D&D 5E The case for (and against) a new Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book

[Parmandur]

I get it, I'm a Realms fan too. I'm just trying to take what we want and locate it the greater context of what makes sense for WotC in terms of the current fanbase and popularity.

That's where I'm coming from: it's not that I wouldn't like a big fat FRCS, but I don't see it happening given current conditions.

 

[Parmandur]

What if the players do not want to go to the "places of significance"? What if they want to explore the Land of Ash and Smoke? What if they want to explore the Valley of Dread? What if they want to explore the Sky Lizard Mountains? What if they want to explore Samarach? Etc
There is a huge swarth of area ripe for exploration. But there is simply not much detail at all. If the book were a true "mini setting" these sites would also be detailed. Guess what is detailed though. Sites that are relevant to the adventure.

Then it can be made up as needed. The book can't cover everything, but it provides a total sandbox mini-Setting. The Death Curse can simply be left out, and not much changes.

 

[eyeheartawk]

What is the measure for how appropriate the thoroughness is, though...?

More than we got in SCAG, surely.

 

[Parmandur]

More than we got in SCAG, surely.

But that's begging the question. If WotC has found that to be the appropriate level of thoroughness for the market, then so it is.

They haven't changed their strategy in six years on that front, so it seems they have found the appropriate level for their needs.

 

[eyeheartawk]

But that's begging the question. If WotC has found that to be the appropriate level of thoroughness for the market, then so it is.

They haven't changed their strategy in six years on that front, so it seems they have found the appropriate level for their needs.

So the appropriate level of thoroughness is whatever they decide it is?

By that logic we can close up most threads on this site then.

 

[Parmandur]

So the appropriate level of thoroughness is whatever they decide it is?

By that logic we can close up most threads on this site then.

The appropriate level would be determined by the marketplace. SCAG is still in print and still selling well. That means, incidentally, that SCAG has a longer shelf life than the 3.0, 3.5 and 4E Core books...

The evidence suggests that the market has spoken.

 

[eyeheartawk]

The appropriate level would be determined by the marketplace. SCAG is still in print and still selling well. That means, incidentally, that SCAG has a longer shelf life than the 3.0, 3.5 and 4E Core books...

The evidence suggests that the market has spoken.

It's a bit of a closed loop though, isn't it?

If you want a setting book on FR you really have nothing else to buy this edition do you?

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that SCAG is one of the least well received 5th edition releases. I mean, how many more books of this format did we get? If it was such a success where are the rest of the books like this?

 

[JiffyPopTart]

The appropriate level would be determined by the marketplace. SCAG is still in print and still selling well. That means, incidentally, that SCAG has a longer shelf life than the 3.0, 3.5 and 4E Core books...

The evidence suggests that the market has spoken.

For WotC
A simplified setting book that sells well > A complex setting book that doesn't sell as well

For a particular setting's fan
A complex setting book that doesn't sell well > A simplified setting book that sells well

It's not one-size-fits-all

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Oh no, I think it could be awesome with a twist. Not playing the heroes of the Lance. It opens up the story in some pretty cool directions I think. Remove the railroad, remove the “this character can’t die until...” and you have the makings of a great 5e adventure. Imagine doing YOUR story of an iconic D&D adventure that everyone knows the characters for and how it could be different. I was not behind the idea until I started really thinking about it. I now think this is one of Perkins projects.

They did something similar with Curse of Strahd as well, taking the main elements of the original (the castle) and adding a lot more material on the town and other supplementary adventures/NPCs, taking something that was fairly linear and making it a sandbox. The same was done with Ghosts of Saltmarsh, as the entire introductory chapter adds material meant to take a fairly linear adventure path and giving DMs a lot of options to make a sandbox instead.

You can probably do the same with the first few Dragonlance modules. I haven't read them back to front, but more material on the surrounding areas of where they take place, plus key NPCs and their private goals/motivations, and you can really elevate the material.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

It's a bit of a closed loop though, isn't it?

If you want a setting book on FR you really have nothing else to buy this edition do you?

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that SCAG is one of the least well received 5th edition releases. I mean, how many more books of this format did we get? If it was such a success where are the rest of the books like this?

You can buy ToA if you want Chult. You can buy OotA is you want Underdark. Dragon Heist for Waterdeep. Descent into Avernus for Baldur's Gate.

I actually do agree that the SCAG probably didn't have great sales when it first released, but it is interesting that it still sells fairly well. I think most books have an initial spike in sales at launch and then drop off.