Lex Arcana: a unique setting merging history, mythology and the legends of Ancient Rome.
Lex Arcana, published by Quality Games, is an alternate history roleplaying game set in a roman empire which did not fall, thanks to the use of magic. The game is the second edition of the most famous Italian RPG of the 90’s, co-designed by Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello, designers of The One Ring RPG and Zombicide RPG. It was successfully launched on Kickstarter in October 2018 and it is now shipping to backers.
Brancalonia, by Acheron Books, is an innovative “spaghetti fantasy” RPG setting for 5th Edition, recently funded on Kickstarter and expected to deliver to backers in January 2021, with a unique blend of pop-culture and historical references, creating a roguish world of high adventure.
Ares will distribute these games and their supplements after backers’ fulfillment will be completed.
“My career in games began with roleplaying games, and I am very happy both on a personal and professional level to bring to the English-speaking audience two great games. Role-playing games are living a new golden age, and the partnership with Acheron Books and Quality Games gives to Ares Games an opportunity to take part in it,” said Roberto Di Meglio, Director of R&D of Ares Games.
Lex Arcana merges history, mythology and legend in a unique setting where Roman imperial legions clash with barbaric hordes on the field of battle, while ancient monsters, mystical powers and nameless cults threaten the rule of the Caesars from within. To enjoy Lex Arcana players are not required to have a degree in Roman history: the world has taken a different turn from what you may have read in history books.
Originally published in Italy in 1993, Lex Arcana was designed by an exceptional team of authors: Dario De Toffoli, Leo Colovini, Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello. The same team is behind this new edition, under the creative direction of Andrea Angiolino, to create a game that will appeal to veteran players and newcomers to Lex Arcana alike.
Players take on the role of Custodes (wardens) of the Cohors Auxiliaria Arcana, imperial agents sent on missions to the most distant and dangerous corners of the Roman Empire and beyond, to investigate terrifying threats, recover lost relics, unearth forgotten secrets and fight legendary supernatural creatures. From misty Britannia to the immense rivers of Babilonia, from the Egyptian deserts to the beautiful beaches of Italia, the adventures awaiting the Custodes are as numerous as the Empire the Cohors Arcana must defend is large.
Brancalonia: an innovative “spaghetti fantasy” RPG setting for 5th Edition.
Brancalonia is the all-Italian setting for the 5th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Set in a “back-to-front” version of Medieval Italy, this unheroic, picaresque and roguish world quotes, collects, and mixes references from contemporary Italian fiction and over a hundred works of Italian fantasy tradition, pop culture, and collective imagery – like Collodi’s Pinocchio, Dante’s Divine Comedy, “Spaghetti Western” movies such as Sergio Leone’s and Bud Spencer & Terence Hill, classic movies set in Italy (The Princess Bride, The Name of the Rose, Da Vinci’s Demons), videogames (Ezio Auditore in Assassin’s Creed), and more.
In Brancalonia, all the player characters are Knaves, members of a Free Company of mercenaries, rogues and similar rascals, engaged in questionable jobs across the various domains of what is left of an ancient kingdom now in ruins. This huge rabble is also identified in its entirety as Bounty Brothers (Fratelli di Taglia). Rampaging freely up and down the Kingdom, the Companies of Brancalonia are often hired by villagers, merchants, nobles and warlords for all sorts of odd jobs, generally illicit, dangerous things that nobody wants to do. And that's on a good day... On a bad day, there are curses, demons, witchcraft, monsters and double-dealings behind the jobs.
Lex Arcana is expected to release to retail in late Summer 2020, while Brancalonia should launch in Q1 2021. More information about these games will be available soon here, in a dedicated section.
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