Codex Mandatum v.1.1.

Codex Mandatum
Options for Ruling Kingdoms, Building Strongholds, Waging War , and all that in between
Version 1.1

C
ampaigns and adventures could lead characters to occupying a kingdom‘s throne, command of an
army, a head merchant, or a guild master. In many cases, players and Dungeon Masters lack the
background or the mechanical familiarity to cover these circumstances, falling to earlier editions or
into separate sub-systems that cover one individual aspect of this higher tier of play.
This supplement establishes integrated rules to simulate, generate, and manage various concepts and puts
them into a cohesive framework, allowing characters to run anything from simple mayoral positions in a
distant village to an emperor who rules kings, a leader of a knightly order, or a lord of a magical tower.
The Codex Mandatum also covers adjacent subjects such as establishing organizations (ranging from
knightly orders to mage academies, and from thieves guilds to traveling merchants); logistics (from
paying and outfitting soldiers to crop yield and restoring farmlands); landing nobility and granting titles;
binding with a stronghold to create magical castles (stronghold attunement), spending downtime on
training characters (player characters, character allies, or troops), new uses for existing skills and tools,
new spells, and trade goods and economics.

CR adjustment table for troops has to change

Auras on troops overlap and don‘t stack
Accuracy. A troop has an accuracy score equal to 8 + its attack bonus. A troop attack is an automatic
attack roll (such as a dozen sword slashes or a volley of arrows), and succeeds without rolling for attack.
However, the damage taken is determined by comparing accuracy against armor class, as described above.

Accuracy AC
+10 or higher x2 damage
+5 to +9 x1.5 damage
+0 to +4 Full damage
-5 to -1 x0.5 damage (half damage)
-10 to -4 x0.25 damage (quarter damage)
-11 or lower No damage

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Credits
Developer. DM Shade
Contributors.
Artists. Alexstoneart, AMK Fernandez, Cecil Kim, Egor Klyuchnyk, Emmanuel Shiu, JKR-Pottermore,
Kenichiro Tomiyasu, Kirsten Zirngibl, MariusBota, MikeCoombsArt, Neal Hanson, Noodle Li, PK Olson,
Raymond Minnaar, Samarskiy

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Contents
Credits .............................. 2
How to Use These Rules ...3
Change in Perspective .. 4
Chapter 1: Settlements ........ 6
Establishing a Settlement 6
Sample Settlements ..... 9
Managing Settlements .... 12
Discoveries and Goody
Huts ............................. 16
Settlement Features,
Events, and Infrastructure
......................................... 17
Noble Titles ................. 18
Chapter 2: Armies and War 21
Establishing a Troop ....... 21
Sample Troops............ 24
Sample Swarms .......... 33
Managing Armies ........... 36
Aerial and Naval Combat
..................................... 39
Sieges ........................... 41
Army Features, Events,
and Hiring Soldiers ........ 46
Preparing a War
Campaign .................... 49
Upgrading and
Customizing Troops ... 50
Chapter 3: Strongholds ..... 52
Establishing a Stronghold
........................................ 52
Stronghold Functions 54
Feature Modifications 59
Sample Strongholds ... 63
Composite Strongholds
..................................... 65
Managing Strongholds ... 66
Stronghold Features ....... 66
Lair (Stronghold)
Actions ........................ 68
Regional Actions
(Effects) ....................... 70
Chapter 4: Organizations ... 73
Establishing an
Organization ................... 73
Sample Organizations 75
Managing an Organization
......................................... 78
Organization Features,
Events, and Infrastructure
......................................... 80
Faction Cards .............. 82
Chapter 5: Downtime and
Training .............................. 82
Heist ................................ 83
Manage or Lead .............. 84
Rally ................................ 84
Recuperate ...................... 86
Spellcraft ......................... 86
Train ................................ 86
Training Students and
Mystic Presence .......... 86
Travel .............................. 87
Work................................ 87
Training List (Activities) 87
Troop Traits ................ 90
Retiring a Character ....... 91
Next Generation of
Characters ................... 91
Chapter 6: New Skill and
Tool Uses ............................. 93
Alchemist‘s Supplies ....... 93
Crafting Potions .......... 93
How to Use Potions ....94
Potion Miscibility Chart
.....................................94
Potion List ................... 95
Special Potions ............96
Crafting Creatures...... 98
Chapter 7: Spells ...............100
Optional Rule: Cabal
Sorcery...........................100
New Spells ..................... 101
Spell Lists .................. 101
Spell Descriptors ....... 101
Expanded Uses of
Existing Spells ........... 104
Chapter 8: Trade Goods and
Equipment ........................ 105
Foreign Trade................ 105
Magic Items................... 105
Treasures ....................... 105
Sample Trade Goods ..112
Equipment .....................112
Slaughter for Meat .....113
Changelog ......................... 114
Inspirations ....................115

How to Use These Rules

These rules introduce an integrated structure for how to handle several niches in D&D, such as ruling
anything from vast kingdoms as a high king to being a mayor of a small hamlet, managing mass combat
and warfare, etc.

Kingdoms
Ruling settlements changes how a campaign is run, and provides advantages in wealth, manpower, and
influence in a region. Settlements provide markets and a place to sell goods or gain services, as well as the
ability to influence its population.
Making a settlement sheet (and by extension, learning of the settlement‘s capabilities) requires basic
information about the size of the settlement (in number of people). Other factors, such as history, culture,
demographics contribute to in-game events. Creating a settlement sheet should also involve the players,
as backgrounds of natives to the settlement will be affected by the settlement‘s own traits (fame, calamity,
theme, etc.), which can further help provide instances of character development.

Strongholds
Strongholds provide shelter, tools, and useful mechanisms for characters of influence (such as areas to
craft in, various bonuses for skills, or even affecting the region if attuned).

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Strongholds are also treated as control points (equivalent to hit points) for settlements, headquarters for
organizations (giving them a modifier for the organization‘s activity), as well as the area where troops can
be housed and trained.

War
Armies can be used to effortlessly crush rivaling forces and perform tasks that require manpower.
Whereas heroes are vulnerable to large masses of enemies that might overwhelm them if they do not rest
to replenish their resources, an army can step in to bring down the pain.
Armies are not as capable against creatures that deal area damage (such as dragons, who can use breath
weapons and fly over most melee weapons) or supernatural foes that do not fight normally on the field
(such as fey or demons), necessitating that heroes with specialized abilities step in and prevent a
massacre.

Organizations
Organizations are entities made by pooling manpower together, and can serve as sources of funding
(companies, markets), orders (mercenary army, knightly order), or guilds (thief guild, alchemy hall) that
influence the setting, provide money, and serve as tools to their leaders, as well as a place to work (if an
employee). Most organizations have internal mechanisms for management (such as titles and
responsibilities) that alter pay given or steps of membership in the organization.

4X Dungeons and Dragons

With these rules, D&D 5th edition does not have to turn into a 4X game, or Explore (overland travel,
map, search for resources), Expand (settlement building, stronghold construction), Exploit (set up
organizations, rack up cash), and Exterminate (conquer and defeat enemies).
The framework of the rules, however, support the direction if taken by the players and Dungeon Master.

Change in Perspective
Rulers can empty their treasuries of wealth to fund decedent pleasures or the purchase of items that
provide personal power (scrolls, potions, etc.), send armies to complete their quests, hire assassins to kill
their rivals, and command vast amounts of manpower for vain projects such as monuments to their
power. As such, it may be difficult to incorporate a normal adventurer‘s expectations with the power being
a ruler provides.
Ruling comes with its own difficulties, however. Coin comes with tax, and tax comes with economic
activity of the settlement. Soldiers require compensation, leadership by good officers, outfitting, and food.
Not every task can be solved by throwing an army at it, and a badly mismanaged state could end a
character‘s career or fuel drama for character development.

Adventurer-Ruler
Ambitious upstarts challenging an established ruler, a quest for special materials, a crisis that require a
hands-on approach, or a collapse in order and civil conflict are all situations that allow a ruler to exercise
personal strength (such as from their class, skills, and ability scores) instead of giving orders.
End-campaign villains may also be leaders of their own; leading secret organizations, vast armies, or
powerful kingdoms who have magical strongholds—confronting them this way becomes a multi-faceted
affair that involves fighting on multiple layers (the kingdom and military layer, the personal tactical layer,
etc.).

OPTIONAL RULE: LOYALTY

Just as in the Dungeon Master's Guide (page 93), loyalty can be applied to settlements as an optional rule.
In this case, the collective population is treated as the NPC (or the majority of population), and loyalty is
affected by governing and the actions and events that take place in the settlement. In case of an
organization such as a company or military order, loyalty can represent the general state of the members
or the attitude of various factions. Some factions may warrant their own loyalty scores, such as
commoners, the military, the elites, or the religious establishment.

 Commoners. Adding or maintaining holidays and festivals (and paying for settlement-wide
entertainment), lowering taxes or collecting less than the full amount, treating the populace with

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

respect/within their alignment, and providing protection for the people increases loyalty, making
the populace and the average member of them more cooperative. In best-case scenarios, when
great people distinguish themselves among the populace, they will be keen to offer their services
to the ruler.
Removing established holidays and festivals, increasing taxes, treating the populace with derision
and dismissal or in ways opposing their alignment, and failing to protect them decreases the
loyalty of the populace, making them less cooperative. In worst-case scenarios, exceptionally-
gifted or organized rebels might arise from disloyal settlements, funded in secret by dissident
elites.
 Military. The military may lobby for certain leadership or command of a respected veteran over
a less familiar (but more loyal) officer, and may take a position when military action is pointed at
their native areas or against the soldiers‘ personal beliefs. An exceptionally strong military that is
not loyal may overbear on the government, demanding more say in public affairs and even
removing rulers and replacing them.
 Elites. The elites of a settlement include skilled labor, merchants, nobility, and individuals of
great personal power and influence (such as wizards and bards). Elites may lobby for certain
policies or positions for the government to take, and their personal wealth and influence makes
rolling back their power a difficult and delicate affair. An exceptionally strong elite class that is
not loyal may put its interests above that of its rivals, creating factionalism to trickle down to the
streets and popular culture, causing a schism even between regular people that could lead to civil
conflict.
 Religious Establishments. A religious establishment includes faiths that are both centralized
and popular decentralized ones. An exceptionally powerful religious establishment that is not
loyal may execute its vision for the ideal world over the current order, the result (and approach) of
which varies depending on the faith‘s tenants and its mortal (or immortal) leadership.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Chapter 1: Settlements
A village, town, or city makes an excellent backdrop for an adventure. The adventurers might be called on
to track down a criminal who's gone into hiding, solve a murder, take out a gang of were rats or
doppelgangers, or protect a settlement under siege.
When creating a settlement for your campaign, focus on the locations that are most relevant to the
adventure. A nation has several statistics, one for every major settlement or region, which interact with
one another, not unlike a party of adventurers, who have separate character sheets for each member.
If the settlement may instead be considered a region for simplicity (or when controlling multiple
settlements, as rulers of nations). In this case, the rules are unchanged, as a region is a certain
geographical area where several settlements exist. In case of a region, any improvements and
infrastructure to the settlement is applied instead to the region.
For example, a settlement sheet that has 10,000 people can represent one large city or a collection of
several villages in a single region (such as a valley).

Establishing a Settlement
A settlement or region establishes itself naturally
with sufficient population of creatures, such as
migrating settlers, explorers bringing their
families, or drifters.
There are settlements for all races (even savage
ones), although certain concepts may be unusual
to uncivilized races (such as formal taxation or a
stable government structure).
Population determines several features, such as
economic activity (showing how large the
economy is), tax money (which can be drawn
from by various strongholds and governing
bodies), military protection (which is significant
when armies march and bandits pillage), and a
host of other elements.
Settlement Name. This is the name of the
settlement. A settlement can be named after
anything from the founder‘s name or title
(Sarren‘s Hill), its most distinct stronghold (the
Gray Tower), or even kept nameless (Capital
City).
Population. The population of a settlement
determines most other statistics. Population can
increase or decrease with several in-game
events, such as by diseases, influx of settlers,
absorbing another settlement, or even normally
over time by birth rates. Population determines
the settlement‘s size multiplier to the economic
activity, as larger settlements usually allow more
specialized laborers to function, making
business smoother and tasks more efficient
(represented by the economic multiplier).
Most settlements also show a demographic and
racial distribution of the population (in
percentages or in numbers).

Settlement Size Population Economic Activity Multiplier

Hamlet 50+ x1
Small village 200+ x2
Large village 1,000+ x3
Small city/town 5,000+ x4
Large city/town 10,000+ x5
Metropolis 25,000+ x6

Growth and Death. Population is by no means
static in a settlement or region. Numeric
increases to population represent new births,
while decreases represent deaths. Random
growth or decline could also represent
immigration, exile, and other events.
The population increases by 1% per year. This
covers growth and death.
 Births and regular immigration average 16
(3d10) people per 1,000 populace (1.6%
increase).
 Deaths and regular immigration are average
of 5 (1d10) people per 1,000 populace (0.5%
decrease).
Exceptional circumstances (plagues, influx of
immigrants, war and civil conflict, etc.) can
cause a direct increase or decrease in population
number as determined by the DM.
For instance, the City of Thieves has a normal
population of 10,000 people. Five years pass in
the campaign, resulting in an annual increase of
5% (or 510, total of 10,510 populace). This
increases the economic activity and economic
maximum, and by extension, several attributes

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
of the settlement. As usual, round down
fractions.
Routine changes in population numbers do not
usually warrant recalculating the settlement‘s
economic activity, although it is necessary when
large numbers of populace settle or leave
permanently or for an extended period (such as
a refugee crisis, post-war baby boom, severe
plague, or civil unrest). Military units who leave
a settlement in a military campaign are deduced
from the population only if they die or are
abroad for an extended period (usually more
than 6 months, but can depend on the
settlement‘s attitude towards war).
Economy
The economic activity of a settlement represents
the size of the economy and its ability of to make
purchases and absorb sales. The daily economic
activity of a settlement is equal to 2 silver pieces
for each person in the settlement times the
settlement multiplier.
The value of economic activity also represents
the most valuable item the settlement can
create (such as a rare magic item, a stronghold,
or ship, as determined by the DM). This can also
represent grand projects such as monuments.
Things of higher value than the economic
activity is not in circulation, either in the
possession or under the protection of a wealth
individual or organization, or is otherwise not
easily reached.
Economic Maximum
The economic maximum is a value five times
that of the economic activity, which is the
maximum amount of value the economy
can process in one day. This value is placed
adjacent to the economic activity value after a
slash (40/160 gp in the below case). The
settlement cannot process more money than the
economic maximum (soon lacking liquidity,
demand, or causing a glut in the product in
question).
For instance, a small village of 200 people has
an economic activity of 80/400 gp, or 200
(population) x 2 (silver pieces) x 2 (size
modifier).
The most expensive item it can create is worth
80 gold pieces (or 800 silver pieces), and it can
absorb a limit of 400 gold pieces (or 4,000 silver
pieces) every day.
A trader selling 400 gp worth of iron bars in the
settlement would quickly strain the settlement‘s
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economy for the day, affecting the businesses
that take place in it.
In effect, the iron bars (or value thereof) will
rapidly circulate through the economy, paying
debts, serving as credit, be traded in for fixed
assets, and otherwise occupying the economy
too much that economy cannot further process
further sales for the day.
Economic Prosperity
The average economic activity is 2 silver pieces
per day for each person in the settlement. This is
termed average prosperity, assuming a populace
of average skill, education, wealth, and
motivation. A few rare circumstances modify
prosperity.
A populace that is well-educated, highly skilled,
rich, or motivated can have 3 to 4 sp of economic
activity per day, while an unskilled, uneducated,
poor, or otherwise disadvantaged population has
1 sp or even 5 cp of economic activity per day.
Highly prosperous nations have more willful,
less loyal, and more independent people.
Low investment in education, large, weakly
policed frontiers, and bad economic conditions
reduce base economic activity, but makes the
population more pliable, more loyal, and more
reliant on rich or powerful individuals.
Changing the population‘s base economic
activity is a long and arduous process that
involves many factors, and is usually out of reach
of players unless embarking on grand projects
and with extensive infrastructure over
generations.
The purpose of such as rule is to represent
smaller and more productive nations as opposed
to larger and less productive ones (historic
examples could be the Italian States versus
Scandinavia in the 13th century). This is known
in grand strategy circles as building wide (larger
area, less productivity) versus building tall
(smaller area, more productivity).
Tax
This represents liquefiable wealth that circulates
in the economy that is quickly available for
taxation. Tax is usually up to a maximum of 25%
of the settlement‘s economic activity.
Out of the tax, two-fifths (10% economic
activity) is per capita tax or land (or salt) tax,
one-fifth (5% economic activity) is protection
tax, one-fifth (5% economic activity) is a
religious tithe or charitable tax, and one-fifth
(5% economic activity) is a tax on trade.
Strongholds usually claim part of these taxes to
sustain themselves—a general in a keep claims
the military tax from the ruler of the settlement,
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
and uses the money to pay for the soldiers and
troops, while a priest in an abbey or church
claims the religious tax as a tithe to maintain
religious buildings or pay for healing in certain
occasions; land taxes are usually claimed by the
ruler himself to maintain government functions
and pay for various useful strongholds.
Tax Collector
Centralization
The ruler can claim all tax income (such as
establishing a state church to siphon donations
and tithes, claim military tax to pay for troops,
etc.). If distributing it in an unfair way or not in
its intended means, there is a chance this will be
discovered and cause disloyalty. However, if
distributed well, this is described as increased
centralization.
Increased centralization this way has its
benefits, but usually results in less skilled
organizations in the settlement, as well as
increased risk of corruption or theft (since one
claims all).
Transporting Tax
Tax is usually transported in chests or other
means to the capital or the ruler‘s treasury—each
chest (see the Player‘s Handbook) can carry up
to 15,000 gold pieces (30 pounds of gear times 1
pound per 50 gp). Alternatively, a single gold bar
(27 pounds) is worth around 1,350 gp.
In some cases, tax money can be claimed
without currency, such as claiming ships,
valuable items, gems, or other mediums of value.
Military
This lists any troops stationed in the settlement
under the ruler‘s control, plus the command
structure. Military forces may be organized by
regiment (1 cavalry regiment, or 2 archer
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regiment) or sub-organization (25 guards, or 62
army), or left as a number (53 soldiers, or 12
scouts).
Reinforcements
Usually, the military is ready to be called upon
instantly, but in most cases, only one-third of the
force is ready for combat, with the rest as
reinforcements that can be drawn upon within
hours of calling upon them or raising the call to
arms.
Scattered military units must be notified
individually, making it prudent for military
commanders to settle soldiers in strongholds
where they can be easily outfitted, notified, and
managed.
Government
This shows the system of government or
common traits it has. There are many systems of
government, ranging from representative city
councils, military dictatorships, tribal
monarchies, to democratic states.
The system of government in of itself has no
direct mechanical impact on the system, but it
makes its impact shown through programs,
administrative acts, how they confront issues,
and internal policies by the leaders (which in
turn is naturally influenced by the system of
government).
An absolute monarch is more naturally inclined
to prevent factions to arise in his demesne, and
is more likely to suppress such factions than
integrate them into a government structure as a
democracy would.
Ultimately, all governments intend to exist in
perpetuity, and when an element cannot be
coopted, it usually becomes a battle to the death,
winner-takes-all.
Ruler’s Status
This shows the status of the ruler in a given
settlement. This provides quick insight into the
political status of the settlement‘s leadership.
Strongholds
This lists any major strongholds present that
must be controlled to claim the settlement.
Although there is no upper limit to strongholds
in a settlement, the ones that provide significant
influence are few (and sometimes change or
compete with one another for prominence).
In most settlements, one stronghold for each
size category of the settlement is considered a
focal point this way (usually the seat of the
settlement‘s government, economic or cultural
centers, and strongholds of religious, historical,
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
or ideological significance). Taking control of
these focal points represents control of the entire
settlement, with less control corresponding to
less control.
Settlement traits (Race Relations, Theme,
Notable Traits, Treats, Fame, Calamity,
Factions) Settlement features show common
traits in the settlement, such as internal politics,
aesthetics, history, or dangers associated with
the settlement.
 Fame. This covers what the settlement is
best known for—aesthetics, cultural traits,
history, or otherwise the most distinct
feature among other settlements.
 Race Relations. This represents current
relations between different races, or sub-
races or ethnicities if one race dominates.
 Theme. This represents the theme of the
settlement, such as ‗decedent city resisting
reform‘ to ‗failing farming village suffering
devastation from war‘. This provides
guidance on what adventures and tasks can
be accomplished in the settlement.
Sample Settlements
Capital City
Population 18,000 (14,000 humans; 1,000
dwarves; 1,000 halflings; 500 elves; 1,500
other), large city (x5)
Economic Activity 18,000/90,000 gp
Tax 5,400 gp (1,080 each sector), 10% land, 5%
mil (city soldiers), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 540 soldiers, under command of ruler:
5 battalions (18 sergeants, 6 lieutenants, 2
captain)
Government Feudalism Ruler’s Status
Respected, fair, and just
Strongholds (5): 1 castle (royal palace), 1
garrison (army barracks), 1 college (royal magic
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 Threats. This details the most common
possible issue arising in the settlement, from
social to military issues such as corrupt
guards, frequent goblin raids, to friction
between rival mage schools that could
explode into all out civil war, usually
detailing the creature or monster.
 Calamity. Calamities indicates severe issues
the settlement or region is currently
suffering from, such as rampant banditry,
political turmoil, or war. This is often the
case when a threat cannot be handled in a
reasonable time, or when catalysts propel a
normal event to terrible proportions.
 Factions. Every settlement usually has at
least three effective factions. This usually
represents the legitimate government, major
organizations, and people of interest.
Description
The description of the settlement could provide
insight to the mechanisms of the settlement‘s
governance, location, intrigue, and trade.
academy), 1 fortified church (grand cathedral), 1
guildhall (merchants‘ guild)
Race Relations Harmony Theme Prosperous
and idyllic city Notable Traits Verdant parks
and orchids Threats Faction intrigue among
nobility
Fame Tough warriors Calamity Nobles
planning a coup Factions King, Merchants‘
Guild, infighting nobles
Description The Capital City is a grand city
that holds the seat of the king, and is surrounded
by walls that seem more for artistic design than
for defense.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Waterdeep
Population 133,000 (79,800 humans, 13,300
dwarves, 13,300 elves, 21,280 others),
metropolis (x6)
Economic Activity 159,600/798,000 gp
Tax 39,900 gp (7,980 each sector), 10% land,
5% mil (city guard), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 3,991 soldiers, under command of
council: nearly 4 legions, or 133 companies (133
sergeants, 44 lieutenants, 14 captain)
Government Cryptocracy (council) Ruler’s
Status Mysterious, anonymous cabal
Strongholds (6) 2 castles (Castle Waterdeep,
Piergeiron's palace) 1 fortified church (temple of
Oghma), 2 residences (Yawning Portal Inn,
Mirt‘s Mansion), 1 tower (Blackstaff tower)
Race Relations Tension or rivalry Theme
Trade hub suffering from layers of intrigue
Notable Traits Large shipyards Threats
Underground war between rival guilds
Fame Powerful guilds Calamity - Factions
Ruling Cabal, Blackstaff, Major Guilds
Description. Waterdeep from Forgotten
Realms is one of the greatest cities in the setting,
and is a major trade hub between mineral-rich
states and those who trade in luxuries.
Dwarven Mining Town
Population 2,000 (900 dwarves; 600 humans;
200 elves; 200 halflings, 100 other), large village
(x3)
Economic Activity 1,200/ 6,000 gp
Tax 300 gp (60 each sector), 10% land, 5% mil
(guild guards), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 30 guards, under command of guild
master: 3 companies (1 sergeant)
Government Council (Various guilds) Ruler’s
Status Racial majority are conquerors
Strongholds (3): 1 guildhall (smith‘s guild), 2
residences (travelers‘ inn, miners‘ hall)
Race Relations Harmony Theme
Mountainside town arising around a mine
Notable Traits Well-lit streets Threats
Rampant banditry in the countryside, kobolds in
the mines
Fame Great hero/savior Calamity Bandit lord
in the countryside Factions Council, Smith‘s
Guild, Traveler‘s Inn Proprietor
Description Dwarven mining towns dot
mineral-rich hills, mountains, and riversides.
Mining in deep caverns, panning rivers for gold
nuggets, or establishing open-air mines,
dwarven mining towns are small settlements
that often strike valuable metals and find
important resources.
City of Thieves
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Population 10,000 (6,000 humans; 1,500
halflings; 1,000 half-orcs; 750 dwarves; 750
other), large city (x5)
Economic Activity 10,000/50,000 gp
Tax 2,500 gp (500 each sector), 10% land, 5%
mil (neutral police), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 250 soldiers, under command of
hidden council: nearly 8 companies or 25 squads
(8 sergeants, 1 lieutenant)
Government Kleptocracy Ruler’s Status
Weakling manipulated by others (the enchanter)
Strongholds (5): 1 castle (ruined sultan‘s
palace), 1 tower (enchanter‘s spire), 1 residence
(bustling bazaar), 2 guildhalls (two rival thief
and assassin guilds)
Race Relations Racial minority are refugees
Theme Decedent city resisting reform Notable
Traits Sinister reputation Threats Cutpurses,
corrupt guards, assassins, religious sect rivalry
Fame Gambling Calamity Underground
sectarian war Factions Enchanter, rival thief
and assassin guilds, alliance of good-aligned
clerics.
Description. The City of Thieves is a sorry pit
of crime and lawlessness. As thieves‘ guilds,
orders of assassins, and ruthless mercenary
companies break the law brazenly in the day and
run a corrupt semi-government, a righteous
band of churches attempt to bring the settlement
back onto the path of righteousness, while facing
down criminals, entrenched corruption, and
priests and cultists of dark powers allied with the
enchanter from his spire.
Maritime City-State
Population 55,000 (31,000 humans; 10,000
halflings; 8,000 elves; 2,000 half-elves; 1,000
gnomes; 1,000 merfolk, 3,000 other),
metropolis (x6)
Economic Activity 66,000/ 330,000 gp
Tax 16,500 gp (3,300 each sector), 10% land,
5% mil (guard force), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 1,650 soldiers, under command of the
senate: nearly 16 battalions, or 55 companies (55
sergeants, 18 lieutenants, 6 captains)
Government Republic Ruler’s Status
Contested leadership, open fighting
Strongholds (6): 1 castle (senate), 1 keep
(trade guild), 1 tower (sea-witch‘s spire), 2
residences (market hub and trade route inns), 1
guildhall (goldsmith‘s guild)
Race Relations Racial majority oppresses
minority Theme Trade republic weakened by
infighting and xenophobia
Notable Traits Canals in place of streets
Threats Racial tension, corrupt officials
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Fame Delicious cuisine Calamity Political
battle spilling to the streets Factions Senate
Majority, Senate Minority, Sea Witch
Description The Maritime City-State is a
powerful center of trade, but is plagued with
corrupt officials and weak leadership. As racial
tensions rise and senators cynically employ this
for political gain, trade passing the settlement
slows as the political battle spills over to affect
trade.
Isolated Farming Hamlet
Population 60 (50 humans, 4 elves, 3 dwarves,
3 other), hamlet (x1)
Economic Activity 12/60 gp
Tax 3 gp (6 sp each sector), 10% land, 5% mil
(farmers‘ militia), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 2 soldiers, appointed by regional
governor
Government Patriarchy Ruler’s Status Iron-
willed but respected
Strongholds (1): 1 residence (elder‘s hall)
Race Relations Harmony Theme Idyllic
hamlet with significant history Notable Traits
Site of mythical or magical event Threats
banditry, high taxes
Fame Piety Calamity settlement defenseless
against bandits Factions Elders, Sheriff, Elven
Pastor
Description Farming hamlets dot the plains
and grasslands of kingdoms, usually protected
by a larger settlement two to three days away.
This farming hamlet is especially isolated, and is
built on a site where a battle against undead
once took place decades ago, where a paladin
stood alone against a necromancer and seventy
of his skeletal minions.
Elven River Port
Population 1,300 (1,000 elves; 100 gnomes;
100 half-elves; 100 other), large village (x3)
Economic Activity 780/3.900 gp
Tax 195 gp (39 each sector), 10% land, 5% mil
(levy), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 19 soldiers, under command of the
baron
Government Monarchy Ruler’s Status
Religious leader
Strongholds (3): 1 keep (Baron‘s fort), 1 tower
(elven witch‘s tower), 1 residence (elven
brewery)
Race Relations Harmony Theme Elven wine-
making port Notable Traits Excellent product
(elven absinthe)
Threats Trolls under bridges, banditry
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Fame Wines Calamity Evil witch moved into
town Factions Baron, Elven Witch, Merchants‘
Guild
Description Elven river ports are common in
lands under the control of the fair folk. Although
famous for its elven absinthe, the river port is
also notable for its frequent festivals.
Fishing Village
Population 270 (143 humans, 61 halflings, 36
elves, 10 half-elves, 10 half-orcs, 10 other) small
village (x2)
Economic Activity 108/540 gp
Tax 27 gp (5 gp, 4 sp each sector), 10% land, 5%
mil (militia), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 2 soldiers, under command of sheriff
Government Militocracy Ruler’s Status
Feared tyrant
Strongholds (2): 1 prison (sheriff‘s office), 1
residence (fishery inn)
Race Relations Racial minority are rulers
Theme Fishing village suffering the fallout from
a terrible war Notable Traits Destitute
Threats Frequent flooding, poverty, gang
activity
Fame Rude people Calamity Gang war in the
streets Factions Sheriff, Inn Proprietor, Gangs
of Half-Orc Bastards
Description This village is suffering between
an overbearing and tyrannical halfling sheriff
who thinks he knows everything and is stronger
than he looks, a flood that sunk several cottages
and ruined the fishing docks, an overall
economic downturn that resulted in rapidly-
approaching famine, and the organization of the
half-orc residents (conceived during the war)
into gangs that cause mischief, who are often
manipulated (or outright bought) by the sheriff.
Crossroads Trade Town
Population 560 (202 humans, 148 halflings,
101 elves, 75 dwarves, 24 half-orcs, 10 other),
large village (x3)
Economic Activity 336/1,680 gp
Tax 84 gp (16 gp, 8 sp each sector), 10% land,
5% mil (guard), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 8 soldiers, under command of the lord
Government Oligarchy Ruler’s Status On
deathbed, claimants compete for power
Strongholds (3): 1 keep (lord‘s keep), 1
residence (market hub), 1 guildhall (bank)
Race Relations Racial minority are refugees
Theme Crossroads trade town populated in the
middle of transition of political power Notable
Traits Headquarters of a powerful family or
guild Threats Intrigue between offspring of
powerful factions
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Fame High fashion Calamity Ruler succession
crisis Factions Bankers, Merchants‘ Guild, Son
of the local lord
Description This trade town appears stable
and prosperous on the outside, but underneath
its surface strife and ill will simmers between
Managing Settlements
Settlements and regions provide a rewarding
challenge when ruled, providing wealth and
influence, but require management.
Food and Water
Food and water are critical resources for
settlements of living individuals. In most cases,
independent farmsteads provide food for nearby
settlements, occupying vast stretches of the
countryside in exchange for protection or for
money.
Without the required food and unclean water,
the population of a settlement gradually
dwindles over time, either due to sickness,
starvation, or outgoing immigration.
On the other hand, when there is more than
sufficient food and water, the population may
experience occasional inbound immigration.
When a settlement is present, you may assume
the settlement has enough farmland to feed itself
+ 25% surplus residents (with investments in
farmlands required for further development).
Farms and Farmsteads
One farmer and two helpers or family members
(one skilled and two unskilled workers) can
work a farm of 30 acres on their own, providing
food enough to sustain 15 people over the year
(treat as 15 rations per day; 5,500 rations over
365 days).
The produce can be sold for full price for 2,750
gold pieces every 365 days, or 90 gold pieces
every 30 days, or 3 gold pieces every day.
A full farmstead can host up to 13 farmers (plus
2 assistants each), and can sustain 200 people
per square mile farmed.
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rival guild masters and the government, a threat
that can spill into economic sabotage, targeted
theft, and may even escalate to assassinations. If
the heirs of the guilds decide to settle the
matters of control and succession, the trade
town might manage to survive the calamity.
If sold, this yields 36,000 gold pieces every 365
days (9,000 gold pieces every 90 days, or 100 gp
per day).
In some settings, the unit of food that can feed a
person for one day is named. The Japanese, for
instance, have the term of koku, which is the
food required for the sustenance of one person
for one year (or 1 masu for the sustenance of one
person for one day).
Land Fertility
Depending on fertility of the land, weather, and
various other factors, the yield can be modified
by half (50% more or 50% less). The Plant
Growth spell doubles the farm yield for 1 year,
although independent druids who see
population growth holistically are picky on who
they aid (which contributes a little on why they
are often mistrusted and disliked by civil
authorities).
Farmers and the State
Farmlands require protection, otherwise the
yield can be stolen or scavenged by travelers,
bandits, monsters, and other beings.
Farmers are often either hired or protected,
which affects the relationship between the ruler
of a settlement and the farmers on their land.
If protected, the farmstead is protected by the
settlement‘s ruler, who has their soldiers guard
the farmlands by regular patrols (military
protection) and applying justice on thieves (legal
protection). Operated farmlands provide up to
one-half their income or yield to the settlement
or stronghold master who protects them for no
additional cost. This is often the case with feudal
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
nobles.
If less no military protection is done but legal
protection is applied, the income or yield is one-
quarter instead of one-half.
If no protection is provided, farmers do not yield
anything, having no income of their own.
If hired, the ruler pays the farmers‘ lifestyle
expenses (2 gold and 4 silver per day per farmer
and 2 assistants, or 31 gp 2 sp per farmstead)
and provides military and legal protection, the
farmstead yields its full income willingly.
Regional Population Limit
The DM may decide that there is a maximum
population the region can support on its own,
requiring that the ruler of these settlements
secure additional food to support more
population (either by establishing more
farmlands, securing food by foreign trade, or by
increasing the efficiency of existing sources of
food).
Investing in Farmlands
Like organizations, farmlands require an initial
investment to be ready to provide yield, with an
investment of 450 gp per acre (or 300,000 gold
per one square mile) of arable land turned into
farmland. Especially fertile lands are cheaper to
invest in, reducing the cost of investment
(subject to DM approval), and in rare cases even
waiving it entirely.
Military Protection
Every 50 people of a settlement require one full-
time soldier (use the statistics of the guard) to
provide a reasonable feeling of protection.
Thus, losing soldiers to war or serial murders
can have terrible ramifications, with the
common folk less ready to fork out taxes,
farmers taking matters into their own hands
(becoming militia), and bandits ravaging the
lands.
In the case of having stronger military units
(instead of a soldier), the population protected is
50 people per every Challenge rating of the
dedicated military unit, for a minimum of 50
(150 people per knight, etc.).
Militia
If a settlement does not have a military force to
protect it, the leader can attempt to raise a
militia (see the Rally downtime activity), but
these are usually ill-trained and ill-equipped
Commoners (with only what is at hand or what
the commoner inherited or bought).
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They are not trained to follow orders, and
sometimes, cannot even understand them (if
communication is by banners, horns, or drums).
Militia are reduced from the population of their
settlement as normal, and sufficient losses cause
them to scatter, which may lead to chaos and
breakdown of society as the populace flees the
settlement into the roads, wilds, or to other
settlements as refugees.
Combat Orders
In most cases such as these, the population feel
threatened enough that small orders (see
Chapter 4: Organizations) appear to protect
them, usually in the form of irregulars, trained
militia, secessionists, or revolutionaries (either
homegrown or supported by an enemy patron).
Raiding
A hostile troop that enters a settlement can be
ordered to loot and raid, claiming anything that
isn‘t nailed down, capturing goods, or finding
and acquiring treasures. The required number of
attackers is equal to the required number of
defenders of the settlement (1 raider per 50
populace, with higher Challenge foes covering
more populace).
While being raided by a force that poses a threat
to the settlement, the economic activity is
reduced up to half for that day, and the raiders
gain half the daily tax income plus an additional
2d100% in easily liquidated items (usually trade
goods).
The raiders cannot gain the tax wealth if
measures are taken (fight takes place outside, or
if the tax collector is protected). If there is
meaningful military or militia resistance, the
amount of harm to economic activity and stolen
tax income is reduced appropriately (DM‘s
adjudication).
Raiders may also kidnap or kill segments of the
population (usually by engaging them and
entering houses by force), which is resolved as
normal combat (grappling, carrying, etc.).
Burning houses, however (such as by throwing
torches on thatched roofs) causes random
deaths inside instead.
Economic recovery usually takes 1 month, but
can be longer or shorter depending on which
preparations or actions are being taken from
both sides (deliberate destruction of property by
raiders beyond looting increases the duration,
while providing insurances or making an
example of raiders decreases the duration).
Lingering economic, societal, and political
fallout are left to the DM, but usually involve a
calls for a change in political leadership, loss of
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
population as some of the town leave to join the
bandits, leave the town, or are slain while
attempting to prevent raiders from taking their
possessions, and a permanent penalty to the
economic activity of the settlement until
reparations are done, or even reduction of the
base value of economic activity (from 2 sp to 1
sp), as the population is not secure enough to
work at their full capability, which returns in a
while.
For instance, a company of 30 bandits descend
on a Dwarven Mining Town, defeating the
defenders and looting the settlement. The
bandits only kill who intercept or oppose them,
causing minor deaths, but mostly steal.
The economic activity is reduced to 600/3,000
for the day, and half the tax income (150 gold) is
taken by bandits. Furthermore, when rolling
2d100 resulted in 55%, for total loot of 232 gp
and 5 sp if they are able to leave without being
intercepted.
Vigilantism
In rare occasions, settlements with insufficient
protection give rise to vigilantes who take it
upon themselves to provide protection for the
settlement. This represents talented soldiers,
and provides military protection as described.
A vigilante is usually free-willed, however, and
may choose to guard only a caste of people or
those only in their area of activity. Furthermore,
turning a blind eye towards a vigilante has risks,
as those under the vigilante‘s protection do not
consider themselves sheltered by the
settlement‘s ruler (and thus do not often yield
tax and crop to them, instead to the vigilante).
Legal Protection
Nations have laws and protocols that limit who
can rule, what they can rule, and how they go
about while ruling. Although it may be tempting
for a ruler to disregard established law and
custom, going against it rarely ends well,
robbing the ruler of the moral legitimacy that
keeps many a rebel content to merely complain
instead of taking up arms. Even a tyrannical
mage-king cannot risk precious time and the
kingdom‘s stability putting down dozens of petty
revolts and ending feuds by violence, as any
resources lost in the fighting is less resources he
can use to defend his interests later on.
Laws and a justice system also facilitates
economic activity. Without legal protection,
Administrative Titles
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protected farmers provide less yield (either
intentionally or due to being robbed), and the
lack of prosperity is reflected in less tax income,
morale, and loyalty.
Laws affect also gathering supporters for causes
(see the Rally downtime activity), as more
legitimacy makes gathering supporters simpler.
Leading
Leading a settlement is a full time occupation. It
is prohibitively difficult to both lead a settlement
or organization (or a similar political entity) and
adventure, train, or perform other tasks
requiring downtime.
Leading does have its perks, however—not only
does power allow a player to confront challenges
differently, but leading also provides experience
as if fighting monsters.
Challenge and Leveling Up
In most cases, a king conquering another nation,
leading the kingdom out of a terrible disaster, or
even simply forming a lasting peace with its
neighbors can provide experience as if normal
combat or a quest (with each major battle or
decision providing experience).
When such a challenge arises, the DM can assign
a challenge rating (as a monster‘s Challenge),
with the XP granted on defeating it rewarded to
the leaders of the settlement or organization.
Optionally, armies gain experience for enemies
they defeat (see the optional rule under Chapter
5: Downtime and Training).
Titles and Jobs
A ruler of a settlement or organization may
delegate duties to people with special talents to
perform tasks of governance, such as countering
heists, investigating crimes, supervising
holidays, and managing military forces.
In this case, the responsibility is tied to a title. A
person with this title is legally empowered to
perform such duties, and is the one who rolls
relevant skill checks instead of the ruler directly.
For instance, a thieves‘ guild smuggles
contraband into the Elven River Port settlement
must succeed on the appropriate skill check
against the settlement‘s marshal or warden.
Special. If the governing body of the settlement
is aware of the method or attempt, they have
advantage to their check. If the organization
develops a new method or finds a counter, they
cancel the advantage.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Below are sample administrative titles. Not every settlement requires occupation of each title, as small
villages might not have the forces that warrant a full-time general. In this case, the general title refers not
to the commanding force of the kingdom they are in, but only of the forces in the settlement.
Some rulers are primarily generals, and assign a second-in-command to manage the ruler‘s tasks. Most
Nobles can exchange their skill proficiencies with title-appropriate skills.

Ruler (Charisma, Wisdom; Persuasion, Insight, Investigation, and History). Rulers perform political
maneuvers, negotiate peace, and identify and analyze and manage the populace. In the case of having a
liege or higher-up, the ruler usually pays a tax to the liege (if a medieval feudal system, may reach up to
50% of the net income).
 Second in Command (as Ruler). A ruler may have a second in command, such as a regent, grand
vizier, or consort who attends court or rules when the ruler is unavailable (due to being abroad,
sickness, or being occupied in other things such as training, combat, or adventuring).
 Heir (as any other Title). A ruler may also have an heir (if ruling is a hereditary position). In many
cases, the heir can serve as a second in command.
Councilor (Charisma, Wisdom; History, Insight, Persuasion, and Performance). Councilors perform
internal negotiations, and understand intentions of various internal forces, and to represent the other
leaders‘ interests inside the settlement and before the populace.
Court Chaplain or High Priest (Charisma, Wisdom; Arcana, History, Insight, Religion). Court chaplains
represent religious interests to or for the authority, perform religious duties such as watching over holy
grounds or holy days, counter unorthodoxy (such as rival or enemy faiths from gaining traction), and
interpret signs and omens from the higher realms, and are sometimes the highest-ranking regional official
in the religion (in cases where the temporal authority does not fall to the ruler themselves).
Court Mage or Magister (Intelligence, Wisdom; Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation). Court magi
oversee magical education, perform spellcasting duties in service of the settlement, counter rival or enemy
magicians or magic, and serve as the go-to advisor in cases of magical anomalies.
General (Charisma, Intelligence; Athletics or Animal Handling, Insight, Perception, and Survival).
Generals identify enemy maneuvers, command, control, and inspire their troops in times of war and
peace. They are officially responsible of leading military forces.
Grand Diplomat (Charisma, Intelligence; Deception, Investigation, Insight and Perception). The grand
diplomat or foreign minister represents the settlement‘s interests abroad, negotiating peace, and
conducting diplomacy. Grand diplomats lead envoys, perform negotiations, and understand intentions of
various forces.
Grand Healer or Doctor (Intelligence, Wisdom; Arcana, Insight, Medicine, Nature). Grand healers
investigate illnesses, develop medicines to counter diseases, and heal members of the settlement. The
grand healer works in conjunction with the councilor and marshal to institute quarantines, inspect
imports for unusual diseases, and keep the settlement calm and wary in the face of plagues, and seeks
advice with the court mage in cases of plagues having magical natures.
Marshal or Warden (Dexterity, Wisdom; Insight, Investigation or Intimidation, Perception, Stealth).
Marshals investigate crimes, capture fugitives, enforce laws and punishments, and protect (or control) the
populace. The marshal enforces the settlement‘s laws and customs, watches and secures the settlements‘
borders, performs patrols, protects the other leaders of the settlements against harm. They are officially
responsible for legal matters.
Spymaster (Dexterity, Intelligence; Insight, Investigation or Sleight of Hand, Perception, Stealth).
Spymasters gather and analyze information and conduct espionage, shadow criminals‘ movements if they
are more than mere lawbreakers, train and maintain agents inside enemy territories, and sometimes
performs assassinations against the enemies of the settlement. The spymaster also works in conjunction
with the grand diplomat, councilor, and marshal to coordinate activities to prevent the interests of the
settlement from being compromised.
Treasurer, Steward or Grand Accountant (Intelligence, Wisdom; Insight, Investigation, Perception,
Persuasion). The treasurer monitors the state of the settlement‘s treasury and possessions, protects assets
(solid and liquid) from theft, counters (or manages) corruption, enforces economic policies, tracks debts
and credits with guilds and other settlements, manages tax collectors, and allocates the money to its
appropriate place. The treasurer also works in conjunction with the spymaster and councilor to identify
organizations performing hostile economic activities against the settlement.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Tolling per every 20 people of the settlement. Or if the

Watching over and maintaining a pass or toll on
a bridge, mountain pass, or other bottleneck
provides income. A pass has average traffic of 1
per every 20 people on both sides of it, and
usually claims 1 copper piece per day per person
in income.
The income can be increased by increasing the
toll, but cannot normally exceed 0.01% of the
Economic Activity of the larger settlement
except in favorable circumstances (such as a
refugee crisis or war).
For instance, a mountain pass on a road between
the Dwarven Mining Town and Elven River Port
caters to a total of 3,300 people, or average
traffic of 165 people every day for 1 gp, 6 sp, and
5 cp each day.
A toll gate can also be placed at the entrance and
exit of a city, in which case the toll has traffic of 1
Capital City (18,000 population), it is 9 gold per
day.
Trading
During exploration of a terrain or a region,
resources such as trade goods can be harvested.
When settlements are made near such resources,
it takes a dedicated organization to harvest the
trade good, which can provide an increase in
economic activity, or can be spent instead of raw
materials for item creation. If the trade good is a
food supply (as a surplus in wheat), this could
provide a modifier to the food gathered by farms
in the region harvesting the same product.
See Chapter 8: Trade Goods and Equipment for
more details on how the trade tax works.

Discoveries and Goody Huts

A concept found in many 4x games is the goody hut concept, but expanded for these rules. Discoveries can
be anything from a large grove of alchemical herbs (which can be harvested) to happening across a battle
or small town.
Engaging with the discovery can usually yield a reward, so long as the visiting representatives of the
settlement are strangers. In some cases, gaining the discovery reward requires a skill check or minor
settlement-related quest (such as defeating a squad of harassing goblins or roving pack of timer wolves via
the mass combat rules, or extending a trade route, building a road to them, or sending a mediator to solve
an internal problem).

Discovery Table
Roll Discovery Size1 Reward
1 Settlement Tiny 1d4% of income storage (treasury)
2 Organization2 Small 1d4% of food storage
3 Battle Average 1d4% of population3
4 Resource Large Renown4
5 Danger Huge Information5
6 Activity (see below) Colossal Roll twice for rewards and take both results

1 A tiny settlement can be anything from a hamlet to a single cottage. Large and huge settlements are
never found alone, and must be near other smaller ones
2 Includes appropriately-sized strongholds
3 Limited in number to the discoverer‘s numbers
4 Renown with independent villages and towns could result in alliances, which could allow
5 Information can include anything from a secret with the discovery itself to foreshadowing future events

Settlements. Settlements‘ size modifier is a determining factor, with tiny settlements being hamlets (up
to 50 population), small being small villages (200), average being large villages (1,000), large including
cities (5,000), huge including large cities (10,000) and colossal including metropolises (25,000+). A
settlement meeting a larger power or strangers usually has a friendly or at best neutral reaction, and the
reward could be anything from a celebration to gifts and assistance given to travelers, with food and
money being the primary goods. Sometimes, a segment of the population could choose to leave (often less
than the travelers), taking place as immigrants, settlers, adventurous youth, or even an exodus of a certain
class or subset of the populace.
Organization. Organization‘s sizes usually range from the sample organizations (see chapter 4), with
larger ones having more influence and a larger stronghold. Renown with organizations is often more

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

rewarding that renown with settlements, as friendly organizations could provide training, knowledge, and
even protection for allies.
Battles. Average sized battles including anything from 400 combatants to a total of 1,000 (with smaller
ones called skirmishes and larger and longer-duration battles called fronts). If you wish to roll randomly
for the combatants, you may use the Creature Activity table as well for details on what creatures are
fighting and for what reason.
Danger. This includes anything from a current hazard (quicksand), difficult weather (storms and sleet,
as appropriate to the season) to diseases and plagues striking the region, with the size determining the
danger of the hazard (and damage it would deal or effect it would have) and the reward usually being
survivors of the discovery who would gift whoever saved them.

Settlement Features, Events, and Infrastructure

Settlements also have features and infrastructure that could be an expense the ruler has to contend with.

Demographics
Demographic calculations is applied per
continent or world, not per settlement. This
applies to rarity of hirelings and NPCs, as well as
rarity of items.
Rarity of Heroes and High-level Hirelings
Average demographics are as follows (50,000
populace). This applies for the entire populace,
not once per settlement:
70% commoners (35,000)
20% children (10,000)
0.8% tier 1, or level/Challenge 1-4 (4,000)1
0.02% tier two, or level/Challenge 5-10 (100)2
0.0002% tier three or level/Challenge 11-16 (10)3
0.00002% tier four or level/Challenge 17-20 (1)4
Tier 1. This includes guards, thugs, and adepts
Tier 2. This includes assassins, gladiators, and
veterans
Tier 3. This includes archdruids, archmages, and
warlords
Tier 4. This includes powerful adventurers or
ancient powers
Rarity of Magic Items
Settlements and regions have a number of magic
items appropriate to their population (usually
random or non-combat related, such as Lanterns
of Revealing or Periapts of Health).
Populace Magic Item Maximum Rarity
100 Uncommon
1,000 Rare
10,000 Very Rare
100,000 Legendary*
1,000,000 Artifact*
* A magic item with this rarity is not necessarily
available, but might be, usually reserved with a
powerful organization, in an important
stronghold, or with an influential person (such
as with a ruler or kept safe in a school or chapel).
Usually only metropolis has a legendary magic
item.
Events. Various events can apply modifications
to settlements. If a settlement ruler attempts to
encourage businesses, provide charters, clamp
down on monopolies, allow trade to flow, or to
allow private control of trade goods, this could
cause the Booming Businesses event.
Booming Businesses. Organizations in the
settlement take a +10% to their income.
Diseases. Diseases are a serious danger to a
settlement, depriving it from population or
forcing migration. Diseases reap a percentage of
the populace every 365 days equal to 1 per DC of
the disease.
For instance, an outbreak of the shrieks (DC 13)
can affect 13% of a population of an elven river
port (1,300 populace), annually culling 169
people, or 14 people per month (1 per every 2
days).
Healing services must be able to catch up with
the disease DC. If the vector of transmission is
ingested or contact, the effective DC increases by
5, as such insidious means are more difficult to
guard against.
No fresh water or access to stagnant water
increases the effective DC of diseases further by
5. Races resistant to diseases or poisons reduces
the effective DC when applied to themselves by 5
points.
Weak Businesses. Organizations in the
settlement take a -10% to their income.
Good harvest (requires farmers/fishers).
Good circumstances cause harvests or food-
gathering efforts to be unusually productive. The
total food gained in the settlement is increased
(up to double normal harvest).

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Noble Titles
With the feudal system, ruling land also usually comes with noble titles. See the Dungeon Master‘s Guide
(page 19) for alternate names for noble titles depending on civilization or language.
In many cases, titles do not come with land, but are indicators of prestige within the lineage, such as
knighthood for a knight-errant (wandering knight) or a title for a samurai who served his master but held
no land (to keep him financially dependent and focused on the art of war).
The following statistics all assume average land sizes. In smaller lands (such as valleys or islands), it is
very possible for a king to rule an area as large as a baron in another realm (such are often known as petty
kings).

Vassals are people who swear fealty to the realm and are tasked with governance. Various governments
have different laws to manage vassals, what happens to their titles upon they die, and the scope of their
activities.
Where some realms allow their vassals to rule as mini-kings in their lands, others constrict them. Vassals
usually resolve their disputes with one another by diplomacy or force of arms, and infighting is common.
Larger vassals may declare their own wars against powers outside the realm for purposes of expansion,
wealth and loot, or for more noble reasons.

Knight
A knight‘s fee (or fief) is usually 1,000 to 5,000 acres (average 2,500 acres), of which much (usually 60%)
is uncultivated land or terrain of dubious utility. For most fiefs, it takes 675,000 gp to make the most out
of the terrain (in terms of arability and farming).
Assuming 2,500 acres, an average knight‘s fief has the following statistics.

Knight’s Fief (2,500 acres) – Region

Population 500 (400 humans; 50 dwarves; 30 halflings; 15 elves, 5 other), small village (x2)
Economic Activity 200/1,000 gp
Tax 50 gp (10 each sector), 10% land, 5% mil (city soldiers), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 5 soldiers, under command of ruler-knight
Strongholds (2): 1 residence (manor), 1 guildhall (town hall)
Description This represents an average knight‘s fief, which can provide the knight and their family
members (and retainers) the monies and influence they need to serve their liege. In some cases, half the
surplus income the knight receives is paid as scutage (a mix of tax, vassal obedience, and temporary
exemption from military service) to his direct lord.
Assuming only 40% of the land is readily arable, the knight‘s fief has 1,250 units of food.

A knight usually uses their demesne‘s pay to arm and armor themselves and their soldiers, and especially
enterprising ones expand their holdings by absorbing other lands (either owned by a neighbor or lord-
less) by way of war and conquest; inviting enterprising talents to establish organizations (to tax their
income and increase the settlement‘s quality of life) or train their offspring (usually to become wizards,
clerics, or fighters and aid their family by their newfound powers). A knight‘s connection to his liege lord
(which could be the king directly or assigned to a baron) can be a source of strength or tension.

Baron
A barony is typically composed of 20 knights‘ fiefs. This can be under direct control of the baron (known
as their demesne) or be given to a knight to have them for service (known as tenanted). The knight does
not have to be paid for the service, and provides additional manpower in times of war.
A baron usually has knights under their command, and answers either directly to the king or assigned to a
count (or higher-rank noble).
Assuming the average baron has 10 knights in his service and 10 fiefs as a demesne, the barony has the
following statistics.

Barony (50,000 acres) – Region

Population 5,000 (4,000 humans; 500 dwarves; 300 halflings; 150 elves, 50 other), small city/town
(x4)
Economic Activity 4,000/20,000 gp

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Tax 1,000 gp (200 each sector), 10% land, 5% mil (city soldiers), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 100 soldiers, under command of ruler‘s captain of the guard
Strongholds (4): 1 keep (baron‘s castle), 1 guildhall (town hall), 1 fortified church (chapel), 1 tower
(advisor‘s tower)
Description This represents an average baron‘s lands. In some cases, half the surplus income the baron
receives is paid as scutage to his direct lord.
Assuming only 40% of the land is readily arable, the barony has 10,000 units of food.

The above statistics assume a single region owned, and not a single settlement.

Count
A county is typically composed of 3 baronies. As the barony, this can be under direct control of the count
(as demesne) or tenanted to barons or knights. In many cases, counts held more than one county (usually
by marriage alliances, inheritance, or conquest), creating counts of great influence who can even
command or threaten their superior or king.
In some cases, a count can also be independent, but choose to declare themselves as a count instead of a
king because of social, political, or demographic concerns (as an expression of loyalty or political
message).

County (150,000 acres) – Region

Population 15,000 (12,000 humans; 1,500 dwarves; 900 halflings; 450 elves, 150 other), large city/town
(x5)
Economic Activity 15,000/75,000 gp
Tax 3,750 gp (750 each sector), 10% land, 5% mil (city soldiers), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 375 soldiers, under command of ruler‘s captain of the guard
Strongholds (5): 1 keep (count‘s castle), 1 guildhall (town hall), 1 fortified church (church), 1 tower
(advisor‘s tower), 1 school (academy)
Description This represents an average count‘s lands. In some cases, half the surplus income the baron
receives is paid as scutage to his direct lord.
Assuming only 40% of the land is readily arable, the county has 30,000 units of food.

The above statistics assume a single region owned, and not a single settlement.

Duke
A dukedom usually ranges from slightly larger than a county to the size of 3 counties. As a county, this can
be under direct control or tenanted. Also similarly to a county, a duke can be independent or under the
king‘s command.
In many cases in history, a dukedom absorbs several surrounding counties and war with one another,
making most dukedoms fluctuate wildly in size (from as small as one county to eight counties; or 150,000
acres to 1.2 million acres).

Dukedom (450,000 acres)

Population 45,000 (12,000 humans; 4,500 dwarves; 2,700 halflings; 1,350 elves, 450 other), metropolis
(x6)
Economic Activity 54,000/270,000 gp
Tax 13,000 gp (2,700 each sector), 10% land, 5% mil (city soldiers), 5% religious, 5% trade
Military 1,350 soldiers, under command of duke‘s general
Strongholds (6): 1 palace or large castle (baron‘s estate), 1 fortified church (cathedral), 1 tower (mage‘s
tower), 1 guildhalls (thieves‘ guild), 1 garrison (army barracks), 1 school (academy)
Description This represents an average duchy‘s lands. An especially large duchy usually has a legitimate
claim to be an independent kingdom, but in many cases, marriage alliances or political considerations
make independence less desirable than staying subservient.
Assuming only 40% of the land is readily arable, the duchy has 90,000 units of food.

King
A kingdom can be any size (usually two or more larger duchies), and is generally a realm that has the
political legitimacy to claim to be independent. In some cases, an influential duke may create their own

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kingdom, but often finds it more politically stable to draw legitimacy from a previous kingdom
(necessitating they annex or vassalize lands known to belong to the old kingdom (or it‘s de jure territory).
A king usually has the legitimacy to grant lands and titles, and even fabricate them.

Emperor
An empire is often a larger kingdom, or a realm where kings themselves are vassals to an emperor, over-
king, or high king. An empire‘s borders and features usually shift constantly, as the plans of the multitude
of vassals can result in expansion or contraction of the empire‘s borders, and various powers in the realm
struggling against one another and against powers outside the empire can make an emperor‘s head ache.

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Chapter 2: Armies and War

Wars, sieges, and armies fighting in the background are often featured in adventures. Adventurers may choose to
command soldiers to repel an invasion, rally their fellow villagers to hunt down a maiden-stealing dragon, or
relieve a besieged stronghold or settlement from a withering siege.
These rules provide a framework for how to handle mass combat and hordes of troops without requiring to track
each soldier‘s initiative, hit points, or general statistics.

OPTIONAL RULE: CLEAVING THROUGH CREATURES

It is recommended to apply the Cleaving through Creatures optional rule (Dungeon Master‘s Guide, page 272) to
make fighting troops slightly easier. If you deal damage equal to the hit points of a component creature, you can
ignore the reduction to damage from your damage roll the troop trait (in effect, you are targeting multiple
creatures anyway).

Establishing a Troop
Armies are created by applying the troop template to several similar and identical combat-ready creatures. Troops
may also be known as herds, packs, hordes, or other names that are appropriate to the creature.
A troop of dragons is a wing, for instance, while a troop of orcs is a horde. The troop template is similar to the
swarm template.
Any creature can enter a troop by standing adjacent to them and spending 5 feet of movement, so long as they are
similar statistically to them or are attempting to hide with them.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Guard Medium humanoid troop (any race), any
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment alignment
Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield) Armor Class 14 (chain shirt, shield); 16 each
Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2) Hit Points 55 (10d8 + 10); 11 (2d8 + 2) each
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
Skills Perception +2 Skills Perception +2
Senses passive Perception 12 Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Any one language (usually Languages Any one language (usually
Common) Common)
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP) Challenge 3 (700 XP); 1/8 (25 XP) each
ACTIONS Traits
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target effect that does not target at least half the
Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
When at least ten guards gatherz into a troop, effect targets an area, the troop is affected
they form a guard troop, as the following. normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to
hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6 + 1)
each.
Spear Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 11, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6 + 1)
each.
Guard Troop (10 unit squad)
Applying the troop template takes the following steps:
1. Calculate the Combat Modifier. The combat modifier is a value that affects several troop statistics, increasing
hit points and damage, and determining the Challenge of the troop. The combat modifier is a value equal to
one-half the number of creatures in the troop (5 for a 10-unit squad, 15 for a 30-unit company).
2. Apply the Combat Modifier to Hit Points, Challenge, and Damage. Multiply the troop‘s combat modifier by
the hit dice and bonus hit points from Constitution, recalculating hit points (2d8 + 2 becomes 10d8 + 10).
Lastly, multiply the damage of any direct damage abilities the troop has by the combat modifier (1d6 + 1
becomes 5d6 + 5). The individual hit dice is unchanged for a component creature.
Whenever an ability the troop uses is based off hit points, such as healing, damage, or reduction to damage
taken (such as the Goliath‘s Stone Endurance), multiply the hit point by the combat modifier wherever logical.
Abilities that deal damage in an area, however, overlap in area and do not stack (see the troop trait), and
abilities that reflect or deal damage to an attacker (such as a fire elemental‘s aura) deal the normal amount of
damage to each attacker (not counted as an area attack if attacked by troops, but as a normal attack for each
attacking creature).
Reduce Troop AC by 2. Due to the more clustered formation that is required by troops, the troop‘s AC is
reduced by 2 so long as they are within a troop.
3. Add the Troop Trait. As following.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any effect that does not target at least half the component creatures.
If the effect does not deal damage, it is unaffected instead. If the effect affects an area, it is affected normally,
and takes 50% extra hit damage if it deals damage.
For instance, a magic missile‘s damage is halved against a squad unless it is cast from a 2nd level slot, and if
all 5 missiles target the same squad. This applies to healing effects as well. A charm person spell must be cast
from a 5th level slot to affect a squad (targets 5 creatures).
A troop always counts as if it makes one attack for every two creatures within it for the purposes of effects
added to an attack (damage dice from poison is similarly increased, and a wolf pack‘s bite can knock a troop of

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humanoids down if of equal or smaller size than the pack), while their Pack Tactics trait allows them
advantage against any creature they confront so long as the troop is maintained.
4. Add Troop Attack and Calculate Accuracy. Besides their normal attack, troops have a special troop attack.
This represents the grouped efforts of all the component units in the troop making attacks over their turn in
the round, and does not require an attack roll. It instead has an accuracy score, which is compared against the
targets‘ AC (see the Troop Accuracy table below). The accuracy score is equal to 8 + the troop‘s bonus to attack
(or to-hit modifier). It is affected normally as attack bonuses by cover and other effects.
In the case of ranged attacks, this troop attack resolved as a volley. A troop‘s volley attack damages all
creatures in an area equal to the size the troop occupies (each medium-sized soldier deals damage in a 5x5
foot square). This is not treated as an area effect, however, and has no DC to reduce damage, instead relying
on accuracy. For the purposes of ability mechanics, a troop attack acts as a normal melee attack (affecting
accuracy instead of attack bonus).

Troop Accuracy
Accuracy to AC Effect
Equal to or greater than AC by less than 5 points Deals weapon damage
Equal to or greater than AC by more than 5 points1 Deals weapon damage plus half (150%)
Equal to or less than AC by less than 5 points2 Deals half weapon damage (50%)
Whenever you make a troop attack, roll 1d20. On a roll of 20, the effective accuracy of the troop attack increases
by 10 for that attack. If the component creature would land a critical hit on a lower result, then the dice result is
what counts for this purpose instead.

5. Calculate final Challenge of the Troop. Depending on the challenge rating of the component creature, the
troop CR is altered as follows:

Original Challenge Change

0 1/2 (100 XP)
1/8 to 4 Increase Challenge by the Combat Modifier (CR 1/8 squad becomes Challenge 3)
5+ Multiply Challenge by one-half the Combat Modifier (CR 5 squad becomes Challenge 10)

Accuracy increases by 5 if the troop normally has
advantage (such as attacking while hidden), and
decreases by 5 if having disadvantage (such as
shooting against concealment). If the troop is at
half hit points, they automatically decrease
accuracy by 5 points.
1 For every 5 points above AC, the weapon
damage increases again. For instance, exceeding
the target‘s AC by 10 doubles the weapon
damage.
2 For each 5 points below AC, the weapon
damage is reduced again from half to quarter. If
less than the target‘s AC by 11 points or more,
the attack deals no damage.
For instance, a squad of skeletons has an
accuracy score of 12 (8 + 4) with their short
bows. Attempting a volley troop attack against
an ancient red dragon, they compare their
accuracy with the dragon‘s AC of 22 for a
difference of 10 points, dealing one-quarter their
normal damage (6 instead of 27). If further
disadvantaged by any way (such as by being at
half hit points or less, or by the dragon having
cover), their accuracy drops to 7, making the
dragon immune to the weapon damage from
their troop attack.
Note. For the purposes of damage threshold
(such as attacking ships or objects that require a
minimum amount of damage to lose hit points),
refer to the individual damage dealt by a
component creature instead of the troop attack.
For instance, a sailing ship has a damage
threshold of 15, making it immune to damage of
an individual soldier. Although when grouped as
a troop, guards deal 22 damage, the individual
damage (or 4) is what is compared against the
damage threshold.

Adventurers. Adventurers may join armies, usually choosing to lead forces, conduct battle-magic, perform
assassinations against enemy commanders, or even heading to the field to fight as a normal soldier. In most cases,
adventurers are unique individuals, and cannot be formed into a troop unless there are others with similar
capabilities (such as a berserker joining a troop of berserkers, or a mage joining a mage troop).
Armies have advantages over single creatures, and disadvantages. These assume the troop is the average Guard
(the most available troop type). Special traits may alter advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

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 Armies can hold positions and protect large
areas such as settlements and special
locations from hostile troops, sabotage,
raiders, and monsters
 Armies can provide security enough to allow
allied adventurers to rest and replenish
resources, such as regaining spells and hit
points
 Armies are able to deal a lot of damage in
optimal conditions, taking down threats that
individual soldiers (and even heroes) cannot
possibly face alone, such as sieges, monster
hordes, and wars
 Armies (being a swarm of multiple
creatures) are resistant to single-targeting
effects, such as a ghoul‘s paralysis, a
mummy‘s curse, and the medusa‘s petrifying
gaze, allowing them to gang up on a monster
 Victory in battle against another troop is
profitable, as looting yields a lot of gold, and
looting settlements (via raiding) is another
way of gaining wealth and sabotaging an
enemy
 Armies can be trained and specialized,
making elite troops that focus on one task
over another, such as conducting special
operations.
Armies do not have separate statistic sheets from troops, but it is useful to maintain a minor amount of
bookkeeping (such as origin settlement in case of deaths, equipment, and leadership).
Sample Troops
Troops can be created from many units. Below are a few sample troops that are commonly employed or
encountered.
Soldier Troop (10 unit squad)
Medium humanoid (any) troop, any alignment
Armor Class 14 (chain shirt, shield); 16 each
Hit Points 55 (10d8 + 10); 11 (2d8+2) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Skills Perception +2
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages any one language (usually
Common)
Challenge 3 (700 XP); 1/8 (25 XP) each
Traits
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
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Disadvantages
 Armies are unable to handle non-standard
and supernatural threats with efficiency or
without massive losses (such as spellcasting
fey, phasing ghosts, teleporting demons, and
dragons), or creatures that create others
(shadows‘ creating other shadows, or
werewolves creating more of its kind)
 Armies are vulnerable to area effects and
spells, such as fireball, siege weapons, and
effects such as a dragon‘s breath or a harpy‘s
luring song.
 Armies are expensive to maintain, in terms
of soldier‘s pay, food, and housing, requiring
dedicated organizations to provide financing
or settlements (military tax) and
strongholds.
 Armies are not normally capable of
negotiating difficult terrain, and are blocked
by normal obstacles the component creature
finds difficulty in negotiating (such as high
walls or pits).
 Armies are not normally proficient with
skills, and require skilled leaders to provide
guidance and command.
Spear. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6+1)
each.
Spear Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 11, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6 + 1)
each.
The soldier is the most common component
creature (and therefore troop), and can also
represent the town watch, guards, lawless
bandits, and militiamen.
The above statistics are derived from the Guard
(Monster Manual, page 348).
Depending on the race, the soldier can gain
ability score modifications, proficiencies, and
traits, access to an armory, the soldier can
change their equipment.
Troops can be upgraded by the expenditure of
gold, time, and it is possible for them to be
increased in hit dice or level (subject to DM‘s
approval), usually by adding hit dice (1d8+2
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
additional hit points for each component
creature‘s hit dice), trait, or even feat.
Acolyte Troop (10 unit squad)
Medium humanoid (any) troop, any alignment
Armor Class 8; 10 each
Hit Points 45 (10d8); 9 (2d8) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0)
Skills Medicine +4, Religion +2
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any one language (usually
Common)
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP); 1/4 (50 XP) each
Traits
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
Spellcasting. The acolyte troop is a 1st-level
spellcaster troop. Their spellcasting ability is
Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell
attacks). The acolytes have following cleric spells
prepared:
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame,
thaumaturgy
1st level (3 slots): bless, cure wounds, sanctuary
ACTIONS
Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (5d4) bludgeoning damage; 2 (1d4) each.
Club Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 10, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 12 (5d4) bludgeoning damage; 2 (1d4) each.
Animated Armor Squad
Medium construct troop, unaligned
Armor Class 16 (natural armor); 18 each
Hit Points 165 (30d8 + 30); 33 (6d8 + 6) each
Speed 25 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 1 (-5) 3 (-4) 1 (-5)
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed,
deafened, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed,
petrified, poisoned
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this
radius), passive Perception 6
Languages -
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP); 1 (200 XP) each
Traits
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Antimagic Susceptibility. The armor squad
is incapacitated while in the area of an anti
magic field. If targeted by dispel magic, the
armor must succeed on a Constitution saving
throw against the caster's spell save DC or fall
unconscious for 1 minute.
False Appearance. While the armor squad
remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from
a normal suit of armor.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The armor squad makes two
melee attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) bludgeoning damage; 5 (1d6 +
2) each.
Slam Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) bludgeoning damage; 5 (1d6 +
2) each.
Bugbear Haunt
Medium humanoid (goblinoid) troop, chaotic
evil
Armor Class 14 (hide armor, shield); 16 each
Hit Points 137 (25d8 + 25); 27 (5d8 + 5) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 14 (+2) l3 (+1) 8 (-1) 11 (+0) 9 (-1)
Skills Stealth +6, Survival +2
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Goblin
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP); 1 (200 XP) each
Traits
Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its
damage when the bugbear haunt hits with it
(included in the attack).
Surprise Attack. If the bugbear haunt
surprises a creature and hits it with an attack
during the first round of combat, the target takes
an extra 7 (2d6) damage from the attack.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Morningstar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 55 (10d8 + 10) piercing damage; 11 (2d8 +
2) each.
Morningstar Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 55 (10d8 + 10) piercing damage; 11 (2d8 +
2) each.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4
to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 45 (10d6 + 10) piercing damage in melee or
27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 9 (2d6 + 2) in
melee or 5 (1d6 + 2) at range each.
Javelin Troop Attack. Melee or Ranged
Weapon Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft. or range
30/120 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) bludgeoning damage; 5 (1d6 +
2) each.
Doppelganger Society
Medium monstrosity (shapechanger) troop,
neutral
Armor Class 12; 14 each
Hit Points 260 (40d8 + 80); 52 (8d8 + 16)
each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2)
Skills Deception +6, Insight +3
Condition Immunities charmed
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP); 3 (700 XP) each
Traits
Shapechanger. The doppelganger society can
use its action to polymorph into Small or
Medium humanoids it has seen, or back into its
true form. Its statistics, other than its size, are
the same in each form. Any equipment it is
wearing or carrying isn't transformed. It reverts
to its true form if it dies.
Ambusher. The doppelganger society has
advantage on attack rolls against any creature it
has surprised.
Surprise Attack. If the doppelganger surprises
a creature and hits it with an attack during the
first round of combat, the target takes an extra
52 (15d6) damage from the attack; 10 (3d6)
each.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
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normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The doppelganger society makes
two melee attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target, troop attack (accuracy 14).
Hit: 37 (5d6 + 20) bludgeoning damage; 7 (1d6
+ 4) each.
Slam Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 14, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 37 (5d6 + 20) bludgeoning damage; 7 (1d6
+ 4) each.
Read Thoughts. The doppelganger magically
reads the surface thoughts of one creature within
60 feet of it. The effect can penetrate barriers,
but 3 feet of wood or dirt, 2 feet of stone, 2
inches of metal, or a thin sheet of lead blocks it.
While the target is in range, the doppelganger
can continue reading its thoughts, as long as the
doppelganger's concentration isn't broken (as if
concentrating on a spell). While reading the
target's mind, the doppelganger has advantage
on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Deception,
Intimidation, and Persuasion) checks against the
target.
Duergar Troop
Medium, humanoid (dwarf) troop, lawful evil
Armor Class 14 (scale mail, shield); 16 each
Hit Points 130 (20d8 + 40); 26 (4d8 + 8) each
Speed 25 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 9 (-1)
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Dwarvish, Undercommon
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP); 1 (200 XP) each
Traits
Duergar Resilience. The duergar troop has
advantage on saving throws against poison,
spells, and illusions, as well as to resist being
charmed or paralyzed.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the
duergar troop has disadvantage on attack rolls,
as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
rely on sight.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
ACTIONS
Enlarge (Recharges after a Short or Long
Rest). For 1 minute, the duergar magically
increases in size, along with anything it is
wearing or carrying. While enlarged, the duergar
is Large, doubles its damage dice on Strength-
based weapon attacks (included in the attacks),
and makes Strength checks and Strength saving
throws with advantage. If the duergar lacks the
room to become Large, it attains the maximum
size possible in the space available.
War Pick. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 32 (5d8 + 10) piercing damage; 6 (1d8 + 2)
each, or 55 (10d8 + 10) piercing damage while
enlarged; 11 (2d8 + 2) each.
War Pick Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 32 (5d8 + 10) piercing damage; 6 (1d8 + 2)
each, or 55 (10d8 + 10) piercing damage while
enlarged; 11 (2d8 + 2) each.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4
to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each, or 45 (10d6 + 10) piercing damage while
enlarged; 9 (2d6 + 2) each.
Javelin Troop Attack. Melee or Ranged
Weapon Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft. or range
30/120 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each, or 45 (10d6 + 10) piercing damage while
enlarged; 9 (2d6 + 2) each.
Invisibility (Recharges after a Short or
Long Rest). The duergar magically turns
invisible until it attacks, casts a spell, or uses its
Enlarge, or until its concentration is broken, up
to 1 hour (as if concentrating on a spell). Any
equipment the duergar wears or carries is
invisible with it.
Ghoul Shroud (10 unit squad)
Medium undead troop, chaotic evil
Armor Class 10; 12 each
Hit Points 112 (25d8); 22 (5d8) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 7 (-2) 10 (+0) 6 (-2)
Damage immunities poison
Condition immunities charmed, exhaustion,
poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP); 1 (200 XP) each
Traits
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
27 | P a g e
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 45 (10d6 + 10) piercing damage; 9 (2d6 + 2)
each.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: Accuracy 10, reach
5 ft.
Hit: 45 (10d6 + 10) piercing damage; 9 (2d6 + 2)
each.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 35 (10d4 + 10) slashing damage; 7 (2d4 +
2). If the target is a creature other than an elf or
an undead, it must succeed on a DC 10
Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1
minute. The target can repeat the saving throw
at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success.
Claw Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 35 (10d4 + 10) slashing damage; 7 (2d4 +
2). If the target is a creature other than an elf or
an undead, it must succeed on a DC 10
Constitution saving throw or be paralyzed for 1
minute. The target can repeat the saving throw
at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
on itself on a success.
Gnoll Pack (10 unit squad)
Medium humanoid (gnoll) troop, chaotic evil
Armor Class 13 (hide armor, shield); 15 each
Hit Points 112 (25d8); 22 (5d8) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 7 (-2)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Gnoll
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP); 1/2 (100 XP) each
Traits
Rampage. When the gnoll pack reduces a
creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on its
turn, the gnoll pack can take a bonus action to
move up to half its speed and make a bite attack.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (5d4 + 10) piercing damage; 4 (1d4 + 2)
each.
Bite Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d4 + 10) piercing damage; 4 (1d4 + 2)
each.
Spear. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach
5 ft., or range 20/60 ft., one creature.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each or 30 (5d8 + 10); 6 (1d8 + 2) if used with
two hands to make a melee attack.
Spear Troop Attack. Ranged Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft., or range 20/60 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each or 30 (5d8 + 10); 6 (1d8 + 2) if used with
two hands to make a melee attack.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit,
range 150/600 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) piercing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each.
Longbow Troop Attack. Ranged Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 11, range 150/600 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) piercing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each.
Goblin Gang (10 unit squad)
Small humanoid (goblinoid) troop, neutral evil
Armor Class 13 (leather armor, shield); 15
each
Hit Points 35 (10d6); 7 (2d6) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
8 (-1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 8 (-1) 8 (-1)
Skills Stealth +6
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages Common, Goblin
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP); 1/4 (50 XP) each
Traits
Nimble Escape. The goblin gang can take the
Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on
each of its turns.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) slashing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each
28 | P a g e
Scimitar Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) slashing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
range 80/320 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Shortbow Troop Attack. Ranged Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 12, range 80/320 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Hobgoblin Troop (10 unit squad)
Medium humanoid (goblinoid) troop, lawful evil
Armor Class 18 (chain mail, shield)
Hit Points 55 (10d8 + 10); 11 (2d8 + 2) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 9 (-1)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Goblin
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP); 1/2 (100 XP) each
Traits
Martial Advantage. Once per turn, the
hobgoblin can deal an extra 7 (2d6) damage to a
creature it hits with a weapon attack if that
creature is within 5 feet of an ally of the
hobgoblin that isn't incapacitated.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) slashing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each, or 32 (5d10 + 5); 6 (1d10 + 1) each if used
with two hands to make a melee attack.
Longsword Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy +11, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) slashing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each, or 32 (5d10 + 5); 6 (1d10 + 1) each if used
with two hands to make a melee attack.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit,
range 150/600 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) piercing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each.
Longbow Troop Attack. Ranged Weapon
Attack: Accuracy +11, range 150/600 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) piercing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Horse Herd (10 unit squad)
Large beast troop, unaligned
Armor Class 8; 10 each
Hit Points 65 (10d10 + 10); 13 (2d10+2) each
Speed 60 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 2 (-4) 11 (+0) 7 (-2)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 3 (700 XP); 1/8 (25 XP) each
Traits
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Hoof. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 40 (10d4 + 15) bludgeoning damage; 8 (2d4
+ 3) each.
Hoof Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 11, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 40 (10d4 + 15) bludgeoning damage; 8 (2d4
+ 3) each.
Kobold Pack (10 unit squad)
Small humanoid (kobold) troop, lawful evil
Armor Class 10; 12 each
Hit Points 25 (10d6 - 10); 5 (2d6 - 2) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
7 (-2) 15 (+2) 9 (-1) 8 (-1) 7 (-2) 8 (-1)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 3 (700 XP); 1/8 (25 XP) each
Traits
Pack Tactics. The kobold has advantage on an
attack roll against a creature if at least one of the
kobold‘s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and
the ally isn't incapacitated.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the
kobold has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well
as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on
sight.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
29 | P a g e
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (5d4 + 10) piercing damage; 4 (1d4 + 2)
each.
Dagger Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d4 + 10) piercing damage; 4 (1d4 + 2)
each.
Sling. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range
30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (5d4 + 10) bludgeoning damage; 4 (1d4
+ 2) each.
Sling Troop Attack. Ranged Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, range 30/120 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d4 + 10) bludgeoning damage; 4 (1d4
+ 2) each.
Kobold, Winged Flight (10 unit squad)
Small humanoid (kobold) troop, lawful evil
Armor Class 11; 13 each
Hit Points 37 (15d6 - 15); 7 (3d6 - 3) each
Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
7 (-2) 16 (+3) 9 (-1) 8 (-1) 7 (-2) 8 (-1)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages Common, Draconic
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP); 1/4 (50 XP) each
Traits
Pack Tactics. The kobold has advantage on an
attack roll against a creature if at least one of the
kobold's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and
the ally isn't incapacitated.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the
kobold has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well
as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on
sight.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
if it has an ally within 5 feet.
ACTIONS
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d4 + 15) piercing damage; 5 (1d4 + 3)
each.
Dagger Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 13, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d4 + 15) piercing damage; 5 (1d4 + 3)
each.
Dropped Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to
hit, one target directly below the kobold.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Hit: 32 (5d6 + 15) bludgeoning damage; 6 (1d6 +
3) each.
Dropped Rock Troop Attack. Ranged
Weapon Attack: Accuracy 13, one target directly
below the kobold.
Hit: 32 (5d6 + 15) bludgeoning damage; 6 (1d6 +
3) each.
Lizardfolk Squad (10 unit squad)
Medium humanoid (lizardfolk) troop, neutral
Armor Class 13 (natural armor, shield); 15
each
Hit Points 110 (20d8 + 20); 22 (4d8+4) each
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 7 (-2) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4, Survival +5
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages Draconic
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP); 1/2 (100 XP) each
Traits
Hold Breath. The lizardfolk can hold its breath
for 15 minutes.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Bite Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Heavy Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Heavy Club Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4
to hit, reach 5 ft., or range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Javelin Troop Attack. Melee or Ranged
Weapon Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft., or
range 30/120 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
30 | P a g e
Spiked Shield. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to
hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Spiked Shield. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Mastiff Pack (10 unit squad)
Medium beast troop, unaligned
Armor Class 10; 12 each
Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5); 5 (1d8 + 1) each
Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
Skills Perception +3
Languages -
Traits
Keen Hearing and Smell. The mastiff has
advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
rely on hearing or smell.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
Challenge 3 (700 XP); 1/8 (25 XP) each
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6 + 1)
each. If the target is a creature, it must succeed
on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked
prone.
Bite Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6 + 1)
each. If the target is a creature, it must succeed
on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked
prone.
Ogre Torment (10 unit squad)
Large giant troop, chaotic evil
Armor Class 9; 11 each
Hit Points 297 (35d10 + 105); 59 (7d10+21)
each
Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
19 (+4) 8 (-1) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 7 (-2) 7 (-2)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP); 2 (450 XP) each
Traits
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Greatclub. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 65 (10d8 + 20) bludgeoning damage; 13
(2d8 + 4) each.
Greatclub Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 14, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 65 (10d8 + 20) bludgeoning damage; 13
(2d8 + 4) each.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6
to hit, reach 5 ft., or range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 55 (10d6 + 20) piercing damage; 11 (2d6 +
4) each.
Javelin Troop Attack. Melee or Ranged
Weapon Attack: Accuracy 14, reach 5 ft., or
range 30/120 ft.
Hit: 55 (10d6 + 20) piercing damage; 11 (2d6 +
4) each.
Orc Rage (10 unit squad)
Medium humanoid (orc) troop, chaotic evil
Armor Class 11 (hide armor); 13 each
Hit Points 75 (10d8 + 30); 15 (2d8 + 6) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 7 (-2) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
Skills Intimidation +2
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Orc
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP); 1/2 (100 XP) each
Traits
Aggressive. As a bonus action, the orc troop
can move up to its speed toward a hostile
creature that it can see.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 47 (5d12 + 15) slashing damage; 9 (1d12 +
3) each.
31 | P a g e
Greataxe Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 13, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 47 (5d12 + 15) slashing damage; 9 (1d12 +
3) each.
Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5
to hit, reach 5 ft., or range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 32 (5d6 + 15) piercing damage; 6 (1d6 + 3)
each.
Javelin Troop Attack. Melee or Ranged
Weapon Attack: Accuracy 13, reach 5 ft., or
range 30/120 ft.
Hit: 32 (5d6 + 15) piercing damage; 6 (1d6 + 3)
each.
Shadow Stalking
Medium undead, chaotic evil
Armor Class 10; 12 each
Hit Points 82 (15d8 + 15); 16 (3d8 + 3) each
Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
6 (-2) 14 (+2) 13 (+1) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 8 (-1)
Skills Stealth +4 (+6 in dim light or darkness)
Damage Vulnerabilities radiant
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire,
lightning, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing from non-magical weapons
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion,
frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified,
poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages -
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP); 1/2 (100 XP) each
Traits
Amorphous. The shadow can move through a
space as narrow as 1 inch wide without
squeezing.
Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or
darkness, the shadow can take the Hide action as
a bonus action.
Sunlight Weakness. While in sunlight, the
shadow has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability
checks, and saving throws.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to
hit, reach 5 ft., one creature.
Hit: 45 (10d6 + 10) necrotic damage; 9 (2d6 + 2)
each, and each target's Strength score is reduced
by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces its
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts
until the target finishes a short or long rest. If a
non-evil humanoid dies from this attack, a new
shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
Strength Drain. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 45 (10d6 + 10) necrotic damage; 9 (2d6 + 2)
each, and each target's Strength score is reduced
by 1d4. The target dies if this reduces its
Strength to 0. Otherwise, the reduction lasts
until the target finishes a short or long rest. If a
non-evil humanoid dies from this attack, a new
shadow rises from the corpse 1d4 hours later.
Skeleton Drudge (10 unit squad)
Medium undead troop, neutral evil
Armor Class 11 (armor scraps); 13 each
Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20); 13 (2d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 8 (-1) 5 (-3)
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages understands all languages it knew
in life but can't speak
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP); 1/4 (50 XP) each
Traits
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Shortsword Troop Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
range 80/320 ft., one target.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Shortbow Troop Attack. Ranged Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 12, range 80/320 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d6 + 10) piercing damage; 5 (1d6 + 2)
each.
Troll Stench
Large giant, chaotic evil
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Armor Class 13 (natural armor); 15 each
Hit Points 420 (40d10 + 200); 84 (8d10 + 40)
each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18 (+4) 13 (+1) 20 (+5) 7 (-2) 9 (-1) 7 (-2)
Skills Perception + 1
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Giant
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP); 5 (1,800 XP) each
Traits
Keen Smell. The troll has advantage on
Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Regeneration. The troll stench regains 50 hit
points at the start of its turn; 10 each. If the troll
takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn't
function at the start of the troll's next turn. The
troll stench dies only if it starts its turn with 0
hit points and doesn't regenerate.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The troll stench makes three
attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 37 (5d6 + 20) piercing damage; 7 (1d6 + 4)
each.
Bite Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 15, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 37 (5d6 + 20) piercing damage; 7 (1d6 + 4)
each.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 55 (10d6 + 20) slashing damage; 11 (2d6 +
4) each.
Claw Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 15, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 55 (10d6 + 20) slashing damage; 11 (2d6 +
4) each.
Wolf Pack (10 unit squad)
Medium beast troop, unaligned
Armor Class 11 (natural armor); 13 each
Hit Points 55 (10d8 + 10); 11 (2d8+2) each
Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 6 (-2)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Senses passive Perception 13
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP); 1/4 (50 XP) each
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Traits
Keen Hearing and Smell. The wolf has
advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
rely on hearing or smell.
Pack Tactics. The wolf has advantage on attack
rolls against a creature if at least one of the
wolf‘s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and
isn't incapacitated.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 35 (10d4 + 10) piercing damage; 7 (2d4 + 2)
each. If the target is a creature, it must succeed
on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked
prone.
Bite Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 35 (10d4 + 10) piercing damage; 7 (2d4 + 2)
each. If the target is a creature, it must succeed
on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked
prone.
Zombie Horde (10 unit squad)
Medium undead troop, neutral evil
Armor Class 6; 8 each
Hit Points 112 (15d8 + 45); 22 (3d8 + 9) each
Speed 20 ft.
Sample Swarms
Troop rules can also be used to create dynamic swarms. If the component creature deals 1 hit point with
their attacks, the damage dealt can be turned into a dice roll (with the result being an average). If the
component creature (such as the rat or a bee) deals 1 damage, it instead deals 2d6 damage.
33 | P a g e
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 6 (-2) 16 (+3) 3 (-4) 6 (-2) 5 (-3)
Saving Throws Wis +0
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8
Languages understands all languages it knew
in life but can't speak
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP); 1/4 (50 XP) each
Traits
Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces the
zombie to 0 hit points, it must make a
Constitution saving throw with a DC of 5 + the
damage taken, unless the damage is radiant or
from a critical hit. On a success, the zombie
drops to 1 hit point instead. If this attack is from
a troop, divide the damage by 5 before setting
the DC.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage; 4 (1d6 +
1) each.
Slam Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 11, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage; 4 (1d6 +
1) each.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Rat Rat Swarm (10 unit)

Tiny beast, unaligned Tiny beast troop, unaligned
Armor Class 10 Armor Class 8; 10 each
Hit Points 1 (1d4 - 1) Hit Points 7 (5d4 - 5); 1 (1d4 - 2) each
Speed 20 ft. Speed 20 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
2 (4) 11 (+0) 9 (-1) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 2 (4) 11 (+0) 9 (-1) 2 (-4) 10 (+0) 3 (-4)
Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 10 Senses darkvision 30 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages- Languages -
Challenge 0 (10 XP) Challenge 1/2 (100 XP); 0 (10 XP) each
Traits Traits
Keen Smell. The rat has advantage on Wisdom Keen Smell. The rat swarm has advantage on
(Perception) checks that rely on smell. Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
ACTIONS Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 effect that does not target at least half the
ft., one target. component creatures. If the effect does not deal
Hit: 1 piercing damage. damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
When forming into a troop (usually called a effect targets an area, the troop is affected
swarm), rats end up as follows. normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target, troop attack (accuracy 8)
Hit: 7 (2d6) piercing damage; 1 each.
Bite Troop Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 8, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 7 (2d6) piercing damage; 1 each.

Making a swarm with troop rules end with a result different than normal swarms; these swarms are not
immune to the conditions swarms are normally immune to (such as charmed, frightened, paralyzed, etc.),
nor do they have natural resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

For example, the rat swarm is slower (20 feet down from 30 feet), and have much less hit points (7 down
from 24).
Accounting for troop abilities, however, the rat swarm takes half damage from all targeted effects such as
weapon attack rolls for an effective 14 hit points. The swarm is also immune to non-damaging effects
unthey, as troops, cannot be affected by any non-damaging effect unless at least half their number is
affected. They also deal automatic damage to all creatures in their space, and do not require an attack roll.
Furthermore, they are also very effective when appearing from hidden areas and swarming against a
target, increasing the swarm‘s Accuracy to 13.

Owl Swarm (10 unit squad) Keen Hearing and Sight. The owl swarm has
Swarm of tiny beasts, unaligned advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
Armor Class 9; 11 each rely on hearing or sight.
Hit Points 7 (5d4 - 5); 1 (1d4 - 1) each Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
Speed 5 ft., fly 60 ft. effect that does not target at least half the
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA component creatures. If the effect does not deal
3 (-4) 13 (+1) 8 (-1) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2) damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +3 effect targets an area, the troop is affected
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13 normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
Languages - effect deals damage.
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP); 0 (10 XP) each A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
Flyby. The owl swarm doesn't provoke feet.
opportunity attacks when it flies out of an ACTIONS
enemy's reach.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target.
Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) slashing damage; 1 each.
Talons Swarm Attack. Melee Weapon
Attack: Accuracy 11, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 8 (2d6 + 1) slashing damage; 1 each.
Poisonous Snake Swarm (10 unit squad)
Tiny beast troop, unaligned
Armor Class 9; 11 each
Hit Points 12 (5d4); 2 (1d4) each
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
2 (-4) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 1 (-5) 10 (+0) 3 (-4)
Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages -
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP); 0 (10 XP) each
Trait
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the
target must make a DC 10 Constitution saving
throw, taking 25 (10d4) poison damage on a
failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one; 1 each plus 5 (2d4) poison
damage.
Bite Swarm Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 13, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage, and the
target must make a DC 10 Constitution saving
throw, taking 25 (10d4) poison damage on a
failed save, or half as much damage on a
successful one; 1 each plus 5 (2d4) poison
damage.
Raven Swarm (10 unit squad)
Swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 10; 12 each
Hit Points 7 (5d4 – 5); 1 (1d4 - 1) each
Speed 10 ft., fly 50 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
2 (-4) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 6 (-2)
Skills Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages -
Challenge 0 (10 XP) each
Traits
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Mimicry. The raven can mimic simple sounds
it has heard, such as a person whispering, a baby
crying, or an animal chittering. A creature that
hears the sounds can tell they are imitations
with a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Insight) check.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage; 1 each.
Beak Swarm Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 12, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage; 1 each.
Vulture Swarm (10 unit squad)
Swarm of medium beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 8; 10 each
Hit Points 27 (5d8 + 5); 5 (1d8 + 1) each
Speed 10 ft., fly 50 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
7 (-2) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 4 (-3)
Skills Perception +3
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages -
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP); 0 (10 XP) each
Traits
Keen Sight and Smell. The vulture has
advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that
rely on sight or smell.
Pack Tactics. The vulture has advantage on an
attack roll against a creature if at least one of the
vulture's allies is within 5 feet of the creature
and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Troop. A troop takes half damage from any
effect that does not target at least half the
component creatures. If the effect does not deal
damage, the troop is instead immune to it. If the
effect targets an area, the troop is affected
normally, and takes 50% extra hit damage if the
effect deals damage.
A troop always counts as if it has an ally within 5
feet.
ACTIONS
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target.
Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage.
Beak Swarm Attack. Melee Weapon Attack:
Accuracy 10, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 12 (5d4) piercing damage; 2 (1d4) each.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Managing Armies
Organizations and strongholds are necessary
considerations when commanding armies—
organizations can provide financing, leadership,
and training. Settlements relieve the monetary
burden of holding an active force, as the military
tax can be requested from the ruler of the
settlement to finance the force. Strongholds host
troops when they are not deployed, and can
serve as a rally point when the call to arms is
raised.
Battle Scope and Scaling the War
When individual creatures are not involved in
mass combat (such as players or dragons), it is
usually simpler to use the component creature or
smaller troops to represent larger ones instead
of using full troops.
When 300 orcs face down 200 human soldiers,
for instance, it is simpler to use 3 orc squads
(one for each 100 orcs) instead of using the
statistics of a battalion. The troop rules are
necessary once individual creatures enter the
fray and are able to influence the battle‘s
outcome. With high-level characters or high
Challenge creatures, using the full scale of the
war is necessary, as their abilities can tip the
scales alone.
Consequences of Battle (Troop Victory
and Defeat)
Upon being reduced to 0 hit points, a troop is
unable to fight and is dismissed from the
battlefield.
Roll death saving throws for each troop that is
reduced to 0 hit points after the battle is over.
Each failed death saving throw causes one-third
of the troop to perish (if they die upon 0 hit
points). The saving throws are done with
disadvantage if the troop‘s side was defeated in
the combat encounter, or if the victorious side is
pursuing survivors. The saving throws are
instead done with advantage if the troop‘s side is
victorious, or if it is being healed and supported
by a character with proficiency in the Medicine
skill. One character can support 10 people per
point of proficiency in the Medicine skill
(doubled if applying double proficiency bonus to
the check).
Cover and Concealment
Troops benefit from cover and concealment as
normal creatures, and usually take control of
structures such as towers, castles, and forts to
gain this benefit.
Half cover includes all battlements atop towers,
alongside walls and on high ground, granting a
+2 bonus to AC.
36 | P a g e
Three-quarters cover includes arrow slits found
in forts and castles, granting a +5 bonus to AC
(which translates to one step of accuracy). There
is usually 1 arrow slit every 5 feet of a war-ready
wall.
Full cover includes standing behind walls or
under trapdoors, and makes them immune to
being targeted directly.
War-ready strongholds provide various types of
cover, as detailed under Chapter 3.
Concealment (or obscured) allows a troop to
hide as with the Stealth skill. Heavily obscured
imposes disadvantage on attack rolls (reducing
accuracy by one step as well).
Feeding
Troops consume rations and drink as normal for
creatures, with one pound of food and one gallon
of water per day (or 10 pounds and 10 gallons
per squad, 30 pounds and gallons per day for
companies). Starvation and exhaustion applies
for troops as it does for normal creatures.
Container capacities provide guidance on how
much supplies can be carried in normal
containers (such as 40 gallons of liquid per
barrel, or 120 pounds of solid).
Due to concerns about managing food (and
prevent poisoning or ration-theft), commanders
often distribute rations for each soldier to carry
with them (on average enough for one week or
the duration of the mission), though longer
campaigns involve drawn wagons and supply
lines. In other armies, food distribution is
centralized, which risks poisoning and ration-
theft, but also helps keep discipline and order.
Supply wagons usually carry enough supplies to
cover the troops‘ need until the next wagon (or
as much as they can carry), although supply
wagons are vulnerable to bandits, sabotage, or
hostile creatures seeking to impose starvation on
a troop.
Leading and Organization
Leading a troop does not require a class or a
certain level, although a good Charisma and
Intelligence bonus is recommended to cover
skills required by leaders. The organization of
the troop is on several levels.
 10-unit squad (modifier x5), corporal
 30-unit company (modifier x15), sergeant
 100-unit battalion (modifier x50), lieutenant
 300-unit division (modifier x150), captain
Corporal. A corporal is of the same level or
Challenge as a unit (with slightly more hit points
than average, but within the normal maximum).
Sergeant. A sergeant is two levels above the
normal unit (or 2 Challenge higher). Common
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
sergeants use the Scout, Thug or Spy statistics,
or a Bugbear Chief (for Bugbear Haunts).
Lieutenant. A lieutenant is two levels above the
sergeant (or 4 Challenge higher than the
component unit). Common lieutenants are the
Berserker, Bandit Captain, Cult Fanatic, Druid,
or Priest.
Captain. A captain is two levels above the
lieutenant (or 6 challenge higher than the
component unit). Common captains are the
Gladiator, Knight, or Veteran.
Troops of larger size are usually distributed onto
one of the above organizations, but the names of
larger units are as below.
 1,000-unit legion (30 battalions)
 3,000-unit corps (3 legions)
 10,000-unit field army (10 legions)
The troop rules assume skirmish-level combats
(where individual creatures can make the most
impact), but at higher levels, it is entirely
possible for legions of soldiers to engage with
dragons and powerful stronghold masters,
although the inevitable cost of such losses will be
terrible for their home settlements.
Logistics
A soldier carries enough ammunition to make its
ranged attacks as if a normal monster. You can
assume that a creature has 2d4 pieces of
ammunition for a thrown weapon attack, and
2d10 pieces of ammunition for a projectile
weapon such as a bow or crossbow. A soldier
also carries enough food and supplies for 7 days,
or the duration of the mission (if planned well),
as described under feeding.
Any more ammunition requires logistical
preparation.
Maintenance
It is assumed that each soldier can tend to their
own weapons and provide replenishment
ammunition when camped and taking a long
rest.
Most camps allow a small economy to arise (See
camps and camp followers under Managing
Armies) that provide replenishment
ammunition, although spent magical or special
ammunition must be tallied as normal.
Movement
Troops move as normal units, with the overland
speed of creatures of the component creature
type. For the normal guard or soldier, this is 24
miles per day (3 per hour) on a normal pace.
An army is only as slow as its slowest member,
however, and hauling siege engines, slow
wagons, or moving with camp followers or
37 | P a g e
refugees can slow an army immensely, while an
all-mounted force runs circles around them.
Troops can be ordered to forced march, in which
case a failed Constitution saving throw imposes
one level of exhaustion on all the component
units of the troop if the troop fails the saving
throw.
Name and Organization
This shows the name of the troop‘s component
unit (plus the term ‗troop‘ or similar word), and
includes information on how big it is (10 unit
squad, 30 unit company, etc.). It is possible to
consolidate several smaller-sized organizations
into a bigger one (squad to company) or vice
versa, although it requires a recalculation of hit
points and weapon damage.
Quartering (or Housing)
A troop can be quartered in a settlement where
they are not required for combat. Recalling
troops is the same as summoning
reinforcements.
If quartered in a stronghold, the troop can be
made ready in 1d4 rounds for combat once the
alarm is raised (with troops usually heading into
a courtyard or similar function of the
stronghold). This does not count putting on
armor, although in most cases troops at the
ready have their armor on and weapons at hand
(or within short reach).
A hostile troop defeated in combat can
interrogated, ransomed, or even integrated or
converted.
 Interrogation. This is resolved with a skill
check (usually Intimidation) against the
commander of the troop or its component
creatures to yield information about their
stronghold, numbers, or distribution.
 Ransom. Ransoming a troop can be a good
source of income, assuming the victor has
enough manpower to watch over them and
the means to hold them from escaping or
staging a riot.
A ransomed soldier can cost anything
negotiated between the two parties, but
commonly averages in most established
kingdoms to an exchange of prisoners or the
individual unit‘s pay for 7 days (or 14 gold
pieces per soldier, or 140 gold per squad).
Another form of ransoming is enslavement.
In this case, the individual unit‘s cost is
usually multiplied by their pay for 30 to 90
days (60 to 120 gold pieces per soldier, or
600 to 1,200 gold per squad).
The ransom of a ruler is often percent of
their treasury—the expression ‗a king‘s
ransom‘ sometimes meant the contents of
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
the ruler‘s treasury for one to five years,
whichever has a better chance of success).
 Integration and Conversion. This is
resolved with a skill check, usually done with
Persuasion against the leader of the troop or
their subordinates. In some cases, the troop
may join the victor without a check required.
It is wise to distribute integrated soldiers
among different combat units to prevent
infiltration efforts to succeed. As normal for
soldiers, they can be integrated as populace
in a settlement instead, which can cause
anything from a cultural clash to unrest to
enriching the settlement‘s culture and
society.
Recruitment
Recruitment for troops can be done with the
downtime Rally activity (see Chapter 5:
Downtime and Training).
Signaling
As normal for creatures, a troop needs orders
communicated to them by their commander, or
they otherwise act independently and are not
automatically aware of their allies‘ actions.
Signaling can be done visually (with flags,
banners, and codes in smoke clouds), aurally
(via war drums, trumpets, or through runner-
messengers), or even magically (Message, Light,
or Faerie Fire spells).
Skill Use
Skills can be used by the troop or by their
captain to benefit their troop. The commander
rolls normally, but with disadvantage. The roll
result is the result of their troop for the purposes
of the skill.
This way, a stealthy commander can use their
Stealth to infiltrate their troop into a settlement,
while an athletic one can use Athletics to help
their troop swim through a moat and climb a
wall beyond it.
Spellcasting Troops
Spellcasters, just as exceptionally-trained
characters, rarely appear as troops, and instead
are more common as commanders and leaders
of soldiers. However, in the case of a soldier
possessing spellcasting, it is resolved with
similar rules to the troop trait.
Whenever a troop casts a spell, a number of
spells manifest equal to the combat modifier. If
the spell is resolved with an attack roll, it can be
treated as a normal spell attack or troop spell
attack (affecting a number of creatures equal to
the combat modifier, or one creature with that
amount of castings).
38 | P a g e
If the spell has an area, the damage cannot
overlap in the same area, but this allows
coverage of a very large area. If a creature is
large enough to be damaged by adjacent areas,
they take damage multiple times.
For instance, a troop of acolytes casting the Cure
Wounds spell heal 32 (5d8 + 10) hit points; 6
(1d8 + 2) each.
If the same troop casts the Sacred Flame cantrip,
they deal 22 (5d8) radiant damage, affecting up
to 5 creatures, ignoring cover.
A troop of mages casting the Lightning Bolt spell
create a 25-foot wide beam of lighting 100 feet
long, dealing 8d6 damage in each line.
An exception is spells that conjure creatures.
These act as if every troop member cast the spell
(so an animate dead spell cast by a troop of
necromancers creates one skeleton drudge or
one zombie horde.
Tactics
Most tactics reward troops who successfully
execute them with advantage or inflict
disadvantage on foes subjected to them. Below is
a list of tactics.
Ambush tactics. Attacking from hiding grants
the normal bonuses to troops: the surprised
party loses their action and reaction, and
attackers that are hidden from them gain
advantage to attack rolls.
Flanking/Encircling. If using the flanking
optional rules, then flanking grants the troop
who executes it advantage.
Encircling follows the same rule, but can be
done against a target smaller than the troop
(effectively, the troop sections off to encircle an
enemy). This allows a troop to automatically
flank a smaller target, but this requires 5 feet of
movement and provokes an opportunity attack
from the smaller target (as if moving away).
Volley or Fusillade (arrows or firearms,
respectively). If the area of a troop‘s ranged
attack is larger than the target (such as a squad
attacking a single target), the attacking troops
gain advantage for the purposes of resolving
damage.
Porcupine/Shield Wall. If having their backs to
one another or holding up shields, this imposes
disadvantage on attackers.
Phalanx/Formed Ranks. If standing adjacent to
one another and if each component creature has
a shield, the troop benefits from half cover.
Withdrawal. This acts as the Disengage action.
Withdrawal, Guarded. The troop moves at half
speed. While moving this way, the troop can
cause the terrain they move over to count as
difficult terrain (breaking the ground, creating
small pits and ridges, whenever possible). This
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
destruction is too quick to be lasting, however,
and is restored with minimal effort (count as 1
action).
Other Tactics. Other tactics are possible to use,
such as scorched earth (troops are commanded
to burn and destroy sources of foraging and
scare off game), espionage (sending false
reports, killing enemy scouts), and psychological
warfare (using illusions or deploying skeleton
camps to magnify the size of your army,
reanimating enemy troops and leaders, etc.).
War-Camps, Camp Followers, and
Extended Camps
Setting up camps is a normal activity most
armies are adept at performing. Camps attract
Aerial and Naval Combat
Combat on airborne and naval vehicles acts as normal tactical combat, the difference being is that the
terrain is that of the ship‘s deck. Beyond the terrain, other features such as siege weapons (usually ballista
or cannons in gunpowder-familiar settings) are present, affecting characters and troops in equal measure.
Attack. A ship can make an attack by ramming
into an object (such as another ship) or creature.
The accuracy (to-hit bonus) is a Dexterity check
made by the captain. You may add your
proficiency bonus if you are proficient with
Vehicles (ship type).
This deals the damage listed under the ship‘s
description (under actions). The point of impact
may be modified to deal a different type of
damage (such as by being spiked deals piercing
damage, or being bladed deals slashing damage).
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populace, who usually serve as camp followers,
performing various duties such as cleaning,
feeding, repair of goods and equipment, or
various other services.
In cases where the camp remains for an
extended period or has a large number of non-
combatants such as refugees, a small economy
may grow, creating a small settlement based on
servicing the camp. The army‘s leadership is the
de facto ruler of this mini settlement, which it
can use to gather taxes (although the legality
may be in question when already in a settlement
with an established ruler). This is described
more under Planning a Journey and Camping
below.
Boarding. The crew of a vehicle are not always
combat-ready. Each vehicle requires a minimum
of one-half its crew to be occupied in managing
the vehicle even in combat. Statistics for skilled
hirelings are identical to that of guards or
bandits (assuming they are equipped by an
available armory or are carrying weapons).
Combat can take place on one ship over another,
with combatants boarding a rival vehicle and
attempting to intimidate, defeat, or capture the
enemy‘s forces.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

It is far more profitable and efficient to capture
enemy ships rather than sinking them,
necessitating that raiding ships also employ
marines (soldiers trained in naval vehicles) or
train their soldiers in commandeer captured
vehicles or compel defeated crew members to do
so (usually under the command of a trusted
subordinate).
Cargo. The table indicates the maximum
tonnage each kind of ship can carry.
Crew. A ship needs a crew of skilled hirelings to
function. A soldier trained in naval vehicles can
double as both a skilled hireling and a soldier (in
which case they are called mariners).
The minimum number of skilled hirelings
needed to crew a ship depends on the type of
vessel, as shown in the table above.
If at least half the crew becomes disloyal during
a voyage, the crew turns hostile and stages a
mutiny. If the ship is berthed, disloyal crew
members usually leave the ship and never
return.
Damage Threshold (DT). A ship has
immunity to all damage unless it takes an
amount of damage equal to or greater than its
damage threshold, in which case it takes damage
as normal. Any damage that fails to meet or
exceed the damage threshold is considered
superficial and doesn't reduce the ship's hit
points.
Passengers. The table indicates the number of
Small and Medium passengers the ship can
accommodate. Accommodations consist of poor
accommodations (shared hammocks in tight
quarters). This can be customized as normal
beds.
Speed. Most vehicles depend on currents of air,
water, or a crew‘s manpower to move. When in
favorable conditions, the ship moves on the
specified speed (such as having the proper
amount of rowers in a galley, or good winds in a
sailing ship).
Very favorable conditions in terms of following
currents (such as by going downstream of air or
water currents), add the speed of the current
(typically 3 miles per hour) to the speed of the
vehicle. Lighthouses also provide guidance (see
strongholds).
In addition, after 8 hours of being rowed, the
vehicle can also float an additional 16 hours
(adding this distance to the total travelled).
These vehicles can‘t be rowed against any
significant current, but they can be pulled
upstream by draft animals onshore or in the sea
or air (beasts of burden, such as by a druid
compelling marine or flying creatures).
Ship Repair. Repairs to a damaged ship can be
made while the vessel is berthed. Repairing 1 hit
point of damage requires 1 day and costs 20 gp
for materials and labor.
Visibility. A relatively calm sea offers great
visibility. From a crow's nest, a lookout can spot
another ship or a coastline up to 10 miles away,
assuming clear skies. Overcast skies reduce that
distance by half. Rain and fog reduce visibility
just as they do on land.

Aerial and Naval Vehicles

These rules replace and supersede the ships rules and chart available in the DMG, page 119. As stated in
Chapter 3, a vehicle can also be turned into a stronghold (in which case, outfitting it halves the amount of
siege weapons it can carry).

Ship Cost (gp) Speed Crew Passengers Cargo (tons) AC HP DT

Airship 20,000 8 mph 10 20 1 13 300 -
Galley 30,000 4 mph 80 - 150 15 500 20
Keelboat 3,000 1 mph 1 6 ½ 15 100 10
Longship 10,000 3 mph 40 40 10 15 300 15
Rowboat 50 1.5 mph 1 3 - 11 50 -
Sailing Ship 10,000 2 mph 20 20 100 15 300 15
Submarine 20,000 8 mph 10 20 1 15 300 10
Warship 25,000 2.5 mph 60 60 200 15 500 20

Airship. In a campaign without air travel, an

airship might be an arcane device built by clever
gnomes or wizardly engineers.
 Siege Weapons. Airships can carry any
siege weapons they can carry as cargo in
the underside of the airship itself.
 Ram. 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage
Galley. Galleys represent most row-based
waterborne vehicles, such as the trireme. Most
galleys had sails that could aid in favorable
winds, but manpower was the main propulsion
method. Due to this, the construction of the
galley does not allow a lot of space for heavy
siege weapons (1/2 a ton and more).

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

 Siege Weapons. Up to 5 tons of siege advanced variant. Commonly 40 to 60 feet long,

weapons.
 Ram. 33 (6d10) bludgeoning damage
Keelboat. A cargo-capable working boat suited
best for rivers and closed waters (such as lakes),
or a small-to mid-sized sailing ship. Keelboats
are row or sail-based. This includes knaars.
 Siege Weapons. This can only hold light
siege weapons (less than ½ a ton).
 Ram. 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage
Longship. A cargo-capable ship capable of
navigating all waters, the longship is a versatile
ship that is usually used in cold waters, although
it is incapable of carrying siege weapons.
Capable of being rowed or sailed.
 Siege Weapons. The design does not
allow any type of siege weapon.
 Ram. 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage
Rowboat. A small boat or raft, rowboats are
row-based vehicles. This includes barges, skiffs,
and canoes.
 Siege Weapons. None
 Ram. 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage
Sailing Ship. Sailing ships cover most sail-
based waterborne vehicles, such as the dhow, the
junk, the cog, and the caravel as a more
sail ships are best in open waters.
 Siege Weapons. The top deck allows up
to 3 tons of siege weapons.
 Ram. 22 (4d10) bludgeoning damage
Submarine. In a campaign without underwater
travel, an airship might be an arcane device built
by clever gnomes or wizardly engineers.
 Siege Weapons. Submarines can carry
any siege weapons they can carry as
cargo in the underside of the airship
itself. Not every siege weapon is suitable
for underwater combat, however
(although ballistae can be outfitted with
harpoons).
 Ram. 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage
Warship. Carracks and galleons are often
known as warships, which are sometimes ships
involved in maritime trade commissioned and
outfitted for war. Commonly sail-based,
warships can carry several siege weapons due to
freedom of space in their frames and hulls.
Bigger (and more expensive) variants include
the man-o-war.
 Siege Weapons. The warship can carry
up to one-quarter its cargo in siege
weapons.
 Ram. 44 (8d10) bludgeoning damage.

Sieges
Sieges (as well as most mass combat encounters in general) are troop battles take place on a local map
scale and involve attacking a stronghold or settlement (map including the settlement, stronghold, and
surrounding areas).
A fully-fledged siege takes place when an army surrounds a settlement or takes control of key land and sea
routes to the settlement, preventing it from exercising influence, military action, and gathering food to
feed its population.
Usually the attacking army takes up positions outside the besieged settlement, far from projectile range
(arrows, siege weapons, and range of spells), usually in a defensible location as well to protect their backs
against relief sent to help the besieged city.

The purposes of sieges is to stress the contents of a settlement‘s granaries, as each settlement must spend
food on its population to avoid starvation. If the besiegers do not have the time or resources for a
sustained siege, or if the defenders are already exhausted (from starvation) or their defenses are weak
(from siege bombardment to open holes in walls, or from sabotage, or from being vastly outnumbered),
an attack can be ordered.

Victory Points. Controlling strongholds are major victory points for sieges.

Strongholds in Sieges. Strongholds grant various advantages for troops, such as high ground, holding
a chokepoint, etc. This can yield several circumstantial bonuses, such as:
 Advantage on attack rolls for ranged attack rolls (high ground)
 Allow their troops to focus fire or funnel enemies in tight locations (limiting the number of enemies in
an area while maximizing the number of allies)
 Employ tactics such as charge, flank, or volleys from behind difficult terrain or obstacles

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

 Impose disadvantage on enemies‘ attacks

Bonded strongholds can also prove to be solid defenses, with the innate magics of a stronghold helping
defenders better protect whatever is inside the stronghold.

Breaching a Stronghold
Breaching is resolved in 10x10 foot sections to bring down wall panel. When enough is breached to
remove the benefits of the stronghold, an attack usually takes place. Sieges can be done without siege
weapons by starving the enemy or inflicting diseases on them, which is a major strategic decision, as
sometimes the attacker or defender do not have enough supplies.
Each wall panel has AC and hit points relevant to its material, and is immune to poison and psychic
damage. Reducing a section to 0 hit points destroys it and might cause connected sections to buckle and
collapse at the DM‘s discretion (usually if the attacker has the plans of the stronghold or is knowledgeable
of masonry, such as having proficiency with the relevant artisan tool). A destroyed section suppresses a
stronghold function (such as punching into a storage room or prison wall, exposing the contents or
releasing prisoners, respectively).
A stronghold can be damaged with one spell that affects all sections in the spell‘s area. If the effect or spell
affects only one side of the stronghold (such as from the outside), add all hit points together, with the
damage causing an indent equal to the amount of increments of damage compared to inches.
Therefore, a cottage made of wood that is enveloped in the area of an Earthquake spell applies its damage
to all sections (50 damage per round, or 2 inches of dents); bringing down the stronghold with the single
spell if concentrating for more than 6 rounds.
If attacking with a Fire Bolt spell cast by an 11th level spellcaster (3d10, average of 16 damage), however,
every two hits cause 32 damage, equivalent to 1 inch of wood burnt out.

Material AC Hit Points/Inch Wall (1 foot) Damage Threshold

Ice 10 5 60 -
Stone 17 30 360 10
Wood 15 25 300 5

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Other materials can be used to create walls and rooms, which have different AC values, hit points per
inch, and damage thresholds. Strongholds are made of the primary material in the land‘s surroundings,
but can be imported (in which case the stronghold‘s price can be increased by d00% or according to
material availability).
Increasing thickness increases the total cost of the stronghold by 10% per doubling of thickness (+50% at
x5 thickness), which also affects how sound travels. This affects all walls or only walls the builder
specifies.

Siege Weapons and Bombardment

Siege weapons take a number of rounds on average, to destroy or breach a wall section. Setting up siege
weapons is therefore a critical step that stronghold defenders must prevent, such as by sending outriders
to harry or defeat the crew, sabotage with thieves‘ tools, use their own siege weapons, building the
stronghold in marshy terrain or behind moats, or preparing (or digging) tunnels that end behind enemy
lines. The below chart assumes average damage, and walls one foot thick. Interior walls are half as thick
(and take half the time to destroy).
Note. This assumes concentrated bombardment on the same 10 by 10 foot section. Usually in war,
attacking commanders open multiple points of entry to overwhelm and demoralize defenders.

Weapon Damage/minute Stone (1 foot thick) Wood (1 foot thick)

Ballista 160 2 minutes 1 minute 6 rounds
Cannon 440 9 rounds 7 rounds
Trebuchet 440 1 minute 7 rounds
Mangonel 270 1 minute 4 rounds 1 minute 2 rounds
Ram 160 2 minutes 1 minute 6 rounds

It is assumed the attacker has a full crew to maintain one attack per round (crew ranging from 3 to 5, 1
action each).
Without a full crew for the siege weapon, the damage takes longer (five times the normal time for
trebuchets, for example).

Carrying and moving siege weapons requires manpower. A mule (the most common beast of burden) can
carry 420 pounds, or drag 840 pounds (or nearly ½ a ton). This makes them able to cart around siege
weapons, although it requires time to stabilize the weapon before being used (otherwise, the recoil or
shock from using the siege weapon could cause it to sink into the ground, or the instability could throw off
the aim by imposing disadvantage, subject to the DM‘s adjudication).

Siege Weapon Cost (gp) Siege Weapon Cost (gp)

Ballista 1,000 Mangonel 2,000
Cannon 3,000 Ram 500
Cannon, Swivel 1,000 Siege Tower 5,000
Cauldron, Suspended 1,000 Trebuchet 5,000

BALLISTA (1 ton) Large object

Large object
Armor Class: 15
Hit Points: 50
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A ballista is a massive crossbow that fires heavy
bolts. Before it can be fired, it must be loaded
and aimed. It takes one action to load the
weapon, one action to aim it, and one action to
fire it.
Bolt. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range
120/480 ft., one target.
Hit: 16 (3d10) piercing damage.
CANNON (3 tons)
Armor Class: 19
Hit Points: 75
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A cannon uses gunpowder to propel heavy balls
of cast iron through the air at destructive speeds.
In a campaign without gunpowder, a cannon
might be an arcane device built by clever gnomes
or wizardly engineers.
A cannon is usually supported in a wooden
frame with wheels. Before it can be fired, the
cannon must be loaded and aimed. It takes one
action to load the weapon, one action to aim it,
and one action to fire it.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Cannon Ball. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to
hit, range 600/2,400 ft., one target.
Hit: 44 (8d10) bludgeoning damage.
CANNON, SWIVEL (100 lbs.)
Small object
Armor Class: 15
Hit Points: 40
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A swivel cannon (or swivel gun) is a mounted
cannon that propels small balls of cast iron at
destructive speeds. In a campaign without
gunpowder, a cannon might be an arcane device
built by clever gnomes or wizardly engineers.
A swivel cannon is usually mounted on a wooden
frame and nailed down. Before it can be fired,
the cannon must be loaded and aimed. It takes
one action to load the weapon, and one action to
fire it.
Cannon Ball. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to
hit, range 200/800 ft., one target.
Hit: 11 (2d10) bludgeoning damage.
CAULDRON, SUSPENDED (1 ton)
Large object
Armor Class: 19
Hit Points: 20
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A cauldron is an iron pot suspended so that it
can be tipped easily, spilling its contents. Once
emptied, a cauldron must be refilled-and its
contents must usually be reheated before it can
be used again. It takes three actions to fill a
cauldron and one action to tip it.
Cauldrons can be filled with other liquids, such
as acid or green slime, with different effects.
Boiling Oil. The cauldron pours boiling oil
onto a 10-foot-square area directly below it. Any
creature in the area must make a DC 15
Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) fire
damage on a failed save, or half as much damage
on a successful one.
If using Alchemists‘ Fire, this requires 5 flasks
(or 250 gp worth), dealing 12 (5d4) fire damage.
Creatures that fail the saving throw are also set
on fire for the same amount of damage at the
beginning of their turn every round. The DC is 15
instead of 10.
MANGONEL (2 tons)
Large object
Armor Class: 15
Hit Points: 100
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A mangonel is a type of catapult that hurls heavy
projectiles in a high arc. This payload can hit
targets behind cover. Before the mangonel can
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be fired, it must be loaded and aimed. It takes
two actions to load the weapon, two actions to
aim it, and one action to fire it.
A mangonel typically hurls a heavy stone,
although it can hurl other kinds of projectiles,
with different effects, such as corpses to spread
disease or even characters that can survive or
ignore the impact of hitting the ground (same
damage as the stone‘s impact).
Mangonel Stone. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5
to hit, range 200/800 ft. (can't hit targets within
60 feet of it), one target.
Hit: 27 (5d10) bludgeoning damage.
RAM (½ ton)
Large object
Armor Class: 15
Hit Points: 100
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A ram consists of a movable gallery equipped
with a heavy log suspended from two roof beams
by chains. The log is shod in iron and used to
batter through doors and barricades.
It takes a minimum of four Medium creatures to
operate a ram. Because of the gallery roof, these
operators have total cover against attacks from
above.
Ram. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5
ft., one object.
Hit: 16 (3d10) bludgeoning damage.
SIEGE TOWER (50 tons)
Gargantuan object
Armor Class: 15
Hit Points: 200
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A siege tower is a mobile wooden structure with
a beam frame and slats in its walls. Large
wooden wheels or rollers allow the tower to be
pushed or pulled by soldiers or beasts of burden.
Medium or smaller creatures can use the siege
tower to reach the top of walls that are 40 feet
high. A creature in the tower has total cover
from attacks outside the tower.
When employed with wheels and gears (such as
a rack and pinion), the effective weight for the
purposes of dragging is divided by 15, or 3 tons
for dragging (7 mules or 14 soldiers).
TREBUCHET (20 tons)
Huge object
Armor Class: 15
Hit Points: 150
Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
A trebuchet is a powerful catapult that throws its
payload in a high arc, so it can hit targets behind
cover. Before the trebuchet can be fired, it must
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
be loaded and aimed. It takes two actions to load
the weapon, two actions to aim it, and one action
to fire it.
A trebuchet typically hurls a heavy stone.
However, it can launch other kinds of
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projectiles, such as barrels of oil or sewage, with
different effects, as described with mangonels.
Trebuchet Stone. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5
to hit, range 300/1,200 ft. (can't hit targets
within 60 feet of it) one target.
Hit: 44 (8d10) bludgeoning damage.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Army Features, Events, and Hiring Soldiers
Melee non-magical units make up the backbone of armies in most settings, although in some, conjured
creatures or bound undead form the rank-and-file. In this case, the leader of the settlement must be able
to conjure and control the soldiers, usually by employing the Animate Dead, Create Undead spell or
similar spells.
Army Name
An army‘s name can be numbered (2nd regiment
of the City of Thieves), referred to by its leader
(Tareq‘s raiders), or left with a generic title
(horsemen regiment).
It is usually beneficial to have a distinctive mark
for an army to increase morale and help create a
spirit of cooperation (or esprit de corps), such as
a banner or method of dress, which can help
inspire the soldiers to remain together or reform
in the case of stress.
Depending on the training and equipment of
troops, furthermore, certain regiments can be
named and referred to. For example, mounted
soldiers with heavy armor and lances, and
increased Constitution and Strength ability
scores can be called the Cavaliers Regiment,
while foot soldiers with longbows, shortswords,
and camouflaging cloaks can be called the
Hunters Regiment.
These regiments can be tallied separately on a
sheet which lists the hit points, number of
soldiers, training, leader‘s name, and current
location for easy reference on the battlefield.
Army Equipment
This details the armor, weapons, ammunition,
and other gear (rations in days, gold, trinkets in
soldiers‘ possessions, loot, etc.) held by the
troop.
Army Description
The army‘s description usually shows where it
came from, and the race, ethnicity, or religion of
its most common members, which usually
factors in when issues of personal loyalty come
to play (such as whether an army will obey an
order to raze or pillage a town from the same
country, or whether they will choose to stay loyal
and report to duty when a crisis occurs).
Furthermore, by using specific tactics, an army
can end with an archetype or theme. Below are
sample themes.
Cavalry Force. Mounted forces benefit from
mounted combat rules, which confers on the
forces increased maneuverability (in speed with
horses, or flight with exotic mounts) at the cost
of increased cost (the cost of purchasing and
housing the mounts). Land cavalry has an
advantage in open fields, where the lack of
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natural barriers allows them to cover ground
quickly and aid encirclements, chase down
stragglers, or help perform a precision blow
against a fragile component of an enemy army
(such as a leader standing on high ground to
observe the field, or a troop of spellcasters
standing at the optimal range of their spells).
Infantry Force. Land soldiers are the backbone
of any army, useful to keep the peace in
settlements and hold positions during wars.
They do not require additional resources beyond
training or equipment such as special weapons
or mounts.
Infantry equipped with ranged weapons can be
also used flexibly, employed to provide support.
Although exceptional ranged weapons such as
the longbow require proficiencies normal
soldiers do not normally have without training,
crossbows perform the task ably (besides being
cheaper and having slightly more damage).
Guerilla or Special Force. Guerilla or Special
Forces keep their numbers few and are trained
for specific skills (such as athletics, perception,
stealth, and survival), given equipment that
helps hit-and-run tactics, and traits to boot
(skirmisher, bravery).
Guerilla forces often employ hit-and-run tactics
and ambushes, and good leaders of guerilla
armies often take personal time to complete
missions such as destroying an enemy army‘s
food source (by destroying a stronghold or
poisoning it), sabotaging leadership (attempts of
assassination or infiltrating and placing spies),
and general asymmetric warfare (causing chaos
in enemy settlements to move public opinion
against enemy leader, gathering supporters,
etc.).
In high-magic settings, such troops are deployed
by teleportation behind enemy lines, dropping
them from flying mounts or vehicles, or
infiltrating with the aid of an Illusionist or an
Assassin.
Monster Force. Recruiting monsters can be done
as well, depending on how the relations are and
how they are managed. Trolls‘ regeneration and
great strength allows them to be extremely
resilient troops (where fire and acid are not
available), and while centaurs can prove to be
excellent skirmishers, doppelgangers can serve
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

as excellent ambushers and infiltrators who can
assassinate an enemy troop and take their place.
Hiring or Recruiting Mercenaries
Just as normal hirelings have costs (skilled
hirelings costing 2 gp per day and unskilled 2 sp
per day), soldiers require their wages paid. The
most common soldier (the guard) costs 2 gp per
day as a skilled hireling, although other, more
skilled or specialized troops can be recruited and
hired.
The pay may be given every day, or once every
other period (monthly or weekly), and in some
cases, the payment is task-based (sometimes
equivalent to the projected time the task will be
completed). In others, the payment can be
arbitrary or based on other factors.
Delays in pay naturally test the soldier‘s loyalty.
The soldiers below are more common in
settlements of their origin; assassins are more
common in large cities or in cities with criminal
organizations, bandits are found anywhere in the
wilderness or are kept in dungeons, knights are
valuable assets in feudalistic societies (usually
ruling minor settlements, strongholds or leading
troops), while tribal warriors are similar to
guards in statistics (being guards with different
armor and weapons and the pack tactics trait).
advance their own interests, or even
altruistically serve the realm.
In other cases still, troops may only their
lifestyle expenses paid for (naturally, demanding
better lifestyle the higher level they are).
Inspired Soldiers
In the case of guards and soldiers—in some
cases, those who flock to a powerful fighter or
hero may wish to share a part of their spoils, or
swear allegiance.
In these cases, the soldiers ask for much less pay
(usually stopping short of being paid as an
unskilled hireling, however). Zealots following a
paladin on a crusade may require only the
money to keep clothes on their backs and food in
their bellies (or a squalid lifestyle).
In most of these cases, loyalty is a harder
commodity than gold, and a dissatisfied or
betrayed ally will do worse than leave from lack
of pay.
Hiring Troops
Hiring a troop costs the pay for each unit in the
troop (or 20 gp/day for a 10-man squad of
guards). Troops may appear by the Rally
downtime action, appear in response to
recruitment or in-game events.

Friendly Troops
Although paid muscle (mundane or magical)
require pay, some individuals may offer their
services for a markedly less cost as an ally or
friend.
Not every Knight, for example, requires the full
daily pay of 40 gp, but may instead request a
parcel of land and/or a stronghold, and offer to
serve the ruler of the settlement as a vassal
(giving 50% of the stronghold‘s income but
serving for no extra cost).
An archmage or druid may offer services in
return for a paltry sum instead of the expected
rate of 600 gold pieces per day, but intend to use
employment to give themselves personal power,

Hired and Allied Soldiers

Soldier Pay (gp) Source Soldier Pay (gp) Source
Abjurer 250 VGtM 209 Bandit Captain 20 MM 344
Acolyte 5 MM 342 Berserker 20 MM 344
Apprentice Wizard 5 VGtM 209 Blackguard 200 VGtM 211
Archer 40 VGtM 210 Conjurer 100 VGtM 212
Archdruid 600 VGtM 210 Champion 250 VGtM 212
Archmage 600 MM 342 Diviner 200 VGtM 213
Assassin 200 MM 343 Druid 25 MM 346
Bard 25 VGtM 211 Enchanter 75 VGtM 213
Bandit 2 MM 343 Evoker 250 VGtM 214

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Gladiator 75 MM 347 Spy 10 MM 349

Guard 2 MM 347 Swashbuckler 40 VGtM 216
Illusionist 40 VGtM 214 Thug 5 MM 351
Knight 40 MM 347 Transmuter 75 VGtM 217
Mage 100 MM 347 Tribal Warrior 2 MM 351
Martial arts adept 40 VGtM 216 Veteran 40 MM 351
Master Thief 75 VGtM 216 Warlock, Archfey 60 VGtM 219
Necromancer 250 VGtM 217 Warlock, Fiend 150 VGtM 219
Priest 25 MM 349 Warlock, Old One 100 VGtM 220
Priest, War 250 VGtM 217 Warlord 600 VGtM 220
Scout 5 MM 349

Soldier Wages
Challenge Pay (gp/day) Challenge Pay (gp/day)
1/8 2 10 400
1/4 and 1/2 5 11 500
1 10 12 600
2 20 13 800
3 40 14 1,000
4 60 15 1,200
5 75 16 1,500
6 100 17 2,000
7 150 18 3,500
8 200 19 5,000
9 250 20 7,000

Common rates for pay for every point of Challenge is the

below. This assumes no special contacts, friendliness,
favors, or competition from mercenaries driving prices
down.

Leadership Scores
Optional Rule
This optional rule allows a character to sustain free
troops. In effect, a character has a leadership score,
which they can use instead of paying gold for soldiers
and mercenaries. Leadership is not permanent, and is
usually tied to an event, such as rallying for the defense
of a settlement, crusade, or raid against a hated foe.

A character‘s leadership score is 3 (1d6) for every

character level. Each point of Leadership counts as 1 gold
piece per day of pay (3 gold pieces per day on average). A
character‘s leadership score could increase by a flat
amount or a percentage due to various circumstances.

Circumstance Bonus to Leadership

Campaign history1
Won campaigns +10% (stacks)
Failed campaigns -10% (stacks)
Possessions
Magic weapon/armor +1 per step of rarity (up
to +6 with artifact)
Has stable stronghold +10% (+20% if rules a
settlement)
Moves around a lot -10%
Reputation -

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Great Renown2 +20%

Fairness/meritocrat +10%
Genius3 +1 per ability score modifier (choose one)
Cruelty -20%

1 Campaign history does not necessarily mean having won all battles—it is possible to win a war while
losing individual battles (even most of them).
2 Renown is any recognition that is not based on military success (such as campaign history), such as
coming from a prestigious military lineage (in cultures and areas where that is recognized).
3 You may choose one ability score modifier to add to your Leadership score, such as Strength (if you lead
by warrior example), Charisma (if you command with character and personal magnetism), or Wisdom (if
you lead by unusually sound judgment of character). You may also explain your ability score by a task
(such as using Constitution if you won by out-drinking your peers and officers).

For instance, a level 20 character with 20 (+5) Intelligence and proficiency with History can impress their
followers with their mastery of historical uses of tactics and strategy, resulting in Leadership of 75 (20d6
+ 5), which can cover the pay of 37 guards, or a small army of one veteran (40 gp), 10 guards (20 gp), one
acolyte (5 gp), and two scouts (10 gp).
A character cannot inspire a character of level or challenge equal to or higher than their own.
Furthermore, soldiers inspired by the character have names, certain expectations, and are NPCs under the
DM‘s control and under your command. Inspired soldiers form an excellent elite troop among other
hirelings, and often expected to be treated as such.

Preparing a War Campaign

The cost of preparing a war campaign can be done by the ruler (or the state), as well as by contributions
from powerful organizations such as a church, business, guild, or even by affluent individuals such as rich
merchants or nobility. This requires a few steps, usually in outfitting, feeding, and paying a soldier, before
they are commanded to go on a mission (such as harassing an enemy, marching and occupying a town, or
participating in a siege).

Outfitting
A soldier when outfitted will need a spear (1 gp), a longsword (15 gp) and a dagger (2 gp) for weapons.
Then, he‘s also going to need a set of scale mail (50 gp) and a shield (10 gp), as well as a non-combat kit,
such as a backpack (2 gp), a bedroll (1gp), a mess kit (2sp) and a whetstone (1cp).
Outfitting one guard has a minimum unit cost of 81 gp, 2 sp, and 1cp (varies with equipment).

A settlement (or stronghold, or organization) with a weapon mill can half the costs of outfitting a soldier
by crafting their armor and weapons.

Feed
The simplest way to feed soldiers is to procure rations – one day of ration is 5 sp. For a prospective 6
month campaign, a soldier requires 90 gp in rations (or 360 pounds of food, or about one barrel of food).
The soldier will also require 180 gallons of liquid (or 4 barrels of liquid), for a total stockpile of 5 barrels (1
food, 4 water) for a soldier per 6 months.

Ration costs may be waived if the settlement provides food, if foraging, or if the soldiers feed themselves
by raiding farms and settlements.

Stockpiling
Before setting on a campaign, commanders often stockpile rations in excess to what their soldiers need,
usually to cover cases of enemy sabotage (who destroy or steal food supplies as an action of asymmetric
warfare), unexpected food shortages, or even to feed prisoners. A stockpile usually has 50% extra supplies,
or 7 barrels of feed (2 food, 5 water) per soldier.

Foraging

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Living off the land can be done with the survival skill, although the DM may decide that the region has a
maximum limit of a certain number of people foraging in the same area at any given time before it begins
suffering (usually 500 soldiers in a given area).

Pay
A soldier (statistics of the guard unit) is paid 2 gold pieces per day, or approximately 360 gp for a
campaign (usually 180 days, or 6 months).

Raiders
Instead of providing full pay for a soldier, they may be given only half pay and the leave to raid.

Soldier Expenses
For a single soldier, the cost of outfitting, feeding, and paying them for a 6-month campaign costs 531 gp,
2 sp, and 1 cp.

The following resource provides great insights to warfare and how to design specific troop compositions.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/4tz8ho/on_war_in_dungeons_and_drago
ns/

Upgrading and Customizing Troops

Troops can be customized by adding racial traits, special training (see Chapter 5: Downtime and Training), or
even by adding class levels when their levels increase for further customization.
Equipment must be provided for each unit in the troop for it to be applied. The below examples assume the Guard
unit, and do not factor in selling the guard‘s starting gear (chain mail, shield, spear), or assume that the guards are
somehow already equipped.

Armors  Mastiffs (250 gp). Equips 10 units with a

 Chainmail (750 gp). AC becomes 14; 16
each.
 Splint mail (2,000 gp). AC becomes 15;
17 each.
 Full Plate (15,000 gp). AC becomes 16;
18 each.
 Shield (+100 gp). AC increases by 2
(already applied to the Guard/Soldier
troops).
These values include the normal -2 penalty to AC
from troops in formation.
Class Levels (Optional)
See retraining under Downtime and Training for
more details on adding class levels to troops. A
DM can restrict this to regiments who
accomplish exceptionally in war or time-tested
veterans.
Mounts or Pets
This provides the troop with mounts to carry
them or pets to fight with them
 Camels (500 gp). Equips 10 units with 10
camels
 Donkeys or Mules (80 gp). Equips 10 units
with 10 donkeys or mules
 Elephants (2,000 gp). Equips 10 units with
10 elephants*
pack of mastiffs
 Riding horses (750 gp). Equips 10 units with
10 riding horses
 Warhorses (4,000 gp). Equips 10 units with
10 warhorses
Elephants with this price are not trained for
combat. Combat-training war-elephants have a
price of 10,600 gp each (or 106,000 gp for a full
squad troop). Elephants not trained for war flee
from combat and damage they take, and resist
commands to push them back in, requiring a DC
15 Wisdom (Handle Animal) check every round
as a bonus action to force them to remain.
Racial Traits. Applying Race Traits to troops
changes their statistics appropriately, giving
ability score increases or racial traits.
Troop Traits
Troops can gain traits by training (see Chapter 5:
Downtime and Training). This assumes the
normal guard (and is modified for racial traits
normally, if applied).
Weapons
 Longsword (150 gp). Add the
following action.
Longsword. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) slashing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each, or 32 (5d10 + 5); 6 (1d10 + 1) each if used
with two hands to make a melee attack.
Longsword Troop Attack. Melee weapon
attack: Accuracy 11, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 27 (5d8 + 5) slashing damage; 5 (1d8 + 1)
each, or 32 (5d10 + 5); 6 (1d10 + 1) each if used
with two hands to make a melee attack.
 Greatsword (500 gp). Add the
following action.
Greatsword. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 40 (10d6 + 5) slashing damage; 8 (2d6 + 1)
each.
Greatsword Troop Attack. Melee weapon
attack: Accuracy 11, reach 5 ft.
Hit: 40 (10d6 + 5) slashing damage; 8 (2d6 + 1)
each.
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 Lance (100 gp). Add the following
action.
Lance. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach
10 ft., one target.
Hit: 37 (5d12 + 5) piercing damage; 7 (1d12 + 1)
each.
Lance Troop Attack. Melee weapon attack:
Accuracy 11, reach 10 ft.
Hit: 37 (5d12 + 5) piercing damage; 7 (1d12 + 1)
each.
 Pike (50 gp). Add the following action
Pike. Melee weapon attack: +3 to hit, reach 10
ft., one target.
Hit: 32 (5d10 + 5) piercing damage; 6 each.
Pike Troop Attack. Melee weapon attack:
Accuracy 11, reach 10 ft.
Hit: 32 (5d10 + 5) piercing damage; 6 each.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Chapter 3: Strongholds
Strongholds is a general term for buildings and structures tied to a specific purpose. A stronghold
provides shelter, areas for certain tasks (called stronghold functions), and a place for hirelings to work
and gain income. A stronghold can also be turned into the headquarters of an organization, which
increases its ability to project power and influence.
Players wishing to leave a lasting mark on the world may wish to establish or take over a stronghold.

Class Common Stronghold

Bard, rogue Guildhall (thief guild, adventurer guild, gambling den), dungeon (bandit hideout)
Cleric, druid, monk Abbeys (churches, wild shrines, monasteries), fortified churches (war church, cult
base)
Fighter, barbarian Forts (mercenary hold, knightly estate, borderland barony), dungeon
(brawling pit)
Wizard, warlock, sorcerer College (magic academy), fortified tower (mage tower), dungeon
(necromancer‘s den)

Rogues and bards excel in ruin delving and urban life, discovering secrets and attaining wealth without
being exposed to direct threats. They are usually the first to know of new threats and the ones who can
exploit such information the best way. Rogue strongholds are usually out of the way, although bandit
fortresses staffed with many fighters and led by rogues are common, while bardic strongholds are
commonly schools, guilds, and inns.

Clerics, druids, and monks bring people around them in wilderness and cities, gaining wealth and direct
power to confront otherworldly threats. They are versatile and supportive of other strongholds and are
centers socio-political power and magical and spiritual strength.

Fighters and barbarians lead with ease from the front, having the required talents and abilities to take
beatings and dish them out in turn. As armies are made out of diminished fighters, training acts as a
significant force multiplier.

Wizards, sorcerers, and warlocks establish academies or research eldritch secrets that might discover new
resources or special features (planar breaches, arcane conspiracies, lost histories)
Rangers and paladins usually combine aspects of the second and third classes; establishing border forts,
organizations, or strongholds at the edge of civilization to protect against evils or unnatural beings.

Establishing a Stronghold
Should a character wish to acquire a stronghold,
it can be done by one of several methods, such as
taking over an existing stronghold (an
abandoned fort, an inherited manor, or a gifted
farmstead), or constructing it in a location
chosen by the player (see Chapter 5: Downtime
and Training for more details).
Designing a Stronghold
Area of a Stronghold
When establishing a stronghold, determine the
general area of it (in individual 20-foot wide, 20-
foot tall, and 10-foot high cubes). The area
determines the general space a stronghold has,
which in turn determines the maximum
functions the stronghold can serve.
Each cube costs 2,500 gp and 30 days to
construct, and can serve a specific function.
A single cube can act as a single large room,
several small booths, a domed courtyard, or even
a small shack. For instance, a stronghold made
of two 20 foot by 20 foot cubes can be adjacent
to one another (40 x 20 foot) or atop one
another (20 x 20 foot, 20 feet high), creating a
building with two floors.
The area of a stronghold is reflected on local and
city maps, and is important when sieges are
involved (see sieges under chapter 2).
Area Expansions
Expansions of existing strongholds cost the same
as adding a new area, but prevents full use of the
area until the expansion‘s construction is
complete.
Land Costs
In most cases, each square foot of land costs 1
silver piece to buy, or 400 silver pieces for a

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
square 20 feet on each side, but could range
anywhere from 5 coppers to 2 gold pieces per
square foot instead (200 to 8,000 sp) depending
on the location, proximity to important people
and resources, and other factors.
Size Modifiers
A DM may require that expansions done to
existing strongholds cost an additional modifier.
This is usually 25% per size above Tiny (0% for
Tiny, 25% for Small, 50% for Medium, etc.) to
account for the complexity of adding and
integrating new areas to existing strongholds.
Functions of Strongholds
Functions is one of the most important features
strongholds grant. Each function provides a
distinct benefit, such as supporting a certain
artisan trade or help host guests.
A single function can occupy large area or
collection of cubes (such as a dance hall being
much larger than normal for a carousing area),
in which case the function can host more people
than the area can normally house (as
appropriate).
Size (Cubes) Area
Tiny (1) 20 x 20 feet
Small (2-4) 40 x 20 to 40 x 40 feet
Medium (5-8) 80 x 40 feet
Large (9-15) 100 x 60 feet
Huge (16-30) 200 x 60 feet
For instance, a town or city guildhall is small-
sized stronghold (ranging from a 20x40 building
to one 20x20 building with two floors), costing
5,000 gp.
A farmer‘s cottage, on the other hand, is a tiny
stronghold (20x20, or 10x40) that can hold only
cube, costing 2,500 gp. Adding a greenhouse
function to either costs as much as a new or
expansion (or 2,500 gp).
Stronghold Features
Bathrooms, lavatories/privies, kitchens,
balconies, storage rooms, attics, or bedrooms,
stained glass windows, balconies, long hallways,
stairs, and similar features are not functions, but
are added for no cost (unless pieces of art or
magic items, see Chapter 8).
See Stronghold Functions below to choose the
capabilities of the stronghold.
Resilience
The materials of which the structure is built also
dictates its resilience to being attacked by siege
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weapons or how it interacts with spells, as
detailed under Sieges in chapter 2.
Staff
Strongholds require maintenance, or they
otherwise fall to disrepair.
Each function requires two skilled hirelings and
four unskilled hirelings to maintain it at
operative capacity. This covers replacing broken
tiles, cleaning materials, minor repairs, etc.
Without sufficient staff, the stronghold suffers
eventual wear and tear until it falls to ruin,
which causes loss of functions and taking
damage.
Each skilled worker costs 2 gold pieces per day
of work, while unskilled workers cost 2 silver
pieces instead (for a total of 2 gold pieces and 4
silver pieces per active function).
Resident Staff
If the number of residents in the stronghold is
equal to or less than one-half the full shelter
capacity (round up), such as a cottage
maintained by 2 occupants in moderate beds
(and children in poor beds), the maintenance
and number of staff is either halved or waived
entirely if the occupants maintain a lifestyle
appropriate to the stronghold (wherever
appropriate).
Shelter
Strongholds provide shelter for 5 creatures per
function of the stronghold. This represents
average accommodations.
Accommodation Class
Most strongholds give average accommodation,
which represents the services and relative luxury
of the stronghold for such individuals.
The accommodation class can be decreased to
host more individuals. Where five people can
have comfortable accommodation, fifteen can
have poor (communal) accommodation in the
same space.
Poor Beds Accommodation Class
2 1 modest
3 1 comfortable
5 1 wealthy
7 1 aristocratic
For convenience, the costs of rent of a room are
reflected below.
Class Rent cost/day
Squalid 7 cp
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Poor 1 sp
Modest 5 sp
Comfortable 8 sp
Wealthy 2 gp
Aristocratic 4 gp
Renting Bed Space
Excess shelter or bed space can be rented away
for additional income from the stronghold.
Each rented space can provide rent appropriate
to its accommodation type. Communal housing
counts as poor accommodation, and comfortable
housing counts as modest accommodations.
This includes renting out a summer cottage, an
inn room‘s spare bunk beds, or even providing
the service of jailing criminals to a local ruler (if
a dungeon is run privately), or this entrance fees
to a museum or library (treating the shelter as
space for visitors, with quality of
accommodation acting instead as quality
services).
Most days, only half or one-quarter a
stronghold‘s housing space is booked or rented,
but increases or peaks in times of festivals or
during holidays or events.
The average inn (Residence, 10,000 gp), for
instance, after accounting for hirelings‘ work
spaces has 40 surplus poor beds (1 sp), 5 average
ones (5 sp), and one comfortable bed (8 sp). If
fully booked, this yields 7 gp, 3 sp/day.
The inn‘s owner may decide to turn the
communal accommodations into higher-grade
rooms by increasing their size and outfitting. If
turning all accommodations into comfortable
ones, for example, (40 + 10 + 3), a fully booked
inn ends with nearly 17 comfortable beds, which
yields 13 gp, 6 sp/day. If designed for high-end
patrons, this results in nearly 7 aristocratic-level
accommodations (for a staggering 28 gp/day)!
Most inns do not expect many wealthy patrons
(besides the normal limitation on booking in
non-seasonal or festive days), however, and
therefore choose to have a 40:5:1 arrangement,
but expectations are affected by the general
wealth of the settlement.
Generally, greater economic activity results in
wealthier residents. The expected number of
visitors from each category class is ultimately
left to the DM and helpful circumstances.
Stronghold Functions
Each area of a stronghold can be dedicated to a purpose, such as social gatherings (carousing area), item
crafting (crafter‘s area), or rest and comfort (comfort area), among others.
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Security Threat
Rulers of castles and similar large structures
may be tempted to rent out excess bed space to
travelers to help alleviate the costs of running
such a stronghold. It has the unfortunate side
effect, however, of allowing travelers frequent
access to these quarters, which might jeopardize
the security or privacy of the structure and of the
people within it.
Stronghold Forms
Not every stronghold is a standing structure.
This can take many forms.
Fluid Strongholds
A stronghold may be made of several areas not
in direct contact with one another (such as
through bridges, ropes, or tunnels). This
includes a series of caves or a dungeon.
Mobile or Moving Strongholds
A trade caravan (or even a train) may be counted
as a stronghold, in which case it is too mobile to
benefit from land-based features (such as having
any farming-based functions), with each coach
or wagon counting as an area or function.
Ships, airships, and similar vehicles can also act
as strongholds.
In this case, divide the cost of the vehicle by
10,000 gp, with the result being the number of
functions it can contain (minimum 0). For
example, a galley is worth 30,000 gp, providing
3 functions (wherever reasonable).
Racial Strongholds
The race of the builder usually confers some
minor feature on the stronghold. Dwarves (or
any character with proficiency in mason‘s tools
who trained with them) can hew strongholds
from stone, while elves can carve homes into
trees. In most cases, this only affects the
material from which the stronghold is built, but
in favorable circumstances (as dictated by the
DM), the total price of the stronghold may be
reduced up to half cost (if the cave the dwarven
mason builds in has natural tunnels retrofitted
as rooms, or if the building is done with aid of
earth elementals, or if the trees the elf uses is
guarded by a friendly dryad who bends the tree
to aid them).
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Carousing Area (1 cube)  Crafting progress is doubled (10 gp of

This room is designed to entertain carousers, progress per day, as detailed under crafting,
guests, and visitors, and is designed for social page 172 in the Player‘s Handbook). You can
interaction and entertainment of any type. also assign the two workers in the area to
A carousing area can be organized to perform assist you for a maximum of 30 gp of
any social event or serve a social interaction, progress per day. This does not stack from
usually for one of the following: different crafter‘s areas (even if they focus
 Dances on the same tools).
 Dining and drinking  Tools and kits that are consumed or
 Oratories, speeches, and plays destroyed by use are replenished daily
 Parties and festivities without cost so long as the stronghold is at
An event (such as a dance, seasonal banquet, full staff for maintenance (and if the tools
social gathering, theatrical play), held here can cost less than or equal to 10 gp).
provide one of the following benefits to the
owner. Artisan’s tools
 This provides inspiration to attendants. A  Alchemist‘s supplies
character can benefit from this once every 7  Brewer‘s supplies
days.  Calligrapher's supplies
 This is an optimal place to gather contacts,  Carpenter‘s tools
rumors, or information about the region or  Cartographer‘s tools
events occurring (see Chapter 5: Downtime  Cobbler‘s tools
and Training).  Cook‘s utensils
 You have advantage to Charisma checks to  Glassblower‘s tools
improve a target‘s attitude if you are a host.  Jeweler‘s tools
This can represent public houses, ball rooms,  Leatherworker‘s tools
theaters and play houses, dining halls, tavern
 Mason‘s tools
common rooms, and especially-fancy courtyards
 Painter‘s supplies
or balconies. To represent a classroom, see
Training Area.  Potter‘s tools
 Smith‘s tools
Comfort Area (1 cube)  Tinker‘s tools
This area is designed for meditation, reflection,  Weaver‘s tools
sleep, or relaxation.  Woodcarver's tools
Any creature that takes a short rest or prepares  Disguise kit
their spells within this area also gains a number Forgery kit
of temporary hit points equal to their hit dice. Herbalism kit
These temporary hit points last until they are Poisoner’s kit
lost, or until the next long rest. Thieves’ tools
This can represent especially well-prepared
bedrooms, luxurious bath, steam baths or This can represent anything from a workshop,
saunas, incensed meditation halls, or manicured cannery, forge, lumber mill, mint, windmill,
and well-aired gardens. smithy, a witch‘s cauldron room, a poisoner‘s
grotto, a cobbler‘s space, calligrapher‘s corner, a
Crafter’s Area (1 cube per 2 tools or kits) leatherworker‘s shack, brewery, alchemist lab,
Choose up to two tools or kits to be dedicated and even especially large and well-maintained
and served in the area. For convenience, the list kitchens, depending on the tools chosen.
of qualifying tools are reflected below (from the
Player‘s Handbook, page 142). Any roll or Crafter’s Area: Alchemy Lab
crafting with the chosen tools has the following You can choose to make the Crafter‘s Area serve
benefits in the area: only Alchemist‘s Supplies, making it into an
 Any ability check that requires proficiency in Alchemy Lab. An Alchemy Lab allows a
a tool allows you to make the roll with character proficient in Alchemist‘s Supplies
advantage if the skilled hirelings special uses of the tool, as described in Chapter
maintaining the area assist you, and if you 6.
already have proficiency.
Crafting Magic Items

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
The Dungeon Master‘s Guide provides details on
crafting magical items (page 128), using the
same rules (in creation costs, spell slots, and
special ingredients chosen by the DM). For
convenience, the data is reflected below.
CRAFTING MAGIC ITEMS
Rarity Cost Min. lvl
Common 100 gp 3rd
Uncommon 500 gp 3rd
Rare 5,000 gp 6th
Very rare 50,000 gp 11th
Legendary 500,000 gp 17th
Crafting a magical item in the Crafter‘s Area is
50 gp of progress per day. The value of progress
is increased by 50 gp for each character that
assists that meets the minimum requirements.
Barring time and money, the limitations of
whether an item can be crafted are knowledge
(in terms of a recipes, training, or formula) and
special ingredients.
For example, crafting a cloaks of elvenkind may
require finding a formula scroll of the cloak, a
mentor who gives details to its creation, or
reagents drawn from a special flower that grows
in elven woods (DM‘s discretion).
Crafting in Tandem
With this optional rule, you may craft multiple
consumables at the same time. You may have up
to three consumables being crafted at a given
time, so long as the consumable has a ‗brewing
time‘, such as potions, poisons, and single-use
wondrous items.
Effectively, the crafting progress is applied to all
three consumables, which could result in some
consumables ending at different times
(depending on total cost).
For example, a crafter begins brewing serpent
venom (200 gp; or 20 days) and two doses of
assassin‘s blood (150 gp; or 15 days) in tandem.
After 15 days, the two doses of assassin‘s blood
are complete, and 5 days after that, the serpent
venom is complete (total 20 days).
If you supervise the work until it ends, and have
the hirelings focus on assisting, the crafting
takes 5 and 6 days instead of 15 and 20,
respectively.
This requires the recipes for both poisons as
normal, which may be granted as rewards for
rogues who accomplish their missions (or be
stolen from rival guilds).
Greenhouse (1 cube)
This area is designed to serve as a specialized
farmland for an eclectic assortment of herbs and
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grown plants. The garden provides 15 gp worth
of potion or poison ingredients every day,
usually towards a specific potion, poison, or
class of which (such as all healing potions, or all
poisons derived from a certain root).
The DM may decide that certain formulae for a
potion or poison includes unusual herbs,
requiring that you procure the seeds (either as a
valuable purchase or requiring a quest to
secure). These ingredients may be sold instead
(in which case this area functions as a base for a
farming organization).
This also represents farm segments, reagent
plantations, mushroom farms, or a druid‘s
orchard of rare herbs.
Without the required seeds, this function cannot
be employed or maintained.
Magic Nexus (1 cube)
With this function, you attune your stronghold
with magic. The stronghold becomes attuned to
one spellcasting class, magical school, or list of
spells (chosen from the bonus spells granted by
a domain, warlock patron, sorcerer bloodline, or
similar feature).
You may choose one of the following benefits to
affect such spells, so long as the spell is cast in
your stronghold:
 Aligned. The spells for the class are prepared
25% faster (if the spellcaster is a prepared
spellcaster). This reduction can also apply if
retraining to change a spell (if the spellcaster
is not a prepared spellcaster).
If casting a spell from the class list and if the
spell is a ritual, it can be ritually cast in 5
minutes instead of 10.
 Bolstered. If the spell from the attuned class
list conjures creatures, the creatures‘ hit
point maximum increase by an amount
equal to your level, and the creatures add
your proficiency bonus to its weapon
damage rolls. This can stack with similar
features. This bonus does not apply if the
creature leaves the stronghold‘s area.
 Efficient. You may halve the material cost of
the spells of the spell list.
 Eternal. You may double the maximum
duration of spells from the chosen spells. If
the spell is a concentration spell, it remains
for an additional number of rounds after you
cease concentrating equal to one-quarter
your level, instead of increasing the
duration. You can have up to three spells
active this way.
 Strengthened. If the spell is instantaneous
and does not cost materials (such as most
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
evocation spells), the DC of the effect
increases by 2. If it requires a spell attack
instead, increase your bonus to attack by +2.
Spells that leave the nexus retain the benefits of
the feature outside the stronghold, but this ends
prematurely if the nexus is breached. For
instance, a meteor swarm spell can be
strengthened, with the benefit remaining even
outside the stronghold (such as a wizard casting
it atop their tower). This does not apply to
creates or objects that leave the stronghold,
however.
You can have multiple magical nexi at the same
time in a single stronghold, which can be
attuned to multiple classes, schools, or lists of
spells.
A nexus can represent anything from an arcane-
attuned lay line (wizard), alter, chapel, or spirit
lodge (cleric), an enchanted audience chamber
(bard), obelisk marked with astrological symbols
(warlock patron of the stars), a chamber open to
the moon (druid circle of the moon), an
interrogation chamber (enchantment school), a
fire-lord‘s spire (evocation), house of mirrors
(illusion), court of bones (necromancy), or a
planar crossroads (conjuration).
Special. Areas that are dedicated to holding
planar prisoners (such as creatures to be
targeted with the planar bind or planar ally
spells) are better represented with the Lodging
function.
Chapels and Arcane Sanctums
The nexus is a powerful function of a stronghold,
and is usually warded and locked, such as via the
Hallow spell (if it serves a cleric), or a Circle of
Power if it serves a wizard, wherever
appropriate.
Creating a Magic Nexus
A magic nexus is either done by building the
stronghold in an area of existing magic (a holy
site, a lay line, or an area of special magical
significance), performing a special ritual (100
days and 5,000 gp), or having the stronghold be
the site of a significant magical event.
A magic nexus can also be declared in place of
any stronghold function, with the nexus being
the only active effect (instead of the normal
function). For example, a ball room (carousing
area) that witnesses a duel between two
powerful wizards may later become a magic
nexus instead.
Medical Area (1 cube)
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A medical area is a room built to accommodate
and aid the process of healing or surgery. You
gain the following bonuses when in a medical
area:
 This room always has a fully stocked
Healer's Kit (see the Crafter's Area for the
purposes of replenishing kits).
 While taking a short or long rest within this
room, creatures regain double the normal
hit points from using hit dice (including
those granted by Constitution modifiers).
 The recuperate downtime action (see
Chapter 5: Downtime and Training) has its
DC reduced by 5 points when in the area.
This can represent a hospital, medical bay,
treatment room, surgery room, house of healing
Observatory (1 cube)
This room is built for observation of the heavens,
the earth, or the planes, and is outfitted with the
appropriate tools, such as powerful lenses,
measurements, and even planar-attuned objects.
Choose one target for the observatory.
 Heavens. This room has telescopes, records
and notes, and other devices to aid in
celestial observation via a retractable roof, a
skylight, or is directly open to the heavens.
Those in this room can observe the
movement of celestial bodies clearly (which
can aid in telling the time, seasons, and
viewing celestial activities) and have
advantage to any check to predict the
weather.
 Earth. This room has telescopes and
measuring devices that aid in observing the
ground, objects at a distance, and the
regions nearby. Those in this room can
observe objects viewed through the
observatory‘s lenses to be twice to four times
their size.
 Planar. This room is attuned to a specific
plane, and is equipped with items that have
planar resonance. This attunement requires
you or a hireling to be able to cast the
contact other plane or plane shift spells.
A contact other plane spell cast in the
stronghold has deals the possible half
psychic from the spell, and you have
advantage to the saving throw. You are also
not rendered insane if you fail your saving
throw.
Overlapping Planes. If the plane attuned to
the observatory is a plane that overlaps or
exists along the material plane (such as the
ethereal plane, as if with the true seeing
spell or the plane of shadow), the
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
observatory sees into said plane so long as
what the area it can see in has a
corresponding location in the material
plane. Seeing into the ethereal plane has its
own dangers, attracting the attention or ire
of ghosts, hags, and other planar creatures.
Independent Plane. If the plane observed is
of another type (such as the astral plane, an
inner plane, or an outer plane), the
observatory can see into one random point
in it once constructed. The point of
observation can change by attuning the
planar observatory with different
coordinates in the same plane.
Planar coordinates are gained from planar travel
or are traded as treated as valuable pieces of
information, or can be calculated by studying
material taken from the specified area in another
plane (for instance, a stone taken from a
mountain in Elysium allows a planar
observatory to look from that mountain). If you
have multiple coordinates, changing the
observatory‘s focus takes an action and referring
to the coordinates.
This can also represent an observation tower,
sentry point, astral mirror, or ethereal window.
Lodging Area (1 cube per 10 comfortable
accommodations)
This area can be dedicated to providing shelter
for creatures, such as humanoids (extra beds,
inn rooms, barracks, servants‘ quarters), beasts
(stables, kennels), and other creature types
(dragon rookery, ooze pit, summoning circle).
The number of creatures sheltered is equal to
double that of a normal area (10 comfortable
accommodations, or 30 poor ones).
For each size category of the creature, halve or
double the number of creatures contained (7
huge creatures, 15 large creatures, 60 small
creatures, etc.).
The lodging can also benefit from the Sealed or
Warded modifications for half the normal cost
(one only).
Variant: Prisons
If used to hold creatures against their will,
lodging can cover jail cells, slave cages, mental
health wards, beast cages, to prisons for
unnatural creatures (dragon pit, demon binding
circle).
Wizard towers usually have a lodge dedicated for
holding summoned creatures (warded with an
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inverse magical circle), which affects how they
negotiate with the master of the stronghold.
A summoned large fiend, for example, may chafe
on being given poor accommodations, so the
wizard chooses to turn the 7 poor
accommodations for large creatures into one
aristocratic accommodation to make negotiation
easier.
Variant: Necropolis
The lodging can also hold corpses, becoming a
catacomb, grave, or mausoleum. In this case,
treat the lodging area as normal, but holding a
number of corpses in similar accommodations
(squalid accommodations represent mass
graves, while aristocratic accommodations
represents monuments atop them or private
entombment in in stone.
While buried this way, most stronghold masters
choose to have the area warded with the Gentle
Repose spell.
Storage Area (1 cube)
This area is organized to hold a stockpile or
present materials, usually for one of the
following:
 Armor, ammunition, and weapons
(armory/arsenal)
 Adventuring gear (inventory)
 Crafting warehouse (crafter‘s storage)
 Siege weapons (siege weapon store)
 Wealth and treasure (treasure vaults)
The storage area can hold up to 20 tons of load
in good organization (or more if crowded and
cluttered) in 1 cube of stronghold space. Usually,
the storage area can hold enough in its stock to
equip and replenish lost resources without
tracking individual uses (such as soldiers
replenishing lost arrows or changing their
weapons and armor, or replacing a consumed
healer‘s kit).
If equipped for siege weapons, this can hold a
number of siege weapons equal to its cargo (ten
ballista, three cannons, etc. as detailed under
Siege Weapons in Chapter 2: Armies and War).
If sealed or warded, the storage area can also be
protected against thieves, which is necessary if
the storage area contains wealth (such as a bank
vault, siege weapons, or a vault of dangerous
magical items).
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Training Area (1 cube)
This area is dedicated to the service of one skill
proficiency and provides training in areas that
use that skill. This can also represent areas
dedicated to teaching and education (such as
classrooms), or arenas and battlegrounds, or
even obstacle corses.
This has several forms, depending on the skill or
training type the area is dedicated to (see
Chapter 5: Downtime and Training for more
details on training), but is usually one of the
following:
 Strength
o Arena or battle ring for weapon,
shield, and armor proficiencies
o Obstacle course for Athletics
 Dexterity
o Target range for ranged weapons
proficiency
o Gymnasium for Acrobatics
o Trap room for Sleight of Hand or
Stealth
 Constitution
o Endurance training room for Hit
Points training
 Intelligence
o Libraries, archives, or museums for
Arcana, History, Investigation,
Nature, and Religion
Feature Modifications
Individual rooms and even entire strongholds can be modified. Modifications also include unusual
features in strongholds, such as exterior walls, special traits, and other abilities.
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o Intelligence-based spellcasting
training
 Wisdom
o Obstacle course for Animal
Handling
o Rooms for Insight, Medicine,
Perception, and Survival
o Wisdom-based spellcasting training
 Charisma
o Auditorium for Deception,
Intimidation, Performance, and
Persuasion
o Charisma-based spellcasting
training
If training in an area optimally designed for the
skill or application, the final training time is
reduced by 10% (or has the time reduced by a
further 10% after adding other modifiers).
A training area can also serve as a headquarters
for an organization, while a library can also serve
to provide income (see special rent) or
information (in some cases, the DM may declare
that a piece of information is found
automatically, if appropriate).
Changing a class can be done with any training
area that utilizes one of the class‘s prime ability
scores.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Clocks (2,500 gp, 30 days). Having a
displayed clock of the stronghold, as well as it
being timed with an audible or visual sign (such
as a bell chime, rotating flags, or a color change)
reduces maintenance of the entire stronghold by
10 gp (or 10% if maintenance is more than 100
gp). Maintenance cannot be reduced to less than
2 sp per skilled worker, or 2 cp per unskilled
worker).
Special. This requires access to clockwork
technology.
Extra Dimensional (7,500 gp, 45 days).
This modification can spirit an area as large as 1
cube away into a pocket dimension, altering the
laws of time and gravity.
Gravity can be half to double as strong, and time
can move at half to double the normal pace
relative to outside the room. Anything inside the
room is also treated as if in another dimension,
barring scrying, tracking, and similar abilities.
This extra dimensional space interacts with
similar effects, creating a gate to the Astral
Plane, sucking in the contents of the room
releasing them into a random place in the Astral
Plane. If this happens, the room is destroyed and
the gate is closed (opening to nothing).
This requires you or a hireling to be able to cast
the rope trick or plane shift spells.
Exterior Walls and Moats (160 gp, 15 days
for 80 feet long walls). Also known as
defensive walls, these exterior walls come with
turrets and minor towers (these cannot serve
functions).
The four wall panels are 20 feet wide, 20 feet
high, and one foot thick. Each minor tower is 40
feet high off the ground, with an interior space of
10 x 10. Multiple applications of walls can be
incorporated together (such as three ‗walls‘
creating an extra-heavy wall).
The cost of exterior walls is calculated
independently from the stronghold itself.
Alternatively, the price can be spent into
creating a pit or moat (80 feet wide, 20 feet high,
and 20 feet deep). The pit can be filled with
liquid or traps to make bypassing it a challenge
on its own.
 Liquid. Filling the pit with water creates a
moat, which can then house marine life such
as dangerous fish or creatures such as
crocodiles and giant crabs, or be a simple
obstacle for non-swimmers.
Alternatively, filling it with hazardous
liquids (such as lava, diseased water, or tar)
can be hazards on their own.
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 Traps. Filling the pit with simple spears
creates something of a pit trap, dealing 1d8
damage (plus any fall damage), or can host
other traps which must be purchased
separately.
This feature acts as a separate building.
Hidden Function (250 gp, 3 days for every
cube, or 10% of the area cost). This
stronghold function is hidden from view, either
disguised behind a false opening, between floors,
or by a hidden switch. This requires a DC 15
Intelligence (Investigation) check to find, and a
DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) to open. A
hidden function may also benefit from the
Sealed or Warded modifications (adding a layer
of protection), or be protected by a trap.
Alternatively, this can represent passages
connecting different areas within the stronghold,
or leading outside it.
This represents hidden rooms, tunnels, passages
hidden behind walls or fireplaces, and safe-
rooms.
Reinforced (cost by material). The area‘s
components can be reinforced. This acts as the
Sealed modification (see below), but increases
the components‘ resilience, such as providing
mithral or adamantine doors or reinforcing
windows with said materials.
This can be applied to individual doors or all the
doors in the room (such as all vault doors in a
bank).
• Mithral (AC 21, 50 hit points, threshold
15) 2,500 gp and 15 days
• Adamantine (AC 23, 100 hit points,
threshold 20), 5,000 gp and 30 days
Sanctified (as Ward). A sanctified area is
hallowed as the spell of the same name. The
sanctified area acts and costs the same as a ward
of the same spell, but can be specific to one area
or the entirety of the stronghold.
If the sanctification is specific to one area, it is
suppressed if it is breached. If the spell is woven
to the stronghold itself, it can be suppressed if
the room where the spell is center is breached
(usually a Magic Nexus dedicated to a chosen
deity).
This requires you or a hireling to be able to cast
the hallow spell.
Sealed (500 gp, 7 days for every 20 x 20
area or function sealed). This modifies an
area designated by you. This room is sealed by
mundane locks, chains, and bars, which are
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
unlocked by keys. For magical protection, see
Warded.
Any number of components of the room can be
locked (such as a jail cell, doors, windows,
creature pen, or treasure vault), and the keys for
each is provided to the owner of the structure.
Without the key, a creature proficient with
thieves' tools can pick the lock with a successful
DC 15 Dexterity check. If also employing the trap
feature, you may make the trap trigger can a
failed thieves‘ tools check.
Each additional time this modification is
applied, the sealed component(s) of the room
requires another successful check, or the DC
increases by 5 (maximum 3 successful checks or
a DC of 25).
This can apply to gates, the pen room, or secret
entrances and exits of the stronghold.
Teleportation Circle (as Ward). This
modification acts and costs the same as a ward
of the teleportation circle spell, but can target
other area inside the stronghold (even a hidden
room).
The rooms that can be teleported to (and not
from) must be declared when this room is first
built. It is possible for there to be multiple
command words (one for each room). If a room
is breached or destroyed, the teleportation circle
spell can no longer reach it. The spell is woven to
the stronghold itself, and can be suppressed if
the room where the spell is center is breached
(usually a Magic Nexus).
This requires you or a hireling to be able to cast
the teleportation circle spell.
Torches (2,500 gp, 30 days). This area is
designed to emit exceptionally strong light, such
as by employing fires, arcane light, or a similar
mechanism. This light can usually be seen up to
10 miles away if standing at least 20 feet from
the ground, varying slightly depending on how
high it stands from the surface it is built on
(usually up to a maximum of 20 miles). The
lighthouse can be used for long-range signaling
(for troops or warnings, such as those mounted
on walls or towers) or aiding navigation (see
ships below).
Ships utilizing the lighthouse increase their
movement speed by 25%, and are provided
guidance to areas of danger, harbor entrances,
and help avoid shoals.
Alternatively, lighthouses can be used to mislead
ships the same way, reducing the speed and
increasing the chance of harmful events.
Also known as a beacon, signal tower, warning
light
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Normal lights (such as torch holders in rooms)
are assumed to be placed as part of building and
furnishing the function.
Trapped (variable cost). You can set a trap in
a room or area of the stronghold as response to a
trigger (such as a pressure plate, lever, a failed
attempt to open the Sealed feature, or tied to a
Ward). See Sample Traps on pages 122-123 and
Random Traps on page 297 of the Dungeon
Master‘s Guide for inspiration, reflected here for
convenience. A trap may also be hidden (see the
hidden modification), sealed (to lock after being
triggered, such as a pit trap), or warded (to cast a
spell after being triggered).
In terms of making your own trap, the strength
of the trap is limited by your level.
 Collapsing Roof (2,000 gp, 30 days).
The roof can be restored with a days‘
work.
 Falling Net (100 gp, 1 day)
 Fire-Breathing Statue (as Ward,
Evocation Spell)
 Pit, Simple (100 gp, 1 day). The simple
pit can be modified with the Hidden
feature, Sealed, or Warded features to
create hidden, locked, and magical pits.
 Pit, Spiked (200 gp, 3 days)
 Poison Darts (100 gp, 1 day). The poison
darts deal 2 (1d4) piercing damage as
detailed under the Dungeon Master‘s
Guide, but you must provide the poison.
Once applied, the poison remains until
applied.
 Poison Needle (100 gp, 1 day). As above,
but deals 1 piercing damage, and is
subtler.
 Rolling Sphere (2,000 gp, 30 days). The
sphere can be restored to its position
with 3 days‘ work.
 Sphere of Annihilation. This requires
you or a hireling supply the Sphere of
Annihilation legendary wondrous item.
You or your allies have a +5 bonus to
their Intelligence (Arcana) check to
control it and to contest control against
those who attempt to take over it
Warded (500 gp per spell level, 7 days for
every 20 x 20 area or function sealed).
This acts as the sealed modification, but
modifies the area with magical wards and
abjurations. Wards are conditioned to function
on triggers (mundane or magical) specified by
you or your hireling. These spells are considered
to be cast at the lowest level possible, with you to
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
be considered as the spell‘s caster in terms of
how the spell targets, but a static area in the
stronghold to be considered the casting point
(for the purposes of position and line of sight).
The saving throw DC of these spells are 15
(unless the spellcaster‘s DC is higher) to resist,
with the same DC to notice with a Wisdom
(Perception) check. Wards are treated as magical
traps, and can be disabled with the dispel magic
spell. A ward also has a mundane way of being
suppressed (such as by moving around a
pressure plate trigger after seeing it, or hiding
from a magic sensor with a Dexterity (Stealth)
check, or jamming a spike in a fire-breathing
statue‘s mouth to disrupt the magical weaves
with a Dexterity check with Thieves‘ Tools).
The method to disable a ward must be specified
beforehand when the ward is drawn, and is
discovered with a successful Wisdom
(Perception) check. Once a ward is triggered, it
can be re-activated after 1 day of it being
dispelled. Re-activating a ward takes the same
casting time to cast the spell normally, but does
not require the ability to cast the spell, so long as
the master of the stronghold (or a designated
castellan) is who does it. If the ward is a cantrip,
it can be triggered multiple times.
Making a ward requires you or a hireling to be
able to cast the chosen spell, and is magically
grounded in the area it is built in. Some wards
have a larger area of effect, in which case are
active outside the chosen area, but are still
grounded in one area (usually a Magic Nexus
area), and is suppressed if it said area is
breached.
Warding an area costs 500 gp per spell level for
every area (or room), with cantrips costing 250
gp instead. Each additional time this
modification is applied, another ward can be
applied. If the spell has a material component, it
must also be paid when building the ward (pay
the cost of the material component times 25).
For example, establishing multiple dispel magic
wards allows multiple dispelling attempts to
unwanted visitors (possibly stripping them of
several beneficial spells).
Wards made out of spells with the ritual tag are
permanent, but cannot reach outside the
stronghold.
Otherwise, the ward acts as the glyph of
warding spell.
The below spells are common as wards. You may
also develop different wards, subject to DM
approval. In some cases, a ward does not need to
be re-activated (even if not a ritual), and remains
until dispelled or disabled.
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 Alarm. The alarm can notify you or be the
trigger for another spell.
 Animate Objects. The spell treats you or one
ally who you‘ve designated to guard the
room as the caster.
 Antimagic Field
 Arcane Eye. You may use an action to
activate the sensor for up to the maximum
duration of the spell (concentration as
normal) for 24 hours. Most strongholds that
have this ward also have small 1-inch spaces
to allow the eye to enter various areas.
 Bestow Curse
 Circle of Power
 Contact Other Plane. Most strongholds that
have this ward center it in the Observatory
Area (see above).
 Dispel Magic. Most strongholds that have
this ward trigger it to anyone passing the
threshold of the stronghold without being
invited in or speaking a password.
 Evocation. Any instantaneous evocation
spell can be made into a ward and attached
to a trap or feature. If triggered, the
evocation spell discharges. See Fire-
Breathing Trap for comparison and
inspiration.
 Guards and Wards
 Gentle Repose. The spell is usually focused
on graves or mausoleums.
 Glyph of Warding
 Hallucinatory Terrain. This spell affects the
stronghold and also radiates up to 300 feet
away. The master or the allies they designate
may change the details of the illusion with
an action. Once changed, the ward changes
to the new illusion over the course of three
rounds.
 Mage Hand
 Magic Circle
 Prestidigitation
 Telekinesis
 Reverse Gravity
 Hallow
 Unseen Servant. Most strongholds that have
this ward treat the unseen servant counts as
an unskilled hireling. Unlike most unskilled
hirelings, they do not require maintenance.
This is usually used to perform various
services to the stronghold.
 Zone of Truth. When this modification is
placed, the master can specify whether it
affects the master and their allies, all
creatures in the area, or enemies of the
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
master. It is a DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check
to sense the ward.
War Ready (10% of the stronghold’s total
cost and total build time)
A structure designed to be war-ready has arrow
slits, murder holes, battlements, and is overall
well-prepared for combat. Troops occupying the
structure can benefit from the following benefits
(provided the area they are positioned within
makes sense).
• Arrow slits provide three-quarters cover
to creatures inside the structure against attacks
made from outside it (1 arrow slit every 5 feet)
• Murder holes act as arrow slits, but
provide the benefit from upper floors against
lower floors (1 murder hole every 5-foot square)
• Battlements provide half cover for
creatures atop them
If drawing a map of the structure, the architect
often places killing fields, which are bottlenecks
and exposed areas an invading force must
survive before entering the structure, usually
also allowing defenders to take advantage of
battlements or arrow slits to rain arrows, bolts,
or spells from a distance or behind cover for at
least a few rounds.
Awareness (2,500 gp, 30 days). The
designated area (or stronghold as a whole) is
suffused with awareness, and gains an
Intelligence score of 6, Wisdom score of 8, and
Sample Strongholds
Strongholds commonly built by adventurers, rulers, and organization leaders include a wide range of
buildings.
On average, for each 2,500 gp of cost of a stronghold, it can hold one function. A stronghold can be made
of several sub-strongholds (see composite strongholds below), such as keeps, abbeys, and castles.
Cottage
Size Tiny Area 20x20
Cost 2,500 gp (30 days)
Functions (1). Any one function
Shelter 3 (modest) 9 (poor) Staff 2 (skilled) 4
(unskilled)
Maintenance 4 gp, 8 sp (4 gp skilled, 8 sp
unskilled)
Description. The cottage can represent a small
house or hovel.
Depending on the function chosen, this can
represent anything from a warehouse (storage
area), farmstead house (lodging), to a small
workshop (crafter's area).
Cottage: Farmstead
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Charisma score of 6. This entity can act as the
master of the stronghold in the capacity the
master designates (such as using stronghold
abilities or commanding wards). If the
stronghold also has wards, the stronghold can
act in the capacity described under the
modification itself (the mage hand ward, for
instance, can retrieve papers, the prestidigitation
ward can clean windows and toilets, etc.).
The awareness of the stronghold can be noticed
with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check
to notice an intangible presence.
If the master of the stronghold is also attuned to
it, the master can act through the stronghold‘s
own actions as if it is his own mind. This is
usually limited by various stronghold abilities, or
wards. This cannot take place if the master is
unconscious, incapacitated, or if they suffer at
least one level of exhaustion.
Whimsical Enchantment (2,500 gp, 30
days). The stronghold is woven with an eclectic
number of
Telekinesis, Light spells, Prestidigitation (to
clean and preserve), can take a book, scroll, or
paper stack you offer, send you a book you want,
re-order papers, or reorganize a stock of books.
This can organize a cubic area up to 50 feet on
each side. This can also summon a specific book
or spellbook.
If designed to house several farmers at a center
of a field, choose the lodging to outfit the cottage
with spare cots and tiered beds. The housing
changes to the following:
Shelter 7 (modest) 16 (poor)
In this case, the farmhouse can host 6 farmers
and 13 farmhands. These can farm up to 180
acres, feeding 90 people (see Feeding under
Chapter 1: Settlements).
Dungeon
Size Small Area 20x80
Cost 10,000 gp (120 days)
Functions (4). Lodging x4 (three sealed, one
unsealed)
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Shelter 8 (average) 14 (poor); Sealed Shelter
10 (average) 70 (poor) Staff 6 (skilled), 12
(unskilled)
Maintenance 14 gp, 4 sp (12 gp skilled, 24 sp
unskilled)
Description. This can represent a prison,
barrow, debtor's jail, torture chambers, or
sacrificial hall. The dungeon can provide average
shelter for 10 prisoners and poor shelter for 70.
These rooms are sealed.
If representing magical prisons or if designed to
hold magical enemies, change the sealed
modification to the appropriate ward (such as
Antimagic Field or Magic Circle), or add
additional layers of protection.
Garrison
Size Medium Area 40x80
Cost 20,000 gp (240 days)
Rooms (8). Carousing Area (mess hall),
Lodging x5 (one stable, two barracks, one
officer's quarters), Storage Area (armory),
Training Area (Strength, training grounds)
Shelter 1 (comfortable) 17 (average) 131 (poor),
Stables 5 (average) 20 (poor) Storage 20 tons
(common weapons, armors, and ammunition)
Staff 14 (skilled), 28 (unskilled)
Maintenance 33 gp 6 sp (28 gp skilled, 56 sp
unskilled)
Description. Also known as a warrior lodge,
combat quarters, training camp, soldier base.
The garrison can provide communal shelter for
100 soldiers (one battalion), average shelter for
3 visiting officers, and comfortable shelter for 1
distinguished guest (high-ranking officer or
settlement official).
Guildhall
Size Small Area 20x40
Cost 5,000 gp (60 days)
Functions (2). Carousing Area (mess hall),
Crafter's Area (any chosen tools)
Shelters 1 (comfortable), 6 (average) 13 (poor)
Staff 4 (skilled), 8 (unskilled)
Maintenance 9 gp, 6 sp (8 gp skilled, 16 sp
unskilled)
Description. This can represent anything from
a hunting lodge, thieves' den, adventurer‘s guild,
potion shop, brewing house, to lumberjack's
hall.
The guildhall often houses members of a single
organization, class, or order, typically of the
same profession or adventurous bent. The
guildhall can provide communal shelter for 5
guests or temporary workers, average shelter for
2 guests or visiting guild members, and
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comfortable shelter for 1 distinguished person
(organization or guild official).
Residence
Size Small Area 40x40 (or 20x80)
Cost 10,000 gp (120 days)
Functions (4). Carousing Area (common
room), Lodging (living quarters), Storage area
(warehouse), and any one of the following
(Crafter‘s Area (any), Greenhouse, Lodging
(stable or extra beds), Medical Area, Storage
Area, or Training Area (any))
Shelter 3 (comfortable) 13 (average) 44 (poor)
Staff 6 (skilled), 12 (unskilled) Storage 20 tons
(any)
Maintenance 14 gp, 4 sp (12 gp skilled, 24 sp
unskilled)
Description. This can cover inns, taverns,
restaurants, manors, middle- or upper-class
homes, public houses, orphanages, squats, or
even a gambling den depending on what the
carousing area and last function is.
A residence is usually built to accommodate a lot
of people in a state of relative comfort, and
sometimes caters to specific professions (a
crafter‘s area could serve a weapons-focused
trade route, a training area could provide a
battle ring to become an arena, and a garden
may cater to alchemist patrons or provide
healing potions as an additional service).
The residence can provide communal shelter for
40 people, average shelter for 5 guests, and
comfortable shelter for 1 distinguished guest
(visiting noble or merchant). If fully booked, this
yields 7 gp, 3 sp/day, but is usually only half-
booked (for 3 gp, 6 sp, and 5 cp).
If the final room is a lodging (extra beds or
stable), this can provide extra 15 (poor) beds for
guests or their horses.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
School
Size Small Area 20x60
Cost 7,500 gp (90 days)
Rooms (3). Lodging (students' quarters),
Training Area (Intelligence or Wisdom), and one
of the following (Crafter's Area (any chosen
tools), Infirmary, or Magic Nexus)
Shelter 1 (comfortable) 7 (average) 43 (poor)
Staff 6 (skilled), 12 (unskilled)
Maintenance 14 gp 4 sp (12 gp skilled, 24 sp
unskilled)
Description. This can represent a temple,
collection of classes, small academy, music
academy, or study hall. The school's training
area and final function determines what it
teaches (Intelligence and a focus on evocation
could be an evoker's school, while Wisdom and
dedication to clerical magic could represent a
holy study hall or a chapel).
The school can provide communal
accommodations for 31 students, average
accommodations for 1 guest or special student,
and comfortable shelter for the headmaster or
distinguished guest.
Tower
Size Large Area 20x20 (six floors, up to 60-90
feet high)
Cost 15,000 gp (180 days)
Functions (6). Carousing Area (theater or
banquet hall), Lodging (living spaces), Magic
Nexus (any), Training Area x2 (library, plus
any), and any one of the following (Crafter's
Area (any chosen tools), Observatory (any),
Lodging (students' quarters, extra beds, or
warded summoning circle), Comfort Area
(meditative chamber), or storage room for
confiscated magical items).
Magic Nexus (any one focus)
Shelter 1 (comfortable) 14 (average) 74 (poor)
Staff 12 (skilled), 24 (unskilled)
Maintenance 28 gp 8 sp (24 gp skilled, 48 sp
unskilled)
Description. This can represent a mage's spire,
watchtower, or wizard tower. A tower stands
high, giving good line of sight on surrounding
lands. In some cases, a spellcaster master may
choose to add wards and traps (such as the
alarm, fire-breathing statue, and teleportation
circle wards).
The tower can provide communal
accommodations for 50 students, average
accommodations for 2 guests or special
students, and comfortable accommodations for
the headmaster or distinguished guest.
Note. A tower can also double as the school
stronghold (if choosing the same features). If
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built shorter (3 floors, up to 30-50 feet high), it
can cost the same as well.
Composite Strongholds
For simplicity, you may create a stronghold by
crafting multiple smaller strongholds rather
than choosing a function for each area. When
creating a composite stronghold, add the prices
of all component strongholds together, as well as
the benefits (provided shelter, area,
maintenance, and features).
Abbey
An abbey is built from a Residence and a School
Description. This can represent large temples,
homes of ascetics, grand shrines, religious
retreats, monasteries, or libraries dedicated to
religious study. Plain or ornate, made of local
wood or stone, this stronghold is often visited by
those ill hoping for healing, pious seeking
solitude or reflection, or those for deeper
meanings or mysterious truths.
Abbeys are often dedicated to a particular
religious or monastic order, and sometimes
houses organizations that provide income
enough to sustain its populations‘ lives (such as
vineyards, cheese-making, and even
bookmaking).
College
A college is built from a Residence and a School
(using the carousing room as a lecture hall)
Description. This can represent large
academies, universities, or a grand institute of
learning.
The college focuses more skills than a school,
and joining it is usually more prestigious and
respectful. If adding more scope to the college,
add an extra school per topic the college offers
proficiency or training in.
Fort
A fort is built from a Dungeon and a Garrison
Description. This can represent a military
outpost, small castle, or high-security prison
complexes.
Forts typically stand on the borders of nations,
and debilitated strongholds of this type often
host bandit groups or raiders. Larger forts may
be constructed by additional Garrisons.
Fortified Church
A fortified church is built from an Abbey
(Residence and School) and a Garrison, and is
often protected by exterior walls
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Description. This can represent temple-holds,
a guarded mosque, or a war chapel.
A fortified church is usually held by paladins,
clerics of the war domain, or be a religious,
cultural, and military center of a borderland
region.
Keep
A keep is built from a Garrison and a Residence
Description. This can represent noble manors,
royal villas, fortified mansions, or town halls.
Keeps reside near settlements and important
locations, and sometimes house nobles or serve
as centers of governance, as well as the
headquarters of the city or house guard due to
the Garrison.
In some cases, keeps overlook farmlands
(especially if ruled by a noble such as a baron or
Managing Strongholds
Breaching and Damaging a Stronghold.
Strongholds that suffer intense damage (such as
by siege weapons, spells such as earthquake, or
are left unmaintained for years) become
damaged. An area can be breached when it loses
a wall (dining tables are destroyed, tools are
scattered and broken, and greenhouse herbs are
trampled). Breached areas provide no benefit
from the chosen function, and lose the ability to
maintain a ward, trap, or seal.
A breached room cannot hold back invaders or
provide full cover to those within it (unless they
take cover behind ruins found on the spot). The
DM is the final arbiter on whether a function‘s
benefit can be kept, however (if the breaching
was only surface-level).
Fixing and Renovating a Stronghold.
Strongholds left to the mercy of the elements or
abandoned long ago can be renovated and fixed.
Multiply the cost of the fully functional
Stronghold Features
Attunement. Just like dragons, liches, and
other powerful beings who are attuned to their
hoards, tombs, and woods, a master of a
stronghold can attune to their stronghold,
gaining power over it and its surroundings and
treating it as a magic item.
This provides the master with several powers,
giving the master a supernatural influence over
their stronghold and surrounding space, and
providing access to lair and regional actions.
This represents a ruler's authority manifesting in
the very earth they rule, and is sometimes
known in most settings as the ―as above, so
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count), paying for its maintenance from a
settlement or farmlands‘ income.
Palace or Large Castle
A castle is built from one to two Keeps (two
Garrisons and two Residences), a Fort, two
Towers, one Fortified Church, and ten Cottages
(outfitted with lodges to become living quarters),
and is often protected by exterior walls
Description. This can represent a sultan‘s
palace, warlord‘s fortress, protective citadel, a
royal castle, or a star fort.
Castles are powerful defensive fortifications that
protect critical areas, and are usually reinforced
constantly from nearby forts, keeps, and
settlements.
Larger castles include more sub-strongholds,
counting the total benefits separately.
stronghold with the percent of damage the
stronghold took.
For example, an abandoned tower that is
damaged enough to lean and sway has lost major
components. The DM assigns 50% damage.
Fixing said tower will cost half that to create it
from scratch in gold and time.
Merely renovating or modifying the appearance
of a stronghold costs 10% of the total stronghold
(such as making a regular stronghold war
ready).
Organization Headquarters. Allowing an
organization to take shelter and maintain
residence in the stronghold increases the
organization‘s efficiency (See Chapter 4:
Organizations for more details). Often, the
organization‘s leader and the master of the
stronghold come to an agreement regarding the
service (usually rent plus a share of the
organization‘s profits).
below‖ principle, where, just as the gods exert
power on the world, the ruler exerts power in
their realm.
Strongholds have no rarity, but the bond
between master and hold is magical in nature,
regardless of the master's actual class.
Attunement to a stronghold and extending the
effects to a region is an expression of
supernatural sovereignty, therefore, a region
cannot be attuned to more than one master.
As such, not every stronghold master or
settlement ruler is able (or knows how) to
establish attunement—a minor noble in a keep
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
may not wish to rouse powerful rivals or
adventurers, awaken evils slumbering under the
earth on which his stronghold stands, or infringe
on their king‘s place as a sovereign of a realm.
Indeed, it is a blatant statement of seditious
ambition (at worst) or arrogance (at best) when
a vassal establishes attunement in their lord‘s
land.
Stronghold Abilities. When attuning to a
stronghold, the master may choose up to four
stronghold abilities. The stronghold abilities
include two lair (stronghold) actions, and two
regional actions (effects).
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The master cannot make use of their attunement
outside the stronghold or its maximum range. So
long as a stronghold is attuned to its master, its
regional effects remain active, even if the master
is on another plane or is imprisoned. Otherwise,
the abilities fade over time (such as a dragon‘s
influence fades after their death).
As an area effect, a stronghold must be stable
and immobile to provide this benefit. With DM-
Player adjudication, this may extend to
exceptional vehicles and mobile strongholds,
such as a ghost ship that brings stormy weather
with it, or a caravan of the damned that wanders
the desert, raising the dead to protect it.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Lair (Stronghold) Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), you can take a lair action to cause one effect from the below
list. The area affected by a lair action is equal to one cube (20 feet each side) up to 120 feet away from you,
unless otherwise specified.
You can‘t use the same effect two rounds in a row. Each action typically cannot be used until all actions
are used, and any lasting effects usually reset at the top of the count.
The DC of any ability is equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma bonus.
Similar abilities can be added with the DM‘s approval, but are to be roughly equivalent in strength and
area to existing effects.

Ailment. You may impose a negative condition
on all creatures in the area. A creature can make
another saving throw against an ongoing
condition to end it once at the beginning of their
turn every round. The condition inflicted takes
the form of your spellcasting power, or even the
sentient will of the stronghold itself.
o Poisoned for 1 minute (Constitution save
negates)
o Push the targets up to 10 feet, or knock
prone (Strength or Dexterity save negates,
respectively)
o Restrained for 1 minute (Strength or
Dexterity save negates). The saving throw
can be repeated at the end of the creature‘s
turn every round if the creature spends an
action.
If centered on you, this effect radiates up to 60
feet away instead. If used to knock prone or
push, this is often known as ‗knockdown‘, a
localized tremor, or a strong current or shifting
stronghold.
Difficult Terrain. Make an area (square 20
feet on each side or a single cube) within the lair
difficult terrain until the start of the next round.
Famine. Food instantly molders and water
instantly evaporates when brought into the lair,
so long as it is exposed to the air. Other non-
magical drinks are spoiled-wine turning to
vinegar, for instance. This does not require an
action or your awareness, but can be suppressed
if you wish it. This affects all food and drinks in
the stronghold are affected unless crafted by you
or in your kitchens.
Greater Ward: Alignment Attunement.
Curses affecting any creature that has similar
aims or alignment to you are suppressed in the
stronghold. This does not require an action or
your awareness, but can be suppressed if you
wish it.
Greater Ward: Anti-magic (requires the
Antimagic Field Ward). You target one
creature it can see within 60 feet of it. An
antimagic field fills the space of the target (as the
spell of the same name), moving with it until
initiative count 20 on the next round.
Greater Ward: Blessing of Great Health.
When a creature casts a spell or uses a magical
effect that causes another creature to regain hit
points, the target regains the maximum number
of hit points possible for the spell or effect, only
if their alignment or intentions match yours.
This does not require an action or your
awareness, but can be suppressed if you wish it.
A creature can benefit up to three times per long
rest from this blessing.
Greater Ward: Curse of Ill Health. A
creature within 120 feet of you cannot regain hit
points from healing spells or regenerative
effects. A Constitution saving throw negates this
effect. If centered on you, this effect radiates up
to 30 feet away instead.
Greater Ward: Mislead Divinations.
Divination spells cast within the lair by creatures
other than you or your allies have a 25% chance
to provide misleading results, as determined by
the DM. If a divination spell already has a
chance to fail or become unreliable when cast
multiple times, the chance increases by 25%.
This does not require an action or your
awareness, but can be suppressed if you wish it.
Greater Ward: Loyalty Eternal. Creatures
allied to you in the stronghold have advantage
on saving throws against being charmed or
frightened, and against features that turn
undead (if undead). This does not require an
action or your awareness, but can be suppressed
if you wish it.
Greater Ward: Planar Lock (requires the
Observatory Area or the Antimagic Field
Ward). The lair is warded against the magical
travel of creatures that you haven‘t authorized.
Such creatures can't teleport into or out of the
stronghold area or use planar travel to enter or
leave it. Effects that allow teleportation or planar
travel work within the stronghold as long as they
aren't used to leave or enter the area. This does
not require an action or your awareness, but can
be suppressed if you wish it.
Greater Ward: Revelations. Each creature
within 120 feet of you is pinpointed if they fail a
Stealth check against you. You can bestow this

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
revelation on any number of allies, but this effect
ends at the end of your next round.
Greater Ward: Spell Block. Any creature
hostile to you in the lair is wracked with pain
whenever they try to cast a spell (at your will).
The creature can choose another action, but if it
tries to cast the spell, it must make a
Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it
takes 2d6 necrotic damage per level of the spell.
The creature must succeed on a second
Constitution saving throw to keep the spell (DC
10 or half the damage taken), and lose the spell
(and spent resources) on a failed saving throw.
This is limited to a spell level equal to or less
than one-quarter your level. For example, if you
are 6th level, you can spell block 1st level spells.
If taken again, the spell level is equal to one-half
your level.
Greater Ward: Spell Dampening. You may
choose a creature within 120 feet from you has
advantage to one saving throw, or gains
resistance to one damage type.
Greater Ward: Spell Exposure. A creature
within 120 feet of you has disadvantage to one
saving throw, or gains vulnerability to one
damage type (this can reduce immunity to
resistance, resistance to normal damage, and
normal damage to vulnerability).
Inflict Harm. The lair deals damage a cylinder
5 feet wide and 20 feet high within 120 feet from
you. Choose one energy or physical damage type
specified by you upon attunement (or one energy
or physical damage you can deal with an ability
or spell), and choose one of the following
damage types, with a Dexterity saving throw to
half damage.
o 1d8 nonmagical bludgeoning, slashing, or
piercing damage
o 1d6 magical bludgeoning, slashing, or
piercing damage
o 1d6 acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison
damage (if choosing poison, the saving
throw is based on Constitution instead)
o 1d4 thunder, radiant, necrotic, force, or
psychic damage
For every 3 levels you have, this deals an
additional dice of damage (for example, 3d6 fire
or 3d4 radiant damage if you are 9th level).
You may also affect a creature entering for the
first time with this ability. This does not require
an action or your awareness, but can be
suppressed if you wish it. You can indefinitely
suppress this effect with an action, so long as
you are within 1 mile of their stronghold. If
further away, you can no longer choose to
suppress or re-instate it (and it remains on the
last setting).
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Hush. Open flames of a non-magical nature are
extinguished within the stronghold. Torches and
campfires refuse to burn, but closed lanterns are
unaffected. This does not require an action or
your awareness, but can be suppressed if you
wish it. Your own sources of light (as well as
those built into the stronghold) can be excluded.
Master's Protection. Creatures native to the
stronghold‘s terrain type have an easier time
hiding; they have advantage on all Dexterity
(Stealth) checks made to hide. This does not
require an action or your awareness, but can be
suppressed if you wish it.
Obscure Sight. A specified area or a cube
within the lair is lightly obscured (by fog, dust,
or another visual obstruction) until the start of
the next round or unless extended with an
action.
Unlike most lair actions, you can extend this
action and maintain up to three obscured areas
at a single same time (each action maintains and
adds an additional obscure). Obscuring an area
that is already obscured makes it fully concealed
(imposes blindness).
Lair Magic. You may cast one of the following
spells on a creature within 120 feet from the
following spells.
o Charm, phantasmal force, or sleep
If a target succeeds on the saving throw or if the
effect ends for it, the target is immune to this lair
action for the next 24 hours, although such a
creature can choose to be affected. The spell‘s
level is equal to one-half your character level
(minimum 1, maximum 9).
Light and Darkness. The lair's light level
changes by one step from its ambient lighting,
following the below progression
o Deep darkness (as darkness spell);
darkness; dim light; normal light; bright
light (as daylight spell)
Sinkholes. Sinkholes form in and around the
stronghold. A sinkhole can be spotted from a
safe distance with a successful Wisdom
(Perception) check. Otherwise, the first creature
to step on the thin crust covering the sinkhole
must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or fall
1d6 x 10 feet into the sinkhole. This does not
require an action or your awareness, but can be
suppressed if you wish it.
Thief-Curse (requires the Bestow Curse
Ward). A creature who steals something
valuable to you is cursed until it is returned. The
cursed target has disadvantage on all saving
throws. The curse lasts until removed by a
remove curse spell or similar magic. The curse is
also applied to any who acquire the treasure and
knows that it was stolen (skipping over innocent
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
middlemen in the process, but applying once the
realizing it is cursed and not returning it).
This does not require an action or your
Regional Actions (Effects)
Unless otherwise specified, regional effects extend to 1 mile per every 3 levels you have (to a maximum of
6 miles at level 18).
Some regional abilities can be taken multiple times, each time adding another sub-ability or additional
effect (if available, as ruled by joint DM-player adjudication).
Regional effects fade when a creature or object leaves the area of the stronghold‘s effect.
Altered Weather/Terrain. The weather or
terrain is affected within the region. Choose
from the below effects.
o Small earthquakes and shakes are frequent
o Thunderstorms and heavy clouds often
hover in the sky, darkening the realm
o Rainstorms (either hot or chilly, depending
on the terrain) form often, sometimes
turning into tropical storms or blizzards
when you are agitated, angry, or wish it.
o Clear blue skies and warm sun dominate the
year-round. Rain falls only at night, and
thunderstorms avoid the area.
o The land is filled with heavy plant growth or
marshes. Traveling in this area by creatures
not approved by you take twice as long to
traverse.
o The land is blanketed with a heavy or chilly
fog, imposing light concealment. The fog
occasionally takes forms (as dictated by your
alignment, personality, or dreams, if also a
dreamer).
o Once per every 24 hours, you can alter the
weather as the control weather spell. You do
not need to be outdoors to perform this act,
but you can usually affect up to two weather
types (see the spell for more details).
If opposed to similar effects (such as the
earthquake or control weather spells), the
spellcaster must succeed on a spellcasting check
against the stronghold‘s effect DC. Attuned
Waters. Water sources within 1 mile of the
stronghold are supernaturally hot, warm, or
cold, and has a distinct taste (acidic, sulfuric,
perfumed, or tastes like rosewater) or color (as if
pigmented or unnaturally reflective).
Attuned Winds. Flying creatures within 120
feet of you and the stronghold must succeed on a
Strength or Constitution saving throw or
immediately land from powerful winds. They
cannot take off again for one minute as the
winds batter them down. After being affected by
this ability, a creature has advantage to the
check for the next 24 hours.
70 | P a g e
awareness, but can be suppressed if you wish it.
This otherwise acts as a Ward to inflict the
bestow curse spell (same DC).
Bountiful Harvests/Blight. The fields within
1 mile of the stronghold either benefit from the
plant growth spell (providing double the normal
yield), or wither and provide half normal yield
(leaving their stems and branches to become
twisted and thorny).
Regardless of which you choose, you may cause
plants (both terrestrial and underwater) within 6
miles of the stronghold have unnatural
pigments, ranging on dim and gray to dazzlingly
brilliant hues (such as blue lettuce, white apples,
etc.). They are identifiable as normal plants, save
the pigmentation. Choosing this regional effect
also requires the altered weather/terrain
regional effect.
Earth Attunement. Underground surfaces
within 1 mile of the stronghold can become
difficult terrain (either rocky and spiked, or
slimy and wet) at your design, or revert to
regular un-hindering terrain. Also, within 6
miles, the earth can carve itself into tracks or
trails at your design. These may be used to lead
travelers to safe shelters and hidden water
sources or to traps, but the tracks are not deep
enough to alter river flow.
Cursed Land. Water and food sources within 1
mile of the lair are supernaturally fouled.
Creatures that drink such water or food vomit it
within minutes.
Dreamer. When you sleep, minor warps in
reality occur within 1 mile of your stronghold,
usually vanishing 24 hours later, and influenced
by your dreams. Marks on cave walls might
change subtly, an eerie trinket might appear
where none existed before, harmless slime might
coat a statue, and so on. These effects apply only
to natural surfaces and to nonmagical objects
that aren't on anyone's person. Creatures who
sleep in the area have a random chance to tap to
your dreams, allowing you to speak with them
through portents or through cryptic speech. You
can shut off these visitations, or choose to keep
your dreams accessible. If a creature within the
region casts the dream spell within the region,
you can detect it and intrude upon the dream
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
with a successful Wisdom saving throw against
the spell DC. If the vision is a hostile one, you
can dispel its possible damage if you successfully
intrude in the dream. If you are the target of the
spell, you have advantage to your saving throw
against the spell‘s negative effects (which is
cancelled by disadvantage if the caster has a
body part, clipping of a nail, or similar portion of
your body).
Ego. Magic carvings bearing your likeness or
events that you instigated can be seen worked
into the terrain (in stone, wood, or even
buildings). If you can cast the scry spell, you can
center the sensor at any area you know of in the
region, and can move it once up to 1 mile
without losing the spell.
Any attempt to scry you or a place you consider
to be protected allows you to make a saving
throw with a +5 bonus. On a successful saving
throw, you may dismiss the spell as normal, or
you may direct the scrying sensor to something
else within the region‘s area that you have seen.
Guarded Land. Within 1 mile of its lair, you
leave no physical evidence of your passage
unless you wish making tracking you impossible
except by magical means. In addition, you ignore
movement impediments from terrain and plants
in this area that are neither magical nor
creatures.
In case of an urbanized area, crowds
subconsciously make way for you even without
registering your presence.
Information. Creatures in the realm, indeed,
the realm itself serves you within 1 mile of the
stronghold by granting you awareness of various
things. Choose one of the below effects.
o Certain tiny beasts (such as rats, birds, fish,
small cats or dogs, etc.) serve as your eyes
and ears, relaying information to you, and
magically gaining the ability to speak and
understand your chosen tongue (though
they do not often speak with strangers). The
creature must have an Intelligence of 3 or
higher. You may choose two beasts or beast
types (canines and corvids for all dogs and
crows, for example).
There is also a noticeable increase in the
populations of these beasts. Upon leaving
the region, they lose their ability to speak,
but not their recognition of you. Migratory
creatures often return to the region. On rare
occasions, prominent beasts of the chosen
type gain a measure of awareness as the
awaken spell, and are loyal to you.
o Water sources (natural or manufactured) of
width of at least 10 feet can sense creatures
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passing within 5 feet of them, relaying what
they see to you.
o The winds whisper of any creatures that fly
higher than 60 feet from the surface of the
ground, and such winds buoy creatures that
fall, so long as you will it. Such creatures
descend at a rate of 60 feet per round and
take no falling damage.
Mastery: Divination. Creatures hostile to you
within 1 mile sometimes feel that they're being
watched (even if they aren't). You are instantly
aware of the presence of any creature that has a
similar or opposed alignment to them, or one
that challenges you openly in your region, so
long as they have at least 6 hit dice. This
awareness may manifest in the stronghold (such
as alteration of light level, or candles being lit or
blown out).
If you can cast divination spells (either by an
ability or by spellcasting), the feeling of being
watched causes exhaustion over time. When
resting, hostile creatures must roll a
Constitution saving throw at the end of a long
rest to avoid gaining one level of exhaustion
from performing constant patrols and paranoia.
They cannot gain more than one level of
exhaustion this way. This may instead take the
form of constant visual strain or an exhausted
‗sixth sense‘ instead of physical fatigue.
Mastery: Enchantment. Creatures with an
Intelligence of 3 or higher within 1 mile of the
stronghold are more prone to one emotional
expression over others (laughter, sorrow,
stoicism, whimsy, attachment, anger, etc.), but
the tendency is not overwhelming enough for
them to lose their sense of self. This effect
radiates further to envelop settlements within 1
mile of the stronghold
If you can cast enchantment spells (either by an
ability or by spellcasting), creatures that have an
Intelligence score of 2 or lower are charmed by
you and aggressive toward intruders in the area.
The master may choose up to two types of
creature to gain such loyalty (fish, birds, rodents,
etc.)
Mastery: Illusion. Illusions haunt the land
within 1 mile of the stronghold, drawn from the
land's history or your dreams or visions. These
illusions move and appear real, although they
can do no harm, and usually follow a theme in
existence (beasts on a hunt, ghostly apparitions
dancing, soft music, strange echoes, recreations
of ancient events, or will-o-wisps in the bogs). A
creature that examines an image from a distance
can tell it's an illusion with a successful DC 15
Intelligence (Investigation) check. Any physical
interaction with an image reveals it to be an
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
illusion, because objects pass through it.
This ability may instead manipulate existing
shadows, making them abnormally gaunt and
sometimes move by their own accord.
If you can cast illusion spells (either by an ability
or by spellcasting), you may create illusory
images or shadows of themselves within 1 mile
of the lair, anywhere the master has seen before
(either directly or through magic). This is a
concentration effect, and the illusion or shadow
can convey your speech. You can also use an
action and see through the projection‘s eye (as
the find familiar spell). While using this ability,
you are blinded and deafened. If the image is
discovered as an illusion (if an illusion) or is
subjected to light bright enough to remove the
shadow (if a manipulated shadow), the effect
ends and you cannot use this ability again for
one hour.
Servitors. You are attuned with two beasts of
your choice, and who fight to serve you. Their
strength depends on your level.
o Challenge 1/8 if you level 5 or higher
If you are deposed, cease the attunement, or are slain, all lair effects fade over the course of 1d10 days for
each 5 levels (2d10 at level 5, 4d10 at level 20). This does not occur if you are alive but are sealed or
imprisoned.
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o Challenge 1/4 if you are level 10 or higher
o Challenge 1/2 if you are level 15 or higher
o Challenge 1 if you are level 20 or higher
Choose daily conditions for each of the two
beasts. In this circumstance, you gain the ability
to call these beings to serve you with an action,
usable once before a long rest. You must call
them from an environment they reasonably
survive in. Common conditions (such as daytime
or nighttime) will provide 2d4 of these creatures,
while less common conditions (cloudy or exactly
midnight) will provide 3d6 of such creatures.
These servitors arrive in 1d4 rounds, acting as
allies and responding to spoken commands, and
remain for 1 hour, until the master dies, or until
dismissed as a bonus action.
For example, a barbarian gaining this ability
chooses wolves and owls, and chose the first
condition to be daytime for wolves (common)
and the second to be (a nighttime clear sky) for
owls. At day, he may summon 2d4 wolves to
serve him, and 3d6 owls at clear-sky evenings
(less common than day).
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Chapter 4: Organizations
Organizations provide characters with tools and resources to conduct many special operations, such as
training, providing services, and general income. These include knightly orders, magic schools, thief
guilds, companies, markets, and anything from the simple (a small herb shop) to the complex (an
international criminal syndicate).

Organizations can be taxed by settlement leaders independently from the normal settlement (applied to
the final income), though organizational leaders can usually leverage their economic, political, or military
power to pay less taxes or gain political support when needed.
Organizations usually operate within settlements, and generate benefits based on their activity (which can
be production of objects such as weapons or structures, food, or even providing a service such as
information, training, or protection), which is affected by various factors that conclude their efficiency
rating.
Organization leadership is not restricted by class, although a company leader who knows how the guild
they control operates is less likely to be easily usurped by an ambitious underling.

Establishing an Organization
An organization can be established by gathering several like-minded characters and pooling an amount of
capital to operate it.

Organization Statistics
Name, Capital, Organizational Activity (Efficiency)
Stronghold statistics (if available)
Staff
Maintenance
Net Income (minus maintenance)
Leadership
Features
Description

Name. The name of the organization is usually income as if with the negotiate prices skill use
affected by its activity. A knighthood that focuses (see Chapter 6: New Skill Uses).
on protection may be named after its founding  Gathering/Hunting
member, a patron saint, or its flag (Order of the  Influence
Dragon, Order of the Red Saint), while a thieves‘  Investment/Loaning
guild may be named after its icon or a historical  Trade/Mercantilism
symbol (Gray Council, Listeners‘ Society).  Refinement
Capital. The capital of the organization
 Service
determines the maximum income it can gain
Organizational activities are described with
(after deducting maintenance). An organization
greater detail below (under Managing an
cannot have an income greater than 1/300th its
Organization).
capital (or 3 cp per 10 gp of Capital), otherwise
Efficiency. The organization‘s efficiency is a
they have too much demand for their supply,
catch-all value that represents its ability to
and need additional capital to seize the
implement its plans using the least expenditure
opportunity.
for maximum gain. This is a percentage that is
Organizations starving for Capital (and those
applied to the final net income of the
who have more potential net income than what
organization (before deductions from
they are getting) are more willing to take loans
maintenance).
or partner up with an investor (who can claim a
Efficiency starts at 50% (average efficiency), and
part of the income as a share).
increases in increments of 5-10% when the
Organizational Activity. The activity the
organization‘s leader takes actions that increase
company provides partially determines its
its effectiveness. Some increases in efficiency are
income and efficiency, allowing organizations to
temporary, but most are permanent. Besides the
make income with certain downtime activities
normal effects that increase efficiency, exercise
(see Chapter 5: Downtime and Training). In all
cases, activity with high demand may increase

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
judgment whether or not an event would alter
efficiency.
For instance, a production-based organization
such as the Weapon Workshop can increase its
efficiency when the organization‘s leader
diversifies into explosives and siege cannons as
well as firearms and seeks out (and employs)
workers with that skill set, conducts research
(and spends money for downtime the DM deems
sufficient), or succeeds on a mission or quest to
convince their customers to purchase new
products.
Staff. As with strongholds, an organization has
staff. Staff can be gained when starting the
organization, employed by recruitment, or as a
random event.
Housing and Staff. This determines number of
workers, which is required to calculate income
(see below). A stronghold must be able to host
all the staff (ideally with comfortable residence
for skilled workers and communal for unskilled
workers) to gain the benefit of a stronghold.
Uncomfortable hirelings may demand increased
pay (see unruly underlings below) or have their
discomfort represented via the optional loyalty
rules. This does not assume that the staff live in
the stronghold, only that they have the space to
work normally.
The initial employees or organization members
may be rolled randomly on the NPC table
(Dungeon Master‘s Guide, page 89).
DM NOTE: UNRULY
UNDERLINGS
Hirelings who see their pay (2 gp for
skilled, 2 sp for unskilled) as a small
fraction in comparison to the net income
may attempt to increase their
maintenance costs. This is usually
subject to negotiation, but skilled
hirelings that know how to do their jobs
are not common, making impromptu
firings and finding replacements
difficult or even impossible (subject to
joint player-DM adjudication).
For instance, a trading company that
makes double digits daily may be the
subject of his employees‘ agitation, and
may experience an event (or be
presented a quest by the DM) to settle
with the employees on one solution or
another.
Maintenance. As with strongholds, an
organization has a staff of hirelings, which
covers payments, such as employee pay and
other things. Expenses are influenced by assets
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and workers. Settlement taxes (if determined by
the ruler of the settlement) are usually applied to
the net income.
Net Income. The value of an organization‘s
daily net income is a number of gold pieces
equal to the following:
Income of an Organization in gp = Leader‘s
skill bonus x one-half the number of employees
(round up) x 2 (average productivity of the
settlement, change as appropriate) x the
Efficiency of the organization – maintenance
costs.
For instance, a 3rd level bard manages her
hereditary tavern, with an organizational activity
of food and entertainment (service), conducting
business in a friendly and open work
environment (Persuasion, bonus of +6). She
employs 5 skilled hirelings and 10 unskilled
hirelings between cooks, cleaners, barmaids, and
various other careers, with a maintenance cost of
12 gp. Her net income from the tavern is as
follows:
6 (her Persuasion bonus) x 3 (half the number of
skilled hirelings) x 2 (productivity) x 50%
(efficiency rating due to stronghold) – 14 gp 4 sp
(workers‘ maintenance), for 3 gp 6 sp a day,
enough to maintain a comfortable lifestyle (with
1 gp 6 sp surplus to be saved every day). Her
Capital must be at least 1,080 gp for her to gain
the full benefit of income.
Organizations‘ incomes are limited by Capital.
An organization cannot gain more income than 1
out of 300th the Capital (or 3 cp per 10 gp).
If the organization‘s income is equal to or
greater than one-quarter of the settlement‘s
economic activity, it bends the settlement‘s
economic activity to revolve around the
organization, such as wealthy mine makes a
nearby town cater to miners.
This usually has story ramifications, with
character backgrounds appropriately affected by
this organization (positively or negatively).
Leadership. This shows the organization‘s
leadership, such as a mercenary captain,
knighthood‘s leader, or the managing guild
master. Organization leadership is not restricted
by class, although a company leader who knows
how the guild they control operates is less likely
to be easily usurped by an ambitious underling.
You may choose one skill relevant to running or
managing your company, and apply its bonus to
determine net income as above. This can be the
relevant ability check and proficiency bonus
from tools (smithing tools for metal refining,
etc.) to a charisma-based skill to represent
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
businesses more based on advertisement and
goodwill (or deception and intimidation) than
solid skill use.
Features (if any). There are many features of
an organization, which usually affects the
statistics of the organization, and is limited in a
way by the organization‘s primary activity. See
Organization Features for more details.
Optional Statistics
Stronghold. Although establishing an
organization does not require a stronghold,
dedicating one to the organization to serve as its
headquarters increases the organization‘s
efficiency, ability to organize itself, and its
production (at the cost of being more easily
Sample Organizations
Jeweler (Astral Gems), Capital 3,000 gp (10
gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Refinement
Stronghold (guildhall) Size Small Area
20x40 Cost 5,000 gp (60 days)
Functions (2) Carousing Area (mess hall),
Crafter's Area (Jeweler‘s Tools)
Shelters 1 (comfortable) 6 (average) 13 (poor)
Staff 6 (skilled), 12 (unskilled)
Maintenance 14 gp, 4 sp (12 gp skilled, 24 sp
unskilled)
Net Income 8 gp 7 sp
Leadership Lady Castella Anan (level 10 elf
wizard, Jewelcrafting tools +7)
Features (55% efficiency) Stronghold
(guildhall), demand (common, +5% efficiency)
Description. Jewelers employ gold and
silversmiths, as well as artisans proficient in the
refinement and cutting of precious and semi-
precious stones. Jewelers make their business in
large or rich settlements, with their patrons
usually being nobles, other merchants, or
adventurers who seek to buy magical amulets or
sell loot plundered from old crypts.
This can represent anything from a gold market,
silver shop, to a ring-smith.
Knightly Order (Order of the Dragon),
Capital 5,000 gp (16 gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Protection
Stronghold (Garrison)
Size Medium Area 40x80
Cost 20,000 gp (240 days)
Functions (8). Carousing Area (mess hall),
Lodging x5 (one stable, two barracks, one
officer's quarters), Storage Area (armory),
Training Area (Strength, training grounds)
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engaged with by enemies). Possessing a
stronghold increases the organization‘s
efficiency by 25%, so long as it can house the
staff (for 50% baseline efficiency).
Military. Organizations can have their own
military forces, usually in staff members or
hirelings that are formed into troops. Knightly
orders and thieves‘ guilds‘ soldiers are usually
knights or thugs respectively. This follows the
normal rules for military in settlements.
If the staff member is also a combatant (such as
a Guard who is proficient in a relevant skill),
they can choose only one task at any given day.
Hence a hireling that is used for combat for a
number of days does not count in the calculation
for net income.
Shelter 1 (comfortable) 17 (average) 131 (poor),
Stables 5 (average) 20 (poor) Storage 20 tons
(common weapons, armors, and ammunition)
Staff 14 (skilled), 28 (unskilled)
Military 13 soldiers (2 sergeants; 7 staff + 6
hirelings)
Maintenance 33 gp 6 sp (28 gp skilled, 56 sp
unskilled, 12 hirelings)
Net Income 8 gp 4 sp
Leadership Sir Sarren Elwyth (level 10 half-elf
fighter, Intimidation +6, final training reduced
by 20%)
Features (50% efficiency) Stronghold
(garrison)
Description. Also known as a mercenary hold
(for barbarians or rangers), a private army,
temple knights (for paladins, fighters). This
organization also provides training to soldiers,
and may provide protection to a settlement in
return for its military tax.
A knightly order can provide sufficient
protection for a settlement of 650 people,
enough for a Crossroads Trade Town. If claiming
the military tax of the settlement in return, the
order gains an additional 16 gp and 8 sp per day
as protection money.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Mage School (Gray Tower), Capital 12,000 gp
(40 gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Training and
research
Stronghold (Tower)
Size Large Area 20x20 (six floors, up to 60-90
feet high)
Cost 15,000 gp (180 days)
Functions (6). Carousing Area (theater or
banquet hall), Lodging (living spaces), Magic
Nexus (any), Training Area x2 (library, plus
any), and any one of the following (Crafter's
Area (any chosen tools), Observatory (any),
Lodging (students' quarters, extra beds, or
warded summoning circle), Comfort Area
(meditative chamber), or storage room for
confiscated magical items)
Magic Nexus (any one focus)
Shelter 1 (comfortable) 14 (average) 74 (poor)
Staff 12 (skilled), 24 (unskilled)
Maintenance 28 gp 8 sp (24 gp skilled, 48 sp
unskilled)
Net Income 36 sp (divvied up between six
heads of the school; for 6 gp each)
Leadership Archmage Kor Vesden (level 10
gnome wizard, Arcana +9, final training reduced
by 20%)
Features (60% efficiency) Stronghold
(tower), rare service (+10% efficiency)
Description. Mage schools can also represent
an arcane sanctum, magical university, magic
school, alchemical society, or warlock pact.
Mage schools usually make their wealth from
educating students (as training), making special
contracts with the leadership of the settlement it
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resides in, or simply crafting special items and
selling them.
Noble House (House Regoran), Capital
30,000 gp (100 gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Influence
Stronghold (Keep; Garrison and Residence)
Size Medium Area 40x80 plus Size Small
Area 40x40
Cost 30,000 gp (360 days)
Functions (8 + 4). Carousing Area x2
(common room and mess hall), Lodging x6 (one
stable, two barracks, one officer's quarters, one
living quarters), Storage Area x2 (armory and
warehouse), Training Area (Strength, training
grounds), and any one of the following (Crafter‘s
Area (any), Greenhouse, Lodging (stable or extra
beds), Medical Area, Storage Area, or Training
Area (any))
Shelter 4 (comfortable) 30 (average) 175 (poor)
Stables 5 (average) 20 (poor) Storage 40 tons
(common weapons, armors, and ammunition
plus general warehouse) Staff 25 (skilled), 50
(unskilled)
Maintenance 70 gp (50 gp skilled, 20 gp
unskilled)
Net Income 44 gp 4 sp (divvied up between
eight heads of house for 5 gp 5 sp 5 cp each)
Leadership Lord Lionel Regoran (level 7
human fighter, Intimidation +8)
Features (55% efficiency) Stronghold (keep),
old money (+5% efficiency)
Description. This represents typical noble
houses, clan, or tribes. Such organizations are
powerful and exclusive gatherings that vie for
political, economic, and military power, trading
in secrets, favors, demands, and financially
supporting the scions of the noble house, often
competing with one another for political power,
gaining land to rule, armies to order, and
compete in a deadly hidden game to place their
scions on thrones.
Noble houses usually have many auxiliary
sources of income, such as controlled
settlements and farmlands, donations from
affluent family members (1% of total income of
all family members), and taxes.
Potion Shop (Sprites and Spirits), Capital
600 gp (2 gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Refinement
Stronghold (cottage) Size Tiny Area 20x20
or 10x40
Cost 2,500 gp (30 days)
Functions (1). Crafter‘s Area (Alchemist‘s
supplies and Healer‘s Kit)
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
Shelters 3 (average) 9 (poor) Staff 3 (skilled) 6
(unskilled)
Maintenance 7 gp 2 sp (6 gp skilled, 12 sp
unskilled)
Net Income 2 gp 8 sp
Leadership Elizabeth Regoran (level 1 human
alchemist, alchemist‘s supplies +5)
Features (50% efficiency) Stronghold
(cottage)
Description. Potion shops, minor alchemy
stations, or witch huts can be found in the
wilderness, dark alleyways, or could display their
wares in colleges and as organizations built in
existing strongholds.
Holy Order (Order of the Blessed Hand),
Capital 3,000 gp (10 gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Training and
Protection
Stronghold (School)
Size Small Area 20x60
Cost 7,500 gp (90 days)
Function (3). Lodging (students' quarters),
Training Area (Intelligence or Wisdom), and one
of the following (Crafter's Area (any chosen
tools), Infirmary, or Magic Nexus)
Shelter 1 (comfortable) 7 (average) 43 (poor)
Staff 6 (skilled), 12 (unskilled)
Maintenance 14 gp 4 sp (12 gp skilled, 24 sp
unskilled)
Net Income 9 gp 6 sp
Leadership Hand of the Light (level 7 dwarf
cleric, +8 Religion, training time reduced 15%)
Features (50% efficiency) Stronghold
(school)
Description. Holy orders can also represent a
monkhood in its abbey, a religious sect, or a cult.
Paladins, monks, or clerics are commonly
members in holy orders.
Holy orders usually have additional sources of
income, such as the religious tax of the
settlement (in the form of various tithes and
donations), and can spend the wealth in training
additional members, conducting grand rituals to
benefit the settlement (such as free healing), or
can finance or support armed forces (for a
crusade or similar military expedition).
Shop (General Store), Capital 1,500 gp (5
gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Trade
Stronghold (guildhall) Size Small Area
20x40 Cost 5,000 gp (60 days)
Functions (2) Carousing Area (mess hall),
Storage Area (warehouse)
Shelters 1 (comfortable) 6 (average) 13 (poor)
Storage 20 tons (warehouse)
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Staff 3 (skilled), 6 (unskilled)
Maintenance 7 gp, 2 sp (6 gp skilled, 12 sp
unskilled)
Net Income. 1 gp 6 sp
Leadership Elsa Reiner (level 2 human fighter,
Persuasion +4)
Features (55% efficiency) Stronghold
(guildhall), demand (common; +5% net income)
Description. This can represent a pawn shop,
small caravan, and minor struggling businesses.
The general store trades in goods and minor
services that are in common demand.
Famous Inn (Rusty Dragon Inn), Capital
4,000 gp (13 gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Entertainment and
Food
Size Small Area 40x40 (or 20x80)
Cost 10,000 gp (120 days)
Functions (4). Carousing Area (common
room), Lodging (living quarters), Storage area
(warehouse), and any one of the following
(Crafter‘s Area (any), Greenhouse, Lodging
(stable or extra beds), Medical Area, Storage
Area, or Training Area (any))
Shelter 3 (comfortable) 13 (average) 44 (poor)
Staff 6 (skilled), 12 (unskilled) Storage 20 tons
(any)
Maintenance 14 gp, 4 sp (12 gp skilled, 24 sp
unskilled)
Net Income 7 gp 2 sp
Leadership Ameiko Kaijitsu (level 5 human
bard, Persuasion +6)
Features (60% efficiency) Stronghold
(residence), exotic cooking (+5% efficiency) and
famous attraction (+5% efficiency)
Description. Inns usually specialize in one
form of entertainment or food over another,
such as inviting an exotic bard, dancer, or
serving foods and drinks their competitors do
not have.
This represents a fairly popular inn with a
special trait that increases demand (in this case,
unusual cooking), who has no serious rivals in
the settlement it is established in.
Inns usually have additional sources of income,
such as providing rent for money. See Shelter
under Establishing Strongholds (Chapter 3:
Strongholds) for guidelines on offering shelter
for rent.
Thieves’ Guild (Raven Court), Capital 3,000
gp (10 gp/day limit)
Organizational Activity Influence
Stronghold (Guildhall)
Size Small Area 20x40
Cost 5,000 gp (60 days)
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Functions (2). Carousing Area (mess hall), Organizational Activity Refinement

Training Area (any)
Shelters 1 (comfortable), 6 (average) 13 (poor)
Staff 4 (skilled), 8 (unskilled)
Maintenance 9 gp, 6 sp (8 gp skilled, 16 sp
unskilled)
Net Income 10 gp (10 gp, 4 sp, reduced due to
insufficient Capital)
Leadership Master Raven (level 5 human
rogue, Stealth +10, training time reduced 15%)
Features (50% efficiency) Stronghold
(guildhall)
Description. Trading in secrets and rumors,
thieves‘ guilds either provide the role of
organized criminals, intelligence agencies (such
as a spymaster's web), or can represent illegal
movements such as criminal syndicates, an
underground rebellion, to a secret society. This
particular one is led by an extremely competent
leader but is held back by insufficient Capital
and lack of skilled hirelings.
Thieves' guilds usually expand into a manor
house (residence) or gain larger guildhalls, but
keep from expanding too quickly due to
cutthroat competition.
Weapon Workshop (Ironbeard Munitions),
Capital 3,000 gp (10 gp/day limit)
Stronghold (guildhall) Size Small Area
20x40 Cost 5,000 gp (60 days)
Functions (2) Carousing Area (mess hall),
Crafter‘s Area (smithing tools)
Shelters 1 (comfortable) 6 (average) 13 (poor)
Storage 20 tons (warehouse)
Staff 5 (skilled), 10 (unskilled)
Maintenance 12 gp (10 gp skilled, 20 sp
unskilled)
Income 10 gp (11 gp 4 sp, reduced due to
insufficient Capital)
Leadership Morodoth Ironbeard (level 5 dwarf
rogue, smithing tools +6)
Features (65% efficiency) Stronghold
(guildhall), backwards integration (+10%
efficiency), common demand (+5% efficiency)
Description. Weapon workshops companies
flourish in mining towns and in settings with
war.
This particular workshop is known for
developing and manufacturing gunpowder
weapons, increasing the demand on it due to no
competition. After securing a mine containing
sulfur deposits and iron, they gain the bonus
from backwards compatibility to increase
efficiency.

Managing an Organization
OPTIONAL RULE: RENOWN
Income and influence an organization gains (such as a
knightly order, a silversmith‘s mint, or a thieves‘ guild)
or can be used to further the aims of the organization‘s
leader, such as by leveraging the power to affect the
settlement‘s government, cause or instigate settlement
events, or spent the income to gain a private army. The
optional rule Renown in the Dungeon Master‘s Guide
(page 22) can be employed to represent the
organization‘s influence with other factions in the
settlement. In this case, the organization has its own
Renown score, though its initial score is affected by
that of the organization‘s leader.

Organizational Activities. An organization can

cover multiple activities, but usually focuses on one
and creates branching organizations (or sub-
organizations) to manage other interests.
An organization can spend its income to gain specific
benefits as appropriate to its organizational activity.
An organization usually has only one or two activities,
before the dilution of responsibilities begins to reduce
organizational efficiency.
 Gathering/Hunting. These organizations are usually farmers‘ or fishers‘ guilds, unions or societies
that determine the crop of the settlements (so long as the organization has farmers as supporters).

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Organizations that provide food often wield immense influence in nations where food production
does not fall to nobles.
Better Investments. Income from gathering/hunting organizations is multiplied by 3 for the purposes
of any purchase or investment in such venues. A farmers‘ guild that spends 450 gp by investing in
farmlands (to create farmland out of arable land) gains the benefit as if it invested 1,350 gp (or 3
acres) instead, or can invest 1 acre of farmland with 150 gp instead of 450 gp.
 Influence (faction intrigue, information, advocacy or interest groups, spy
organizations). Influence yields secrets, pieces of lore, and favors with greater efficiency.
Influence includes anything from familial clans who gather from anything from shared interests
(exemplified in noble house coalitions) to structured goings-on (from a caste system‘s to organized
crime).
Also, instead of gaining a helpful contact when performing the downtime action, you may gain a favor
from a random existing contact, or become the target of hostilities by a random existing enemy. If the
carousing is done in the organization's stronghold (such as holding a dance in a keep), invitations to
specific individuals increases the chances of gaining them as contacts.
Better Contacts and Secrets. When spending income gained from influence organizations, the
effective payment is multiplied by 3 for the purposes of any payment, bribes, or other payment to gain
influence (in other words, 1 gp of bribes from an Influence organization counts as 3 gp of bribes).
 Investment/Loaning. Income based on investment or loaning requires initial capital, and provides
1d4% (or 2%) of the Capital every 30 days so long as there is access to a nearby settlement with an
active economy.
 Trade/Mercantilism (Caravans, traders, traveling merchants). Staff of mercantilism
organizations are usually spread out across several areas. A stronghold in the center of the
organization‘s power provides the normal benefit, but merchant and trade organizations have the
added advantage of performing business in every location they are present in, and can manage
purchases and sales across every settlement the organization has permanent presence (or an outpost).
They may also establish supply lines and networks of contacts that can buy from every settlement the
organization has a presence in (although paying for it may require physically moving money or a
letters of credit). Military forces employed by merchants also double as caravan or merchants‘ guards.
 Refinement (weapons, armors, potions, etc.). Refinement organizations can be integrated
(backwards and forwards integration features), and are more likely to gain special activities and
contracts (see below), and are more likely to gain special contracts (such as mass weapon
manufacturing from military organizations, or potion orders from a mage academy).
 Service (baths, entertainment, healing, training, serving pilgrims, transport). Most
service organizations have the benefit of being affected by events more commonly than other
organizations. For instance, entertainment flourishes in times of decadence and peace, while military
training peaks in the months that precede war or the recovery afterwards.
Service organizations, therefore, are the easiest organization to start up, and are more effected by
increases in efficiency (gaining and losing efficiency at 1.5 the normal rate).
If choosing research as a service, the efficiency of every payment made is multiplied by 3 for the
purposes of research. In other words, researching new spells by a mage academy costs a third of the
normal cost.

Special Activities and Contracts. The income from organizations represent normal work. A special
activity (such as a large contract for produced weapons, training an army of wizards or a noble‘s son, or
proactively defeating a threat) can yield a different value of income.
This is a different activity from normal, and the income is treated as the special activity is all the income
the organization takes.

DM NOTE: SPECIAL CONTRACTS

Special Contracts can be anything from several times the normal income, to the military tax of
several settlements in case of protection, to a percentage of a product‘s cost (percent of a
stronghold‘s cost if a masonry guild), magical items (in case of a knightly order retrieving a lost
artifact), or as a downtime activity‘s income (a thieves‘ guild attacking a certain individual or
blackmailing an enemy).

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Special activities are usually resolved as quests the organization accepts. If an organization‘s
income is based on special contracts, consider preventing normal income except save special
contracts (an assassin‘s guild may only get its income after a difficult job, but may gain several
times the normal value).
For example, investment or loaning can be the organization‘s activity.

Titles and Jobs. As settlements, organizations can have internal titles and jobs. When a check is
required, the character with the appropriate title performs the roll. In cases of there being no job or title,
the leader of the organization can delegate the task or perform it themselves.

Organization Features, Events, and Infrastructure

The DM may provide events during Downtime. The nature of the event can be a response to campaign
events (such as criminal activity in times of war or unrest, or deadly accident if the business is hazardous),
or when a rescued character provides entertainment or advertising.
The benefits or penalties of all events remain for one month unless specified otherwise. Events may be
capitalized or mitigated with a successful check.
Whenever workers are lost in a month, you may replace them, but the DM may impose a cost (ranges
from the percent of workers lost to a flat amount to represent recruitment costs).
Can use the organization's net income for the following instead of gaining it as wealth.
Other downtime activities may gain bonuses, usually in terms of increased efficiency due to organizational
professionalism or the number of skilled workers.

Features. Each organization has features it gains by interacting with the settlement, making purchases,
or succeeding on checks (left to joint DM-player adjudication, as well as the initiative of the player and
possible quests).
o Demand. Demand and competition alter an organization‘s efficiency, with greater demand and lower
competition increasing its efficiency from 5% (common demand) to 25% (very high demand), and
competition lowering income by similar rates.
Despite the fact that competition lowers efficiency, it may force organizations to develop into different
activities in which they introduce new products (hence altering the competition modifier for
efficiency).
o Integration (production activity). Integration is a measure of an organization with a productive
activity (such as crafting companies) expand their operations. Integration can either increase
efficiency or lower maintenance. Below are two examples of integration.
o Backwards Integration. Possessing the raw materials of the produced end product (such as a
smithy owning a mine or a winery owning vineyards) increases the organization‘s efficiency
by 10% and prevents loss of raw materials by most events (unless the mine or vineyards are
directly attacked).
o Forwards Integration. Possessing an outlet for sale of the end product (such as a smithy
owning a weapons shop) allows the organization‘s leader to perform negotiations to increase
prices (as the Negotiate Prices activity).
o Stronghold. Possessing a stronghold counts as a feature, which increases efficiency by 25% so long as
all the employees have space in the stronghold.

Events. Certain events in-game may have ramifications on organizations. A control weather spell cast by
a mad druid on a settlement negatively affects everyone, including organizations, while an endorsement
from a famous diva can provide operational leverage. Below are sample events that could occur and affect
organizations. By default, you may roll an organization event once per month, and its benefits remain for
the entire month.
Roll on the following table for the event, or the DM may choose one to represent an in-game event.

d% Event
1-5 Accident or disease
6-10 Bad Weather
11-15 Criminal Activity
16-20 Damage to stronghold

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21-30 Rivalry
31-60 No event
61-75 Good event (weather, windfall, or high morale)
76-85 Special Order
86-90 Discovery
91-98 Famous visitor or endorsement
99-100 Roll again twice, take both results and apply both

Accident or Disease. 3d10% of the staff are

exposed to an accident or disease. A successful
Wisdom (Medicine) check or expenditure of the
appropriate spell can negate this event.
Employees that are exposed to the accident or
disease cannot participate in organization
activities, or require a 20% increase in pay
(calculate per staff member).
Bad Weather. The organization‘s activities are
negatively affected by bad weather. This causes
2d10% decrease in efficiency, negated with a
successful Survival check (DC determined by
severity of weather).
Criminal Activity. The organization is
targeted by a criminal to be heisted (as the
activity of the same name). The leader of the
organization must successfully counter their skill
check.
Damage to Stronghold (requires a
Stronghold). A random room or number of
rooms in the stronghold is affected by a fire,
infesting with vermin, or crumbles, reducing the
bonus income from the stronghold by half until
repaired, fumigated, or otherwise tended to. A
survival check (DC determined by severity of
damage) can negate this effect.
If your organization‘s activity is based around
dangerous items (such as potions and other
alchemical objects, or gunpowder), the event
that takes place is related to the organization‘s the visitor falling out of favor or if the
product, and the damage is appropriately larger endorsement being withdrawn).
than normal. Good Event (Weather, Windfall, or High
Discovery (Craft skill only). A worker makes Morale). Increase efficiency by 20% for until
a discovery. The manager gains a new schematic, the next roll or until the positive event ends
formula, or similar plans for a crafted item. Most (whichever is sooner).
workers expect to be rewarded (usually Special Order. Your organization gains a
equivalent to a being given a day‘s pay to a special order (see Special Contracts). If your
month‘s pay), and this can diversify the products organization is normally funded by special
(increasing efficiency as described above). contracts, the next one is instead more
Famous Visitor or Endorsement. Increase productive.
efficiency by 1d20% for one day. This can exceed Rivalry. The organization is targeted by a rival
the normal limit for income by Capital. with a similar activity type. Make a skill check
With a successful Persuasion check (DC using your chosen skill opposed by the rival. The
determined by popularity of visitor or victor of the opposed roll increases their
endorsement, starting at 25 from minor efficiency by 10%, and reduce that of their rival
endorsements to 10 from royalty), half the by 10%.
original bonus can remain indefinitely or until If the rivalry is ever diffused, the event ends.
the endorsement is no longer effective, such as

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Faction Cards
A faction card is simple DM/Player planning tool that detail a faction‘s plans and the appropriate
timetable where their plans will come to fruition so to provide an element of unpredictability and racing
to downtime. An ideal number of plans is 4, with overlapping execution times between each faction.

Learning a faction‘s plan requires investigation done by the character or by an Influencing Organization
(which is more adept with the task by virtue of connections and dedicated investigators). If a certain
creature is leading the faction (such as a noble house patron/matron), the skill check is made against
them as an opposed check.

For the DM, faction cards are also useful to determine the downtime allowed for players before the next
event (if they wish to intercede or interrupt a faction plan) or assist in it, allowing them to leverage their
settlement, organization, or army to force or delay a confrontation.

A sabotaged plan may have its duration increased (as determined by the DM) if it is not fully thwarted.

Sample Faction Cards

Hawkish Noble House
Alignment (NE), Manpower (75 members), Organization (Noble House)
Plans (Skill DC)
 Diplomatically isolate other houses/target‘s allies; 6 months (Investigation DC 20, or Insight DC 22)
 Gain support for war; 5 months (Investigation DC 20, or Insight 22)
 Prepare forces for war; 4 months (Investigation DC 20, or Insight DC 17 after 50% finished)
 Strike deals with mercenaries; 1 month (Investigation DC 15)
The noble house might rashly decide to start a war before isolating the target’s allies or gaining support,
but this will likely ruin their chances for full victory.

Rat Cult of Disease

Alignment (CE), Manpower (18 members), Organization (Holy Order)
Plans (Skill DC)
 Develop a new plague; 15 months (Investigation DC 20, or Medicine DC 17 after 50% finished)
 Gather more followers; 3 months (Investigation DC 15, or Intimidation DC 17)
 Expand stronghold; 8 months (Investigation DC 15, or Intimidation DC 17)
 Train followers in spellcasting; 4 months (Investigation DC 15, or Religion DC 17)
The rat cult’s priority is gaining more members, which could accelerate their long-term destructive
plans if not discovered or sabotaged.

Spymaster’s Network
Alignment (LN), Manpower (12 members), Organization (Thieves‘ Guild)
Plans (Skill DC)
 Discover/fabricate scandal on pretender to the throne to delegitimize him; 6 months (Investigation
DC 20 or Insight DC 22).
 Neutralize or absorb new assassination guild (Investigation DC 20 or Insight DC 22)
 Plant agent in suspicious new cult; 2 month (Investigation DC 20 or Insight DC 15 after 50% finished)
 Sabotage overly ambitious duke‘s planned war; 4 months (Investigation DC 20)
The spymaster juggles a lot of difficult plots, but usually has the crown’s support to pull it off, unless a
monkey wrench falls into the gears (such as rebel adventurers). If all goes according to plan, the
spymaster intends to continue to sabotage both the rat cult of disease and the hawkish noble house to
drain their resources before executing the king’s order to fully thwart their plans.

Chapter 5: Downtime and Training

The following rules supplant and replace the existing rules in the DMG and Xanthar’s Guide to
Everything.

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A wizard learning spells from their master, a rogue going through agility courses or being mentored under
the eye of the thieves‘ guild, or a peasant being trained by a great fighter to stand up to a tyrannical lord
are all activities included under this chapter‘s downtime and training rules.
Training requires setting the day aside from other activities, such as exploration, fighting, leading a
company or settlement, or research. An organization or settlement leader, when training, hands the reins
of power to their second-in-command.
Downtime can also be used to make money, such as having a full-time job, which can alleviate lifestyle
expenses and provide surplus when adventuring is not required.

Downtime can be spent on various activities.

The below activities augment those in the Dungeon Master‘s Guide.

Optional Rules: Alternate Crafting Rules

Using tools, you may craft objects with an investment of time and money. This depends on the complexity
of the project, not on the cost of the end product. This alters the normal crafting rules (where the cost of
the material determines the crafting time).
Complexity Time
Very simple 10 minutes
Simple 1 hour
Moderate 1 day
Complex 7 days
For each step of complexity beyond complex, add 7 days. For example, a complexity 4 task takes 28 days
(7 times 4).
When having a Crafter‘s Area, the speed of production is increased in the same proportion as increased
progress.

Construction Supervision. You reduce the total construction time of a stronghold or building by 10%.
If you have proficiency in the relevant tool (such as Mason‘s Tools), you lower it a further 10% (total 20%).

Heist
A heist is a catch-all term for covert action against a target (creature, organization, settlement, etc.).
Choose three skills that represent your chosen tactic for the heist (Stealth for infiltration, Deception for
scams, Survival for hiding tracks, etc.), and a heist objective.
The DM (or target of the heist, such as a settlement's security official or Marshal) must choose three skills
to counter (Perception by having a night‘s watch, Investigation for general awareness of criminal activity,
Intimidation for history of dealing with assault and theft, etc.).
A heist attempt triggers Criminal Activity event with the leader of the targeted organization or settlement,
or the appointed character (such as a settlement‘s marshal or warden, or an organization‘s watchman or
chief of security), as follows:
 Heist Contest. The two parties roll their opposed checks, one for each skill they choose (can
choose whichever order). If you failed in all three rolls (0/3), the heist fails, and your team of
agents trigger a combat encounter to determine whether or not they will escape, and you leave
three clues of your identity (regardless if the agents managed to escape).
If you succeed in one out of the three rolls (1/3), the heist fails, and your team of agents trigger a
combat encounter to determine whether or not they will escape, and you leave one clue of your
identity (regardless if the agents managed to escape).
If you succeed in two out of the three rolls (2/3), the heist is successful, and you get away cleanly,
but a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) skill check determines one clue of your identity or
methods. DC 20 discovers two clues.
If you succeed in all three rolls (3/3), the heist goes out without a hitch, and the Investigation
check‘s DC is 30 instead for one clue, and 35 for two clues. You also gain 50% increased benefit
from the heist (however appropriate).
You gain advantage to your rolls if you know the place‘s defenses, have taken a significant
measure to make the heist succeed, or have sympathizers on the inside. You suffer disadvantage
to your rolls if you are performing the heist blindly (having not scouted the place, being fed false

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information, having contradictory plans, and having not enough time to prepare the agents),
having too much heat (several heists in succession), or having a mole in your organization.

 Heist Objectives. Heists can have one (or more) objectives. Each objective beyond the first adds
another required skill roll (and an opposed one for the target). The DM alters the success
parameters appropriately.
o Capture/Assassination1. Rescue, kidnap, or assassinate a target; success is being able to
capture or kill them
o Espionage. You learn a secret or piece of information (such as battle plans or a message)
o Theft (Petty). You gain up to 20% of a settlement‘s tax income (for one day) or one day‘s
income from an organization. This represents tax robbery from collectors or posing as one, to
impersonating a member of an organization and intercepting their daily income.
o Theft (Grand). You can steal up to 10% of an organization‘s capital, or 2% of the settlement‘s
treasury. This roll is done against the leader of an organization or settlement directly (instead
of an underling), even if they are not present.
o Theft (Specific). You steal a specific item held in the target‘s possession or guardianship.
Note. The heist action can cover low to medium-importance missions, not high-profile or ones
critical to the success or survival of the organization. These are resolved as full quests, and not as
a downtime events (though they do take time to plan, in which case the heist action can provide
information, plant agents, or support the mission financially), but can use a similar base system
(of opposed rolls and combat encounters triggered by failures).

Manage or Lead
A character who manages a settlement or organization (usually the head of the settlement's government
or organization‘s leader) can make the decisions when it comes to handling events, where to spend
income, and similar actions. They are also the one to contribute their skill bonus to the organization‘s rolls
and income.
This is considered a full downtime activity and is required to contribute the skill bonus for income (and
most other skills). A second-in-command may be assigned as regent (or secondary leader) while the ruler
is busy with another activity (such as training, magic research, or recuperating, or is abroad adventuring
or traveling).

Rally
A character may perform rallies and gather supporters and like-minded people to garner monetary or
personal aid (such as volunteering recruits). Rallying requires a three days per size modifier of the
settlement for news to spread (could take less or more depending on the effort spent or circumstances).
This provides a number of supporters, or an amount of monetary aid that scales with the settlement.
 Monetary Aid. A successful skill check (relative to the point being made) may grant you a 1d5% (roll
1d10 and divide by 2, round up) of the tax income of the settlement. This is drawn from any of the tax
types of the settlement instead of going to the relevant sector (ruler, military, religious, or trade).
For example, if you are a shaman, you may raise funds to appease agitated spirits and gathering
donations. If a priest, you may require money to re-consecrate a desecrated chapel. In either case, you
may raise funds and draw from the religious tax in the settlement (from the 5%).
The monetary aid is drawn from a similar source to sector. Drawing from the military sector, for
example, will require a military-related rally. Military-based strongholds may raise funds from the
military tax. If the ruler of the settlement provides approval, monetary aid may be automatic (to the
full value), such as sanctioning an official state religion.
 Recruitment. You may equip commoners with weaponry and drill them in combat, turning them into
soldiers (as the Guard) and granting them proficiencies with any two weapons you are proficient with
and one type of armor. This takes 125 days (half an easy training task) for any number of potential
soldiers so long as you have the manpower and staff to provide guidance. These guards keep old
proficiencies and increase their ability scores appropriately from training. This costs 2 sp per
commoner trained every day (or 25 gp per commoner at the end of 125 days) to feed, shelter, and
train them.

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Charisma (Any): Rally. A character can attempt to rally supporters for a cause (such as funding the start of
a company, call to arms to protect a settlement, encourage an exodus from the settlement to another one,
or even join an armed force).
The base DC of this check is 10 (subject to special modifiers), and takes time as appropriate to get the
word out (usually one day per size category of the settlement, but is otherwise variable).
This is usually a Charisma-based skill check (such as Persuasion or Intimidation), but can be modified by
different ability scores (such as Strength or Wisdom).
Rallying is affected by cause and reception, which provides a bonus or penalty to the character‘s check
result. If it exceeds the DC, it is a success, and the character gains supporters in the settlement,
organization, or stronghold equal to 1% per point of success in the check. This can be repeated, but this
usually causes rivals to pop up, polarization to occur, and other events that eventually cause rallying to
become less efficient over time. Usually, at least one person in the settlement is affected by the rally
attempt, but their personal influence may be less than desired (such as the weaker or marginalized parts
of society).
After the initial rally, the percent of supporters can fluctuate with events; disregarding supporters or
rewarding them may decrease or increase sympathizers.
Supporters give aid, usually randomly determined or based on the supporter‘s personality or the culture.
The amount of aid a supporter can give is proportionate to the percent of supporters a cause has, as well
as the passion of individual supporters as NPCs.
• Funds. Supporters can provide donations. This is equal to the amount of religious/charity tax
multiplied by the percent of supporters. If the religious tax is already claimed by a church, stronghold, or
the government, said targets get wind of this quickly.
• Manpower. 1 out of every 5 supporters are willing to leave their jobs to perform a task (such as
watching for enemies or even taking up the sword fighting). Most supporters use the statistics of
Commoner (Dungeon Master‘s Guide, page 346), though supporters among armed forces occasionally
yields guards or soldiers, supporters in guilds may be smith‘s apprentices, and supporters among
churches and mage academies may provide acolytes and apprentices, respectively.
• Information. Supporters freely give information to those they sympathize with. This is usually
treated in-game as rumors, with the more the supporters, the more likely the rumor is true.
• Shelter. This provides shelter for the character and any ally, up to one person provided shelter per
every 3 supporters (with the quality varying on the type of supporter).

DM NOTE: CAUSE AND RECEPTION

Reputation, legitimacy, risk, and reward all contribute to the rallying attempt. These grant bonuses and
penalties that could spell the difference between successfully raising funds, rallying soldiers, or being ran
out of the settlement in shame. Each of the four aspects can provide a bonus or penalty up to 5 points of
difference to the DC or ability/skill check.
For example, a low-risk (+5), high-reward (+5) venture from a legitimate and respected party (+5) for a
good cause (+5) gains a bonus of +20 to the check, which is in most cases an acceptable bargain (unless
the target has other reservations they have not voiced due to lack of trust).
A risky (-5) and unprofitable (-5) venture from a suspicious or unknown party (-5) for dubious causes (-5)
suffers a -20 penalty to the check.
Risk in this case represents any damage or inconvenience the supporter suffers.
Reward is a direct and tangible return (usually in the form of reduced taxes or monetary or spiritual
reward).
Reputation covers anything from legitimate bloodline to just character.
Cause covers any ideological, historical, or cultural belief or conviction the supporter has (such as loyalty
to a certain faith, vengeful feelings, to abstract concepts such as justice or righteousness).
For example, a just and respected head of a dwarven mining town is usurped by a conclave of depraved
criminals and demon-worshipping cultists. The head returns to the settlement in disguise, and begins
rallying the townsfolk to fight. Fighting is high risk (-5), no reward (+0), from a legitimate party (+5), and
a good cause (+5), for a total modifier of +10 to the Persuasion check.
With a dice result of 15, the total roll is 25, which translates to 25% of the town‘s 2,000 population are
supporters (1 out of every 4, or 500 total).
If the head also promises rewards for those who aid him (such as a promise for less taxes), or has enough
troops to convince the populace that this is not a high-risk venture, the final modifier increases further.

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Recuperate
A character may recuperate with 3 days of full rest. Make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a
successful save, you can choose one of the following results:
o End one effect on you that prevents you from regaining hit points, so long as the effect doesn‘t
have a specific requirement.
o For the next 24 hours, you gain advantage on saving throws against one disease or poison
currently affecting you.
If you perform this downtime action in a stronghold‘s Medical Area, the DC to recuperate is reduced to 10.

Spellcraft
This includes copying spells to a spellbook as well as researching new spells.
A day of spellcraft can transcribe up to 4 spells from one spellbook to another, and 200 gp. If you are
scribing from your own spellbook (such as to make a back-up spellbook or gift one to an apprentice), the
cost is halved for the same number of spells (Normally 50 gp and 2 hours per spell level).
Researching a new spell takes 2 weeks per spell level, and 1,000 gp.
A character that has access to cantrips to change a single cantrip to another one your class can cast. This
costs only 25 gp, but takes 1 week to purge the old cantrip and cement the new one.
If you have a limited allotment of spells and cannot change spells by consulting a spellbook, you can spend
1 week per spell level and 500 gp to change a known spell to another.

Train
Each day of training increases the lifestyle expenses the
character has to pay by 1 gp. This does not include a
soldier‘s income. Training can provide a character with
bonus features and proficiencies at a cost of increased
lifestyle expenses and time. See the Training List below for
bonuses from training and the time required.
A character can reduce their training time by employing
their full potential (leveraging ability scores) or having a
mentor.
 Aptitude. Ability scores also represent the
incorporation of new skills related to the ability score in
question. Choose an ability score. The total training
time is reduced by 10% per point of the ability score
modifier.
If the trained objective is not related directly to an
ability score (such as gaining a new contact, armor or
weapon proficiency, or feat), the training time
reduction cannot benefit from ability scores except
upon DM discretion (such as having an exceptional
training who unlocks your true potential).
 Experience. Having a mentor, or being tutored by a
professional organization reduces the time spent
training by 5% per proficiency bonus of the master (or
tutoring leader of the organization).
For instance, an Intelligence score of 14 (+2 modifier) can
help learning new languages. The total training time is
therefore reduced by 20%. If the character is training in an
academy studying old languages, with a master whose level is 9 (proficiency +4), the training time is
reduced by a further 20% for a total of 40% less time (or 150 days, down from 250 days).

Training Students and Mystic Presence

Upon gaining levels, a character develops something of a mystic presence. This can augment their
maximum age if they are spellcasters, or exude an aura of power that psychically binds their students with
them and helps inspire followers.

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Depending on your maximum spell level accessed, your maximum age increases. Modify your maximum
age according to the table below. Characters who cannot cast spells can instead train their students better
(see below).
Characters who have less-than-full spellcasting refer to their appropriate spell level when calculating
student level (spellcaster) and maximum age increase.
A character can choose whether their mystic presence contributes to enhancing their students (stronger
students) or maximum age.

Students and Followers

All classes can train others (NPCs). Switching to playing an NPC is a reliable way to have a replacement
character ready in case of an untimely character death or retiring a character (see below). A character can
have a number of students equal to their ability bonus in one ability score (Wizards and Rogues usually
choose intelligence, Fighters and Clerics usually choose Wisdom, Bards and Sorcerers use Charisma, etc.).
The student chosen can be any NPC, and they are friendly, but are controlled by the DM (who also
determines how fast they catch up to the maximum level dictated by your mystic presence). Choosing to
increase maximum age reduces the maximum potential of students (requiring they eventually split from
you and develop skills on their own after leaving your presence).

Level (spell level) Student level (spellcaster/not) Maximum age increase1

1 (1) 0/0 0%
3 (2) 1/1 0%
5 (3) 2/3 15%
7 (4) 3/6 25%
9 (5) 4/8 50%
11 (6) 5/10 75%
13 (7) 6/12 100%
15 (8) 7/14 150%
17 (9) 8/16 300%
19 (9) 9/18 500%

1 This stacks with increases due to high Constitution and Wisdom scores. This does not slow aging, but
increases the maximum age. So a human who would normally live up to 100 years reaches a maximum of
500 years if 20th level. The character can choose to appear as any age they reach upon gaining this age
increase (with most male spellcasters preferring a more aged appearance, and female spellcasters often
preferring a younger one, though this has many exceptions).

Travel
Travel is treated as a downtime activity; during days of travel, a character cannot easily train, craft, or
work in a stable environment. If attempting to do so, the character must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion.
While traveling overland, the character consumes carried food and drink at the normal rate, or else risks
starvation or dehydration (which also imposes levels of exhaustion), but does not need to pay for lifestyle
expenses (since lifestyle expenses also include things such as minor taxes, housing, etc.).
See Foraging and Becoming Lost (Dungeon Master‘s Guide, page 112) for rules regarding navigation.

Work
A character can work for one day for an organization, person, or perform a task that provides them 1 gold
piece per day for every point of proficiency bonus. This requires proficiency in a skill or tool that provides
employment. Working does not also pay for lifestyle expenses, which must be paid according to the
income the character gains.
Most characters proficient with at least one tool or skill that provides employment to maintain a modest
lifestyle (and have 1 gp surplus per day). Higher-level characters can maintain a wealthy lifestyle at
proficiency +4, or at level 9.

Training List (Activities)

Benefit Segments1 (Days)/Task Complexity

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Ability Score Increase -

 +1 (up to 11) 1 (250 days)
 +1 (up to 13) 3 (750 days; or 2 years)
 +1 (up to 15) 6 (1,500 days; or 4 years)
Feat 6 (2,750 days; or 4 years)
Helpful Contact 90 days
Hit Point Training2 10 days per hit point
Memorize Reference 90 days
Proficiencies -
 Armor3 3 (750 days)
 Language 1 (250 days)
 Tool4 1 (250 days)
 Skill 3 (750 days)
 Weapon proficiency 1 (250 days); or 2 months (60 days) if a simple weapon
Research Creature 28 days (50 gp worth in research materials)
Research Potion 14 days (50 gp per spell level or base rarity, if the potion is not spell-based)
Research Spell 14 days and 50 gp (per spell level)
Retraining 7 days per character level
Troop Trait 1 (250 days)

1 A segment represents nearly 8 months of training (or 250 days).

2 So long as the character‘s existing hit point total is less than half their average (taking the normal roll),
training takes half the normal time for each hit point.
3 Armor requires proficiency in the lower level (medium armor requires light, heavy armor requires
medium, and shields are counted as weapons)
4 This includes vehicle proficiencies

Ability Score Increase. This allows a character to improve an ability score by extensive training
(physical endurance for Constitution, research for Intelligence, etc.). This increases the ability score by +1,
up to the maximum allowed by the time trained.
Feat. A character can gain a feat after the training period ends. Training with a skilled mentor who can
unlock your potential is nearly required to reduce training time (and subsequent costs).
Hit Point Training. You can increase your maximum hit points by 1, up to the maximum possible
allowed to you by your hit dice and Constitution modifier. If your current maximum hit points is below
your average (such 10 hit points for 2d10 + 6, or average hit points of 17), the training time is reduced by
half until you reach the average.
Memorize Reference. A character who memorizes a spell or recipe that requires to be scribed down no
longer needs their spellbook (or similar tome) to refer. This does not allow a character to prepare more
spells than they normally can. Spellcasters without a spellbook (or equivalent) cannot memorize spells,
but can learn different ones (as normal training).
Proficiency. Training to gain proficiency allows a character to gain armor, language, tool, skill, or
weapon proficiencies not gained by class, race, or background.
Research Creature. Researching a creature allows a character to understand it fully, identifying its
weaknesses and strengths. If also proficient in Alchemist‘s Supplies and in possession of an Alchemy Lab
(specialized Crafter‘s Area), a character can spend the research time to learn and create new monsters
(monstrosities, undead, and homunculi).
Research Potion. Researching a new potion allows you to scribe the formula of a potion of your choice.
You be able to craft the potion (casting the required spell or having the required ability).
Research Spell. Spell research includes discovery of new spells and development of them. These are
separate from the spells a wizard gains by leveling up, and can be scribed at the end of the duration
without additional cost.
Retrain. This allows a character to change their class or a chosen class feature (such as a Fighter‘s
Fighting Style or a Cleric‘s domain). This takes 7 days per class level of the character. If the retrained
feature is a learned spell that cannot be changed by referring to a spellbook, see Spellcraft above for
changing spells.
Troop Trait. Unlike normal training, this can only be granted to troops. Troop traits are detailed below.

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Each trait 250 days of training and 1 gold piece per component unit for training. A trainer can provide
instruction to as much troops as they have the resources to handle and supervise at the same time, but the
training cost must be paid per unit (10 gp per squad every day; or 2,500 gp to train a squad).
Troop traits can be paid with a troop‘s gained XP.

Optional Rule: Troop XP

Troops can gain XP as a normal character with this optional rule. With this rule applied, veterans of war
or champions of a battle have an advantage in training. Each 10 points of XP count as one free day of
training the troop does not have to experience (in time or training costs).

For example, three hundred elven warriors corner and defeat an adult red dragon (18,000 XP). If the XP
is divided between the three, it yields 6,000 XP each, or 600 days of free training. This can pay for two
troop traits (250 days each) with 100 days to spare (such as an additional simple weapon proficiency).
This represents historical battles that allow the establishment of elite units, allowing soldiers who survive
tough engagements to ‗level up‘.

Optional Rule: Troop Classes

In certain cases, a troop greatly outperforms itself and what was expected of it. If the DM approves it, a
troop that has at least 300 XP (for each component unit) can spend it to instead gain a class level (gaining
1 level in a class for 300 XP). This changes the component unit, and grants the troops the appropriate hit
points, class features, and starting proficiencies atop their normal statistics. Alternatively, you can rebuild
the troop to act as if they are 1st level characters to make the transformation complete. When gaining a
class level, the creature‘s Challenge is equal to its original Challenge plus 1 per level in the class.
For instance, a 10-man guard force somehow manage to defeat a stone giant for 2,900 XP (290 XP each)
and a gnoll commanding it 100 XP (10 XP each), for a total of 3,000 XP (300 XP each). This allows each
component unit to gain a level in Fighter.
The guard therefore is changed to the following from the default guard to gain a fighter level.

Guard (Fighter 1) Languages Any one language (usually

Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)
Hit Points 22 (2d8 + 1d10 + 3)
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
Saving Throws +3 Strength, +3 Constitution
Skills Athletics +3, Perception +2, Survival +2
Senses passive Perception 12
Common)
Challenge 1 (200 XP); 1/8 (25 XP each)
Traits
Second Wind (1/rest). On your turn, you can
use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to
1d10 + 1.
Fighting Style (Protection). When a creature
you can see attacks a target other than you that
is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction

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to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You
must be wielding a shield.
ACTIONS
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to
hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target.
Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage.
If formed into a squad, they take the following
statistics.
Guard Troop (Fighter 1; 10-unit squad)
Medium humanoid troop (any race), any
alignment
Armor Class 14 (chain shirt, shield); 16 each
Hit Points 125 (10d8 + 5d10 + 15); 17 (2d8 +
1d10 + 3) each
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
13 (+1) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
Saving Throws +3 Strength, +3 Constitution
Skills Athletics +3, Perception +2, Survival +2
Senses passive Perception 12
Languages Any one language (usually
Common)
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP); 1 (200 XP) each
Traits
Second Wind (1/rest). On your turn, you can
use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to
1d10 + 1.
Fighting Style (Protection). When a creature
you can see attacks a target other than you that
is within 5 feet of you, you can use your reaction
to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. You
must be wielding a shield.
ACTIONS
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to
hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target,
troop attack (accuracy 11).
Hit: 22 (5d6+5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6 + 1)
each.
Spear Troop Attack. Melee weapon attack:
Accuracy 11, reach 10 ft.
Hit: 22 (5d6+5) piercing damage; 4 (1d6 + 1)
each.

Specialized troops such as these usually demand additional pay as appropriate to their new Challenge, and
are more independent-minded and have confidence owing to their training. Dissatisfied guards trained
with class levels may see their potential wasted as soldiers, and may pick up adventuring or join a
mercenary organization.

Troop Traits
Below are traits troops can gain via training. A troop trait is not also owned by the component unit, as it is
drilled into them by using teamwork.
Bravery. The troop has advantage to saving throws against fear effects.
Crushing Charge. If the troop moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a
melee attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC 8 + the troop‘s
proficiency + the troop‘s Strength modifier) or be knocked prone. If mounted, the mount can make an
additional attack against a prone enemy as a bonus action if knocked down in the same turn.
Keen Senses. The troop has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on one sense (smell,
touch, taste). If choosing hearing or seeing, this requires two training periods (as if two traits).
Pack Tactics. The troop has advantage on an attack rolls against a creature if at least one of the troop‘s
allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Resilient Spirit. The troop gains proficiency in one saving throw. This can be taken twice (up to two
saving throws).
Shield Training. The troop is superbly proficient with mass shield use, and gains the following abilities:
o Shield Bash. The creature may, after attacking a target with a melee attack, bash them with their
shields as a bonus action, pushing them 5 ft. away.
o Shield Wall (reaction). When the troop is targeted with an effect that allows for a Dexterity saving
throw for half damage, the creature may spend a reaction to negate by blocking the effect entirely with
their shield they succeed on the saving throw.
o Projectile Shield (reaction). The troop automatically blocks the first projectile attack that targets them
so long as the attack roll‘s result is no more than 10 points higher than their own Armor Class. The
troop must be aware of the attack beforehand.
Skirmisher. When the troop makes a melee attack against a creature, they don't provoke opportunity
attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn, whether they hit or not. This is also known as Ride-by
Attack or Fly-by Attack (depending on the medium of movement).

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Retiring a Character
A character that has suffered mental trauma, survived serious wounds, or merely accomplished their
personal objectives can be retired. Ideally, a character has a certain amount of money to retire. The
character can spend their downtime in work (gaining additional wealth as per the downtime action) or
any other activity. This assumes a reasonable degree of investment. If customizing the organizations and
returns of investment, do not assume regular income; calculate the return of investment instead.

Money Result
500 gp Relatively modest lifestyle, stable work in a small organization and comfortable
residence; income of 3 gp/day
1,000 gp Comfortable lifestyle, stable work in a medium organization and a small house (Cottage
or similar stronghold); income of 6 gp/day
5,000 gp Wealthy lifestyle, owning several small or a medium organization and a medium house
(Residence or similar stronghold); income of 12 gp/day
15,000 gp Aristocratic lifestyle, owning several small or a large organization and a large house (Keep
or similar stronghold); income of 30 gp/day

A retired character benefits greatly from normal downtime activities, improving their ability scores and
training so to pass off their naturally-high innate abilities off to their offspring. A human who managed to
delve into a dungeon and unearthed 2,000 gp worth of gold in ancient coins and artifacts can comfortably
retire and spend years improving their Strength and Constitution scores, and then give the advantage to
their offspring in the form of higher Ability Score Aptitude, or return to the fray after decades of study
(such as described by many long lived races like elves and dwarves).

Optional
A character in downtime gains 2 XP points per every week of downtime upon reaching adulthood (most
people at the age of 40 are level 3). This is usually applied for retired characters (to keep them relatively
relevant in comparison to others) or those who perform challenging jobs.

Next Generation of Characters

When a character is retired, a good option for another character is either their student (as described under
Training Students and Mystic Presence) or the character‘s offspring.

Normally, person's child inherits their possessions. Beyond that, they also inherit a degree of their
parents‘ ability scores. When generating children of characters, whenever you roll for ability scores, you
may enhance the offspring‘s chances for good scores by adding both ability scores of each parent, and
dividing by 6 to find the value of Minimum Aptitude. You may replace the Minimum Aptitude value
with any dice roll to determine ability scores. Always round down for Minimum Aptitude values.

Inbreeding (or producing offspring with family members closer than first cousins) has a 20% chance of
reducing Minimum Aptitude values by 1 point (roll once for each ability score). This creates lesser stock
over generations, causing more insular communities to eventually cross genetic lines and yield people
with inferior ability scores.

For instance, a couple get together and produce offspring.

The mother has the following ability scores: Str 11, Dex 9, Con 9, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 16
The father has the following ability scores: Str 13, Dex 6, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 15, Cha 9

The Minimum Aptitude for Strength for the child is 11 + 13 divided by 6 (for 4). When rolling for the
child‘s Strength, the dice that would result with 1, 3, 1, and 5 should yield a result in 9 (roll four times,
drop lowest roll). Due to Minimum Aptitude, however, one dice roll (the dice roll of 1) is replaced with 4
for a result of 12. If the child was of close family members (such as core family), there is a 20% chance the
child‘s Strength is reduced by 1 point (to 11).

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Such genetics usually warrant recognition from various forces in the world, especially if at least two
minimum aptitude values are higher than 3. Such bloodlines may be described beforehand, with the
aptitude value cemented on the appropriate ability scores.

Sample Bloodlines
Blessed
Yours is the blood of priests, prophets, and far-seers. Until your bloodline thins from breeding with lesser
stock, bad luck, inbreeding, or loss of the blessing, the minimum aptitude values are 4 for Wisdom and 3
for Charisma.

Conqueror
Yours is the blood of a conqueror. Until your bloodline thins from breeding with lesser stock, bad luck, or
inbreeding, the minimum aptitude values are 4 for Strength and 3 for Charisma.

Sage
You come from a long line of sages and wise people. Until your bloodline thins from breeding with lesser
stock, bad luck, or inbreeding, the minimum aptitude values are 3 for Intelligence and 3 for Wisdom.

Musicians
You were born with the arts sung to you, and a line of minstrels and painters. Until your bloodline thins
from breeding with lesser stock, bad luck, or inbreeding, the minimum aptitude value is 5 for Charisma.

Hale Pioneers
Your clan is very much used to harsh conditions, such as extreme cold, extreme heat, or high places. Until
your bloodline thins from breeding with lesser stock, bad luck, or inbreeding, the minimum aptitude value
is 5 for Constitution.

Pact Makers
Magic has suffused your bloodline, leaving a trail of power that cost your ancestors dearly. Until your
bloodline thins from breeding with lesser stock, bad luck, or inbreeding, the minimum aptitude values are
2 for Constitution and 5 for a mental ability score of your choice.

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Chapter 6: New Skill and Tool Uses

Besides the normal expected skill and tool uses are options more relevant to topics handled by this
ruleset‘s framework.

Strength or Wisdom (Mason’s or Smith’s

Tools): Excavate. A creature can excavate and
dig a number of cubic feet of dirt equal to its
Strength score per hour.
An average creature (Strength 10) can excavate
10 cubic feet per hour.
Stone takes five times as long (1 cubic foot per
hour of stone), and other materials vary (joint
player-DM adjudication).
A pit dug in dirt that is 5 feet wide, 5 tall, and 10
feet deep has a volume of 250 square feet, taking
25 hours to excavate (of nearly three days if
alone). If in stone, it takes five times as much
effort. The more workers aid the character, the
less time it takes.
Soldiers in exploration missions are usually
trained with to excavate so to dig trails or roads,
trenches to defend from, or to infiltrate a
besieged stronghold.
Note. See Racial Strongholds for guidelines
when building into existing ground.
Wisdom (Survival): Locate Water. You
may detect or find evidence of underground
water resources (which can then be exploited by
excavating wells). This can be useful when
establishing a settlement or attempting to build
farms in dry land.
Wisdom (Survival): Locate Minerals. A
successful check allows a character to find clues
of a resource in a 1-mile square that is near the
surface. Resources require an organization
(usually based in a stronghold around the
resource) to extract it.
Charisma (Persuasion): Negotiate Prices.
You may alter prices for a single item or
commodity (or bundle of similar objects) you
choose by up to 1d10% (increasing sale price or
reducing buying price).
This requires 1 day of downtime of trading,
interacting with merchants, and testing
economic waters. The DC is equal to 15 or
opposed to the buyer‘s Charisma (Persuasion)
roll.
You may also use this roll to increase an
organization‘s efficiency if you have an outlet to
negotiate prices (forwards integration) and focus
on trade or selling and buying objects. In this
case, a successful roll increases your
organization‘s efficiency until the economic
circumstances in the settlement change or until
a character succeeds against you in negotiating
prices.

Alchemist‘s Supplies
Alchemy in 5e is relatively simple; treated as proficiency with Alchemist‘s Supplies. With this rule,
proficiency in alchemy provides the ability to craft potions that replicate spell uses, and crafting creatures
such as cross-bred species or other creatures.
To craft a potion, you must fulfill the following prerequisites:
 Be proficient with Alchemist‘s Supplies,
 Possess Alchemist‘s Supplies,
 Have the required proficiency bonus for the potion‘s rarity,
 Have the potion formula (takes two weeks and 50 gp per rarity step to research),
 Pay the potion‘s crafting cost as appropriate per rarity (see table below),
 Spend the required downtime in crafting

Note. If you have a spell formula (such as a spell written in a spellbook) that is also on the potion list, you
can refer to that instead of looking for a separate potion formula. Potion formulae must be written down
and kept safe, although budding alchemists are usually taught at least three formulae by their masters
(random or as preferred by that instructor).

Crafting Potions
All potions (regardless of form) weigh 1 pound (unless the container is heavier), and can be used by
imbibing or pouring on a creature or object (whichever applies better).

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Having multiple potions in contact or mixing potions (such as when drinking multiple potions or mixing
vials) risks miscibility. Potion miscibility can have multiple effects ranging from an alchemical explosion
to augmenting both potions and increasing their efficiency.

Item Quality Crafting Cost1 Proficiency Spell Level

Common 20 gp +2/Student 0 (Cantrip)
Uncommon 80 gp +2/Apprentice 1-2
Rare 320 gp +3/Journeyman 3-4
Very Rare 1,280 gp +4/Expert 5-6
Legendary2 5,120 gp +5/Artisan 7-8
Artifact 20,480 gp +6/Master 9+

The cost of purchasing a potion is double the crafting cost.

On average, it would take a character of the highest proficiency about 2-3 months to craft a potion from
downtime harvesting at the highest proficiency bonus.

Downtime Harvesting
Proficiency Materials/day Materials/week
+2 1 gp 7 gp
+3 7 gp 50 gp
+4 25 gp 175 gp
+5 100 gp 700 gp
+6 375 gp 2,625 gp

Sometimes, the materials harvested can only serve a particular potion concept, such as fire, healing, or
death (for potions that protect against or deal fire damage, materials that can only heal or recover, etc.).

How to Use Potions

A potion can be activated by use, which is a Use Object action, such as drinking a bottle's contents, coating
a spray on the user, or splashing an oil on a target. Potions can also be thrown to release their effect on
impact, in which case they are a thrown improvised weapon at a range of 20/60 ft. If the spell originally
affects an area, the potion affects the area as well.
The character can add their proficiency bonus to attack if they are proficient in Alchemist's Supplies.
Potion DCs is equal to 8 + the crafter‘s proficiency bonus + the crafter‘s Intelligence bonus.
For instance, the alchemist's fire potion stores the fire bolt cantrip, dealing 1d10 fire damage to the target
it hits.
If the spell stored in the potion has a casting time more than 1 Action, it starts activation on the user after
the original casting time is completed. For instance, an imbibed resurrection potion activates after 1 hour
(if the target still qualifies). Potion miscibility applies normally if trying to activate multiple potions.

Concentration Spells. The duration of a potion with a duration of concentration does not require
concentration; it instead runs up to 2d4 x 10% the maximum duration.
One creature cannot benefit from more than one concentration potion. In effect, ingesting a potion is
treated as concentrating on it, and if drinking another potion that demands concentration, the newer one
takes precedence and dispels the effects of the old one that required concentration.

Potion Miscibility Chart

Can mix out of combat or roll for miscibility when a target drinks more than one potion in the span of 1
hour (or has two potions in one vial to be consumed by one action). You are not instantly aware of the
results of the potion until used.

d100 Result
1-5 Explosion! The mixed potions cause an alchemical explosion which deals 5d10 arcane damage to
the target or imbiber, and 1d10 arcane damage 5 ft. away from the target or imbiber.
6-10 Toxicity: The mixed potion becomes a poison of DM's choice

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11-15 Minor Toxicity: One potion works, the other becomes a milder poison of the DM's choice (target
has advantage to saves)
16-25 Birth from Chaos: The mixture instead conjures a random aberration, elemental, or ooze, with a
CR equal to the average level of both potions (or of the appropriate quality relative to rarity). It is hostile
to the closest creature, and disintegrates when reduced to 0 hit points. Otherwise it remains for 1 hour. If
one of the two potions was of a cantrip, it conjures a creature of CR ¼. This creature can be bound.
26-30 Cancellation: Both potions in the mixture lose effect.
31-35 Minor Sync: Both potions in the mixture work, but their benefit and durations are halved; if can't
be halved, has no effect
36-40 Minor Cancellation: Only one potion works normally
41-70 Proper Sync: Both potions in the mixture work normally
71-80 Birth from Order: The mixture instead conjures a random aberration, elemental, or ooze, with a
CR equal to the average level of both potions (or of the appropriate quality relative to rarity). It is allied to
the closest creature, and disintegrates when reduced to 0 hit points. If one of the two potions was of a
cantrip, it conjures a creature of CR ¼. This creature can be bound.
81-90 Greater Sync: Both potions in the mixture work, and have their numerical benefit and maximum
duration doubled; if they can't be doubled, the potion can be reused if salvaged with a successful DC 15
Intelligence check with Alchemist‘s Supplies as an action.
95-99 Superior Sync: Both potions work, and the target can benefit from a third random potion of DM's
choice.
100 Augment! One potion works and its duration becomes permanent. If the effect was instantaneous,
such as a healing potion, this may cause an increase in maximum hit points, with the reverse happening if
it dealt damage. At the DM‘s discretion, this effect may be dispelled as an active spell effect or be
suppressed with a potion which deals an opposite effect. A cantrip cannot gain this miscibility result, and
instead reverts to Greater Sync.

Potion List
The spells that can be replicated by potions are detailed below. Spell levels from 1-2 are uncommon rarity,
3-4 are rare, 5-6 are very rare, 7-8 are legendary, and 9 are artifact-level rarity.

Cantrips (0 level) Disguise Self Aid

Acid Splash Dissonant Whispers Blindness/Deafness
Blade Ward Endure Elements Blur
Create Bonfire EE Entangling Roots Calm Emotions
Disrupt Undead Expeditious Retreat Continual Flame
Fire Bolt Faerie Fire Corpse Explosion
Guidance False Life Darkvision
Light Feather Fall Dust Devil
Mending Fog Cloud Enhance Ability
Mold Earth EE Elemental Armor Enlarge/Reduce
Poison Spray Grease Gentle Repose
Produce Flame Heroism Hold Person
Frost Bolt Hideous Laughter Invisibility
Shocking Grasp Identify Lesser Restoration
Spare the Dying Illusory Script Magic Weapon
Thunderclap EE Inflict Wounds Pass Without Trace
Vicious Mockery Jump Protection from Poison
Longstrider Ray of Enfeeblement
ALC 1 (1st Level) Magic Aura Aganzzar‘s Scorcher EE
Alarm Protection, Good/Evil See Invisibility
Burning Hands Purify Food/Drink Shatter
Cause Fear XGtE Ray of Sickness Silence
Command Sanctuary Spider Climb
Charm Shield Suggestion
Color Spray Silent Image Web
Conjure Modified Sleep Zone of Truth
Chromatic Orb Thunderstorm
Cure Wounds ALC 3 (3rd Level)
Detect Poison/Disease ALC 2 (2nd Level) Animate Dead
Detect Magic Alter Self Conjure Animals

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Conjure Food and Water Tenser‘s Transformation XGtE

Daylight ALC 5 (5th Level) True Seeing
Feign Death Cone of Cold
Fear Cloudkill ALC 7 (7th Level)
Haste Creation Etherealness
Nondetection Contagion Firestorm
Plant Growth Dominate Person Regenerate
Protection from Energy Dream Resurrection
Remove Curse Geas Simulacrum
Revivify Insect Plague
Slow Modify Memory ALC 8 (8th Level)
Speak with Dead Mislead Antipathy/Sympathy
Stinking Cloud Greater Restoration Clone
Vampiric Touch Skill Empowerment XGtE Dominate Monster
Water Breathing Raise Dead Feeblemind
Wall of Thorns Abi-Dalzim‘s Horrid Wilting EE
ALC 4 (4th Level) Incendiary Cloud
Blight ALC 6 (6th Level) Mind Blank
Compulsion Awaken
Confusion Create Homunculus XGtE ALC 9 (9th Level)
Charm Monster Create Undead Foresight
Death Ward Disintegrate Shapechange
Greater Invisibility Flesh to Stone Trap the Soul
Polymorph Heal True Polymorph
Stone Shape Heroes‘ Feast
Stone Skin Mass Suggestion

Special Potions
The following potions are not based on spells, but follow similar rules in terms of crafting and minimum
proficiency, as well as time to research formulae.

Acid Neutralizer Some antitoxins only function against plagues.

Potion, common
This lotion can treat an object or a creature.
When subject to acid damage, the creature
reduces the damage by a number equal to 1d6 +
3 points. This applies once per round. The acid
neutralizer remains until 1 hour passes per dose
applied.
Antiodor
Potion, common
This lotion can treat an object or a creature.
When treated, the target‘s odor is muffled and
neutralized. The creature does not have a normal
scent until the lotion fades after 1 hour, or after
the creature gains (or excretes) a scent (such as
if sweating after running or touching a perfumed
object).
This lotion is often employed by rogues who
anticipate opposition against creatures with
strong olfactory senses, such as bloodhounds or
Antitoxin (or Antiplague)
Potion, common
This vial of antitoxin gives the imbiber
advantage to any saving throw against poison for
1 hour. It confers no benefit to undead or
constructs.
These are known as antiplagues instead, but
provide the same benefit.
Crackle Powder
Potion, common
This alchemical powder creates a loud crackling
noise, like a snapping branch, whenever it is
jostled or struck. A dose of the powder covers a
10-foot-radius area with an action, and imposes
disadvantage on Agility (Stealth) checks.
The powder remains active for 4 hours.
It can be spent at once instead with an action, to
create a loud thundercrack-like sound that can
be heard 300 feet away.
Crystallized Air
Potion, common
This alchemical item crystallizes breathable air.
When consumed, the potion grants 1 minute‘s
worth of breath in one dosage. Crystallized air is
waterproof if unused, but spoils when the
creature otherwise opens their mouth or allows
new air entry into the body (such as by breathing
normally or talking).
Dark Powder
Potion, common

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The gray powder has no special quality when
seen in normal light, but glows brightly when
viewed in darkvision, despite the surrounding
light level.
Each dose contains enough powder for a
reasonably lengthy sentence or a moderately-
large drawing. This remains permanently or
until wiped away by soap or similar cleaning
product.
Defoliant
Potion, common
This vile liquid has a muddy brown hue and
smells of rotten plant life. Contained in one
potion flask is enough defoliant to remove plant
life from one 5-foot square.
Light vegetation (anything but trees) dies within
1 hour of exposure, leaving behind scarred and
sterile soil (as if blighted).
Medium vegetation (anything but massive trees)
dies in 2 hours and can be cleared at a rate of 1
hour per 5-foot square.
Large vegetation (including trees) can usually
survive a single dose of defoliant, but the dose
scars a 5-foot portion of the tree. If it can scar
one-half the tree, the tree rots from within and
dies.
If targeting a plant creature, this potion harms
them, reducing the plant creature‘s maximum
hit points by 1d4 + 1, halved on a successful
Stamina saving throw. This can stack for each
application.
An area affected by defoliant can be cleared by a
creature proficient in Alchemist‘s Supplies or an
Herbalist‘s Kit. It takes 10 minutes to clear a 5-
foot square of defoliant.
Flash Powder
Potion, common
This pinch of powder is a mixture of proto-
gunpowder and alchemical flares. It can be
thrown at a range of 30/60 ft. Creatures 5 feet
away from the point of impact are blinded on a
failed Agility saving throw against a DC of 10. If
thrown further than 30 feet, creatures have
advantage to the saving throw. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of its turn
every round.
Alchemists, rogues, and hunters often use this
cheap product as a distraction to hide or for a
quick combat advantage if they have the Flash
Bomber talent.
Unlike most potions, flash powder also counts as
an explosive, and can be crafted by those
proficient with engineer‘s tools, and can‘t be
consumed by an alchemical engine.
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Gunpowder
Potion, uncommon
This potent combustible powder is the fuel for
most firearms and explosives, and some
combustion engines. When set aflame
gunpowder combusts and deals 1d6 fire damage
to each creature in 10 feet per 1 pound of mass
(up to 10d6 fire damage). Setting an ounce of
gunpowder causes it to burn brightly, shedding
bright light in 30 feet for 1 round, and dim light
in the same radius for another round, before
extinguishing. A creature in the area of effect can
attempt a DC 10 Agility saving throw to half the
damage taken.
If set aflame in a container, gunpowder instead
deals the damage in concussive damage, and its
radius increases by 10 feet for every pound of
mass.
Unlike most uncommon alchemical products,
gunpowder costs 12 gp per pound in most stores,
and costs 6 gp to craft if not a specialist.
Unlike most potions, gunpowder also counts as
an explosive, and can be crafted by those
proficient with engineer‘s tools, and can‘t be
consumed by an alchemical engine.
Phlogiston
Alchemical product, uncommon
This unusually potent combustible is perfect fuel
for most combustion engines.
Unlike most uncommon alchemical products,
phlogiston costs 50 crafting points (or 50 gp) in
most stores, and cost 25 gp to craft if not a
specialist.
The recipe for phlogiston is known to most
alchemists and scholars who live alongside
tinkers (usually selling for about 10 gold pieces).
Unlike most potions, phlogiston also counts as
an explosive, and can be crafted by those
proficient with engineer‘s tools, and can‘t be
consumed by an alchemical engine.
Potion of Rest
Potion, rare
Provides the benefit of a short rest. Can be used
once per 24 hours.
Potion of Rest
Potion, legendary
Provides the benefit of a long rest. Can be used
once per 24 hours.
Potion of Youth
Alchemical Product, rarity varies
When you drink this potion, your physical age is
reduced by 2d10% in years. You can reach a
lower age threshold via this potion (such as from
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
being venerable to middle age, or adulthood to
childhood). Your mental scores and abilities are
unchanged, but the DM may rule that your
physical body changed enough to warrant
change in physical ability scores (such as
increasing Agility but reducing Strength).
When created, the potion of youth can be instead
a potion of aging, in which case it increases your
physical age instead of decreasing it. If the
physical age is increased beyond your maximum
age, you die of old age. Whenever this potion is
used, there is a cumulative 10% chance that the
potion inverts the intended result.
For instance, an aging wizard that used 3
potions of youth (for 30% chance to invert)
Crafting Creatures
When proficient in Alchemist‘s Supplies and
having an Alchemy Lab (see Crafter‘s Area in
Chapter 3), you can craft creatures.
An Alchemy Lab allows you to craft creatures
such as owlbears (cross of bear and owl),
bulettes (cross of snapping turtle and armadillo),
or other monstrosities, or craft an undead such
as zombies.
This requires spending the downtime to research
a creature, as fully knowing a creature also
allows you to create an imperfect copy.
Imperfect Copies. If you have access to an
Alchemy Lab, are proficient in Alchemist‘s
Supplies, and have researched a creature and are
able to reference your research, you can craft a
potion that is the base form for the imperfect
copy. This potion usually appears as a tiny
version of the creature or the creature in pseudo-
fetal form, becoming its full size when leaving
the liquid.
Bound Copies. You can craft a potion that can
bind an imperfect copy of a creature. The potion
takes 20 minutes to fully affect an imperfect
copy, allowing it to become stable and to survive
for extended periods outside a hosting unit (vat,
large pot, potion, etc.). This potion is of the same
rarity as the one to craft an imperfect copy, and
requires 100 gp worth of materials per Challenge
rating of the creature. The creature can be bound
to you, in which case it obeys your commands to
the letter (and not necessarily the spirit,
depending on its mental ability scores) for 1
month, afterwards it can either be bound again
or released to live out its life. Monetary costs for
a re-binding is usually in the form of treasures or
materials the creature desires or consumes.
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could consume another potion of youth but
increase their age by 2d10% years.
The potion‘s strength is affected by its rarity
Rarity Age
Rare 1d10%
Very rare 2d10%
Legendary 3d10%
Artifact* 100% (at any point desired)
If an artifact, an inversion causes instant death
of old age.
After the duration is fully spent, the creature
dies, disintegrating and leaving behind a fading
pile of alchemical fluids. An imperfect copy is
always sterile and not fully aware of its
surroundings, regardless of its mental ability
scores. This copy can survive indefinitely in the
Alchemy Lab (incapacitated, and suspended in a
vat or pit of fluid) or in a potion vial, but only for
2d4 x 10 minutes when leaving it. The vat can
fully sustain the creature indefinitely (requires
1/10th the normal amount of food for its
creature type, dissolved in the fluid).
Homunculus. If you choose to craft a creature
that is not a monstrosity or undead, you can
make it into a homunculus.
A homunculus is the same creature type as its
origins (beast in this case), but is sterile and
psychologically impressionable.
This requires spending the downtime to research
both creatures (and usually living specimen of
both). After researching the component
creatures, you must succeed on a DC 15
Intelligence ability check with Alchemist's
Supplies. If you succeed, you create the birth
formula (as if you researched the homunculus
creature, automatically scribing it).
For instance, a mad wizard chooses to make a
guardian for their secluded mage tower in the
high mountains. They find that native creatures
of the area are panthers and owls, and captures a
black panther and a black-banded owl.
He spends the downtime to research both
beings, and succeeds on the DC 15 check, and
naming its new creation the ‗Owlcat‘. The DM
crafts a monster of appropriate Challenge to the
maximum accessible by the wizard.
The wizard then binds the creature to serve the
wizard, and releases it to patrol the mountain,
flying and using its dark fur to camouflage.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
After 1 month, the wizard is satisfied with the
Owlcat‘s service, and may allow it to be released.
A released homunculus can survive up to an age
appropriate to its base creatures.
You cannot create a creature with a CR higher
than your Proficiency bonus. A cross-bred
creature that manages to live long enough on its
own without dying, becomes blessed by a divine
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source, or one that comes to power one way or
another (surviving in an area of Wild Magic,
eating mortal spellcasters, or living in a place of
magical significance) can lose their sterility and
breed more of their kind, and can become
stronger than its original Challenge rating. Their
age, method of delivery, and brood size is similar
to that of their originating races.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Chapter 7: Spells
The following chapter includes new spells aid and support settlement rule, company management, army
leadership, and stronghold control or support, and spells for terraforming, as well as expanded uses of old
spells.
Using expanded uses of spells may come with an increased cost, such as in material components or
increased casting time.

Optional Rule: Cabal Sorcery

Witches and necromancers of various settings are known to organize cabals and circles of power to
channel their strength into beyond their normal limits. This rule is intended to provide a mechanical
framework for such esoteric concepts.
When casting a spell and having a number of friendly spellcasters who can cast the same spell or a spell
up to two spells level lower, you can direct them into a concentrated casting effort, called cabal casting.
When directing the effort, each spellcaster spends the resources to cast the specific spell (or their highest-
level spell, if the difference between the two spell levels are two or less) to empower your own spell. When
the spell‘s casting time is up, you must roll an Intelligence (Arcana) skill check against a DC of 10. On a
success, the cabal‘s efforts succeeded, and the spell is cast as if cast from a higher level (increasing the
spell‘s effects as normally described). On a failure, one random person in the cabal (may include you) is
subject to system shock (as described in the Dungeon Master‘s Guide, page 273) or a Wild Magic Surge (as
described in the Player‘s Handbook, page 98). If there is another skill that is more appropriate than
Intelligence (Arcana), use that skill instead.

The spell acts as if you cast it for all purposes (such as who must concentrate, who a conjured creature
obeys, etc.). This rule also allows you to normally use spell scrolls if your highest spell level is increased to
a level that accesses the spell scroll normally.
Depending on the number of allies with you, the potential number of spell levels the spell you cast
increases (up to a maximum spell level of 9). If the supporting spellcasters cannot cast a spell that is
within two spell levels of the one you are casting, they can form sub-cabals to increase their effective spell
levels the same way, up until reaching your spell level. Sub-cabals heightening the effective spell level of
the leader can act as a higher-level participant, but the required roll is applied to each sub-cabal leader.

Allies Spell Levels Increased

3 +1
7 +2
13 +3

For example, a 9th level wizard casting the geas spell with 7 allies (minimum level to contribute is level 5
wizards for two spell levels‘ difference) heightens the spell by 2 spell levels, allowing the spell to act as if a
7th level spell. The duration of the spell becomes 1 year instead of 30 days (a feat which normally requires
a 13th level wizard and a higher-level slot).
If the wizard does not have access to such allies, they may reach to lower-leveled participants and organize
them into sub-cabals. 13 1st level wizards led by a particularly gifted student (the highest in Intelligence
(Arcana) or the relevant skill) will act as if they access 3rd level spells. There is no limit for the number of
sub-cabals (or sub-sub cabals), but the risk of failing a roll will cause many disruptions or Wild Magic
Surges, which may in of itself cause many other ramifications.
This allows many spellcasters of lower level to challenge with a single spellcaster at higher level with
certain spells, but drains a heavy amount of resources on the supporting cabal.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

New Spells
Spell Lists
WARLOCK
Spell level 1 Spell level 3
Telepathic Message Corpse Call
Dismantle Stronghold
Spell level 2
Magical Servant Spell level 7
Planar Attunement
Spell level 3 Summon Vault Resources
Corpse Call
Summon Vault Resources SORCERER
Spell level 1
Spell level 7 Reinforce Object
Planar Attunement Telepathic Message

WIZARD Spell level 3

Spell level 1 Corpse Call
Barrier Dismantle Stronghold
Reinforce Object Summon Vault Resources
Telepathic Message
Spell level 7
Spell level 2 Planar Attunement
Magical Servant

Spell Descriptors
Barrier
1st-level abjuration (ritual)
Casting Time: 1 action
Components: V, S, M (material to draw a line
or circle, such as chalk or salt)
Range: 30 feet
Duration: 1 minute
You draw a line or circle with your finger,
barring any one designated creature type from
passing (such as humanoids, dragons, undead,
etc.) with a barrier of force magic. The line forms
a clear panel up to 10 feet wide, one inch thick,
and 10 feet high that is fully transparent,
noticeable by seeing the spell being cast and
succeeding on a Wisdom (Perception) check
against your DC, or if detecting magical auras. If
drawn as a circle, it has a radius of 10 feet.
Alternatively, the barrier can be fully visible,
such as a sheet of light or appearing as
suspended runes, to allow your allies to see it.
The barrier has an AC of 10 and 10 hit points. It
is treated as a construct for the purposes of
healing hit points.
This barrier not only blocks the targeted
creature types from passing it, but is also bars
their attacks, blocking effects that can come barrier regains 1 hit point at the start of your
from them (such as ranged attacks or spells) turn every round.
until broken, dispelled, or overcame.  Erasing the Barrier. A creature on the other
 Destroying the Barrier. The barrier is side of a barrier can spend an action to erase
destroyed if reduced to 0 hit points. The

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
the spell by touching and disrupting its
parameter.
 Overcoming the Barrier. The designated
creature type can attempt to bypass the
barrier by pressing it and succeeding on a
Wisdom saving throw. On a successful
saving throw, they ignore the barrier and
can continue their movement. On a failed
saving throw, they are barred from further
movement past the barrier until the spell‘s
duration ends.
When casting this spell, you can use a bonus
action at the start of your turn every round to
empower the barrier. Choose one of the
following empowerment options, which remains
until the start of your turn in the next round:
 Resistant Barrier. The barrier gains
resistance to all damage except force.
 Reflective Barrier. The barrier can reflect a
part of the damage it takes back to the
attacker. When the barrier is damaged, you
may use a reaction and make a ranged spell
attack if the target is within 10 feet of the
barrier. If you succeed on the attack, you
deal one-quarter the damage the barrier
took to the attacker. This damage is of the
same type that was dealt to the barrier. If it
the attack that was reflected has a saving
throw, the target must succeed on the saving
throw instead as if they cast the spell on
themselves, so long as they are within 10 feet
of the barrier.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the
barrier gains 10 additional hit points, and
increases its AC and amount of hit points
regained every round by 1 for every spell level
above 1st. At 2nd level, it also gains a damage
threshold of 2, which also increases by 1 point
per spell level.
Special. If cast as a ritual spell, the barrier spell's
duration changes to 1 hour.
DM NOTE: MULTIPLE BARRIERS
If cast as a ritual spell, the barrier's duration
increases to 1 hour instead of 1 minute. That
means that it is possible for a single spellcaster
to have up to 6 barrier spells active at their
highest accessible spell slot if spending all their
time ritually casting and maintaining them (for a
line 60 feet long and 10 feet high). Empowering
one barrier spell also empowers the rest, so long
as their areas overlap or they touch one
another‘s edges.
Corpse Call
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3rd-level necromancy
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a patch of dirt from a
grave)
Duration: 1 minute
You touch an open and unoccupied grave. If you
are within 3 miles a settlement, old battlefield,
or crypt, the spell draws a corpse through the
earth to occupy the empty grave.
You may specify the direction (north or near a
settlement) or a rough description (humanoid)
for the spell to fetch, but the spell cannot
otherwise retrieve a specific corpse.
This cannot call corpses that are left in wilds,
interred in something other than in soft earth.
A corpse that is bound, entombed, or one that is
held in a coffin or that has been targeted by the
Gentle Repose spell cannot be called.
A called corpse leaves its possessions behind and
arrives with only the clothes on its back, minor
trinkets, or (very rarely) jewelry or treasures that
cannot be separated from them. The spell fails if
it cannot find the required creature or a fair
approximation.
At Higher Levels. The range of the spell
increases by 2 miles for every spell level above
3rd. At 5th level, you may specify a creature‘s
subtype or race. At 8th level, you may specify a
specific creature.
Dismantle Stronghold
3rd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 24 hours
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (Writ of destruction)
Duration: 6 hours per 20x20 area (or cube)
You dismantle any building, causing it to slowly
break apart. Some dismantled materials are
usable after the spell ends, for a total value of
one-third the stronghold‘s normal cost of
crafting.
You cannot dismantle a stronghold that is
attuned to a creature, unless you are the one it is
attuned to. A writ of destruction must be signed
by the owner of the stronghold, or the resident of
it for at least 1 year.
Reinforce Object
1st-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Instantaneous
You can use this spell to reinforce an object or
construct of any type, or to heal them.
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
 Reinforce. This spell grants temporary
hit points equal 1d8 + spellcasting
ability score modifier to a construct or
object (including structures, vehicles, or
gear). These temporary hit points stack,
but cannot exceed a total value of 50%
the target‘s maximum hit points.
 Heal. You may also use this spell to
restore 1 lost hit point of a construct or
object. In this cast, the spell requires a
material component of 25 gp of diamond
dust (or similar gemstone) for every hit
point restored, which the spell
consumes.
At Higher Levels. You may grant the target an
additional 1d8 hit points, or heal it one
additional hit point per every spell level above
1st level.
Special. When choosing to heal an object or
construct, you must also be proficient in the
artisan tool that built the target (such as mason‘s
tools if a structure, tinker‘s tools if a construct,
etc.)
Summon Vault Resources
3rd-level conjuration
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S, M (writ of withdrawal from
the vault)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You conjure a portal that accesses the contents
of a specially-attuned vault (usually the Storage
Area of a stronghold or ship), allowing you to
withdraw from the vault and deposit it at the feet
of the portal. The portal is as wide as the largest
item present, works only one way, and for
nonliving objects. You may choose an object to
be drawn out with an action, in which case the
portal shunts it through without you having to
carry it.
A vault must be attuned to as a wondrous item
(uncommon in quality) for you to be able to
withdraw from it with this spell, and you cannot
summon an object or series of objects with a
higher rarity than uncommon.
A sentient object is counted as one step higher in
rarity for the purposes of this spell.
Multiple people can attune to a vault, unlike
normal wondrous items. This requires the same
process of attunement. The vault records
attempted transactions.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell
using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can
summon a rare object as well. If the spell slot is
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7th level, it can be very rare. If the spell slot is
9th level, you may summon a legendary object.
Planar Attunement
7th-level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a forked, metal rod
worth at least 2,500 gp, attuned to a particular
plane of existence)
Duration: 1d6 days
You specify a target plane or dimension, such as
the Elemental Plane of Fire, the Nine Hells, or
the Shadow Realm, and touch a gate, stronghold,
or portal to attune it. The region up to 1 mile
from the chosen focus area becomes attuned and
anchored to the specified realm of existence. In a
random direction up to 1 mile away from the
touched area (called the planar focus), a portal
forms that leads to the chosen plane of existence.
The portal does not open in a place already
occupied by an object or a creature.
The portal leads both ways, but is not controlled
by anyone (see Portals in the Dungeon Master‘s
Guide, page 45).
Typically, such a portal allows ld6 + 6 travelers
to pass through, then shuts down for ld6 days.
You may specify a command word or key to use
the portal, but it is otherwise out of your control.
Creatures on the other side may assign
guardians. Creatures appearing from such
portals may send an ambassador to you to
ensure continued passage to this realm.
Gaining the material component can draw
characters into further adventures as they chase
down a key item, scour old libraries for
command words, or consult sages to find the
right time to visit the portal.
Telepathic Message
1st-level divination
Casting Time: 1 action
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Range: 300 feet
Components: V, S, M (pieces of eggshell from
two different kinds of creatures)
Duration concentration, up to 1 minute
You point your finger toward a creature within
range and whisper a message. The target (and
only the target) hears the message and can reply
in a whisper that only you can hear.
Alternatively, you may declare the message‘s
contents as a boom from a point within range.
The message is instead clearly heard up to 30
feet away from the point you designate. As a
bonus action, you can change the creature you
target so long as they remain within the original
range or are within 30 feet of the original target.
The spell doesn‘t have to follow a straight line to
the target and can travel freely around corners
or through openings as large as your eye,
however. Magical silence, 1 foot of stone, 1 inch
of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet
of wood blocks the spell regardless.
At Higher Levels. If cast from a 2nd level slot,
the duration instead becomes 1 minute (no
concentration) and the range 1 mile. For each
subsequent spell slot above 2nd level, the range
increases by 1 mile (up to 9 miles at level 9th)
and the duration increases by 1 minute (up to 9
minutes).

Expanded Uses of Existing Spells

When employing this ruleset, certain spells can perform additional functions.

Guards and Wards

This spell can fully affect one stronghold or building you have resided in for at least 3 days, even if the
area is larger than the spell‘s area.

Gust of Wind
The spell can be cast as a ritual to have duration of 1 hour instead of its normal duration.
If cast upon a ship or other vehicle, you may center the spell to serve the vehicle‘s sails (or similar
movement mechanism). For the purposes of wind strength, the spell is treated as a strong breeze. This can
help a sailing ship move when the winds are weak, or increase its sailing speed by up to 25%. This can
stack with the bonus from having a friendly lighthouse (up to 50% increase in sailing speed).

Unseen Servant
When cast as a ritual spell within a stronghold, the unseen servant can be bound to the stronghold, and
remain for up to 8 hours instead of 1 hour. If it moves more than 60 feet away from the stronghold, it is
dismissed prematurely.
An unseen servant is treated as an unskilled hireling that does not require pay, but does require casting
the spell every time.
Unlike most spells, the Unseen Servant can be prepared as a spell from a different school. This benefits
from school-specific powers you may have, but mostly alters the form of the servant, sometimes making it
visible.
 Evocation. The force instead takes the form of a fragile elemental (usually air).
 Illusion. The force instead takes the form of a shadowy creature drawn from the Plane of Shadows.
 Necromancy. The force is instead a fragile skeleton or a semi-ghostly figure. The material component
in this case is a collection of bones or ectoplasm.
 Transmutation. The force is instead an object that can move in rough approximation of a human
servant.

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Chapter 8: Trade Goods and Equipment

Foreign Trade
When trading with another settlement or kingdom, all linked economies are treated as if they had access
to the resources of either (unless trade explicitly did not involve certain resources). Certain resources are
required for certain organizations to function (such as metals for blacksmithing businesses).
A settlement that trades with another and gives access to the resource may demand payment in return
(usually negotiated between the two rulers). Valuable resources such as adamantine, mithral, and gold are
usually traded as above, and the products are sold directly between settlements to preserve economic
power and influence.

Magic Items
Some magic items fit this ruleset, such as enchanted thrones, gates, and magic windows, as well as
banners, war-drums, and instruments of management.

Altars. Certain altars give special bonuses. Altars can be placed in a stronghold‘s Magic Nexus to enhance
the power of it. Altars look different for each divine entity (or whichever great power fuels it), some
bearing chains and a sheet of red cloth, while others are austere white.

Banners. Banners give bonuses or abilities optimally usable in mass combat. Banners usually have to be
used or wielded by people, and often do not require attunement, as banner-bearing is usually a task given
to a trusted lieutenant or hireling.

Gates. Gates can replace any door (or even windows), including city doors. The rarity does not change
either way, but they cost the same as a gate of that size.

Passages. Some passages take the form of staircases (such as a staircase of the infinite walk) to
discourage attackers.

Thrones. Thrones, as an expression of sovereignty, usually also require attunement. If attuned to a

stronghold with a throne, the throne is included in the attunement (and does not require separate
attunement). Powers of the throne do not require acknowledgement of the ruler. The owner must be
seated on the throne for at least 3 rounds to use any throne ability, contemplating their responsibilities or
authority.

Treasures
Altar of the Accentuated Nexus This can represent altars dedicated to deities of
Wondrous item, very rare blacksmithing, knowledge, or deception. If
You can choose another bonus to your magic choosing a tool, this does not stack with the
nexus feature for the purposes of an established bonus from the Crafter‘s Area function, but
stronghold. treats any d20 result of 6 or less as if 6.

Altar of Blessed Arms Altar of Religious Questing

Wondrous item, uncommon
You can pray for 1 round at this altar or lay a
weapon upon it. For the next hour, the weapon
is treated as if magical. Once used, this altar‘s
benefit cannot be used again until the next
dawn.
Altar of Divine Skill
Wondrous item, uncommon
You can choose one skill when establishing this
altar. Praying at the altar allows your next skill
check for that skill to have advantage, up to 1
hour.
Wondrous item, uncommon
If a geas spell is cast when near this altar, it may
be declared as a religious quest. When following
a religious quest, the quester may benefit from
any of the following spells, for a total of 3 spells
throughout the quest (or for a significant
milestone of it).
The creature needs to spend an action on these
spells as normal, unless they are unaware (in
which case the DM may declare its use at his
discretion, representing the divinity to which the
quest is dedicated)
 Cure Wounds

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

 Heroism (full concentration duration)
 Enhance ability (up to 1 minute or one
obstacle)
 Sanctuary
Altar of Hidden Grace
Wondrous item, rare
Praying on this altar grants you the benefits of
the invisibility spell for its fullest possible
duration, so long as you remain praying. Once
the altar hides you, it becomes invisible as well.
Up to three creatures can be hidden this way.
Once used, the altar cannot use its invisibility
power until the next dawn.
The altar may also use the mirage arcane spell
once every 7 days, but can only change the
appearance of the area it is in. Both powers can
be used at the same time.
Altar of Sacrifices
Wondrous item, rarity varies
If you have the ability to cast spells, you may
sacrifice a creature on the altar, gaining a spell
slot of a level commensurate with the level or
challenge rating of the sacrificed creature.
Performing a sacrifice takes the same time as
preparing a normal ritual (1 hour), and if
interrupted, the ritual fails.
When you sacrifice a creature, it must be
accepted by the power you follow. If not, the
sacrifice is wasted and the creature dies
normally. If accepted, you gain the spell slot or
can cast a spell from the chosen spell slot for no
cost, so long as you can access it. Once used, this
altar cannot be used again for 7 days.
You do not need to be of a specific class, but you
must offer this to a divine entity, or a creature of
epic power that can cast a spell of the same spell
level. If you sacrifice an unwilling sentient
creature, you radiate an alignment opposite to it
that can be detected for 24 hours (as if you were
consecrated or desecrated).

Level/Challenge* Spell Level Minimum rarity

1 or lower 1 Common
3 2 Uncommon
5 3 Uncommon
7 4 Rare
9 5 Rare
11 6 Very Rare
13 7 Very Rare
15 8 Legendary
17 or higher 9 Legendary

* You may sacrifice multiple weaker creatures to
gain a higher-level spell, requiring the
appropriate minimum rarity. It requires 3
sacrifices of the same level to go up one step, 7 to
go two, and 13 to go three.
For example, sacrificing 13 level 1 loyal cultists
on a rare-quality altar allows their cultist master
to gain and cast a spell of 4th level.
Banner of Glory
Wondrous item, rarity varies
As an action, you may drive this banner into the
ground (or wave it about if the ground is too
hard). Every allied creature who can see the
banner and is within 60 feet gains a d6 Bardic
Inspiration dice that must be used within 10
minutes (or until the battle or engagement has
ended, whichever comes first). If a creature sees
the banner from a further range but is moving
towards it, they also gain the benefit, so long as
the banner is within 1 mile. This can affect up to
25 creatures before being exhausted for until the
next dawn.
Some banners have a maximum number of
targets it can affect. A target cannot be affected
multiple times in the same 24 hours. If the
banner has a symbol (such as a house, order, or
faith), an allied creature can only benefit if they
consider the banner‘s symbol favorably or
neutrally, but not if hostile to it.
Instead of providing Inspiration dice, you may
choose up to the same number of creatures and
roll the inspiration dice. The creatures can
perform a forced march when within 1 mile of
the banner, and automatically succeed on their
Constitution saving throws against a forced
march, for up to a number of hours equal to the
Inspiration dice result.
Depending on the banner‘s rarity, the
Inspiration dice and number of creatures who
can benefit from it increase.
Rarity Inspiration Targets
Uncommon 1d6 25
Rare 1d8 50
Very Rare 1d10 250

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Legendary 1d12 1,000 hard). Each creature hostile to you or the cause

of your banner that is within 60 feet must

succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against a DC
Banner of Warded Wizardry
Wondrous item, variable rarity of 15 or be frightened for 1 minute. If the banner
As an action, you may drive this banner into the was planted in the corpse of one of the targets‘
ground (or wave it about if the ground is too member troops or allies, or was planted atop a
hard). Every allied creature who can see the spot the hostile troop considers their own or a
banner and is within 60 feet is warded against ‗control point‘, the range increases to 100 feet. If
spells that deal damage in an area, for up to 25 the banner was planted atop the corpse of a
creatures. This banner reduces the damage commander or general, or if the banner was
taken by allied creatures from area spells by half, planted in the enemy base or gate (and their loss
up to 3rd level spells. is assured), the saving throw is done with
Depending on the banner‘s rarity, the spell level disadvantage and the range becomes 1 mile.
warded against and number of creatures who
can benefit from it increase. Banner of True Command
Wondrous item, rare
Rarity Spell level Targets As an action, the banner can cast the telepathic
Uncommon 1-3 25 message spell. This can be used for a total of 10
Rare 4-5 50 minutes. Once its time is exhausted, the banner‘s
Very Rare 6-7 250 benefit cannot be used again until the next
Legendary 8-9 1,000 dawn.

Banner of Absolute Triumph Banner of Reinforcements

Wondrous item, very rare Wondrous item, very rare
As an action, you may drive this banner into the As an action, you may drive this banner into the
ground (or wave it about if the ground is too ground (or wave it about if the ground is too

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hard), and demand reinforcements. The banner the dispel magic spell. The rarity of the gate
conjures a 10-man host of creatures, with a determines the level the spell was cast as.
maximum troop CR of 7 (equivalent to an Ogre
Torment or Fighter-Guard Troop). The Rarity Level
reinforcements remain for 1 hour or until the Uncommon 3
banner is lowered (such as by being uprooted or Rare 5
disarmed from you). There are many types of Very Rare 7
banners, usually determining the type of
creatures conjured.

Banner Creatures
Wild Grace Beasts
Dark Grace Fiends
Celestial Grace Celestials

Bell of Time
Wondrous item, common
These bells can tell the time, and can be
instructed to ring on specific chosen periods of
the day, or of the week. When the chosen time
comes, these bells ring.
Bells of time are usually employed by
organization managers to declare the start or
end of a workday, or for military instructors to
enforce discipline during drilling.

Cup of Purity
Wondrous item, common
This glass cup is inscribed with the draconic
word for purity. Any water picked up into the
cup is purified and cleaned of any residual
matter such as dust and minor poisons and
diseases.
If the cup already has water in it, it can be
poured on nonmagical food and drink, purifying
it as the Purify Water and Drink spell. Once
used, the cup cannot be used again until the next
dawn.
Furniture of Obedience
Wondrous item, common
This piece of furniture (up to 10) is treated as if
animated by the animated objects spell (for all
respects), and obey the master of the stronghold.
Unlike how with the spell, however, the spell‘s
duration is permanent, and the furniture cannot
attack.
Gate of Clarity
Wondrous Item, rarity varies
These gold, silver, and copper-colored gates can
strip away illusions and deceptions. Whenever a
creature or object enters the gate while under
the effect of an illusion or an effect that hides
identities or conceals them from view (such as
disguise self or invisibility), they are subject to
Gate of the Planes
Wondrous item, very rare
These gates can open to wondrous and alien
realms. When these gates are crafted, they must
be imbued with the plane shift and teleport
spells. Afterwards, they function as described.
If opened, the gates allow transportation to
another area to a different plane of existence, or
to a location specified by the teleport spell when
a creature walks through.
If multiple locales are set, the gate has a
mechanism that can determine where it leads
(such as a dial, pattern of knocks on the door, a
command word, etc., so long as the mechanism
takes 1 action to change). The gate can hold up
to 6 specific locales, and they can be changed
when the plane shift or teleport spells are cast
into them again.
The gate can function for 1 minute every 24
hours, before being useless until its power
returns the next dawn.
Alternatively, instead of being able to shift
locales, you can choose only one location, but

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
the gate remains functioning for 10 minutes
every 24 hours.
Gate of Sealing
Wondrous item, rare
This gate cannot be opened by anything except a
special key, acting as if a panel created by the
wall of force spell, although it does not have to
be invisible. The gates of sealing may also have
multiple keys, up to 4 keys.
Gate of the Void
Wondrous item, rare
This gate is keyed to the master of a stronghold.
It opens normally, but can shut at the mental
command of the master (no action required). If
the master uses an action to expel an object or
creature, the gate of the void opens all other
non-magical gates between it and the master,
and telekinetically drags any creatures or objects
the master designated out of the stronghold,
depositing them on the other side of it, moving
at a speed of 90 feet per round. The gate can
instead deposit the creature or object at any
point between the creature‘s original position
and the door‘s own on the same path (shortest
possible one).
The effect otherwise acts as if a telekinesis spell
(5th level, 1,000 pounds maximum weight, with
the spellcasting ability equal to +10 versus the
creature‘s Strength). Unlike with the normal
telekinesis spell, the gate cannot perform any
task other than grabbing and pulling out
creatures or objects.
The gate of the void can also, however, drag
creatures in from the outside, but only so long as
they are within 10 feet of the gate itself, and can
deposit it only 10 feet to the inside. It can drag
creatures from any point within the stronghold
to the outside, as normally described above. The
gate can be active for up to 10 minutes every 24
hours.
Mirror of True Reflection
Wondrous item, rare
This mirror has a strangely-glittering silver
sheen, and is big enough to fit a Large creature.
When a Mirror of True Reflection is created, up
to 1d4 other mirrors also manifest over the next
3 days. When adjacent to a Mirror of True
Reflection, you can spend 5 feet of movement to
enter it and appear from another mirror, so long
as the two are in the same stronghold, or are
within 500 feet from one another. You may see
what the target mirror does when you are
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adjacent to it (although the target mirror has the
same trait, allowing an enemy to possibly hold
an action to grapple you).
 Linking the Mirrors. A Mirror of True
Reflection can also be linked to others,
which requires access to two separate
mirror networks, and spending a short
rest of study (as if attuning to a magic
item). Each mirror can be linked to only
two other networks.
 Mirror Fragments. A single mirror can
be shattered to up to 6 pieces. A
shattered mirror-piece cannot be used
for the passage of creatures, but can be a
linking point for more distant travel (if
having three mirrors, you may shatter
one, and link the two with 6 mirror
shards up to 500 feet apart from one
another, allowing you to use two mirrors
up to 3,000 feet apart; with each broken
mirror giving up to ½ a mile of distance.
This only requires 5 feet for one jump.
Passage of the Infinite Walk
Wondrous item, rare
This passage or corridor seems to bend space
once a creature moves into it, seeming to stretch
into an infinite distance that does not allow
them to continue moving. In fact, the passage
entraps their mind in a powerful illusion that
would make it seem like they are moving (to
themselves and to observers), but actually have
their speed be 0.
Once a creature enters, they may attempt an
Intelligence (Investigation) check against a DC
of 15. If they succeed, they overcome the illusion
and can continue to walk the normal length of
the passage. If a creature witnesses another who
succeeded on the saving throw, they gain
advantage to the roll, but otherwise cannot find
a way to progress ahead, and may return back.
You can be dragged through, forced, or guided to
move ahead by a creature who succeeds against
the illusion, but the illusion causes the
incapacitated condition until you are either still
or leave the passage.
Passage of Preparation
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
This passage or corridor can be set with armor-
stands, wardrobes, or pieces of cloth and
equipment, in up to six arrangements. When you
pass through the passage and speak the
command word as an action, you may choose
one an arrangement outfit and be changed into
it. The passage telekinetically dons and doffs
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2
your clothes and equipment with precision and
quickness, tying shoelaces, pinning brooches,
and equipping weapons and armor and
decorative articles as the arrangement specified.
This telekinetic effect acts as the telekinesis
spell. The passage can work for a continuous 30
minutes every 24 hours.
Passage of Rotation
Wondrous item, rare
This passage, corridor, or staircase can move
and rotate, swivel in their position to reach
different floors on different times (or upon some
other condition, such as a command or use of a
dial). This passage can also alter its slope,
elevation of its steps, or remove the steps
entirely, becoming a flat slope.
The item‘s rarity can be very rare instead, in
which case the passage has its own gravity—
allowing those who moves in it to walk up-side
down, on walls (if the passage twists), or at an
upright angle.
At the master‘s command, the passage can rotate
to a different shape, usually also opening a path
to a room (or feature) that is normally hidden.
Pillows of True Rest
Wondrous item, rare
These white silken pillows are soft and yielding
in texture, promising a comfortable night‘s rest.
When resting on this pillow, you are affected by
the dream spell, and experience a vivid lucid
dream you remember perfectly upon waking up
(as described in the spell). This can usually also
show hidden desires of the dreamer.
Curse. This item is cursed, a fact that is
revealed only when an identify spell is cast on
the item. The curse remains until you are
targeted by the remove curse spell or similar
magic: refraining from using the pillows fails to
end the curse. While cursed, the dream can turn
into a nightmare (as described under the dream
spell) on a roll of 11 or above on a d20 whenever
going to sleep.
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Scales of Purity
Wondrous item, uncommon
These scales can detect magic auras on an item
placed upon them, as if by using the detect
magic and detect evil and good spell. The scales
can function for 10 minutes before losing their
power and regaining its power at the next dawn.
Throne of Rightful Authority
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires
attunement)
You have the benefit of the Heroism spell so long
as you are seated on the throne. You can also
cast the heroism spell at any creature you grant
your favor to. The spell is treated as if the throne
does the concentration (for the full duration).
A given creature cannot benefit more than once
every 24 hours. The spell can be cast a number
of times equal to your Charisma bonus
replenishing at the next dawn.
Throne of Command
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
You may cast the geas or suggestion spell so
long as you are seated on the throne. The spells
can be cast once, recharging on the next dawn.
Throne of the Wizard-King
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement by a
prepared spellcaster, such as a wizard or cleric)
This throne is woven with magical runes or
blessed by a powerful entity. So long as you are
seated on it and are able to cast spells, you can
choose a number of spells you can cast equal to
your spellcasting bonus. These spells are
counted as if prepared, even if you later change
out the chosen spells.
The cleric version of this throne is usually called
the Throne of the Ecclesiastic or Throne of the
God-King.
Throne of Warning
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires
attunement)
The throne warns you of danger so long as you
are seated on it. You have advantage on initiative
Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

rolls. In addition, you and any of your
companions within 30 ft. of you (or in the area,
if in a stronghold room) can't be surprised,
except when incapacitated by something other
than nonmagical sleep.
Window of Concealment
Wondrous item, common
These windows can only show one way in. The
other side shows a reflective surface, or can be
colored to seem as part of the wall.
Window of Illusory Sights
Wondrous item, uncommon
These windows do not reflect the truth of what is
on the other side of it. Either sides of the window
can be transparent, but one side can show
anything a major image spell can show, such as a
grassy plain, stormy crisis (complete with
sound), or nothing at all. If multiple sights are
set, the window has a mechanism that can
determine which it displays (such as a dial,
switch, command word, etc., so long as the
mechanism takes 1 action to change). The
window can hold up to 6 specific sights, and they
can be changed when the major image spell is
cast into it again. The window can function
indefinitely

Optional Rule: Trade Goods and Economic Activity

Whenever a settlement has access to a trade good, it can make use of it on an organized scale
economically. This increases the amount of economic activity appropriately. This optional rule allows for
variables other than prosperity to alter the wealth of a settlement and to balance out larger regions with
less resources with smaller regions with more resources.

Trade Good Abundance

The total economic activity of a settlement or region that has a trade good exploited by an organization
increases by a percent equal to 0.5% for every 1 gp a pound of it is worth (or 0.1% for every 2 sp of value).
For example, if the Dwarven Mining Town (1,200/6,000 gp) strikes gold (value 50 gp per pound), the
economic activity increases by 25% to (1,500/7,500 gp). An unlimited source of Adamantine (5,000 gp
per pound) would increase the economic activity by a shocking 2500% (37,500/187,500 gp), enough to
rival a grand city such as Waterdeep.
Organizations (public or private) must develop and trade in trade goods for this modifier to be applied.

Scarcity
The increase in economic activity can be checked by the quantity of the trade good. Mines that provide
adamantine or gold are not limitless. The DM is free to impose a limit on the final economic activity
multiplier from a single resource (such as ‗cannot increase economic activity more than 1,000 gp‘) to
represent low quantities of valuable materials.
This increase stacks for each trade good. Trade goods that value less than 1 gp, the effect is usually minor
on the greater economy unless the trade good is scarce (which might drive its price up to qualify for
affecting the economy).

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Sample Trade Goods

Minerals (Mines) Beef or mutton
Material Cost/lb. Comments Salt 5 cp Common spices
Adamantine 5,000 gp - Spices 2-3 gp Uncommon spices
Brass 3 sp Copper + Zinc This includes cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg,
Bronze 3 sp Copper + Tin pepper, and sugar
Cold Iron 4 sp - Spices 15 gp Rare spices
Coal 2 cp - This includes saffron and other rare spices
Copper 5 sp - Vegetables 2 cp -
Electrum 25 gp Silver + gold Wheat 1 cp -
Gold 50 gp Includes rare gems
Iron 1 sp - Creature Cost Comments
Lead 2 sp - Camel 50 gp -
Platinum 500 gp - Donkey 8 gp Includes mules
Mithral 2,500 gp - Elephant 200 gp -
Silver 5 gp Includes common gems Horse - -
Steel 4 gp Iron + Coal  Draft 50 gp -
Tin 3 sp -  Riding 75 gp -
Zinc 1 sp -  Pony 30 gp -
 War 400 gp -
Other Mastiff 25 gp Includes other dogs
Material Cost Chicken 2 cp -
Canvas 1 sp/sq. yd. Sheep 2 gp -
Cotton 5 sp/sq. yd. Pig/boar 3 gp -
Clay 2 cp/lb. Cow 10 gp -
Cloth 5 sp/sq. yd. Ox 15 gp -
Hemp 1 sp/lb.
Ink 10 gp/ounce
Equipment
Ivory 1 gp/lb.
Equipment that is relevant to warfare are
Leather 5 sp/sq. yd.
reflected as below.
Perfume 5 gp/ounce
Moving equipment, ammunition, and food is
Silk 10 gp/sq. yd.
covered by logistics. Usually, this is decided at
Soap 2 cp/lb.
the beginning of a war campaign, with issues
Linen 5 gp/sq. yd.
arising if the enemy attacks chosen supply lines
Wool 3 sp/sq. yd.
or paths.
Food and Meals
Object Cost Weight
Material Cost
Ram, portable 4 gp 35 lb.
Ale -
Tent, 10-person 10 gp 80 lb.
 Gallon 2 sp
 Mug 4 cp Container Capacity
Includes common alcoholic drinks Backpack 1 cubic foot/30 pounds of gear
Banquet 10 gp/person Barrel 40 gallons liquid, 4 cubic feet
Butter 3 sp/lb. solid
Dairies 5 cp/lb. Basket 2 cubic feet/40 pounds of gear
Includes most milk, sour cream, etc. Bottle 1 1/2 pints liquid
Fish 5 cp/lb. Bucket 3 gallons liquid, 1/2 cubic foot
Common, includes herring and bass solid
Fish 5 sp/lb. Chest 12 cubic feet/300 pounds of
Uncommon, includes salmon and shark gear
Flour 2 cp/lb. - Flask/tankard 1-pint liquid
Grains 3 cp/lb. Jug or pitcher 1-gallon liquid
Honey 2 sp/lb. Pot, iron 1-gallon liquid
Meal 2 sp Pouch 1/5 cubic foot; 6 pounds of gear
Modest meal, as detailed in Lifestyle Expenses Sack 1 cubic foot; 30 pounds of gear
Meat 1 sp/lb Common meat Vial 4 ounces liquid

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Waterskin 4 pints liquid Slaughter for Meat

When low on rations or when out of range of a
Tack, harnesses, and drawn vehicles settlement that can provide meals, slaughtering
Item Cost Weight animals (such as the above trade goods) for food
Barding x4 x2 is an important consideration. Meat can usually
Bit and bridle 2 gp 1 lb. be sold this way, though the quality usually
Carriage 100 gp 600 lb. results in all the creature‘s meat selling for the
Cart 15 gp 200 lb. creature‘s normal sell cost (see Sample Trade
Chariot 250 gp 100 lb. Goods).
Feed (per day) 5 cp 10 lb.
Creature Meat (lb.)
Saddle Cost Weight Boar/pig 200
Exotic 60 gp 40 lb. Camel 200-300
Military 20 gp 30 lb. Chicken 1
Pack 5 gp 15 lb. Cow 400-500
Riding 10 gp 25 lb. Deer 70
Saddlebags 4 gp 8 lb. Donkey 200
Sled 20 gp 300 lb. Horse 300-400
Stabling 5 sp - Lamb/Goat 40
As accommodations Elephant 1,000-1,200
Wagon 35 gp 400 lb. Mastiff/dog 60

A drawn vehicle has the carrying capacity of 5
times that of the animal drawing the vehicle.
A donkey or mule, therefore, can draw a cart up
to 2100 lbs. (200lbs for the cart itself totaling
1900 lbs, or 63 sacks).
A wagon would allow for two drawers (or
capacity of 3,800 lbs, or rations for over 500
soldiers for an entire week).
The above values are average. Stock of different
size, feed, and health provide different yield
appropriately.
Usually, a creature is about 40-80% of meat
(average 60%), although other creatures have
different masses.
Special. Proficiency with cook‘s utensils increase
the normal quantity of food served by 25%,
either by watering, mixing good portions, or
using other substances to supplant a diet.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Changelog
+Pre-Alpha. Added core rules, formula for rooms, simple structures, and composite structures
+ Pre-Beta. Added making money. Poisoner's grotto rolled under garden
+ 1.2. Added stronghold and regional effects. Will integrate them.
+ 1.5. Added business rules, integrated with strongholds.
+1.75. Formatted into a file for exchange
Redone as independent project
+ Alpha. Reorganized into 5 chapters (settlements, armies, strongholds, downtime, skills, and spells),
added settlement chapter. Finished all rooms and sample strongholds, statistics for Waterdeep as sample
settlement.
+ Beta 0.5. Added troop spellcasting, more details on farming, started companies. Added diseases.
+ 0.7. Organization (overhauled companies, clarified and integrated), made merchants work as
organizations and clarified contracts and special activities. Removed demographics, clarified downtime,
establishing troop guidelines, furnishing stronghold into establishing a stronghold, clarify attunement
actions, continue on organizations,
+ 0.8.4. Streamlined strongholds and siege warfare under armies and integrated them with one another.
Chapter 3 is now finished. Work on Chapter 4 is next. Eliminated and integrated most of the old rules.
Integrated warfare with training (with a touch of AD&D) to make training easier.
+ 0.8.5. Streamlined settlements and added optional jobs/titles. Trade tax is moved to chapter 8 to
resolve later, making Chapter 1 and 3 finished. Downtime and Training received work. Clarified economic
activity. Added ‗subscriber/patron‘ model for faction organizations. Revising trade goods and coming up
with own restrictions to balance out rarity. Removed transcendence (does not fit into expert rules,
consider an immortals set).
+ 0.8.9. Changed the formula of organization‘s incomes to scale more with the chosen skill of the leader
(used to be the number of employees primarily). This causes ability scores to matter more, and gave
advice for balancing income (employees who have much less income than their leader may complain and
begin agitating). Added influence and another refinement organization (noble house and potion shop),
gave a little more details on strongholds and potion costs under Alchemy. Also added several organization
downtime events. Need to review downtime activities to clarify.
+ 0.9. Added more modifications (wards). Nearly fully streamlined. Added 2 new organizations. Revised
format to simplify and make more accessible. Moved materials to backlog.
+ 1.0. Massive overhaul. Added new skills and refined chapter (Chapter 6)
 Chapter 1: Clean-up and revision of settlements, clarified growth rates (birth and death rates).
Necromancers will like this. Also clarified economic activity further. Infrastructure possibly next
patch.
 Chapter 2: Revised siege rules and moved them to Chapter 2 (with directions from Chapter 3) for
simplicity and consolidation. Added troll, doppelganger, duergar, and other troops, and unified
format to a degree. Added minor planning journey/camping rules that are applicable to players and
armies universally.
 Chapter 3: Removed Rooms, added variable stronghold features and modifications, and overhauled
strongholds‘ pricing mechanics (removing size modifier and simplifying the mechanics). Composite
strongholds are also written simpler. Stronghold chapter is also complete (revised stronghold
attunement). Pricing to 2.5k per area to stay in line with original 5e stronghold concepts.
 Chapter 4: Organizations were also cleaned up, added a holy order (clerics and paladins), mage school
(wizards and sorcerers), thieves‘ guild (rogues), and knightly order (fighters, paladins, rangers,
barbarians), as well as refined Leadership.
 Chapter 5: Added details on training troops and custom training, as well as optional rules for class
levels on creatures. Also refined troop sheets, introduced pay-by-challenge/level, and added the
Leadership optional rule.
 Chapter 7: Added new spells, removed old ones, added barrier.
 Chapter 8: Trade goods increase economic activity (in lieu with most strategy games) for simplicity.
Once the idea of productivity is refined, I may add alter it to be on a per-pound basis (which will make
trade goods much stronger and more valuable). Equipment special relevance to these rules are also
detailed.
+ 1.1 Second overhaul and cleanup.

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Codex Mandatum v.1.1.2

Renamed to Codex Mandatum (Book of Command) from Kingdoms, Strongholds, and War, and added
art.
 Chapter 1: Baseline prosperity rules, added titles (knight, baron, etc.) to be integrated with future
rules (koku)
 Chapter 3: Changed challenge calculation from half Challenge to full Challenge (except with Challenge
0 creatures).
 Chapter 4: Changed organization income calculation, added details, and a lot of reorganization
 Chapter 5: overhauled organization, unified rules
 Chapter 6: Cleaned up, will overhaul rally to work by either supporter number or scale with
settlement (former better as more organic)
 Chapter 8: Added magic items for strongholds, such as various banners, mirrors of travel, and others

+1.1.2 Various changes to round up the patch (split expanded uses of spells, added more art), added rules
for retiring a character.
 Added expanded alchemy rules
 Chapter 1: Added discoveries of settlements/goody huts
 Chapter 3: CR adjustment for troops/swarm rules folded into more accurate table; reaction abilities
clarified
 Chapter 4: Added faction cards and 3 sample factions
 Chapter 5: Added rules for next gen characters and mystic presence

Inspirations
Kingdoms: World of Warcraft‘s settlement, Pathfinder‘s Kingdom rules, various settlement-ruling games,
Pathfinder caravan rules, ACKS and AD&D settlement guidelines
Strongholds: Walrock‘s Fortresses, Temples & Strongholds
War: Troop subtype from Pathfinder, swarm substype (all editions)
Organizations: Pathfinder Rebellion rules

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