Swords & Pens Player's Guide

Swords & Pens is a fantasy adventure tabletop role playing game. It has been designed to be simple to play and easy to make characters. Character advancement is based on how the character is played and the choices they make.

The mechanics of the game focus on swords and sorcery, horror, or survival game styles. The mechanics support these styles by having a more balanced/low profile magic system, and a faster and more dangerous combat system.

Instead of a class and ability based system, Swords & Pens employs a 14 skill system with 6 weapon skills to build characters with. As you play the game and your character utilizes their skills, the skills improve naturally. Special abilities and spells can be learned or found as play continues, instead of being granted automatically on a level up. 

This book includes 11 Races and 16 professions to start your character off with a few skill bonuses. This includes a simple skill swap system for designing your very own races and professions to fit any game setting. 

Because the game is based on a skills system, weapons, armor, and equipment are not restricted by class and can be used by any character that wants to. A characters’ individual skill level will determine how effective their chosen equipment will be. This book even includes an enchanting system, so that anybody can create their own magic items and ensure they will remain balanced within the game.