The GameNow in it's second edition, the Lair of Sword & Sorcery Core Rules are bigger and better than ever.
Collected in a single book are all the things you need to start running your own games right away,
Need to know more? Download the quick start manual and check it out! |
Newest release: Lair/labyrinth lord conversion
Issue 7 of LOSS magazine, including full rules for converting Lair of Sword & Sorcery materials to Labyrinth Lord and vice versa.
Also including all new lair and story templates for use in LABYRINTH lORD
Now you can use all of Lair of Sword & Sorcery's innovative rules and tools
in your favorite OSR games.
in your favorite OSR games.
Free Download Section
Character Sheets, maps and the quickstart guide can be found in the free downloads section.
what makes Lair of sword & Sorcery different?
Character creation
A classless character system means that any character you make can be, or do, anything you want, whenever you want.
Character creation is quick and easy.
The Veteran system allows you to increase your characters power by improving their skills, their combat ability, or by giving them new skills.
Character creation is quick and easy.
The Veteran system allows you to increase your characters power by improving their skills, their combat ability, or by giving them new skills.
NO hit points
Characters in Lair have endurance which represents physical stamina and combat skill, but when they become too tired from an extended combat, or are overwhelmed by a more skilled fighter, their endurance goes down, until they are left open to mortal wound.
In between combats characters may rest to regain a portion of their endurance before moving on to the next room or encounter. When they return home from their adventure they regain all of their endurance.
This means that there are no healing potions or magic in the game of Lair.
In between combats characters may rest to regain a portion of their endurance before moving on to the next room or encounter. When they return home from their adventure they regain all of their endurance.
This means that there are no healing potions or magic in the game of Lair.
Combat
In Lair each combatant has an attack score. They each roll 1d6 and add their attack store to the result. The fighter with the highest score wins the combat and causes extra damage to their enemy.
However even the winner in a combat still becomes tired and loses endurance. This means that even if you win every combat a fighter will eventually be killed if they are forced to fight too many enemies in a row, or at the same time. This makes combat far more tactical than in other games.
However even the winner in a combat still becomes tired and loses endurance. This means that even if you win every combat a fighter will eventually be killed if they are forced to fight too many enemies in a row, or at the same time. This makes combat far more tactical than in other games.
Experience
In Lair there are no levels or experience points. There is instead the veteran system. Veteran points are earned by surviving combats against enemies more powerful than yourself.
Or for heroic acts or coming up with a cunning plan.
Veteran points can be spent on gaining an incread in attack, endurance, or any other stat.
Or they can be spent on new skills or increasing skills you already have.
The balance of the game is dependent on what veteran points are awarded for. They are given for surviving a combat with enemies that are of equal power or greater. Not defeating them, just surviving the encounter. This means that you no longer gain experience for encountering random weak enemies but instead for pushing harder and deeper into the encounter till you find the enemy you are not able to deal with.
Or for heroic acts or coming up with a cunning plan.
Veteran points can be spent on gaining an incread in attack, endurance, or any other stat.
Or they can be spent on new skills or increasing skills you already have.
The balance of the game is dependent on what veteran points are awarded for. They are given for surviving a combat with enemies that are of equal power or greater. Not defeating them, just surviving the encounter. This means that you no longer gain experience for encountering random weak enemies but instead for pushing harder and deeper into the encounter till you find the enemy you are not able to deal with.
battle matt
Most role playing games take place in the "Theater of the mind". Meaning you have to imagine all the action, who is next to who, how far it is between enemies, and just what you can do. Lair is different in this aspect as all of the action happens on a battle mat. You always know exactly where you and your allies are, and where the enemies are.
Many role playing games do away with the battle mat and claim you can play without it. This is because usually they are expensive to buy and difficult to acquire.
However they make the game much easier to play. The rules of Lair assume you will be using a battle mat, but unlike other games Lair teaches you how to make your own. Whether it is the simple battle mat described in the core rules or the full 3d dungeon described in issue one of LoSS magazine. Either one will require only a few dollars of materials available at any dollar store, the full 3d dungeon version only taking a little more time.
The full version described in the magazine is referred to as the Demonboard. Even this beautiful board can be finished in an afternoon by anyone, requiring no special crafting skills.
Many role playing games do away with the battle mat and claim you can play without it. This is because usually they are expensive to buy and difficult to acquire.
However they make the game much easier to play. The rules of Lair assume you will be using a battle mat, but unlike other games Lair teaches you how to make your own. Whether it is the simple battle mat described in the core rules or the full 3d dungeon described in issue one of LoSS magazine. Either one will require only a few dollars of materials available at any dollar store, the full 3d dungeon version only taking a little more time.
The full version described in the magazine is referred to as the Demonboard. Even this beautiful board can be finished in an afternoon by anyone, requiring no special crafting skills.
Magic
There are no wizards in Lair of Sword and Sorcery. Any character is free to learn the Sorcererous arts.
In this game there are no lists of spells the character can learn.
Instead they have the ability to control and enslave spirits, ghosts, and demons.
These beings all have their own powers, which are at the command of the sorcerer.
Instead of casting a fireball spell the sorcerer controls a fire demon, which will may throw fire at the sorcerers enemies.
This type of magic also extends to the world of magic items. Instead of a magic sword which bursts into flames, the item acts as a prison for a fire demon, which belches forth it's fire at the characters command.
In this game there are no lists of spells the character can learn.
Instead they have the ability to control and enslave spirits, ghosts, and demons.
These beings all have their own powers, which are at the command of the sorcerer.
Instead of casting a fireball spell the sorcerer controls a fire demon, which will may throw fire at the sorcerers enemies.
This type of magic also extends to the world of magic items. Instead of a magic sword which bursts into flames, the item acts as a prison for a fire demon, which belches forth it's fire at the characters command.
Fame and Favours
In most games you have a vague idea if your hero is famous, but what does it do for you? Maybe a drink at the bar or someone recognizes you in town.
Not so in Lair of Sword & Sorcery. In Lair your character has a Fame score. This is used to track just how well you are known and whether any given person or town will have heard of you. But wait, there's more!
When characters complete adventures they don't just get treasure and experience points, they also often earn a favor from the town or person they have helped. These favors are an actual game mechanic and can be cashed in later when the character needs something. The more famous the character is, the more they can get for a favour.
Not so in Lair of Sword & Sorcery. In Lair your character has a Fame score. This is used to track just how well you are known and whether any given person or town will have heard of you. But wait, there's more!
When characters complete adventures they don't just get treasure and experience points, they also often earn a favor from the town or person they have helped. These favors are an actual game mechanic and can be cashed in later when the character needs something. The more famous the character is, the more they can get for a favour.
Fleeing
The game of Lair is fast, tactical and dangerous. The characters can be quickly overwhelmed by superior numbers or by encountering fresh enemies too soon after a battle.
In Lair Fleeing is always and option and has it's own rules, if the heroes can make it to the edge of the demon board then they have escaped. Often times this means they will fail in their mission and won't have a second chance to enter the dungeon but the heroes will live on to fight another day.
In Lair Fleeing is always and option and has it's own rules, if the heroes can make it to the edge of the demon board then they have escaped. Often times this means they will fail in their mission and won't have a second chance to enter the dungeon but the heroes will live on to fight another day.
ready to get started? Buy Lair now!
Heard enough and want to get started? Then head to the store right now and get your self the Loss Core rules and issues of LoSS magazine.
For more information on Loss and it's world of Kartharka read on below!
For more information on Loss and it's world of Kartharka read on below!
the world of kartharka
Lair of Sword and Sorcery can be played with any world you like, or one you create yourself.
But it's made to be run with a low magic world of high adventure sword and sorcery. And have we got a world for you, ready for adventure!
The world of Kartharka! Born in the fire of the Demon wars and destroyed in the cataclysms of the great Sorcery wars.
The seasons of the world are now locked in endlessly in their own parts of the world, from the Freezing Winterlands in the north to the scorched deserts of the Summerlands to the south.
The game world mostly revolves around the Winterlands, home of the freemen. Free from the rule of the Black Emperor, supreme ruler of the rest of Kartharka.
The background history of the world of Kartharka can be found in the issues of LoSS magazine and include the government, laws, history and regions of the world of Kartharka.
The focus of the world of Kartharka has been primarily on the free Winterlands to the North as they are the areas where a bold heart and a strong sword arm are most likely to earn your hero fame and fortune.
But it's made to be run with a low magic world of high adventure sword and sorcery. And have we got a world for you, ready for adventure!
The world of Kartharka! Born in the fire of the Demon wars and destroyed in the cataclysms of the great Sorcery wars.
The seasons of the world are now locked in endlessly in their own parts of the world, from the Freezing Winterlands in the north to the scorched deserts of the Summerlands to the south.
The game world mostly revolves around the Winterlands, home of the freemen. Free from the rule of the Black Emperor, supreme ruler of the rest of Kartharka.
The background history of the world of Kartharka can be found in the issues of LoSS magazine and include the government, laws, history and regions of the world of Kartharka.
The focus of the world of Kartharka has been primarily on the free Winterlands to the North as they are the areas where a bold heart and a strong sword arm are most likely to earn your hero fame and fortune.
The World of KartharkaA whole world, ready for adventure!
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The WinterlandsThe home of most characters, the Winterlands are the the Freelands of Kartharka.
A wilderness of snow full of hidden secrets from the history of the world. Even this heavily poplulated area contains vast areas of unmapped and forgotten places. |
Stroh-BranochThe largest city of the Winterlands and the seat of the most powerful governing families. The destination for all aspiring heroes!
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loss magazineThe heart of the Lair of Sword and Sorcery game.
New rules, adventures, monsters, tips and art with every issue. Available as downloadable pdfs or print copies shipped to your door. |
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