Wizards of the Coast has revealed that the next Dungeons & Dragons starter set will be Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. The new starter set was revealed during the first-ever D&D Direct online showcase, along with announcements regarding other D&D books and video games.
In order to actually play Dungeons & Dragons, a group needs a copy of the Player's Handbook, while the DM needs the Dungeon Master's Guide and the Monster Manual. For those new players who don't want to invest too much money into a new hobby, or just want an easy entry point to D&D, they can purchase specific sets that are designed for new players. There is the D&D Starter Set, which contains the Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure, and the D&D Essentials Kit, which contains the Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure. The D&D Starter Set and Essentials Kit both contain the basics needed to run a D&D game for new players. Those resources are now being supplemented, according to Wizards of the Coast.
A new Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set is on the way, though fans had already been tipped off about it by Hasbro, as it appeared during a recent product trailer. D&D Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle contains the Dragons of Stormwreck Isle adventure, a set of six dice, a basic rules guide, and some character sheets. The group will also have access to a range of digital onboarding tools to further improve the game for anyone that’s playing for the first time. Dragons of Stormwreck Isle will pit new players against a blue dragon. The Dragons of Stormwreck Isle adventure involves players traveling to an island and encountering a powerful blue dragon.
Fans noticed when the starter set first leaked that it's another D&D adventure with references to the '80s cartoon, as characters that resemble Hank the Ranger and Diana the Acrobat appear on the cover. This led to some speculation that there could be more references to or reboots of classic characters from other related media. While newer players using the starter set may not appreciate the old-school reference, seasoned players should enjoy it.
The D&D starter sets are an ideal way to introduce new players to the game. The options present in the Player's Handbook can be overwhelming for a new player, as can attempting to learn the rules without a DM's guidance. The streamlined rules in the D&D: Starter Set and the D&D: Essentials Kit can help keep things simple, while new players learn the ropes. D&D Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle will offer a new option for groups that are looking to get started, with the added bonus of giving Dungeons & Dragons players some digital tools to help them along the way.
