D20 ELRIC

BASICS

What follows is an approach to a D20 conversion of the Elric RPG that is a little more true to the style and flavor of this Epic Heroic Fantasy Campaign inspired by Michael Moorcock’s Elric novels.

The D20/ D&D 3.5E rules should be used with the following sections being replacements to the basic system.

ABILITIES

WISDOM is replaced with POWER.

ALIGNMENT

There are only three alignments for characters: Lawful, Chaotic and Neutral. Based on actions the player characters make, the DM assigns them either a Law point or a Chaos point or a Neutral point. The DM awards or penalizes Alignment Points based on the Following actions:

Gaining Chaos Points

Points	Action
3	For each Lawful human converted to Chaos
1	For each human soul slain and dedicated to Patron Lord
=CR	Kills an elemental
1	For Destroying an Item of Virtue
10	For making a pilgrimage to Hwaamgaal in Pang Tang
6	For meeting the Theocrat of Chaos
1D10	For participating in a military attack on a Lawful nation
1D6	For each new shrine of Chaos founded
2D6	For each new temple of Chaos founded
1D4	For each time the adventurer uses a random method to decide its next course of action in the course of the game
2	For each elemental priest slain
2	For each Lawful priest slain
4	For each Lawful Agent slain
8	For each Lawful Champion slain
1	For each bound demon
2	For each Characteristic point sacrificed to Chaos
1	Frees someone
2	Invocation restores someone’s life
1	Learns magic (per spell level)
1	Murders
1	Rescues someone from danger
2	Invokes a Lord of Chaos
1	For each demon summoned
1	Takes advantage
1	Takes revenge
1	Tells a significant lie
1	Speaks with the dead
1	Steals something important
1	Wounds someone

Gaining Law Points

Points	Action
3	For each Chaotic human converted to Law
1	For each Chaotic human slain
=CR	Kills an elemental
=CR	Kills an demon
20	For making a pilgrimage to Kaneloon
15	For meeting Myshella, Empress of the Dawn
1D10	For participating in a military attack on a Chaotic nation
1D6	For each new shrine of Law founded
2D6	For each new temple of Law founded
1	For each elemental slain
2	For each elemental priest slain
3	For each Chaotic priest slain
5	For each Chaotic Agent slain
10	For each Chaotic Champion slain
1	For each Item of Virtue owned
1	Invocation restores someone’s life
1	For each skill over 100%
1	charity
1	Rescues someone from danger
5	Invokes a Lord of Law
-1	Tells a significant lie
-5	For each demon summoned

Gaining Neutral Points

Points	Action
3	For each Chaotic or Lawful human converted to the Balance
20	For making a pilgrimage to Tanelorn
15	For meeting a Grey Lord
1	For each 20% known of the skills Insight and Million Spheres known (e.g. 80% = 8 points)
1	Frees someone
1	Gives charity
1	Heals someone mortally ill
1	Imprisons some one
3	Loves another
1	Makes something unique and beautiful
2	Rescues someone from danger
1	Tells a significant truth
-1	Speaks with the dead
-2	Invocation restores someone’s life
-5	Object-binds an elemental

When one Alignment of the character exceeds the combined total of the others by 100, then he becomes a CHAMPION (explained later).

When PCs are first created they may choice to favor one alignment. The character than rolls 1d3 to determine how many Alignment Points he begins with:

Law: For each Law point a character begins with and gains during the course of a campaign, the character may add 1 skill rank to any skill, even non-class skills. Except for Daityan Wizards, Paladins and Clerics, the character may not begin with a Spell Casting Class.

Neutral: For each Neutral Point a character begins with and gains during the course of a campaign a character may raise his lowest Ability by 1.

Chaos: All characters that choose a spell casting class must begin as Chaotic (except for Daityan Wizards, Paladins, or Clerics). For every Chaotic points a character begins with and gains during the course of a campaign they purchase a spell whose spell level is equal to the Chaos Points allotted to it.

HIT POINTS

Hit Points equal the character’s Constitution score. Hit points are not gained by level.

ARMOR CLASS

Instead of a fixed armor class, before an opponent attack, the defendant rolls his Parry Roll= 1d20+Attack Score of chosen Weapon+Dexterity Modifier. In order to hit the defendant, the opponent’s attack score must be equal to or greater than the defendant’s Parry Roll.

Armor subtracts from Damage dealt by a successful attack roll, instead of adding to the defense score.

RACES

Melnibonean: +2 Int, +2 Wis, -4 Con; Deep Sight: Treat as per Dark Vision at ½ the range; no bonus feat.

PERSONALITIES

Similar to Professions in D20 Call of Cthulhu, these four basic Personalities add to the starting skills of a character:

Tough: +4 skill points to climb, dodge, insight, jump, listen, move quietly, ride, sailing, and swim, with the following feats: brawling, weapon proficiency (one group).

Experienced: +4 skill points to craft, disguise, dodge, evaluate, knowledge-natural world, knowledge-physical sciences, Navigation, Pick Pocket, Ride, Sailing, Scribe, and trap, with the following feats: weapon proficiency (one group).

Quick-witted: +4 skill points to conceal object, disguise, evaluate, fast talk, hide, insight, knowledge- natural world, oratory, own language, pick lock, and search, with the following feats: brawl, weapon proficiency (one group).

Educated: +4 skill points to Art, bargain, disguise, evaluate, fast talk, insight, oratory, any one other language, one’s own language, ride, and search, and the following feat: weapon proficiency (one group).

CLASS AND LEVELS

Three are no Classes in D20 Elric. Instead characters choose either one of two paths (just like in D20 Call of Cthulhu): Defense Option or Offense Option.

Defense Option Skill Points: 11+Int Modifierx4 at first level; 11+Int Modifier for each level after first.
Level	Base Save Progression 1	Base Save Progression 2	Base Save Progression 3	Base Attack Bonus
1st	+0	+2	+2	+0
2nd	+0	+3	+3	+1
3rd	+1	+3	+3	+1
4^th	+1	+4	+4	+2
5^th	+1	+4	+4	+2
6^th	+2	+5	+5	+3
7^th	+2	+5	+5	+3
8^th	+2	+6	+6	+4
9^th	+3	+6	+6	+4
10^th	+3	+7	+7	+5
11^th	+3	+7	+7	+5
12^th	+4	+8	+8	+6
13^th	+4	+8	+8	+6
14^th	+4	+9	+9	+7
15^th	+5	+9	+9	+7
16^th	+5	+10	+10	+8
17^th	+5	+10	+10	+8
18^th	+6	+11	+11	+9
19^th	+6	+11	+11	+9
20^th	+6	+12	+12	+10

-

Offense Option Skill Points: 10+Int Modifierx4 at first level; 10+Int Modifier for each level after first.
Level	Base Save Progression 1	Base Save Progression 2	Base Save Progression 3	Base Attack Bonus
1st	+0	+0	+2	+1
2nd	+0	+0	+3	+2
3rd	+1	+1	+3	+3
4^th	+1	+1	+4	+4
5^th	+1	+1	+4	+5
6^th	+2	+2	+5	+6
7^th	+2	+2	+5	+7
8^th	+2	+2	+6	+8
9^th	+3	+3	+6	+9
10^th	+3	+3	+7	+10
11^th	+3	+3	+7	+11
12^th	+4	+4	+8	+12
13^th	+4	+4	+8	+13
14^th	+4	+4	+9	+14
15^th	+5	+5	+9	+15
16^th	+5	+5	+10	+16
17^th	+5	+5	+10	+17
18^th	+6	+6	+11	+18
19^th	+6	+6	+11	+19
20^th	+6	+6	+12	+20

MAGIC

A character may spend skill points equal to a spell’s level to learn that spell and place it in their Grimoire. There are no actual Wizard or Sorcerer classes in D20 Elric, so anyone with an Intelligence and Power at 16 or above may learn spells. But remember, learning and casting Sorceries add Chaos points towards your alignment.

When a character casts a spell it expends 1 Magic Point/ Spell Level from the character’s Magic Point Total.

Magic Points = Character’s POWER score.

If a character’s magic Points fall to 0, the character falls unconscious for 1 hour.

Magic Points return at a rate of 1 per hour.

SPELLS

A Dungeon Master may allow the full array of Arcane Spells available in the D&D 3.5E Player’s Handbook, or they may customize and limit the availability of spells, such as in the example below:

A Melnibonean Grimoire

From: Shannon Appelcline Appelcline@chaosium.com

System: Elric!

"This is a fresh age...in more than one way. The time of subtle
 sorcery is on the wane. Men are finding new means of harnessing
 natural power."
 -Stormbringer I,2
 
In the Young Kingdoms, Chaos is willing to pass the gift of magic on
to any who ask. It is a corrupting influence, the tool of Chaos, but
still, mortals of the Young Kingdoms are willing to accept it, for it
makes them strong. However, even Chaos is somewhat discerning. The
greatest spells are saved for the beloved of Chaos. What follows are
some of the known spells of the Melniboneans. These are not spells
that should be easily available to adventures. Rather, they are
magics which might be known by foes or patrons. Alternatively, they
could be discovered in an ancient grimoire, the goal of a long quest.
 
[All of these spells are drawn directly from the Elric books where
they were used by Elric or another Melnibonean.]
 
SPELLS:
 
Demon's Awakening (4th Level)  [Spells of Being]
 
"His head still bent, he stretched out his right hand and touched the
pulsating stone, stretched out his left hand and rested it upon
Myshella's navel, and he began a chant in an ancient tongue that had
been spoken before true men had ever walked the Earth."
 -The Vanishing Tower I, 7 
 
Range is touch. Chaotic. Awakens a person from any type of magical
sleep (see The Runesleep below). However, in order for this spell to
have its affect, a rare Nanorian is needed. These magical gems form
the hearts of some of the greater demons of Chaos (see the rumors on
page 102 of ELRIC!). After the spell is completed, the sleeper will
awaken in 1d8 hours.
 
Grome's Call to the Dead (5th Level) [Spells of the Elements]
 
"A low moan was coming from the lips of the living dead. Suddenly, a
whole area of the surrounding hillside split into cracks, and yawning
crannies appeared in the surface... With a frightful, multi-voiced
scream, the dead Lords were swallowed by the earth."
 -The Weird of the White Wolf II, 3
 
Range is sight. Chaotic. Causes the Earth to open up and swallow the
dead which are walking the Earth. Bound up with ancient agreements
with Grome, this spell is one of the less reliable of the Melnibone
spells. A LUCK roll is required for it to work at all. Even if the
roll is successful, 1d8 combat rounds will pass before the earth
responds. When the earth does finally open up to swallow the dead,
the results can be quite cataclysmic. Nearby dwellings may be
destroyed, and unfortunates who stand too close to the dead might be
dragged to their doom. Dead beings of great power may be able to
resist the effects of this spell, for Grome is both wary and indolent.
 
Hell's Fortress (1st-4th Levels) [Spells of War]
 
"But the door resisted as it should not have resisted. `Sealed by
sorcery and I've no means of unsealing it,' said the albino."
 -The Sailor on the Seas of Fate II, 6
 
Range is touch. Chaotic. Adds ten times that many hit points of
protection to walls, doors and other similar structure. Each cast of
the spell affects an area no larger than ten feet by ten feet.
 
Lassa's Zephyr (1st Level)  [Spells of the Elements]
 
"Gradually, from the grains of the dunes, a spiral of sand began to
move upwards, whistling as it spun faster and faster."
 -The Fortress of the Pearl I, 3
 
Range is touch. Chaotic. A very minor variant of Wings of Lassa
(Elric, pg. 83). Similar minor spells are taught to the sorcerers of
Melnibone from the youngest age. Creates a small whirlwind of air,
just a few feet tall, that may meander about a small area. Usually
harmless, although in sand, snow or loose soil, it can be blinding.
 
The Runesleep (4th Level)  [Spells of Being]
 
"She was lying upon a couch and she was naked. There were runes
painted on her flesh and the runes were, in themselves, obscene. Her
eyelids were heavy and she did not at first recognise them... The
body was oddly cold."
 -Elric of Melnibone II, 8
 
Range is touch. Chaotic. Before the spell may be incanted, certain
runes must be drawn upon the flesh of the victim. If these runes are
not drawn perfectly, the spell will utterly faily. When the spell is
complete, the sorcerer expends 4 magic points. If a POW:POW then
succeeds, the victim falls into an eternal sleep. The caster must
expend one point of POW at this time. Only the caster himself, or
certain spells may break this sleep. The most powerful of people
(those with POWs beyond the range of humans) may escape the runesleep
for a short time, but even they will eventually succumb.
 
The Pan Tangians too know of this spell (TVT I, 5). As the
Melniboneans slowly descend into obscurity, it is the Pan Tangians who
are becoming the new race of Chaos.
 
Spark of Life (4th Level)  [Spells of the Unseen World]
 
"Slowly, with jerky movements, the creature raised itself stiffly
upright and pointed a clawed finger... its glazed eyes staring as if
beyond."
 -Stormbringer I,1
 
Range is touch. Chaotic. Spark of Life is a summoning. It causes
the spirit of a dead creature to reanimate its corpse. A number of
magic points equal to the magic points of the spiri