Iron Heroes

Iron Heroes (previously also known as Monte Cook Presents: Iron Heroes; originally announced as Iron Lore) is a variant "Player's Handbook" for the d20 System of role-playing games, in the tradition of "Arcana Unearthed". It incorporates the core d20 mechanic, while introducing new rules options, differently-balanced classes, an entirely new feat system, and changes to the way skills and feats operate. It is intended to allow players to take on traditional challenges at the same levels that their D&D counterparts would be able to, without recourse to magic items or high spellcasting. It was written by Mike Mearls, is currently owned and updated by Adam Windsor, and published by Fiery Dragon Productions.
Feat changes.
"Iron Heroes" implements a novel "feat mastery" system, with the inclusion of more advanced feats that build off the core ability. Each class is given access to different feat masteries to a greater or lesser extent; an archer will have greater access to masteries related to ranged combat, while a berserker will have greater access to masteries related to melee weapons that take advantage of a character's great strength. Characters gain access to more advanced masteries as they increase in level and gain new feats. The core feats from the d20 system are also included, and can be taken by any character that meets the requirements.
In addition, characters receive feats more often than in the stock d20 rules, and many classes are given bonus feats within their area of expertise.
Classes.
"Iron Heroes" includes nine base classes and a special arcanist class for games in which magic is implemented. Aside from the arcanist, no character is given supernatural abilities, in keeping with the low-magic and gritty feel designer Mike Mearls intended for the game. Some classes have different attack bonuses for different types of weapons, as opposed to the standard d20 convention of using a "base attack bonus" for all weapons. Many classes have access to a "token pool", which allows the character to perform special abilities that use tokens, which are gained through various actions or conditions- akin to rage meters in certain fighting games. Their hit points are generated with a very small die (a four-sided die) with a class-based bonus. This reduces the role of chance in determining a character's ability to withstand damage. Characters also gain access to a "reserve pool" of hit points that they may call upon between battles to restore their hit points, and which replenishes each day. However, almost all healing magic has been removed from the game. The Iron Heroes Player's Companion supplement added three more classes, including a second with supernatural abilities.
Skills.
"Iron Heroes" incorporates two notable variants in its use of skills. One is the use of skill "challenges", which allow a character to accept a penalty on a skill roll in order to perform a nonstandard or tactically meaningful action. Often these challenges will require the use of several skills to perform especially complicated actions.
Another variant is the use of "skill groups", by means of which each class may buy several skills at highly reduced cost. No skill is forbidden or especially restricted in level to any class. Skills are also often expanded or tweaked to offer more options to players.
Combat.
Combat is managed as in Dungeons & Dragons, with the following exceptions:
These changes, in addition to other minor tweaks, are intended to offer greater realism and flexibility over standard d20 combat.
Setting.
"Iron Heroes" is designed to be setting-independent; while a sample adventure setting is provided, it is meant only to illustrate the general atmosphere that often fits an "Iron Heroes" game best, and contains few details. Of relevance:
Dungeon masters are encouraged to create their own settings to best fit the needs of their players.
Legal threats.
"Iron Heroes" was originally intended to be released under the name of "Iron Lore", but a threatened lawsuit by Iron Lore Entertainment led to a name change near the end of the development process.
Ownership.
Iron Heroes was originally titled Monte Cook Presents: Iron Heroes and published by Monte Cook's imprint Malhavoc Press. In March 2007 Sue Cook announced the sale of Iron Heroes to Adam Windsor. Adam is the creator of two popular Iron Heroes Adventures, Dark Harbor and Blood Storm, and has been the official Iron Heroes answerman and errata-maker on the Iron Heroes message board since soon after the game was published. The Iron Heroes community welcomed this change, especially after it was announced that it would mean that new rulebooks and an updated main book would be produced.
Published books.
In addition to the core book, several supplements have been released.
Quotes.
"You are not your magic weapon and armor. You are not your spell buffs. You are not how much gold you have, or how many times you've been raised from the dead. When a Big Bad Demon snaps your sword in two, you do not cry because that was your holy avenger. You leap onto its back, climb up to its head, and punch it in the eye, then get a new damn sword off of the next humanoid you headbutt to death." 