GearAscendancy.com

Ever Watchful Tome

—

by

Dale
in

From: Vigilism

Lore: The Ever-Watchful Tome is a revered and sacred book in the lore of Vigilism. It is believed to be an ancient and treasured compilation of teachings and tactics passed down through generations of Vigilists. Authored by wise scholars and battle-hardened warriors, the tome is said to contain invaluable insights into combat strategies, tactical planning, and the principles of Vigilism. It is revered as a guide for those who seek to become vigilant protectors, imparting profound wisdom and enhancing their strategic thinking.

Tier One Stats:

  • Tactical Insight: The Ever-Watchful Tome grants advantage on Intelligence-based ability checks related to tactics, strategic planning, and combat analysis. This represents the profound insights and tactical knowledge imparted by the tome, allowing the reader to make well-informed decisions in combat and strategic situations.
  • Combat Strategies: The tome provides a wide range of combat strategies, enhancing the reader’s ability to devise effective plans, exploit enemy weaknesses, and outmaneuver adversaries.

Skills Gained:

  • Tactical Proficiency: The Ever-Watchful Tome enhances the reader’s proficiency in tactics and strategic planning, granting proficiency in Intelligence-based ability checks or advantage on related skill checks.

Cost and Requirements:

  • Cost: The Ever-Watchful Tome is a highly sought-after artifact, making it relatively expensive and difficult to acquire. It may be obtained through quests, trials, or as a reward for exceptional acts of strategic brilliance, combat expertise, or unwavering dedication to the principles of Vigilism.
  • Requirements: To read and benefit from the Ever-Watchful Tome, one must possess the ability to read and comprehend the ancient texts, demonstrate a certain level of intelligence and strategic thinking, and earn the approval of experienced Vigilists who recognize their commitment to the faith and their dedication to mastering the art of warfare.

Tags:

  • Ancient Wisdom: The Ever-Watchful Tome is a repository of ancient wisdom, containing teachings and tactics handed down through generations of Vigilists.
  • Strategic Brilliance: The tome enhances the reader’s strategic brilliance, granting advantage on intelligence-based ability checks and aiding them in making well-informed decisions in combat and tactical situations.
  • Vigilant Knowledge: The Ever-Watchful Tome represents the bearer’s dedication to the principles of Vigilism and their commitment to mastering the art of warfare.
  • Additional: Tactical, Strategic, Knowledge, Wisdom, Vigilism, Auron, Combat, Leadership, Insight, Teachings

The Ever-Watchful Tome, being a revered and sacred artifact of Vigilism, is not commonly sold through conventional means. Instead, it is typically obtained through specific channels within the Vigilism community. Here’s more information on how it might be acquired and utilized:

  • Sanctuaries of Insight: The primary place where the Ever-Watchful Tome might be obtained is within the Sanctuaries of Insight, the temples, and strongholds of Vigilism. These sanctuaries serve as centers of knowledge and training, where the clergy and experienced Vigilists safeguard and occasionally bestow such exceptional artifacts upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional strategic brilliance, combat expertise, and unwavering commitment to the faith.
  • Trials of Strategy and Knowledge: To acquire the Ever-Watchful Tome, followers may need to undergo trials or tests that evaluate their strategic thinking, tactical acumen, and their commitment to Vigilism. These trials could involve demonstrating proficiency in combat strategies, solving intricate puzzles that test their tactical knowledge, or engaging in simulated battles to showcase their ability to apply the teachings within the tome.
  • Quests of Wisdom: The Ever-Watchful Tome might be obtained through quests specifically focused on seeking knowledge, wisdom, and the principles of Vigilism. These quests could involve uncovering lost or hidden tomes, deciphering ancient texts, or proving one’s dedication to faith by displaying exceptional strategic brilliance and insight.

Regarding usage, the Ever-Watchful Tome is primarily utilized in environments and scenarios that require strategic thinking and combat expertise:

  • Tactical Planning: The tome serves as a guide for tactical planning in various situations, be it battles, ambushes, or large-scale conflicts. Readers of the tome gain insights into effective strategies, assessing enemy weaknesses, and utilizing resources wisely.
  • Combat Analysis: Vigilists refer to the Ever-Watchful Tome to analyze past battles, learn from historical tactics, and gain a deeper understanding of the art of warfare. It aids in analyzing enemy movements, identifying patterns, and formulating counterstrategies.
  • Leadership Development: The tome is often studied by leaders and commanders within the Vigilism community to develop their strategic thinking and leadership skills. It helps them guide their allies, coordinate battle formations, and make sound decisions in the face of adversity.
  • Knowledge Sharing: The Ever-Watchful Tome is sometimes used as a teaching tool within the Vigilism community. Experienced Vigilists pass down their knowledge to the next generation, using the tome to educate and inspire aspiring vigilantes, fostering the growth of strategic brilliance and combat expertise.

The Ever-Watchful Tome is not an item that can be readily bought or sold, but rather obtained through specific trials, quests, or tests that recognize the follower’s exceptional strategic brilliance, combat expertise, and dedication to the principles of Vigilism. It is highly revered within the Vigilism community, symbolizing the bearer’s access to ancient wisdom and their commitment to mastering the art of warfare.

Perception of Activation: The Ever-Watchful Tome doesn’t have a dramatic “activation” in the sense of a magical item bursting with light or energy. Its power is more subtle and intellectual, a gradual unfolding of knowledge and insight as the reader delves into its pages. However, there are subtle perceptual shifts that accompany engaging with the tome, particularly for those who are attuned to its purpose.

  • User’s Perspective:
    • Sight: The text and illustrations within the tome appear remarkably clear and sharp, even in dim light. The diagrams and maps seem almost three-dimensional, as if the reader is looking down upon a miniature battlefield. The user might experience brief flashes of visual imagery related to the concepts being studied – seeing formations of soldiers, visualizing the trajectory of projectiles, or perceiving the layout of a fortress. These are not hallucinations, but rather the mind’s attempt to process the complex information presented in the tome.
    • Hearing: The rustling of the pages and the scratching of a quill (if used for note-taking) might seem unusually crisp and distinct. The user might become more aware of subtle ambient sounds, interpreting them in a tactical context – the creak of a floorboard, the distant howl of a wolf, the rhythmic clang of a blacksmith’s hammer. There’s no specific auditory hallucination, but rather a heightened awareness of the auditory environment.
    • Touch: The weight of the tome in the user’s hands feels substantial and reassuring. The texture of the leather cover and the parchment pages might feel unusually smooth or rough, depending on the user’s state of mind. There’s a subtle sense of connection to the knowledge contained within, a feeling of tapping into a vast reservoir of strategic wisdom.
    • Smell: The tome might exude a faint, pleasant aroma of old paper, leather, and ink, perhaps with a hint of something more elusive – the scent of woodsmoke from a distant campfire, the metallic tang of blood on a battlefield, or the dry, dusty smell of an ancient library. These scents are subtle and evocative, enhancing the reader’s immersion in the tome’s contents.
    • Taste: No direct taste is associated with the tome.
    • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): This is where the tome’s true power manifests. The user experiences a significant increase in mental clarity, focus, and analytical ability. Complex strategic problems become easier to dissect, and potential solutions present themselves with greater speed and clarity. The user might experience flashes of insight – understanding an enemy’s likely strategy, predicting the outcome of a particular maneuver, or identifying a hidden weakness in a defensive position. There’s a feeling of connection to the minds of the great strategists and warriors who contributed to the tome’s knowledge.
    • Extra-Sensory (Emotional): The tome promotes a state of calm focus, intellectual curiosity, and strategic detachment. Feelings of anxiety, doubt, or impulsiveness are suppressed, replaced by a sense of purpose and resolve. The user feels empowered by the knowledge they are gaining, confident in their ability to analyze situations and make sound decisions.
  • Observer’s Perspective:
    • Sight: There’s no visible aura or glow emanating from the tome. However, an astute observer might notice a subtle change in the reader’s posture and demeanor. They might appear more alert, focused, and absorbed in their studies. Their eyes might seem to dart from page to page with unusual speed and precision.
    • Hearing: No audible changes are associated with the tome itself. However, the reader might become less responsive to external sounds, seemingly lost in their own thoughts.
    • Smell: The faint aroma of old paper, leather, and ink might be noticeable to those standing close to the reader.
    • Extra-Sensory (General): Individuals with sensitivity to magic or mental energy might feel a subtle sense of order and intellectual power emanating from the reader and the tome. There’s a feeling that the reader’s mind is working at a heightened level, processing information rapidly and efficiently.
    • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): Another user of the Mind’s Eye would not notice changes.
  • Positives:
    • Enhanced Strategic Thinking: The tome significantly improves the reader’s ability to analyze situations, formulate plans, and make sound tactical decisions.
    • Increased Knowledge: The tome provides access to a vast repository of strategic and tactical knowledge, accumulated over generations.
    • Improved Focus: The tome promotes a state of calm focus and concentration, reducing distractions and enhancing mental clarity.
    • Confidence Boost: The feeling of intellectual empowerment boosts the reader’s confidence in their abilities.
  • Negatives:
    • Tunnel Vision: The focus on strategic details might make the reader less aware of broader context or less receptive to emotional cues.
    • Strategic Detachment: The emphasis on logical analysis might lead to a degree of emotional detachment, potentially leading to morally questionable decisions.
    • Over-Reliance: The reader might become overly dependent on the tome’s knowledge, neglecting to develop their own intuition and creativity.
    • Time-Consuming: Studying the tome requires significant time and effort. It’s not a source of instant knowledge, but rather a tool for developing long-term strategic understanding. The reader must be literate.

Recipe: Compiling the Strategist’s Codex — This recipe details the painstaking process of creating a tome that emulates the legendary Ever-Watchful Tome. True replication is impossible, as the original is a repository of accumulated wisdom over generations, but this method aims to create a book that enhances strategic thinking and provides a framework for tactical analysis. This is less about magical creation and more about meticulous scholarship and craftsmanship.

  • Materials Needed:
    • High-Quality Parchment or Vellum:
      • Source: The finest quality parchment or vellum, made from the skin of a creature known for its intelligence or cunning (e.g., a deer, a fox, or a goat – ethically sourced, of course). The material must be flawlessly prepared, free from blemishes or imperfections.
      • Quantity: At least 100 sheets (more is better, allowing for revisions and additions).
    • Ink of Precision:
      • Source: A specially formulated ink, designed for clarity, permanence, and resistance to fading. This may require a separate recipe or quest to obtain, potentially involving rare pigments, binding agents, and meticulous preparation.
      • Quantity: Several vials (enough to write hundreds of pages).
    • Quills (of Exceptional Quality):
      • Source: Quills taken from the flight feathers of birds known for their intelligence, agility, or keen eyesight (e.g., ravens, hawks, or owls). The quills must be carefully selected and prepared for writing.
      • Quantity: At least a dozen.
    • Leather (Thick and Durable):
      • Source: Leather from a creature known for its resilience and strength (e.g., a bear, a bull, or a dragon – if such a thing can be found and ethically sourced). The leather must be thick enough to provide protection and durability, but also supple enough to be worked.
      • Quantity: Enough to cover the front and back of the tome, plus the spine.
    • Metal Components (Steel or Bronze):
      • Source: High-quality steel or bronze, for reinforcing the cover, creating clasps, and adding decorative elements.
      • Quantity: Varies depending on the design, but assume at least 1 pound of metal.
    • Binding Materials:
      • Source: Strong thread (linen or silk), glue, and other materials needed for binding the pages together securely.
      • Quantity: As needed.
    • Strategic Texts and Resources:
      • Historical accounts of battles and campaigns.
      • Treatises on military strategy and tactics.
      • Maps, charts, and diagrams of fortifications and terrain.
      • Personal accounts from experienced commanders and soldiers.
      • Philosophical texts on leadership, decision-making, and the nature of conflict.
    • Charcoal
      • For sketching.
      • Several sticks
  • Tools Required:
    • Writing Desk (Stable and Well-Lit): A sturdy desk or table, providing a comfortable and well-lit workspace.
    • Inkwells and Holders: Secure containers for holding the Ink of Precision.
    • Rulers and Measuring Tools: For ensuring precise lines and consistent formatting.
    • Knives (Sharp and Precise): For cutting parchment, leather, and other materials.
    • Leatherworking Tools: Awls, needles, punches, and other tools for working with the leather cover.
    • Metalworking Tools: If creating custom metal components, tools for shaping, etching, and polishing the metal will be needed.
    • Bookbinding Tools: Needles, thread, awls, a bone folder, and a press for binding the pages together.
    • Containers
      • Many, this is used to store all items.
  • Skill Requirements:
    • Expert Scholar/Researcher (15+ ranks): Gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing the vast amount of information required for the tome demands exceptional research skills.
    • Expert Calligrapher/Scribe (15+ ranks): Writing the text and creating the illustrations in a clear, legible, and aesthetically pleasing manner requires a high level of skill.
    • Expert Cartographer (10+ ranks): Creating accurate and informative maps and diagrams requires specialized cartographic knowledge.
    • Expert Leatherworker/Bookbinder (10+ ranks): Crafting the cover and binding the pages together securely and attractively requires significant skill.
    • Master in Intelligence-based skill (e.g., Strategy, Tactics, Lore) (20+ ranks): The compiler must possess a deep understanding of strategic principles to select, organize, and present the information effectively.
  • Crafting Steps:
    • Research and Compilation (Years, potentially decades): This is the longest and most crucial step. The compiler must gather a vast amount of information on military strategy, tactics, leadership, and related subjects. This involves studying historical accounts, interviewing experienced commanders, analyzing battlefields, and experimenting with different tactical approaches. The information must be carefully vetted, organized, and synthesized into a coherent and comprehensive body of knowledge.
    • Drafting and Revision (Months): Once the research is complete, the compiler must begin drafting the text of the tome. This involves writing clear, concise explanations of strategic principles, providing illustrative examples, and creating detailed diagrams and maps. The draft must be repeatedly revised and refined, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency.
    • Parchment Preparation (Weeks): The parchment or vellum sheets must be carefully selected, cut to size, and prepared for writing. This might involve treating the surface with a special coating to improve ink absorption and prevent bleeding.
    • Transcription (Months): Using the Ink of Precision and the carefully prepared quills, the compiler must meticulously transcribe the text and illustrations onto the parchment sheets. This requires a steady hand, unwavering focus, and a commitment to perfection.
    • Illumination (Optional, but recommended – Weeks): If desired, the tome can be further enhanced with illuminated initials, decorative borders, and other artistic embellishments. This adds to the tome’s aesthetic appeal and can also serve to highlight important concepts or passages.
    • Leatherworking (Weeks): Craft the leather cover, ensuring it is both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Emboss or etch the cover with relevant symbols and patterns.
    • Metalwork (Weeks): Create the metal reinforcements, clasps, and any decorative elements. These should be carefully designed and crafted to complement the overall aesthetic of the tome.
    • Binding (Weeks): Carefully bind the completed pages together, using strong thread and a secure binding method. The binding must be both durable and flexible, allowing the tome to be opened and closed repeatedly without damage. Attach the leather cover to the bound pages, ensuring a snug and secure fit. Attach the metal components.
    • Final Review and Refinement (Weeks): Once the tome is complete, it should be thoroughly reviewed for any errors or omissions. Any necessary corrections or additions should be made.

This recipe is not for a magically created item, but for a meticulously researched, expertly crafted compendium of strategic knowledge. The “power” of the resulting tome comes not from enchantment, but from the depth and breadth of the information it contains, and the skill with which that information is presented. It is a testament to the power of human intellect and the enduring value of strategic thinking. The process itself is a long-term commitment, requiring dedication, discipline, and a profound respect for the art of warfare.

Book of Big Brain Battles
How Not to Get Your Army Squished (Mostly)

Right, you lot, settle down and listen up! This ain’t your average campfire yarn; this is a tale… butchered by generations of storytellers, scribbled on questionable parchment, and probably used to prop up a wobbly table at some point. It’s the legend, give or take a few dozen inaccuracies, of the… Book of Big Brain Battles. Or maybe it was the Tome of Tricky Tactics. Or… the… Scroll of… Not-Getting-Stomped-On. The scholars… they argue. Constantly.

Long, long ago, before strategy was… well, strategic, before generals were more than just loudmouths with fancy hats, before… armies were… even… organized, really, there was… chaos. Utter, complete, embarrassing chaos. Battles were… messy. People ran around, yelling, waving pointy sticks, and… mostly… dying. In… very… un-strategic… ways.

There was… a… group. Or maybe a… tribe. Or… possibly… a very confused collection of… individuals. They were called… the… Thinkers. Or maybe the… Planners. Or… possibly… the… “Don’t-Run-Into-That-Spear-You-Idiots” Brigade. The records are… unclear.

These Thinkers, they were… tired. Of… losing. Of… dying. Of… getting their… pointy sticks… stuck in… things. They wanted to… win. Or… at least… to… not die… quite so… spectacularly.

So, they… thought. A lot. They… observed. They… analyzed. They… wrote things down. On… rocks. And… bark. And… probably… each other. (Ink was… expensive. Back then). They… studied. The… enemy. The… terrain. The… surprisingly effective… tactics of… squirrels. (Squirrels, it turns out, are vicious when defending their… nuts).

They… experimented. With… formations. With… weapons. With… surprisingly loud… battle cries. (Those… mostly… just… attracted… more… enemies. And… bears. Bears are always a problem). They… learned. From… their mistakes. From… their… victories. (Those were… rare). From… the… surprisingly insightful… ramblings of… a… very old… shepherd. (Who… may or may not have been… a… god. In… disguise. The scrolls… are… frustratingly ambiguous).

Slowly… painstakingly… messily… they… compiled. Their… knowledge. Their… observations. Their… surprisingly effective… squirrel-inspired… tactics. They… created. A… book. Or maybe a… scroll. Or… possibly… a very large, very heavy… rock. With… lots of… tiny… writing.

This… Book. It was… called… the… Ever-Watchful Tome. Or… something like that. The original title is… lost. And… probably… unpronounceable. This… Tome. It contained… everything. Or… almost everything. Or… possibly… just… a few… useful… things. About… warfare.

It had… diagrams. Of… formations. Of… fortifications. Of… surprisingly effective… traps. (Involving… pits. And… spikes. And… occasionally… very angry… badgers). It had… descriptions. Of… enemy… types. Of… weapon… strengths. Of… the… best… places to… find… edible… berries. (Survival was… important).

It had… advice. On… leadership. On… logistics. On… how to… avoid… getting… your army… eaten by… giant… spiders. (That was… a big problem. Back then). It had… stories. Of… past… battles. Of… great… victories. Of… spectacular… failures. Of… the… time… someone… accidentally… invented… gunpowder. (That… didn’t end… well).

The Thinkers, they… used… the Tome. They… studied it. They… memorized it. They… argued… over it. (Constantly). They… applied it. And… they… started… winning. Or… at least… not losing… quite so… badly.

They… taught… others. Their… strategies. Their… tactics. Their… surprisingly effective… badger-… wrangling… techniques. They… spread… the… knowledge. Slowly. Painfully. With… many… interpretive… dances. (Those were… less… effective).

The… Book. It became… famous. A… legend. A… symbol. Of… hope. Of… intelligence. Of… the… possibility of… not… getting… squished… in… battle. It was… copied. And… translated. And… misinterpreted. And… probably… used as… a… doorstop. At… some point.

But… the… core… ideas. They… survived. The… importance of… planning. The… value of… observation. The… surprisingly effective… use of… squirrels… in… warfare. (Seriously, those things are… terrifying).

And the… original… Tome? The… Ever-Watchful… Book of… Stuff? It… vanished. Lost. Stolen. Eaten by… a… very large, very literate… bookworm. Or… maybe… it’s still… out there. Waiting. To be… found. By… someone. Someone… who… needs it. Someone… who… wants to… think. Before… they… charge… into… battle.

Moral of the Story: Thinking is good. Planning is better. Squirrels are surprisingly useful in warfare (but don’t tell them I said that). And… always… write things down. Even if it’s just on… rocks. Because… you never know… when… someone… might… need… to… learn… how not to get… their army… squished. Also, badgers are not to be trifled with.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

    The Strategems of Unnamable War

  • (Mythos Tome)
  • This heavy, unsettling tome is bound in what appears to be human skin and filled with disturbing diagrams and incomprehensible text. While it contains genuine strategic insights, they are interwoven with horrifying truths about the cosmic entities that manipulate human conflicts.
  • Sanity Cost: 1d4/1d8 Sanity loss to study the tome.
  • Cthulhu Mythos: +2d6%
  • Mythos Rating: 2 (This indicates the depth of Mythos knowledge contained within the tome)
  • Spells: Contains a corrupted version of “Contact Deity (Auron)” [requiring the sacrifice of a sentient being and costing 2d6 SAN], and may contain 1d3 other spells at the Keeper’s discretion, likely related to warfare or manipulating others (e.g., Dominate, Call/Dismiss Deity).
  • Study Effects:
    • Tactical Acumen: After spending at least one week studying the tome, the Investigator gains a +20% bonus to any Tactics or Strategy skill rolls. However, they also develop a permanent obsession with warfare and conflict, viewing all interactions through a lens of strategic advantage and potential violence.
    • Nightmares: The Investigator suffers from recurring nightmares related to the tome’s contents, costing 1 Sanity point each night until they spend a full week without consulting the tome.
  • Language: The tome is written in a combination of Aklo and a pre-human language that requires significant effort to decipher (requiring a successful Hard INT roll and an Occult roll each week of study).
  • Investigator Adaptation: The Strategems of Unnamable War is a dangerous and corrupting artifact. It offers genuine strategic advantages, but at a steep cost to the Investigator’s sanity and mental well-being. It’s an item that should be approached with extreme caution, and its use should always carry significant consequences. It is far more likely to be found in the possession of a deranged cultist or a monstrous entity than in the hands of a sane Investigator.

Blades in the Dark

    The Bloodletter’s Codex

  • (Ritual Book, Potent, Ominous)
  • This heavy, iron-bound book is filled with detailed diagrams of battle formations, siege tactics, and assassination techniques. It’s rumored to be written in the blood of fallen generals and whispers with the echoes of forgotten wars.
  • Quality: 4 (Represents the depth and accuracy of the knowledge within the tome)
  • Usage:
    • Planning: Grants +2d to the engagement roll when the crew’s plan involves military-style tactics, siege warfare, or assassination.
    • Rituals: The book can be used as a focus for Rituals related to warfare, command, or domination. It grants +1d to the Ritual roll, but any complications are increased in severity.
    • Study: A character can spend downtime studying the Codex to gain temporary expertise in a specific area of warfare (e.g., siege engineering, cavalry tactics, guerilla warfare). This grants +1d to a relevant action roll, but also inflicts 1 stress.
  • Properties:
    • Potent: The knowledge within the Codex is highly effective, but also dangerous.
    • Ominous: The book’s unsettling aura and the whispers that emanate from it can cause stress and attract unwanted attention.
  • Crew Adaptation: The Bloodletter’s Codex is a powerful tool for a crew of Bravos, Cultists, or even Shadows who engage in large-scale conflicts or meticulously planned operations. It’s a high-risk, high-reward item that encourages players to embrace daring strategies and accept the potential consequences.

Dungeons & Dragons (5e)

    Ever-Watchful Tome

  • (Wondrous Item, Very Rare, Requires Attunement by a creature with an Intelligence of 13 or higher)
  • This heavy, leather-bound tome is filled with detailed diagrams of battle formations, strategic principles, and analyses of historical conflicts.
  • Properties:
    • Tactical Insight: While attuned to the tome, you have advantage on Intelligence (History) checks related to warfare, military strategy, and tactics.
    • Master Strategist: Once per long rest, you can spend 10 minutes studying the tome. For the next hour, you can add your Intelligence modifier (in addition to any other applicable modifiers) to any attack roll, ability check, or saving throw made by you or an ally within 30 feet who can see and hear you, provided the roll is directly related to a combat encounter or a strategically significant situation.
    • Battlefield Awareness: You gain a +2 bonus to initiative rolls.
    • Lores of War: The user may learn one additional language.
  • Campaign Adaptation: The Ever-Watchful Tome is a valuable item for any character who values strategic thinking and leadership. It’s particularly well-suited for fighters, paladins, wizards, and any character who takes on a leadership role in combat. The “Master Strategist” ability is powerful, but its limited use and the requirement for study prevent it from being overpowered.

Knave

    The General’s Ledger

  • A heavy, iron-clasped book filled with diagrams, maps, and cryptic notes on warfare.
  • Bonus: +2 to rolls made to devise or understand military tactics, or to command troops.
  • Abilities (Roll 1d6 each time the book is consulted for tactical advice):
    • Brilliant Stratagem: Gain advantage on your next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw related to the current combat situation.
    • Enemy Weakness Identified: Learn a specific vulnerability of a chosen enemy (GM’s discretion).
    • Terrain Mastery: Identify a way to use the environment to your advantage (e.g., finding cover, setting a trap, predicting enemy movement).
    • Inspiring Oration: One ally within earshot gains advantage on their next attack roll or saving throw.
    • Confusing Jargon: You become lost in the book’s complex terminology, suffering disadvantage on your next action.
    • Obsessive Analysis: You become fixated on a minor detail, losing your next action.
  • Lore: The user can learn an extra language.
  • Drawback: Each time the book is consulted, there is a 1 in 6 chance that the reader becomes obsessed with a particular detail or strategy, refusing to deviate from it even if it’s clearly not working (GM’s discretion on how this manifests).
  • Character Adaptation: The General’s Ledger is a valuable tool for characters who want to excel in combat and strategic planning. However, its random abilities and significant drawback make it a risky item to rely on. The GM should use the drawback to create complications and setbacks, forcing the player to adapt to unexpected situations and to consider the limitations of pure strategic thinking. It encourages a playstyle that balances careful planning with the ability to improvise.

Fate (Core/Condensed)

    Ever-Watchful Tome

  • (Artifact)
  • This ancient tome, bound in sturdy leather and filled with meticulous diagrams and insightful text, is a repository of strategic and tactical knowledge accumulated over generations.
  • Aspects:
    • High Concept: Ancient Compendium of Military Wisdom
    • Trouble: Obsession with Perfection (can lead to inflexibility or analysis paralysis)
    • Other Aspects: Diagrams of Every Battlefield, Whispers of Fallen Generals, Weight of Command
  • Skills:
    • Provides a +2 bonus to overcome obstacles or create advantages related to strategy, tactics, military history, or leadership.
    • Can be used to create advantages related to understanding enemy weaknesses or predicting their movements.
  • Stunts:
    • Masterstroke of Planning: Spend a Fate point to declare that a specific, pre-planned tactical maneuver succeeds perfectly, regardless of the roll. This requires prior study of the tome and a clearly defined plan.
    • Words of Command: Spend a Fate point to grant all allies within earshot a +2 bonus to their next attack roll or defense roll, representing the power of inspiring leadership and tactical coordination.
    • Lessons of the Past: Spend a Fate point to gain a significant piece of information about a current situation, drawing upon a relevant historical example or strategic principle found within the tome.
  • Consequences: The tome can be used to absorb mental or social consequences related to failed plans or leadership challenges, but doing so can reinforce the reader’s obsession with control and perfect strategy. Each time a consequence is absorbed, add a “Lost in the Details” aspect to the tome.
  • Lore: The tome can teach an extra language
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Ever-Watchful Tome is best suited for a character who is a leader, strategist, or scholar of warfare. The aspects and stunts encourage a proactive, planning-oriented playstyle, but also hint at the potential downsides of relying too heavily on rigid strategies.

Numenera/Cypher System

    Codex of the Iron Wind

  • (Artifact, Level 5)
  • This heavy tome, bound in plates of an unknown metal and filled with intricate diagrams and text written in a lost language, contains a vast amount of strategic and tactical data, seemingly gathered from countless battles across unimaginable distances of time and space.
  • Level: 5
  • Form: Book
  • Effect:
    • Strategic Database: Reduces the difficulty of all tasks related to strategy, tactics, military history, and leadership by one step.
    • Predictive Algorithms: The wielder can spend 3 Intellect points to gain a +3 bonus to their next attack roll, defense roll, or skill check related to combat. This represents the tome’s ability to analyze the situation and predict likely outcomes.
    • Data Overload: Each time “Predictive Algorithms” is used, the wielder must make an Intellect defense roll (difficulty 5). Failure results in 1d4 Intellect damage (ignores Armor) as the tome overwhelms them with data. The user must also make a roll or become obsessed with details.
    • Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (each time “Predictive Algorithms” is used). If depleted, the tome becomes inert and must be recharged by exposing it to a specific type of data stream (e.g., a chaotic battlefield, a complex simulation, a flow of strategic information) or find someone that can read its language.
  • Lore: The tome can teach an extra language.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Codex of the Iron Wind fits seamlessly into the Numenera setting, representing a piece of advanced technology from a prior world. Its power is balanced by the risk of data overload and the need for a specific recharge method, encouraging careful use and creating opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Pathfinder (Second Edition)

    Ever-Watchful Tome

  • (Artifact)
  • This heavy, leather-bound tome is filled with detailed diagrams of battle formations, strategic principles, and analyses of historical conflicts. It is a treasure trove of military knowledge.
  • Usage: held in 2 hands; Bulk: 2
  • Traits: Artifact, Invested, Mental
  • Properties:
    • Lore of War: While holding the tome, you gain a +2 item bonus to Warfare Lore checks and to any skill checks made to assess a battlefield or formulate a strategic plan. You may also substitute a check using this bonus when commanding troops.
    • Master Strategist: Once per day, you can spend one hour studying the tome. For the next 24 hours, you can, once per encounter, grant one ally within 30 feet who can see and hear you a +2 circumstance bonus to their next attack roll, skill check, or AC. You must declare you are using this benefit and to whom before they make the affected roll.
    • Erudite Understanding: You may learn one additional language.
  • Campaign Integration: The Ever-Watchful Tome is a powerful item appropriate for a mid- to high-level campaign, particularly one with a focus on military conflict or strategic challenges. It’s a valuable asset for any character who takes on a leadership role, enhancing both their personal knowledge and their ability to support their allies.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

    The General’s Companion

  • (Artifact)
  • This weighty tome, bound in iron and filled with detailed maps, diagrams, and strategic treatises, is a priceless resource for any military commander.
  • Device Type: Book
  • Powers: The book itself doesn’t grant powers in the traditional sense. Instead, it provides significant bonuses and allows the use of certain Edges, even if the user doesn’t meet the normal requirements.
  • Notes:
    • The book grants a +2 bonus to all Common Knowledge rolls related to military history, strategy, and tactics.
    • The book grants a +2 bonus to all Battle rolls made to command troops or assess a tactical situation.
    • Allows the user to take the Command, Leadership, and Tactician Edges, even if they don’t meet the normal prerequisites, as long as they have the book in their possession and have spent at least one hour studying it within the last 24 hours. If they lose the book or fail to study it, they lose access to these Edges.
    • The book may teach an additional language.
  • Campaign Integration: The General’s Companion is a valuable asset for any character who leads troops or engages in large-scale battles. Its bonuses to Knowledge and Battle rolls, and its ability to grant access to powerful leadership Edges, make it a significant force multiplier. The requirement for ongoing study encourages players to engage with the item and roleplay its use. It’s a suitable reward for a military-themed quest, a treasure found in a forgotten war room, or a family heirloom passed down through generations of military leaders.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

    Ares “Grand Strategy” Datasource

  • (Restricted Data Library)
  • This isn’t a physical book, but rather a highly secure, encrypted data file containing a vast amount of strategic and tactical information, compiled from military archives, corporate war games, and shadowrunner operations. It requires a specialized datajack or a high-end commlink to access.
  • Availability: 20R (Restricted, requiring licenses and connections)
  • Cost: 80,000¥
  • Effects:
    • Tactical Database: When accessed, the Datasource provides a +4 dice pool modifier to any Knowledge skill tests related to military strategy, tactics, security protocols, or known combatant profiles (individuals, corporations, gangs, etc.).
    • Planning Bonus: If the user spends at least one hour studying the Datasource before a run, they can grant a +2 dice pool modifier to one specific Teamwork test during the run, representing a well-formulated plan based on the available data. This bonus can only be applied once per run.
    • Matrix Search Enhancement: The Datasource provides advanced search algorithms and access to restricted databases, granting a +2 dice pool modifier to all Matrix Search tests related to tactical information (e.g., building schematics, security systems, personnel records).
    • Learning: The user can learn an additional language.
  • Security: The Datasource is heavily encrypted and protected by sophisticated security measures. Any attempt to hack or copy it without authorization is extremely difficult (requiring a Hacking + Logic [Data Processing] (12, 1 hour) Extended Test) and likely to trigger alarms and countermeasures.
  • Runner/Campaign Adaptation: The Ares “Grand Strategy” Datasource is a valuable asset for a team’s decker, rigger, or face, or for a street samurai with a strong tactical focus. It provides significant bonuses to knowledge gathering, planning, and Matrix operations, but its restricted availability and high cost make it a major investment. Its use should be carefully considered, as unauthorized access attempts could have serious consequences.

Starfinder

    Tactical Datacron

  • (Technological Item, Level 12)
  • This small, crystalline device contains a vast amount of strategic and tactical data, compiled from countless battles and simulations across the galaxy. It can be accessed via a datajack or a direct neural interface.
  • Level: 12
  • Price: 48,000 credits
  • Bulk: L
  • Properties:
    • Tactical Library: While accessing the Datacron, you gain a +4 insight bonus to Computers checks made to analyze tactical data, and to Culture or Profession (soldier) checks made to understand military strategy, tactics, or the capabilities of known enemy forces.
    • Battlefield Analysis: Once per day, as a move action, you can use the Datacron to analyze the current combat situation. For the next minute, you gain a +2 insight bonus to attack rolls, saving throws, and AC.
    • Learning: You may learn a new language.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Tactical Datacron is a valuable item for any character who engages in combat or strategic planning. Its bonuses to knowledge skills and its once-per-day combat buff make it a significant asset, particularly for soldiers, operatives, and technomancers. The level 12 requirement and high price reflect its advanced technology and tactical utility.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

    Imperial War College Tactical Database

  • (TL-12 Software)
  • This highly restricted software package contains a vast amount of strategic and tactical information, compiled from centuries of Imperial military experience. It is designed to be used with a computer system and provides detailed analysis, simulations, and recommendations.
  • Tech Level: TL-12
  • Weight: Negligible (software)
  • Cost: Cr100,000 (highly restricted, likely requiring Imperial military connections or a black market contact)
  • Effects:
    • Tactical Analysis: The software provides a +3 DM to all Tactics skill checks.
    • Strategy Simulation: The software can be used to run complex simulations of combat scenarios, allowing the user to test different strategies and predict likely outcomes. This requires at least one hour of study and a successful Tactics check. The GM determines the benefits of a successful simulation, which might include a temporary bonus to Tactics rolls, information about enemy weaknesses, or a better understanding of the terrain.
    • Leadership Enhancement: The software provides a +1 DM to Leadership checks when commanding troops in combat.
    • Learning Bonus: Grants the ability to learn another language.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Imperial War College Tactical Database is a powerful tool for characters in a military-focused campaign, or for those who frequently engage in large-scale battles or strategic planning. Its high cost and restricted availability reflect its value and the Imperial military’s reluctance to share its secrets.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

    Grimoire of Grim Battles

  • (Magical Item)
  • This heavy tome is bound in iron and etched with scenes of brutal warfare. While not inherently magical, it’s filled with incredibly detailed accounts of battles, strategic treatises, and the personal notes of infamous generals. Prolonged study can grant insights into the art of war, but also expose the reader to the horrors of conflict.
  • Encumbrance: 3
  • Availablity: Extremely Rare
  • Properties:
    • Lore of Warfare: While carrying the Grimoire, you gain a +10 bonus to all Intelligence tests related to strategy, tactics, military history, or assessing combat situations.
    • Battlefield Intuition: Once per session, after spending at least one hour studying the Grimoire, you can gain a +1 SL (Success Level) to a single Leadership, Melee, or Ranged test during a combat encounter. This represents a flash of insight inspired by the tome’s teachings.
    • Grim Knowledge: Each time the “Battlefield Intuition” ability is used, the character must make a successful Cool test. Failure results in gaining 1 Corruption point as the horrors of war and the brutal realities depicted in the Grimoire take their toll.
    • Teachings: The reader may learn another language.
  • Character/Campaign Adaptation: The Grimoire of Grim Battles is a valuable but potentially dangerous item. It offers significant advantages to characters who engage in warfare or leadership roles, but it also carries the risk of Corruption. It’s particularly well-suited for military officers, mercenaries, or scholars of warfare, but any character could benefit from its knowledge, provided they can withstand its grim influence. The GM should emphasize the psychological toll of studying such a book, reflecting the brutal realities of war in the Warhammer world.