The Worlds of DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS and MAGIC: THE GATHERING Collide in New Sourcebook
Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering have a lot in common. Both transport players to mystic, magical worlds. Both require players to apply strategic thinking to overcome fantastical monsters. But fans of Magic: The Gathering, a complex trading card game, had no way of bringing their beloved monsters and allies into the freeform RPG of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) unless they created their own “homebrew” rules outside of the official D&D canon.
That all changed yesterday when gaming giant Wizards of the Coast, manufacturer of both games, debuted the 38-page Plane Shift: Zendikar D&D sourcebook. Wizards describes Zendikar as “A tumultuous plane of wild mana, unstable weather, and floating terrain…a world of incomparable natural beauty and danger” that Magic players can inhabit while they duel their opponents. With the help of Plane Shift, players can easily design their own role playing adventures for Zendikar using the official Fifth Edition rules of D&D. This opens up an incredibly powerful avenue for Magic players to experience a world they already know and love.
Plane Shift was released as a companion to Wizards’ The Art of Magic the Gathering: Zendikar, which details the “peoples, continents, and creatures” of the world. While the art book provides a wealth of information, Wizards’ also directed prospective Dungeon Masters to the Magic: The Gathering website and Zendikar’s online profile for more inspiration.
Plane Shift debuted with no forewarning and relatively little fanfare. This is somewhat surprising given the massive following of both D&D and Magic, particularly since, as io9’s James Whitbrook pointed out, this is the first time the two games have had an official crossover. Still, this does open the door for further integration between the universes, a fact which is sure to please long-time fans.
Plane Shift: Zendikar is available as a free PDF download.
For more info on these games, you can visit either the Magic or Dungeons and Dragons official websites.
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