New Dungeons & Dragons Expansion Brings More Creative Freedom To Players
Worlds within worlds
Dungeons & Dragons has a new expansion in the form of Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. Now, I’m not a veteran D&D player by any stretch, but I’m a sucker for a multiverse event, regardless of the franchise.
The new material is available as part of the new Rules Expansion Gift Set, which, according to Wizards of the Coast, “contains new printings of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, and a new volume, Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, which collects and revises tons of D&D material released since the launch of fifth edition into one convenient tome. Those three books plus a Dungeon Master’s Screen are all contained in a beautiful slipcase.”
In a presentation for the new expansion, Wizards of the Coast explained that Monsters of the Multiverse will feature elements from a lot of other D&D works. This will include versions of characters that are more related to specific times and places, meaning they’ll stand out when brought over into a modern campaign.
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The new expansion will also feature characters with a more universal feel, making them fit seamlessly into any story, in theory. This removal from a fixed origin point will bring more freedom to players and dungeon masters, as it will leave such characters more open to interpretation. This multiverse aspect sounds ideal for anyone looking to spice up their game.
As for the artwork, Wizards of the Coast confirm that the “standard covers [are] by Grzegorz Rutkowski (Monsters of the Multiverse, DM’s Screen and slipcase), Magali Villeneuve (Tasha’s), and Jason Rainville (Xanathar’s) featuring a shiny foil treatment. The new alternate covers, designed by Joy Ang, feature a distinctive design and soft-touch finish and are available exclusively in game stores.”
The gift set was originally intended for release over the 2021 holiday season, but was pushed back due to supply issues, according to Wizards. The positive here is that it’s arriving in time for Valentine’s Day, which is good news if you have a special adventurer in your life.
Monsters of the Multiverse will debut in the D&D Rules Expansion Gift Set on January 25, 2022 and will be available everywhere, including via digital partners, as a standalone on May 17, 2022. Fans can pre-order the standalone book starting January 18, 2022.
Featured Image Credit: Wizards of the CoastTopics: Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast