Kalos Mechanism 4e EN:GM Resources

Contents

(NOTE: This is a work in progress.)

This chapter provides additional information for the game moderator. Warning: spoilers follow.

Behind The Scenes

If this were a full game: This is where the game author would describe the secrets of the setting. Some typical section headings could be "Lost History", "Society Of The Hidden Folk", "Precursor Technology", and so on.

Villains

Villains can be written up the same way as player characters, but they do not have to be. You can abbreviate the abilities of villains based on their areas of focus and their Power level.

XXX Table

Failure

A failed attempt may not give the character the result they wanted, but it should not mean the game grinds to a halt. Rather than having a failed attempt be a dead end, it could mean that the desired outcome has a greater cost, or perhaps the desired outcome has undesirable side effects. Whatever the end result, failure should never make the game less interesting.

Expert Tip: It's okay to say "so-and-so happens", without requiring (or allowing) anyone to roll.

For example, Inspector Dupuis is trying to intimidate a low-level gangster into revealing details about the organization's plans to distribute a dangerous, highly experimental drug. Sadly, Inspector Dupuis's player rolls poorly, and the gangster is not impressed. Rather than having this be the end of this line of inquiry, the GM has several options.

• Quid pro quo: The gangster will give Dupuis the information, but only if Dupuis gives the gangster something in exchange. This could be something as prosaic as money, but it could be something more interesting, such as information about a rival organization or a favour to call in later.
• Red herring: The gangster tells Dupuis what they want to hear, but the information is not true or it leads Dupuis off on a wild goose chase. If the gangster is clever, they may send Dupuis after a rival organization that has been causing problems.
• Stirring the pot: Dupuis gets the information, but their activities attract attention. A rival organization learns of the drug as a result of Dupuis' activities, and they try to beat Dupuis to the prize. Alternately, the rival organization might use Dupuis as a stalking horse, allowing Dupuis and the gang to fight each other so that the rival organization will have an easier time taking the spoils from the winner.
• Alerting the enemy: Dupuis gets the information, but the gang learns of Dupuis's interest in their activities and they begin to make preparations. It could even be that the gangster was intended to be captured by Dupuis all along, in order to set them up for an ambush!

Cultural Motivations

The motivations of individuals are often at odds with the motivations of the culture to which they belong. An individual may be kind and compassionate, even as their civilization systematically commits genocide and destroys entire ecosystems in their quest for expansion. This is a paradox.

If you would like to randomly determine a culture's motivations, roll 2d6 and consult the table below.

Table: Random cultural motivations, Table 1

Roll 2d6	Complexity
2-7	Roll once on Table 2
8-10	Roll twice on Table 2
11	Roll three times on Table 2
12	Schism: roll once on table 2, and see the note below

Schism: The society is divided into two opposing and mutually antagonistic cultures. Roll on Table 2, and make a note of the roll and its opposite. The majority of the society has the first motivation rolled, but a significant minority has the opposing motivation. For example, the opposing motivation of "adventure" is "security".

Table: Random cultural motivations, Table 2

Roll 1d6 Roll 1d6 Motivation 1 1 Adventure 2 Asceticism 3 Audacity 4 Community 5 Compassion 6 Courage 2 1 Curiosity 2 Detachment 3 Enlightenment 4 Exploration 5 Freedom 6 Idealism 3 1 Justice 2 Mercy 3 Nobility 4 Passion 5 Pride 6 Rebellion

Roll 1d6 Roll 1d6 Motivation 4 1 Security 2 Materialism 3 Subtlety 4 Individualism 5 Wrath 6 Fear 5 1 Faith 2 Responsibility 3 Secrecy 4 Isolation 5 Control 6 Pragmatism 6 1 Vengeance 2 Ruthlessness 3 Fellowship 4 Serenity 5 Humility 6 Traditionalism

Hostile Environments

A hostile environment makes everything more difficult. A character in a hostile environment typically incurs a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV), in addition to any other effects of the hostile environment.

Table: Hostile environments

Environment	Effect
Darkness	The character fails any Mental Combat attack rolls
Dehydration	One Health per day
Exhaustion	One Endurance per day
Exposure	One Health per six hours
Falling	Damage based on the distance fallen
Fire	Damage based on heat and intensity; Terrifying Attack
Poisons	One Health per minute or less
Pressure	One Health per minute
Radiation	One Endurance per week
Starvation	One Endurance per week
Suffocation	One Health per minute
Underwater	A long period spent underwater may have other effects
Vacuum	One Health per minute
Zero-G	Long-term weightlessness may have other effects

Darkness

Darkness, fog, rain, blizzards, and other visual impediments can make combat much more difficult. Unless they have Blindfighting or Blindsight, a character who can't see incurs a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV), and they fail any Mental Combat attack rolls.

Dehydration

A character who goes more than 24 hours without drinking begins to suffer the effects of dehydration. If a character is suffering from dehydration, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, they lose one Health per day until they are rehydrated or until their Health is reduced to zero. Once the character is rehydrated, their Health is restored at the same rate it was lost.

Damage from dehydration is not restored by rest and recuperation. A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by dehydration.

Exhaustion

A character who goes more than 24 hours without sleep begins to suffer the effects of sleep deprivation. If a character is suffering from sleep deprivation, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, they lose one Endurance per day until they get a night's rest or until their Endurance and Health are reduced to zero. Once the character gets a night's rest, their Endurance and Health are restored at the same rate they were lost.

A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by exhaustion.

Exposure

Exposure to extreme heat or cold makes even ordinary tasks more difficult. If a character is suffering from exposure, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, they lose one Health per six hours until they return to a comfortable environment, or until their Health is reduced to zero. Once the character returns to a comfortable environment, their Health is restored at the same rate it was lost.

Damage from extremes of heat and cold is not restored by rest and recuperation. A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by extreme temperatures.

Falling

A falling character faces two challenges: being weightless, and landing. First, they suffer the effects of being weightless. If they do not have the Zero-G Combat gift, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Second, landing abruptly is a normal attack which deals points of Health damage. The damage a fall deals depends on the distance fallen: 1d6, plus one point of damage for each five meters fallen, up to a maximum of 1d6+20. Protective gear, or particularly soft or yielding surfaces, can provide Damage Resistance to a falling character.

Table: Falling Damage

Distance (m)	Damage
5	1d6+1
10	1d6+2
15	1d6+3
20	1d6+4
25	1d6+5
30	1d6+6
35	1d6+7
40	1d6+8
45	1d6+9
50	1d6+10
55	1d6+11
60	1d6+12
65	1d6+13
70	1d6+14
75	1d6+15

Fire

If a character is on fire, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, fire is treated as a normal attack which deals points of Health damage. The damage a fire deals depends on its heat and intensity. Protective gear -- even improvised gear, such as a wet blanket -- can provide Damage Resistance to a burning character. Finally, fire is terrifying. A character on fire must cower or flee (their choice) until they use a standard action to make a successful Presence + Athletics roll against 8 + Power Level of the attack (or the Equipment Level of the weapon). If the character on fire has Mental Resistance, they may add it to this roll.

Table: Fire

Fire	Damage
Campfire, torch	1d6+1
Burning building	1d6+2
Molten lava	1d6+3

Poisons

Poisons and pathogens are substances which disrupt biological processes when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism. Immediately after exposure, a poisoned character must attempt a moderately difficult (DV 12) Brawn + Athletics roll. If the target has Alteration Resistance, they may add it to this roll. If the Brawn + Athletics roll is successful, the character takes no damage from the poison and suffers only incidental side-effects such as nausea. If the Brawn + Athletics roll is not successful, the character has succumbed to the poison.

If a character has been poisoned, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, their Health is reduced by one.

Periodically thereafter, the character must attempt another Brawn + Athletics roll (once per round for very potent poisons, once an hour for very weak poisons, and once a minute for other poisons, at the GM's discretion). Each failed Brawn + Athletics roll results in another loss of one Health. This continues until the character successfully makes a Brawn + Athletics roll, until they are administered the appropriate treatment, or until their Health is reduced to zero. Once the character is no longer poisoned, their Health is restored at the same rate it was lost.

Some poisons and pathogens have additional effects, such as blindness or paralysis.

Damage from poisons and pathogens is not restored by rest and recuperation until the poison or pathogen itself is cured. A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by poisons and pathogens.

Pressure

If a character is exposed to extreme atmospheric pressure, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, they lose one Health per minute until they return to a pressurized atmosphere, or until their Health is reduced to zero. Once the character returns to a normal atmosphere, their Health is restored at the same rate it was lost.

Damage from extreme atmospheric pressure is not restored by rest and recuperation. A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by high pressure.

Radiation

When ionizing radiation interacts with cells, it can cause damage to the cells and genetic material. Twenty-four hours after exposure to ionizing radiation, a character must attempt a moderately difficult (DV 12) Brawn + Athletics roll. If the target has Alteration Resistance, they may add it to this roll. If the Brawn + Athletics roll is successful, the character takes no damage from the radiation and suffers only incidental side-effects such as nausea. If the Brawn + Athletics roll is not successful, the character has developed acute radiation syndrome (ARS), also known as radiation sickness or radiation poisoning.

If a character has developed acute radiation syndrome, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, their Health is reduced by one.

Periodically thereafter, the character must attempt another Brawn + Athletics roll (once per hour for very intense radiation, once a week for very mild radiation, and once a day for other radiation, at the GM's discretion). Each failed Brawn + Athletics roll results in another loss of one Health. This continues until the character successfully makes a Brawn + Athletics roll, until they are administered the appropriate treatment, or until their Health is reduced to zero. Once the character no longer has acute radiation syndrome, their Health is restored at the same rate it was lost.

Some radiation may have additional effects, such as blindness or paralysis.

Damage from acute radiation syndrome is not restored by rest and recuperation. A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by ionizing radiation.

Starvation

A character who goes more than one week without eating begins to suffer the effects of starvation. If a character is suffering from starvation, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, they lose one Endurance per week until they resume a normal diet or until their Endurance and Health are reduced to zero. Once the character has resumed a normal diet, their Health is restored at the same rate it was lost.

Damage from starvation is not restored by rest and recuperation. A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by starvation.

Suffocation

If a character needs to breath but is unable to do so, they suffer the effects of suffocation. If a character is suffocating, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Additionally, they lose one Health per minute until they can breathe freely again or until their Health is reduced to zero. Once the character is able to breathe normally, their Health is restored at the same rate it was lost.

Damage from suffocation is not restored by rest and recuperation. A character with Environmental Immunity is unaffected by suffocation.

Underwater

If a character is underwater and does not have the Underwater Combat gift, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). A long period spent underwater may have other effects.

Vacuum

If a character is exposed to vacuum, they suffer the effects of suffocation. Exposure to the vacuum of space does not make a character freeze solid, at least not initially. Most organics will bruise badly due to ebullism, and they will eventually freeze, but they will be long dead from suffocation by that point.

Zero-G

If a character is weightless and does not have the Zero-G Combat gift, they incur a skill penalty (-Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS AV, -Template:KM4 SKILL BONUS DV). Long-term weightlessness may have other effects.

Mass

Specific items may vary greatly from the typical mass listed here.

Table: Mass

Object	Mass	Athletics
small dog	10 kg	0
mountain bike	10 kg	0
watermelon	10 kg	0
used tire	10 kg	0
case of beer	10 kg	0
full suitcase	20 kg	1
medium dog	20 kg	1
electric mountain bike	35 kg	2
single bed	35 kg	2
small sofa	35 kg	2
wood bookcase	35 kg	2
full pony keg of beer	45 kg	2
small sea turtle	45 kg	2
large dog	65 kg	2
small adult	65 kg	2
full keg of beer	75 kg	2
trim adult	80 kg	2
manhole cover	90 kg	2
medium adult	90 kg	2
small floor safe	90 kg	2
wood chest	90 kg	2
large adult	125 kg	3
female brown bear	135 kg	3
huge adult	150 kg	3
oil drum (full)	150 kg	3
refrigerator	150 kg	3
wood table	150 kg	3
male brown bear	180 kg	3
sport motorcycle	180 kg	3
dumpster	200 kg	3
gun safe	200 kg	3
large sea turtle	200 kg	3
lion	200 kg	3
small armoire	200 kg	3
weapon locker	200 kg	3
dolphin	225 kg	3
harpsichord	225 kg	3
large predator	225 kg	3
cruiser motorcycle	250 kg	3
female polar bear	250 kg	3
baby grand piano	300 kg	3
medium armoire	300 kg	3
medium floor safe	300 kg	3
tiger	300 kg	3
Twinkie 11 meters long	300 kg	3
vending machine	300 kg	3
female grizzly bear	350 kg	4
large armoire	400 kg	4
large desk	400 kg	4
riding horse	400 kg	4
touring motorcycle	400 kg	4
telephone pole	450 kg	4
light wagon (empty)	500 kg	4
male polar bear	500 kg	4
grand piano	550 kg	4
cow	600 kg	4
draft horse	600 kg	4
sailboat	600 kg	4
small sailboat	600 kg	4
speedboat	600 kg	4
male grizzly bear	750 kg	4
car trailer	800 kg	4
light wagon (loaded)	900 kg	4
small car	900 kg	4
civilian helicopter	1,000 kg	4
heavy wagon (empty)	1,000 kg	4
medium missile	1,200 kg	5
6 m propane tank	1,500 kg	5
cruise missile	1,500 kg	5
large missile	1,600 kg	5
medium car	1,600 kg	5
small SUV	1,600 kg	5
small truck	1,600 kg	5
granite monument	1,800 kg	5
hippopotamus	2,000 kg	5
large car	2,000 kg	5
large herbivore	2,000 kg	5
limousine	2,000 kg	5
medium SUV	2,000 kg	5
medium truck	2,000 kg	5
6 m cargo container	2,300 kg	5
large meteor	2,300 kg	5
small forklift	2,300 kg	5
large SUV	2,500 kg	5
large truck	2,500 kg	5
hovercraft	2,700 kg	5
Jersey barrier	2,700 kg	5
Humvee	3,000 kg	5
small military helicopter	3,000 kg	5
12 m cargo container	4,000 kg	6
armored Humvee	4,000 kg	6
monster truck	4,000 kg	6
Asian elephant	4,500 kg	6
dump truck (empty)	5,000 kg	6
heavy wagon (loaded)	5,000 kg	6
huge herbivore	5,000 kg	6
African elephant	6,300 kg	6
corporate jet	6,400 kg	6
helicopter	6,400 kg	6
school bus	6,400 kg	6
light fighter jet	7,000 kg	6
howitzer	7,300 kg	6
travel trailer	7,300 kg	6
cargo helicopter	8,300 kg	6
garbage truck	8,600 kg	6
large military helicopter	9,000 kg	6
mobile home	11 t	7
armored car	12 t	7
fighter jet	13 t	7
spy satellite	13 t	7
subway car	13 t	7
motorhome RV	14 t	7
tractor-trailer (empty)	16 t	7
passenger bus	18 t	7
dump truck (loaded)	20 t	7
Polaris missile	20 t	7
double-wide mobile home	22 t	7
infantry fighting vehicle	25 t	7
houseboat	29 t	7
railroad boxcar (empty)	29 t	7
private jet	30 t	7
tractor-trailer (loaded)	36 t	8
bulldozer	37 t	8
car crusher	37 t	8
fire truck	37 t	8
armored personnel carrier	38 t	8
cargo plane (empty)	40 t	8
bank vault	50 t	8
cargo container lift truck	50 t	8
Easter Island stone head	50 t	8
M1 Abrams tank	50 t	8
tank	50 t	8
tanker truck (loaded)	50 t	8
Trident missile	50 t	8
40 m water tower	71 t	8
heavy machinery crane	73 t	8
cargo plane (loaded)	80 t	8
railroad boxcar (loaded)	100 t	8
60 m radio tower	109 t	9
wooden house	136 t	9
male blue whale	150 t	9
huge mining dump-truck	164 t	9
female blue whale	190 t	9
fishing trawler	200 t	9
Titan II rocket	200 t	9
locomotive	210 t	9
brick house	273 t	9
huge hovercraft	273 t	9
transport ship spacecraft	273 t	9
large passenger plane (empty)	300 t	9
hydro-electric generator	345 t	10
large passenger plane (loaded)	400 t	10
trawler	400 t	10
yacht	400 t	10
huge crane	591 t	10
300 m radio tower	600 t	10
huge mining excavator	727 t	10
drilling rig	800 t	10
small bridge	1,600 t	11
tugboat	3,200 t	12
short train	4,000 t	12
rocket launch tower	5,000 t	12
nuclear submarine	6,900 t	12
Eiffel Tower	7,300 t	12
10 story building	9,000 t	12
destroyer	9,000 t	12
Brooklyn Bridge	10,000 t	12
freighter (unloaded)	12,500 t	13
long train	20,000 t	13
freighter (loaded)	25,000 t	13
large bridge	25,000 t	13
huge nuclear submarine	48,000 t	14
aircraft carrier	80,000 t	14
tanker ship (loaded)	100,000 t	14
large office building	200,000 t	15
large tanker ship (loaded)	200,000 t	15
cruise ship	225,000 t	15
Empire State Building	331,000 t	16
Ultra Large Crude Carrier (empty)	400,000 t	16
Ben Franklin Bridge	600,000 t	16
huge tanker ship (loaded)	600,000 t	16
Ultra Large Crude Carrier (loaded)	600,000 t	16
huge bridge	800,000 t	16
Golden Gate Bridge	800,000 t	16
huge skyscraper	900,000 t	16
Great Pyramid of Khufu	5,000,000 t	18
Three Gorges Dam	9,500,000 t	18
Great Wall of China	55,000,000 t	20

Athletics: Minimum Athletics to "deadlift" the object (without powers)

Speed

Specific items may vary greatly from the typical speed listed here.

Table: Speed

Object	Speed	Minimum Athletics
Human, avg running	10 km/h	2
Human, max running	45 km/h	4
fast submarine	80 km/h	5
fast animal	120 km/h	6
arrow	240 km/h	7
fast vehicle	320 km/h	7
fast helicopter	400 km/h	7
tornado wind	480 km/h	7
terminal velocity	530 km/h	8
bullet train	560 km/h	8
airplane	810 km/h	8
pistol bullet	1,100 km/h	9
sound	1,200 km/h	9
supersonic airplane	1,900 km/h	9
rifle bullet	3,100 km/h	10
superjet	9,700 km/h	11
escape velocity	40,000 km/h	13
rocket	48,000 km/h	13

Minimum Athletics: Minimum Athletics for this speed (without powers)