D&D: Happy Birthday 5th Edition
5th Edition D&D turns five today, and we’re celebrating with a look back at some of our favorite 5E moments.
The Player’s Handbook was released five years ago today, kicking off a new golden age for RPGs and a D&D renaissance that nerdy news reporters everywhere can’t help but comment on. This game would help launch Critical Role, the Adventure Zone, give a shot in the arm to Wizards of the Coast, and reignite a love of adventure around many a tabletop. From the days of D&D Next, which was the playtest version that helped salvage the messy end of 4th Edition, to the launch of the Player’s Handbook, many striking concepts were introduced. 5th Edition hit the ground running, so to speak, and while there’s might have been a stumbling block or two along the way, it just keeps going full steam ahead. So join us in celebrating 5 years of 5th Edition with a look back at some of our favorite moments.
Dinosaur Races in Tomb of Annihilation
The crowded city of Port Nyanzaru is a bustling hive that launches players off into the jungle of Chult in search of a massive tomb. But the city itself is home to numerous side adventures, including the best rules in 5th Edition: dinosaur racing. Race through the city on the back of a massive dinosaur, fight your other racers, cheat if you dare–the winner takes all the glory.
Interview With A Vampire
The Curse of Strahd introduced a new generation of players to D&D’s greatest dracula, Strahd von Zarovich. And helped cement the idea that not all villains are meant to be fought and won the first time you encounter them. Characters might encounter Strahd well before they are capable of taking him on, and that means finding other ways to deal with the cursed count.
Kicking In The Doors On A Lich’s Secret Vault (Dead in Thay)
Dead in Thay was the big mega-adventure that helped conclude the D&D Next Playtest. It’s basically the first official 5th Edition Dungeon Crawl–and has since been reprinted in the Tales from the Yawning Portal. In this adventure you straight up ruin the secret phylactery vault of a bunch of Red Wizards, and that’s always a good feeling.
Discovering the Joy of Firbolgs
Stealing Xanathar’s Goldfish
We can’t be the only ones who tried to steal Sylgar, the perfect little goldfish of the Xanathar, just to see what would happen. Which, um, mostly disintegration, but hey.
Fighting Aboleths near Saltmarsh
The Styes is one chapter of the newly released Ghosts of Saltmarsh, but there’s a lot packed into one chapter. You’ll go up against aboleths and worse in a part of town that’s so full of character you can basically live in it.
Communing With Mushrooms in Out of the Abyss
There are some demonic foes in Out of the Abyss, and Drow, and so much more–but if you really want to get into it, the best part of the whole adventure is letting a mushroom help you expand your mind so you can talk to everything.
Selling Our Soul To A Magic Sword
The most popular class seems to be Hexblade/Fighter, and as we all know the Hexblade Patron is a sentient magic weapon. So we’ve all had a great time selling our souls to a magic sword, like Blackrazor. Or Lilarcor.
Creating Memories That Will Last A Lifetime
Whether you’re just picking up the Essentials Kit or playing in the same campaign for 30 years running, D&D will get you playing and telling stories that bring us all together
What are your favorite memories of D&D? Leave them in the comments!
