Optional Rules: Wands

The wand and staff are two of the most commonly recognized symbols of the magic-user. Whether simple or ornate, they are a symbol of status and  education within the arcanist community. They also serve several more functional and practical purposes as well. This article will focus on Wands.

A wand is the first basic tool an apprentice ever learns to craft. It is both an educational and personal experience. It takes months for the student to research, gather materials, and create their first initial wand. There can be no shortcuts in this intense process. Failure to craft a wand has spelled the end of many hopeful arcanist's aspirations before their careers have even begun.

The particulars of crafting a wand are left to each individual Referee. Because wands factor into even the most rural and humble of magical traditions, it is suggested that monetary costs not be a factor, but focus more on study and difficulty procuring the necessary materials. Of course, this process is already considered to have been successful for any character of the first level.

If a Referee wishes, it is suggested that a character crafting their first wand, roll as though learning a new spell, on the Intelligence Table. A bonus may be granted for extra preparation and quality of materials used on the student's behalf.

An arcanist will use their wand throughout their studies. Without their personal wand, they will be unable to perform many of the important experiments or cast the basic cantrips and glamours which are necessary to advance in their craft.

A magic-user is able to focus ambient personal mystical energies through their wands, allowing them to cast an arcane bolt up to  30 feet, doing 1d3 points of damage. Each day, they may cast as many bolts as points of Intelligence as the character has. Due to long familiarity and habit, a caster can draw, or re-holster, their wand without use of an action, but must have their hand free to do so.This ruling was put in place to make casters a bit more "magical", so they wouldn't have to stand around basically throwing lawn darts at opponents. 

If the Referee allows magic-users to cast Cantrips in their campaign (See upcoming article.. hint.. hint), then their personal wand will the be the only component needed to cast these simple spells.

A wand can not be used by anyone but its original creator. The Referee may rule that another magic-user may use a wand that is not their own, but only to cast arcane bolts, and with the penalty of taking 1 hit point of damage for each bolt cast through the strange wand.

How ornate or elaborate a wand is, has no bearing on game mechanics, but simply reflects the personal tastes of the item's creator. Referees may allow a magic-user to sense the general distance and direction of their personal wand up to a predetermined range, if they so desire.

Myths & Monsters: Bonnacon

Bonnacon (also Bonacon)

HD 3

AC 7 [12]

Atk 1 headbutt (1d6)

Move 18

Save 14

AL N

CL/XP 4/120

Special: Caustic Spray - Cone 30' long x 20' wide

The Bonnacon resembles a great bull, but with a shaggy mane like a horse. Its horns curl backwards, making them all but useless for goring in defense.

When startled or attacked, a Bonnacon will turn and attempt to flee, releasing a putrid spray of liquid caustic manure. This spray will cause 3d4 points of acid damage, and if a victim fails their saving throw they will be incapacitated by the stench for 1d10 rounds.

Adventure Seed: The Wyvern & Gnome

The Wyvern & Gnome, is a fortified inn, situated along a stretch of prosperous trade road that comes into close proximity to a lucrative river route. The goods and services exchanged between these two routes pass directly through the area controlled by the garrison stationed at the Wyvern.

Image Copyright - Maciej Zagorski, The Forge Studios

Important NPCs:

Strega Hammerhand - The resident smith, Strega can make or repair, tools, weapons, and armor, made of iron or steel. His apprentice does the small stuff, like nails, chains, and horseshoes. His left hand was lost to a gator down by the river. It has since been replaced by a mount for various attachments, used for holding, and working on the forge.

Ssel Orm - One of the lizardmen river traders. Ssel, speaks very good common so he was chosen to broker deals between the warm-bloods and his own people. If anyone needs something moved along the river, Ssel, is the one to see. While the Lizardmen care little for the "legality" of items transported, they do charge accordingly.

Ozimondi the Alchemist - A human magic-user and alchemist, Ozimondi's duties include assaying the content and purity of metals, and appraising the value of rare and exotic items for tax and sale purposes.

Quetar the Collector - Secretly a cleric of the God of Thieves, Quetar, poses as buyer and seller of rare and valuable items. Aside from his illicit fencing of purloined items, he actually does a brisk business in legitimate antiquities and rarities. Thieves and smugglers know very well not to attempt to double-cross him.

Rai Ak the Necromancer - Exploiting a loophole in local laws, Rai Ak, deals in the sale of zombie and skeleton servants as laborers and servants. Because his business deals with the dead, it isn't considered slavery. Powerful merchants and nobles, that profit from the use of these workers, ensure that this unsavory trade is unhindered and remains completely legal in this region. (Recognizable local corpses are boiled to strip the flesh, and raised as skeletons.)

Mezgahn of the Purple Cloak - A failed magic-user apprentice, Mezgahn, turned to stage magic and thievery. He uses his "illusions" and trickery to pull of heists and con games. At no time does he bilk locals, maintaining a reputation of honesty and trustworthiness.

Tenam from Afar - A barbarian warrior from elsewhere, Tenam, has no filters. He doesn't sugar-coat anything, nor tolerate deception. 

Gaithkrac the Pious - Specializing in healing, curing, and removing various conditions, and even curses, Gaithkrac, can not use any other types of magic.

Philha Chor - Runs the local trading post within the Wyvern & Gnome.

Ael Ormo - Runs the tavern within the Wyvern.

Raylokra - Retired adventurer. Does the occasional odd job if it peaks his interest.

Ithsa - Retired adventuress. On and off again companion of Xorsa, she also occasionally keeps company with Raylokra. A powerful enchantment from a previous adventure keeps her Strength at 18 despite her advancing years.

Khailem Est - The local administrator. Khailem, oversees the orderly and honest collection of taxes on trade goods and large sums of money that pass through the region.

Xorsa Rin - The local garrison captain, stationed at the Wyvern. Xorsa (Zorsha), is a hardened veteran of numerous battles. Her garrison is made up entirely of dervishes. They are completely loyal unto death to their captain, and abstain from drinking, sex, and other worldly pursuits.

Local Garrison Troops:

• One dozen light cavalry, with chain and shield, scimitars, crossbows and spears
• One dozen footmen, with leather and shield, scimitars, crossbows and spears
• Two additional cavalry Sergeants
• Two additional footmen Sergeants
• All dervishes fight with a fanatic focus, granting +1 to hit and damage in hand-to-hand.

The map and inspiration for this adventure location is brought to you courtesy of the good folks at, The Forge Studios (Click Here). If you like their work, please consider supporting their Patreon campaign, where you will gain access to further freebies and other benefits. The map used here is, The Wyvern & Gnome - Fortified Inn, available for free at DriveThruRPG (Click Here).

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with, The Forge Studios, or DriveThruRPG. Links provided are not affiliate links and I do not receive any remuneration or funds of any sort for providing them. This is simply my way of helping to support products I enjoy.

Optional Rules: Benchmark Level Racial Abilities For Dwarves

The following rule options are written specifically for both Swords & Wizardry Complete and Core Edition.

Dwarven healers attend to a patient in need.

A common theme in OSR game systems, emulating early D&D, has been the split approach on non-human races available to Players. Either these races are treated as separate character classes, or they are presented as a straight package of initial stat adjustments, a few abilities, and then given limited class progression caps. Both systems have their pros, and cons. This article does away with either approach, and gives a third alternative.. benchmark level racial class abilities.

These benchmark racial class abilities rules are based on the standard rules, for non-human Player Characters (PCs) with limited level progressions, but with a few additional benefits and abilities granted at certain levels. This helps encourage players to pursue playing non-human races, and helps alleviate some of the sting of level caps.

Dwarves - The dwarf player character has a +4 on saving throws against any magic, and easily takes note of certain features of stonework: sloping corridors, moving walls, and traps made of stone – in particular: falling blocks, rigged ceilings, and tiny arrow slits designed to release poison gas or darts. They can also identify whether stonework is recent or not. There is no established die roll or rule for using these abilities; exactly what a Dwarf does or does not perceive is up to the Referee. Dwarfs can see in the dark (darkvision), to a limit of 60 feet. This vision is black and white only.

Dwarven player characters may be Fighters, Thieves, Clerics, or multi-class in any two, or all three of these classes. Multi-classed dwarves are limited to 6th level maximum in all three classes. Multi-classed dwarves may not take advantage of any XP bonuses due to high ability scores.

A dwarf that is purely a Fighter may advance beyond 6th level only if the dwarf has a Strength of 17 (maximum 7th level) or 18 (maximum 8th level). Such a fighter may also take advantage of any XP bonus due to a high Strength score to gain experience more quickly.

A dwarf that is purely a Thief may advance beyond 6th level only if the dwarf has a Dexterity of 17 (maximum 7th level) or 18 (maximum 8th level). Such a thief may also take advantage of any XP bonus due to a high Dexterity score to gain experience more quickly.

A dwarf that is purely a Cleric may advance beyond 6th level only if the dwarf has a Wisdom of 17 (maximum 7th level) or 18 (maximum 8th level). Such a cleric may also take advantage of any XP bonus due to a high Wisdom score to gain experience more quickly.

Racial Class Benchmarks:

Fighter:

• At 2nd level, dwarven fighters do not count the weight of any armor worn towards encumbrance totals, nor does it count against them for movement purposes.
• At 4th level, dwarven fighters battle with vigorous ferocity, granting them an additional +1 to hit and damage bonus in hand-to-hand combat.
• At 6th level, dwarven fighters gain an additional +6 to their total hit points, and gain +1 additional hit point for each fighter level beyond 6th if applicable.
• At 8th level, dwarven fighters may build a stronghold, instead of the usual 9th level as per the normal rules for fighters.

Cleric:

• Dwarven clerics do not receive the standard clerical ability to turn the undead.
• At 2nd level, dwarven clerics master powerful runes and may scribe one cleric spell on a scroll. This takes one week of time and costs 150 gold pieces per level of the spell inscribed. These scrolls are only usable by that particular character, and no more than three such scrolls may be carried at one time. The character may only scribe spells that they have access to be able to cast normally.
• At 4th level, dwarven clerics may cast Detect Magic, Find Traps, and Light once per day. These are in addition to their normally allowed spells.
• At 6th level, dwarven clerics add the following magic-user spells; Darkness, 15-foot Radius, Explosive Runes, and Locate Object, to their third level clerical spells list.
• At 8th level, dwarven clerics may establish a religious stronghold, instead of the usual 9th level as per the normal rules.

Thief:

• Dwarven thieves never gain the standard thief ability to Read Magical Writings.
• At 2nd level, dwarven thieves gain an additional +1 (for a total of +3) on saving throws against devices, including traps, magical wands or staffs, and other magical devices.
• At 4th level, dwarven thieves may make traps, recover traps, and set/re-set traps. The referee will decide on the particulars for their campaigns.
• At 6th level, dwarven thieves gain an additional +10% to their chances of defeating magical traps.
• At 8th level, dwarven thieves may establish a guild, instead of the usual 9th level as per the normal rules.

Future articles will feature similar rules for Elves, Half-Elves, and Halflings.

Optional Rules: Backstabbing Sonsabitches

Backstabbing, just the thought of it makes most players cringe. It's sneaky, lowdown, betrayal at its worst, used by the most despicable and dishonorable of scoundrels. On the other hand, it's also one of the best ways to take out sentries without raising an alarm.

While undoubtedly thieves and assassins are the most well-versed in this ungentlemanly art of betrayal, it's not something that they alone can perform. The following optional rules allow characters of other skill sets to attempt to backstab (now called Sneak Attack) should the necessity arise. Note, if these optional rules are used, discontinue using the ordinary backstab rules also.

A Sneak Attack may only be performed upon an unsuspecting target. If the target is reasonably suspicious of the character, and actively taking precautions to avoid a possible attack, then that target may not be sneak attacked. Of course, the target must be aware of the character, and keeping a close eye on them.

Only small to medium weapons may be used to perform a Sneak Attack. Large weapons, or weapons that require a lot of room to wield, do not lend themselves well to precision and speed, and may not be used. However, some reasonable exceptions can be made, such as stabbing with a spear, etc.

Ranged weapons may be used to perform a Sneak Attack, if the target is completely unaware of the attacker's actions.. such as performing a sniper attack from concealment. Such attacks are only allowed at short range for the weapon involved.

A Sneak Attack requires full concentration, allowing only one attack that round.

The target must have a physical form that the attacker can reasonably be expected to attack effectively with the weapon at hand. Normally the undead and certain other creatures are immune to Sneak Attack but exceptions can be made.. while using a dagger is worthless against a skeleton or zombie, using a sword or mace to crush their skulls is reasonable. Driving a stake through a vampire's chest is reasonable. Trying to "get the drop" on a Black Pudding is just silly.

Sneak Attacks gain a +4 to hit.

Non-thieves do full normal weapon damage (plus any bonuses) + 1 additional point of damage per character level. (A fourth level character would do an additional +4 points of damage.)

Thieves and assassins do full normal weapon damage (plus any bonuses) + 2 additional points of damage per character level. (A fourth level thief would do an additional +8 points of damage.)

If a Sneak Attack does more than half the target's total/full hit points, then the target must make a saving throw or drop to 0 hit points, and begin bleeding to death at the rate of 1 hit point per round if those rules are used, otherwise they simply die.

An additional side note here - Sneak Attack is applicable to hunting game.

Optional Rules: Large and In Charge

Playing In The Big Leagues

Giants, and giant-like creatures, are fearsome foes. Above and beyond their prodigious strength, their size and mass allows them to perform incredible feats.

Strength ratings are not given for giants. Their massive strength is already figured into hit and increased damage rolls. DMs are encouraged not to double dip.

Send 'em Flying: If a giant succeeds in an unarmed attack against a character, they may knock (kick, shove, or throw) that character away from them.. preferably into something or someone else. At the giant's discretion, the character may travel up to 5 feet for each die of damage the giant is capable of doing, and takes normal damage from the giant's attack.

Sweep: Instead of attacking a single target, a giant may choose to sweep all targets in front of them, with one massive swing. This attack only does half damage, but effects all targets within reach of their weapon. No attack roll is needed, but all targets are allowed a saving throw to escape the attack without taking damage.

Stomp 'em Flat: If the giant so chooses, they may use an unarmed attack to simply knock the character prone, doing full damage, and pin the character underfoot. Unless the character escapes next round, or help arrives, they will be crushed like a bug. A giant may only pin one character underfoot at a time.

Bull Rush: If a giant charges a smaller character, they may perform a free attack on that character, and continue up to their full movement. However, characters so charged, may set any spears or polearms to stop the rush. On a successful attack roll, they do double damage (roll twice the damage dice, any bonuses apply just once) and the giant is stopped from going further.

Now for the characters - 

Beware Stinging Gnats: Giants must be mindful of smaller creatures attacking their legs. If characters specifically attack a giant's legs and manage to do 1/3 the giant's hit points in cumulative damage, the giant will no longer be able to perform any of its special attacks.

"Q: Why do giants always throw boulders?

A: because they often engage numerous, smaller humanoids in conflict. Smaller humanoids don't like to be squished, so they stay at range if they can. Giants only carry giant-sized spears and other ranged weapons when expecting to fight other giants, so boulders become their weapons of choice. A giant will typically carry 0 to 5 (1d6-1) throwing rocks in a bag on their hip."

Random Tables: Winding Streets Encounters

Winding Streets - 1d12 Random Table

1. Someone empties a chamber pot from above.
2. Object falls from above.. loose tile, body, etc
3. Someone/thing has just slid a sewer grate closed from below.
4. A zombie servant is on its way to deliver a message, package, etc.
5. A woman approaches the group and throws her child into the arms of one of the party that is carrying anything. She will grab anything dropped and run. The "child", a halfling, will immediately attempt escape.
6. A little monkey grabs something within reach from a character and escapes up a wall and through a window.
7. A hungry puppy, or kitten, begs attention from one of the party.
8. A scoundrel grabs a street urchin (child) and drags them kicking and screaming to sell them to a work house.
9. A sketchy man approaches the party and offers to sell them Black Lotus. 1 in 3 chance it's Haga instead.
10. An escaped bull is running rampant through the street! If not stopped, it breaks into a pottery shop and destroys everything.
11. An Amazon shield maiden, of equal level, challenges one of the party to a duel for eyeballing her.
12. The party is approached by a nondescript man and given a sealed scroll inviting them to participate in the local underground "Fight Club".