The HackMaster Player's Handbook presents a modern, full-featured fantasy rules set steeped in Old-School thinking. This gorgeous 400-page book gives you everything you need to play HackMaster. A real-time initiative count-up combat system means you never have to wait for your turn. The realistic, gritty combat rules include dynamic features such as incapacitating wounds, knockback, and shield breakage. An opposed roll mechanic means every die roll is exciting, and there's always a chance of success no matter the odds. The arcane magic system features both spell points and levels; each of the 14 different clerical orders has a unique list of spells that clearly differentiates it. There are ten races and 24 character classes, plus rules for honor, luck points, and quirks and flaws.
HackMaster's mechanics are unique and dynamic, but they also feel extremely comfortable. If you've played Old School D&D, you'll feel like you've gone home – albeit to a place that has been rebuilt and refurbished. The rules are extremely modular. Use what you like, and leave out what you don't.
With hundreds of spells, skills, talents, and proficiencies, as well as quirks and flaws, your HackMaster characters will always be unique, never cookie-cutter. Every time you roll a new character, you'll be in for a brand new gaming experience. HackMaster is a game of difficult choices, and the decision to excel in one area means you forgo other opportunities. You'll never have enough points to do everything you want, but the building point system, combined with quirks and flaws, ensures no two characters will ever be alike.
HackMaster is all about the journey – about becoming a hero. Rather than starting out as an awesomely skilled superhero, HackMaster characters begin play hardly better than peasants (although better equipped). It plays closer to The Hobbit than to Superman. Here characters grow into their heroic feats; they beat overwhelming odds by using wit and teamwork rather than overpowering weaker opponents through superior firepower.
The free 232-page HackMaster Basic contains all the rules a GM and players need to run a campaign for characters of 1st through 5th level, including a 75+ monster bestiary, a GM section, and rules for four classes (fighter, mage, cleric, thief) and four races (human, elf, dwarf, halfling). HM Basic is intended to make learning the main game easier and bridge the learning gap to the complete Player's Handbook. HM Basic presents the same rules as the main HackMaster game – characters are immediately portable to the more advanced game with no changes required.
Learn more at the Kenzer and Company website.
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