dnd journey to ragnarok

Mephit James Blog

Journey to Ragnarok Review, Part 1

I’ve been eyeing  Journey to Ragnarok by Mana Project Studio for some time. With all the games on my shelves already waiting for more time and an ongoing and firmly-established  Adventures in Middle-earth campaign underway I just couldn’t justify it. The reviews and reaction, though, have kept this product firmly in my mind and I recently used up some of my earned credit to purchase it. Let’s see what’s inside!

I’ll start on a somewhat prickly note to say that the editing in this book is… lacking. There are so many typos and weird formatting issues that it’s a little distracting. I’m not going to mention that in this review, though, as I think the content can be evaluated without worrying too much about the words. At the end of the day,  Journey to Ragnarok is an ambitious and epic setting-and-campaign combination that will surely have people’s imaginations going. Like  Trudvang and the northern portions of  Early Dark , this setting cleaves closely to historical realities of Norse culture without bothering to set it in the  actual real world. Sure there’s a Jutland  mentioned and plenty of Old Norse terms thrown around but whether sailing south will take you to Italy or just a southern foreign land is up to you.

I’m going to focus in this first part on why I think most people would consider this book. Between the DM’s Guild and the many campaigns out of Wizards there’s so much to keep your 5e group busy. What  Journey to Ragnarok offers is an alternative take on  D&D  that firmly puts it in the Norse mythos.

Setting Changes

After a discussion of the Nine Worlds of Scandinavian mythology (which I won’t get into here, but it does have some new angles I hadn’t heard before),  Journey to Ragnarok gets into ways to make  D&D 5e feel different in this setting. Some of them, such as how to handle death and a new skill of Asatru  (an Icelandic term for “allegiance to the Æsir”), are pretty vague and almost certain to lead to some arbitration from the GM. Others, though, are really cool and exciting.

One that I’m pretty intrigued by is an alternate alignment system for  Journey to Ragnarok , and not the usual sort of reworking. I’ve seen alternatives that involve using characteristics or labels ( Adventures in Middle-earth , for example, relies on the corruption-tracking Shadow points and even the DMG  has an Honor system) but this one keeps the familiar two-axis model and just switches it to something more appropriate. There’s still a Law vs. Chaos axis but instead of Good and Evil the characters here are  Honorable vs. Dishonorable (according to the Nine Noble Virtues from the Poetic Edda). There are some holes since the sections on this are rather short but I’m already thinking of for lots of different settings so watch for that in a future post.

Another part I like is the  Option Rule on magic in the Nine Worlds which is very reminiscent of how magic was affected on various planes in  Planescape back in the day. You can do it by school of magic or damage type but it’s pretty straightforward with effects being Altered (aesthetically), Augmented, Diminished, or Unaltered. It’s simple but very much in line with the 5e model and it’s a great source of inspiration or anyone wanting magic affected by location (including anyone looking to run  Planescape  5e).

There are a dozen different subclasses found in  Journey to Ragnarok and they’re not all barbarian paths! In fact, there’s only one barbarian path and (mostly) one for each of the other classes in the  Player’s Handbook .

• The  Path of the Storm Wielder for the barbarian is pretty interesting, but it also shares an awful lot with the Path of the Storm Herald  from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything . It’s different, but you probably don’t want both in the same party.
• The  College of Valhalla for the bard is probably my favorite. It makes you tougher and a good combat leader, but at 6th level also has an awesome storytelling mechanic that allows you to literally make someone into a legend.
• The  Sacrifice Domain for clerics definitely hits the notes that you see among the gods in Norse legends. By taking on permanent injuries (there’s a list including losing an eye, losing your hand, etc) they can get a benefit to call in later, though the trade-off seems pretty one-sided. Luckily, that’s just the big mechanic and there are other ways to be a one-eyed grimdark priest.
• The  Circle of Yggdrasill for the druid is a planewalking option for the class that lets you shift your abilities to attune with a new World as you move about the branches of the World Ash.
• The  Warden archetype for fighters is all about defending and protecting, whether as a stalwart guardian or the fan-favorite Shield Maiden . It’s pretty tough and has a number of different tactics to call in (similar to the battle master) and is definitely voted “Most Likely to Be Overpowered.”
• The  Way of Glima for monks gives you a setting-appropriate option for an unarmed warrior, following the folk wrestling  of Scandinavian cultures. Certainly not every monk has to follow this archetype but if you want another subclass you’ll have to figure that out since there isn’t any guidance.
• The  Oath of the Chosen is for those paladins who are living their lives as a long-term investment to entering Valhalla. I think it probably leads to the sort of grim, no-humor paladin that irks people but it’s a solid and thematic archetype.

• The  Unshaped archetype for the rogue is a pretty interesting one, basically an arcane trickster with all illusion magic and a heavy connection to Loki. If you want to switch your appearance and lie your butt off, this is the subclass for you.
• The  Jötunn Origin for the sorcerer is good but not too surprising: you’re really good at making people cold and eventually summon ice elementals.
• The  Endbringer otherworldly patron for warlocks is an interesting option given the campaign trajectory. You form a pact with some monster like Nidhoggr , Fenrir , or Jörmungandr for some pretty nasty abilities, though I don’t know how that would play out as your party literally watches these creatures devour the world.
• The  Norns otherworldly patron is a surprise double-feature for the warlock and a little more understandable. Your expanded powers are all fate-manipulation and divination which makes for a very different sort of warlock.
• The  School of the Wanderer for wizards is a thoroughly Odhinn-related option that gives you increased magic (he was the god of magic) and increased knowledge (ditto) but also a silver tongue. Very different option for wizards.

In addition to all of these, there’s a brand new class presented here! The  Rune Master is an arcane spellcasting class with the same spell progression as the wizard (though fewer cantrips for reasons you’ll see in a bit) but a focus on ritual and planning ahead. They can create a circle of Futhark runes , for example, that makes an area more deadly for attacking enemies and the ability to paint runes on your allies to give them ongoing benefits. You even get to swap out cantrips (a unique option) though that’s not exactly even with the low number you permanently know. It’s an interesting twist since now we have an option beyond wizard on the Improvisation vs. Planning spectrum of arcane casters. The subclass archetypes, “Ætt,” involve specializing in runes devoted to a god ( Heimdallr , Freyja , or Tyr ) that provide additional spells and inscribing abilities.

Since the expectation in Journey to Ragnarok is that you’ll be playing a human, the setting includes six Clans which can color your particular strain of human. It’s actually a little unclear how and whether you should include other races like dwarves and elves (those two in particular are found later in the book but only as NPCs) but maybe that’s just another area for your table to decide. In the book Clans come before Classes (since it’s part of picking your race) but I thought people would like to see some mechanics first. See, there’s actually no mechanical effect for your Clan, it’s purely narrative. This is just fine but I think people might like to see a little more.

The major Clans of the setting are the  Gjallarhorn and  Odhinn’s Eye , the descendants of kings and the descendants of Odhinn respectively. Between the two of them, they control most of the North, ate least all the civilized bits. These are Clans in the true sense, people who are related to each other and live together in communities that are mostly their own sort. This is also true of the  Wolves of the Shadow who are more of a wilderness-living, half-wild group that occupies the hinterlands (and who is sure to shine in the harsh days of Ragnarok).

Other groups are “Clans” more in the sense of brotherhood and shared values. The  Bear Warriors are a martial brotherhood who are the classic berserkers of Viking legend. They technically live in their own villages but they are scattered and leaderless so they are more of a facet of the setting’s politics than a true force. Likewise, the  Icy Crows are a collection of “hermits, wise seers, sorcerers and Skalds” who live throughout the north and try to maintain the old legends and proper veneration of the gods. Now, it might seem like all the Bear Warriors are going to have the barbarian class (or the Wolf Pack ranger archetype described above) and all the Icy Crows will be some sort of arcane class but that’s not necessarily true. If you want to be part of these Clans and have a non-obvious class, though, that’s on you to figure out because there’s not really any discussion here.

Lastly, the  Jötunn Sons are outcasts and thieves, those who were cast out of civilized society to eke what existence they could from the swamps and wild lands of the North. They have a ramshackle encampment off in the wilderness so you’re not some half-starved wretch (unless you want to be) but you’re also not welcome in other Clans’ villages. So how do you incorporate a Jötunn Son PC into a party from other Clans? This is becoming a refrain but: you’ll have to figure that out on your own.

Backgrounds

There are ____ different Backgrounds presented in the book, and you could presumably use ones from the  Player’s Handbook though (say it with me) you’ll have to figure that out on your own. The  Bondhi is landholder which is a big responsibility and comes with corresponding privilege, especially if you opt for the very prestigious Hersir variant with an estate. The  Gothi is a spiritual leader (though not necessarily a priest) who oversees a community’s rituals for harvest, birth, and so on. A  Huscarl is a more well-known term, a warrior pledged to one of the land’s high leaders. A  Jarlr is one of the nobility who draws on his revered ancestors for personal power.

On the other end of the spectrum, a  Skògarmadhr (“one who lives in the woods”) is an oucast unwelcome in society for some dark crime. Like those of the Jötunn Sons clan, it’s up to you and your group to figure out how this allows you to be part of an adventuring party. A  Thrallr is an indentured slave working off some debt (maybe to another party member?) who is afforded some protection by their master. There’s also the option of being a foreign slave from the “Deep South” (meaning Europe) which gives you some knowledge of foreign lands… which seems pretty useless to me. The  Vaeringi is a trader who ventures to foreign lands and so has some outsider knowledge and guild benefits from other traders. Conversely, the  Vikingr also goes up rivers to foreign lands but is more interested in burning and looting than in trading, though interestingly their benefit is also support from other Vikingar.

The player-facing section winds up with some notes on equipment. A short lists labels certain items from the  Player’s Handbook that are foreign and exotic in the lands of  Journey to Ragnarok , and so only available at double the normal cost. There are also notes on adding short bearded axes and “assault axes” to the melee weapon options. In a tone similar to  Adventures in Middle-earth there are also “Clan Heirlooms” which you can hope to be gifted with over the course of the campaign.

Using this part of the book for a Norse-style campaign of your own design (or a Norse-style region of a campaign world) would certainly save you some time. There are a ton of good options here and some excellent worldbuilding that will make you itch to create your own Clan champion or Jötunn-blooded sorcerer. There are holes, though, and it reads a little incomplete so the group will have some work ahead of them to fill in the gaps. Still, you can always just play it right off the page and figure out the fiddly bits as things go on.

Next time, I’ll take a look at the campaign itself (as spoiler-free as I can manage) with a look at how  Journey to Ragnarok feels as a setting that could tell multiple stories. If you’ve played this or are also interested, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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6 thoughts on “ journey to ragnarok review, part 1 ”.

Have you ever played Fate of the Norns?

I have also picked this up and looking at how to start this epic up. The teaser adventure the Grey Wanderer was really tight and atmospheric whereas this feels so open that weaving a cohesive, engaging narrative appears really challenging.

See, I was coming at it from “looks like this could be a fun campaign path, but could it be a setting?” In Part 2, I’ll try to look at both sides!

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Journey To Ragnarok Adventure and Setting corebook 5E

Journey To Ragnarok Adventure and Setting corebook 5E is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.

Journey To Ragnarok is an adventure and setting module   for characters of level 1st to 15th, inspired by Norse Myths   and legends , compatible with 5th Edition . It is a captivating adventure that will lead the Heroes   from Midgardr through the Nine Worlds.   In an epic journey, the fate of men will be tied to that   of the Gods, until the final moment, the Ragnarok.  

 This book includes:

• Setting guide to the Nine Worlds
• 6 Clans fighting for supremacy over Midgardr
• 13 new and exclusive archetypes
• 1 new class to discover, the Rune Master
• 8 Backgrounds inspired by Norse society
• Rune Divination System
• Descriptions and statblocks of Gods and mythological beasts
• New and legendary magical items  
• An epic adventure for 1st to 15th level characters

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Italian TRPG Publisher & Design Studio.

Journey To Ragnarok – Adventure and Setting PDF

Regular price $19.90

“While once you were nameless among the throngs of your clan, now you have carved for yourselves a place of honor in the history of the northern lands. 

Now bards sing of your deeds, and your name is known by everybody, causing terror in your enemies and earning you the admiration of your allies. 

Wherever you go, Jarlar and Kings throw rich banquets in your honor and the requests of help in these dark nights of the long winter grow by the day.”

Journey to Ragnarok  is a 5E setting and adventure module of the world's most famous role-playing game that will immerse you in an epic and mythological setting.   This book series is the result of over ten years of research, a game that represents the fusion of our passion for role-playing and Norse culture. 

• The Fundamentals Of Norse Mythology : a lot of information about the Nine Worlds and the main legends of Norse mythology. 
• A Rich And Detailed Setting : in addition to the Nine Worlds, you will discover the Peoples of Midgard. 6 warring Clans, and 8 new Backgrounds inspired by Norse mythology, to create truly epic characters and adventures.
• 12 new Class Archetypes:   from the mighty  Path of the Storm Wielder , to the  Circle of Yggdrasill , from the  Unshaped , to the  School of the Wanderer . In addition, a new Class is ready to travel between the Nine Worlds: the  Rune Master .
• A Compendium of Rune Divination : when a rune appears in the game, you can harness its power thanks to these special optional rules. You can use the Runic Die, designed especially for  Journey to Ragnarok , or rely on the traditional method, i.e. extracting the runes from a pouch. 
• Magical Items : from the feathered cloak of the divine Freja, to the Heart Medallion of Muspellsheimr, the items in  Journey to Ragnarok  will enchant you!
• Creatures, Encounters, and Maps : everything you need to experience heroic adventures, to travel the Nine Worlds, and to immerse yourself in this highly detailed setting. You will also find stats of the powerful Gods of the Norse pantheon and dangerous Mythological Beasts!
• An Adventure Module for characters from level 1 to level 15 : to immediately start playing and exploring this Norse setting, its legends, the characters' relationship to journey, discovery, the divine creatures, and your heroic deeds. 

Have you taken a look at the other products in the  Journey to Ragnarok  series?

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D&D 5E: Journey to Ragnarok [10/20/2023]

October 20, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm.

📣 Attention, adventurers and seekers of epic tales! Prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey through the realms of Norse mythology! 🛡️⚔️ Introducing the brand-new Dungeons and Dragons campaign: “Journey to Ragnarok”! 🌌✨ Unleash your imagination, gather your party, and join us every Friday at 6PM for an extraordinary adventure that will unfold. Immerse yourself in a world where gods clash, mighty beasts roam, and ancient prophecies shape destinies. In this awe-inspiring campaign, you’ll have the chance to forge your own legend, facing trials and tribulations alongside fellow heroes. Whether you’re a seasoned warrior or a newcomer to the realm of tabletop gaming, our sessions are designed to welcome all players, fostering a new-player-friendly environment. Embrace the opportunity to learn, grow, and create memories together! Envision the thrill of battling legendary creatures, unraveling ancient mysteries, and forging alliances with gods and heroes alike. The fate of the world hangs in the balance, and your bravery is needed to shape its future. Grab your dice, unleash your imagination, and become part of the “Journey to Ragnarok”! Join us every Friday and embark on an epic adventure that will leave a lasting mark on your gaming experience. Mark your calendars for Friday September 1st and every Friday after and prepare to step into a world steeped in Norse mythology. Be part of a community that celebrates camaraderie, storytelling, and the limitless possibilities of tabletop gaming. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity! Join us for “Journey to Ragnarok” and let your imagination soar to new heights. Together, we shall create a saga that will be told for generations to come. See you there! 🎲🔮✨

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Journey To Ragnarok - Maps Pack

Mana project studio.

This Maps Pack includes all the maps designed for Journey To Ragnarok settings and adventures.

The pack includes 21 HD maps , both with and without grid:

Gnitaheith - Fafnir's Liar

Ljosalfheimr

The Mooring of Naglfar

Muspellsheimr

Nidavellir Surface

Siste Festning

Siste Klintr

Skjult Borg

Svartalfheimr

The Trolls Cavern

• The Art of Journey To Ragnarok
• Seven Sinners - 5e/OSR - ENG/ITA
• RPGs and the Declaration of Intents
• Not The End - Stories

• Norse Grimoire for 5th Edition - Spell Cards ENG - Galdrastafir
• Norse Grimoire for 5th Edition
• Journey To Ragnarok - Tokens Pack

• 5e-compatible

Why God of War Ragnarok's Valhalla Was a Bold Statement About Kratos

• Kratos' journey from God of War to God of Hope concludes in Valhalla, marking a significant transformation in terms of character development.
• Despite the chance to retire Kratos, Santa Monica Studio seems to have more plans for him, suggesting he may be in it for the long haul.
• The emotional Valhalla DLC further develops Kratos' arc and sets the stage for a new chapter in the God of War series, indicating that Kratos isn't going anywhere soon.

The God of War reboot series has been two of the most successful video games in recent memory, with the 2018 installment going on to win Game of the Year and the sequel, God of War Ragnarok , arguably barely losing 2023's Game of the Year award to FromSoftware's Elden Ring . However, before 2018's God of War , the primary protagonist, Kratos, began his journey in 2005 with the very first God of War game. What began as a quest for revenge against Ares, who tricked Kratos into murdering his own wife and daughter, has come to a point where he has now overcome the guilt and pain of his past to become a better person, as well as a better father to his son Atreus.

God of War 's Kratos has been around for a long time, with the entire series now approaching its twentieth anniversary. The God of War has been through a lot, from fighting for power to, more recently, fighting for his family, but it seems his journey isn't even close to being over yet. God of War Ragnarok 's Valhalla DLC had the chance of a lifetime to see the beloved character's tale come to a close, but rather than taking it, it opted to further develop his arc and essentially prepare him for an entirely different life ahead of him. As such, it might be just enough evidence to suggest that the old God of War isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

An Atreus God of War Game Could Include a Popular Feature That a Kratos Game Couldn't

God of war ragnarok: valhalla's ending proves kratos isn't going anywhere, god of war ragnarok: valhalla could have retired kratos, but it didn't.

God of War Ragnarok 's Valhalla DLC is an incredibly emotional addition to the 2023 hit, as it takes Kratos on a personal journey of overcoming his guilt and the shame of his past — something that has haunted him and even come between him and Atreus since God of War (2018). For the most part, the reboot saga's narrative has revolved around the development of Kratos' character , though his relationship with Atreus has been used to accelerate this development and thus has become a major highlight as well.

Kratos has proven to be a tormented man from the beginning of God of War 's story, but thankfully, Valhalla wrapped that up by transforming Kratos from a God of War into a God of Hope . He confronts the younger version of himself on the throne, berating every cruel act he had committed but also acknowledging that he has learned from his mistakes and is a better man because of them. At long last, this concludes Kratos' personal story and even gives him a chance to retire, but he doesn't. Instead, he replaces his younger self on the throne and agrees to join Freya in being the god that people need.

If Valhalla Didn't Retire Kratos, He Must Be in It for the Long Haul

The very fact that God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla didn't retire Kratos when it had the chance heavily suggests that Santa Monica is not through with Kratos. Despite Atreus now seemingly taking on a more prominent role, Kratos may continue to fill those shoes until the series is entirely over. This is good news for those who have become attached to this older, wiser version of Kratos, but from a narrative standpoint, retiring him might have been the better move. His story has gone on for ages now, and it is arguably time for someone to take his place. Nevertheless, Kratos is alive and well, and ready for the next journey that Santa Monica may prepare for him. Although nothing is confirmed, it almost feels safe to say Kratos isn't going anywhere.

God of War: Ragnarok

Franchise God of War

Platform(s) PS5, PS4

Released November 9, 2022

Developer(s) Santa Monica Studio

Publisher(s) Sony

Genre(s) Action, Adventure

ESRB M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

How Long To Beat 26 Hours

Metascore 94

PS Plus Availability N/A