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With its intoxicating blend of adventure and mythology, the Viking Age makes a fascinating backdrop for aDungeons & Dragonscampaign. This mix is nothing new. Video games likeGod of Warand movies like How to Train Your Dragon have been riffing on the fantasy Viking motif for years.
D&D’s flagship high fantasy setting, Faerûn, doesn’t lack magic, mystery, or adventure. However, introducing elements from different historical eras can give your game a unique flavour. Scandinavian mythology is brimming with tales, monsters, and legends to inspire you. Here are some ideas to consider when prepping for a Viking D&D campaign.
Mixing History And Fantasy In Viking D&D
There’s no right or wrong way to play D&D. However, while sketching out your campaign setting, consider what elements from Viking history you want to include.
Some DMs want to borrow the armour, weapons, and aesthetics of the Norse era.Others find inspiration in the pantheon of Viking gods, the structure of Viking society, or the adventurous spirit of the early Scandinavian raiders.
D&D’s rule set is based on small-scale skirmishes rather than pitched battles. This fact suits the historical reality of the Viking Age.Viking warriors often acted in small bands, raiding the wealthiest, most vulnerable targets by sea.(A raiding ship typically carried between 25 and 60 warriors.)
The expansion of Scandinavian influence in the late 8th Century depended on the Vikings' extraordinary seamanship and shipbuilding skills. For this reason,Viking-themed D&D settings typically involve sea travel and combat.
Wizards of the Coast has published free nautical rules for playtesting in Of Ships and Sea. Severalvariant rule setsfor ship combat and exploration are also available online.Borrow, adapt, and steal from all the available resources until you find a ship system that suits you, your players, and the campaign setting.
Viking longships were purpose-built for raiding. They were narrow and lightweight, easily outpacing most ships of their time. A longship’s shallow draft also allowed its crew to land on beaches, sail upriver, and even carry the boat over short portages.
Gods Of Midgard Or Faerûn?
Most contemporary religions depict their god as a remote, benevolent force. The gods of Norse legend took a more active interest in the lives of their people, interfering in mortal affairs when it pleased them.
D&D often features gods that interact with mortals. (Think of Mystra and Gale in Baldur’s Gate 3.)This type of interaction is perfect in the context of a Viking-themed game.
Whether it’s the tale of Loki and the death of Balder or Freya making a deal with the dwarves, gods in Norse epics deal directly with mortals. These interactions are not always benevolent.
The gods have their own designs and machinations in Viking legends.Use the pantheon of Norse gods to guide, challenge, and motivate your players.
Officially, only the Norse god Tyr has any influence in the Forgotten Realms. However, your campaign setting is yours to define. Include any Aesir or Vanir from Viking legends that suit your story.
Gods in Norse mythology are not quite immortal. When Ragnarok comes, the gods will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with human warriors as the giants destroy the world. Odin is destined to die at the hands of Fenrir.
Common Themes To Drive Your Viking Story
The epic tales from the Edda Poetica and other ancient sagas feature common themes and tropes.Including some of these ideas can evoke the feeling of a Norse Epic:
D&D Creatures For Viking Campaigns
Part of the fun of a Viking-inspiredcampaign is that you don’t have to stick to historical reality. Use the creatures, monsters, and characters that serve your campaign best.Thankfully, the Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG) already contains some creatures borrowed from the pages of Snorri Sturluson’s legendary work.
Link to Viking mythology
Green Dragons
The dragons of Viking legends are mostly flightless, poisonous creatures called “ormr” (worm in English).With their poisonous breath, Green Dragons make a formidable foe for a party of Viking adventurers.
Draugr (Wight)
Wights are armed and armoured undead creatures that wage war on the living.With the right weapons and armour, wights from the DMG make a perfect stand-in for the draugr(or “again walker”) of Viking legends.
Drow
The dark elves of Norse mythology and the drow have lots in common.Both live underground in the darkness and have fairer-skinned cousins who live above ground in the daylight. Drow and Norse dark elves are both associated with darkness and malevolence.
Duergar
The Norse word “dvergr” bears a striking resemblance to “duergar”. This similarity is no coincidence. The dwarves of Viking legends were cruel and vengeful when crossed, but they were also generous to those who helped them. Duergar are perfect antagonists for Viking D&D.
The duergar of the DMG are tyrannical creatures, little better than the mind flayers that once enslaved them. Add some moral subtlety for a Viking flavour.
Elves
Light elves are beautiful creatures in Viking legends.Light elves range from neutral to benevolent in their dealings with mortal beings.
Frost Giant
A “jötunn” or frost giant is a creature that appears in both Norse legends and the DMG. In Viking tales, frost giants are primarily seen as wicked, often clashing with the gods.Their appearance, stats, and abilities are perfect for Viking D&D.
Hel
Hel is one of 20 Norse gods named in the Player’s Hand Book (PHB). She is also one of the most compelling.As the daughter of Loki and a giant evil witch, Hel’s appearance is half a beautiful woman and half a rotting corpse.She holds power over the undead and is skilled at arcane and divine magic.
Kobolds
Kobolds stem from German folklore and mythology but spread throughout Europe, including the far north. In historical terms, kobolds and orcs refer to the same thing.In a D&D context, the former are smaller and more agile, while the latter are powerful and larger. Both can make great enemies in a Viking D&D campaign.
Ravens
In Norse mythology, Huginn and Muninn are ravens that travel the earth and report back to Odin.You could use ravens as enemies, allies, or harbingers of doom. Their inclusion helps give things a Viking feel.
Wolves
Wolves are a staple creature in many D&D campaigns.In Norse legends, wolves accompany Odin, chase the sun and moon across the sky, and ultimately destroy the world.Wolves, like ravens, can make great adversaries, allies, or mysterious unknowns in a Viking D&D game.
