The best D&D module right now isn't even on D&D Beyond, and it was written by the creator of Baldur's Gate
Apr. 19, 2024Opinion | You should absolutely be playing the sequel to Descent into Avernus
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I’ve said here before thatBaldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernusranks among one of the best D&D 5e modules out there right now; a frenetic, bombastic adventure that drags players down to the Nine Hells of Baator in the hope of saving a lost city, a fallen angel, and more besides. Although it was originally sold as a prequel toBaldur’s Gate 3, it ended up evolving into its own entity – a madcap adventure through the battlefields of the damned. BG3 isn’t so much a sequel to that as it is a kind of elaborate spin-off that occasionally invokes the consequences and context of Descent into Avernus. Atruesequel to Descent into Avernus has yet to exist… at least officially. But unofficially, there’s an adventure out there that might be one of the best 5e modules around: Chains of Asmodeus.
Hell ain’t a bad place to be
Alright, Chains of Asmodeus isn’t technically a sequel (it can absolutely be run independently of Avernus) but it’s clearly intended as a follow-up act, starting for characters of level 11 (which is where Avernus stops) and dragging them back to the underworld on a grander scale, all the way to level 20. This time the villain is the mastermind of Hell himself, the devil god Asmodeus, who has stolen the souls of the player characters and has further plans to ensure their corruption. To get their spirits back and avoid an eternity of damnation, the heroes must return to the Nine Hells – and yes, I meanallof the Hells. Descent into Avernus covered just the first layer of Baator, but Chains of Asmodeus will drag you through the entire Plane, encountering the sneering Archdevil warlords along the way, plus a chaotic cast of oddballs and antagonists.
Chains of Asmodeus is availablevia Dungeon Master’s Guild, and there are a few different versions in play. The standard PDF file is $29.99, the softcover books begin at $34.99, and the hardcover alternative starts at $59.99. (You can get ‘Premium Color’ versions of both for a little more.)
CoA is a hefty book that hits nearly 300 pages with very little filler, so rather than try to explain it in full – borderline impossible to do so efficiently – I’ll just drop a few highlights about what you might find to tempt you: expect a steampunk submarine, mechanics based around corruption of the soul, a fat beholder and an elderly mind flayer working a market as a couple, the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse riding in on armored dinosaurs, an evil amusement park boasting the scariest roller coaster in the known universe, and new monsters including body horror pterodactyls, spirit tigers, Styx Dragons, something called the Fire Kraken, and even stats for Asmodeus himself, if you feel confident about taking on one of the most powerful gods fromD&D books.
Perhaps as important as the content of Chains of Asmodeus is the context around it, as this is a book with an almost heroic lineage: though published by Wizards of the Coast, it’s a less-than-canon team-up between acclaimed author Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time, The Doors of Eden, The Tiger and the Wolf) and thelegendaryJames Ohlen – the pioneer who wrote and designed Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age Origins, and yes, the first two Baldur’s Gate games.
Their writing pairs superbly with atmospheric artwork from a range of contributors (Sergei Sarichev, Sergey Musin, Julian Calle, Sebastion Kowoll, Paul Adams, Luis Lasahido, and the Aaron Sims Company). I love how the landscape shots in particular have this slightly smeared, painterly quality that invokes messy bloodstains, gore, smoke and flame, but keeps clarity despite that. Official 5e artwork, though often superb, can be a little too clean and sterile for its own good, but Chains of Asmodeus is clever enough to bring in an aesthetic that matches the tone of the content, and it elevates the entire package.
But even that pales to the most important thing –that all proceeds from Chains of Asmodeus go to Extra Life, a charity fundraising program that supports childrens' hospital programs, and that fact alone makes CoA one of the best D&D purchases you could make. And yet it’s just a fantastic adventure on its own terms, especially considering how few options there are for players at a high level.
Chains of Asmodeus is for saleat Dungeon Master’s Guild right now, with options for physical copies both hardcover and softcover, as well as digital PDF options and even a Roll20 VTT. Consider this a full-throated recommendation – it’s the best addition to my D&D shelf in a long time.
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Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and raconteur with a Masters from Sussex University, none of which has actually equipped him for anything in real life. As a result he chooses to spend most of his time playing video games, reading old books and ingesting chemically-risky levels of caffeine. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at USgamer, Gfinity, Eurogamer and more besides.
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