D&D: Adventure Awaits In Avernus
The road to hell is paved with adventure, according to the latest D&D module. Find out why everyone’s descending into Avernus.
This last weekend saw D&D Live 2019 aka The Descent, a massive live stream event/festival/announcement ceremony during which WotC announced the next big adventure module: Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus. This module pulls together some of the multiplanar mayhem that is inherent in the D&D cosmos and takes players from levels 1-13 and also into the depths of the Nine Hells as they embark on a Mad-Max-esque adventure that sees them take command of an Infernal Machine (more on that in just a minute) and enter into conflict with the Blood War–the aeons old war between demons and devils fought in and around Avernus. With Zariel, the fallen angel and Archduke of Avernus at the forefront of this adventure, characters are in for some epic adventure to be certain.
via Wizards of the Coast / D&D Beyond
This adventure sounds a lot different from some of the ones that came before–from the artwork and announcements over the past weekend, there’s a lot of emphasis on story and sandbox, which is a challenging needle to thread. With players playing around the fringes of the Blood War–a cosmic conflict that’s larger-than-life, and much bigger than any PCs. There’s a lot of exploration of temptation and evil in this adventure. Players might find themselves drawn into a Devilish Deal or piloting an Infernal Warmachine as they become embroiled in this overarching plot.
What are Infernal Warmachines? Glad you asked–and soon you will be too. These are big warmachines that are powered by souls that prowl around Avernus to wage war on demons or whatever. This is where the Sandbox starts to come into play. The Infernal Warmachines are a bit more Mad Max: Fury Road and I am here for it.
These can be massive, mobile headquarters, they have all kinds of gruesome weapons that can scream out psychic energy, spray water from the River Styx, race with each other, deal with hazards and find new rules for vehicular combat. If you listened to the Petals to the Metal arc of The Adventure Zone, you have a good idea of the feel they’re going for. Here’s a look at their stats, courtesy of Twitter user @johncarney:
These were fun. pic.twitter.com/2gSnaPdM0X
— John Carney (@JohnCarney) May 18, 2019
And here it is again, but embiggened:
This has shades of some of the more explore-y parts of Tomb of Annihilation, but with a lot more hostile of a scenario. Here’s the full writeup, courtesy of Wizards.
via WotC
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus – $49.95
Diabolical dangers await in this adventure for the world’s greatest roleplaying game.
Welcome to Baldur’s Gate, a city of ambition and corruption. You’ve just started your adventuring career, but already find yourself embroiled in a plot that sprawls from the shadows of Baldur’s Gate to the front lines of the planes-spanning Blood War! Do you have what it takes to turn infernal war machines and nefarious contracts against the archdevil Zariel and her diabolical hordes? And can you ever hope to find your way home safely when pitted against the infinite evils of the Nine Hells?
- This heroic Dungeons & Dragons adventure book takes players from levels 1 to 13 as they journey through Baldur’s Gate and into Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells.
- Baldur’s Gate is among the most iconic locations in fantasy culture. A mist-cloaked metropolis on the Sword Coast, it’s a place of history and a home to heroes.
- The book introduces the infernal war machines to fifth edition D&D—battle-ready vehicles, which you can customize as you blast off into the Blood War.
- Dungeon Masters will entice their heroes with devils’ deals, designed to lure adventurers with the ultimate temptations of power and treasure.
You can pre-order it now–either way though, the adventure is slated for a September 17th release.
Happy Adventuring! What do you think of the new announcement? Let us know in the comments!
