As D&D Live 2020 kicked off, Wizards of the Coast announced the next big adventure coming up for players of Dungeons & Dragons: a return to the classic setting of Icewind Dale! Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden is a brand-new adventure that will take players from level 1 to 12 in an icy land filled with secrets… and horror.
Wizards of the Coast
“[The Frostmaiden’s] ice cold touch can be felt in every part of the adventure,” says Chris Perkins, lead designer on the book. Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford, lead rules designer, tell Nerdist that some of the inspirations for this horror-filled adventure include John Carpenter’s The Thing, The X-Files season one episode “Ice,” and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. (We’re nervous already.) The story takes place a century after Drizzt Do’Urden and the Companions of the Hall made the icy lands famous. Still, they left their mark on Ten Towns and the people of Icewind Dale.
Not only will players have to contend with monsters—more monsters than any other official 5th edition adventure, in fact—they’ll also have to fight against the elements in the frigid far north. The deadly chill of Icewind Dale will be felt through blizzard and avalanche mechanics new to the game. Players will also find a new backstory option for character creation, new mini-games and contests, and a focus on playing goliaths.
Wizards of the Coast
2019 was the best year ever for the role-playing games. Wizards of the Coast cites record-breaking sales and more than 40 million fans. As Dungeons & Dragons continues to grow and the game finds unprecedented success, they’re working on improving how they present content to Dungeon Masters and adding more diversity to the game art and story. In this book, they’ve worked hard to do both, says the D&D team.
“We want it to… appeal to an even greater range of people,” says Crawford. “[There’s a] wonderful spectrum of humanity represented.”
What horror awaits you in Icewind Dale? And can the adventurers bring together the people of Ten Towns to overcome it? Find out when the bone-chilling adventure begins on September 15, 2020. Visit your friendly local game store and pick up Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Those stores will have an exclusive cover you won’t find anywhere else.
And don’t forget to tune in to D&D Live for days of star-studded adventure, more exciting announcements, and fun! You’ll find it happening right now on Twitch.
Featured Image: Wizards of the Coast
Kelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Follow her on Twitter.