D&D 5E D&D Beyond Shares Free 'Phandalin Post' Player Handout

With Phandelver & Below: The Shattered Obelisk less than two weeks away, WotC has provided a free player handout in the form of a page of the Phandalin Post, an in-game newspaper. It is designed to be given to the players before they begin the adventure. Click on the image below to jump there!

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[Paul Farquhar]

I've no doubt that this was put out because Baldur's Gate 3 has newspapers.

But printing in FR is at 17th century levels. Yes newspapers where invented then. But printing presses are big heavy machines using movable lead type set by hand. It's a big heavy machine, and typesetting is itself a skilled profession. Typewriters, photocopiers, printers and photography where much later inventions.

The illustrations in early newspapers where woodcuts. The quality of the illustration is higher than a wood-cut, but we might assume it's an artist's impression magically transferred to a printable medium.

 

[Leatherhead]

Using Mold Earth you could instantly set up a master copy stone without having to set up the type or cutouts. And it's only a cantrip.

 

[Azzy]

Instead of a full-on newspaper, like Eberron has, the Forgotten Realms more likely prints broadsides (see broadside ballads).