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.

 

[Parmandur]

That's not been my experience or what I've been told. However I can't go into it. I suspect a lot is hidden by NDA.

But it could be different here and or because of the 2024 content and I don't know a lot.

I'm sure WotC designers were consulted: but I would be surprised if this got a full-on development resource allotment (playtesters and so on).

 

[Micah Sweet]

This is an official book produced by WotC.

Looks like its on the guild, not made by WotC's team.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Looks like its on the guild, not made by WotC's team.

All of WotC's Extralife products are on the guild. Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy, which was headed by the same person as this product, is also an official book that can only be bought on the DMs Guild.

I don't know how involved WotC was involved in making them, but it is an official, WotC-endorsed book.

 

[JEB]

All of WotC's Extralife products are on the guild.

Well, except for Misplaced Monsters, which is a DDB exclusive.

 

[Micah Sweet]

All of WotC's Extralife products are on the guild. Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy, which was headed by the same person as this product, is also an official book that can only be bought on the DMs Guild.

I don't know how involved WotC was involved in making them, but it is an official, WotC-endorsed book.

So WotC gave their thumbs up to someone else's book. Ok.

 

[dave2008]

double post

 

[dave2008]

So WotC gave their thumbs up to someone else's book. Ok.

Not exactly, James Ohlen is a WotC employee and this is published by WotC. Doesn't really matter one way or the

FYI, His deal with WotC allowed him to continue Arcanum Worlds, but WotC would not use their IP.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Not exactly, James Ohlen is a WotC employee and this is published by WotC. Doesn't really matter one way or the

FYI, His deal with WotC allowed him to continue Arcanum Worlds, but WotC would not use their IP.

You have the book, right? Are any of the regular WotC artists, editors, or other stafff members credited in the book?

 

[dave2008]

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?

 

[dave2008]

You have the book, right? Are any of the regular WotC artists, editors, or other stafff members credited in the book?

I do have the book, but I don't know what artists work with WotC. Here is the list of artists from the Guild page:

Sergei Sarichev, Sergey Musin, Julian Calle, Sebastion Kowoll, Paul Adams, Luis Lasahido, and the Aaron Sims Company.

I'm not sure if I have any desire to see if they have worked on other WotC projects. I am pretty sure the main creature artist has not (his style is very distinctive and I don't particularly like it so I think I would remember) but some of the other art seems to be similar to what you might see. The maps seem lower quality to me though.