Ruins of Symbaroum for 5E

[@Flint138]

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this! Your heart and head went into this review and it shows. You have convinced me to run Ruins of Symbaroum for my next campaign!

[@guardian_of_the_rune]

The biggest problem I have is that I hate levels and classes in 5e but I'm glad they changed resting and spellcasting.

[@CapeCodWargameCommission]

Another fan of Symbaroum here. I passed on this KS simply because I'm firmly convinced the game system works perfectly well. (with the occasional tweak here or there) I understand from a commercial perspective why they did it but IMO, Symba doesn't need to covert to 5E.

[@flyaturtle]

Awesome! Love your videos and big fan of Symbaroum-I passed on the KS bc I thought it would be watered down, but now I’m super interested

[@JoshRVarela]

Great stuff. Our group primarily did 5e, but loved our intro Symbaroum ToDD game, so we did the 5e version for the first ToT adventure. I really agree that the rest system was good addition. Unfortunately, this conversion had a lot of flaws for us. The casting was off for corruption math (way too many free of corruption spells). A lot of unbalanced or not well developed classes, and feats and items that were really lacking. I want to come back to this for another game down the line, but will have to do a bunch of reworks.

[@dbrugnani5286]

Great review! I wish there was a 5E rules recap of just the 5E rules needed from the Core to run this. It’s kind of a drag to have to reference parts of another book just to make it work.

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

Yea, I agree. It's especially annoying if you have to look up spells. But I understand, why they didn't. That would have made the book twice as big, with redundant information.

[@Big_Trouble]

Would this setting be a good choice for something like the Black Sword Hack? Seems like the corruption theme would fit.

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

One of the fun things for the Black Sword Hack is making your own setting. But I can see running Symbaroum with it. There is a definate S&S vibe to the setting.

[@Big_Trouble]

I had just listened to you review of the Black Sword Hack and when you were mentioning the shortcomings of the game system for Symbaroum I was thinking it seemed like a possible good fit. I've played too much 5e to be excited about the 5e version

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

@@Big_Trouble You must have played a lot of 5E! Know what? Try doing a Shadowdark,, Forbidden Lands or Dragonbane hack for Symbaroum to fit your GM style. (that's what I'm been thinking about.) I feel there is potential there. Sorry, I can't give to concrete an answer, it very much depends on where you put you focus when GMing. Shadowdark for Rules-Light Dungeon Crawling, Forbidden Lands for Hexcrawling Dragonbane if you are looking for more of an all-round alternative to 5E. I suspect Free Leauge will release a 2E of Symbaroum at some point as well.

[@Big_Trouble]

@@Sebbaasdungeon Yes, plenty of 5E at cons, local game store, and with a home group. I don't think 5E is terrible but it doesn't appeal to me as much as when it first came out. I do think most of the WOTC supplements have declined in quality though. Thanks for the suggestions. I've been reading Shadowdark and I think it looks good. I played Forbidden Lands at a con and really enjoyed that one. Don't have any experience with Dragonbane though.

[@PpAirO5]

Ain't those classes available in the ordinary game ? Or is it only The 5E version ? What i'm trying to ask is, can you still make these classes (Witchunter, Officer etc.) In the original game ?

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

The original rules are classless. So, you can build just about anything with the right combination of attributes and abilities. They do have a few archetypes as examples through. Captain and Witchhunter among them.

[@PpAirO5]

@@Sebbaasdungeon.. Thanks 🙏 Trying to figure out which "system" to get.

[@AgranakStudios]

Great in depth review!!!

[@Jose-ur7jz]

I trust your way to see thing, I would like to ask u a question. I love symbaroum and a read some of the core book, but I didn't commit fully to the game yet...shall just roll with this 5e version? Is it easy to use the existing campaign books even playing it as 5e?

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

If you like 5E, this is a great way to play Symbaroum. My group has played this for a year, and I don't want to go back to the original system. Converting the existing campaigns to the system would be a bit of work, though, as the two systems are not even remotely compatible. But Freeleague is already working on this. They are re-releasing the adventures for 5E. Two books are already out. Not the Throne of Thorns campaigns yet, but I think that is in the works. Another option could be to play Symbaroum with Shadowdark rules. I'm contemplating that at the moment.

[@Jose-ur7jz]

@@Sebbaasdungeon Thank you very much for your prompt response. If Iyou decide to mix Simbaroum and Shadowdark, I would be happy to see how you end up doing it.

[@RyanHallinan]

Are you still running Symbaroum with this version? or did you go back to the original version?

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

I'm playing Ruins of Symbaroum as a player. And I'm happy with the rule system so far. 5e is a bit more complicated than I'd like, but I like the changes they made for Symbaroum and found no major weak spot in the rules, that we had to house rule. I especially like the rules for rest and recovery. Those really work to push the group to return to a save resting place, like Thisetlehold, regularly, without feeling overly punishing. I'm hoping for a second edition of the original Symbaroum Rules, that take lessons learned from the 5e version.

[@RyanHallinan]

@@Sebbaasdungeon thanks for the follow up on it! I had already bought ruins of symbaroum, and was worried I’d made a bad choice and should have bought the original. I still plan to buy the adventures for the original to at least read through so far I have liked reading ruins of symbaroum and think they made fantastic changes to 5e but I have yet to start my campaign

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

@@RyanHallinan I've heard Free League will publish a 5e version of the throne of thorns. The have already released a compilation of the short adventures for 5e

[@RyanHallinan]

@@Sebbaasdungeon Oh i didn't realize that was already out. Nice to know. I'll have to go get that.

[@Valkenvr]

Would you recommend buying this or original hardcover Symbaroum? It seems they consolidated material and lore from multiple supplements into the ROS pack. Is that a fair assesment?

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

There are 4 core rule books for Symbaroum: Core Rules, Advanced Players Guide, Monster Manual, and Game Master's Guide. Just the Core Rules are enough to get you started. The three books of the 5E Symbaroum have pretty much the same content, so you need one book less. The advanced players guide is worked into the players guide. If you'd prefer Symbaroum or 5E Symbaroum really depends on what kind of System you like. If you like 5E, it's a no brainer. The normal Symbaroum rules are Class free, level free and player facing though (gm doesn't roll). Made a video comparing the two rule sets : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZSqnn-jp61mhtk

[@Valkenvr]

@@Sebbaasdungeon Perfect, thanks a lot! I will end up buying both. Probably Ruins on print and regular on PDF or just the Foundry VTT module.

[@yuvalgabay1023]

@@Sebbaasdungeon whait but i saw videos on the game and i saw classes and levels explain there

[@MrXacus]

I wonder how they have made the game less heroic? Dark fantasy is for me less heroic and more a struggle to survive. 5e is a super hero game and far from what I think is fit for this setting. Sure I like that they did with spells and you have to use your hit dice on removing corruption, but afterall characters should be less powerful than in 5e.

[@Sebbaasdungeon]

Characters are about on the same power level as in 5E, though rest and healing is harder to come by. Corruption also limits your magic and magic item use. But if you want to make a major change to the power level, you either have to keep the character low level (which is what my group is doing.) Or you have to implement some changes from 5E hardcore mode, like lower hit points, less death saves etc.

[@frans8861]

5:34

[@jimclark5305]

This appears to be just like Professor DungeonMaster's on Dungeon craft for the rest system. Ideas he put out years ago with minor tweaks , cool ideas but not original.

[@user-pg3pe4gx4p]

The biggest negative of 5e is that they went woke.