Cats Have No Lord

Rimward is an adventure game about ragtag crews of spacefarers running jobs on the rim of the known galaxy. They face danger on all sides from the warring factions of the Galactic Supremacy and the Secret Insurgence to the Galacticorps and the Outlaw Syndicates with unknown dangers lurking in the open space in between it all.

Rimward is based on Cairn by Yochai Gal. Some elements of Rimward are inspired by Meteor by David Lombardo,Monolith by Adam Hensley, and Edge of the Empire by Fantasy Flight Games. The full text of Rimward is licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0.

Work-In-Progress Version 0.1 - May 2023

Character Creation

Background and Traits

First, roll your character's background on the Background table. A character's background informs their potential knowledge and skills.

Next, roll for the rest of your character's traits (appearance, speech, mannerisms, beliefs, reputation, etc.) on the Character Traits tables.

Next, select a team role from the Roles table. A character's role also informs their potential knowledge and skills. Work with other players to determine the appropriate mix of roles for your team.

Finally, roll one bond from the Bonds table for each other member of the team. Your bonds inform your relationships to the other members of the team.

Ability Scores

Characters have three attributes: Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), and Willpower (WIL). Roll 3d6 for each ability score in order. You may swap any two results.

Hit Protection

Roll 1d6 to determine the character's starting Hit Protection (HP), which reflects their ability to avoid damage in combat. HP does not indicate health or fortitude; nor is it lost for very long (see Healing). If an attack takes a character's HP to exactly 0, roll on the Scars table.

Inventory

Characters have a total of 10 inventory slots: a backpack with six slots, one slot for each hand, and two slots for their upper body (such as the belt, chest, or head). The backpack can also double as an emergency sleeping bag but only if emptied of its contents.

Most items take up one slot, and small items can be bundled together. Slots are abstract and can be rearranged per the Warden’s discretion.

Bulky items take up two slots and are typically two-handed or awkward to carry. Anyone carrying a full inventory (i.e. filling all 10 slots) is reduced to 0 HP.

A PC cannot carry more items than their inventory allows. Hovercarts (which must be pulled with both hands), hoverbikes, or hovercars can increase inventory. Hirelings can also be paid to carry equipment.

Starting Gear

All characters begin with:

• Three day's rations (one slot)
• A flashlight (one slot)
• 3d6 credits

Roll once on each of the Starting Gear tables to determine your character's armor, weapons, tools, and equipment. Pick only one item for each result.

See the Economy section for armor, damage, and slot values. Smaller items may sometimes be bundled together into one slot.

Background (d20)

Character Traits (d10)

Physique

Skin

Hair

Face

Speech

Clothing

Virtue

Vice

Reputation

Misfortunes

Role (pick from list)

Bonds (d20)

Starting Gear (d20)

Armor

Helmets and Shields

Weapons

Bonus Item (roll on table indicated)

Expeditionary Gear

Tools

Trinkets

General Rules

Saves

A save is a roll to avoid bad outcomes from risky choices or circumstances. Players roll d20 for the appropriate ability score. If they roll equal to or under the score, they pass. Otherwise, they fail. A 1 is always a success, and a 20 is always a failure.

Strength (STR): Used for saves requiring physical power, like opening stuck airlocks, pushing crates, resisting toxins, etc.

Dexterity (DEX): Used for saves requiring poise, speed, and reflexes, like piloting, dodging, climbing, sneaking, etc.

Willpower (WIL): Used for saves for interpersonal skills (e.g., persuasion, deception, interrogation, charm) or mental tasks (e.g., astrogation, hacking, signal jamming) performed under duress

Healing

Resting for a few moments and having a drink of water restores lost HP but leaves the party exposed. Ability loss (see Critical Damage) can usually be restored with a week’s rest facilitated by a healer or other appropriate source of expertise. Some of these services are free, while magical or more expedient means of recovery may come at a cost.

Deprivation and Fatigue

A character deprived of a crucial need (such as food or rest) is unable to recover HP or ability scores. Anyone deprived for more than a day adds Fatigue to their inventory, one for each day. Each Fatigue occupies one slot and lasts until they are able to recuperate (such as a full night’s rest in a safe spot). Characters can also gain Fatigue through events in the fiction.

Armor

Before calculating damage to HP, subtract the target’s Armor value from the result of damage rolls. Shields and similar armor provide a bonus defense (e.g. +1 Armor), but only while the item is held or worn. No one can have more than 3 Armor. Shields, gauntlets, and helms may provide additional benefits according to their use.

Reactions

When the characters encounter an NPC whose reaction to the party is not obvious, the Warden may roll 2d6 and consult the following table:

Hirelings

Characters can hire hirelings to aid them in their expeditions. To create a hireling, roll 3d6 for each ability score, then give them 1d6 HP and a simple weapon (d6), then roll on the Character Creation tables to further flesh them out. Hirelings cost between 1-3 credits per day, or a share of whatever payment the party obtains.

Debt and Economy

Debt

The economy and gameplay of Rimward revolve around debts, which are routinely accrued and settled over the course of the game.

Debt is measured in Units, which are abstract and represent the variety of forms of payment that may be used to settle them: currency, barter, services, favors, etc.

Debts may be accrued to acquire new equipment or ship parts, procure services, bribe officials, avoid conflict with dangerous factions, or any other cases where the Warden and Players agree it is needed.

The value of a particular debt is dependent on the circumstances under which it is acquired and is assigned at the discretion of the Warden. As a general guideline, 1 unit of debt is equal to about 100 credits worth of currency/bartered goods or services requiring about 1 week of work.

The Warden tracks the total Units of Debt for all players and uses this number to determine when the players may begin to experience consequences for not settling their Debts. Before each session, the Warden rolls d100. If the result is equal to or under the total Units of Debt, the Warden should work a consequence for that debt into the session and allow the players the chance to settle the debt or attempt to escape the consequences for the moment.

The Economy

Credits are the standard currency issued by the Galactic Supremacy. They are stored electronically on credit chips and are accepted in all but the most remote locations or those hostile to the supremacy.

Non-standard physical currency or barter may be used in some locations.

Equipment

Combat

Rounds

The game typically plays without strict time accounting. In a fight or circumstance where timing is helpful, use rounds to keep track of when something occurs. A round is roughly ten seconds of in-game time and is comprised of turns.

Actions

On their turn, a character may move up to 40ft and take up to one action. This may be attacking, making a second move, or some other reasonable action.

Each round, the characters declare what they are doing before dice are rolled. If a character attempts something risky, the Warden calls for a save for appropriate players or NPCs.

Turns

The Warden will telegraph the most likely actions taken by NPCs or monsters. At the start of combat, each PC must make a DEX save to act before their opponents.

Attacking and Damage

The attacker rolls their weapon die and subtracts the target’s armor, then deals the remaining total to their opponent’s HP. Unarmed attacks always do 1d4 damage.

Multiple Attackers

If multiple attackers target the same foe, roll all damage dice and keep the single highest result.

Attack Modifiers

If fighting from a position of weakness (such as through cover or with bound hands), the attack is impaired and the attacker must roll 1d4 damage regardless of the attacks damage die.

If fighting from a position of advantage (such as against a helpless foe or through a daring maneuver), the attack is enhanced, allowing the attacker to roll 1d12 damage instead of their normal die.

Dual Weapons

If attacking with two weapons at the same time, roll both damage dice and keep the single highest result.

Blast

Attacks with the blast quality affect all targets in the noted area, rolling separately for each affected character. Blast refers to anything from explosions to huge cleaving onslaughts to the impact of a meteorite. If unsure how many targets can be affected, roll the related damage die for a result.

Critical Damage

Damage that reduces a target’s HP below zero decreases a target’s STR by the amount remaining. They must then make a STR save to avoid critical damage. Additionally, some enemies will have special abilities or effects that are triggered when their target fails a critical damage save.

Any PC that suffers critical damage cannot do anything but crawl weakly, grasping for life. If given aid and rest, they will stabilize. If left untreated, they die within the hour.

Ability Score Loss

If a PC’s STR is reduced to 0, they die. If their DEX is reduced to 0, they are paralyzed. If their WIL is reduced to 0, they are delirious. Complete DEX and WIL loss renders the character unable to act until they are restored through extended rest or by extraordinary means.

Scars

When damage to a PC reduces their HP to exactly 0, they are sometimes changed irrevocably. See the Scars table for more.

Unconsciousness and Death

When a character dies, the player is free to create a new character or take control of a hireling. They immediately join the party in order to reduce downtime.

Detachments

Large groups of similar combatants fighting together are treated as a single detachment. When a detachment takes critical damage, it is routed or significantly weakened. When it reaches 0 STR, it is destroyed.

Attacks against detachments by individuals are impaired (excluding blast damage). Attacks against individuals by detachments are enhanced and deal blast damage.

Retreat

Running away from a dire situation always requires a successful DEX save, as well as a safe destination to run to.

Scars

When an attack reduces a PC’s HP to exactly 0, they are uniquely impacted. Look up the result on the table below based on the total damage taken:

Spacefaring

Ship Stats

Shields (SHD): Absorb damage before reaching the ship. Recharge to full in 10 minutes without taking damage.

Hull (HUL): Ability to take physical damage. Requires repairs taking 1 week and costing 100 credits per point of hull damage.

Systems (SYS): Ability to keep systems running despite damage. Requires repairs taking 1 week and costing 100 credits per point of systems damage.

Armor (ARM): Reduces damage dealt to HUL, does not affect SYS damage.

Speed (SPD): Sublight speed rating used for in-system travel and in combat.

Inventory (INV): Capacity to carry cargo or modifications. Modifications require variable numbers of slots. Unused slots may carry cargo as determined reasonable by the Warden. One ship inventory slot generally equals 10 standard inventory slots.

Ship Types

Ships come in two types (military and civilian) and five sizes (individual, small, medium, large, and giant). The base stats for each size and type are listed below. These may be improved with modifications to the ship.

Ship Modifications and Weapons

Modifications

Weapons

|Name|Damage|Inventory|Cost| |-|-|-|-| |Pulse blaster|d6 HUL|1|200| |Ion blaster|d6 SYS|1|300| |Energy cannon|d8 HUL|1|500| |EMP cannon|d8 SYS|2|600| |Torpedo launcher|d10 HUL, ignore SHD, slow|2|800| |Ion bomb launcher|d10 SYS, ignore SHD, slow|900|

Ship Travel

Sublight

Sublight travel times vary by ship speed. Travel between any two major locations within a star system (e.g., planets, moons, space stations) generally takes 16 hours at Speed 1, 8 hours at speed 2, 4 hours at speed 3, 2 hours at speed 4, or 1 hour at speed 5 (travel may take longer at the Warden's discretion if two locations are particularly far apart or if there are navigational hazards between them). A ship may travel at any speed up to its SPD rating and may choose to travel slower to conserve fuel. Sublight travel between two locations uses 1 unit of fuel per speed (e.g, 1 unit at Speed 1 or 4 units at speed 4). One ship inventory slot can hold 10 units of fuel.

Jump

Travel between one star system and the next closest system(s) is instantaneous with a jump drive and uses 5 units of fuel. It is not possible to travel between systems without a jump drive. Jump travel typically consists of a series of jumps between systems, and traveling from one side of the galaxy to the other typically requires at least 10 jumps.

Calculating a jump requires no save under normal circumstances. Calculating a jump under duress (e.g., in combat or a dangerous situation, such as an asteroid field) or attempting to calculate a single jump further than one of the next closest systems requires a WIL save. On a failed save, roll on the jump failure table to determine the consequences.

Jump Failures (d10)

Ship Combat

Rounds

The game typically plays without strict time accounting. In a fight or circumstance where timing is helpful, use rounds to keep track of when something occurs. A round is roughly ten seconds of in-game time and is comprised of turns.

Actions

On their turn, a character may move up to 40 ft. within the ship and take up to one action. This may be piloting the ship between range bands, performing a difficult piloting maneuver, firing a shipboard weapon, operating shipboard equipment, or some other reasonable action.

Turns

The Warden will telegraph the most likely actions to be taken by NPC ships. Sensor scans may provide more detailed information.

The ship (and all individuals aboard it) with the highest SPD generally acts first, with turns alternating after that point. At the start of combat, a player piloting a ship may make a DEX save to act first, but failure on the save allows all attacks against their ship to be enhanced for one round.

Positioning

Positioning is abstract. Ships are assumed to be moving at all times at the same relative distance to each other unless they use an action to change their relative distance. Ships may be at Short, Medium, or Long range from each other, taking an action to move between bands. Collisions are likely at Short range, while weapons are ineffective beyond Long range.

Retreat

The ability to retreat from a ship combat depends on the relative speed of the ships involved, and retreat can typically only be attempted if the ship is already at long range from any opposing ships.

If the ship attempting to retreat is faster than the pursuing ship, it may retreat at any time with no save unless there are obstacles, which may require a DEX save from the pilot.

If the ship attempting to retreat is equal in speed to the other ship, the pilot must make a DEX save to retreat.

If the ship attempting to retreat is slower than the other ship, it cannot retreat without a plan or special maneuver to overcome this disadvantage (possibly requiring one or more saves) as determined reasonable by the Warden.

Ships equipped with a jump drive may attempt to retreat at any time, but calculating a jump under duress requires a WIL save to complete the jump safely. On a failed save, roll on the jump failure table.

Attacking and Damage

The attacker rolls the weapon die for the shipboard weapon they are operating and subtracts the armor of the target ship, then deals the remaining total to the target ship's SHD.

Attack Modifiers

Attacks may be enhanced or impaired based on the relative size and speed of the ships involved in the combat (see table). Smaller and/or faster targets are assumed to have greater maneuverability to position themselves in the best way to avoid damage. Larger and slower targets cannot do so.

The pilot of an attacking ship may make a DEX save to attempt to overcome the difference in size and/or speed and improve the attack roll from impaired to standard or from standard to enhanced for the next round of combat.

Critical Damage and Ship Score Loss

Damage that reduces a ship's SHD below 0 decreases the target ship's HUL or SYS by the remaining amount depending on the weapon type. The pilot must then make a HUL or SYS save as appropriate to avoid critical damage.

If a ship suffers critical damage, roll on the critical damage table to determine the nature of the damage.

If a ship's HUL is reduced to 0 it is destroyed catastrophically. Those on left onboard will die unless they are equipped with spacesuits or can use an escape pod.

If a ship's SYS is reduced to 0 it is immobilized and all systems shut down.

Characters with the appropriate background/role and the necessary equipment may attempt a WIL save to repair critical damage or to restore 1 point of HUL or SYS.

Critical Damage (d20)

Exploration Procedures

Confined Spaces

Procedures for exploring confined spaces, such as ships, built structures, or natural structures (e.g., caves).

Turns

• The dungeon exploration cycle is divided into a series of turns, actions, and their consequences.
• On their turn, a character can move a distance equal to their flashlight’s perimeter (about 40 ft.) and perform one action. They can spend their action to move an incredible distance, or at great speed.
• The Warden should present obvious information about an area and its dangers freely and at no cost.

Exploration Cycle

• The Warden describes the party’s surroundings. Any immediate dangers (combat, traps, surprises, etc.) are resolved.
• The players ask questions, then declare their character’s intended movements and actions.
• The Warden resolves each character’s action simultaneously, as well as actions that are already in-progress.
• The Warden rolls on the Exploration Events table, and describes the results. The characters react to the event.
• The players and the Warden record any loss of resources and new conditions (i.e. battery use, fatigue, etc).
• The process then repeats, starting from step 1.

Actions

• Actions are any non-passive activities such as searching for traps, forcing open a door, listening for danger, disarming a trap, engaging an enemy in combat, casting a spell, dodging a trap, running away, resting etc.
• Some actions have special rules (see below), while others may take multiple turns to complete.
• Loud or noticeable actions may also trigger an encounter with the denizens of the space.

Searching

• A character can spend a turn performing an exhaustive search of one object or location in an area, revealing any relevant hidden treasure, traps, secret doors, etc.
• Larger rooms and difficult or complex terrain may take a few turns to properly search.
• Searching a room first is a safer way to explore the, but it has a steep cost: time.

Resting

• A character can spend a turn resting to restore all HP.
• A light source and a safe location are required to rest. Present or oncoming danger make rest impossible.
• Resting does not restore Fatigue, as it is impossible to safely Make Camp in most confined spaces.

Conditions

Panicked

• A character that is surrounded by enemies, enveloped by darkness, losing air supply, or facing their greatest fears may experience panic. A WIL save is typically required to avoid losing control and becoming panicked.
• A panicked character must make a WIL save to overcome their condition as an action on their turn.
• A panicked character has 0 HP, is always surprised, and all of their attacks are impaired.

Common Elements of Confined Spaces

Light

• Flashlights and other sources of light typically illuminate 40 ft. of space, but beyond that only provide a dim outline of objects.
• Light sources typically function without incident, but battery failure may be triggered by a loss roll on the Exploration Events table. See Battery and Power Management for procedures for dealing with failed batteries.
• Characters without a light source may suffer from panic until their situation is remedied.

Battery and Power Management

• Lights and other electronic equipment (e.g., comms, sensors, binoculars, energy weapons) typically functions without incident, but battery failure may be triggered by a loss roll on the Exploration Events.
• An emergency battery recharge, a spare battery, or access to another power supply for charging is required to make the device functional again.
• A battery that fails three times may no longer be recharged safely and should be replaced. Any attempt to recharge a battery after its third failure has a 2-in-6 chance of causing an explosion, which destroys the device and deals 1d6 STR damage to the character closest to the device.

Air Supply

• Air tanks attached to spacesuits or other life support equipment have an Air Storage (AS) rating. Each AS unit provides air for 1 turn (10 minutes).
• A loss result on the Exploration table may deplete 1 AS.
• Upon reaching 0 AS, a character's HP is reduced to 0 and they must pass a WIL save or become panicked. They then lose 1 STR per round (10 seconds) until they reach a breathable environment, replace their air tank, or become unconscious.
• A character may hold their breath to avoid the effects of being at 0 oxygen for up to 9 rounds (1.5 minutes), adding 1 Fatigue per round.

Doors

• Doors and entryways may be locked, stuck, moving, or blocked entirely. Characters may try to force a door open or shot mechanically or electronically using available resources or raw physical or technical ability.
• The character most at risk when attempting to work on a door should save to avoid any danger that may befall them.
• A character can focus carefully (listening, smelling, etc) to the sounds of denizens and other hazards through nearby doors and walls.

Traps

• A cautious character should be presented with any and all information that would allow them the opportunity to avoid springing a trap. An unwitting character will trigger a trap according to the fiction, or otherwise have a 2-in-6 chance.
• Traps can usually be detected by carefully searching a room.
• Damage from traps is taken from ability scores (usually STR or DEX) and not from HP. Armor can reduce damage, but only if applicable (e.g. a shield would not reduce damage from noxious gas).

Exploration Events Table

|6|Quiet|The party is left alone (and safe) for the time being.

The Known Galaxy

Coming soon

NPCs

Coming soon

Conversion from FFG Games

NPCs

HP = Wound Threshold

Armor = Soak Value/4 rounded down

STR = Brawn*4 rounded down

DEX = Agility*4 rounded down

WIL = Willpower*4 rounded down

Attack = pick corresponding weapon or assign minimum die with range including listed damage

Ships

Size = Approximate based on description. Fighters are Individual Size and Capital Ships are Giant Size SHD = Sum of all shield zone values HUL = Hull Trauma Threshold SYS = System Strain Threshold ARM = Armor SPD = Speed INV = Customization Hardpoints*4 - represents available inventory space not already occupied by modifications Attack - pick closest corresponding weapons or assign minimum die with range including listed damage