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.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

I could be wrong, but I imagine that DrivethruRPG still gets their cut, which is traditional 30% IIRC, though WotC may have negotiated a lower rate for the Guild.

It appears this is a charity release, which may explain why it is on DMS Guild and not DDB. I wonder if "all proceeds go to miracle network" includes the 50% cut WOTC collects on DMSGuild products or just the proceeds collected by the author on DMs Guild.

All the Extra Life products go 100% for charity, and most of them have, sooner or later, been available on DNDBeyond as well as DMsGuild (examples: Lost Laboratory of Kwalish, Infernal Machine Rebuild, One Grung Above, The Tortle Package).

 

[Burnside]

I could be wrong, but I imagine that DrivethruRPG still gets their cut, which is traditional 30% IIRC, though WotC may have negotiated a lower rate for the Guild.

I know that when my products have been included as part of charity bundles, DriveThru/DMsGuild have always donated their cut to the charity as well. I can't imagine that wouldn't be the case here.

 

[Hussar]

Probably fair to assume for a couple of reasons.

A. If they did take a cut and it came out, it would be really bad press.

B. It’s a nice tax break anyway, so they’re probably not out much in any case.

C. They’re actually reasonably decent human beings and not the eaters of puppies people often paint any business as.

 

[Retreater]

I do not like the computer-generated art. It looks like a video game manual.
I'm wondering how well the adventure works. Since it took 10+ years to get a level 11-20 adventure, I'm guessing this is a big stretch for 5e to pull off.

 

[Hussar]

I do not like the computer-generated art. It looks like a video game manual.
I'm wondering how well the adventure works. Since it took 10+ years to get a level 11-20 adventure, I'm guessing this is a big stretch for 5e to pull off.

I know I get a fair bit of flack for being too much of a WotC fanbois, but, this sort of post just flies up my left nostril. Look, I get not liking WotC or what WotC's doing, that's fair. There's a reasonably long list of stuff you could point to. But, not even bothering to do a minimum of fact checking? This is just a bad joke.

Levels 11-20. Hrm, Dungeon of the Mad Mage goes to 20. Candlekeep does top out at 17th, but, bumping it to 20 isn't hard. Tyranny of Dragons, like the very first WotC AP? That goes to 16th. Tales can go to 20th as well. And, that's ignoring the 3pp stuff too. I've got a level 1-20 Spelljammer Module (Harvesters of Worlds) sitting there ready to go right now.

But, sure... this is a big stretch?

 

[dave2008]

I do not like the computer-generated art. It looks like a video game manual.
I'm wondering how well the adventure works. Since it took 10+ years to get a level 11-20 adventure, I'm guessing this is a big stretch for 5e to pull off.

Actually Dungeon of the Mad Mage goes to level 20. And if you strictly want high level, the Vecna Dossier was 20th level as well. And of course Rise of Tiamat and Out of the Abyss both went to 15th level. And the Planescape Fortune's Wheel jumps to 17th level. I haven't run any of those, but my group is 15th level and 5e is doing fine for us + we have done 3-4 one shots at 20th level and had a blast. So IMO 5e handles high level well, but I know others disagree.

Now regarding this adventure I have no idea how it holds up. I've looked through it, but like all published adventures it basically baffles me. I will say there is an encounter where the PCs face three dukes of hell: one is CR 20 and two are CR 21 and they have some good synergy between them.. That could be a challenging fight.

Also, just wanted to point out 5e came out in 2014, that was 9 years ago, not 10+ as you claim for some reason.

EDIT: ninja'd by @Hussar!

 

[dave2008]

Now what I really come to say was: it is mirthral now!

For those that don't know, that means it has sold over 2,501 copies so far and that is approx. $75,000 going to charity. Good job WotC, Arcanum Worlds, and DrivethruRPG

 

[dave2008]

I do not like the computer-generated art. It looks like a video game manual.

PS - I am not fond of the archdevil art either (as I noted in an earlier post); however, much of the art is not in that style.

 

[Retreater]

Levels 11-20. Hrm, Dungeon of the Mad Mage goes to 20. Candlekeep does top out at 17th, but, bumping it to 20 isn't hard. Tyranny of Dragons, like the very first WotC AP? That goes to 16th. Tales can go to 20th as well. And, that's ignoring the 3pp stuff too. I've got a level 1-20 Spelljammer Module (Harvesters of Worlds) sitting there ready to go right now.

But, sure... this is a big stretch?

Yeah. I'll still argue it.
To me, having a collection of standalone, unconnected adventures doesn't count as a high level campaign.
When something like this is discreetly dropped on DMs Guild with 0 promotion or fanfare - I'm a little leery that maybe WotC doesn't know what they're doing. Especially when you consider Rise of Tiamat was outsourced to a 3rd party and Wizards didn't even write it.

 

[Reynard]

Yeah. I'll still argue it.
To me, having a collection of standalone, unconnected adventures doesn't count as a high level campaign.
When something like this is discreetly dropped on DMs Guild with 0 promotion or fanfare - I'm a little leery that maybe WotC doesn't know what they're doing. Especially when you consider Rise of Tiamat was outsourced to a 3rd party and Wizards didn't even write it.

Maybe someone who owns it can confirm, but I am guessing that the adventures in this book are all high CR (and therefore high XP) affairs.

Or, just as likely, they are all milestones and you are expected to level the party every time they fight a demon lord or "finish" a layer of Hell.