Stormlight RPG vs D&D: 5 Key Differences In Brandon Sande...

5 Big Differences Between Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight RPG & D&D

Characters move across a bridge in Stormlight.

By Bruno Yonezawa Published 53 minutes ago Bruno Yonezawa is a Gaming Senior Writer for Screen Rant. He's been practicing professional journalism for over 10 years, and is also a communications specialist. He's played games all his life and turned that passionate hobby into a passionate career, in an industry where he's worked as a writer, editor, analyst, and more. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Brandon Sanderson’s new Cosmere RPG, which is currently focused on The Stormlight Archive, has made ripples across the TTRPG community, offering a brand-new d20-based system that is inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, though with many notable differences. The physical release of the Cosmere RPG happened earlier this month, on November 12, after a successful Kickstarter project that raised over $15 million.

The Stormlight RPG, which is merely the first stage in the larger Cosmere RPG system, already kicked off with great differences when compared to D&D. In fact, Stormlight RPG could teach D&D a lesson or two with specific approaches. For example, the Cosmere system has Roleplaying Boxes for NPCs that are part of adventures. These boxes inform GMs of the NPC’s Characteristics, Goal, and Appearance, allowing them to smoothly understand the character without having to create everything on the spot.

Plot Dice In Stormlight RPG Can Add Narrative Depth To Your Rolls

D20 Tests Can Have Unexpected Results

Characters share a meal in Stormlight.

One of the central differences in the Stormlight RPG when compared to D&D is the existence of a mechanic called Plot Dice. These Plot Dice are a narrative device for the Cosmere RPG system that allows high-stakes situations to have unexpected twists, determined by your die roll. Plot Dice are different d6 that have three different possible results: Blank, Opportunity, and Complication. Their usage is imposed by the GM as they see fit.

Blank allows the d20 roll to proceed regularly. The Opportunity roll results in a positive side effect, regardless of the outcome of the d20. As such, the character may fail climbing a tree on their d20 roll, for example, but the Opportunity roll on the Plot Die will allow their fall to uncover something hidden under the ground. Meanwhile, the Complication adds +2 to the d20 roll, giving you a better chance of succeeding the test, but it provides a negative side effect as a consequence.

For example, the character may succeed in climbing a tree, but the Complication would see them grab a thorny branch or be attacked by a squirrel for a bit of damage. Used at the GM’s discretion, Plot Dice are a tool that adds more depth and texture to your actions in Stormlight. It also instigates the GM to think more creatively about the results of d20 rolls, going beyond the simple success or failure that can often be boring in D&D.

Stormlight RPG Combat Remodels The Constraints Of D&D's Initiative & Actions

Turn Order Feels Fluid In The Cosmere System

The Bulgarian cover of the Edgedancer novella, featuring Lift and her spren, Wyndle

One of the main differences in the Stormlight RPG is how it tries to break the staggering imposed by the initiative order in Dungeons and Dragons. In the popular TTRPG system, players take turns that consist of actions, bonus actions, interactions, and movement. Each player has their turn, which is dictated by initiative dice rolls. What Stormight RPG tries to do differently is to change how initiative happens.

The Cosmere system allows players to choose either a fast turn or a slow turn every round of combat. Fast turns allow them to take two actions before NPCs can act. Meanwhile, slow turns allow them to take three actions, though not necessarily before NPCs. Practically speaking, fast turns allow you to pull some emergency maneuvers at the start of each round, depending on how the combat is going. Slow turns allow you to do more during your turn in combat, possibly at the price of allowing your adversary to act first.

This adds a strategic layer and extra texture to how characters behave during combat. If a fight is going poorly for the heroes, they may want to act faster than their opponents, even if they have to sacrifice one of their actions; sometimes, all they want to do is rescue a companion and leave, for example. Moreover, the Stormlight RPG offers a wider range of action options during combat, such as Gain Advantage or graze a foe, much like the weapon mastery in D&D 2024.

Heroic Paths In Stormlight RPG Address The Diminished Power Of Multiclassing In D&D

This Progression System Intends To Keep All Players On The Same Power Level

Ishar raises his hands in praise in Stormlight Archive.Art by Dan dos Santos

During character creation in Cosmere, players choose Heroic Paths, which are the equivalent of classes in D&D. Each Heroic Path has a different branching tree of talents to pick as you level up, and you can specialize within a single role or, perhaps, build a more versatile character who can do different things both in and out of battle. Players can also pick multiple Heroic Paths, somewhat like multiclassing in D&D. The idea behind this in Stormlight, however, is to address the main issue present in Dungeons and Dragons.

While multiclassing in D&D does open up multiple options for a variety of gameplay strategies, this mechanic is also well-known for diminishing a character’s power. For example, a multiclass character with 10 levels in Paladin and 5 in Warlock gets all the benefits of those levels, but would skip out on the much stronger options of levels 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 that they would get if they stuck to a single class. Stormlight RPG has a somewhat similar progression system through levels.

However, the Cosmere system intends to ease off on the feeling of punishment that players get when leveling up with multiple classes. Every time you level up a different Heroic Path, you’re also presented with a much larger variety of talents to pick from. These are, naturally, a part of the Heroic Path’s branching skill trees. The idea here is to have a character with 10 levels in Scholar and 5 in Warrior feel like a fully-fledged level 15 character who chose a single Heroic Path.

Radiant Paths Add Narrative Depth To Your Character In Stormlight RPG

These Paths Unlock Special Abilities To Use Called Surges

Kalak holds their sword in Stormlight Archive.Art by Magali Villeneuve

In the Stormlight RPG setting, specifically, characters can unlock Radiant Paths. These are directly related to the setting’s lore, as characters will form bonds with spren, uphold the ideals imposed by their Order, and, in turn, gain access to special abilities. Radiant Paths can be seen as special classes in D&D, but are very different in many ways. The main gimmick with these Radiant Paths is the access that players gain to surges.

Surges are special gameplay mechanics tied to the Stormlight setting that allow characters to manipulate the forces of nature. The Abrasion surge, for instance, allows a character to modify the friction between surfaces, which can be used to eliminate it and make someone slip or slide off a surface. Another example is the Gravitation surge, which changes an object’s gravitational pull, which can be used in several creative ways.

Stormlight RPG has nine different Radiant Paths. Radiant Paths are often aligned to your own character’s goals, which are discussed with the GM before the campaign starts. As you complete these goals, you’ll gain the rewards associated with each goal, but on top of that, your character will be able to grow as a Radiant, which comes carrying new ideals to follow. Essentially, Radiant Paths are a narrative device used to reward roleplaying with new and powerful abilities.

Stormlight RPG Is The Start Of The Larger Cosmere RPG System

A Mistborn Setting For Cosmere RPG Is Confirmed For 2026

As was previously mentioned, the Stormlight RPG setting is only the start of it all. You’ll be able to play this TTRPG and learn more about the universe created by Brandon Sanderson through this line of novels, but Stormlight is but a part of the larger Cosmere universe and, subsequently, the Cosmere RPG system. In fact, Stormlight RPG can even be seen as a training ground for other Cosmere settings that will be released in the future.

It’s already been confirmed that, in 2026, Cosmere RPG will introduce the Mistborn setting, based on Sanderson’s popular series of novels. The stories, characters, Heroic Paths, and much more may vary significantly as players leave Roshar behind and venture into Scadriel, but the foundation orienting the gameplay mechanics and the roleplay are laid down with the Stormlight RPG. Elantris has also been confirmed as an upcoming setting for the Cosmere RPG.

This new TTRPG system, based on Brandon Sanderson’s works, is already growing, starting with the Stormlight setting, but has the potential to grow into something much larger, potentially rivaling D&D. There are a lot of great similarities between both systems, which makes Cosmere RPG understandable to Dungeons and Dragons players, but also great differences that will make the game feel fresh and challenge players to think differently than they have in the past.

The Cosmere Logo The Cosmere Created by Brandon Sanderson Character(s) Kaladin Stormblessed, Vin, Kelsier, Shallan Davar, Dalinar Kholin, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Lift, Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian, Wayne, Jasnah Kholin

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