If you like Celtic mythology and you’re mad for the Arthurian myth, stay with me, you won’t regret it. In this review, we will have a close look at Legends of Avallen the Celtic-Roman-inspired tabletop RPG about humble townsfolk who rise up to become legends.
The game, conceived by Deren Ozturk, landed on the Kickstarter platform in September 2021 and has largely achieved the goal of the press thanks to its 581 supporters. Backers will then be able to enjoy the wonderful game manual, the artbook, and the deck of cards needed to play.
Legends of Avallen, the protagonist of this review, is available in physical version (with PDF included) in English on the Modiphius website on the Modiphius website at a price o 42,95 €.
The manual has more than 200 well-structured pages and has a very attractive graphic component. The incipit is, as in the more traditional ones, given by a particularly evocative story, which perfectly introduces the atmosphere of the setting.
Legends of Avallen the Setting
As you will see in this review, the setting of Legends of Avallen is the beginning and the end of this game. Avallen is an island, the homeland of the Vallic, a population of the Iron Age, perpetually in conflict.
Vallic are divided into clans and they inhabit the different biomes of Avallen and worship the gods that permeate Nature. These gods, called Ever Ones, inhabit the Otherworld, a legendary place that exists parallel to Avallen. It serves as the final resting place for the spirits of the dead, but also as the birthplace of creatures of myth such as the dreaded Ffieidd-Dra (Feithe-Dra) and the tricksy Fae.
The island is crossed by magic as if it were a river in flood, powerful and fickle. An ordinary person would do well to avoid it but the Vallic have a particular affinity for spiritual magic that channels the natural forces of the Otherworld.
However, nature and mysticism are not the only elements in Avallen. The Raxian Empire landed on the island a generation ago with its buildings, taxes, and cultural oddities. Some Vallic clans welcomed the Empire while others united, putting aside internal rivalries, to oppose the invaders.
Raxians are very different from Vallic in their approach to magic as well. The Empire prefers logical and matter-related spells although some approach the Ever Ones with the desire to be able to attain the power of the Otherworld.
Core Rulebook
Legends of Avallen is structured organically and is particularly pleasant to scroll through. The colors chosen are actually relaxing even in the digital version; the illustrations are perfectly linked to the context, giving a mystical and magical aspect to the volume.
Scrolling through the text, one is immediately captivated by the quality of the product and the attention to the likelihood, starting with the linguistic note on the Welsh pronunciation. Strongly inspired by Celtic mythology, in particular by Welsh history and mythology, in the first pages you have the opportunity to try your hand at the perfect diction of the name of the island; Avallen is an old spelling of the legendary magical island of Avalon whose name is derived from the Welsh Ynys Afallon, meaning Isle of Apples.
The core rulebook is clearly divided into three parts, also in terms of color: the player’s codex, the rules codex, and the gamemaster’s codex; an absolutely functional division that guides the reader from the creation of the character to the development of the mechanics.
This part guarantees the possibility of building the plots and creatures with relative clashes thanks to practical tools and conceptual tables.
Game Tools
Like many other RPGs, Legends of Avallen also needs, in addition to the Rulebook, some additional tools. In addition to the character cards, a pencil, and an eraser, you need a deck of cards.
Each suit of the deck represents an important attribute of your character that can be tested when making a check. Red suits are physical attributes while black suits are mental attributes.
In Legends of Avallen your character begins with very little: the basic skill of your Profession and a pouch of coppers to your name. But as you venture across Avallen and have a hand in solving local problems, you will gain Levels of experience and new talents with them. After your profession, you will go on to select a base Class, and your skills will be opened to the arcane arts and martial styles.
Legends of Avallen – Character creation
Creating your character is split into four parts.
- Choose your Profession School, giving you a starting ability and describing how you have made your way in Avallen so far.
- Choose your ranks in the four Attributes, describing your initial strengths and weaknesses.
- Describe your Personal Aspects, including your personality and what you value.
- Decide your Origin, Name, and Appearance.
Your attributes begin at rank 0, which is average for a regular townsperson. You get to increase an attribute rank of your choice to 1, then decrease another rank of your choice to -1
Over the course of the adventures, with the growth of the character, it will be possible to reach +5 but never go below -1.
The Personal aspects describe what your character is like, how they behave, and what they value. Personal aspects consist of Motivation, Virtue, and Flaw. The choice can be made from a practical table following a single rule: you cannot choose a defect that is linked to the chosen Virtue. One cannot be Wise and Fool at the same time, for example.
For the choice of the origin of the character, the core provides an extended description of each clan on the island with physical characteristics, habits, predispositions, and a list of names to choose from. And yes, you can also choose to play one of the Raxian invaders.
Game Design
Going back to what was said at the beginning of this Legends of Avallen review, to play it you need to have a deck of cards, essential for solving the tests.
As many other games, the GM determines the difficulty of the test and the characteristics that must be used to overcome the obstacle. The character is tasked with describing how his equipment, characteristics, and other characters who may participate in the action grant him an Advantage. The possible opponent and the GM himself help define the Disadvantage.
When you make a check, you reveal the top card of the deck to determine the outcome of your action. Advantages and disadvantages cancel each other out one for one and it is necessary to draw a card for each advantage or disadvantage remaining. If the character has an advantage, he keeps the highest card, if he has a disadvantage, he keeps the lowest card.
Each card has its own value and the figures have a special score whose color determines whether their value is added or subtracted from that of the Attributes used.
Success and Failure
If the value of the card plus the attribute exceeds the difficulty rating, the action will be successful. Otherwise, it will fail. But be careful, if you get success with a face or with a card of the opposite color to that of the attribute used, success will be critical. If you fail using a figure, failure will be critical.
When you fail or critically succeed at a check, you earn an Edge. An Edge is a shift of momentum in your favor represented by a face-down card you take from the top of the deck and keep but do not look at. You can only keep one Edge at a time but can give extras you earn to allies without one.
Write an adventure in Legends of Avallen
With a world that is so interesting, magical, and historical at the same time, it can seem difficult to write an adventure that does not betray the poetic soul of Legends of Avallen.
Nothing could be more wrong, trust me. The Gamemaster’s Codex provides many tools starting with practical tables to be able to find the right ideas and the best dynamics for the characters to face.
These pages are a real toolbox suitable for any kind of master, also with a large section of creatures that inhabit Avallen and Otherworld.
For the lazy ones or for those who paw at the idea of trying this wonderful game at the end of the manual, there is also a pre-made adventure, all to be played.
At the end of this review, we can say that Legends of Avallen is one of those games that cannot be missing not only in the libraries of fans of the myths of the British world between the second half of the IV and the first half of the III centuries BC. but also in those of all game lovers with a strong narrative component, a lean gameplay system, and buildable adventures.