D&D’s latest campaign feels specially made for fans of Baldur’s Gate 3

Dungeons & Dragons is more popular than ever, but the pathway to onboarding new players into the tabletop game’s 5th edition ruleset has become a bit overgrown. This is the most suitable option for true beginners. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials KitThe original edition of, published in 2019, was released way back then. Wizards of the Coast, the publisher, recently had a chance to take a breather from the 2024 rule revision and revisit an old classic, namely an adventure from the first edition. Dungeons & Dragons Starter SetThe first edition was published in 2014. This adventure was first published in 2014. Phandelver Below: The Shattered ObeliskThe game is geared towards a whole new group of gamers: the rabid, d20-curious fans. Baldur’s Gate 3.

Larian Studios’ long-simmering classic-style role-playing video game is, for many outlets, currently a leading contender for game of the year. It marries a meticulous reinterpretation of traditional D&D mechanics with an excellent storyline, and throws in a bevy of thirsty suitors to boot. It’s taken the video gaming zeitgeist by storm, overthrowing games like FortniteThen, there is the fact that Tears of the Kingdom – The Legend of ZeldaIt’s the most anticipated new video game for years. Its shadow looms so large that it’s even impacting development of the soon-to-be-released Warhammer 40,000 CRPG Rogue Trader. Wizards clearly predicted some of this success and built Phandelvers and Below with plenty of touchstones that should be familiar to those graced by Astarion The following are some examples of how to get started: Shadowheart’s charms. Just don’t head into the 226-page tome looking for romance — this is a stoically PG-13 adventure, as are the rest published so far for 5th edition.

What you will find inside is a beautifully rendered romp through the countryside of The Forgotten Realms’ Sword Coast, filled with both dungeons andDragons and a small border town are in danger. It evokes a strong and comforting sense of place — maybe even belonging — and then uses those warm feelings to create a compelling adventure that delves deep and wide across the lore of 5th edition.

Campaign begins outside of Phandalin – a busy village located on the edge of Neverwinter. You will be immediately thrown into a quest for a traveler who has been captured. The rest of the campaign is pretty similar to that in the original. Starter Set. It’s a brisk set of encounters that even inexperienced Dungeon Masters should be able to handle in three or four gaming sessions, at most. Even the setting makes it simple to change players, allowing your gaming group grow to include six to eight people. This should help you to have a regular full table for the more difficult final encounters. Everyone in the group should have reached or be nearing level 12 by the time the game ends.

DZO/Wizards of the Coast

[Ed. note: What follows will spoil some of the surprises found in the back two-thirds of Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk.]

But what’s the hook for fans of Baldur’s Gate 3? I don’t want to spoil too much, but suffice it to say that Phandalin is plagued by a grand conspiracy, one perpetrated by heinous illithids. The mindflayer encounters will roll out thick and fast in the book’s final 152 pages. Body fluids will also be a part of the book, and the environments are similar to those in the beginning level. Baldur’s Gate 3’s doomed nautiloid ship. The reveal of the tentacled freaks’ involvement is exceptionally well done. The reveal of the tentacled freaks’ involvement should have had experienced fans of the popular CRPG rubbing hands in anticipation.

It’s the climax of this adventure that really sells it, however. Although the evil forces may not be all working together, they are determined to destroy Phandalin. Time spent growing players’ affinity to the village and its many denizens will pay off in the finale, its epilogue, and beyond. That’s because Wizards has helpfully drawn a series of narrative lines directly from this adventure out toward other epic hits from its back catalog. The After Phandelvers and BelowThe players are ready to enjoy modern classics, such as Tombs of Annihilation, Storm King’s Thunder” Out of Abyss. The Nebula Award nominees have a solid connection. Travels through the Radiant Citadel — including an adventure that can be played immediately after the end of this new book.

Publishers go even further. As part of Wizards’ ongoing efforts to grow more DMs, the final few pages of the book reveal even more unanswered questions about the Forgotten Realms. The adventurers who have invested themselves in the Forgotten Realms will be ready when Wizards’ highly anticipated new book is released. Dungeon Master’s GuideIn 2024, the drop will be a great way to help people explore and expand their imagination, and even create entire campaigns or adventures.

Michole Goji/Wizards of the Coast

Wizards has also begun to show more support for the forthcoming 2024 rules review. Inside this new campaign book you’ll find expected nods to the company’s newly revised, progressive content policies — more diverse non-player characters, for instance, as well as examples of non-evil characters based on previously irredeemable enemy races. It also includes a handy worksheet for DMs to keep track of the ongoing narrative — a prelude of what’s to come in the new Dungeon Master’s Guide (2024).

The adventure is also filled with many other doors that players can open if they want to get more involved. Phandelvers and Below even includes multiple hooks for eager new fans to become engaged with Baldman Games’ licensed organized play program.

While there is a lot to love about the book, longtime fans will notice there’s absolutely nothing here in the way of new character races or classes, just a smattering of thematic backgrounds and hooks. This book offers a lot of guidance to DMs both old and new.

While D&D starter sets have traditionally been the best place to begin with the classic role-playing game, Phandelver Below: The Shattered ObeliskThis is the perfect new place to start. Especially now that the core of Wizards’ 5th edition ruleset is, and will forever be, free to download and play at your table, this new campaign represents one of the best on-ramps into the life of adventure that Wizards of the Coast has to offer.

Phandelver Below: The Shattered Obelisk Physical products will become available on September 19th. Those who pre-order the book directly from Wizards of the Coast will have early access via Dungeons & Dragons Beyond beginning Sept. 5. Wizards of the Coast supplied a review copy of the pre-release edition of the book. Vox Media maintains affiliate relationships. Vox Media earns commissions from affiliate products, although this doesn’t influence the editorial content. This is where you can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.