Equipment and Wealth

Encumbrance

For the most part, don’t worry about how much each character is carrying, as long as it’s a normal amount of gear: a suit of armor, a few weapons, personal belongings, and some treasure. Characters can carry larger things, but doing so prevents them from taking most other actions, including combat. For example, a character could carry another unconscious character, but they couldn’t do so while fighting, jumping over a pit, or climbing a wall.

Weapons

Most weapons cost 2, but two-handed and ranged weapons cost 3. Normal ammunition for ranged or thrown weapons is not tracked; if a character has a throwing knife, they are considered to have as many as they need for most battles.

• One-handed weapons cause 1 wound for every point of stealth when attacking with advantage. This is a very effective tactic for sneaky rogues. One-handed weapons are also great for defensive warriors and clerics since it leaves their other hand free to use a shield.
• Two-handed melee weapons inflict 1 wound for every point of strength. This means that a character with no points in that skill deals no damage; the weapon is too heavy or large for them to wield properly! Two-handed weapons are great for warriors who favor damage over defense.
• Attacking with two one-handed weapons (often referred to as "dual wielding") allows you to re-roll one die per point of dexterity. Combat-oriented rogues get the most out of this.
• Ranged weapons can be used against targets near and far away, but require two hands (though they gain no benefit from strength), and suffer disadvantage against close targets. Warriors and rogues excel with ranged weapons, as they can be used with either weaponry or dexterity.
• Thrown weapons can be used against nearby targets and only require one hand to use, though they suffer disadvantage against close targets. Warriors and rogues excel with thrown weapons, as they can be used with either weaponry or dexterity.
• Unarmed attacks or those with improvised weapons have disadvantage. Though they prefer to use weapons, warriors can hold their own even when unarmed using strength. Unarmed attacks cause nonlethal damage, which can be resisted by fortitude, even while unarmored.

Drawing or sheathing a weapon doesn't require an action, though only one of each of those actions may be completed per turn. Dropping anything in your hands doesn't cost an action, either. For example, you could drop both your swords, draw a crossbow, and fire it all in one turn. Picking something up off the ground does cost an action, though.

Armor

Light armor allows you to roll fortitude against lethal physical damage. Heavy armor allows you to roll fortitude with advantage. Characters in heavy armor move slower than those in light or no armor. Anyone can roll fortitude against nonlethal damage.

Wearing light armor casues disadvantage on spellcraft rolls, while wearing heavy armor causes disadvantage on awareness, dexterity, reflexes, spellcraft, and stealth rolls. If you want to focus on rogue skills, you should avoid wearing heavy armor and, if you prefer mage skills, not use any armor at all. Light armor costs 2 and heavy armor costs 4.

Shields

A shield gives advantage when rolling reflexes to avoid an attack, however, using one causes disadvantage on dexterity, stealth, and spellcraft rolls. You can use a shield as though it were a weapon (or second weapon if you're using a weapon in your primary hand) to bash an enemy, but doing so means you lose advantage on your reflexes rolls that turn. Shields cost 2.

Implements

Items meant to aid in magical spellcasting are called implements, either arcane or divine. Without using one, all spellcraft and religion rolls to cast spells are made at a disadvantage. Implements require at least one hand. Classic examples of implements are wands, holy symbols, totems, and crystal balls. Weapons and shields are not normally implements, though some artifacts may count as both. Implements cost 4.

Kits, Tools, and Books

A kit, set of tools, or a book can give advantage when using a specific skill in certain situations, such as using a linguistics book to gain advantage on intelligence rolls made to translate something from another language, a climbing kit along with strength to scale a cliff wall, or a set of thieves' tools to pick a lock using dexterity. A character must have at least 1 rank in a skill to gain the benefit of a kit. Kits always cost at least 2.

Other Equipment and Services

There are many other types of equipment and services, from provisions and animals to inn rooms and tavern tabs. Your character lives a life according to what they can afford, with 1 being lower class (food, water, clothing, shelter), 3 being middle class (horse, house), 5 being upper class (ship, carriage, servants), and 7 being nobility (mansion, land), and 9 being royalty (castle, army).

Artifacts

Magical items are called artifacts and can provide an array of benefits. To identify an artifact, you must succeed on an intelligence or wisdom roll, depending whether it’s arcane or divine. Some artifacts are always on, such as magical weapons and armor, while others must be activated using spellcraft or religion, such as wands and holy symbols. Very simple artifacts be consumed by anyone, like potions or enchanted food. Very rare and intelligent artifacts might try to control whoever uses them, resisted by awareness or willpower.

Sample Artifacts

Potion of Invisibility: spellcraft 3, become invisible for one scene

Potion of Healing: religion 3, heals one wound

Elixir of Restoration: religion 4, heals one wound and restores consciousness

Holy Sword: religion 5, counts as a divine weapon and divine implement

Magic Bow: spellcraft 4, counts as a magic weapon

Staff of Wizardry: spellcraft 5, counts as an arcane weapon and arcane implement

Ironsilk Robes: spellcraft 6, allows fortitude rolls against lethal damage

Shield of Faith: religion 5, counts as a divine implement

Black Skull: religion 6, social skills affect undead

Control Rod: spellcraft 6, social skills affect constructs

All set! Now let's move on to combat.