Shadows over Vathak: Explorer’s Guide (5th Edition) by Rick Hershey, Lucus Palosaari and Ismael Alvarez is a role playing game supplement published by Fat Goblin Games for use with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. 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 19-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $1.75 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, one the Contents and one the Open Game License.
Vathak: A Stricken World gives a brief outline of the Shadows over Vathak setting and what its themes are, an explanation that this supplement is intended to introduce people to the setting, the current state of the place and the vindari invasion, the cosmic horrors of the Old Ones and their spawn and the role of the undead in Vathak.
The Lands of Vathak starts with an overview of the geography before moving on to give brief details on the lands of Grigoria, Moorhaven, Silesia, Khrota, Ina’oth and the Colonies. A sidebar gives some details on the legendary figure of Vathak himself.
Races of Vathak gives some details on dwarves, elves, gnomes and halflings in the setting, all of whom are rare. Half-elves and half-orcs have never naturally existed, but may be found in the Colonies or have come from other lands. Humans are covered in more detail, with specific cultural details for bhriota, romni and vindari, and details for humans as a whole.
Religions of Vathak explains there are two; the Church of the One True God and the worship of the Old Ones. A sidebar covers religious symbols and game details are given for the One True God, and how the eight major Patron Saints of the One True God and five minor ones gives variety to followers of what is otherwise a monolithic religion. Details are given on the major saints and a sidebar has forms of address for the clergy.
Weapons of Vathak has three new melee weapons.
Shadows over Vathak: Explorer’s Guide (5th Edition) in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with the various major sections and major subsections linked. The Contents is to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. Navigation is decent. The text is either single column or two column format and appeared to be mostly free of errors. There are a variety of colour illustrations. Presentation is decent.
This is primarily an introduction to the setting and much of it lacks any game stats at all. Given that it is an introduction to Shadows over Vathak, little is usable outside that setting, although some parts are. As an introduction, it gives a decent, brief overview for those unfamiliar. Shadows over Vathak: Explorer’s Guide (5th Edition) can be found by clicking here.
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