I Wish the D&D: Dragon Delves Adventure Anthology Delved Deeper into Dragons

Dragon Delves is simply a postulation of 10 abbreviated adventures, each 1 focused astir chromatic (Green, Red, Blue, White, Black) oregon Metallic (Gold, Silver, Brass, Bronze, Copper) dragons that tin beryllium dropped into your existing campaigns oregon played back-to-back successful a run that takes players from novice level 1 heroes up to level 12. It would person been bully if the designers offered immoderate mode oregon tips, oregon recommendations for GMs to set the included quests for higher levels, but worst case, you could ever conscionable take higher level enemies of a akin style, young dragons alternatively of wyrmlings, for example, to rise the challenge. There is simply a bully assortment of quests successful this anthology, from solving mysteries down corruption, sentient bags of holding, oregon uncovering forgotten verses of a song, but each of them will, astatine immoderate point, person you and your enactment transverse paths with a dragon.

All but 1 truly deed for me. The 1 that didn't is the Gold Dragon’s adventure, “Baker’s Doesn't,” which involves a aureate dragon named Briochebane that bakes bread, and has the enactment dealing with animated candy creations and visiting places similar Candied Apple Orchards and Taffy Factories. Outlandish and silly successful TTRPGs isn’t an automatic turn-off for me. Hell, successful my ain homebrew campaign, the enactment encountered an land of sentient vegetables and took a cauliflower puppy backmost with them. But successful the strategy of Dragon Delves, this quest conscionable doesn’t consciousness similar it belongs among quests similar “Death astatine Sunset” oregon “Shivering Death”. That said, its whimsical quality could beryllium cleanable for a small jaunt successful the Feywild oregon to adhd a spot of levity to your run aft an emotionally-packed mates of sessions.

This book's existent spot is however casual it makes it to driblet the adventures into a campaign. Each of the 10 stories has been designed to past lone 1 oregon 2 sessions, with the archetypal leafage of each 1 providing elemental and wide directions connected wherever these tin beryllium dropped in, the level of characters it is for, the wide crippled points, however to prepare, and what authorities blocks you volition need.

For example, the Silver Dragon’s “The Will of Orcus” escapade states, “It tin instrumentality spot anyplace determination are mountains and settlements,” and is for level 4 characters. All of those important bits of accusation you request tin beryllium gleaned from conscionable a speedy glance. As a GM, the faster I tin get the info, the better, and I deliberation the layout and plan are wonderfully done present successful Dragon Delves (and honestly, each of the updated 2025 5th variation books).

One happening of note, portion this anthology contains the details of the adventures, it does not person immoderate stat blocks for the creatures, truthful whoever is moving these volition besides request the Monster Manual (see it astatine Amazon) – either 5th Edition publication volition suffice. The information that this publication doesn’t incorporate immoderate unsocial stat blocks is simply a spot of a bummer. I would person loved to person blocks for each of the 10 dragons that are the absorption of each one, which would springiness them thing somewhat unsocial oregon tweaked from their banal counterparts successful the Monster Manual. Also, wherever are my updated gem dragons at, Wizards?!

In summation to the quests, this publication besides showcases however the visuals and designs of each dragon person evolved implicit the people of Dungeons & Dragons' astir five-decade-long lifespan. I admit the two-page dispersed of artwork, but erstwhile I heard that this publication would besides showcase the past of the dragon types, I expected more. I would person loved to spot blurbs from Wizards’ designers connected how, if any, the attack and gameplay plan of the assorted types person shifted oregon changed implicit the years. How has Wizards approached its stat blocks, oregon contempt “dragons” being successful the franchise's name, wherefore is the squad arsenic reserved successful showcasing oregon highlighting them? Much of this creation I could get simply by searching Google; springiness maine the accusation oregon worldly that has been hoarded distant successful the Wizards’ vaults.

Whether they are spewing acid, lightning, oregon breathing the much accepted fire, dragons person been, and ever volition be, really, truly cool. There is simply a crushed that these scaled creatures person go truthful intimately ingrained and intertwined with the phantasy genre. Dragon Delves: Adventure Anthology gives players immoderate comparatively speedy outings to bask and driblet into their communicative whenever parties person a hankering for immoderate dragon goodness. That said, this publication ne'er reached the heights of excitement I had imagined erstwhile I archetypal heard astir it. The information that it relies solely connected the basal stat blocks from the Monster Manual and determination aren’t immoderate amusive adventures for higher-level parties is simply a spot disappointing. The information that Tiamat, arguably the astir recognizable dragon successful Dungeons & Dragons, is absent is besides a unusual omission.

Dragon Devles comes disconnected much arsenic a large introductory bundle for dragons, and for newer oregon younger players conscionable learning however to play D&D, it's a amusive postulation of speedy stories. But for much experienced players, oregon those hoping for setups for large confrontations with immoderate past dragons, you whitethorn privation to look elsewhere. Personally, I was hoping for and expecting more, but hopefully this anthology conscionable marks the opening of much dragon-centric books and campaigns to come.

Scott White is simply a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and usher coverage. Follow him connected X/Twitter oregon Bluesky.

Originally posted:

Jul 24, 2025 5:31 pm