Ruins of Symbaroum: Setting Handbook Lands On D&D Beyond

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First released in 2014 by Swedish publisher Järnringen, the Symbaroum TTRPG has since grown in popularity, later being picked up by Free League Publishing, who launched a series of books using the rules and lore. It’s a setting steeped in dark fantasy, with a focus on wilderness exploration, moral ambiguity and ancient magic.

Now, a whole new audience will be able to dig into the world, as a new Ruins of Symbaroum: Setting Handbook has just arrived on D&D Beyond. It’s essentially an adaptation of the Ruins of Symbaroum for 5e book which Free League first published in 2023 after a successful Kickstarter, giving D&D Beyond users a solid introduction to what the setting is all about.

So just what secrets await in the depths of the Davokar forest? Below, we uncover all the details.

What is Symbaroum about?

The world of Symbaroum is focused largely on a group of people known as the Ambrians, who were forced to flee their ancestral home two decades earlier after a brutal war. Their newly settled lands border a dark and mysterious forest known as the Davokar, which is also filled with the ruins of an ancient civilization known as the Empire of Symbaroum. Unfortunately, the woods are also teeming with monsters and corruption, with the old magic of Symbaroum seeping deep in the roots of the forest. Even more dangerous are the local elves, who ruthlessly slaughter anyone foolish enough to enter into their domain.

In the original Symbaroum game (which used a D20 system someone what similar to DnD 5e mechanics), players take on the role of adventurers who penetrate the Davokar in search of riches and glory, while also dealing with political intrigue, supernatural forces and the spectre of war. The tone is very much grim dark with a greater risk of lethality than the high fantasy vibes of modern Dungeons & Dragons. It’s also perhaps best known for its unique art style, which has a washed out, atmospheric vibe with a dash of horror.

What’s included in the original “Ruins of Symbaroum for 5e” from Free League?

In 2022, Free League Publishing converted the Symbaroum TTRPG into the DnD 5e rules, launching a successful Kickstarter for a product called Ruins of Symbaroum for 5e. That product was since released to the general public and includes:

• New Origins and Backgrounds: Including Changelings, Ogres, Goblins, Trolls and Undead
• New Classes and Subclasses: Classes include the Captain, Hunter, Mystic, Scoundrel and Warrior, each of which has several subclasses (known as “Approaches”).
• Optional Rules: This includes Troupe Play, Advanced Traps, Pitched Battles, Ceremonial Magic and rules for Corruption and Shadow (representing the influence of the Dakovar on players)
• New Creatures and Adversaries: The book includes +150 creatures, including variants, adventure hooks, lore and lairs.

What’s included in the “Ruins of Symbaroum Setting Handbook” on D&D Beyond?

The new handbook on D&D Beyond contains select materials that orginally appeared in the Ruins of Symbaroum Player’s Guide and the Ruins of Symbaroum Gamemaster’s Guide. It’s also important to note the book does NOT use the new DnD 2024 rules. Instead it continues to use the DnD 5e rules from 2014. Specifically, the setting handbook contains the following:

• Player Section: Including background information on the setting and character options.
• DM section: Features lore, secrets and adventure/campaign hooks.
• Six Locations: With backgrounds, conflicts, maps and recent events.
• New Expedition Rules: Including travel, companions, encounters and ruins.

How Much is the “Ruins of Symbaroum Setting Handbook” on D&D Beyond?

Currently, the Player Pack retails on D&D Beyond for $14.99 USD. Notably, PDF versions of both the Player’s Guide and the Gamemaster’s Guide retail for $24.99 each on DMsGuild. The hardcover print copies retail for around $46 USD each (not including shipping and handling), so if you’re looking to dip your toes into Symbaroum without spending a ton of money, the D&D Beyond version is a solid options.

Notably, there are a ton of other sourcebooks for the setting which you can also pick up from DMsGuild or the Free League Website and the setting has a fairly large fan base online (including a dedicated subReddit), so it really is a great chance to see if the material if something you might want to run for your group.

Final Thoughts

Symbaroum is one of the most original campaign settings to come around in decades, thanks to its grim dark vibes, impressive lore and stunning artwork. That being said, if you haven’t already experienced it, the new Setting Handbook offers a solid introduction. You can pick up your copy now on on D&D Beyond.

Below is also a video from the official D&D Beyond YouTube channel, featuring Free League’s Mattias Johnsson Haake, who offering a deeper look at what’s included in the new book.

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