With the latest mainstream article (this time the New York Times for the second time this year!) from a major news outlet covering the resurgence of D&D, I thought I'd take a quick look at similar articles which have appeared on the radar of major newspapers and broadcasters recently, including The Guardian, the BBC, the Washington Post, and more! Image from NYT, depicting live-streamed D&D show "Rivals of Waterdeep" Just yesterday, the Washington Examiner joined in. Forbes also covers the game fairly regularly. It's pretty amazing that this hobby is now appearing in mainstream media on a regular basis. There's a major mainstream article every couple of months now, it seems. The articles are usually very similar -- the surprising revelation of the "rise" or "resurgence" of D&D, and reports that D&D is now 'out of the basement', a few words from somebody at WotC about how the current year is the best year yet, and perhaps an interview with a gamer or two explaining why they think D&D is resurgent now. The New York Times was surprised about the popularity of D&D twice this year - this week on D&D's resurgence, and back in April on "why the cool kids are playing Dungeons & Dragons". The Times looks at the strangeness of D&D becoming cool, while the Washington Post wonders how D&D became more popular than ever. IGN explains the recent surge in popularity, and the Guardian tells us we're no longer nerds because D&D is cool now. The BBC covers the phenomenon, as does Australia's ABC. It'll be fun to see what comes next, if D&D's resurgence becomes no longer 'news' but accepted fact, and the outlets get to report on more focused aspects of the hobby -- hopefully the coverage won't die down. It's come some way since 2004 when the BBC asked "What happened to Dungeons & Dragons?" They've certainly got to stop being surprised at the resurgence soon! New York Times: In a Chaotic World, Dungeons & Dragons Is Resurgent (Nov 13, 2019) New York Times: Why the Cool Kids...

‘Infernal Machine Rebuild‘ is a 111-page adventure for 5th-10th level, available in PDF for $9.99. All proceeds go to the charity Extra Life. https://www.dmsguild.com/product/294711 A fallen clock tower holds components from an ancient artifact. Upon discovery of the components, competing agents look to launch expeditions to uncover additional components scattered across distant places—and times. The now-lost Temple of Moloch and the construction site of the legendary Tomb of Horrors are two of those locations. However great the risks, finding the components demands the effort, for whoever does so can reassemble the fabled Infernal Machine of Lum the Mad! For characters 5th-10th level. This adventure explores two dungeon locations and includes new monsters, magic items, plus new artifact powers submitted by the player community! Further featuring new art, maps (from Claudio Pozas), cartoon (from Jason Thompson), even an Adventurers League cert for a new trinket—and all monies that Wizards of the Coast receives from sales of this PDF are donated to Extra Life. Your purchase of this adventure goes to a truly great cause! About Extra Life: Extra Life unites thousands of gamers around the world to play games in support of their local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised more than $30 million for sick and injured kids. Sign up today and dedicate a day of play for kids in your community!

This just dropped into my inbox. $299.99, limited run, available directly from WotC. Celebrate Forty-Five Years of Dungeons & Dragons and Five Years of D&D Fifth Edition with theD&D Sapphire Anniversary Dice Set Only 1,974 sets - featuring a gnome-grown* sapphire gem - will be available to the public on November 21! RENTON, WA – Nov. 11, 2019 – It’s been five years since Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition launched, and the explosion of D&D’s popularity since then has been a wonder to behold! Now fans can celebrate D&D through the D&D Sapphire Anniversary Dice Set, available directly from Wizards of the Coast starting at 11a.m. (PT) on November 21, 2019. The set commemorates both 5 years of 5e AND forty-five years since D&D’s first publication in 1974. “When the D&D team realized the sapphire is the traditional anniversary stone for both five years and forty-five years, and that adding a laboratory-created sapphire to a twenty-sided die wouldn’t jeopardize the integrity of a roll, we couldn’t pass up the chance to make something really cool to celebrate the milestones” said Nathan Stewart, VP of the D&D Franchise at Wizards of the Coast. “The team put together a fun product for our fans that includes art and newly updated stats for sapphire dragons, making these classic dragons ready for play in your next D&D session.” The D&D Sapphire Anniversary Dice Set includes eleven custom-designed aluminum dice from Level Up Dice. Embedded in one of the d20s is a sapphire lovingly grown** by a rock gnome artificer in a charmingly-cluttered workshop. Additionally, each set includes a high-quality dice box and a matching dice tray displaying the ampersand, fifth edition D&D stats and details introducing the sapphire dragon, commemorative stickers, and a sequentially numbered collector’s card confirming the set’s authenticity. Oh, and every die, except that extra-special d20 has an engraved ampersand on the highest number - boosting your D&D cred whenever you roll max...

The D&D Rick and Morty starter set comes out next week. It's the second based on a TV property; the first was the D&D Stranger Things starter set. It's $29.99, but the pre-order price is a little lower. You get a 64-page rulebook, a 32-page adventure (levels 1-3), DM screen, five preteen characters, and a set of dice. Please note, this boxed set will be available in North America only. Play D&D through the lenses of the mad narcissistic genius, Rick Sanchez, from the animated Cartoon Network series, Rick and Morty—the Rick Way! This tabletop roleplaying game boxed set blends the world of Dungeons & Dragons with mad narcissistic genius, Rick Sanchez’s power gaming sensibilities, nostalgia, sarcastic metacommentary, and the reasons why people play D&D in the first place. • Following the hugely popular comic book series Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons, this boxed set is co-authored by Jim Zub (co-writer of comic book series) with new art by Troy Little (illustrator of comic book series). • This complete campaign experience includes the following components: (1) 64-page rulebook annotated by Rick (2) 32-page original adventure for levels 1–3 (3) 4-panel folding Dungeon Master screen featuring new art (4) 5 ready-to-play character sheets (6) 11 dice • A great companion to the comic book series, and a perfect gift for the Rick and Morty/D&D fan in your life.

Welcome to the 7th adventure in the critically acclaimed War of the Burning Sky adventure path for 5th Edition, available now in PDF, with the softcover coming soon. Face the Trial! The heroes stand poised to seize control of their fates and the ongoing war, but only if they are first to claim the Torch of the Burning Sky. Seeking the legendary artifact of Emperor Coaltongue, the heroes explore a haunted forest and must face its dangers while contending with patrols sent by two armies who are racing to capture it. From there, the heroes must travel to a sentient temple, where they face shadows of their past in a physical and mental trial that could alter their very beings. Can the heroes locate the Torch of the Burning Sky, and do they have what it takes to undergo the Trial of Echoed Souls? A 5E fantasy adventure for 13th-level characters. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/294413/War-of-the-Burning-Sky-5E-7-Trial-of-Echoed-Souls