Just want to first thank everyone’s interest and support in the project. At release, the ranger archetype was probably the thing I was least proud of. It was very derivative of my work on Age of Star Wars and did not offer anything new or exciting beyond its parent class. The discussion boards provided a lot of useful feedback, including from senior member TheGreyWulf who … Continue reading Expanded Classes: The Ranger Update

For starters, this is not as complete as I would like. Being a mage/warrior hybrid, it is also does not fit the traditional idea of a “cleric.” Mixing magic and frontline capabilities is always tricky, regardless of what system it is in. Making the class based on faith, allowed for placing very logical restrictions on magic, while removing the starting fighting style talents made it balanced … Continue reading Faith & Flails: Cleric for Fantasy Age

After getting feedback on the Swashbuckler and realizing that there was a good deal of design space for it, I decided to try making Bard a class as opposed to an archetype. I think by how easily it came together that there is definitely a niche for it as the class that focuses on roleplaying rather than combat. Some have commented that the Performer’s Tumble … Continue reading The Bard, Take 2: Bard Class for Fantasy AGE

The Adventure Game Engine is a wonderfully elegant system and Fantasy AGE made excellent refinements to that system. However, coming from Pathfinder, there are limitations to fleshing out certain archetypes and letting you play them from level 1 onward. This is especially the case for character concepts that fall between classes, in particular the swashbuckler. This is in large part why Pathfinder eventually made a … Continue reading Swashbuckler Playtest for Fantasy AGE

Coming from Pathfinder, one of the things I really appreciated was being able to play the character I wanted starting at 1st level. Specializations certainly do a lot to flesh out different character concepts but its simplicity does not lend itself well to certain archetypes. The bard has been kind of a joke around roleplaying tables for a while, but it is nonetheless a staple … Continue reading Of Music & Magic: Bard Archetype for Fantasy AGE

Dhampirs are the progeny of humans and vampires. Incredibly rare and with mysterious origins, Dhampirs are often seen as the scions of darkness and are the subject of mistrust and hate. Although they reach maturity at the same pace as humans, they are as long-lived as elves and are often given to introspection and brooding. Dhampirs are usually outcasts, using the shadows and anonymity of larger cities for protection. Some are … Continue reading Child of Night: Dhampirs for Fantasy AGE

A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to talk with Star Wars: Edge of the Empire designer Jay Little. It was an incredibly educational experience and often during the discussion he spoke about the importance of being able to say “yes, and” to the players. However, I often find myself either as a player or as a GM in a situation where I or the players … Continue reading Testing Your Luck: The 10th Ability for Fantasy AGE

This has come up a number of times when I have run Fantasy AGE. Together with board member, VladGenX, we came up with a solution to making initiative rolls a little more interesting. INITIATIVE STUNTS SP Cost Stunt 1+ Sudden Turn of Events: You can add 1 to your initiative per SP you spend. 1 Surprise Blow: You get a +1 bonus on your attack roll against … Continue reading On Your Toes: Initiative Stunts for Fantasy AGE