Explorer's Guide to Wildemount
The Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty stand on opposite sides of the Ashkeeper Peaks mountain range. King Bertrand Dwendal rules the western lands with a council of archmages known as the Cerberus Assembly. Their eastern neighbors in Xhorhas live under Bright Queen Leylas Kryn. This region appears to be an inhospitable wasteland to those from the west. The Menagerie Coast sits along the Lucidian Ocean to the southwest. Eight city-states form the Clovis Concord that governs this coastal area. Nicodranas and Port Damali serve as key hubs within this coalition. The northern tundra remains the Greying Wildlands, where harsh conditions keep populations sparse.
Wizards of the Coast released thirteen new factions for players to join during 2020. Four new player races appeared including Pallid Elves and Lotusden Halflings. Draconblood Dragonborns and Ravenite Dragonborns joined the existing roster alongside twelve reprinted options like Aarakocra and Sea Elves. An Echo Knight subclass gave fighters unique abilities to summon spectral duplicates. Chronurgy Magic and Graviturgy Magic offered wizards control over time and gravity. Dunamancy introduced fifteen new spells based on quantum mechanics concepts. Over twenty monsters filled the pages with creatures for Dungeon Masters to use. Vestiges of Divergence provided magic items tied to specific storylines. New character backgrounds replaced standard templates with deeper cultural context.
The book sets its narrative at a precise moment before Campaign Two Episode 50 concludes. Haeck stated clearly that players would diverge wildly from established Critical Role events after that point. The text includes series canon up to that specific episode number while allowing for alternative outcomes. This approach lets groups explore what might happen if history took a different turn. The setting acknowledges the tension between fixed lore and open storytelling possibilities. Players can choose whether to follow the original timeline or forge their own path through Wildemount.
Jeremy Crawford confirmed the product as an official Wizards of the Coast release during early 2020. He noted that rules underwent testing by players and development by the internal team. Chris Perkins described Exandria as existing within the material plane alongside other known worlds like Toril. He emphasized this was a universe born from one man's imagination combined with livestream gaming. The design process involved careful consideration of political tensions and resource conflicts across the continent. Wizards published about three books annually, making this campaign setting part of their regular schedule. Matthew Mercer contributed significantly to the creative direction while maintaining official oversight.
An Amazon listing leaked details on the 12th of January 2020 before the official announcement. The book reached #3 on best sellers lists that same day and climbed to #1 by Monday afternoon. Pre-orders alone made it the top-selling book on Amazon, surpassing New York Times entries. Publishers Weekly reported 26,589 units sold in the week ending the 21st of March 2020. It ranked first in Hardcover Nonfiction and fourth overall for that period. D&D Beyond tracked usage data showing 49% of characters chose the Echo Knight subclass. Digital platforms like Roll20 offered free access to specific adventures during the pandemic lockdowns. The release coincided with global stay-at-home orders, boosting engagement numbers significantly.
Charlie Hall praised the writing warmth found within these pages compared to other sourcebooks. Polygon noted the world felt fresh and current relative to previous fantasy settings. Dicebreaker highlighted the variety of locations and narrative threads available for Dungeon Masters. Tabletop Gaming magazine appreciated how the book avoided shaking up classic formulas too aggressively. Critics pointed out the nuanced approach to race relations within the Kryn Dynasty. Some reviewers felt the drow subversion lacked depth while others called it a significant step forward. Academic analysis described the setting as a departure from traditional dark elf lore. Sales figures reflected strong community support despite mixed critical opinions on certain aspects.
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Common questions
Who rules the western lands of Wildemount in the Dwendalian Empire?
King Bertrand Dwendal rules the western lands with a council of archmages known as the Cerberus Assembly. The eastern neighbors live under Bright Queen Leylas Kryn.
When did Wizards of Coast release Explorer's Guide to Wildemount?
Wizards of Coast released thirteen new factions for players to join during 2020. An Amazon listing leaked details on the 12th of January 2020 before the official announcement.
What new player races appear in the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount supplement?
Four new player races appeared including Pallid Elves and Lotusden Halflings. Draconblood Dragonborns and Ravenite Dragonborns joined the existing roster alongside twelve reprinted options like Aarakocra and Sea Elves.
Where does the narrative of Explorer's Guide to Wildemount take place relative to Critical Role Campaign Two?
The book sets its narrative at a precise moment before Campaign Two Episode 50 concludes. Haeck stated clearly that players would diverge wildly from established Critical Role events after that point.
How many units of Explorer's Guide to Wildemount were sold by the week ending the 21st of March 2020?
Publishers Weekly reported 26,589 units sold in the week ending the 21st of March 2020. It ranked first in Hardcover Nonfiction and fourth overall for that period.