Generally a evaluation brings consideration to one thing that wasn’t even on my radar. Generally I really feel like I see each single crowdfunding mission on the market, and different occasions it appears like there was a completely totally different crowdfunding world on the market that I missed. Timeless Corruption funded by way of Kickstarter in October of 2022.
This one crossed my path by way of Gnome Stew, however I’ve a neater time scheduling this right here, if I wished to debate it sooner quite than later. I really like seeing fantasy settings that draw from cultures exterior of the usual properly of European affect, and I additionally actually need to see what designers from these cultures can do after they have the chance to take action.
The Kickstarter funded a 5e SRD Participant’s Information and an journey that covers ranges 1st by twentieth, in addition to a Pathfinder 2e conversion of these supplies. What I’m right this moment is the 5e SRD Timeless Corruption Participant’s Information.
Disclaimer
I used to be supplied with a evaluation copy of the Timeless Corruption Participant’s Information by 9 Heavens Press. I’ve not had the chance to play or run any of the fabric included on this product, however I’m very accustomed to D&D 5e, each as a participant and as a DM.
Timeless Corruption
Writer Minki Kim
Extra Writing Connie Chang, KappaChris, Theta Chun, Jin Sol
Builders James Beck, Jeremy Blum, Indigo Cardosa, Minki Kim, Jason Marlor, The Mithral Canvas, Daniel Velazquez
Editors Jeremy Blum, S. Jeon (Dan/단), Jason Marlor, Jin Sol
Cowl Artists Alex Ahad, Kem Mackey
Inside Artists Alex Ahad, Mychal Amann/Swampkips, Blazemalefica, Candlehag, Hanghul/Might, Kaitlin “Charlie” Edlund, Alana Fan, Kayla Felty, Christopher “Cee” Humphries, Angela Kim, Jeong Kim, Min Kim, KittBetelgeuse, Kem Mackey, MLarty, NapaL (Kim Min-hee), Nidhi Naroth, Airi Pan, Jenny Park, Refrynn (WeirdUndead), A. R. Stefansdottir, Vanessa Wei, Emily Whang, H. Received, Yeabin/judgedarts, G. Eunae Yim, Chagok Yun
Structure Artist Kaitlin “Charlie” Edlund
Translator S. Jeon (Dan/단)
Kickstarter Trailer Angela Chong, Dale North, Ty Wooden, Suzie Yeung
Playtesters Hadassa “Dassa” Adamczyk, Alice, Eunju Baek/ActualEGremlin, Jáhna Corridor/Snardart, Kitsu, Erik Ottosen, Beardy Plaisance, Joe Spangler, KayLynn Spears, Tony Woo
Structure and Construction
The Timeless Corruption Participant’s Information PDF is 128 pages lengthy. The pages have a lightweight parchment background, with reddish-brown headers and black textual content. The pages have a easy border that features corners with some geometric and floral patterns. The paintings is full colour and ranges a bit from extra of a comic book e-book motion model to extra cartoonish portrayals. Whereas it’s not all executed in the very same model, all the artwork stays on the extra expressive and fluid aspect of issues.
The pages break down like this:
- Cowl–1 web page
- OGL Assertion–1 web page
- Credit–1 web page
- Desk of Contents–1 web page
- Pronunciation Information–1 web page
- Introduction and Setting Materials–61 pages
- Participant’s Choices (Races, Subclasses, Lessons, Weapons, Backgrounds, and Spells)–62 pages
Lots of the correct names and nouns that seem within the textual content embody the Korean characters for these phrases as properly. Total, it’s a properly put collectively package deal that appears enticing with out detracting from readability.
A Tour of the Setting
The setting is supposed to supply a fantasy setting that pulls its inspiration from Korean tradition. The introduction instantly addresses the reader, explaining a few of the components of Korean tradition that the designers are drawing from. Whereas the setting is framed in gentle of Korean tradition, two of Danguk’s neighboring nations, Kyougen and Lengthy Xin, every get a number of pages of knowledge, specializing in the connection these nations have with Danguk and their shared historical past. It’s additionally famous that the quick profiles of those nations aren’t meant to be an intensive therapy on Japanese or Chinese language tradition, these cultures that function inspiration for Kyougen and Lengthy Xin.
The setting is framed as a nation based by and closely influenced by divine entities. The god that based Danguk arrange a course of to information mortals in the direction of divinity. The method of reincarnation entails eradicating the destructive facets weighing down souls, that are collected in their very own separate airplane of existence, which has sadly created the Emperor of Darkness, an entity that isn’t precisely sentient, however does transfer these it touches to be the worst model of themselves. Battle and reconciliation with the highly effective beast spirits of the land are an necessary side in historical past, and one of the necessary figures within the settings historical past is the Bear spirit who turned an incarnate mortal.
There are just a few components of the setting which will slide previous you on the primary learn by. Not solely is that this a Korean impressed fantasy setting, it’s additionally a setting that’s extra superior than some 5e SRD settings. Gunpowder weapons exist within the setting, and there may be an emergent railway system being created in Danguk. As a result of a lot of the focus is on social standing, factions, faith, and historical past, the technological stage of the setting fades into the background a bit.
Whereas the setting attracts from Korean tradition, it additionally assumes that almost all of D&D’s commonplace assumptions are current within the setting as properly. That implies that whereas there are some ancestries distinctive to the setting, there may be additionally a spot for Dragonborn, Dwarves, Elves, Gnomes, Halflings, People, Goblins, Orcs, and Tieflings. Dragonborn are associated to the 4 divine dragons, and in a enjoyable twist, Dwarves are one of the populous species, and are associated to the Divine Bear that incarnated right into a mortal. Halflings are nomadic and goblins are iconoclastic sailors. Gnomes have begun migrating to Danguk to work together with the burgeoning know-how. Orcs and Elves are each species from neighboring areas which have built-in into Danguk, and Tieflings are descended from the Akryung, souls of corruption which have fled the cycle of reincarnation.
Along with the evils unleashed by the Emperor of Darkness and the hazards represented by the Akryung, a few of the battle of the setting comes from the social hierarchy of Danguk. The hierarchy is damaged into:
- Yangban–the ruling class, with a lot of the necessary positions in authorities and society
- Jungin–expert craft folks, scribes, accountants, and artists
- Sangmin–commoners that do the foundational jobs of society
- Cheonmin–a hereditary class of outcasts
That implies that whereas characters could also be preventing towards supernatural evil, they might even be preventing to make adjustments in society or to advance one faction or one other. There are factions that regulate using magic, promote religious progress and work as exorcists, examine political corruption, advocate for the widespread folks, and likewise promote much less altruistic or grand actions.
A lot of the magical and religious energy comes from the large Sandalwood Tree on the coronary heart of Danguk. Lots of the magic utilizing lessons within the setting are framed in gentle of this actuality. Bards achieve their magic from the inventive pressure of artistry impressed by the tree. Clerics aren’t simply spellcasting monks however are mortals with rising divine awakening who additionally exist to behave as inspiration to others to attain divinity. Druids draw energy from the tree and sometimes act as the first pressure driving out or rebalancing evil spirits. Sorcerers are the most typical spellcasters within the setting, as a result of divinities that took on mortal kind to discovered the nation. Considered one of my favourite contextual additions to the D&D spellcasting lessons entails Warlocks. The gods of the underworld and their servants typically subcontract necessary supernatural work to mortals, that means that warlocks could also be much less power-hungry mortals keen to promote their souls, and extra those who get recruited to do a few of the “mundane” supernatural work that the gods have to have carried out.
New Choices within the Setting
There are a variety of latest races and subclasses that symbolize facets of the setting, in addition to a brand new class. There are additionally new spells and houserules. Many of those home guidelines contain safety towards possession and exorcism strategies.
New ancestral choices embody the next:
- Dokkaebi–fey which are thought-about low rating nature gods
- Gumiho–a beast ancestry that represents 9 tailed foxes which have ascended to humanoid kind
- Jangseung–the fusion of a spirit with a guardian assemble
- Lunamorph–rabbitfolk who migrated to Danguk from the moon
- Noru–deer centaurs that act as a bridge between mortals and fey, very like the elves of the setting
- Sangun–tiger humanoids descended from the Divine Tiger
I actually like the thought of a divinity so low on the ability curve that they’re extra of a supernaturally gifted PCs choice, and I benefit from the exploration of the nine-tailed fox lore that takes a darker flip in some Korean tales. The Gumiho don’t should be evil, however they’re framed in gentle of how they eat facets of different creatures. I additionally just like the wild card inclusion of rabbit people vacationers from the moon.
There are a variety of latest subclasses, together with:
- Path of the Unbound (Barbarian)–warriors impressed by overthrowing tyrants
- Faculty of Ink (Bard)–bards which have a companion they create with their brushstrokes
- Fireside Area (Cleric)–clerics that enhance others by hospitality
- Circle of the Medium (Druid)–druids that drive out malevolent spirits
- Deadeye (Fighter)–skilled archers who can inflict circumstances and particular results with arrows
- Method of the Dosa (Monk)–monks that movement between the weather as offered in Danguk
- Oath of the Mystics (Paladin)–paladins sworn to guard the accountable use of magic
- Emissary of Paradise (Ranger)–rangers which have touched the past and may derive energy from the supernatural energy of flowers from the following world
- Naraka Prosecutor (Rogue)–bounty hunters monitoring down souls which have didn’t be escorted by an acceptable psychopomp
- 9-Tailed Soul (Sorcerer)–a sorcerer who beneficial properties energy from the proximity of their household to an necessary occasion concerning the Gumiho
- Jeoseung Saja Patron (Warlock)–warlocks who’ve a contract with an underworld entity granting them energy as representatives of the Dying God
- Faculty of Astromancy (Wizard)–specialised diviners who research the celebrities and the motion of the night time sky
I just like the theme of a barbarian that turns into enraged at injustice, though I’m not at all times a giant fan of letting a PCs injury themselves to grow to be simpler. My most important concern with mechanics like that is that it might be straightforward for a participant getting used to their skills to overextend themselves and take themselves out the motion. If you understand me, you understand I’m all in regards to the “story” of the subclass, and a lot of the subclasses have sturdy tales. My favourite of those is the Faculty of Ink. There’s something that captures my creativeness occupied with a bard that may summon a particular brush, paint and write issues into existence, and actually draw their very own adventuring pet.
Ever because the 3.5 Miniatures Handbook, I’ve loved “strategist” lessons. They aren’t at all times executed properly. Generally they do some an excessive amount of to spice up others to be enjoyable to play on their very own. However I really like the idea, and people variations of the idea which are executed properly. This e-book has its personal spin on this idea, the Tactician. The distinctive aspect of the Tactician is that they’ve an built-in pet, considered one of three varieties of mounts.
The Strategem mechanic is what represents the Tactician’s skills, and this resembles the Battlemaster Fighter’s maneuvers, which is sensible as its one of the fashionable and satisfying fighter designs from the 2014 guidelines. The subclasses specialize the Tactician to do the next issues:
- Artwork of the Common (bonus hit factors and better AC, higher at wading into fight)
- Artwork of the Hwarang (partial spellcasters like Arcane Tricksters or Eldritch Knights)
- Artwork of the Sancheok (further skills on your mount that may be added and modified)
I just like the Tactician, and it feels prefer it could possibly be loads of enjoyable, particularly utilizing the tried-and-true blueprint arrange by the Battlemaster. I fear about just a few issues with this class. Having a devoted mount is enjoyable, however I’m wondering if having a mount that has its personal choices, the power to spice up others, and the talents to do one thing instantly, won’t make it tougher to determine on what to do every spherical. I’m additionally a bit involved that it is a d8, medium armor class, as a result of that disincentivizes stepping into the fight combine instantly, and will detract from the extra fight oriented mounts versus the extra cell winged companion. I don’t suppose it could be out of bounds to both make this a d10 class or a heavy armor class, however I’m not fairly as positive one of the best ways to deal with the potential for too many choices between maneuvers and mounts.
I’m going to attempt to not ramble on infinitely, so that is only a high-level take a look at the extra spells. There’s some nice story occurring with these spells. I’m simply going to the touch on just a few of those. Awaken Alter ego is a neat twist though I really feel prefer it wants extra of a limiter than the spell element, maybe limiting how typically the spell works no matter the price of the spell parts. Village of the Spirits is de facto neat when you don’t thoughts maintaining observe of all of the ins and outs of the spell. It’s form of like Guards and Wards, besides that it’s a village and never the hallways in your house base.
Ascending the Tree
The setting materials is evocative and enjoyable. It’s approachable and thrilling, and it offers the DM loads of hooks to interact with. Each choice within the e-book has persona, and I really like how the assorted mainstays of D&D each combine into the setting, but additionally have fascinating quirks that work with their regular narratives whereas additionally marrying them to the setting particulars. I particularly love the distinctive tackle the roles of clerics, druids, and warlocks. There’s something fascinating in regards to the idea of shedding destructive facets and people facets congealing in a airplane that may spawn new evils based mostly on this religious residue.
Rift of the Empty Airplane
I want the extent of know-how was a bit clearer. I perceive weapons and trains, however as a lot as I really like the lunamorphs, is their house journey technological in nature? The Tactician is fascinating sufficient that I want I have been extra assured that it wouldn’t induce evaluation paralysis. This can be a participant’s information, so I perceive we’re not going to get extra in-depth exploration of themes or marketing campaign define. Whereas I believe the social class friction is properly dealt with, with the quantity of knowledge offered I might be a bit hesitant to construct a personality that depends on that idea, which is sophisticated a bit extra when Intercourse Employee is without doubt one of the backgrounds. I need the marketing campaign to replicate that it’s fallacious to stigmatize intercourse employees, however I don’t understand how properly that may combine with the journey or if there will probably be a possibility to deal with the societal drawback of relegating intercourse employees to the bottom social strata.
Really helpful–If the product suits in your broad space of gaming pursuits, you’re prone to be proud of this buy
I usually don’t issue worth into opinions, however on condition that this Participant’s Information is out there as a Pay What You Need providing on DriveThruRPG, I believe it’s related to say, though I additionally point out it as a result of I might implore you to not go low-cost on what you spend on this. In the case of an funding of time, I believe there are loads of large, fascinating, colourful concepts. It’s value trying out each as a result of setting materials and for the mechanical facets of the product.
