Acheron, the publisher behind the ENNIE-winning Brancalonia, has announced plans to bring the celebrated historical-fantasy roleplaying game Lex Arcana to the 5th Edition ruleset. The project, which adapts the mythic Roman Empire setting for the world’s most popular roleplaying system, will launch soon on Kickstarter.
Lex Arcana is set in a compelling alternate timeline where, through the successful use of divination and magic, the Roman Empire never fell. It is the end of the fifth century AD, and Rome’s power is absolute, but supernatural threats now fester in the shadows. Players assume the roles of Custodes in the Cohors Auxiliaria Arcana, a special imperial task force charged with investigating and combating magical beasts, forbidden cults, and ancient horrors that threaten the Pax Romana.
This isn’t the first time the game has seen a revival. Originally published in Italy in 1993, Lex Arcana was brought back with a successful Kickstarter in 2018, an event Geek Native noted at the time for its high production values. That edition used its own Dice Point System. The new version aims to open the gates of the Eternal City to the vast audience of 5e players.
The creative pedigree of Lex Arcana is notable. The original design team included Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello, the latter being a key designer on the highly acclaimed The One Ring Roleplaying Game. For this 5e conversion, Acheron has enlisted the line’s current stewards, Errico Borro and Ian Hathaway, alongside two 5e specialists. Marco Bertini is handling the monsters, while Michele Garbuggio, who previously worked on the successful 5e adaptation of The One Ring, is lending his expertise to the project.
The conversion is more than a simple re-skin, introducing several new mechanics tailored to the Roman setting. The system will feature six new classes with twelve unique archetypes, sixteen backgrounds, and twenty Imperial Provinces for characters to hail from. Each Province of origin grants a character an additional skill, a feat, and an extra language.
New character options will be available, including the ability to play as Fauns and even Demigods, with the publisher hinting that more species could be unlocked as the campaign progresses.
Key gameplay mechanics include:
- Patron Deity: Each Custos chooses a patron god, such as Mars or Minerva, which is tied to their class and grants them access to unique powers through prayers known as Indigitamenta.
- Pietas: This new resource represents a character’s spiritual strength and favour with the gods. It can be spent to gain bonuses on checks, perform divination rituals, or activate special class features and feats.
- Degrees of Success: To add more nuance than a simple pass/fail, the system incorporates degrees of success. A character who beats a DC by a large margin will gain more information or a better outcome than one who only just succeeds.
- Divination: Players will have access to powerful divination rituals, interpreting omens from lightning, stars, or the flight of birds to gain insight into the future.
Acheron has become a significant player in the international RPG scene, building on successes like the “Spaghetti Fantasy” RPG Brancalonia, which won four ENNIE Awards in 2021, and Inferno – Dante’s Guide to Hell, which became one of the most-funded Italian RPGs on Kickstarter.
Those attending Gen Con in Indianapolis can find Acheron at Booth #1929. The upcoming Kickstarter will also feature an early bird special: a replica of the oldest known Roman icosahedron, a d20.
The publisher noted in the press release;
This is not a simple adaptation: it is a new way to explore the Empire, which offers new and different dynamics within the story and lore that those who love Lex Arcana know well.
The fate of an Empire that never fell now rests in the hands of a new generation of heroes, armed with both gladius and spellbook.
Quick Links
- Kickstarter: Lex Arcana V for 5e
