ALMAIA

(An Analog Fantasy Role-Playing Game)

A.A. CARROLL
1d6 GNOLLS 2021
Introduction
You live in Almaia, the only land you have ever or will
ever know; several thousand square miles of wilderness
and endless coastlines battered by roaring seafoam,
dotted with crumbling ruins, tended fields, and mighty
cities, and peopled with any and anyone you could
think of. In Almaia, life goes on as it always has, and
yea, may always will.
You and your companions come from many walks of
life, none of them noble. Your lowly livelihoods have
resulted in your accruing a considerable debt to the
Bank—failure to pay it off will result in a fate worse
than death.
It is the goal of the party, then, to remove this debt in
whichever way you see fit, the easiest and most direct
route likely being the collection and sale of valuable
goods, whether by legal or less-legal means.
This game requires one referee and at least one player,
but preferably four. The referee doesn’t get a character,
instead acting as all the NPCs, interpreting the rules in
any given situation, as well as describing what’s going
on and keeping things moving forward.

Design Philosophies

Almaia is designed as a sandbox into which a referee

can build their own vision for the setting. Almaia can
be a land of mythic heroics or grimdark dungeon-
slogging, depending on what the referee finds the most
entertaining to write and run.
The only limitation enforced on the setting by this
game is that characters must start in the lowest social
echelon: Almaia is a game of growth and personal
discovery as much as it is a game of role-playing and
combat resolution, and it is the opinion of the author
that characters in the lower rungs of society will
inherently be more relatable and easier to roleplay than
members of higher socioeconomic classes.
Player Guidelines
First and foremost, it’s important to clarify that ability
scores do not necessarily define your character: they
are abstract representations of your character’s
relative and innate chance of success in a given area as
determined by unknown cosmic forces.
Furthermore, because your characters will be
relatively squishy compared to other TTRPGs, it will
behoove you nine times out of ten to find nonviolent
solutions to problems. That said, trying and failing
combat encounters is the only way to improve your
character’s stats, so the amount of violence your
characters wage is entirely up to you.
As a final note, you will only know about the world
what you ask of the referee, which is to say that if you
are confused, ask questions until you aren’t! Unlike
the real world, the referee is your only window into
the situation at hand, so don’t be afraid to investigate
as much as you want.
Referee Guidelines
Unlike other TTRPGs, it is your job as the referee to
provide the players with as much information about
their situation as they could reasonably surmise by
themselves without needing to make die rolls to
determine their success. Rolling for every little thing
slows down gameplay and makes it easier for players
to lose interest.
In this vein is the all-important Rule of Cool: if a
player wants to do something that goes against the
rules, allow it to have a chance of happening anyway
if the outcome could provide a memorable
experience. A game can only be fun if players are
allowed to play it!
Finally, the game is more often enjoyable when
serious dangers are telegraphed to some extent,
especially when playing with newer players. Surprises
are okay every once in a while, but constant
unpredictable danger results in the game relying more
of a random chance than player agency, which tends
to be more enjoyable for, you know, the players.
All of this said, it is not my job as the rules-writer to
tell you how to play the game, just as it isn’t the job of
the sandwich-maker to tell you how to eat it. Once
the game is in your hands it is your own—feel free to
adapt, add to, or subtract from the rules as you see fit
to make the game as fun as possible to play.
Have fun!
Character Creation
Roll 4d6 (minus the single highest roll) for each stat to
determine your ability scores:
- Strength (STR) is a measure of physical
power and fortitude.
- Dexterity (DEX) is a measure of precision
and reflex speed.
- Will (WIL) is a measure of confidence,
interpersonal charm, and mental willpower.
Start with 1d8 HP (Hit Points) to determine how good
you are at not being hit. Fear not if you roll low—you
will gain more as you become Scarred.
Roll a Background from the Background table. This
represents experience and equipment you’ve gained
before the events of the game. Along with any items
granted by your Background you start with 1d6 copper
coins (cp) and common, non-armor clothing fitting
your profession.
As a group, you share 1000gp (gold coins) in debt to a
person or organization of their choice, each for your
own reasons. No matter the debtor they will be very
keen on getting their money, and they will make it hard
for you to forget this fact. In any case, none of you
want to know what happens if you don’t pay it off.
See the Background Elaborations section toward the end
for optional character-building inspiration.
Roll Background
1 Beggar: Staff (d8), alms bowl
2 Burglar: Dagger (d6), lockpicks
3 Con-Artist: Dagger, noble clothes
4 Drunkard: Broken bottle (d4), bottle of liquor
5 Gambler: Dagger (d6), deck of cards
Gongfarmer: Shovel (d4), sack of human
6
excrement
7 Gravedigger: Shovel (d4), half-full oil lamp
Highwayman: Hand cannon (d6, ranged,
8 shock, requires setup, two-handed), firearm
kit, domino mask
9 Indentured Servant: Staff (d8), uniform
Mage-Apprentice: Random scroll, strange
10
rock
Mercenary: Halberd (d10, bulky, two-
11
handed), light armor (+1 DR)
Monsterhunter-Apprentice: Silver dagger
12
(d6, +d12 against monsters), wolfsbane
Peasant: Pitchfork (d8, bulky), live goat
13
(5/8/15, d4 gore)
Pickpocket: Dagger (d6), small chest with
14
lock
Slave Fighter: Longsword (d10, bulky),
15
helmet (+1 DR)
16 Smuggler: Shortsword (d8), waterproof sack
Street Performer: Wooden sword (d6),
17
makeup
18 Ragpicker: Dagger (d6), bundle of rags
Ranger: Longbow (d8, ranged, bulky), 20
19
arrows/quiver, winter clothes (bulky)
Rat Catcher: Club (d6), terrier dog (7/13/10,
20
d4 bite)

Players have item inventories with a number of slots

equal to 10 plus half their STR score, rounded down.
Most items take up one slot, and many small items may
be bundled in one slot at the referee’s discretion. Bulky
items, such as two-handed weapons or
heavy/awkwardly shaped objects, take up two slots.
Anyone with a completely full inventory is immediately
reduced to 0HP (this does not inflict a Scar).
Items in the first slots of the inventory equal to half the
player’s DEX score rounded down can be retrieved
and/or stowed as a free action, but anything deeper
requires a full turn to equip/unequip.
Playing the Game
As said above, your first goal is to pay off your debt.
The referee will tip you off to the location of valuable
goods, which you should attempt to bring to sale safely.
The referee, also as mentioned above, describes the
world, acts on behalf of NPCs, and interprets and
adjudicates the rules for situations the players get
themselves in.
A roll to attempt to avoid danger in a risky situation or
by taking a risky action is called a save. Rolling equal
to or under the best-applicable ability score results in a
successful save.
When players encounter an NPC whose reaction to
meeting the party is not immediately obvious, the
referee rolls 2d6 and consults the below table to
determine their reaction.
2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12
Hostile Wary Uninterested Friendly Helpful
One gold coin is equal to ten silver coins, which in turn
are equal to ten copper coins each, for a total of 100
copper coins to every one gold coin. Ancient currency
found in ruins varies in value depending on the
material, which is often neither gold, silver, nor copper.
Players are able to hire Hirelings to aid in their
expeditions. Hirelings have 1d6HP, a simple weapon
(d6 dmg), and 3d6 for each ability score, and cost 1-
3cp per point of max HP per day to keep around. It is
also very wise to give them a fair share of any treasure
the group obtains, for fear of mutiny.
Magic
Spells are painstakingly recorded in specially bound
tomes known as Grimoires, which come in the form
of books of varying size, materials, and states of repair.
They require one inventory slot to hold and cannot be
transcribed or created without a near-prohibitive
amount of time, effort, and money.
Grimoires usually contain 2-3 loosely related spells
with manifestations related to the Grimoire’s origin
and intent. These, along with the contained spells’
manifestations, should be determined by the referee in
advance.
Scrolls are related to Grimoires except that they do not
take up an inventory slot, do not generate Exhaustion
on use unless enhanced, and are more easily created
and transcribed. However, Scrolls burn into ash after a
single use, which cannot be prevented or reversed by
any means.
Anyone may attempt to cast an arcane spell by holding
an item containing a spell in both hands and reading its
contents or inscriptions aloud. One point of
Exhaustion is then added to the caster’s inventory
from the stress of wielding magic.
Given enough time and protection, a player may
enhance a spell’s impact (e.g., increasing
range/damage/efficacy/etc.) for the cost of an
additional Exhaustion point.
If a player attempting to cast a spell is Deprived or in
immediate danger, they must succeed a WIL save to
avoid Ill Effects from casting the spell as described in
the Ill Effects table. Ill Effects are always rolled
randomly.
Relics are special items enchanted with a magical spell
or power, including wands, staves, and enchanted
equipment as well as inherently magical objects. Using
them does not incur Exhaustion unless the use is
enhanced. They have limited charges as well as
stipulations regarding how to recharge them, which are
often obscure and/or difficult.
Besides their reliquary abilities, Enchanted weapons
roll damage twice and take the higher result.
Enchanted armor obtains +1 additional DR.
Combat
At the start of combat, players must succeed on a DEX
save to act before their enemies—otherwise, they go
after.
All players declare their actions before any dice are
rolled. Attacking characters roll the damage dice for
their weapon, subtracting that many HP minus the
enemy’s DR from their target’s current amount.
Attackers attacking with multiple weapons roll damage
for each and keep the single highest result. Multiple
attackers targeting the same opponent work the same
way.
Damage bonuses in the form of +“dice” (e.g., +d6,
+d12, etc.) are rolled as an extra attack against the same
target, with only the single highest die causing damage.
Attacks against helpless targets always receive +d12.
Armor is described by its DR (Damage Reduction).
Characters wearing armor subtract that armor’s DR
score from any incoming damage. Unequipped armor,
including shields, does not grant DR.
If a player wishes to perform a daring combat
maneuver of some kind, the side most at risk makes
an appropriate save to avoid the consequences.
Attacks are said to deal Blast Damage if they affect a
wide area, such as those made by a large group of small
enemies, an explosion, or a huge sweeping weapon or
object. Blast Damage is rolled separately for each
affected individual, with a maximum number of
affected targets equal to an additional roll of the
attacking weapon’s damage die.
Certain weapons are large or powerful enough to cause
a guaranteed amount of damage. These are said to have
shock, which inflicts 1d2 damage no matter the DR of
the enemy’s armor. These weapons are almost always
bulky or require setup to use.
Large groups of combatants fighting as a single unit are
called Detachments. When they take Critical Damage
they disperse and if their STR is reduced to 0 they are
all slain. Individual attacks made against them are
Impaired unless they cause Blast Damage, and attacks
made by the Detachment receive +d12 and cause Blast
Damage.
Attacks that are Impaired in some way (i.e., firing
through cover, striking unarmed, etc.) deal d4 damage
no matter the equipped weapon and cannot receive
bonus damage.
If a character takes more damage than their current HP
they are wounded, and any remaining damage is
removed from their STR score. They must then
succeed on a STR save to avoid Critical Damage.
Characters that take Critical Damage are unable to do
more than crawl and speak weakly until tended to by
an ally and allowed to rest. If left unattended, they will
die within an hour.
Players may choose to destroy an equipped shield on
impact to avoid making a Critical Damage save. Shields
require one hand to wield.
A few minutes’ rest and a drink of water restores all of
a character’s HP, but leaves them vulnerable to random
encounters, hostile or otherwise. If a character is
Deprived of some crucial need, such as food, water,
or shelter, they cannot benefit from rests until satisfied.
If a character casts a spell or is Deprived for more than
24 hours they gain a point of Exhaustion in their
inventory. One full day of rest removes one point of
Exhaustion. If a player cannot add a point of
exhaustion to their inventory due to lack of space, it is
instead subtracted from an ability score of the player’s
choice.
Ability score loss and serious diseases require the aid
of a medical professional to be removed. Free services
exist, but quality and/or fast service necessitates
payment.
If a character’s STR score is reduced to 0 they die
instantly and irretrievably except by extremely
powerful magic. If DEX or WIL is reduced to 0 the
character is either paralyzed or comatose respectively
and cannot do anything except be carried to safety by
an ally.
Enemies must pass a WIL save to avoid fleeing when
their group takes its first casualty and again when they
are reduced to half their original number. Groups
being led by an obvious leader use the leader’s WIL
score, otherwise it is rolled individually. Lone enemies
save when reduced to half and/or 0HP.
If a character dies, their player creates a new character.
The referee should find a way to incorporate them into
the party as quickly as possible, even at the cost of
narrative realism. Remember—this is a game, and it
can only be fun if you’re playing it.
If an attack takes a character to exactly 0HP, they
receive a permanent Scar that changes your maximum
HP or ability scores as described in the below table.
Roll d12 Scar
1 Roll 1d6: 1=Neck, 2=Hands, 3=Eye, 4=Chest, 5=Legs, 6=Ear. Obtain a gruesome scar on the given
body part. Roll 1d8 and if higher than your current max HP change it to the new result.
2 Become disoriented and make all attacks Impaired until given an opportunity to refocus. Roll 1d8 and
if higher than your current max HP change it to the new result.
3 You are winded and become Deprived until given an opportunity to rest. Roll 1d4 and add the result
to your max HP.
4 Roll 1d6: 1-3=Leg, 4-6=Arm. The rolled limb is broken or dislocated in some way and is unusable
until mended. Roll 2d8 and if higher than your current max HP change it to the new result.
5 A vital organ is badly damaged. If you take Critical Damage before receiving serious medical attention
you die immediately. If repaired, roll 2d8 and if higher than your current max HP change it to the new
result.
6 Roll 1d6: 1=Nose, 2=Ear, 3=Finger, 4=Thumb, 5=Eye, 6=Chunk of Skin. The rolled extremity is
severed or otherwise removed. Make a WIL save and if successful increase your WIL score by 1d4.
7 Roll 1d4: 1=Leg, 2-3=Arm, 4-5=Hand, 6=Foot. The rolled limb is severed or requires amputation and
the attack automatically inflicts Critical Damage. When recovered, make a WIL save and if successful
increase your WIL score by 2d6.
8 Pull a ligament in your leg and become unable to move until given an opportunity to rest for at least 24
hours. When recovered, roll 3d6 and if the total is higher than your DEX score take the new result.
9 You are dealt a humiliating blow and any attacks made against you from that enemy gain +d6. If you
kill them, roll 1d6 and add the result to your max HP.
10 Your spine is broken, reducing your DEX score to 0 until you receive serious medical attention. When
this happens make a WIL save: if successful roll 2d4 and add the result to your STR score. If you fail,
your DEX and STR scores are permanently 1 unless magically remedied, and you may be paraplegic at
the referee’s discretion.
11 You receive a serious blow to the head, rendering you unconscious for a day. On waking, reroll your
WIL score on 2d6 and change your personality based on how different your new and old scores are.
12 You receive no physical injury from this attack but the impact was severe: the next time you receive
Critical Damage, you die instantly. If Critical Damage is avoided, roll 3d6 and if the total is higher than
your current max HP change it to the new result.
Equipment and Lodging (Prices in CP)
Armor Price Food and Provisions Price
Shield (+1 DR) 10 Travel rations 5/day
Helmet (+1 DR) 10 Animal feed 2/day
Light Armor (+1 DR) Leather, gambeson, 15 Basic meal 2
hide, etc. Gourmet meal 10
Medium Armor (+2 DR, bulky) Chain, 40 Alcohol (bottle) 1
linothorax, half-plate, etc. Alcohol (barrel) 60
Heavy Armor (+3 DR, bulky) Full plate, 60
splint, scale, etc.
Lodging Price
Common room bed 1/night
Weapons Price Private room 3/night
Light (d6, d4 thrown) Daggers, clubs, 5 Hot bath 5
handaxes, light hammers, sickles, whips, etc. Suite (includes a meal and a bath) 10/night
Medium (d8) Spears, staffs, shortswords, 10 Stabling and fodder 2/night
rapiers, maces, flails, morningstars, axes, tridents,
etc.
Heavy (d10, bulky, two-handed) Glaives, 25 Gemstones Price
halberds, mauls, war hammers, war picks, Small (<2cm diameter) 100
longswords, etc. Medium (2-4cm diameter) 200
Huge (d10, bulky, shock, two-handed) 50 Large (>4cm diameter) 300
Greatswords, greataxes, greatclubs, lances, etc. Common Selenite, agate, amethyst, etc. as size
Ranged, light (d4) Slings, javelins, darts 5 Uncommon Jade, emerald, sapphire, etc. size x2
Shortbow (d6, ranged, two-handed) 20 Rare Lapis, diamond, ruby, etc. size x3
Longbow (d8, bulky, ranged, two-handed) 40 Magic/Enchanted total x2
Crossbow (d10, bulky, ranged, requires 60
setup, two-handed)
Specialized Clothing Price
Hand cannon (d6, ranged, shock, requires 100
Winter (Fur coat, stud-sole boots, snow goggles, fur 30
setup, two-handed)
hat, and fur-lined gloves) (bulky)
Musket (d10, ranged, bulky, shock, 250
Noble (Embroidered cloak and tunic, fine boots) 50
requires setup, two-handed)
(+1 to reaction checks for non-clergy and
Hand grenade (d8, ranged, shock, blast, 80/ea.
non-monsters)
single use)
Clerical (Varies depending on religion) (+1 to 15
Arrows 1/ea.
reaction checks for clergy, -1 for monsters)
Bolts 2/ea.
Unlike armor, clothing does not use inventory slots
Shot, wadding, & powder (20 uses) 200 when worn. Wearing winter gear in warm weather
Melee weapons and ammunition may be Silvered, Deprives the wearer.
which has a +d12 bonus against monsters, for 3x the
standard price of the item. Given prices are for an average town of reasonable
size. In rural areas more expensive items are often not
Tools and Gear Price available, and cities contain rare, expensive, and unique
Simple Crowbar, carpentry/masonry tools, rope 5 goods not found in these tables, as well as
(50ft), caltrops, 10ft pole, sack, torches (5), opportunities to buy property, ships, and/or custom-
bedrolls, waterskins, etc. made armor and weapons.
Standard Cookpots, ladder (bulky, 10ft), 10
lantern/oil flasks, tents, etc. Grimoires, Relics, and Scrolls are somewhat rare and
Specialty Holy water, wolfsbane, lockpicks, 25 shops that sell them don’t often deal in currency: those
hourglass, mirror, spyglass, specialty climbing gear that do always charge a very high price. The best place
(block and tackle, grappling hook, spiked boots), to look for magic items is in the lofty ruins of old mage
mundane books, etc. towers, the depths of grave barrows, and other such
obscure places.
Spell List
Below is a list of 100 spells that may be found in
Grimoires and Scrolls across Almaia. As mentioned
above, their manifestations will vary wildly depending
on the tomes in which they are inscribed, but the
effects are the same in each instance.
Unless otherwise noted, targets, whether creatures,
objects, or points in space, must be visible to the caster.
“Nearby” targets are within 100ft of the caster and do
not need to be seen to be affected. Spell effects do not
need to be observed after casting to remain in
existence.
If a spell directly affects a creature it may make an
appropriate save to avoid the spell’s effects. A
successful save reduces but does not negate the spell’s
effects.
When spell duration is noted, its effects last 1 hour or
until the caster wishes them to end: otherwise, the
effects are not time-constrained or cancellable except
by another spell or mundane reparation. Spell effects
may be Enhanced (e.g., more targets, longer durations,
stronger effects, etc.) for an additional point of
Exhaustion.
1. Adhere: A target is covered in a strong
adhesive.
2. Animate Object: An object follows your
commands as best it can.
3. Anthropomorphize: A touched nonsentient
creature either gains human intelligence or
human appearance for one day.
4. Arcane Eye: Your vision is transferred to a
floating orb that flies around at your
command, for the spell duration.
5. Arcane Prison: A target is frozen in time and
space within an invulnerable shell.
6. Arms: You gain two extra arms, one
underneath both of your usual ones.
7. Attract: Two targets are strongly attracted as
if magnetically when within 10ft of each
other.
8. Auditory Illusion: Illusory sounds come
from a visible point of origin of your choice.
9. Babble: A living creature loudly and clearly
repeats everything you think and is rendered
otherwise mute.
10. Beast Form: You and your possessions turn
into a mundane animal.
11. Befuddle: A creature of your choice is unable
to form short-term memories for the spell
duration.
12. Bend Fate: Roll 3d20. Saves made after this
spell must use one of the rolled results until all
dice are gone.
13. Body Swap: Switch bodies with a creature
you touch. If one body dies, the other dies as
well.
14. Bookmark: Make a temporary copy of a spell
currently being cast by another magic user
that may be cast once using normal casting
rules during the spell duration.
15. Build: Up to six 3x3x3ft cubes of a given
material may be summoned or banished at
will for the spell duration. New cubes must be
affixed to a surface of the same material,
including already existing cubes.
16. Charm: A target creature treats you as a
friend for the spell duration.
17. Climb: You become able to climb any non-
frictionless surface, including ceilings, for the
spell duration.
18. Command: A target creature obeys a single
three-word command that does not bring it
harm.
19. Comprehend: Become fluent in all languages
for the spell duration.
20. Control Plants: Nearby plants obey you and
gain the ability to grow 5ft per minute for the
spell duration.
21. Control Weather: Alter the current weather,
indoors or outdoors, once.
22. Counterspell: Fail a WIL save using the WIL
score of a spell’s caster to reverse the effects
of that spell as it is being cast.
23. Deafen: Nearby creatures, excluding yourself,
are deafened.
24. Detect Magic: Nearby magic and its strength
becomes detectable by one or more of your
senses for the spell duration.
25. Disassemble: Any of your body parts may be
detached and reattached at will without
causing pain or damage for the spell duration,
remaining controllable by you.
26. Disguise: You alter the appearance of a
person for the spell duration, as long as they
remain human. Attempts to duplicate real
people are imperfect but undetectable at a
glance.
27. Displace: A target appears to be 10ft from its
actual position.
28. Earthquake: The ground shakes violently for
20 seconds.
29. Elastic Form: Your reach extends up to 10ft.
30. Elemental Wall: A straight 40ft long, 10ft tall
wall of a given natural element rises from the
ground.
31. Errant: Summon an armed humanoid able to
answer most questions regarding combat. If it
finds you worthy it may aid you as a free
Hireling, otherwise it disappears after the spell
duration.
32. Filch: An inanimate object teleports to the
next open space in your inventory. If no
spaces are available or the item is too large to
carry, it appears on the ground in front of
you.
33. Fog: A dense haze spreads from you.
34. Frenzy: A target creature becomes violently
hostile.
35. Gate: A portal to a random location in a
given plane opens.
36. Gravity: Change the direction of gravity for
yourself.
37. Greed: A target creature develops an
overwhelming urge to possess a target item of
your choice for the spell duration.
38. Haste: Your top movement speed is tripled,
allowing you to act three times per round, for
the spell duration. Spells cast during this time
automatically incur Ill Effects.
39. Hatred: A target creature develops a deep
hatred of another creature or object and will
attempt to destroy it by any means for the
spell duration.
40. Hear: You become able to hear faint sounds
clearly for the spell duration.
41. Heavy: The gravity in an area determined by
the caster triples.
42. Hover: A target inanimate object hovers
frictionless 2ft above the ground, able to
support up to 250lbs.
43. Hypnotize: A touched creature enters a
trance for the spell duration and will answer
as truthfully as possible 3 yes-or-no questions.
44. Icefinger: A thick layer of a hard, slippery
substance spreads across a touched surface,
up to 20ft in diameter.
45. Idol: A statue of a given form rises from the
ground.
46. Illuminate: A floating light moves at your
command for the spell duration.
47. Jump: A target inanimate object ceases to
exist and reappears 10 minutes later in the
nearest unoccupied space to where it jumped
from.
48. Knock: A touched mundane or magical lock
unlocks.
49. Leap: You can jump 10ft into the air for the
spell duration.
50. Liquid Air: The air in an area determined by
the caster becomes able to be moved through
as if by swimming.
51. Magic Dampener: Nearby magical effects
are Impaired, if applicable, for the spell
duration. Otherwise, their effectiveness is
halved.
52. Magic Well: A target inanimate object
becomes the target of every spell cast near it.
53. Manse: A sturdy, furnished dwelling appears
for 12 hours. You are able to permit and
forbid entry at will.
54. Marbles: Your pockets are full of small,
round objects that refill for the spell duration.
55. Masque: A target humanoid’s voice and
appearance becomes identical to a previously
touched humanoid for the spell duration.
56. Mirror: An illusory duplicate of yourself
appears under your control for the spell
duration.
57. Mirrorwalk: A target mirror becomes a
single-use gateway to another mirror you have
seen on the same day.
58. Night: A 40ft-diameter illusory sphere of
darkness displaying the night sky appears for
the spell duration. Standing inside it makes the
rest of the world appear as it would as if it
were midnight.
59. Object Form: You become an inanimate
object between the size of a wagon and an
apple for the spell duration.
60. Ooze Form: You become a living jelly for the
spell duration.
61. Pacify: A target creature develops an aversion
to violence for the spell duration.
62. Phobia: A target creature becomes terrified
of another target for the spell duration.
63. Pit: A 10ft wide, 5ft deep hole opens in the
ground.
64. Psychometry: Ask the referee a single yes-or-
no question about a touched object. Before
they answer, make a WIL save: if you fail, the
referee does not have to tell the truth.
65. Pull: A target inanimate object of any size is
pulled directly toward you with the strength of
a horse for 1 minute or until cancelled.
66. Push: A target inanimate object of any size is
pushed directly away from you with the
 strength of a horse for 1 minute or until
cancelled.
67. Raise Dead: A skeleton or corpse rises from
the ground to serve you. It is remarkably
stupid and can only obey simple orders.
68. Read Minds: You hear the surface thoughts
of nearby creatures for the spell duration.
69. Repel: Two targets are strongly repelled from
each other as if magnetically when within 10ft
of each other.
70. Rush: Time in a 50ft sphere moves 10x faster
for the spell duration.
71. Scry: You see through the eyes of a creature
you touched earlier in the same day for the
spell duration.
72. Sculpt: Inanimate material behaves like clay
for you for the spell duration.
73. Séance: The spirit of a touched dead body
manifests and answers 3 questions.
74. Servant: A visible humanoid appears for the
spell duration and obeys safe, polite requests.
75. Shrink: You and up to one other touched
creature are reduced to the approximate size
of a mouse.
76. Shroud: A target creature is rendered invisible
as an illusion until they move.
77. Shuffle: Two target creatures instantly switch
places.
78. Sleep: A target creature falls into a light sleep.
79. Slow: Time in a 50ft sphere moves 10x slower
for the spell duration.
80. Smell: You become able to smell as well as a
bloodhound for the spell duration.
81. Smoke Form: You and your possessions
become an opaque gas for the spell duration.
82. Sort: Any number of target inanimate objects
sort themselves according to visually-
verifiable categories you choose.
83. Spectacle: An unconvincing but impressive
illusion of your choice, up to the size of a
palace and featuring motion and sound,
appears under your control for the spell
duration.
84. Supersight: You are able to see through
inanimate objects at will for the spell duration.
85. Surge: A target inanimate object grows to the
size of a house. If it is an animal it becomes
enraged as per Frenzy for the spell duration.
86. Swarm: Become a swarm of a given type of
vermin for the spell duration, acting as a
Detachment of those vermin.
87. Telekinesis: Move a target up to 10ft in any
direction without contact, once.
88. Telepathy: Two target creatures become able
to hear each other’s thoughts at any distance
for the spell duration.
89. Teleport: A target inanimate object
disappears and reappears on the ground in a
chosen clear, visible space up to 50ft away
from where it started.
90. Tether: Two objects within 10ft of each
other are unable to be moved more than 10ft
apart.
91. Thicket: A dense mass of a given plant up to
50ft in diameter sprouts from the ground.
92. Thumb: A spectral vehicle appears for the
spell duration able to move unnaturally fast
over any terrain, including water.
93. True Sight: All nearby illusions disappear for
you.
94. Upwell: A spring of a given liquid appears.
95. Visionmaster: Control what a target creature
sees for the spell duration.
96. Visual Illusion: A silent, immobile illusion of
your choice appears up to 20x20x20ft in size.
97. Ward: A circular boundary 50ft in diameter
appears on the ground that prevents a given
type of creature, object, or material from
passing over it from any direction for the spell
duration.
98. Web: Your wrists can shoot ropes of a thick,
sticky substance for the spell duration.
99. Wings: Your arms turn into huge wings of a
given type for the spell duration.
100. Wizard Mark: Your finger shoots a stream of
octarine-colored paint for the spell duration,
permanently visible only to you and able to be
seen at any distance, even through solid
objects.
Ill Effects
As described in the Magic section above, if a player attempting to cast a spell is Deprived or in immediate danger they
must succeed a WIL save to avoid Ill Effects from casting the spell, which represent unpredictable mercurial
fluctuations and tears in the fabric of magic caused by lack of focus. Ill Effects are always rolled randomly with 2d20
unless the referee has something devious in mind. On a failed save a player may avoid the incursion of Ill Effects by
smearing a small amount of blood on the item containing the spell and spending a number of points of STR equal to
half the number of times they have used this ability for the spell being cast, rounded up.
Roll Ill Effect
2 The caster’s soul is corrupted, causing 3d6 damage, -1d4 to all ability scores, and -1d4 to their max HP.
3 The caster’s flesh is corrupted, sloughing off in chunks (-1d4 max HP per day). Only healable by magic.
4 The caster’s head painfully transforms into that of an animal. Roll 1d6: 1=Reptile, 2=Goat, 3=Bull,
4=Rodent, 5=Insect, 6=Fish.
5 The caster’s limbs are replaced with octopus-like tentacles over the course of several weeks.
6 Small, twitching but otherwise functionless tentacles grow around the caster’s mouth and ears like a beard,
growing at a rate of 1 inch per month until 1ft long.
7 The caster sprouts a third eye with Truesight. Roll 1d4: 1=Forehead, 2=Palm, 3=Chest, 4=Back of head.
8 Over a week the caster’s dominant hand transforms into a crustacean claw, able to attack for d6 damage.
9 The caster grows a tail over the course of several days. Roll 1d6: 1=Scorpion (d4 sting, shock), 2=Snake,
3=Demonic (+1 DEX), 4=Hairless and prehensile, 5=Ankylosaurus (d6 club), 6=Horse.
10 The caster’s biology is corrupted. Roll 1d4: 1=Caster grows scales, 2=Caster grows gills on sides, 3=Caster
sprouts small, sparse, full-body feathers, 4=Caster’s fingers and toes become webbed.
11 The caster grows a beak in place of a mouth over the course of a month and gains a d4 bite attack.
12 The caster slowly weakens, suffering -1 to STR each month for 1d4 months.
13 An exact duplicate of the caster’s face grows on their back. It is unable to speak but is otherwise fully
functional, including being able to eat, smell, breathe, and see.
14 The caster’s metabolism increases such that they lose 2d10lbs over a month, suffering -1 to STR.
15 The caster’s metabolism decreases such that they gain 6d12lbs over a month, suffering -1 to DEX.
16 The caster develops a glowing and audibly crackling magical aura.
17-26 The spell misfires. Refer to the Misfire Effects table.
27 The caster’s soul fuses with a fragment of a dead demon’s soul. Roll 1d6: 1-2=Fingers turn to claws (d6
slash), 3-4=Feet turn to hooves (+1 DEX), 5-6=Sensitivity to light (d4 damage for every hour in full sun).
28 The caster’s skin color is corrupted. Roll 1d8: 1=Albino, 2=Pitch black, 3=Transparent, 4=Shimmering,
5=Lapis blue, 6=Lemon yellow, 7=Veiny grey-green, 8=Demonic red-brown.
29 Huge, bull-like demon horns grow gradually out from the caster’s forehead over the course of several
months. When fully grown, the caster gains a d8 gore attack.
30 The caster’s nose narrows to slits and their tongue forks, able to smell as a snake.
31 The caster’s hair is corrupted. Roll 1d4: 1=Turns bone white, 2=Turns pitch black, 3=Falls out, 4=Sticks
straight up, unable to be styled down no matter the length.
32 The caster’s eyes are corrupted. Roll 1d4: 1=Glow octarine, 2=Become light sensitive (-1 to all rolls in
daylight), 3=Infravision (see heat signatures for 100ft), 4=Become fishlike and unblinking.
33 One of the caster’s legs grows 6 inches (-1 DEX).
34 The caster develops leaking pustules on their face only healable by magical means. (-1 to reaction checks)
35 The caster develops a compulsion to pick at their skin, resulting in painful lesions and open sores on their
hands, face, neck, and arms. (-1 DEX, -1 to reaction checks)
36 The caster’s ears are corrupted. Roll 1d6: 1-2=Become pointed, 3-4=Fall off (character still hears
normally), 5-6=Shrivel and fold back like a goblin.
37 The caster develops a chill and cannot be perfectly quiet due to chattering teeth. (-1 DEX)
38 The caster’s facial appearance is disfigured based on the misfired spell. Ask the referee what you look like.
39 The caster’s height changes by 1d20-10 inches, but weight is not affected.
40 The caster passes out and is unconscious for 1d6 hours or until vigorously awakened.
 Roll Misfire Effects
1 Nearest ally undergoes corruption as Ill Effect 2.
2 A random spell is cast instead on the same target. If not applicable, it explodes (d6, blast, shock).
3 The caster's tongue bursts into flame, dealing 2d4 damage before it is completely reduced to ash. They can
no longer speak intelligibly or cast spells until healed by magical means.
4 Explosion centered on nearest creature (d6, blast, shock)
5 If the spell is being cast from a Grimoire, the page it is on burns up like a scroll. If being cast from another
source, the item explodes and is destroyed, dealing d6 +shock damage.
6 Magical energies overwhelm the caster's nervous system, rendering them blind, deaf, mute, and paralyzed
until healed by magical means.
7 The spell has the exact opposite effect as intended. If unclear, the target explodes (d6, blast, shock).
8 The spell is cast on the caster instead. If not applicable, the caster explodes (d6, blast, shock).

Background Elaborations (Optional)

Almaia is a sandbox for the referee to fill with whichever cities, countries, and peoples they see fit, with the only hard
guidelines being that characters must belong to the lower levels of society as opposed to the wealthier classes.
Should referees or players want more detail from the get-go in this regard, players may choose to further flesh out
their characters with the following background elaborations, which provide some worldbuilding sparks to help get
the game on its feet before play even starts. Feel free to come up with your own backgrounds using these guidelines,
but remember: the players must come from the lower classes. Otherwise, what’s so bad about being in debt?

Beggar
The bottom rung of society, lower than even slaves and
peasants. At least they have jobs.
Starting Equipment: Staff (d8), alms bowl
Why are you begging? (Roll 1d4, or choose)
1. Your farm was seized by annoying tax
collectors and is now occupied by a travelling
stage show caravan.
2. You’re a disgraced alderman, expelled from
your village’s council for expressing contrarian
opinions.
3. A now-benign bout of smallpox left you too
disfigured to continue your… hospitality
service.
4. Beats working.
Food for thought: Who is the strangest person you’ve met
while begging? Where do you beg?
Burglar
A thief specializing in breaking and entering.
Starting Equipment: Dagger (d6), lockpicks
What is your favorite thing to steal?
1. Jewelry, because they always keep it in a nice
box for you in the wardrobe.
2. Gold, because you’re just going to sell anything
else anyway.
3. Ancient artifacts. Call it archaeology.
4. Books, because if you can’t sell them at least
you can learn something.
Food for thought: What was your favorite break-in? What
did you steal?
Con-Artist
A professional liar, but the non-thespian, illegal kind.
Starting Equipment: Dagger (d6), noble clothes (see
Equipment for details)
What is your con?
1. Convincing nobles to buy up barren land.
2. Selling fake magical artifacts that you actually
make yourself.
3. Rigging betting odds in your favor at tourneys.
4. Good old fashioned fortune-telling fraud:
removing “curses” for a fee.
Food for thought: Who was your favorite mark? How did
you con them?
Drunkard
You had another job, but were usually too drunk to
work and got fired. At least you have booze left.
Starting Equipment: Broken bottle (d4), bottle of alcohol.
What was your job before getting canned?
1. Brewer. Ironic, right?
2. Court jester. A pretty good one, too.
3. Boxer. The liquor made the hard hits hurt less.
4. Priest. You weren’t very pious, obviously, but
you were committed.
Food for thought: How do you pay for your booze now?
What’s your favorite kind?
Gambler
You’ve lost more than you’ve won, but that doesn’t
stop you from trying.
Starting Equipment: Dagger (d6), deck of cards
What is your gamble of choice?
1. Games: dice, cards, you name it, you’ve bet on
it.
2. Fights: dogs, roosters, and/or people.
3. Races: carts, horses, even snails from time to
time.
4. Property investment. Most of the party’s debt
is yours.
Food for thought: What is the most you’ve won on a bet?
The most you’ve lost?
Gongfarmer
It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
Starting Equipment: Shovel, sack of human excrement
What is the strangest thing you’ve found in the cesspits?
1. A wedding ring. You wear it to this day.
2. An enchanted sword, but you dropped it and
couldn’t find it again.
3. A dead body, and you have a hell of a story
about it.
4. The lord mayor’s runaway daughter… and the
son of the lord mayor of the next town over.
Food for thought: Whose cesspit do you clean? How long
have you been doing it?
Gravedigger
It’s really not as bad as everyone seems to think it is.
It’s a great workout, anyway.
Starting Equipment: Shovel, half-full oil lamp
Where is your graveyard?
1. Behind the old chapel on the hill. Something
inside sings at night.
2. In the center of a huge city. It’s noisy, but
home.
3. Out in the countryside. You’ve gotten used to
the ghouls, but the wraiths still spook you.
4. You don’t have one. You’re the world’s one
and only travelling gravedigger.
Food for thought: What’s the scariest thing to have
happened to you while digging graves?
Highwayman
A thief utilizing cutting edge technology to rob
caravans, convoys, and other travelers.
Starting Equipment: Hand cannon (d6, shock, requires
setup, two-handed), shot/wadding/powder (20 shots),
domino mask
What’s your schtick?
1. Gentleman robber. You’re great with the
romancing.
2. “We are but poor, lost, circus performers…”
3. You’re actually a sea pirate. The “highway” part
is relative to where you are at the time.
4. You don’t really have one. You just try to make
ends meet, doing the best you can.
Food for thought: What is the biggest robbery you’ve
made? What did you steal, and from whom?
Indentured Servant
The most common profession in Almaia besides
general peasantry.
Starting Equipment: Staff (d8), servant’s uniform
Who do you serve?
1. A sweet old lady that just needs help around
the house. You’re luckier than most.
2. One of the village aldermen. She likes foot
massages.
3. A landlord. You’re basically a peasant with a
written contract.
4. A harbormaster. It’s backbreaking work, but
it’ll be worth it when you’re freed.
Food for thought: What made you decide to enter
servitude? What are you going to do when freed?
Mage-Apprentice
You hope to become a full-fledged mage someday, but
for now you’re stuck cleaning cauldrons.
Starting Equipment: Dagger (d6), random scroll
What kind of magic are you most interested in?
1. Enchantment. Why settle for less than your
potential?
2. Transmorphery. Why be someone when you
can be anyone?
3. Necromancy. Spooky, maybe, but useful.
4. Conjuration. You like making things.
Food for thought: What mage do you serve? What kind of
magic do they practice?
Mercenary
A hired soldier, allied with whoever pays best.
Starting Equipment: Halberd (d10, bulky, two-handed),
light armor (+1 DR)
Who do you work for now?
1. A thieves’ guild, technically, but you’re the only
survivor after an ambush.
2. A very old man too old to carry out his revenge
himself.
3. The Crown. Enlistment was low this month.
4. No one. You’re between jobs.
Food for thought: What is the most horrible thing you’ve
seen at war? The most beautiful thing?
Monsterhunter-Apprentice
Not many last long enough to become monsterhunters
in their own right, but you’re pretty determined.
Starting Equipment: Silvered dagger (d6, +d12 vs
monsters), wolfsbane
What’s your favorite quarry?
1. Undead. They’re usually pretty straightforward.
2. Dragons. You’ve only helped slay infants so
far, but you’re working up to children soon.
3. Pixies. The bites are annoying, but that’s the
worst part.
4. Goblins. They’re everywhere and someone’s
always looking to pay to get rid of them.
Food for thought: What monsters have you slain so far?
What was the most dangerous?
Peasant
The most common profession in Almaia. It’s not
glorious, but you’re alive, aren’t you?
Starting Equipment: Pitchfork (d6, bulky), stubborn live
goat (5/8/15, 3HP, d8 gore)
What do you farm?
1. Turnips. You hate them, but you grow enough
to know that everyone else must not.
2. Goats. Incredibly useful, insanely hard to
manage.
3. Dirt, for the time being. The field you’re
assigned to is being fallowed this season.
4. Lots of things. You’re from a particularly fertile
part of the country.
Food for thought: What job do you want to have instead,
if anything?
Pickpocket
A thief specializing in sleight-of-hand and crowd
control.
Starting Equipment: Dagger (d6), small chest with lock
and key
What was your biggest job?
1. The Festival of Narbad in Olm. Those priests
never knew what hit ‘em.
2. The dock markets at Port Grand. All those
merchants in their stalls were positively ripe for
the picking.
3. A ball at the Palace. Yes, THE Palace.
4. Inside the Crown’s Bakery during peak hours,
stowing your takings behind the industrial
ovens.
Slave Fighter
A gladiator of the fighting pits, raised since youth to
fight.
Starting Equipment: Longsword (d10, bulky), helmet (+1
DR)
Who was your most famous kill?
1. Janery Slane, the Butcher of Fromwith.
2. Pinky, the famed fighting goblin.
3. The Vercingenorus Twins, Hinkle and
Bladewright.
4. A mountain troll owned by one of the
slavemasters. You didn’t even need silver.
Food for thought: How did you incur your debt in the
pits?
Smuggler
You’re not a thief per se; more like a transporter of
things other people have stolen.
Starting Equipment: Shortsword (d8), waterproof sack
What do you smuggle?
1. People. Mostly political refugees, but there’s
always exceptions.
2. … Pharmaceuticals.
3. Food. The Crown isn’t nearly as reliable at
distributing surplus as they claim they are.
4. Magic supplies. Some parts just don’t trust
mages very much.
Food for thought: How do you smuggle your goods? Have
you ever had any interesting hangups?
Street Performer
People love a show.
Starting Equipment: Wooden sword (d6), stage makeup
What’s your act?
1. Religious plays. The holidays are always
profitable.
2. Comedy plays. Usually raunchy.
3. Musicals. They haven’t quite caught on yet, but
you feel like they will eventually.
4. Tragic romance plays. Sometimes you just need
a good cry.
Food for thought: Who else is in your troupe? What is
your favorite show to perform?
Ragpicker
You walk the streets, collecting old clothes from
people to give to the needy.
Starting Equipment: Dagger (d6), bundle of old clothes
What do you collect?
1. Shoes. You’re also a cobbler, since most of
them need new soles.
2. Undergarments. Hey, the poor need them too.
3. Children’s clothes. They grow up so fast.
4. Anything people will give you. You mend it all
before handing it out.
Ranger
You live in the wilds, keeping nature from getting too
close to civilization.
Starting Equipment: Longbow (d8, bulky), 20 arrows in a
quiver, winter clothes (bulky, see Equipment for more
details)
Ratcatcher
The cities are full of vermin. You take care of just one
kind.
Starting Equipment: Club (d6), faithful but vicious terrier
dog (7/13/10, 2HP, d2 bite)
Where do you work?
1. The sewers underneath the Capital. Big, nasty
buggers down there.
2. The dank alleys of Under-Town. You’d bet
there’s more rats than thieves there, and there’s
a lot of thieves.
3. The Crown Granary. You still don’t know why
they don’t just get a few cats like they do in the
country.
4. The wharfs at Riverside Harbor. Who knew
rats could swim so well?
Food for thought: What is your rat-catching method of
choice? Do you work alone?

Where do you range?

1. The Crownwood. Surprising amount of
beasties there, for being so near the Palace.
2. The Jinara Mountains. You also help with
managing bandits.
3. Around Nelmar Fjord. It’s big, but as far as you
know you’re the only ranger there.
4. Wherever the wind takes you. You don’t like
being tied down by the Guild like so many
others seem to.
Food for thought: What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen
in the wilds?
CREDITS AND THANKS
Gary Gygax and TSR (for popularizing the hobby)
Yochai Gal (for Cairn)
Ben Milton (for Knave)
Goodman Games (for DCC)
Chris McDowall (for Into the Odd and Electric Bastionland)
Hecatohedral Monk (for their Magical Mishaps table)
Definitely-Not-A-Bot and the CU Boulder D&D Discord (for inspiration)
Daniele R. (for help brainstorming)
My dad (for getting me into TTRPGs, and the obvious, I guess)
You (for your time)
…and countless other forgotten sources of mechanics and inspirations. Let me know if I left you or anyone else out!

Title page font: High Tower Text

Body font: Garamond

Elements of this game are free to be hacked, reworked, reskinned, recycled, etc. with written credit to 1d6 Gnolls or
A.A. Carroll and any of the above credits that are applicable.
Thanks again for reading, and super thanks for playing!

All images are public domain, to my knowledge.

Written and published by A.A. Carroll on behalf of 1d6 Gnolls Games, May-July 2021