D&D 5E A Peek At Witchlight's WARDUKE!

We've known for a while that next month's Wild Beyond the Witchlight features a number of 80s D&D characters, including Warduke the evil fighter. We now have a clear view of what he looks like in his 5E incarnation!

D&D 5E - Two New D&D Books Revealed: Feywild & Strixhaven Mage School

Amazon has revealed the next two D&D hardcovers! The Wild Beyond the Witchlight is a feywild adventure due in September, and Curriculum of Chaos is a Magic: the Gathering setting of Strixhaven, which looks like a Harry Potter-esque mage school, set for November...

www.enworld.org

D&D 5E - Wild Beyond the Witchlight Features Warduke & More!

While we've had the back cover text for some time, Amazon has revealed more information about the Wild Beyond the Witchlight! The adventure includes Warduke, a figure dating back to the 1980s, and indicates that all encounters can be resolved without combat. The book also includes two new races...

www.enworld.org

 

[embee]

Danny Downer here.

Not to be a naysayer but there's a line between "outfit designed to strike fear in the enemy" and "trying too hard." And this is a skosh over that line.

Like, I get that he's big and powerful but does he need a miniature fanny pack version of the horned skull from his shield? It's not as bad as, say, Apocalypse running around with an "A" belt buckle but it's definitely in Serpentor territory.

 

[embee]

You need to explain to your 7yo about killing things and steeling their stuff.

More significantly, how come he is suddenly left handed?!

Maybe he has a southpaw advantage. Like putting a lefty against a right-handed pitcher.

 

[darjr]

Danny Downer here.

Not to be a naysayer but there's a line between "outfit designed to strike fear in the enemy" and "trying too hard." And this is a skosh over that line.

Like, I get that he's big and powerful but does he need a miniature fanny pack version of the horned skull from his shield? It's not as bad as, say, Apocalypse running around with an "A" belt buckle but it's definitely in Serpentor territory.

Wait. I thought the funny over the line thing was part of the point?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

View attachment 142203

This art is freaking awesome. I love 5e's art so much.

I'm excited to see his stats. I personally am wondering if they do what Waterdeep: Dragon Heist did, and reprint some of the Humanoid NPC Stat Blocks from Volo's Guide to Monster, but make slight changes to fit more specific NPCs (I could see Warduke being a Warlord with an added Flametongue and maybe some magical armor or a shield).

I'm personally very intrigued to see how the players can deal with him in a non-combat way. (Maybe it'll be similar to how you can deal with Arkhan the Cruel in Descent into Avernus. . .)

 

[Azzy]

Someone has posted his 1e stats, it mentions the sword is set aflame on command in there.

Tsk! BECMI, not 1e. The stats for Warduke and company were presented in AC1: The Shady Dragon Inn and in the module XL1: Quest for the Heartstone. Please excuse my pedantry.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

This art is freaking awesome. I love 5e's art so much.

I'm excited to see his stats. I personally am wondering if they do what Waterdeep: Dragon Heist did, and reprint some of the Humanoid NPC Stat Blocks from Volo's Guide to Monster, but make slight changes to fit more specific NPCs (I could see Warduke being a Warlord with an added Flametongue and maybe some magical armor or a shield).

I'm personally very intrigued to see how the players can deal with him in a non-combat way. (Maybe it'll be similar to how you can deal with Arkhan the Cruel in Descent into Avernus. . .)

I'm guessing they'll give him a unique stat block, that's been the pattern for the past 3 years I think.

 

[Stormonu]

I'm guessing they'll give him a unique stat block, that's been the pattern for the past 3 years I think.

Either Dungeon or Dragon magazine (I think Dungeon) gave his 3E stats, and I’ve noticed Dragonbait’s statblock in Tomb of Annihilation, so I can certainly see him getting a statblock (and probably an encounter!) in Witchlight - though that might be at odds with the “can complete the adventure without combat” statement for the adventure.

 

[Tonybro001]

Just saw this on Twitter. Thought I’d post it, limited few left.

Miniatures, Roleplaying Games and Board Games | Fenris Games

Wargame and roleplaying miniatures, laser cutting services, Cthulhu Wars game.

fenrisgames.com

Of course this means we might get a licensed Nolzur Miniature of Warduke which would be a vast improvement on the D&D miniatures version from WarDrums.

 

[Azzy]

I do hope that his stats are closer to the original than the epic-level Dungeon version. I always thought that version was a bit gratuitous.

 

[darjr]

Not Wotc but I thought it was cool
Warduchess