Free League Publishing has digitally released the new fantasy RPG Dragonbane today. This highly-anticipated game is the reimagined version of Sweden’s first and biggest tabletop RPG, Drakar och Demoner. Dragonbane is now available to pre-order through the Free League website and at DrivethruRPG, with immediate access to the complete PDF package. The boxed edition release is scheduled for later this fall.
Dragonbane was recently voted one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2023 at EN World. It was funded in just four minutes during its Kickstarter campaign last fall, raising over $700k and unlocking 22 stretch goals.
The lead game designer for Dragonbane is Tomas Härenstam, who has worked on other popular games such as Forbidden Lands, Mutant: Year Zero, ALIEN RPG, and Blade Runner RPG. He is leading a team of adventure writers chosen from the rich legacy of the Swedish RPG scene, from the 1980s until today. The lead illustrator for the game is the acclaimed Johan Egerkrans, who also worked on Vaesen – Nordic Horror Roleplaying.
Dragonbane is based on the heritage of decades of Swedish gaming, updated through Free League’s innovative game design. The mythology revolves around the eternal struggle between dragons and demons. The ruins of fallen kingdoms that once worshipped either of these rival godlike creatures beckon brave adventurers with the lure of hidden treasures.
The Dragonbane core set includes the complete Rules book, an Adventures book with no less than eleven adventures connected into an epic campaign, five pre-generated characters, over 70 custom cards for treasure, adventures, initiative, and more, and the beautiful map of the Misty Vale setting, created by the cartographer Francesca Baerald. Free League has also released a third-party license for the game, inviting creators to design and publish their own supplements for Dragonbane and Drakar och Demoner.
The team of contributing writers includes the elite of the Swedish tabletop RPG industry, as well as acclaimed historical fiction author Niklas Natt och Dag (1793 The Wolf and the Watchman). Dragonbane invites players to experience fantasy adventures of all kinds, with room for laughs and a pinch of silliness. It is not an easy game, however, as it presents formidable challenges for all adventurers. Free League calls this playstyle “mirth and mayhem roleplaying” – great for long campaigns, but also perfect for a one-shot.
Drakar och Demoner originally launched in 1982 and has been Scandinavia’s largest and most beloved tabletop RPG brand ever since. Now, Free League celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new edition that is sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of gamers around the world.