Eldritch RPG Rules Reference

Quick reference for Eldritch RPG 2nd Edition rules and mechanics

GM Screen: Combat Quick Reference

I. Core Combat Mechanics & Initiative

Combat is divided into 10-second rounds, with actions taking place across five Battle Phases. Initiative is primarily determined by the Prowess ability rank.

Table 1.1: Battle Phase & Movement

Prowess Rank	Battle Phase	Initiative Range	Base Movement Rate (Yards/Round)
d12	1 (Fastest)	12+	24 yards + Agility MV
d10	2	9-11	22 yards + Agility MV
d8	3	7-8	20 yards + Agility MV
d6	4	5-6	18 yards + Agility MV
d4	5 (Slowest)	1-4	16 yards + Agility MV

Running: Movement × 2 (Attack with a -3 penalty).
Sprinting: Movement × 4 (No attack possible).
Initiative Modifiers: Reaction (Agility focus) and Finesse (Melee/Precision focus) add static bonuses to the Prowess Score MV.
Surprise: Simple surprise means defenders lose their first attack but keep their Active Defense Pool (ADP). Total surprise means they lose all actions and ADP in the first round.

Table 1.2: Ability Ranks and Maximum Values (MV)

Defense Pools are calculated using the Maximum Value (MV) of each die rank.

Die Rank	Max Value (MV)	Ability CP Cost	Cumulative CP
d4	4	4	4
d6	6	6	10
d8	8	8	18
d10	10	10	28
d12	12	12	40

II. Attack, Defense, and Damage Mitigation

Table 2.1: Harm Calculation and Attack Formulas

Attacks determine Threat Points (Potential Harm) using the relevant ability branch; there is no "to-hit" roll.

Attack Type	Ability Branch Roll	Focus Bonuses (Applied)
Melee Attack	Prowess → Melee	Threat focus.
Ranged Attack	Prowess → Precision	Ranged Threat focus.
Magic Attack	Competence → Expertise	Wizardry or Theurgy focus.
Iconic Weapon Bonus	Added to the base attack roll	+1 Threat Point per Character Level.
Damage Type Focus	Added with Iconic Weapon	Might (Crushing), Ferocity (Slashing), Speed (Impaling).

Table 2.2: Defense Pool Formulas (Hit Points)

Defense Pools are calculated from the Maximum Values (MV) of basic abilities and specialties.

Defense Pool	Calculation Formula (MV Sum)	Recovery Rate
Active Defense Pool (ADP)	Prowess MV + Agility MV + Melee MV	100% refreshed after combat ends (approx. 1 minute).
Passive Defense Pool (PDP)	Fortitude MV + Endurance MV + Strength MV	1 HP per day (or 2 HP per day with total bed rest).
Spirit Points (SP)	Competence MV + Willpower MV	100% refreshed after safely escaping threat.

Table 2.3: Order of Defenses & Damage Reduction (DR)

Threat Points are mitigated in a specific order:

Defense Layer	Mitigation Type	Mechanic
1. Shield	Fixed Reduction	Deducts fixed Threat Points (1-3) from attack. Applies only if ADP > 0.
2. Active Defense	Ablative HP	Remaining Threat Points deplete ADP.
3. Armor	DR Die Roll	If ADP depleted, Armor rolls its die rank to reduce remaining Threat Points.
4. Passive Defense	Ablative HP	Remaining Threat Points deplete PDP. Character is Unconscious at 0 PDP.

Armor Type	DR Die Value	Shield Size	Threat Negated
Hide Armor	d4	Small Shield	1 point
Leather Armor	d6	Medium Shield	2 points
Chain Mail	d8	Large Shield	3 points
Plate Mail	d10
Magic Armor	d12

III. Special Combat & Magic Rules

Table 3.1: Defense Negation Costs

Defense Negation allows feats and spells to bypass normal defensive layers. Requires a successful challenge roll against the defense's die rank plus the SP cost listed below.

Defense Negated	Challenge Die	Spirit Point (SP) Cost	Mastery Die Requirement
Bypass Active Defense	d12	5 SP	1 Mastery Die must be expended
Bypass Armor	Equal to Armor Die Rank (d4 to d12)	1 SP per Die Rank (1 to 5 SP)	Optional (Feat-dependent)
Bypass Small Shield	d8	3 SP	Optional (Feat-dependent)
Bypass Medium Shield	d10	4 SP	Optional (Feat-dependent)
Bypass Large Shield	d12	5 SP	Optional (Feat-dependent)

Table 3.2: Mastery Die and Spirit Point Usage

Function	Mechanic	Cost/Limit
Mastery Die Uses	Added to ability test/attack roll (Mastery d4 up to d12).	Level 1 (2/day), Level 5 (10/day).
Master Twist	Mastery Die rolls minimum value (1) with an Iconic Attack.	Re-roll MD and add result to total threat.
Surge (Mastery)	Gain an extra Mastery Die use after daily slots are exhausted.	Spend SP equal to Mastery Die MV (4 to 12 SP).
Inspiration	Add bonus to ability, feat, spell, or attack roll.	4 SP per +1 bonus.
Quickening	Cast a spell instantly, bypassing the ability test.	SP cost = MV of Challenge Die + 1 SP per additional effect.
Spiritual Smite	Augments physical attack with spiritual energy (+3 to +5 threat).	8-12 SP base cost; +2 SP per additional +1 threat (up to +10 total).

Table 3.3: Magic Attack Visual Manifestations (Core Paths)

Magic Path	Spell or Effect	Key Visual Elements (Manifestation)
Default	Eldritch Bolt	A visible, physical bolt or continuous stream of glowing, potent substance.
Elementalism	Elemental Bolt/Shield	A globular bolt of blazing fire, crackling electricity, or solid earth. Hard shell of earth or wall of flame barrier.
Thaumaturgy	Arcane Bolt/Assault	An unpredictable sphere of energy zigzags forward, warping reality with erratic movements.
Sorcery	Chaos Assault	A dark, swirling sphere of malevolent energy, surrounded by an aura of shadows, leaving an eerie trail.
Hieraticism	Divine Bolt/Armor	A radiant sphere of holy light, radiating divine brilliance, accompanied by a low, humming sound. Manifests as celestial armor.
Mysticism	Mystic Bolt/Shield	A swirling orb of telekinetic force, pulsating with power, pulling nearby objects into its chaotic field of debris.

IV. Quick Opponent Stats and Templates

Table 4.1: Creature Categories and Threat Dice (TD)

Creatures are categorized by the number of attack dice in their highest Threat Dice (TD) category.

Creature Category (TY)	Attack Dice (TD) Quantity	MV Calculation Basis	Example HP Multiplier (Size/Nature)
Minor (Weak)	Single attack die (1d)	MV of Highest TD	Mundane/Medium: x1.0; Magical: x1.5
Standard (Average)	Up to 2 attack dice (2d)	MV of Highest TD	Preternatural/Medium: x2.0; Supernatural: x2.5
Exceptional (Tough)	Up to 3 attack dice (3d)	MV of Highest TD	Supernatural/Huge: x3.5; Gargantuan: x4.0
Legendary	3+ attack dice	MV of Highest TD	Can exceed d12 ranks (d14, d16, d20).

Quick Stat Block (QSB) Fields: TY (Type), TD (Threat Dice: Melee, Natural, Ranged, Arcane), EA (Extra Attacks), HP (Hit Points, Active/Passive split), DR (Damage Reduction), ST (Saving Throw), BP (Battle Phase/Initiative).

Table 4.2: Challenge & Saving Throw Difficulty

Challenge Level	Base Die (GM Rolls)	Disadvantage Roll	Applicable Saving Throw Ranks (Creatures)
Easy	d4	2d4	Minor creatures (d4)
Moderate	d6	2d6	Standard creatures (d6)
Difficult	d8	2d8	Exceptional creatures (d8-d12)
Demanding	d10	2d10	Legendary creatures (d14-d20+)
Formidable	d12	2d12	Legendary creatures (d14-d20+)

Saving Throw Types: Cognitive Save (mental manipulation), Skillful Save (evasion/agility), Valorous Save (fortitude/resistance).

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