Dungeons & Dragons Tyranny of Dragons Campaign Launched

A long, long, time ago, I was a fan of the Dungeons & Dragons game. I had most of the guides and many of the dungeon modules. I ran across a couple recent announcements of theirs that I thought I would share. I never knew they were hitting 40 years old, and were started the same year as the Rubik's Cube.

Keeper of the torch, Wizards of the Coast, part of Hasbro, recently announced the product line-up for the Dungeons & Dragons Tyranny of Dragons campaign, launching a pivotal 40th year for the brand. The updated entertainment offerings include the D&D Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master’s Guide that bring the campaign storyline to life for tabletop RPG gamers, as well as digital offerings led by a new module for the Neverwinter MMO.

The relaunch also includes a redesigned logo. The redesign includes a larger ampersand that is clearly a fire-breathing dragon, conveying an element of danger with its sharp edges and barbs on his tale and evoking some of the main elements that D&D stands for, including adventures and fearsome monsters.

First out of the gate for Tyranny of Dragons digital offerings will be a new module for the highly-acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons MMO, Neverwinter, from Cryptic Studios and Perfect World Entertainment. The new module, aptly titled Tyranny of Dragons, will be the premier digital Dungeons & Dragons experience for players and will launch on August 14, 2014.

For players eager to sink their teeth into the Tyranny of Dragons storyline around the gaming table, two new tabletop adventures will also release this year. Hoard of the Dragon Queen (August 19) and The Rise of Tiamat (October 21) will take players into the depths of the dragon’s lair, pitting them against Tiamat, the most fearsome dragon in D&D’s history.

For the full Tyranny of Dragons story overview and product line-up, including PC and mobile games, tabletop roleplaying adventures, digital tools, collectible miniatures, comics, apparel and more visit DungeonsandDragons.com and stay tuned for more Tyranny of Dragons offerings and release dates to be announced in the coming months. Also, be sure to follow D&D on Facebook and Twitter.

In addition to the new product lineup, Wizards of the Coast announced new changes to D&D Organized Play. The new changes will go into effect in August, coinciding with the launch of the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons.

D&D Adventurers League: One System, Many Ways to Play

Connecting all public play programs under one name, the D&D Adventurers league is the core of the new D&D Organized Play experience. For the first time, all public play will take place in the same ongoing D&D campaign, beginning with the Tyranny of Dragons storyline. The D&D Adventurers League, and all the programs supporting it, is focused on players having great adventures through a thematic, cohesive storyline.

Where It Begins: D&D Encounters

D&D Encounters, the popular weekly in-store play program, will continue to take place each Wednesday at participating WPN stores. Beginning with Tyranny of Dragons and the introduction of the D&D Adventurers League, the experience will be redesigned to introduce and immerse players and Dungeon Masters in the main storyline.   

For Advanced Players: D&D Expeditions

The new D&D Expeditions takes D&D public play to new heights, offering a deeper dive into a “convention-style” campaign experience. These adventures will be set in the Moonsea region of the Forgotten Realms and, for Tyranny of Dragons, the adventures will be set in and around the town of Phlan.

The Kickoff Event: D&D Epics

D&D Epics, new kick-off events that will be held at the beginning of select storylines, will take place at major conventions throughout the year. The first D&D Epics adventure, Corruption in Kryptgarden, will be held at Gen Con Indy this August and will shape the Tyranny of Dragons story.

Coinciding with the announcement, Wizards of the Coast has rolled out a new WPN website and Store Locator making it even easier for players to find a participating retail location.