D&D will try to build back trust as it plans for 2023 product releases

Dungeons & Dragons It is currently going through a transition period, with new core rulebooks due to be available in 2024 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of this seminal role-playing tabletop game. The next version, dubbed One D&D, is designed to be fully backward-compatible with the existing 5th edition ruleset, so players don’t need to fret about books they buy this year becoming obsolete.

That’s a good thing, because Wizards of the Coast has revealed a very full release schedule for 2023 packed with new adventures and resources for Dungeon Masters. Third-party publishers are also making plans of their own as the fiasco surrounding Wizards’ proposed changes to the Open Gaming License made their future uncertain.

Here’s a preview of what you can look forward to adding to your home game.

Keys from the Golden Vault

The first major D&D release of 2023 arrives on Feb. 21. Keys from the Golden Vault The anthology format follows Clekeep Mysteries and Journeys through the Radiant CitadelIt includes all of the adventures that are based upon heists. D&D story architect Chris Perkins describes it as a Dungeons & Dragons version of Ocean’s Eleven.

Bigby presents: Glory of the Giants

Photo by Tyler Jacobson/Wizards of the Coast

To be a companion Fizban’s Treasury of DragonsThis giant-focused Dungeon Masters sourcebook will be available in spring 2023. Expect official versions of the new giant-themed subclasses and feats playtested in May’s Unearthed arcana: Giant Options.

Phandelver Campaign

Original 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Starter SetIntroduced brand new players and DMs. Phandelver’s Lost MineA campaign that centers around miniature dungeon crawls. It also served as the starting point to one of the most popular actual play series around, the McElroy family’s The Adventure Zone series of podcasts and live performances. Wizards will expand the campaign book into full-length format in 2023.

The Book of Many Things

Image: Anna Steinbauer/Wizards of the Coast

One of the most beloved and unpredictable artifacts in D&D history is the Deck of Many Things. Drawing one of its cards could grant your character’s wish or destroy all of their treasure. The player-focused, 2023 book will feature creatures and locations as well as other information related to this dangerous magic item. The book will likely include some of the newly released spells that were shown in previews. Wonders of the Multiverse: Unearthed Arcana Spray of Card, which allows you to blind or slice your enemy with a deck card.

Planescape

D&D is reviving the 1994 Planescape setting — the same setting that inspired the classic computer role-playing video game Tor: Planescape — with a three-book box set. It’s similar to the treatment it gave Spelljammer: The fall 2023 release will feature a campaign, a guide to the setting allowing players to hop between D&D’s planes, and a bestiary describing all the weird creatures that live in the other worlds and the interplanar nexus of Sigil. New character options tailored to the setting were tested in July’s Wonders of the Multiverse: Unearthed Arcana and include a Planar Philosopher background perfect for being part of one of Sigil’s 15 ideological factions, plus Glitchling — a rogue creature from the lawful plane of Mechanus.

One D&D

Wizards of the Coast will accept feedback until Jan. 20, on the revised species rules as well as updates to the cleric classes. New content will be released roughly every month through D&D Beyond at least until the end of the year, with topics spanning classes, subclasses, and new game mechanics.

Publications by third-parties

Some of the top publishers of 5th edition material for third parties were forced to revise and plan for the future after the OGL draft revisions leaked to the public.

Most independent publishers have seen the greatest shift in their publishing landscape since the release of the Open RPG Creative License. Paizo is the maker of Pathfinder StarfinderThe ORC will be created by the ORC, and the ORC could also handle any litigation with Wizards. Green Ronin and Chaosium, Kobold Press, Legendary Games. Roll for Combat. Rogue Genius Games.

Wherever the chips may fall, it’s going to be an interesting year for folks rolling 20-sided dice at the table.