A new dark Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting is in the making, and it could be a great alternative to the instant classic Curse of Strahd adventure module. The popular TTRPG saw the release of the updated 5e rules in 2024, and there are plenty of different ways to play the game. You can, for example, follow some of the best adventures in DnD.
Alternatively, you can run homebrew content based on your own wants and desires. Nothing is completely off the table when it comes to this TTRPG, though official source material may be somewhat limited depending on what type of angle or universe you want to tackle. This is where personalized content like homebrew classes in DnD, created by fans and players, comes in. Now, there’s a new fan-made adventure in the making that is perfect for cosmic horror fans.
Chapelwick Is A Promising Bloodborne-Inspired D&D Campaign Setting
The Adventure Module Is On Kickstarter
Chapelwick is a new DnD 5e campaign setting project by Let’s Roll Press featured on Kickstarter. Openly inspired by Bloodborne, the adventure module that expands the TTRPG is set in the titular and sentient gothic city, which is heavily affected by cosmic horror elements. This includes otherworldly beings and monstrosities that the mind cannot comprehend. It does, nonetheless, feature some more traditional fantasy tropes you’d expect from DnD.
As seen on the Kickstarter page, the project was entirely funded in 12 minutes after going live. At the time of writing, the expansion inspired by the ever-beloved horror-adjacent video game Bloodborne has reached over $ 246,000 in funding, which represents over 1,230% of its initial crowdfunding goal of $ 20,000. The funding period will come to an end on November 14, so if you’re interested in it, you have until that date to make a pledge.
Everything That Comes With The D&D 5e Chapelwick
There Are New Subclasses & A New Class
Chapelwick will be a massive cosmic horror campaign setting for DnD 5e, and it will include a load of content for you to play through. The first notable aspect about the upcoming book is a dark adventure for levels 1 through 13 set in the gothic city of Chapelwick, which is overrun by cosmic horror creatures. Chapelwick will be divided into districts that must be unlocked through progression, much like in the city of Yharnam in Bloodborne.
In an interview with Screen Rant, creative director and composer Leroy Benson explains that the project “was born out of a drowsy, fever-sick, late-night playthrough of Bloodborne.” The idea is to make the city of Chapelwick feel like the enemy.
In addition to that, the Kickstarter project will introduce 13 new homebrew subclasses for DnD’s existing classes. With Chapelwick, players will also have access to a brand-new class called Bellfounder, which will have three unique subclasses of its own. All of these new subclasses will play into the cosmic horror theme. For example, Paladins will be able to take on the Oath of the Parasite, which will grant them a unique parasite companion.
Meanwhile, the Path of Annihilation Barbarian will feature gravity-based abilities, and the Origin of Singularity Sorcerer will be able to bend time and reshape reality. Beyond the new character option possibilities, Chapelwick will have a Madness and Resilience gameplay mechanic, which will play into characters losing their sanity as they confront incomprehensible horrors.
The campaign setting is designed to feel like Bloodborne and other soulslike games in many ways, too. In Chapelwick, you’ll be able to face multiphase bosses and feel rewarded upon beating them, much like you do with the many great bosses of Bloodborne. Furthermore, the DnD campaign setting introduces a soulslike death mechanic, which will have your characters returning after dying – though a price is paid with every resurrection.
“Even in death, you can’t escape, unless you do so at a time when Chapelwick wants you to: the 13th hour,” explains Leroy. This 13th hour is what he describes as “the sacrificial engine,” in which players and citizens enter a nightmare plane where they are hunted and offered as sacrifices to the Great Old One responsible for the rise of Chapelwick.
In addition to the monsters, this expansion also promises Nightmare Hunter encounters and even some raid-inspired enemies to face. To beat them, you may be able to find and use special weapons and new spells, all of which were created around the lore of Chapelwick and its horror theme.
Why You Should Be Excited To Play D&D With Chapelwick
You Can Use Free Playtest Materials
I’m particularly excited about what Chapelwick can bring to the table, as both a player and a novice DM in Dungeons & Dragons. The horror theme is abundant in the TTRPG’s official materials, but it’s not as common to see cosmic horror being tackled. This type of dark alien setting is one that I’m especially fond of, seeing that Bloodborne itself is among some of my favorite games of all time.
Additionally, the prospect of soulslike mechanics applied to DnD sounds appealing, even if the details about it are still scarce as Let’s Roll Press works on the project. Another thing about Chapelwick is that its dark horror setting represents a great alternative for players who have already grown accustomed to the legendary Curse of Strahd campaign. While Curse of Strahd does have a randomness factor applied to every campaign based on card draws, the lore, its characters, and plot are mainly the same.
“We have so much to say about horror in DnD,” explains author Jane Benson. “True horror needs contrast. The moments of darkness feel heavier when you’ve really experienced light. That’s why we include humor, warmth, and even sweetness in the story.” Jane traces a comparison to Netflix’s hit Stranger Things, citing that the lighter scenes are what make you care about the people, and what “makes the horror land harder.”
If you’re interested in what the upcoming campaign setting will have to offer, Let’s Roll Press offers a series of playtest materials, which can be found on Chapelwick’s Kickstarter page. This includes some of the new subclasses, monsters, and even a complete prequel one-shot adventure, all of which follow Dungeons & Dragons’ updated 5e rules.
- Original Release Date
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1974
- Publisher
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TSR Inc., Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Player Count
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2-7 Players
