Iron Heroes

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Iron Heroes
Designer(s) Mike Mearls, Monte Cook
Publisher(s) Malhavoc Press
Publication date 2005
Genre(s) Low-magic tactical combat
System d20 System

Iron Heroes (also known as Monte Cook Presents: Iron Heroes; originally announced as Iron Lore) is a variant Player's Handbook for the d20 System of role-playing games, in the tradition of Arcana Unearthed. It incorporates the core d20 mechanic, while introducing new rules options, differently-balanced classes, an entirely new feat system, and changes to the way skills and feats operate [1] It is intended to allow players to take on traditional challenges at the same levels that their D&D counterparts would be able to, without recourse to magic items or high spellcasting. The game is published by Monte Cook's imprint Malhavoc Press online in PDF form; the more expensive print version is available through Sword and Sorcery. [2]

Contents

[edit] Feat changes

Iron Heroes implements a novel "feat mastery" system, with the inclusion of more advanced feats that build off the core ability. Each class is given access to different feat masteries to a greater or lesser extent; an archer will have greater access to masteries related to ranged combat, while a berserker will have greater access to masteries related to melee weapons that take advantage of a character's great strength. Characters gain access to more advanced masteries as they increase in level and gain new feats. The core feats from the d20 system are also included, and can be taken by any character that meets the requirements.

In addition, characters receive feats more often than in the stock d20 rules, and many classes are given bonus feats within their area of expertise.[1]

[edit] Classes

Iron Heroes includes nine base classes and a special arcanist class for games in which magic is implemented. Aside from the arcanist, no character is given supernatural abilities, in keeping with the low-magic and gritty feel designer Mike Mearls intended for the game. Some classes have different attack bonuses for different types of weapons, as opposed to the standard d20 convention of using a "base attack bonus" for all weapons. Many classes have access to a "token pool," which allows the character to perform special abilities that use tokens, which are gained through various actions or conditions. Their hit points are generated with a very small die (a four-sided die) with a class-based bonus. This reduces the role of chance in determining a character's ability to withstand damage. Characters also gain access to a "reserve pool" of hit points that they may call upon between battles to restore their hit points, and which replenishes each day. However, almost all healing magic has been removed from the game[1]

[edit] Archer

The Archer is the ranged weapon specialist, replacing D&D's Arcane Archer and Ranger classes. The class receives the best attack bonus in the game when using ranged weapons (advancing at 1.25/level, for a max of +25 at 20th level), though the class' base attack progression for melee weapons is poor; the class also receives a decent defense growth, though HP and skill increases are merely average. The class also receives an Aim Pool, which is gathered by spending actions targeting a single enemy; the tokens from this pool may be used to power the special abilities of the class. As such, the Archer excels against single, strong enemies. The class also gains a number of bonus feats that must be spent on archery feats (which the class also has excellent access to), allowing Archer characters to diversify their abilities and remain effective against any opponent.

[edit] Armiger

The Armiger is a warrior with a special focus on the optimum use of armor. The class has excellent access to armor-related feats, and gains an Armor Pool to fuel several armor-related abilities that maximize the character's defenses or wear out the opposition. Armigers receive a few other abilities related to being simply tougher than everyone else, and being able to wear armor better than anyone. Armigers have good HP growth, though low skill access.

[edit] Berserker

The Berserker is a strong melee fighter which is generally the Iron Heroes equivalent of the D&D barbarian. The class gains a token pool called a Fury Pool, which may be replenished by taking damage, seeing allies fall before him, or yelling or beating on the character's shield. Fury tokens are mainly used to start and maintain various rage-style abilities, though the class receives a selection of other abilities that largely focus on overpowering the opposition. As a class that often takes damage, it has the best HP growth in the game and good BAB, in addition to good access to Power feats. However, Berserkers take significant penalties when using armor, have a low defense score, and do not gain many skill points. However, the class does have "natural armor", unpiercable armor which at level 10 is equal to the very best medium armor (reduces damage by 1d6).

[edit] Executioner

The Executioner class focuses on crippling a foe as well as killing him. The class gains an excellent Sneak Attack progression, along with an Execution Pool that allows the character to weaken opponents before killing them, or simply leave them incapacitated while the character focuses on more important opponents. Notable features are excellent access to any melee-oriented feats, and the unique ability to apply feats that normally are only usable with powerful weapons to any weapon. The class has access to skill groups related to stealth, and gains above average HP growth, along with average defense.

[edit] Harrier

The Harrier is built around the use of speed and finesse in combat. Unlike most Iron Heroes classes, the Harrier does not gain access to a token pool. The major class ability is a bonus to attack, damage, and defense, usable only when moving. While a Harrier may not make use of a full attack action under most circumstances, other class abilities compensate for that particular handicap, eventually resulting in the ability to make a full attack while still gaining a normal move action. The class has the best progression of defense related feats in the game and above-average access to finesse feats, combined with average HP and skills.

[edit] Hunter

The Hunter's abilities are focused on tactical combat within a group, making use of the battlefield to confound enemies and aid the coordination of allies. The primary ability of the Hunter is the ability to transfer tokens from its own pool to token pools of allies, allowing them to attack at their best for much longer. The class gains a number of other abilities that are focused on teamwork and terrain use. Hunters receive access to a number of tactically-oriented feats, along with above-average progression in HP, skills, and defense.

[edit] Man-at-Arms

The Man-at-Arms has no real class abilities; instead, the class gains a large number of bonus feats, much like the Fighter class in D&D. However, the Man-at-Arms differs from the D&D fighter in several important ways. The class gains good access to all feat types, allowing a character to advance in any direction that the player chooses. For flexibility, Men-at-Arms also gain access to "Wildcard" feats, which the character may swap out each day for another feat. A high-level Man-at-Arms can gain decent proficiency in whatever type of feat is best for the situation in only a few rounds.

[edit] Thief

The Thief is a rough equivalent to the D&D Rogue. The class has fewer combat-related abilities than other classes, and also does not gain a token pool. However, the class gains the most skills in the game, access to more skill groups than any other class, and a higher cap on skill ranks. Thief characters may create specialized alternate personas, gaining bonuses against people seeing through these specific disguises . The class does gain access to a handful of combat-related abilities revolving around stealth, along with a medium Sneak Attack progression (capping at 7d6). The HP progression is one of the lowest in the game, though the defense progression is adequate. [citation needed]


[edit] Weaponmaster

The Weaponmaster is precisely what the name suggests - a master of a single specialized weapon. The class gains tokens against individual enemies by successfully attacking them, and may spend the tokens gained on certain special maneuvers. The Weaponmaster may choose a single chosen category of feats to specialize in and another category to receive good access to, allowing the player to specialize in any particular weapon. The specialized weapon is used with a base attack bonus similar to the Archer; other weapons are used with a lower base attack bonus.

[edit] Arcanist

The Arcanist is the only class in Iron Heroes capable of using magic. While physically weak and a poor fighter, it is the only class that may make use of magic. Most spells are powered by a Mana Pool, which is a token pool that only refills after a night's rest. However, the class does gain access to some powerful magical abilities that can be used freely, as well as the ability to make pacts with otherworldly powers in return for bonuses. True Sorcery, a book of d20 skill-based magic produced by Green Ronin Publishing, has a section devoting to using the book in Iron Heroes, and substantially expands and modifies the Arcanist class.

[edit] Skills

Iron Heroes incorporates two notable variants in its use of skills. One is the use of skill "challenges," which allow a character to accept a penalty on a skill roll in order to perform a nonstandard or tactically meaningful action. Often these challenges will require the use of several skills to perform especially complicated actions.

Another variant is the use of "skill groups," by means of which each class may buy several skills at highly reduced cost. No skill is forbidden or especially restricted in level to any class. Skills are also often expanded or tweaked to offer more options to players.[1]

[edit] Combat

Combat is managed as in Dungeons & Dragons, with the following exceptions:

  • Armor does not make it harder for characters to be hit; instead, it reduces the damage characters take
  • Skills may be used to perform heroic stunts, making use of terrain or an opponent's weakness to grant combat bonuses or penalties
  • Surprise and initiative grant more advantages
  • Characters may accept penalties to their combat actions to gain additional benefits

These changes, in addition to other minor tweaks, are intended to offer greater realism and flexibility over standard d20 combat.[1]

[edit] Setting

Iron Heroes is designed to be setting-independent; while a sample adventure setting is provided, it is meant only to illustrate the general atmosphere that often fits an Iron Heroes game best, and contains few details. Of relevance:

  • Humanity was once enslaved by a greater race, now vanished.
  • Civilization is diffuse and constantly imperiled by monsters and petty warlords.
  • Knowledge of the world is limited and is ripe for exploration.

Dungeon masters are encouraged to create their own settings to best fit the needs of their players.[1]

[edit] Legal threats

Iron Heroes was originally intended to be released under the name of Iron Lore, but a threatened lawsuit by Iron Lore Entertainment led to a name change near the end of the development process. [3]

[edit] Published books

In addition to the core book, several supplements have been released.

  • A supplement for Dungeon Masters is available, under the name Mastering Iron Heroes (ISBN 1-58846-797-X). It includes rule variants, tips for running an Iron Heroes adventure, and villain classes.
  • In the same vein, The Iron Heroes Bestiary (ISBN 1-58846-949-2) offers monsters specifically intended for use against Iron Heroes characters, as well as new feats and villain classes.
  • The Iron Heroes Battlebox (ISBN 1-894693-93-0) includes accessories and maps useful in running an Iron Heroes game.
  • An affiliated company, Fiery Dragon Productions, released an adventure for Iron Heroes under the name of Dark Harbor (ISBN 1-894693-94-9).
  • Another affiliated company, Goodman Games, released two supplemental adventures, To Duel with Dragons (ISBN 1-300-00103-8) and Song of the Blade (ISBN 1-300-00068-6).

[edit] Quotes

"You are not your magic weapon and armor. You are not your spell buffs. You are not how much gold you have, or how many times you've been raised from the dead. When a Big Bad Demon snaps your sword in two, you do not cry because that was your holy avenger. You leap onto its back, climb up to its head, and punch it in the eye, then get a new damn sword off of the next humanoid you headbutt to death." [4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mearls, Mike (2005). Monte Cook Presents: Iron Heroes. Malhavoc Press. ISBN 1-58846-949-2..
  2. ^ Monte Cook Presents: Iron Heroes. Retrieved on 2006-07-26.
  3. ^ Cook, Monte. New Malhavoc Variant Player's Handbook Goes to Press With a New Name. Retrieved on 2006-07-26.
  4. ^ quoting Keith Richmond / keteryck, Iron Heroes forums 7/19/06, with obvious Fight Club influence noted

[edit] External links

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