Battletech D20

8/19/2019 Battletech D20

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BattleTech D20

This document provides a basic skeleton for playing the Battletech

RPG using a variant of the D20 system rather than the original system

developed for the Time of War RPG. The system is designed to make use of a

variant of the D20 system incorporating elements from many dierenteditions of the !orld"s most popular roleplaying game.

Ability Scores

Roll #d$% drop lo!est roll% assign scores to abilities as desired.

&bilities include' (trength% )ntelligence% *isdom% De+terity% ,onstitution%

,harisma

Ab

ilit

y

Sc

or

es

Abil

ity

Mo

dif

er

1-

4

-3

5-

6

-2

7-

8

-1


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9-

12

0

13

-15

+1

16

-

17

+2

18 +3

19 +4

20 +5

21

-

22

+6

Ability Check Syste !"#tio$%l &'le() )f choosing not to use the optional

skill system supplied belo!% skills can be deployed using ability checks. ustroll a d20 and add the bonus or penalty for the ability being checked/if

there is one/and if the result matches the ability score or above the check

succeeds. The Game aster can feel free to add !hatever situational or

story-based bonuses or penalties to the roll he or she feels appropriate.

S%*i$ ,hro Skill Check Syste !"#tio$%l &'le() (ince (aving

Thro!s scale !ith level and provide a hard value for each class% they can

also be used to serve a double role in the game and make skill checks if theoptional skill system outlined belo! is not used. (imply roll a d20% add any

situational bonuses or penalties as determined by the Game aster% and if

the result matches the saving thro! value for that character"s level or is

above it% the skill check succeeds.


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Ch%r%cter &%ces

• )nner (phere or Periphery 1uman 34 to t!o ability scores of player"s

choice5

•

,lan Trueborn General (train 32 to De+terity% 34 to )ntelligence% -2to *isdom5

• ,lan Trueborn 6lemental (train 3# to (trength% 32 to ,onstitution%

-2 to )ntelligence% -2 to ,harisma5

• ,lan Trueborn &erospace Pilot (train 3# to De+terity% -2 to

,onstitution% -2 to ,harisma5

• ,lan 7reeborn 34 to t!o abilities of player"s choice5

• ,lan 7reeborn 1ybrid child of t!o trueborn of any strain5 32 to one

ability of player"s choice% -4 to one ability5

• anus Domini ,yborg 3# to (trength% )ntelligence% De+terity or

,onstitution depending on type of implant% -2 to ,harisma% saving

thro!s re8uired for re9ection syndrome every month% failure results in

onset of immune re9ection of implants !hich means a -: to all ability

scores% and -2 to hit bonus until ne+t monthly check. ,umulative

failure doubles the penalties. )f ,onstitution hits ;ero after a failed

check% the character dies. )n place of the penalties% the character can

agree to take a permanent mental derangement% as !orked outbet!een the Game aster and the character"s player5

Ch%r%cter Cl%sses

• The (oldier.it /oi$ts) d40/roressio$ ,%ble) &s 7ighter or see belo!/rie &e'isite) (trength


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S%*i$ ,hros) &s 7ighter or see belo!% 32 to saving thro!s against

poisons or death"#tio$%l Skill /oi$ts) 2 at creation 32 per level

e%#o$s %$d Aror se) ,an use any !eapon% any armor% re8uires

training for Battle &rmorS#eci%l) es% but not% for instance% &?? laser

!eapons.

%ckro'$ds) )nner (phere (pecial


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choose !hich of these statistics to modify each round% and can select

a dierent one each time.%ckro'$ds) )nner (phere ech!arrior% ,lan ech!arrior% )nner

(phere &erospace Pilot% ,lan &erospace Pilot% ,lan Protoech pilot%

)ndependent 7reighter Pilot% ilitary (pacecraft Pilot% anus Domini

,yborg Pilot% )nner (phere &rmor Driver% ,lan &rmor Driver

• The 6+pert.it /oi$ts) d$/roressio$ ,%ble) &s Rogue or see belo!/rie &e'isite) Player"s choiceS%*i$ ,hros) &s Rogue or see belo!% 32 to saving thro!s made to

resist attempts to in>uence or cloud the mind

"#tio$%l Skill /oi$ts) # at creation 3: per level e%#o$s %$d Aror se) ,an use any !eapon and any armor=

cannot use Battle &rmorS#eci%l) Beginning at #th level most e+perts begin to dra! a retinue of

follo!ers of a type appropriate to their chosen backgrounds i.e.

assistant techs if they are a Battleech or &erospace 7ighter

technician% 9unior scientists if a scientist% special operators if an

intelligence oicer% soldier bodyguards if a planetary or Great 1ouse

noble5. This entourage includes 2d$ members of levels 4-2% but it isbest if the player !orks !ith the Game aster to >esh out each of

these P,s to make them more real and engaging for the character.%ckro'$ds) )nner (phere ech or &erospace 7ighter Technician%

,lan Technician ,aste% )nner (phere (cientist or Physician% ,lan

(cientist ,aste% )nner (phere (cholar% )nner (phere Planetary or

Great 1ouse oble% Great 1ouse or ,om(tar )ntelligence


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"#tio$%l Ch%r%cter Ad*%$cee$t ,%bles

,he Soldier

/ ., :C

!d10(

AS

A,,AC;

"S

&S

A

SA<

,.&"

1 0 434 30 4#

2 2%000 2 34 4:

3 #%000 : 32 42

4 A%000 # 32 44

5 4$%000 F 3: 40

6 :2%000 $ 3#

7 $#%000 H 3F A

8 42A%000 A 3$ H

9 2F$%000 3H $

10 F42%000 40 3H $

,he /ilot

/ ., :C

!d8(

AS

A,,AC;

"S

&S

A

SA<

,.&"


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1 0 4 30 4F

2 2%000 2 34 4#

3 #%000 : 32 4:

4 A%000 # 32 42

5 4$%000 F 3: 44

6 :2%000 $ 3# 40

7 $#%000 H 3F

8 42A%000 A 3$ A

9 2F$%000 3$ H

10 F42%000 40 3H $

,he =#ert

/ ., :C

!d6(

AS

A,,AC;

"S

&S

A

SA<

,.&"

1 0 4 30 4:

2 4%F00 2 34 42

3 :%000 : 34 44

4 $%000 # 32 44


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5 42%000 F 32 40

6 2#%000 $ 3:

7 #A%000 H 3: A

8 $%000 A 3# H

9 42%000 3# $

10 :A#%#00 40 3F F

e*els eyo$d 10) To level a class beyond 40% simply continueto double the necessary number of e+perience points !ith each

ne! level and add 2 hit points per level. The base attack bonus

continues to increase in the pattern sho!n !hile the universal

saving thro! number no longer advances.

M'lticl%ssi$) ulticlassing is simple. &t the ne+t level simply

choose the ne! class you !ant to be and add its Base &ttackBonus and ne! 1it Dice roll to that of your e+isting class. Take

the best Iniversal (aving Thro! number available to you. )t

costs the listed number of e+perience to attain the ne+t level in

either class. (o if you are a level 2E: PilotE6+pert% you !ill need

$%000 e+perience points to become a level # 6+pert. )f you then

!ant to advance your Pilot level again% you !ill need to gain

another 2%000 +p. 6ach class is essentially on its o!n separate

track of advancement !hen multiclassing.


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,he "#tio$%l Skill Syste

This system presents one possible !ay to manage skills !ithin

your BattleTech D20 game. &ll characters can attempt actions

related to all of these skills. es% player characters are a creative

and capable lot. Therefore% this skill system describes in !hich

areas a character has e+pertise% and ho! to make skill checks.(tarting characters normally have e+pertise in the number

of skills they choose to put the points in that they receive as

listed above. 6ach time they raise their level% they receive the

listed number of points for the ne! level listed for their class andmay add the points to an e+isting skill or place 4 point in a ne!

skill of their choice. o skill can receive more than F points. & skill is performed !ith a d20 roll. our Game aster !ill

tell you !hich skill and ability modi@er apply to the roll. 7or

instance% JGive me an )ntelligence 3 Perception checkK if

searching for comple+ clues. ou roll d20% add your )ntelligence

modi@er and your Perception e+pertise if any5. ou must total

e8ual to or higher than the target number set by the Referee

normally 40 for most actions% but can be higher for more

challenging uses of the skill5. (ee the table belo!.

Target Number Difculty

5 Easy

10 Average15 Hard

20 Very Difcult

25 Practically Impossible

A'to%tic S'ccess %$d >%il're


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&ny skill check !hich has a reasonable chance of

succeeding no matter ho!

slim5 should automatically succeed on a natural roll of 20%

regardless of the skill

check total. &dditionally% any skill check !hich has a reasonable

chance of failing

no matter ho! slim5 should automatically fail on a natural roll of

4% regardless of

the skill check total. (o yes% you have to roll even if your

e+pertise is 3F and you"re attempting an 6asy action !ith a target number of F.

Skill Co$tests)f t!o players are acting in opposition to one another then

each rolls d20 and

adds his appropriate ability modi@er and skill e+pertise. *hoever

rolls higher !insthe contest. 7or e+ample% to pick someone"s pocket a Game

aster might re8uest a

De+terity 3 (leight of 1and check versus the target"s *isdom 3

Perception.

)n other situations% a Game aster can feel free to use an

opponent"s ability score as the target number for an action. 7or

instance% if the guards in your adventure have a

*isdom score of 42 and your Game aster doesn"t feel like

making everything a rolled skill contest% he might 9ust say your


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astrophysical%

biological% +enobiological% etc. in nature. (ome Game asters

may !ant to make

individual entries for these or re8uire a character to choose a

@eld of speciali;ation

!hen he takes e+pertise in one of these broad kno!ledge skills.

Skill ist &el%ted Ability Modifer

&erospace Pilot De+terity automatic skill for Pilot !ith thisbackground5

&griculture )ntelligence

&nimal 1andling *isdom

&rt )ntelligence

&strogation )ntelligence automatic skill for Pilot !ith(pacecraft background5

Bureaucracy )ntelligence

Business )ntelligence

,omputers )ntelligence

,ultures )ntelligence

Demolitions )ntelligence

Disguise ,harisma

Diplomacy ,harisma

6ntertainer ,harisma

7orgery )ntelligence


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Gambling *isdom

1aggling *isdom

)ntimidation (trength

1istory )ntelligence

?anguages )ntelligence each 34 adds a ne! language>uency5

artial &rts (trength see belo!5 all ,lan *arriorsreceive this free5

ech!arrior Pilot De+terity automatic skill for Pilot !ith thisbackground5

edicine )ntelligence can heal 4dA hp a number of timesper day e8ual to

the points in the skill5

avigation )ntelligence

Perception *isdom

Religion )ntelligence

Robotics )ntelligence includes ,ybernetics5

(cience )ntelligence can be particular specialty likeLenobiology5

(leight of 1and De+terity

(tealth De+terity

(urvival *isdom

Technician )ntelligence can be speciali;ed in type ofmachinery5


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Mero-G De+terity

M%rti%l Arts

The artial &rts skill is the only combat-related skill in this

optional skill system. There is never a Jmartial artsK skill check

rolled. )nstead% players receive one of the follo!ing artial &rts

aneuvers for each level of e+pertise. The player must roll to see

!hich maneuver he receives reroll duplicate results5% though

!ith Game aster permission he can 9ust choose !hichever

maneuver he or she prefers. *ithout at least 34 in the artial &rts skill a character !ho @ghts unarmed does only 4d2 of

damage roll 4d# and halve the result or 9ust assume 4 average

point of damage5 !ith each hit. *ith at least 4 point in artial

&rts the character does 4d$ points of damage !ith each hit% and

can also choose to make this non-lethal subdual damage until his

opponent is unconscious.

:20 &oll M%rti%l Art M%$e'*er

4 Acc'r%cy N Receive 34 To 1it opponents !hile unarmed.

This doesn"t applyif holding anything in your hands.

2 Aressi*e >ihti$ N Receive a 34 bonus to unarmed

combat damage.

: A%re$ess N ,haracter is surprised only on a 4 in $.

# li$d >ihti$ N Receive no penalties !hen @ghting

against enemies you cannot see% as long as you can at least

hear.


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F lock N This allo!s a (aving Thro! against the martial

maneuvers of othersto avoid disarms% @nd !eakness% hold% nerve strike% or take

do!n.$ :e?e$si*e >ihti$ N Receive a bonus to &rmor ,lass

e8ual to 34 as longas you are !earing ?ight &rmor or no armor.

H :is%r N This attack causes no damage but if successful

the victim must drop!hatever is in his hand.

A >i$d e%k$ess N This attack causes no damage butuncovers a !eakness= ne+t attack only5 !ill cause an

additional 34d$ damage. Isable 4Eday.

.old N This attack causes no damage but places victim in a

restraining hold.

1e may break free in subse8uent rounds on a 2 in $.

40 #ro*ed %$di$ N Reduces by half any damage caused

by falls.

44 e%# Att%ck N ?eap at foe up to 40 feet and make an attack

against himusing any attack based maneuvers% if desired5% end

ad9acent to him in close

range.

42 Medit%tio$ N 6nter trance for 4 hour and recover 4d$ hit

points% 4Eday.


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4: er*e Strike N This attack causes no damage% but if

successful paraly;es onelimb for 4d$ rounds.

4# &%#id Strike N


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scene% or a character carries out a particularly cool or innovative

action in-game.

Actio$ /oi$t S#eci%l Actio$s

& character can perform certain special tasks by spending an

action point.

• Acti*%te Cl%ss Ability - & character can spend 4 action

point to gain another use of a class ability or skill that has a

limited number of uses per day.

• oost :e?e$se - & character can spend 4 action point !hen

@ghting defensively for a 3# bonus to &rmor ,lass for the

duration of the combat.

• =tr% Att%ck - During any round in !hich a character takes

a full attack action% he or she may spend 4 action point to

make an e+tra attack at his or her highest Base &ttack

Bonus. &ction points may be used in this !ay !ith both

melee and ranged attacks.

• St%bili@e - &ny time a character is dying% he can spend 4

action point to become stable at his current hit point total.


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$di*id'%l Cob%t

• 6very player rolls initiative on d20 before combat begins=

players act in order of roll from highest to lo!est= Game

aster characters all act as a group in the initiative order

!hen their turn comes

• Range is ,lose% edium or 7ar= only creatures in ,lose

range can be attacked using a melee !eapon

• 6ach player rolls to hit on d20 3 Base &ttack Bonus 3

&bility odi@er 3 situational bonusesEpenalties against

opponent"s &rmor ,lass

• )f hit occurs% player rolls !eapon damage or can take

average !eapon damage

• & ,ritical 1it occurs on a roll of 20 resulting in double

damage% a ,ritical 7ailure occurs on a roll of 4%

conse8uences for the player to be determined by the Game

aster

• Dual !ielding of !eapon leads to 32 to hit and damage= no

e+tra attacks

• &dd De+terity modi@er to hit if using ranged !eapons= add

(trength modi@er to hit if using melee !eapons

• Inarmed ,ombat does only 4d2 points of damage unless

the character has the artial &rts skill.

• )n personal combat !earing Battle &rmor provides an &, of

340 and 3F0 hit points

ehicle Cob%t !i$cl'di$ %ttle Aror(


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• 6very player rolls initiative on d20 before combat begins=

players act in order of roll from highest to lo!est= Game

aster characters all act as a group in the initiative order

!hen their turn comes• Range is ,lose% edium or 7ar= only Battleechs in ,lose

range can engage in melee combat

• Determine &rmor ,lass of all vehicles involved in the

combat as described belo!

• 6ach player rolls to hit on d20 3 pilot"s Base &ttack Bonus

3 pilot"s De+terity modi@er 3 ,alled (hot modi@ers or

Pilot"s (pecial Bonus if chosen that round5• )f a hit occurs% player rolls !eapon damage for the vehicle

!eapon he is using that round or can choose to take the

average !eapon damage= all damage is subtracted @rst

from the opponent"s armor points and then hit points= at

;ero hit points the Battleech or &erospace 7ighter

e+plodes and the Pilot must make a saving thro! versus

e+plosions to manage to e9ect safely. 1e or she can choose

to e9ect early and make no saving thro! but suer the

indignity of co!ardice and the capture of their Battleech

if they are a ech!arrior

• & ,ritical 1it occurs on a roll of 20 resulting in double

damage% a ,ritical 7ailure occurs on a roll of 4%

conse8uences for the player to be determined by the Game

aster

• & ech!arrior or &erospace Pilot can choose to @re more

than one or all of their !eapons at once at a target% each

!eapon makes a separate to hit roll= after!ards% the pilot


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must make a saving thro! or his vehicle immediately

overheats. )f the pilot"s vehicle is a Battleech% it shuts

do!n for F rounds to dump e+cess heat= if an &erospace

7ighter it cannot @re its !eapons again for F rounds• 7or ,alled (hots% a Battleech has F0 of its armor and hit

points in the main body% 40 in its cockpit% and the

remaining #0 in each limb= for &erospace 7ighters% 2F of

the hit points are in the cockpit% the rest in the main body. &

,alled (hot against a Battleech arm or leg that reduces it

to ;ero hit points destroys that limb and makes all the

!eapons on it nonfunctional. )f the main body is reduced to

0 hit points% the Battleech"s fusion generator e+plodes%

destroying the vehicle.

• & Battleech or &erospace 7ighter"s armor points and hit

points added together are e8ual to its tonnage. 1alf of the

total is armor% the other half is hit points.


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.o to :eteri$e %ttleMech %$d Aeros#%ce >ihter Aror Cl%ss

4

03

(i;e

odi@er3

Pilot"s De+terity

Bonus

3

Pilot"s (pecial Bonus if chose

that round5

Qehicle (i;e odifer

Battle &rmor 3F

?ight ,lassEProtoech -4

edium ,lass -2

1eavy ,lass -:

&ssault ,lass -#

.o to :eteri$e %ttleMech %$d Aeros#%ce >ihter ,o

.it 'ber

d20

3

Pilot"sBase &ttackBonus

3Pilot"sDe+terityodi@er

3

&ny called shot penalties orother bonuses like Pilot"s(pecial Bonus if chosen thatround5

,alled (hot odi@ers


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1eadE,ockpit -40

&rmsE*eapon -A

?egs -$

ain Body -#

BattleMech/Aerospace Fighter Class Armor oi!ts/"it oi!tsBattle Armor 5/5

Light lass !5/!5"edium lass #5/#5Heavy lass $5/$5Assault lass 5%/5%

#ehicle $eapo! Type Ma%ium &a!ge"achi&e 'u& "edium()" "ediumL)" *ar(mall Laser lose"edium Laser "edium

Large Laser "ediumPP *arAutoca&&o& loseE+te&ded )a&ge

"elee ,eapo&

Add o&e ra&ge i&creme&t to -eapo&

lose

#ehicle $eapo! Type Damage"achi&e 'u& !d. o&ly agai&st &o&0Battle Armor i&1a&try2()"0# !d.()"0. #d.()"03 #d3L)"05 !d3L)"0!% !d!%


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L)"0!5 #d4L)"0#%

(mall Laser

"edium Laser

Large Laser

Pulsed Lasers a&y sie2PP

Autoca&&o&/#

Autoca&&o&/5

Autoca&&o&/!%

Autoca&&o&/#%

"elee ,eapo& Battle"echs 6&ly2

!d#%

!d3

!d4

!d!%

"ove up o&e sie o1 dice!d!%

!d.

!d3

!d!%

!d#%

!d!%

•

&ll vehicle !eapons using limited ammunition (Rs%?Rs% and &utocannons5 can @re once for t!enty-@ve

rounds of combat and then the ammunition is e+hausted.

• &ll vehicle-si;ed !eapons for Battleechs and &erospace

7ighters do the listed damage + 40 to individual

infantrymen hit by them not !earing Battle &rmor.

• ,apital ship-si;ed versions of these !eapons do the listed

damage + 40 to vehicles and !ill simply kill individuals hit

by them outright.

• &ll technological advances above the baseline !eapons

noted above add bonuses to hit% &rmor ,lass or increase the

damage dice by one si;e i.e. 4d# becomes 4d$5 depending

on the description of the technology and the Game aster"s

discretion.

Type Mo'eme!t (pee) er &ou!)


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7&armored Perso& $% 1eetArmored Perso& #% 1eetBattle Armored Perso& 3% 1eetLight lass Battle"ech !#% 1eet"edium lass Battle"ech 8% 1eetHeavy lass Battle"ech 3% 1eet

Assault lass Battle"echLight lass Aerospace *ighter

"edium lass Aerospace *ighter

Heavy lass Aerospace *ighter

Assault lass Aerospace *ighter

.% 1eet

.4% 1eet

$5% 1eet

#.% 1eet

!5% 1eet

• *ith ump ets a Battleech or person in a suit of Battle

&rmor can move at 4F0 feet per round and 9ump several

hundred feet into the air. )t can stay airborne for three

rounds= every round thereafter re8uires the pilot to make a

saving thro! or suer from an overheat as described above.

)f the Battleech overheats !hile still in the air% the 9ets !ill

turn o and the Battleech !ill fall from that height and

incur 4d$ points of damage for every ten feet o the

ground. ump ets can only be @tted to ?ight and edium

class Battleechs.

Documents

Battletech D20