D&D 5E WotC Announces An Impending Announcement: New Setting, Storyline

Early this week, WotC announced on Twitter that today there would be some kind of announcement on their Twitch channel. Those who heard that announcement and tuned in were treated to an announcement that the new storyline will be announced at a live event in June.

The press release announcing the impending announcement also mentions a new setting, as well as the storyline, so it sounds like it might not be set in the Forgotten Realms (or maybe is in a new region - to 5E - of the Realms, such as Icewind Dale). The adventure and the setting might be the same thing, or they might be completely different things. Recently, WotC has released a bunch of settings: Eberron, Ravnica, Wildemount, and the upcoming Theros.

Fans of D&D will learn all about the new setting and storyline

The new storyline specifically will be revealed at 12pm PST (8pm GMT) on Thursday, June 18th.

The June event will raise money for Comic Relief, and will feature celebrities including Brandon Routh (Superman), and will preview the brand new storyline. It takes place June 18th-20th. Other names involved include Felicia Day, Deborah Ann Woll, Amy Acker, David Harbour, Matthew Lillard, and more.

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 PRESS RELEASE

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RENTON, WA – May 21, 2020 – People all over the world continue to stay safe by staying home, but that doesn’t mean the adventuring has to stop. Dungeons & Dragons is more popular than ever because it allows people to weave compelling stories together even when they’re physically apart through online videoconferencing. Now, Wizards of the Coast brings the stars to this virtual table with D&D Live 2020: Roll w/ Advantage. An amazing cast of characters led by expert storytellers preview the latest D&D storyline with live gaming sessions, all while raising money for Red Nose Day to help the most vulnerable children across the US and around the world, who have been so affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.The adventure begins 10:00am PT on June 18, 2020 and will run through June 20, 2020 at dungeonsanddragons.com.

D&D Live 2020: Roll w/ Advantage features big personalities playing elves, wizards and fighters to accomplish quests using their imaginations. Funny people like Brian Posehn, Kevin Sussman and Thomas Middleditch will work together to solve problems or, more likely, cause some hilarious new ones. WWE ® Superstars Xavier Woods ®, Tyler Breeze ®, Ember Moon ®, Alexa Bliss ® and Dio Maddin ® will contend with beefcake destroyer Jeremy Crawford, a.k.a. Principal Rules Designer for D&D. Deborah Ann Woll will lead a group of actors in improvising a way to help people in a fantasy world not that different from ours. And principal D&D writer Chris Perkins takes players

Fans of D&D will learn all about the new setting and storyline as well as accompanying new products plus tons of unique gameplay available on June 18, 2020. D&D Adventurers League has four new short adventures everyone can enjoy. By donating a small amount to Red Nose Day, fans will have access to sign up for D&D sessions with players around the world! During #DnDLive2020, fans will also be able to choose the character best suited to help the region through Reality RP, a mashup of fantasy storytelling, community engagement, and reality television.

 

[Parmandur]

They might not want to give away all the plot on the cover, although that would be something of an exception for 5e adventures to not display the big bad prominently.

I do have to say, it's definitely one of the most evocative covers we've had, helped out by the fact that even D&D veterans don't know exactly what that owl-thing is, which helps us empathize with the poor freaked-out victim helpless in the snow...

Yeah, it's a great piece of art. I think if they go full Mindflayer at some point, it will be splayed all over the cover.

 

[Xenonnonex]

They might not want to give away all the plot on the cover, although that would be something of an exception for 5e adventures to not display the big bad prominently.

I do have to say, it's definitely one of the most evocative covers we've had, helped out by the fact that even D&D veterans don't know exactly what that owl-thing is, which helps us empathize with the poor freaked-out victim helpless in the snow...

Thing looks like a giant owl. Could be the new giant subtype.
Unless it was cursed by Auril.

 

[vpuigdoller]

Yeah, it's a great piece of art. I think if they go full Mindflayer at some point, it will be splayed all over the cover.

Probably, yeah.

 

[ssvegeta555]

Icewind Dale huh? Hmm... I don't play 5e (I play 3.5) but this has me interested regardless. And having played through both Icewind Dale games earlier this year, I'm down for some more Icewind Dale goodness

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That does not look like a regular (or even snowy) owlbear.

The face of the creature is that of a barn owl - suggests to me the artist is trying to make it more sympathetic.
It has goatlike horns.
It has birdlike talons, which is correct for an owlbear - the artist was perhaps uncertain if owls have three or four toes?
It is wearing a tattered cloak (looks a bit like plastic sheeting)
The body, although furry, is thin for a bear, and the hind legs are long. (yeti body?)
It is accompanied by a (winter?) wolf. Noticed another wolf behind, which is strangely larger than the wolf in front.

This suggests to me that it is actually a cursed human (or other sentient) - maybe a druid or ranger - and it is actually reaching out for help.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Auril: in the Icewind Dale CRPG one of the first antagonists you encounter is a cleric of Auril, who is trying to extinguish unnatural sources of warmth and light (the Tree of Kuldahar and Kresslick's tomb). You have the option of siding with her. She has yeti minions.

Wendigo: usually depicted as an emaciated anthropomorphic dear or cariboo, so I don't think this is meant to be one. However, it did make me think in that direction. Thematically connects to Auril.

We need a Cold domain for clerics. Nature isn't too bad for Auril, but Tempest (which is listed) is a poor fit.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Just noticed a tall jagged spire jutting up in the background - Crenshinibon?

Is supposed to be both destroyed and imprisoned in the Shadowfell C1401 DR, but you can't keep a good evil artefact down.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Calling it now: Frozen crossover. Elsa is the Chosen of Auril.

 

[Xenonnonex]

Auril: in the Icewind Dale CRPG one of the first antagonists you encounter is a cleric of Auril, who is trying to extinguish unnatural sources of warmth and light (the Tree of Kuldahar and Kresslick's tomb). You have the option of siding with her. She has yeti minions.

Wendigo: usually depicted as an emaciated anthropomorphic dear or cariboo, so I don't think this is meant to be one. However, it did make me think in that direction. Thematically connects to Auril.

We need a Cold domain for clerics. Nature isn't too bad for Auril, but Tempest (which is listed) is a poor fit.

Give us wendigo. Give us horrible cold effects.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

What if that creature is wearing a owl mask?