During the D&D Direct from Dungeons & Dragons even the new Starter Set, Starter Set – Dragons of Storm Isle (Starter Set – Dragons of Stormwreck Isle), was presented, offering the public and the press a first glimpse of its contents.
Starter Set – Dragons of the Isle of Stormsoutput entirely localized the next October 4, 2022will be the new introductory module for Dungeons & Dragons: a box containing everything you need to start playing. But what will differentiate this product from the previous ones of the same family? What were Wizards of the Coast’s choices to make this role-playing game even more usable?
We were able to answer these questions after the Direct, by participating in themeeting reserved for the press with Natalie Egan and Shelly Mazzanoble, respectively Product Manager and Senior Brand Manager of Dungeons & Dragons, who told us not only about the Starter Set, but also about the future plans of the publisher aimed at involving new generations of players.
Starter Set: what does it contain?
Starter Set – Dragons of the Isle of Storms it will be aligned to the typical format of the boxed set from Dungeons & Dragonswhich inside them contain a book of rulesan ‘adventurefive character sheets precompiled and a dice set. Similarly to other boxed sets too Starter Set – Dragons of the Isle of Storms will have a price, in its American edition, of $ 19.99.
The launch of the new Starter Set will be digitally supported from the site of Dungeons & Dragonswhich near the launch will be completely renovated and will provide new players with all the information necessary to support the game experience, both for those approaching the game for the first time as a player, and for the new Dungeon Masters.
To access these contents just use the QR code present inside the Starter Set, this will direct the players inside the player hub of Dungeons & Dragons, where it will be possible to find video tutorial aimed at clarifying all the questions about the game, typical of a player in the first experiences. In addition to the tutorials, you will be able to find one in the hub interactive demo about 15 minutes which will be used to show the different scenarios of a D&D session.
Starter Set: who is it for?
Starter Set – Dragons of the Isle of Storms wants to address not only the new playersbut it will also and above all be addressed to those who wish to approach the role of the Dungeon Master and try to see what it means to be behind that screen.
The adventure was written precisely with who you are approaches the role of Master for the first time, making every scenario and encounter in the game’s easy management.
Among the tools available for novice DMs there will be video tutorials that will explain in detail the functioning of each meeting present in the adventure Dragons of the Isle of Stormsshowing the exact steps of the rulebook from the Starter Set rulebook.
On paper, for those approaching for the first time a Dungeons & Dragonsall this might seem very complicated, however Mazzanoble has specified that the goal of D&D is to give life to convivial and fun moments and that this relaxed atmosphere will be reflected in the informative tones of the module.
The news of Dragons of the Isle of Storms
This new Starter Set will differ from the previous boxed sets in proposing amore simplified experience possible, designed specifically for those approaching the game for the very first time. To achieve this the team of Dungeons & Dragons built this product from adventure feedback The Lost Mine Of Phandelvercollected over the past eight years, in order to create content that could to evolve really the kind of experience. Dragons of the Isle of Storms therefore aims to offer a more experience organic and less stressful able to thrill a Dungeons & Dragons all new players.
Starter Set: an illustrious cameo!
A rather playful detail of the illustrations from Dragons of the Isle of Storms is the presence of some characters particularly similar to protagonists from the animated series of Dungeons & Dragons. This is not a random detail, in fact the module artwork was entirely inspired right from Cartoonwith the characters modeled but reinterpreted with a more modern cut, on the group of protagonists of the series.
The choice to use these characters was thought of as easter egg for those who know the cartoon, but also because Hank the ranger, Eric the knight, Sheila the thief, Soon the magician, Diana the acrobat and Bobby the barbarian, represent the quintessence of an group of new players.
Unfortunately, we do not yet have official confirmations on the canonicity of the iconic party within the official setting, nor if in the near future we can expect a new animated series of D&D, Mazzanoble has not been able to go into more full-bodied details.
Dungeons & Dragons in schools
The new Starter Set will be indicated starting from 12 years of age and in the future of Dungeons & Dragons children and young players will play a very important role. To support this goal Wizards of the Coast is currently working on D&D Curriculuma educational project which will be introduced initially in the schools Americans.
D&D Curriculum will be divided into two different levels (9-12 years and 12-14) and will introduce Dungeons & Dragons in schools, proposing itself as a curricular play activity aimed at creating the next generation of storytellers.
The educational activity will start from next autumn, but it will not be the only one in the program aimed at young players. Wizards also announced the creation of the “D&D Club” inside schools And librariesas an after-school afternoon activity.
For now, these programs will be localized only in the United States, however in the near future, activities in collaboration with schools and libraries could also be introduced in other territories.
