February has been an exciting month for Drakonym, and we've got some major updates to share about new tools and features coming your way.
Herald's Guide Alpha - Now in Backers' Hands
Last month, we reached a huge milestone: the Herald's Guide went out to backers in its first alpha version!
This is the GM resource you've been waiting for; packed with tools, guidance, and resources for running Drakonym campaigns. The alpha version gives you an early look at what the Herald's Guide will offer, including advice on building emotionally resonant campaigns, managing the unique mechanics of Drakonym, and creating memorable sessions for your players.
We know this is an alpha release, which means it's still a work in progress. We're actively gathering feedback from backers who've received it, refining the content, and making sure the final version is as polished and useful as possible.
If you've had a chance to dive into the Herald's Guide, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue development.
Sanctum Integration
Drakonym is also being integrated into Sanctum, our all-in-one digital hub for the Akeroth universe. Sanctum will house everything you need to play and run Drakonym digitally, including:
Dragon databases with full stats and lore
Character creation and management tools
Searchable abilities, traits, and bond mechanics
Resources for GMs running Drakonym campaigns
Sanctum is being built to be the central platform for all things Akeroth, and Drakonym will be a core part of that ecosystem. Whether you're a player tracking your dragon's growth or a GM preparing for a session, Sanctum will have the tools you need in one convenient place.
What's Next
We'll have more detailed updates on Sanctum integration as development continues. We're excited to share more with you!
And as always, we're continuing to refine the Herald's Guide based on your feedback. The alpha is just the beginning, and the final version will be even better.
Thank you for riding with us. The bond between rider and dragon is at the heart of Drakonym, and we're committed to giving you every tool we can to make that bond come alive.
Drakonym has spread its wings to DriveThruRPG and Itch.io, making it accessible wherever you prefer to find your games. The bond between rider and dragon is calling. Answer on your platform of choice.
Mark your calendars! We're hosting a live Drakonym play event in April at the Arcanist's Tavern in London. Experience the game in person, meet fellow riders, and see dragon-bonding adventures come to life at the table. More details coming soon, but if you're in or near London, you won't want to miss this!
Natural Six Actual Play: Now Live
Natural Six's two-part Drakonym actual play series is now available! Watch how the game unfolds at a real table, see the bond system in action, and get inspired for your own adventures.
What a year it's been for Drakonym. We wanted to take a moment to celebrate everything we've accomplished together in 2025 and give you a clear picture of what's soaring toward you in 2026.
🐉 The Journey So Far
Drakonym has grown into something truly special, as a three-book system designed to be our flagship title while still honoring the diverse library of games Crossed Paths creates. It's playable both solo and in groups, giving you the flexibility to experience the bond between rider and dragon however works best for you.
The Core Rulebook is now complete and in its final version. If you're a backer, the digital version is already in your hands. If you've been waiting to dive in, now's the perfect time! The foundation of Drakonym is solid, polished, and ready for your adventures.
✨ What We Delivered This Year
2025 was packed with releases, and we're incredibly proud of what we've brought you:
📖 Creator's Guide 🗺️ Guide to Batesian ⚡ Secrets of the Old Gods 🌙 Shadows of Verdamere 🎵 Full Soundtrack
Plus all the additional crowdfunding content we promised. Every stretch goal, every bonus, delivered.
🔮 Coming in 2026: The Final Pieces
We're not done yet. Two major releases are coming next year to complete the Drakonym experience:
Solo Rulebook – A comprehensive system designed specifically for solo play. While we released a small solo engine this year to give you a taste, the full Solo Rulebook will be an expansive, deeply developed experience that stands alongside the core game. This book will give you everything you need for rich, meaningful adventures.
Herald's Guide – The final book in the trilogy. We'll share more details as we get closer to release, but this guide is designed to deepen your understanding of the world and expand your storytelling possibilities in exciting new directions.
Drakonym has been an incredible journey, and the fact that we get to share it with all of you makes it even more meaningful. Thank you for your patience, your enthusiasm, and your trust as we've built this world together.
There's still so much sky to explore. Let's keep flying!
As the year comes to a close, we want to send you all our warmest wishes - whether you’re resting, adventuring, or spending time with the people who keep your fire burning.
If you missed our December Update Livestream, you can catch up anytime with the VOD below! 👇
✨ The Core Rulebook Has Entered Beta!
This is a huge milestone for the project, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally say that The Drakonym Core Rulebook is officially in Beta.
Your feedback, comments, playthroughs, and bug reports have shaped every corner of this book. This Beta marks the moment where the core foundations of the game are locked in and ready for final refinement.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us hone the system, smooth mechanics, clarify lore, and strengthen the heart of what Drakonym is. You’ve made this possible.
Alongside the Core Rulebook milestone, several major pieces of Drakonym are now content-complete:
Shadows Over Verdamere
The Journey Demo
Drakonym Soundtrack
A Guide to Batesian
Secrets of the Old Gods
Each of these brings a new corner of Akeroth to life, and we’re thrilled to see them taking final shape.
✨ What's Coming Up Next
With the Core Rulebook entering Beta, we’re now able to move fully into development on the Solo Rulebook and the Herald’s Guide.
These two books build directly on the Core’s foundations - the Solo Rules bringing a more introspective, character-driven journaling mode, and the Herald’s Guide supporting storytellers who want to run larger campaigns, guild arcs, and party adventures.
If you’d like to follow these developments as they unfold - including first-look previews and early discussions - make sure you’re part of the Drakonym channels on Discord. That’s where we share the earliest behind-the-scenes details.
Your ongoing support, energy, and dedication have carried this project to one of its biggest milestones yet. Drakonym is where it is because of you - your playtesting, your feedback, your enthusiasm, and your belief in this world.
Stay bright, stay brave, The Crossed Paths Team ⚔️
Happy November! First, thank you to everyone who has been diving into the Drakonym playtest and sharing your feedback so far. 💜 We are excited to say that playtesting is now officially over but we are still taking feedback on Discord!
If you missed our November Update Livestream, you can catch up anytime with the VOD below! 👇
✨ Backerkit Surveys & Pre-Orders
Most of you should have received your Backerkit survey emails by now - if you haven’t, double-check your inboxes and junk folders to confirm your details, add extras, and make sure your pledge is exactly as you’d like it!
Pre-Orders are now open! For a limited time you can hop in and grab Drakonym. There are several bundles available and majority of the Campaign Add-Ons are still here for you to grab so be sure not to miss out!
Ash has put together a set of over 60 Character tokens for you to use at your table! They are now availabe on DriveThruRPG so be sure to grab them and use them in your games. They are perfect for any quick NPCs or even player characters!
✨ Oathfire: An Akeroth Tale
Ready to dive deeper into the fires of Akeroth? 🔥
Explore a tale of two brothers, two dragons, and a promise that could set the skies ablaze. The first chapter of Oathfire: An Akeroth Tale is now live, offering a powerful glimpse into the age of dragons, oaths, and the fragile balance between mercy and fire.
“Broken Oath. Two brothers. Two dragons.
One road that cannot hold them both.
Solen Dawnmark and Garrick Veynar swore an oath on wet stone as boys: to face every storm together. Years later, Solen rides the fire-winged Varkesh, a Pyre Dragon with flame in his bones, while Garrick leads with Serune, a Moon Dragon whose light bends shadows to mercy. Together, they reclaim villages, scatter raiders, and give people reason to believe the road can be safe again.
But victory is fragile, and belief is heavier than steel. Solen’s fire demands justice in ash. Garrick’s oath insists on mercy and work. And when dragons burn each other, the world burns with them.”
🔥 You can experience the full story of Oathfire: An Akeroth Tale on Amazon - available as both an audiobook and Kindle edition:
Our art team has been busy building out more of the world behind Drakonym. Here’s a first look at the WIP for the new Scholar’s Room art - filled with maps, scrolls, and arcane notes.
✨ Major Changes to Drakonym
Over the last month there have been a ton of changes going from Version 0.1 to now Version 0.6. Here are all the Major Changes that have taken place:
Difficulty System Reworked: Heralds can now use Targeted or Freeform Checks, allowing for optional removal of set difficulty (Dx).
New Mechanic – Wild Perks: Temporary, story-safe rewards that offer powerful one-off effects.
Hero Points Overhauled: Players now start each session with 1 Hero Point, which can also be spent to aid allies with +1d6 or a Boon.
Defense Slots Buffed: Players and Dragons now gain additional Defense Slots equal to half their current level.
Unified “Defense” terminology for both players and enemies.
Wound, Scar, and Death rules clarified and streamlined.
New and updated character artwork throughout the book.
All new Character Options
TwoNew Careers:
Merchant
Performer
4 new Advanced Classes and 20 new Subclasses addeNew Careers:
The Exemplar
The Heratic
The Spellbreaker
The Whisper
New Content Releases
Secrets of the Old Gods
Shadows over Verdamere
VTT Tokens
AlchemyVTT Playtest
There will be more to come but Ash has been hard at work taking on all your feedback!
✨ A Note from Ash
I am beyond excited about where Drakonym is. It is a wildly different game to my initial inception and that is due to all of you input and the amazing work of my team.
I love talking about this will you all and also making something amazing with you because at the end of the day you guys are the reason I can do this!
Thank you all for your continued excitement and support as Drakonym takes shape. Every piece of feedback, every survey submitted, and every new art milestone helps us build the world of Akeroth together.
If you’d like to chat with other Dragonbonded, share your theories, or see more behind-the-scenes art, join us in the Drakonym channels on Discord!
