Chaosium Inc has announced they’ll be publishing the venerable Spanish roleplaying game Aquelarre in English. The game is set on a pseudo-historical Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages, wherein the characters are thrust into the midst of the forces of heaven and hell. The 570 page hard cover is available for $59.99 or you can grab the PDF at DriveThruRPG for $24.99.
From Chaosium:
Announcing Aquelarre, the “best RPG not available in English”, now available in English!
Aquelarre (“Coven”) has been described as the “best RPG not available in English”. And now, almost 25 years since it was first released in Spain, Aquelarre is available for English-speaking gamers!
Originally from Spanish publisher Nosolorol, Chaosium is distributing Aquelarre after Nocturnal Media’s successful Kickstarter. The English edition is a gloriously illustrated complete roleplaying game, which comes with a selection of supplements and gaming aids for long-term play.
Of course, personal characteristics play their part, too. One such is the Rationality/Irrationality rating, which determines how attuned a character is with the Irrational world, how capable with magic, and how susceptible to it. Rituals of faith depend upon a high Rationality instead. Advantages and Disadvantages help to round characters out.
The game system itself relies mainly on percentile rolls against either characteristic ratings or skills based on those (and on character experience). As might be expected from a game that has thrived for several decades now, rules for combat, weapons, and healing are all nicely detailed, with options to suit a variety of playing styles.
Aquelarre also includes considerable detail about medieval life in Iberia, from daily business to social mores to fairy tales, besides the expected focus on angels and demons.
I got in on the Kickstarter for this one as I’ve always wondered what RPG’ing was like in other countries (other than North America) when I was growing up.
It’s a great book/game and I highly recommend it. Absolutely oozes with style and atmosphere. Hopefully there will be more supplements released in English.