D&D 5E Vecna new art was a collaboration with Stranger Things!

[darjr]

Vecna new art was in fact a Stranger Things collaboration. I can’t wait to find out more.

Vecna
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When Season 4 of Stranger Things started production Wizards wanted to give an update to Vecna. The show ultimately took a different route that worked for the setting, but we were able to finalize some new visual canon for D&D. More to come tomorrow

 

[bedir than]

Tomorrow, wonder what's happening tomorrow

 

[Parmandur]

Tomorrow, wonder what's happening tomorrow

Well, tonight they are airing a streaming actual play called "Shadow of Vecna, Part 1." Tomorrow, the D&D Dragon talk podcast is dropping, and the MtG Weekly Update video is airing. It is very possible that Vecna is going to be a card in the next Magic Set again, since this artist is the Art Director for Magic: the Gathering and not D&D.

Maybe they are going to do a Secret Lairs drop for Magic to take advantage of the Stranger Things Season hitting.

 

[ninjayeti]

So the Hand of Vecna is now the Infinity Gauntlet?

 

[Stormonu]

I’m not surprised, D&D is a pastiche of pop culture for its time (the picture of the werewolf back in 1E is the Lon Chaney version compared to the “Howling” version that rose during the 2E era, and look how much Vampires have changed away from the Bella Lugosi version of the ‘70s).

 

[Maxperson]

So the Hand of Vecna is now the Infinity Gauntlet?

Nah. The hand is the hand. What he's wearing is the lesser known, but still very potent Bracelet of Vecna's Mom.

 

[Yaarel]

Is this seasons Stranger Things the origin story for D&D Vecna?

There is a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, the kids already know who Vecna is from playing D&D. On the other hand, the villain is implied to be Vecna.

Maybe the villain is more nicknamed "Vecna", after the D&D character.

 

[Umbran]

Is this seasons Stranger Things the origin story for D&D Vecna?

It sure doesn't seem like it so far.

Maybe the villain is more nicknamed "Vecna", after the D&D character.

It is the name Dustin gives the monster, like they've named the monsters in previous seasons after D&D monsters - the Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer, and now Vecna.

 

[Dausuul]

Well, tonight they are airing a streaming actual play called "Shadow of Vecna, Part 1." Tomorrow, the D&D Dragon talk podcast is dropping, and the MtG Weekly Update video is airing. It is very possible that Vecna is going to be a card in the next Magic Set again, since this artist is the Art Director for Magic: the Gathering and not D&D.

Maybe they are going to do a Secret Lairs drop for Magic to take advantage of the Stranger Things Season hitting.

Sad to say, there's no Vecna card in the Baldur's Gate set, and I can't see where he'd fall into any of the other upcoming sets. Still, a Secret Lair is always possible. I really wanted a Vecna commander in AFR, and was sad when he turned out to be a token creature requiring a janky three-card combo.

Is this seasons Stranger Things the origin story for D&D Vecna?

There is a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, the kids already know who Vecna is from playing D&D. On the other hand, the villain is implied to be Vecna.

Maybe the villain is more nicknamed "Vecna", after the D&D character.

It's just a nickname--the kids taking a D&D monster name and applying it to the villain they're facing. The resemblance to D&D Vecna is quite limited. He's got both hands, and either both eyes or no eyes (the prosthetics make it hard to tell), and while he has a cadaverous appearance, he isn't actually undead.

But I'm holding out hope that when he's defeated, he'll leave behind a severed hand and/or eye.

 

[Yaarel]

But I'm holding out hope that when he's defeated, he'll leave behind a severed hand and/or eye.

The severing of the hand and eye of Vecna comes later in his life. It wouldnt be part of an origin story.