Kickstarter Ancient Magic Prelaunch is Active!

[Bloodstone Press]

The Prelaunch page for Ancient Magic is now Active!

Check it out right here!

Ancient Magic​

Ancient Magic is a collection of classes, subclasses, spells, magic items, and optional rules inspired by historical accounts of magic in the ancient world. Like the rest of the Amazons vs Valkyries setting, we are skipping the middlemen (modern fantasy fiction, TV, and movies) and going straight to the source material.
The spells and magic items in this book are ripped straight from Norse sagas, Egyptian tombs, and Greek spellbooks. These are all (supposedly) REAL spells and items that have been adapted to 5e. But this isn’t just a book of spells and magic items. This book also includes new concepts about magic, new options for spell components, and new spellcasting classes all inspired by ancient sources.

This Title Features:

• More than 110 new spells based on actual spells (some are already on Patreon)
• More than 20 new magic items (some are already on Patreon)
• Magic Disciplines (Alchemy, Astrology, Hydromancy, Necromancy, and more!)
• The Bard College of the Muses (already available on DriveThru and Patreon)
• The Witch class and two subclasses
• The Scholar class and two subclasses
• The Mystic class and three subclasses
• The Priestess class and three subclasses (domains)
• Three sorceress subclasses
• Three Wizard subclasses (including the Primordialist and the Cosmic Adept)
• Knot Magic (already on Patreon)
• New Backgrounds for spellcasters: Academies of Study (already on DriveThru and Patreon)
• New Monsters (shades, cacodaemons, and more)
• Daemons, Spirits, and Cosmic Power
• New skills: Astronomy and Engineering
• New uses for: Herbalism kits and Alchemy kits
• Spellcasting Gear: Moon Juice, Oil of Sunlight, Magician's kits
• Magical properties of herbs and plants from the real world
• Moon magic, Fate magic, Fertility magic
• Binding spells
• Curse tablets
• The evil eye
• True names
• Power Words
• Laws about magic
• Magic and culture in Rome, Persia, Babylon, Egypt, Germania, Carthage, and Greece.

Magical Disciplines​

Magical disciplines are a new optional rule for spellcasters. These disciplines help define the way spellcasters use magic, separate from their class and subclass.

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Classes and Subclasses​

Speaking of classes and subclasses, Ancient Magic features four new spellcasting classes inspired by historical sources:
*The Mystic (Alternate Druid)
*The Priestess
*The Scholar
*The Witch

Each of these classes has at least two subclasses with more available through stretch goals.

Wizard Subclasses​

Ancient Magic also features new subclasses for wizards! It seems the d20 core rules have limited themselves with the way wizard subclasses are designed around the eight schools of magic. That leaves little room for other subclass concepts. However, the schools of magic in the core rules are a innovation of modern gaming and not the way ancient people actually thought about magic. Instead, the wizard subclasses in Ancient Magic are, like our other subclasses, deigned around social roles and professions that existed in ancient times.

Sorceress Subclasses​

We have published two collections of sorceress origins for the 2014 edition of the core rules (Sorceress Origins and Rune Casters and Spirit Callers). Combined, these PDFs feature 12 different subclasses (origins) for sorceresses in the Amazons vs Valkyries settings. At least three from Rune Casters and Spirit Callers will be included in Ancient Magic (and updated to 2024). More will be included with stretch goals.

Daemons, Spirits, and Cosmic Power​

Spellcasters frequently interact with daemons and spirits. Some also rely on raw cosmic power. Ancient Magic explains these aspects of spellcasting as ancient spellcasters understood them. Daemons are often (but not always) dangerous. Spirits are more amicable, but can be easily offended or angered. Cosmic power flows from the stars, the planets, the sun, and the moon.

Animal, Vegetable, Mineral​

Witches, Mystics, and other spellcasters rely on herbs, stones, and animal parts to cast spells. These objects also contain magical properties that enhance spells or unlock other spell effects.

Spells​

More than 120 new spells are featured in Ancient Magic. Most are taken straight from Norse sagas, Egyptian tombs, Greek spellbooks, Zoroastrian texts, and Roman literature. Others are based on conditions or illnesses suspected of being caused by magic in ancient times. Still others are extrapolated from spells hinted at or implied in ancient court documents and philosophical debates. Some spells are based on the boasts of ancient spellcasters, such as being able to control the day/night cycle, draw down the moon, or be in two distant places simultaneously.

A few authentic spells from Ancient Magic are outlined below. Note that some of these spells require unusual components (like moon juice or bones wrestled from the jaws of a ravenous wolf). Others have long casting times or can only be cast at certain times. Many deal with spirits, daemons, or fate.

Magic Items​

Ancient Magic includes a chapter on magic items featured in ancient writings. These range from common magic items like knots and talismans up to unique artifacts, including:

*Broaches of the Bears
*Curse Stones
*Curse Tablets
*Eyeliner of Truesight
*Magical knots
*Mantle of Death
*Medallion of Horus
*Nothung (Legendary Sword)
*Nemesis Stone
*Opal of Aphrodite
*Talisman of Homeric Power
*Talisman of Protection from Witches

Academic Backgrounds​

Ancient Magic covers 15 unique backgrounds for spellcasters, reflecting their almae matres. Perhaps you studied magic in a Greek academy or a Babylonian University. Maybe you studied necromancy at an Egyptian School of life. You may have studied spells with some witches in Thessaly, or joined a coven in Gaul. Or perhaps you were one of the few students who survived arcane training at the Sholomance.

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Additional Content​

*Binding Spells
*The Evil Eye
*Power Words
*True Names
*Laws about magic in Rome, Egypt, Greece, and other lands

Formats​

Ancient Magic will be available in the follow formats:
*Fully hyperlinked PDF
*Standard Quality PoD
*Premium Quality POD

Fulfillment​

Like our previous Kickstarter projects, Ancient Magic will be fulfilled by DriveThru.

Follow this Project to get an Alert When it Goes Live!​

 

[Distracted DM]

I'm interested in the content, but the art is a little off-putting. Will there be any goals to have artists contribute to the book?

That being said, I enjoy stuff that's inspired from and directly references real-world cultures/religions etc. I'll keep an eye on it, I see you shared a Patreon as well

 

[Bloodstone Press]

I'm interested in the content, but the art is a little off-putting. Will there be any goals to have artists contribute to the book?

That being said, I enjoy stuff that's inspired from and directly references real-world cultures/religions etc. I'll keep an eye on it, I see you shared a Patreon as well

I've done that before, but the results came up very short of the necessary goal to pay human artists. I might try it again this time, as this project is the largest one I've ever done. So it might reach a goal like that. But this book is over 200 pages long. Illustrations in a book that long are going to run in the tens of thousands of dollars.

However, I also use Shutterstock.AI which compensates artists and gives them the choice to opt out, so their art isn't used in training. You can read their policy right here. As of last spring they had already paid out several million dollars to contributing artists.

 

[Distracted DM]

I've done that before, but the results came up very short of the necessary goal to pay human artists. I might try it again this time, as this project is the largest one I've ever done. So it might reach a goal like that. But this book is over 200 pages long. Illustrations in a book that long are going to run in the tens of thousands of dollars.

However, I also use Shutterstock.AI which compensates artists and gives them the choice to opt out, so their art isn't used in training. You can read their policy right here. As of last spring they had already paid out several million dollars to contributing artists.

Thanks for the reply! Good to know you're trying to do things right

 

[Bloodstone Press]

Tremendous progress has been made on this project since the last post here. More than 100 pages of content have been added, a new page background has been created, and a 23-page free preview has been released!

There is also a VIP Ticket available for $1 which you can use to save 40% when the kickstarter launches.

Get The Free Preview Right Here

Get Your VIP Ticket Right Here

View The Updated Kickstarter Right Here