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

Optional Rules

Alternate Area Shapes

With the GM's permission, an attack which affects an area may have a shape other than a sphere. The specific shape must be chosen when the power is purchased.

• Cone — Maximum length per side based on the character's Power Level
• Cylinder — Maximum radius and height based on the character's Power Level
• Line — Maximum length based on the character's Power Level
• Sphere — Maximum radius based on the character's Power Level
• Wedge — Maximum length per side based on the character's Power Level

Power Level	Sphere/Cylinder	Cone/Wedge	Line
1	1 m radius	2 m per side	2 m × 4 m line
2	2 m radius	4 m per side	2 m × 8 m line
3	3 m radius	6 m per side	2 m × 12 m line
4	4 m radius	8 m per side	2 m × 16 m line
5	5 m radius	10 m per side	2 m × 20 m line
6	6 m radius	12 m per side	2 m × 24 m line
7	7 m radius	14 m per side	2 m × 28 m line
8	8 m radius	16 m per side	2 m × 32 m line
9	9 m radius	18 m per side	2 m × 36 m line
10	10 m radius	20 m per side	2 m × 40 m line

Flexible Area Boost

Flexible Area Boost is an optional boost which allows an area power to take a variety of shapes, one at a time.

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Knockback

Knockback is an optional rule which makes combat cover a greater physical area, possibly causing collateral damage in the process. This rule is more appropriate to superhero games than it is to pulp or horror.

Only normal attacks may do knockback. If the GM has chosen to allow knockback, then each PC may choose which of their normal attacks do knockback, and which don't. Once this choice is made, it may not normally be changed thereafter.

When a target takes damage from a normal attack that does knockback, they are pushed away from the attacker (or from the center of an explosion). The distance the target is moved is equal to the points of normal damage taken, multiplied by the attack's Power Level. For example, if a defender takes 2 points of Health damage past their Damage Resistance, and the Power Level of the attack is 3, the target will be knocked back 6 meters.

If a standing target is knocked back more than 2 meters, they must succeed at a moderately difficult (DV 9) Athletics roll or be knocked prone.

Targets who take knockback may smash through walls and windows, destroying whatever they pass through or happen to land on, but they take no significant injury themselves from doing so.

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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 Blindsight, a character who can't see incurs a standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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 standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 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
red brick	3 kg	-1
2 liter bottle	3 kg	-1
laptop	3 kg	-1
sixpack of beer	5 kg	0
jug of milk	5 kg	0
domestic cat	6 kg	0
pumpkin	6 kg	0
small dog	15 kg	1
mountain bike	15 kg	1
watermelon	15 kg	1
car tire	15 kg	1
case of beer	15 kg	1
cinder block	26 kg	1
medium dog	30 kg	1
electric mountain bike	53 kg	2
single bed	53 kg	2
small sofa	53 kg	2
wood bookcase	53 kg	2
full pony keg of beer	68 kg	2
small sea turtle	68 kg	2
large dog	98 kg	2
small adult	98 kg	2
full keg of beer	113 kg	3
trim adult	120 kg	3
manhole cover	135 kg	3
medium adult	135 kg	3
small floor safe	135 kg	3
wood chest	135 kg	3
large adult	188 kg	3
female brown bear	203 kg	3
huge adult	225 kg	3
oil drum (full)	225 kg	3
refrigerator	225 kg	3
wood table	225 kg	3
male brown bear	270 kg	3
sport motorcycle	270 kg	3
gun safe	300 kg	3
large sea turtle	300 kg	3
lion	300 kg	3
small armoire	300 kg	3
upright piano	300 kg	3
weapon locker	300 kg	3
dolphin	338 kg	4
harpsichord	338 kg	4
large predator	338 kg	4
cruiser motorcycle	375 kg	4
female polar bear	375 kg	4
baby grand piano	450 kg	4
medium armoire	450 kg	4
medium floor safe	450 kg	4
tiger	450 kg	4
Twinkie 11 meters long	450 kg	4
vending machine	450 kg	4
female grizzly bear	525 kg	4
large armoire	600 kg	4
large desk	600 kg	4
riding horse	600 kg	4
touring motorcycle	600 kg	4
telephone pole	675 kg	4
light wagon (empty)	750 kg	4
male polar bear	750 kg	4
grand piano	825 kg	4
cow	900 kg	4
draft horse	900 kg	4
sailboat	900 kg	4
small sailboat	900 kg	4
speedboat	900 kg	4
male grizzly bear	1,125 kg	5
car trailer	1,200 kg	5
light wagon (loaded)	1,350 kg	5
small car	1,350 kg	5
civilian helicopter	1,500 kg	5
heavy wagon (empty)	1,500 kg	5
medium missile	1,800 kg	5
6 m propane tank	2 t	5
cruise missile	2 t	5
large missile	2 t	5
medium car	2 t	5
small SUV	2 t	5
small truck	2 t	5
granite monument	3 t	5
hippopotamus	3 t	5
large car	3 t	5
large herbivore	3 t	5
limousine	3 t	5
medium SUV	3 t	5
medium truck	3 t	5
6 m cargo container	3 t	6
large meteor	3 t	6
small forklift	3 t	6
large SUV	4 t	6
large truck	4 t	6
hovercraft	4 t	6
Jersey barrier	4 t	6
Humvee	5 t	6
small military helicopter	5 t	6
12 m cargo container	6 t	6
armored Humvee	6 t	6
monster truck	6 t	6
Asian elephant	7 t	6
dump truck (empty)	8 t	6
heavy wagon (loaded)	8 t	6
huge herbivore	8 t	6
African elephant	9 t	6
corporate jet	10 t	6
helicopter	10 t	6
school bus	10 t	6
light fighter jet	11 t	7
howitzer	11 t	7
travel trailer	11 t	7
cargo helicopter	12 t	7
garbage truck	13 t	7
large military helicopter	14 t	7
mobile home	17 t	7
armored car	17 t	7
fighter jet	19 t	7
spy satellite	19 t	7
subway car	19 t	7
motorhome RV	20 t	7
tractor-trailer (empty)	24 t	7
passenger bus	27 t	7
dump truck (loaded)	30 t	7
Polaris missile	30 t	7
double-wide mobile home	33 t	8
infantry fighting vehicle	38 t	8
houseboat	43 t	8
railroad boxcar (empty)	43 t	8
private jet	45 t	8
tractor-trailer (loaded)	54 t	8
bulldozer	55 t	8
car crusher	55 t	8
fire truck	55 t	8
armored personnel carrier	56 t	8
cargo plane (empty)	60 t	8
bank vault	75 t	8
cargo container lift truck	75 t	8
Easter Island stone head	75 t	8
M1 Abrams tank	75 t	8
tank	75 t	8
tanker truck (loaded)	75 t	8
Trident missile	75 t	8
40 m water tower	107 t	9
heavy machinery crane	110 t	9
cargo plane (loaded)	120 t	9
railroad boxcar (loaded)	150 t	9
60 m radio tower	164 t	9
wooden house	204 t	9
male blue whale	225 t	9
huge mining dump-truck	246 t	9
female blue whale	285 t	9
fishing trawler	300 t	9
Titan II rocket	300 t	9
locomotive	315 t	10
brick house	410 t	10
huge hovercraft	410 t	10
transport ship spacecraft	410 t	10
large passenger plane (empty)	450 t	10
hydro-electric generator	518 t	10
large passenger plane (loaded)	600 t	10
trawler	600 t	10
yacht	600 t	10
huge crane	887 t	10
300 m radio tower	900 t	10
huge mining excavator	1,091 t	11
drilling rig	1,200 t	11
small bridge	2,400 t	11
tugboat	4,800 t	12
short train	6,000 t	12
rocket launch tower	7,500 t	12
nuclear submarine	10,350 t	13
Eiffel Tower	10,950 t	13
10 story building	13,500 t	13
destroyer	13,500 t	13
Brooklyn Bridge	15,000 t	13
freighter (unloaded)	18,750 t	13
long train	30,000 t	13
freighter (loaded)	37,500 t	14
large bridge	37,500 t	14
huge nuclear submarine	72,000 t	14
aircraft carrier	120,000 t	15
tanker ship (loaded)	150,000 t	15
large office building	300,000 t	15
large tanker ship (loaded)	300,000 t	15
cruise ship	337,500 t	16
Empire State Building	496,500 t	16
Ultra Large Crude Carrier (empty)	600,000 t	16
Ben Franklin Bridge	900,000 t	16
huge tanker ship (loaded)	900,000 t	16
Ultra Large Crude Carrier (loaded)	900,000 t	16
huge bridge	1,200,000 t	17
Golden Gate Bridge	1,200,000 t	17
huge skyscraper	1,350,000 t	17
Great Pyramid of Khufu	7,500,000 t	18
Three Gorges Dam	14,250,000 t	19
Great Wall of China	82,500,000 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).