The Swedish tabletop role-playing game Dragonbane offers an alternative to Dungeons & Dragons. The new expansions are experiencing tremendous success on Kickstarter.
What is Dragonbane? Dragonbane is the English translation of the Swedish tabletop role-playing system “Drakar och Demoner”. Originally published in the 1980s, it was re-released in 2023 by Free League Publishing with the English version.
The game features a streamlined rule system designed to be particularly accessible, focusing on adventure, exploration, and classic role-playing. It combines nostalgic old-school flair with modern mechanics such as a talent dice system (D20 for attributes, D6 for talents) and a “Push” mechanic, allowing players to retry rolls – but not without cost and risks.
Typical of Dragonbane are classic fantasy elements such as dragons, magic, ruins, and dark forests, but also a certain humor and a conscious simplicity in design. It appeals to players seeking straightforward, narrative adventures with a hint of retro charm.
On June 3, 2025, a Kickstarter campaign was launched for two new expansion books, which gained significant popularity within minutes. Interested players can also check out the system for free.
Funded in under 10 minutes
What success has the role-playing game achieved? On June 3, 2025, Free League Publishing launched a Kickstarter campaign for the two expansion books “Arkand – City of Waves and Flames” and “Book of Magic”. The former offers a book with various adventures set in the city of Arkand, while the latter provides new guidelines for magic and new schools of magic, such as Harmonism, Demonology, or Witchcraft.
A funding goal of approximately €22,626 was set. Within less than 10 minutes, the goal was reached and the raised amount has since increased around 25-fold, currently standing at approximately €579,000 (as of June 26, 2025, 11:00 AM CEST). With over 5,600 supporters, the project is receiving significant interest. The campaign runs until June 26, 2025, at 9:00 PM (CEST).
Interested players can even try Dragonbane for free. You can secure suitable PDFs through the platform DriveThruRPG, which includes 5 pre-made characters and a quick-start guide.
Dragonbane is by no means the only alternative to Dungeons & Dragons. The most famous streamers of tabletop role-playing have recently released their own system and have even recruited two of the key staff from Dungeons & Dragons: The most famous group related to Dungeons & Dragons is creating their own role-playing game, securing two key staff members from Wizards of the Coast
