The Erwinian Roleplaying System: Realms of the Arcane

Realms of the Arcane is set during a time in human history when the march of industrial technology has begun to sweep across the globe. The Old Ways of magic and the unknown are fading away, leaving only pockets of sorcery in isolated places. Secret societies vie for power over each other and few remaining spots of “true magic,” and a few of the Old Powers sleep only fitfully...

Characters in Realms of the Arcane are travellers and academics from the world over. The might be Oxford scholars in search of a ruin which may proove their thesis, a mage from the streets of Cairo, or a tribesman from the colonies walking the streets of Paris. Characters may find themselves uncovering secrets of the old world or waging a hidden war between secret societies. 

Realms of the Arcaneis a setting which combines elements of Eldritch horror, historical role playing, and secret society intrigue. Characters will often find themselves hunting down mythical creatures, exploring forgotten ruins deep in the wilderness, or working for secret societies hoping to gain influence. 

Realms of the Arcane began as a historical supplement titled “Furs and Flintlocks/Pirates and Peglegs,” a setting meant for exploration in the Americas in the early to late 1700s. Realms of the Arcane (Regna Arcanae), then combined the settings, adding a dash of magic into the mix. From there, it grew into one of Erwinian’s prominent settings. Resources for occult rituals, monstrous creatures, long-lost magical artifacts, and much more are found within these pages.

The Erwinian Roleplaying System is a multi-generational labor of love initially created by Eric Erwin and his father Jim in the 1980s, developed through the 90s and 00s, compiled and edited by his son Joseph in the 10s, and finally published in the 2020s. The project has grown to include Joseph’s wife Emma and his brother Emmett. Borrowing some core concepts from the OSR tradition, Erwinian has since evolved into something all it’s own.

The Erwinian Roleplaying System is designed as a universal framework which can be adapted to many settings, both pre-made or created by the GM. The system thrives on flexibility and creativity, with GMs and players being given the freedom to interpret the rules in their own way and develop new rules through creative discussion. Using the Core Rules as a jumping off point, they are encouraged to make their own spells, their own programs, their own abilities and so much more.

For some more info on the system, visit: https://joseph-erwin-dm.com/the-erwinian-roleplaying-system/