Wizards of the Coast may have created a wide variety of sourcebooks and printed adventures for fans ofDungeons & Dragonsto choose from, but that’s really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the TTRPG’s content. That’s because fans of all kinds are always creating their ownD&Dworlds and mechanics, sometimes even sharing them with the world. Voice actor andCritical RoleDM Matt Mercer has contributed a lot to the franchise, such as theBlood Hunter class, but adaptations of established IPs deserve credit for expandingD&Doptions too. For instance,Lord of the Ringsis making a foray intoD&Dsoon.
Free League Publishing recently revealed that it’s working onLord of the Rings 5e,aD&Dadaptation of its previous TTRPG productThe One Ring.Few details have been shared thus far, but fans can reportedly new travel rules, classes, and cultures to appear in the sourcebook when it releases next year.Lord of the Rings5eis exciting in its own right, but it’s particularly notable when one considers the other recentD&Dadaptations of big IPs. Free League’s project may indicate a rising interest in adapting franchises of all kinds for tabletop game nights.
RELATED:Dungeons & Dragons 5e Should Get a Setting Book for Campaigns on Earth
An Uptick in TTRPG Adaptations
FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games aren’t the only ones getting in on the current interest inD&Dand other TTRPGs. Wizards of the Coast has frequently adapted its ownMagic: The Gatheringplanes in officialD&Dexpansions, equipping fans to explore some of their favorite worlds from the trading card game.Avatar: The Last Airbenderalso recently entered the space withAvatar Legends, a Powered by the Apocalypse-style system that draws heavily from the themes and friendships found in the series. All in all, it’s clear that lots of different IPs are interested in TTRPGs, possibly due toD&D5th edition’s unprecedented popularity, and that’s a good thing.
The Future of Pop Culture TTRPGs
Lord of the Rings 5eisn’t the firstD&Dexpansion or TTRPG system based on a famous IP, and all signs indicate that it won’t be the last. On the contrary, these adaptations keep cropping up. At this rate, it seems like just about any action-packed IP could find itself entering the RPG space, whether Nintendo’sThe Legend of Zeldagets aD&Dbook or the Marvel Cinematic Universe decides to invest in its own superhero TTRPG. If these adaptations do keep happening, then TTRPGs might only get more popular over the next few years. People who haven’t given the genre a chance might be more interested if they can learn the ropes by playing in one of their favorite fictional universes.
Adaptations are still coming fairly slowly for now, but it’s likely that the pace will pick up in coming years.Dungeons & Dragonsgreatly expanded the market by releasing the highly accessible 5th edition, and other companies have undoubtedly seen that TTRPGs are profitable by now. This would be a victory for TTRPG veterans and newcomers alike, since it could provide resources for ongoing campaigns while inspiring new ones in previously-unconsidered settings. The ongoing impact ofD&D5e remains to be seen, but for the time being,Lord of the Rings 5ecertainly sounds like a worthy addition to this TTRPG trend.
Dungeons & Dragons 5eis available now.
MORE:All the Big Game References in the Dungeons and Dragons Movie Trailer
