I had the chance to catch up with David Souza of Sarsen Games. Right now, Sarsen is running a Kickstarter The Herbal Journal of Cicely Longbottom: a DnD supplement. It’s smashed goals, and with two weeks left, it looks likely to push through 700 backers.
Despite (or because of) that success, there was just time to dig into a few topics, but the Botanist class must be one of the core attractions to the plant book and The Hobble Pollen from the next stretch goal.
[The Herbal Journal of Cicely Longbottom: a DnD supplement]
Oh yes, I did say “Plant Book”, by the way. The Herbal Journal of Cicely Longbottom really is a D&D supplement, and it has over 100 plants, potions and related monsters. Not just from forests and fields but the Feywild, Underdark, desert and even coral seascapes.
I had a day or so to think about this. Why would a plant book be so successful? It might not be obvious at first but all it takes is a bit of thought. The core D&D books are light on plants and in part this is due to there being no default D&D setting (despite the dominance of the Forgotten Realm in the first following on books) and therefore no default landscape. In contrast, exploring and trying to survive the wilds, or protect them, is something adventuring heroes quickly find themselves doing.
The Botanist D&D class
Thanks to stretch goals, the new Botanist class has been unlocked. Here’s what I got from Dave about it;
Botanists represent the merging of science and magic in the natural world, in a way we don’t see from the current available classes – Wizards see it as a lesser form of study, Clerics deem its healing powers as an insult to the divine, and Druids tolerate it – but do not appreciate how it can sometimes taint and despoil. We wanted Botany to be a craft based of balance – preservation and cultivation, growing and gathering, foraging, and felling. As such many other classes do not appreciate the artistry.
A botanist is always scrutinised for their choices, but ultimately, they do what they do to understand, protect, and become part of the Plant Kingdom. Through travelling and studying they have gained an acute knowledge of the Plant Kingdom, tapping into its very essence – reusing and reshaping it to their will. Botanist are orientated towards the alchemical and supernatural use of plants, but their specialities allow many different forms of application.
Hobble Pollen
The Botanist has already been unlocked, so what’s next? That’s the interesting idea of Plant Creatures. Dave told me;
We had a lot of fun drafting these. We’ve already shown the Trap Hydra in our promotional video, but here’s another sneak peek at one of the creatures coming to The Herbal Journal in the next goal – The Hobble Pollen. Hobble Pollens are small, hulking masses of vegetation and rock. They are carnivorous beyond any shred of doubt, choosing to hunt alone and wander from place to place without any true aim but the desire to consume. Birds, rodents, mammals, and even small humanoids – they engulf and digest all they come across. Some believe that the Hobble Pollen is thought to be a young Shambling Mound, and that is quest to feed is the process through which is grows into its full form.”
Sarsen Stones
I found the tension between Druids, Wizards and Clerics interesting grounds to seed the roots of the Botanist class. It does, of course, assume a little about a campaign setting but also works with most.
Sarsen Stones are a thing in real-life. The word “Sarsen” comes from the Middle Age term “Saracen”, often used to mean Muslim, anyone non-Christian and therefore also pagan. Middle Age logic at work.
Sarsen Stones are those blocks found far south of Geek Native’s Scottish dwelling and in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and similar locations in England.
Sarsen Games are based in Wiltshire. Dave and Matt, the couple behind the company, have the nearby 5,000-year-old Stonehenge where ancient Druids told stories and held festivals as inspiration.
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