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.

 

[Reynard]

I asked about an FG version on those message boards and got "probably not, these things tend to be exclusive" as a response.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I can't help from comparing this to the recent Manual of the Planes book on DMs Guild.

The Manual of the Planes is 336 pages, $30, lots of lore and stat blocks, and no art. It was released on 10/22/2023 and has sold to a Silver Medal.

Chains of Asmodeus is 286 pages, $30, light on lore, lots of stat blocks and art. It was released on 10/30/2023 and has already sold to a Gold Medal. It is also for charity.

I wonder if the format or art is having any effect on the different sales rates or does it come down to WotC endorsement and the fact that it is for charity or something else entirely?

Too many people

Thank you.

At least one of the artists, Luis Lasahido, has done art for Magic: the Gathering before (some of their art was included in the Strixhaven book, like this piece). I've had a hard time finding things done by most of the other people, besides the main ones that work for Arcanum Worlds.

Looks like I was right then. Not the work of the D&D team, but they gave it their thumbs up to boost sales.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Too many people

Looks like I was right then. Not the work of the D&D team, but they gave it their thumbs up to boost sales.

No extra life is a D&D thing. The main mover in this is a WotC employee who was responsible for the other extra life products. Not to mention members of the actual D&D team are in the credits.

I agree this was primarily produce outside the main team, it was however done at the behest of the D&D team, just like the other extra life products.

 

[Micah Sweet]

No extra life is a D&D thing. The main mover in this is a WotC employee who was responsible for the other extra life products. Not to mention members of the actual D&D team are in the credits.

I agree this was primarily produce outside the main team, it was however done at the behest of the D&D team, just like the other extra life products.

My point was simply what I posted above. Not the work of the D&D team, like many 5e products under the WotC banner.

Does anyone know what 5e products were actually written by the D&D design team (outside the core books)?

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

My point was simply what I posted above. Not the work of the D&D team, like many 5e products under the WotC banner.

Does anyone know what 5e products were actually written by the D&D design team (outside the core books)?

I think this is a too simplistic of a perspective on how these things work

 

[darjr]

Intuition isn’t fit for everything of the world we find ourselves in. Sometimes we need to really think about things and make things.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think this is a too simplistic of a perspective on how these things work

I don't, really. But there you are.

 

[darjr]

There are extra life things done by the D&D team. I think the Tortle Package and One Grung Above are two.

 

[Parmandur]

I think it is silly to suggest that a book of ice magic spells or swashbuckler feats or an adventure in the demi-plane of angry candy need a sensitivity consultant. I certainly think there is a place for that, but erecting a barrier in the name of "working wisely" is still erecting barriers.

I would expect such a product to be professionally edited. And that includes sensitivity reading.

 

[Immeril]

Interested in running this as a sequel to Descent into Avernus.
Whithout asking for specifics: does the book address a scenario where players have succeeded in redeeming Zariel?