D&D 5E Christopher Perkins Talks About The Return of Vecna, Venger, & More D&D Villains

Perkins reiterates that League of Malevolence villains Venger, Kelek, and Warduke will be appearing. He doesn't confirm that Venger is a Red Wizard of Thay, but does confirm that the Red Wizard storyline is coming in 2025.

The big Vecna adventure, with Amanda Hamon as lead developer, is lined up for 2024, and is Vecna's 'scary comeback' and goes to many worlds.

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[Parmandur]

Re: the 2025 Red Wizards adventure, Perkins says, "It's exciting because the Red Wizards are exciting, but it's also exciting because, 'Oh, what is—what can we do that's fun with the Forgotten Realms and prepare you for that adventure?'"

Surely he's hinting at a setting guide here?

Not so much, it seems more that he is saying they want to make a more gonzo, out there FR Advebture here that leans into unique FR elements rather than a more generic, could happen anywhere in D&D story.

 

[The Glen]

I can't wait to see how WotC changes Venger.

Yes I'm sure the committee that designs him will make sure that he is the least offensive villain ever.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

They released the D&D cartoon for free on twitch & youtube instead selling the streaming rights.

Who's "they?" Pirates?

 

[Erdric Dragin]

It's a shame I won't be around to see it, but it'll be interesting to see how D&D morphs once the Baby Boomers and Gen X are gone.

Not any better with corporate greed behind the wheel. D&D stopped being interesting after they ditched 3.5e

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Not any better with corporate greed behind the wheel. D&D stopped being interesting after they ditched 3.5e

The famously not corporate greed 3.5 edition!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

D&D has so many classic villains, many from Greyhawk (and imprted into FR in many cases), that's it's odd the pool is this shallow.

Admittedly, in recent years some classics have made an appearance: Demogorgon, Orcus, Acererak, Iggwilv, Tiamat, Strahd.

But man, lurking out there ... Bargle, Zargon, Eclavdra, Zuggtmoy, Tharizdun, Rary the Traitor, etc ...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

How much did Tharizdun do in 4E? Because in 1E, he was most notable for possibly being a guy sleeping inside an energy field in a less-popular dungeon.

Zargon is basically just an eating machine out of a Conan comic. (Not even the original stories!)

Bargle is a pretty standard mustache-twirling villain, but would make a good mid-level enemy.

Eclavdra is great, but WotC would have to acknowledge that the drow predate the Forgotten Realms, which I don't think they want to do.

 

[Quickleaf]

Somebody call Venger, I think he lost one of his horns in Honor Among Thieves...

 

[Parmandur]

The famously not corporate greed 3.5 edition!

Pretty sure evert D&D product since 1974 was the product of corporate greed.

 

[Parmandur]

How much did Tharizdun do in 4E? Because in 1E, he was most notable for possibly being a guy sleeping inside an energy field in a less-popular dungeon.

In 3E, they made him the Evil Elemental Eye, and hence the baddie in Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. In 4E, this escalated to Tharizdun having created the Abyss, with all Demons being Elementals that he corrupted. 5E saw him toned down to a suggested Warlock patron and the big baddie behind the scenes for Princes of the Apocalypse, going back to the 3E approach.