Wizards of the Coast Unveils New “D&D Icons” Line

Wizards of the Coast (WotC) officially unveiled Dungeons & Dragons Icons. This new publishing initiative pairs seminal creators from D&D’s golden era with the current in-house design team to produce new, official fifth-edition (5.5E) content.

Overseeing the initiative as Chief Creative Officer is actor, producer, and longtime D&D superfan Joe Manganiello.

The goal of D&D Icons is straightforward: give legendary architects of tabletop history—many of whom haven’t worked on official D&D books in years—a direct role in shaping the game’s future. As D&D VP Dan Ayoub noted in a pre-Gen Con press briefing, “There are a lot of classic creators who still have really magnificent stories to tell and… this is one of the lines we’re leaning into to specifically do that.”

Here is a look at the inaugural lineup of creators and projects confirmed for the D&D Icons banner.

The Inaugural Roster of D&D Icons

1. Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance)

The legendary co-creators behind the Dragonlance setting and authors of the beloved Chronicles and Legends novel series are officially returning to Krynn. Weis and Hickman will collaborate with current designers on brand-new official Dragonlance TTRPG products.

2. Luke Gygax (Greyhawk)

RPG designer and son of D&D co-creator Gary Gygax, Luke Gygax joins the Icons line to develop new material for the classic Greyhawk setting. While specific book details remain under wraps, Gygax’s deep historical roots with Oerth make this one of the most anticipated returns for veteran players. (Note: WotC clarified that Gygax’s project is separate from the newly announced Greyhawk: Crown of the Witch Queen campaign book).

3. R.A. Salvatore (The Legend of Drizzt)

New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore, creator of Drizzt Do’Urden and chronicler of the Forgotten Realms, will serve as a major contributor to the Icons line. While his specific upcoming project has not yet been named, his involvement promises big things for lore enthusiasts.

Joe Manganiello’s “Death Saves” Setting & Black Label Line

In addition to serving as Chief Creative Officer for D&D Icons, Joe Manganiello is spearheading his own campaign setting under the banner.

Entitled Death Saves: The Blood War, the setting is co-created with veteran designer Mike Mearls. Based on the dark fantasy aesthetic of Manganiello’s streetwear brand, the setting takes place in a post-apocalyptic, grimdark realm known as the “Last World”—the sole surviving plane following the catastrophic collapse of the D&D multiverse.

Death Saves will also launch alongside WotC’s new “Black Label” line, an experimental publishing framework that allows creators to explore mature, dark fantasy themes and bold takes on canon lore without being bound by standard core line guidelines.