Frostgrave: Forgotten Pacts

The third of the Frostgrave supplements followed very quickly after the second - just a four month interval this time. Thaw of the Lich Lord was published in November 2015, Into the Breeding Pits in July 2016, and Forgotten Pacts in the November of the same year.

Forgotten Pacts was written in 2016, again by the author of the original rules set, Joe McCullough, but this time the full-colour page count has increased to 72 pages (plus the card jacket) in the soft-cover book...

In this supplement, the players explore the northern reaches of the city; a place called The Hallowed. Here they encounter barbarian tribes and a plethora of demons to vanquish. Full rules are included for all the encounters and situations that may arise in this adventure setting, including new rules for summoning and forging pacts with demons.

Introduction - The Introduction gives a brief overview of what can be found between the covers of this supplement

Forging Pacts - This section introduces new rules for binding demons using their true names. It also lists the costs in terms of Sacrifices the wizard has to make, but Boons are granted in return. Like with previous supplements, these rules are optional but they do add more depth to the game

Advanced Summoning - These optional rules allow for demons to be summoned out of game. A couple of tables of minor and major demonic attributes list appearances, traits and skills summoned demons can possess

New Magic - Only two new spells in this section this time around, linked to demon summoning (Demonic Servant) and introducing the use of magical tattoos (Mystic Brand). They are additions to two of the already established schools of magic, so can be used outside of this supplement, but both are out of game spells

New Soldiers - There are five new soldier-types documented in this supplement; Assassin, Demon Hunter, Demonic Servant, Monk and Mystic Warrior. Each is accompanied by a brief description of what their role in a warband is and their stat line

Scenarios - There are eight new scenarios listed that take place in the area of Felstad called The Hallowed; the first six are two sets of three mini-campaigns followed by two very challenging sceanrios. Each scenario description, again, has the same layout as per those in previous supplements; a brief guide to what it is about, how to set up, special rules and a final section on treasure and experience awards

New Treasure - A special table that can be rolled on to vary the treasure gained by a wizard's warband in The Hallowed area of Felstad

Bestiary - This section starts with two random encounter tables specific to The Hallowed setting and then describes and stats many new monsters that can be encountered there: Ambronnax - Endower of Senescence, Balkren - Barbarian Summoner, Barbarians, Bile Hound, Chilopendra, Failing Wretch, Grakyura, Kaylakid, Kornovik - Barbarian Outcast, Toravor and TiszirainViolent Fungus

This supplement sets out more adventures and encounters within the vast city environs of Felstad. This time the action takes place in the northern reaches and we have had underground settings explained in Into the Breeding Pits. Future supplements take the narrative to other major parts of the city.

I am kind of hoping that one day there will be an official map of the city of Felstad that outlines, in general, these adventuring areas, but not in too much detail as I am sure players would want to map out their own adventure paths too. An online supplement could probably do the trick as it could then be updated and modified as new supplements are released - if a nominal charge was made for downloading a decent sized version of the map then most players would, I am sure, keep their adventure sheets up to date with each new amendment that is released.