D&D General Does WotCs “Happy Holidays” post confirm a Ravenloft book in 2026?

[Paul Farquhar]

Mordenkainen doesn’t have art in Curse of Strahd, but

Yeah it does. He is busy being a stag.

They’re very specifically Curse of Strahd references.

Apart from the ones that aren’t.

 

[Charlaquin]

Yeah it does. He is busy being a stag.

Ok, there’s art of a stag

There’s no art in the book that would tell us if his human form looks like Gandalf or not, was my point.

Apart from the ones that aren’t.

Again, which ones would those be? The owlbear and the wizard. Both of which have plausible Curse of Strahd specific referents they could plausibly be pointing to. (Well, DCA specific in the owlbear’s case, but since CoS was what they played, that’s still CoS specific with an extra step).

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Ok, there’s art of a stag

There’s no art in the book that would tell us if his human form looks like Gandalf or not, was my point.

We already know, because it was established in earlier editions, and restated in 5e, that Mordy is a Doctor Strange cosplayer, not a Gandalf cosplayer. Elminster and Fizban are the Gandalf cosplayers.

But, if you wanted to reference CoS Mordy, you would put in a stag, since that’s the form he takes in that adventure, and it’s the sort of thing you get on Christmas cards.

Again, which ones would those be? The owlbear and the wizard. Both of which have plausible Curse of Strahd specific referents they could plausibly be pointing to.

Or, far more probable, they could point to something else, or nothing at all.

And, whilst Barovia has more demons and undead than it does owlbears, there is nothing specially Barovian about these extremely common D&D monster types. And sledges loaded with treasure?

It’s also worth mentioning that Strahd, Rose and Thorn make cameos in Vecna: Eve of Ruin (as does a very ungandalf Mordy).

Suggestion: a general book could be presented by Strahd, if they are still going with that format. Strahd von Zarivich’s guide to Owlbear Husbandry.

 

[Parmandur]

Suggestion: a general book could be presented by Strahd, if they are still going with that format.

It would fit alongside Xanathar and Tasha well enough.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It would fit alongside Xanathar and Tasha well enough.

Perhaps more likely: Strahd’s Book of Forbidden Magic. Not specifically Ravenloft (Fizban’s book wasn’t specifically Dragonlance) but including the sort of stuff you might find there, such as necromancers and reanimators, along with misc other things that need updating. Thereby Ravenloft is updated in such a way that people who don’t like Ravenloft will buy it.

 

[Parmandur]

Perhaps more likely: Strahd’s Book of Forbidden Magic. Not specifically Ravenloft (Fizban’s book wasn’t specifically Dragonlance) but including the sort of stuff you might find there, such as necromancers and reanimators, along with misc other things that need updating. Thereby Ravenloft is updated in such a way that people who don’t like Ravenloft will buy it.

Yeah, right now the UA tealeaves suggest three possibilities, which are not mutually exclusive: something Ravenloft, something Dark Sun, and something on the scale of Xanathar's and Tasha's. They already tested as many PC options between May 2025 and now as they did between May 2019 and May 2020, and back then those options ended up in Ebberon, Theros, and Tasha's.

 

[Azzy]

Yeah, right now the UA tealeaves suggest three possibilities, which are not mutually exclusive: something Ravenloft, something Dark Sun, and something on the scale of Xanathar's and Tasha's. They already tested as many PC options between May 2025 and now as they did between May 2019 and May 2020, and back then those options ended up in Ebberon, Theros, and Tasha's.

Instead of reading tea leaves, wouldn't it be more fitting if we were instead consulting the Tarokka cards.

 

[saviirkad]

"Suddenly, it assumes the form of a man in tattered black robes. His hair and beard are long, black, and streaked with gray, and his eyes crackle with eldritch power."

Description of the Mad Mage in Curse of Strahd, for what it's worth.

 

[Nikosandros]

Instead of reading tea leaves, wouldn't be more fitting if we were instead consulting the Tarokka cards.

Here is Strahd as "Il Bagatto" (The Magician) reversed. Clearly he's coming back as "The Alchemist" with a twist. I10 "Ravenloft II: The House on Gryphon Hill" confirmed!

 

[Stormonu]

"The Alchemist" would be a good excuse to put some stat blocks in for NPC Artificers, methinks....and maybe even a "sample" Artificer's bastion (where the Apparatus is being hid, but useful for players once its cleaned out/the adventure is over).