Lorwynis one of my favoriteMagic: The Gatheringsettings, but when I heard it would be the subject of aDungeons & Dragonscrossover book, my reaction was lukewarm at best. This is in part due to the fact that one of the coolest things aboutLorwynis its unique visual style, something that won’t exactly pop up much in aD&Dsession where most of the setting is imagined. However, it also doesn’t help thatMagic: The Gatheringnow has a setting that would be much better suited for a TTRPG adaptation.
From a strategic standpoint, I do understand why Wizards of the Coast went withLorwyn.It’s a fan-favorite plane, similar to otherMagicplanes like Ravnica and Archavios, which also have their ownD&Dcrossovers. We’ll also bereturning toLorywnnext yearin the first StandardMagicset of 2026, so the timing feels right. However, when purely consideringD&D, there is another plane fromMagic: The Gatheringthat would make a much better adventure module, especially given some areas where the TTRPG is lacking.
Edge Of Eternities Is A Complex Science Fantasy Setting
MTG Edge Of Eternities Story Goes Into Depth On How The Plane Operates
Magic: The Gathering’s upcomingEdge of Eternitiessetis introducing a brand-new setting to the game.The titular Edge is set outside ofMagic’s multiverse of planes, and just on the border of the mysterious Blind Eternities, which houses cosmic horrors like the Eldrazi. Here we find a variety of space-faring species, advanced technology like spacecraft, and one of the largest-scale adventuresMagic: The Gatheringhas given us in a single set. Looking at the story articles for the set so far, it also seems like the perfect setting for a TTRPG.
Edge of EternitiesPlaneswalker’s Guide, published onMagic: The Gathering’swebsite, goes into great depth about how the setting operates, and how some of its technology works.This includes explanations of the types of engines ships have and how they manage faster-than-light travel. The guide also describes five distinct groups, each with their own ideals and societal structure that set them apart. While Lorwyn also has its own factions and fictional rules, the world feels a lot more whimsical and less crunchy.
The complexity ofEdge of Eternities' setting is perfect for a TTRPG crossover. TTRPG players often want to delve into the hard mechanics of how things work within a fictional setting so they can better understand how to operate within it, and how to build characters that feel at home there. On the flipside, a setting like Lorwynalmost feels like it would be done a disservice by delving too deeply into nitty-gritty details. As a plane inspired by folklore, I want aspects of Lorwyn to feel more mysterious and unknowable.
Edge of Eternities' Setting Is More Mechanically Unique Than Lorwyn
Lorwyn Is High Fantasy, Similar To Many D&D Settings
Another reason the Edge of Eternitiesfeels like a better fit for aD&Dmodule is that it feels likemore of a departure from the typicalD&Dfare. Lorwyn, like manyD&Dsettings, is a high-fantasy one. While it has many unique qualities, like its fusing with its dark reflection, Shadowmoor, and its unique assortment of fantasy races, Lorwyn still feels a lot like somewhere you could stumble into in a typicalD&Dgame. In contrast, The Edge is a much different setting than we are used to seeing fromD&D.
Although space-faring adventures aren’t exactly absent fromD&D,it doesn’t typically include many of the high-tech aspects present inEdge of Eternities. Robotic creatures like the Mechan, or computers like the ones seen in the art of Pinnacle’s spacecraft from the Planeswalker Guide are largely absent fromD&Dsettings. If I wanted to create a Lorwyn campaign inD&D, it wouldn’t be too hard to convert halflings to kithkin. However, I would appreciate having a fullD&Dsource book to help me figure out how a computer or spacecraft would work, or describe the stat bonuses for playing as a Mechan.
D&D Needs Good Science Fantasy
D&D’s Science Fantasy Settings Lack The High-Tech Feel Of The Genre
Another reason I’d rather see a source book set on the Edge of Eternities than in Lorwyn is thatD&Dcould use a good science fantasy setting. While there are settings like Eberron and Spelljammer that lean closer to the genre,neither really delivers on the blend of science and magic thatEdge of Eternities' story has put on display so far. Both feel much more like high-fantasy settings with some trappings of sci-fi or science fantasy stapled on. I would love to see a unique science fantasy setting like The Edge take center stage in a source book.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to theLorwynD&Dbook, and will likely put together an adventure using it. In an ideal world, we would get both Lorwyn and Edge source books, but if I had to choose one, I’d lean much more towards the Edge of Eternities. It’s nothing against Lorwyn, butDungeons & Dragonsalready has plenty of great high-fantasy settings, but it could use a crunchier, more technological setting like The Edge.
