Wizards of the Coast has announced Rise of the Underdark, a coordinated campaign starting this spring with product lines and organized play programs focused on the drow race, dark elves whose invasion of the surface world at the behest of Lolth, Demon Queen of Spiders is the galvanizing force behind the events in Rise of the Underdark. 

 

One of the first key product offerings is Into the Unknown: The Dungeon Survival Handbook ($29.95), the indispensable guide to adventures underground, in dungeons, caverns, and other subterranean environments, which is due out on May15th.  The hardcover volume explores new character themes that players can use to equip their characters with special benefits that can help on their journeys into the Underdark.

 

Next comes the Dungeon Command: Sting of Lolth faction pack ($39.99), a new head-to-head skirmish-style miniatures game that is due out on July 17th and includes heroic miniatures as assassin, arachnomancer, sorcerer, spiders and spiderguards. 

 

Charon’s Claw ($27.95) the third book of R.A. Salvatore’s Neverwinter Saga, which is due on August 7th, takes the Dark Elf Drizzt Do’Urden to an ancient dwarven stronghold where they find a small colony of drow attempting to set up an independent drow city.

 

Other products include The Menzoberranzan Campaign Setting, which launches on August 21st and provides an in-depth look at greatest Drow city in the Dungeons & Dragons realm, including all the information a Dungeon Master needs to run an adventure or an entire campaign based in this treacherous city.  Also due on August 21st, the Drow Treachery Fortune Cards can add another layer of enjoyment to D&D adventures providing additional elements of unpredictability to enhance attacks or defenses or provide other benefits to characters.

 

The Rise of the Underdark narrative and themes will also dominate WotC’s D&D organized play events. Starting on May 16th, players of all levels will be able to gather on Wednesday nights at local participating game stores to experience the new D&D Encounters: Web of the Spider Queen season. 

 

The Rise of the Underdark motif will also extend to the highly tactical D&D OP program Lair Assault.  The next Lair Assault challenge Spider Killer debuts on June first and challenges players to battle against the Rise of the Underdark.

 

The Rise of the Underdark campaign is a true all-platform event.  It also includes the Dungeons and Dragons Online, Menace of the Underdark Expansion, which launches in June.