Unless otherwise specifically altered or contradicted in these house rule pages, the rules found in the 5th Edition Hero System apply at all times.

Racial Packages

Dwarf Package (2 Points): All Khazak and Durindan characters are required to take this package.

Halfling Package (2 Points): All Ostrali and Nerulk characters are required to take this package.

Orc/Half-Orc Package (2 Points): All full-blood and half-blood orc characters are required to take this package.

Occupational Packages

Assassin Package (20 Points): Trained killers who hire their skills to those who will pay for them, who are not also priests of Gabinius, are rare in the Young Kingdoms.  There are no organized guilds or agencies for such people, though in every large city there are ways of finding, and hiring, such killers.

Blacksmith Package (14 Points): Blacksmithing is the craft of forging metal tools and equipment from iron.  A blacksmith can also change iron into steel.  They aren't armorers or weaponsmiths, in general, though any blacksmith worthy of the name can create rough, unskilled weapons and armor.  Most blacksmiths get the majority of their trade by creating tools (plow blades, hammers, nails, and so on) and shoeing horses.

If the blacksmith specializes in forging weapons and armor, he adds the following to the package.  This changes the cost of the package to 21 points.

Bounty Hunter Package (7 Points): Bounty hunters pursue criminals and other fugitives for whom a reward is offered.  For the most part, they do not care about the guilt or innocence of their prey... only that they get paid for fulfilling the bounty.

Cat Burglar Package (11 Points): Cat burglars, thieves who specialize in the unobtrusive entry into residences, shops, stores, and so on, are one of the most common type of ne'er-do-well found in the larger cities.

Calafian Militia Package (7 Points): In times of war, the Kingdom of Calafia relies on a small army of volunteer militia made up of commoners, led by a corps of officers  who belong to the nobility.  Local militias train with weapons and armor one day out of every three weeks.

While the officers in the Calafian militia are all members of the nobility, nearly all hold no rank above that of Knight. Calafian Militia Officer add the following to the package; this addition increases the package cost to 10 points.

Healer Package (2 Points): Healers are practiced in the medical arts.  They use the land around them as a pharmacopia, and apply that knowledge to healing the sick and curing injuries.

Khazak Pentitent Package (9 Points): Criminal justice among the Khazak dwarves is generally swift and harsh.  Mutilation, branding, and death are the most common punishments for crimes against other Khazak.  But in some cases (especially in cases of blasphemy), the individual Khazak is given a chance to atone for his crime.  These Khazak become penitents, sworn to seek out the enemies of his race and kill them and kill them and kill them until there are either no more enemies or his last drop of blood has been spilt trying to kill them.  He is fearless, unsubtle, and in some cases more of a danger to any companions he might have than he is to the enemy he is hunting.  (When constructing the character, the player must choose one of the following as the chosen enemy: Dragons, Giants, Goblins, Kobolds, Ogres, Orcs, or Trolls.

Penitents are marked as such by the extensive tatooing across the upper part of their faces, their neck and shoulders, and the tops of their shaven heads.  In addition, their beards have been permanently burned off with a flame, leaving the bottom of their faces scarred.

Other dwarves (including the Durindan) look on a penitent with a mixture of disdain at the thought of the crime the penitent must have committed, and respect for the penitent's wish to redeem himself through combat.  No penitent will ever divulge the nature of his crime; asking about it is considered rude at best and insulting at worst.

Lemenari Sailor (10 Points): The Lemenari are renown for their ability as seaman, using the sealanes to trade from the entire length of the Sea of Horses as far south as the southern edge of the Burning Sands and as far north as the Ice Islands.

Philosopher Package (8 Points): In the Young Kingdoms, a philosopher is not only one who thinks deep thoughts about the human condition (in other words, the modern idea of a philosopher), he's also a scientist, scholar, artist, and inventor in the tradition of Aristotle, Eratosthenes, Bacon, Galileo, and Da Vinci.

Slave Package (5 Points): Slavery is common in Soravia, some parts of the Broken Kingdom, in some of the city-states along the Lost Coast, among the Chayk, and in some of the Border Cities.  The Social Limitation can be changed to Freed Slave or Escaped Slave, as appropriate, with no change in the point value.

• Constitution: +3 (6)
• Endurance: +10 (5)
• Knowledge Skill: One Form of Simple Entertaiment (Nine Men's Morris, Draughts, Mumblepeg, etc.) 11 or less (2)
• Professional Skill: Laborer 11 or less (2)
• Professional Skill: One Specific Type of Manual Labor (Stonecutting, Farming, Blacksmithing, etc.) 11 or less (2)
• Workhorse (4)
• Social Limitation: Slave (-15)

Sorcerer Package (50 Points): As spellcasters, sorcerers differ from wizards in that their spellcasting ability is gained through a natural talent rather than study and understanding of arcane formulae.  Sorcerers gain this talent through a connection to some supernatural entity in their family line.  The exact nature of that supernatural entity determines the details of the Sorcerer package.  Once a particular bloodline package has been taken by a specific character, that character may not take another.

The base Sorcerer's package is common to all bloodlines and contains the following:

• Knowledge Skill: Magical Research 11 or less (2)
• Knowledge Skill: Spellcraft (3)
• Professional Skill: Sorcerer (3)
• Talent: The Gift (10)
• Sorcerer's Spell Pool: Variable Point Power Pool (40) - No Skill Roll Required (+1), 0 Phase to Change Spells (+1)(100 Active Points); Only Arcane Magic (-½), Very Limited List of Spells Known     (-¼), Variable Limitation (-¼; each spell must take -½ of limitations from Extra Time, Concentration, Incantation, Gesture, or Limited Range in any combination at a minimum) (67 Points)

In addition to the base package, all sorcerers are required to select one (and only one... no character ever has more than one) bloodline types.  The appropriate spell-like abilities and disadvantages are then added to the Package.

Angelic Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was native to one of the heavenly realms.  Such characters are likely to be tall for their race, and physically beautiful and impressive.  They are almost always goodly in nature, though this is by no means certain.  Angelic sorcerers are decisive, compassionate, and determined.  They tend to start adventuring out of an urge to combat evil, aid others, and sometimes both.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Light-Based Spells (3)
• Create Light: Sight Group Images - Increased Size (16" radius; +1), 0 Endurance Cost (+½), (Active Cost: 25 Points); 1 Continuing Charge Lasting 20 Minutes (-½), Only to Create Light (-1), Delayed Phase (-¼), Concentration (½ DCV; -¼)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Necromantic Spells (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Once A Decision is Made, The Decision is Stuck To (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Darkness-Based Magics (-10)

Diabolic Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was native to one of the hellish realms.  Such characters tend to be darker in coloration, and tend to be more hirsute than normal for their race.  Diabolic sorcerers are almost always evil in nature, though this is by no means certain.  They can be prone to greedy and lustful behavior, and have no compunctions about bending or even breaking the law to their own benefit.  The evil inside of them tends to drive such characters: those that are trying to overcome their darker impulses are haunted and adventure out of a sense of restless longing for peace.  Those that accept their nature often simply enjoy killing and the adventurer's life is a perfect outlet.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Darkness-Based Spells (3)
• Create Darkness: Darkness to Sight Group, 2" radius - Personal Immunity (+¼) (25 Active Points); No Range (-½), 1 Continuing Charge Lasting 20 Minutes (-½), Concentration (½ DCV; -¼), Delayed Phase (-¼), Gestures (-¼)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Light-Based Spells (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Amoral (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Light-Based Spells (-10)

Draconic Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was a dragon.  Such characters tend to be proud, and of noble bearing if not birth.  Others sometimes see them as arrogant and obsessive, but the Draconic sorcerer tends to feel his attitudes are justified.  Draconic sorcerers love knowledge and beautiful items, and they often adventure to acquire one or the other.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Battle Magic Spells (3)
• Comprehend Languages: Universal Translator - 1 Continuing Charge Lasting 6 Hours (+0) (20 Active Points); Extra Time, Only to Activate Constant or Persistent Power (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12); -¾), Concentration (0 DCV; -½)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Spells Based on an Elemental Type (Air, Earth, Fire, Water) of the Player's Choosing (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Arrogant (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Spells Based on Their Forbidden Elemental Type (-10)

Elemental Air Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was a creature of elemental air.  The character is likely to be pale in complexion, with wild, unkept hair and light blue eyes.  Air Sorcerors tend toward gentleness and a strong appreciation for beauty, but are moody and have terrible tempers if provoked.  Restless, characters with this bloodline often start adventuring out of a need for doing something and going somewhere different.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Air-Based Spells (3)
• Obscuring Mist: Darkness to Sight Group, 2" radius - Personal Immunity (+¼) (25 Active Points); No Range (-½), 1 Continuing Charge Lasting 20 Minutes (-½), Concentration (½ DCV; -¼), Delayed Phase (-¼), Gestures (-¼)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Spells Involving the Element Earth (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Moody (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Spelled Involving the Element Earth (-10)

Elemental Earth Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was a creature of elemental earth.  The character probably has a hardy, solidly built body and dark coloration.  Earth sorcerers are often considered by others to be hidebound and unchanging; while there is some truth to this, its more correct to say that earth sorcerers are simply comfortable with the way things are.  They are also tough, determined, and unwavering in their goals.  They generally enjoy being underground, so they like to delve into caves and dungeons and other subterranean areas.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Earth-Based Spells (3)
• Fist of Stone: Hand Attack: +4d6 - Costs Endurance to Turn On (-¼), Hand-to-Hand Attack (-½), 1 Continuing Charge Lasting 20 Minutes (-½), Delayed Phase (-¼)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Spells Involving Element Air (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Headstrong (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Spelled Involving the Element Earth (-10)

Elemental Fire Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was a creature of elemental fire.  The character is likely to have either fiery red or coal black hair and either smoky gray or golden eyes.  Usually hot-tempered and unpredictable, fire sorcerers can be ruthless, passionate, egotistic, and prone to destructive behavior.  They usually adventure for the chance at personal fame and glory.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Fire-Based Spells (3)
• Plume of Fire: Ranged Killing Attack 1d6 - Area Of Effect (4" Cone; +1) (30 Active Points); 1 Charge (-2), Gestures (-1/4), Requires Both Hands (-1/4), No Range (-1/2), Concentration (½ DCV; -¼)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Spells Involving the Element Water (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Ruthless and Unpredictable (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Spelled Involving the Element Water (-10)

Elemental Water Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was a creature of elemental water.  The character is likely to be pale complected, with blue or green tinges.  They are adaptable, quick witted, and hard to fool or surprise, but sometimes seem cold and distant to others.  Water sorcerers are often driven to always move forward and overcome any obstacle.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Water-Based Spells (3)
• Water Breathing: Life Support (Expanded Breathing: May Breath in Water) - 1 Continuing Charge Lasting 6 Hours (+0), Persistent (+½), Usable By Others (x8 Number of Targets +1) (12 Active Points); Concentration (0 DCV; -½)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Spells Involving the Element Fire (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Ruthless and Unpredictable (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Spelled Involving the Element Fire (-10)

Fey Bloodline: One of the character's distant ancestors was a faerie creature.  Fey-blooded characters have widely varying appearances, but usually have some unusual feature that marks them as such, such as strange hair or eye color.  Fey sorcerers possess keen intellects, but tend to be rash and impulsive, and are sometimes fickle.  They are quick to laugh, though, and have pleasant senses of humor.  They adventure primarily out of a sense of alienation, seeking some place that they truly belong.

• Combat Skill Level: +1 OCV with Enchantment Spells (3)
• Glamour: Shape Shift vs. Sight Groups, Any Shape (37 Active Points) - Costs Endurance Only to Change Shape (+¼); No Gross Anatomical Changes (Only to Change Details About the Character's Features (Hair Color, Eye Color, Skin Tone, Hair Length, Etc., Rather Than Body Shape)(-1½), Delayed Phase (-¼), Concentration (½ DCV; -¼), Character's Reflection Retains Natural Appearance (-¼), Character's Appearance Reverts Automatically If The Character Comes Into Contact With Cold Iron (-½), Gestures (-¼)(8)
• Physical Limitation: Incapable of Casting Necromantic Magic Spells (-15)
• Psychological Limitation: Rash and Impulsive (-15)
• Vulnerability: 2 x Effect from Necromantic Spells (-10)