Manufacturer: Monte Cook Games. The developer, Monte Cook Games, feels the (more than 100) products they have produced over the past seven years shows their commitment and encourage anyone unfamiliar with them to check out some of their free sample products such as Ashes of the Sea and Escape From Jade Colossus.
Arcana of the Ancientsis a sourcebook for 5th edition players and GMs to bring the wonders of mysterious technology and weird science-fantasy elements to their traditional fantasy campaigns. Designed by Monte Cook, Bruce R. Cordell, and Sean K. Reynolds, all of whom have years of professional design experience working on the world’s most popular roleplaying game, this gorgeously illustrated hardcover sourcebook gives you everything you need to add a whole new element to your 5E game.
In the misty recesses of time, before the kingdoms and lands you know existed—before the elder elves, the dwarven ancestral lords, and even the dragons—civilizations undreamt rose and fell. And with their passing, they left behind remnants of the powers they wielded. They built citadels of metal, glass, and light, now hidden away in the deepest recesses of the world, and crafted wonders and harnessed energies we can only guess at. These places, objects, and even creatures all can be called Arcana of the Ancients.
In Arcana of the Ancients, you will find:
Adventures: This book will start out with an adventure that you can insert into your existing campaign right away that will introduce the concepts of ancient civilizations, weird technology, and new strange creatures. From there, we’ll expand on the concept so that it can become a feature of your setting if you wish.
Technology: Hundreds of new items, both new wondrous items and “cyphers” (one-use, cobbled together bits of ancient tech), for players to discover and learn to use. These items harness strange energies, warp space and time, create permanent structures, and so much more. At first, figuring out how to use these items will be challenging, but therein lies much fun!
Creatures: Dozens of new creatures, each with awe-inspiring artwork, presented to use in your campaign. Science-fantasy creatures are notably strange, replete with mysterious abilities that create unique challenges and opportunities for your PCs.
GM Advice: You’ll get pages of suggestions and guidelines for how to incorporate all these concepts into your existing campaign, or build a brand new campaign with science fantasy in mind from the get-go.
Player Options: Players can take on science-fantasy aspects all their own, including mutations, cybernetics, and more.
Jaw-Dropping Artwork: This book will be lavishly illustrated by talented artists such as Kieran Yanner, Mirco Paganessi, Lie Setiawan, Federico Musetti, and more. We feel this is vital because so much of the joy of introducing the weird elements of science fantasy comes from a visual presentation of what the player characters actually see.
