Bleak Forest

Careers, jobs, and vocations; whatever name you ascribe to it, you define your approach to the world, not some label or category. Here you’ll find the details to create your character, build your skill set, and find your destiny in the Bleak Forest.

What You Need

• One six-sided die (d6) and one twenty-sided die (d20)
• Pencil and paper (or a printed character sheet)
• This book

Create Your Character in 4 Steps

Character creation involves determining the statistics, skills, and starting basic equipment for the character.

The character creation process is as follows:

• Attribute Generation: Roll 3d6 for each stat in order; do not change the scores or alter the order (after all, this is the core conceit of the game). If your starting bonuses total zero or lower, you may roll again.
• Vitality Calculation: Calculate your starting Vitality score by adding up your attribute bonuses and adding them (or subtracting) the result from a base of 12.
• Skills and Focus (Option 1): Roll one d6 on each of the three Attribute Skill tables (Corpus, Anima, Spiritus) to determine your starting skill in each area. These three skills are granted for free at Apprentice (+1) rank. Next, roll for a focus for each skill granted at Competent Rank.
• Skills and Focus (Option 2): Spend 9 Skill Points on skills and Focus abilities, 1 point per rank. No skill may start above Expert (+3), and no Focus may have more ranks than its skill. See Skills and Focus (Option 2) below.
• Determine starting gear

Attribute Generation (Step 1)

Vitality Calculation (Step 2)

Skills and Focus (Step 3)

(Option 1)

Roll once on each Attribute-based Skill table to determine a starting skill for each attribute (Corpus, Anima, and Spiritus). You begin with Apprentice rankApprentice rank for the selected skills. Roll once on the corresponding Skill Focus table to generate a focus for the selected Attribute skill. You have three remaining skill points to allocate as you choose with the following stipulations: No skill can be raised higher than Expert (+3) in rank and you may not assign more ranks to a Focus than you have ranks in its associated base skill (see Skills for more information).

Skills and Focus (Option 2)

Spend 9 Skill Points: You begin with 9 Skill Points, which you may distribute among skills and Focus abilities as you choose. Each rank in a skill or Focus costs 1 point. At character creation, no base skill may be raised above Expert (+3). You must possess a base skill before purchasing one of its Focus abilities, and you may not assign more ranks to a Focus than you have ranks in its associated base skill (see Skills for more information).

Starting Gear (Step 4)

At the start of the game, you begin with some basic gear. You also roll once on the Starting Simple Weapons Table. If you possess the Combat skill, you can roll on the Starting Armour list to determine if you begin with any armour and then roll 1d6 to determine if you begin with a melee or ranged weapon (or perhaps both): 1-3 roll on Starting Martial Weapons Table, 4-5 Roll on Starting Ranged Weapons Table, 6 roll once on both tables.

• simple clothing (when worn, this takes no inventory slot)
• backpack
• provisions pouch (three days rations, and water)
• three torches (in provisions pouch).
• Components pouch

Roll on the Simple Weapons Table. If you have the Combat skill, roll on the Martial or Ranged Weapons tables instead:

Starting Simple Weapons

Starting Martial Weapons

Starting Ranged Weapons

Starting Armour

Key Terms to Know Now

• Advantage / Disadvantage: Advantage shifts the BAM! down (easier) and Disadvantage shifts it up (harder), in steps. Four tiers are used throughout: Minor (+1/−1 to the roll), Moderate (1 step), Major (2 steps), Extreme (3 steps). See Advantage and Disadvantage in Playing the Game.
• Anima: one of the three core attributes. Anima represents your mind and mental capabilities. It reflects your emotions, determination, and how you interact with others and is tied to skills that require charm, finesse, or specialized knowledge.
• Attribute: one of three core statistic (Corpus, Anima, Spiritus) that help define a character’s physical and mental capabilities.
• BAM! (Basic Activity Modifier): The target number you must meet or beat on a roll to succeed for checks and saves. A higher BAM! means the task is harder.
• Condition: A wound or impairment to an attribute. Minor through Extreme severity. Conditions impose penalties until healed.
• Corpus: one of the three core attributes. Corpus represents your body and physical capabilities. It reflects how well you can lift things, climb, dodge, and how well you endure hardship. Corpus is tied to skills that require physical prowess such as combat, defensive manoeuvring, and survival.
• Doom: a fate track used by games that track it, such as Hail Three Wyrd Sisters. It starts at 6 (maximum 12); at 0 the character is lost. A Doom save is d20 + Spiritus modifier against the listed BAM!. Games that do not use Doom ignore rules that change it.
• Save: A defensive roll (d20 + attribute modifier) to resist something bad. Named by the attribute: “Corpus save”, “Anima save”, “Spiritus save”.
• Spiritus: one of the three core attributes. Spiritus represents your spirit or essence. It reflects your mystical capability, magical aptitude, and how you interact with supernatural beings. It is tied to skills that require magic and esoteric knowledge.
• Stat (Statistic): A number that describes part of your character. Stats include the three core Attributes (Anima, Corpus, and Spiritus) as well as other values such as Vitality. Collectively, these values are referred to as stats.
• Vitality: Your hit points. Lost from damage; restored by resting or healing.
• Watch: A 4-hour block of time. Six watches make a day. You can travel, rest, forage, or do tasks in a watch.