Cult of the Dragon (sourcebook)

Last updated
Cover art by Clyde Caldwell Cover of Cult of the Dragon.png
Cover art by Clyde Caldwell

Cult of the Dragon is a 1998 role-playing game supplement published by TSR for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting using the second edition rules of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons .

Contents

Contents

Cult of the Dragon is a sourcebook about the secret society known as the Cult of the Dragon. [1] [2] The book is divided into five chapters: [3]

  1. A history of the cult, started by a powerful priest after he went mad after being transformed into a lich.
  2. The structure of the cult, its activities and several prominent draconic members of the cults.
  3. The forces and organizations trying to oppose the cult.
  4. New powers of cultists, new magical items and new spells, as well as a bestiary of new monsters associated with the cult.
  5. Suggestions for how the gamemaster can introduce the Cult of the Dragon into a Forgotten Realms campaign, and several adventure hooks.

Publication history

TSR published the Forgotten Realms campaign setting in 1987, and released dozens of sourcebooks and adventures for it. Cult of the Dragon was created by Dale Donovan and was published by TSR in January 1998 with cover art by Clyde Caldwell and interior illustrations by Glen Angus. [3]

Reception

In Issue 9 of the French RPG magazine Backstab, Geoffrey Picard initially thought this was going to be another unoriginal splat book, but changed his mind after reading it, noting, "[This] is a new supplement that appears to be very uninteresting, but only in appearance! First of all, it is all very well presented and I enjoyed reading it immensely, with each new page bringing me new campaign ideas." Picard did admit "This supplement is not original, it is not intended for party game purists, it is teeming with living dead and magical objects. But it also abounds with conspiracies and secret wars, it smells of blood and death, an epic spirit crept into me when reading it." Geoffrey concluded by giving this supplement an overall rating of 8 out of 10, saying, "If you want to play high-level campaigns, if you are waiting for a description of the Black Order worthy of enlivening all your great adventures, don't hesitate: this supplement is for you." [4]

The German RPG magazine Envoyer reviewed the German translation of this book and commented "What you always notice when reading is the attention to detail. For example, the followers of the cult are not simply described superficially (appearance, possible character, etc.), but the author thinks about the motives that each of them might have for joining the cult. Not only does this make them seem more human (or elven), it also gives the reader a better perspective on the cult as a whole. The dragon cult is not just a secret organization, but is made up of many individuals, each of whom has a personality, a story and a goal. This character-driven representation makes it much easier for a game master to feature cultists in adventures and then lead them as NPCs." However, the book was criticized for its complete lack of maps: "The geographical points in the Forgotten Realms mentioned in the text are also useless without an accurate map. Anyone who doesn't own the Forgotten Realms set will be left high and dry (or rather, in the unknown)." But the review ended on a positive note: "This insight into the world of dragons (albeit undead) and their admirers is definitely recommended." [5]

In Issue 113 of the French RPG magazine Casus Belli , Julien Blondel called the history of the cult given in the book "a detailed chronology where we discover everything about the Cult, its evolution, its strongholds and its crusades, including the terrible dragon wars, as well as the powers developed by its powerful followers. The book also covers new powers, taking up around twenty pages, as well as the list of the Cult's rivals and a 100% original bestiary, all of which risk seriously spicing up the lives of your favorite adventurers. Add to that new "dragonesque" objects, really nasty bad guys, dracoliches, intrigues to make those of the Zhentarim seem like day in summer camp, illustrations that do not take readers for mentally retarded and crazed synopses, just so you begin long campaigns riddled with confusion..." Blondel concluded, "If you like Forgotten Realms, don't even pretend to hesitate to get this." [6]

Other reviews and commentary

Related Research Articles

<i>Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting</i> Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook

The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published by TSR in 1987 for the first edition of the fantasy role-playing game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons that describes the campaign setting of the Forgotten Realms. It contains information on characters, locations and history. Various revised and updated editions have been produced over the years.

<i>Greyspace</i> 1992 role-playing game supplement

Greyspace is a supplement published by TSR in 1992 for the steampunk role-playing campaign setting Spelljammer, which uses the rules for Dungeons & Dragons.

<i>Villains Lorebook</i>

Villains' Lorebook is an accessory for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Dungeon Master Option: High-Level Campaigns</i> Tabletop role-playing game book for D&D

Dungeon Master Option: High-Level Campaigns is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Greyhawk Players Guide</i>

The Player's Guide, also known as the Greyhawk Player's Guide or the Player's Guide to Greyhawk, is a sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Written by Anne Brown, the work was published by Wizards of the Coast under its TSR imprint in 1998.

<i>Ravenloft: Realm of Terror</i>

Ravenloft: Realm of Terror is a boxed set accessory published in 1990 for the Ravenloft campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Ashes to Ashes</i> (<i>Vampire: The Masquerade</i>)

Ashes to Ashes is an adventure module published in Q3 1991 by White Wolf Publishing for use with their tabletop role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade.

<i>Constantinople by Night</i> 1996 role-playing game supplement

Constantinople by Night is a supplement published by White Wolf Publishing in 1996 for the medieval horror role-playing game Vampire: The Dark Ages, a spin-off of Vampire: The Masquerade.

<i>Dreams and Nightmares</i> (<i>Changeling: The Dreaming</i>) Tabletop role-playing game supplement

Dreams and Nightmares is a tabletop role-playing game supplement released by White Wolf Publishing in November–December 1997 for their game Changeling: The Dreaming, and is part of the larger World of Darkness series. It was well received by critics.

<i>Seattle Sourcebook</i> Role-playing game supplement

Seattle Sourcebook is a supplement published by FASA in 1990 for the near-future dystopian role-playing game Shadowrun.

<i>GURPS Vampire: The Masquerade</i> Licensed adaptation of Vampire: the Masquerade for GURPS

GURPS Vampire: The Masquerade is a licensed adaptation of White Wolf Publishing's horror role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade, written by Jeff Koke and published by Steve Jackson Games in 1993 for the third edition of their GURPS rules.

<i>Le Monde des Ténèbres: France</i> 1997 TRPG supplement

Le Monde des Ténèbres: France is a tabletop role-playing game supplement published in French by Ludis International in January 1997, for use with the games in White Wolf Publishing's World of Darkness series. It interprets France for the series' gothic-punk setting, and presents information on the region related to vampires, werewolves, mages, wraiths, and changelings, along with story hooks and pre-made characters, and introduces two new types of fae to the series. Ludis International planned to follow it with a book about Paris in June 1997, but this never materialized, and the publisher closed down a year later.

<i>Fire & Brimstone</i> (Deadlands) Role-playing game

Fire & Brimstone is a supplement published by Pinnacle Entertainment Group in 1998 for the Old West horror role-playing game Deadlands.

<i>The Bestiary</i> (Dragonlance) 1998 role-playing game

The Bestiary is a role-playing game supplement published by TSR in 1998 for the campaign setting Dragonlance: Fifth Age using the SAGA System of rules.

<i>Jakandor, Island of War</i> 1997 role-playing supplement

Jakandor, Island of War is a 1997 role-playing game supplement published by TSR for the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

<i>Jakandor, Isle of Destiny</i> 1997 role-playing supplement

Jakandor, Isle of Destiny is a role-playing game supplement published by TSR for the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. It is the second of three supplements about the Isle of Jakandor.

Empires of the Shining Sea is a 1998 role-playing game supplement published by TSR for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

References

  1. "FOR8: Cult of the Dragon".
  2. "Cult of the Dragon - RPGnet d20 RPG Game Index".
  3. 1 2 "FOR11 - Cult of the Dragon". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  4. Picard, Geoffrey (May–June 1998). "Critiques". Backstab (in French). No. 9. p. 44.
  5. "Der Drachenkult". Envoyer (in German). No. 2. December 1998.
  6. Blondel, Julien (April–May 1998). "Têtes d'Affiches". Casus Belli (in French). No. 113. p. 20.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  7. "Rollenspiele | Article | RPGGeek".