Broken Covenant of Calebais
 | |
| Product Information | |
|---|---|
| Rules Edition: | Fifth |
| Abbreviation: | BCoC5 |
| Product Type: | Scenario |
| Author(s): | Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein·Hagen; revised by Erik Dahl |
| Publisher: | Atlas Games |
| Product Number: | AG0275 |
| ISBN: | 1-58978-071-X |
| Release date: | November 2004 |
| Format: | Softcover or PDF, 96 pages |
| Availability: | In print; PDF available |
The Broken Covenant of Calebais is the first scenario ever published for Ars Magica. It is widely regarded as a classic. It was originally printed for First Edition, was later revised for Second Edition, and in 2004 was significantly revised for ArM5 by Erik Dahl.
Subject and Contents
The player characters investigate the ruins of the once-powerful covenant of Calebais. Fifty years ago, the entire covenant was destroyed in a mysterious and sudden catastrophe. To solve the mystery, the characters must overcome the still-potent enchantments that guard the ruins and deal with the strange creatures who dwell there.
The Broken Covenant of Calebais is a mystery story disguised as a dungeon crawl. It has a definite theme and a much stronger plot than the typical expedition into lost ruins.
Fifth Edition Version
The title printed on the cover of the Fifth Edition version is Calebais, the Broken Covenant, but it is listed in the Atlas Games online catalog under the original title, The Broken Covenant of Calebais.
There are a couple of noteworthy features specific to the Fifth Edition version.
Errata
The Fifth Edition version of the scenario was written while the ArM5 combat rules were still being finalized. As a result, practically all the combat statistics in the print version are incorrect; errata are published on the Atlas Games Web site.
New and Expanded Chapters
Erik Dahl improved on the original scenario by expanding the introductory chapter and adding an epilogue.
Opinion and Commentary
- Not an ideal introductory adventure
- Although it was the first published scenario for Ars Magica, I don't think it a good first adventure for new players. The whole site of Calebais is under a powerful enchantment that limits the use of magic. This rather gets in the way of new players learning to use their powers, and is potentially frustrating. Beginners, try Promises, Promises instead. --Andrew Gronosky
First and Second Edition Versions
The First and Second Edition versions were published by Lion Rampant.
FAQ Reviews
FAQ Rating: *** (3 reviews; 0 *, 1 **, 2 ***, 0 ****)
- One of the best dungeon adventures ever written.
- It's still a dungeon crawl, but it's an interesting and well-reasoned dungeon crawl. The blurbs on ghosts are important, and, unfortunately, missing from the core rules.
Related Sites
- Official product page at Atlas Games:
- Errata for the Fifth Edition version: