Chaos Reigns Supreme

January 13, 2025

This is still in development! When it’s done I’ll put it up on Itch in a much nicer format. Probably.

Introduction

Chaos Reigns Supreme is a supplement for use with OD&D and retro-clones. Refer to the original rules to fill any gaps.

The name will probably change, because it sucks.

Acknowledgements

Writing by Brandon Yu.
Starting Equipment list from Cairn by Yochai Gal.
Some weapons from Wolves Upon the Coast by Luke Gearing.
Mighty Deeds from Dungeon Crawl Classics.

Combat

Armor

Conversion: TN = (9-AC)/2 (round up)+7

7 TN = Unarmored (AC 9)
8 TN = Leather (AC 7-8)
9 TN = Mail (AC 5-6)
10 TN = Plate (AC 3-4)

Shield adds +1 TN.

Attacks

To attack, roll 2d6. If it is meets or beats the enemy’s TN, the attack hits.

For damage, roll exploding d6s equal to the attacker’s HD - any roll of 6 can be rerolled, with the new value added. The final damage is equivalent to the highest roll.

Natural rolls of 12 add an extra damage die.

Example: Kessler swings at an ogre with his sword. Kessler rolls 2d6: 10, which beats the ogre’s TN of 8. Because Kessler has 4 HD, 4 d6s are rolled: 6, 2, 3 and 6. The 2 6s are re-rolled: 4, 6. The final 6 is re-rolled: 2. Kessler deals 6+6+2=14 damage to the ogre.

HD can be converted into to-hit modifiers.

Example: Kessler, being 4 HD, could have swung at the ogre with a +2 to-hit modifier, but would only roll 2 damage dice.

If the <1 HD is used for the damage dice (for example, if all of the HD is converted into to-hit modifiers), roll 1 damage die at disadvantage (2 dice, pick worst).

Optionally, for solo play, assume that enemies always apply their HD to their damage dice.

Ranged

For ranged attacks, apply -1 to-hit for medium-range shots. Apply -2 to-hit for long-range shots.

Ranged weapons fired into melee hit a random participant.

Magic Weapons

Modifiers from magic weaponry are added to both to-hit rolls and damage dice.

Mighty Deeds (WIP)

Before performing an attack, PCs of the fighter class can declare a Mighty Deed, such as blinding, tripping or shoving an enemy.

Performing a Mighty Deed requires a successful hit and the sacrificing of an otherwise exploding damage die. Once sacrificed, the damage die cannot be re-rolled.

The more exploding damage dice sacrificed, the more potent the Deed. A GM may rule that a particularly Mighty Deed requires sacrificing more than one exploding damage die.

Weapons

Melee Weapon	Description
Dagger	Throwable. When attacking a prone/unaware target, damage dice explode on 4-6.
Hand-Axe	Throwable. On a natural 12, 2 damage dice are added instead of 1.
Staff	Increases wielder’s TN by 1.
Sword	Attacks against the wielder equal to their TN allow the wielder to attempt to parry. The wielder rolls an attack against their opponent, negating the initial attack if successful.
Battle-Axe	If any dice explode, a weapon or shield is ripped from the grip of the opponent.
Morning Star	Ignores shields (reduce TN by 1 if the opponent is shielded.)
Spear	Reach. Can interrupt anyone moving within reach to attack them regardless of initiative, if wielder sacrifices their free movement.
Mace	+1 to-hit against metallic/rigid armor.
Great-Sword	Two-handed. On a killing blow, wielder can roll another attack against a nearby enemy.
Pole-Arm	Two-handed. Reach. Attacks against a nominated adjacent ally are at -1 (can be stacked to -2).

Ranged Weapon	Description
Sling	Never runs out of ammo.
Shortbow	Can split move and fire (i.e. move fire move).
Longbow	+1 to-hit if a round is spent aiming.
Crossbow	Reroll any initial damage dice of 1 once. Requires reloading each round, preventing movement.

Saves

For all saves, 1s on any die indicate automatic failure.

Physical checks: 2d6+HD ≥ TN
Fortitude checks: 2d6+HD ≥ 9
Mental checks: 2d6+Level ≥ 9

Advantage: Instead of 2d6, roll 3d6 and take the 2 highest.

Fighters get advantage on saves involving physical agility/strength.
Magic-users get advantage against magic.
Clerics get advantage against poison/paralysis.
Thieves get advantage against traps.

PCs get advantage on background-related saves.
Appropriate items give advantage as well.
Advantage does not stack, but more than 1 advantage means the save is automatically passed.
Each level, choose an additional skill to get advantage in, appropriate to the fiction.

Character Creation

Backgrounds

d66	Background	d66	Background
11	Elder	41	Scribe
12	Warrior	42	Noble
13	Hermit	43	Healer
14	Sage	44	Alchemist
15	Merchant	45	Storyteller
16	Bandit	46	Refugee
21	Thief	51	Slave
22	Adventurer	52	Assassin
23	Herdsman	53	Pit Fighter
24	Hunter	54	Executioner
25	Farmer	55	Veteran
26	Mercenary	56	Smuggler
31	Outcast	61	Thug
32	Mystic	62	Cultist
33	Performer	63	Gambler
34	Guide	64	Scout
35	Priest	65	Apprentice
36	Guard	66	Sorcerer

Equipment

PCs start with 2d6*10 gold, a large sack, d6 torches and d6 rations.

Roll for armor:

d6	Armor
1-2	Unarmored (6 TN)
3-4	Leather (7 TN)
5	Mail (8 TN)
6	Plate (9 TN)

Roll for weapon:

d6	Weapon
1	Dagger/Staff/Hand-Axe
2	Spear/Mace
3	Sword/Battle-Axe
4	Greatsword
5	Bow/Sling
6	Crossbow

If you rolled 1-3 (one-handed weapons), roll a d6 — on a 1-2, you also get a shield (+1 TN)

Roll for 3 pieces of starting equipment:

d66	Equipment	d66	Equipment
11	Fire Oil	41	Marbles
12	Grappling Hook	42	Spyglass
13	Lockpicks	43	Antitoxin
14	50’ Rope	44	Net
15	10’ Pole	45	Small Bell
16	Crowbar	46	Fake Gems
21	Bucket	51	Incense
22	Chisel	52	10’ Chain
23	Chalk	53	Caltrops
24	Shovel	54	Grease
25	Hammer	55	Fishing Rod
26	Glue	56	Saw
31	Horn	61	Sleeping Bag
32	Dice	62	Nails
33	Mirror	63	Perfume
34	Quill & Ink	64	Manacles
35	Soap	65	Tongs
36	Whistle	66	Bottle

Motivation

d66	Motivation	d66	Motivation
11	Master Skill	41	Prove Worth
12	Accumulate Wealth	42	Advance Status
13	Vengeance	43	Kill Creature
14	Protect Family	44	Secure Resources
15	Gain Respect	45	Complete Ritual
16	Fulfill Prophecy	46	Pay Debt
21	Heal Curse	51	Wanderlust
22	Achieve Glory	52	Find Resource
23	Spread Faith	53	Defend Area
24	Increase Strength	54	Reach Destination
25	Right Wrong	55	Obtain Redemption
26	Build Relationship	56	Protect Reputation
31	Fulfill Duty	61	Seek Thrills
32	Gain Knowledge	62	Impress Upper Power
33	Reach Enlightenment	63	Uphold Honor
34	Seize Power	64	Avoid Past
35	Find Person	65	Shirk Duty
36	Obtain Object	66	Roll Twice

Encounters

Surprise

When meeting a random encounter, there is a 2-in-6 chance (by default) of surprise on either side.

Distance

For each surprised side, add +1 to the distance roll:

d6	Encounter Distance	Flee Difficulty
1	Very Far	6
2	Far	7
3-5	Medium	8
6	Near	9

To flee, roll 2d6 and meet or beat the flee difficulty.

Using a surprise round (assuming the other is not also surprised) to flee adds +3 to the roll.
Being encumbered deducts -2 from the roll.

Reaction

2d6	Reaction	Parley Difficulty	Notes
2-3	Attack!!	9	Initiates combat when possible
4-5	Hostile	9	Parley required to prevent combat
6-8	Uncertain	8	Does not initiate combat but will not assist
9-11	Friendly	7	Willing to assist for a price
12	Very Helpful	—	Willing to assist for minimal to no price

Reaction is rolled whenever the encounter is about to attempt their first action.

Parley

Parleys can improve reactions - roll 2d6 and meet or beat the parley difficulty.

Common modifiers:
Relevant background: +1
No common language: -2
Using surprise round to parley: +1
Trading desired items: +1/+2

Rolls ≥12 add 2 tiers.
Rolls ≤2 deduct 2 tiers.

Parleys while in combat require sacrificing a combat round to attempt.

Parleys can be attempted multiple times, but there is a +1 cumulative difficulty after each parley attempt.

Portents

d66	Situation	d66	Situation
11	Betrayal	41	Broken
12	Guidance	42	Survival
13	Destruction	43	Tragic
14	Warning	44	Conflict
15	Loss	45	Separation
16	Victory	46	Revenge
21	Chase	51	Enlightenment
22	Transformation	52	Trickery
23	Corruption	53	Return
24	Fate	54	Friendship
25	Hunt	55	Feud
26	Ascension	56	Lucrative
31	Corruption	61	Personal
32	Obtained	62	Fortune
33	Sacrifice	63	Curse
34	Retreat	64	Honor
35	Surrender	65	Guilt
36	Temptation	66	Defense

d66	Descriptor	d66	Descriptor
11	Abundance	41	Abandoned
12	Primitive	42	Strange
13	Sacred	43	Stark
14	Powerful	44	Damaged
15	Weakness	45	Conflicted
16	Illusory	46	Hospitable
21	Mysterious	51	Concealed
22	Corrupted	52	Imposing
23	Unyielding	53	Desolate
24	Protected	54	Menacing
25	Grim	55	Diseased
26	Horrific	56	Profane
31	Beautiful	61	Prosperous
32	Temporary	62	Hopeful
33	Ruined	63	Burden
34	Opulent	64	Problem
35	Shining	65	Knowledgeable
36	Natural	66	Connected