Myths of Wildkind

Fantasy and Mythical Quests for all Talons, Paws, and Claws!

Declaration of Content

This work is an independent creation that incorporates rules from Into The Odd, Cairn, Vagabond, Mausritter, Electric Bastionland, and others. The "Wildkind" term and associated Feats are original content.

The History of the Wildkind

The world was not always a place of peace and kingdoms. It was built on the backs of those with the will to survive.

1. The Age of Root

In the beginning, survival was the only law. The Wildkind did not live in great cities; they huddled in caves and hollows, hiding from the titanic beasts that roamed the lands. To survive, differences ceased to matter. A lone wolf starved, but together, they could work. Groups formed by purpose. Those who could swim caught fish, those who were strong broke stones. These were simple associations of mutual survival.

2. The Age of the Clans

As the forests were tamed and the first stone settlements rose, these loose workgroups hardened into something stronger: The Clans. A Clan became more than just a job; it became your identity, your surname, and your family. The "Iron-Beaters" were not just smiths; they were a brotherhood. Belonging was defined by Talent.

Not everyone fits the mold. Those with restless hearts drifted to the edges of the maps. They became the first Adventurers: Mercenaries, sellswords, and pathfinders. They were looked down upon by the civilized Clans, but they were useful for doing the dirty work.

3. The Age of Magic

The world broke. Magic was exploited, understood, or perhaps just woke up. It was raw, chaotic, and terrifying. "Sorcerers" rose up, wielding power they barely understood to carve out tyrannies. This was the Golden Opportunity for Adventurers' clans. The world needed heroes to brave the chaos and hunt down mad sorcerers.

4. The Age of Order

Chaos cannot last forever. Warlords and Clan Leaders united to crush the rogue sorcerers. They built high walls and established the first true Kingdoms. To ensure safety, Magic was heavily regulated. Mages were forced to join strict Clans or face execution. The time for "Heroes" ended. Peace reigned, but freedom waned.

5. The Age of Industry

As centuries passed, the unpredictable nature of magic caused it to fall out of favor. Why rely on a fickle spell when a black powder pistol works every time? Technology began to outpace the arcane. Magic stagnated, becoming a relic for scholars. "Capital" became the norm. Thousands of pistols and swords have been crafted to stop any attempt of chaos.

6. The Present

We live in the shadow of giants, the kingdoms are bloated and slow. And so, the Adventurer has returned. But this is not a golden age. Today, "Adventurer" is a dirty word. It implies you are desperate, debt-ridden, or crazy. You are a tomb raider scavenging the dangerous ruins of the Age of Magic for scraps of power that society has forgotten.

How to Play: Checks

The GM describes the scene. Players describe what they want to do. If the outcome is uncertain or risky, the player makes a Check.

Rolling the Die

Roll a d20 and compare it to your relevant Stat Score (Vigor, Reflex, or Willpower).

• Success: Roll a number Equal to or Lower than your Stat Score.
• Failure/Consequence: Roll a number Higher than your Stat Score. This means you fail, or succeed with a consequence.

Criticals

• Natural 1 (Critical Success): Not only do you succeed, but you do it perfectly. Added impact or benefit.
• Natural 20 (Critical Failure): A disaster happens. You slip, break a tool, fall flat, or alert every enemy nearby.

Combat Rules

Combat flows in Rounds. To keep things simple and fast:

1. Players Turn: All player characters act first.
2. Enemies Turn: All enemies act second.

Things to do on Your Turn

You can Move (approx. 6 squares / 30ft) and perform One Main Action:

• Attacking: Roll your weapon's damage die. There is no "to hit" roll. Damage is dealt immediately.
• Use a Skill: Use Smash, Strategy, or Parry.
• Use an Item: Drink a potion, throw a bomb, or read a scroll. (Roleplay items do not cost an action).
• Cast Spell: Harness energy from a Focus or Relic.
• Fleeing: Run from a desperate situation.

Additional Movement & Actions

• Running: You can forfeit your Action to move double speed (12 squares).
• Difficult Terrain: Mud, snow, rubble. Costs 2 squares of movement per 1 square traveled.
• Change Weapon: You can swap weapons for FREE if you do not Move or if you pass a Reflex Check. Otherwise, swapping takes your Action for the next turn.

Damage & Death

Attacks in *Myths of Wildkind* are dangerous. There is no "AC" to make attacks miss. You rely on Armor and HP.

1. Hit Points (HP)

Damage is always subtracted from Current HP first. HP represents your guard, luck, stamina, and ability to turn a lethal blow into a minor scratch.

2. Stat Damage (Critical Wounds)

If an attack reduces your Current HP to 0, you aren't out yet. Any leftover damage from that attack (and future attacks) is subtracted from your Stats.

• Physical Damage reduces Vigor.
• Mental/Magical Damage reduces Willpower.
• Targeted Mobility Attacks reduce Reflex.

Note: This represents physical meat points, broken bones, and mental trauma.

3. Defeat & Death

• Defeated: If any Stat reaches 0, you are out of the fight. You might be unconscious, exhausted, or paralyzed with fear.
  • 0 Vigor: Drop exhausted/unconscious.
  • 0 Reflex: Movement drops to 0. Cannot use Strategy or Range.
  • 0 Willpower: Cannot cast spells, Parry, or Smash.
• The Final Breath: If you take damage while Defeated, it reduces other stats. If two Stats reach 0, the character is dead.

Armor

Subtract your Armor Value from the incoming damage before applying it to HP/Stats. (e.g., Damage 6 vs Armor 2 = 4 Damage taken).

Combat Skills

Players can use these special maneuvers instead of a standard attack.

Resting & Recovery

• Take a Breath: (Combat Action). Spend your turn finding a safe spot/cover. If you take no damage during the enemy turn, heal 1d6 + Reputation Level HP. Can only be done once per fight. (Automatic if you win the fight).
• Simple Rest: (Short Break). Requires a few minutes and eating a Ration.
  • Restore HP to Maximum.
  • Restore Current Stats by an amount equal to Half their Maximum Score.
  • Example: Max Vigor 12. Current Vigor 2. Simple Rest heals +6 Vigor. New Current Vigor is 8.
  • Limit: 2 Simple Rests per day.
• Full Rest: (Sleep). Requires a Safe Place (Inn, Home, or secure Tent with watch). Restore all HP and Stats to 100%.

Hazards & Conditions

• Deprived: 24 hours without food/sleep/rest. Cannot heal HP/Stats. Take d6 Vigor damage per day.
• Falling: d6 damage per 10ft (2 squares). Reflex check to catch a ledge.
• Fire/Acid: 1 damage per turn, increasing by +1 each turn (1, 2, 3...) until you spend an Action to extinguish it.
• Drowning: Hold breath for rounds equal to Vigor. Then take d6 Vigor damage per round until death.
• Illness: Fail a Vigor check against disease -> Sick. Cannot heal naturally until cured by magic or medicine.
• Blindness: Fail Reflex vs Flashbang/Darkness. Attacks deal d4. Enemies deal d12 against you. Fail all range/spell checks.

Character Creation

Step 1: The Stats

Roll 4d6 drop lowest three times (or use Standard Array: 16, 12, 9). Assign the numbers to:

• VIGOR: Strength, toughness, ability to use body. Determines Inventory Slots. Used for Smash.
• REFLEX: Agility, speed, focus, nimble dexterity. Used for Strategy and Initiative.
• WILLPOWER: Confidence, bravery, charisma, mental fortitude. Used for Casting and Parry.

Hit Points (HP): Roll 1d6 or take 4. (Your stamina/luck).

Step 2: Starting Equipment

Every Wildkind starts with: 15 coins, traveler's clothes, 3 rations, 2 torches, and a warm sleeping bag.

Choose one Package:

• Mercenary: Sword (d8), Pistol (d6), Bomb (d10 Blast), Kite Shield (+1 Armor), Rope (25ft), Tent.
• Enforcer: Enchanted Melee Weapon (d8, Blast, Bulky), Plate Armor (+2, Bulky), Manacles.
• Bandit: Dagger (d6), Pistol (d6), Lockpicks, Grappling Hook, Cloak, Caltrops, Crowbar.
• Marksman: Rifle (d10, Bulky), Wood Axe (d6), Leather Armor (1 Armor), Tent.
• Explorer: Lantern & Oil, Grappling Hook, Rope (50ft), Tent, Acid, Antitoxin, Backpack (+1 Slot).
• Traveller: Shortsword (d6), Buckler (+1 Armor), a Spell Focus, Tent, 10 extra coins.
• Caster: Staff (d6), 2 Spell Focuses, Flashbang, Bomb (d10 Blast).

Feats List

Choose 3 Feats. At least one must be an Animal Feat. Feats represent your biology, training, or background.

Animal Feats

Combat & Trained Feats

Clans & Backgrounds

Roll d100 to determine your history.

Inventory & Gear

• Standard Item: 1 Slot (Sword, Rope, Shield).
• Bulky Item: 2 Slots. Requires two hands to use. (Plate Armor, Rifle, Greatsword).
• Petty Items: 0 Slots (within reason). If a petty item becomes useful, it takes 1 Slot.
• Coins: 0 Slots.

Weapons & Armor

Gear & Consumables

Magic System

Magic is not a precise science. It is a wild, dangerous force. Magic comes from Tools, not the person.

The Tools

• Spell Focus (30 coins): A wand, orb, or totem. Reusable. Costs Willpower to cast. Tied to one Element.
• Magic Scroll (20-60 coins): Consumable. Single use. Costs NO Willpower. Destroyed after use.
• Arcane Relic (200+ coins): Item with Charges. Costs NO Willpower. Recharges at dawn (usually).

How to Cast (Building a Spell)

When using a Spell Focus, you "Build" the spell on the fly.

1. State Your Goal: Describe the effect using your Focus Element (e.g., "I want to shoot a fireball").
2. Calculate Cost: Use the table below. Minimum cost is always 1 Willpower.
3. Pay the Cost: Deduct Willpower. If you don't have enough, you can't cast it.
4. The Roll: If in combat or danger, make a Willpower Check.
   • Success: The spell works.
   • Failure: The spell fizzles. You keep the Willpower points, but lose the Action.

The Elements of Magic

Every Focus is attuned to one Element. Elements have weaknesses; hitting a creature's weakness adds +d12 Damage. Hitting their resistance reduces damage to d4.

The Bestiary

Enemies are defined by Tiers.

Solo Rules

Playing without a GM? You are the protagonist and the narrator. Use these tools to balance the game for one player.

The Myth Spinner (Oracle)

Ask a Yes/No question ("Is the door locked?"). Decide likelihood. Roll d6.

Likelihood Modifiers: Likely? Roll 2d6 keep highest. Unlikely? Roll 2d6 keep lowest.

Solo Feats

Choose one EXTRA feat at creation for solo play:

• Feral Wrath: Fight with ferocity. Roll 2 damage dice with weapons/spells, keep highest.
• Nine Lives: 3 Free Rerolls per session (Check/Damage/Oracle).
• Adrenaline Junkie: 2 Actions per turn (cannot repeat same action).
• Sidekick: Start with a loyal NPC (6 HP, 10 Stats). You control them.
• Pack Mule: +6 Inventory Slots. Bulky items count as 1 slot.
• Survivor's Instinct: Take a Breath restores Max HP + 1d4 Stat points.

Solo Combat Adjustments

• Fray Die: Roll a d4 extra damage every turn (kicks/shoves) for free.
• Shield Splinter: Sacrifice a shield to negate 1 attack completely.
• Fleeing: Make a Reflex Check to escape any fight. Fail = Drop item or take d4 dmg.

Reputation & Advancement

You do not gain XP for killing. You gain Reputation by surviving Expeditions (Quests) and spending Coins in town (Carousing, Training, Philanthropy).