Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms

Last updated

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
ReleasedJuly 23, 2021
Development codeZebra
Expansion codeAFR
← Strixhaven: School of Mages Innistrad: Midnight Hunt →

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is an expansion set for Magic: The Gathering (Magic) released in July 2021. The world of the Forgotten Realms was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a paracosm for his childhood stories [1] and premiered as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1987). [2] This expansion set is the third collaboration (but the first to result in a Magic set) between Magic and D&D; both teams are part of Wizards of the Coast. [3]

Contents

Setting

The Forgotten Realms is a fantasy world setting, described as a world of strange lands, dangerous creatures, and mighty deities, where magic and supernatural phenomena are quite real. It is also one of the most popular D&D settings. [4] [5] The setting often focuses on the sub-continent of Faerûn on the planet Abeir-Toril. Economically and technologically, Faerûn is comparable to Western Europe during the late Middle Ages. [6] However, the presence of magic also exists in the world. Faerûn is home to a number of human and non-human creatures of varying degrees of civilization or barbarism. Most of the population of Faerûn consists of farmers, who are organized somewhat loosely in a semi-feudal system. There are also a number of notable cities, and trade between nations is common, as in the Renaissance era. Likewise, there are regions where more barbaric tribes and customs persist. [7]

Many D&D characters appear in this set such as: Bahamut, Mordenkainen, Lolth, Zariel, Volo and the Companions of the Hall (Drizzt Do'Urden, Wulfgar, Catti-brie and Bruenor Battlehammer). [8] [9] [10] The set also includes creatures from the Monster Manual (such as beholders, mind flayers, and displacer beasts), along with notable D&D items (such as the vorpal sword and a +2 mace). [11] Xavier Johnson, for Dot eSports , reported that the set's design team wanted to evoke both the Forgotten Realms setting "and the feeling of actually playing D&D". [11]

Development

This expansion set is the third collaboration between the Wizards of the Coast's Magic and D&D teams. [3] Christian Hoffer, for ComicBook.com, reported that there was constant collaboration between the D&D team and the Magic team during development of the set, as there had been for the campaign setting books Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica (2018) and Mythic Odysseys of Theros (2020). [3] Hoffer wrote that the D&D team "provided extensive feedback on both the visuals and lore of the Forgotten Realms". [3] Game designer James Wyatt highlighted that this top-down set was "an opportunity to look at the deep worldbuilding of the Forgotten Realms and find what was most essential to get across in a Magic set, as a way to introduce not just the world of the Forgotten Realms but the fun of playing D&D to Magic players as well. [...] There’s the added job here of trying to communicate some of the feeling of actually playing D&D, which is a little different than the feeling of exploring the world of the Forgotten Realms. I’d say the balance, by and large, tips toward the world, with just enough nods in the direction of the D&D experience". [11]

Canon

Several D&D characters appear in this set as planeswalker cards; these are typically characters who have traveled the planes within the multiverse of D&D. [12] These characters, however, do not "have a Planeswalker Spark" as defined in Magic's lore [13] since Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is not considered to be a part of the "story continuity" of Magic's multiverse per Mark Rosewater. [14] Blake Rasmussen, senior public relations manager at Wizards of the Coast, told Polygon that "for now this is not canon in the Magic universe. [Likewise] Magic is not canon in the Dungeons & Dragons universe — but we reserve the right to change our mind in the future". [15]

Mechanics

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms introduced multiple new mechanics to the game:

Reception

Chris Neill, for Kotaku Australia , wrote that "What Forgotten Realms does well is that it combines the best of Dungeons & Dragons with the best of Magic in a way that appeals to fans of both games. [...] I really like the set’s attention to detail and how it celebrates the entire history of the tabletop RPG. [...] The new dungeon cards help introduce the storytelling mechanics of D&D, while the combination of creatures, enchantments and artifacts acts like a kind of character creation. Each game now plays like a mini-adventure, so get ready to roll for initiative". [22]

Dale Bashir, for IGN Southeast Asia , highlighted that "For D&D fans, the new Adventures in the Forgotten Realms card set is a great opportunity to experience D&D in a whole new way, as well as a great gateway into the intricate gameplay of MTG. [...] This is also the first time that traditional D&D mechanics will be integrated into MTG cards, which definitely adds a whole new dimension to the traditional way of playing. Leaving things to chance via a dice roll really adds an extra element of luck and skill to MTG's usual strategic game style. For MTG fans, these D&D-themed cards are not only some of the most valuable cards in the future for collectors, but they also feature some unique skills that regular MTG cards won't have. This is a unique way of changing the dynamic of a deck for the better". [23]

Alexander Sowa, for CBR, reviewed the four commander decks associated with this set: Aura of Courage, Draconic Rage, Dungeons of Death, and Planar Portal. Sowa wrote that "Aura of Courage is a powerful but fragile deck. It's at its best when stacking buffs onto an individual creature but can leave itself open to retaliation if those creatures are removed. [...] Draconic Rage is a pretty straightforward deck. It uses green's high mana production to ramp out large threats and then turns them sideways, swinging in for massive damage. [...] Dungeons of Death is a control deck with a graveyard focus, requiring careful management of resources to stay ahead. [...] Planar Portal is a slow, value-oriented political deck with lots of card and mana generation to support its weaker color identity". [24]

Related Research Articles

<i>Magic: The Gathering</i> Collectible card game

Magic: The Gathering is a tabletop and digital collectable card game created by Richard Garfield. Released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, Magic was the first trading card game and had approximately thirty-five million players as of December 2018, and over twenty billion Magic cards were produced in the period from 2008 to 2016, during which time it grew in popularity.

Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories. Several years later, Greenwood brought the setting to publication for the D&D game as a series of magazine articles, and the first Realms game products were released in 1987. Role-playing game products have been produced for the setting ever since, as have various licensed products including novels, role-playing video game adaptations, comic books, and the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drow</span> Dungeons & Dragons fictional creature

The drow or dark elves are a dark-skinned and white-haired subrace of elves connected to the subterranean Underdark in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The drow have traditionally been portrayed as generally evil and connected to the evil goddess Lolth. However, later editions of Dungeons & Dragons have moved away from this portrayal and preassigned alignment. More recent publications have explored drow societies unconnected to Lolth.

The Multiverse is the shared fictional universe depicted on Magic: The Gathering cards, novels, comics, and other supplemental products. Though Magic is a strategy game, an intricate storyline underlies the cards released in each expansion. On the cards, elements of this multiverse are shown in the card art and through quotations and descriptions on the bottom of most cards. Novels and anthologies published by HarperPrism and Wizards of the Coast (WOTC), and the comic books published by Armada Comics expand upon the settings and characters hinted at on the cards. WOTC also publishes a weekly story in the Magic Fiction column, previously known as Official Magic Fiction and Uncharted Realms.

Mystra (<i>Forgotten Realms</i>) Dungeons & Dragon fictional deity

Mystra is a fictional goddess in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting</i> Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook

The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published by TSR in 1987 for the first edition of the fantasy role-playing game Advanced Dungeons & Dragons that describes the campaign setting of the Forgotten Realms. It contains information on characters, locations and history. Various revised and updated editions have been produced over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Wyatt (game designer)</span> American game designer (born c. 1968)

James Wyatt is a game designer and a former United Methodist minister. He works for Wizards of the Coast, where he has designed supplements and adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) roleplaying game. He is the author of sci-fi and fantasy novels, including Forgotten Realms books, and the 4th edition Dungeon Master's Guide.

The flexibility of the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game rules means that Dungeon Masters (DM) are free to create their own fantasy campaign settings. For those who wanted a pre-packaged setting in which to play, TSR, Wizards of the Coast (WotC), and other publishers have created many settings in which D&D games can be based; of these, the Forgotten Realms, an epic fantasy world, has been one of the most successful and critically acclaimed settings. Many campaign settings include standard sword and sorcery environments, while others borrow Asian, Central American, swashbuckling, horror and even space-travel themes.

The Zendikar block is a Magic: The Gathering block consisting of the sets Zendikar, Worldwake, Rise of the Eldrazi. The eponymous setting is a vast, untamed wilderness, whose few bastions of civilization exist primarily for outfitting treasure-seeking expeditions to distant locales. Colossal ancient octahedral stones called "hedrons" float in the sky. A phenomenon known as "the Roil" causes frequent geological upheaval as it sweeps across the land. Unlike the previous two blocks, there is no multicolored theme. Instead, the themes Zendikar and Worldwake revolve around lands, and a theme of an adventure or quest. Rise of the Eldrazi, while part of the Zendikar block creatively and for the sake of constructed tournament rules, is unique mechanically and is designed to be drafted on its own. Drafts in the Zendikar block are either ZEN-ZEN-WWK or ROE-ROE-ROE.

The Rules of Magic: The Gathering were originally developed by the game's creator, Richard Garfield, and accompanied the first version of the game in 1993. The rules of Magic have been changed frequently over the years by the manufacturer, Wizards of the Coast, mostly in minor ways. However, major rules overhauls have also been done a few times.

<i>Magic: The Gathering Commander</i> Series of supplemental Magic: the Gathering card game products

Commander is a series of supplemental Magic: the Gathering card game products. Its mechanics are derived from a fan-created format known as "Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH)". The official Commander format is "the only sanctioned format maintained by an outside entity" other than Wizards of the Coast.

<i>Magic: Legends</i> 2021 video game

Magic: Legends was an action role-playing video game based on the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game. It was developed by Cryptic Studios and published by Perfect World Entertainment. The game began an open beta for Microsoft Windows in March 2021, with plans for open release later that year as a free-to-play title on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. On June 29, 2021, it was announced that development would cease. The servers were shut down on October 31, 2021.

<i>Mythic Odysseys of Theros</i> Tabletop role-playing game supplement

Mythic Odysseys of Theros is a sourcebook that details the Theros campaign setting for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game published in June 2020. The plane was originally created for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game and first appeared in the card set Theros, which was released in September 2013. It is inspired by Greek mythology and has a powerful pantheon of Gods that are present and active in both the world and the lives of the player characters.

Theros Beyond Death is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set. It is not part of a block. It was released on January 24, 2020. The set's development codename is "Baseball", and its expansion code is THB.

Strixhaven: School of Mages is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set. It is not part of a block. The set was released in April 2021.

Kaldheim is the 86th Magic: The Gathering expansion and is not part of a block. It is set on the plane of the same name. It was released on February 5, 2021. It also became available in MTG Arena on January 28, 2021.

Guilds of Ravnica is the 79th Magic: The Gathering expansion; while it is not part of a block, this set is functionally the first part of a Ravnica focused storyline set on the plane of Ravnica. It was released on October 5, 2018.

Zendikar Rising is the 85th Magic: The Gathering expansion and is not part of a block. It is set on the plane of Zendikar. It was released on September 25, 2020. The sets development codename is "Diving", and its expansion code is ZNR.

Ravnica Allegiance is the 80th Magic: The Gathering expansion; while it is not part of a block, this set is functionally the second part of a Ravnica focused storyline set on the plane of Ravnica. It was released on January 25, 2019.

War of the Spark is the 81st Magic: The Gathering expansion; while it is not part of a block, this set is functionally the third part of a Ravnica-focused storyline set on the plane of Ravnica. It was released on May 3, 2019. It also became available in MTG Arena on April 25, 2019.

References

  1. ↑ Fannon, Sean Patrick (1999). The Fantasy Roleplaying Gamer's Bible (2nd ed.). ISBN   978-0-9674429-0-7.
  2. ↑ Carbonell, Curtis D. (2019). "Chapter 3: Dungeons and Dragons Multiverse". Dread Trident: Tabletop Role-Playing Games and the Modern Fantastic. Liverpool: Oxford University Press. pp. 80–108. ISBN   978-1-78962-468-7. OCLC   1129971339.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Magic: The Gathering Announces Dungeons & Dragons Set for 2021". ComicBook.com. September 1, 2020. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  4. ↑ Slagle, Matt (January 18, 2007). "'Neverwinter Nights' sequel brings more dungeon exploration to PC". Deseret News . Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  5. ↑ Desslock (January 20, 1999). "Baldur's Gate (PC)". CNET Networks . Archived from the original on December 7, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Upcoming 'Dungeons & Dragons' Publications Will Explore More Areas Influenced by Non-European Cultures". Comicbook.com. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ↑ Greenwood, Ed; Heinsoo, Rob; Reynolds, Sean K.; Williams, Skip (June 1, 2001). Carter, Michele; Martin, Julia; Rateliff, John D. (eds.). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3rd ed.). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN   0-7869-1836-5.
  8. ↑ Wyatt, James (July 16, 2021). "The Legends of Adventures in the Forgotten Realms". MAGIC: THE GATHERING. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  9. ↑ Miceli, Max (July 7, 2021). "Every planeswalker in MTG's D&D: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ Hall, Charlie (May 20, 2021). "D&D's Drizzt is coming to Magic: The Gathering, these are the first preview cards". Polygon. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 Johnson, Xavier (August 31, 2021). "Art of the crossover—How Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons came together". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  12. ↑ Magic: The Gathering [@wizards_magic] (May 20, 2021). "(1/4) We'll talk about this more during the full Adventures in the Forgotten Realm preview season, but some iconic D&D characters are being featured as Planeswalker cards in #MTGDND! What does that mean? Let's walk through it a bit... (1/3)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Magic: The Gathering [@wizards_magic] (May 20, 2021). "(2/4) To get it out of the way: This doesn't mean that these characters (like our one true queen Lolth) have a Planeswalker Spark. You won't be seeing Lolth traveling to Strixhaven to hang out with Witherbloom students any time soon" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ "Blogatog".
  15. ↑ Hall, Charlie (June 24, 2021). "D&D's Magic: The Gathering crossover is the nerdiest thing that Wizards has ever done". Polygon. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Magic: The Gathering's D&D Expansion Has Card That Makes Players Roll a D20". ComicBook.com. June 30, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Magic: The Gathering — How to Play Adventures in the Forgotten Realms". CBR. July 8, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  18. ↑ Tabak, Matt (July 2, 2021). "Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Mechanics". MAGIC: THE GATHERING. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Magic: The Gathering's Adventures in the Forgotten Realms delves into Dungeons". VentureBeat. June 24, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Forster, Danny (July 3, 2021). "Here's every MTG card with Pack Tactics in Forgotten Realms". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  21. ↑ Dexter, Alan (July 8, 2021). "MTG Arena's new Dungeons & Dragons set is brilliantly nerdy and surprisingly fun". PC Gamer. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Magic The Gathering's New D&D Expansion Is The Best Of Both Worlds". Kotaku Australia. July 26, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  23. ↑ "The Epic Crossover Between Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons is Every Fantasy Fan's Dream". IGN Southeast Asia. July 23, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Magic: The Gathering — Which D&D Commander Deck Should You Buy?". CBR. July 14, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.