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Ambition & Avarice: 2nd Edition

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Ambition and Avarice is an action-adventure roleplaying game with an easy-to-understand OSR chassis. The 2nd edition maintains focus on character classes and races that walk the line of respectability.

See an interview/discussion of the game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baDW_toAuCY

Also discussed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0RfTZeRdqg&t=5522s

2nd Edition at a Glance:

- Simple OSR-style resolution mechanics
- 10 Races: Dark Elf, Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Hobgoblin, Human, Lizardfolk, and Orc.
- 12 Classes: Brigand, Conjurer, Cultist, Elementalist, Enchanter, Knave, Ranger, Savage, Shaman, Witch, Veteran, and Zealot.
- More powerful low-level magic users + more powerful high-level mundane characters.
- Pre-built backpacks to grab off the shelf for quick character creation.
- The most comprehensive medieval fantasy equipment chapter in the RPG industry (I checked).
- Monster trophies to take after the battle and use as magic items; Cyclops eyes, Giant frog tongue, Nymph hair, and more.
- Catalysts: A spell component system that is actually fun to use.
- Clear and useful rules for hex crawling, managing retainers, and building your own barony.
- A complete customizable cosmology system with major/minor gods and demigods of your own creation.
- 596 spells: a mix of old favorites and reimagined wonders divided across six traditions: conjuration, elementalism, enchantment, primeval, salvation, and vexation.
- NPC design system mixing reaction rolls and attitude to determine exactly how far each NPC will go to help or harm you.
- A dungeon familiarity mechanic to allow the players to gather information BEFORE going down the steps into darkness.
- Full Bestiary of 182 monsters with a simplified combat stat block system for easy management.
- Monster entries include formulae for creating your own twisted undead.... if you don't mind dabbling in necromancy.
- Treasure chapter with rules on magic item creation and numerous treasure tables to stock your dungeons.

Each class features;
- Expertise in a class-specific task; like the Conjuror's binding circle ability or a Cultist's ability to sacrifice humanoids to curry favor with their god.
- Identification of something in the world; like the Witch's ability to identify sickness/disease or the Savage's ability to recognize familiar scents and follow them.
- Recruit followers to serve as henchmen; like the Knave's ability to recruit spies or the Conjurer's ability to create imps to serve them.

Six flexible magic-using classes have a varied selection of new and exciting spells. There are easy methods to create your own enchantments, raise unique undead to serve you, or craft cursed items to give to your enemies. The non-magical classes have their own rich choices and don't fade away in importance as the magical characters advance in level.

These classes can then be combined with 10 classic fantasy races; from elves and dwarves to orcs and lizardfolk. You can combine them however you wish, creating everything from goblin rangers to dwarven brigands. Your race is no longer central to your destiny, playing a marginal role in restricting your actions in the game world.

The entire package is designed to allow quick character generation and presented in a format that is clear and easy to read. The text is packed with explanations of not just the rules, but the reasons behind the rules. It is an ideal choice to hand to a new player who is looking to get into the great game, but turned away by dense technical rulebooks with byzantine organization. The adventuring mechanics are also OSR compatible and allow easy integration with a variety of old school campaign material. You can pick up this game, grab an old module, and get playing in a very short amount of time.

Game on!


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Reviews (1)
Discussions (19)
Customer avatar
Jeremy H March 08, 2024 4:18 am UTC
PURCHASER
Good stuff. I'm honored to have my work appear in this one.
Customer avatar
George F March 21, 2023 3:40 pm UTC
Most of your new releases are for ShadowDark. Is this being abandoned for that?
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Customer avatar
Gregory C March 26, 2023 8:11 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Nope. I just released a huge campaign setting for A&A2 (Terra Invictus)
Customer avatar
Stacie W December 19, 2022 9:03 am UTC
Will there be a print option again?
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Customer avatar
Gregory C January 09, 2023 8:56 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Sorry, I had a problem with the proof so I didn't approve it, but I also didnt fix the issue. My bad, working on it this week.
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Customer avatar
Gregory C January 29, 2023 4:51 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Finally got an updated proof and approved it. You can get hardcover again.
Customer avatar
Keith M December 05, 2022 8:28 am UTC
PURCHASER
I see people referring to a hardcover copy for 2e, where can I purchase it???

I bought the pdf and love it but I desperately want a hard copy!
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Customer avatar
Gregory C January 09, 2023 9:46 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Sorry, I had a problem with the proof so I didn't approve it, but I also didnt fix the issue. My bad, working on it this week.
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C January 29, 2023 4:52 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Finally got an updated proof and approved it. You can get hardcover again.
Customer avatar
Jose M September 26, 2022 4:24 am UTC
Is there any differences in the character sheets between this edition and the first one? Asking because I hope to use this system to run a roll20 game but the only sheet there is for the 1st edition.
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Customer avatar
Gregory C January 09, 2023 9:49 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
There are differences. My friend is working on a solution. This is outside of my skillset.
Customer avatar
Joe M September 16, 2022 1:52 am UTC
Could you post a sample monster stat block to compare
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Customer avatar
Gregory C January 09, 2023 9:47 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Hornet, Giant: HD 5, AC 15, 1d6 stinger damage, 2d6 poison damage and stunned on hit for 2 rounds (DC 15), #AT 1, Move 30 (fly 60), Morale 10, Save +3, Size S, Type B, 3d8 appearing, AL C
Customer avatar
Richard B April 26, 2022 3:48 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I bought this back in September and I am struggling to read it with my screen reading software. I can't figure out how to email the Dev directly, but would it be possible for me to get this in a .docs format, which is best for my screen reader? rbennett2018@windstream.net
Customer avatar
Stefan H February 08, 2022 6:22 pm UTC
PURCHASER
The character sheet is not fillable, despite the file name telling me otherwise. Has anyone else encountered this issue?
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Customer avatar
Gregory C March 10, 2022 2:20 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
It looks like the DriveThru Watermarking process is removing the Fillable function of the PDF. I am actually working on a new worksheet to help the Judge. When I finish it, I will post a new title on DriveThru for downloading fillable forms only (for free). Until then, e-mail me at christophergreg@hotmail.com and I will give you the file directly. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Customer avatar
Richard B September 02, 2021 3:32 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I'm blind and use a computer screen reader, is this PDF made accessible to those using a screen reader? I want to purchase it, but if I cannot use it, I don't want to waste my money. I cannot find an email to email the publisher to ask, so I am asking here.
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Customer avatar
Gregory C September 05, 2021 4:23 am UTC
PUBLISHER
When I open the file in Acrobat, I can turn on "Read Aloud" mode and it will read me everything. However, for charts, it reads vertically down each column. So it will read 1, 2, 3 and then "the best", "average", "the worst", rather than read "1. The best", "2. average", "3. The worst". That could make it hard to understand, but maybe you have a better screen reader than what is embedded in Acrobat.

I hope this helps.
Reply
Customer avatar
Richard B September 06, 2021 1:50 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thank you for replying, the Acrobat screen reader is basically useless although it will read material it will not allow someone to navigate the document. I'd love to talk with you about this and how to make documents accessible, rbennett2018@windstream.net I do thank you for your explanation, but pdf viewers, unless the pdf is made with layers, converts weirdly to a screen reader. Example: Section A could be where Section E is and Section A could have Section Z's information.
Customer avatar
Timothy Peter F August 23, 2021 1:06 am UTC
Hello, are there any random encounter tables that are common is other OSR books?
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Customer avatar
Gregory C September 01, 2021 12:54 am UTC
PUBLISHER
There are not random encounter tables in terms of "roll to see what you encounter on this hex/dungeon room". I leave that to the Judge or to the module being used. However, I do have quite a few treasure tables and each monster is assigned a table.
Reply
Customer avatar
Timothy Peter F October 01, 2021 3:51 am UTC
Thanks for your answer. This looks like a really nice game, but after looking around I was disappointed to see your close connection to Erik Tenkar and I'm afraid I will not be able to support your game.
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Customer avatar
Timothy Peter F October 01, 2021 7:11 am UTC
Sorry about the above post. I listened too much to he said / she said before looking at what he actually said. If you can delete my post above, please do so. I'm pretty new to the RGP world after a 20 year or so hiatus. I would like to try your game after all.
Reply
Customer avatar
Timothy Peter F December 14, 2021 1:32 am UTC
I've thought more about this, and I think what is really bothering me is your Not Dedication. Who the hell writes that anyways? The game looked pretty good otherwise, but I think for this reason I can't support you guys. Why didn't you just let the game speak for itself? There's room in gaming for old school and new school. I frankly like both, but that anti-dedication is just wrong. It's provocative (trying to pick a fight) and mean spirited.
Customer avatar
Noah G August 11, 2021 4:19 pm UTC
Would it be balanced enough to mix in monsters from other sources too? Say OSE or Basic Fantasy for example?
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Customer avatar
Gregory C August 12, 2021 11:51 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Definitely, as long as they use a basic stat block.
Customer avatar
Joshua C July 26, 2021 5:52 am UTC
PURCHASER
I did a skim through and am loving the book. I started doing a serious read-through starting at ch4. I noticed some math was wrong on pg 108.
"Each face is 14 miles long and the hex covers 510 square miles."
It would actually be ~510 miles total and not square miles. Squares miles would be gained by square rooting 510 (~22.6 square miles). That would change "Clearing a Hex" rules, which could be dropped from 10 square miles to a half square mile, but that would be closer to shaking the bushes to maintain that 25 encounters rule.
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C July 26, 2021 3:21 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Will investigate this, Joshua. thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
Joshua C August 07, 2021 6:42 am UTC
PURCHASER
My math is wrong. All that my math does is determine what a square with the same area as a hexagon would look like.

My wife drove it in by saying if you had a room with dimensions of 23'x23' and you ordered 23 square feet of tile you would only get 23 1'x1' tiles, which would make a row, but you'd need to order another 22 rows worth to finish the room...
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C August 07, 2021 7:09 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
No worries. I was actually just about to do a solid double-check of this math in advance of making a small file update to correct minor errors. Some extra spaces, a few "if to it" typo fixes, etc. Look out for that update later today.
Customer avatar
Wayne R July 21, 2021 2:36 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi Gregory. I'm just curious, if I buy the PDF then decide I want a HC, is there any way to get a discount on the HC price to bring it inline with buying both at once? I completely understand if not, but thought I'd ask. Thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C July 21, 2021 3:07 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Not precisely, because I cannot reduce the price of the book below a certain amount. But if you email me your order # for the PDF, I can give you a coupon code for discount on the book that takes away my profit on the sale. It won't 100% bridge the gap, but it will help.
Customer avatar
Eron R July 19, 2021 12:48 am UTC
PURCHASER
I've been tooting the horn of 1E for years, and this edition is bigger and better. My hardcopy can't get to me fast enough. Happy to be the first person to review 2E.
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C July 19, 2021 1:13 am UTC
PUBLISHER
It really made my day to read. Thank you!
Customer avatar
KEVIN D July 16, 2021 1:31 am UTC
Looks interesting. Since you still have the 1rst edition up for sale, are there major improvements or enhancements to the 2nd edition (mechanics, etc.)?
It sounds pretty compatible with the D&D 2e and older stuff. Does the book include a conversion chart?
Was hoping your Drive Thru publisher site link might provide some details but it goes to some Indonesian gambling advice site.
Any text-based review links up yet that I can check?
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C July 16, 2021 2:17 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I went through a divorce and forgot to renew that domain name. I didn't realize the link was still up here. I removed it. Sorry for the confusion.

The game doesn't need a conversion to play with any other edition (1e, 2e, other OSR). It uses a stat block that is compatible (though you may need to flip the ascending AC to descending).

The game just dropped and I haven't seen any big reviews yet. I will link to them once I find them.
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C July 18, 2021 9:35 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Here is the first text review for you, Kevin.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product_reviews_info.php?&reviews_id=617502&products_id=359780
Customer avatar
Robert B July 15, 2021 12:59 am UTC
PURCHASER
Wow, blast from the past!
Reply
Customer avatar
Robert B July 15, 2021 3:46 am UTC
PURCHASER
Needless to say, I acquired the game.
Reply
Customer avatar
Gregory C July 15, 2021 12:46 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Glad to have you!
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Silver seller
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This title was added to our catalog on July 12, 2021.