The tabletop studio Arcanum Worlds is chock full of ex-BioWare devs, and they’re back with a new 5th Edition Kickstarter: Raiders of the Serpent Sea.
Jesse Sky and James Ohlen of Arcanum Worlds join forces with Brent Knowles to bring you Arcanum Worlds Canada, a team that has experience working on some of your favorite video games. Now they’ve got a new Epic Viking campaign setting for 5th Edition D&D. Raiders of the Serpent Sea casts you in the world of Grimnir, where you said the cold serpent seas and await Ragnarök.
D&D, But Make it Vikings
Do you want to play D&D– but this time, let’s all be all vikings? This is the setting for you. This new setting wants to make your characters feel like they’re in a BioWare game.
It’s full of monsters inspired by Norse mythology. It also has a very special system that makes your character more central to the story. The team at Arcanum Worlds want to empower characters in Grimnir to explore and discover the world. And in doing so, change its fate…
This sounds like the same sort of larger-than-life philosophy that made Odyssey of the Dragonlords so successful a couple years ago. And the campaign setting is full of new races, new subclasses, and of course new monsters. There’s a lot to love for anyone who wants to talk about runes and jarls.
Epic Adventures
But what really makes it interesting are the promises from the devs. Knowles, the designer of the setting, talks about three specific qualities that make this game truly epic:
Epic Scope. At the start of the narrative the players begin as raiders from a handful of rival clans. They will need to work together to understand what is in store for them and their world and as they do this they will gain power and glory. They will acquire longships and they will explore parts of the world no other raider has seen before. Ultimately they must conquer such obstacles that even the gods of the Stone Court could never defeat.
Epic Storytelling. The narrative wraps around an expandable open world. With the Serpent Sea connecting all land masses, there are numerous opportunities to discover uncharted islands, to raid unsuspecting rivals, as well as to move the primary narrative forward. The choices that are made by the heroes will also strongly influence the game world — with major repercussions in later parts of the narrative. If the world survives Ragnarök, it will be changed by the player’s decisions throughout.
Epic Heroes. At the peak of their power, the heroes will be as powerful as any Viking of myth or history, their strength and ability rivaling those of gods such as Thor and Loki.
If that sounds like a thundering good time, check out the Kickstarter below!
From the Campaign:
Raiders of the Serpent Sea is a ~250-page adventure book with full-color maps and illustrations that breath life into the world of Grimnir. Like Arcanum World’s earlier title, Odyssey of the Dragonlords, this hardcover book is full of interesting characters, adventures, and scenarios, all of it detailed with fantastic images by several very talented artists.
A Legendary Campaign. Wrestle the Serpent Sea into submission as you sail its tumultuous waters to unite the raiders. Only with the clans standing side by side will Grimnir be saved from the fate that befall the Lost Lands. The campaign will take heroes from 1st level to 10th.
Choose your Epic Background. Includes four epic backgrounds for heroes to select during character creation. These enhanced backgrounds develop interconnected motivations for the heroes, making them central to the story and world. Explore, discover, and change the dynamic world of Grimnir. The glory gained from such exploits will rise above even the great deeds of the heroes of old to forge new legends for a new age.
The World of Grimnir. Includes details regarding the world’s history, how Grimnir was created, the various clans and their rival kingdoms. Learn about the gods of the Stone Court and the yoten that destroyed the Lost Lands.
New Monsters. Includes full page illustrations and detailed game statistics and lore for 15 new creatures inspired by Norse mythology.
New Magic Items. Over 20 new magic items are included. From powerful weapons to more unusual legendary devices, these items can be discovered by hardy adventurers exploring the world of Grimnir.
New Races and Class Archetypes. Includes a variety of new playable races and class archetypes inspired by Norse legends and Viking history. Play as the half-giant tallfolk, deep forest wolfriders, wooden constructs, raid leaders, and prophetic bards.
Back Raiders of the Serpent Sea on Kickstarter
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
