Knave: Second Edition

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Physical copies are available on the Swordfish Islands webstore.

"Somehow, Ben has improved upon the original Knave in ways I couldn't have anticipated. I'm blown away." - Professor Dungeon Master, Dungeon Craft

"The most varied and useful smorgasbord of random tables I've ever used!" - Baron De Ropp, Dungeon Masterpiece

Knave 2e is an exploration-driven fantasy RPG and worldbuilding toolkit, inspired by the best elements of the Old-School DnD movement.

This edition expands on the intuitive core of the original game, featuring elegant, modular subsystems for hexcrawling, dungeon delving, potion making and downtime activities, all in a 80-page digest-sized hardcover lavishly illustrated by Peter Mullen. The book features:

• A world-class GM's toolkit. Roll and combine results from 75 d100 tables to rapidly generate dungeons, overworld regions, cities, monsters, items, spells, NPCs and factions, or just scan the pages for inspiration. These are especially useful for people who enjoy playing RPGs solo.
• Intuitive, unified d20 mechanics that allow new players to make characters and start playing in minutes. Ability scores, armor, and difficulty ratings are placed on a 0-10 scale, yet remain compatible with the adventures and monsters from the last 50 years of fantasy roleplaying. The rules can also effortlessly switch between player-facing and GM-facing rolls.
• A slot-based inventory system that makes tracking what you carry both easy and mechanically meaningful. If you take enough damage, wounds can begin filling items slots, forcing you to drop gear, treasure, or weapons.
• Classless character generation that lets PCs draw from multiple archetypes at once. Any PCs can cast spells, call down miracles and use any weapon or armor. Their effectiveness is only restricted by what abilities they choose to improve and how they fill their limited item slots.
• A d6 Hazard Die system that condenses tracking encounters, clues, weather changes, fatigue, torch burn, and resource depletion into the roll of a single die.
• A utility-focused magic system that empowers PCs to alter the world in creative ways with 100 level-less spells. Also, a huge spell generator for groups who want chaotic, randomized magic.
• A relic-driven divine magic system in which PCs complete missions for deities to gain their blessings. Generate new deities including their domains and symbols.
• A monster-hunting alchemy system where PCs can hunt down magical creatures for their special abilities and then refine them into potions.
• Downtime activities where PCs carouse, gamble, recruit hirelings, and build bases.
• A tactical warfare system that resolves mass battles in minutes.
• Straightforward GM and player principles for getting started running an old-school style game.
• Designer commentary that explains the reasoning behind the rules.
• Easy-to-use "control panel" layout.
• Stunning art by Peter Mullen.