Table of Contents

📜 Character Creation

Everything needed to bring a character into the world of Vogelfrei.

• Ability Scores — roll 3d6 in order for Strength, Toughness, Agility, Intelligence, Willpower, and Leadership; note modifiers and decide on one swap.

• Class and Career — roll or choose a social class, then your career within it; determines Wounds, Weapon Skill, Ballistic Skill, Saving Throws, and starting Talents.

• Classes — all available classes with their careers, special rules, and advancement tables:

  • Warrior — the martial class; careers include Mercenary, Pit Fighter, Soldier, Knight, Witch Hunter, Duellist.
  • Magic-User — arcane spellcasters; careers include Bright Wizard, Grey Wizard, Light Wizard, Witch, Wizard.
  • Cleric — divine miracle-workers; careers include Priest, Warrior Priest, Zealot.
  • Ranger — wilderness wanderers; careers include Boatman, Bounty Hunter, Coachman, Peddlar, Road Warden, Sailor.
  • Rogue — urban opportunists; careers include Charlatan, Grave Robber, Outlaw, Smuggler, Thief, Wrecker.
  • Peasant — common folk; careers include Hedge Witch, Herbalist, Hunter, Miner, Scout, Villager.
  • Academic — learned scholars; careers include Alchemist, Apothecary, Barber, Cartographer, Engineer, Scholar.
  • Townsman — urban civilians; careers include Artisan, Beggar, Merchant, Militia, Rat Catcher, Scion.
  • Dwarf — stoic demihuman; careers include Artisan, Brewer, Engineer, Karak Ranger, Miner, Troll Slayer.
  • High Elf — ancient demihuman; careers include Artisan, Hunter, Shadow, Sword-master, Wizard.
  • Wood Elf — forest demihuman; careers include Artisan, Blade Dancer, Hunter, Waywatcher, Wizard.
  • Halfling — small-folk demihuman; careers include Artisan, Badger Rider, Charlatan, Herbalist, Merchant, Scout.

• Alignment — choose Order, Neutrality, or Chaos; determines magical interactions and divine constraints.

• Starting Possessions — roll starting money and buy equipment before the first session.

• Name — guidance on naming characters to fit the setting.

• Advancement — how Experience Points are earned (defeating enemies, recovering treasure) and how levels are gained.

✨ Spells & Miracles

Complete spell and miracle lists for arcane and divine casters.

• Magic-User Spells — full list of arcane spells:

  • Level 1: Bookspeak, Charm Person, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Enlarge, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Floating Disc, Hold Portal, Identify, Light, Magic Aura, Magic Missile, Mending, Message, Read Magic, Shield, Sleep, Spider Climb, Summon, Unseen Servant.

• Cleric Miracles — full list of divine miracles:

  • Level 1: Bless, Command, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Chaos, Invisibility to Undead, Protection from Chaos, Purify Food and Drink, Remove Fear, Sanctuary, Turn Undead.
  • Level 2: Heat Metal.

🎒 Equipment

All items available for purchase during character creation or between expeditions.

• Armor — armor types, their Armor Rating, and encumbrance.

• Weapons — weapon categories, requirements, and combat properties:

  • Melee Weapons — hand-to-hand weapons, reach, and special qualities.
  • Ranged Weapons — bows, crossbows, slings, and thrown weapons.
  • Firearms — black powder weapons and their rules.

• Animals — horses, mules, and other beasts of burden.

• Containers — sacks, backpacks, chests, and their carrying capacity.

• Food — rations, provisions, and subsistence costs.

• Lodging — inns, stabling, and accommodation costs.

• Vehicles — carts, wagons, and river boats.

• Services — hirelings, professional fees, and other costs.

• Miscellaneous — torches, rope, tools, and other adventuring gear.

👥 Retainers

The support network that keeps an expedition running.

• Hiring Retainers — how to find, recruit, and pay NPCs; morale and loyalty rules.

• Morale Checks — when and how retainers make morale checks; consequences of failure.

• Basic Retainers — porters, torch-bearers, and simple hirelings.

• Expanded Retainer List — specialist NPCs: men-at-arms, guides, sages, and more.

🗺️ Adventuring

Rules governing what happens outside of direct combat.

• Skills — skill checks, the 1-in-6 base chance, natural affinities, career advances, and situational modifiers.

• Time and Movement — turn structure, movement rates in dungeon and wilderness, light sources, and encumbrance.

• Healing — natural recovery of Wounds and Stamina, magical healing, and long-term rest.

• Hazards — non-combat dangers:

  • Damage — wound thresholds, incapacitation, and death.
  • Physical Deterioration — starvation, thirst, exhaustion, and exposure over time.
  • Substance and Toxins — poisons, venoms, alcohol, and alchemical substances.
  • Environmental — fire, falling, drowning, extreme cold and heat.

⚔️ Encounters

The full encounter pipeline, from first contact to resolution.

• Surprise — when surprise is possible, how it is determined, and its effect on the first round.

• Encounter Distance — how far apart the parties are when an encounter begins.

• Reaction Roll — determining NPC disposition: hostile, uncertain, or friendly.

• Initiative — how turn order is determined each round.

• Combat Actions — the full list of actions available in a round: Move, Flee, Attack, Counterattack, Charge, Wrestle, and more.

• Morale — when NPCs and monsters check morale and what happens when they fail.