[All Patrons] Frostlands: The Complete Arctic Survival Guide: Equipment and Treasure for Viking-Themed Campaigns (Patreon)

When the word "Viking" is uttered, many think immediately of battle-hardened warriors sailing the seas to raid and pillage foreign lands. However, the Vikings were not just raiders but also settlers, traders, and colonizers, deeply embedded in a variety of economic practices. As they established colonies and engaged in commerce with other civilizations, they relied on a nuanced system of transactions. Given the broad scope of Viking economic practices, covering them all is impossible. However, we will focus on three primary forms of transactions they used: debts of honor, bartering, and, to a lesser extent, coinage.

It's essential to recognize that the Viking age was both technologically and culturally distinct from the standard high fantasy settings of Fifth Edition campaigns. Many of the items commonly found in such campaigns would not yet have been invented, or the resources to craft them might not be readily available in a Viking-age setting. Instead, this chapter will introduce equipment and weapons unique to the Viking age, which might be new additions to your arsenal.

Furthermore, treasure in a Viking setting will rarely look like the familiar stacks of gold and silver coins adventurers are used to unearthing. The Viking economy wasn't primarily coin-based; it was a mix of commodities, precious metal by weight, and objects both mundane and magical. Thus, the treasure hoards your characters encounter may consist of goods for bartering, debts of honor to be claimed, or unique, culturally-significant items.

And speaking of magical items—Viking lore is brimming with them, though they may not take the forms you expect. In a Viking-themed campaign, you won't find many items that directly translate to those in a standard high fantasy setting. Instead, be prepared to encounter a variety of magical objects steeped in Nordic mythology and cultural significance, each with its own unique story and power.

Editor's note: this is heavily based on the old DD2 HR1 splat book, Vikings Campaign, which did a fair deal of historical research. I'll likely change some bits to get them more in line with Fifth Edition before this goes to print, but I at least wanted to get this out there and show you sort of what I had in mind in order to collect feedback. Let me know what you think.