Vortex Verlag has announced a final call for physical pre-orders of Serenissima Obscura, the dark fantasy setting guide for Renaissance Venice. The publisher confirmed that the pre-order store on BackerKit will close in April, after which many of the campaign’s add-ons, including the printed street maps of historical Venice and battle maps, will be withdrawn from sale and available only as digital PDFs.
The announcement marks a significant transition for the project, which caters to both Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and the dedicated fanbase of Ars Magica. While digital distribution ensures the content remains accessible, collectors and groups who prefer table-ready physical assets have a limited window to secure hard copies.
Serenissima Obscura offers a modular adventure and setting guide that reimagines Venice as a hub of conspiracy, mystical convergence, and horror. The “Magical Renaissance” setting is designed to be system-agnostic but comes with specific support for 5e and Ars Magica. The publisher highlights the compatibility with The Straight Way Lost – Adventuring through Heaven and Hell, suggesting the two books can be combined to support years of campaign play.
The closing of the print run affects several key items in the collection. The core setting guide will remain available in print later, but the Ars Magica Guide to the Magical Renaissance, the 5e Player’s Guide, and the physical map packs are slated to become digital-only exclusives once the April deadline passes.
For tabletop groups looking to explore the canals of a darker Venice, the pre-order store remains open until the April cutoff. Digital versions will continue to be supported, likely joining the catalogue of RPG PDFs available on platforms like DriveThruRPG.
