Hex und Messer - A Mechanics-Lite Adventure Game

[Hexenritter Verlag]

I was asked by The Perilous Dreamer to tell him a bit about this game, so instead ov typing this up twice, I figured that I would kill two birds with one stone by doing so here. 

Hex und Messer - A Mechanics-Lite Adventure Game has gone through a few different permutations over the last few years. I posted about it awhile back when it was still called "Ruin Delvers". Though at the core it is the same game, I trimmed some ov the unnecessary fat off ov it. The archetypes had become too bloated with needless info, that it became hard to read coherently. Since I have ADHD, I really needed the text to be as brief and concise as possible, so that bloat had to go. Also, there were too many archetypes cluttering things up. Another change was taking a VERY different view on alignments, in Hex und Messer Law = Good, Creation, Light, Healing, and Order on a cosmic level; whereas Chaos = Evil, Destruction, Darkness, Disease, and the disorder ov the Void. Beyond these two cosmic forces, lies Balance, which draws from both in order to form the mundane world. 

Magic is tied strongly to these forces and as such can either purify or corrupt if used to the exclusion ov the other. Most magic is drawn from both Law and Chaos to one degree or another, as such this kind ov magic nullifies the purifying effect ov Law, and the Corrupting effect ov Chaos upon its user. Though the mundane world and its inhabitants are aligned at birth with Balance, choices made in life can pull one towards either Law or Chaos. Any Player Character with whom becomes utterly devoted to Chaos becomes a Non-Player-Character. Though most PCs start as aligned to Balance, the Tieljager (Beast Hunter) is a devotee ov Law. 

Humanity is the default Volk ov Hex und Messer, and its default setting Totenwelt. That said, Players can choose to play non-Human character Volks, such as Kobolds, Gnomes, and Orcs. These Volks are different from how they described in most Fantasy TTRPGs, Kobolds are short blue skinned volk who once dwelled deep in the earth but have been driven above ground or underground warrens. They are a very rare Volk, only one can be played at any time in a single campaign UNLESS specifically built around Kobolds. The Same goes for Gnomes, though there can be up to two per campaign at one time. Orcs, though rarer than Humans by far, they are far more common than Kobolds and Gnomes. Whereas Humans, Gnomes and kobolds are born aligned with Balance, Orcs are only aligned to Law, and are servants ov Orcus, Lord ov Oaths, and Judge ov the Dead. Also, Orcs can ONLY be Tieljagers, it is they who hunt demons, such as Vampires, Liches, and such. 

The core mechanics are split between Opposed and Unopposed Tests. Unopposed Tests are a D20 roll under a character's attribute tied to a given task or situation. An Opposed Test is a D20 roll over an Opponent's Attribute tied to a given task or situation. Combat is an Opposed Test, but with an additional roll ov a 2D6 Armour Bypass Test. If a hit occurs AND a successful Armour Bypass Test has resulted, both the D20 and 2D6 roll outcomes are then used for the Wounding Check. IF a hit is struck BUT the Armour Bypass Test failed, the defender takes one-point ov Stamina Loss, which eventually make Wounding easier as well as the Armour Bypass Test to get that Wound, plus it'll up the Wound Severity. 

Hex und Messer is a VERY dangerous game, combat should be avoided until the Player Character party has the tactical advantage. That said, Tieljagers will attack any being devoted or born ov pure Chaos on sight if possible. If not, they will seek to recruit others in order to be able to attack and defeat such creatures. Unlike in D&D curtain Undead are not so easy to banish or destroy. 

That's enough for this intro post. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Ezra


  

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

I dig it! I'm definitely intrigued by what you have posted here. Do you have any sort of estimated timeline for release?

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Dec 3, 2022 16:59:40 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

I dig it! I'm definitely intrigued by what you have posted here. Do you have any sort of estimated timeline for release?

Not as ov yet. I need to do some playtesting, create some art and/or commission some for it. I am a visual creative, so I prefer to write in lay out. That all said, I would like to be done by the end ov the year 2023.

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Here's a bit more about Hex und Messer:

Orcs:

1. They have the abilities ov Elves/Fairies in Chainmail, half-move & shoot, and turn "invisible" by melding into dark shadows.

2. In mass combat they get bonus dice against Undead and other Void Demons, as well as Oath Breakers"

3. A bonus to hit and wound the above in Man-to-Man combat.

4. Their Patron can ONLY be Orcus, a Deity ov Law. 

5. They look like powerfully built, yet graceful male or female with inky black skin on their torsos, their arms end in blood red "gloves' and rust coloured fingernails (their toenails are the same colour). They have chalk white faces and inky black hair. They have nearly flat faces, with slits for noses and a single vertical eye in the center ov their forehead. 

6. They are human devotees ov Orcus and the Powers ov Law, who through a ritual that changes their bodies into the form ov an Orc. 

7. They have a +2 to their Stamina and Wound Total.

8. They suffer a -1 to ALL Tests taken in bright light/clear daylight, and a -2 in the height ov summer on a Clear Sunny day. 

9. They can be harmed by Cold Iron taking wounds at one Severity higher than by any other weapon. Cold Iron restraints temporarily saps their Vigour (and Stamina) while restrained, which takes 1d6 days ov Full Rest to recover.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Dec 4, 2022 1:52:00 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Here's a bit more about Hex und Messer:

Orcs:

1. They have the abilities ov Elves/Fairies in Chainmail, half-move & shoot, and turn "invisible" by melding into dark shadows.

2. In mass combat they get bonus dice against Undead and other Void Demons, as well as Oath Breakers"

3. A bonus to hit and wound the above in Man-to-Man combat.

4. Their Patron can ONLY be Orcus, a Deity ov Law. 

5. They look like powerfully built, yet graceful male or female with inky black skin on their torsos, their arms end in blood red "gloves' and rust coloured fingernails (their toenails are the same colour). They have chalk white faces and inky black hair. They have nearly flat faces, with slits for noses and a single vertical eye in the center ov their forehead. 

6. They are human devotees ov Orcus and the Powers ov Law, who through a ritual that changes their bodies into the form ov an Orc. 

7. They have a +2 to their Stamina and Wound Total.

8. They suffer a -1 to ALL Tests taken in bright light/clear daylight, and a -2 in the height ov summer on a Clear Sunny day. 

9. They can be harmed by Cold Iron taking wounds at one Severity higher than by any other weapon. Cold Iron restraints temporarily saps their Vigour (and Stamina) while restrained, which takes 1d6 days ov Full Rest to recover.

Excellent!

[The Perilous Dreamer]

I am assuming that Volk is folk. Is there a meaning to Hex und Messer? Or does it mean Hex and ??. How do you pronouce Totenwelt correctly? Are you spelling "of" as "ov" on purpose, I assume?

I would like to see the playtest of this

Combat is an Opposed Test, but with an additional roll ov a 2D6 Armour Bypass Test. If a hit occurs AND a successful Armour Bypass Test has resulted, both the D20 and 2D6 roll outcomes are then used for the Wounding Check.

to see if this is more or less deadly than OD&D. Eyeballing it, it looks less deadly, but I could be wrong about that.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Dec 4, 2022 1:52:00 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Here's a bit more about Hex und Messer:

Orcs:

1. They have the abilities ov Elves/Fairies in Chainmail, half-move & shoot, and turn "invisible" by melding into dark shadows.

2. In mass combat they get bonus dice against Undead and other Void Demons, as well as Oath Breakers"

3. A bonus to hit and wound the above in Man-to-Man combat.

4. Their Patron can ONLY be Orcus, a Deity ov Law. 

5. They look like powerfully built, yet graceful male or female with inky black skin on their torsos, their arms end in blood red "gloves' and rust coloured fingernails (their toenails are the same colour). They have chalk white faces and inky black hair. They have nearly flat faces, with slits for noses and a single vertical eye in the center ov their forehead. 

6. They are human devotees ov Orcus and the Powers ov Law, who through a ritual that changes their bodies into the form ov an Orc. 

7. They have a +2 to their Stamina and Wound Total.

8. They suffer a -1 to ALL Tests taken in bright light/clear daylight, and a -2 in the height ov summer on a Clear Sunny day. 

9. They can be harmed by Cold Iron taking wounds at one Severity higher than by any other weapon. Cold Iron restraints temporarily saps their Vigour (and Stamina) while restrained, which takes 1d6 days ov Full Rest to recover.

I like this, but it is a bit jarring to me that you have made the Evil demon Orcus, the ruler of the Undead a Deity of Law in your game. Aside from that I like these ideas.

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Dec 4, 2022 23:40:01 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

I am assuming that Volk is folk. Is there a meaning to Hex und Messer? Or does it mean Hex and ??. How do you pronouce Totenwelt correctly? Are you spelling "of" as "ov" on purpose, I assume?

I would like to see the playtest of this

Combat is an Opposed Test, but with an additional roll ov a 2D6 Armour Bypass Test. If a hit occurs AND a successful Armour Bypass Test has resulted, both the D20 and 2D6 roll outcomes are then used for the Wounding Check.

to see if this is more or less deadly than OD&D. Eyeballing it, it looks less deadly, but I could be wrong about that.

The "ov" is a idiocentric way I commonly spell "of", just me being me.

Totenwelt (tote-en-velt) = Dead World

Hex= Spell/Magic
Messer= Knife often used as a category ov Swords 

Unlike OD&D creatures are often more deadly in Hex und Messer. Skeletons and Zombies, especially when run as advised in their bestiary write ups. Though they can be harmed and incapacitated to a degree, only a Nat roll ov a 20 on a D20 attack roll AND a Nat 2 on a 2d6 Armour Bypass roll can you destroy the magical spark animating them. A Skeleton will slowly repair any damage, plus they are possessed by Chaos spirits thus can fight with weapons and armour, and use rudimentary tactics. Zombies range from animated corpses ov animals to shambling humanoids to Chaos Spirit possessed intelligent zombies who can control lesser zombies and even summon lesser Chaos Demons to their aid.

Giants and Dragons...run unless you are 4th+ level and have a magic bow and arrow or ballista. They will merk you. 

That all said, OD&D maybe deadlier in straight man-to-man combat with D6 HP & Damage with 0HP = Death. Yet a Nat 20 on a D20 & a Nat 2 on a Armour Bypass roll is insta-death no matter how many wounds you have. Plus, any successful wounding can incapacitate or insta-kill a character if unlucky. Yes, in Hex und Messer characters (Both PC & NPC) are a bit beefier in combat survival-wise, and yet, when you add potential wounding results and the fact each creature type has multiple power levels and intelligent creatures can equate PC levels. There is NO HD1+ monsters, there are just creatures. 


Don't expect tons ov flashy magic like Fire Balls, most magic is more subtle and/or insidious in nature. Many powerful Spells need rituals or the proper situations (a thunderstorm to "call Lightening" or a significant fire to cast a Fire Bolt). Shadow Magic only works if there is both light and things to cast shadows. 

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Dec 4, 2022 23:43:37 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Dec 4, 2022 1:52:00 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Here's a bit more about Hex und Messer:

Orcs:

1. They have the abilities ov Elves/Fairies in Chainmail, half-move & shoot, and turn "invisible" by melding into dark shadows.

2. In mass combat they get bonus dice against Undead and other Void Demons, as well as Oath Breakers"

3. A bonus to hit and wound the above in Man-to-Man combat.

4. Their Patron can ONLY be Orcus, a Deity ov Law. 

5. They look like powerfully built, yet graceful male or female with inky black skin on their torsos, their arms end in blood red "gloves' and rust coloured fingernails (their toenails are the same colour). They have chalk white faces and inky black hair. They have nearly flat faces, with slits for noses and a single vertical eye in the center ov their forehead. 

6. They are human devotees ov Orcus and the Powers ov Law, who through a ritual that changes their bodies into the form ov an Orc. 

7. They have a +2 to their Stamina and Wound Total.

8. They suffer a -1 to ALL Tests taken in bright light/clear daylight, and a -2 in the height ov summer on a Clear Sunny day. 

9. They can be harmed by Cold Iron taking wounds at one Severity higher than by any other weapon. Cold Iron restraints temporarily saps their Vigour (and Stamina) while restrained, which takes 1d6 days ov Full Rest to recover.

I like this, but it is a bit jarring to me that you have made the Evil demon Orcus, the ruler of the Undead a Deity of Law in your game. Aside from that I like these ideas.

Orcus is only evil in D&D and as presented in the Goetic Magical Traditions. I take Orcus from Roman Mythology as my inspiration. 

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Dec 4, 2022 23:40:01 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

I am assuming that Volk is folk. Is there a meaning to Hex und Messer? Or does it mean Hex and ??. How do you pronouce Totenwelt correctly? Are you spelling "of" as "ov" on purpose, I assume?

I would like to see the playtest of this

Combat is an Opposed Test, but with an additional roll ov a 2D6 Armour Bypass Test. If a hit occurs AND a successful Armour Bypass Test has resulted, both the D20 and 2D6 roll outcomes are then used for the Wounding Check.

to see if this is more or less deadly than OD&D. Eyeballing it, it looks less deadly, but I could be wrong about that.

Also, nowhere in my initial post did I state Hex und Messer is more deadly than OD&D...it is just extremely deadly when you consider how combat works and how deadly monsters can be.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Dec 5, 2022 14:57:55 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Dec 4, 2022 23:40:01 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

I am assuming that Volk is folk. Is there a meaning to Hex und Messer? Or does it mean Hex and ??. How do you pronouce Totenwelt correctly? Are you spelling "of" as "ov" on purpose, I assume?

I would like to see the playtest of this
to see if this is more or less deadly than OD&D. Eyeballing it, it looks less deadly, but I could be wrong about that.

The "ov" is a idiocentric way I commonly spell "of", just me being me.

Totenwelt (tote-en-velt) = Dead World

Hex= Spell/Magic
Messer= Knife often used as a category ov Swords 

Unlike OD&D creatures are often more deadly in Hex und Messer. Skeletons and Zombies, especially when run as advised in their bestiary write ups. Though they can be harmed and incapacitated to a degree, only a Nat roll ov a 20 on a D20 attack roll AND a Nat 2 on a 2d6 Armour Bypass roll can you destroy the magical spark animating them. A Skeleton will slowly repair any damage, plus they are possessed by Chaos spirits thus can fight with weapons and armour, and use rudimentary tactics. Zombies range from animated corpses ov animals to shambling humanoids to Chaos Spirit possessed intelligent zombies who can control lesser zombies and even summon lesser Chaos Demons to their aid.

Giants and Dragons...run unless you are 4th+ level and have a magic bow and arrow or ballista. They will merk you. 

That all said, OD&D maybe deadlier in straight man-to-man combat with D6 HP & Damage with 0HP = Death. Yet a Nat 20 on a D20 & a Nat 2 on a Armour Bypass roll is insta-death no matter how many wounds you have. Plus, any successful wounding can incapacitate or insta-kill a character if unlucky. Yes, in Hex und Messer characters (Both PC & NPC) are a bit beefier in combat survival-wise, and yet, when you add potential wounding results and the fact each creature type has multiple power levels and intelligent creatures can equate PC levels. There is NO HD1+ monsters, there are just creatures. 


Don't expect tons ov flashy magic like Fire Balls, most magic is more subtle and/or insidious in nature. Many powerful Spells need rituals or the proper situations (a thunderstorm to "call Lightening" or a significant fire to cast a Fire Bolt). Shadow Magic only works if there is both light and things to cast shadows. 

This is good stuff, thanks for the enticing info.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Dec 5, 2022 15:00:37 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Dec 4, 2022 23:43:37 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

I like this, but it is a bit jarring to me that you have made the Evil demon Orcus, the ruler of the Undead a Deity of Law in your game. Aside from that I like these ideas.

Orcus is only evil in D&D and as presented in the Goetic Magical Traditions. I take Orcus from Roman Mythology as my inspiration. 

I did not remember Orcus from Roman Mythology. I only remembered Hades/Pluto and forgot that Orcus was another name for them.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Dec 5, 2022 15:04:14 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Dec 4, 2022 23:40:01 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

I am assuming that Volk is folk. Is there a meaning to Hex und Messer? Or does it mean Hex and ??. How do you pronouce Totenwelt correctly? Are you spelling "of" as "ov" on purpose, I assume?

I would like to see the playtest of this
to see if this is more or less deadly than OD&D. Eyeballing it, it looks less deadly, but I could be wrong about that.

Also, nowhere in my initial post did I state Hex und Messer is more deadly than OD&D...it is just extremely deadly when you consider how combat works and how deadly monsters can be.

 I did not say that you did, I just said I want to see the playtest to see if it is or not.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Dec 5, 2022 15:51:47 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Dec 5, 2022 15:04:14 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Also, nowhere in my initial post did I state Hex und Messer is more deadly than OD&D...it is just extremely deadly when you consider how combat works and how deadly monsters can be.

 I did not say that you did, I just said I want to see the playtest to see if it is or not.

Consider me interested in that playtest as well! 

[Morose]

Hexenritter Verlag are you going to be coming back to your stuff here soon?

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Feb 19, 2023 23:37:07 GMT -5 Morose said:

Hexenritter Verlag are you going to be coming back to your stuff here soon?

Yes. I haven't had much time to devote to developing my game. I have tomorrow off, other than running a few errands I plan on working on Hex und Messer while I can.

[Morose]

Feb 20, 2023 0:01:29 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Feb 19, 2023 23:37:07 GMT -5 Morose said:

Hexenritter Verlag are you going to be coming back to your stuff here soon?

Yes. I haven't had much time to devote to developing my game. I have tomorrow off, other than running a few errands I plan on working on Hex und Messer while I can.

Are you working a lot of hours?

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Feb 20, 2023 0:04:37 GMT -5 Morose said:

Feb 20, 2023 0:01:29 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Yes. I haven't had much time to devote to developing my game. I have tomorrow off, other than running a few errands I plan on working on Hex und Messer while I can.

Are you working a lot of hours?

I work 8 hours a day - the day shift on Saturday & Sunday, and the graveyard shift on Monday - Wednesday. I travel an hour and a half to and from work (if I don't stop on the way home at the store), so I have about two hours an evening prior to going to bed after I get home. I sleep most ov Thursday and often have to run errands on Friday. 

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Feb 20, 2023 0:45:20 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Feb 20, 2023 0:04:37 GMT -5 Morose said:

Are you working a lot of hours?

I work 8 hours a day - the day shift on Saturday & Sunday, and the graveyard shift on Monday - Wednesday. I travel an hour and a half to and from work (if I don't stop on the way home at the store), so I have about two hours an evening prior to going to bed after I get home. I sleep most ov Thursday and often have to run errands on Friday. 

The struggle is REAL!  We're finally slowing back down a bit at work so I can complete some of my projects.  It ruined my Dungeon23 participation, but I have more important things to complete.

[Morose]

Feb 20, 2023 18:37:00 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Feb 20, 2023 0:45:20 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

I work 8 hours a day - the day shift on Saturday & Sunday, and the graveyard shift on Monday - Wednesday. I travel an hour and a half to and from work (if I don't stop on the way home at the store), so I have about two hours an evening prior to going to bed after I get home. I sleep most ov Thursday and often have to run errands on Friday. 

The struggle is REAL!  We're finally slowing back down a bit at work so I can complete some of my projects.  It ruined my Dungeon23 participation, but I have more important things to complete.

It looks like out of way over 100 people that committed to the Dungeon23 project, less than 10 seem to be sticking with it. Making a creative blog post everyday is a tough thing to do. Doing something like that takes a certain degree of stubbornness along with talent. A lot of people have the talent, but only a few are so stubborn that they will do it no matter what.

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Feb 20, 2023 19:45:15 GMT -5 Morose said:

Feb 20, 2023 18:37:00 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

The struggle is REAL!  We're finally slowing back down a bit at work so I can complete some of my projects.  It ruined my Dungeon23 participation, but I have more important things to complete.

It looks like out of way over 100 people that committed to the Dungeon23 project, less than 10 seem to be sticking with it. Making a creative blog post everyday is a tough thing to do. Doing something like that takes a certain degree of stubbornness along with talent. A lot of people have the talent, but only a few are so stubborn that they will do it no matter what.

I was one ov those people. I thought, "I can do one room a day"...nope. not with my schedule I cannot. 

[Morose]

Feb 20, 2023 22:01:13 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

Feb 20, 2023 19:45:15 GMT -5 Morose said:

It looks like out of way over 100 people that committed to the Dungeon23 project, less than 10 seem to be sticking with it. Making a creative blog post everyday is a tough thing to do. Doing something like that takes a certain degree of stubbornness along with talent. A lot of people have the talent, but only a few are so stubborn that they will do it no matter what.

I was one ov those people. I thought, "I can do one room a day"...nope. not with my schedule I cannot. 

Have you looked at the thread PD has for his #Dungeon23 blog posts?