[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!)

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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.”

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[EthanSental]

Like in the other thread, really looking forward to this. Like more Morrus stated in page 1, I think Drizzt will be in the background ala Gandalf in the Hobbit book. Shows up from time to time to either give info or quests. I'm in!

 

[Mouseferatu]

I'm amused that people are still arguing about a heavy Drizzt presence in the actual tabletop adventure despite Morrus updating the post three pages ago with a quote that specifically says there won't be any.

 

[Wicht]

I'm amused that people are still arguing about a heavy Drizzt presence in the actual tabletop adventure despite Morrus updating the post three pages ago with a quote that specifically says there won't be any.

Nonsense.
Firstly it was eight pages ago.

Secondly, the actual quote is, "Drizzt's role in the RoD story varies depending on the platform. In the TRPG adventure, the PCs are the stars;" which is not the same as saying Drizzt won't have any presence, but is more saying that they are aware of the need for the PCs to be center stage.

But thirdly, the real debate now is over whether or not Morgan Ironwolf or Warduke should get their own adventure and novel series.

 

[Wicht]

Personally, I've always had a soft spot for the halfling dude Jeff Dee drew, standing up to the human warrior for the sake of his girl.

View attachment 68242

 

[TerraDave]

No Cultist, Yes Madness

And Chris Pramas was right in his bold prediction.

That is pretty impressive actually.

Drizz't who?


Also, I am Morgan Ironwolf.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Nonsense.
Firstly it was eight pages ago.

Only for the amateur board-users who haven't modified the number of posts they get per page.

Secondly, the actual quote is, "Drizzt's role in the RoD story varies depending on the platform. In the TRPG adventure, the PCs are the stars;" which is not the same as saying Drizzt won't have any presence, but is more saying that they are aware of the need for the PCs to be center stage.

Hence "heavy presence" not "any presence."

But thirdly, the real debate now is over whether or not Morgan Ironwolf or Warduke should get their own adventure and novel series.

Both. Duh.

 

[Wicht]

Only for the amateur board-users who haven't modified the number of posts they get per page.

I prefer "old fashioned curmudgeon" thank you. There's nothing amateurish about it.

Hence "heavy presence" not "any presence."

Rereading your quote, I can see that being one possible interpretation of your actual words.

 

[pukunui]

Here's another Chris Perkins tweet: "R.A. Salvatore and Troy Denning were our consultants on the RAGE OF DEMONS story. It was a joy to work with them."

 

[HonorBoundSamurai632]

If you want to run the adventure in those settings, you're likely already a fan and have all the books you will ever need.
In the unlikely event you want to run a pre-published adventure in the non-default setting AND in a world you know almost nothing about, well... that is harder.

But WotC can't drop everything to publishing a dozen campaign settings. Especially since sales of each successive setting would be smaller and smaller until they were losing money.

In in the meantime, you can get PDFs of all the worlds on DnDclassics.com. They have some great 3e Dragonlance books starting to be replaced that are full of fluff. You can get an entire library of great setting resources for the same price you'd pay for a single hardcover setting book.

That wasn't what I was asking for. In almost every post where I mention the lack of campaign support, (even though the multiverse is said to be the "default" setting,) I try to give some idea on how WoTC could update the campaigns as cheaply as possible. Everytime though, someone always focuses on the fact that I complained. I said that if they are going to be updating the campaign settings through these adventures piece by piece, than maybe they should come out with a map pack like Pathfinder does so that players and DM's can see ALL of Faerun. In my example I used Greyhawk. I even went as far as to admit that I've come to terms with the fact that they are not going to do a book or box set or anything that resembles a traditional campaign setting .... because well, the truth is, they are WoTC and they know best (because I do not have all the inside information they do.) But I don't think asking for a map pack of all of Faerun is that much. I paid $20 for Pathfinder's Inner Sea Folio, (it only comes with four, highly durable poster maps, that show all of the Inner Sea region,) my wife dropped $15 for X-mas last year and got me the Runelords Folio, and I dropped another $20 on the Jade Regent Folio because WoTC hasn't done ANYTHING with Kara-Tur. This is a money I would gladly give to WoTC for updated maps of the campaign settings. I'm not a PDF guy. I do not own a tablet, or even a cellphone. I'd be willing to live with having an awesome map folio of Krynn, Faerun, Athas, or Oerth .... and then be patient and wait for the updates to come out during the adventures. I'd even be far more excited about the adventures, knowing I'd be getting the campaign updates. I don't think I'm asking for much considering all the other Paizo tactics WoTC has used for this current edition so far.

 

[HonorBoundSamurai632]

Does it bother anyone else that their hardback adventures so far are all retreads of old modules?

Where's the creativity and originality?

I mentioned something like this in my post too. I'm actually afraid to see them touch my beloved I6 module and move it to The Forgotten Realms.