I did the math, I’ve personally been playing Dungeons and Dragons, the world’s most popular tabletop role-playing game, for almost exactly 25 years. Half of its lifetime. If we peek back 25 years ago the game was owned by the company TSR and the version I was first introduced to was AD&D 2nd Edition, books owned by my friend’s father. We made a mess of it, I’m certain, but I fell in love immediately.
From there I watched Wizards of the Coast take the reins, and have played through the Third, Fourth, and now Fifth iterations of the game. Loving every edition for its own reasons. 3.X because it felt like the first edition that was “mine” not an inherited one from an older generation. I loved the supplement glut, especially the Complete line of books like Complete Warrior, or Complete Arcane. 3.X Prestige Classes were an absolute treasure that I don’t feel we have ever seen the like of again.
4th Edition was, and is, better than few at the time ever gave it credit for and remains the only edition I’d ever go backwards to play. They tried something wildly different and it honestly worked, under any other name than D&D it would have been lauded. Sadly I always felt like the game started to break down under the weight of character and monster options when levels got truly high (many game nights became one long fight as players and DMs alike took way too long to figure out what to do under the many many options available!).
5th Edition remains the amalgamation edition, or so I call it. A little dash of everything that has worked over the past 50 years. It is the most approachable edition of the game and that makes me happy as I have definitely entered an era where I am introducing more and more to this game than ever before.
I have too many stories over the years from playing and running games to truly get into, maybe another post could see me getting longer in the tooth on this subject. For now though I want to share what the good folks at WotC sent me regarding what this year will look like for the 50th celebration of the game!
Out of a small cobbler’s home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 1974, generations of dreamers and adventure-seekers were inspired with the publication of the first version of Dungeons & Dragons. The tiny black text and line drawings printed on those first pamphlets have grown into beautifully illustrated tomes, meticulously crafted physical artifacts, and comprehensive digitals tools all designed to enhance the core of D&D: Getting together to tell fantastic stories with friends and family. Now stewards of that legacy of imaginative play, Wizards of the Coast is poised to celebrate five decades of fantasy roleplaying in 2024 by engaging with fans at events around the world and offering games, entertainment, and products informed by the history of D&D to inspire generations to come.
Raise a twenty-sided die and Play Your Way!
“D&D has a rich history, an exciting present, and a great future,” said Kyle Brink, Executive Producer of the team making D&D at Wizards of the Coast. “This year we’ll be celebrating all three with the 50th Anniversary of the first publication of Dungeons & Dragons. We’ll take you through the making of the game, bring some of the classic adventures to today’s play, visit the most iconic settings in the D&D multiverse, and kick off the future of the game with the new 2024 core rulebooks that are the heart of the game. We’ve been building up to this for a while now. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The year-long celebration kicks off in March 2024, when fans all over the world will be able to play the same adventure together inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons creators’ love of tournament-style play. Fans can experience an excerpt from an upcoming release, “Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth,” in game stores, at community centers, libraries, conventions like Gary Con and PAX East, on kitchen tables and painted scenery, in video chat rooms, and on D&D Beyond. Dungeon Masters will be available wherever fans want to play.
The D&D team has an exciting lineup of licensed consumer products with best-in-class partners, giving fans plenty of opportunity to show off their love of the game. There will be footwear and apparel from Converse, an official LEGO(tm) IDEAS building set complete with minifigures, and delicious treats suitable for snacking around the gaming table from Pop-Tarts.
But that’s just the start. 2024 will celebrate D&D with new ways to improve immersion with a 3D virtual tabletop and remove barriers to play through new features on D&D Beyond. D&D will be traveling to more shows and conventions in 2024 to celebrate along with fans.
The team has a lot up the sleeve of its Robe of Scintillating Colors that’s not quite ready to reveal, but Wizards of the Coast is excited to announce the following new products coming in 2024:
Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Adventure Campaign
For characters of levels 10-20
A high-stakes adventure in which the fate of the entire multiverse hangs in the balance. The heroes begin in the Forgotten Realms and travel to Planescape, Spelljammer, Eberron, Ravenloft, Dragonlance, and Greyhawk as they race to save existence from obliteration by the notorious lich Vecna who is weaving a ritual to eliminate good, obliterate the gods, and subjugate all worlds.
Release Date: May 21, 2024
The Making of Original Dungeons & Dragons: 1970-1977
History of D&D
The ultimate book showcasing D&D’s inception, including Gary Gygax’s never-before-seen first draft of D&D written in 1973, a curated collection of published fanzine and magazine articles contribute to D&D’s origin story. Each document is introduced, described, and woven into the story by one of the game’s foremost historians, Jon Peterson.
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Adventure Anthology
For character levels 1 to 13
This anthology weaves together six classic DUNGEONS & DRAGONS adventures while updating them for the game’s fifth edition. The Infinite Staircase holds doors leading to fantastic realms. It’s home to the noble genie Nafas, who hears wishes made throughout the multiverse and recruits heroes to fulfill them.
Release Date: July 16, 2024
Player’s Handbook (2024)
Player resource
Take your game to the next level with the revised 2024 Player’s Handbook. More player options, enhanced organization, and engaging additions to the fifth edition rules, make this a must have for your next Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Dungeon Master’s Guide (2024)
DM resource
It’s never been easier to become the Dungeon Master than with the revised 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide. Learn the craft from the experts in a cleverly crafted and accessible approach to running your own game. With more tools than ever before, becoming the master of your own multiverse will be a snap.
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Monster Manual (2025)
DM Resource
The revised 2025 Monster Manual brings you the greatest selection of foes to face off with your player’s characters than ever assembled in the history of the game. More options at all levels of play means more ways to provide the challenges that will keep them coming back to the table again and again.
Release Date: February 18, 2025
More information about these products will be coming as their release date approaches. Go to dndbeyond.com for the latest information and look for D&D at your local game store or convention. Wizards can’t wait to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of D&D with fans in 2024!
Definitely an exciting initial announcement with more to come I’m sure. Not to get too into the weeds on the success of D&D but it may behoove Hasbro to keep looking at even more engagement with the property. Their yearly earnings didn’t look so hot with one exception, a little thing turning 50 this year. Let’s make it a fun one shall we? I may even try to pop into GenCon again, it has been a while!
-Melvs
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