A realm of sun and sand

So a bit of a tangent from what I normally do today, as I thought I'd talk about one of the other facets my geekiness takes, and that's roleplaying.

So while I've played several games, and ran a few, it was a few years ago that I discovered Savage Worlds, and through it I discovered the setting of Hellfrost by a company called Triple Ace Games.

They're a small company, with only 2 people behind the whole show, but they've managed to produce one of my favourite settings in Hellfrost.

Because they can probably sell it better than I, here's the blurb from their website

An endless winter is coming...

500 years ago: From the frozen far north, beyond the civilized lands with their rolling hills and forests, arose a mighty army of frost giants, ice devils, Hellfrost dragons, and fearsome orcs, servants all of the ice god Thrym. So began the terrible Blizzard War and the downfall of the mighty empires of man
Today: The races of the southern lands may have won the war, but they suffer its legacy still. For five centuries the winters have grown steadily longer and colder. Huge swathes of the land of Rassilon are permanently covered in ice and snow, and even the temperate lands are not spared the misery of failed harvests, deadly winters, and the dreaded Hellfrost wind.
But winter is not the only danger. A mere 30 years ago, magic, once the civilized races’ most potent weapon, suddenly began to fail. The Siphoning, an effect of unknown origin, has made magic an unpredictable ally.
Welcome to the world of Rassilon. Welcome to the Hellfrost!

The original setting has the different races of fantasy that you're used to, humans in their different cultures, dwarves, elves, Engro (Halflings), orcs, goblins and all the others. It has a bit of Norse influence with some of the cultures, and the game at times can be as much about survival against the winters which grow colder every year, as about slaying orcs. However Rassilon is only one part of a much larger world, and that world is just about to get bigger.

Hellfrost: Land of Fire Arabian Fantasy

To the south of Rassilon lies the land of Al-Shirkuh, were the people were freed from the rule of the Jinn and now live free lives. However the land is not so peaceful, and with it, the rains are becoming scarcer and the deserts swell, while there are those who would restore the Jinn's rule over mankind for their own fleeting chance at power.

With new fantasy races, new types of magic and another continent to explore the game promises to add a lot to the game. I'm already plotting new ways to get my current group of players who are trekking through the snow right now, into the desert when it eventually comes out.

If you fancy a taste of what this book will have in store, then I'd suggest you look here.

Land of Fire sampler PDF

It promises to be a setting just as diverse and detailed as Hellfrost, with specific books for it, and small pdfs for each of the areas of the realm which only cost 2 or 3 pound each and add a great bit of detail to realms you need for your game. I'd recommend you to give it a look, whether you're new to roleplaying or a veteran, as the Savage Worlds system is pretty swift and simple and easy to get into.  And with the lead designer of the setting answering a lot of the questions on the forum within a generally quick amount of time, you can't fault the support it gets.

So from the land of snow and ice, to the land of sun and sand, Mecha Ace out.