D&D 5E D&D's Classic Settings Are Not 'One Shots'

In an interview with ComicBook.com, WotC's Jeremy Crawford talked about the visits to Ravenloft, Eberron, Spelljammer, Dragonlance, and (the upcoming) Planescape we've seen over the last couple of years, and their intentions for the future.

He indicated that they plan to revisit some of these settings again in the future, noting that the setting books are among their most popular books.

We love [the campaign setting books], because they help highlight just how wonderfully rich D&D is. They highlight that D&D can be gothic horror. D&D can be fantasy in space. D&D can be trippy adventures in the afterlife, in terms of Planescape. D&D can be classic high fantasy, in the form of the Forgotten Realms. It can be sort of a steampunk-like fantasy, like in Eberron. We feel it's vital to visit these settings, to tell stories in them. And we look forward to returning to them. So we do not view these as one-shots.

- Jeremy Crawford​

The whole 'multiverse' concept that D&D is currently exploring plays into this, giving them opportunities to resist worlds.

When asked about the release schedule of these books, Crawford noted that the company plans its release schedule so that players get chance to play the material, not just read it, and they don't want to swamp people with too much content to use.

Our approach to how we design for the game and how we plan out the books for it is a play-first approach. At certain times in D&D's history, it's really been a read-first approach. Because we've had points in our history where we were producing so many books each year, there was no way anyone could play all of it. In some years it would be hard to play even a small percentage of the number of things that come out. Because we have a play-first approach, we want to make sure we're coming out with things at a pace where if you really wanted to, and even that would require a lot of weekends and evenings dedicated to D&D play, you could play a lot of it.

- Jeremy Crawford​

You can read more in the interview at ComicBook.com.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

That suggests that dozens of people feel that way...?

Those voices are not alone, if it was Planescape wouldn't have the higher page count.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

"Overpriced" yet the $20 DM screen is one of the best selling D&D products. That suggests that the price is what the market will bear. And I assume that future DM screens will be $25, thanks to inflation.

It's not optional in these products, yes it's popular, but not everyone wants one that wants the setting product. That kind of thing is fine, but should be separate, otherwise for alot of folks it's an expensive tax for something they don't want.

 

[Parmandur]

Those voices are not alone, if it was Planescape wouldn't have the higher page count.

They probably had already locked in a higher page count for Planescape by the time Spelljammer dropped.

 

[Parmandur]

It's not optional in these products, yes it's popular, but not everyone wants one that wants the setting product. That kind of thing is fine, but should be separate, otherwise for alot of folks it's an expensive tax for something they don't want.

The $20 DM screen has outsold every Setting book, I believe. If most customers want both, it can be reasonable to offer a combo. There is a cheaper option that cuts the DM screen, too, on Beyond. Print customers are probsvly going to increasingly be bundle customers.

 

[humble minion]

The $20 DM screen has outsold every Setting book, I believe. If most customers want both, it can be reasonable to offer a combo. There is a cheaper option that cuts the DM screen, too, on Beyond. Print customers are probsvly going to increasingly be bundle customers.

There are only so many GM screens that anyone needs though.

I'm only speaking personally, but for me, a screen bundled with any product i want to buy is an unwanted tax, and makes me less likely to purchase the product. I haven't even bought the WotC DM screen, but i still have at least four different screens (from WotC and 3pp) which have come in bundles, sitting around the place. Privateer Press is particularly bad for this, and it's one of the reasons I'll be backing fewer of their kickstarters in future. It's just a massive WASTE. Paper and effort and shipping weight and storage space and time.

 

[mamba]

"Overpriced" yet the $20 DM screen is one of the best selling D&D products. That suggests that the price is what the market will bear. And I assume that future DM screens will be $25, thanks to inflation.

what the market can bear is independent of manufacturing cost, so yes, overpriced

 

[Parmandur]

There are only so many GM screens that anyone needs though.

I'm only speaking personally, but for me, a screen bundled with any product i want to buy is an unwanted tax, and makes me less likely to purchase the product. I haven't even bought the WotC DM screen, but i still have at least four different screens (from WotC and 3pp) which have come in bundles, sitting around the place. Privateer Press is particularly bad for this, and it's one of the reasons I'll be backing fewer of their kickstarters in future. It's just a massive WASTE. Paper and effort and shipping weight and storage space and time.

I think at this point, the "I don't want a DM scrrrn" portion of the market is on Beyond, as gar as WotC is concerned.

 

[MockingBird]

I like having a DM screen that's tied to an adventure or setting. I even bought the ToA screen. I understand not everyone wants one though.

 

[DavyGreenwind]

I like having a DM screen that's tied to an adventure or setting. I even bought the ToA screen. I understand not everyone wants one though.

I collect them, and I agree

 

[Micah Sweet]

I like having a DM screen that's tied to an adventure or setting. I even bought the ToA screen. I understand not everyone wants one though.

But everyone has to pay for one if they want the other material