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Tales of Argosa

Core Rulebook
Sword & sorcery adventure where magic is dark, luck runs out, and every battle leaves a mark
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Best For

Sword & sorcery fans who want fast, brutal combat with diminishing Luck, dark & dangerous magic, and rich emergent sandbox play: group or solo.

Core Mechanic

Roll d20 under attribute to succeed (roll-under). Luck saves deplete your Luck attribute with each success, ratcheting tension. Combat uses Nat 19 effects, Exploits, Fumbles, Crits, and Trauma tables. Dark & Dangerous Magic risks madness and Veil monsters when casting spells.

Diced20
System FamilyStandalone
PublisherPickpocket Press
Year2024
ComplexityHow much there is to learn
Low

Checks roll a d20 under an attribute. The wrinkle is Luck saves, which deplete your Luck with each use and ratchet up tension. Combat stays pulpy and quick.

AvailabilityHow you get the rules
  • Free to tryNothing freeNo free rules or starter
  • Get it nowSold newIn print or as a legal PDF
RunnabilityWhat the book gives you to run it
  • ✓IndexFind any rule by page number
  • ✓GM guidanceA chapter on how to run the game
  • ✓Examples of playRules shown in action at the table
  • ✓Quick referenceCheat sheet or summary tables
  • ✓Cross-referencesRules point to each other by page

5 of 5 book tools found in the core book

Highlights

Distinctive diminishing Luck mechanic, combat with Exploits and Trauma is consequential, large GM toolbox (hexploration, oracles, hirelings, mass battle), solo rules included, Creative Commons license

Considerations

The Diminishing Luck mechanic means characters weaken as they succeed. There are limited magical options in the core rules. The game requires GM comfort with sandbox hexcrawl prep.

Rules license CC BY-SA 4.0

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