In a game with 50 years of history, it is inevitable that the creators will come and go. When it comes to Dungeons & Dragons, some names have become so iconic for their contribution to the game and its lore that fans still want to see them involved, no matter how much time has passed. That’s exactly the goal of a new product line announced during the D&D Vision Keynote 2027 at Gen Con.

D&D Icons is a new initiative that brings together some of the most iconic and influential creators in D&D’s history to work on new stories. The authors involved include Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, R.A. Salvatore, and Luke Gygax. Actor, producer, writer, and D&D enthusiast Joe Manganiello will serve as chief creative officer for the D&D Icons line. (Manganiello is also developing his own setting, called Death Saves.)

Weis and Hickman will be working on a Dragonlance TTRPG product for the first time in over 20 years, described in a news release as “the most ambitious Dragonlance volume ever.” R.A. Salvatore will be working under the Icons program to bring back his beloved character, the drow ranger Drizzt Do’Urden from The Legend of Drizzt series. Finally, Luke Gygax will be working on a Greyhawk project based on unfinished content and unreleased notes left behind by his father, D&D co-creator Gary Gygax. Described as “an adventure through Gary Gygax’s eyes,” this will be available as early as 2027.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

While it’s obviously built on a strong dose of nostalgia, this project is presented as forward-thinking. The goal, according to the keynote, is for these legendary creators to work with the current design team to help shape future content. The beloved campaign settings of Dragonlance, Greyhawk, and the Forgotten Realms will keep expanding but without forgetting their history and roots, and by involving the creators who shaped them into what they are today.

Dan Ayoub, head of the D&D franchise at Wizards of the Coast, made it clear when he assumed the role a little over a year ago that one of his priorities was to bring back these iconic creators. He reaffirmed this in a post from last October that featured Manganiello, Weis, and Laura and Tracy Hickman, teasing future projects. Weis and Hickman’s involvement in the D&D Icons line is particularly relevant, as they have a troubled history with Wizards, which includes a 2020 lawsuit. Luke Gygax’s presence is also significant, as his father’s role in the creation of the game was somewhat overshadowed in recent years by cultural debates and controversies.

Ayoub’s vision for the franchise, encapsulated in the motto “A new dawn for D&D,” is clear: to move forward by building on the game’s impressive history and foundations. The involvement of beloved creators who carry a lot of goodwill among the community is clearly an important step in that direction, but D&D Icons’ promise of shaping the future of the game is what makes it sound most interesting.