D&D Beyond Releases New Free D&D Adventure Featuring 1980s Cartoon Characters

D&D Beyond has a new adventure featuring the cast of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon as playable characters. Today, D&D Beyond released Uni and the Hunt for the Lost Horn as a free adventure for all D&D Beyond subscribers. The adventure, which was originally released at PAX West as a part of D&D's 50th anniversary celebration, is a Level 4 adventure. As part of the adventure, players can use pre-made character sheets for the 1980s Dungeons & Dragons cartoon characters, now grown up. A seventh character, Niko, is also in the adventure as a new character who came from a different set of real-world adventurers stuck in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Uni and the Hunt for the Lost Horn also features a grown-up Uni and Kelek of League of Malevolence and D&D toy fame.

You can take a look at the grown up cast of the D&D cartoon (plus Niko) below:

 

[Parmandur]

There were some promotional comics published decades ago that also had the kids in Faerun meeting Elminster . . . .

Well, the most recent D&D comics, and apparently the last ones IDW will make, have the cartoon characters in the Forgotten Realms, I believe?

 

[Dire Bare]

As the beginning of this adventure states, Niko is "a Cleric from a different set of adventurers who recently tumbled into the D&D multiverse."

Which makes me wonder . . . what other set of adventurers?!?! Is Niko based on a character from another D&D series? (books? comics? what-have-you?)

 

[Dire Bare]

Well, the most recent D&D comics, and apparently the last ones IDW will make, have the cartoon characters in the Forgotten Realms, I believe?

View attachment 380793

Yeah, I know. Haven't read them yet. Just saying these aren't the first comics to put the kids in Elminster's Forgotten Realms, rather than short-stack Dungeon Master's "the Realms".

 

[Parmandur]

Which makes me wonder . . . what other set of adventurers?!?! Is Niko based on a character from another D&D series? (books? comics? what-have-you?)

No, Perkins went into this with an interview he did with @Christian Hoffer around Hen Con: they apparently have developed a second other party that also came as kids. It is not clear what exactly they are up to with these characters, but they have been cooking them up for...something.

 

[Parmandur]

Which makes me wonder . . . what other set of adventurers?!?! Is Niko based on a character from another D&D series? (books? comics? what-have-you?)

Ah, here is the specfics, this is not a one-off apparently:

There's one other new addition to the Dungeons & Dragons canon spinning out of the 1980s cartoon. "Another fun concept that we've been playing with is they were not the only group who was brought into that world, that there are others," Perkins said. "We have even actually created a new character, Nico, a cleric, who was part of another group that went to the Realm, had dealings with Venger, and she has now sort of crossed paths with the core group." Perkins mentioned that there are several other adventurers "to fill out the ranks" including a new Warlock character.

Dungeons & Dragons Teases Venger and 1980s Cartoon Characters in Upcoming Adventures (Exclusive)

ComicBook got some new details on what's in the works for Venger and other characters from the [...]

comicbook.com

 

[JEB]

There's one other new addition to the Dungeons & Dragons canon spinning out of the 1980s cartoon. "Another fun concept that we've been playing with is they were not the only group who was brought into that world, that there are others," Perkins said. "We have even actually created a new character, Nico, a cleric, who was part of another group that went to the Realm, had dealings with Venger, and she has now sort of crossed paths with the core group." Perkins mentioned that there are several other adventurers "to fill out the ranks" including a new Warlock character.

Dungeons & Dragons Teases Venger and 1980s Cartoon Characters in Upcoming Adventures (Exclusive)

ComicBook got some new details on what's in the works for Venger and other characters from the [...]

comicbook.com

Interesting idea! For Revised 5e canon in 2024 specifically, of course. In the canonically separate original cartoon canon, it's just the kids we know.

Still, interested to see what Perkins plans to do in this new continuity. Maybe that means they plan to develop more material set in this new canonical expression of the Realm.

 

[Parmandur]

Interesting idea! For Revised 5e canon in 2024 specifically, of course. In the canonically separate original cartoon canon, it's just the kids we know.

Still, interested to see what Perkins plans to do in this new continuity. Maybe that means they plan to develop more material set in this new canonical expression of the Realm.

Well, it wouldn't shock me if they are trying to get a revival cartoon of some sort going, or if they have plans for novels or future comics exploring the characters.lots of possibilities.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

WotC isn't the DM. Drizzt is firmly in Faerun as far as WotC is concerned (until a local DM says different).

No, it works the opposite way. WotC don't care about canon. They have said so a number of times. If YOU want Drizzt in a different setting, then WotC are perfectly happy with that.

 

[FireLance]

Which god is Niko from earth a cleric of?

From her apparent skin tone, the sound of her name, and the blue colour scheme of her tabard and headband, my guess is: The Twelve Gods.

 

[Von Ether]

I have some sad news for you...

As far as I know, Battletech has not rebooted its continuity yet, which was my original comment. How stringent they've been with said canon is another story.