A quick update to point out some new and upcoming D&D products.  The beginner-friendly D&D Essentials Kit is now available everywhere (it was initially only available at Target.)  This is a new take on the introduction to game, with a slightly different bent than the original D&D Starter Kit. The Essentials kit contains maps, a short (64 page) rulebook, a DM screen, a set of dice, an introductory adventure, and a set of notecards with a box to hold them in.

In contrast to the Starter Set (released a couple years back) which provided pre-generated characters (although you could make your own), the Essentials kit spends time helping new players through the steps of character creation, giving new players an easier time of creating their own take on a character. The set of cards has pictures and descriptions of the characters and items found in the included adventure, but there are also cards which would be useful in future adventures. For example, some cards describe common “conditions” (like stunned or poisoned) to give out to players for easy reference.

In upcoming news, Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernus is the newest hardback adventure book and will be released on September 17th.  The elevator tag-line pitch for the game is essentially “Mad Max meets D&D.”  Players start in the semi-lawless town of Baldur’s Gate and will (probably) end up in the demon-filled Abyss cruising around in soul-fueled war machines.  The adventure takes characters from levels 1 to 13.

In addition to the book, there is a special dice release that includes a set of thematic dice, a dice box, a map of Avernus, and some other cool little bits and bobs.

Next month, look for the new D&D Sourcebook for the steampunk-esque world of Eberron, including the new Artificer class – the first entirely new class released for 5th edition D&D.  It’s “a war-torn world filled with magic-fueled technology, airships and lightning trains, where noir-inspired mystery meets swashbuckling adventure” – at least that’s what the PR stuff says.  It’s a great fit for gamers who want to explore a world where magic is very common, and is used to make everyday convenience better… and all the problems that may come with that.

Tags: Misc, Unplugged