Blood and Doom RPG Primer Review

DriveThruRPG.com


*

Enter the realm of Athyr, a world of high adventure and unparalleled danger where ancient ruins hold untold secrets and dark prophecies whisper of impending doom. Hidden in the shadows, twelve vile cults are spreading their corrupting influence throughout the world. In tombs veiled by the sands of time and lairs hidden from prying eyes, these unsavory groups worship the twelve extradimensional entities known as the Heralds of Doom. And should one of these loathsome beings claw its way to Athyr’s surface, the fate of its people will be sealed.

Yet amidst the gathering darkness, there are those who seek to unveil the secrets of Athyr’s forgotten past, to unravel the ominous prophecies whispered by trembling sages, and to navigate the labyrinthine web of treachery that threatens to corrupt the very fabric of society. In an age of Blood and Doom, they are there to confront the rising tide of corruption, to battle and oppose the cults and monsters that threaten Athyr’s very existence.

Will you rise up to meet this challenge? Enter a world of both tremendous wonder, and unparalleled danger…

*

We at the 5D Pop Culture Website previously announced the news that Dicetale Games released its FREE 500+ pages worth of Primer books and additional material on the 21st of March. The three Core Primer books, a full-color map, and a soundtrack sampler are all available NOW as free downloads on Drivethrurpg. In this huge bundle, you will find three Primer books totaling over 500 pages, each of them a fully playable excerpt of the Blood and Doom core books. With two free adventures coming as well, the Primers are a great way to start playing Blood and Doom before its Kickstarter campaign launches on April 4, 2023. All are distributed by Modiphius, one of the independent tabletop game industry’s most iconic companies.

The Primer bundle download link is available on the DriveThruRPG: RIGHT HERE

*

We had promised those good people some honest & objective thoughts on this much anticipated release so let’s do that……….

*


*

The Blood and Doom Primer Bundle includes:

*

Core Rulebook Primer – Of all the bundle, this is the essential book needed to play the game straight away as it includes a sizeable amount of what will be included final Core Rulebook. It clearly covers a large part of the rules, but also omits a lot of the more specific information you’ll eventually want to have if you’d like to delve deeper into the world of Athyr and the options you have available as a Player Character. This Primer book introduces you to the rules and the setting as well as showing you how to create a Character and four of the nine playable Classes are already included. Each Class also has two Archetypes, making for no less than eight unique Archetypes you can choose from.

*

The final book, which will Kickstart on April 4, will add five more Classes and ten Archetypes to the mix, dramatically expanding the available choices! Of course, Classes and Archetypes also come with their own Abilities, Skills, Feats, and unique Traits, Powers, and Magic. This Primer book comes with many of each and the combination of all of those things makes each Character stand out. Combined with the Character’s appearance and personality, there are a sheer endless number of personas you can create.

*

Lastly, this Core Rulebook Primer also delves into many aspects of going on an adventure, including possible environments to explore, handling combat and all kinds of different encounters, Conditions & Afflictions, a ton of equipment to choose from, and a large section meant for the Doomsayer’s eyes only, with advice on how to prepare and run games for Players (including several Stat Blocks). There’s also Quickstart Characters, empty Character Sheets and a world map of Athyr included as separate PDFs.

*

*

*

Doomsayer’s Codex Primer: Guide to Athyr – The known world is a tapestry woven of many colors, each region a unique and wondrous realm to behold. But fear not, dear traveler, for this Primer shall guide you on a journey through the vibrant realms of Ethennia and Ishta, their wonders and perils laid bare for your discovery.

*

One of the standout features of Blood and Doom is its unique setting. The game takes place in a world that is constantly at war, where brutal factions fight for control of territory and resources. The setting is grim and unforgiving, with few safe havens and little hope for a better future. Inside of this Primer, you’ll find out about two of the five known regions of Athyr: Ethennia and Ishta – the detail is incredible and the artwork delicious. Is it a work I want to explore? Hell yes.

*

*

Doomsayer’s Codex Primer: The Twelve Pillars of Doom – Twelve cults, each steeped in the foul worship of one of the Heralds of Doom, loom like a shadow over the world. Their twisted rites and depraved practices are whispered of in hushed tones by those few who are aware of their existence. And now, in this tome of dark secrets, they unveil the mysteries of both the Yiukashin, who pray to the fragmented monstrosity Dhaos, and the Sheddai, who craft Simulacra to find out where the Great Subjugator known as Lanesh, is being held prisoner by the gods.

*

This primer book is perhaps the game’s secret weapon with its lavish and atmospheric introduction to the lore of the Cults – this is great stuff! The level of detail, both in character description and their personal goals is excellent – interesting, relevant and thought-provoking in equal measure. The amount of ideas I’ve had simply on the basis of planned campaigns solely taking place around a cult are too numerous to mention – I can’t wait to put them into practice.

*

Blood and Doom Soundtrack Sampler, several songs from the exhilarating score composed by none other than Knut Avenstroup Haugen (Dune: AwakeningConan Exiles). Get a taste of the full soundtrack that can be unlocked during our crowdfunding campaign.

*

*

Some final thoughts…

The ruleset for Blood and Doom is fairly simple and straightforward, with a focus on fast-paced combat and quick decision-making. Character creation is also relatively simple, with players choosing from a variety of different archetypes and backgrounds to create their character. The game includes a variety of different skills and abilities that can be used in combat and non-combat situations, giving players plenty of options for how they want to play their character. Blood And Doom nicely treads a fine line between the crunch I love in some systems, whilst still keeping it all very intuitive and balanced.

*

One of the strengths of Blood and Doom is its focus on player choice and consequence. The game presents players with difficult decisions and challenging situations, and the choices they make can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. This gives the game a sense of tension and drama that is often lacking in other roleplaying games.

*

Not only that, but the writing is excellent, the artwork is stunning and the play promises to be pacey and challenging. Overall, Blood and Doom is an excellent choice for players who are looking for a challenging and intense roleplaying experience. The setting is dark and brutal, and the ruleset is designed to support fast-paced and dramatic gameplay. If you’re a fan of games like Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay or Shadow of the Demon Lord, Blood and Doom is definitely worth checking out.

*

Kickstarter pre-launch page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dicetalegames/blood-and-doom

*

Dicetale Games have partnered with Modiphius Entertainment’s VIA Modiphius imprint to bring this thrilling Dark Fantasy Sword & Sorcery RPG to the tabletop. Blood and Doom uses a d10 dice pool system.

*

One Reply to “Blood and Doom RPG Primer Review”

Comments are closed.