D&D General Greyhawk to Faerun and Beyond: A Multiversal D&D Lore Book Is Coming This Fall

This coming October, a 360+ page hardcover which delves into Dungeons & Dragons' various worlds and settings will be released. The book isn't from WotC--it's from Ten Speed Press--but it's by Adam Lee, who wrote for Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus and Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. The book comes full of 50-years of artwork, and is narrated by the famous wizard Mordenkainen. Additionally, the book contains some original fiction.

Dungeons & Dragons Worlds & Realms: Adventures from Greyhawk to Faerûn and Beyond is available for pre-order already.

The book covers Greyhawk, Mystara, Dragonlance, Faerun, Eberron, the Feywild and Shadowfell, Spelljammer, the Nine Hells, the Abyss, Sigil, and the Far Realm. It's a book of lore and story, not a rulebook, giving an overall of D&D's entire multiverse and its many worlds.

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Celebrate fifty years of the spellbinding settings and planes of Dungeons & Dragons with this beautifully illustrated exploration of the multiverse.

Worlds & Realms is an illustrated, story-driven retrospective celebrating the immersive worldbuilding of D&D since the iconic game’s inception in 1974. Legendary mage Mordenkainen takes adventurers on a fantastical journey through the multiverse, delving into memorable and fascinating lore and locations across all five editions of the game.

With Mordenkainen’s guidance, readers will revisit worlds that have come to define D&D over the decades, from the familiar realms of the Material Plane to lands beyond the Astral Sea. Mordenkainen’s philosophical musings provide a mage’s-eye view of the worlds’ unique features, creatures, and characters, captivating readers’ imaginations as they learn more about the history and mysteries of the multiverse. Additionally, readers will join adventuring parties with inhabitants of each realm through exclusive short stories by award-winning contributors Jaleigh Johnson, Jody Houser and Eric Campbell, Jasmine Bhullar, and Geoffrey Golden.

Full of exciting and enchanting artwork showing fifty years of gameplay evolution from vintage D&D through the present, with original cover and chapter-opener illustrations, Worlds & Realms is a spellbinding tour of the strange and wonderful worlds of the multiverse, appealing to both new and long-standing fans alike.

Polygon has some previews of the book.

 

[AK_Ambrian]

What I wish WotC would do is release separate art books for each of the 'classic' D&D artists, complete with notes from the artist on each of the pieces. Like imagine a big artbook that had every painting and drawing that Larry Elmore ever did related to D&D collected in one place, along with a blurb from him about his remembrances of working on each particular piece. And then a separate book for all of Tony DiTerlizzi's work, another one for Clyde Caldwell's work, another one for Wayne Reynolds etc. I think the consistency of having all the art by a single artist in one place would give a depth to the experience that you don't get from a book where the art is from different artists each with their own style.

 

[OptionalRule]

I'm not really sure who this book is for? It's not for DMs, there just isn't enough content. It's not for players because, why? So I guess that lifestyle brand crowd?

It's not like I'm upset it exists or anything, but I'd really prefer they make more content focused on games being run.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

What I wish WotC would do is release separate art books for each of the 'classic' D&D artists, complete with notes from the artist on each of the pieces. Like imagine a big artbook that had every painting and drawing that Larry Elmore ever did related to D&D collected in one place, along with a blurb from him about his remembrances of working on each particular piece. And then a separate book for all of Tony DiTerlizzi's work, another one for Clyde Caldwell's work, another one for Wayne Reynolds etc. I think the consistency of having all the art by a single artist in one place would give a depth to the experience that you don't get from a book where the art is from different artists each with their own style.

Dark Horse published a big book of DeTerlizzi's RPG work a few years ago, called Realms. I don't know if it's in print, but it's a good one.

And yes, it kills me that we don't have more books like this. I was very sad that Russ Nicholson died without such a book (although the new book of Fighting Fantasy art helps). I really want an Erol Otus book in the style of Realms, while we still have a chance to hear from the man himself about his art.

 

[mikeburke]

big artbook that had every painting and drawing that Larry Elmore ever did related to D&D

I am glad you qualified that with “related to D&D”. His non D&D subject choices tend to veer very much toward - well, borderline-creepy adult themes. Search for “Elmore Sly Fox” for a relatively tame example.

I could never look at the BECMI basic cover in quite the same way afterwards..

 

[mamba]

I am glad you qualified that with “related to D&D”. His non D&D subject choices tend to veer very much toward - well, borderline-creepy adult themes. Search for “Elmore Sly Fox” for a relatively tame example.

I could never look at the BECMI basic cover in quite the same way afterwards..

eh, plenty of his non-D&D art would work just fine for D&D too, but yes, he has a few cheesecake pieces mixed in

 

[Parmandur]

I'm not really sure who this book is for? It's not for DMs, there just isn't enough content. It's not for players because, why? So I guess that lifestyle brand crowd?

It's not like I'm upset it exists or anything, but I'd really prefer they make more content focused on games being run.

This isn't a game book, this is a coffeetable artbook. People who like fantasy art and world lore, so yeah, obviously people who like D&D stuff.

 

[Dire Bare]

I'm not really sure who this book is for? It's not for DMs, there just isn't enough content. It's not for players because, why? So I guess that lifestyle brand crowd?

It's not like I'm upset it exists or anything, but I'd really prefer they make more content focused on games being run.

WotC does make game content. Perhaps not enough for your liking, but the current pace of game releases has been explained very well, and it's working very well for WotC.

This book isn't produced directly by WotC, but rather licensed to Ten Speed Press. The pace of game releases by WotC has nothing to do with the publication of this book.

This book is not for DMs or players, because it is not a game book. It's for fans. It's an art book, a coffee table book. A follow up to the very successful Art & Arcana and Legends & Lore by the same publisher.

Not for you? Okay. There are plenty of other folks who are eagerly awaiting this book.

 

[OptionalRule]

This isn't a game book, this is a coffeetable artbook. People who like fantasy art and world lore, so yeah, obviously people who like D&D stuff.

So why not make actual D&D stuff instead of coffee table books? It's not an either or choice.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Can’t wait to see who Bahamut and Tiamat are in every realm.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

So why not make actual D&D stuff instead of coffee table books? It's not an either or choice.

Cause this was not made by WotC directly. And this is not an either or. Multiple types of books are being made.