James Ohlen

Founder, Arcanum Worlds & Archetype Entertainment. Creative Director/Lead Designer of Baldur's Gate 1 & 2, KOTOR, Neverwinter Nights, and Dragon Age: Origins

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

We announced our next big project - Malborn: City of Masks. Five years in the making, it is a vigilante themed adventure across three books with Adrian Tchaikovsky as the lead writer. For more information check out this link: https://t.co/mkPeklA8CH

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

@TrentOster Of course! A chance to work on Dragon Age again is a dream of mine.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Next week we return to Malborn, but this week on the Arcanum Worlds Patreon, we meet four of the Seven Graces: legendary swords bound with the souls of repentant sinners, including that of a Dragonlord. They’re powerful, opinionated, and each one argues with whoever carries it.
Find out more: https://t.co/Y78EweGnrY

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

A lot of you replied to my last post, so here are a few thoughts.

The majority of people on a team the size of Veilguard’s had little or no say in the things you disliked about it. Right up to the end, BioWare still had many people who worked on the games you loved. I also have my own issues with modern entertainment, especially when political messaging gets in the way of good storytelling.

I was the guy responsible for the broodmothers in Origins, but also the guy who wanted Zevran to be a same-sex romance. Years later, my son told me he was gay (he gave me permission to share this). I converted to Catholicism several years ago. My son and I love each other and enjoy arguing over politics and religion.

My favorite character is Conan the Barbarian, and I love the art of Frank Frazetta, Brom and Chris Achilleos.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s possible to hold views that don’t fit neatly into anyone’s political camp, and to love and respect people you disagree with. People are complicated. That includes the people who make the games you love or hate.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

BioWare is closing. My 22 years there made me the man I am. The people affected today are some of the best RPG developers in the world. If you're hiring writers, designers, artists or engineers, start with them. Former BioWare folks: if an intro from me would help, reach out.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

I loved Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey so much that I saw it twice. It brought Homer’s timeless epic vividly to life and reminded me why these stories have inspired generations of storytellers, including me, and why I wrote Odyssey of the Dragonlords. #TheOdyssey

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Building on the acclaimed Chains of Asmodeus, we have created a new journey through the Nine Hells.

The Stygian Passage is created by James Ohlen, with Hugo Award–winning lead writer Adrian Tchaikovsky. It launches July 7 alongside the Chivalric Handbook, exclusively at https://t.co/Lgo0iZVap8.

Watch the video and download the free previews:
https://t.co/JDbTzznIj2

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Stepping Back from Archetype Leadership

There has been some speculation about me stepping down as Studio Head of Archetype. That decision was one I made last summer. While Hasbro would have preferred I stay, the departure was amicable and fully supported, and I remain on good terms with everyone involved.

After more than six years building Archetype and leading a AAA project while balancing both creative and business responsibilities, I reached a point where stepping back made sense. Burnout is not unusual in this industry, and it felt like the right moment for new leadership to guide the project forward.

Exodus is in a good place, guided by creative leaders I have worked with and trusted for decades, including Jesse Sky, with whom I originally founded Archetype.

Right now, I am focusing on what I enjoy most: story and world building. I am developing new worlds through my own company, Arcanum Worlds, and I also have a couple of upcoming books funded by Hasbro that I am excited to share soon.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Another preview. This book will have four double page spreads that detail the interior of starships.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Today marks the beginning of previews for the third Exodus TTRPG book, Exodus: Chronicles of Melayu. This volume offers game masters a new setting, and a fully realized adventure to bring it to life.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

The Odyssey of the Dragonlords Remastered Kickstarter is now live. You can find it here: https://t.co/GxKwzSlXqL

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Many monsters from Chains of Asmodeus have returned and are fully updated to match the 2024 Monster Manual format.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

The Nine Hells tempt with treasure. The Stygian Passage includes 20+ new infernal magic items, and stunning new art for the relics first seen in Chains of Asmodeus.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s work laid the atmospheric groundwork for nine unique locations in the Nine Hells. The Stygian Passage builds on that by turning each location into a living, breathing adventure.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

We created Stygian Passage because we wanted to offer what Chains of Asmodeus couldn’t: A full hellbound campaign that starts at level 1 with a dozen terrifying dungeons. Every map is hand-crafted by cartographer John Stevenson, with layers of infernal detail.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Stygian Passage is a 285-page reimagining of the Nine Hells. It’s an infernal adventure that takes your players heroes from level 1 to 13 through a gauntlet of temptation and evil.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

Pulled from the pages of the Exodus Encyclopedia: the Risitch. If they survive a dangerous rite of passage and present proof of their kill... they go on to live a nomadic lifestyle, following the migration patterns of the allomoose.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

More from the Exodus Encyclopedia! The Uranic Gene gives humans the neural induction ability possessed by many Celestials.

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

For today's look inside the Exodus Encyclopedia, it's all about the ghosts: Ghost Familiars and Ghost Gloves. Careful, your Ghost Gloves might sense your inner urges and slap someone -- or worse...

[James Ohlen @JamesOhlen]

As promised, an inside look at the Cormorant ship from EXODUS: