We’re Getting A Ton Of New D&D 5E Stuff This Year
Wizards of the Coast has been absolutely HAMMERING us with news lately for their upcoming 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons releases, and your boy Papa Dom’s got it all broken down for you right here, in one easy-to-read, sensual, transformative experience of a blog. Here goes nothing.
First up, there’s the Tomb of Annihilation. Fresh off the heels of the “final boss” dungeon from early-2017’s Tales From The Yawning Portal, Wizards invites players to “Dare to defy death in this adventure for the world’s greatest roleplaying game”. Set in the vintage D&D setting of “Chult”, a mysterious peninsula far to the south (of wherever your campaign takes place), the rainforest-choked, mountain-ringed region is known just as much for the frequent deaths of its visitors and inhabitants as it is for their eventual return to life. However, a so-called “death curse” has been afflicting everyone who’s ever been raised from the dead, causing them to slowly waste away and become unable to be brought back to life, no matter how great the magic. Temples and scholars of divine magic are at a loss to explain the curse, but suspect that a necromantic artifact called the Soulmonger is to blame.
The Tomb of Annihilation will take players through dense jungle where they’ll encounter dinosaurs, undead, and the snake-like Yuan-Ti. Geek & Sundry also says that Acererak, the demi-lich final boss from Tomb of Horrors, will make a comeback and appear stronger than ever. And lastly, the Tomb of Annihilation will encourage DMs to employ the new “Meatgrinder Mode” which makes every PC’s Death Saving Throw 15… Yikes.
It looks like Tomb of Annihilation is an insanely high-stakes adventure, and it’s coming September 19th of this year. The sourcebook, as always, will set you back $50.
Then, we’ve got a brand new sourcebook that’ll introduce new rules, mainly aimed at characters with “nefarious intent who must deal with such meddling do-gooders”. The new book, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, is “narrated” by a beholder named Xanathar, Waterdeep’s most infamous crime lord, who offers his personal thoughts on developing tricks, traps, and even treasures to attract unsuspecting heroes towards their certain doom.
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything will also include a motherfucking STAGGERING twenty new subclasses for D&D 5E, including the cavalier, the inquisitive, and the horizon walker. The book will also feature dozens of new feats and spells, as well as a system to give your character a unique, randomized backstory.
Just like Volo’s Guide To Monsters before it, Xanathar’s Guide To Everything also comes in a limited edition, alternative-art cover, illustrated by Hydro74 (the same guy who did the dope Volo’s alternate cover). This edition will be exclusively available at your Friendly Local Game Store.
Lastly, there’s of course a shitload of new, smaller accessories to supplement your adventures, all branded with the iconic “D&D” logo, of course.
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