Hornerville Library

Native Hornerville Character — 10 Ability Point System

1. Choose a concept, personality, goal, and reason to adventure.
2. Choose one current Hornerville race.
3. Choose a completed starter class or join an approved class playtest.
4. Distribute exactly +10 across STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, and CHA.
5. Every modifier must be at least +1 before racial adjustments.
6. Apply racial adjustments, then record skills, feats, equipment, and combat totals.

Starting Power

A native Hornerville hero begins at Hornerville Level 1 with four Hit Dice. This is roughly comparable to a D&D 3.5 Level 4 adventurer, but the character is still called Level 1.

Starting HP uses all four class Hit Dice: maximum first Hit Die, plus three more Hit Dice, plus the CON modifier once per Hit Die. Example for d10 with CON +2: 10 + 3d10 + 8.

Compatibility Path

With Worldkeeper approval, a legal D&D 3.5 Level 4 character may enter Hornerville through a portal, crossing, strange road, or other story event. It keeps its legal 3.5 build while Hornerville setting rules apply.

An imported race or class does not become a native Hornerville option. Pathfinder, Fifth Edition, and later-edition rules are not automatically compatible.

Gladiator Complete

Identity: A disciplined frontline leader—not a standard Fighter. The Gladiator reads opponents, exposes openings, protects allies, and controls the rhythm of battle.

Core ability family: Expose Weakness, Get Up!, Stand Your Ground, Ready Strike, Armor Break, and Inspire Confidence. Spartan Precision is the signature training feat associated with the class.

Shaman Complete

Hit Die: d8. Primary: WIS. Good save: Will. Armor: light, medium, and shields. Weapons: simple weapons, spear, staff, hand axe, shortbow, and longbow.

Core system: One hour of Spirit Communion prepares the day's spells. The Shaman spends Spirit Points equal to the spell's Circle and may recast a communed spell while points remain. Weave protects selected spaces from the Shaman's area magic.

Feature path: Spirit Communion, Spirit Points, Weave, Spirit Intervention, Spirit Vessel, Greater Spirit Vessel, Ancestral Authority, and Living Bridge.

Alchemist Playtest

Identity: A prepared mixture-maker who turns formulas, tools, doses, bombs, smoke, acid, healing, mutagens, and battlefield chemistry into controlled opportunity.

Core system: Formulas are physical doses organized by Grade. A dose may be carried, handed to an ally, stolen, broken, traded, thrown, applied, injected, or consumed when its delivery method permits it. Current exclusive formula mechanics remain playtest material.

Arcanist Provisional Playtest

Hit Die: d6. Primary: INT. Good save: Will. Role: prepared caster, investigator, ward-maker, controller, counter-mage, and precision artillery.

Core system: Arcane Codex, preparation, Arcane Points, and exclusive spell Circles. Current provisional starter package uses 7 + INT Arcane Points at Level 1; a spell costs points equal to its Circle. Save DC is 10 + Circle + INT.

Assassin Development Playtest

Identity: A professional infiltrator—not a renamed Rogue. The Assassin defeats intelligent enemies through preparation, precision, poison, security manipulation, decisive openings, and escape.

Current assassination rule: When a target is genuinely unaware of the Assassin or does not view the Assassin as a threat, a normal successful hit becomes a critical hit. The Assassin does not add ordinary Rogue sneak-attack dice to this strike.

Prepared Professional: After 10 minutes of preparation, choose the mission emphasis that applies: Entry, Escape, Target Study, or Cover Identity.

Developing feature family: Professional Entry, Professional Awareness, Prepared for This, Poisoner's Art, Evasion, Exit Strategy, Exploit Opening, and Improvised Combat. Exact numbers and the final Level 1–20 progression remain under development.

Berserker Current Playtest

Hit Die: d12. Identity: violent pressure, pain tolerance, extra attacks, and refusal to stop—not a magical Strength increase.

Breaking Point: Berserk begins automatically when the Berserker falls to 30% maximum HP or lower. The Berserker becomes Locked On to the source of the break, gains +5 speed and an extra strike, attacks anything blocking the path to that source, and cannot be dominated while raging. The break does not immediately end when the first target falls.

Bloodmage Provisional Playtest

Hit Die: d8. Primary identity ability: CHA, with CON powering the current Blood Point reserve. Good saves: Fortitude and Will. Armor: light.

Core system: Spontaneous Blood Rites, Blood Points, and Blood Price. A Bloodmage may push past the normal reserve by paying an explicit HP cost. Blood magic bargains with wounds, heartbeats, bloodlines, flesh, mortality, and sacrifice; it is not automatically evil.

Hunter Active Playtest

Identity: A completely nonmagical survivalist who studies dangerous prey, protects the party in hostile territory, uses field medicine, reads terrain, and prepares tactical advantages.

Current ability family: Study Quarry, Field Medicine, Read the Territory, Survival Plan, Prepared Shot, Field Security, Living Pharmacy, Terrain as Weapon, Hardened Body, Field Study, Trail Reader, and Prepared Ground.

Wanderer Provisional Playtest

Hit Die: d10. Primary: WIS. Good saves: Reflex and Will. Skills: 8 + INT, with all skills treated as class skills.

Core system: Road Dice and Travel Knacks. The current Level 1 packet grants four d6 Road Dice per day, two Travel Knacks, and Open Road. A Road Die may support attacks, saves, skills, initiative, AC, damage, or an ally within range when the exact rule allows it.

Hornerville uses the D&D 3.5 skill foundation where a class or race has not replaced it. Record the final bonus used during play:

ranks + ability modifier + racial + class + equipment + magic + circumstance

Common skills include Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Escape Artist, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge, Listen, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, Spot, Survival, Tumble, Use Magic Device, and Use Rope.

Some trained-only skills cannot be attempted without ranks. The class guide determines class skills and starting skill points.

Use feats granted or approved by the current race and class guide. Humans gain one additional feat at Level 1.

When a standard 3.5 feat requires a score such as STR 13 or DEX 15, the Worldkeeper must approve its modifier-only Hornerville prerequisite. Do not convert a native modifier into an ability score merely to qualify.

Common Weapons

Common Armor

Shields & Coins

Buckler or light shield: +1 AC. Heavy shield: +2 AC. Tower shield: +4 AC.

10 copper = 1 silver. 10 silver = 1 gold. 100 copper = 1 gold.

Shared Magic Rules

• No default verbal or material components are required unless a specific effect says otherwise.
• Each class uses its own resource, preparation method, save DC, and exclusive list.
• Do not give one class another class's exclusive spell, rite, or formula unless a later rule creates an exception.

Shaman Completed

The Shaman prepares Spirit Circles I–VIII and spends Spirit Points equal to the Circle. Save DC is 10 + Circle + WIS. Its official identity includes Spirit Communion, Weave, Spirit Intervention, Spirit Vessel, and Living Bridge.

Confirmed corrections: Spirit Vessel replaces the older Spirit Possession wording; Acid Rain lasts 3 rounds; Mudslide creates difficult terrain for 1 minute; World Root is Reflex negates; Nature's Wrath only lets the save negate entanglement; Harmony and Living Bridge stack but never reduce cost below 1.

Arcanist Exclusive Spell Index Playtest v0.3

Prepared Intelligence magic. Save DC: 10 + Circle + INT. The current packet contains 45 Arcanist-only spells.

Bloodmage Exclusive Rite Index Playtest v0.3

Every Rite requires fresh blood and carries its listed Blood Price. Current packet save DC: 10 + Circle + CON. The packet contains 36 Bloodmage-only rites.

Alchemist Exclusive Formula Index Playtest v0.3

Physical doses prepared as capsules, flasks, powders, oils, draughts, serums, mutagens, pastes, or devices. Current packet save DC: 10 + Grade + INT. The packet contains 36 Alchemist-only formulas.

• Initiative: d20 + initiative. Highest acts first.
• Attack: d20 + BAB + ability modifier + other bonuses. Meet or exceed AC.
• Damage: roll the weapon or effect dice and add applicable modifiers.
• Critical: threaten on the listed range, then confirm under the 3.5 combat foundation.
• Turn: normally one move action and one standard action, or a full-round action.
• Saving Throw: d20 + Fortitude, Reflex, or Will against the effect DC.
• Cover: improves AC. Concealment creates a miss chance instead.
• Opportunity Attack: certain exposed movement or actions may provoke an immediate attack.

Who Rolls?

Players roll their own dice and report the raw result. The Worldkeeper adds modifiers and resolves the outcome. The Worldkeeper rolls for NPCs, enemies, hidden checks, and secret information.

Open the official Hornerville Battle Room and dice roller.

Natural 1: Misfortune Die

When a player rolls a natural 1 on a d20, the Worldkeeper creates six fair, situation-specific misfortunes and explains them. The affected player rolls 1d6, and that result becomes the complication.

A natural 1 does not automatically mean friendly fire, instant death, permanent destruction, or the worst imaginable outcome.

1. Character Names Only

Players must use only their character's name in all game interactions, logs, and posts. Personal real-world names stay private. This keeps everyone anonymous and protects the boundary between the game and real life.

2. Play Your Character — No Guardrails

You are free to be a hero, a villain, or anything in between. Allies can and will betray you. Act cautiously. Hornerville has no fantasy safety nets. Actions carry real consequences, the same way the real world does.

3. Reputation and the Living World

The world remembers.

As your reputation grows, NPCs, locations, and other players will react to what you've done. You may see billboards, hear rumors, gain trust from certain groups, or find doors closing with others.

Playing a certain way does not permanently lock you out of the game. It closes some paths and opens others. There is no “wrong” or “right” way to play—only the way your character would act.

Example: A character who deals in stolen goods will often be trusted more by the underworld than a strict law-abiding citizen.

4. Player vs. Player (PvP)

PvP is allowed but not encouraged.

If two characters have a serious conflict, they may settle it with an in-game fight. Non-lethal resolution is strongly preferred.

Whatever happens in the game stays in the game.

Repeated unprovoked attacks on other players will eventually trigger world consequences. Occasional disputes that get resolved in character are fine. Turning the game into constant player-hunting is not.

5. Rules Hierarchy

Hornerville is its own system. It draws from D&D 3.5 but is not D&D 3.5.

Hornerville rules always come first.

If a situation cannot be resolved with Hornerville rules, fall back to D&D 3.5 as the secondary reference.

6. Town Crier — Strongly Encouraged

At the end of every session, players are strongly encouraged to post a short entry in the Town Crier.

Include:

• Key events and outcomes
• Any notable battles or moments
• Exact locations—locations are fixed on the Hornerville maps

This lets other players read about what happened, hear rumors in-game, and react when they visit those same places.

Example: “In Webster City, Dirk the gnome defeated so-and-so in the arena.” Later players traveling there may hear about the mighty little gnome.

These rules keep Hornerville feeling like a living, reactive world while protecting the people playing it.