KING

Character Creation

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Race, stat array, path, thrones, talent points, pools, gear. Eight steps, and the numbers you end with are small enough to hold in your head.

Core Philosophy

Level Range: Characters advance from level 1 to level 10. Level 10 is the maximum.

KING is a classless RPG system based on Shadowdark RPG, where character identity comes from three modular pillars:

  • PATH = Your background and origin story (provides gear, a token, a legacy ability, titles)
  • THRONE = Your chief virtue (provides stat bonuses and interpretive abilities)
  • TALENTS = Your training (grants combat/non-combat capabilities)

The Six Stats

Characters have six core stats that represent fundamental essences:

  • Body

    Physical prowess, strength, endurance, athleticism

  • Mind

    Intellect, knowledge, perception, arcane magic

  • Sense

    Divine connection, faith, natural attunement, divine/druidic magic

  • Heart

    Willpower, conviction, social presence, leadership

  • Cunning

    Instinct, street smarts, quick thinking, improvisation

  • Fate

    Destiny, fortune, cosmic connection (also a spendable pool)

Stats range from 1-22 with modifiers from -5 to +6

Creating a Character (Step-by-Step)

Follow these steps to create a new character:

Step 1: Choose Your Race

Pick Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Halfling.

  • Roll 2d6 on your race's ability chart for your first racial ability

Step 2: Choose Your Stat Array

Pick one of the 4 stat arrays below and assign stats to Body, Mind, Sense, Heart, Cunning, Fate:

  • Array 1 - Specialist: 14, 14, 12, 10, 8, 8
  • Array 2 - Warrior: 14, 12, 12, 12, 8, 8
  • Array 3 - Balanced: 12, 12, 12, 10, 10, 10
  • Array 4 - Dual-Focus: 14, 14, 10, 10, 10, 8

Step 3: Choose Your Path

Pick a Starting Path (40 Heroic options). The 8 Mythic Paths are not starting choices: they need extraordinary circumstances and the GM's permission.

  • Gain your path's starting gear and its token
  • Gain your path's Legacy ability (usable 1/level)
  • Gain your path's level 1 title
  • Write one concrete Obligation: a debt, an oath, or a person your character owes. It carries no mechanics; it is a hook for the GM.

Step 4: Choose Your Thrones

Pick 1 or 2 Thrones from the Conviction & Hope system (your choice).

  • You can have a maximum of 1 Conviction Throne and 1 Hope Throne
  • Each Throne ability you take grants +2 to its associated stat
  • Each Throne gives one weakness ("Desired By" an evil Throne)
  • Each Throne is "Virtuous Against" one evil Throne (you have advantage on saves against that evil Throne's effects)
  • Using Throne abilities costs 1 Fate point each

Step 5: Spend Talent Points

At level 1, you have:

  • 1 martial point → Spend on Initial tier of one martial tree
  • 2 skill points → Spend on skill trees OR contribute to spellcasting

THE TWO POINT TYPES:

Characters earn two types of points: Martial Points and Skill Points.

  • Martial Trees and Mystic Trees are mutually exclusive: you cannot take both
  • Skill Trees are available to everyone

MARTIAL CHARACTERS:

  • Spend martial points on Martial Trees (1 point per ability)
  • Spend all 2 skill points per level on Skill Trees

MYSTIC CHARACTERS:

  • Each Mystic ability costs 1 martial point + 1 skill point
  • This leaves only 1 skill point per level for Skill Trees
  • Mystics sacrifice skill versatility for magical power

Step 6: Vigor & Vitality

Your Vigor shield equals your Tier plus your Heart modifier (minimum 0), and regenerates by rolling Tier exploding d4s at the start of your turn (each 4 restores 1). Your Vitality pool equals 3 + Tier (4 at level 1). Hits strip Vigor first, and whatever is left past the shield costs Vitality point for point. A Major's hit rolls its Tier die (d4 at Tier 1 up to d12 at Tier 5) and a critical hit rolls two; a Minor's hit is flat points equal to its Tier. A hit that would take you past 0 Vitality instead costs you a WOUND: you roll a lasting injury (d4 + how far past 0 the hit drove you) and catch a SECOND WIND, coming back up with both your Vitality and your Vigor restored to full. A hit that leaves you at exactly 0 Vitality costs no wound: you stand there conscious and fighting until the next hit reaches past it. You can carry wounds equal to your Tier; with no wound left to spend, you die. Vitality returns in full on a Rest. Wounds do not: they take months of convalescence, a healer, or a litany.

Step 7: Fate Points

You start play with 3 Fate points. At the start of each session your Fate refreshes to 3 if you have fewer than 3; anything above 3 carries over. Fate pays for Throne abilities and buys extra dice on a check, and each 1 you roll on a check hands one back.

Step 8: Equipment

You start with only the gear from your path. No extra starting gold.

Step 9: Final Details

  • Name your character
  • Describe appearance and personality

How to Use This Book

This handbook is organized by your player journey:

  • Part 2: Character Creation - Races, Paths, Thrones
  • Part 3: Martial Trees - 21 martial trees (spellcasters + martial)
  • Part 4: Mystic Trees - Spellcasting systems (Prophet, Wizard, Invoker)
  • Part 5: Skill Trees - 24 skill trees
  • Part 6: Core Rules - Game mechanics reference
  • Part 7: Equipment - Weapons, armor, gear
  • Part 8: Advancement - Leveling, examples, quick reference

Where to go next