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Solasta: Crown of the Magister arrived in 2021, offering a video game adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. Highly anticipated by D&D fans, the game successfully launched on Kickstarter and entered Early Access, garnering praise for its faithful translation of the tabletop experience. However, does its dedication to the source material ultimately hold it back?

A True D&D Experience

alt text: Character creation screen in Solasta: Crown of the Magister, showcasing the ability score rolling mechanic with dice.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister doesn’t require mastery of D&D to enjoy its classic adventure. The game begins with the creation of four heroes, a process highlighting the core mechanic of both Solasta and D&D: the dice roll. Players can choose to assign ability scores manually or embrace the randomness of the dice, potentially yielding higher-than-average stats. This reliance on dice rolls permeates the gameplay, influencing everything from skill checks to combat encounters, mirroring the unpredictable nature of a tabletop campaign.

A key element of Solasta’s combat is the impact of light and elevation. Darkness significantly impairs accuracy, while dim light offers advantages to stealthy characters like Rogues. Bright light is the ideal condition, and manipulating light sources can be crucial for success. Some enemies, like vampires, are vulnerable to bright light, making spells like Daylight surprisingly effective.

alt text: Combat scene in Solasta: Crown of the Magister, demonstrating the importance of verticality with characters positioned on different levels.

Elevation also plays a significant role. Ranged weapons are essential, not just for enemies perched on high ground, but also for flying or wall-crawling creatures. Clever positioning and tactical use of spells become vital, with abilities like Levitate and Fly offering advantageous perspectives for ranged attacks. The game encourages strategic party composition, utilizing subclass features and synergistic abilities to overcome challenging encounters. For instance, a Mountaineer with a shield gains an AC bonus when surrounded, and positioning a Champion ally beside them can trigger this bonus, making the Mountaineer a highly effective tank.

Lack of Depth Beyond Combat

alt text: A screenshot from Solasta: Crown of the Magister, showing character models during a dialogue sequence.

While Tactical Adventures delivered on their promise of a timely Early Access and full release, Solasta suffers from a certain degree of polish and depth. Minor bugs, graphical inconsistencies, and awkward animations detract from the overall experience. Furthermore, compared to modern CRPGs like Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Expeditions: Viking, Solasta’s narrative, dialogue, and quest design feel simplistic. While the four player-created characters have unique dialogue based on their backgrounds, the overall story and world-building lack depth.

alt text: In-game screenshot showcasing character models exploring a dungeon environment in Solasta: Crown of the Magister.

The faction system is underdeveloped, serving primarily as a means to trade artifacts for better equipment. There are no meaningful conflicts or choices to make, and the world feels static. Fully voiced dialogue and 3D cutscenes are present, but stiff animations and inconsequential dialogue choices make skipping through conversations tempting. The overworld travel system, while incorporating time and rations, lacks engaging encounters or meaningful consequences.

Conclusion

Solasta: Crown of the Magister successfully captures the tactical combat of D&D 5E, with its emphasis on light, elevation, and strategic positioning. However, its lack of depth in narrative, character development, and world-building ultimately holds it back from achieving true greatness. Whether this is a limitation of the 5E system itself or a shortcoming of the game’s implementation remains a point of contention. While enjoyable for its faithful combat, Solasta falls short of the richness and complexity found in other contemporary CRPGs.

Game Information

• Developer: Tactical Adventures
• Publisher: Tactical Adventures
• Genre: RPG
• Release Date: May 26, 2021
• Platform: PC

Minimum Requirements

• OS: Windows 7 / 8.1 / 10
• Processor: AMD FX 4300 / Intel Core i5-3570K
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Radeon R9 285 / GeForce GTX 950
• DirectX: 11
• Storage: 30 GB

Recommended Requirements

• OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600
• RAM: 16GB
• VGA: NVIDIA GTX 1070
• SSD: Crucial P1 500GB