A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Wells of Wonder – Arcane Fonts

Wells of Wonder – Arcane Fonts by Alex Riggs and Joshua Zaback is a role playing game supplement published by Necromancers of the Northwest for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

The supplement is available as a ten-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $1.49 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, one the front matter and one the Open Game License.

Arcane Fonts starts by explaining that natural magical phenomena are common in folklore but not in Pathfinder, and this supplement aims to provide effects found in varying places.

Fonts explain that magical fonts can be just about anything, with this volume focusing on those that can be consumed, such as enchanted water, fruit and meat.

Using Fonts in the Game explains that they can serve a variety of purposes.

Creating Fonts explains these have four basic elements; form, method of acquisition, boon and limiter. The first two are flavour more than anything.

Boons are one or magical effects.

Limiters limit the power of the font.

Sample Boons has a selection of example magical effects.

Sample Limiters has a selection of ways of limiting the font.

Finally, Sample Arcane Fonts has four sample fonts, with explanations as to how to read them. Each font has a flavour description.

Wells of Wonder – Arcane Fonts in Review

The PDF is bookmarked with major and minor sections linked. Navigation is decent. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of error. There are a number of pieces of black and white stock art. Presentation is okay.

The supplement provides rules for the user to create their own fonts, with some sample ones that can be used as inspiration or just dropped into a game, perhaps with some tweaking. This makes it more useful. The fonts are an interesting idea, and could easily be used to build an adventure around. Wells of Wonder – Arcane Fonts is a nice little supplement and it can be found by clicking here.