All characters have the following statistical values that are used throughout the game:

Ally characters are all other characters that are not Hero characters. Ally character types and subtypes range from all manner of types, but their classification as a card type is always “Ally Character.” Ally Characters are treated as NPCs in the Campaign Format game environment, in the sense that Players are unable to play through the entire game as these characters. Specific to this format, however, Ally Characters may perform limited actions outside of their normal Arena or Quest Format rulings.

The following are general guidelines for any Ally Characters:

Hirelings

Playing as a group or as a solo Campaign format adventure, players will find themselves in various circumstances where a hired character is available to them. In these situations, these characters are controlled by the Lore Master in social situations, and their actions performed while in service of the player party during other gameplay events are decided by them unless otherwise stated. The availability and types of Hirelings vary by region or affiliation. As the Player Party progresses their Renown statuses, new options and quality of Hirelings should be made available to the Player Party to reward them for their service and trust.

The be considered a Hireling, a character card must be selected, or an object representing a character card must be used for the Hireling. The Hireling must have an alignment and at least one subtype (Avatar, Warrior, Knight, etc.). All Hirelings are characters and are required to have all character stats (Attack, AC, Damage, HP, Spirit, Vigor, Empathy). The Lore Master always determines the specific characters and options available to players per region or situation. The example below provides the recommended structure for making Hirelings available to players. A recommended Hireling EXP value and range is based on Campaign difficulty and Renown Status.

EXP Values shown above are recommended for character cards used as Hirelings. Example: A Player party has achieved Hero status in a region of Havokk. They are playing in an Epic difficulty Campaign adventure. The Player Party could potentially encounter Hireling characters with an EXP value range of 7-9 in optimal circumstances. 

Mounts

Mounts are either mechanical or biological, but they all offer a different array of movement capabilities and weight-carrying capacity as their main benefit. Some mounts are capable of combat, but generally, and applicable to most of the mounts listed below, they are for travel purposes only. In the descriptions provided, there is a minimum gold value shown for the cost of the specific mount type if it were readily available. It is recommended to adjust the cost based on social modifiers and availability, or even decrease the commonality of the mount type based on the specific section of your Havokk realm. When the mount description states the mount can attack, this means the mount itself can attack, and this is outlined in the mount descriptions provided below.

One of the most dynamic and exciting parts of being a Lore Master is acting on behalf of and creating the non-player characters (NPCs). When creating these characters, there are various aspects, such as “how important is this character to the story?” or “what kinds of abilities and character stats should they have?” These characters play a large role in the overall story of the game and the Campaign experience. Game-wise, important aspects of including the NPC include:

• If they are going to be involved in combat scenarios, the Lore Master needs a card representation or a Token to represent the NPC.
• If the NPC is involved in non-combat scenarios, cards are optional (but recommended). If a card is not being used to represent an NPC, the Lore Master is required to provide the character’s stats upon request.
  • Cards are optional when socializing or engaging in commerce, such as buying or selling items (cards are still recommended whenever possible).
  • NPCs can only be represented by Hero character cards, Ally Character cards, and Epic Item cards (such as a sentient item).
  • If you do not have an exact card representation of the NPC to use in your Campaign format adventure, you can use another card or token, but the Lore Master is responsible for tracking the NPC's information and being able to provide accurate information to the player party when requested.
• NPCs using their abilities follow the same timing rules and turn order established for the Campaign.
• The Lore Master determines the Player level associated with NPC characters, as well as any specific non-card Skills or abilities, or belongings they may have.

Some Lore Masters may decide to include NPC characters in roles such as servants, wards, bodyguards, or hirelings, and allow these characters to offer services in exchange for gold or assistance with a task. This includes pets, familiars, animals, or mystical companions. Whenever a Campaign format NPC is introduced this way, the card or object representing this character cannot be moved or placed into a player’s deck, hand, banish zone(s), or discard pile through any game effect. Player characters may assume control of these characters during gameplay, depending on the circumstances, but otherwise, the Lore Master is still responsible for tracking these characters’ stats and abilities if they are not shown on the card or object representing them. 

Ally characters are based on official game cards and are story-relevant characters. These may serve as prebuilt characters for you to use or examples of what types of information are important to track when creating your own NPC characters. Characters can be as complex or basic as you choose!

Characters may be affected by status effects during gameplay, which temporarily modify their stats or affect them in other ways. Characters use Empathy, Spirit, and Vigor checks to resist status or secondary effects of cards and abilities. Unless stated otherwise, a character may be affected by multiple status effects simultaneously. Listed below is each type of status effect and its description of how it affects characters:

• Stunned

  • Effect: A stunned character is incapacitated by a powerful blow or effect, and while stunned cannot attack, and takes a -2 AC penalty while blocking. If the character has any abilities that require an action to activate, they cannot use these abilities while stunned.
  • Duration: Once applied, the effect lasts until the beginning of the affected character’s next turn (unless stated otherwise – e.g., “Stunned for three (3) turns”). 
  • Check: Vigor 1. A successful check resists the status effect from being applied. Failed checks increase the effect duration by one (1) turn for each deficit of 5 or more on the failed check result.
     
• Asleep/Unconscious
  • Effect: If a character is sleeping (naturally or otherwise) or is unconscious from an attack or effect, they are unable to perform actions or otherwise defensively protect themselves from attacks or effects. Until the character is awakened or revived, they cannot be controlled or otherwise make actions, nor can they attack. Sleeping characters are still considered "blocking" for game effects when being attacked; however, if the sleeping/unconscious character being attacked has any abilities triggered by them blocking specifically, do not activate them.
  • Duration: Sleep time can vary depending on the situation. Unconscious time can vary depending on the severity of what caused the effect. To randomize, use a Fate check, where the result is the number of turns the effect lasts. Otherwise, the duration will be explained in the card or ability text. 
  • Check: Vigor 1. Successful check resists the status effect from being applied or wakes up if already asleep/unconscious. You may perform one Vigor check at the beginning of your turn to determine if your character wakes up, using the same value used to inflict the status effect for attempting to wake up from it. Failed checks increase the effect duration by one (1) turn for each deficit of 5 or more on the failed check result.
     
• Disoriented/Confused
  • Effect: If a character has been injured, dazed, disoriented, or otherwise had their perceptions affected, they receive a -2 penalty to their various skill checks, as well as a -2 penalty to their ATK and AC for the duration of the effect.  
  • Duration: Once applied, the effect lasts until the beginning of the affected character’s next turn (unless stated otherwise – e.g., “Disoriented/Confused for three (3) turns”). 
  • Check: Vigor 1. A successful check resists the status effect from being applied. Negative modifiers increase based on the severity of the disorientation/confusion, increasing by -1 to skill checks, ATK, and AC for each deficit of 5 or more on a failed check.
     
• Burning
  • Effect: The character is actively on fire and taking continuous damage from the flames. The amount of damage and for how many turns is defined by the card or ability inflicting the status effect. Characters dealt [Burn] damage from cards or abilities and have Burn tokens on them are considered burning.
  • Duration: In between turns, remove a Burn token from any characters with Burn tokens on them. This status effect is considered in effect until there are no Burn tokens on the affected character. When defining the duration of the ability remaining on the character, it is equal to X, where X is the number of Burn tokens on them.
  • Check: Refer to the card or ability effect for clarification. If there is a check to resist the application of the burn effect, use that. Otherwise, Cards and abilities that apply burn damage and Burn tokens are still applied per the effect; there are no checks to resist Burning status when played this way. Because these abilities are through tokens applied to a character, there is no resistance check.
     
• Poisoned
  • Effect: The character is actively poisoned and taking continuous damage from the poison in their system. The amount of damage is defined by the card or ability inflicting the status effect. Characters who are dealt [Toxic] damage from cards or abilities and have Toxic tokens on them are considered poisoned. 
  • Duration: In between turns, remove a Toxic token from any characters with Toxic tokens on them. This status effect is considered in effect until there are no Toxic tokens on the affected character. When defining the duration of the ability remaining on the character, it is equal to X, where X is the number of Toxic tokens on them.
  • Check: Refer to the card or ability effect for clarification. If there is a check to resist the application of the burn effect, use that. Otherwise, Cards and abilities that apply burn damage and Toxic tokens are still applied per the effect; there are no checks to resist Toxic status when played this way. Because these abilities are through tokens applied to a character, there is no resistance check.
     
• ​​Controlled 
  • Effect: The affected character is controlled by a magic or supernatural force against their will. They are unable to perform actions, play cards, or use abilities unless directed to by the source controlling them for the duration of the effect. 
  • Duration: Ability description will define duration in turns or actions, or randomized by Fate check (or up to Lore Master discretion). 
  • Check: Spirit  1 or Empathy 1 (effect description will define). A successful check resists the status effect from being applied. At the beginning of the affected character’s turn, they may perform a Spirit or Empathy check (use the same check as you used when the status effect was applied) to break free of their opponent's control. When performing this check, a successful check resists the status effect, and the effect ends. If the affected character fails this check, the effect continues through the remainder of its duration.
     
• Transformed/Mutated
  • Effect: - A change or mutation has adversely affected the character. These effects vary and are defined by the card or ability description. 
  • Duration: Ability description will define duration in turns, actions, or permanence. For a randomized value, perform a Fate check (or up to Lore Master discretion). 
  • Check: Vigor 1 or Spirit 1 (effect description will define). A successful check resists the status effect from being applied.
     
• Frozen
  • Effect: The character has been frozen in place; they cannot attack, block, or perform actions while Frozen. They are still conscious in most cases; otherwise, they are stuck in their current position. Frozen characters are still considered "blocking" for game effects when being attacked; however, if the sleeping/unconscious character being attacked has any abilities triggered by them blocking specifically, do not activate them.
  • Duration: Ability description will define duration in turns or randomized by Fate check (or up to Lore Master discretion). 
  • Check: Vigor 1 or Spirit 1 (effect description will define). A successful check resists the status effect from being applied.​​​​​​​

Characters can acquire or be given various ailments and illnesses in their travels that affect their ability to perform or their overall health. The Lore Master decides what effect and for what duration these illnesses and diseases have on characters by defining the type of ailment and then applying the effects mentioned below, depending on the severity.

A Lore Master is not required to apply all effects per severity of illness, injury, or ailment, but may at their discretion. Use the values below as examples of what might affect the character based on each category.

Physical - Affects the character’s attacking, blocking, and ability to perform skills or actions. Usually is an injury from combat, environmental hazards, or a result of an action that was performed incorrectly.

• Physical Illness and Ailments Severity - Effect or Affected Stats 
  • Light / Low 
    • -1 ATK, -1 AC, -1 Vigor checks. Effect duration typically 1-3 turns.
  • Medium / Mid
    • -2 ATK, -2 AC, -2 Vigor checks, -1 Empathy checks. Effect duration typically 4-6 turns.
  • Severe / High
    • -3 ATK, -3 AC, -3 to Vigor and Empathy checks. Effect duration typically 7-10 turns.

Mental - Affects the character personally, affecting how they interact with other characters and even themselves. Demoralizing a character can affect their performance, or altering their perception or ability to think clearly can affect their ability to use skills or abilities. In extreme cases, madness can cause characters to drastically change their perceptions or actions against themselves and others.

• Mental Illness and Ailments Severity  - Effect or Affected Stats  
  • Light / Low
    • -1 ATK, -1 AC, -1 Spirit checks, -1 Empathy checks. Effect duration typically 1-3 turns.
  • Medium / Mid
    • -2 ATK, -2 AC, -2 Spirit Checks, -2 Empathy, -2 Skill checks. Effect duration typically 4-6 turns.
  • Severe / High
    • -3 ATK, -3 AC, -3 to Skill checks, -3 Spirit Checks, -3 Empathy checks. Effect duration typically 7-10 turns.

Infectious - These effects are often tied to poisons, gases, or hazardous materials. These effects usually apply negative modifiers to the character’s various stats to represent their body's inability to perform at full capacity because of fighting off infection.

• Infectious Illness and Ailments Severity - Effect or Affected Stats 
  • Light / Low 
    • -1 ATK, -1 AC, -1 Vigor checks, -1 Skill checks. Effect duration typically 1-3 turns.
  • Medium / Mid 
    • -2 ATK, -2 AC, -2 Vigor Checks,-2 Skill checks. Effect duration typically 4-6 turns. Effect duration typically 4-6 turns.
  • Severe / High 
    • -3 ATK, -3 AC, -3 to Vigor checks, -3 to Skill checks. Effect duration typically 7-10 turns.

Magical - A magical illness or ailment can cause a variety of effects, but can also only be dispelled by another magical effect. These are usually specific, and their effect is explained in more detail with the origin of the effect. 

• Infectious Illness and Ailments Severity - Effect or Affected Stats
  • Light / Low
    • Use the Card or effect description. Effect duration typically 1-3 turns.
  • Medium / Mid
    • Use the Card or effect description. Effect duration typically 4-6 turns. Effect duration typically 4-6 turns.
  • Severe / High
    • Use the Card or effect description. Effect duration typically 7-10 turns.

 
Situational - situational effects only apply to a character under specific circumstances, such as being in a targeted area, or being of a certain species, alignment, etc. These effects are always either defined by the Lore Master or a specific ability, card, or effect.

Characters may perform actions, such as activating abilities, speaking to one another, attacking one another, or interacting in a variety of ways. When determining if a character may interact with another character. First, consider if your play group has decided to use 3d environments, maps, and objects; then you must follow the guidelines mentioned in the Movement section of the Campaign format rules*. For all other scenarios, follow the logic associated with the type of card, effect, or ability you are playing.

*Ultimately, whether you simply play the cards as they are printed/errata’d vs whether you are using the Campaign format rules associated with line of sight, movement, and 3d objects is up to your playgroup. Heroes of Havokk is built to be played as a card game and only requires cards to play the game – the rules associated with these game elements were designed to create a more immersive experience for players (but are not required). It is recommended that for a first-time playthrough or a new Heroes of Havokk group, ignore these rules and play the cards as they are printed.

• When not using 3d Environments, figures, or objects: If a card states it requires line of sight, or that the character affected must be within "X" meters, ignore these measurements. Any cards that are in play are considered visible for these purposes.
• For more information on how movement, size, and line of sight work, please see Movement, Size, Line of Sight.

When players interact with each other, outside of the game, such as discussing strategy or engaging in game commentary, it is important to remember that the characters in the game have no context of what you, as a player, are aware of or that you would be able to see or have access to as a player observing the game. It can be difficult at times to separate what you know vs what this character knows, but for a more immersive and fair roleplaying experience, it is recommended that players do not use “real world” knowledge or intellect to resolve scenarios. If there is no other clear method or if you are unsure, consult the Lore Master to resolve the situation.

When the final decision to leave the character defeated has been made, the Lore Master must then divide the experience and rewards that may have applied to the defeated character to the remaining players. Timing for this process still occurs when rewards are normally distributed to players at the end of each game round.