A new adventure anthology for Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons & Dragons franchise, Candlekeep Mysteries, has been revealed. The announcement was made on the official Dungeons & Dragons Twitter account, which gave a brief overview of the upcoming book and a link to where you can purchase it.
The social RPG has been around for a really long time, specifically since 1974. However, the game had another surge of popularity when the 5th Edition was released. Of course, tabletop games such as Dungeons & Dragons allow you to create your own universe and story with the guidance of the official rules, but adventure books and anthologies are extra sources of content and entertainment for dedicated fans.
There are different types of books under the wing of Wizards of the Coast—from rule books to story-based campaigns—but in the case of Candlekeep Mysteries, it appears that the latest entry is an adventure anthology.
As you can probably infer from the title, Candlekeep Mysteries consists of several mini-adventures shrouded in mystery. Since it’s an anthology, it features different authors, even including popular ones like Christopher Perkins and Deborah Ann Woll. According to the book’s official store page, the anthology will have 17 different quests that range from levels 1 through 16.
Each of these stories is written as standalone adventures, which gives you a lot of flexibility and power to decide how you want the story to play out. Whether you want your adventure to be incorporated into a running campaign, changed to a different setting, or perhaps as a single instance game, it’s completely up to you and that’s the beauty of it.
If you’re not familiar with Candlekeep, it’s a massive fortress-like library that’s situated near the Sword Coast. This time around, Candlekeep Mysteries has a more academic vibe to it, unlike the other adventure stories that are set in chilly Icewind Dale or the disreputable pit that is Waterdeep.
Since Candlekeep Mysteries is set in a library, it will feature the more scholarly characters such as historians, sages, and other individuals who are seeking more knowledge—forbidden or not. The book will also contain a poster map along with detailed descriptions to help give the Dungeon Masters a head start on their session.
Introducing #Candlekeep Mysteries, the latest adventure anthology in the Forgotten Realms setting! Explore this collection of new mysteries by up-and-coming D&D designers from across our community. These short adventures arrive March 16!
Pre-order now: https://t.co/BLd9a3VhiI pic.twitter.com/zig5ahqgPv
— Dungeons & Dragons (@Wizards_DnD) January 12, 2021
Given how tabletop games, especially Dungeons & Dragons, have been getting a lot of attention even more than usual, the introduction of new expansions and content is a cause for excitement for many. Given how Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden had a massive and comprehensive campaign for the players, it’s nice that Candlekeep Mysteries offers a completely different pace.
Going through different quests wherein magical mysteries are involved gives you the chance to make use of or at least experiment with different popular classes. Even though the anthology only reaches up to level 16, that’s still a pretty decent level to end your adventure and offers sufficient class development. Besides, the fact that it’s an anthology should give Dungeon Masters the opportunity to host an interesting Dungeons & Dragons session.
Candlekeep Mysteries will be available in physical and digital editions this March 16, 2021.
