The following article doesn't contain any story spoilers for Dungeons & Dragons: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, but it does reveal some basic information about what to expect at the start of the adventure.
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight campaign for D&D games start in grubby taverns or out in the wilderness, with players looking for a reason for their characters to band together, so that they can start their adventures. However, The Wild Beyond the Witchlight is a little different from standard campaigns, which makes it a somewhat unique addition to the available 5e campaign books.
The premise behind the adventure is fairly simple: The Witchlight Carnival has arrived from another plane, as it does every eight years. The DM has the choice of several adventure hooks for the players to follow, but all of them involve a trip to the Witchlight Carnival, which will send the players on a journey into the Feywild. It's likely that the first session will take place entirely within the Witchlight Carnival, and there's a good chance that players won't want to leave until they have seen all of the wonders being offered here.
The fact that The Wild Beyond the Witchlight starts in a carnival means that DMs and players have the chance to run the opening session a little differently than regular campaigns. There's nothing wrong with running the Witchlight Carnival as part of a regular game, but dedicated groups can go above and beyond to make it come to life. The people who now have the chance to play D&D in person again can return to the table with a bang, by bringing the Witchlight Carnival to life in their own homes.
D&D: How To Bring The Witchlight Carnival's Sights & Sounds To Life
If ever there was a time for players to dress up for a game of D&D, it's for the Witchlight Carnival. Once they arrive at the Witchlight Carnival in-game, they are given a set of butterfly wings to wear, which they are meant to keep on as often as possible. One project that players could be given before the adventure is to create their own butterfly wings and then break them out during the game. The more artistically inclined players could do this with foam board and elastic, both of which can be procured cheaply. Those who don't want to wear a giant pair of butterfly wings while sitting down during a game could attempt to create another piece of butterfly-themed clothing to act as a substitute. These could be as simple as a headband, wristbands, or necktie with a butterfly wing attachment. There are also plenty of butterfly masks available online, for those who would prefer to shell out some cash rather than make their own props.
Once the players reach the Witchlight Carnival, they will need tickets to enter. These tickets are punched whenever the players visit an attraction, so this would be an ideal choice for a prop. It would be easy to create a basic design for a ticket, print it off, and have the players use them as part of the game. The group as a whole should also consider chipping in, and ordering food usually eaten at carnivals, specifically for the game. These can include popcorn, lollypops, toffee apples, ice cream, and cotton candy. The people who play D&D in the evening, however, might want to substitute these items for foods with less sugar content.
In of setting the scene, the DM should also consider musical choices to make the D&D adventure feel more alive. The Witchlight Carnival has its own magical musical accompaniment wherever the players may go, which is easy to replicate with music that's available online. There are plenty of options on YouTube for medieval fair music, a lot of which comes in extended forms that can be left on for hours. The people who want to go the video game route should also consider "Guardia's Millennial Fair" from Chrono Trigger, "Carnival Night Zone" from Sonic the Hedgehog 3, or "Gold Saucer" from Final Fantasy VII as appropriate choices for background music. The Wild Beyond the Witchlight involves time progressing over the course of the party's visit to the Witchlight Carnival, so there is a built-in reason for the music to change over the course of the adventure.
D&D: How To Create Carnival Games For Wild Beyond The Witchlight Sessions
There are carnival games that can be played in the Witchlight Carnival, but as they are contained within the boundaries of the D&D multiverse and mechanics, they are mostly resolved through dice rolls and role-playing. The DMs who want to let their players actually try their hand at some real carnival games can do so cheaply, however. These can include filling a jar with jellybeans and having the players correctly guess the amount, attaching balloons to a corkboard and having the players pop them with darts, throwing a ping pong ball into a cup from across the room, and filling a box with mystery items and having the players guess what they are by touch alone.
The same paper cups used in the beer pong game can also be repurposed for a ball toss game, where they are stacked on top of each other and the goal is to knock them down with balls. If the player's character has a high stat like dexterity that is associated with the game, then the DM should let them have an additional go or get better odds, to reflect their character's skill. It's not every day that Dungeons & Dragons players have the chance to visit the carnival within a game, so making the most of it is definitely worth the time and effort.
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight is available now.
