Release notes for the Chimera RPG Core Rules update

The 2.1 release of the Chimera Core Rules is now available, and it is faster and more flexible than before. Updated mostly as a result of player feedback, the Core Rules streamlines several guidelines, incorporates some new options, and allows you to create characters, monsters, NPCs, and whole campaigns even easier than before (which, I have to say, was pretty easy).

You can get a peek at the revisions through our Quick Start guide, available free when you sign up to our newsletter. Subscribers also get a 25% discount when they purchase the Core Rules (the best $9 USD you'll ever spend on a game if you want to spend less time prepping and more time gaming, I think you'll like it).

For the detail-minded among you, here's a full roster of the changes you'll find in release 2.1:

• Format
  • Added PDF bookmarks (1st & 2nd level headers)

• Core Mechanics
  • Automatic failure with natural 1 on Action Roll
  • Automatic success with natural 20 on Action Roll

• Game Conventions
  • Updated Alignment descriptions
  • Updated scale to 1" = 10 feet

• Characters
  • Added concept of profession
  • Added Parry stat
  • Added Clutch Situations
  • Added level-based advancement system
  • Added training guidelines
  • Added guidelines for high-level play
  • Updated "Improvement Cost (IC)" to "Experience Cost (EC)"
  • Updated "Cleric" to "Deacon"
  • Updated guidelines for character improvements
  • Removed option to improve Traits
  • Removed Damage Resistance (DR)
  • Removed unique perks from character kits

• Skills
  • Updated Fight to allow SB to be allocated to Parry (melee)
  • Updated First Aid to apply to character's Wound Penalty
  • Updated Shoot to allow SB to be allocated to Parry (missile)

• Traits
  • Added perks: Block, Resilient, Weapon Master
  • Updated perks to correspond to Attributes, with effect based on Attribute slot
  • Updated perks: Acrobatics, Batter, Connections, Disarm, Ear to the Ground, Exit Wound, Fists of Fury, Followers, Gear, Heal, Long Shot, Mighty Blow, Motivate, Parry, Rank, Rapid Reload, Savvy, Sidekick, Survival, Sweep, Tough, Wager, Weapon Bond
  • Updated flaws: Delusional, Loose Cannon, Oppressed, Poor, Power Strain, Restricted Armour, Restricted Weapons
  • Updated Flaw cost and allocation
  • Removed perks: Rank, Stalwart, Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Specialisation
  • Removed option to improve Perks

• Powers
  • Updated Action Roll results for power use
  • Updated powers: Control Weather, Counter, Detect, Familiar, Heal, Illusion, Locate, Obscure, Possession, Produce, Servant, Shock, Summon, Teleport, Thermodynamics, True Strike, Ward
  • Updated Powered Item creation guidelines

• Gear
  • Added Armour types
  • Added Weapon types
  • Added "Optics"
  • Added "Guidance Systems"
  • Added "Manufacturing Gear"
  • Added "Creating Weapons & Armour"
  • Added Vehicle Creation guidelines
  • Updated Short/Medium/Long weapon ranges to single "Effective Range" figure
  • Updated Ammo costs and Encumbrance guidelines
  • Updated High Explosive / Armour Piercing ammo guidelines
  • Updated Targeting Systems
  • Updated Equipment pack list
  • Updated Vehicle Equipment
  • Updated Vehicle Drives
  • Updated Vehicle descriptions
  • Updated Powered Armour and moved to Vehicles section
  • Removed Penetration stat
  • Removed Heavy Weapon category

• Adventuring (Game Rules)
  • Added "Wound Penalty Options"
  • Added Parry
  • Updated Breaking Things
  • Updated Initiative (uses a 12-sided die)
  • Updated Attack Resolution (includes Parry)
  • Updated Damage Determination
  • Updated Healing rules (differentiated overall Wound Penalty from individual Wound Severity)
  • Updated Knock-out results
  • Updated Combat Option: Blast Attacks, Called Shots, Careful Aim, Check, Cover, Death from Above, Double Tap, Firing into Melee, Shaky Ground, Unarmed Combat
  • Updated Fatigue
  • Updated Mounts
  • Updated Special Hazards: Disease, Fear, Poison, Radiation
  • Updated Vehicles
  • Removed Dodge
  • Removed Hip Shots

• Non-player Characters
  • Updated NPC creation

• Monsters
  • Added adaptations: Gaze, Rampage
  • Added experience level to monster descriptions
  • Updated constructs
  • Updated adaptations: Armour, Acid, Electricity, Ferocious, Fire, Frost, Hypersensitive, Incorporeal, Pounce, Regeneration, Resilient, Size, Supernatural, Venom, Vitality
  • Updated monster stats to replace DR with Parry
  • Removed adaptations: Stomp, Unstoppable

There's the skinny. As always, current customers get a free upgrade (expect an email link shortly).

Thanks again for your support, feedback, and encouragement. Drop me a line and let me know how you like the update!