By Robert Hebblethwaite, Editorial Manager
Art by CLOUD
Far to the south of Nedresita, beyond the Dust Plains, to the east of Bella Lagos, and bordered on one side by the Senfina Maro Ocean, lies a blisteringly hot expanse of ravines, deserts, canyons, and mountains. A land scarred by untold millennia of geothermal wrath and brushed with the marred ruins of the Old World, it is a place as dangerous as it is inhospitable.
The Broken Steppes is a far cry from the temperate climate of New Mossgrove and Regis-Kasteel. It is a vast wasteland shaped by millions of years of seismic activity: valleys of barren dust sprawl between the upturned jaws of fang-like mountain ranges, all baked dry beneath the relentless, glaring sun. What water there is flows as a trickle through the harsh landscape, or bursts from the ground in superheated geysers. It is an unforgiving and ruthless place, but that hasn’t stopped some Everans from making it their home.
The Broken Steppes Setting Guide opens up this brutal slice of Evera Prime to any would-be explorers willing to brave its hostile climate in search of adventure. Focusing on the Surienta Simio region (which is located in the north of the Broken Steppes), this brand-new book contains all the tools and information gamemasters need to transport their players away to the dust-parched and sun-scorched south of Nedresita. Plunge into the colossal Almozulu Rift and discover the inhabitants of Lotus Canyon. Brave the jagged mountains that scar the region in search of the hardy Spears who have made a ruined and ancient megastructure their home. Or venture north, to where the abandoned city of Trisagasimo stands at the mercy of three raging volcanoes: Parolu, Vidu, and Audu.
But the new setting guide does more than just peel back the lid on this new area of Nedresita. As you venture across the continent, exploring the ruins of the Old World, discovering peoples and cultures, connecting with non-player characters, and changing the course of Evera Prime forever, you may find yourself wanting to leave a different kind of legacy on the world. You may find a particular place that calls out to you, or to which you return repeatedly. Maybe you’ve made fond friends with some expertly crafted (and, I’m sure, wonderfully voiced) NPCs — or, perhaps, just feel like your character needs some time off.
The new setting guide provides you with all the tools you need to build your own unique settlements in the Dreams and Machines universe. Designed to be usable anywhere and to fit within the ongoing narrative of any adventures on your Evera Prime (no matter how your players may change it!), the new settlement building rules allow players the opportunity to create and manage their own functional and rewarding villages and towns. Construct any of a number of pre-designed buildings (or follow the guidance to make up your own) in a location of your choice, fill your settlements with your favourite non-player friends and allies, and watch it flourish from a tiny outpost to a societal center. Beware, however: as your settlement grows in size and renown, so too do the issues and challenges it may face.
And that’s not all. The Broken Steppes Setting Guide also comes with a whole host of new weapons, armor, and other equipment, as well as new GLIFs, talents, and archetypes for players to use to customize their characters.
Finally, the Conduits — referred to derisively as “Thralls” by many Everans who don’t fully understand the schism in their culture — are taking the stage as playable people with their own character origin. With an array of unique special abilities, archetypes, and talents, players will be able to create Conduit characters and take them on journeys through the Dreams and Machines universe.
We’ll look at everything coming in The Broken Steppes Setting Guide in more detail over the next few weeks, so be sure to keep checking back to learn more about what’s next for the Dreams and Machines universe. We can’t wait to show you the next chapter in Evera Prime’s story!
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