[UPDATED] RAGE OF DEMONS! New D&D Storyline Features Drizzt, Underdark, & Demon Lords!

Following Elemental Evil this fall, Rage of Demons will launch a new storyline featuring Drizzt Do'Urden, the Underdark, and various demon lords from the Abyss including old favourites like Demogorgon, Orcus and Graz’zt. This will feature on tabletop, console, and PC. "The demon lords have been summoned from the Abyss and players must descend into the Underdark with the iconic hero Drizzt Do’Urden to stop the chaos before it threatens the surface." It begins with the adventure Out of the Abyss, which releases on September 15th for $49.95, and is being designed for WotC by Green Ronin Publishing. (Thanks to Charles Akins for that last scoop!)

​

Drizzt? WotC's Chris Perkins says: "Drizzt's role in the RoD story varies depending on the platform. In the TRPG adventure, the PCs are the stars."

Inspiration: "My inspirations for RAGE OF DEMONS were Lewis Carroll's Wonderland stories and EXILE, by R.A. Salvatore." [Perkins] So this is the Alice in Wonderland inspired story that's been previously alluded to.

Here's the full announcement.

"Today, Wizards of the Coast announced Rage of Demons, the new storyline for Dungeons & Dragons fans coming in Fall 2015. The demon lords have been summoned from the Abyss and players must descend into the Underdark with the iconic hero Drizzt Do’Urden to stop the chaos before it threatens the surface. Rage of Demons is the story all D&D gamers will be excited to play this fall, whether they prefer consoles, PCs or rolling dice with friends.

Following on the critically-acclaimed Tyranny of Dragons and Elemental Evil stories, Rage of Demons will transport characters to the deadly and insane underworld. Rumors of powerful demon lords such as Demogorgon, Orcus and Graz’zt terrorizing the denizens of the Underdark have begun to filter up to the cities of the Sword Coast. The already dangerous caverns below the surface are thrown into ultimate chaos, madness and discord. The renegade drow Drizzt Do’Urden is sent to investigate but it will be up to you to aid in his fight against the demons before he succumbs to his darker temptations.

Dungeons & Dragons fans will have more options than ever to enjoy the Rage of Demons storyline. The themes of treachery and discord in the Underdark are in Sword Coast Legends, the new CRPG (computer role-playing game) coming this fall on PC from n-Space and Digital Extremes. The epic campaign that drives Sword Coast Legends' story forces players deep into the Underdark and continues well after launch with legendary adventurer Drizzt Do'Urden.

For fans of Neverwinter, the popular Dungeons & Dragons-based MMORPG will bring a new expansion – tentatively titled Neverwinter: Underdark – in 2015. The update will see adventurers travel with Drizzt to the drow city of Menzoberranzan during its demonic assault as well as experience a unique set of quests written by the creator of Drizzt, R.A. Salvatore. The expansion will initially be released on PC and will come out on the Xbox One at a later date.

Players of the tabletop roleplaying game can descend into the Underdark in Out of the Abyss, a new adventure which provides details on the demon lords rampaging through the Underdark. Partners such as WizKids, GaleForce 9 and Smiteworks will all support Rage of Demons with new products to help bring your tabletop game to life. To really get in the mind of Drizzt, fans will have to check out Archmage, the new novel by R.A. Salvatore, scheduled for release in early September.

“Rage of Demons is a huge storyline involving all expressions of Dungeons & Dragons, and we’re excited to bring players this story in concert with all of our partners,” said Nathan Stewart, Brand Director at Wizards of the Coast. “I can’t wait to see everyone interact with one of the world’s most recognizable fantasy characters: Drizzt Do’Urden. Descending into the depths won’t exactly be easy for him, and D&D fans will get their mettle tested just like Drizzt when they come face-to-face with all the demon lords.”

​

 

[Mistwell]

So, on a side note, PCs defeating summoned cosmic beings again? Add cultists and I see a pattern of laziness.

WOTC Announces X. Goldomark craps on X, and WOTC, with not much more than a single sentence of crapping. And you're accusing someone else of having a pattern of laziness?

 

[redkobold]

I think many misread that release. For the tabletop rpg, Drizzt will not be around. Drizzt is only in the CRPG.

"Players of the tabletop roleplaying game can descend into the Underdark in Out of the Abyss, a new adventure which provides details on the demon lords rampaging through the Underdark. Partners such as WizKids, GaleForce 9 and Smiteworks will all support Rage of Demons with new products to help bring your tabletop game to life. To really get in the mind of Drizzt, fans will have to check out Archmage, the new novel by R.A. Salvatore, scheduled for release in early September."

No tabletop group is going to be tagging along with Drizzt or even have him acting offstage in an adventure.

 

[TarionzCousin]

When I think of Orcus, Grazz't, Demogorgon, et al., I don't connect them to Lewis Carroll's Alice.

Where is the connection for Chris Perkins? Is this going to be "Orcus Through the Looking Glass (into the Underdark)"? Is he confused and bewildered by the strange beings he encounters there?

 

[Zaran]

When I think of Orcus, Grazz't, Demogorgon, et al., I don't connect them to Lewis Carroll's Alice.

Where is the connection for Chris Perkins? Is this going to be "Orcus Through the Looking Glass (into the Underdark)"? Is he confused and bewildered by the strange beings he encounters there?

I might actually buy this one just because it isn't visibly an homage to Lewis Carroll. I was so worried that we would be seeing talking animals and giant top hats. No Drizz't is another selling point for me. I just wish they would stop with APs and do more regular adventures.

 

[jbear]

Or, you know, instead of being shallow twits, maybe Drizzt haters hate Drizzt not because they think it makes them cool, but because Drizzt is a perfect example of what they perceive of as the worst of D&D- the Mary Sue, never-gonna-die-cuz-DM-fiat, special-snowflake-Underdark-evilbadrace-good-guy, the uberNPC that dominates the game. Instead of having anything to do with "cool", Drizzt hate is, simply put... Drizzt hate.

Not to say that Drizzt lovers are in the wrong; it's a matter of personal taste. But claiming that Drizzt-haters are just trying to be cool is absolutely ridiculous.

I probably went overboard with my hyperbole to make a point. And I am certain that my sweeping statement will have many cases where it is completely false. But my impression is what it is. I don't hang out with anyone who embodies the worst of any roleplayer tropes, and the only time I actually talk to anyone about RPGs is here at EnWorld. All of the people I play with are people that I have personally introduced to RPGs and if it weren't for me there is absolutely no way on earth they would have ever gotten into the game. So I really don't get caught up in emotional reactions to things like Drzzt being involved as an NPC in a computer game that links players to an Underdark adventure, and I really wouldn't get excited or angry if he appeared as an NPC in the Underdark. I would use him as I would any other NPC, and I've never used an NPC to overshadow the players, because that wouldn't be fun for anyone, myself included.

In fact there's a lot of RPG stuff that I don't know myself. I know what is meant by a Mary Sue because of the context you and others put it in, but I have no idea whyit is called Mary Sue for example. Having been on these boards for many years now, my impression is that the 'Drzzt sucks' vibe is one that catches. As far as I know he is largely a character from fantasy novels, not a key NPC in important adventures in the table top game (I am aware that he appeared in an adventure in Dragon during the time of 4e, not sure if that constitutes the DM fiat special snowflake you describe). But hey, I could be wrong (I really don't know what a Mary Sue is... so more than likely I'm wrong). I do however believe that people's opinions can often influence other people's opinions, especially if they hold those people in high esteem. And yeah, personally I think a lot of that goes on here. Drzzt hate seems to be a bit more than just Drzzt hate, at least from what I have read. I think it is fine to express that, just as it is fine that we disagree. Your entitled to your opinion, and I to mine.

I do apologise if I said what I said in a condescending manner. There was no need for that.

 

[Wicht]

Yea, I have no idea of who any of those people are, except I think I've seen Bargle referenced here a few times. No idea who he (or she) is.

You don't know who Warduke or Morgan Ironwolf are?

Where were you during the 80's?

 

[AriochQ]

Yes, I hear that Graz'zt is a big player in Greyhawk, nice we'll get official stats and possible cross=over ideas into Greyhawk (that would be awesome). I've always been a big fan of Graz'zt and wonder at the similarity in Driz'zt's name (a possible relation?). Maybe someone should start a Rage of Demons speculation thread. Im super jazzed at this, definitely a much better release concept (and more iconic of D&D) than Alice in Wonderland.

He was one of the original Demon Lords. I used him in my first campaign as a DM in high school back in the early 80's. All there was then was Greyhawk! lol

I noticed the similarity between Graz'zt and Driz'zt but can't think how they would be related. Graz'zt is father to Iuz. Iuz is a sometimes ally of Lolth, but only when their goals coincide. Their two realms don't overlap so they usually just stay out of each others way. Maybe there is some lore connecting the Drow and Graz'zt that I missed or forgot.

 

[steeldragons]

You don't know who Warduke or Morgan Ironwolf are?

Where were you during the 80's?

Likely not born yet, Wicht. There are at least two generations of gamers behind those of us playing (and playing, as children) in the 80s.

Gods...I just made myself feel older typing this out than I already did conceiving this post. ugh.

 

[Wicht]

I think many misread that release. For the tabletop rpg, Drizzt will not be around. Drizzt is only in the CRPG.

"Players of the tabletop roleplaying game can descend into the Underdark in Out of the Abyss, a new adventure which provides details on the demon lords rampaging through the Underdark. Partners such as WizKids, GaleForce 9 and Smiteworks will all support Rage of Demons with new products to help bring your tabletop game to life. To really get in the mind of Drizzt, fans will have to check out Archmage, the new novel by R.A. Salvatore, scheduled for release in early September."

No tabletop group is going to be tagging along with Drizzt or even have him acting offstage in an adventure.

If you are correct, then that paragraph is poorly put together, as one must wonder what the last sentence is doing to support the theme of the paragraph.

 

[Wicht]

I find is slightly humorous that the anti-anti-Drizzt posts are starting to come close to matching the anti-Drizzt posts in number and are possibly surpassing them in their passion about being anti-anti-drizzt.