Universal Cold Rules

 Cold damage comes from:

• freezing      weather
• snow      exposure
• icy      water
• frost      magic
• freezing      winds
• prolonged      wetness in cold
• contact      with ice or supernatural cold
• blizzards      and mountain exposure

It uses the same sequence:

1. Determine      location
2. Check      coverage
3. Roll      severity d12
4. Apply      location effects
5. Apply      secondary effects

 Low and moderate severity cold usually causes:

• Vigor      loss
• numbness
• slowed      movement
• poor      dexterity
• weakened      morale
• reduced      recovery

Actual frostbite and tissue death appear more at higher severities.  

 Cold is mitigated best by:

• warm      clothing
• layered      dry clothing
• furs
• shelter
• fire
• movement
• food      and water
• body      heat / companionship
• magical      warmth

Armor helps very little unless insulated. 

 If the location is protected by proper cold-weather gear:

• reduce      severity by 1–3 depending on quality
• armor      damage is usually 0
• Vigor      loss may still apply in harsh exposure

If the target is:

• soaked
• in icy      rain
• immersed
• wearing      wet clothing

increase effective cold severity by +1 or +2. 

 Cold is the least damaging physical type to armor.

• Most      cold results cause 0 armor damage
• Severe      supernatural freezing may cause 1–2 durability damage
• Brittle      freezing at high severity may crack weak materials, straps, leather, and      joints

Cold mainly attacks:

• the      body
• exposed      extremities
• endurance
• morale

not armor. 

 Common results include:

• Numb
• Winded
• Staggered
• Slowed      movement
• Disadvantage      on fine manipulation
• Morale      loss
• Frostbite
• Exhaustion
• Collapse      from exposure

Bleeding is rare. Burning pain is brief; numbness and stiffness dominate. 

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Sharp cold sting/Morale –1 briefly; flinch/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with scarf/hood/1/1–4 hours

2/Numb cheeks / lips/Speech uncomfortable; –1 Speechcraft briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Wind-burned face/Observation –1 from tearing/wind/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Partial facial numbness/–1 Observation and social checks/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Deep cold exposure/Speech impaired, morale –1/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Nose/cheek frostnip/Observation –1; pain when rewarmed

/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Early frostbite/–2 social checks; exposed skin damaged/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Severe facial freezing/Shock on rewarming; one eye may swell shut/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Deep frostbite of face/Observation impaired; severe scarring likely/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Major facial freezing trauma/Collapse check from exposure/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic facial frostbite/Tissue loss likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

12/Total facial freeze trauma/Collapse / death risk from exposure/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent / fatal

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Freezing scalp/wind chill/Morale –1 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with hood/1/1–4 hours

2/Numb scalp / ears/Observation –1 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Ear and scalp cold shock/Concentration –1/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Heavy cold exposure/Disoriented briefly; cannot Exert next turn/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Deep chill into head/Observation and Concentration –1/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Freezing ear/scalp injury/Frostnip; morale –1/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Severe head exposure/Disoriented; reactions slowed/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep freezing/Cannot Exert; Staggered from exposure/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Frostbite / cold confusion/Collapse check; major numbness/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Severe cranial exposure trauma/Collapse likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic freezing exposure/Dying without warmth/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent / fatal likely

12/Total freezing collapse/Immediate death risk/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Fatal likely

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Bitter cold at throat/Speech uncomfortable/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with scarf/1/1–4 hours

2/Neck numbness/Head turning uncomfortable/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Freezing wind exposure/–1 Observation or Defense briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep neck chill/Morale –1; movement stiffness/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Stiff neck from freezing/–1 attacks and Observation/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Frostnip / exposed tissue/Concentration –1; speech hindered/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Severe neck freezing/Reactions slowed; Resolve –1/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep cold lock/Head turning painful; cannot Exert/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Severe tissue freezing/Collapse check from exposure/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Major neck frostbite/Speech and turning heavily impaired/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic neck freezing/Dying without rewarming/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent / fatal likely

12/Total freezing trauma/Immediate collapse / death risk/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Fatal likely

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Cold through clothing/Uncomfortable; morale –1 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with cloak/furs/1/1–4 hours

2/Back stiffness/Movement –5 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Deep chill in back muscles/–1 climbing/swimming briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Cold-soaked back/Movement –5 for encounter/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Stiff spine and shoulders/–1 attacks using torso rotation/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Prolonged freezing exposure/Stamina –1; cannot sprint/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Deep cold into core muscles/Shock on rewarming; movement halved/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Back and shoulder frost injury/Climbing/swimming at disadvantage/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Severe exposure injury/Collapse check from cold fatigue/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Massive cold injury to back/core/Cannot Exert; near collapse/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic freezing exposure/Dying without heat/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent / fatal likely

12/Total freezing collapse/Immediate death risk/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Fatal likely

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Cold bites into chest/gut/Morale –1 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with layers/1/1–4 hours

2/Deep chill/Stamina –1 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Core temperature dropping/Painful breathing; cannot Exert next turn/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Torso stiff and chilled/–1 attacks from slowed movement/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Core chill worsening/Stamina saves –1/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Dangerous cold exposure/Cannot sprint; morale –1/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Hypothermic symptoms/Observation and Concentration –1/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/1–2 months

8/Severe hypothermia onset/Shock check; Staggered/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Core body failure/Collapse check; cannot Exert/1 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Months

10/Major hypothermic collapse/Immediate collapse likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic freezing of core/Dying without rapid rewarming/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent / fatal likely

12/Total core freeze collapse/Immediate death risk/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Fatal likely

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Numb leg/Movement –5 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with proper leggings/1/1–4 hours

2/Cold-stiff calf/thigh/No sprint this round/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Surface freezing discomfort/Painful movement/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep chill in muscles/Movement –5 for encounter/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Stiff leg from freezing/Climbing/sprinting at disadvantage/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Dangerous limb chill/Cannot dash next turn/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Frostnip / early frostbite/Movement halved/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep freezing of limb/Fall prone on failed Stamina while running/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Major frostbite/Leg function badly impaired/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Severe freezing trauma/Collapse likely if forced to march/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic limb freezing/Limb may be lost without care/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

12/Total freezing destruction of limb/Limb destroyed / fatal exposure risk/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent / fatal

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Numb forearm/–1 next attack briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with sleeves/furs/1/1–4 hours

2/Cold-stiff arm/Grip weak briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Surface exposure/Painful use of arm/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep chill in arm/–1 attacks with that arm/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Severe stiffness/No heavy strikes with that arm/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Dangerous numbness/Drop item on failed Stamina/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Early frostbite/–2 attacks with that arm/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep freezing of arm/Hand/arm use badly impaired/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Major frostbite/Arm function badly impaired/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Severe freezing trauma/Arm nearly unusable/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic arm freezing/Tissue loss likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

12/Total freezing destruction/Limb destroyed/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Cold fingers/–1 fine manipulation briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with gloves/1/1–4 hours

2/Numb hand/Grip weakened briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Surface exposure/Painful handling/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep numbness/Drop item unless Stamina succeeds/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days 

5/Hand stiffening badly/Fine manipulation at disadvantage/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Dangerous hand chill/Grip weakened severely/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Early frostbite/Hand use badly impaired/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep hand freezing/Hand largely unusable/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Major frostbite/Permanent function loss likely/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Severe freezing trauma/Hand unusable/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic hand freezing/Tissue loss likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

12/Total hand freezing destruction/Hand destroyed/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Numb foot/Movement –5 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with boots/wraps/1/1–4 hours

2/Cold-stiff foot/No sprint this round/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Surface freezing discomfort/Painful stepping/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep numbness/Movement –5 for encounter/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Stiff frozen foot/Tumbling/climbing at disadvantage/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Dangerous foot chill/Cannot dash next turn/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Early frostbite/Movement halved/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep freezing/Fall prone on failed Stamina while running/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Major frostbite/Foot function badly impaired/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Severe freezing trauma/Foot nearly unusable/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic foot freezing/Tissue loss likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

12/Total foot freezing destruction/Foot destroyed/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Cold-stiff membrane/Flight awkward briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with proper covering/1/1–4 hours

2/Numb edge of wing/–1 aerial maneuver briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Surface freezing discomfort/Cannot sharply bank/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep chill in wing/Flight speed –5/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Stiffened flight muscles/Sustained flight difficult/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Dangerous wing chill/Forced landing possible/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Early frostbite / membrane damage/Flight maneuvering at disadvantage/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep wing freezing/Flight impossible until treated/warmed/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Major frostbite/Wing function badly impaired/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Severe freezing trauma/Wing nearly unusable/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic wing freezing/Tissue loss likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

12/Total wing freezing destruction/Wing destroyed/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Cold-stiff tail/–1 balance briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2 with wrapping/1/1–4 hours

2/Numb tail/No tail attack next turn/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Surface freezing discomfort/Balance/tumbling –1 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep chill/Tail attacks weakened/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Severe stiffness/Tail attacks/balance at disadvantage/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Dangerous numbness/Tail use badly impaired/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Early frostbite/Tail use halved or unreliable/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/3/1–2 months

8/Deep freezing/Prone risk on failed tumbling/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Major frostbite/Tail function badly impaired/1 dmg, reduce by 3/4/Permanent likely

10/Severe freezing trauma/Tail nearly unusable/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic tail freezing/Tissue loss likely/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

12/Total tail freezing destruction/Tail destroyed/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent

d12/Unarmored Effect/Negative Effects / Limitations/Armor Damage / Severity Reduction/Vigor Loss/Healing Time

1/Bitter cold discomfort/Resolve save or recoil/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1–4 hours

2/Numbness/Movement awkward briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/4–8 hours

3/Surface chilling/Morale –1 this encounter/0 dmg, reduce by 1–2/1/1 day

4/Deep cold pain/Movement –5 briefly/0 dmg, reduce by 2/2/2–4 days

5/Exposure injury/Cannot Exert next turn/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/2/1–2 weeks

6/Severe numbness/Resolve at disadvantage briefly/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2/3/2–4 weeks

7/Deep freezing/Shock check; movement halved/0–1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/1–2 months

8/Frost injury/Immediate need for warmth; severe pain on rewarming/1 dmg, reduce by 2–3/4/Months

9/Major soft-tissue freezing/Collapse likely/1 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

10/Severe lower-body freezing/Movement badly impaired/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent likely

11/Catastrophic freezing trauma/Dying without warmth/1–2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Permanent / fatal likely

12/Total pelvic exposure collapse/Immediate death risk/2 dmg, reduce by 3/5/Fatal likely