Cepheus Deluxe – Reference Document

Rules by Stellagama Publishing

All the contents of this file are Open Game Content.

Basic Rules

Die Roll Conventions

Cepheus Deluxe uses common six-sided dice. We note each die you need to roll as a “D”. Unless noted otherwise, “2D”, for example, means “roll two dice and add the results together”.

In this game, DM means Dice Modifier – a number you add or subtract from a dice roll. For example, “2D, DM-2” means “roll two dice, add the results together, and then subtract 2 from the total”.

Another die roll type is “D66”. In that case, throw two six-sided dice, but do not add the results together. Instead, use one die as the “tens” and the other as the “ones”, providing 36 results.

The basic game mechanic

The basic mechanic of Cepheus Deluxe is the throw, and when we say this, we mean dice throw. Throw 2D, add the relevant skill and characteristic DMs, and if the total is equal or higher than the target number, you succeed. For example, “throw Athletics/STR 8+” means “throw 2D and add your Athletics skill level and Strength Dice Modifiers; if the total is 8 or more, you succeed”. The amount by which your total throw exceeds or misses the target number is called the Effect.

If a task is even remotely feasible, a natural (unmodified) roll of 2 is always a failure, while a natural (unmodified) roll of 12 is always a success. This is regardless of target numbers or further circumstances.

Opposed throws: in a situation where two characters oppose each other in an attempt, for example, a spy trying to sneak past a guard, each character throws 2D plus the appropriate skill and characteristic modifier; the higher roll wins. On a tie, the character with the higher total DM to the throw (from skill, characteristics, etc.) wins. If both characters are equally competent, reroll the tie.

Unskilled characters: if a character attempts a throw with a skill they do not possess, they suffer DM-3 to that throw.

Trying Again: generally, you may retry failed skill or characteristic throws. However, in some cases failure has consequences: failing a Demolitions throw might mean having a bomb explode in your face. This instance precludes the possibility of second chances.

Note that skilled characters are competent and can usually practice their trade or profession, under normal conditions, without a throw. Use throws only when the characters are at serious risk or under pressure, such as time pressure, opposition, or adverse conditions. For example, a physician (Medicine 3) can give effective first aid without requiring a throw and can help characters recover from serious wounds but would have to make a Medicine throw to treat a genetically engineered disease.

Collaboration

In some cases, characters may work together on a task throw. The character with the highest skill and characteristic makes the main skill throw. Any assistant can make a skill throw at the same difficulty as well; if they succeed, add DM+1 to the primary character’s throw; if they fail, the primary character suffers no penalty. There can only be one assistant to the main skill throw. However, the Referee is encouraged to allow other characters to assist the assistant. Each throw has the same difficulty as the original skill throw. Note that characters who are assisting in the throw do not necessarily have to use the same skill. If the player and Referee agree, a related skill task throw can assist. For example, a ship’s engineer might throw Engineering to assist the Pilot’s skill throw. Teamwork!

Common Target Numbers

The table below provides guidelines for Referees to set Target Numbers. Any Target Number below 4+ is probably not worth calling for a throw.

Advantage

In certain advantageous situations, specifically related to Traits and cybernetics, the rules may grant you an Advantage. In this case, throw 3D, and choose the 2 highest die results.

Fatigue

Fatigue is common in the demanding sci-fi future. When Fatigued, a character suffers DM-2 to all throws. 8 hours of rest remove Fatigue.

Optional Rule: Hero Points

The Cepheus Deluxe rules present a universe of gritty heroism: heroes can be powerful, but they are still human and constrained by this harsh reality. However, if you desire larger-than-life science-fiction heroes, use the following rule.

Each player starts each game session with 2 personal Hero Points. The group also has an additional number of Hero Points equal to the number of players present that session.

Each time a player fails in a skill or characteristic throw of at least 8+ with an Effect of 6 or more, the group Hero Point pool increases by 1.

Each time a player succeeds in a skill or characteristic throw of at least 8+ with an Effect of 6 or more, their own Hero Point pool increases by 1.

All pools reset at the beginning of each session.

A character may use their personal Hero Points, and with the other players' agreement, points from the group pool.

By spending Hero Points, a character may:

• Reroll any single die throw, including damage throws and vehicle or ship damage and critical hits. They may pick the better result.

• Force the Referee to reroll a single NPC's die throw, including damage throws and vehicle or ship damage and critical hits. The second result stands, so watch out!

• Reroll a throw on the Trauma Surgery, Cyborg Conversion, or Bio-Reconstruction tables. They may take the better result.

Optional Rule: Only Individual Hero Points

For a more modest Hero Point system, ignore the Group Hero Point Pool and only grant Individual Hero Points.

Skills

Characters in Cepheus Deluxe use a variety of skills to confront the challenges awaiting them among the stars, from piloting a starship to shooting a laser.

Skills are a character’s greatest asset. Skilled characters are competent. A Skill at level 1 (denoted “Skill 1”) represents someone who is employable; Skill 3 denotes a trusted professional; and Skill 5 represents a world-class expert. For example, a newly trained paramedic has Medicine 1; an experienced physician has Medicine 3; and a cutting-edge cyber-surgeon, skilled beyond the typical physician, has Medicine 5. The task resolution system takes this into account – professionals should automatically succeed at routine tasks (difficulty 6+) and easily perform average tasks (difficulty 8+), while experts will automatically succeed in routine and average tasks and easily manage difficult (10+) ones.

A note about the Cepheus Engine Core and System Reference Document: Cepheus Deluxe skills are somewhat different than those found in the Cepheus Engine Core rules but are easily compatible. Most notably, Repair is the combination of Electronics and Mechanics; Admin subsumes the Advocate skill; Carousing subsumes the Gambling skill.

Zero-Level Skills

Normally, a character is either skilled in a task or unskilled. In the latter case, they suffer DM-3 for lacking the appropriate skill. However, to facilitate play, we recommend that the Referee grant a few skills as “Zero-level” to each character at the start of the game. This means that while the character is not skilled enough to hold down a job with that skill, and does not enjoy a positive DM on rolls, the character is familiar enough with that skill to avoid the unskilled penalty (DM-3). The recommended Zero-level Skills for all adventurers are shown in the table below.

Skill List

The skills included below are comprehensive, though there can be overlaps between two or more skills, depending on the context of the skill use in question, the players, and the Referee. We advise a certain amount of flexibility to keep the game moving.

Admin: understanding and dealing with bureaucracies, businesses, and the law. Also covers forgery.

Aircraft: controlling and using atmospheric aircraft. This skill covers navigation and basic maintenance, but not repairing damage.

Animals: the care and training of animals. Also covers riding and general agriculture.

Athletics: the ability to exert oneself physically. You may add the Athletics skill to appropriate physical characteristic rolls. This skill is never rolled unskilled.

Carousing: the art of mingling in social settings to achieve your goals. Also covers gambling.

Computer: programming, working with computer hardware, and hacking. This skill also covers the use of sensors and communications gear.

Deception: convincingly avoiding the truth and misleading other people. This skill covers sleight-of-hand and disguise as well.

Demolitions: working with explosives to blow stuff up! This skill also covers defusing said explosives before they blow up!

Driving: controlling and using ground vehicles. This skill covers navigation, as well as basic maintenance, but not repairing damage.

Engineering: using and maintaining of starship drives, powerplants, and other systems specific to starships. Engineering is the required skill for Jump drive operation. This skill is not a substitute for the Repair skill (below).

Grav Vehicles: controlling and using gravitic vehicles. This skill also covers navigation and basic maintenance, but not repairing damage.

Gun Combat: using small arms, crossbows, and bows in combat.

Gunnery: using vehicle-mounted or spaceship-mounted weapons.

Heavy Weapons: using plasma guns, rocket launchers, and other portable heavy weapons.

Investigation: keen observation, forensics, research, and detailed analysis.

Jack o’ Trades: this special skill reduces the unskilled penalty (DM-3, noted above) by its level. For example, a character with Jack o’ Trades at level 2 would only suffer DM-1 to all unskilled rolls. You may not gain more than 3 levels in this skill and cannot improve it after character generation.

Leadership: motivating and directing others, often in times of crisis.

Liaison: negotiation and diplomacy in a myriad of social situations. This skill covers diplomatic meetings, haggling in interstellar trading negotiations, or at the shouq, and talking down a gunman who is holding hostages.

Medicine: training in the medical sciences, from diagnosis and triage to surgery.

Melee Combat: fighting hand-to-hand, either with a weapon or unarmed.

Piloting: operating, controlling, and navigating interplanetary and interstellar space craft, both in real space and in jump space.

Recon: scouting for danger and spotting threats, including traps. Recon also covers performing forward observation for artillery.

Repair: the ability to maintain, repair and build mechanical and electronic devices of all sorts. This skill also covers lockpicking, both mechanical and electronic. Ship-specific systems are handled by the Engineering skill, and Computers covers the use of electronic devices.

Science: the multi-disciplinary scientific skill, as would be typical for a starship’s science officer.

Stealth: the ability to be unseen and unheard, both while stationary and moving.

Steward: the care and serving of passengers and other guests. Steward skill adds to the throw for locating High Passage passengers. See the Starship Operations chapter.

Streetwise: familiarity with underworld society and the ways of working with it. The Streetwise skill adds to the throw for finding Low Passage passengers (see the Starship Operations chapter for more details).

Survival: staying alive in the wilderness. This also covers “outdoor” skills such as tracking, foraging, navigation, and fishing.

Tactics: tactical planning and decision making, whether on the ground or in space.

Watercraft: controlling and using watercraft, including submarines. This skill includes navigating these vehicles, as well as performing basic maintenance, but not repairs.

Zero-G: working and living under microgravity conditions. Also covers the use of space suits and heavy armor. When characters are in combat in microgravity, they should use the lower of their combat or Zero-G skill.

Languages

Characters know a number of languages, in addition to their cultures' standard language, equal to their EDU modifier (see Characteristic Modifiers in Chapter 4: Character Generation). After character generation, characters may learn additional languages using the experience rules (see below) by purchasing the language for 8 XP. There are no skill levels of a language; either a character knows that language or they do not. The Referee is free to allow a Level 0 version of a language skill, representing a basic understanding of the language.

A note on Prospecting

Uranium Fever, a belter sourcebook by Stellagama Publishing, uses the Prospecting and Comms skills for asteroid mining. When using Cepheus Deluxe with that book, use the Science skill instead of Prospecting and Computer instead of Comms.

Skill Advancement

Cepheus Deluxe characters can slowly advance in skill through experience. Players advance their characters by spending Experience Points (XP). A Character will typically gain 1 XP per session. The Referee might award 2 XP for a session where the player did an outstanding job, or if the character was very successful. Characters can only advance skills during downtime in game: during periods of relative quiet and inactivity. Note that advancement is incremental: for example, to increase a skill from Level 1 to Level 3, the character must first purchase Level 2 and only then Level 3. In general, use of XP should allow a character to increase one skill by one level per game year.

Increasing Skills

Spend XP to increase skills per the following table. Skills can be improved by exercise or study, represented by spending XP, as noted in the table below.

Note, however, that the total sum of a character’s skill levels still may not exceed the sum of their current INT + EDU characteristics. If using Level 0 skills, these do not count towards the maximum skill levels.

Learning Languages

You may learn a new language by investing 8 XP.

Gaining Traits

You may gain a new Trait by investing 30 XP. The character must meet all the prerequisites to purchase the Trait.

Optional Rule: Improving Characteristics

Some Referees may allow characters in their games to improve their characteristics. If this is the case, then any characteristic may be increased via XP expenditure, except for Social Standing.

To improve a characteristic by one point, spend XP equal to three times the new value. So, to improve a characteristic from 7 to 8 costs 24XP. The human maximum for any characteristic is 15, and Referees may wish to limit the number of times a given characteristic may be improved to 2 or 3. Social standing can only be improved by social advancement, which is accomplished through role-playing and successful adventuring.

Character Generation

Your character starts the game as a skilled, experienced adult. This chapter will show you how to generate a character and take them through a career.

Step 1: Characteristics

Characteristics describe your character’s general talents and abilities. They serve as basic skills – for tasks which every human (or alien!) can perform, but some can perform better or worse than others. They also modify your character’s skill throws, representing your natural aptitude with various tasks.

Assign the following array to the six characteristics in any order desired to your six characteristics: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

The characteristics are:

Strength (STR): Physical prowess and brute force.

• Strength determines a character’s carrying capacity.

• Add your STR DM to your melee damage. Note, however, that even with low STR, any attack that hits does at least 1 point of damage (before armor).

• Strength modifies skill throws related to brute force and feats of raw might.

Dexterity (DEX): Agility, coordination, and speed.

• Dexterity is the attribute used for throwing knives and grenades, as well as evading physical threats.

• Add your DEX DM to your ranged attack throws.

• Dexterity modifies skill throws related to coordination and speed.

Endurance (END): Physical resilience, fitness, and force of will.

• Endurance helps the character resist biological threats such as disease and poison.

• Endurance determines your character’s Stamina and Lifeblood, representing toughness and resistance to damage, respectively (see below).

• Endurance modifies skill throws related to physical resilience.

Intelligence (INT): Reasoning, creativity, and intellectual capabilities.

• Together with EDU, Intelligence determines the character’s maximum number of skill ranks.

• Intelligence modifies skill throws related to reasoning, creativity, and perceptiveness.

Education (EDU): Formal schooling and general knowledge.

• Education 8+ allows rolling on the Advanced Education column in the career tables.

• A character gains a number of additional languages equal to their EDU DM.

• Together with INT, Education determines the character’s maximum number of skill ranks.

• Education modifies skill throws related to academics, science, and knowledge.

Social Standing (SOC): A character’s connections and position in society.

• Social Standing provides characters with a number of free contacts equal to their SOC DM.

• Social Standing often modifies skill throws in social settings.

Characteristic DMs

Each characteristic has an associated Dice Modifier (DM) based on its value or score, as noted below:

Characteristic DMs

Above 20, a character increases their characteristic DM by another +1 per three points – for example, 21-23 will have DM+5, and so on. This means that very powerful creatures will almost automatically succeed in throws using their powerful characteristic. This is intentional: a massive alien brute, for example, would be capable of feats of strength unattainable by most humans.

Using characteristic throws

Characteristics represent general human (or alien!) capabilities that every character possesses to one degree or another. This is opposed to skills, which represent specialized training. These include things such as fitness and agility (STR, END, and DEX), general reasoning (INT), general knowledge (EDU), and using connections and social innuendo to further one's ends (SOC). Anyone can jump to a certain distance (DEX), but not everyone can pilot a starship (Piloting skill). However, general aptitudes do influence even the actions of professionals, for example the DEX DM is often added to Piloting skill throws.

Characteristic throws use only the Characteristic DM, rather than Characteristic + Skill. Characteristic throws do not suffer the DM-3 Unskilled penalty. Characters never suffer the DM-3 Unskilled penalty for Athletics throws.

Example: A character with EDU 5 tries to recall a fun piece of trivia. The Referee calls for an EDU characteristic roll. The roll is 2d6, DM-1.

Step 2: Homeworld Skills

At the age of 18, before embarking in a career, your character has already learned a single skill. Choose a homeworld type and one skill from its list.

Step 3: Career

Characters start off at the age of 18. Then they “grow” through the character generation system.

Note that the total sum of a character’s skill Levels can never exceed the sum of their INT + EDU characteristics. However, first generate the character and list all skills, even if they exceed this limit. After Mustering Out, if the total of your skill points exceeds the sum of your INT + EDU, you may choose which skills to reduce to bring your total under the character’s INT + EDU. You may reduce skills to Level Zero, as they do not count against the character’s skill level total.

The Referee determines the number of career Terms characters will go through prior to the game’s start. Each Term represents roughly 4 years.

1. Term 1: Select a career. Your character begins their career at Rank 0.

   1. Note your career’s Service Skills. You can raise one Service Skill to level-1. The rest of the Service Skills are Level 0.

   2. Pick TWO skill levels from that career’s available skills tables: Service, Specialist, or Advanced Education.

      1. Characters must have an EDU 8+ to select from the Advanced Education table.

      2. A maximum of ONE skill level per term may be spent to improve any Characteristic by +1.

      3. No skill level may be higher than 2 in the first term.

      4. Roll on the Career’s Event Table. This might increase the number of skills the character receives, or even cause injury. Note that if an event calls for a skill test, do not include any Attribute DMs. Just throw 2D and add the skill level, if any. If the character does not have the listed skill, do not apply any penalty.

   3. Increase the character’s age by 4 years to 22 years old.

      1. OPTION: Roll 1D for the number of years the character ages this term.

2. Second and Subsequent Terms: Select skill levels from available tables.

   1. As characters advance their careers, the number of skill levels available per term decreases. See the Master Character Generation Table, below.

   2. A maximum of one skill level per term may be spent to improve any characteristic by +1.

   3. Increase career Rank by 1 on terms 2, 4, and 6. Add additional Bonus Rank skills as indicated on the Rank Table.

   4. Roll on the Career’s Event Table.

   5. Increase the character’s age by 4 years.

      1. OPTION: Roll 1d6 for the term length in years.

   6. Roll for Aging Effects at the end of Term 4 and subsequent Terms. Note that even if the character is not yet 34 years old, begin rolling for aging effects at the end of Term 4.

3. Mustering Out:

   1. Roll for Mustering Out Benefits on the relevant career table. The number of Mustering Out Benefits is equal to 1, plus 1 per term served. The player may choose to roll on the Cash Benefits or Material Benefits table for each roll.

   2. Rank as Mustering Out Benefit: you may purchase additional Rank levels with a Mustering Out Benefit. Each promotion costs one Mustering Out Benefit. Gain any Rank skills at appropriate ranks.

   3. OPTION: The Referee may assign additional level-0 skills (see the Skills chapter).

   4. OPTION: The Referee may wish that each character have a skill from a given Skill Package (see below) in addition to their career skills. Select one skill from the indicated Skill Package at this time. Each skill from a Package may only be selected once, by one character.

   5. Select 1 Trait from the Traits chapter for every 2 terms served, rounding up (see Master Character Generation Table, below).

Skill Packages

Master Character Generation Table

* As noted above, regardless of homeworlds, careers, and packages, the total number of skill ranks a character may possess may not exceed the sum of their INT and EDU Characteristics.

Optional Rule: Switching Careers

Some Referees allow characters to switch careers during character generation. This is simple enough. Simply switch careers. The character begins at Rank 0, unless they are in a military career and switching into another military career—in that case, keep the character’s rank the same (though you should convert Army ranks to equivalent Navy or Marine ranks).

Characters in their new career receive ONE Service Skill at Level-0, and then proceed normally in their new career, using the Master Character Generation Table to determine how many skill levels they may pick in their new profession. Mustering Out Benefits are rolled on the appropriate career table. Reduce the total number of Benefit rolls by one for each career change to reflect the hardships that starting a new career often entail.

Career Tables

Agent:

You were a police officer, government or corporate spy, or private investigator.

Army:

You served in a planetary military or mercenary force.

Belter:

You were a hard-working asteroid miner or other blue-collar spacer.

Colonist:

You packed your bags and made a life on a distant frontier world.

Elite:

You were a member of the upper crust of society, a diplomat, or a junior executive.

Marine:

You were a member of spacefaring infantry, specializing in boarding actions and planetary assault.

Merchant:

You were an independent spacefaring trader or worked for an interstellar corporation.

Navy:

You were a member of an interstellar space navy.

Pirate:

You were a space outlaw, a crewmember of a pirate ship.

Rogue:

You were a criminal, drifter, or other ne’er do-well.

Scholar:

You were a scientist, doctor, or researcher.

Scout:

You were an intrepid explorer, surveyor, or courier.

Life Events

Roll on the following table if you roll a Life Event on the Event tables above.

Mustering Out Benefits

Characters may gain cash or material benefits from Mustering Out. Roll on the Material or Cash Benefit tables on the appropriate career table.

Cash benefits can be spent on equipment, weaponry, trade goods for speculative trade, or saved for later. Characters with the Carouse skill may throw Carouse/SOC 10+ to gain a DM+1 on a given Cash Benefit Table roll. If they fail, they get a DM-1 to the roll instead. Penalties or bonuses to the Mustering Out Benefit rolls can never raise the result over 6 or lower it below 1.

Characters may gain one or more of the following material benefits:

• Contact: gain an important and useful relationship with a person or group who can provide you with significant favors: an arms dealer might provide otherwise unobtainable gear, while a corporate exec could serve as a patron and supply highly useful information on the corporate world. Contacts typically stay on one world, but some do move around. Abusing contacts and not reciprocating the positive relationship can lead to the loss of the contact. Note that characters with a positive SOC DM gain a number of free contacts equal to that DM.

• Corsair: gain a 300-ton pirate Corsair. The ship belongs to a pirate boss or gang; you owe them big time for the use of the ship, and they will request favors from time to time. You pay for all regular operating costs and owe half the profits from your piracy to the boss or gang.

• Free trader: gain a 200-ton Free Trader ship. The character must make mortgage payments of Cr230,000 a month for the next forty years. Each additional time you receive this benefit reduces this by ten years; receive it four times, and you don’t have to pay a mortgage; but you get a 40-year-old antique!

• Explorer’s Society: Become a member of the exclusive Explorer’s Society. Membership grants a free high-passage ticket for one parsec every two months and free stay at Society hostels in most starports.

• Passage: Gain a single ticket of the type named (low, middle, high) for travelling one jump (up to two parsecs) on a starship.

• Prospector: Gain partial ownership in a 100-ton Prospector – typically subsidized by the government or handed down due to military or commercial arrangements. You must pay operating expenses and maintenance. You don’t owe any payments for the ship, but it is a 1D decades old rustbucket – beware!

• Research Vessel: gain a 200-ton Research Vessel. The ship belongs to a research institute and the character pays for regular operating expenses, except for annual maintenance. The research institute has a right to veto certain activities and missions that the character might undertake—often, the research institute will insist on an NPC minder to be part of the crew. The institute’s leadership may also require that the scholar undertake missions for them from time to time.

• Scout Ship: gain a 100-ton Scout Ship. The Scout Service still owns the ship but makes it available to you on reserve basis. You gain free maintenance and refueling for the vessel at Scout bases. Expect the Scout Service to have missions for you from time to time.

• Weapon: Gain any non-heavy personal weapon or weapons up to TL12 (the Referee might change the TL for their game). The weapon or weapons may be worth up to Cr1,000 in value including ammunition. Multiple benefits of this kind allow either multiple weapons or a more expensive weapon. Weapon modifications are included in this budget as well.

Alternatively, the character may opt to take personal armor, or, at the Referee's discretion, cybernetics, under the same restrictions, customized as desired by the character under the given budget.

• Space Suit: the character receives a standard issue space suit. Multiple benefits of this kind allow the character to upgrade to a Hostile Environment Space Suit, or an Advanced Space Suit, their choice.

• Yacht: gain the use of a 100-ton yacht from a government or corporation. You are responsible for all costs and maintenance and owe favors to said government or corporation. They will call in those favors from time to time.

Retirement Pay

Characters who retire after 5 terms (age 38) or more receive an annual retirement pay. The base pay at 5 terms is Cr10000 a year; each additional term served in that career adds Cr2000 per year.

Aging

Characters must make aging rolls beginning at the age of 34, or at the end of 4 terms, if rolling for term length. At the end of the 4^th term, and on the end of each subsequent term, throw 2D on the following table. The character’s total number of terms serves as a negative DM to the throw. The Referee might add DM+2 for characters living in technologically advanced societies with good health care (see below).

Aging Crisis

If any characteristic falls to 0 due to aging, the character must throw 6+ to survive. If still alive, they will now have that characteristic at 1, and must retire from their career.

Optional Rule: Aging and Technology

Advanced medicine prolongs life and delays aging. At TL8-10, add DM+1 to all aging rolls during character generation. This DM increases to DM+2 at TL11-12, and to DM+3 at TL13+.

Prison

When an Event sends you to prison, you spend one Term as a prisoner. You do not receive a Benefit for this Term; however, you may resume your previous career afterwards. Roll for a prison event:

Prison Event

Injury Rules

You should roll on the following Injury Table whenever an Event result says so. In this case, the character suffers an injury, but may continue their career.

Note that this is the far future; maimed characters can rely on cybernetics for recovery. Deduct the cost of cybernetics listed below from the character’s starting funds. If the funds run out, and medical cybernetics debt remains, the character owes money to someone powerful: a government, a corporation, or an organized crime syndicate.

Upon being injured, throw END 6+, note the throw’s Effect, and consult the following table.

Injury Table

Injury Effects

Below are the effects of injury, followed by a table presenting cybernetic replacement costs.

Blinded: The character loses both eyes to injury and is blind and may not perform any task requiring sight.

Lost Arm: One of the character's arms must be amputated to save their life. The character obviously cannot use this arm for any purpose.

Lost Fingers: The character loses several fingers to injury. He or she suffers from DM-2 to all checks related to that specific hand.

Lost Hand: One of the character's hands must be amputated as part of medical care, though surgery saves most of the arm. The character loses all uses of the hand.

Lost Leg: One of the character's legs must be amputated to save his or her life. The character cannot move unaided other than by crawling. Using a crutch or a wheelchair, the character may move 3 meters per minor action.

Lost One Eye: The character is blinded in one eye but retains the other, losing depth perception and drastically reducing their field of view. The character retains vision but suffers DM-2 to all actions requiring depth perception, such as ranged attacks. The penalty should also be applied to any check related to having a full field of vision, such as noticing someone sneaking up on the character.

Lost Teeth: Most of the character's teeth are knocked out, making eating difficult causing DM-2 to all checks involving speech.

Physical Characteristic: The character’s characteristics are reduced due to lingering physiological, neurological, and psychological damage. Adjust attribute DMs accordingly.

Scarring: The character suffers extensive and lasting scars or burn marks from his or her injury. The character is easily recognizable and suffers DM-2 to all social checks, except for intimidation in which they enjoy DM+2.

Repairing Injuries

Thankfully, advanced cybernetics allow the restoration of even the worst injuries. The following table presents corrective surgery and cybernetic options, along with their minimum tech levels and Cybernetic Points cost. See the Cybernetics section in the Equipment chapter for more information on cybernetics and Cybernetic Points.

Corrective Cybernetics

Optional Rule: IRON MAN!

For players and Referees seeking a hardcore, old-school experience, treat any Injury on the event tables during character generation as character death – requiring the generation of a new character from the start!

Stage 4: Calculate Stamina and Lifeblood

The character’s Stamina represents their toughness, and their ability to take a hit and shrug it off. Stamina is equal to the sum of character’s END Characteristic + Athletics skill. For example, a character with END 7 and Athletics 1 will have Stamina 8.

The character’s Lifeblood represents their resistance to injury. It is equal to twice the sum of the character’s END Characteristic and Athletics skill. For example, a character with END 7 and Athletics 1 will have Lifeblood 16.

If the character lacks the Athletics skill, their Stamina simply equals their END score, and their Lifeblood simply equals twice their END score.

Stage 5: Finalize the Character

Think of your characteristics character’s skills, career, and events. What kind of person are they? Why did they gain a level in Carouse when they should have focused on their careers and gained that level in Admin instead? What happened during their career that made them want to seek a life out in the stars? Perhaps look at the character’s career and create a narrative sketch of what their life was like. What does the character look like? How are they connected to the other Player Characters? Think of your character’s personality and motivation and give them a name.

Traits

Traits are unique features of competent and driven characters, such as player characters. Each character typically has one Trait, though, rarely, particularly experienced and determined characters may have two or even three Traits. Each Trait has a simple Prerequisite, and an effect, which often utilizes an Advantage throw – in which you throw 3D and pick the highest 2 for the throw result.

Skill-Related Traits

Acrobat

Prerequisite: Athletics 2

Roll with Advantage whenever the character performs high-flying feats of athletics: swinging from ropes, running (not walking) across wires, or leaping from rooftop to rooftop.

Animal Affinity

Prerequisite: None

Roll with Advantage whenever the character has to interact with animals. The character can opt to have a small pet that understands basic commands.

Awareness

Prerequisite: INT 9+

The character has sharp senses and is difficult to surprise. When rolling the Recon skill to avoid surprise (even unskilled), the character throws with Advantage. Note that this does not work when the character is setting up a deliberate ambush; the Hunter Trait covers that instead.

Born Athlete

Prerequisite: None

The character is a natural talent. Choose one physical attribute. Make all Athletics tests with that attribute with Advantage.

Combat Medic

Prerequisite: Medicine 1

The character is trained in combat medicine and capable of bringing wounded comrades back to fighting condition. As an action in combat, the combat medic may throw Medicine 6+ to immediately revive an unconscious character with Minor Wounds. The revived character will still be wounded, as usual for an awakened character with Minor Wounds, and will be prone, but will be able to act in the following combat round.

Explosive Expert

Prerequisite: Demolitions 1

The character knows how to effectively set up, or throw, explosives and grenades. Add 1D to the damage of all explosives and grenades used by the character.

Ghost

Prerequisite: Stealth 1

The character is an expert in using one specific terrain type to their advantage. When sneaking in that terrain condition, they throw with Advantage. The possible terrain types might include Forest, Jungle, Urban, Desert, Shipboard, Swamp, etc. The terrain should be quite specific.

Hacker

Prerequisite: Computer 1

The character is an accomplished hacker who dares to challenge even the most perfect, immortal machine. When trying to break into a secure computer system or when picking an electronic lock (or similar device), the hacker throws with Advantage.

Hunter

Prerequisite: Recon 1

The character is an expert in ambushing prey, both animal and sentient. When making a Surprise throw when attempting an ambush, the hunter throws with Advantage.

Juice

Prerequisite: Repair 1 or Engineering 1

Once per session you can push a piece of tech to exceed one of its performance boundaries. For example, sensors or weapons get an extra step of distance to their range; you may reroll a weapon’s damage dice and take the better result; you get a second attempt to open a lock with your tools.

Legal Eagle

Prerequisite: Admin 1

The character is well-versed in legal codes and can quote appropriate legislation and civil regulations. The character throws Admin with Advantage when dealing with legal matters and procedures.

MacGyver

Prerequisite: Jack-o-Trades 1

Once per session you can spend 1d3x10 minutes to create 1D4 tools or weapons the baseline tech level of the planet or place you find yourself in.

Master Tracker

Prerequisite: Survival 1

This character gains Advantage when tracking in a wilderness environment. This trait does not apply in urban or other built-up areas.

Merchant

Prerequisite: Liaison 1

When haggling over prices, roll with Advantage. This Trait applies to the Speculative Trade table roll as well.

Palmgreaser

Prerequisite: Admin 1

The character is able to spot a corrupt official a kilometer away and knows how to offer a bribe discreetly and inoffensively. Admin tasks when bribes are used are rolled with Advantage.

Parkour

Prerequisite: Athletics 1

The character is very adept at bypassing or avoiding obstacles while running at top speeds. All Athletics tests made during chases, as either pursuer or quarry, are made with Advantage.

Proper Etiquette

Prerequisite: Liaison 1

The character knows the intricacies and rules of very formal social settings, such as Diplomatic Meetings, High Level Business Dealings, and the like. The character gains Advantage on tests made when operating under very formal social rules.

Rescue Specialist

Prerequisite: Zero-G 1

The character is good at getting at people who are in danger while in zero gravity conditions. Gain Advantage when rolling to avoid damage in space suits during rescue operations, or to help a victim of a space-disaster get medical attention.

Runner

Prerequisite: Athletics 1.

The character walks and runs very quickly. The character’s movement rate is increased by 1D meters per combat action.

Scientist

Prerequisite: Science 1

The character is an expert in a specific field of science. Pick one field of science: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, or Space Sciences. When making a throw related to that science, the scientist throws with Advantage. You may choose this Trait multiple times, each time gaining expertise in a different field of science.

Sleight of Hand

Prerequisite: Deception 1

The character is a practiced expert at magic tricks, palming, and legerdemain misdirection. When using the Deception skill in this manner, roll with Advantage.

Smuggler

Prerequisite: Streetwise 1

The character is an expert in trafficking illicit goods. When throwing below the world's law level to avoid customs harassment, the smuggler throws 3D and picks the lowest two.

Furthermore, when trading in illegal goods, the smuggler throws with Advantage on the modified price table and picks the most beneficial dice (the lowest two when buying and the highest two when selling).

Surgeon

Prerequisite: Medicine 1

The character is a specialized surgeon. When treating a seriously wounded character, the surgeon may throw Medicine 6+ to reduce recovery time from 5D days to 2D days. If using the Trauma Surgery rules, the surgeon throws with Advantage when throwing for such a surgery.

Thief

Prerequisite: Deception 1 or Streetwise 1

The character is specialized in stealing goods, then selling them on the black market. When pick-pocketing or stealing an item, or when attempting to sell stolen goods, the thief throws with Advantage.

Throwing Arm

Prerequisite: STR 9+

The character is especially adept at throwing grenades and other thrown weapons. Effective range for the character's grenades and other thrown weapons becomes STRx2, and maximum range becomes STRx3.

Tradecraft

Prerequisite: Investigation 1 or Streetwise 1

The character is skilled in surveillance and counter-surveillance techniques, tailing targets, setting up dead drops, and ensuring that they are not being spied upon. When using Investigation or Streetwise in this manner, roll with Advantage.

Combat Traits

Gun Combat Traits

Crack Shot

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 2, one other Gun Combat Trait

Pick one type of firearm category: semi-automatic pistols, revolvers, etc., and gain a +1D damage bonus when using them.

Defeat Armor

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 1

The character knows how to pick weak spots in the enemy's armor from a distance. When firing an aimed shot, if the to-hit throw's Effect is +6 or better, ignore the target's armor.

Gunslinger

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 2

The character is a master of handguns and can perform amazing feats of arms with them. When a shot fired by the character from a semiautomatic handgun "drops" an enemy (causes them to fall unconscious or die), the character may immediately attack a second enemy with the same handgun. The character can only attack one additional enemy per combat round. This is cumulative with the Double Tap weapon Aspect.

Rapid Reaction

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 1

The character has a quick finger on the trigger and reacts quickly to enemy movement. If an Overwatch shot fired by the character hits its target, the character remains in Overwatch and may react one more time in that round to enemy movement. This can be done only once per round (that is, up to two Overwatch shots per round). The Overwatch ends after the second attack.

Signature Weapon

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 1

The character is particularly proficient in using a specific weapon. Choose one specific weapon, such as your service revolver, the family hunting rifle, the laser pistol you pried from that alien’s cold, dead hands, etc.; when attacking with that specific weapon, the character gains a DM+1 to hit. You may choose this Trait multiple times, each applied to a different weapon. Note that this trait does not apply to a class of weapons (pistols), nor to a model of weapon (Colt .45s), but to a specific weapon the character owns (the custom pearl handled Colt .45 the character’s grandfather gave to him upon entering the Space Marines). If the weapon is lost or destroyed, you can adapt to a new weapon of the same type by training with it for a month. You can always have only one signature weapon at any given time.

Sniper

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 1

The character knows how to kill unsuspecting victims from a distance. When attacking an unaware target at range, using an aimed shot, add 1D to the attack's damage. This bonus can only be applied outside of active combat.

Spray N’ Pray

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 1

The character knows how to maximize the effect of automatic fire. When using an automatic weapon, treat its Auto rating as one point higher.

Melee Combat Traits:

Armor Breaker

Prerequisite: Melee Combat 1

The character knows how to hit weak spots in the enemy's armor in melee combat. When attacking in melee, if the to-hit throw's Effect is +6 or better, ignore the target's armor.

Backstab
Prerequisite: Melee Combat 1 and Stealth 1

The character knows how to deliver a lethal blow to an unsuspecting victim. When attacking an unaware target in melee, attack with Advantage and add 1D to the attack's damage.

Blind Fighting

Prerequisite: Melee Combat 1

The character knows how to fight in darkness, using senses other than sight. When fighting in melee combat, the character suffers no negative DM to hit for fighting in dim light and only DM-1 for fighting in darkness.

Grappler

Prerequisite: Melee Combat 1

The character gains Advantage when attempting to grapple foes.

Martial Artist

Prerequisite: Melee Combat 1

The character is lethal in unarmed combat and can cause serious harm even without possessing significant physical might. When making an unarmed attack, the character's damage increases to 1D+STR DM rather than the regular STR DM.

Signature Weapon

Prerequisite: Melee Weapon 1

The character is particularly proficient in using a specific weapon. Choose one specific weapon, such as a family heirloom sword, a dagger won as a war trophy, etc.; when attacking with that specific weapon, the character gains DM+1 to hit. You may choose this Trait multiple times, each applied to a different weapon. Note that this trait does not apply to a class of weapons (swords), nor to a model of weapon (long swords), but to a specific weapon the character owns (Excalibur). If the weapon is lost or destroyed, you can adapt to a new weapon of the same type by training with it for a month. You can always have only one signature weapon at any given time.

Legendary Charge

Prerequisite: Melee Combat 1

If you perform a Charge, on a successful hit your attack does double damage.

High Energy Physics

Prerequisite: Gunnery 1

The character is good at putting shots on target. Once per battle, roll damage twice and take the best result.

Weapon Handling

Prerequisite: Heavy Weapons 1

The character proficiently handles heavy weapons despite their bulk. The character suffers no penalty for using Bulky weapons, regardless of STR.

Knows the Terrain

Prerequisite: Tactics 1

The character is an expert in tactical planning and execution in a given environment. Pick a terrain type. Make all tactics throws with Advantage when in that terrain type. The terrain types include, but are not limited to urban, woodlands, jungle, surface navy, submarine, space, etc. The terrain chosen must be specific.

Rally

Prerequisite: Leadership 2

Once per combat, the character can use their action to rally their companions. Allies immediately heal 2d6 Stamina and for the next two rounds NPC allies get Advantage on all Morale tests.

Inspirational

Prerequisite: Leadership 1

The character is a shining example for others and knows how to motivate them. When rolling to Inspire or Support Crew in combat, gain Advantage.

Commander

Prerequisite: Leadership 1

Once per fight as a free action, make a Leadership/SOC 8+ test. You grant an ally who is Nearby to take a free Action.

Berserker

Prerequisite: END 9+

When injured in combat, the character can fly into a blind rage. Assuming the character is conscious, the character may elect to unleash their rage. This grants DM+1 to hit and to damage in melee combat, but also grants the character's enemies DM+1 to hit them. This lasts effect until the end of that particular combat encounter and the character may repeat it in any additional combat encounters in which they suffer new damage.

Shake It Off

Prerequisite: None

Once per combat, you can take no Actions for an entire turn and regain 2d6 Stamina.

Close Quarters Combatant

Prerequisite: Gun Combat 1 and Melee Combat 1

The character does not suffer any penalties when using pistols and other one-handed firearms in melee combat. Two-handed ranged weapons can still only be used as clubs.

Combat Readiness

Prerequisite: DEX 10+

The character is quick to act and react in combat. Gain Advantage to all Initiative throws. If the character does not have the Tactics skill, they still roll Initiative unskilled!

Danger Sense

Prerequisite: INT 9+

The character instinctively senses danger and can try to evade enemy attacks even when generally unaware of the assailant. If you are using the Dodge and Parry optional rules, and the character is attacked by an enemy the character is unaware of, throw DEX 8+; if successful, the character uses the Dodge or Parry bonus despite being unaware of the attacker.

Favored Enemy

Prerequisite: None

The character is particularly skilled or vicious when battling one specific enemy. This could be a specific alien life form, robots, soldiers of a given nationality, pirates, or the like. The choice should be broad enough to be applicable, but not too broad as to be abused. The character gains +1D to all damage rolls against this enemy.

Hardy

Prerequisite: None

The character is particularly tough and resistant to injury. Add 5 to Stamina. This trait can be taken multiple times.

Hard to Kill

Prerequisite: None

The character gains 5 additional Lifeblood points. This trait can be taken multiple times.

Low Profile

Prerequisite: DEX 9+

The character knows how to utilize cover very effectively. When the character is behind hard cover, treat that as heavy cover (DM-3 to hit the character).

Vigilant

Prerequisite: INT 9+

The character is always on the move, and on the lookout for trouble. If the character used both actions in a combat round for movement, they automatically enter Overwatch mode without requiring a further action. This Trait is not cumulative with cybernetics or pharmaceuticals providing similar effects or granting additional actions.

Vehicle and Spacecraft Traits

Signature Vehicle

Prerequisite: Relevant Vehicle Skill 1, or Pilot 1

The character gains a DM+1 for all vehicle rolls for a specific named vehicle. Note that this trait does not apply to a class of vehicles (for example, “boats” with Watercraft), nor to a specific kind of vehicle (submarines) but to a specific vehicle the character uses (Red October).

Jump Intuition

Prerequisite: Pilot 1

The character has a natural – or perhaps supernatural – knack for navigating Jump Space. Roll with Advantage when making a Jump throw.

Ace

Prerequisite: Relevant Vehicle Skill 1, or Pilot 1

The character is a gifted expert at maneuvering with a specific vehicle and can easily outmaneuver others to gain great advantage over them in combat. When throwing for a Position in a vehicle chase or battle using the vehicle skill the Ace trait applies to, throw with 2D and take the higher result. Note that an Ace in the Pilot skill would not be an Ace Driver, or Ace Grav Pilot. Each Vehicle skill and the Pilot skill has a separate Ace trait. Being an ace in multiple vehicles requires taking this trait multiple times. In starships (or other large, crewed vehicles) either the Pilot or Captain’s Ace trait may apply. In small craft, the Pilot must have the Ace trait to gain any benefit.

Mr. Fix-It

Prerequisite: Repair 1

The character is trained and experienced in performing fast and temporary repairs on vehicles. When throwing to attempt a jury-rig repair on a vehicle system, the mechanic throws with Advantage.

Easy Rider

Prerequisite: Animals 1

The character is well-trained in riding animals, Terran and alien beasts alike. When making a throw related to riding an animal, including when rolling for a Position in a chase, the rider throws 3D and picks the highest two.

Miracle Worker

Prerequisite: Engineering 1

The character is trained and experienced in performing fast and temporary repairs on starships. When throwing to attempt a Damage Control action, the mechanic throws 3D and picks the highest two.

Mask Engine

Prerequisite: Engineering 1

The engineer has developed techniques to make it more difficult to detect the ship. Roll Engineering 10+ and apply the Effect as a penalty for scanning vessels to detect this ship.

Point Defender

Prerequisite: Gunnery 1

The character is very skilled at destroying incoming missiles, and gains a +1DM to all rolls when engaging in the Point Defense Action—thus, the first point defense attempt would be at +1DM, the second at 0DM, the third at -1DM, etc.

Sensor Ace

Prerequisite: Computer 1

When using ship sensors to spoof missiles, jam enemy sensors, or to perform a scan for vessels, roll with Advantage.

Starship

Prerequisite: None.

The character has inherited, won by gambling, loaned, or otherwise received a share in a starship. You may take this Trait multiple times. The first time you take it, you receive a 200-ton Free Trader, a 100-ton mining vessel, a 100-ton Scout or a 200-ton Research Vessel, with forty years’ worth of full mortgage payments remaining. Each additional time you take this Trait, increase the ship's age by a decade and reduce the mortgage payments by one decade as well. Taking this Trait five times means owning a ship outright, but it will be a 40-year-old antique. If the character already has the Starship trait, and musters out with a Trader, Scout, or Research vessel, count that Mustering Out Benefit as if they had taken the Starship trait again. For example, a Scout picks the Starship trait, and then receives two Scout Mustering Out Benefits. Instead of having a Scout on loan from the Scout Service, the character owns a 20-year-old Scout starship with 20 years of the mortgage already paid off.

Stunt Driver

Prerequisite: Relevant Vehicle Skill 1

The character has a flair for handling vehicles in situations that were well outside the engineering team’s parameters when the vehicle was in the design and testing phase. Whenever the character is performing stunts like flying aircraft into tunnels, driving motorcycles down flights of stairs, or even jumping cars off ramps and over ravines, throw the relevant vehicle skill with Advantage.

Other Traits

Artistic

Prerequisite: None

The character is naturally gifted in artistic endeavors. Gain Advantage when rolling a test where artistic talent is relevant.

Attractive

Prerequisite: None

Roll tests with Advantage in situations where good looks might be important.

Codebreaker

Prerequisite: EDU 9+

When attempting to decipher codes and break encryptions, roll with Advantage. This trait can also be applied to languages in which the character is not fluent.

Contacts

Prerequisite: None

The character has highly useful connections. Gain 1d3+1 Contacts (see the Character Generation chapter).

Cyborg Compatibility

Prerequisite: None

The character is highly receptive to cybernetics. The cyborg gains three Cybernetic Points.

Diplomat

Prerequisite: None

When the GM rolls for NPC Reactions to you specifically, they should roll twice and take the more favorable result.

Eidetic Memory

Prerequisite: None

The character’s recall is incredible. When rolling to remember detailed information, gain Advantage.

Empath

Prerequisite: None

The character, while not being a "true" psion (unless otherwise trained) possesses "passive" empathy allowing them to easily read another person's emotions. Whenever trying to determine an NPC's emotional state, or find out if an NPC is lying, the empath has Advantage. This also applies to games of chance and bluffing, such as poker, where reading an opponent is a central aspect to the game.

Evasion

Prerequisite: DEX 9+

With this trait, diving for cover does not take up your next action.

Explorer’s Society

Prerequisite: None

The character receives membership in the exclusive Explorer's Society. Membership grants a free high-passage ticket for one parsec every two months and free stay at Society hostels in most starports.

Fast Healing

Prerequisite: END 9+

The character recovers on their own from a Minor Wound within 1D hours (rather than a day) in the absence of treatment, and from a serious wound within 3D days of medical care. This is not cumulative with the increased rate of healing when successfully treated by a Surgeon (see below).

Immunity

Prerequisite: None

The character is particularly resistant to toxins and pathogens. When making a throw to resist poison or disease, the character throws with Advantage. When a medic treats this character with Medicinal or Panacea pharmaceuticals, they also gain Advantage.

Intimidating

Prerequisite: None

You just look scary, or you can manifest scariness when you want to. Roll with Advantage on any tests when intimidating people into giving you information or complying with your requests.

Iron Liver

Prerequisite: None

For whatever reason, the character has a high tolerance for alcohol. When rolling to drink someone under the table, roll with Advantage.

Languages

Prerequisite: None

The character is fluent in three additional languages common to the sector.

Latent Psion

Prerequisite: None

The character has untrained psionic abilities. See the Psionics chapter. Untrained, the character has 1 PSI point and one of the following powers: Enhanced Characteristic, Sense, Lift 1 gram, Life Detection, or Blink. The PSI point regenerates after a night's sleep, as usual. Psionic drugs affect the character as usual and allow more frequent use of their powers. Actual psionic training allows the character to roll a normal PSI characteristic and additional powers. See the Psionics chapter for more details.

Packrat

Prerequisite: None

The character knows how to pack and carry equipment efficiently. The packrat is unencumbered when carrying up to twice their STR in items. The character is Heavily Loaded when carrying up to four times their STR in items. Note that this recalculation of encumbrance limits should not include the STR attribute DM.

Radiation Resistant

Prerequisite: END 9+

The character has higher than usual tolerance for radiation. The character only receives 75 per cent of rads from radiation exposure. Round fractions down.

Scavenger King

Prerequisite: None.

The character is extremely talented at finding parts, gear, weapons, or just about anything that the group could need, in a pinch. When using a skill to scavenge or scrounge equipment, roll with Advantage.

Strong-Willed

Prerequisite: None

This character gains Advantage when being threatened, intimidated, or coerced. This trait also applies to any rolls to resist Psychic domination.

Will to Live

Prerequisite: END 9+

When using the Trauma Surgery rules, throw with Advantage when throwing for Trauma Surgery. This trait applies even if the attending physician or autodoc does not have the Surgeon Trait.

Lucky

Prerequisite: None; only in games using the optional Hero Points rules.

Your character starts each game session with 3, rather than 2, Hero Points.

Navigator

Prerequisite: Survival 1

When throwing to navigate a course on a world (land, sea, or air) or to call in fire support, throw with Advantage.

Protector

Prerequisite: Melee Combat skill

Once per battle you can choose to take damage that would otherwise be dealt to another character in close range to you.

Spot Weakness

Prerequisite: none

If the character spends a full minute observing a target, they can spot its weakness with a successful INT 8+ test. All damage rolls should be rolled twice, and the higher result taken. Note that this does work for ship combat, only substitute a Computer/INT 8+ test, modified by the vessel’s computer DM, instead of an INT test.

Trash Talk

Prerequisite: Carousing 1 or Deception 1

As a free action in a battle, you can attempt a Carousing or Deception test to draw the attention of an enemy nearby or closer to yourself, causing them to attack only you on their next turn.

Equipment

This chapter describes some of the more common items found in an interstellar space opera setting. All prices are in Credits (Cr), the interstellar currency. Thousands of Credits are noted as KCr, and millions of Credits are noted as MCr. A Credit is a futuristic currency roughly equivalent to $3 USD in 2021CE currency.

Encumbrance

To facilitate fast play, Cepheus Deluxe avoids the careful accounting of equipment by weight. Instead, a character may carry a number of major “items” equal to 7 plus their STR DM with no penalty. This represents a Light Load. Characters may carry items beyond this, up to three times the base amount, which constitutes a Heavy Load. A heavily loaded character suffers DM-2 to all physical task throws and can only use a maximum of one move action in a combat round.

An “item” is anything of significant size: a gun, a medkit, a standard length of rope. Larger items may count as more than one item as noted in their description. Small items, such as a compass, a needle, or a candle, do not count as items, subject to the Referee’s judgment.

Tech Levels

Cepheus Deluxe assumes an interstellar society – as befitting a space opera game. However, not all worlds in such a universe possess the same level of technological development, particularly in frontier or post-apocalyptic settings. Furthermore, Referees may want to choose between grittier, nearer-future interstellar sci-fi and no-holds-barred far-future galactic space-opera. For this purpose, Cepheus Deluxe ranks civilizations according to 17 tech levels, from 0 to 16. We present some rough historical comparisons with our own world to assist Referees and players in their understanding of tech levels. However, these comparisons should not imply that your own game must follow the same technological development.

Living Expenses

Characters not embarked on a starship must pay for lodging and food. The following table provides costs of living. One column shows a monthly cost of living – assuming long-term purchase of lodging and groceries. The second shows daily living, whenever characters or tourists pay for a motel or hotel room and buy prepared food. These costs include various expenses such as taxes and transportation. Characters should pay according to the quality-of-life representative of their SOC characteristic. Upper class characters living in squalor suffer penalties, as noted below.

Starvation living means living in the streets, in a tent, or outdoors and eating just barely to keep the character alive. Clothes are basic and always second-hand or worn out. Healthcare, entertainment, and transportation are not included in this level. A character living at starvation levels is always Fatigued.

Subsistence living is the bare minimum for civilized life – a tiny apartment, shanty, or capsule in a "coffin hotel" and simple food and clothing. Subsistence level living includes public transit, minimal entertainment, and generally inadequate healthcare.

Ordinary living is how most people live in city centers: an apartment, public transit or a small personal vehicle, reasonable food and clothing, reasonable entertainment, and modern healthcare.

High living is the good life: a fancy apartment in the city or a small house, eating at restaurants for most meals, a good personal vehicle, partying on a regular basis, fashionable clothes, and good healthcare.

The Elite life means living like a king: a mansion or penthouse, regular feasts, or upscale restaurants, dressing in the finest clothes, and maintaining a prestigious personal vehicle. Healthcare is the best money can buy.

A character with SOC 10+ who does not live at a High or Elite level will suffer DM-2 to all high society related social skill rolls and may be ostracized by their high-class Contacts (at the Referee’s discretion).

Personal Armor

Personal armor reduces the damage caused by incoming attacks. Subtract the armor’s Protection rating from any damage caused to the character. It is not possible to wear more than one type of armor at a time, other than energy shields, which you may use together with any other armor.

Armor Types:

Civilian and Paramilitary Protection consists of those armors that are either highly concealable, or that are acceptable to wear in most civilian settings. Characters wearing Utility Suits would never get a second look on the job where those suits are needed but wearing such a suit everywhere would raise eyebrows. Combat Armor is never discreet: whoever is wearing combat armor is signaling everyone around them that they are looking for trouble.

Bulletproof vest: lightweight ballistic armor torso protection, easy to wear under clothes.

Encased armor suit: heavy, full body rigid armor, often used by corporate SWAT and high-end mercenaries. The suit offers environmental protection as an Envirosuit (see below) and includes integrated comms and a HUD.

Energy Shield: a high-energy shield emitter worn on a belt clip, capable of stopping massive amounts of damage. The Energy Shield may be worn with other armor. An energy shield completely negates the first hit it receives in combat but is then depleted. Throw 1D every following combat round; on 4-6, the shield regenerates on your turn, and may negate another hit afterwards.

Envirosuit: a full body sealed suit with attached filters and an option to attach oxygen tanks as well. Fully protects against airborne toxins and pathogens. Reduces radiation by 20 rads. The Envirosuit counts as two Items for encumbrance purposes.

Envirosuit, Advanced: as an Envirosuit, but ultra-light. It does not count as an item for encumbrance purposes.

Heavy ballistic cloth: modern heavy-duty ballistic-cloth armor. Commonly worn by soldiers, well-equipped security, and TL7 mercenaries. Counts as two Items for encumbrance purposes and is not concealable.

Heavy duster: long overcoat made of reinforced leather or synth-leather. In some circles, this is the epitome of style.

Leather jacket: a heavy leather or synth-leather jacket.

Powered Armor: servo-assisted fully enclosed combat armor. This powerful armor grants DM+2 to STR and DEX characteristic checks and allows carrying double the user’s Encumbrance. Powered armor grants DM+4 to all melee damage done by its wearer. Powered Armor protects against vacuum and hostile environments, as a space suit, with 6 hours of life support, and reduces radiation by 50 rads. Powered armor does not count as an item for encumbrance when worn.

Space Suit: a standard, futuristic space suit, lighter and cheaper than a 20^th Century Terran space suit. A space suit carries life support supplies for up to 6 hours. It protects against Vacuum, Tainted, and Exotic atmospheres, as well as airborne pathogens. Offers 2D hours of protection against Corrosive atmospheres, and 1Dx10 minutes protection against Insidious atmospheres. Reduces radiation by 60 rads. Counts as 2 items for Encumbrance purposes.

Space Suit, Advanced: the final evolution of the space suit. An advanced space suit does not count as an item for encumbrance, is easy enough to use even without a Zero-G skill and provides life support for 12 hours. Offers the same environmental protection as a regular space suit.

Space Suit, Hostile Environment: a heavy-duty space suit designed for extreme conditions, such as Corrosive and Insidious atmospheres. Counts as three items for encumbrance. Protects against Vacuum, Tainted, Exotic, and Corrosive atmospheres, as well as airborne pathogens and toxins, and provides 2D hours of protection from Insidious atmospheres. Carries life support supplies for 6 hours. Reduces radiation by 150 rads. Counts as 4 items for Encumbrance purposes.

Synthsilk Armor: advanced bio-engineered spider-silk armor. Synthsilk is easily concealable and does not count as an item for Encumbrance.

Cybernetics

Cybernetic implants, a major theme in many science fiction tales, replace or upgrade body parts with biomechanical technology. Using advanced material science and cutting-edge knowledge of the neural system, cybernetics augment the organic body, adding capabilities beyond those given to it by evolution.

Cybernetic Grades and Points

Cybernetics in Cepheus Deluxe come in four grades, detailed below. Each cybernetic implant cost Cybernetic Points. The implant’s Grade is the primary determiner of the number of Cybernetic Points it uses. Characters may have up to 6 Cybernetic Points’ worth of implants without penalty. Any more cybernetics, and the character will suffer from cyber-dissociation – being more machine than human. Cyber-dissociation applies a DM-2 penalty to all social skill throws (using SOC or any other characteristics). The only exception is when the character intends to intimidate others. In that case, there is no penalty.

Cybernetic Grades and Points

A-Grade Cybernetics:

These implants are either superficial, or extremely common among the public on most advanced worlds as to be ubiquitous.

Cyberfinger (TL9; Cr500): cybernetic finger replacement.

Glow Tattoos (TL9; Cr100): these are advanced tattoos consisting of smart bioluminescent skin grafts in complex patterns across the subject’s skin. Patterns and designs are up to the subject. The subject may activate or deactivate the tattoos at will.

Internal OmniComm (TL9; Cr100): as an OmniComm (see below) but with a neural interface; this implant allows tele-video communication in the user’s mind, without audible speech.

Internal OmniComp (TL9; Cr300): as an OmniComp (see below) but with a neural interface. The user can use their minds to operate the OmniComp without any gestures or speech. The details and consequences of having a computer implanted in a character’s brain and connecting to planetary computing grid are left to the players and Referee.

Internal Storage Pouch (TL9; Cr800): abdominal pouch accessible via an artificial sphincter. Stows items up to 0.5 kg in weight and 0.5 liters in volume. The Storage Pouch is discreet and can only be discovered by detailed inspection or medical scans.

B-Grade Cybernetics:

These cybernetic implants include most prosthetics to replace limbs or organs lost to injury, or more advanced and invasive devices that greatly expand human capabilities. Cybernetic prosthetics do not enhance the character’s innate characteristics—they only perfectly replace damaged parts. Some of these cybernetics are regulated by local Law Levels, while others are not.

Artificial Gill (TL9; Cr2,500): allows breathing underwater. The artificial gill is powered by the body’s own electrical current, and thus requires minimal maintenance. The gills can be hidden by default, though some may want them to be visible.

Cybernetic Eye (TL9; Cr5,000): a baseline cybernetic eye replacement, providing perfect 20/20 vision. This cyber-eye looks indistinguishable from a normal eye. However, many opt to add cosmetic changes to the eye, or even exposed chrome to the eye housing.

Cybernetic Eye, Advanced (TL11; Cr7,500): this implant operates as the baseline cybernetic eye, but also adds telescopic vision, infra-red imaging, and low-light optics.

Cybernetic Arm (TL9; Cr6,000): baseline cybernetic arm replacement. The arm can be customized to look however the character likes. Human-looking cybernetic arms can pass visual inspections but are detected by medical or detailed physical inspections.

Cyberhand (TL9; Cr1,500): cybernetic hand replacement. The hand can look however the character likes.

Cyberleg (TL9; Cr9,000): baseline cybernetic leg replacement. Cybernetic legs are large enough to install an Internal Storage Pouch at regular prices.

Data Safe (TL9 Cr5,000): this small implant stores encrypted files in the character’s skull. The data safe cannot be detected by normal sensors; a deep medical scan of the character’s brain is required to detect the safe. The character may or may not have access to the data safe, or the decryption key. On worlds with Law Levels 6+, the Data Safe is a regulated cybernetic.

Head Bomb (TL9; Cr3,000): a tiny remote-controlled explosive device implanted in a subject’s brain. The detonation will kill the subject without causing any collateral damage. Head bombs are rarely implanted voluntarily, and are widely illegal.

Internal Blade (TL9; Cr5,000): a set of two 10cm (4”) retractable blades are implanted in the character’s limbs. These can be wrist blades, knuckle spikes, knee spikes, or even dew claws. The character’s unarmed attacks do 2D damage. The blades are constructed out of ceramic composites to avoid detection by most security scans. Only medical scans or TL13 or better sensors will detect the blades. Internal blades are considered illegal on worlds with Law Level 4+.

Internal Weapon (TL9; Cr5,000, special): this arm-mounted implant allows the character to carry a concealed weapon internally. This can be any pistol-sized weapon limited by tech level: stealth pistol, gyrojet pistol, gauss pistol, laser pistol, blaster pistol, or stunner. The weapon’s magazine capacity is half normal but can be reloaded normally via a retractable magazine holder. Internal weapons still suffer the DM-2 penalty to hit while in melee combat. The internal weapon’s price is Cr5,000, plus twice the weapon’s cost. Internal weapons can be detected with medical scans or detailed physical inspections. Internal weapons are considered illegal on worlds with Law Level 4+.

Internal Filtration System (TL9; Cr3,000): protects from airborne toxins and pathogens.

Internal Oxygen Supply (TL9; Cr4,000): provides 3 hours of oxygen.

Prehensile tail (TL9; Cr9,000): Provides an additional grasping/manipulating appendage. This appendage provides a DM+1 to any opposed grapple checks in melee combat but does not provide any additional actions. The tail is also strong enough to support the weight of its owner.

C-Grade Cybernetics:

These implants are all very invasive, and require the amputation of two limbs, and a great deal of surgery. They are thus almost always restricted and very expensive. C-grade implants are usually reserved for elite military and espionage operatives. Only the most well-connected and wealthy civilians can acquire them.

Advanced Cyberarms (TL9; Cr20,000): This implant replaces both arms, as well as reinforces the spine. Advanced cyberarms give Advantage to all arm/manipulation Athletics throws and DM+4 to unarmed combat damage. Note that this bonus applies to relevant Athletics tests, but not other skill tests. The damage bonus is cumulative with any internal blade damage bonus, and with the powered armor bonus. Advanced cyberarms count as two implants (total 4 cybernetics points), as they replace both arms.

Advanced Cyberlegs (TL9; Cr50,000): this implant replaces both legs and reinforces the hips and spine. Advanced cyberlegs give Advantage to all Athletics checks involving running or leaping, subject to the same limitations as Advanced cyberarms, above. As an action, the character may throw Athletics 8+ to jump 10m horizontally in any direction or 3m upwards. Treat the character’s STR as 4 points higher for purposes of calculating encumbrance limits. This implant also doubles the character's movement speed to 20m per action (up to 40m per round if the character uses both actions for movement). Advanced cyberlegs also reduce falling damage by 1D. Advanced cyberlegs count as two implants (total 4 cybernetics points), as they replace both legs.

Augmented Joints (TL9; Cr25,000): an invasive series of implants replace the character's joints with advanced synthetics, high-tech lubricants and shock absorbers. Augmented joints grant inhumanly fine motor precision. This gives Advantage for non-combat throws that require fine motor manipulation and control. For example: lockpicking, sleight-of-hand, and electronics repair.

Hacking Module (TL9; Cr50,000): this implant consists of an upgraded, specialized OmniComp and dedicated enhanced synaptic neural processors for computing. A discreet neural jack line feed allows the character to connect to any computer directly. The Hacking Module grants a flat DM+1 to the character’s Computer skill and allows remote hacking of unprotected electronics at up to 3m. Note that at TL9+, most personal electronics cannot be remotely hacked. The Hacking module is illegal on worlds with Law Levels 4+.

Hypercosmetic Surgery (TL9; Cr75,000): perfect body sculpting and implanted synthetic pheromone glands radically reconstructs the subject’s body to be perfectly attractive to other members of their species. Grants Advantage to all social skill throws in situations where physical attractiveness matters.

Subdermal Armor (TL9; Cr15,000): keratin and ceramic bone lacing and light shielding of vital organs provides 2 points of armor protection. The implant is subtle enough to pass visual inspection but can be spotted with sensor scans. Subdermal armor is added to the protection rating of any worn armor. Subdermal armor is legal on most worlds, but usually will be controlled on worlds with Law Level 8+.

Subdermal Armor, Heavy (TL9; Cr20,000): unlike the lighter variety, heavy subdermal armor makes no attempt at being discreet. It provides 5 points of armor protection that is added to the protection rating of any worn armor. Heavy subdermal armor is detectable upon visual inspection and counts as two implants (4 Cybernetic Points). Heavy subdermal armor is illegal on worlds with Law Level 3+.

R-Grade Cybernetics:

Extremely invasive, experimental, and irreversible cybernetics. These implants are all highly illegal for anyone to own, outside of restricted military circles.

Berserker Module (TL9; Cr200,000): this dangerous combat augmentation keeps the user going no matter what injury they sustain. The character stays conscious and active as long as they have even one point of Lifeblood left – even when severely injured. They still die if their Lifeblood reaches zero.

Bastet Frame Upgrade (TL9; MCr1): a radical reconstruction of the entire organic body to grant superhuman agility and speed. The implant doubles the character’s DEX (to a maximum of 20), and grants Advantage on all DEX-related Athletics and Stealth throws. Furthermore, the Bastet Frame increases the character’s movement speed from 10m per round to 15m per round. The Bastet Frame Upgrade is incompatible with the Hercules Frame Upgrade.

Control Rig Implant (TL9; MCr1): this is a highly specialized implant designed to give elite vehicle pilots even more of an edge. The control rig allows the operator to fully interface their minds with vehicles. The control rig gives the character Advantage on Vehicle skill throws with suitably modified vehicles. This does require the operator to be in the vehicle, and “plugged in.” Modifying a vehicle to work with control rig increases its cost by 10%. If the vehicle takes damage, roll END 6+ to avoid taking 1D damage from electrical feedback.

Hercules Frame Replacement (TL9; MCr1): a radical reconstruction of the entire organic body grants superhuman endurance and might. The Hercules Frame doubles the character’s STR and END (to a maximum of 20), affecting Stamina, Lifeblood, and unarmed combat damage. It also gives Advantage on all Athletics throws requiring brute strength, and Grapple checks in Melee Combat. The Hercules frame upgrade is incompatible with the Bastet Frame Upgrade.

Military-grade Neural Cyberspace Interface (TL9; MCr1): the ultimate interface between the human brain and a machine. The neural cyberspace interface functions as a Hacking Module, but also grants Advantage to all Computer and Repair throws related to electronics and computers.

Minerva Upgrade (TL13 MCr3): this implant requires the radical reconstruction of the entire organic neural system. It includes synaptic enhancers, nano-tech upgrades to dendrites, and multiple supplemental neural processor implants directly in the brain. The end result is superhuman intelligence, doubling the character’s INT (to a maximum of 20).

Neural Booster (TL9; MCr2): this invasive augmentation to the character’s nervous system and adrenal glands greatly boosts reaction times and suppresses the fight-or-flight response. The Booster grants an additional action per combat round for a total of three. Characters with the Neural booster implant also roll to avoid Surprise with Advantage. As well, the character never suffers the unskilled penalty (DM-3) when rolling to avoid Surprise.

Vacuum Adaptation (TL13; MCr1): the ultimate spacer implant turns the user into a voidwalker. Internal oxygen reserves, micro-seals, and metal weave skin allow an hour of operation in vacuum without a space suit. An integral grav unit allows short-range maneuvering in low and micro-gravity. The grav unit is too weak to maneuver in any gravity beyond 0.05g. This augment also provides 5 points of integral armor and reduces radiation by 10 rads. The Vacuum Adaptation implant is visible upon medical inspection or sensor scan, but is otherwise quite discreet.

Exploration and Personal Equipment

The following items are common among adventurers and explorers. This list is not complete; we invite you to add interesting equipment for their adventuring characters from other games, with Referee approval.

The Advanced Base is pressurized, modular, and capable of housing 6 persons. It requires 12 person-hours to assemble. Life support lasts for 24 hours without portable generator to power atmoscrubbers.

An Artificial Gill allows unlimited underwater activity on worlds with atmospheres 4-9.

An Awareness Disruption Field Generator (AwFiG) emits a low-grade psionic wave that affects the perception of those around, causing them to disregard or overlook the presence of a person or thing. To the passer-by the wearer of the AwFiG is not present or is just part of the background and is unlikely to be remembered.

A Backpack does not count as an item for encumbrance when worn. The items in the backpack still do count towards encumbrance.

A (Personal) Cloaking Device permits its user to become practically invisible. The light-distorting gravitic lensing of the device affects all visible light for organic and mechanical eyes. However, the target still emits infrared heat radiation.

Cold Weather Clothing protects against inclement weather. The TL12 version costs Cr800 and does not count as an item for encumbrance.

A standard set of lockpicks in a handy carrying pouch. Attempting to pick a lock without lockpicks penalizes the attempt by DM-2.

A Contra-Grav Cart is too slow to use as a vehicle but can carry up to 500kg of gear at a speed of 10m per combat action. With some versions, it is possible to “tether” the cart to a person, which makes the cart follow that specific person at a distance of 3m to 20m.

Corrosive Gel comes in small metallic tubes. It can be used to mark surfaces or to destroy small objects (like door locks). The gel consists of a binary chemical agent in two chambers in the tube. Once opened and applied, the agents combine within 1D minutes. The exact effect is left to the Referee. Each tube is one-use only.

An Exoskeleton grants its user a +6 bonus to their STR score for Athletics/STR skill checks. It also allows the character to jump up to 2m vertically, or 5m horizontally, and increases the wearer’s movement speed to 15m/action. Another benefit is that the exoskeleton allows soldiers to march their normal cross-country speed while tiring at half the rate. The exoskeleton’s batteries are good for 48 hours of activity before requiring replacement. At higher tech levels, exoskeletons are often replaced by cybernetics.

5-days' worth of Field Rations each count as a single item for encumbrance. TL9+ field rations are much lighter: 25 field rations count as one item.

Firestarters are fast-burning chemicals in one-use packages. They will automatically start a sustainable fire with prepared wood and brush kindling. Throw Survival/INT 6+ to start the fire if the wood or other fuel is wet.

A Grav Lamp is a floating hands-free light source. It can illuminate an area between 2m and 10m in radius. The illumination radius is adjustable by means of a small lightweight “anchor” worn on the person and does not count as an item for encumbrance. The grav lamp will float near or next to the anchor, between 0.5m and 10m away, depending on the setting used.

A Hammock is a cloth or synthetic textile temporary sleeping surface, suspended between two fixed points. It can also be used as a shade. Supports up to 150 kg.

The Hooligan Tool is a 0.8-meter, 4 kg tool designed to breach common door/hatch types. There is forked spade end (for getting doors open), a horn (for getting that initial grab into opening an iris valve or busting padlocks), and a wedge (for those pesky hatches). The tool is designed to maximize leverage. Made of special alloys and composites, the tool is non-sparking, a feature that prevents accidents in explosive atmospheres such as a ship with a liquid hydrogen leak. Complete with fiberglass shaft and hand grips made from non-conducting material.

An LED Flashlight is a hand-held, rubberized, sturdy light source with a variable light aperture. The 2m cone of light has a range of 50m, but it can be adjusted to illuminate a 5m radius. Smaller, more expensive (Cr20) versions can be mounted on weapons or clipped to armor. A TL7 LED Flashlight’s battery will last for 24 hours. By TL11, the battery will last for a decade of continual use.

A Mapper (Instant) can be attached to any hand computer or used alone. It consists of a computer, display, and launcher for a data-gathering probe. The probe is an anti-grav unit that will rise 100-200 m into the air and take 360-degree image of all visible terrain. This data is then compiled into a 2D, or 3D map displayed by the base unit. The Mapper also instantly calculates topographic features and distances to user-selected points.

A Measuring Tape (Advanced) consists of a base unit and one or more movable beacon units. When activated, the device displays the exact distance between itself and the beacons. It can be thus measuring the dimensions of any object, by placing the base at one edge and the beacon at the other, or placing two beacons on either side, or measure area by placing beacons on 4 sides.

Measuring Beacon: A larger-size version of the Advanced Measuring Tape, which can be used as a homing beacon. By leaving the base at a predetermined point and carrying the beacon, the user will always know which direction and how far to go to return to the base unit. The Measuring Beacon has a 500km range.

A Memory Randomizer is an insidious disguise device: everyone who comes into contact with the wearer of the Randomizer perceives the wearer but cannot accurately describe them. This makes them impossible to identify by memory unless the target makes a successful INT 12+ throw. The Memory Randomizer can be placed on an object to make it so ubiquitous as to be unrecognizable.

A Mess Kit (Individual) includes plate, utensils, cup, storage case and disposable cleaning cloths and counts as one item.

The Multiscanner combines several sensor functions: it can detect radiation, electromagnetic emissions, metals, and a limited set of chemicals and biological compounds. It can also perform standard blood tests.

The Night Visor combines low-light and infra-red vision goggles into one handy device.

Today’s smartphones will eventually evolve into an OmniComm, a combination of all your telecom needs in one device, with holographic augmented reality capability. The same applies to the OmniComp – a hand-held, light-weight computer which evolved from both the laptop and the tablet computer. Both devices are designed to integrate with whatever telecommunications networks are present on a given world. TL8 batteries for these devices last for a few days; TL9 batteries last for months between recharging.

The Omnitool is an auto-adjusting, auto-fitting repair tool. It will fit exactly to any kind of bolt, screw or fastening device, and also doubles as wire-cutters, small hack saw, flashlight, and a myriad of other tools. All this is packed into one item’s worth of encumbrance!

A Panic Button uses ultrasonic waves and other sensory inputs to produce a physiological and emotional terror response. The Panic Button influences the emotional states of creatures within a 5m wide, 15m long cone, forcing them to make Morale rolls.

A Pressure Tent lacks an airlock and must be depressurized to enter or leave; it can house up to 2 people and requires an external oxygen tank.

The Pulverizer is a combination of hammer, nail puller and pry bar. Made of high-tech materials to be lightweight but highly durable. The Pulverizer adds DM+1 to any Strength roll to force open a mechanical object such as a door or iris valve.

The Radar Mapper uses radar technology to scan a room or similar space, producing a 3D map of it, to a maximum volume of 10m by 10m by 10m.

The Radiation Detector is a matchbox sized device that displays radiation levels in a 10m radius. It also indicates the type of radiation if that is important. The detector can also serve as an alarm, chiming loudly when radiation levels are dangerous to humans. This feature can be shut off.

A Rescue Bubble is a 2m-diameter plastic bubble. Piezoelectric layers translate the user’s movement to electricity to recharge the bubble’s battery. It contains enough life support supplies for 2 person-hours of operation. The bubble’s skin can self-repair all but the most serious punctures.

A Sleeping Bag is a cloth or synthetic padded bag for one person, to provide insulation/ cover while sleeping. At TL 7, cold weather bags are available. Regular bags are effective to zero degrees centigrade, while cold weather bags, costing Cr150, are insulated to negative 30 degrees centigrade.

A Sonar Window is flat-screen device that attaches to a wall/partition. It uses sonar to display what is on the other side of the wall. Image quality depends on Tech Level. The TL11 version displays basic outlines, the TL 12 version costs Cr2,000 and improves image quality and 3D effect. At Cr7,000, the TL14 version’s display is virtually indistinguishable from that of an actual window.

The Spray Sealant can seal torn space suits and small hull breaches. The canister is good for three such applications, or one larger hull breach.

The Super Adhesive is instant bonding and possesses super-strength. The adhesive comes in roughly 1L canisters that are sufficient for five generous applications. The adhesive adheres to most surfaces, has a drying time of 1 minute. Pulling apart the two bonded objects requires a STR 12+ test and will ruin both objects. A special chemical is available for removing people glued to objects with Super Adhesive. It costs Cr100 per application.

The Super Lubricant is composed of near-frictionless space-age synthetics. Each can is good for six applications. The lubricant is a standard part of a maintenance tech’s toolset. In addition to loosening stuck objects and ensuring that the internal workings of any mechanical device are working properly, the Super Lubricant can render any surface near-frictionless. Standing on a surface coated in Super Lubricant requires an Athletics/DEX 10+ throw. Walking or, heaven forbid, running on such a surface is impossible. Crawling can be done at 1m per round.

A Thruster Pack requires Zero-G skill level 0 and allows maneuvering in zero-G conditions at normal movement rates. Note that this is a TL8 device and does not use any anti-gravity technology. Characters and objects moving by thruster pack are still subject to the laws of motion.

Water Purification Tablets cost Cr10 for a pack of 50; each tablet can sterilize up to 1L of water from most types of microorganisms.

A Water Saw requires a separate power supply and a large volume of available water. Pumps create extreme water pressure (90,000 psi or more) which is directed through a tiny nozzle. The stream is powerful enough to cut through concrete, stone, and even light metals. Weighs 1000kg and is usually mounted on an exoskeleton or small vehicle.

The handheld Welder uses a focused laser beam to perform cutting and welding operations. It can cut through a reinforced bulkhead in 1D starship combat rounds (6-36 minutes). Roll Repair/DEX 10+ to reduce the time to one starship combat round (6 minutes). As a weapon, the laser welder is inaccurate and clumsy, but extremely dangerous: it does 4D damage with a range of 1/5 and has energy for 5 “shots.” As a weapon, the welder also has the Fire aspect.

Pharmaceuticals

Below is a brief list of pharmaceuticals and drugs that are available at various tech levels.

Anti-Radiation

Administered before or immediately after radiation exposure, this drug absorbs 100 rads. Taking more than one dose a day causes 1D permanent END damage.

Cost: Cr1,000/dose

Tech Level: TL8

Catsight

This medication grants its user night vision for up to 12 hours. The character does not suffer penalties from operating and fighting in low-light conditions and only suffers DM-1 in total darkness.

Cost: Cr100/dose

Tech Level: TL9

Fast Forward

This drug slows metabolism by a ratio of 60 to 1 – a subjective day to the user is 2 months of real time. Note that this drug will greatly reduce life-support consumption and is often included in emergency survival kits aboard starships.

Cost: Cr200/dose

Tech Level: TL11

Slow Motion

This drug accelerates metabolism by a ratio of 1 to 60 – a subjective hour to the user is 60 hours of real time. Note that this drug accelerates healing accordingly. Using this drug is dangerous without Medicine 1 or better care.

Cost: Cr300/dose

Tech Level: TL11

Hyperspace

Hyperspace is a powerful stimulant, allowing characters to function perfectly for up to 72 hours straight without rest. Once its influence expires, the character is Fatigued (DM-2 to throws), loses 1D Stamina, and must rest for at least 12 hours to recover.

Cost: Cr50/dose

Tech Level: TL9

Longevity Treatment

Longevity drugs prevent aging. For them to be effective, a character must take one dose each month. If the character misses even one month of Longevity Treatment, they revert to their chronological age within a week, which may be lethal in some cases.

Cost: Cr5,000/dose

Tech Level: TL15

Panacea

The Medicinal drug represents a wide variety of vaccines, antitoxins, antibiotics, and other pharmaceuticals. Medicinal allows a character with at least Medicine 1 to neutralize a disease or poison on a throw of Medicine/EDU 8+. The cost of any drug is at the Referee’s discretion. Advanced TL11+ medications cost ten times as much but grant Advantage on the Medicine throw.

Cost: Cr50+/dose

Tech Level: TL5

Robots

Robots! The very word conjures up hopes and fears for the future. The idea of an autonomous mechanical entity is old, but its implementation became reality in the early 21^st century CE on Earth (TLs7-8). At first, robots revolutionized industrial processes, but eventually even vacuum cleaners were roboticized. In these rules, contrary to various dictionary definitions, “robot” refers to a mobile, autonomous (or remote-controlled) machine capable of varied actions.

All robots and drones have a Chassis and a CPU. All robots (but not drones) have a Robot Type. It is possible to further modify robots, and we present a variety of options, but these modifications are not mandatory. Robots have a number of Build Points determined by their mass, limiting the total number of components that can be installed. For the sake of rules simplicity and clarity, like organic beings, Robots have Stamina (superficial damage capacity) and Lifeblood (internal damage capacity). They also have armor that functions like personal armor to reduce the damage of attacks.

Note that robot base speed is 5m/action. Higher speeds require the installation of Modifications. Robots start with Sensors +0, further modified by Type and specific Modifications.

Robot design sequence

1. Select a Chassis. This determines Mass, Stamina/Lifeblood, Build Points, and Armor.

2. Select a CPU. Drones have no CPU; they always require a sentient operator. Smart drones and robots can operate autonomously. The CPU determines the robot’s Intelligence and skill points.

3. For robots, select a Robot Type. This grants certain Modifications, two Base Skills, and could multiply the Chassis’ cost.

4. In addition to Base Skills, robots with advanced CPUs have skill points to spend on skills. Use these skill points to improve Base Skills, or to purchase new ones. The maximum level in any skill depends on the CPU.

5. Optional: purchase modifications, by spending Build Points.

Chassis Table

CPU Table

* Smart Drones do not receive base skills.

Robot Types

Robot Modifications and Upgrades

Sample Bots

Vehicles

Science fiction stories often feature wild chases, armored warfare, or exploration of remote planets by all sorts of vehicles. A wide variety of vehicles exist across cultures and species for planetary, atmospheric, and oceanic transportation. The following is a list of a few of the more common conveyances.

Characters may purchase a vehicle at its base Tech Level or on any higher TL. Higher-tech vehicles typically have greater range and endurance, at the Referee’s discretion.

Stat Block Explanation

Tech Level (TL): technological level, as noted above.

Cost: in thousands of Credits (KCr).

Agility: represents the vehicle’s maneuverability. Applies as a DM to skill and Position throws in vehicle combat.

Speed: top speed in km/h; cruising speed is 75% of the listed top speed; off-road speed is equal to 50% of top speed.

Range: how far the vehicle can go at cruising speed before refueling. Given in kilometers.

Armor: the vehicle’s Armor Class: Unarmored, Light, or Heavy.

Crew/Passengers: the first number shows the number of crewmembers the vehicle requires; the second, the number of passengers it may carry.

Cargo: dedicated cargo capacity in kilograms or tons.

Weapons: weapons included in the vehicle’s price by default. Heavy weapons use the Heavy Weapons skill. Gunnery weapons use the Gunnery skill.

Active Countermeasures: When a vehicle equipped with Active Countermeasures is attacked by a rocket, missile, or grenade, throw 2D; on 7+, the Countermeasures intercept the munition, neutralizing the attack.

Cepheus Engine SRD/Core Conversion Note

To convert Cepheus Engine SRD/Core vehicle armor to Cepheus Deluxe, use the following table:

When using vehicles from other Cepheus Engine books that use multiple armor ratings, such as different armor for each vehicle facings, simply average the armor rating (rounding down fractions) and consult the table above.

Ground Craft

Watercraft

Aircraft

Grav Vehicles

Example Vehicle Agility Modifiers: note that for aircraft and grav vehicles, Agility is a function of both maneuverability and rate of climb, as both characteristics are important in Position rolls.

Weapons

Interstellar adventurers face their adversaries with blades, bullets, and lasers. Here we present a few common and iconic weapons used by starfarers.

Stat Explanations

Tech Level (TL): technological level, as noted above.

Range: Effective/Maximum range in meters. To attack with a ranged weapon within effective range throw Gun Combat/DEX or Heavy Weapon/DEX 8+; beyond effective range, throw Gun Combat/DEX or Heavy Weapon/DEX 10+.

Damage: damage caused by the weapon, expressed as d6s.

Magazine: The amount of ammunition the weapon holds. If the magazine requires additional time to reload, this is noted.

Ammo Cost: per magazine, in Credits.

Cost: The weapon’s cost, in Credits.

Weapon Aspects

Weapons have Aspects describing any special characteristics, as noted on their table.

Auto X: These weapons fire multiple rounds with every pull of the trigger, filling the air with a hail of fire. A weapon with the Auto aspect can make attacks in three fire modes: single, burst, and full auto, as described in the Combat chapter.

X AV Hits: These weapons are useful for attacking armored vehicles.

Blast X: This weapon has an explosive component or is otherwise effective against all targets in its blast radius. The number given is the blast radius in meters. It is possible to avoid or minimize blast damage, see Diving for Cover in the Combat chapter.

Bulky: A Bulky weapon has powerful recoil or is simply extremely heavy. This makes it difficult to use effectively in combat by someone of a weak physical stature. Characters with STR 8 or less suffer DM-2 when using such weapons. Bipod and Tripod accessories (see below) remove the Bulky aspect, as long as the weapon is stationary and mounted on the bipod or tripod.

Double Tap: the weapon can be fired rapidly, but at a severe loss of accuracy. It may fire 2 bullets in one attack to gain DM+1 to damage.

Fire: On a successful hit, throw 6+ for the target to catch fire. A burning target takes 2D damage per combat round for 1D rounds, or until put out. See the Environmental Hazard Chapter for Fire effects.

Laser: At the Referee's discretion, atmospheric conditions, such as thick smoke, might incur a negative DM to laser fire.

Scattergun: Each attack fills the air with a hail of small projectiles, either flechettes or shot. Scatterguns cause 4D damage at Effective range or closer and attacks with scatterguns are made with DM+1. Anyone within 1.5m of the main target is also attacked by the scattergun effect, but at 2D damage. Beyond Effective range, scatterguns only inflict 2D damage and have no bonus to hit.

Stun: These weapons deal non-lethal damage and will incapacitate a living target instead of killing it. Damage is only deducted from Stamina, after considering any armor. If the target’s Stamina is reduced to 0, the target is incapacitated and unable to perform any actions for a number of rounds by which the damage exceeded his Stamina. Characters completely recover from Stun damage after one hour of rest.

Throwable: these weapons may be thrown; effective range equals to five times the thrower’s STR; maximum range equals STRx10.

Two-Handed: this melee weapon requires both hands to wield. However, all rifle-sized weapons must be wielded with two hands.

Zero-G: the weapon does not suffer a penalty for firing a weapon in zero-g conditions. Lasers automatically have the Zero-G Aspect.

Melee Weapons

The following weapons use the Melee Combat skill. Melee weapons cannot harm vehicles except in special cases, which are left to the Referee’s discretion.

Axe (TL0): a one-handed axe made from metal or stone, anything from a stone-age tool through a medieval war axe to a modern fire axe.

Broadsword (TL2): a large two-handed sword, counts as 2 “Items” for encumbrance purposes. A two-handed Great-Axe uses the same stats.

Cudgel (TL0): a large club or mace.

Cutlass (TL3): A short, broad slashing sword with a slightly curved blade and basket-guard hilt. Traditionally used by marines and pirates.

Dagger (TL0): a straight, short knife. When wielding a Dagger, a character may use both actions in a combat round to attack.

Machete (TL3): A simple yet sturdy broad blade used for cutting foliage and foes alike.

Neural Whip (TL13): Consists of a stocky handle connected to a flexible strap. Each stroke by this weapon causes stun damage as above. However, it has two additional vicious effects. First, any target hit by a neural whip must throw END 10+ or fall to the ground suffering from nightmarish pain and be incapacitated for 2D6 combat rounds. Second, in addition to the stun damage, the neural whip causes 1D physical damage per hit.

Shield (TL0): A personal shield, with which characters can bash enemies for 1D damage. Anyone carrying a shield penalizes enemies by DM-1 when they attack. If a shield is used with the Overwatch action in combat, the attack is penalized by DM-2.

Spear (TL0): from a sharpened shaft to a metal-tipped spear, this is a basic, yet effective, melee weapon.

Staff (TL0): A long wooden shaft, sometimes with metal fittings, used with two hands.

Stun Prod (TL8): A high-tech riot weapon augmenting the baton's blunt force with an electric charge capable of stunning opponents.

Sword (TL1): one of any variety of medium-sized one-handed swords, from gladius (shortsword) to longsword and rapier.

Vibroblade (TL12): An intermediate-sized bladed weapon using hypersonic micro-vibrations of the blade to create a potent cutting force.

A note on unarmed damage: any character can inflict at least 1 point of unarmed damage (before armor) even if their STR DM is 0 or lower.

Common Ranged Weapons

The following weapons use the Gun Combat skill. Unless otherwise noted, consider them as Small Arms against vehicle armor.

Assault Rifle (TL7): Standard military arm on mid-tech worlds. An automatic rifle that fires an intermediate caliber. At the Referee's discretion, its ammunition, or even magazines, may be interchangeable with those of a Carbine.

Autopistol (TL5): Semi-automatic handgun fed from a magazine.

Bows and Crossbows (TL0 and 2, respectively): muscle-powered ranged weapons. Ammunition for a Bow is held in a quiver of 20 arrows, which counts as one encumbrance item. A Bow may fire once a round; a Crossbow requires 2 actions to reload; a quiver holds 20 crossbow quarrels and counts as one encumbrance item.

Carbine (TL5): military longarm that uses a smaller caliber than a full-scale rifle. Carbines are lighter and shorter than rifles, and are often employed as survival weapons.

Gauss Pistol and Rifle (TL12): These weapons accelerate small metal spikes to supersonic velocities. Though the principles behind their function have been understood since the early industrial age, Gauss weapons are typically beyond the manufacturing capabilities of frontier worlds. They do appear, from time to time, in the hands of well-equipped mercenary forces.

Gyrojet (TL8): Designed for use in zero-G environment, the gyrojet rifle fires self-propelled rocket rounds. It has minimal recoil and works perfectly in hard vacuum. The Gyrojet Pistol uses the same rounds as its larger cousin, but is used as a sidearm.

Light Machine Gun (TL7): Standard mid-tech squad-level support automatic weapon, typically belt-fed. Considered as two items for encumbrance purposes.

Pulse Rifle (TL9): An advanced rifle firing electrically ignited, caseless, high explosive, armor-piercing rounds. Provides a high rate of fire and a large magazine capacity.

Revolver (TL4): Simple semi-automatic pistol using a manually loaded rotating drum to feed the bullets. A reliable weapon.

Rifle (TL5): a standard military firearm on low-tech worlds that uses a large caliber projectile. At higher TLs, up to and including TL9, such weapons often serve as dedicated sniper rifles.

Shotgun (TL4): Scattergun firing a "shot" palette capable of hitting multiple targets at once. These particulate stats represent a pump-action weapon with an internal magazine.

Stealth Pistol (TL8): This is an especially light, discreet, and concealable weapon made from advanced polymers. A concealed body pistol can also be disguised as a number of more innocuous items, like comms, digital recorders, and so on.

Submachinegun (TL5): Light automatic weapon that fires pistol rounds. Submachinegun bullets are interchangeable with those of the autopistol; at the Referee's discretion, so are the magazines.

Tangler (TL12): A stubby, tube-like weapon using a gravitic launch system to deliver a capsule to its target. On a hit, the capsule erupts into a mass of adhesive tentacle-like strands, entangling the target creature and any other creature within a 5m radius. Any creature caught in the strands must roll STR 12+ to break out. The Tangler Gun creates enough strands to entangle a creature up to 500kg in weight; larger creatures are unaffected. On a failed roll, the target is immobilized and cannot act; they may attempt to free themselves each minute (10 combat rounds). Other characters can also cut entangled targets free using edged weapons. The Tangler comes with solvent capsules – which the weapon itself can launch as projectiles – which dissolve the tangling strands holding captives. Tangler strands hit with a solvent capsule will dissolve in one minute.

Blasters (TL13): are advanced laser weapons with a compact, internal battery, which is also removable and rechargeable.

Laser Pistol (TL10): Handgun-sized directed energy weapon attached to a belt-mounted power pack. The pistol and its power pack are considered one item together. The powerpack is rechargeable from any major power source, such as a ship’s powerplant.

Laser Rifle (TL9): Heavier version of the laser carbine, with better armor penetration, range, and even anti-vehicular capabilities. Requires a rechargeable heavy backpack power unit, which counts as a separate item. It is rechargeable from any major power source, such as a ship’s power plant.

Note that laser weapons suffer DM-1 to hit when used in environments with a great deal of particulates in the air, like sand, or ash. In these conditions, their ranges are reduced by half as well.

Plasma Rifle (TL16): The ultimate small arm, using miniaturized plasma gun technology to propel magnetically shaped pockets of super-hot plasma at its targets.

Stunner (TL10): Firing a precise electromagnetic pulse, this non-lethal weapon disrupts the target's neural processes, leading to stun and potentially unconsciousness.

Common Small Arm Accessories

The following accessories are commonly available for ranged weapons.

You may attach a Bayonet (TL2), identical to a dagger in its game statistics on its own, to any rifle-sized weapon. A rifle with a bayonet serves as a melee weapon equivalent to a Spear (3D damage).

Laser Sight (TL7): the bonus for Aimed Shots increases to DM+2, but only within Effective range. The DM+3 limit on aimed shot bonuses to hit is still in effect. Cr100.

Scope (TL6): the weapon avoids the penalty for firing beyond effective range, as long as the character used the Aimed Shot action before firing. Maximum range still applies. Cr200.

Silencer (TL6): May be attached to any firearm. Silencers work for single shots, and short bursts, but never Full Auto attacks. Silencers provide a DM-4 to hear the gunshot sound. Cr250.

Smart Weapon (TL10): connects to a HUD or an implanted OmniComp. Grants DM+1 to all attacks. The Smart Weapon bonus is not cumulative with laser sights. This means that after one Combat Action aiming, the character can fire at DM+3. The DM+3 limit on aiming bonuses still applies. Cr1,000.

All Heavy weapons can be mounted on a Tripod (TL4), which negates their Bulky aspect. The weapon cannot be moved while mounted on a tripod. Tripods take 10 combat rounds (one minute) to set up. Cr100.

Common Heavy Weapons

The following weapons use the Heavy Weapons skill. All heavy weapons are considered 3 items each for encumbrance purposes. Ammunition belts, magazines, and individual rockets are each considered one item for encumbrance purposes.

Disposable Anti-Vehicle Rocket (TL7): A cheap, one-use, portable rocket launcher. Functions as an armor-piercing rocket, with 2 AV hits against vehicles.

Flamethrower (TL6): Spews a stream of fire 3m wide at its far end. All targets within this cone suffer damage and catch fire. The tank for the flamethrower holds enough fuel for five full attacks and counts as two items for encumbrance.

Fusion Gun (TL14): The advanced development of the plasma gun. This weapon fires plasma bolts undergoing microfusion for massive damage. It uses a back-mounted micro-fusion reactor and thus, for game purposes, has unlimited ammunition. The ammo cost in this case represents purchasing such a backpack. Note that the backpack and gun constitute 4 items in total for encumbrance.

GP Machinegun (TL6): A “General Purpose” belt-fed medium machinegun. Often carried on vehicles as a heavy weapon but is also man portable.

Grav Launcher: Advanced micro-gravitic technology allows this weapon to guide a floating plasma bomb to its target without having to account for ballistic trajectories or inertia. Once launched, the bomb travels 50m per combat round. Its operator can move it in any direction and can also stop it and have it hover in mid-air. Detonation is on command. The bomb's internal battery allows for 10 rounds of gravitic flight.

Grenade Launcher (TL7): Grenade launchers fire grenades over long distances. Grenades for a grenade launcher are not interchangeable with handheld grenades.

Grenade Launcher, Under-Barrel (TL7): this weapon greatly increases the firepower of infantry. The under-barrel grenade launcher can be mounted under most two-handed firearms at TL7 or higher. It is not Bulky and can fire a single grenade before reloading. At TL10+, the weapon has a 3-shot magazine.

Guided Anti-Tank Missile (TL7): this is a portable guided missile system, like the AT-3 Sagger, or present-day Javelin or Eryx. These weapons must be fired from a fixed stationary position. However, the gunner need not be adjacent to the missile’s firing position.

Light Assault Gun (TL8): Heavy anti-vehicle rifle firing large armor-piercing shells.

Plasma Gun (TL12): High-energy anti-vehicular man-portable weapon firing magnetically contained plasma bolts. It requires a back-mounted, rechargeable power pack counting as two Items for encumbrance purposes.

Rocket Launcher (TL6): Man-portable rocket launcher utilizing unguided munitions. Rocket launchers are unsafe to use in enclosed spaces. Rocket payloads are considered high explosive and are not particularly effective against armored vehicles. Armor piercing rockets cost Cr500 per rocket: trade Blast 6 for 2 AV hits, Blast 1. An anti-aircraft homing missile (2 AV hits) costs Cr10000 and does not suffer a penalty when firing at fast-moving air vehicles.

Support Laser (TL8): Heavy directed-energy man-portable weapon for fire support and light anti-vehicular duties. Its back-mounted power pack counts as two Items for encumbrance purposes.

Grenades and Explosives

Throw Athletics/DEX 8+ to accurately throw a hand grenade within effective range, or Heavy Weapons/DEX 8+ to accurately launch a grenade from a launcher. The Effective range for thrown grenades is equal to five times the character’s STR. Maximum range for thrown grenades is STRx10.

On a failed grenade attack, thrown grenades will deviate 2D6 + (the margin of failure) meters from its intended target, double that for grenades fired from a launcher. Beyond Effective range a thrown grenade automatically deviates 2D6 – (Effect) meters, regardless of the result of the attack throw.

Throw Demolitions/EDU 8+ to properly set up an explosive charge for simple demolition, or Demolitions/EDU 10+ or greater for more complex jobs, such as setting a directional shaped charge explosive.

Dynamite (TL4): Low-tech explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay) and stabilizers. Used for demolition but can also be thrown with a lit fuse as a "grenade".

EMP Grenade (TL8): Electro-Magnetic Pulse grenade emitting a powerful magnetic pulse capable of disrupting electronics but harmless to organic beings. It causes full damage to robots. Characters with implanted cybernetics are vulnerable to EMP but only take half stun damage (rounded up) from it. Non-cybered organic beings are immune to this stun damage. This grenade counts as a heavy weapon (2 AV hits) for the purposes of damaging TL7+ vehicles.

Flashbang Grenade (TL7): Non-lethal stun grenade emitting a powerful flash and deafening noise upon detonation.

Fragmentation Grenade (TL5): Basic anti-personnel hand grenade exploding into a hail of shrapnel.

HEAP Grenade (TL7): High Explosive Armor-Piercing anti-tank grenade using a focused blast to penetrate armor. This grenade can only be fired from a launcher and counts as a heavy weapon (1 AV hit) for purposes of damaging vehicles.

Molotov Cocktail (TL4): Home-made incendiary bomb commonly made from a glass container filled with highly flammable liquid and lit with a fuse.

Incendiary Grenade (TL6): Military-grade fire-bomb grenade.

Plasma Grenade (TL13): A plasma explosive device in a grenade-sized package. This grenade counts as a heavy weapon for damaging vehicles (2 AV hits).

Plastique (TL6): This generic, multi-purpose plastic explosive is a favorite of military units, terrorists, demolition teams and adventurers across known space.

Smoke Grenade (TL6): Deploys a cloud of thick smoke upon impact. Apply DM-1 to all attacks passing through its Blast radius. They also apply a further DM-1 to laser weapons. The smoke stays in the air for 1D combat rounds.

Gunnery Weapons

The following weapons require a vehicular or fixed tripod mount. They use the Gunnery skill. Consider them as Gunnery Weapons when fired against vehicle armor.

AV Hits represents the number of rolls on the Surface Damage or Internal Damage tables if the weapon penetrates the target. If the weapon causes Critical Damage, roll only once on the Critical Damage table, regardless of how many AV Hits the weapon usually causes.

Direct hits on personnel with Gunnery Weapons are automatically lethal, unless the target is wearing TL13 powered armor, in which case, they take the Personal Damage listed here, normally. If the character is in the blast radius of a Gunnery Weapon, apply the Personal Damage normally, and see the rules on Diving for Cover in the Personal Combat chapter to maximize chances of survivability.

Air-to-Air Missile (TL7): this is a radar-guided or heat-seeking missile designed for use in air-to-air combat. TL8+ versions are self-guided suicide drones. These missiles can represent large surface-to-air missile installations as well.

Anti-Tank Missile System (TL7): A larger, vehicle or fixed-mount version of the guided missile heavy weapon, like the modern TOW or Hellfire missile. These missiles are very effective against slower armored vehicles.

Autocannon (TL 6): a rapid-fire cannon in the 20mm-30mm caliber range that is usually found mounted on aircraft and light vehicles. This weapon usually has enough ammunition for 10-20 short bursts.

Cannon, Light (TL5): a vehicle-mounted or towed gun in the 40-70mm caliber range, like the guns mounted on early Second World War tanks. They usually have between 40 and 100 shells in their magazine.

Cannon, Heavy (TL6): this large vehicle-mounted cannon is the main weapon of modern tank designs. This also represents field guns and light indirect artillery.

Cannon, Advanced (TL8): the final evolution of chemically-ignited direct fire heavy guns. Each projectile is an advanced charge that can be set to detonate in the air, upon contact, or designed to self-forge into an armor-piercing penetrator.

Fusion Gun (TL13): a large and bulky high-energy weapon that fires magnetically shaped bolts of plasma undergoing nuclear fusion. This weapon is powered by its own fusion reactor and thus has effectively unlimited ammunition.

Laser Cannon (TL8): the first battlefield energy weapon. This laser is more costly than an advanced cannon but has twice the effective range. Unfortunately for its operators, laser cannons suffer a DM-1 to hit when there is a large amount of particulates in the air.

Laser Cannon, Advanced (TL9): a fully developed, and thus cheaper, battlefield vehicle laser. It is still affected by particulates like all lasers.

Plasma Cannon (TL 11): The earliest high-energy weapon on the battlefield. The plasma cannon fires magnetically shaped plasma bolts that release enormous amounts of heat on the target. They are not long-ranged vehicle weapons.

Railgun (TL 10): an answer to newly developed laser cannon technology, the railgun fires a slug of nickel-alloy at hypersonic velocities. The weapon is cheap and has a very long range.

Environmental Hazards

Not all threats carry weapons. Starfarers must contend with disease, radiation, and extreme environments when exploring distant stars. This chapter provides simple rules for implementing these hazards in your game.

Disease and Poison

When a character is exposed to a disease or poison, they must make an Endurance throw. The target is the pathogen’s Virulence number. If successful, the character shrugs off the effect. If the throw is failed, the disease damages the character’s Stamina according to the listed damage. The infected character must repeat this throw after the pathogen’s listed interval. Success means recovery and failure causes the listed damage, again. If this damage reduces the character’s Stamina to zero, additional damage applies to Lifeblood. The character cannot heal any damage until they recover from the illness or poisoning. Note that most poisons do not have an interval, but rather cause their damage immediately upon poisoning and only once.

Sample pathogens

Extreme Temperatures

Extreme environments damage unprotected characters, as noted in the table below.

Fire

When exposed to fire, characters must throw DEX 8+ to avoid catching fire. A burning character takes 1D damage per round. Make another DEX 8+ throw each subsequent round; if successful, the character puts out the fire. If failed, the character suffers another 2D damage. Putting out the fire by other means, such as an extinguisher, also stops this continuous damage. Note that space suits, encased armor, and powered armor render their wearers immune to fire damage.

Falling

A character suffers 1D damage per 2m fallen, up to 6D at terminal velocity. Multiply this damage by the world’s gravity rating in Gs. For example, falling 10 meters on a world with 0.45Gs would inflict 5D damage, which is then multiplied by 0.45 for the actual damage result – 2.5D rounded up to 3D.

Radiation

A character exposed to radiation accumulates rads. Unless treated with anti-radiation medication, this radiation exposure remains forever. Even after a character has recovered from radiation sickness (see below), accumulated radiation remains. Additional significant exposure will cause more severe sickness as any new exposure accumulates with all previous exposures before determining damage.

Radiation Exposure Levels

Exposure to radiation might lead to radiation sickness, depending on the amount of rads the character has accumulated. Use the disease and poison rules, in conjunction with the table below.

Radiation Sickness.

Starvation and Dehydration

A character requires two liters of water and 0.5kg of food per day to stay healthy. Special high-tech rations (TL8+) are a lightweight, though unappetizing substitute for food.

A character may go without water for 20 hours + twice their END score with no ill effect. After that time has passed, the character must throw END 6+ per hour without water or suffer 1D damage. There is a cumulative DM-1 with each additional check.

A character may go without food for 3 days. After that, the character must throw END 6+ per day without food or suffer 1D damage. There is a cumulative DM-1 with each additional check.

The character can recover this damage only after drinking and eating.

Suffocation

In cases of insufficient oxygen, such as on a ship with failing life support, characters suffer 1D damage per minute. If the character has no access to any oxygen whatsoever, like when a character is being strangled, or has been sucked out into space, the damage is 1D per round instead.

Vacuum Exposure

Contrary to popular belief, vacuum does not kill immediately. A character exposed to vacuum suffers regular suffocation damage (above). While exposed to space they also suffer 3Dx10 rads of radiation per round. Additionally, beginning from the third round of vacuum exposure, the character must throw END 10+ per round or fall unconscious from aeroembolisms – the formation of air bubbles in their blood stream.

Personal and Vehicle Combat

Spacers and adventurers often run into trouble among the stars. Hopefully, they’ll be able to talk and negotiate their way out of problems. However, in many cases they will have to fight, be that for a cause, goal, or for survival. The following rules allow quick resolution of combats.

See the weapon descriptions in the Equipment chapter for various special Weapon Aspects and how to use them with these rules.

Combat Procedure Outline

1. Check for surprise. If one party surprises the other, they gain one free combat round during which the surprised party cannot act.

2. Determine Initiative for all combatants.

3. Start the combat round.

   1. Combatants act in Initiative order (highest first).

   2. On their turn, each character has two actions. They may use them for attacks, movement, and other actions. Apply any damage inflicted by an attack immediately.

   3. Once the combat round is over, begin a new round, until the battle is over.

4. If necessary – triage and treat the wounded.

Combat Rounds

Combat takes place in 6-second segments called Combat Rounds. Characters act in descending initiative order, as discussed below, in each combat round – unless they are surprised or otherwise unable to act.

Surprise

Characters may surprise other parties or be surprised by them. A good tactician or a keen-eyed recon specialist can lay a good ambush or avoid one.

In situations where surprise is possible, each party throws Recon/INT 10+ or Stealth/DEX 10+. If one party succeeds and the other fails, the winner gains surprise. If both sides succeed or both fail, there is no surprise. A party deliberately setting up an ambush gains DM+2 to surprise rolls: ambushes require advanced knowledge of an approaching enemy, which is beyond the scope of the combat rules. Groups in vehicles, or groups of eight or more characters, suffer DM-2 to surprise rolls. Note that the DM-3 unskilled penalty applies here; if no one in a party has the Recon or Stealth skills, the party throws 2D-3 (modified by the higher between their INT and DEX DMs) for surprise.

Surprise grants a free combat round during which the surprising party may act, but the surprised party may not.

Initiative

Once fighting begins, each combatant throws 2D + their Tactics skill (if any) + their INT DM. Record these rolls. In each combat round, characters act from the highest initiative score to the lowest. Note that the DM-3 unskilled penalty applies here; characters unskilled in Tactics throw 2D-3 + INT DM for initiative.

A character with Leadership may throw Leadership/INT 8+ at the beginning of combat; if successful, any characters in their parties may apply the throw’s Effect as a skill bonus to initiative. Combatants may only benefit once from this effect. If multiple characters with the Leadership skill are present, only the one with the highest Leadership skill may roll.

Optional Rule: Simultaneous Combat

As an alternative to initiative-based combat, some groups prefer simultaneous combat. First, resolve any surprise/ambush opportunities. In all subsequent combat rounds, use the following rules:

First resolve all melee attacks and movement; they all occur simultaneously and cause damage simultaneously. For example, a character who succeeded in a melee attack and was then incapacitated by another melee attack will still cause damage to their target. Actions are declared in reverse DEX order: the lower DEX combatants must declare their actions first. This gives a minor advantage to characters with faster reflexes.

Second, after resolving all melee attacks, movement, and damage, resolve all ranged attacks, their damage, and non-movement actions in the same manner.

Note that this makes combat more dangerous and less predictable. It also provides an intentional advantage to melee combat to make it worthwhile to develop and use in a battlefield dominated by guns – to allow for cutlass-wielding cyborg pirates and similar characters!

Actions and Attacks

Each character has two actions in their turn. Characters may use an action as follows:

Attack: attack as described below.

Charge: run to a single enemy at a range of up to 20m and make a melee attack at DM+2. Characters on Overwatch (see below) being charged at can, of course, react and attack the charging enemy. Characters not on Overwatch also gain a free attack against a charging enemy, but at DM-2.

Inspire: throw Leadership/INT 8+ to add DM+2 to any single character’s next throw.

Move: move up to 10m. Alternatively, fall prone or get up from a prone position.

Overwatch: delay your action until an enemy moves through your line of sight or attacks you. When this happens, you may immediately act, regardless of initiative order. You may hold your Overwatch for a number of rounds equal to your END score.

Other Typical Actions include it is impossible to list all potential character actions. Instead, here are a few that can serve as guidelines to assist Referees in determining whether or not whatever the player wants to do is an action or would require more or less time.

Melee Attacks

To hit in melee (hand-to-hand combat), throw Melee Combat/STR 8+. You may not attack in melee with a longarm (such as a rifle) unless you use it as a cudgel (2D damage) or as a spear (3D damage with a bayonet). You may attack with a handgun (including shotguns and submachineguns) in melee at DM-2 to hit. Note that if a shield is used with the Overwatch action in combat, the wielder is treated as having partial cover, as noted below. This gives an enemy DM-2 to hit the shielded character in melee.

Frenzy

A character with at least Melee Combat-1 who either kills or disables an enemy in melee combat may move 2m and immediately attack an adjacent enemy. Characters may do so in the same combat action for a number of times equal to their Melee Combat skill.

Ranged Combat

To hit a target in your weapon’s Effective range, throw Gun Combat/DEX or Heavy Weapons/DEX (as appropriate) 8+. Beyond Effective range, throw 10+ instead out to maximum range.

Hitting an obscured target (such as behind bushes) is penalized by DM-1; when attacking a target behind hard cover, the penalty is DM-2; and for heavy prepared cover, such as a bunker, attacks are penalized by DM-3.

Attacks on a prone character in ranged combat are penalized by DM-2; attacking a prone character behind cover uses that cover DM instead, with an additional DM-1.

However, if a character enjoys a total cover DM of -4 or more, they themselves cannot make any direct fire ranged attacks. They are completely blocked by their cover. They may still attack, and be attacked, by means of indirect weapons like grenades.

Shooting in darkness incurs DM-2 to hit, while shooting in dim light incurs DM-1 to hit. These penalties can be alleviated by various night vision devices.

Ranged Combat DM Table

Aiming

An aimed shot requires two consecutive actions and grants DM+1 to hit. A character may use their first action in a combat round to aim, then enjoy DM+1 to hit when firing on the second action. Alternatively, it is possible to begin aiming as the second action in one round and continue aiming through the first action of the next round, and then make an attack with the second action of that second round. The maximum +DM achievable by aiming is +3.

Automatic Weapons

Automatic weapons fire multiple rounds with every pull of the trigger, filling the air with a hail of bullets. A weapon with the Auto aspect can make attacks in three fire modes: single, burst, and full auto, as described below.

Single: Attacks are made using the normal combat rules.

Burst: Add the Auto score to damage. This uses a number of rounds equal to the Auto score.

Full Auto: Make a number of attacks equal to the Auto score. These attacks can be made against separate targets so long as they are all within six meters of one another. Alternatively, use Full Auto for Suppression fire (see the Combat section). Full auto uses ammunition equal to three times the weapon’s Auto score. A weapon cannot use the Auto aspect with the Scope accessory or Aiming action. You may only perform one Full Auto attack in a given round.

Suppressive Fire

Instead of shooting a target, a character may fire an automatic weapon to deter enemy action in each area. Choose a 3m-by-3m area within effective range. Any combatants who move through this area, or caught in this area, suffer an automatic attack. However, do not apply the shooter's Gun Combat skill to this attack and apply a further DM-2 to it. Thus, such shots hit a suppressed target in Effective range on 10+, or 12+ while in cover – combatants under suppressive fire better keep their head down! This continues until the weapon runs out of ammo or until the shooter’s next round. This consumes ammunition equal to three times the weapon's Auto rating.

You may only perform one Suppressive Fire action per round.

Thrown Weapons

Thrown weapons have an Effective range of five times the thrower’s STR characteristic; the Maximum range is twice that. Throw Athletics/DEX 8+ to hit with a thrown weapon at Effective range, or 10+ beyond it.

Throw Athletics/DEX 8+ to accurately throw a hand grenade at effective range, and 10+ to place a grenade on target at maximum range. Hand grenades. On a failure, the grenade will land 2D6+ (the margin of failure) meters from its intended target. At maximum range, thrown grenades automatically deviate 2D6 – (Effect) meters.

Blast Effects and Diving for Cover:

Modern weaponry include a wide variety of highly lethal explosive devices, like grenades (see above) and Gunnery weapons. Weapons with the Blast Weapon Aspect do their full damage to everyone within the blast radius. It is possible to reduce this damage by Diving for Cover. The character flings themselves down onto the ground: reduce damage by half, before applying armor. If there is sufficient cover readily available, the character can dive behind it and take only 1D damage before applying armor. What constitutes sufficient cover depends on the explosion and the Referee’s call. A foxhole or slit trench might be sufficient to avoid grenade blasts altogether. Hiding behind a low brick wall might only serve to increase the amount of shrapnel from an exploding artillery shell. Fusion guns tend to ignore most types of matter. The Referee is the final arbiter in these situations. In any case, a character that dives for cover forfeits their next action.

Optional Rule: Dodge and Parry

Even though they cannot dodge bullets, skilled combatants are harder to hit. A proficient gunman can use the battlefield to avoid line-of sight. An expert swordsman will parry melee attacks. Therefore, for a more cinematic game where skilled heroes can take on multiple armed opponents, we propose the following optional rule. In ranged combat, apply the target’s Gun Combat skill (if any) as a negative DM to all incoming ranged attacks. In melee combat, apply the target’s Melee Combat skill (if any) as a negative DM to all incoming melee attacks. Immobile or unaware targets do not enjoy this defensive benefit. Note that this modifier is not cumulative with any cover modifiers; use the higher of the two modifiers when shooting at a target in cover. The exception is a shield – a character using a shield in melee may still add DM-1 to be hit by enemies to the above penalty if they used one of their actions in the previous round for Overwatch with the shield.

Grappling

A character can attempt to wrestle or grab another person instead of hitting them. The attacker must move to melee combat range and beat their target in an opposed Melee Combat throw. If the attacker wins, they may do any one of the following:

• Knock their opponent prone.

• Disarm their opponent. If the attacker succeeds with an Effect of 6+ they can take the weapon for themselves; otherwise, it ends up on the floor.

• Throw their opponent up to three meters for 1d6+STR DM damage.

• Inflict damage equal to 2 + the Effect + STR DM. Grapple damage ignores armor except for Encased Armor Suits, Powered Armor, and Hostile Environment Spacesuits.

• Escape the grapple and move away (as if with a normal movement action).

• Continue the grapple with no other effects.

• Drag or push their opponent up to three meters.

Throwing an opponent always ends the grapple. When using any of the other options above, the winner of the opposed test can choose to end or continue the grapple as they see fit, even if they did not initiate it. A character in a grapple cannot move or do anything other than make opposed Melee checks. Each time an opposed check is made the winner can choose an option from the above list. A character who won the grapple in the previous round enjoys DM+1 to the next grapple; this is not cumulative regardless of the number of grapples they have successively won.

Damage and Healing

To determine the amount of damage a successful hit inflicts, check the weapon’s damage rating. Each weapon has a number of damage dice: roll them, add the attack throw’s Effect. In melee attacks or when using thrown melee weapons, add the character’s STR DM to the damage (for a minimum of 1 damage in case of a negative STR DM). This is the damage inflicted on the character.

Armor

Subtract the armor’s protection rating from any physical damage caused to the character before applying the damage to the character’s Stamina and Lifeblood.

Optional Rule: Armor as a Penalty to Hit

Armor in the core Cepheus Deluxe rules absorbs damage. However, some players and Referees prefer armor to render its wearer harder to hit, rather than absorb damage. For such groups, we present the following simple rules.

The above modifiers are penalties to hit. All other modifier DMs to hit, like Cover and Darkness, apply as usual. Under this optional rule, of course, armor does not reduce damage; any hit causes regular damage dice without any reduction.

Weapon Notes

Shotguns (+2) against jack or less in effective range. Treated as a slug weapon.

Natural Weapons include Hands, Claws, Teeth, Horns, Hooves, Stingers, and Thrashers, or any similar bodily weapon.

Bludgeoning Weapons include Clubs, Batons, and so on.

Piercing Weapons include Bayonet, Spear, Halberd, Pike, Foil, Bows, and similar.

Slashing Weapons include Dagger, Blade, Cutlass, Sword, Broadsword, etc.

Slug Weapons include Body Pistol, Handgun, Revolver, Carbine, Shotgun, SMG, and similar light small arms.

Assault Weapons include Rifles, Assault Rifles, Gauss Rifles, Pulse Rifles, Light Machine Guns, and similar rifle-scale small arms.

Lasers include all laser-based weapons, including Blasters.

Heavy Weapons include GPMGs, explosives, Plasma Weapons, Fusion Weapons, and similar heavy weapons.

Applying Damage

Cepheus Deluxe uses two attributes to denote a character’s resistance to damage. The first is Stamina, which represents the character’s toughness and ability to shrug off minor wounds. Lifeblood is the character’s health: loss of Lifeblood represents more serious damage.

After any successful attack, apply damage, after first subtracting armor. All damage is first applied to the target’s Stamina. After Stamina reaches zero, any excess or additional damage is then applied to the target’s Lifeblood.

Knockdown

If a character receives more damage, before armor is applied, in one round than double their DEX score, they are knocked prone. This rule applies even when the character otherwise receives no damage at all thanks to armor. Characters in Powered Armor quadruple their DEX for calculating their knockdown threshold.

Wounds

If Stamina is above zero, the character is not wounded, only bruised, or scuffed. No negative effects apply to the character in this case.

If the character suffers Lifeblood damage, but their Lifeblood is above one half its full rating, the character suffers a Minor Wound and applies DM-1 to all actions until healed.

If Lifeblood falls below half its full rating, the character is Seriously Wounded; they must throw END 8+ or fall unconscious for 1D hours. Upon waking, the character suffers DM-2 to all actions until healed. The character will require medical care to recover any further.

Characters suffer a Mortal Wound if their Lifeblood reaches zero. A mortally wounded character will die within 1 hour unless they undergo Trauma Surgery, as described below. In extreme cases, when the character suffers massive damage, the Referee may declare that they die immediately.

Optional Rule: Heroes and Grunts

For a cinematic game where heroes cut their way through waves of grunts (also called mooks, or occasionally “extras”), the Referee may rule that, in personnel combat, any attack penetrating armor knocks a grunt out of combat. This rarely means death unless the damage is massive. However, in such heroic tales, grunts often cower after being hurt, are preoccupied by their (sometimes minor) wounds, or pass out after being hit by the hero. Reviving such mooks for interrogation after combat is often easy, though the information available from them is usually limited.

Healing and Medical Care

Stamina recovers on its own to its full rating within 10 minutes after combat. A character’s stamina recovers even if they have received Minor Wounds. Stamina does not recover for characters who receive Serious or Mortal Wounds.

Minor Wounds require treatment by a character with at least Medicine-1, a Medkit, and 30 minutes of time. With either Medicine-1 or a Med Kit, rather than both, treatment will take 1 hour. Alternatively, characters will recover from all Minor Wounds on their own after a full day’s rest. This will restore the character’s Lifeblood to its full rating.

Serious Wounds require a medical facility—a standard starship medbay will suffice—and treatment by a nurse or a physician (Medicine-2 skill or better). Recovery takes 1 day per point of Lifeblood below half the full Lifeblood rating. Once the character’s Lifeblood reaches half its full rating, the character will recover the other half within another day of treatment.

Mortal Wounds require Trauma Surgery, as noted below.

Trauma Surgery

The key to trauma surgery is to bring the mortally wounded character to a hospital within the "Golden Hour" of trauma medicine – that is, within one hour after receiving mortal injury. Even with advanced first aid, critically injured characters whose Lifeblood was reduced to zero will not survive without trauma care after an hour of injury.

Ordinary medbays common on most starships will usually not suffice – a dedicated hospital, whether shipboard or planetside, is the only facility capable of performing such medical operations safely. If no hospital is reachable within one hour, a character with the Medicine skill may attempt field surgery, but, as noted below, this applies a significant penalty to the roll. Also note that characters killed by vehicle-scale or starship-scale weapons cannot be resuscitated.

Once on the operating table, the surgeon treating the critically injured character throws 2D + their Medicine skill, modified by the DMs below, and consults the following table.

Trauma Surgery Table

Trauma Surgery DMs:

DM-2 if no first aid provided within 10 minutes of the injury.

DM-2 if operating in a ship’s med bay, and not a proper hospital.

DM-4 if operating under unsuitable field conditions.

DM-2 if treated with TL6 equipment-; DM+2 if treated with TL12+ equipment.

DM-2 if Mortally Wounded by an explosion.

DM-2 if patient has END 5-, DM+2 if patient has END 10+.

Trauma Surgery Results

Patient is dead: character dies on the operating table. No further resuscitation attempts possible. However, see Cyborg Conversion and Bio-Reconstruction, in Appendix XX.

Significant internal damage: multiple organs severely damaged. Permanently subtract 1D from each physical characteristic. If any of them reaches zero or less, the character dies.

TL9+ vat-grown or cybernetic organs restore full functioning and costs 1D x 2500 Credits – no throws required.