(RPG PDF Spotlight) Bleeding Heroes RPG

RPG PDF Spotlights is our daily look at a recent release for a new tabletop roleplaying game, supplement or scenario, or solo journaling game, that has caught my eye.

Bleeding Heroes RPG

Core Rulebook by Matt Hunt

The Bleeding Heroes RPG is about heroes who have suffered a tragic past that haunts their present. They have chosen to fight against evil in the Shroudmarch and overcome the darkness that lingers within them.

The game mechanic consists of rolling 1d10 + Skill die (or attribute die) and uses Opposed Rolls for combat and contested rolls. Characters choose a Path which grants them special abilities but they advance by raising their skills. Special abilities allow characters to roll a third dice to possibly achieve great results. 

A character's Shroud (the past tragedy that haunts them) can manifest back into reality within the lands of Shroudmarch. Every time a character rolls a skill, they incur a little bit of mental stress that taxes them. When the roll comes up 'snake eyes', the character's Shroud manifests. The manifestations progressively become worse and rolling double ones three times within 24 hours causes terrible reality breaking consequences. Hereos can perform virtuous acts to gain Virtue points to help them and their allies combat these manifestations.

Magic is divided into spells and rituals. Spells are not huge in power but give casters diverse powers. The three types of Rituals are Runes, Circles, and Welkin rituals. They require time and components but the greatest of them can tear holes through castle walls and alter miles of terrain upon casting. Bleeding Heroes magic leans towards knowing when to cast a spell or ritual and knowing how to take advantage of it.

Bleeding Heroes RPG also offers factions for characters to join and advance within until they gain enough status to use them to draw resources, launch attacks, or perform covert actions. Faction rules remain simplistic and straightforward. A gamemaster is given plenty of room to adjust and narrate the results of a simple roll.

Bleeding Hereos comes with a default world of the Shroudmarch but the rules can be used for your own worlds. The download also includes the hex map of the Shroudmarch and a 63 page Gamemaster Catalogue. The Gamemaster Catalogue lists over 130 animals and monsters, rules for traveling, and unique magical treasures.

Bleeding Heroes RPG is available through DriveThruRPG in PDF.