For years, ever since I devoured Brandon Sanderson’s ‘The Way of Kings’ in the mid-2010s, I’ve imagined what it would be like to wield a Shardblade or bond with a spren as a Knight Radiant in my tabletop RPGs. The endless theorizing about mechanics for these iconic elements can finally stop! The official Cosmere RPG, fresh off a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, is here. Now, I can fully immerse myself in the role of my Windrunner, alongside my spren companion, Malbifina (or just Mal), and bravely face the Desolation.
Brotherwise Games, working hand-in-hand with Brandon Sanderson himself, has launched the Cosmere RPG with a primary focus on Roshar and the intricate systems from the Stormlight Archive series. The initial release includes three essential volumes: The Stormlight Handbook (your guide to playing), The Stormlight World Guide (for the game master), and Stonewalkers (a complete adventure ready to play). If you’re new to the Cosmere, it’s Sanderson’s sprawling literary universe, a collection of epic fantasy novels set across various planets, each boasting unique and masterfully designed magic systems. Roshar, for example, is powered by ‘Stormlight’ (magical lightning) and inhabited by ‘spren’ (personified emotions), home to the legendary ‘Knights Radiant’ (think super paladins) and a history steeped in conflict.
The Cosmere RPG operates on a familiar D20 system, much like popular games such as Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. Players will roll a 20-sided die for skill checks, with other dice used for things like damage. Combat also features a recognizable action economy, dividing turns into Actions, Reactions, and Free Actions. Typically, an action might cost one to three points from a player’s pool of two or three action points per turn, with more potent abilities demanding more resources. The system’s clever use of icons for action types and costs makes it remarkably accessible and easy for new players to learn. However, don’t mistake familiarity for a lack of innovation; the Cosmere RPG brings its own fresh ideas to the table.
Given that Brandon Sanderson, known for his incredible writing output, had a hand in designing this system, it’s no shock that narrative and storytelling are deeply woven into the Cosmere RPG’s mechanics. A unique 6-sided die, called the ‘Plot Die,’ isn’t rolled for every check. Instead, it’s reserved for pivotal, story-defining moments chosen by the GM. These rolls can dramatically shift the narrative, either by opening up unexpected opportunities that propel the story forward or by granting players a special ‘Opportunity’ resource to use later. Conversely, a poor roll on the Plot Die can introduce complications, perhaps causing your character to inadvertently hinder an ally at a critical juncture, or leading to another narrative-altering setback.
This strong emphasis on narrative also extends to character creation and development, offering a refreshingly open and adaptable system. You start by choosing your ancestry – either Human or Singer (and yes, Singer forms are fully customizable). This choice subtly influences your character’s natural aptitude in specific areas of the world’s lore. For instance, a human character’s region of origin might grant advantages on checks related to local customs, histories, noble houses, or languages. Once ancestry is set, the real fun begins as you shape the individual your character will become.
Forget traditional classes like ‘Warrior’ or ‘Druid.’ Here, players select a ‘Heroic Path’ such as Hunter, Leader, or Agent, each featuring its own distinct skill tree and specialized branches to explore. The Stormlight Handbook introduces six core Heroic Paths (Agent, Envoy, Hunter, Leader, Scholar, and Warrior), each with three specializations and a unique ‘Key Talent’ that makes it stand out. As your character gains experience, you don’t level up a rigid class; you level up yourself. This means you can either deepen your current path, unlocking new ‘Talents’ (abilities), or seamlessly branch out into a new path that aligns with your character’s evolving journey. There are no confusing multi-class rules or varied hit dice to worry about. This streamlined approach makes creating a complex, multi-faceted character much more accessible, encouraging creativity while accelerating the leveling process.
Reaching level two is where the real excitement begins! You can, if you choose, embark on a Radiant Path – and yes, every single one is available: Stonewards, Bondsmiths, Windrunners, Skybreakers, Dustbringers, Edgedancers, Truthwatchers, Lightweavers, Elsecallers, and Willshapers. Each Radiant Path bestows upon you a unique spren (which you get to design!), grants access to that Radiant’s specific Surges, and allows you to utilize Stormlight and Investiture. For fans of the Stormlight books, becoming a Knight Radiant is undoubtedly a major draw. For newcomers, imagine them as elite, super-powered paladins. Every order boasts incredible abilities, a unique bond with a familiar, and the eventual ability to recruit squires. Like the Heroic Paths, each Radiant Path offers three talent trees: two dedicated to specific Surges (like Abrasion and Division for Dustbringers) and one focused on deepening your spren bond, allowing you to swear more Ideals. It’s absolutely fantastic – I’ve already concocted more spren companions than I can count! Bring on the Unmade!
Further enriching your character involves defining their core purpose – the driving force behind their actions. This leads to setting concrete goals, which can range from a simple quest for revenge to more abstract aspirations like discovering new healing methods. Crucially, you must also create obstacles or character flaws that will challenge your character’s journey. For example, a character striving to heal others might become so focused on proving a hypothesis that they overlook potential harm, or they might be tempted to experiment with risky new treatments. By placing these goals and obstacles at the forefront, the system not only empowers the GM to craft personalized adventures but also encourages players to view their characters as complex individuals, not just a collection of stats. This deepens the role-playing experience, which, in my opinion, is always a welcome addition to any TTRPG.
Even beyond the engaging mechanics, as a devoted Sanderson fan, I find myself loving these RPG books even more for the rich lore they unveil, delving deeper into the world of Roshar and the wider Cosmere. The ability to play as a Knight Radiant from any of the orders meant I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the detailed descriptions of their ideals and their unique Surges (the special powers of each order). Immersing myself in these books, particularly the World Guide, truly enhanced my understanding of Roshar’s diverse cultures and visual aesthetics.
Notably, Brandon Sanderson has confirmed that the content within these guides is considered canonical to his literary universe. The development team took immense care, collaborating closely with his lore keepers to ensure every detail aligns perfectly with the established Cosmere. A word of caution for readers: if you haven’t yet finished ‘Wind and Truth,’ the newest Stormlight Archive novel released in December 2024, be mindful of potential spoilers contained within these books.
Curiously, despite the rich tapestry of information these books offer, my attention was also drawn to what the Cosmere RPG *doesn’t* provide for role-playing, and this is where most of my criticisms lie. Consider the Heralds, for example: these legendary heroes have, for ages, shielded Roshar from Odium’s malevolent forces during the long periods between Desolations. They are figures around whom entire religions are built, their impact permeating nearly every aspect of the world’s lore. While the books feature lovely sections and stunning art dedicated to them, the RPG offers virtually no mechanical details for players who might wish to embody such iconic figures.
For a ‘forever GM’ like myself, the complete absence of basic stat blocks for powerful entities is genuinely surprising. Why are there no rules or stats for the legendary Honor Blades? Taking it a step further, the lack of detailed mechanics for formidable antagonists like the Unmade, or even the Shards of Odium, Cultivation, or Honor, is frankly a letdown. I also hoped these initial releases might offer a small glimpse, a tiny tease, of how other Cosmere magic systems like Allomancy or AonDor could potentially function, or the direction their future implementations might take. The ‘Burning Pewter’ ability on the Ghostblood Enforcer, which merely provides a buff, gives little indication of how metal-burning powers might actually differ from using Stormlight. I understand that each world will eventually receive its own comprehensive tome, but a little preview would have been greatly appreciated!
Beyond the upcoming physical releases in November, the Cosmere RPG is also actively supported with frequent digital updates and supplemental content for Virtual Tabletop platforms. Players can immediately access digital versions of all the core books to craft characters and launch games. Additionally, the official Cosmere RPG Nexus offers ready-to-play scenarios and advanced rules for creating challenging, high-level enemies. For those who prefer standalone PDFs, the entire collection is also available for purchase on Drive Thru RPG.
For dedicated Brandon Sanderson enthusiasts, these books – especially the World Guide – are an absolute essential, even if you have no plans to play the TTRPG, simply for the wealth of lore and insight they offer into Roshar. As a tabletop RPG system, it performs admirably, though the range of available items and enemy options feels somewhat limited compared to other fantasy RPGs. As both a seasoned TTRPG player and a passionate Cosmere fan, I must admit some omissions were a tad disappointing, giving the impression that more content will be held back for a future ‘second Roshar set.’
The physical editions of the Cosmere RPG books are slated for release on November 12th. However, digital versions are already available for immediate purchase via DriveThruRPG or through the Demiplane virtual platform.
Verdict: The Cosmere RPG’s initial offerings on Roshar are a strong first go for this new TTRPG system that offers a focus on flexible character development and stronger narrative mechanics than its peers.