Sword and Crown
Encyclopedia
Sword and Crown is an official game adventure of the Birthight
Campaign Setting in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. Published in 1995 by TSR Inc. (TSR Inc. is now Wizards of the Coast
subsidiary of Hasbro
). The module is for characters of levels 5-7.
s go from elven
laboratories to slave pens to fungus lakes, and face off against an adversary called the Spiritrender.
, and featuring a 64-page softcover book, and one 21’x 32’ map sheet. The adventure was designed by Colin McComb
and edited by Anne Brown
, with cover art by Tony Szczudlo and illustrations by Ben Otero and John Dollar.
magazine #233 (September 1996), giving it a rating of 4 out of 6. Swan called this a first-rate example of an official adventure, "where the design team takes you by the hand and shows you what they consider the essentials of a BIRTHRIGHT campaign". He also called Sword and Crown "well-organized, clutter-free, and easy on the brain", and referred to the Spiritrender an "exceptionally nasty adversary". Swan felt that Colin McComb, co-designer of the original Birthright rules, "supplies plenty of staging tips and helpful NPCs — too helpful, some might say", noting that a bandit conveniently volunteers too much information about his family at one point. He admitted that the adventure doesn't break any new ground, and relies on AD&D conventions rather than concepts unique to the Birthtright setting, so that the adventure acts as a bridge "intended to ease the transition from standard AD&D to the more sophisticated BIRTHRIGHT setting". Swan recommended that, for a beginner on a budget looking to buy a Birthright adventure, to "go with Sword and Crown if you can't make up your mind", but that seasoned Birthright players who already have a campaign underway can skip the adventure.
Birthright (campaign setting)
Birthright is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting that was first released by TSR in 1995. The setting based on the world of Aebrynis on the continent of Cerilia, in which the players take on the role of the divinely-empowered rulers, with emphasis on the political rulership level of gameplay...
Campaign Setting in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. Published in 1995 by TSR Inc. (TSR Inc. is now Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
subsidiary of Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
). The module is for characters of levels 5-7.
Plot summary
Sword and Crown involves the search for a lost princess, as the player characterPlayer character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s go from elven
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
laboratories to slave pens to fungus lakes, and face off against an adversary called the Spiritrender.
Notable nonplayer characters
- Aubrae Avan Anuireaen mage 2
- Aeric Boeruine Anuireaen fighter 12
- Prince Darien Avan Anuireaen fighter 9
Publication history
Sword and Crown is an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game suppplement for the Birthright setting, published by TSR, Inc.TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, and featuring a 64-page softcover book, and one 21’x 32’ map sheet. The adventure was designed by Colin McComb
Colin McComb
Colin McComb is an American writer and game designer born in Evanston, Illinois. He is married to musician Robin Moulder. They currently live in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, with their two children...
and edited by Anne Brown
Anne Brown (game designer)
Anne Brown is a writer and editor in the role-playing game industry.Brown began working as an Assistant editor for Dragon magazine in 1989, on issues #147 to #151 . She was later transferred to TSR's Games Division...
, with cover art by Tony Szczudlo and illustrations by Ben Otero and John Dollar.
Reception
Rick Swan reviewed Sword and Crown along with several other Birthright products for DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine #233 (September 1996), giving it a rating of 4 out of 6. Swan called this a first-rate example of an official adventure, "where the design team takes you by the hand and shows you what they consider the essentials of a BIRTHRIGHT campaign". He also called Sword and Crown "well-organized, clutter-free, and easy on the brain", and referred to the Spiritrender an "exceptionally nasty adversary". Swan felt that Colin McComb, co-designer of the original Birthright rules, "supplies plenty of staging tips and helpful NPCs — too helpful, some might say", noting that a bandit conveniently volunteers too much information about his family at one point. He admitted that the adventure doesn't break any new ground, and relies on AD&D conventions rather than concepts unique to the Birthtright setting, so that the adventure acts as a bridge "intended to ease the transition from standard AD&D to the more sophisticated BIRTHRIGHT setting". Swan recommended that, for a beginner on a budget looking to buy a Birthright adventure, to "go with Sword and Crown if you can't make up your mind", but that seasoned Birthright players who already have a campaign underway can skip the adventure.