Forging the Self

Every character in Masada is more than numbers on a sheet. Each is a fragment of history, a voice within a fractured world, and a potential shaper of what comes next. This page establishes the covenant of play: the rules and expectations for building characters who belong to this setting. What follows is both guidance and boundary, ensuring that every hero forged at this table carries the same weight and integrity.

Lineages

The Fall and the Severance shattered nations, but many peoples endured. Their survival carries consequence, and so the lineages of Masada are not limitless inventions but the inherited remnants of a broken age.

• The list of approved lineages is provided within this guide. Each has been rewritten to reflect Masada’s history and tone.

• Custom Lineage is not permitted. Mortals in Masada are bound to their ancestral stories.

• If a lineage is not listed, but is not monstrous, you may request review. Approval will depend on how it can be anchored in the world.

Classes and Subclasses

The callings of Masada are many. War, prayer, and sorcery all persist, though some traditions have grown suspect.

• All official classes and subclasses are permitted.

• Approved third-party material includes Mage Hand Press and Laser Llama supplements.

• The Peace Domain is banned. 

• Multiclassing is disabled. Each life-path is meant to feel singular and whole, not fragmented across disciplines.

Ability Scores

• Characters use the Standard Array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8.

• This ensures consistency at the table, avoiding extremes while still allowing room for individuality.

Backgrounds

History clings to every character. Where you come from matters as much as who you are now.

• A set of custom backgrounds tailored for Masada is available on the Backgrounds page. These provide anchors to Antioch, the Concordat, the Vale, and beyond. They are strongly recommended for most characters.

• All official backgrounds are permitted, though players are expected to re-flavor them to match the setting. A Noble may instead be a Concordant Delegate, a Sailor a River Warden, an Acolyte a Keeper of the Sacred Flame.

• If you have a concept that does not fit these lists, bring it forward early for discussion. Approval depends on its ability to fit seamlessly into Masada’s cultures.
  
  

Homebrew and Variant Systems

This campaign draws on curated homebrew and third-party rules to add depth and variety. These systems are not indulgences but refinements, chosen to give characters sharper edges, meaningful downtime, and risks that matter.

A full index of approved content is maintained in the campaign’s Discord. Players are expected to consult this archive when building and advancing characters.

Systems in Use

Expanded Equipment & Crafting

• Materials, reagents, and special parts can be harvested during play.

• Players may commission or craft gear with properties tied to rare resources.

Alternative Progression Paths

• Additional feats, class variants, and equipment upgrades allow characters to express growth beyond the baseline of the core game.

• These options broaden both combat roles and non-combat contributions.

Injury and Risk

• Lingering wounds, scars, and curses are rare but real. When they occur, they matter. They are not simply hit point loss, but marks that can define a character’s story.

Base Building and Downtime

• Characters may invest in strongholds, sanctuaries, or enterprises.

• These foundations create narrative hooks and long-term advantages, leaving lasting marks on the world.

Magic with Consequence

• From Grim Hollow comes a framework of corruption, curses, and transformations.

• Magic is powerful, but it may scar its wielder as much as its victim. Power is never free.

The Covenant of Play

Masada is a world of sacrifice, service, and consequence. Every rule here exists to bind character creation to that truth. Within these boundaries, players have great freedom to craft identities that feel real, grounded, and resonant with the setting.

If you wish to reach beyond these rules, you must do so openly and early. Exceptions can be granted, but only if they enrich the story rather than fracture it.

Your character is not a tool to break the world. It is a voice within it, a flame added to the greater fire.