[Release] Arcane Forge Is Here

As you step forward, the world opens into an impossible void. Suspended in darkness hangs a colossal circular structure of ancient stone and forgotten metal. Massive pillars disappear into the blackness above and below, while floating platforms drift around a central ring like fragments of a shattered machine.

No fire burns here. No gears turn.

The vast forge is silent.

Dust lies undisturbed across broken stairs and cracked runes. Glass conduits stretch through the darkness, long drained of whatever power once flowed through them. At the center of the structure stands a solitary stone hand, reaching upward toward nothing.

And yet...

You cannot shake the feeling that this place is merely sleeping.

That it is waiting.

Today I'm releasing Arcane Forge!

The map is currently available in two variants: Active and Dormant

And at its core, this is a backdrop for one thing: an epic showdown with your BBEG.

I imagined Arcane Forge as a place hidden between dimensions. Maybe it exists inside its own demiplane. Maybe it's buried beneath forgotten ruins, deep within the bowels of the world itself. Nobody really knows.

What is certain is that it's a colossal ancient machine.

A machine that can be whatever you want it to be.

This is the kind of place where legendary weapons are forged. Where two halves of a forgotten artifact are finally reunited. Where a wizard completes a spell that has been researched for centuries. Where gods, kings, and fools come seeking power they barely understand. - That's exactly the vibe I had in mind while building this map.

And beyond the story potential, Arcane Forge also offers some fun tactical opportunities.

Fighting on floating platforms is already dangerous enough. One wrong step, a failed concentration check, a dispelled Fly spell, and somebody is suddenly falling into a vast, terrifying void.

Then there are the massive glass conduits carrying raw, untamed arcane energy through the structure. Break one of those and things get interesting very quickly. Depending on your DM's interpretation, the resulting explosion might injure everyone nearby... or level an entire city.

You know. The usual high-level adventuring problems.

I pushed a bit harder than usual this week, which is why I managed to get the map out today. EDIT: The Foundry VTT version is also included and you can get the download manifest link on the website. The maps are also available on Moulinette.

You can already grab the map here:

One small change I'd like to mention.

I won't be creating separate Patreon posts for each support tier anymore. Every logged-in patron on dranskybattlemaps.com already has access to the content included in their membership package, and that's been the case for a while. Going forward, I'd like the website to become the main place where you browse, discover, and download all your maps.

And that's about it.

I hope you enjoy Arcane Forge, and I can't wait to see what kind of apocalyptic final battles you'll throw your players into.

Cheers!

~dransky