D&D 5E Chains of Asmodeus: Official 286-Page Nine Hells Book & Adventure Released!

For Extra Life, the children's hospital charity, Wizards of the Coast just released Chains of Asmodeus on DMsGuild in PDF format. Written by James Ohlen and Adrian Tchaikovsky, this book includes an adventure for levels 11-20, stat blocks for Asmodeus and the other archdevils, a corruption mechanic, and more.

Arcanum Worlds Presents: Chains of Asmodeus
Chains of Asmodeus is a 286-page source book and adventure for the Nine Hells written by legendary game designer James Ohlen (Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age: Origins) and award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time, The Tiger and the Wolf, The Doors of Eden). This book is beautifully illustrated with haunting art from Sergei Sarichev, Sergey Musin, Julian Calle, Sebastion Kowoll, Paul Adams, Luis Lasahido, and the Aaron Sims Company.

Travel through the Nine Hells to save your soul in this tome that includes:

• 50+ High Challenge Monsters
• Stat Blocks for Asmodeus, Lord of the Nine, and all major Archdevils
• 20+ Infernal Magic Items
• New Item Corruption Mechanic
• Details on all Layers of the Nine Hells, with Beautifully Illustrated Maps created by John Stevenson
• A Fiendish Adventure for Levels 11-20

The book includes full stat blocks for Asmodeus (CR30), Beelzebub, Belial, Dispater, Fierna, Glasya, Levistus, Mammon, Mephistopheles, and more including Bel, Zariel, and a ton of monsters and NPCs.

You can pick it up for $29.99 on DMsGuild.

 

[dave2008]

The vast majority likely are (not the big ones, of course, but DMSGUILD and DRIVETHRU? Yes).

As the response was about A5e (LevelUP) I am pretty sure that venture is for profit. @Morrus can correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Tazawa]

Given that this book had a cultural consultant, does it include any notes about the fact that Asmodeus is a demon in a book (Tobit) held as Sacred Scripture by a majority of the world's Christians, and his use and portrayal in D&D may seem inaccurate or misguided to some?

It does not reference the origin of many of the names of archdevils in Hebrew and Christian scripture.

It mentions that the structure of the hells is based on Dante’s Inferno but has changed some of the sins associated with each level. Notably, it has removed references to sloth, gluttony, and lust as sins and includes a note to handle them carefully if you intend to add them to the adventure.

The adventure is about characters trying to recover the souls of a loved one (or themselves) from eternal damnation. The adventure recommends discussing the topic with players and modifying the adventure if there are some aspects that make them uncomfortable. iInterestingly it clarifies that the souls are not doomed to the hells because of committing a single sin in an otherwise good life, but that they are damned because they were deceived by Asmodeus.

I’ve read through the most of the adventure and it doesn’t feel like it’s a sanitized version of Hell. There are options to play with Good, Neutral, or Evil patrons for the characters, depending on the players’ preferred playstyle.

 

[Zaukrie]

As the response was about A5e (LevelUP) I am pretty sure that venture is for profit. @Morrus can correct me if I am wrong.

I thought it was about all 3pp....so, ya. my bad.

 

[Tazawa]

What is interesting is the The Misc and Boo extra life product (also by James Ohlen) also had some of the same archdevils in it, but different stat blocks I think:

View attachment 320688

The statblocks have all been updated to WotC’s new format:

• Removal of Magic Weapons
• Simplification of Spellcasting (uses per day vs leveled spell slots)

The Baalzebul statblock is updated to include a winged form in addition to his slug form.

The Mephistopheles statblock combines the previous Innate Spellcasting and Leveled Spellcasting into a single Spellcasting section.

It also includes updated statblocks for Bel and Zariel. Bel is functionally the same, but Zariel’s hp has been lowered from 580 to 420!

 

[Micah Sweet]

The vast majority of 3pp make no money, unless by 3pp you only mean the big players. It was kind of meant as a joke, which clearly fell flat....

By whose standards do you mean "no money"? Not enough to make a living, or most of them are nonprofit?

 

[Micah Sweet]

The statblocks have all been updated to WotC’s new format:

• Removal of Magic Weapons
• Simplification of Spellcasting (uses per day vs leveled spell slots)

The Baalzebul statblock is updated to include a winged form in addition to his slug form.

The Mephistopheles statblock combines the previous Innate Spellcasting and Leveled Spellcasting into a single Spellcasting section.

It also includes updated statblocks for Bel and Zariel. Bel is functionally the same, but Zariel’s hp has been lowered from 580 to 420!

More's the pity. I hate simplicity for simplicity's sake.

 

[Distracted DM]

If you purchase a PDF on DTRPG/DMG and it later releases POD, would you benefit from the same POD+PDF bundle price?

 

[Retreater]

If you purchase a PDF on DTRPG/DMG and it later releases POD, would you benefit from the same POD+PDF bundle price?

Not in my experience.

 

[dave2008]

The statblocks have all been updated to WotC’s new format:

• Removal of Magic Weapons
• Simplification of Spellcasting (uses per day vs leveled spell slots)

The Baalzebul statblock is updated to include a winged form in addition to his slug form.

The Mephistopheles statblock combines the previous Innate Spellcasting and Leveled Spellcasting into a single Spellcasting section.

It also includes updated statblocks for Bel and Zariel. Bel is functionally the same, but Zariel’s hp has been lowered from 580 to 420!

Yep, thank you for the reply! I think I posted that it was mostly reorganization. The big difference was the lose of Mephisto's slot based spellcasting.

 

[dave2008]

More's the pity. I hate simplicity for simplicity's sake.

He didn't say it was simplicity for simplicities sake. Do you even know what your talking about in this case? Have you compared the statblocks?