Dragonbane is a new, updated edition of the legendary Swedish RPG Drakar och Demoner from 1982. It’s a classic fantasy role-playing game full of magic, mystery, and adventure, blending brutal challenges with lighthearted, humorous moments—hence the slogan Mirth & Mayhem. The world is designed for playing humans, elves, dwarves, wolfkin, and even ducks (Mallards), giving the game a unique, playful tone. It’s intended for both epic campaigns and quick one-shot adventures, with minimal preparation.
Mechanics:
- D20 “roll-under” – to succeed, you must roll lower than your skill value (e.g., if your skill is 12, you succeed with a roll of 12 or less). A critical success is 1 (“Dragon”), and a critical failure is 20 (“Demon”).
- Instead of levels, you improve through skill use—after a session, you can advance the skills you used.
- If an important roll fails, you can push it (reroll), but you gain a temporary condition (e.g., Exhausted, Frightened).
- Willpower Points: a resource for magic and heroic abilities, balancing powerful spellcasters.
- Combat is fast and deadly, with initiative handled via cards (similar to Savage Worlds).
- Playable as a classic group game or solo (special scenario Alone in Deepfall Breach).
Core Set Contents:
- 112-page rulebook (character creation, skills, combat, magic, travel)
- 116-page adventure book with 11 scenarios that can be linked into the Secret of the Dragon Emperor campaign
- Solo adventure (Alone in Deepfall Breach)
- Large Misty Vale map
- Illustrated cards for treasures, initiative, and events
- Standees and tokens for characters and monsters
- Battle mat with grid
- 10 dice (including 2 custom D20s)
- 5 pre-generated characters + blank sheets
🔥 Dragonbane Core Set is the perfect choice for fantasy RPG fans who want a fast, fun, and visually stunning game with a rich legacy.
