Forbidden Lands is a free PDF guide to a cursed, open-world fantasy RPG where players are raiders and rogues, not heroes, shaping their own survival story.

1.1 What is Forbidden Lands?

Forbidden Lands is a low-fantasy, open-world survival role-playing game where players take on the roles of raiders, rogues, and explorers in a cursed, post-apocalyptic realm. Published by Free League Publishing, it offers a gritty, sandbox-style experience, allowing players to carve their own paths in a harsh, unforgiving environment. Designed by Erik Granström, the game emphasizes resource management, strategic decision-making, and hex-crawling exploration. Unlike traditional RPGs, players are not predestined heroes but rather survivors striving to thrive in a world recovering from a devastating war. The game is supported by a range of resources, including a free quickstart PDF, reference sheets, and expansions like The Bloodmarch and The Bitter Reach; Forbidden Lands combines visceral combat, lethal magic, and strategic journey mechanics, making it a unique offering in the RPG genre.

1.2 Setting and Overview

Forbidden Lands is set in the Ravenlands, a cursed region shrouded in crimson mist, recovering from a devastating war. This low-fantasy world is characterized by its harsh landscapes, forgotten ruins, and lingering demonic influences. Key locations, such as the Pit of Firestead and the Bitter Reach, offer challenging environments for exploration. Players take on the roles of raiders, rogues, and explorers, striving to survive and make their mark in this bleak world. The game emphasizes exploration, resource management, and strategic decision-making, with a focus on hex-crawling and open-world survival. Lingering effects of the war, such as the crimson mist, add to the sense of doom and mystery, making Forbidden Lands a unique experience in the RPG genre.

1.3 Importance of the Forbidden Lands PDF

The Forbidden Lands PDF is a comprehensive guide essential for both players and Game Masters, offering detailed rules, character generation, and world-building tools. It serves as the core rulebook, providing everything needed to explore the cursed Ravenlands. The PDF includes rules for skills, combat, magic, and journey mechanics, as well as tools for creating strongholds and managing resources. Its availability as a free or paid resource makes it accessible to newcomers and experienced players alike. The PDF is crucial for understanding the game’s mechanics and setting, allowing players to immerse themselves in the bleak, low-fantasy world. It is a vital resource for crafting unique adventures and survival stories in Forbidden Lands.

Core Rules and Gameplay Mechanics

Forbidden Lands PDF outlines core rules for skills, combat, and magic, enabling players to navigate survival in a cursed, open-world fantasy RPG through strategic gameplay.

2.1 Skills and Combat Mechanics

Forbidden Lands PDF details a robust system for skills and combat, emphasizing strategic gameplay. Skills are governed by attribute checks, with dice rolls determining success or failure. Combat is visceral and lethal, focusing on tactical decisions and resource management. The game uses custom dice with engraved symbols, where results of 6 or higher count as successes (‘X’). High rolls can yield multiple successes, enhancing combat outcomes. Players can perform various actions, including attacks, dodges, and special maneuvers, with modifiers affecting difficulty. The system encourages creativity and adaptability, allowing players to craft unique strategies. Combat is deadly, rewarding caution and clever use of abilities. This mechanic ensures every encounter is tense and meaningful, fitting the game’s survival-oriented design. The PDF provides clear rules for resolving conflicts, making it accessible for both new and experienced players.

2.2 Magic System

Forbidden Lands features a distinct and versatile magic system, deeply integrated into its dark fantasy setting. Magic is accessible to players through various traditions, each with unique flavors and risks. The system allows for creative spellcasting, enabling players to craft their own magical effects rather than relying on predefined spells. This flexibility encourages strategic thinking and adaptability. However, magic comes with inherent dangers, reflecting the game’s emphasis on survival and consequence. The rules for magic resolution are clear and tied to the game’s core mechanics, ensuring consistency. Resource management is crucial, as magic can be both powerful and unpredictable. The Forbidden Lands PDF provides detailed guidelines for magic use, making it accessible while maintaining the game’s gritty, high-stakes atmosphere. This approach ensures magic enhances the narrative without overshadowing other gameplay elements.

2.3 Character Generation

Character generation in Forbidden Lands is designed to be fast and flexible, allowing players to create unique characters tailored to their preferred playstyle. The system emphasizes backstory and personalization, with options to define characters through attributes, skills, and equipment. A class-less system provides freedom, enabling players to craft distinct personalities and abilities. The Forbidden Lands PDF includes tools for quickly generating characters, ensuring newcomers can join the game without extensive preparation. Additionally, a character backstory booklet offers a dice-based method to flesh out personalities and histories, adding depth and immersion; This approach ensures that each character is memorable and integral to the game’s narrative, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement from the start.

Gameplay Mechanics

Forbidden Lands combines skill-based progression, dice resolution, and open-world exploration, emphasizing survival and strategy. Players navigate treacherous landscapes, manage resources, and engage in tactical combat, shaping their own adventures.

3.1 Dice Rolling and Resolution

In Forbidden Lands, dice rolling is central to resolving actions, with a focus on simplicity and narrative flow. Players use six-sided dice, where results of 6 or higher count as successes, often granting multiple outcomes based on the roll. A unique mechanic involves custom dice engraved with the number of successes (X) they can produce, streamlining resolution. The system emphasizes high results for critical successes, adding drama to key moments. Skills, combat, and exploration all rely on these rolls, with modifiers from attributes, skills, and equipment influencing outcomes. The game includes tables to interpret dice results, ensuring consistency while allowing for creative problem-solving. This mechanic fosters strategic thinking and immersive storytelling, making each roll meaningful in shaping the adventure.

3.2 Journey Actions

Journey actions are a core mechanic in Forbidden Lands, allowing players to navigate the cursed world, manage resources, and interact with their environment. These actions are resolved using dice rolls, with outcomes influenced by skills, attributes, and equipment. Players can choose from a variety of actions, such as scouting, foraging, or navigating, each with specific rules and consequences. The game includes modifiers based on terrain, weather, and other challenges, adding depth to travel. Journey actions also tie into the game’s survival elements, as managing fatigue, hunger, and morale is crucial. This system encourages strategic decision-making and immersion, as every journey is an opportunity for adventure, danger, or discovery. The Forbidden Lands PDF provides detailed tables and guidelines to streamline these mechanics, ensuring a smooth and engaging experience for both players and the GM.

3.3 Combat Procedures

Combat in Forbidden Lands is fast-paced and lethal, emphasizing tactical decisions and dice-based resolution. Players use skills, weapons, and gear to determine outcomes, with modifiers applied based on equipment, injuries, and environmental factors. Actions like attacking, defending, or using abilities are resolved with dice rolls, and high results often yield critical successes. The system incorporates a “gear bonus” mechanic, where better equipment provides advantages. Combat also ties into survival elements, as injuries and fatigue can linger. The Forbidden Lands PDF outlines clear procedures for initiating combat, resolving attacks, and handling consequences, ensuring a balanced and immersive experience. This system rewards strategy and adaptability, making each encounter unpredictable and engaging for players and GMs alike, while maintaining the game’s gritty, low-fantasy tone.

Free Resources

Forbidden Lands offers a variety of free resources, including the Quickstart PDF, reference sheets, and character backstory booklets. These materials enhance gameplay and provide essential tools for players and GMs to dive into the cursed world, complete with rules summaries, adventure sites, and dice tools. Available online, they make it easy to start or expand your journey in Forbidden Lands. These resources are perfect for new players and seasoned adventurers alike, ensuring everyone can experience the game’s depth and richness without cost. Explore the official website or platforms like Scribd to access these valuable downloads and immerse yourself in the world of Forbidden Lands seamlessly. The free resources are regularly updated and supported by the community, offering fresh content and ideas to keep your campaigns exciting and dynamic. With these tools, you can craft unique stories, manage complex characters, and navigate the treacherous landscapes of the Ravenlands with ease and creativity. The availability of free content makes Forbidden Lands accessible to everyone, inviting all to join in the adventure and forge their own paths in this hauntingly beautiful RPG setting.

4.1 Quickstart PDF

The Forbidden Lands Quickstart PDF is a 152-page free resource designed to introduce players to the game’s core mechanics and setting. It provides a comprehensive overview of skills, combat, and travel rules, along with the complete Weatherstone adventure site. This PDF is perfect for new players and GMs to get a taste of the game without committing to the full version. Created by Free League Publishing, it offers a condensed version of the game’s open-world survival fantasy RPG experience. The Quickstart PDF includes essential rules summaries, dice resolution, and journey actions, making it an excellent starting point. It also features tools for character generation and adventure setup, allowing players to dive into the cursed world of Forbidden Lands immediately. This free resource is a great way to explore the game’s unique blend of exploration, combat, and storytelling before purchasing the full version.

4.2 Reference Sheets

Reference sheets for Forbidden Lands are essential tools for both players and Game Masters, providing quick access to key rules and mechanics. These sheets cover a wide range of topics, including combat, skills, equipment, spells, and dice resolution. Designed to be user-friendly, they summarize complex rules into a concise format, ensuring that players can easily reference important information during gameplay. Available in both vertical and horizontal layouts, these PDFs cater to different preferences and playstyles. They are particularly useful for new players who may find the core rules overwhelming, as well as for experienced players seeking a handy reference. By keeping these sheets accessible, players and GMs can focus on storytelling and immersion without interrupting the flow of the game. These resources are a valuable addition to any Forbidden Lands campaign, enhancing the overall experience.