Wizards of the Coast published a string of co-op board games using rules called the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure System from 2010 through to 2019. Each was essentially a stripped-down D&D adventure you could finish in a couple of hours. Most were based on existing D&D modules both old and new, like Castle Ravenloft, Temple of Elemental Evil, and Tomb of Annihilation. That last one was adapted into the videogame Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation by BKOM Studios and released on Steam in 2017. The games were well-received by fans and provided an enjoyable way to experience classic D&D adventures with friends. However, Wizards of the Coast has since announced that they will no longer be producing any new Adventure System games, opting instead to focus on their core tabletop RPG business. While this is unfortunate news for fans of the series, it's understandable given the company's current direction.
BKOM Studios has announced that Tomb of Annihilation will be delisted from Steam on May 20. "While it will no longer be possible to acquire the game or any of the additional content on that date," the developer explains, "players who have the game in their Steam library will still be able to play it and enjoy all of its content." The studio adds that it's "committed to providing ongoing support" for players, and that it will "continue to monitor" feedback. Given the current state of the licensing agreements, it's unclear if or when the game will return to Steam. In the meantime, players are encouraged to take advantage of the game's currently available content.
The Tomb of Annihilation adventure supplement for Dungeons and Dragons is set in the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting, specifically the jungle peninsula of Chult. The story revolves around a group of adventurers seeking a way to end the "death curse", which has not only prevented raise dead spells from working, but is making anyone previously resurrected by magic slowly waste away. The supplement introduces new monsters and characters, as well as new mechanics for running a campaign in a jungle setting. Overall, Tomb of Annihilation is a well-crafted adventure that will provide many hours of entertainment for D&D players.
The D&D module was an homage to the older Tomb of Horrors, first published in 1978, which was designed by D&D co-creator Gary Gygax as a competitive dungeon for play at conventions. It was basically a series of traps created to kill off player-characters, and putting it into print and the hands of Dungeon Masters around the world resulted in a lot of misery and total party kills. However, it was published a long time ago, so we can laugh about it now. The module has since been updated and reprinted several times, most recently in 2010. It remains a popular choice among players looking for a challenge, and has even spawned spin-off products, such as video games and novels. Whether you love it or hate it, there's no denying that the Tomb of Horrors is one of the most iconic modules in the history of Dungeons & Dragons.
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