Hello, folks! Hannah here—we’ve been pretty quiet lately while we’re hard at work on Horizons and exploring some other yet-to-be announced projects (which our subscribers will be the first to hear about!), but we’re thrilled to reveal the contents of issue 3!
If you’re not yet subscribed to Horizons, you can become a member to get these awesome articles as soon as they come out. There are TONS of encounters, plot hooks, locations, colorful NPCs, and more for GMs to draw on, plus a brand new Warlock subclass and Eldritch Invocations for players! Without further ado, here’s what’s inside the pages of Horizons 3, which will be released next Wednesday, April 30.
The Desk of Many Thoughts
Villains, Accomplices, and Bystanders: Portraying antagonists and power systems
An interview with Brennan Lee Mulligan
We had the honor and pleasure of chatting with all-star DM, improviser, and student of philosophy Brennan Lee Mulligan for an exclusive interview in Horizons! Brennan is known for GMing Dimension 20, Worlds Beyond Number, and multiple Critical Role miniseries. We sat down with him to ask how he portrays bad guys and entrenched systems of power so effectively—and how the resulting stories of hope, friendship, and solidarity carry over into everyday life. (Also, vampire squid.)
Deals and Appeals: The Crowd Patron
Become the avatar of your people
Author: Leon Barillaro | Artist: Nikki Dawes
System: 5e (Character Options)
A Warlock of the people, by the people, and for the people! Draw on the power of your crowd—whether they’re your ancestors, community, or fans—to influence hearts and minds, support your allies, and pull off explosive combos. The Crowd Patron is accompanied by GM advice for roleplaying the crowd itself, as well as new Eldritch Invocation options!
The Gilded Quill
A fantastic casino full of games, illusions, and danger!
Author: Sam Mannell | Artist: Katerina Ladon | Cartographer: Clara Daly
System: 5e, easily adaptable for other systems (Location, NPCs, Stat Blocks, Magic Items)
This lavish villa is filled with games of chance and skill, talented performers, delicious drinks … and many secrets. Let your player characters unwind and relax (or get into trouble), meet colorful NPCs and undertake their quests, play Rout and Sixes, and gradually uncover the fiendish scheme behind the whole show. Confronting these fiends and their cultists is no simple matter, but a clever and determined party can make powerful allies, break the fiends’ protective enchantments, and take down the avaricious devils!
The Avenging Heart
Restore a legendary weapon and seek justice for a disgraced hero
Author: Brandes Stoddard | Artist: Jessica Nguyen
System: 5e (Storyline, Encounters, Magic Items)
A Holy Avenger is among the mightiest weapons a Paladin can hope to wield, representing an obligation and an honor earned through many trials. “The Avenging Heart” presents a storyline surrounding this iconic weapon, which is intended to be a Paladin player’s personal story for a GM to incorporate into an ongoing campaign. The storyline includes six new magic weapons, including scaled-down and corrupted versions of the Holy Avenger that recognize the Paladin character’s potential and evolve based on their actions.
Deathmatch Atlantis
Atlantis has risen from the sea. Production demands that you Play to Win™.
Author and Cartographer: Tim Denee | Artist: Anna Grinenko
System: Deathmatch Island (Location, Encounters)
The fabled island of Atlantis has risen from its watery slumber, erupting into the sunlight for the first time in thousands of years. Production knows just what to do with such a sacred site: turn it into a location for Deathmatch Island. And you, brave competitor, have been selected for this unique opportunity. By winning, you will earn not only your freedom, but also the wealth of kings.
You can read our post about the Deathmatch Island system here. But wait! There’s more! The fine folks at Evil Hat have created a discount code for our amazing Horizons subscribers, which you can find here! This 20% off coupon is good through June 30.
Okay, that’s all for now. See you on Wednesday for the issue 3 release!
—Hannah, Editor-in-Chief
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