The iconic cult horror series Evil Dead Burn, on the way. A pioneer in the comedy horror genre, the series has become synonymous with a unique blend of practical effect mastery, over-the-top gore, and irreverent humor, granting it lasting popularity and spawning countless imitators.
And now, players can craft their own grotesque, Evil Dead-inspired stories with an official tabletop RPG supplement, to be published by Lynnvander Studios and currently available for backing on the 5e system, the current edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Developed by a team including designers of board games based on cult classic horror films like Reanimator, Army of Darkness, and, of course, Evil Dead 2, the TTRPG is clearly in good hands. Designer Devin Wilson also serves as DM for the crossover DnD actual play series Legacy of Worlds.
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The Evil Dead 2 RPG Supplement is designed for insertion into any game of DnD, but can also be used to create an entirely original dark fantasy (or even modern horror) campaign. It's already sured its funding goal and then some, but there's still time to contribute and get updates on the project as they come out. Ahead of the game's release, ScreenRant received an exclusive preview of a few game mechanics, and one of the character classes - a decidedly Evil Dead twist on the classic D&D cleric - along with the stat block for Henrietta Knowby, a human-turned-monster who appeared in the films.
A Sneak Peek At The Evil Dead TTRPG's New Mechanics
Sycophant Domain Clerics, Limb Loss, & More
The Evil Dead 2 RPG Supplement's centerpiece is its 12 new character subclasses, each of which puts a uniquely horrifying spin on a classic DnD archetype. One of those is the Sycophant Domain cleric. Unlike most DnD cleric domains, which typically require the player to choose a patron deity at character creation, the Sycophant Domain cleric worships any god who will listen.
That unique conceit makes them both especially versatile and especially volatile. For example, Sycophant Domain clerics get a certain number of always-prepared spells depending on their level; at higher levels, they can even draw from the bard, druid, and warlock spell lists. But when they use Call the Fickle Whims, they get a random chance to cast either bless or bane depending on the result of two dice rolls.
Bless and bane have opposite effects, giving the target either a 1d4 bonus or penalty to their attack rolls and saving throws in combat.
New mechanics introduced by The Evil Dead 2 RPG Supplement include Limb Loss, a thematic staple of the Evil Dead series. It does what it says on the tin, adding the chance for certain attacks to lop off one of the target's extremities. The supplement also includes stat blocks for various items introduced by the film series, like the Kandarian Dagger, which deals damage over time when impaled into its target, and can prevent them from being revived.
Best D&D Cleric Domains
With 14 cleric subclasses to choose from, it's no wonder some players are left scratching their heads. Here are the best D&D cleric domains on offer.
And of course, players will need some equally terrifying monsters to test out all these new powers on. Enter Henrietta Knowby, a character from the Evil Dead films adapted here into an incredibly powerful Deadite enemy to challenge and terrify players everywhere.
Henrietta boasts shape-shifting abilities and potent powers of deception, so she can fool a party into helping her before turning on them with her razor-sharp claws. She can also experience a version of Limb Loss, as slashing damage decreases her available appendages, thereby reducing the number of melee attacks she can make per turn. (However, her severed hands may have a mind of their own). When she's reduced to 0 HP, she returns to life in her true form with a horrifically elongated neck, and can heal herself as she reattaches her limbs.
Our Take: Evil Dead And D&D Are A Match Made In Hell
(And We Mean That In The Nicest Way Possible)
Maybe I'm just the exact target audience for something like this, not to mention a sucker for a dark fantasy DnD campaign, but Evil Dead and DnD just seem to go together perfectly. Even in this early preview, I'm impressed by the level of detail and the pitch-perfect comedy-horror atmosphere embodied by The Evil Dead 2 RPG Supplement. From their involvement with Legacy of Worlds, it's clear the designers have a ion for the many settings that have called DnD home. And from their involvement in other cult classic films-turned board games, it's clear this adaptation is in good hands.
And Coming Next From Lynnvander Studios, New Miniatures For Army of Darkness: The Board Game
Scheduled For Release In January
And Lynnvander Studios already has its next project in the works: Army of Darkness: The Board Game. The game was also funded by Kickstarter, and is set to be available for pre-order beginning in January. It pits players against an army of Deadites, who must be defeated before they obtain the Necronomicon. The board game will be released alongside a set of miniatures, designed to replace the cardboard standees that come with the base. Keep an eye out for more updates after the Evil Dead RPG adaptation Kickstarter is published.
