Close
Close
Advanced Search

Ruins of Symbaroum [5E] - The Promised LandClick to magnify

Ruins of Symbaroum [5E] - The Promised Land

ADD TO WISHLIST >

The Ruins of Symbaroum [5E] Starter PDF can be seen as a proof of concept, or a trial-balloon – meant to provoke a reaction from you, the potential players, from within the established Symbaroum community as well as from the broader family of tabletop roleplaying gamers. From another perspective, it can be seen as the result of a process that has taken more than two years; it has been a dance of two-steps-forward-one-step-back, searching for the perfect way to align the game concept to the OGL while still staying true to what Symbaroum is: gritty, deadly and full of dark mysteries. Of course, the fact that the systems share some similarities to begin with has made the dance both more enjoyable and less strenuous.

So, now it is your turn to contribute! We hope to meet you at conventions, on the Free League forum and other social media platforms where Symbaroum is discussed; we hope that you will help us evaluate this concept and tell us what you would like to see in the future. Our intention is clear: we want to adapt much of the original Symbaroum game line to the 5E OGL. But first, let’s flood the dance floor and keep on dancing, two-steps-forwardone-step-back – together we can make this marriage between the wondrous world of Symbaroum and the most popular game mechanics of our time into something really special!

Happy Gaming!

/Team Symbaroum

_______________________________________

Featured Content:

  • Setting introduction, including a map of the game world
  • Alternative rules for Shadow, Corruption and Rest
  • Two new origins (Goblin and Human) with traits and backgrounds
  • Three new classes (Mystic, Scoundrel, Warrior) with four new approaches
  • The tutorial adventure The Promised Land, introducing the setting and new rules
  • The bonus scenario Blight Night for lvl 2 or 3 PCs
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
 
 Customers Who Bought this Title also Purchased
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
Reviews (2)
Discussions (19)
Customer avatar
Aleksandr V April 18, 2021 3:55 am UTC
PURCHASER
1. Do you reduce Corruption if you choose to not spend Hit Dice during short rest? It's confusing because it says "after completing a short rest", not "after spending a Hit Dice".
2. Do you regain HP if you choose to spend an additional Hit Dice to reduce Corruption?
Reply
Customer avatar
Jacob R April 19, 2021 9:35 pm UTC
PURCHASER
1. When you complete a short rest, you reduce your temporary Corruption by your proficiency bonus (i.e. 2 at low levels). You could also spend Hit Dice to reduce your Corruption further but don't have to.

2. No. You either spend the Hit Die to reduce Corruption or to recover hit points. If you had five Hit Dice you could, for example, spend two to reduce Corruption and three to recover hit points.
Customer avatar
Bryce H April 13, 2021 10:25 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I think this looks really cool, and I am very interested in getting to try out the rich world of Symbaroum in andifferent game engine.

One critique I might offer, and I might be the only one that feels this way, but if you are able I would love to see more of the spells from Symbaroum ported into the magic system. I think the way the Symbaroum system handles and treats magic is so unique, and I love that you are keeping the corruption mechanic. But the spells from Symbaroum are just too good to lose.

Anyway, this still looks really cool!
Reply
Customer avatar
Jacob R April 13, 2021 10:38 pm UTC
PURCHASER
For this sampler we kept things relatively simple, the full rules do have quite a few spells brought over or modified for the setting.
Reply
Customer avatar
Bryce H April 14, 2021 1:40 pm UTC
PURCHASER
That's awesome! That being the case, I think this project is damn near perfect.
Customer avatar
Philipp O March 30, 2021 5:30 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Any chance for a conversion to the MY0 / Forbidden Lands rules? I don't wanna go back to 5E anymore. That's the reason me my groups started playing Free League games in the first place. :/
Customer avatar
Chris M March 14, 2021 12:18 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Where is the best place to get news of the Symbaroum 5e project? Here, the Free League website, etc?
I am ready to buy into this!
Will it be a Kickstarter, or will it just be announced and released?
Reply
Customer avatar
Jacob R March 23, 2021 8:46 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Free League will announce it across social media and their website: freeleaguepublishing.com. One of us will also try to remember to update it here as well. And you can always check out the forum too: https://forum.frialigan.se/viewforum.php?f=130
Reply
Customer avatar
Jacob R March 30, 2021 3:18 pm UTC
PURCHASER
And the Kickstarter has been announced! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/ruins-of-symbaroum-for-5e?mc_cid=cd15c5b2ac&mc_eid=0a44fcf68a
Customer avatar
Craig B February 19, 2021 2:55 am UTC
PURCHASER
I am so glad I stumbled across this! I love the lore of Symbaroum, but couldn't get any of my friends to learn a new system.

Is there a blank copy of the character sheet you used in this release? I'm only seeing the premade character sheets
Reply
Customer avatar
Craig B February 19, 2021 8:25 am UTC
PURCHASER
I'm blind! The blank sheet is on page 88 of v.2
Customer avatar
David R November 17, 2020 4:59 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I have lots of players that enjoy playing 5e in different settings, so more of this would be great! Would definitely love to see more monster stats from the Symbaroum setting to be able to convert other existing adventures to 5e!
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:43 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Monster stats, you say... How about the whole of the award-winning Symbaroum Monster Codex converted to the 5e OGL? ;-)
Reply
Customer avatar
David R December 29, 2020 2:07 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Yes please! But how soon?!?! :)
Customer avatar
Chris M October 23, 2020 1:02 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I would very much like to buy Symbaroum books for the 5e system. Please continue with your work - I'd love to run a campaign in your amazing world. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:42 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Glad to hear it, Chris! The work moves forward, of that you can be sure. :-)
Customer avatar
Jerry L October 03, 2020 5:29 am UTC
Stop cramming everything into 5e. Symbaroum is a beautiful system on its own. This doesn't need to exist.
Reply
Customer avatar
Ronald G October 06, 2020 9:57 am UTC
PURCHASER
Market share. Lot of 5e players refuse to learn a new system. I prefer mechanics that reflect the game system myself (no perfect game system), but if people get exposed to a world they like then they are more open to new mechanics. Anything that expands the player base is a good thing.
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:41 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks Jerry, for the first part of your comment. :-)

As for the second part, we feel very glad to be able to invite fans of 5e to the world of Symbaroum - not least for the reasons mentioned by Ronald.
Reply
Customer avatar
Jerry L December 23, 2020 2:31 pm UTC
Oh no guys, I totally get it. I understand the multitude of reasons you'd port your beautiful game into 5e. Game designers need to eat too. I totally understand the reasons why, but it doesn't mean I have to like them! Homogenization of our hobby gives me the sads, but I totally get it. I'll wind up buying this just to support you all, even under the now-permanent embarrassment of my reactionary comment up there.
Reply
Customer avatar
Heath W February 19, 2021 2:57 am UTC
PURCHASER
I like to think of it as tempting my Critical Role fan newbie players over to the other side of the force. That and offering an alt to the Vancian Magic system
Reply
Customer avatar
Tim G June 08, 2021 10:21 pm UTC
PURCHASER
D&D 5e doesn't have a Vancian magic system. Spells don't leave your brain when you cast them.
Customer avatar
John-Paul S September 20, 2020 10:56 am UTC
PURCHASER
I'm not sold. Symbaroum's system is a fresh and interesting take on how an RPG can work. It functions in such a way as to fundamentally change the way players approach playing their characters from the usual fantasy RPG tropes. 5e is just more of the same old same old, and it feels like the Symbaroum setting loses something vital in the translation.
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:38 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Clearly this concept is not for you, John-Paul, which is totally fine - for you, and others like you, there will always be the original system. Also, even if you may come to see much of the same titles for both game lines, they will always be created for the original game first! :-)
Customer avatar
Mark M September 10, 2020 1:34 am UTC
PURCHASER
Not sure how I feel. I really like Symbaroum's mechanics more than 5E. If the setting is kept the same it wouldn't be horrible, but if there is still original Symbaroum content I'd prefer to spend my money on that. When I buy into a system like Symbaroum, I am doing so as an alternative to DnD altogether, not just a different setting.
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:36 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
This will in no way replace the original Symbaroum game, Mark - it will only be a compliment for those who for various reasons have a hard time switching to a new set of rules.
Reply
Customer avatar
Mark M December 22, 2020 7:02 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Awesome! Good to know. :)
Customer avatar
Ryan G September 02, 2020 6:47 am UTC
PURCHASER
I like what I've read so far in this proof of concept. I am very much on board with this, and would love to see more! I have the original Symbaroum books and am very much in love with the setting, flavour and style of Davokar and its environs. 5E is my go to for introducing new players to TTRPGs and a 5E rule set for Symbaroum would help bring more dark fantasy options to my table than what's currently available from Wizards.
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:34 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Exactly what you said, Ryan! Great minds think alike. ;-)
Customer avatar
Leo M August 29, 2020 7:52 am UTC
PURCHASER
I think it's a great job, you can see you spent a lot of time behind. But I think Symbaroum is a unique game and for me it is the wrong way to bring it to the fifth edition, I would prefer more insights, that is, new campaigns, other places, a new bestiary and new skills. I often play new games, yet for me Symbaroum remains my favorite game, I say this for myself comparing it to D&D too. So my advice keep releasing unedited Symbaroum content, because you couldn't do better.
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:33 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks for your kind words, Leo. Of course we will produce more content for the original Symbaroum game; if anything, the 5e side-project will give us even more resources to do so. Currently, Mattias Johnsson Haake is writing part 5 in The Throne of Thorns, and already in Q1 2021 we will release a boxed starter set including (among other stuff) two new adventure landscapes. :-)
Customer avatar
Michael B August 17, 2020 12:13 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Awesome! I'd definitely like to see more!

My group never really liked the Symbaroum rules system so I'm happy we get the chance to explore Davokar with 5E, which everyone is familiar with.

:)
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:30 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Very good Michael, then you and your friends fit the targeted group of gamers perfectly! :-)
Customer avatar
Jaime J August 10, 2020 3:44 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I prefer System of Symbaroum for Symbaroum... if i want play 5e i go to play another game with base 5e...
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:28 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Glad to hear it, Jaime. Rest assured that the original Symba game will keep standing strong. Or in fact, stronger and stronger. :-)
Customer avatar
Daniel B July 22, 2020 2:34 am UTC
PURCHASER
Oh gods yes.
Customer avatar
Sharanjit P July 11, 2020 5:18 am UTC
PURCHASER
Please also consider a Pathfinder 2E Port as an option. The character creation is closer to the Symbaroum system.
Reply
Customer avatar
Free L December 22, 2020 1:27 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Interesting... absolutely something to think about... ;-)
See 16 more
Narrow Results
$ to $
 Follow Your Favorites!
NotificationsSign in to get custom notifications of new products!















Product Information
Pages
109
File Size:
243.08 MB
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

For PDF download editions, each page has been run through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to attempt to decipher the printed text. The result of this OCR process is placed invisibly behind the picture of each scanned page, to allow for text searching. However, any text in a given book set on a graphical background or in handwritten fonts would most likely not be picked up by the OCR software, and is therefore not searchable. Also, a few larger books may be resampled to fit into the system, and may not have this searchable text background.

For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
pixel_trans.gif
Original electronic format
These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.
File Last Updated:
June 30, 2021
This title was added to our catalog on July 02, 2020.