Wizards of the Coast unveiled the newest adventure book forDungeons and Dragons,Candlekeep Mysteries. The officialDungeons and DragonsTwitter put up the announcement, showing off the latest expansion for the popular tabletop game.
Having come out in 1974, the social RPG has seen a major resurgence since release of the 5th Edition. While players are free to come up with their own stories using the official rules, adventure books are a significant source of content for experiencing the game. New entries can range in type,from story-driven campaigns to rule books, and in this caseCandlekeep Mysterieslooks to be an anthology.
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As the title implies, the book includes a collection of mystery-themed mini adventures. The list of authors involved include famous names like Christopher Perkins and Deborah Ann Woll. From the store page, this book is going to have 17 quests, ranging in levels from 1 to 16. Each will be standalone, which means that fans will have a lot of flexibility in how they play. Whether a single instance game, part of a running campaign, or adapted to a different setting, it will be up to them to decide.
For those unaware, Candlekeep is a towering, fortress-like library that rests near the Sword Coast. Unlike previous adventures that focus on the seedy underworld of Waterdeep or thesnowy peaks of Icewind Dale,Candlekeep Mysterieshas a far more scholarly vibe. As a massive library, the types of characters found here will include historians, sages, and others seeking forbidden knowledge from the vast trove of tomes. A poster map and detailed descriptions are included with the book too, so dungeon masters will have a head start on developing sessions for their players.
With how popularDungeons and Dragonshas gotten recently, new expansions generate plenty of excitement. With previous adventures likeIcewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaidenfeaturing a grand overarching campaign,Candlekeep Mysteriesshould be a nice change of pace. Quests focusing on magical mysteries should give players ample room torole-play popular classes. While it does not reach level 20, going up to 16 still offers a decent amount of class development. In addition, the anthology format should provide dungeon masters the ability to piece together intriguing sessions.
On the flip side, someDungeons and Dragonsfans may be disappointed by the anthology format. UnlikeTasha’s Cauldron of Everything’salternate rules, this expansion will not likely add in any new classes or races. On top of that, mini-adventures can be less exciting for hardcore players as they do not really support long-term campaigning. Most of the recent adventures that have come out also take place on or near the Sword Coast. If anyone’s hoping for a locale in a different region,Candlekeep Mysteriesis not going to scratch that itch. Overall, though, the mystery theme should give those looking for new game content some thrilling session moments.
Candlekeep Mysterieswill be available in physical format and digital on March 16.
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