Artifacts
Artifacts are powerful and rare items, coveted by all warbands. They can be used by any non-Large, non-Animal hero that can use equipment, even if a unit could not normally use equipment of that type. However, if it is a Melee or Ranged Weapon, a unit must have a Melee or Ranged value to use it. If the artifact takes up equipment slots, it will be noted in the description.
As Artifacts are so valuable, other warbands will try and steal them in battle. Across a campaign, they may change hands multiple times.
There is a cap on the amount of Artifacts available through Income rolls for each campaign. Those that are part of Neutral Hero goals do not count towards this cap. The cap is dependent on the number of players, as shown in the table below. Individual Artifacts do not need to be determined at the start of the Campaign and are instead chosen at random when someone receives them.
| Total Players | Artifact Cap |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 2 |
| 6 | 2 |
| 7 | 3 |
| 8 | 3 |
Once all Artifacts are found via rolling Income, if a 20 is rolled during the Income step, instead roll an additional d20 and add that to the total income.
It is, of course, possible to increase or lower this cap, as well as remove the cap entirely or have no Artifacts within a campaign. This should be decided on by the group before starting the campaign.
Artifacts In Battle
Artifacts must always be brought into battle and can never be sold. A hero may equip multiple artifacts, provided they do not take up the same equipment slot. If that hero is Incapacitated, the Artifact is dropped on the ground. If this occurred in Melee Combat, the enemy that Incapacitated them may immediately pick up the Artifact, provided that they can pick up Treasure.
If it is dropped on the ground, it may be picked up by any unit via the usual Treasure rules. If a Henchman picks up the Artifact in this way, it may use it for this game only (otherwise following the same rules above for equipping and wielding it). Units with the 'Vanguard' skill can pick Artifacts up as normal, unless otherwise stated.
If at the end of the game, the Artifact remains on the ground (even after warbands make their final checks to pick up nearby Treasure), the warband that possessed the Artifact at the start of the game regain it.