Roleplaying games allow us to give space to our imagination, to nourish it and to give wonderful stories and experiences to memory. There are games for every era and every style, with fantasy to be the master, led by Dungeons & Dragons. But despite this capillary coverage, there are still gaps, shaded areas, which would deserve to be expanded and enriched. This is precisely the purpose of the latest Nord Games project. The Ultimate Guide to Alchemy, Crafting & Enchanting for D&D5e wants to be a handbook (not only!) that elaborate on three essential themes of the fantasy genre. We are obviously talking about alchemy, crafting magical objects and enchanting common objects.
How this Ultimate Guide will fit in D&D5e?
Don’t hide. I saw you. You, who have been playing barbarian halforcs for ten years but who actually dream of creating destructive compounds behind a sea of alembics. I know you used to have Nicolas Flamel’s poster in your room as a kid. And you, that when you create a weapon in a video game, you only think of how fantastic it would be to be able to do it in the next downtime in D&D5e. And I see you too, yes, even if you casted improved invisibility on yourself. Staffs, scarabs and swords are not enough for you. You who want to make magical any object that begins with S: slippers, syringes, soup tureens and even sausages.
The Ultimate Guide to Alchemy, Crafting & Enchanting per D&D5e fills some gaps that many had noticed. A fascinating art such as alchemy has been relegated to a few objects which, rising in level, lose power and charm. The creation of objects restricted by rules and numbers too tight for the wonderful fantasy of the players. And finally a world depleted of that touch of more hidden, potterian magic, which makes even the most mediocre of objects beautifully dangerous and interesting. This manual aims to change this. Let’s see how.
The formula of abundance and renewal
The Ultimate Guide to Alchemy, Crafting & Enchanting per D&D5e introduces a new mechanic for the creation of compounds and magical items, implementing it with hundreds of new illustrations and giving it readability and freshness with the combination of thematic decks.
In the manual we can find a separate chapter for each of the three disciplines we have talked about, which offer a total of 12 specializations. A section follows with over 200 magical objects of all kinds and purposes, complete with color illustrations. These items can also be purchased in the form of decks of cards, to be precise four decks of cards divided into:
- arms and armors
- rods, staffs and wands
- rings and wundrous items
- potions, poultices and powdres
It should be remembered that 200 is the minimum number. Many more could be listed, maybe not all supernumeraries will end up in decks or Nord Games will create other decks. It all depends on how the funding campaign continues.
The manual also introduces the crafting Associations, which guarantee the characters some benefits and advantages, due to the considerable influence of the association. But be careful, because behavior and attitude can affect an individual’s position within any association and those who do not follow the rules may have considerable resources turned against them. Although The Ultimate Guide to Alchemy, Crafting & Enchanting for D & D5e is written primarily from this perspective, alternatives to the association system are also provided, in case you prefer simpler and leaner systems.
A real drawback the absence of previews. Although some designs embellish the Kickstarter page, we have no idea how the manual and decks and their layout and art will be made.
The path of the kings of the Nord …
The Kickstarter project is going very well. It was funded in 3 hours, has nearly 2,500 supporters, and forecasts speak of potential funding of nearly $ 200,000. But after all Nord Games is not new to this kind of results. In its last 5 projects, excluding the current one, it has exceeded 12,000 total backers. Really a great result that projects a halo of confidence on the quality of the current campaign .
…and their Kickstarter road to Ultimate Guide for D&D5e!
But waiting to learn how to turn stones into gold, you have to deal with the costs and offers of this project.
The manual costs $20 in PDF and $40 in a physical version with hard cover, $50 for both versions. Each deck has a price of $15. Pledges provide combined solutions. All prices are to be understood without shipping costs and the estimated delivery date is set for April 2021.
The stretch goals so far include only hooks for the various associations and the twelve specializations. According to the forecasts, two new interesting sections of the book will probably be unlocked, that is, living outside associations and the black market of objects and raw materials.
The offer ends with a rich list of physical add-ons, from which you can select splendid dice, pens, master’s screens and more. All these accessories are made (at least in part) in a wonderful handmade wood.
I am not (yet) well versed in alchemy, but I have the distinct feeling that Nord Games is transforming a good idea into a great product!
