Inferno is a sourcebook for D&D 5E based on the works of Dante
One hell of an opening.
Dante’s Inferno, the first part of the Divine Comedy, is the inspiration for an upcoming roleplaying game supplement for Dungeons & Dragons 5E.
Inferno: Dante’s Guide to Hell is a roleplaying setting based on the works of the Italian poet, with the 700th anniversary of his death being commemorated. Aspects of the poet’s Divine Comedy have been directly translated into the settings’ two sourcebooks - Inferno: Dante’s Guide to Hell and Virgilio’s Untold Tales - including the environmental descriptors, monsters and various perils found across the circles of Hell.
The player characters in Inferno are known as Lost Ones, unfortunate mortals who have been cast into the circles of Hell as retribution for the sins they have committed. As Lost Souls, the players’ characters will have to make their way to the Last Gate - the sole exit out of Hell - before losing all hope of freedom. Characters in Inferno are defined by the sins and virtues of their mortal life, with their appearance and nature being shaped by them. Throughout the many perils and terrors that Hell has to offer, PCs will have to remain steadfast in their desire to escape if they want to avoid being enslaved in Inferno forever.
When creating their characters, players will be able to choose from 12 different archetypes who have level progression paths that go up to level 20, with each one being a combination of different traits and powers directly inspired by Dante’s work. Players can give their characters their own unique backgrounds with which to drive their need for hope during their journey to the Last Gate.
Players will be able to use Interno: Dante’s Guide to Hell as a handbook on how to create their own character, what to expect from the lands of Hell and how to play the game. Games masters can rely on Inferno: Virgilio’s Untold Tales for information on how to run adventures and design campaigns in the setting for D&D 5E, as well as gain access to a bestiary of hellish monsters to unleash on their players.
Inferno: Dante’s Guide to Hell was created by Epic Party Games, the design team behind Brancalonia - an Italian-style medieval roleplaying setting designed for D&D 5E - and the dark fantasy RPG First Kings. Acheron Books, the Italian publisher behind Brancalonia, is co-publishing the RPG setting alongside Two Little Mice - a studio known for releasing the Broken Compass series of roleplaying games.
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri in 1320 depicting the poet’s fictional journey through the planes of Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise. Considered one of the most important works of literature ever created, the poem is split into three parts and serves as an allegory for a soul’s path towards God.
The Kickstarter campaign for Inferno: Dante’s Guide to Hell is live until April 9th, with a pledge of €85 (£74/$100) getting backers physical and PDF copies of both Dante’s Guide and Virgilio’s Untold Tales, estimated to arrive in December. Alternatively, for €29 (£26/$34) backers can get just the PDF copies of both sourcebooks.