Alessandro Rocchi
In this preview we are going to discover Bitter Chalice, a new project by The World Anvil Publishing. Thank you to the publisher for sending us the Overview in order to be able to write this article. We recommend that you follow them on their Facebook page, Instagram page and on the official website to discover many new projects.
If you are interested, we invite you to visit the Kickstarter campaign to contribute to its realization and follow the project.
The Bitter Chalice Project
Bitter Chalice will be available only in English and will be published via crowdfunding on the Kickstarter platform. On that page you will find all the information for pledge.
and stretch goals.
Please note that the game will be divided into three manuals. The base volume contains ruleset, setting, bestiary and game campaign. Second manual (Dirge of the Dust King) adds details to the setting. The third one, Escape the Mud Fields, offers the introductory campaign and various useful tips. This is definitely a lot of material that will keep the gaming group busy for a long time.
The setting of Bitter Chalice is dirty, bitter and gloomy. We will find ourselves in a dark fantasy world plagued by an ancient force. Resources are limited and therefore everyone fights for their own survival. In fact, a fundamental component is the scarcity of resources; the protagonists will have to carry out the appropriate research and manage what they find very well.
Speaking instead of the artistic side, Bitter Chalice is a masterpiece with a very intriguing graphic direction and scary illustrations. Thanks to the consistent and appropriate style, all the images return the dark tones of the game, allowing you to immerse yourself even more while reading.
The Map and the Location System
One of the pulsating hearts of Bitter Chalice is the game map and the various important locations.
In fact, one of the cornerstones of the game is travel. The party can explore and move freely around the map, risking unwanted encounters. Each place of interest has its own details that contains hooks for campaign scenes and events that can bring advantages or disadvantages to players. For example, we can find an encounter with a blacksmith or a combat with enemies, or even something more elaborate.
Every time you travel, it will take time and this is a critical aspect to manage. In fact, as the days go by, some mechanics are activated, such as the need to feed or rest. We find 8 hourglasses that will be emptied based on the actions of the group. Thanks to these, it is also possible to manage the day-night cycle that will lead to differences in both events and enemies.
These elements make the Bitter Chalice experience very close to a board game and modular, so as to make each campaign different.
Bitter Chalice Protagonists Preview
One of the most particular elements of Bitter Chalice is the construction of the PCs. Each one is based on a playbook that must be composed by selecting an Origin and a Class.
In the manual there will be 8 Classes, all really interesting, that provide the character with the motivations to venture into the game world. In the Overview we only find their summary description, but some of the ones that I appreciated more are the Alchemist, the Grave Robber and the Inquisitor. Along with the Origins, each Class gives special bonuses and abilities to exploit. In addition to this, each character has 6 Attributes that will be used to try to pass the various tests.
Two of the most interesting mechanics in Bitter Chalice are Stress and Threshold. Each character has three tables and each represents a different type of Stress: Physical, Mental and Spiritual. These tables are each associated with two Attributes and are composed of empty dots that must be filled each time you get Stress.
Each row of the table corresponds to a malus on the Attributes involved. At the beginning it will be 0, but the more rows you complete, the more serious this will be, up to -3. The most interesting detail is the Threshold, in fact this is a bar that establishes a limit to the dots that make up a row and is applied to each table individually. So with it it will be easier to slide towards penalties.
The Game System
In this Overview we can discover the game system, which turns out to be very simple and intuitive.
When a character faces an uncertain situation, they must declare the goal and roll 3d6, adding the current value of the Attribute involved. Depending on the situation, you can receive bonuses or maluses on the roll. The GM (as the narrator is called in Bitter Chalice) tells the player how many Achievements they need to complete the objective.
To determine the outcome of the action, compare the result of the roll with a table. Based on this, Achievements, Setbacks, Advantages or Disadvantages can be obtained. The latter two will be additions to situations that may or may not favor the protagonists. Setbacks, on the other hand, lead to negative elements and will only be obtained with rolls of 10 or below.
In the Overview the system is well explained through examples and graphs. This bodes well for the optimal use of such supports in the manual.
Conclusion of the Bitter Chalice Preview
In conclusion, Bitter Chalice has won us over with this Overview thanks to its highly refined and fascinating artistic style that highlights the wonderful setting. Added to all this is a simple and intuitive game system that allows you to enjoy adventures without getting lost in complex calculations.
The most interesting features remain the modular game campaign and the use of locations and map that promise to create a very innovative and satisfying way of playing. So we can only advise you to go and further explore the world of Bitter Chalice.
