I appreciate the intention to focus on the story. Clearly D&Dis about story. But as we see one story arc roll out after another, I can't help but feel they have it a bit backwards - or at least are taking a very narrow, limited approach that will eventually prove problematic. Theproblem now is that you have two options: either run the story arcs, one after the other, or do your own thing. There's no middle ground. Even if they are serving new DMs by providing them with clear story arcs, or DMs that like to run only pre-published material, not only are they ignoring the many DMs who want material to use in their campaigns, but eventually some of those "story arc DMs" are going to tire of doing story arcs and want to do something else, whether it is running a more episodic campaign with pre-published modules, or a more guided approach to creating their own stories.
Then there's the potential problem of having a bad apple in the bunch - one bad story arc and that's a whole year between good stories. Imaginee the ruckus, the chaos, the armageddon!
Anyhow, the obvious question is this: What's the middle ground? It is simple, really, and involves two areas that can be linked together thematically with one product line. Imagine this:
A campaign setting book that is thematic and regional - like the Underdark, or the Dalelands, or the Crystalmist Mountains, etc. The book is part of an existing world, but gives guidelines for customizing it or adding it to your campaign world, or at least mining it for ideas. Then you have a second book of adventures, site locations, and encounters - running the gamut from one page encounters to full-on modules, even with guidelines on how to create a meta-story. Alternately they could publish only somewhat-generic theme settings like the Underdark, or a woodland region unattached to any known setting but that could be plopped into any homebrew world.
My issue with WotC's approach is that they aren't creating a backdrop for their stories. Sure, we all know about the Forgotten Realms and they're providing setting info on a "need to know" basis, but without actual product the stories end up feeling like they're set in old western towns with surface-thin set pieces. Unless you own older Realms product and are comfortable with adapting other adventures and/or creating your own, you're pretty much stuck within the confines of the published story arc. Now many of us are comfortable, but some are not, and some who are comfortable but with busy schedules (such as myself) would still like new material to work with.
It doesn't even have to be the old campaign setting book approach. What about a detailed Underdark book that can be adapted to any setting, then with a book of adventures for that setting? Or what about a box set? Why not a Sword Coast book to use for the "gaps between" the story arcs being set there, with a book of "further adventures in the Sword Coast" for those finished with the story arcs or wanting something more episodic?
Anyhow, my point is that there's a huge gap in what WotC is offering. I understand the reasons why, but I don't think it is all that sustainable - at least if they want 5E to "thrive and not just survive."
And I know: this has been discussed before. But hopefully I brought some new angles to the conversation, if only old wine in a new jug. And I know: we don't know WotC's plans. But maybe, just maybe, if we put some ideas out there, it will in some way influence their path forward. I mean it, it is our path, our story, after all.
