In the handful of years sine the current edition of Dungeons and Dragons launched, some incredibly exciting and interesting campaign setting expansions have arrived for the classic tabletop role-playing games. Players have had the chance to visit The Forgotten Realms, drop in on some Magic: The Gathering planes, and even adventure with Rick and Morty. The latest addition to the game takes players to a setting made famous on the hit show Critical Role with some adventures on the continent of Wildemount.
The new book, Dungeons and Dragons: Explorer's Guide to Wildemount is a gorgeous hardcover, like nearly every D&D book, and is full of history, maps, adventures, and character options for players to start a campaign of their own in the exciting realm of Exandria. But what does that mean exactly? And will players who don't watch Critical Role really get anything out of this book?
Unlike the Rick and Morty D&D book, the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount is actually a piece of the game that is going to offer some very exciting material whether you care about the pop culture source or not. There are some new spells and character options in the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount that are too fun to be ignored, so many Dungeon Masters are likely going to want to familiarize themselves with this book, even if they aren't starting a new adventure in Wildemount.
What is Critical Role?
For those who aren't aware, Critical Role is a very popular D&D play stream that features a cast full of famous voice actors, including the voice of Ellie from The Last of Us and The Last of Us 2. The show's DM, Matt Mercer, created a new setting full of rich history and lore and the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount allows DMs to run a game in the same world that The Mighty Nein (Critical Role's season 2 adventuring party) are exploring.
What sort of setting is Wildemount?
Wildemount is a traditional fantasy setting full of Dwarves, Halflings, Humans, Goblins, and Elves - but other races do show up in some regions. The main hook of the universe is the outbreak of war at the center of the continent. Two of the area's largest faction have been dancing around all out war for years, but the conflict can no longer be avoided.
"Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount provides everything you need to play Dungeons & Dragons on the continent of Wildemount (set within the world of Exandria)—a land of war, betrayal, and swashbuckling adventure.
Comprised of four regions, Wildemount provides endless potential for adventure in a land of brewing conflict and incredible magic. Rising tensions boil over into all-out war between the politically dubious Dwendalian Empire and the light-worshiping wastefolk of Xhorhas, supplying a vibrant backdrop for any D&D campaign to explore."
What does the new book include?
This book’s contents include the following:
An expansive Wildemount gazetteer.
Descriptions of the major factions of Wildemount.
Player options that include new subclasses, new spells, and a tool to help players deeply integrate their characters into the setting.
New magic items, including weapons that become more powerful to match their wielders.
New creatures native to Wildemount.
Four introductory adventures—one for each unique region of Wildemount.
Largely written and helmed by Matthew Mercer, the Dungeon Master of Critical Role and creator of the world of Exandria, this 304-page book features work by talented designers, writers, and artists from the D&D and Critical Role communities.
Explorer's Guide to Wildemount is an expansive, vivid campaign setting anyone can enjoy regardless of their familiarity with Critical Role, and an open invitation to make the mysteries and dangers of Wildemount your own.
What is Dunamancy?
One of the primary hooks of the Wildemount setting is the new type of magic - Dunamancy. This magic has to do with looking forward at potential outcomes and branches of decision-making. Most of the powers related to messing with time or gravity. It's a very interesting new toolset to play around with and most of the new spells introduced in this book connect to Dunamancy in one way or another.
What New Character Options Are in The Explorer's Guide to Wildemount?
The Explorer's Guide to Wildemount includes two new class options for Wizards and a new class option for Fighters.
Fighter: Echo Knight - A mysterious and feared frontline warrior of the Kryn Dynasty, the Echo Knight has mastered the art of using dunamis to summon the fading shades of unrealized timelines to aid them in battle. Surrounded by echoes of their own might, they charge into the fray as a cycling swarm of shadows and strikes.
Wizard: Chronurgy Magic - Focusing on the manipulation of time, those who follow the Chronurgy tradition learn to alter the pace of reality to their liking. Using the ramping of anticipatory dunamis energy, these mages can bend the flow of time as adroitly as a skilled musician plays an instrument, lending themselves and their allies an advantage in the blink of an eye.
Wizard: Graviturgy Magic - Understanding and mastering the forces that draw bodies of matter together or drive them apart, the students of the Graviturgy arcane tradition learn to further bend and manipulate the violent energy of gravity to their benefit, and the terrible detriment of their enemies.
The book includes a handful of starting adventures to kick off a campaign on Wildemount and DMs don't have to ever listen to or watch a single episode of Critical Role to get in on the fun. That said, the show is very entertaining and definitely worth checking out for some extra inspiration.
Be sure to check back in the near future for more Dungeons and Dragons news, updates, and strategy guides. Until then, roll well, adventurers!
Dungeons and Dragons: Explorer's Guide to Wildemount is available now as a hardcopy or digitally on DnD Beyond.