Savage Status Report – Hellfrost

Each week we take a look at one setting or genre in the Savage Universe and see how it’s doing and what the developers have been up to.  This is not a review, but a guide to what’s available today.  Updates to each Savage Status Report will occur more or less twice a year.

This week we look at the biggest fantasy setting to hit Savage Worlds: Hellfrost.

What is It?

Hellfrost is written by Triple Ace Games, and in a very short period of time become the most well supported Savage Worlds setting.  It is, in many ways, a very classic fantasy setting, bringing back many of the original Celtic trappings of Tolkien’s works.  It’s also a doomed world entering a new ice age, where magic if failing and life is hard.  If you would like to take a look, a free preview document (.pdf) has been kindly provided.

Download the Preview.

Core Products

Unlike most Savage Settings, which only have a single core book, Hellfrost is separated into three hardcovers, including a full-size Bestiary, a first for Savage Worlds.

Hellfrost:  Player’s Guide

128 page Hardcover:  $29.99.

132 page PDF:  $19.99.

This is a fantastic book all around for fantasy players, even if you don’t want to play in Rassilon.  It is simply full of useful rules for different kinds of magic, from wizards to herbalists.

From the TAG website:

The Hellfrost Player’s Guide contains everything you need to begin adventuring in the frozen wastes:

• Six player character races.
• Dozens of new Edges, including Disciple Edges for religious heroes.
• Six alternate magical Arcane Backgrounds.
• Details on 24 deities and their followers.
• Rules for Glory, a new trait that measures the great deeds of your heroes.
• Complete setting rules for adventuring in Rassilon.

Hellfrost:  Gazetteer

128 page Hardcover:  $34.99.

134 page PDF:  $19.99.

From the TAG website:

This supplement for the Hellfrost setting details the entire continent of Rassilon. From the snow-shrouded wastes of the High Winterlands to the relatively warm hills of the southern Hearthlands, this book covers every realm and major settlement, plus numerous sites of adventure. A handy reference section provides the GM with information of how to construct his own steads, villages, and towns.

Hellfrost:  Bestiary

128 page Hardcover:  $34.99.

132 page PDF:  $19.99.

From the TAG website:

Among the many creatures detailed are over a dozen types of orcs and elementals, complete stats for six breeds of dragon, and five races of giants, as well as trolls, elementals, fey, demons, undead, and unique Hellfrost beasts. As well as the monsters there are new rules for knockback and a chapter on creating relics, Hellfrost’s permanent magic items. A simple system and generous advice gives the GM everything he needs to create an unlimited variety of relics in just a few moments.

Accessories

Hellfrost is playing in the big leagues when it comes to supplemental support.  They have the usual GM Screen and Character Sheet available, but they also have a weighty stack of free downloads available, covering a wide range of topics.  The most impressibe accessory, though, is unquestionably the canvas map of Rassilon.

Hellfrost:  GM Screen

12 page PDF:  $4.99.

From the TAG website:

A selection of tables and important game information for players and GM’s alike to fit your Customizeable GM Screen.

Canvas Map of Rassilon

17″ x 30″ Canvas Map:  64.99.

That’s right, they will make this canvas map for you on demand and ship it to you within two weeks.  It’s a rather stunning piece, and necessary if you want to take the setting seriously.

From the TAG website:

Hellfrost fans rejoice! Chart your course over the frozen lands of Rassilon on this beautifully rendered map.

The special collectors map is printed with eco-solvent permanent inks on archival quality canvas, then coated with a professional grade acrylic varnish for added protection, this map will enhance your Hellfrost campaign for years to come!

Free Downloads

In addition to the expected resources, such as a character sheet, pre-built characters, and errata, the free downloads section includes a multitude of setting information.  These downloads include a pronunciation guide, a guide to heraldry, rules for special rune bennies or legendary relics, and more.  You really need to check it out just to see how impressive support has been for this game.

Adventures

The truth is, there are far too many adventures for Hellfrost to present them all here.  As such, we’ve presented the first one as a guide to what the rest look like.  For a full listing, visit the Triple Ace Games Hellfrost page.

Hellfrost Adventure #01:  Lair of the Vermin Lord

30 page PDF:  $7.99.

From the TAG website:

With the snow already falling, the key to thwarting disaster is the village of Dunross, for here are stored the winter supplies of many surrounding villages. Fresh faced and eager, the heroes are hired by a local merchant to collect sacks of flour from Dunross and deliver them to a bakery.

But things are never that simple.

What begins as a routine journey quickly embroils the adventures in a deadly plot to inflict starvation and untold misery on the citizens of the northern Heartlands. Through the power of an unholy magical relic a dark swarm has been unleashed on Rassilion, a swarm which leaves only death and disease in its wake.

What’s in Development

We don’t know much about what the future holds for Hellfrost, but we can assume a general tide of stuff, some free, some not.  We do know one thing, though.  Hellfrost is getting another hardcover book, this one full of encounters for the Game Master to insert into his adventure.

Hellfrost:  Encounters Book 1

128 page Hardcover:  $29.99.

Available:  July 19th.

From the TAG website:

Designed with the busy GM in mind, this book contains 50 detailed encounters covering a variety of situations and locales.

Whether you’re after a random encounter that’s more than just a standup fight on featureless terrain, an exciting mini-adventure on the spur of the moment, something to break up the party’s travels, or a starting scene for an adventure of your own devising, this book has something for you.