D&D 5E Mike Mearls did an interview for Escapist Magazine and reveals PHB classes, races, and much more

[Ruin Explorer]

Its OK to be pissed at Disney.

Oh, sure, I'm just impressed at the peeing-into-the-wind spirit of being angry about a character being "dumb" when they're one of the most popular and enduring, if not the single most popular and enduring D&D character, especially as he's been around for 26 years!

 

[TwoSix]

Its OK to be pissed at Disney.

Yea, but seriously, some people just need to Let It Go. (tm)

 

[TerraDave]

Oh, sure, I'm just impressed at the peeing-into-the-wind spirit of being angry about a character being "dumb" when they're one of the most popular and enduring, if not the single most popular and enduring D&D character, especially as he's been around for 26 years!

Yea, but seriously, some people just need to Let It Go. (tm)

Drizz't hating pointless, wha?

A couple of things. I actually don't hate it. I did quote I guess, but I don't hate. I do see it as a fringe character that has been divisive and seems overrated. Popular and enduring in D&D? Orcus. Orcus is popular and enduring.

This much push on the Realms in the core is new(ish). It makes sense, but its new(ish) and different, and we don't have to like it.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

The thing I liked, which isn't exactly new, but was nice to hear, is that each core rulebook is being written with the assumption that you might not own the other two. I'm really digging the approach that the game is playable for free, and each product expands upon the basic rules.

 

[Agamon]

Nothing wrong with Drizzt. The problem was the winners who thought they were super cool creating their angsty Drizzt clones in games. This leads to people thinking a drow PC has to be an angsty Drizzt clone, which it doesn't.

 

[TwoSix]

Drizz't hating pointless, wha?

A couple of things. I actually don't hate it. I did quote I guess, but I don't hate. I do see it as a fringe character that has been divisive and seems overrated. Popular and enduring in D&D? Orcus. Orcus is popular and enduring.

This much push on the Realms in the core is new(ish). It makes sense, but its new(ish) and different, and we don't have to like it.

Time to get on board. The train is pulling out of Waterdeep station, and not even Mystra can stop it now.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

A couple of things. I actually don't hate it. I did quote I guess, but I don't hate. I do see it as a fringe character that has been divisive and seems overrated. Popular and enduring in D&D? Orcus. Orcus is popular and enduring.

Not in the same way. Also, Drizzt, fringe? Haha no. Orcus doesn't get on the NYT Bestseller list. Fringe within certain internet niche groups, sure?

This much push on the Realms in the core is new(ish). It makes sense, but its new(ish) and different, and we don't have to like it.

"New(ish)"? They've been considering it since 3E, as the article says! You don't have to like anything, but "new(ish)" is pretty unreal.

 

[the Jester]

All well said, however I am concerned about the Forgotten Realms exposure. Neither I nor my gaming group is fond of realms. I hope to not be too much exposure and I really hope to be differents approaches from a more general setting or a more to my liking. I don't want to go constantly "meh" when I read the books or to reflavor everything in there...

Same here. I'll be able to live with it as long as it isn't too pervasive, but the strong ties to the Realms in the starting adventures have turned me off from buying them. Adding factions, while really cool, is actually a huge strike against them to me, simply because those factions are definitely tied to the FR in a very deep and meaningful way- good for the module and organized play campaigns and so forth, but not good for importing into my home game.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Nothing wrong with Drizzt. The problem was the winners who thought they were super cool creating their angsty Drizzt clones in games. This leads to people thinking a drow PC has to be an angsty Drizzt clone, which it doesn't.

No worse than Aragorn clones or the like, imo.

 

[TerraDave]

Not in the same way. Also, Drizzt, fringe? Haha no. Orcus doesn't get on the NYT Bestseller list. Fringe within certain internet niche groups, sure?

Ah. D&D fiction. That something else. Sure, then Krynn should be the default.

In terms of the actual D&D game, how many people ever refer to Drizz't in their games vs. Orcus? How prominent has Drizz't been in D&D products vs. Orcus? And do you really think that many people who, say post on ENWorld like him? Do you really think he is that "popular".

You are right. Its a laughable difference.

"New(ish)"? They've been considering it since 3E, as the article says! You don't have to like anything, but "new(ish)" is pretty unreal.

Of course they had that discussion. They have lots of discussions, I would presume. They didn't do it. They didn't do it for 4E. They did Gleemax and a VTT that didn't work, but they didn't make the Realms core. To say there are any FR references in the 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 PHB, or MM, or DMG, its unreal.