Kal-Arath
A downloadable game
Kal -Arath is a completely self-contained 56 page booklet of rules, setting, and tables designed for solo, co-op, and group play.
Or, you can just as easily lean into the setting, procedural gameplay and many included tables using your own favorite fantasy ttrpg rules.
The game includes procedural rules that are a breeze for the solo player or the zero-prep group or co-op session: overland travel/hex crawling is broken down into different phases that create a satisfying gameplay loop and keep the action going.
Oracles, Starting Adventure Seeds, Points of Interest, Encounters, Settlements, NPCs, Dungeons, Items - all of these have their own tables for generation, and combined together create a setting flavorful setting that emerges from the tables themselves - and over 25 pieces of original, hand drawn art.
The included ruleset is a 2d6 system that blends my favorite aspects of Barbaric!, Mörk Borg, Black Sword Hack and OD&D -
it is classless, with player facing rolls (due to its intention to be played solo with no rules changes); combat is fast and extremely deadly, with exploding damage dice and different maneuvers available to various weapons.
A character could begin their career as a barbarian fighter type, and through progression take a backstab skill and later in their career pursue a demonic pact to learn the dark arts of sorcery, if they live that long.
The following is some flavor text from the intro:
Greetings, wanderer of wild and treacherous lands, seeker of glory and power untold!
You have set your foot upon the perilous path into a savage land - a realm where ancient demons demand sacrifice and vie for power…and mortals strive against one another with blood-magic and steel.
This massive steppe is known to its peoples as Kal-Arath, although the barbarians of the north refer to the vast grassland as “The Kyrg.”
Arathi civilization centers around the stony plateau city of Kar’eld, heart of the Khanate of Akkai, the demon lord of Kal-Arath.
Across these untamed vistas, the battle-barges of countless warlords sail a sea of grass and stone, crews hungry for the favor of squabbling demon rulers both demanding and cruel.
To survive in Kal-Arath is to dance with death, yet the rewards for the bold are riches and renown beyond imagination.
Here are monks and mystics drunk on the rotting blood of human sacrifice, practicing arts considered inhuman by those foreign to this place. Their bodies are hardened by fighting arts taught them by their dark masters, and their minds are fixed on nighted voids beyond mortal understanding.
In the sky, beneath the blinding sun, one can sometimes see the riders of the fearsome flying lizards called teradun, doing battle with flashing lances or dark magics. These riders are sometimes favored champions of spiteful demonic nobility, or mercenary captains, or perhaps even the scouts or messengers of some wealthy merchant king.
For Kal-Arath is not truly ruled by any - the city of Kar’eld may be the seat of the power of Akkai, but his lordship is contested at every turn by mortal and demon alike.
This is a land where even a lowly pit-fighter may earn the love of the crowd and become king.
Where rich traders and clever merchants hold more power than gods…
and he who learns the secrets of decaying scrolls and forgotten codexes might set himself up as opposition even to the demons who rule this land from their blood-soaked temples.
This is Kal-Arath.
Who will you be?
How will you die?
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $5 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Development log
- Updated PDF51 days ago
- Kal-Arath: Core Booklet and New Zine Kickstarter!Aug 13, 2024
- Print-Ready Files AddedDec 12, 2023
- Kal-Arath En Español!Dec 12, 2023
- New Stuff addedDec 05, 2023
Comments
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Is this the most updated version of Kal-Arath? (sorry for the deleted posts below - still learning this site!)
yep!
hi, did something happen with the print ready files? I Can't see them in the downloads
these PDFs are print ready and all are divisible by 4. Selecting “print as booklet” should be just fine.
Would it be possible to get the cover on a white background? I want to print that just that page onto brown cardstock (like OD&D)
Awesome game btw!
hey there - either you can capture the image and then remove the color in photoshop by “select color range” or I can upload white covers this week when I can get to it!
Hope you enjoy
Would it be possible to get that for the other two zines as well? making them all into seperate hardcovers. BTW love your work.
I'm reviewing the spanish translation before the second book, what change was there in today's new version?
Hey Team!, I would like to purchase this game when the new version of the spanish translation is out :) I will keep an eye here, thanks for your hard work.
Ya no tarda el libro base nuevo. :)
Espero ansioso! :)
Terminado y publicado, también El Valle del Zigurat Negro.
Hey there, can you shoot me an email? I’d like to send the new edit and all the new stuff to you.
Hi Castle!
The sistem for battles and comerce is in the second book ? Thanks for this game is awesome and easy
yes!
sorry for the questions but for those people who didnt arrive on time to the kikstarter when can we buy the second book?
I should have the other two(!) zines done next week or the week after
In Rules, Character Improvement, Leveling Up (Page 5):
"Roll 6d6 (?!?!?!) vs current HP
Rolling higher grants d6 HP. Rolling equal or or lower grants 1HP."
SIX D6, guys?
Yes?
I'll take it. Gladly.
6d6 ensures that HP bloat is avoided and keeps the game extremely challenging!
But its 6d6 vs 1D6+TOU, right?
Quite forgiving in early game.
yes it’s designed more to begin capping hp later on. 6d6 averages around 18-20.
I snagged this game the other day, after just missing out on the end of your kickstarter. Have to say, can't wait for the zines to get to retail.
I just started up a game, diving straight in with a Blood Pacted Man with no name. On a journey to find a Battle Barge....
And whattaya know, he spawns in a Hex facing directly at one.
Well a quick game is a good game...time to roll another character 😂
Dooms. How does one acquire them, how many, and when? How does this mechanically work ?
I use one per pact. In a supplemental magic thing I’m working on there’s a new arcane failure table that can also result in a new doom. I agree it’s not clear enough in the core.
Errata? "Ex: L3 character is fi ghting an L5 enemy fi ghter — the player subtracts 3 from their attack and dodge rolls." Would the subtraction be 2, as the dif in levels is 2?
I’ll look again and fix this thank you!
Errata? "Ascendance of the Scarlet Flower — Summon a powerful blood demons. " strike the s from demons?
thank you!
A neat little Sword & Sorcery game! I'm looking forward to how you expand it. :)
thank you!!
Still loving this game. Any updates planned?
The core game is pretty much "all there."
I am finishing up a few projects and then I believe I will be putting together an expansion for KA called "The Black Ziggurat," which involves new everything and a randomly generated megadungeon complex in the southern jungles.
Awesome
Finished the zine. Will be going live as soon as layout is done, and a Kickstarter is underway for print versions of both, and a ton of potentail extras.
I'm in
YES
I had this printed & then I noticed that the Table of Contents in the PDF has some issues. Everything is correct till you get down to Equipment.
Starting with Equipment the listed page numbers are off by a page or two.
Fixed. That and the missing Boss Room have been sorted and going up this week with new files.
Cool!
Geared for a party or single hero for solo?
either or. I preferred solo with single character.
Me recuerda tanto a Diablo y Conan. seguro lo pruebo.
I freaking love this game!
Cheers!
Bought this having seen Chaoclypse's review. Having so much fun with it. One of the best things I've come across in a long time. Tables, art, use of whitespace (makes it very easy to read). All are great. Couple of minor niggles - wouldn't mind seeing a Core Rules section (e.g. success, advantage/disadvantage & criticals) as they're a bit scattered and an 'Index of Tables' would be a real boon IMHO. Apart from that pretty much makes anything in the same vein from Castle Greif an 'insta-buy'.
This looks amazing, I'm looking forward to try it once I have some more spare money.
cheers I’m so glad you like it!
Espero que encuentres correcta la traducción. :)
De acuerdo
Printed this over the weekend and I’m loving it! I’m hoping work is slow this week so I can get paid for playing….
Quick heads up: the table of contents page numbers are off by one page after Spells (and Bestiary is off by two).
Looking forward to the next issue!
thanks and have fun!!
Looking forwards to play this. Thank yo a lot for the spanish version.
Im ever eager to see how you and Kal-Arath develop moving forward. I’ve been interested in the John Carter series, so I’m considering a Barsoom reskin. Only thinking of it currently.
Lo jugué! y lo ame! Estuve horas, y no me cansaría volverlo a jugar. Las reglas son super claras, lo cual hizo muy fluido al juego. ¡muchas gracias!
Si usaste la versión en español y notaste algún error me avisas. :)
¡Quedate a la espera de más material!
Me parece que la tabla de Tiempo Invernal tiene una errata entre la opción 1 y 2. No guarda relación con Cielo Despejado que da +1 a forrajear.
Es verdad, estuve mirando la versión en inglés y es un error que viene del original, hay que invertir los + y - solamente.
Muchas gracias por el aviso.
Great game! Having a really great time with the setting especially.
A question though for clarity. Concerning leveling, page 4 mentions: "Each level requires that many XP to attain it..."
Now does that mean the experience resets to 0 each level, or is it cumulative?
Thanks for the time. ✊🏽
hi!
yes, each level requires gaining equal to that number of experience points to achieve that level.
So if you’re level 4 and trying to get to level 5, you will need to acquire 5 experience points to level. Your past points only mattered for the levels that were “bought” with them.
Glad you’re enjoying it!!
Hey, quick question regarding skills. Do rogue skills that add advantage and additional damage count if you are flanking/behind the enemy while it is engaged in combat with the other player or NPC?
I don’t use it that way - I don’t allow it to be used in combat unless it’s the first action of a combat and the other person is unaware of the attackers presence. Otherwise it’s done as a surprise action from stealth etc.
Thanks for the answer.
The more I read the comment the more I want it!
check it out! All these good folks can’t be wrong!!
I bought it! I like 2d6 mechanic which I was developing game inspired by Mork Borg and Barbarian of Lemuria, turns out your game is pretty similar to what I was creating. I don't know if I should release my game now
You totally should! Put your vision into the world, similarities be damned!
Any chance for Community Copies in the near future?
hi!
Although I have some free stuff here, I work hard on this stuff, so all the art, and have to pay for layout etc with money from my real job.
I’m proud of it and think it’s worth 10 bucks - however!!! I wake up on the wrong side of capitalism every day. If you’re really hurting for money and this game would help brighten your day, send me an email:
castlegrief@proton.me
hey - I tried to email you a copy but Proton mail seems blocked in your country?
Yes, there is such a thing.
Proton mail was blocked back in 2020 January 29.
I sent a letter from another email, maybe this option will work.
Thanks a lot.
ok sent.
Kal_Arath prints well. Thanks for the generous margins.
looks beautiful!!!
Hi, how many XP do I need to level up for each level?
from the book, page 4 of text only version:
“Leveling Up is based on XP. Each level requires that many XP to attain it, and characters are given 1XP per “meaningful” session.”
In other words Level 2 takes 2 XP, Level 3 takes 3 more XP etc
Thank you! It was quite clear to me with that example. I'm playing my first game of Kal Arath.
awesome I hope you have fun!
Hi! I'm browsing through the zine and a little confused on how spell tiers work.
What identifies a spell as Tier 1/2/3/4/5 within a pact? The order in which they are listed in the pact? Or do they scale in another way?
Order.
Pact: "......"
1) "..." Spell T1
2) "..." Spell T2
3) "..." Spell T3
4) "..." Spell T4
5) "..." Spell T5
This may be a dumb question but are there saves against spells?
Like would a PC get a dodge save against a ranged damage spell? Or would they get an INT save vs some.kind of charm spell?
yes! Because casting requires a successful INT check for PC, in my own games I roll either AGI, TOU, INT etc based on what I think makes sense to resist.
Okay, that's cool.
Do you give enemies/monsters any kind of save vs spells?
no - because the pc already has to make his own success roll. If he succeeds, the spell works.
Yeah, the only time I could see it being used if it was a spell with ongoing effects maybe.
Magic in a game is always the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around tho.
I have another question (sorry)
The worlord has the special that forces a death/wounding roll on a critical hit.
Does that mean a critical fail on a dodge for a PC?
precisely!
It's a really cool manual. When do you think you'll produce the next one? Do you have a page to follow your progress?
hi! I don’t really do social media (I have a Twitter/x under Castle Grief but I don’t post a lot. I always get distracted with it!
Badass! Would love to own the hardcover with ribbon edition. Following!
This is a super rad production! Really great job on this. I think there's a minor typo when describing spellcasting? tier 5 spell should be 13 to cast, not 12? maybe? Either way, enjoying this read , hoping to sit for some solo sessions soon. Would love to see expanded material (obviously, we dig more)! likely to back a full production edition. nice job!
thanks so much you’re one of the huge inspirations for this project!!
spell difficulty starts at a base 8 for tier one and goes up by one each tier above that.
that's really an honor, thank you! and thank you for the quick rules clarification. good luck with the project's growth, will be following it
The more I read this, the more obsessed I'm becoming with this rule set.
Are there any plans on adding more Skills in the future?
Can't wait for more spells and monsters.
absolutely! The new one makes a couple of amendments to the old school list and adds quite a few new ones.
¡Pueden dejar comentarios en español para avisar de errores debajo de este mensaje!
Muchas gracias por la versión en castellano!
Hola Darkoz Krull, sería genial disponer de una versión "Print Ready" de la edición en español.
Hola Fernando, no sé que versión es esa, no debo tener esos archivos, solo tengo texto plano, el pdf en español editado y la hoja de personaje (esas dos últimas es lo que ha sido publicado).
Si hay contenido nuevo me lo tienen que enviar por email.
Hi there,
Page 5. Leveling up. It says:
Roll 6d6 vs. current HP
Shouldn't this be 2d6 vs. HP?
6 dices make no sense to me and could give huge results.
roll 6d6 vs current Hp - rolling higher than current Hp grants d6 Hp. Rolling equal or lower grants 1 Hp.
essentially means that a) you must choose HP advancement at the cost of other types.
It limits Hp to an absolute max of 36 at level 9… if you rolled all 6’s which would be uncommon to say the least.
Means most Hp will cap out at between 18-24 on average or thereabouts. I think you just misunderstood the chart.
This game is amazing. An absolute gem!!
thank you!
SPECIAL FEATURE/BOSS ROOM result 4 on d6 seems missing (p.44)
indeed!
my apologies - the edits are all done and I’m waiting in the new file now. Will upload along with print ready, text only, and custom character sheet.
Great! Awesome work by the way. Congrats!
I can’t seem to find an explanation in the rules regarding how morale functions. Can you provide a page number?
it’s edited in the next file coming soon.
If an enemy force loses their leader, half of their number, half of their hit points in one hit, roll 2d6 vs their morale. Equal or below and they make it. Over it and they fail.
Looking forward to having the edited edition.