Lorwyn is one of my favorite Magic: The Gathering settings, but when I heard it would be the subject of a Dungeons & Dragons crossover book, my reaction was lukewarm at best. This is in part due to the fact that one of the coolest things about Lorwyn is its unique visual style, something that won’t exactly pop up much in a D&D session where most of the setting is imagined. However, it also doesn’t help that Magic: The Gathering now 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 with Lorwyn. It’s a fan-favorite plane, similar to other Magic planes like Ravnica and Archavios, which also have their own D&D crossovers. We’ll also be returning to Lorywn next year in the first Standard Magic set of 2026, so the timing feels right. However, when purely considering D&D, there is another plane from Magic: The Gathering that 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 upcoming Edge of Eternities set is introducing a brand-new setting to the game. The titular Edge is set outside of Magic‘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 adventures Magic: The Gathering has 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.
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Edge of Eternities Planeswalker’s Guide, published on Magic: The Gathering‘s website, 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 of Edge 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 Lorwyn almost 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 Eternities feels like a better fit for a D&D module is that it feels like more of a departure from the typical D&D fare. Lorwyn, like many D&D settings, 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 typical D&D game. In contrast, The Edge is a much different setting than we are used to seeing from D&D.
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Although space-faring adventures aren’t exactly absent from D&D, it doesn’t typically include many of the high-tech aspects present in Edge 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 from D&D settings. If I wanted to create a Lorwyn campaign in D&D, it wouldn’t be too hard to convert halflings to kithkin. However, I would appreciate having a full D&D source 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 that D&D could 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 that Edge 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.
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Now, don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to the Lorwyn D&D book, 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, but Dungeons & Dragons already has plenty of great high-fantasy settings, but it could use a crunchier, more technological setting like The Edge.
Source: Magic: The Gathering
- Original Release Date
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1974
- Publisher
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TSR Inc., Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Player Count
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2-7 Players
