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!

 

[Reynard]

Is that totally original or is it part of soe known property?

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Let's say my mind was enough open to admit this could possible.

Do you think Throne of Eldrain will be the next?

And after Kara-Tur Magic: the Gathering could publish a new Oriental setting, (let's say Kamigawa was created as an one-shot and this is a too small setting to be used in a OrAdv with all the new PC races, subclasses and monsters)

 

[Undrave]

Is that totally original or is it part of soe known property?

Theros is a setting in Magic the Gathering I believe. It's the Greek Myths inspired one.

Might be where we get that Paladin of Heroism??

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

That.is.soooooo.coooool

Ravnica was an incredible book, I'm thrilled for this one!

 

[darjr]

Woot!!!!

 

[slobster]

I'm really hoping the writers of the book get some freedom to add to the setting for the book. I love Theros (big Magic player, mono-G elfball is my jam), but Magic settings in general tend to be very loosely defined and vague as a result of their roots as backdrop for a card game. The setting has tons of potential, but having been interested in its lore and playing cards from its world for years, I still have no good mental image of what it's like to actually live there, adventure there, geography, etc.

So this could be really great, or it could struggle a bit to establish a real sense of place and lived-in worldliness, a problem I thought the Ravnica book also had.

But as someone who was thinking of trying to start a Theros D&D game myself, I am excited!

 

[The White Sorcerer]

I'm trying to parse what that title is supposed to mean. A guy from Theros whose name is Odysseus and who is mythic? Seems odd.

 

[Professor Murder]

I am willing to check out setting book to cannibalize for parts. I picked up Ebberon but passed on Ravnica. New class materials is usually the deciding factor.

 

[Morrus]

I'm trying to parse what that title is supposed to mean. A guy from Theros whose name is Odysseus and who is mythic?

Odysseys, not Odysseus.