D&D 5E (2024) What are the 7 dungeons in D&D World of Warcraft all about?

We reported the other day that various online influencers have been given access to the upcoming World of Warcraft book, and have permission to discuss certain elements of that book. Most of them are concentrating on the various dungeons within: the Deadmines and Shadowfang Keep set up for Levels 1-4 players, Blackfathom Deep and Scarlet Monastery for Levels 5-10 players, Scarlet Monastery (again) and Dire Maul set up for Levels 11-16 players, and Azjol Nerub and Onyxia’s Lair for Levels 17-20 players.

These are all classic dungeons found within the MMORP, and are likely familiar to players of that game. Many D&D players, however (including me) might not be familiar with the contents of the video game, so I did the research so you didn't have to. Here's what the 7 dungeons are all about (though there's no guarantee that these will be exactly the same).

• The Deadmines (1-4) is a bandit hideout. In the video game it is hidden underneath a farming town, and is an abandoned goblin mine. In the MMORPG it leads to a ironclad pirate warship. Obviously.
• Shadowfang Keep (1-4) is a gothic-style castle on a cliff filled with were-creatures and undead, as well as a mad archmage.
• Blackfathom Deeps (5-10) is an underwater temple, once owned by night elves and now corrupted by a cult to the Old Gods. Expect aquatic foes and, if its the same as the MMORPG, a hydra
• Scarlet Monastery (5-15) is the base of an order of fanatical inquisitors who execute anyone they think has been infected by the undead.
• Dire Maul (11-15) is the ruin of an ancient elven city. In the MMORPG it has three main zones--ghosts, a demonic prison, and an ogre-run gladiator arena.
• Azjol-Nerub (16-20) is an arctic underdark style place where a species of 4-legged spider folk have been turned into undead, led by a reanimated 'crypt lord'.
• Onyxia's Lair (16-20) is a black dragon lair.

This is all based on some research I did, so if I got any details wrong, it's my own fault. I've never played World of Warcraft, and I'm sure that players of the MMORPG can provide much more detail.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Shadowfang Keep might be based on the Cataclysm version as Godfrey is explicitly mentioned.

 

[Tonguez]

I don't love this spread of dungeons, myself. I get wanting to make sure that both Alliance and Horde dungeons are covered, but if you polled everyone on their favorite WoW dungeons, I don't think most of these would be on the list.

Even if you ditch long ones like Gnomeregan, Stratholme, Karazhan and Blackrock Mountain (completely fair), I would have gone with Wailing Caverns and Scholomance over Blackfathom Depths and Dire Maul. And Naxxaramas over Icecrown Citadel, as it's got a lot more variety in encounters and mechanics.

That said, making "new" dungeons for WoW using online resources is trivial, so it's hardly the end of the world. Still, weird choices, IMO.

If I was selling books I'd definitely leave Gnomeregan, Stratholme, Karazhan and Blackrock Mountain to be their own Splat books ie "Campaign Modules" especially with each one having such a strong theme - Gnome Tech, Undead, Magic War, Dragons

 

[Distracted DM]

Azjol-Nerub is in Northrend, so it's more of a link to them doing the Icecrown Citadel content pack, I think.

Ah youre right, I was thinking of Ahn-Qiraj.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If I was selling books I'd definitely leave Gnomeregan, Stratholme, Karazhan and Blackrock Mountain to be their own Splat books ie "Campaign Modules" especially with each one having such a strong theme - Gnome Tech, Undead, Magic War, Dragons

Yeah, they'd definitely work for that. It remains to be seen if WotC returns to Azeroth after November's releases.

 

[LazarusKane]

The Deadmines: Mostly correct. It is a bandit hideout for the Defias gang, but it is not under a zombie-infested town. The town is abandoned but heavily patrolled by Defias bandits, stealthed and otherwise. The mine isn't goblin, per se, but there are a small amount of goblins who are part of the Defias gang.

The story is fascinating as it has to do with the rebuilding of Stormwind (the Alliance capitol), a miner's guild, and the lack of payment to that guild which devasted a community (the town in Westfall mentioned above) and lead to them rising up as the Defias gang... all orchestrated by someone with a close ear to the (now missing) King Anduin.

I think that is the only thing I would correct here as providing more details on the others would definitely be a spoiler (as opposed to the above which is "known" at the start, with the exception of someone who orchestrated it all)

Sorry to nitpick but it was the stonemasons guild, not the miners guild.