Cosmere RPG Evaluation – IGN

Cosmere makes use of a D20-based system, just like one thing like D&D or Pathfinder, the place you’ll use a 20-sided die to make varied ability checks, with different cube used to meet different wants (comparable to dealing injury). The motion economic system may even really feel acquainted, with primary actions throughout fight falling into both Actions, Reactions, or Free Actions territories, with Actions requiring wherever between one and three of your pool per flip. Usually, in your flip, a participant could have two or three motion factors they’ll use, with extra highly effective Actions requiring a number of factors to drag off. Because of its clever use of icons denoting the differing types and what number of factors an motion takes to make use of, the entire course of is somewhat new player-friendly and fast to know. However simply because facets might really feel acquainted doesn’t imply that the Cosmere RPG doesn’t do something new, nonetheless.

Contemplating it is a system that was designed partially by Brandon Sanderson, a person with the power to jot down an inhuman quantity of books in a brief time frame, it shouldn’t be a shock that narrative and story play a big half within the precise mechanics of the Cosmere RPG, too. A particular d6, known as the “Plot Die”, isn’t used for each verify and is as an alternative reserved for these moments that the GM deems as moments important to the plot and story they’re telling. Moments the place the stakes may very well be raised, granting unexpected alternatives that impression the story or granting you an “Alternative,” which is a particular useful resource that may be spent. On the flip facet, your roll of the plot die might as an alternative trigger a complication to come up in your plan, maybe inflicting you to get in an ally’s manner throughout a vital second, or one other blunder that ends in a failure.

This intertwining of narrative and story growth additionally seeps into the character creation course of and development, leading to a extra open and versatile system that I discovered significantly enamored by. Earlier than something, you choose your ancestry from both Human or Singer (and sure, you’ll be able to fiddle with Singer varieties), which can assist dictate what areas of the world or lore you concentrate on. As a human, you’ll be able to choose from what area you hail from, supplying you with an edge on checks on subjects, legends, homes, and language, for instance, that will make sense to your character to have. Along with your ancestry picked, you begin fleshing out the form of particular person they’re.

As a substitute of selecting a particular class like Warrior or Druid, gamers as an alternative select a Heroic Path, comparable to a Hunter, Chief, or Agent, every with its personal distinctive ability tree and specialization strains you could dive into. There are six base Heroic Paths (Agent, Envoy, Hunter, Chief, Scholar, and Warrior) out there within the Stormlight Handbook, every with three specializations, and every has a particular Key Expertise that helps set every path aside from the others. While you degree up, you aren’t leveling up a category however your character themself, that means if you would like you’ll be able to proceed down the trail you will have chosen already and unlocking new Abilities (the skills of the trail) if you would like, or you’ll be able to freely select a brand new path to start out touring down that is sensible for the place your character finds themselves at that second. No having to take care of sophisticated multi-class guidelines or completely different hit cube for well being, none of that. It makes the concept of creating an advanced and multi-faceted character extra approachable and incentivized, and likewise simply makes the leveling course of faster.

When you hit degree two, although, issues actually get thrilling as, in the event you want to, you’ll be able to start down a Radiant Path of your alternative, and sure, all of them are right here: Stonewards, Bondsmiths, Windrunners, Skybreakers, Dustbringers, Edgedancers, Truthwatchers, Lightweavers, Elsecallers, and Willshapers. Every Radiant Path will grant you a spren of your individual you’ll be able to provide you with, entry to that Radiant’s related Surges, and naturally, spending Stormlight and Investiture. When you have learn the Stormlight books, then let’s be sincere with ourselves, being a Knight Radiant is an enormous promoting level of those books for us, however in the event you haven’t learn them, consider these orders as tremendous Paladins. Every order has entry to fairly superior powers, slightly acquainted, and finally, you’ll be able to even recruit squires to work with you. And identical to the Heroic Paths, every Radiant Path options three expertise timber you’ll be able to dive into, with two specializing in a particular surge, Abrasion and Division, for instance, with Dustbringers, after which a path that improves your bond together with your spren, permitting you to swear additional Beliefs as a Knight Radiant. Sure, that is superior, and sure, I’ve provide you with extra spren pals than I care to confess to since getting these books. Come at me, Unmade!

To assist additional outline your character, additionally, you will set up a objective for them, one thing that drives the character in what they do, which can lead you to create objectives for them to try for. A aim could also be one thing so simple as searching for revenge on somebody to one thing extra nebulous, comparable to discovering new methods to heal others, however you might be additionally required to provide you with obstacles or character flaws that it’s a must to take care of whereas striving to your aim. Maybe in your pursuit of your aim to seek out new methods to heal others, your character may very well be blinded by a number of the hurt carried out in attempting to verify a speculation, or be prepared to check concepts that is probably not fully protected. Making this aim and impediment part front-and-center not solely helps the GM plan and tailor adventures to particular person characters, but additionally makes the gamers assume extra concerning the characters they’re enjoying as individuals and never only a character sheet. I’ve discovered that extra role-playing is all the time an excellent factor in TTRPGs.

Whereas I’ll benefit from the mechanics of the Cosmere RPG, as a fan of Sanderson’s books, I’d dare say I’ll like these RPG books extra for the small print they reveal and the way they dive deeper into the world of Roshar and Cosmere as a complete. Since you’ll be able to play as a member of any of the orders of Knights Radiant, I cherished wanting via the descriptions and breakdowns of not solely the varied beliefs, but additionally their respective Surges (i.e. the particular skills of a specific order). Studying via these books, particularly the World Information, gave me a greater concept of the cultures and visible id of the peoples of Roshar.

Brandon has acknowledged that the fabric in these guides shall be thought-about canon with the occasions in his books, and as such, a large amount of care has been taken by the staff to seek the advice of and make sure along with his lore keepers that every part matches. For readers who might not have completed Wind and Fact, the most recent entry of the Stormlight Archive that was launched in December 2024, you’ll want to watch out of spoilers.

In an odd manner, the wealth of data these books current additionally actually drew my consideration to what the Cosmere RPG doesn’t give me to mess around and roleplay with, and it’s right here the place a overwhelming majority of my complaints reside. Take, as an illustration, the Heralds, legendary heroes which have held again the evil forces of Odium between desolations. Beings that complete religions on Roshar have been constructed up round, and whose affect is felt in practically each aspect of the lore. The books have good sections speaking about them, that includes beautiful paintings, however the RPG is completely missing in particulars for folk which will wish to attempt enjoying as one.

As somebody who is often within the “ceaselessly GM” chair, the truth that not one of the books give me primary stat blocks for them is stunning to me. Why aren’t there guidelines or stats for the Honor Blades? Going even a step additional, the truth that the principles don’t give me particulars for large bads like the varied Unmade and even the shards of Odium, Cultivation, or Honor, simply bum me out. To a lesser extent, I want that these first books gave us not less than slightly tease on what followers might count on from how the opposite magic techniques might function or the route they wish to take with them. The Ghostblood Implement enemy does function “Burning Pewter” which solely serves as a buff, and doesn’t give a lot of an concept on how burning metals will differ from utilizing Stormlight. I notice that every of the worlds will finally get their very own tomes of goodness that dive deep into this stuff, however couldn’t we’ve gotten a small, itsy-bitsy tease of how allomancy or AonDor may go?

Along with the bodily books that shall be out there to the plenty in November, Cosmere is seeing comparatively frequent updates and extra supplemental supplies being added to the Digital Tabletop service. Not solely can you snag digital variations of all of the books proper now, permitting you to construct your characters and run video games, CosmereRPGNexus.com additionally has eventualities you could run and offer you particulars and guidelines to create customized higher-tiered enemies to take care of. Should you would favor simply having PDFs, although, you should buy all of them at Drive Through RPG, too.

For diehard Sanderson followers, even you probably have no need to play a TTRPG, these books, significantly the World Information, is a must-buy only for lore and the knowledge it supplies on Roshar. As TTRPG books, they do nicely sufficient, however the merchandise and enemy choices are missing by way of choices, particularly when in comparison with different fantasy RPGs. As each a longtime TTRPG participant and lover of the Cosmere, it surprises me that a few of what has been omitted has left me a bit upset. It simply comes off as “simply watch for the second Roshar set” to me.

The bodily Cosmere RPG books shall be launched on November 12, with digital variations out there for buy now on DriveThruRPG or just about on Demiplane.