D&D 5E Official D&D Greek-Themed 'Mythic Odysseys of Theros' Setting Coming In May

My inbox just exploded! It looks like Penguin Random House accidentally leaked an upcoming book listing for D&D, before removing the entry. It's dated for May 19th, and it's called Mythic Odysseys of Theros.

What's Theros? It's a Greek(ish) themed Magic: the Gathering world! This will make it the second, after Ravnica, to make it to an official D&D campaign setting. Here's what the MTG wiki says about it:

"Theros is a plane governed by the gods of Nyx, where heroes face monsters, the sea rages, people offer burnt offerings and adventures take place. It is defined by mankind's struggle against the primal forces of the world, and mankind's conflict with the many other sapient races that populate the world."

In ancient times, the archons of Theros held a massive empire, tyrannizing the world in the belief that they were imposing a strict justice. The most notable of these Archon tyrants was Agnomakhos, who used the leonin as an army. Eventually, the Archon empire fell, being instead replaced by the poleis, and the remaining Archons now lash at these, slighting the "honor" they feel was stripped from them.

There's an enormous list of races, too -- though how many of those will translate from MtG to D&D, I don't know. Some of these are clearly 'monsters' in the D&D sense rather than 'races'. It includes cats, centaurs, gorgons, merfolk, minotaurs, satyrs, spirits, zombies, archons, basilisks, chimeras, cyclopses, demons, dragons, giants, hags, harpies, hounds, hydras, krakens, lamias, manticores, pegasi, phoenixes, spines, and sirens.

There's a whole bunch of Greek-themed or inspired D&D settings, including:

• Arkadia by Arcana Games. "Arkadia is a combined setting and players handbook for 5e - inspired by the history and myths of Ancient Greece. The book contains 100 pages of densely packed all new Greek themed content for both Players and GMs."
• Hellenistika from Handiwork Games. "From the Pillars of Herakles in the West to the Silken Cities of the East, from the isle of Hyperborea in the North to the Mountains of the Moon in the South, the world spreads before you, alive with gods and marvels."
• Odyssey of the Dragonlords from Arcanum Worlds. "Odyssey of the Dragonlords is an epic fantasy campaign for the fifth edition of the world’s greatest roleplaying game. The Player’s Guide is a 28-page companion booklet that will provide you with everything you need to begin your career as a prospective hero in the forgotten land of Thylea."
• Land of Myth by Seven Thebes. "A Fantasy Setting in Mythical Ancient Greece.A world of Heroes, right after the end of
  the Trojan War, steeped in myth and conflict."

Of course, this all assumes this isn't come kind of epic troll on WotC's part -- they have recently started putting placeholder names on products on Amazon and then changing them at the most minute, although with limited success. This could be a more elaborate attempt at that!

 

[slobster]

It may well be that the specific MtG setting was created specifically to tie in with a planned D&D setting.

Greek myth is hardly exclusive to MtG.

I don't see that as particularly likely, the card game has similar need for constant new worlds which are resonant with the player base and have cool myths, monsters, and heroes for the game designers to add their own touch to. Also, the first set in this world came out in 2013, a year before 5E D&D actually released!

 

[Parmandur]

It may well be that the specific MtG setting was created specifically to tie in with a planned D&D setting.

Greek myth is hardly exclusive to MtG.

I mean, Theros has been around for 7 years and was built up in two previous releases when D&D and Magic were streams that never crossed. It is a deeply Magic Setting.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Unless you are a gnome with a chrono hopper played by Jeremy Crawford apparently!

She might be a planeswalker. The Chronohopper was something she was hired to fix, not something she needed.

 

[Parmandur]

I was talking about classical myth, although I have never seen a female satyr (or male nymph or dryad) depicted in D&D.

Satyrs in Theros are a true breeding race with male and female, and female Satyrs are well represented in the Magic art.

 

[Gradine]

 

[dave2008]

I was talking about classical myth, although I have never seen a female satyr (or male nymph or dryad) depicted in D&D.

FYI, evidently Theros has female satyrs and make nymphs

 

[darjr]

It’s up for preorder on beyond

Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Clash with the gods of Theros in this Magic: The Gathering campaign sourcebook for Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition

www.dndbeyond.com

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Though in a Greek-themed book, it'll be weird seeing them used the D&D way and not the Greek way.

Same issue in Odyssey of the Dragonlords, isn't it?

 

[Parmandur]

Appropriated, not re-appropriated!

Though in a Greek-themed book, it'll be weird seeing them used the D&D way and not the Greek way.

I'm Theros, they follow the Greek myth trajectory.

 

[Morrus]

Same issue in Odyssey of the Dragonlords, isn't it?

No idea!