Brent P. Newhall's Musaeum of Fantastic Wonders

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====== MurderHobos ======

//"...the combat system is solid and fast paced and the whole thing screams out for some gonzo play....Murderhobos doesn't disappoint."// -- [[http://geniuslocigames.blogspot.com/2014/05/quick-review-murderhoboes.html|Johua De Santo, Genius Loci review]]

//"Best 6 pages of gaming I've read in awhile."// -- [[https://plus.google.com/u/0/114162698572145803131/posts/aeHJzwz5ZWu|Joe E on Google+]]

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//MurderHobos// is a tabletop RPG made for when you just want to kill things and take their stuff.

You roll different dice. Your character strangles things with his hands, stabs from the shadows, or calls down unholy fire from the sky. You play a MurderHobo.

**[[http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/129865/MurderHobos|Download now from DriveThruRPG]] for USD $4.99**

[[http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/129865/MurderHobos|{{http://www.onebookshelf.com/images/banners/banner-dtrpg.jpg}}]]

The game package includes:

  * A 6-page PDF containing all the rules, with awesome art by Khairul Hisham and Peter Seckler.
  * An .azw3 file for use on newer Kindles.
  * A .mobi file for use on older Kindles.
  * An .epub file for use on iPads and other eReaders.

===== System Overview =====
{{ http://brentnewhall.com/games/graphics/MurderHobos_cover.png?350}}

Each character has 4 primary stats:
  * Killing
  * Avoiding Being Killed
  * Knowing Shit
  * Talking Your Way Out of Anything
You put 4 points in one of these, 2 points in another, and 1 point in each of the others.

Each character also has 4 secondary stats:
  * Avoiding Magic
  * Avoiding Traps
  * Avoiding Poison
  * Avoiding The Law
You put 4 points in one of these, 2 points in another, and 1 point in each of the others.

Rolls are d20 + the relevant stat vs. a target difficulty number.

==== What Makes It Different? ====

Monsters don't attack. Instead, if you miss a Killing roll against a monster, it gets an attack against you.

If you roll exactly or 1 less than the target difficulty, you get a partial success. The rules include a table that lay out suggested partial successes for each stat.

Weapons break. (Though it's rare.)

Weapons are differentiated by basic type (melee, ranged, thrown) and cost. More expensive weapons break less often. There's no statistical difference between a short sword and a long sword.

There are no Hit Points; there's just a number of hits (successful attacks) you can take.

Magical healing is really fucking dangerous.

You heal up every day. Because you're a murderhobo.

===== Adventures =====

Who has time to create adventures? Here are the winners of the first-ever MurderHobos Adventure Challenge. Read 'em and play!

  * [[http://brentnewhall.com/games/downloads/MH1-Gold_From_the_Ceiling_by_Brian_Wille-WINNER.pdf|Gold from the Ceiling]] by Brian Wille, winner of the challenge
  * [[http://brentnewhall.com/games/downloads/MH2-The_Crossroads_by_Tim_Werner.pdf|The Crossroads]] by Tim Werner
  * [[http://brentnewhall.com/games/downloads/MH3-Thumbing_the_Lich_by_Joe_England.pdf|Thumbing the Lich]] by Joe England (a micro-adventure of one paragraph!)

===== Sample Characters =====

==== Buff HardBack, Brutal Fighter ====

Killing: +4\\
Avoiding Being Killed: +2\\
Knowing Shit: +1\\
Talking Your Way Out Of Everything: +1\\
Avoiding Magic: +1\\
Avoiding Traps: +2\\
Avoiding Poison: +1\\
Avoiding The Law: +4\\

Hits: 4\\
Class Skill: Murderous Rage: When you succeed on an attack, deal 2 hits.\\

==== Splint ChestHair, Sneaky Bastard ====

Killing: +2\\
Avoiding Being Killed: +1\\
Knowing Shit: +1\\
Talking Your Way Out Of Everything: +4\\
Avoiding Magic: +1\\
Avoiding Traps: +4\\
Avoiding Poison: +1\\
Avoiding The Law: +2\\

Hits: 3\\
Class Skill: Backstab: If you are the first person to attack someone, add +2 to your Killing roll. This can be used multiple times per day.\\

==== Whip SlagCheek, Unhinged Priest ====

Killing: +2\\
Avoiding Being Killed: +1\\
Knowing Shit: +4\\
Talking Your Way Out Of Everything: +1\\
Avoiding Magic: +4\\
Avoiding Traps: +1\\
Avoiding Poison: +2\\
Avoiding The Law: +1\\

Hits: 3\\
Class Skill: Magic Choke: Hit an enemy. The enemy must make a saving throw against Magic or fall unconscious for about 5 minutes.\\

==== Fist RockBone, Mad Sorcerer ====

Killing: +2\\
Avoiding Being Killed: +4\\
Knowing Shit: +1\\
Talking Your Way Out Of Everything: +1\\
Avoiding Magic: +4\\
Avoiding Traps: +1\\
Avoiding Poison: +1\\
Avoiding The Law: +2\\

Hits: 2\\
Class Skill: Fist of Fury: For the next hour, you generate a spectral hand that's about twice the size of your own. It has mass but can take no damage, and can pick up and carry things up to 150 pounds in weight. It can move up to 50 feet off the ground. It can also drop whatever it's carrying, all the way to the ground. It can move fast enough to count as a ranged weapon.\\

===== Play Sample =====

<html>
<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> It's dusk in the swamp. The croaks and splashes around you grow louder. You know you're near the place where Lord Fossil said the lizardfolk camp would be. Suddenly, three lizardfolk leap out of the underbrush at you! Everyone, roll your Avoiding Getting Killed.</p>

<p><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bob:</span> Okay, Buff has a +2 in that. I roll a 12, plus 2, so that's a 14.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> Splint only has +1. I roll an 8...plus 1, so that's 9.</p>

<p><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold">Fred:</span> Ha-ha! Fist RockBone has a +4 in Avoiding Being Killed! And I roll a 7, so I'm glad I do! Total of 11.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Okay, Sarah, one of the lizardfolk skewers you with his spear. You take one hit.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> Damn. That's my first of three. Only two hits left!</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Okay, who wants to go next?</p>

<p><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bob:</span> I stab that one with my sword!</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Okay, roll your Killing.</p>

<p><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bob:</span> Only a 9, so plus 4, that's 13!</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> That's enough, and it's a killing blow.</p>

<p><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bob:</span> My sword goes right through its gullet, and it falls at my feet, gurgling blood.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Nice! Now, since you landed a killing blow, roll a percentile for me to see if your weapon breaks. Two d10s, where one is the tens and the other the ones.</p>

<p><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bob:</span> Okay...58.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Fine. Your sword remains as strong as the day it was forged. Now, who do you want to go next, Sarah or Fred?</p>

<p><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bob:</span> Let's have Sarah go.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> Cool, thanks. Can Splint use his class skill?</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> What did you choose?</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> "Blades Everywhere: Attack up to 3 enemies at once."</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Oh, definitely! Roll Killing for each of the lizardfolk. You can only use your class skill once per day, though, so that'll use it up for now.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> That's all Splint needs. That's a 16 and a 4, adding my 2 for Killing...that's 18 and 6.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> One of them goes down.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> Splint spins and cuts with his short knives. One of the lizardfolk manages to duck out of his way, but the other goes down under a whirlwind of flashing steel.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Great! That was a death blow, so roll percentile.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> 26?</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Your daggers remain sharp and deadly. But you missed one of the lizardfolk, so it gets an attack against you. And it rolls...7. Too low, so it misses.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> Whew!</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Fred, you're next.</p>

<p><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold">Fred:</span> Hmmm. I don't really want to use my spell yet. Let me just attack with my staff as a regular weapon. I roll...a total of 10.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> That's enough!</p>

<p><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold">Fred:</span> Cool. I swing my staff and take its head off.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Sweet. Roll percentile?</p>

<p><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold">Fred:</span> Oh, no! I rolled an 8!</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> The strength of your blow snaps your staff in half.</p>

<p><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold">Fred:</span> Shit.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> They drop a total of...26 gold.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> Splint takes it.</p>

(Cue long debate within the party about who gets to carry the gold. Sarah's character, Splint ChestHair, eventually convinces everyone else that he's trustworthy.)</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Okay. What do you want to do next?</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> As a sneaky bastard, Splint wants to inspect the lizardfolk corpses and see if they have anything worth taking. Or if he can tell why they're out here.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Okay, roll your Knowing Shit.</p>

<p><span style="color:green;font-weight:bold">Sarah:</span> Woohoo, I have a +4 in that! So that's a total of 16.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Excellent. This is definitely a scouting party. As usual for lizardfolk, they're naked except for a leather strap around their torsos, which has a bag in it. The bags contain a vile mash of leaves which serves as sustenance for the lizardfolk, but is of no use to you.</p>

<p><span style="color:red;font-weight:bold">Bob:</span> What about their weapons?</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Simple spears. They're cheap weapons, so they're more likely to break.</p>

<p><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold">Fred:</span> I'll take it. My staff's useless. Can I still channel my magic?</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Oh yeah. Your weapons aren't tied to your magic.</p>

<p><span style="color:blue;font-weight:bold">Fred:</span> Cool. What now?</p>

<p><span style="font-weight:bold">GM:</span> Well, you hear some rustling in the bushes....</p>
</html>

===== Monsters =====

**Lizardfolk Scout**\\
1 hit\\
Difficulty 7\\

**Lizardfolk Warrior**\\
2 hits\\
Difficulty 9\\
When a warrior hits, it makes a second attack. If successful, it knocks its enemy on its ass with its tail.

**Gelatinous Cube**\\
5 hits\\
Difficulty 8\\
On successful hit, instead of rolling for weapon breakage, roll for weapon sticking and 15% to the chance. So, 100 gold weapons will stick on any roll under 25.\\
//Special// - If a Hobo's weapon sticks, the Hobo rolls his or her Avoiding Traps secondary trait vs. 10. If the Hobo fails, they are stuck and on next round they can roll again to get out. While stuck, if they fail they take a hit. This continues till they die or make a successful save.\\
//Created by [[https://plus.google.com/106583075559530450694/posts/SD2uoTWXtYH|Joe E]]//

===== Support =====

If you have questions about //MurderHobos//, please post them to [[https://plus.google.com/communities/104787672504300358431|the Google+ Community]].

===== Other Cool Stuff ====

[[http://fictivefantasies.wordpress.com/about/|Fictive Fantasies]] created a shorter [[http://fictivefantasies.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/murderhobo-remix-v-1.pdf|remix of MurderHobos]], making it more genre-neutral and with no swearing.

Eda Schweiss created an awesome [[https://www.dropbox.com/s/mxhlhhs0w0q1cqj/Murderhobos%20Character%20Sheet.pdf?dl=0|alternate character sheet]].

Download [[http://brentnewhall.com/games/downloads/Vagabundos_Homicidas_Ficha.pdf|a Spanish character sheet]].

===== Credits =====

Thanks to T.W. Wombat, Bob Smith, and Brian Fitzpatrick for their design advice. //MurderHobos// wouldn't be nearly as polished without them.

Thanks to Khairul Hisham for the fantastic cover.

//MurderHobos// is released under a Creative Commons [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/|Attribution-ShareAlike license]] (CC BY-SA 3.0).