Beneath twelve cursed moons, the city of Luyarnha rots from within. What was once a beacon of civilization now groans under the weight of forgotten gods, warped monstrosities, and mind-breaking revelations. Will your party endure the hunt—or succumb to the madness?
Steinhardt’s Guide to the Eldritch Hunt is a massive 480+ page Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition supplement that blends gothic horror, Lovecraftian cosmic terror, and Soulsborne-inspired gameplay. Created by MonkeyDM and originally funded on Kickstarter, this tome offers brutal survival mechanics, a rich setting, terrifying enemies, and fresh player options, all wrapped in a darkly elegant aesthetic.
Setting & Themes: A World on the Brink of Madness
At the heart of this supplement lies the cursed metropolis of Luyarnha—a Victorian-inspired city crumbling beneath the influence of cosmic corruption. The setting is not only atmospheric but dynamically reactive, shaped by external and internal forces that push players toward despair or transformation.
- Cosmic Horror Influence: The veil between realities has thinned, allowing ancient horrors to seep in.
- Twelve Eldritch Moons: Each lunar phase affects gameplay, introducing shifting madness effects, creature spawns, and environmental dangers.
- Grimdark Tone: Resources are scarce. Sanity is fragile. Death is permanent—and often not the worst outcome.
Mechanics & Gameplay Innovations
Steinhardt doesn’t merely reskin 5E—it fundamentally reshapes how players engage with the world. The guide introduces intricate mechanical systems that add risk, uncertainty, and immersion to every encounter.
1. Revamped Madness & Corruption System
The madness mechanic is central to the game, acting as both a narrative and mechanical driver. Instead of being a simple status condition, madness grows, evolves, and corrupts everything it touches—including your character’s identity.
- 300+ Madness Effects: A blend of debilitating flaws and strange eldritch boons, tied to narrative and mechanics.
- Sanity Meter: Characters spiral differently depending on exposure, trauma, and choices.
- Corruption Mutations: Prolonged contact with the scourge causes horrifying transformations.
2. Dynamic World Through Lunar Influence
The moons in Steinhardt are not just skybox lore—they actively rewrite the state of the campaign. Each phase affects encounters, NPCs, the environment, and story beats, ensuring that no two sessions feel the same.
- Shifting Encounter Tables
- Environmental Hazards
- NPC Behavior Changes
- New Quest Hooks Per Phase
New Player Options: Become the Monster
This supplement radically expands character creation and customization. Traditional races and archetypes give way to distorted, morally gray, and downright monstrous alternatives that perfectly align with the setting’s grim tone.
Play as 14 Twisted Races
These races aren’t just new skins—they come with lore, abilities, and curses that tie directly into the game’s eldritch themes.
- Scourgeborn – Parasite-infused survivors.
- Manikin – Artificial wax constructs with hollow memories.
- Duskwalkers, Gloomkin, and more.
Master 16 Nightmarish Subclasses
Built to complement the tone and mechanics of Steinhardt’s world, these subclasses let you play as plague-ridden clerics, bone-forging mages, or trigger-happy pact-makers.
- Osteomancer Wizard – Shape your bones into weapons.
- Pact of the Trigger Warlock – Channel eldritch magic through firearms.
- Jaeger Class (Full Custom Class) – Monster hunters wielding firearms, trick weapons, and eldritch rites.
Trick Weapons & Firearms
Combat in Steinhardt is kinetic, brutal, and adaptive. Your arsenal isn’t fixed—it transforms as you fight, mimicking Soulsborne tactics and encouraging improvisation.
- Dual Forms: Cleaver-axe, cane-whip, and more.
- Firearm Mechanics: Aim, recoil, reload—and risk your sanity for greater power.
- Weapon-Based Builds: Your loadout shapes your role.
Monsters, Bosses & Eldritch Terrors
This guide isn’t just about players becoming monsters—it’s about them facing worse. Every enemy has been meticulously crafted to provoke fear, challenge tactics, and punish predictability.
- Former allies twisted beyond recognition
- Spawn of the Old Ones lurking beneath Luyarnha
- Multi-phase bosses that evolve based on lunar influence or player madness
Enemies don’t just hit hard—they rewrite the battlefield mid-fight, summon lesser horrors, or exploit player corruption.
Grim Adventures & Campaign-Ready Content
DMs will find an abundance of ready-to-run material in Steinhardt, each embedded with lore, hooks, and opportunities for player madness and evolution.
- 5 Fully Prebuilt Adventures – Explore Luyarnha’s depths with structured arcs.
- Investigation, Survival, and Horror Quests – All tied to the moon phase system.
- NPCs with Dynamic Behavior – Driven by world state and madness level.
Whether you’re running a one-shot or a full campaign, this content slots in seamlessly and adapts to your party’s descent.
Formats & Where to Buy
Access to this world of madness comes in multiple formats, offering digital and VTT compatibility:
| Edition Format | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| PDF Only | $34.99 | Full digital book (480+ pages) |
| Digital Asset Bundle | $44.99 | Tokens, maps, art packs |
| PDF + Asset Bundle | $59.99 | Everything above in one bundle |
| VTT Module (Roll20/Foundry) | $75.00 | Optimized for virtual tabletops |
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Who Should Play Steinhardt’s Guide?
This isn’t a supplement for casual weekend adventurers. It’s for those who crave challenge, darkness, and narrative complexity.
- Bloodborne Fans: Trick weapons, hunter culture, and nightmarish transformations.
- Lovecraft Enthusiasts: Madness, alien gods, and unraveling reality.
- Hardcore 5E Players: Tactical combat, lethal bosses, and deep mechanics.
- Narrative DMs: Explore a city that reacts to players, moons, and choices.
Final Verdict
Steinhardt’s Guide to the Eldritch Hunt is a masterclass in third-party 5E design. It transcends traditional D&D expectations, fusing cosmic horror with narrative freedom and mechanical rigor. For those ready to walk the thin line between sanity and salvation, this guide is the ultimate test.
Will you become the savior of Luyarnha… or the next horror it spawns?
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