Wizards of the Coast's new Dungeons & Dragons title follows the adventurer Drizzt Do'urden and his companions as they vanquish the evils of Icewind Dale. Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is set after R A Salvatore's first book, The Crystal Shard, in which the main characters all made their debuts. As the book was released in 1988, a year before the 2nd edition AD&D there have been 33 years and 3.5 editions of D&D worth of references to fit into the game.
The name Dark Alliance itself is actually a callback to the 2001 game Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. The new release is supposedly meant to be a spiritual successor to the original game, which would make this the third game in the series, after Dark Alliance 2 which is potentially one of the best D&D video games.
10 Regis, The Fifth Companion
Fans of R A Salvatore's series will have noticed that not all of the Companions of the Hall are playable as Regis, the halfling rogue, is strangely absent. The reason for this is likely due to Regis' lack of martial capability during the time this game takes place. Regis's main weapon was his ruby pendant to influence the minds of his enemies.
While not physically present, the deep gnome merchant, Kartik, makes references to Regis being elsewhere in the Ten Towns. Regis may appear later down the line, as the developers have already promised a new playable character in the DLC roadmap.
9 The Ten Towns
The game takes place in Icewind Dale, the snowy tundra in the North of Faerûn, in an area known as the Ten Towns. The Ten Towns have been featured recently in a few D&D adventure books, including 2020's Rime of the Frostmaiden. Though it is one of many places that deserve to be revisited.
While the settlements themselves don't make appearances, they are mentioned by various characters. Bryn Shander, capital of the Ten Towns is mentioned during the introductory cutscene which recaps the events of the book The Crystal Shard. The other towns are talked about in dialogue spoken by various characters. The Merchant, Kartik, talks about Regis being in Caer Konig, a Northern town, given to Barbarians after the war against Akar Kessell.
8 Icingdeath
Icingdeath, also known as Ingeloakastimizilian, is the dragon slain by both Wulfgar and Drizzt during the course of the first book. Because of this, Icingdeath doesn't make an appearance in this game. After his death, Drizzt takes a magical scimitar from the dragon's hoard which he later names Icingdeath, and uses as his main hand weapon alongside Twinkle. Interesting details like this are what make Drizzt a great NPC to include D&D games
However, the recently deceased dragon is mentioned when a goblin mistakes a different white dragon for Icingdeath before another goblin quickly corrects them. Another reference can be found in one of Drizzt's armor sets, named Dragonbane, which eludes to his part in the death of the dragon, even though Wulfgar dealt the final blow.
7 Drizzt's Armors
Several armor sets appearing in the game reference events from the book series. Drizzt's Warden of Mielikki Set is a nod to his worship of the Forest Queen or Goddess of Rangers Mielikki. There's also a set named Sorcere's Sentinel, referencing the 6 months he spends training as a mage in Menzoberranzan.
Another set of armor is the Wearer of the Mask which is a callback to the events of the third book in the Icewind Dale trilogy, The Halflings Gem, in which Drizzt dons Agatha's Mask to disguise his appears as he enters Calimport to rescue Regis.
6 Catti-Brie's Armors
Catti-Brie has a set of armor named the Sea Sprite's Watch. For fans of the books this will be an easy spot, but this a clear shout out to the time her a Drizzt served as famed pirate hunters sailing the Sea of Swords on the boat Sea Sprite.
There is another Easter Egg hidden in Catti-Brie's armor in Alustriel's Gift Set. Named after Lady Alustriel Silverhand, one of the chosen of Mystra. Lady Silverhand was responsible for Catti-Brie's wizard training before the companion's unfortunate demise.
5 Bruenor and Wulfgar's Armors
One of Bruenor's armor sets is called Battlerager Set. This may be a strange name, as Bruenor isn't known for being a Battlerager so this is likely a homage to Thibbledorf Pwent, a dwarf known for stinking, and his unique spiked armor.
Wulfgar's Flag Bearer set is a reference to his boyhood when he was the flag bearer for Heafstaag, the King of the Tribe of the Elk. His Blacksmith's Apprentice Set is a note to his childhood helping Bruenor at the forge, while his Captive of the Abyss Set references the six years he spent as the balor Errtu's captive.
4 Drizzt's Feats
The characters in this game have been made to fit the 5th edition of D&D and as such, many of their feats reference both feats and class features from that edition's rules. Drizzt's skill trees are named The Ranger, The Hunter, and Expertise. Expertise is a rogue class feature in 5e, which isn't a class Drizzt is known for.
Drizzt has some maneuvers from the Battle Master's List as feats including riposte and precision attack. He also has two other fighter class features in second wind and improved critical hit.
3 Catti-Brie's Feats
Catti-Brie is a typical fighter in previous versions of D&D with her wielding a longbow and often magic. Her feats trees have names themed to reflect this, which are Cunning, Archer, and Longstrider. Longstrider is a spell in 5e that rangers can learn, one of the many references to that class in her feats.
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Longstrider is not the only inclusion to the Ranger class that Catti-Brie has, as three feats are taken from the Hunter subclass for Rangers, Steel Will, Horde Breaker, and Colossus Slayer. Many feats like these can be helpful for solo players
2 Wulfgar's Feats
Wulfgar is a typical Warhammer-wielding barbarian, and his feats list reflects that. His trees are named Pack Hunter, The Wolf, and The Elk, which are all references to his time in his tribe. His relentless rage and danger sense feats are 5th edition barbarian features that players should utilize to avoid any easy mistakes.
His reckless abandon feat is a feature belonging to Battlerager barbarians, a subclass in 5e that is restricted to dwarves only, perhaps acknowledging his upbringing with Bruenor. Additionally, he has the Medium Armor Master feat, which is not in itself interesting. However, Wulfgar utilizes the barbarian rage, which, any 5e fan knows, requires the barbarian to be unarmoured.
1 Bruenor's Feats
Bruenor is possibly the most recognizable of the companions to fans of D&D that haven't read R A Salvatore's books, as he appears as an example character in the Player's Handbook. His feat trees are named The Forge, The Hammer, and The Anvil, all showing his time with Wuflgar as a smith.
He has a feat named Battle Master which appears to show his fighter subclass if he were a 5th edition character. More interestingly, he has a feat called Grudge Bearer which isn't found in any 5e sourcebooks. This is because it can be found in the Unearthed Arcana: Feats for Races, many of which were added in Xanathar's Guide to Everything but some, including Grudge Bearer, didn't make the cut.