Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

Last updated
Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Baldur's Gate, Descent Into Avernus.png
Standard edition cover, illustrated by Tyler Jacobson.
Rules required Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition
Character levels1–13
Campaign setting Forgotten Realms
Authors Christopher Perkins
First publishedSeptember 17, 2019
ISBN 0786966769

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It will serve as a prequel to the video game Baldur's Gate III . [1] Christopher Perkins, Dungeons & Dragons Principal Narrative Designer, described the module as "Dungeons & Dragons meets Mad Max: Fury Road ". [2]

Contents

Plot summary

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus is a 256-page campaign book that will take players from level 1 to level 13. It starts in the city of Baldur's Gate "as it slowly succumbs to the sway of corrupt powers and evil gods". [3] The adventurers will go on a search for redemption as they descend into Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells, which is ruled by the Archdevil Zariel. Players will also have the option of wading into the Blood War. [4] [5]

Cameron Kunzelman, for Paste , wrote that "there is an appendix of about 50 pages that is just focused on Baldur’s Gate as a location. If you’re looking to run a campaign here, or you just want to know what’s up with the famous videogame city in 2019, then this is a great resource and a fun thing to read (there are also some good maps)". [6]

Chris Perkins, Principal Story Designer for Dungeons & Dragons, said:

I like to think of it as A Tale of Two Cities. One city has fallen under the sway of hell, the other is in danger of suffering the same fate unless you step in and do something about it. [...] It is a scary environment. The threats you’re facing are not typical. [...] There's nothing stopping the characters from getting in the middle of [the Blood War] because it is actually happening. You come upon these great forces colliding and you see the carnage going on. It would take a brave party of adventurers to want to step foot [ sic ] into that, but they can. And it’s a case where we want the characters to have discussion among themselves: If we involve ourselves, are we going to change anything? Or are we just throwing ourselves into needless danger? It sets up really interesting conversation for the table. You’re down there to save a city. But there’s all kinds of temptations in hell. [5]

Publication history

The new module was announced in May 2019 during the D&D: The Descent livestreamed event on the Wizards of the Coast's Twitch site. [2] Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus was released on September 17, 2019. [2] An alternate art cover by the artist Hydro74 featuring the symbol of Bhaal, an important figure in the Baldur's Gate video game series, is available exclusively in local game stores. [3] [4]

Beadle & Grimm, a Wizards of the Coast licensee, released a limited run special "Platinum Edition" of Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus. [7] Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus is also available as a digital product through the following Wizards of the Coast licensees: D&D Beyond, Fantasy Grounds, and Roll20.

Joe Manganiello, in an interview, discussed how his character Arkhan the Cruel (seen on web shows like Critical Role and Force Grey) fits into the book. "Arkhan will have his own tower in Avernus, the first level of Hell, along with several villainous compatriots. Manganiello told ComicBook.com that one of Arkhan's companions is a snapping turtle-esque Death Cleric Tortle, who he hopes will change how Tortles (a race of anthropomorphic turtles) are conceived. 'He's a Dr. Mindbender type,' Manganiello said. [...] Although Arkhan resides in Hell and is trying to bring his evil goddess to the Material Plane, Manganiello doesn't see Arkhan as a villain. 'Well, I hate to use the word villain,' Manganiello told ComicBook.com. 'I've always hated that. I hate it when it's used to describe my characters because I just think there are different characters coming at life from different angles. A lot of people accused Arkhan of stealing the Hand of Vecna as some sort of power grab. But it wasn't, it was a completely altruistic gesture of a high level paladin putting his god before his own well-being. He handcuffed himself to this artifact that will destroy him, that will corrupt his mind and his body in order to try to unlock the secret to freeing Tiamat from Avernus'". [8]

Reception

In Publishers Weekly's "Best-selling Books Week Ending 9/21/19", Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus was #5 in "Hardcover Nonfiction" [9] and sold 12,731 units. [10]

Kunzelman, for Paste , wrote that the book "is, in a word, good" and that the book does well both when stripped down to parts and when it is a contained narrative. Kunzelman highlighted that the book introduces players "slowly into the weirdness of this world, gives them a lot of options and factions to play with in hell, and then puts them as important agents in a plot to save or damn a city, a ruler, and even themselves. These are the kind of meaty questions that I think players like to dig into, and there’s an ample number of them here". [6]

Charlie Hall, for Polygon , wrote: "overall I’m extremely impressed with Descent Into Avernus. It’s easily the best adventure module that Wizards has put out all year, and a tremendous value given the amount of material inside. It’s also an interesting prequel to the upcoming computer game, Baldur’s Gate 3, from Larian Studios, set 100 years before that game’s events". [11]

Cody Gravelle, for Screen Rant , wrote that "players got their first taste of what to expect from the new campaign thanks to a star-studded lineup that kicked off D&D Live 2019, an immersive experience that is tagged to bring fans more than 50 hours of content. A special campaign led by Deborah Ann Woll of Punisher fame that also featured Matthew Lillard (ScoobyDoo) and Janina Gavankar (Arrow) kicked off the celebration on stream and created even more anticipation for the descent into hell that will characterize the next massive Dungeons and Dragons adventure, which will be held within a 256-page book full of details to ensure players have as much fun as possible. The new Dungeons and Dragons adventure feels like a big deal, more than they have in the past — the infusion of celebrities being part of the reveal festivities, and popular culture embracing roleplaying in a way it hasn't previously, have made these sorts of reveals much more electric". [12]

Eric Francisco, for Inverse , wrote that "one of the biggest features in Descent Into Avernus is vehicular combat. Spinning off from the ship mechanics introduced in Ghosts of Saltmarsh , Descent Into Avernus features thundering nightmares, 'Infernal War Machines' that really sell what kind of wasteland players will find themselves in the new campaign. [...] You can’t have a Hell without souls, and Wizards of the Coast confirmed a few characters from D&D lore who will appear in Descent Into Avernus. These include Zariel, archdevil of the Nine Hells and ruler of Avernus, Kostchtchie, demon lord of frost giants, and Arkhan the Cruel, the dragonborn paladin of actor Joe Manganiello (True Blood, Magic Mike)". [5]

Related Research Articles

Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories. Several years later, Greenwood brought the setting to publication for the D&D game as a series of magazine articles, and the first Realms game products were released in 1987. Role-playing game products have been produced for the setting ever since, as have various licensed products including novels, role-playing video game adaptations, and comic books. The Forgotten Realms is one of the most popular D&D settings, largely due to the success of novels by authors such as R. A. Salvatore and numerous role-playing video games, including Pool of Radiance (1988), Eye of the Beholder (1991), Baldur's Gate (1998), Icewind Dale (2000), Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000), and Neverwinter Nights (2002).

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, devils are a powerful group of monsters used as a high-level challenge for players of the game. Devils are Lawful Evil in alignment and originate from the Nine Hells of Baator. True to their Lawful Evil alignment, devils are locked in a strict and brutal hierarchy. At the top of the hierarchy are the supreme Archdevils or Lords of the Nine, who are the rulers of the different regions of Baator. Devils often see the various worlds in the D&D metacosmos as tools to use for their own ends, including prosecuting the Blood War, a millennia-long war between the devils and their arch-enemies, demons.

Volothamp Geddarm fictional character

Volothamp Geddarm —"Volo" for short— created by Jeff Grubb, is one of the two most lasting fictional characters of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, along with Elminster.

The flexibility of the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game rules means that Dungeon Masters (DM) are free to create their own fantasy campaign settings. For those who wanted a pre-packaged setting in which to play, TSR, Wizards of the Coast (WotC), and other publishers have created many settings in which D&D games can be based; of these, the Forgotten Realms, an epic fantasy world, has been one of the most successful and critically acclaimed settings. Many campaign settings include standard sword and sorcery environments, while others borrow Oriental, Central American, swashbuckling, horror and even space-travel themes.

The Sundering refers to two events that occurred in the fictional timeline of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It is also the title of both a series of novels published by Wizards of the Coast and a multimedia project Wizards of the Coast used to transition Dungeons & Dragons from 4th Edition to 5th Edition. This project explored the Second Sundering story and included the aforementioned book series, the free-to-play mobile game Arena of War developed by DeNA and an adventure series for the 4th Edition D&D Encounters program.

<i>Out of the Abyss</i> (Dungeons & Dragons) Dungeons & Dragons adventure module

Out of the Abyss is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Tales from the Yawning Portal</i> Dungeons & Dragons adventure module anthology

Tales from the Yawning Portal is an adventure module anthology for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Volos Guide to Monsters</i>

Volo's Guide to Monsters is an accessory for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 2016. It is, in part, a supplement to the 5th edition Monster Manual and the Players Handbook.

<i>Mordenkainens Tome of Foes</i>

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes is an accessory for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 2018. From Monday 7 May 2018 to Friday 18 May 2018, Wizards of the Coast released two podcasts a day to support the launch.

<i>Tomb of Annihilation</i>

Tomb of Annihilation is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Baldurs Gate III</i> Upcoming role-playing video game

Baldur's Gate III is an upcoming role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios for Microsoft Windows and the Stadia streaming service. It is the third main game in the Baldur's Gate series, itself based on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing system.

<i>Waterdeep: Dragon Heist</i>

Waterdeep: Dragon Heist is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is the first part of the Waterdeep storyline and followed by a second adventure, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage.

<i>Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage</i>

Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is the second part of the Waterdeep storyline and follows the first adventure, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.

<i>Ghosts of Saltmarsh</i> Dungeons & Dragons adventure anthology

Ghosts of Saltmarsh is an adventure module anthology for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Princes of the Apocalypse</i> D&D 5e adventure module

Princes of the Apocalypse is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set

The Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set is a category of companion accessories across multiple editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In general, the Starter Set is a boxed set that includes a set of instructions for basic play, a low level adventure module, pre-generated characters, and other tools to help new players get started.

<i>Storm Kings Thunder</i>

Storm King’s Thunder is an adventure module for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Explorers Guide to Wildemount</i> Tabletop role-playing game supplement for Dungeons & Dragons

Explorer's Guide to Wildemount is a sourcebook that details the continent of Wildemount from the Critical Role campaign setting for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Matthew Mercer, creator of the setting, said the book is "meant to be both, you know, for fans of Critical Role" and "for people who have never watched an episode. It's an entirely new setting to set an entire campaign or more in". It was published by Wizards of the Coast and released on March 17, 2020.

References

  1. ↑ Hall, Charlie (2019-06-10). "Baldur's Gate 3 is getting a tabletop prequel". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  2. 1 2 3 Hall, Charlie (2019-05-22). "Dungeons & Dragons' next chapter is 'D&D meets Mad Max: Fury Road'". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  3. 1 2 Brandin Tyrrel (2019-05-17). "Dungeons and Dragons New Adventure Sends Players to Hell". IGN Nordic. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  4. 1 2 Wilson, Jason (2019-05-17). "Dungeons & Dragons returns to Baldur's Gate with Descent into Avernus". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  5. 1 2 3 Francisco, Eric (May 17, 2019). "D&D Unveils a New Campaign That Creators Call "Mad Max in Hell"". Inverse. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  6. 1 2 Kunzelman, Cameron (2019-10-07). "Take a Trip to Dungeons & Dragons Hell with the New Adventure Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus". Paste . Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  7. ↑ Sheehan, Gavin (May 17, 2019). "Beadle & Grimm Announce a New D&D Platinum Edition for Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  8. ↑ "Joe Manganiello's Dungeons & Dragons Character Will Appear in Next Adventure Book". WWG. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  9. ↑ Publishers Weekly (September 26, 2019). "This week's best-sellers from Publishers Weekly". Tribune News Service on Atlantic Broadband. Archived from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  10. ↑ "Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lists | Back issue 09/30/2019". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  11. ↑ Hall, Charlie (2019-09-06). "Dungeons & Dragons' next pen-and-paper adventure feels like Mad Max in hell". Polygon. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  12. ↑ "Dungeons and Dragons Heads to Hell In New Baldur's Gate Adventure". ScreenRant. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.