By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
The LEGO Group has unveiled a new set based on Dungeons & Dragons and designed by a super fan.
The set came about through the company’s LEGO Ideas program, which challenges its fans to design a set that is then custom made by the LEGO team. The project was conceived to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary role-playing game that practically defines the genre.
Based on a brief co-developed by the Wizards of the Coast team, more than 600 LEGO fans submitted Dungeons & Dragons inspired designs, but the winner was 32-year-old Lucas Bolt (known as BoltBuilds) from Amsterdam, who created his version of the game in LEGO bricks. Lucas then worked closely with LEGO Design team, to develop the unique setting represented in the final set. In addition, the Wizards of the Coast team developed a bespoke adventure for the set.
“Lucas’ design perfectly captured the storytelling excitement of any DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game,” said LEGO Design Manager, Jordan Scott. “Working with the Wizards of the Coast team, we were able to build on his design to co create a truly authentic DUNGEONS & DRAGONS experience full of details that will excite fans through the building process and beyond.”
As a result, the LEGO Group has now unveiled the finished set, called Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon’s Tale. Released in the year Dungeons & Dragons turns 50, this is the first time the LEGO Group has developed a Dungeons & Dragons set, and they certainly did it in a big way.
The set is incredibly detailed, taking 3,745 pieces to create a tavern with a removable roof, so users can see inside to the upper level. The set also features a dungeon and a tower. Also included are six LEGO minifigures, including an Orc Rogue, Gnome Fighter, Elf Wizard and Dwarf Cleric, plus brick-built monsters, such as a beholder, an owlbear and a displacer beast. Also featured is the giant Cinderhowl red dragon that builders can wrap around the tower.
Lucas said it was a thrilling experience to work on the project. “The Dungeons & Dragons theme combined with my love of history, fantasy and making games, inspired me to create a playable layout with different challenges and routes to explore,” he said. “I had so much fun designing this piece, and it is a real privilege seeing my design developed into a detailed LEGO set to celebrate 50 years of the iconic game.”
LEGO also turned to their fan community on the LEGO Ideas platform, giving them a chance to design the cover of the set’s building instructions. The winning design by Chris Yu features an epic battle using techniques to create depth in the image, while showcasing the concept of good against evil centred around the iconic 20-sided die.
In celebration of the new set, the LEGO Group invited well-known Dungeons & Dragons players to LEGO House for an epic game night. Anjali Bhimani took the chair as the Dungeon Master and was joined by Luis Carazo and Ginny Di, as well as fan designer Lucas and LEGO Designer Scott, who all participated in an epic adventure on a very special custom-made LEGO Dungeons & Dragons table.
Recorded live, fans can now watch all the action when the game premieres on LEGO.com/DnD and the Dungeons & Dragons YouTube and Twitch channels on April 6 at 12 noon EDT.
Fans can also get a specially created Dungeons & Dragons adventure book, created in partnership by Wizards of the Coast and the LEGO Group, to offer a completely new and unique play experience. Available for LEGO Insiders as a free digital download, or as a paperback book for 2,700 Insider points (while stocks last). The book is also available at D&D Beyond along with character sheets, a digital dice and more.
For Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, the project came together so well that Dan Rawson, the Global Play Lead on Dungeons & Dragons and RPGs, said it felt like something that should have been done long ago, perhaps in an ancient realm.
“LEGO bricks and Dungeons & Dragons have been used by fans to generate stories and build adventures for so long that bringing these two creative brands together during our 50th Anniversary felt like a no-brainer,” said Rawson. “With the amazing LEGO Ideas set designed by Lucas Bolt, the adventure package available on D&D Beyond, and the LEGO mini figure series coming this fall, fans will have so many new sparks of imagination available to enjoy creating fantasy stories together with friends and family.”
The LEGO Ideas Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon’s Tale set will be available for LEGO Insiders starting April 1 via LEGO Stores and at LEGO.com/DnD, and for the general public starting on April 4. The mammoth set is priced at $359.99 / €359.99 / £314.99. In addition, between April 1–7 all purchases of the LEGO Ideas Dungeons & Dragons Red Dragon’s Tale set will receive a LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Mimic Dice Box as a free gift.
The Dungeons & Dragons adventure book will also be available from April 1 at LEGO.com/DND and D&D Beyond, along with character sheets, a digital dice and more. The LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Minifigure series will launch in September 2024.