In this preview we will analyze the quickstart for D&D5e of Blood Sword, giving you a first impression on the setting and the new rules. During this year’s Play in Modena, we met with pleasure Edizioni Librarsi and thanks to them we got our hands thanks to the paper quickstart of a new setting for D&D5e. The world of Blood Sword has finally become a setting for the most famous RPG in the world. The project, financed by an excellent crowdfunding campaign, collected 40,000 € in a short time, managing not only to finance the work, but also to unlock a considerable number of stretch goals. This manual will be released in 2022, but it is possible to pre-order everything on the Tambù website (where you will find the same pledges present in the Kickstarter).
The final manual will consist of about 250 pages and will contain everything you need to immerse you in this new adventure. Maps, illustrations and extensive descriptions of characters and monsters. Obviously you do not buy anything in a poke and for this you can download the digital copy of the quickstart for free on the Tambù website. With the download you will have access to about fifty pages of material, including an adventure and the cards of the pre-generated characters. What better way to get an idea about it?
A Look at Blood Sword
Blood Sword was born from an idea of Dave Morris and Oliver Johnson who together gave life to one of the most famous book series ever. These interactive novels allowed not only to face the clashes on squared maps, but to face the challenges alone or with a group of friends thus creating a new type of experience. You immediately understand how all this comes very close to the concept of role play, especially systems like D&D.
When I read The Battlepits of Krarth’s, the first volume of the new edition of Blood Sword, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head that it would be great to play an adventure within this setting. I imagined myself at the table observing my players intent on facing the mysteries and trials of the deadly labyrinth; I almost savored the pleasure of seeing them immersed up to their necks in the political intrigues of wizards, with a mission still not entirely clear. Fortunately I didn’t have to force myself to adapt anything as Dave Morris, Valentino Sergi, and Daniele Fusetto did all the work. Thanks to the combined efforts of Tambù, Edizioni Librarsi and Officina Meningi, this new setting with dark tones has finally seen the light.
Preview of the D&D5e Rules of Blood Sword
The setting is based on the D&D5e rulebook, but with some significant changes. The first novelty introduced is called Crossroads and represents that set of encounters, challenges, puzzles or battles that always involve vital choices for the group. These Crossroads contain one or more scenarios and are activated by one or more triggers based on the choices of the players. They can be resolved with a success or a failure, and help the master to give a clear direction to the adventure by following the type of game to which this work is inspired.
The second novelty consists of the Blood Dice, a 6-sided dice that shows on three of them a red sword called audacity, while on the rest there are broken blue swords called thrill. The audacity and thrill add a new mechanic to the game related to the morale of our adventurer. If morale is high we will have significant advantages related to rest and physical and mental conditions; and instead the roll of the dice will show the broken sword, the situation will quickly worsen.
After all, think about it; you just failed a group vital test. Everyone was counting on you and, however much they hide it, the disappointment is evident on their faces. It is not easy to fight when tired, or when morale is low. The obstacles seem immediately insurmountable to us. Blood Sword adds this mechanic and players will have to put this condition into play; successes and failures will have an even more important weight.
Final Considerations
Blood Sword presents itself as an exciting setting, with a regulation that adds very interesting elements. Character development does not only involve improving stats. The fears of our hero come into play, allowing us to play a well-rounded character, giving new ideas for interpretation. I invite you to download the free quickstart and play the present adventure, so as to touch the beauty of the manual and the setting. Pre-orders are open, and you just have to decide which pledge to buy.