Ashfall Rules Reference
Welcome to the complete rules reference for Ashfall. Select a chapter below to begin.
Player's Guide
Introduction
Design philosophy, dice mechanics, and bounded accuracy.
Character Creation
Attributes, derived stats, species, and backgrounds.
Chassis
Your starting frame — HP, proficiencies, and equipment packages.
Character Points
CP economy, skill tree costs, and anti-convergence mechanics.
Skill Trees
11 shared skill trees — abilities, prerequisites, and rebuild guides.
Pregenerated Characters
Four ready-to-play Level 1 characters. Grab one and start playing.
Starter Scenario
The Dead Signal — a one-shot you can run cold in 2-3 hours.
Core Rules
Skills
21 core skills, proficiency, group checks, and skill challenges.
Equipment
Weapons, armor, gear, grenades, chems, and augmentations.
Combat
3-action economy, attacks, damage, and healing.
Magic
Spell crafting, burnout, and ritual casting.
Conditions
Status effects and the exhaustion system.
Exploration
Rest, survival, injuries, and field medicine.
Archetypes
Archetype Overview
Overview of all 12 archetypes and the classless system.
Warrior
Tank/Striker (d12). Get hit, hit back harder.
Gunslinger
Ranged DPS (d8). Snipe from safety.
Mystic
AOE Mage/Control (d6). Glass cannon, big spells.
Medic
Healer/Support (d6). Keep the party alive.
Technician
Pet/Support (d6). Command drones and robots.
Operative
Skill/Burst Damage (d6). Stealth, burst damage, utility.
Diplomat
Buffer/Social (d8). Empower allies, control the field.
Channeler
Hybrid Warrior/Mage (d8). Melee + healing.
Scavenger
Resourceful Generalist (d8). Improvise, adapt, overcome.
Infiltrator
Intelligence/Tactical Support (d8). Information is power.
Psion
Controller/Damage (d6). Bend minds and reality.
Mutant
Adaptive Striker/Bruiser (d10). Evolve in the field.
Progression
Character Progression
Level-by-level gains, doctrines, and CP spending.
Talents
Universal, archetype, and legendary talents.
Mastery Paths
15 cross-archetype paths for levels 11-15.
Multiclassing
Requirements, CP distribution, and examples.
Cross-Training
Learn abilities from other archetypes without multiclassing.
Advanced Rules
Advanced Skills
8 specialized skills: Hacking, Demolitions, Forensics, and more.
Vehicles & Operations
Vehicle combat, crew roles, chases, and boarding.
Hacking
Network intrusion, ICE, digital combat, and secure tunnels.
Crafting
Equipment crafting, tech systems, AIs, synthetics, and arcane capacitors.
Downtime
Capital economy, base building, and downtime activities.
Game Mastering
Setting & Lore
Bestiary
Mutant Fauna & Flora
Razorbacks, blighthounds, spore colonies, and wasteland predators.
Humanoids & Constructs
Raiders, warlords, rogue synthetics, and military constructs.
Eldritch Horrors & Aliens
Breach-spawn, dimensional entities, and alien species.
Undead & Arcane Beasts
Revenants, ashwalkers, and creatures warped by magic.
Parasites & Apex Predators
Symbiotes, hive organisms, and legendary boss creatures.