One of the great things about making characters within the palladium system is the breadth of options available to the player: Race, occupation and skill choice produces innumerable permutations and combinations. Unfortunately for an inexperienced or tired player, too much choice can be a bad thing: Without a clear aim of how the character should be created, it may loose definition and clarity.

Should the thief be a viscous back-stabber or a cat burglar? How should a mercenary be put together to be a body guard?

Sub Character Classes (S.C.C.) provide an optional set of bonuses and constraints that can help define characters more clearly, or offer alternative views of a previously ‘boring’ O.C.C. Tired of Thieves? Make your next thief a knife fighter. Can’t decide how to portray the ranger? Make him a military scout. How can an Orc’ mercenary’s ability to ride his giant boar be explained? Because she’s a Mercenary Cavalryman.

• Knight or Paladin OCC

• Weapon Skills, Prowl, Wilderness Survival, Heraldry

• WP Lance may be Swapped for (pick one)
• WP Longbow (gain rate of fire equal to longbowman)
• Weapon Specialisation.
• Combat manoeuvre (eg. Disarm or Entangle)
• Horsemanship: Paladin or Knight may be swapped for (pick one)
• Woodsman training (+10% to category, Prowl + 15)
• Weapon Specialisation.
• Combat manoeuvre (eg. Disarm or Entangle)

• Paladin OCC

• Weapon Skills, Lore: Magic, Heraldry

• Gain the following warlock powers (Numbered as the relevant Warlock power):
• 1^st level: Elemental force (1), Magic (2), Speak Elemental (7), Sense Elemental (8), Sense the nature (9), special abilities (10), The brotherhood(11)
• 3^rd level: PPE (half that of a warlock) and Spell casting. Considered 1^st level for casting spells, and gains 1 effective level every 2^nd actual level. i.e. 3^rd = 1^st, 5^th = 2^nd, 7^th = 3^rd, etc…
• 5^th Summon Elemental - Considered 1^st level for casting summoning, and gains 1 effective level every 2^nd actual level. i.e. 5^th = 1^st, 7^th = 2^nd, 9^th = 3^rd, etc…

• Loose way of the lance
• Loose way of the horse
• 1000 experience points must be expended for a non-elemental paladin to ‘find the path’ (gain 1st level.)
• Requires additional experience over the character’s OCC requirements

That is not to say an Unholy isn’t a formidable warrior – toe to toe they are an equal to any Knight or Paladin. But whilst the Paladin strives to strike down supernatural terrors, the Unholy strikes down his fellow man.

• Paladin OCC
• Evil Alignments Only

• Weapon Skills, Prowl, Use & Remove Poison

• Gains unholy strike
• Critical Strike from behind (x3) at 1^st level.
• Increase critical strike category at levels 5, 9 and 13.
• Part ‘backstab’, part supernatural strike.
• Gains +10% on prowl attempts. Will often wear heavy cloaks or robes to conceal the noise of armour.

• Looses Paladin Demon Death Blow
• Unholies are hated

• Knight or Paladin OCC

• Weapon Skills, Animal Husbandry, Heraldry
• Must purchase Arial Mounted Combat for 2 skills.
• Must purchase Mounted Archery for 2 skills.

• When sufficiently experienced, the knight will be granted a young mount (Typically a griffin or giant eagle). The process of bonding and completion of the mounts training takes a minimum of one month, typically six. (Six months minus the riders MA attribute in excess of fifteen.

• The sky knight is spiritually bonded to their mount. If the mount is slain, the knight may commit suicide or die seeking revenge. Those that do not will seek to return to the order’s stronghold for the next generation of mounts, to restart the bonding and training rituals. A minimum of six months work, typically one years. If a mount survives it’s rider’s death, this will

• Knight or Paladin OCC

• Weapon Skills, Prowl, Mining, Masonry, Heraldry

• WP Lance may be Swapped for (pick one)
• WP Paired
• Weapon Specialisation.
• Combat manoeuvre (eg. Disarm or Entangle)
• Horsemanship: Paladin or Knight may be swapped for (pick one)
• Righteous Fury (Berserk - as character kit, but only when rage is induced by a priest)
• Weapon Specialisation.
• Combat manoeuvre (eg. Disarm or Entangle)
• Unarmed attack (Choose 2 punches and kicks)

• Any warrior OCC.

• Weapon Skills, and any from the Physical category

• +1 Action per melee round.
• Reputation: Has an effective Horror Factor of 6, +1 per level.

• Reputation: -3/15% when socially dealing with non-slaves.

• Knight or Paladin OCC.

• Weapon Skills, Prowl, Wilderness Survival, Heraldry

• Keep special abilities (way of horse, lance, etc)

• All other skills (OCC, Other \ Elective & Secondary), equipment and money from the druid OCC.

• Warrior Monk OCC.
• Honourable alignment.

• Etiquette, Heraldry, ‘Cultured’ domestic skills.

• Gains Hand to Hand: Zanji Shinjjinken-Ryo
• Gains Samurai Daisho bonuses if using Rifts: Japan
• Alternatively, use the form presented in Ninjas & Super-Spies
• ‘Stick fighting’ bonuses apply the blade.
• Starts with a blade of quality. (As Paladin OCC).

• Loose other OCC weapon skills.
• Only wears armour when entering a major battle.
• The Kensai’s blade is his life. He will not abandon it for another until the blade is lost (destroyed) or is presented with another by his lord. If the blade is stolen or taken in ransom, the Kansai will go to almost any length to retrieve it.

• Samurai and Ronin are very skilful characters with a large selection of suitable OCC skills. Other skills are likely to be related to the characters background.

• Horsemanship is equivalent to Horsemanship: Paladin
• Military skills +10%

• Way of bow rate of fire – Use the Longbowman’s minus one (1^st edition, use WP longbow minus 1)
• No Rune weapons as starting equipment.
• Starting equipment as Paladin OCC.

• Man-at-arms OCC
• PP 12 Spd 12
• WP: Knife

• WP: Paired (Knives)

• +1 Attack per round with knives.
• +1 Initiative per 2 levels, rounding up.

• Lose special benefits if wearing anything heavier than studded leather armour.
• Other weapons must be short, quick weapons. Nothing 2 handed, heavy, large or long. Short-bows and light cross-bows are the limit of missile weapons.
• Due to their intolerance of being loaded down, double penalties for heavy armours and encumbrance.

• Soldier or Mercenary OCC
• Lawful Alignment (Principled, Scrupulous, Aberrant)
• IQ 12

• Sense Ambush & Assassin
• Detect Concealment
• Locate Secret
• Tend to specialise in Spears, Pole-arms and shields.

• Perceptive - Gives a bonus of +2 to Perception.
• +1 Parry every 3 levels (rounded up) if electing to only parry that round.
• Perception is a 2 cost elective skill.
• Equipment: If not provided by the basic OCC, sentinels start with a metal shield, spear and single chain-mail.

• Sentinels are generally mistrusted by criminal elements. All reaction rolls are at -2 with these types, and sentinels will often be the first target of them.
• The extra training costs the Sentinel 2 ‘other’ Skill slots.

• Gladiator OCC

Recommended Skills:

• Paired Weapons, Heraldry

• Duellists can often be hired to replace a participant in a duel. The mere presence of a professional duellist may make the opponent reconsider their actions. Use Assassin guild prices as a guideline.
• The ability to fight freely, unlike the Gladiator who must show off.

• Is restricted to light and half armours.
• Lose restricted weapons from OCC. These may not be swapped for legal weapons.
• Duellists may be considered little better than assassins, but rarely to their faces. -2 Reaction rolls with ‘the authorities’.
• Duellists will not use shields larger than a buckler, pole-arms or missiles weapons greater than a short bow or Telek. The choice of duellist’s weapon should show off the wielder’s skill, and not solely its ability to rend flesh.

• Mercenary OCC.
• No good alignments, as Assassins.
• WP: Axe or WP: Large sword

Recommended Skills:

• Typically go for large 2 handed weapons.
• Rope works (for those noose situation)
• 2 Spoken language skills

• Interrogation (+10)

• +20 Interrogate through torture. Each Hour of torture gives one interrogation roll, and causes 3d4 damage direct to HP. On a successful roll, the victim must make a ME check of 16 (+ level modifier - executioner’s) or talk. An executioner can keep a victim conscious alive to negative his level in HP.
• If an Executioner strikes the first blow in combat with a two handed axe or great sword and the blow fully connects, the blow is critical.

• Loose critical strike if in heavy armour. (Chain or above).

• Ranger OCC

• Prowl, Military Etiquette.

• Military scouts may back-stab as a thief of the same level.
• If 1^st edition is not available, use Critical Strike from behind (x3) at 1^st level. Increase critical strike category at levels 5, 9 and 13.

• Face same armour restrictions as thieves.
• Lose WP Longbow. Forever.

• Mercenary or Soldier OCC

• WP: Longbow for 1 elective

• Gains full rate of fire with longbow (as a Longbowman)

• Can not wear Full Plate armours, or use 2 handed weapons.

• Mercenary or Soldier OCC

• Animal Husbandry

• May Horsemanship Knight (2 skill slots) or Paladin (3)

• Not use to defending legs when dismounted: -1 (Knight) or -2(Paladin) to parry.

• Longbowman OCC

• +1 attack per round with chosen crossbow type.

• Priest OCC

• Lore: Magic, Sculpting & Whittling

• Limited Ward Arsenal
• Alarms: Sound
• Colours: All
• Numbers: All
• Major Wards: Inflict, Protection from, Area effect
• Conditions: Cold, Evil, Fear, Fire, Good, Light, Magic (choose 2)
• Gain one additional wards each level, not spells.

• No ‘Real’ knowledge – the priest is granted the ability to make wards, not cast spells.
• This lack of knowledge means the priest gains none of the special diabolist skills, such as ward recognition.
• Ward priests can not use magic circles unless learnt through a separate process.

• Priest OCC.

• Lore: Magic, Lore: Demons & Monsters

• Limited circle knowledge
• Protection circles: Simple
• Protection from: Elementals, Demons and Devils, Evil, Good, Magic(simple) (choose 1)
• Summoning: Animals, Elementals, Demons/Devils lesser., Fairy Folk (choose 1)
• Gain additional circles each level, not spells.
• Power circles are available at 8th level and above.

• No ‘Real’ knowledge – granted the ability to create circles, not cast spells.

• Priest OCC.

• Lore: Magic

• Warlock spells may only be selected from the god’s elemental realm.
• Gain the Warlock "special abilities" – power 10, such as resistance to fire for fire warlocks

• Normal spells may not be learnt.
• No other warlock abilities are granted.

priest may sacrifice all spell abilities (except from divine intervention) to gain the OCC skills and have access to the elective skills of another class.

• Priest OCC.
• Select a second OCC that the priest follows as his vocation.

• A selection from the vocation OCC

• Gain special skills of the selected OCC.
• Gain OCC skills of the selected OCC.
• Elective or Other and secondary skills may be selected from either OCC, but only from the priest’s ‘allowance’ of skills.

• Loose spell casting except through divine intervention.

• Any OCC
• Religious Doctrine skill

• Lore: Magic, Etiquette

• Newly gained powers are developed from level 1, including effective spell level.
• Powers of light:
• 1st Level: Penance & Sacrifice, Prayer of Commune, Prayer of Strength
• 3rd Level: Remove curse, Lesser Healing touch - D8 per level per day, Turn dead
• 5th Level: Exorcism - add +20 to an other’s roll if aiding their attempt, Prayer of intervention, Spells casting - priest of light, Magic combat - priest of light
• Powers of darkness:
• 1st Level: Penance & Sacrifice, Prayer of Commune, Prayer of Strength
• 2nd Level: Curse of Pox
• 3rd Level: Curse of Fear, Lesser Healing touch - D8 per level per day, Animate / command dead
• 4th Level: Curse of Ill luck
• 5th Level: Summon minion of darkness, Spells casting - Evil priest, Magic combat - Evil priest

• This is paid for with learning & prayer and often a 10% tithe (up to 80%) per level gained.
• 1000 experience points must be expended for a non-devotee to ‘find the faith’ (gain 1st level.)
• Additional experience over the character’s OCC requirements

• Druid OCC (light or dark)

• Wilderness survival, Animal Husbandry, Identify Plants & Fruits, Lore: Magic

• A totem druid has the animal metamorphic and totem abilities of the 1^st edition Druid OCC
• The druid may call a second familiar at 5th level onwards.
• A totem druid will learn magic much as a priest or shaman. They invoke the power of nature to their bidding. Totem druids may cast spells of 1 realm of elemental power, depending upon their chosen environment. E.g.. A totem druid of a forest is likely to gain Earth Warlock powers, whilst a druid of a lagoon will gain water powers. One spell per level will be gained.
• PPE: IQ + 5 per level.
• Totem druids choose hand to hand skills as a priest, relative to their totem,. E.g. Rodent: thief, Bear: soldier.
• Use priests magic combat bonuses
• If using Increased PPE rules - Religious services, as priest. Locations = unspoilt wilderness, 1 mile radius of grove & Grove.

• Loose all Druid special abilities.
• Compared to priests and warlocks, however, their power is weak, and they gain no power of friendship over elementals.

• Diabolist OCC

• Lore: Magic, Sculpting & Whittling

• Keep all OCC powers and skills
• Other or elective and secondary skills are chosen from priest OCC.

• Circle knowledge will still be limited to protection circles.
• Dwarven Alchemists are also controlled in this way by the dwarven churches.
• The Referee may allow dwarven wizards to be constructed under these restrictions.

• Wizard OCC

• Literacy – as many languages as possible. Don’t worry too much about the spoken word.

• The wizard must have daily access to his spell books, and be able to cast a Decipher Magic spell: one of the two spells that a Tome mage will ‘permanently’ learn.
• When a spell is learnt from a scroll or anther books, the mage will cast "Inscribe Wizardry" (30 PPE), effectively the reverse of a Create scroll spell, transferring the spell into his book, destroying the original in the process.

• After sleep or meditation, a mage will choose what spells he will memorise for that day, expending PPE up to his limit, with a 1/3 off standard PPE requirements (a 1-hour process).
• Arcanist magic is NOT compatible with normal spell magic (both methods can not be followed) but ‘teaching’ and normal scrolls can be shared.

• Wizard OCC

• Prowl, Streetwise

• Gains Hand to Hand: Assassin (or Thief if using 1^st edition)
• +10% to prowl, +5% to other Rogue skills
• Reputation: Gains +2/10% when dealing with the underground.

• Limited Additional Spells: (Wizard ability 2) Gains only one 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd level spells.
• Reputation: Is at –3/15% when dealing with "Lawful folk"

• Wizard OCC

• Wilderness Survival, Land Navigation

• +10% wilderness skills
• +5% rogue skills when out of doors.

• Reduce Science and Technical skill bonus to 5%
• -2/10% when socially dealing with ‘townies’

• Wizard OCC
• Requires WP: Archery (WP: Short Bow in 1^st edition)

• WP: Targeting

• Touch range spells (e.g. Fire Fist) and directly Targeted spells (e.g. Call Lightning) may be cast on an arrow. The spell will effect the first target it strikes. An arrow will hold a spell for one round per level of the caster. If the arrow is not launched by the end of that time, the spell fades.

• All other spells the wizard casts are at half range.
• Priests of Hunting and Archery based religions may use this S.C.C. with the referees agreement.

• Wizard OCC

• The wizard is considered 2 levels higher for purposes of casting and researching spells from the chosen path. This means a wizard gaining 3^rd level may select his ‘free’ spell from levels 1 to 5 in his selected path.

• Considered 2 levels lower for spells of the opposed lesser path.
• Can not learn opposed greater paths
• Increase PPE requirements for other greater paths by 50%.

Some wizards study the darker sides of magic. Studying these forbidden lores empowers the wizard, but weakens his mind.

• Wizard OCC

• The Wizard, by studying forbidden lores, finds magic easier to control - he is considered one, two or even three levels higher for the purposes of spell casting! (How this is achieved is up to the individual GM) But this power comes at a cost.

• The cost of the wizards power will ultimately be his soul. Every time the wizard gains a level, or once every year if no new levels are gained, the wizard must make a save v. Insanity (16) at a penalty equal to double the level of power gained. i.e. a wizard gaining 2 spell levels must save at -4. Failing the save will drop the wizard's alignment towards diabolic by one step (see below) and the wizard will gain a random insanity.

Principled or Scrupulous -> Unprincipled -> Anarchist -> Miscreant -> Diabolic

Aberrant -> Anarchist -> Miscreant -> Diabolic

• The worse the wizard's alignment, the more often the wizard will be contacted by demons, devils and evil spirits, trying to coax the wizard into their service.
• Once the Wizard is diabolic, his mind is completely susceptible to the darkness - the next spirit that 'visits' can possess the wizard, gaining control of his mind and power. In the case of a PC, this will normally result in the character becoming an NPC.
• As soon as the wizard's alignment drops to Anarchist, they will detect as a 'Supernatural Evil'

• Any Psychic PCC

• None are particularly relevant to a person who spends most of their time asleep.

• Can Astrally Project (as Psionic Power) when asleep, and interact with others.
• Dreamer is at +2/10% whilst in this dream state, and is considered 2 levels higher for psionic effects.
• Sleeping targets are at –2 to save
• Awake targets are at +3 to save.

• Is considered half level for determination of Psioic powers whilst awake. For example, a 6^th level Dreamer is considered only 3^rd level for determining the range, duration and effects of his other psionic powers.

• Any OCC

• Wilderness survival, Prowl

• Wilderness skills +10%
• Rogue skills +10% in the wilderness
• Track Humanoids, detect concealment and detect ambush +5% in the wilderness.

• Will not wear armour heavier than chain in the wilderness.
• Is at –2/10% on rolls dealing with "honest folk" socially.
• Wanted by "the law".

• Any OCC, but likely to be a ‘high’ warrior, priest or Wizard.

• Heraldry, Etiquette, Dancing

• Starting money and equipment as a noble.
• Charming: +2/10% on all PB checks.

• Untrusted: -3/15% on all MA checks.

• Any OCC

• Lore: Target (as Lore: Demon & Monster – gives knowledge of target race.)

• +1 Action per round against targets, or +1 effective level for spell determination.

• Will take every opportunity to attack the target – must make a 16 save (+ME modifiers) to resist.

It is up to the player to choose what set them off, typically battle, injury and shock.

• Any OCC, but likely to be warrior.

• One Weapon skill, many physical skills, First Aid.

• When Berserk
• +1 Damage per level
• Will not drop until hit points are at negative (PE + Level).

• ME check of 10 to control self, typically when wounded or insulted. A failed roll will result in berserk fit. Roll can be voluntarily failed.
• Can not come out of fit until all foes are downed. A perception check is required to notice a fried from foe if the berserker is at HP equal or less than (30 - IQ - Level).

Those here represent O.C.C.s not yet converted by Palladium to 2^nd edition.

• As Mercenary OCC
• Use Knight Experience tables,

• Acting and Weapon Skills

• Hand to Hand: Gladiator (A very dangerous Hand to Hand skill)
• +4 Disarm attempts.

• Loose Climb and Wilderness as OCC skills. May be taken as electives.
• Can not wear heavy armour, other than half suits.
• Restricted to sling and short bow as missile weapons.
• Must show off in combat.
• Tend to avoid pole-arms.

• Priest OCC (light or dark)

• History, Animal Husbandry and Lore: Demons and Monsters.

• Prayer of Divination. (See 1^st edition)
• Visions of Grandeur. (See 1^st edition)
• At 5th level, the shaman will gain another Prayer of Divination or Vision of Grandeur per day

• No Divine Intervention.

• Druid OCC
• Experience as Druid OCC.

• Animal Husbandry, Wilderness survival.

• Gain Beast Master special skills.

• Loose Druid Special Skills

• Soldier OCC
• Experience as Knight OCC.

• Weapon Skills, Military Etiquette, Lore: Religion

• Gain Holy Crusader Special Skills.
• Add Lore: Religion (+10) as OCC skill.

• None, other than being tied to the doctrines of a church.

• Use ranger OCC

• History and Singing or Art - The tribe’s history may be passed down through song or works of art rather than through books.

• Use the Tribesman Hand to Hand table
• Use the Tribesman Experience table.

• Is often regarded as uneducated, barbaric or savage by unenlightened men of the city

• Use Ranger OCC

• Rope Works and Intelligence.

• Use the Bounty Hunter Hand to Hand skill.
• Add Streetwise (+10) as OCC skill.
• May select WP: Longbow.

• Mistrusted by the ‘real’ law enforcers.

• Use Thief OCC

• Acting, Language Skills, Domestic skills.

• Add Intelligence(+10) and Disguise(+10) as OCC skills.
• Add (+10) to Espionage skill area.

• Torture and death if caught.

• Use Paladin OCC
• Add 50% to paladin experience requirements.

• Weapon Skills, Lore: Magic and Etiquette.

• Add spell casting and other Undead hunter OCC bonuses.
• Add Lore: Undead(+20) and Lore: Demon & Monsters(+20) as OCC skills.

• Loose Way of Lance
• Loose Holy Strike
• May not take restricted weapon skills (long bow and lance) and are not considered true men of magic.
• Although they know all the spells listed, undead hunters will not use those of a level greater than double their own, except in the direst cases.
• Will pay a 10%/level (up to 80%) tithe.
• They start with the standard equipment listed, except the weapon of choice will be high quality and silver, and will have 1D3 holy stars. May be granted other weapons (maybe on loan) at higher levels.

• Use Priest of Light OCC

• Animal husbandry (to tend their animal companion)

• Gain Witch Hunter special powers and abilities
• Add HtH: Mercenary, Lore: Witch(+25) and Horsemanship (General) as OCC skills
• Add +10 to Lore: Demons & Monsters (+25 total).

• Loose Priest special powers.