Arcana Unearthed is a role-playing game created by Monte Cook and first published in 2003. Described as a "variant player's handbook", the 256-page hardcover core rulebook bears many similarities to the Player's Handbook of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons, on which Cook worked a few years prior. Arcana Unearthed is based on the d20 system of Dungeons & Dragons, but because of the rules for character advancement, it cannot be an official d20 system product. It does, however, use the Open Gaming License.
Development
Arcana Unearthed was advertised as a "variant player's handbook" that offered different d20 rules set in Monte Cook's world of "The Diamond Throne," a giant-dominated setting. It was revised in Arcana Evolved.
Themes
Two of the most important themes of the game are ritual and character choices. Both the setting information and the game rules emphasize these areas far more than is typical of Dungeons & Dragons products. Two examples are metamorphosis, in which faen become tiny, winged sprytes, and Chi-Julud, in which the wise giants temporarily lose their wisdom to become stronger and more warlike. Both involve rituals, and both also involve choices on the part of both the player and character that are much more far-reaching than those typically faced by D&D characters. Cook emphasizes that players should avoid archetypes and design their characters more creatively. In fact, shortly after the game was released, Monte Cook's website held a character design competition.
Setting
The campaign setting for Arcana Unearthed is the lands of The Diamond Throne, a land ruled by giants. The setting includes many elements of a traditional fantasy setting, along with a focus on ritual and ceremony, runes, and the magical properties of crystals.
Title confusion
Arcana Unearthed is not to be confused with Unearthed Arcana, the title of two books published in 1985 and 2004 that provided additional material for use in the then-current version of Dungeons & Dragons. The name Arcana Unearthed was chosen partially as a homage to the earlier of these two books. The announcement of the 2004 version came as an unpleasant surprise to Cook and some of his fans, who believed that they had an understanding with Wizards of the Coast that this title would not be re-used in the near future.
Reception
Arcana Unearthed won the 2004 Gold ENnie Award for Best Game, and the Silver for Best Art. The cover, by artist Mark Zug, won the Chesley Award for Best Gaming-Related Illustration in 2005.
Arcana Evolved
Arcana Evolved is an updated "director's cut" of Arcana Unearthed released in 2005. Arcana Evolved is 432 pages in full color. It adds the contents of two previously separate books, The Diamond Throne and the Player's Companion, to the original variant player's handbook, along with new material including a new class and race, many new feats and spells, and rules for higher level characters than were possible in the original book. On the less mechanical side, it also advances the time line of the Diamond Throne campaign setting by several years - years which feature the return of dragons to the lands of the Diamond Throne, reviving an ancient rivalry with the ruling giants.
Additional books
have expanded the Arcana Unearthed universe with a series of books, including the rulebooks The Diamond Throne, Legacy of Dragons, Grimoire II, and Mystic Secrets, and the short story collection Children of the Rune. Some other publishers, including Blue Devil Games, have also supported the Arcana Unearthed line. Since the release of Arcana Evolved, Malhavoc has released a number of supporting books specific to the new edition, such as the Spell Treasury, Transcendence and Ruins of Intrigue. Sue Weinlein Cook edited the 2004 short story collectionChildren of the Rune.
