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Into the Heart of the Forest: A Review of The Old Margreve by Kobold Press

When it comes to fantasy RPG settings, few manage to evoke the same sense of ancient mystery and primal danger as The Old Margreve. Originally a sleeper hit from Kobold Press, this updated edition is no mere reprint—it’s a verdant, living world that welcomes (and sometimes devours) adventurers from both Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and Tales of the Valiant (ToV).

Whether you’re a seasoned GM or a daring player looking to root your next campaign in something deeply folkloric, The Old Margreve offers a trove of inspiration. Let’s dive into what makes this book worth adding to your shelf—and table. Head over to the Kobold Press Website and pick up your copy.

🌲 What is The Old Margreve?

At its core, The Old Margreve is a campaign setting and adventure anthology that takes place in a sentient, ancient forest—older than kingdoms, older even than some gods. The forest is full of primal magic, uncanny beasts, and eerie folk traditions. It draws heavily from Eastern European folklore, giving it a darker, more brooding tone than your average fantasy fairytale.

This new edition combines previous material from Tales of the Old Margreve with new subclasses, spells, and a fully-fledged level 1–10 adventure path. It’s designed for both 5E and the Kobold Press flagship, Tales of the Valiant—meaning no conversions necessary.

🐾 For Players: New Options to Sink Your Roots Into

This book doesn’t just expand the world—it expands your character options, too. Among the standout additions:

• Four new lineages, including the ever-popular Bearfolk, who bring both charm and brawn.

• Five unique heritages like Delvers and Forest Bastions, perfect for creating characters steeped in the lore of the woods.

• Sixteen new subclasses, each flavored for life in or around the Margreve. Some favorites include:

  • Wildlife Bard, who mimics bird calls and beast cries as part of their performance.

  • Verdant Druid, whose connection to the forest borders on terrifying symbiosis.

  • Shadow Binder Rogue, with mechanics that hint at deals made under moonlight.

Each of these options works seamlessly in both 5E and Tales of the Valiant, offering versatility for groups at any point in the transition to the Black Flag system.

📖 For GMs: A Campaign That Breathes

The ten-part adventure path is a masterclass in tone and progression. Beginning with small-town mysteries and escalating into deep forest rituals and Fey entanglements, it hits a satisfying rhythm of exploration, horror, diplomacy, and combat.

Highlights include:

• Witch-haunted glades and groves with cursed trees that whisper secrets.

• Time-warped clearings where players might meet themselves—or worse.

• Encounters with forest spirits, some helpful, some wrathful, all memorable.

This is a setting where the forest is a character, and every rustling leaf might be a warning or an omen. The adventures are tightly woven into Margreve lore, which makes for an immersive experience—but can also be mined for standalone encounters or used to flavor other forested locales.

✨ Spells, Items, and Monsters, Oh My!

With 60+ new spells, rituals, and magic items, the Margreve brings its own ecosystem of magical effects. Many of the spells feel like folk magic—charming animals, invoking forest protections, or calling on forgotten names for power.

New monsters include:

• Twigwife Matriarchs – haunting and tragic Fey-creatures.

• Hollow Ones – tree-possessed corpses bound by ancient grief.

• Forest Echoes – duplicates of player characters made from bark and shadow.

These entries are given the full Black Flag treatment—cleanly formatted stat blocks, flavorful lore, and scalable encounter guidance.

🪓 Compatible with D&D 5E and Tales of the Valiant

Here’s where The Old Margreve really shines: it respects your rules of choice. Whether your table is firmly rooted in D&D 5E or has started embracing the open license, player-forward ethos of Tales of the Valiant, this book supports you without the need for conversions.

That means:

• Plug-and-play subclasses and spells.

• Stat blocks in Black Flag style that are intuitive and balanced.

• Lineages and heritages that align with both systems’ design goals.

This level of dual compatibility is rare—and a major value-add.

🧙 Final Thoughts: Should You Enter the Margreve?

If you’re tired of the Forgotten Realms, or looking to bring a bit more mythic weight to your next forest trek, The Old Margreve is your next destination.

For DMs: It’s a fully realized setting with ready-made adventures and plug-in material for your homebrew.

For players: It offers evocative, fresh mechanics and archetypes you won’t find anywhere else.

For ToV adopters: It’s already ready. No tweaks required.

Verdict: 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 (5/5 enchanted groves)

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!