What is 13th Age?

13th Age is an “open” d20-based tabletop fantasy RPG similar in play to games like D&D 3.0/3.5 and Pathfinder.

What makes 13th Age different?

13th Age makes use of many game mechanics and features that are intended to develop characters and story as the game is played. For example:

Icons – Icons are powerful factions that exert their will on the realm in some way or another.

– Icons are powerful factions that exert their will on the realm in some way or another. Relationships – A quantitative measurement of how much influence a given Icon exerts on a character.

– A quantitative measurement of how much influence a given Icon exerts on a character. Backgrounds – Instead of advancing individual skills, a character assigns points to jobs or positions they have held, which can help them with actions in-game.

– Instead of advancing individual skills, a character assigns points to jobs or positions they have held, which can help them with actions in-game. One Unique Thing – Every player character has one unique thing about them that separates them from every other individual in the campaign’s universe. This defines both the character and the universe by exclusion.

13th Age also eschews grid- and numerical-distance-based mechanics in favor of simplified range mechanics. Two characters are either:

“ Engaged ” – In direct melee combat

” – In direct melee combat “ Nearby ” – Within one move away

” – Within one move away “Far-away” – More than one move away

Mundane combat equipment is based only on the class of weapon and the class of character using it. For instance, a basic attack with a dagger in the hands of a rogue does the same damage as a basic attack with a longsword in the hands of a fighter.

Speaking of fighters, martial classes gain some variety in their combat. Fighters, for instance, have features that allow their attacks to proc certain advantages depending on the roll of the die and if the attack hit or not. Rogues build momentum as they attack. Barbarians rage.

Critical hits are as simple as rolling in the crit range once.