'I Don't Know Why We Did That': D&D's James Wyatt Explains Why Dragon Delves Is Following The 2024 Rulebooks

Dragon Delves is the first Dungeons & Dragons book to follow up the 2024 rule revisions, and according to designer James Wyatt, the reasons for this particular schedule are both highly practical and just a little nebulous. As an anthology of short adventures featuring all 10 primary chromatic and metallic dragon types, Dragon Delves provides a mix of old-school adventure and zany new ideas. The format should be well-suited for both newcomers and veterans, but that versatility isn't the only inspiration for the book's release timing.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Wyatt shared the history behind Dragon Delves' position as the first book to release after the rules revisions, broadly admitting "I don't know why we did that," while clarifying some of the practical advantages. The anthology structure made it "a relatively easy product for [Wizards of the Coast] to design while the massive work of core rulebook revision is going on," but on the players' end, it also offers a way to experience new features in "a bunch of bite-sized chunks."

"That was always the idea, that it would be the first post-core rulebook revision product. I don't know why we did that. I guess it is a relatively easy product for us to design while the massive work of core rulebook revision is going on. That is a part of it in the "how the sausage is made" angle. But really, it's a chance to encounter the new stuff in the game in a bite-sized chunk. A bunch of bite-sized chunks." - James Wyatt

Dragon Delves also follows up on some ideas emphasized in the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide, particularly when it comes to streamlined adventure prep. While the adventures in the new book are bigger than the tiny ones featured in the DMG, they are, in Wyatt's words, "smaller, more compact, more flexible to the variety of circumstances that life presents that interferes with gaming on a regular basis."

Dragon Delves Has A Major Spot After D&D's 2024 Rulebooks

Putting The New Rules Into Action

Dragon Delves is just the first of many D&D books planned for the rest of the year, but unless the mystery book set for October turns out to be a campaign, it's the most substantial adventure product on the table. It might well be the first official material that many groups run on the new rules, so the anthology format could make the transition a bit easier than committing to a long-term campaign.

Considering the overlapping development timelines of the core rulebooks and everything planned for this year, it makes sense that designing an anthology book could run alongside the major work on the rulebooks more naturally. Wyatt also worked as a lead designer on the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide alongside Chris Perkins, who recently announced his upcoming retirement from Wizards of the Coast.

D&D Anthologies Can Be Great Material

Maximized Possibilities In One Tome

I'm always down for more D&D anthology content, whether I'm using it to run the adventures directly or cannibalize bits and pieces for a custom campaign. While the lack of a clear, guiding philosophy behind Dragon Delves directly following the core rulebooks might not be a ringing endorsement of its necessity at every game table, I can certainly imagine how attempting to craft a full-length campaign over the last year could have resulted in an awkwardly disjointed adventure.

"Everything In There Better Be Cracking On Topic": D&D Designers Talk The 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide

Screen Rant sat down with D&D designers Chris Perkins and James Wyatt to discuss everything that's changed in the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide.

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I've had a lot of fun with 2024's Quests from the Infinite Staircase anthology, which assembled remixes of some classic modules, so I'm eager to see if this one hits the same standard of quality with all-new material. Either way, Dragon Delves has landed in a position as a major test of the new vision for Dungeons & Dragons, whether the size of that task played much of a role in its development or not.

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