Dungeons & Dragons is getting a new book of rules, subclasses, and mechanics this fall, Wizards of the Coast announced on Monday. The book, titled Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, follows in the tradition of 2017’s Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, adding fresh gameplay options to the existing setting rather than a new setting.
Also like Xanthar’s Guide, Tasha’s Cauldron presents its content with commentary, observations, and snark of a narrator character. This time, instead of a floating crime boss with multiple eyestalks, it’s the creator of Tasha’s Hideous Laughter who serves as the guide.
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Image: Wizards of the Coast
Tasha’s Cauldron won’t have any new classes, but will instead offer up a collection of new subclasses for every published class in 5th edition. These subclasses are all drawn from the extensively play-tested Unearthed Arcana column on the D&D website. There will be new spells as well — including at least one designed by Tasha herself — and magic items to drop into your game.
For those behind the screen, Tasha’s Cauldron will have a section for Dungeon Masters with setting-agnostic puzzles and magical environments. Fans will also see the return of the group patrons concept — non-player characters who fund and guide adventurers — from Eberron: Rising from the Last War, but de-Eberron-ed for any setting.
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Image: Andrew Mar/Wizards of the Coast
The most important and intriguing announcement about Tasha’s Cauldron is a new and extensive set of rules for character creation. Back in June, Wizards of the Coast announced that it was working on addressing the concept of race in D&D. Tasha’s Cauldron offers an alternate set of character creation rules that will do just that. With these rules, your character’s race will no longer be tied to inherent stat boosts and abilities. While the character creation rules are still available in 2014’s Player’s Handbook for anyone who wants to use them, Tasha’s will decouple race and origin from their 5th edition mechanics. Players will have much more freedom over what their characters can do and who they are.
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything will be released on Nov. 17, and will feature cover art by Magali Villeneuve. An alternate (and reportedly Easter egg-filled) cover will be available only in stores with art by Wylie Beckert.
