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.

 

[Dire Bare]

I don't expect it to happen, but it would be an amazing service for Drive Through to offer based on user tips or something, or as a non-profit organization. ROI makes it unlikely.

DriveThru would actually be a good sponsor of such a resource, or something similar. The more they help their publishers be successful, the more they can take as sales commissions as well. As with everything, it's a balance of available resources, of course.

 

[dave2008]

It assumes blowback is inevitable.

The intent of my comment is to discuss how one should act in a blowback situation. It is not that blowback is inevitable, just that the comment has no relevance if you aren't in a blowback situation. There needs to be blowback for you to be able to react to it properly.

 

[darjr]

Ah never mind.

Here’s a tweet.

 

[dave2008]

I would like to get back to discussing the product and discuss one of the issues I have with it (@Micah Sweet, you can close your eyes for this discussion ),the art.

I am not really fond of the art of the archdevils. You can see Asmodeus on the cover and the other archdevils are in the same style. I have two issues:

1. I don't really like the 3D model look of this style. It looks like rendering of mini almost to me and feels less alive than more traditional art / styles (IMO of course).
2. All the devils are a bit grotesque (some more than others) and I feel that approach is more for demons (in D&D at least). D&D archdevils are supposed to be bewitching IMO.

1e Asmodeus

1e Glasya

 

[Micah Sweet]

I would like to get back to discussing the product and discuss one of the issues I have with it (@Micah Sweet, you can close your eyes for this discussion ),the art.

I am not really found of the art of the archdevils. You can Asmodeus on the cover and the other archdevils are in the same style. I have two issues:

1. I don't really like the 3D model look of this style. It looks like rendering of mini almost to me and feels less alive than more traditional art / styles (IMO of course).
2. All the devils are a bit grotesque (some more than others) and I see that more of the realm of demons (in D&D at least). D&D archdevils are supposed to be bewitching IMO.

1e Asmodeus
View attachment 320109
1e Glasya
View attachment 320110

Perhaps that was the result of the sensitivity readers.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I disagree with your idea that not hiring a sensitivity consultant means you don't care about quality. That seems rather elitist to me.

Depends on how you define quality

 

[Zaukrie]

Please. Cry me a river.

Creating and selling your art, game design or otherwise, is a choice. If you choose to cut corners due to the expense, it's understandable to a point. But your work will be improved if you don't cut those corners. That's not gatekeeping, that's not requiring "permission" to share your art, that's good advice on being a successful artist putting out quality product.

And yes . . . it's tough. And generally, as an audience, we do tend to cut indie artists some slack because we know it's expensive to hire sensitivity readers, editors, layout artists, illustrators . . . . but that doesn't mean you shouldn't aspire to reach a point where you can engage with those professionals.

And . . . it's within your reach. Plenty of other small time game publishers do it. You can

This is definitely part of the reason why it's tough! Even before the recent push for sensitivity readers, connecting with quality editors, illustrators, and other partners wasn't an easy thing. Sensitivity readers can be hard to find for the same reasons, on top of this being a relatively recent development in the hobby.

Not an excuse to dismiss the value of finding, connecting with, and utilizing these folks. But certainly difficult and an added expense.

I have not dipped my toes into self-publishing and sharing my writing yet with the RPG community. If I decide to do so, I will definitely be exploring using professional editors, layout artists, illustrators, and perhaps other experts to help me create the best possible product that I can. How will I find these people? That's a bit scary and intimidating, to me. To start, I'll look for any RPG publisher communities, including here on ENWorld, and start discussions asking for recommendations. Once I find some folks to work with, I will have to gauge the expense of doing so before I even sell my first product. How much am I willing to invest? How much CAN I invest? I might not be able to meet all of my goals with my first product, but I'll try. And when I'm ready for future products after my first, I will constantly try to improve my work, which is a neverending process.

I'm not critical of small-time publishers who have not decided to engage with partners/experts yet, either due to the expense or lack of awareness of the need. But publishers who are dismissive of the ideal and the need, that's not a good look and colors whether I want to engage with them as a patron/customer.

I agree with that last part. If I ever do a KS, I'll hire those experts. That would be the point of doing one, actually.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Yep, I know he is an author but that is it. I gathered from some posts here that he is well respected, but I haven't read any of his work.

Nor have I - but his Children of Time series just won the Hugo for best series. So I'd guess his work is pretty well liked...

 

[Saracenus]

Unfortunately for me I have to wait for my next paycheck before I can think about getting this, so my ability to talk about it is limited. I will say from some of the reviews coming in and some of what is said here this is on my Top 5 gets from DMs Guild... In no particular order:

• Manual of the Planes
• Arcanum Worlds Presents: Chains of Asmodeus
• Curse of Strahd Companion: The Complete Edition (for my wife, she loves running Ravenloft)
• Heroes of Baldur's Gate (Written and Designed by James Ohlen and Jesse Sky)
• Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy (Also Extra Life, Written and Designed by James Ohlen)

Now its decision, decisions, decisions for me. I just wish my dog had not hit me with a very expensive vet bill...

Also, there is now a banner ad for Chains of Asmodeus on the DM's Guild Home Page:

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Unfortunately for me I have to wait for my next paycheck before I can think about getting this, so my ability to talk about it is limited. I will say from some of the reviews coming in and some of what is said here this is on my Top 5 gets from DMs Guild... In no particular order:

• Manual of the Planes
• Arcanum Worlds Presents: Chains of Asmodeus
• Curse of Strahd Companion: The Complete Edition (for my wife, she loves running Ravenloft)
• Heroes of Baldur's Gate (Written and Designed by James Ohlen and Jesse Sky)
• Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy (Also Extra Life, Written and Designed by James Ohlen)

Now its decision, decisions, decisions for me. I just wish my dog had not hit me with a very expensive vet bill...

Also, there is now a banner add for Chains of Asmodeus on the DM's Guild Home Page:
View attachment 320113

Hope your pooch is ok