In November 2020 we presented two offers featuring Symbaroum, the dark fantasy RPG from Free League Publishing of primeval danger in the Forest of Davokar. We revived the August 2018 Symbaroum Bundle with the core rulebook and early supplements, and we added an all-new companion, Symbaroum Settings, with recent sourcebooks and adventures.

Published in Swedish in July 2014, Symbaroum‘s Core Rulebook appeared in English translation in November 2015 to immediate success. Symbaroum conjures the foreboding forest of Davokar, a rich setting of ancient ruins and barbarian clans, Iron Pact elven wardens and Blight Beasts, princes and rogues, treasure and corruption, all beautifully illustrated in full color — check the spectacular Imgur gallery. The warrior queen Korinthia, called Nightbane, has led her refugees from the Great War to the shadow of Davokar. The site of the long-lost empire of Symbaroum, now Davokar is an immense and ancient forest inhabited by barbarians, elves, and darker things — a mysterious world of horror, beauty, and marvels. Through military might Korinthia’s newfound kingdom of Ambria has subjugated Davokar’s barbarian clans, and now moves to exploit the forest’s wealth. But the elves of the Iron Pact have sworn not to let humans disturb a slumbering age-old evil. The wardens of the forest have issued a warning: Tread carefully and don’t disturb the ruins of old, for the dark deep of Davokar is about to awaken.

The rules use a straightforward roll-under system to resolve both combat and problem solving. Unwise use of magic can corrupt you, temporarily or permanently. The players handle all dice rolls, so the Game Master may focus on interpretation and narration. Symbaroum‘s influences include Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, White Wolf’s Storyteller system, Apocalypse World, and several editions of D&D, as well as the films Princess Mononoke and Pan’s Labyrinth and the Witcher computer games.

The setting is tightly focused and fully realized, an ideal sandbox for years of adventure. Explore the vast forest in search of treasures, lost wisdom, and fame. Visit the 11 barbarian clans to trade, plunder their treasuries, or help them preserve Davokar. Establish a base of power in the capital city of Yndaros among princes, guilds, or rebellious refugees. Or battle against famished Arch Trolls, dark-minded Blight Beasts, and undead warlords. Whatever you do, Symbaroum will treat you to unnerving hikes through ancient ruins, journeys on pitch-black waters under starless skies, and confrontations with barbarian chieftains and raging abominations.

SYMBAROUM SETTINGS [all-new]

This new Symbaroum Settings Bundle added recent sourcebooks and adventures, most of them funded in Kickstarter campaigns in March 2017 (Karvosti), October 2017 (Monster Codex), April 2018 (Yndaros), and March 2019 (Symbar). These location sourcebooks continue the epic Throne of Thorns campaign begun in the Symbaroum rulebook and the early supplement Thistle Hold (part of the revived August 2018 Symbaroum Bundle, below).

There were six titles in this offer’s Starter Collection (retail value $48), including Karvosti – The Witch Hammer, a location sourcebook with the second part of the Throne of Thorns campaign, plus its appendix Hidden Treasures of Davokar and the free scenario Grey Wade Crossing; a sourcebook about the region’s capital city, Yndaros – The Darkest Star, plus its related supplements City Adventures and Secrets of Yndaros; and Adventure Pack 2.

Those who paid more than this offer’s threshold (average) price also got this offer’s entire Bonus Collection with seven more titles worth an additional $64, including the setting book about the wildest and darkest parts of Davokar, Symbar – Mother of Darkness, plus its dedicated play aids Davokar Game Master’s Screen, Davokar & Symbar Hexagon Map, and Ruins of Symbar; the Symbaroum Monster Codex plus its Adventure Locations; and Adventure Pack 3.  

SYMBAROUM BUNDLE
[from August 2018]

This revived August 2018 Symbaroum Bundle once again presented the core rulebooks and key supplements. There were five titles in this revived offer’s Starter Collection (retail value $48), including the full-color 264-page Symbaroum Core Rulebook, the Advanced Player’s Guide, the Abilities & Powers reference cards, and Adventure Pack 1 with two introductory scenarios.

This offer’s Bonus Collection added five more titles worth an additional $51, including The Mark of the Beast and Tomb of Dying Dreams, two “landscapes” (scenarios) that complete the adventure begun in the Core Rulebook; Thistle Hold – Wrath of the Warden, the launch of the seven-part Throne of Thorns campaign; the Symbaroum Game Master’s Screen; and the glorious art book The Art of Symbaroum.   Ten percent of each payment (after gateway fees) went to these two Symbaroum offers’ pandemic-related charity, Direct Relief. Direct Relief gets protective gear and critical care medications to health workers, with emergency deliveries to medical facilities across the US and to regional response agencies across the world.