in final or draft versions of the System Reference Document or as Open Game

Content below and are already open by virtue of appearing there. The above Product Identity is not Open Game Content.

Designation of Open Game Content: Subject to the Product Identity designation above, the following portions of Book of Experimental Might II: Bloody, Bold, and

Resolute are designated as Open Game Content: the feats in their entirety in Chapter Two, and anything else contained herein which is already Open Game Content by

virtue of appearing in the System Reference Document or some other Open Game Content source.

remainder of these Open Game Content portions of this book is hereby added to Open Game Content and, if so used, should bear the COPYRIGHT NOTICE “ Book of

duction, retransmission, or unauthorized use of the artwork or non-Open Game Content herein is prohibited without express written permission from Monte Cook,

except for purposes of review or use of Open Game Content consistent with the Open Game License. The original purchaser may print or photocopy copies for his or her

own personal use only.

This document is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental.

AND RESOLUTE

A combat sourcebook

Book of Experimental Might II: Bloody, Bold, and Resolute

Table of Contents

Introduction: DANGEROUS DESIGNS

Overview ....................................................................................................................................................3

Using This Book ........................................................................................................................................3

Chapter One: FIGHTING DOMAINS

Domain Benefits .......................................................................................................................................5

Basic Power and Bonus Power .....................................................................................................................................................5

Key Feat and Domain Feats ...........................................................................................................................................................5

Design Decisions: Domain Feats ..........................................................................................................................................................6

Selecting Fighting Domains ..................................................................................................................6

Domain Descriptions ...............................................................................................................................6

The Domain of Agility ...................................................................................................................................................................6

The Domain of Ferocity ................................................................................................................................................................6

The Domain of Fighting Dirty .....................................................................................................................................................7

The Domain of Intellect...............................................................................................................................................................7

Sidebar: Training in Fighting Domains .........................................................................................................................................7

The Domain of Leadership............................................................................................................................................................8

The Domain of Might ....................................................................................................................................................................9

The Domain of Mounted Combat ................................................................................................................................................9

The Domain of Quick Defense ...................................................................................................................................................10

The Domain of Ranged Combat..................................................................................................................................................10

The Domain of Speed ...................................................................................................................................................................10

The Domain of Stalwart Defense ...............................................................................................................................................11

The Domain of Two-Weapon Fighting .......................................................................................................................................12

The Domain of Unarmed Combat ...............................................................................................................................................12

Sidebar: Why Not Just Be a Monk?..................................................................................................................................................12

The Domain of Weapon Mastery.................................................................................................................................................12

The Domain of Weapon and Shield Fighting ...........................................................................................................................13

Sidebar: Game Balance.....................................................................................................................................................................13

Chapter Two: FEATS OF DARING

Fighter Bonus Feats ...............................................................................................................................14

Feat Boosts...............................................................................................................................................14

Design Decisions: Boost Development..............................................................................................................................................15

New Feat Types..........................................................................................................................................15

Double Feats..................................................................................................................................................................................15

Uberfeats .......................................................................................................................................................................................15

Oblation Feats ..............................................................................................................................................................................16

Feat Descriptions ...................................................................................................................................27

Sidebar: Feat Presentation.............................................................................................................................................................27

Design Decisions: Fighter Bonus Feat Abilities ............................................................................................................................29

Design Decisions: Whither Dodge?.....................................................................................................................................................33

Sidebar: Rerolls ...............................................................................................................................................................................37

Sidebar: Multiple Effects ...............................................................................................................................................................43

Sidebar: Dodge Bonuses .................................................................................................................................................................47

Sidebar: Making New Oblation Feats ...........................................................................................................................................49

Sidebar: Bonus Damage Dice ..........................................................................................................................................................51

Design Decisions: Superior Flanking................................................................................................................................................57

Sidebar: Using the Feats for Monsters ......................................................................................................................................60

Chapter Three: VERY OPTIONAL RULES

Maneuver Options..................................................................................................................................62

Crazy Legs Charge .......................................................................................................................................................................62

Knock Down .................................................................................................................................................................................62

Throw.............................................................................................................................................................................................62

Turning Charge ...........................................................................................................................................................................62

Hit Points.................................................................................................................................................62

Spending Grace ............................................................................................................................................................................62

Grace and Nonlethal Damage ...................................................................................................................................................63

Grace and Forced Rest................................................................................................................................................................63

Sidebar: Grace as a Commodity .....................................................................................................................................................63

Minimum Hit Points .....................................................................................................................................................................63

Appendix

Open Game License .................................................................................................................................64

Introduction 3

Dangerous Designs

And then we were surrounded. I knew we had to fight our way out, but many of the others questioned whether “brute

force” was the answer. When they approached the enemy under the flag of truce to parlay, they discovered that the cultists

were actually all demons in disguise. My allies were murdered quickly, and all they gained for us was an even smaller

fighting force. “‘Brute force,’” I should have told them, “is indeed not the answer. Skill, bravery, and fortitude are the

answer.” One way or another, they are always the answer.

—Dierna Hillerchaun, leader of the Knights of the Pale

Experimental Might ,I was overwhelmed by how

well it was received. Among those who did find

fault with it, however, the most common criticism was that

the book didn’t devote enough space to nonspellcasters. A

few readers contended that the rules actually hurt the fighter

class. (I pointed out this possible perception myself in the

book, although I still contend that the class is quite viable.)

Still, the comment got me thinking.

Some readers wanted to know, “Why don’t fighters get

disciplines?” Well, disciplines were designed to make spell-

casters more like fighters, so the question makes no sense.

The Book of Experimental Might de-emphasizes what are basi-

cally per-day abilities (spells) and gives characters with few

or no per-round abilities the option of always having some-

thing to do. This isn’t an area where fighters need any help.

They’re the kings of always having something to do—they’re

ready to use their best attack every round.

Perhaps, then, what nonspellcasters needed was some per-

day abilities that functioned like spells. A resource to man-

age. Except I’d already gone down this path with Arcana

Evolved ’s ritual warrior and combat rites.

So for this book, I designed a less intrusive solution. It’s

not a whole new class, but a method of allowing fighters to

“boost” their main power source—feats—a limited number

of times a day. But I wanted a little more. I’ve always liked

the idea that fighters (and anyone who does a lot of physical

combat) specialize in certain styles. With 3rd Edition, this

concept became workable with “feat chains” based on Power

Attack, Combat Expertise, or Point Blank Shot, for example.

I decided to take this a step further, though, and actually

reward characters for focusing on one area. That’s how fight-

ing domains were born.

Here’s something I want to be up-front about: This book

makes fighters more complicated to play. I mention this

because I do feel there needs to be a class for the player who

doesn’t want to have a lot of abilities to keep track of or a lot

of options to juggle. If you’re that player, this book might not

be for you. At the very least, you might not want to adopt all

the options presented here.

Overview

The book’s subtitle, “Bloody, Bold, and Resolute,” comes from

Macbeth , my favorite work of Shakespeare. It’s probably my

favorite because it was the first Shakespeare play I ever read

long, long ago, and the first I ever saw performed. It’s also the

best I’ve ever seen performed. Its dark, hard-edged nature

appealed to me as a teenager, and it appeals to me still.

I think the line, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to

scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm

Macbeth,” is very appropriate to the fantasy adventurer.

(And it is spoken by an apparition conjured by a witch, so all

the better.) Every fighter could do worse than to strive to be

bloody, bold, and resolute. Bloody because he shouldn’t be

afraid to get in there and take damage as well as deal it. Bold

because fear and hesitation don’t get you the treasure.

Resolute because your friends depend on you to go toe-to-

toe with the enemy, not run away.

To help you achieve these three goals, this book centers

around new feats and feat-related concepts. There are only

three chapters.

Chapter One: Fighting Domains— This chapter presents

the concept of fighting domains, which are basically feat

groupings based on combat style. These domains reward

characters for taking feats that all match a similar style.

Chapter Two: Feats— In this large chapter you’ll find a

massive listing of new feats and updated core feats. The

chapter introduces new concepts such as double feats, uber-

feats, feat boosts, and special abilities for those who take a

feat as a fighter bonus feat.

Chapter Three: Very Optional Rules— The book wraps

up with a brief discussion of some potential gamebusting

rules that nevertheless might be fun to try. In the Books of

Experimental Might , these ideas are the most experimental of all.

Using This Book

You can, of course, use just some of this book rather than all

of it. New feats are easy to introduce into any campaign. The

design of this book does assume, however, that you are also

using the rules from the first Book of Experimental Might ,

such as gaining a feat at every level and using Grace and

Health points.

W hen Malhavoc Press released The Book of

Book of Experimental Might II: Bloody, Bold, and Resolute

Contributors to Book of Experimental Might II:Bloody, Bold, and Resolute

About the Author

Monte Cook has worked professionally in the game industry since 1988 for companies including Iron Crown Enterprises, TSR Inc.,

and Wizards of the Coast. He is a codesigner of Dungeons & Dragons ® 3rd Edition and author of the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master’s

Guide . He has designed dozens of popular roleplaying books through his own company Malhavoc Press and also has authored

miniatures games, novels, comic books, and short stories.

About the Illustrators

Self-taught cover artist Michael Komarck has worked as a projectionist at the local cineplex, a children’s book illustrator, graphic

designer, and owner of a small publishing company. Since 2003 he has illustrated covers for fantasy authors including Robert Asprin

and George R.R. Martin and many game companies. Visit < www.komarckart.com > .

Caleb Cleveland is a 2d concept artist and illustrator whose designs have been seen in roleplaying publications, interior design cat-

alogues, on stage, on film, in furniture showrooms, and in the proposals of marketing and advertising companies. Caleb lives in

Irvine, California, with his beautiful wife Karen. View samples of his artwork at his website < www.calebclevelanddesign.com >.

Leeds, England, illustrator Kev Crossley learned early on that a monster lived in the abandoned house down the street—after that,

he saw monsters everywhere. He drew them all the way through school, but in art college and university he was told to stop. After

getting a job in computer games, however, people started paying him to draw monsters. The moral of the story? Art college and uni-

versity were a waste of time. Check out his work at < www.kevcrossley.com > .

Scott Purdy , a UK-based illustrator, has a great love of horror, evil, and all things tentacular. He wills clients his way if they have

need of nasty critters to bring to life. You can see more of Scott’s work at < www.scottpurdy.net > .

Seattle-based illustrator Sam Wood is well known in the roleplaying and electronic game industries. While a staff artist at Wizards of

the Coast, Sam illustrated Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering , and many other games. In addition to Malhavoc Press, he's

worked for a wide range of companies, from Green Ronin to Microsoft.

Born and raised in the Australian coastal city of Darwin, illustrator Kieran Yanner came to the U.S. at the age of twenty to pursue his

dreams. With some hard work and many a sleepless night he has amassed a broad client base from around the world and has pro-

duced creative works for a number of leading entertainment companies. See more of his work at < www.kieranyanner.com > .

Malhavoc Press

Malhavoc Press is Monte Cook’s roleplaying game imprint devoted to the publication of evocative elements that go beyond tradi-

tional fantasy. Malhavoc products such as Ptolus, Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, and The Complete Book of Eldritch Might exhibit a

mastery of the 3rd Edition rules that only one of its original designers can offer. Current titles are available to purchase in print or

electronic (PDF) format at < www.montecook.com > .

Like the material in that book, the contents of this one

is of a more tentative nature than that of most previous Malhavoc

Press releases. It really stretches some of the central concepts from

the Core Rules. It introduces all-new ideas that take things in fresh

directions. It might not mix well in your games with non-core

material. DMs should carefully consider everything they read in

this book and feel free to experiment with it themselves.

Throughout Book of Experimental Might II , all references to

spells, feats, and other rules not in this book come from the v. 3.5

revision of the three Core Rulebooks: the Player’s Handbook ,

DMG, and MM. This sourcebook is protected content except for

items specifically called out as Open Gaming Content on the title

page. For full details, please turn to the Appendix on page 64.

Open content is not otherwise marked in the text of this book.

As I did in The Book of Experimental Might ,I’ve annotated these

pages to show you not only what rules I have added, but why. You’ll

find numerous asides, many of them set apart as sidebars, that

explain why I use a particular new rule or suggest some things to

consider if you’re thinking about using it.

This book is not a condemnation of the Core Rules. It simply

provides ideas and material for doing something new with them,

just for fun. It’s not a “fix,” because, in my opinion, nothing in the

Core Rules is really all that broken. Instead, consider these chap-

ters some new options designed for people who are really familiar

with the rules—so familiar, in fact, that a new spin might make

for a refreshing change.

Monte Cook

April 2008

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