Wizards of the Coast will release two new Dungeons & Dragons sourcebooks this autumn, including the adventure book Storm King’s Thunder and Volo’s Guide to Monsters, which will feature a hobby-exclusive limited edition cover.

This summer’s Dungeons & Dragons storyline centers on the Giants’ invasion of the Forgotten Realms, and their tale is chronicled in Storm King’s Thunder.  Emerging from their stronghold in greater numbers than ever before, these enormous raiders threaten the future of the realms and it’s up to the heroes to halt the giants and turn their own Rune Magic against them.

This 256-page hardcover book offers a series of adventures for characters from 1st to 11th level, and includes rules for the new Rune Magic.  MSRP is $49.95.  To promote the release, Wizards is making free pdf downloads available with marketing material that stores can use for their own launch events.

Players who want to learn more about their favorite Dungeons & Dragons foes will find answers in Volo’s Guide to Monsters, which includes history and stories about a number of iconic monsters, including the beholder, mind flayer, orcs, gnolls, and kobolds, as well as new monsters that have been introduced for the Fifth Edition. Presented as a dissertation written by the loremaster Volothamp Geddarm, the book also features rebuttals from the sage Elminster.

In addition to background material, Volo’s Guide to Monsters includes new rules and race options for characters.  The book will be a 224- page hardcover.  MSRP is $49.95.

Wizards is offering an exclusive, limited-edition version of Volo’s Guide to Monsters for distribution only to core hobby stores.  This edition will feature a striking mind flayer illustration by the artist Hydro74.  The alternate art version will only be run for a single printing.